Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 129: A Glance

The Kushan sect had disappeared.

Half a month after the chaos in Chigou, people no longer saw the flag that once symbolized their motto “Medicine Cures Illness”. This once-active small sect vanished as if it had evaporated into thin air. Even the best spies from the Yueshui Pavilion could find no trace of them.

Some say that Shi Jingzhi had publicly shown off a treasure that could “resurrect the dead” and had been targeted and killed by the Chigou sect for it. Others believed that they were just lying low, hiding among other sects, waiting for the martial arts conference to showcase their skills.

In the end, the Kushan sect was just a minor sect that couldn’t make significant waves. After some chatter for a few days, people moved on and forgot about them.

Without the Kushan Sect, the world went on just as lively as before.

At the end of spring, the evening breeze was warm, and Yidu was full of vibrant greenery. People enjoyed going out for walks, and every decent tea house and tavern was bustling with activity.

Four porters ordered a jug of fine wine, asking the waiter to dilute it into four jugs. Accompanying their drinks with a plate of boiled peanuts, they soon ordered more dishes, much to the waiter’s delight.

Having traveled widely, the porters, although not very literate, had many tales to share.

“Don’t bother going to Luojiu,” one said with a face like a shoe. “In the past, we could earn a decent living there, but not anymore. Their new king or god… very powerful.”

“How powerful?”

“They say his eyes are as big as bronze bells, and his hands can shoot fire. The people of Luojiu are naturally as strong as bulls. Unfortunately for us, with our mere mortal bodies, when our young ones charge in waves, they fall like wheat being harvested. In the past, we could withstand with sheer numbers, but now… tsk tsk.”

With a face weathered by the elements, Shoe Face wiped his cheek and let out a deep sigh.

“Isn’t the situation in Yidu still good? If we can’t go east, we head west. There’s always work at the Great Prohibition.”

“Come on, I was fooled by those words. Over there, the wind carries sand every day, it even blows away people’s hair. Not to mention no work, the drought is like hell on earth.”

“People always say that the Imperial Celestial protects us. Our Great Yun has no disasters, so why does it feel increasingly wrong?”

“My uncle can tell fortunes; he says the current Saint is losing virtue…”

As soon as these words were spoken, the other three instantly changed their expressions. Shoe Face immediately raised his voice, loudly saying, “If we can’t make it in the east or west, why not go north or south? The north is scarcely populated, and isn’t there going to be a martial arts conference in the south? There will be lots of people. Let’s all go together.”

The footman who previously mentioned his “uncle” suddenly caught on, clicking his tongue a few times—he forgot this was the imperial capital, almost letting slip dangerous words.

He quickly continued the conversation. “Yes, let’s go. We should all go. It’s good to have each other as backup. Those martial artists have some tricks, and in case we meet someone who doesn’t want to pay up, we won’t have any recourse.”

Shoe Face took a satisfying sip of wine and confidently said, “Sounds good. Let’s finish the tasks at hand, and we can leave tonight. The inns in the capital are too expensive. We can’t afford them.”

“You still have tasks to handle?”

“Of course.”

After a hearty drink, Shoe Face purchased some fresh meat and vegetables, and headed towards the outskirts of the city. This place, with clear mountains and waters, was where the wealthy liked to build their vacation homes. He often picked up odd jobs delivering vegetables here.

But this time, it was different.

The one waiting for him wasn’t a laborer or a servant, but a young man wearing a Nuo mask. The man, dressed in simple robes, had hair as dark as premium charcoal and skin so white it was dazzling. From his posture and demeanor, he didn’t seem like a commoner at all.

By contrast, the wooden Nuo mask he wore was rough and ugly, giving off an ominous vibe.

Shoe Face turned pale with shock, thinking he had bumped into a supernatural being.

He was using a delivery token from the market. It seemed nowadays, even demons and spirits would make delivery appointments at the market… Maybe the order wasn’t for vegetables, but for the delivery person…

Sweat, which moments ago was caused by the wine, now poured down his face due to fear. Without thinking, Shoe Face dropped his load, immediately knelt down, and begged, “Spare me, sir! My old bones are fragile and not worth eating!”

The figure, who seemed amused by Shoe Face’s reaction, handed him a string of coins, his voice tinged with amusement. “Take this.”

Shoe Face didn’t know what kind of being he was, but the weight of the coins was real. Surprisingly, the spirit’s voice was rather pleasant, reminiscent of the sound of jade chimes in a jewelry store.

After a long pause, Shoe Face finally caught his breath. “Sir… you really scared me. Your ordered meat and vegetables are here. I’ll be on my way now…”

“Hold on,” the man said leisurely. “I have a job for you. If you’re available, you can come with us to the north of Qizhou.”

“You’re going to the martial arts conference? Okay, I can call a few more people.” Shoe Face’s heart settled, realizing the man was actually human.

“Very well. Come back here at dusk.”

The man effortlessly picked up the basket of vegetables and meat and soon disappeared into the trees.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Shoe Face muttered to himself about the eccentric ways of these people. Why wear a creepy mask when there’s no audience?

