Xu Qi’an examined this Dragon Qi host, who was in his twenties, about the same age as himself. His skin was somewhat rough and swarthy, clearly a sign of long years wandering the jianghu.
His features were passable but not outstanding, his most striking aspect being his eyes, which shone brightly.
Back at the themed clubhouse, Xu Qi’an had observed him from a sparrow’s perspective, and his impression was decent, a man who frequents brothels must have been a fallen angel in his previous life.
In fact, when that lady of the night got dragged into trouble, the first thing Miao Youfang considered was not his own safety, but hers.
This was a rare quality among the jianghu drifters who used martial strength to break the law.
Xu Qi’an’s dealings with Dragon Qi hosts involved more than just extracting their Dragon Qi, he also had to discern their character.
If the person’s character was decent, he would choose to be open and honest with them.
If they were a villain, he would kill them without mercy.
Miao Youfang was studying Xu Qi’an as well, a little cautious, because the memory of yesterday’s battle was still fresh in his mind.
“Name, sex, age…”
Xu Qi’an started with the three standard questions from interviews in his previous life.
Miao Youfang was clearly startled, not used to such an opening. Intimidated by this man’s fearsome reputation from yesterday, he answered honestly:
“Miao Youfang, male, twenty-three this year.”
Before answering, you should say “yes sir”, Xu Qi’an joked to himself, then said, “Where are you from?”
“Miao Family Town, Heiyang County, Qingzhou.”
“Do you know why you are here?” Xu Qi’an asked.
Because I’m a genius… Miao Youfang replied proudly, “I have travelled the jianghu for many years, killed local scoundrels, cut down wicked tyrants, and dispatched corrupt officials who prey on the people. I have many enemies.”
Aspiring to be a great hero and scourge of evil, he had often drawn his blade for the wronged.
“But I don’t think these are the reasons…”
Miao Youfang curled his lip. “I do have some self-awareness.”
His actions were mere trifles in the eyes of true masters, not enough to provoke yesterday’s earth-shaking battle.
“Senior, just give me a straight answer: can I still live? If not, make it quick. I’ve killed more than a few, but I never tortured anyone.”
“What if you can live?” Xu Qi’an retorted.
Miao Youfang looked earnest and sincere. “Then you’re my father.”
…Interesting! But no, you’re too ugly, not fit to be my son.
Xu Qi’an gripped his shoulder. “Whether you can live depends on your performance in a bit.”
As confusion crossed Miao Youfang’s face, he leapt into the air.
Both disappeared from the first floor of the Stupa tower and were transported straight to the third floor.
Miao Youfang looked around in amazement. It was a very large space, though not as roomy as the first floor.
At the north and south stood two golden statues. To the west lay a severed arm; to the east, by the wall, sat a small couch on which an old monk and a woman sat cross-legged.
The woman was plain-looking, cradling a small white fox. When she saw them enter, she hastily put her palms together in a devout gesture.
“Master, I must trouble you to examine him with Buddhist precepts.”
Xu Qi’an pressed his palms together toward the old monk. After the latter nodded, he turned to Miao Youfang and asked,
“Have you ever wilfully slaughtered the innocent?”
“What do you mean by wilfully slaughter the innocent?”
“Those not guilty of capital crimes.”
“I’ve only killed those who deserved it.”
“Any rape or pillage?”
“It’s beneath me.”
As if to strengthen his case, Miao Youfang raised his chin and declared proudly,
“There’s no shortage of beautiful girls in brothels. Besides, they really know how to please, no need to rape or abduct anyone. And I can always earn enough silver to spend there.”
A true rental bike enthusiast… Xu Qi’an grunted, then looked to the old monk.
The latter nodded.
Phew, finally a Dragon Qi host of decent character. After all the ones I’ve met so far…
Xu Qi’an said, “You’re surely curious why those people were so determined to chase you yesterday, and why I’ve locked you inside the tower.”
Miao Youfang nodded vigorously, still curious.
“The truth is, you’re not actually that talented,” Xu Qi’an explained.
But Miao Youfang immediately protested, lifting his chin proudly:
“You may be a senior, but I must object, survival instinct or not. Say anything about me except that! I’m the best fighter in my town.”
Why not say you’re the prettiest boy in the county? You seem to be very sensitive about your talent… Xu Qi’an held back a smile and replied calmly,
“Most of your achievements are down to something called Dragon Qi.”
Miao Youfang wore a dissatisfied look but listened attentively.
“It formed as a strand of fortune when the dragon ley of the Great Feng dissipated, after Silver Gong Xu Qi’an killed the tyrant emperor. Silver Gong Xu Qi’an was a once-in-several-centuries genius, no need to elaborate. Whoever receives the Dragon Qi enjoys a string of lucky encounters, wealth is a trifle; resources, connections, cultivation speed, all would be greatly enhanced.
