Solving cases, of course!
Before his cultivation had fully matured, the skill he was truly proud of was his ability to solve cases.
The ability to solve cases equalled logical reasoning plus keen observation of details.
He really did not possess the level of scheming that the Jianzheng or Xu Pingfeng did, and he was unable to strategise from behind the scenes.
But even the Jianzheng could not toy with him like a monkey.
Even someone as cunning as Xu Pingfeng, who prided himself on his wits, had ended up defeated and frustrated when Xu Qi’an had thwarted him in seizing fortune.
All of this had relied on his formidable “case-solving” ability, analysing and working out the truth from all sorts of clues, cracking the true identity of the mysterious arcanist, and then preparing strategies to respond.
Within just a year, he had grown from a weak vessel easily manipulated by anyone into a top master even among the beyond-mortal realm.
He had become one of the players at the chessboard.
He had step by step uncovered the mask of the “mysterious arcanist” Xu Pingfeng, and next, he would also unravel the mystery behind the Jianzheng.
If even two peak arcanists could not make him dance in their palms, what chance did Heaven Gu Grandma have?
“When you came to the Abyss that day to see me, setting out the pros and cons, and tried to persuade me to leave the Southern Marches, even if I hadn’t produced the prayer beads, you would still have told me how to cope, wouldn’t you?”
Xu Qi’an put down his teacup and, through the dim candlelight, looked at the aged Heaven Gu Grandma.
“You had already made your choice, to ally with me and not Xu Pingfeng, correct?”
“You are a clever boy.”
Heaven Gu Grandma smiled, which was tantamount to admitting it.
Xu Qi’an nodded and continued:
“That being the case, your actions afterwards baffled me. You behaved too neutrally, neither leaning towards me nor towards Xu Pingfeng, simply allowing the five chiefs to fight me.
“But in fact, you knew that I could defeat them, because the Sevenfold Gu inside me was given to me at your behest, delivered by Lina. In other words, you knew from the start that the shaman clans and Yunzhou could not truly form an alliance.
“To ally with one side, you must break off with the other. Yet, with your wisdom, you did not covertly keep an eye on Ge Wenxuan? Ge Wenxuan might be a minor figure, but the Xu Pingfeng behind him could not be underestimated.
“I could tell Xu Pingfeng would have a fallback plan, there’s no way you could not have guessed it.
“So I believe you really did secretly keep watch on Ge Wenxuan. What could possibly have made you allow him to act out in the Abyss unchecked and not stop him?
“You once said that sealing the Gu God was the eternal drive of the shaman clans. Tonight I have come not only for the Sevenfold Gu, but also to ask you about this matter.”
Although Heaven Gu was not like a Master of Heaven’s Mandate, able to peer wantonly at heaven’s secrets, she could nevertheless glimpse fragments of the future. Xu Qi’an had long since learned to be wary when dealing with such people.
Perhaps only Lina truly thought of Heaven Gu Grandma as a kindly, benevolent elder, it might well have been true, but it could never have been the whole story.
Heaven Gu Grandma fell silent, lowering her head to mend some clothes.
Xu Qi’an did not urge her, sipping his tea quietly. The bedroom was still and silent, with only the sound of insects persistently chirping outside the window.
The Southern Marches were hot and humid, and even in winter the plants stayed green, the birds and beasts needed not hibernate, at most, there were fewer than in summer.
“Knowing these things is no real advantage to you.”
After a very long time, Heaven Gu Grandma sighed and slowly said:
“Do you know what that column of dazzling white light was?”
Xu Qi’an shook his head,
“Please enlighten me, Grandma.”
“You ought to have heard of it. Yunzhou holds records of it, there is even a temple dedicated to it.”
As soon as Heaven Gu Grandma finished, Xu Qi’an blurted out,
“Baidi?!”
When did Xu Pingfeng get involved with that god-demon descendant… He felt his heart sink and an ominous feeling arose.
That unfilial son was clearly connected with that god-demon descendant, even if that did not prove they were allies, there was a real possibility they might become such.
The enemy’s friend is, without doubt, the enemy.
“I once analysed that Yunzhou, backed by the great sea, was probably the last resort left by that ancient lineage five hundred years ago: if their uprising failed, they could escape overseas. Now I reconsider, and perhaps Xu Pingfeng’s decision to use Yunzhou as his base had another reason, he secretly forged a link with Baidi.”
It was second nature for Xu Qi’an to analyse, “I’m not sure what rank Baidi really is, but it certainly isn’t Beyond-rank…”
He took a deep breath, gathering his scattered thoughts, and said:
“Grandma, please go on.”
Heaven Gu Grandma, still with her head down, sewing, continued,
“He asked the Gu God three questions. The first was: when will you break free of your seal?
