Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 2: A Cheap Master

The next morning, the wind ceased and the snow stopped.

Yin Ci put on the ghostskin robe and went out to prepare breakfast. Just as the egg drop porridge was ready, that traveling healer appeared again. His eyes were sparkling, without a trace of the disheveled appearance from the previous night.

He approached Yin Ci and spoke in a gentle tone. “I am Shi Jingzhi. Last night… cough, cough!”

Before he could finish speaking, his complexion changed, and he pulled out a handkerchief, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Yin Ci: “…” He silently moved the porridge bowl a bit farther away.

Shi Jingzhi seemed unfazed, quickly wiping away the blood, and continued as if nothing had happened. “Thank you for your help last night. I have some burn ointment. Please take it.”

Yin Ci nodded and took the ointment. However, Shi Jingzhi lingered. His foxy eyes twinkled, and he was smiling as if the northwest wind carried the scent of spring.

Unfortunately, Yin Ci wasn’t swayed by his charm. He picked up the porridge and left. If he didn’t eat it, someone else would—now that Auntie Li was paid, she was attentive and became more infatuated with the “Ancestral Fox Spirit.”

Yin Ci had only eaten half a bowl of porridge when Auntie Li had been chattering incessantly about him. “He’s a deliveryman from the mountain, not from my shop. This kid has some skill, but he’s unlucky…”

Shi Jingzhi sat across from them, quietly listening to her chatter with a beaming smile that could blind people.

“Well, his father passed away a few years ago, and he dutifully observed mourning for three years. I told him it’s not necessary and he should find work in town early. He could even cook in my kitchen… But this brat doesn’t listen to the advice of elders. He’s twenty years old now and doesn’t even have a sweetheart…”

Yin Ci wished she would continue to publicize his “innocent background”, showing no intention of interrupting her. 

“To be frank with you, I was chased by bandits last night, and I blindly ran to your place. Now I need to leave the mountain, so if this young man doesn’t mind, I would like to pay him to guide me…” Shi Jingzhi looked up at Yin Ci.

“Sure.” Yin Ci stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a side dish.

“Thank you.” Unexpectedly, Shi Jingzhi grabbed his hand. His expression was sincere to the point that it made one’s teeth ache, and his palms were burning.

Yin Ci furrowed his brows and discreetly pulled his hand away. “No need to be so polite.”

Yin Ci thought that with Shi Jingzhi’s enthusiastic behavior, he would use the opportunity to inquire about Ear Cutter. However, after they finished breakfast, Shi Jingzhi didn’t ask a single question. Instead, he brought a stool to the entrance and enjoyed the snow, as if he truly came for leisure.

Before the two of them left the mountain, Auntie Li called Yin Ci over and sighed as she handed him a bag of steamed buns.

“The food I make is not tasty. Please don’t mind. Ah, once you leave today, it’s probably going to be three to five years before you come back… I saw the luggage in your bag. Even without this incident, you had planned to leave the mountain, right?”

She rambled on for a while, then took out a handful of money from her pocket and stuffed it into Yin Ci’s hand. “There are many thieves out there. Don’t let them trick you… When you have time, come back and visit this old woman.”

Yin Ci took the steamed buns but declined the coins. To make it more convincing, he should have shed a few tears, but he couldn’t squeeze out even a single drop.

“Got it.”

“You’re fortunate to be able to descend the mountain with the Ancestral Fox Spirit. Just don’t covet his fur coat and be cautious of causing trouble.” With a serious tone, Auntie Li earnestly cautioned him, looking as if she had seen the Shi Jingzhi’s foxtail.

Yin Ci smirked. He had undoubtedly caused countless troubles, so this one wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Unfortunately, Demonic Lord Yin’s calculations wouldn’t come to fruition—

Just as they left the inn, they were surrounded by a group of Chigou Sect assassins.

Since Eat Cutter hadn’t returned last night, the Chigou Sect had sent ten assassins this time. Yin Ci was about to step back when Shi Jingzhi grabbed his waist. He lifted Yin Ci and fled with remarkable agility.

