Half of its head was missing, streaks of pallid brain matter hanging here and there from its face.
Its shrivelled, bluish-black body was battered beyond recognition. One could vaguely see the blackened internal organs through the fractured bones and mangled flesh.
Its dark green eyes were wide open, completely devoid of life.
Xu Qi’an did not sense any trace of qi fluctuations within its body. This meant that what lay before them was a purely lifeless corpse, with nothing supernatural left.
The ancient corpse was dead. That might have sounded odd, but it truly was dead.
Xu Qi’an’s pupils contracted into pinpoints, as if struck by a brilliant light, and his breathing grew ragged.
His first thought was:
The master of the tomb had returned!
The moment this suspicion arose, an uncontrollable wave of terror surged within him.
Luo Yuheng’s eyes shimmered with a mysterious glow, which, paired with her cold and striking features, gave her an almost bewitching allure.
She slowly surveyed the main burial chamber, then a moment later, gently said,
“There is no soul remaining.”
In other words, the ancient corpse had completely dissipated.
Though it was a thousand-year ancient corpse, it possessed a true soul. Strictly speaking, it was a different form of life.
Xu Qi’an closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Luo Yuheng turned her head to glance at him, raising her jade hand, still hidden in her sleeve, to gently hold his, and said softly,
“Have you discovered anything?”
Xu Qi’an let out a long breath to steady himself.
“There are no signs of a struggle on the scene. The ancient corpse died very cleanly.
“There are three possible scenarios: either the killer was someone it knew; or someone immensely superior in cultivation, able to kill it with ease, even while it was sealed;
“Or…both, a familiar face and a supreme expert.”
Luo Yuheng nodded slightly after hearing this. “So you suspect the owner of the tomb has returned.”
As expected, the National Teacher is exceedingly perceptive… Xu Qi’an’s expression turned grave:
“Though it was sealed by Shenshu and was unable to use its power, its body was nonetheless a genuine second-rank Daoist’s body. While perhaps not as tough as a martial artist, to destroy it to this extent—
“It would need to be at least a beyond-mortal. No, even an ordinary third-rank might not manage it. Though many beyond-mortal experts have been gathering in Yongzhou of late, none of them have reason to kill the ancient corpse, nor would they be certain of doing so.
“At most, they would merely come to investigate and try to extract information.”
Luo Yuheng gave an acknowledging sound, tacitly agreeing with his conjecture.
Xu Qi’an continued, “The ancient corpse once said that he waited beneath the earth for his master to return and reclaim the fortune. That fortune, through a twist of fate, fell into my hands…”
At this, he grew even heavier at heart.
If the ancient corpse had died at the hands of the tomb’s master, one could imagine that enigmatic Daoist’s attitude, furious, ruthless, and decidedly unfriendly…
“No need to worry.”
Luo Yuheng smiled, taking on the tone of a once-divorced wife and kindly mother:
“Many debts lead to less trouble. Provoking one important figure is troublesome; provoking two can be fatal. But, once you’ve provoked three, four, or even more, you will actually be far safer.
“At the very least, you’ll have bargaining chips.”
Is this not exactly like the business practices of many debt-ridden giants in my previous life… Xu Qi’an tried to shrug off his anxiety by mocking himself.
The National Teacher had a point. Whatever divine being the master of the tomb might be, if he wanted to deal with Xu Qi’an, he would have to get through Luo Yuheng, then the Jianzheng.
The Buddhist sect might also insert themselves in the meantime.
Then there was Xu Pingfeng, who would surely add his opinion:
What? You want to harm my son? Impossible. Only I may kill my son.
And not to forget, that “Daoist Jinlian” was really the Daoist Leader of the Earth Sect, whose true form was the orange cat and the real owner of the Earth Book fragment.
Also, there was Dean Zhao Shou, determined to revive Cloud Deer Academy.
And the shaman clans, who had given him the Sevenfold Gu, making him bear the karma of sealing the Gu God.
These were all people and factions deeply entangled with him by karma.
Looking at it another way, perhaps even the tomb’s master is a resource to be leveraged.
At this thought, Xu Qi’an finally felt a measure of relief.
Alas, whether to celebrate or to worry was hard to say.
Luo Yuheng said, “Let’s return to the capital today. If the tomb’s master poses a threat to you, the Jianzheng will certainly send a warning, or arrange some precaution you cannot yet comprehend.”
Hearing this, Xu Qi’an could hardly wait to return to the capital and cling to the Jianzheng’s thigh.
“Wait a moment.”
He said, and then gathered stones from around them to build a simple cairn for the ancient corpse.
It had waited forlornly for thousands of years, perhaps this could be considered a release.
…
Outside the ancient grave.
Miao Youfang sat with his sabre-sheath beneath him, a stalk of grass in his mouth, and quietly asked Li Lingsu beside him,
“Brother Li, now that I’ve lost the Dragon Qi, do you think the oiran won’t fancy me any more?”
“Oiran?”
