One Person

Qin Ming exhaled a breath of turbid air. Looking back on all that had happened, it felt remarkably like an illusory life. Yet those had all been real experiences. His chest tightened as countless thoughts churned violently within him. He gripped the mutton-fat jade iron saber tightly to calm his emotions. "Be still." He sat back down, forcing himself to stay composed. From childhood until now, not even twenty years had passed, yet his past was already fraught with twists and turns. Any ordinary youth might well have broken down under such torment. Qin Ming turned over the details of his past once more, seeking to avert future risks. He needed to study the dispositions and methods of those people. For none of this was over. Not long ago, Father Cui and Mother Cui had still intended to keep him penned in that remote land. "Fifth Uncle Cui always wore a smile. He was the one who steered me to keep practicing the silk book and stay away from other Newborn methods. In hindsight, it truly benefited me, but at the time, it was meant to seal off my path of advancement." Qin Ming remembered that he had even gone to Father and Mother Cui to seek their advice, and both had agreed with Fifth Uncle Cui. Yet when Cui Chongxuan grew envious of the silk book and wished to practice it as well, Father Cui had berated him, saying it was enough for only one person to train in the art, and promised to seek out the equally terrifying Six Imperial Scriptures for him instead. When Qin Ming expressed a desire to see the Six Imperial Scriptures, Father Cui had merely regarded him with a calm gaze and asked whether he lacked confidence in himself and the silk book. "As Cui Chongxuan approached thirteen, propelled by his elders, he had already undergone his third Newborn and begun consuming three-colored flowers to fuse four types of heavenly light force." Looking back, Qin Ming had already noticed all manner of anomalies back then. It was only because they had lived together for so many years that he had been unwilling to view his kin with malice. Signs had been there all along. From his youth upward, the Cui clan had never spared lavish praise on him, which in turn had drawn numerous assassination attempts. Qin Ming remembered clearly that whenever the Cui clan dispatched the experts closing in on him, their first reaction had never been concern for him, but unreserved delight. Both Father and Mother Cui remained composed, showing neither anxiety nor lingering fear over his harrowing encounters. Afterward, they would invariably commend the experts who had lent their strength, eager to eliminate as many who harbored hostility toward the Cui clan as possible. ... To Qin Ming at present, the Cui clan was undoubtedly a towering peak piercing into the clouds. "The silk book that belongs to me is still there." Whatever else happened, he had to take that book back. Not only was it the sole possession left by his grandfather, but it also concerned his future path. The silk book was incomplete, having had the greater part burned away, yet it was bound to hold lingering emotions, for it carried the condensed lifeblood of several venerable predecessors. Through resonance, Qin Ming could obtain the complete silk book. He was destined to cross paths with the Cui clan; a trip to Qinghe City was inevitable. But reclaiming the silk book would surely stir up unforeseen waves. "Two years ago, during the massive clash between the Cui and Li clans, the Cui clan must have suffered a blow to their vitality, but they should recover before long." Evidently, the Li clan had suffered even greater losses. The Cui clan had mostly deployed elders whose lifespans were nearly spent. Fighting without fear of death, they had targeted the Li clan's promising younger generation in desperate, bloody struggles, intent on cutting down the Li clan's future. Qin Ming had witnessed with his own eyes just how mad those old men had been, which laid bare their absolute devotion to the Cui clan. He could not help but sigh. Such was the deep foundation of a millennial clan, not easily shaken. Moreover, in those transcendent lands, many experts hailed from the great clans. Even when a millennial clan declined, it would rarely collapse completely unless their kinsmen in the transcendent realms crumbled away as well. "In the past, bloody lessons were carved out, deterring all the royal courts." Having recovered his memories, Qin Ming was naturally no stranger to the affairs of great clans. Long ago, a millennial clan was wiped out by a flourishing dynasty. Yet in the end, someone stepped out from the transcendent lands and reestablished