“You should know your own situation best. About a month ago, did your luck suddenly turn for the better? Wherever you went, you made friends and people gave you gifts.
“In cultivation your progress soared, whenever there was trouble, someone came to help.
“And in gambling you won nine times out of ten, raking in money every day.”
Miao Youfang grew more and more silent as he listened. He said nothing for a long while.
Everything this senior said was true, completely accurate.
A month ago, when he returned home from his travels, the most beautiful girl in town suddenly fell for him, his old teacher who’d taught him martial arts gave him a secret manual, saying he was dying and didn’t want the skill lost…
He resumed his travels and fortune followed him. Other than being hunted by that group yesterday, there had been almost no danger at all.
His cultivation surged daily.
He ventured cautiously, “So…”
Xu Qi’an answered, “If Dragon Qi remains scattered outside, the fall of the dynasty is only a matter of time. If it’s seized by outsiders, the Central Plains will inevitably fall to them. That’s why I must reclaim the Dragon Qi.”
Seeing the look of inner struggle on Miao Youfang’s face, Xu Qi’an taunted,
“What’s wrong, unwilling? You see yourself as a hero, you ought to know true heroism is for the country and the people.”
He got only silence in response. The swarthy young man stared at the ground, his face deeply conflicted.
After a long while, he asked, “You have me at your mercy. Just take the Dragon Qi, why tell me all this?”
Xu Qi’an said coolly, “If you were a villain, I’d not bother with all this talk.”
Miao Youfang fixed Xu Qi’an with a look, then lowered his head.
After a dozen seconds, he sighed:
“Though I’m reluctant, a hero must act like a hero.
“If the Dragon Qi can really save the court, and if it truly resides in me, then take it…”
Xu Qi’an immediately produced an Earth Book fragment, aimed its mirror face at him, silently chanted the incantation.
Gold light flared in Miao Youfang’s eyes, a dragon’s shadow flashed. Above his head appeared a thick golden dragon phantom, which, reluctant but helpless, plunged into the Earth Book fragment.
Miao Youfang looked despondent and lost.
He had not seen the Dragon Qi, but at that moment, he felt as if something important had departed from him.
Now I have three important strands in my possession. As long as I gather the remaining six, I would complete the task… Xu Qi’an felt a rush of joy. In just over a month, he had collected three Dragon Qi.
Moreover, the nurturing of the Taiping Sabre would also speed up thanks to this new strand of Dragon Qi.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miao Youfang looking dejected and wooden. In a good mood, Xu Qi’an advised him,
“A true expert must have an unbreakable heart. Without courage, no matter how powerful you are, you’ll only be able to bully the weak, and stand no chance when facing your equals.”
Miao Youfang scratched his head, “I really should be content. Without Dragon Qi, I probably would never have achieved what I have now in this life. Honestly, I’m not very gifted; even the old master who taught me fighting in town used to say so.
“My fellow disciples all teased me for not knowing my own limits, thinking I could become a great hero despite my average aptitude. When I was sixteen, I left town to travel, and it wasn’t until I was twenty-three that I finally scraped together enough money to ask a Refining Spirit expert to open my channels.
“To save this money, I didn’t change my shoes for two years, and patched up the same robe to wear for three.
“Not long ago, my luck turned, I could finally become a great hero admired by thousands… Hey, how did the books put it? Yes, like flowers in a mirror, or the moon in water.
“But if something isn’t mine, then it just isn’t mine.”
He lowered his head, disheartened, like an ugly duckling forced back into his original form.
“I just so happen to be short a lackey.”
Miao Youfang suddenly looked up, staring at the expressionless Xu Qi’an.
Xu Qi’an continued as if to himself, “Becoming my lackey means you’ll have to work hard without complaint, do all sorts of chores, there’s no monthly pay, but I’ll occasionally teach you a move or two.”
Miao Youfang’s face grew solemn, and he articulated carefully, “Father.”
…Xu Qi’an’s mouth twitched.
…
Xiushui Town, the southwest edge of Yongzhou.
Liu Hongmian was sitting on the roof ridge, hugging her knees with one hand and resting her chin on the other, gazing idly into the distance.
Xu Qi’an really is strong. Deserving to be called the most gifted young man in the Central Plains…
Ji Xuan seems to have lost the will to fight. Was the death of Daoist Jiaoye such a blow to him? Clearly he was just a mediocre old Daoist…
The team has become disheartened. It seems I’ll also have to look for another opportunity…
Ah, if only I could seduce Silver Gong Xu, I could return to Wanhua Tower and kick Xiao Yuenu out of the sect…
Liu Hongmian’s thoughts wandered, musing over some wild ideas.