The Chigou Sect assassins weren’t to be underestimated, and they immediately gave chase.

With no snowstorm at the moment, the assassins lightly stepped on the snow, pursuing with elegance, while Shi Jingzhi was like a plow in the field; half of his body was sinking into the snow as he struggled forward, leaving Yin Ci’s face stuffed with snow. If it weren’t for Shi Jingzhi carrying him, Yin Ci suspected the man would be rolling and crawling in his escape.

No wonder his shoes were lost last night.

Yet, with this seemingly ineffective escape method, Shi Jingzhi managed to leave all ten assassins behind. When he was certain the assassins couldn’t catch up for the time being, Shi Jingzhi released his grip on Yin Ci and plopped down in the snow. “They’re really persistent.”

Yin Ci, who was forced to eat snow along the way, was in a rather bad mood. “They were chasing you last night? They wore white clothes and masks, not like ordinary bandits.”

Shi Jingzhi clicked his tongue. “Those were the assassins of the Chigou Sect. I stole a few trinkets from them. Speaking of which, you didn’t panic at all when you saw them coming at you with knives. You’re quite courageous, little brother.”

Yin Ci narrowed his eyes.

The fact that the Chigou Sect had mobilized to such an extent meant that Shi Jingzhi was no ordinary person. Yet, despite knowing that there were pursuers behind him, he specifically brought along Yin Ci, an “ordinary commoner”. He didn’t seem like someone trying to use him as a scapegoat before dying, so there were only two possibilities.

Either Shi Jingzhi was strong enough to ensure his safety even under the pursuit of assassins, or Yin Ci had inadvertently revealed something, and Shi Jingzhi was testing him.

Regardless of the situation, this person was intriguing.

Yin Ci continued to feign ignorance, pretending to be clueless. “Why did you steal from the Chigou Sect? Do you think you can live a long life?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t seem annoyed. “Well, that thing isn’t really theirs… Have you heard of the ‘Ghost Tomb’?”

“No.”

Shi Jingzhi suddenly became more spirited, sitting up straight. “Then you must have heard of the ‘Ling Sect’. The first Hierarch of the Ling Sect was extremely tyrannical, plundering treasures and divine weapons everywhere to be buried alongside him. His tomb is called the ‘Ghost Tomb’.”

Yin Ci nodded. The Ling Sect was the first demonic sect a century ago, and its leader at the time was notoriously wicked. It wasn’t surprising that mountain dwellers knew about it from frequent appearances in folk stories.

Shi Jingzhi continued enthusiastically, “Last year, the Ghost Tomb emerged, causing a stir in the martial world. Everyone wanted a piece of the action. But think about it, if anyone and everyone could enter the tomb, it would be overcrowded and explode.”

“So the Jinyu Group took charge. The group leader personally carved 108 jade beads and hid them in various locations as tokens to permit entry into the tomb. I stole one of these jade beads. In order to reduce competition, each sect collected their own, and fighting over them is within the rules.”

Yin Ci: “Isn’t it unfair for the Jinyu Group to be the gatekeepers when they know where the jade beads are hidden?”

Seeing Yin Ci’s interest in the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi smirked. “The Jinyu Group can’t enter the tomb. They are merely a merchant alliance, and their members’ martial arts skills aren’t remarkable. They prefer to accumulate wealth through trading the rare treasures inside the tomb… As long as they can get one treasure, it guarantees a comfortable life for the rest of their days.”

Yin Ci replied calmly, “Why not just sell the jade bead directly? It would bring in money more quickly.”

Shi Jingzhi exclaimed in surprise, “That would be so boring!”

Observing Shi Jingzhi’s excited demeanor, Yin Ci was certain that he was relatively new to the martial world. This person was indeed connected to the Ghost Tomb, which meant he would live a few more days. Yin Ci chose not to respond and took out a steamed bun to eat.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi brought up another topic. “Little brother, do you have a destination for this trip down the mountain?”