“The Gu God answered: at the end of the great era, He will not be absent.”
She had had to translate this from her understanding of the language of gods and demons.
At the end of the great era, He will not be absent?1 Xu Qi’an drew in a sharp breath, it was a subtly chilling thought.
The Gu God’s answer hinted at two things:
First, “the end of the great era”.
This could point to some event, some opportunity, some catastrophe, whatever “era” meant, it certainly came at a very high level.
Anything below the beyond-mortal realm would not even qualify to participate.
Second, “He will not be absent”.
The Gu God was convinced it could break free of the seal. A Beyond-rank existence would not be blindly confident. Especially as the Heaven Gu tribe could glimpse a fragment of destiny, and the Gu God, as the origin of all Gu arts, surely could do so too.
His thoughts concluded, Xu Qi’an nodded for her to continue.
Heaven Gu Grandma said:
“The second question he asked the Gu God: where is the Daoist Venerable?
“The Gu God replied: perhaps perished completely.”
Where is the Daoist Venerable…
This is intriguing indeed, a descendant of gods and demons, a spirit beast from overseas, actually showing interest in the Daoist Venerable… Xu Qi’an stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Among all Beyond-rank beings, the Daoist Venerable was the most mysterious and ancient.
No one could confirm when he attained the Dao. There were no historical records; all they could surmise was that it was at the end of the age of gods and demons, when the human and Yao races had just risen.
But the timescale for that period spanned thousands of years, there was no way to pinpoint it.
Why would Baidi concern himself with the the Daoist Venerable, who left no trace of existence? And why ask the Gu God? Since the end of the age of gods and demons, the Gu God had slumbered in the Southern Marches, and was sealed by the Confucian Sage over a thousand years ago.
If the Gu God and the Daoist Venerable had any intersection, it must have occurred during the Gu God’s long sleep in the Southern Marches.
Furthermore, the Gu God’s reply is highly significant, the Daoist Venerable may have perished? Who could kill the Daoist Venerable? Surely he wouldn’t just have grown tired of living and ended it himself… Xu Qi’an asked,
“Grandma, do you have an opinion on the Daoist Venerable?”
Heaven Gu Grandma shook her head, “I do not know.”
Doesn’t know, rather than can’t say… Xu Qi’an asked, “Have you not glimpsed the Daoist Venerable in the future?”
“You may have misunderstood what Heaven Gu can do, when we speak of glimpsing a ‘fragment’ of destiny, what is a fragment?”
Heaven Gu Grandma said helplessly,
“It is fragmented, disjointed and incomplete, knowing only the partial story but not the whole, and the inability to peer precisely into certain matters, there is chaos.
“The limitations are great and it is uncontrollable. It is not the case that we can use Heaven Gu to spy on whatever we wish, whenever we wish.”
Your Heaven Gu really is a world apart from the Jianzheng’s ‘future live broadcast’… Xu Qi’an lampooned;
“Then what do you think was Baidi’s purpose for inquiring the Daoist Venerable’s whereabouts?”
Heaven Gu Grandma shook her head once more, her voice gentle and calm.
“The third question, Baidi asked the Gu God: who is the gatekeeper?
“The Gu God’s answer was: he once thought it was the Confucian Sage, but later realised…”
Xu Qi’an waited a moment, but Heaven Gu Grandma did not continue. Anxious, he urged,
“Realised what?”
Heaven Gu Grandma said helplessly, “I also which I knew, but the power of the Confucian Sage’s statue blocked the Gu God, sealing it away once more.”
… Xu Qi’an almost spat blood. He swore inwardly that the Confucian Sage really was a menace, still making things difficult for him even in death.
“Grandma, what is your view of the gatekeeper?”
He questioned Heaven Gu Grandma directly.
“I do not know who the gatekeeper is, but all information about the gatekeeper is Heaven’s secret, never to be divulged. Since you have close ties with the Sitianjian, you should know what I mean.”
Heaven Gu Grandma replied.
“Those who know Heaven’s secrets, shall ever be bound by them.”
Xu Qi’an nodded with a sigh. This was the price all must pay to glimpse Heaven’s secrets, the natural laws of the heavens.
He poured himself another cup of water, took a sip, and fixed his gaze on the elder’s deeply wrinkled face.
“The reason you indulged Ge Wenxuan, Grandma, was to use him to furtively sound out the Gu God about the secret of the gatekeeper, wasn’t it?”
If this was her motive, then Heaven Gu Grandma’s behaviour made sense.
She had chosen long ago to ally herself with him, yet appeared so neutral, so detached, when in truth she was just waiting for Ge Wenxuan to venture into the Abyss. She may even have secretly aided his arrival at the Abyss.