She withdrew her gaze and looked down at Ji Xuan in the courtyard. The young master was sat on the well’s edge, and had been sitting there all night, from last evening till now.
But for him, perhaps that’s not a bad thing. Once he’s hardened by this setback, he’ll be able to go further, higher.
Liu Hongmian clicked her tongue twice. She had still hoped to rely on Ji Xuan to take back leadership of Wanhua Tower.
…
Miao Youfang chose to remain with Xu Qian, acting as an obscure henchman.
Obscure was how he insisted on describing himself, but in reality, the lad was talkative and quick to get friendly.
“Lady Flying Swallow, after so many years on the road, you’re the only person I’ve ever truly admired. Lady Flying Swallow, say something, won’t you?”
At first, Li Miaozhen politely responded with a few words. But when she discovered just how he could prattle on endlessly, she stopped engaging.
“Brother Chu, if you ask me, why bother wandering the jianghu when you can be an official at court? In our town, scholars are held in high esteem.”
Chu Yuanzhen didn’t care much for him either, the reason being that Miao Youfang constantly criticised him for being capricious, having already made it onto the top scholar’s roll, only to resign for no clear reason.
“Brother Li, from now on, I’ll bring tea and water for Senior Xu, while you’ll do his laundry and cooking.”
“I’ve told you many times, I’m not Senior Xu’s lackey.”
“Alright, then you fetch the tea and water, I’ll do the laundry and cooking.”
Seeing Miao Youfang had started acquainting himself with everyone, Xu Qi’an led them out from the Stupa tower. After lunch, they soared on their swords back towards Yongzhou.
Their destination was the large underground tomb outside the city.
Luo Yuheng had wanted to investigate this site for a while. When Xu Qi’an came out of the underground palace last time and returned to the capital, he had told her about it.
After deducing the probable era from the clothing of the people in the murals, she had pored through the Human Sect’s chronicles, but hadn’t been able to trace it back that far.
In other words, the founder of the Human Sect in the underground palace may have emerged even before the Human Sect itself.
Luo Yuheng’s concern with the Human Sect’s founder wasn’t due to curiosity. It was because, despite failing his tribulation, he hadn’t perished.
He had, instead, left behind his old body, severing ties with his past self.
Luo Yuheng could not understand this.
Under the tribulation, all is reduced to ashes. Since ancient times, no Human Sect second-rank Daoist Leader has ever succeeded, let alone survived.
This person was extraordinary.
On arriving at the destination, Luo Yuheng stood at the cave entrance and said over her shoulder,
“You all stay outside. Xu Qi’an and I will go in.”
Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu, as Daoist disciples, didn’t like this, but when Luo Yuheng gave an indifferent sideways glance, they acquiesced.
Thus, the four holders of the Earth Book fragments, plus Xu Qi’an’s new follower Miao Youfang, stayed outside the cave.
Xu Qi’an and Luo Yuheng leapt into the cave, and Miao Youfang’s voice came from above,
“Lady Flying Swallow, how can someone become a great hero quickly? I’ve spent years fighting evil and upholding justice, but my reputation…”
“Heh, half of my junior sister’s fame comes from the reputation of the Heaven Sect. Do you think she did it on her own?”
The rest of their conversation faded away. Xu Qi’an led the way with Luo Yuheng into the depths of the underground palace.
The underground palace was gloomy. The further they went, the darker it became, until eventually they couldn’t see their hands in front of them.
Xu Qi’an lit a torch he had brought and said,
“When I came last time, I found Shenshu’s seal had loosened. Left unchecked, it’d break free within a year at most.
“National Teacher, you can help reinforce the seal.”
The firelight cast a glow on Luo Yuheng’s exquisitely beautiful face. She replied with a soft “Mm.”
They traversed the collapsed, debris-strewn underground palace and soon arrived at a massive stone door.
“Eh…?”
Xu Qi’an frowned.
Luo Yuheng turned to look at him.
He explained, “I don’t remember closing the door when I left last time.”
As he spoke, Xu Qi’an entered the main burial chamber, unconcerned, perhaps the ancient corpse had closed the door itself.
Creak…
The stone door slowly swung open.
Holding the torch, Xu Qi’an entered the main burial chamber.
The place was littered with rocks, as though it had just been dug out, leftover traces of the earlier battle between Shenshu and the ancient corpse.
He glanced around, but didn’t see the ancient corpse sitting as before. Taking a dozen steps further in, he saw a battered humanoid lying on the ground.
The ancient corpse… had died?!
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