Here it comes. This kid was dragging him into muddy waters with a clear purpose in mind.

“No, I plan to wander around first and then find a decent place to work.”

“Or you can follow me,” Shi Jingzhi pleaded earnestly. “To be honest, I’ve been traveling outside for so long, and I haven’t had a meal as delicious as last night’s. If you can prepare meals, you’ll receive two taels of silver per month. And…”

“And?” Yin Ci asked.

“Your aptitude isn’t bad. You might as well become my disciple. You can learn martial arts from me in the future, strengthen your body, and prolong your life.” Shi Jingzhi smiled even more warmly. Unexpectedly, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yin Ci: “…”

It seemed that this person was not only a newcomer to the martial world but also a swindler. Yin Ci, at the age of “twenty”, was considered too old to start learning martial arts. Moreover, apart from the disgraceful dog-like escape, this person hadn’t shown anything worth learning.

He was just deceiving ignorant mountain dwellers.

A mouthful of blood spurted out after the words “prolong your life”, leaving Shi Jingzhi feeling embarrassed. He forced a couple of awkward laughs and quickly wiped away the blood. Yin Ci didn’t pay attention to his embarrassment; his focus shifted elsewhere.

Two breaths were approaching.

Yin Ci had long sensed their presence. Those two assassins had been lurking nearby for quite some time, waiting for them to lower their guard. According to the style of the Chigou Sect, the hidden weapons were about to strike.

Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi resumed selling himself. “If you become my disciple, in case something happens to me, all my wealth will be yours. I have a small medicine shop in Yidu, worth quite a bit of silver…”

“Alright. But you’re only a little older than me, so I won’t kneel. If you don’t mind, I will become your disciple.”

“Huh?” Shi Jingzhi didn’t expect Yin Ci to be so straightforward. He stood there in astonishment, taking a while to regain his senses. “I’m seven years older than you. You don’t need to kneel. Just a ceremonial meal for the master-disciple ceremony will do.”

Seeing the other person still in shock, Yin Ci smiled.

He had originally planned to infiltrate a small sect that could enter the tomb, act low-key, and reap the benefits. Shi Jingzhi was quite attention-grabbing, capable of diverting others’ attention so this was an excellent cover.

If Shi Jingzhi had the strength to survive under the Chigou Sect, following him wouldn’t be a bad idea. If he died here, Yin Ci wouldn’t have any losses either.

The assassins finally made their move, and several flying knives came whistling through the air. Yin Ci’s pupils contracted as he closely observed Shi Jingzhi’s reaction.

After struggling for a while, Shi Jingzhi shifted forward, narrowly avoiding one of the flying knives. “Although it’s not my place to say… Little brother, becoming a disciple is a significant decision. Do you really not need any more consideration?”

Yin Ci: “…No need.”

“Really no need? I—ouch!”

Several more flying knives were shot, with one grazing Shi Jingzhi’s shoulder. He sighed, stood up, and casually threw the blood-stained cloth to the ground. “I’ll give you one more chance to change your mind. Pay attention.”

Failing to assassinate their targets, the two assassins revealed themselves; their swords gleamed with a cold light. Shi Jingzhi reached out his hand—

“Wait, wait a moment, let’s talk things through.”

Assassins were most wary of underestimating their opponents. Seeing their target’s peculiar evasive maneuvers, they hesitated and looked at him with caution.

“I heard that your sect has a rule. Unless there is an intense blood feud, you will only send assassins three times. If they fail, you will stop. The Ear Cutter last night was the second attempt, so you should be the third wave, right?”

“I’m just a nobody. If you admit defeat and let us go, the punishment won’t be too severe. How about we part ways here? What do you say?”

One of the assassins couldn’t hold back any longer and drew his sword, stepping forward. “What bullshit!”

This time, Shi Jingzhi didn’t flee. He took advantage of the situation and grabbed the assassin’s arm, hurling him dozens of meters away and directly shattering two white pine trees.

“The Chigou Sect had no shortage of jade beads, and the competition for them is a legitimate rule. It’s really boring to die for the sake of face. I advise you both to leave now.”