that clan, while the dynasty fell into mysterious decline and was ultimately brought to its end. Qin Ming suddenly realized that not only was the Cui clan dangerous to him, but there was also an exceptionally powerful Li clan capable of challenging the status of a millennial clan. At this moment, his chest felt tight once again. These were supposed to be enemies of the Cui clan, matters that originally had nothing to do with him, yet he had been dragged into the middle of it all. The feather-robed youth Li Qingxu had nearly killed him; this matter could never be settled peacefully. In fact, judging by what Qin Ming knew of Li Qingxu's character, the other party would certainly never let him off either. "His malice toward me was anything but shallow. When did it begin?" Qin Ming frowned in recollection. Pondering it carefully, he suspected it had to do with the betrothal to the direct daughter of the Wang clan. Li Qingxu seemed to have known that noble lady long before. "Over a decade of my life... could my luck get any worse? Everything was a lie. Cast aside, near death, forced to take the fall, and finally meant to be held down in a remote wilderness, forbidden from ever walking the Newborn path..." Qin Ming took a deep breath, then forcefully exhaled a heavy knot of pent-up resentment. What did the betrothal to the Wang clan's daughter have to do with him? It was an alliance between the Cui and Wang clans. His impression of the girl went no further than two points: extraordinarily beautiful and very fond of smiling. He had never truly come to know her. The Wang clan's direct daughter was indeed sharp and remarkably adept at navigating social situations; that had been Qin Ming's impression from their sole outing together. Yet afterward, Father Cui had sternly reprimanded him, warning him to mind propriety, avoid suspicion, and cease all private contact. Without a doubt, it was this so-called "romantic grievance," coupled with the hostility between the two great clans, that drove Li Qingxu's deep animosity. Perhaps he had also wanted to eliminate a future rival in the transcendent lands as early as possible. "You should have gone after the real Cui Chonghe!" In that moment, Qin Ming felt a strong urge to emulate Xu Sheng's forthright friend Zhou Lin and unleash a continuous barrage of colorful language. Long after, he calmed himself. What worried him most now was his grandfather. More than a decade had passed; how was the old man faring? Qin Ming frowned. When the Cui clan had sought out a "Cui Chonghe," they must have selected carefully and deemed him the best fit. After all, people in the manor had mentioned that the two bore a resemblance. His grandfather was merely an ordinary person. If the Cui clan had set their eyes on him, the old man would have had no way to resist. Now, the Cui clan forbade him from setting foot in Qinghe City again or returning to his former circle. If he wanted to learn news of his grandfather, asking the Cui clan directly was out of the question; he could only seek other channels. Qin Ming stood and walked toward the exit of the inn. He had not initially planned to visit the City Lord's Estate, but now he had to make the trip. The new city lord, Meng Xinghai, had once told him that he could seek him out upon arriving in Chixia City. In the early morning, the entire city shone brilliantly. The initial glow of fiery dawn dispersed the dark mist, and morning light seemed to steam along the streets and alleys, bringing warmth, brightness, and a sense of hope. It was still early, so Qin Ming found an eatery to have breakfast. "Hmm?!" Just as he settled the bill and prepared to leave, a scene caught his eye and made his heart skip a beat. An elderly woman of the Sun family carefully retrieved coins from her robes and bought a meat pie, handing it to her three-year-old grandson. A smile broke across her wrinkled face, as though her past sorrow had finally dispersed. Two men suddenly approached, one of them barking viciously, "You've got money to buy pies, but none to pay your debts?" The old woman looked astonished. "I don't owe you anything." "Senile old bat! You borrowed from us before, and now you want to renege?" One of the men shoved her, causing her to lose her balance and nearly crash to the ground. The other man caught her, not to help, but to reach directly into her pockets. "Well, well, living quite well, aren't you? You actually have some coin!" He snatched away all the copper coins on the old woman's person. "Don't bully my grandma! Let go of her!" the child cried. "Out of the way, brat!" One of the men swung his hand to shove him. A