For example: erasing his presence so that the Huntian Divine Mirror would not find him.
Or, clearing away Gu insects or Gu beasts on his journey so that he could reach the Confucian Sage’s statue safely.
Of course, these were only Xu Qi’an’s conjectures and need not be verified.
Heaven Gu Grandma finished mending her clothes, lowered her head and bit off the thread, saying,
“Yes.
“It is late. We must rest.”
Xu Qi’an said, “Sorry to have disturbed you.”
He blended into the shadows and disappeared.
…
Returning to the Strength Gu tribe, he found the hall lit by candlelight. Lina and Mosang, the siblings, were eating a midnight snack, each with a basin of meat.
Their clothes were in tatters, they were barefoot, and Mosang still had traces of blood on his chest, though there was no wound.
Xu Qi’an inferred that the siblings had just sparred; the brother Mosang had been beaten by his sister, and now they were eating to replenish their energy.
Mosang said,
“Didn’t you promise to find me a princess of the Great Feng, or the most beautiful woman in the Great Feng, to be my wife?”
Central Plains women clearly do not fit your Strength Gu tribe’s beauty standards… Since this involved princesses and princess consorts, Xu Qi’an listened in quietly.
“I brought one back for you! The woman by Xu Ningyan’s side is the number one beauty in the Great Feng!” Lina declared with confidence.
“Pale skin is one thing, you can always get tanned, but she’s just so ordinary looking. How did she have the nerve to call herself the number one beauty in the Great Feng?”
Mosang was disillusioned and said indignantly,
“Women of the Central Plains are indeed pale and ugly. Those merchant caravans were lying to me.”
He had learned from Central Plains traders that the Zhenbei Princess Consort was the number one beauty in the Great Feng. The merchants embellished her beauty fantastically.
Mosang had then asked, “How does she compare to the women of the shaman clans?”
The Central Plains merchants looked at the group of dark-skinned girls of the Southern Marches, and replied sincerely,
“It’s the difference between clouds in the sky and mud in the fields.”
Mosang chewed his food furiously and said with annoyance,
“Now I understand: the girls of our Southern Marches are the clouds, the women of the Great Feng are the mud.”
“No, not at all. I’ve seen the princesses of the Central Plains, and they’re actually quite fresh and pretty, just nowhere near as good as me,” Lina commented fairly.
“Of course, you’re the number one beauty of our Strength Gu tribe.” Mosang nodded, agreeing with his sister’s words.
Xu Qi’an bowed invisibly towards the siblings, then returned to his room.
Ah-hoo, ah-hoo…
Little Pea’s rhythmic snores filled the air. With his keen eyesight, he saw his silly younger sister sprawled spread-eagle on the bed, having kicked away her beast-hide blanket.
Her right wrist was damp, as if it had just been gnawed.
The bed was small, with Little Pea taking up two-thirds of the space. Xu Qi’an straightened her arms and legs, pulled the beast-hide blanket over the siblings, and closed his eyes to rest.
…
Half-awake, he heard a soul-rending roar that roused him at once.
In that instant, relying on his Beyond-mortal strength and formidable soul, Xu Qi’an clearly realised he was still ‘dreaming’. His first reaction was:
A beyond-mortal expert of the Church of the Warlock God has arrived?
In this world, only the Warlock system’s rank four ‘Warlock of Dreams’ could contend with someone of his level in dreams.
Daoism also had soul-summoning techniques within dreams, but those belonged to the yin spirit and were merely a side benefit; compared to the Warlock of Dreams, it was the difference between expert and hobbyist.
As the echo of the roar faded, Xu Qi’an saw a vision.
He saw, below a sky of blue, a falling star trailing fire as it hurtled towards the earth.
Amidst the bright crimson flames was a giant bird of fire, its twin wings torn off.
The firebird fell along with the flames, like a meteor smashing down, and the land it fell upon was a scene of utter devastation, littered with countless corpses.
A giant whose single eye had been gouged, its hollow forehead running with blood; a black tortoise whose serpent head had been severed, and its shell cracked all over; a giant with twelve arms and its head separated from its neck; a monstrous serpent, its mountainous body rotted away to expose jagged bones.
A golden lion with only half its body remaining; a creature covered in meatballs, its dead eyes still staring skywards in hatred; a nine-headed snake whose head and body were sundered…
These were all beings Xu Qi’an had seen in dreams before, gods and demons born in ancient times.
I saw the scene of gods and demons falling…
It was just a dream, yet Xu Qi’an seemed to hear his own wild, pounding heartbeat.
…
capitalised pronouns indicate the divine 3rd person pronoun 祂. In standard Lord of (the) Mysteries translations I believe it is quoted too, but I feel that breaks the flow of text too much. ↩
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