Yin Ci didn’t care about the porter’s thoughts. He quickly returned to a cottage by a mountain stream.

Beside the stream was a four-wheeled wooden chair. The person on the chair had long hair cascading down, shoulders slouched, and an air of desolation about him. Su Si clumsily brewed medicine on a small stove while Lord Bai dozed off on the side, transformed into a lump of soft white fur.

“Su Si, you haven’t fully recovered. Go rest for a bit.” Yin Ci put down the basket of vegetables and meat and said lightly, “I’ll give you your medicine later.”

Shi Jingzhi sat weakly in the chair, as if he didn’t even have the strength to turn his head. Even though it was late spring, he was still covered with animal skins. His dark long hair covered his face, hiding his expression.

“A’Ci,” he whispered. “Before I die, I want to eat… tofu and fresh fish soup, with extra roselle… served with white rice.”

Yin Ci walked over expressionlessly and lightly tapped his head. “So talkative even when you’re about to die? Are you pretending for fun?”

“It’s fun,” Sect Master Shi immediately replied.

As Shi Jingzhi raised his head, his eyes were filled with joy. He moved too abruptly, causing some face powder to fall off, revealing the healthy skin underneath.

“…But it will be boring once we descend the mountain. Once we do, I’ll have to pretend to be sick and stay seated in my wooden chair. By then, I’ll only have bland porridge to eat. How will I live?”

Shi Jingzhi pretended to cover his face and wipe non-existent tears.

“I want to eat white rice with tofu and fresh fish soup, plus clear stewed pork knuckle. The meat pie is delicious, and the beggar’s chicken from the other day was good too. Zizhu–”

Yin Ci was both amused and annoyed, it seemed this man intended to overeat before leaving. Thankfully, they had four grown men to finish the food.

“I’ve already bought the ingredients; I knew you’d want them,” he said helplessly. “If you want fresh fish, catch it yourself.”

“Great! Speaking of beggar’s chicken, I’ve watched it being made. I’ll cook it for you today.”

Shi Jingzhi instantly perked up. He quickly stood up from the wooden wheelchair, walking briskly. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to kiss Yin Ci’s cheek. Watching his retreating figure, Yin Ci felt a mix of happiness and concern.

…The cause of the illness was clear, but Shi Jingzhi’s “sickness” was still incurable.

Regarding this matter, the Kushan Sect discussed it overnight—

Half a month ago, late at night. The four from the Kushan Sect sat in the Shafu wasteland, all with serious expressions.

“Wait, let me get this straight.”

Su Si rubbed his head.

“The Immortal Assembly has been gathering vital qi from living beings for hundreds of years by setting up flesh idols everywhere. They infuse this qi into a living person, forcibly creating gifted ‘Children of Desire’? You vomit blood every day because you can’t handle this much vital qi and are about to burst?”

“Exactly.”

Shi Jingzhi omitted the part about Yin Ci being the “raw material” and his own identity as a “prince”.

Su Si exclaimed, “Are they crazy? Holding so much vital qi, they could do anything better than just raising you. Even using it to light fires or make medicines would be more worthwhile!”

Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi: “…” This kid still has no respect.

Yan Qing noticed his friend’s inappropriate comment and quickly changed the subject. “I also find it strange. With the outside world in chaos, if something happens to Sect Master Shi, won’t all their efforts be in vain?”

“I’ve thought about it and have no solution.” Shi Jingzhi pondered, stroking his chin. “And Su Si has a point. If the Immortal Assembly possesses such a technique, they could do much more than just raising someone like me.”

‘But all they did was create these inexplicable “Children of Desire”,’ Yin Ci thought. Even with his own immortality example, the Immortal Assembly wasn’t seeking immortality.

What exactly was the Hundred-Year Project of the past century? Why did the Children of Desire exist? It didn’t make sense to say that Shi Jingzhi’s taking away vital qi caused “Heaven’s Displeasure”, when people recover faster from minor injuries.

Determining the progression of illnesses and injuries to decide if it was “Heaven’s Displeasure” was intricate. Whether the Immortal Assembly could do it was questionable, especially when Shi Jingzhi couldn’t control the vital qi. Could he possibly regurgitate what he had taken in?

It wasn’t that simple.

To cure Shi Jingzhi, they had to stop the flow of vital qi. But the method to guide the qi was in Shi Jingzhi’s blood. They couldn’t possibly bleed him out. If they let him convert vital qi into real qi using pure inner force daily, they could only delay his death slightly.

Thinking of the numerous flesh idols, Yin Ci suddenly had a vague idea.

Considering their relationship, they shouldn’t rush. They should prioritize capturing Qu Duanyun and gather more intel on the “Hundred-Year Project”.

……

While Yin Ci was reminiscing, he almost ran into two fat fish.

Holding the cleaned fish, Sect Master Shi waved them in front of Yin Ci with a smile that showed no trace of madness or fear.

“Here. The fattest fish.” Shi Jingzhi chuckled. “Su Si wanted me to use the butcher knife to scrape off the scales… When will you tell him about your identity as ‘Su Zhi’? I watched that kid waving the knife around recklessly, and it hurt me.”