grown man striking a toddler would inevitably send the child sprawling onto the hard stone, likely breaking his teeth. Yet his hand never reached the boy. Qin Ming appeared abruptly, seizing the man's wrist and drawing a sharp yelp of pain from him. "What a sin... Why won't they leave the Sun family alone? Sigh, the old woman scraping by to raise her grandson is pitiful enough already." "Who is that youth? He actually dared to stop the people from Xinyi Hall." Bystanders whispered among themselves, not daring to intervene. "Who are you? Why are you stopping us?" the man from Xinyi Hall demanded coldly. "This grandmother and grandson have only each other to rely on; their lives are hard enough. Don't push people too far," Qin Ming said. From the murmurs around him, he had already gathered their background. Weren't they the very Xinyi Hall that had seized the Sun family's secret manual? And here they were, still running roughshod over people. He felt a deep pang of empathy. His own family possessed a silk book, proving his forebears had once been formidable as well. Now, his family had not just declined—it had fallen into utter ruin. Thinking carefully, his plight was even worse than Wu Zheng's, not much different from the Sun family's. Qin Ming was already heading to the City Lord's Estate for his grandfather's sake. Seeing such a sight stirred his emotions so deeply that he could hardly hold back. He struck with the Yellow Clay Palm a second time, followed immediately by a third. The two men felt almost nothing as they were shoved back. In truth, within a few days, they would cough blood incessantly, their survival doubtful. "Young master, you should run..." The Sun family elder opened her mouth, filled with worry for him, urging him to leave at once. Qin Ming said, "It's all right. A new city lord has arrived—haven't you heard? He wiped out Golden Rooster Ridge with his own hands and is now moving to deal with those who commit evil. If some people don't know what's good for them, they won't meet a good end." He handed the little boy, whose face was stained with tears while his small hand still clutched the meat pie, back to the old woman. "Quit trying to scare us!" The two men from Xinyi Hall blustered, their bravado paper-thin. "Still don't believe it? Come, follow me to the City Lord's Estate to sort it out and see if you can keep your miserable lives!" Qin Ming barked sharply. "You..." The two backed away. Qin Ming said, "Elder, take the child home. There is no need to worry. I have business to attend to and must visit the City Lord's Estate." These were not empty words, nor was he merely borrowing another's authority. If he saw Meng Xinghai, he would definitely bring up these city affairs. The new city lord would surely want to set an example upon taking office. Suspicious and uncertain, the two men from Xinyi Hall shadowed him from a distance, only to see him genuinely head toward the City Lord's Estate. Their faces instantly paled. At first, the guards at the estate were skeptical, but seeing Qin Ming's composed bearing and extraordinary presence, they did not dare delay and went to announce him. After an interval of more than twenty days, Qin Ming met City Lord Meng once again. "I thought you had gone to another city. Not bad. It's only been a short while, and though your inner light is restrained, your vitality and spirit seem far more abundant than before." Meng Xinghai sized him up. "Greetings, Uncle Meng. I had old injuries before and only recently recovered, which is why my spirits have improved." Qin Ming offered the greeting of a junior. The reception hall was spacious yet unadorned, lacking painted rafters or carved beams. It possessed an antique simplicity, furnished with several porcelain jars, bronzes, and other antiquities, with calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls. Meng Xinghai wore a green robe and appeared around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, looking like a scholar. In reality, he was an imposing figure with an exceptionally fierce saber technique. "You really are something, boy. Right off the bat, you lit a fire for me by sweeping through Golden Rooster Ridge single-handedly on horseback." Qin Ming could neither dispute nor conceal it, for Li Qingyue had seen him that night. "I caused trouble for Uncle Meng." "Sit. It's nothing. Ling Xu, the former city lord, and I both wanted to wipe that place out anyway; we simply wanted to lure out the Golden Bandits first." After taking a seat, Qin Ming said, "I acted on impulse and disrupted Uncle Meng's arrangements." Meng Xinghai smiled. "Having hot blood is a