Having said that, Shi Jingzhi swept away the banner with the words “Medicine Cures Illness” and made it clear that he was ready to fight with the flagpole. The assassins didn’t give up and disregarded fairness as they attacked with their swords.

Yin Ci watched intensely with great interest for a while—

Shi Jingzhi’s moves lacked any form or technique. He swung the flagpole so haphazardly that it could make people cry, as if he were a child who had just started learning swordsmanship. His footwork was also quite floaty, crooked and twisted—not at all convincing.

Interestingly enough, even though his staff techniques and footwork were abysmal, the assassins just couldn’t lay a hand on him.

After fighting for a short while, one of the assassins was bewildered by Shi Jingzhi’s sloppy moves, which threw off his timing. At that moment, Shi Jingzhi let out a light sigh.

“Excuse me.”

He raised his hand and lightly patted the opponent’s chin with his palm, causing the person’s head to explode like a watermelon, splattering red and white all over the ground. The other assassin was startled and was met with the flagpole that came whistling towards him. Half of his head was obliterated by the impact.

The words “Medicine Cures Illness” on the flag were splattered with specks of blood. The two corpses emitted steam in the cold wind, filling the air with a strong smell of blood.

Yin Ci furrowed his brow.

This person’s external martial arts¹ and qinggong² were terrible, without any redeeming qualities, but his internal martial arts³ were like that of a monster. From his previous escape to the fight just now, Shi Jingzhi had only used inner force.

¹Characterized by fast and explosive movements and a focus on physical strength and agility. Practitioners of external martial arts typically train their bodies through rigorous physical exercises, such as strength training, endurance training, and conditioning drills. They focus on developing powerful strikes, kicks, blocks, and grappling techniques that rely on muscular strength and speed. External martial arts styles often include techniques like punches, kicks, joint locks, throws, and combinations of these moves.
²Ability to move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speed and perform gravity-defying moves such as running on water surfaces, traversing across rooftops, and even balancing on a stalk of grass.
³Is characterized by soft and flowing movements, focusing on mental or qi-related aspects. It places more emphasis on the cultivation of internal energy, relaxation, and using the mind and body connection to generate power. Internal martial arts styles include Tai Chi, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan. These styles focus on developing internal strength, balance, and harmony, and their movements are often characterized by softness, circularity, and flowing motions.

This was truly astonishing.

Unlike external martial arts, internal martial arts couldn’t be achieved through talent or comprehension alone. It required years of practice. Even if one sought guidance from a master, not only would the progress be slow, but they would also be unable to freely utilize their inner force. The fact that Shi Jingzhi possessed such refined and pure inner force meant that he had cultivated it himself.

He was only twenty-seven years old.

Even for a once-in-a-millennium martial arts prodigy, they would have had to focus solely on cultivating inner force from a young age—and tirelessly practice day and night—to reach such a level. However, such a practice was meaningless. It might be fine against a few Chigou Sect assassins, but if Shi Jingzhi encountered top-notch masters, he wouldn’t gain any advantage.

Where did this strange guy come from?

“How about it?” Shi Jingzhi leaned on the flagpole and walked up to Yin Ci with a wry smile on his face. “I always fight like this. Do you still want to be my disciple?”

“Of course.” Yin Ci’s gaze brightened a bit.

…He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time.

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The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: Well done, I’ve fooled him.

Yin Ci: Well done, I’ve fooled him.

(〃^ω^)人(=ω=〃)

The setting related to external martial arts, internal martial arts, and qinggong are all nonsense made up by me, so don’t compare them with the classic settings. (^ρ^)/

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Kinky Thoughts:

Well, basically, Nian Zhong is drawing on some common concepts in wuxia and xianxia but applying her own thing to them. Nevertheless, I will still try my best to explain things as they draw from both real (the martial arts stuff derives from reality) and fictional aspects.

Though… I wish I had read that note before I did all this research. This chapter is sending me… Maybe I need a sendoff.

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