“I’ll tell him eventually. And when I do, I’ll beat him up for you. Don’t worry.”

Lord Bai turned its head and stared deeply at Yin Ci. However, it was quickly swayed by the leafy greens Yin Ci fed it, and its reproachful gaze gradually softened.

However, Shi Jingzhi inherited its spirit and squinted at Yin Ci for a moment. He cleared his throat with a meaningful tone. “I’m very reassured. Zizhu has big plans. How can you bear to hide it from a master who hasn’t yet been formally accepted?”

Yin Ci: “…”

“Minor schemes don’t matter. After all, I haven’t been formally accepted as your master.”

There was no need to emphasize it twice. Yin Ci sighed and handed over a meat pie. “Alright, alright. I will consider it and discuss it with you in detail later.”

Only then did Shi Jingzhi contentedly bite into the pie and return to his four-wheeled wooden chair. Yin Ci touched the charm on his chest, unable to express his complex emotions.

No matter how Shi Jingzhi pretended to be fine, he could still hear the man coughing up blood in the middle of the night. There wasn’t much time left for him to consider.

He only hoped that the plans for the martial arts conference would proceed smoothly. Whether it was the truth behind the Hundred-Year Project or the efficacy of the Shirou, they must extract it from Qu Duanyun.

Elsewhere in Yidu, inside the imperial palace.

Ever since the Prince of Rong, Xu Jingming, went to Shafu, his temperament changed. He no longer wandered around, barely even stayed in his own mansion, and took any opportunity to visit the imperial palace.

He and the current emperor were maternal brothers and were closer than the other princes. Xu Jingming, being idle and unlearned, didn’t concern the emperor, so he was allowed to stay in the palace.

The emperor enjoyed tea after meals. On this day, with light official duties, Xu Jingxing invited this younger brother to share stories from his trip to Shafu. Although Xu Jingming was now cautious, he would never disrespect his elder brother.

High Royal Highness, the Prince of Rong deliberately, chose new clothes, tried his best to look spirited, and then set foot on the long corridor to the tea pavilion. The spring breeze made Xu Jingming particularly uneasy.

If Qu Duanyun was indeed from the “Immortal Assembly”, was he destined not to obtain the “Shirou”?

Ever since returning from Shafu, Xu Jingming had kept his mouth shut. He had no evidence, so he didn’t voice out his suspicion that “Qu Duanyun was plotting against him”. When asked by others, he simply said that the Kushan Sect caused a disturbance in Chigou and wanted to use the martial arts conference to snatch the Shirou.

And he just happened to be caught in the chaos.

Since he usually behaved unpredictably, not many questioned him. Xu Jingming even almost believed his own story. However, he remained clear-headed and didn’t approach the “Shirou” again.

No matter how bold Xu Jingming was, he couldn’t face death. If he tried to get the “Shirou” again, his life might be in danger.

Since both the “Immortal Assembly” and that villain Shi Jingzhi want the “Shirou”, let them fight each other. Even if he couldn’t be the oriole*, he wouldn’t become the fish in the pond that gets hurt.

*This is referencing the idiom “The praying mantis catches the cicada while the oriole follows”. It refers to while coveting the gains ahead, one should be aware of the dangers behind.

His elder brother didn’t believe in supernatural matters, so the “Shirou” might not catch his eye. Even if his Emperor Brother had been recently unwell, he had the imperial doctors taking care of him.

Maybe he should collect some rare medicinal materials and give them to his Emperor Brother as soon as possible. What was so special about the “Shirou”? If he could find a rare item like the “Ice Peak Snake Lotus”, his Emperor Brother might be even happier.

He wasn’t going to mediate the conflict between the Emperor and the Imperial Preceptor. The previous Imperial Preceptor treated him well, but the current one, Jiang Youyue, wasn’t a good person.

The more Xu Jingming thought, the lighter his mood became.

“Your Highness.”

A gentle voice rang out, and Xu Jingming felt a chill. Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao appears*. The Prince of Rong slowly turned his head to see a smiling Jiang Youyue not far away.

*Idiom referring to when you’re talking or thinking about someone, they appear (AKA Speak of the devil, and he appears).

Every time Xu Jingming looked at Jiang Youyue, he felt displeased. He vaguely responded, taking it as a greeting.

Jiang Youyue seemed unbothered by Xu Jingming’s attitude. He continued forward gracefully. They should have just passed by each other, but for some reason, Xu Jingming looked back.

Jiang Youyue was also looking at him.

It was a very brief glance. If Xu Jingming were still the old Prince of Rong, he might not have thought much of it. But this time, he saw it clearly.

He saw contempt.

When it came to “contempt”, perhaps no one knew it better than Xu Jingming. However, when Xu Jingming looked down on his servants, he still recognized them as “people”.

The way Jiang Youyue looked at him was as if he was looking at an insignificant ant.

Birds chirped on the corridor’s side, surrounded by green trees. The spring breeze was warm, but Xu Jingming felt ice-cold.

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