Li Lingsu looked down at him from the side, sneering,
“Is that all you care about?”
This was a romance expert’s scorn for a loser.
Miao Youfang stared at Li Lingsu for a while, then suddenly said,
“Brother Li, you have kidney deficiency.”
A subtle change flitted across Li Lingsu’s face, and he retorted angrily, “What nonsense are you talking?”
“I can tell. I’ve travelled Jianghu for many years, and as a martial artist, I can see in an instant whether someone’s essence is thriving or weak. It’s obvious your kidney qi is a bit feeble.
“Luckily, it’s not severe, you just need some rest.
“If you don’t believe me, we can drop our trousers and have a contest, see who can pee further.”
Li Lingsu snorted coldly. “How vulgar!”
Of course, he would never agree to such a childish contest, a Holy Son had a reputation to uphold.
Besides, winning would be no problem, but if he lost, where would his dignity be?
Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Master Hengyuan quietly watched the two bicker like a comic duo.
Miao Youfang had the particular roughness of a man from the Jianghu, and the irreverence of youth, his attitude screamed streetwise.
But those sitting here were all old hands of the jianghu, used to such people and thoroughly unsurprised.
After a few barbs, Li Lingsu decided not to stoop to the level of one so much weaker, having realised this boy would drag any argument down to his level, then win through sheer worldly experience.
“Junior Sister.”
The Holy Son approached Li Miaozhen, rubbed his hands together, placating smile on his face:
“Now that I needn’t worry about the Dongfang sisters chasing me, shouldn’t you return my Earth Book fragment?”
Li Miaozhen’s gaze flickered as she evaded the question, “Oh, let’s talk about it later.”
Li Lingsu eyed his junior suspiciously, “Why do we have to talk about it later?”
“Stop nagging, I said later, so later it is.”
“No, give it back. Right now.”
“Fine, I’ll give it back.”
Li Miaozhen took out the Earth Book fragment and tipped out a matching little jade mirror.
Li Lingsu reached to take it, squeezed out a drop of blood from his fingertip to reaffirm his ownership.
He still remembered his promise: when he had sought out Xu Qian’s help to flee the Dongfang sisters, he had pledged his treasures stored in the Earth Book as reward.
As a proud man, he would never go back on his word.
Though I don’t have much, the talismans, artefacts, and bits of gold and silver must still total a few thousand taels… Li Lingsu established his bond with the Earth Book fragment, projecting his consciousness inside.
It was empty.
Li Lingsu froze.
Perhaps I’m using it wrong? He withdrew his presence and tried entering again.
Still empty.
Li Lingsu, neck stiff, slowly turned to look at Li Miaozhen. “Where is my silver? Where are my artefacts? Where are my talismans?”
“Sold them!”
Li Miaozhen looked this way and that, but not at Li Lingsu.
“Sold them?”
Li Lingsu’s voice rose sharply as he stared wide-eyed.
“Who told you to sell them? What right did you have? And what for?”
“Back in Yunzhou, when I was raising a guerrilla band to fight the bandits, I needed money, so I sold your things,” Li Miaozhen murmured sheepishly.
“Why didn’t you sell your own?” Li Lingsu felt as though lightning had struck his forehead.
Li Miaozhen pursed her lips. “When did you ever get the idea I was good at saving silver?”
She muttered, “All my silver was given to the poor.”
Li Lingsu nearly lost his mind, his handsome face twitching uncontrollably. “You’re a disgrace to the Heaven Sect!”
Li Miaozhen sprang up in anger. “You’re the disgrace!”
“You’re the Heaven Sect Holy Maiden, you should be practising supreme forgetting of emotion, but you’re off playing hero? If you’re not a disgrace, who is?”
“You are the Heaven Sect Holy Son, yet you never stop sleeping around and wooing women. You are not only a disgrace, but a heartless scoundrel as well!”
“I’m sincere towards every woman! Besides, being lost among, and transcending, desire is the path I have realised. What do you even understand?”
“Ha, tell that to the Heavenly Venerable. If not for you, would Master and Senior Uncle have come down the mountain to catch people?”
“They only descended because you made such a mess of our sect’s reputation, Lady Flying Swallow!”
Chu Yuanzhen and Master Hengyuan exchanged glances.
They knew about Li Miaozhen’s situation, but had not expected the Holy Son to be just as bad.
No wonder… no wonder the Heaven Sect’s Bingyi Yuanjun and Daoist Xuancheng had come down in person.
Not unjustified, indeed…
Chu Yuanzhen messaged, “I never imagined the Heaven Sect’s Holy Son and Holy Maiden would both be such characters.”
Master Hengyuan nodded wryly, thinking, then added,
“But still better than the Jianzheng.”
At the thought of the Sitianjian, both fell silent.
Author’s note: There was a bug in the last chapter. Miao Youfang knows about Xu Qi’an’s identity, he heard them talk about it. Last night I got in a bit of a daze whilst writing, so didn’t realise this detail.
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