good thing; it is rare to see someone with such a heart. There are other ways to bait the Golden Bandits. I truly hope you can maintain this original nature. Don't be like certain juniors who, despite extraordinary talent, end up... sigh!" "Since Uncle Meng puts it this way, I will certainly not disappoint your expectations. Ah, just moments ago..." Qin Ming spoke up directly and recounted what he had witnessed on the street. Meng Xinghai had not expected him to be so pure and upright, practicing what he preached. Yet thinking carefully, even if this boy was merely a discarded pawn, having been steeped in the Cui clan's great dye vat, he could hardly remain simple. In fact, he already realized the boy was remarkably mature, nothing like an inexperienced youth. "Since you have this heart, help me look into things. Investigate the situation, and take action when necessary—I grant you this authority." Meng Xinghai tossed him a medallion, extraordinarily straightforward. He then asked, "Speak. What brings you to see me?" "I came to thank Uncle Meng for lending a hand at the edge of the desert last time," Qin Ming said. "Only to thank me?" "And Qingyue. I know she must have spoken up on my behalf," Qin Ming replied sincerely. "Mm, you guessed correctly." Meng Xinghai nodded. Qin Ming spoke again: "This time, I also wished to trouble Uncle Meng to inquire about some information." Meng Xinghai listened, then showed surprise. The youth had not asked about the Cui clan's affairs at all; he only wanted to know where his grandfather had gone all those years ago. Meng Xinghai said, "You truly put me in a difficult spot. Even if I were to ask on your behalf, the Cui clan would hardly tell me the truth. Unless you saw Cui Old Seven, but contacting him now is all but impossible; he is already in the transcendent realm." "Do you harbor no doubts about your experiences in the Cui clan?" Meng Xinghai could not help asking. Qin Ming sighed. "I did before, but now I understand. There must be a real Cui Chonghe, and he is about to step out from behind the curtain." Meng Xinghai was astonished. "No wonder some in the Cui clan were wary of you, fearing your extraordinary talent. If you rose and learned the truth, you might harbor resentment and stir up storms. They truly didn't underestimate you." A strange look appeared in his eyes. "Caught in the game with limited knowledge, blinded by mist, you still managed to deduce most of the truth. That is truly remarkable." "Did I guess part of it wrong?" Qin Ming asked. "Not wrong, exactly—merely things you wouldn't know." Meng Xinghai did not conceal it. Sipping his tea, he explained some of the situation. Cui Chonghe had not stepped out of his own accord; rather, someone in the transcendent realms had noticed something amiss. As he grew older, he came to resemble Father Cui more and more. Most critically, someone discovered he had been secretly exchanging letters with the Cui clan. *So that means, as we grew up, our appearances diverged greatly; we only resembled each other slightly in childhood,* Qin Ming thought to himself. "Furthermore, Cui Chonghe's master has emerged from seclusion. Even with the tangled web of factions in the transcendent lands, no one dares touch the Cui clan's son anymore." "Is his master very formidable?" Qin Ming could not help asking. "Mm. Word has it that Cui Chonghe's eldest martial brother had previously been teaching him on their master's behalf while the venerable senior remained in secluded cultivation. Now, having successfully taken half a step forward, his cultivation has reached unfathomable heights. He has officially taken Cui Chonghe as his final disciple, accepting no others hereafter, cherishing him like a precious treasure." Hearing this, Qin Ming fell silent. The disparities in human fortune were vast indeed. "The Cui clan's refusal to let you return to Qinghe City or go to Thousand Stars City, along with their attempt to sever your Newborn path, were indeed due to the real person's exposure." Meng Xinghai told him that the Wang clan in Thousand Stars City was furious and deeply displeased. The Cui Chonghe they had met in the past had turned out to be an imposter, and even they had been kept in the dark. Qin Ming smiled bitterly. Could the Wang clan harbor resentment toward him as well? "Cui Chonghe himself was somewhat disgruntled after learning of your outing with the Wang clan's direct daughter. Someone in the transcendent lands saw him fly into a rage around that time." Qin Ming truly felt like drawing his blade. Why? When all parties reached an understanding, in the end it had become his problem alone, leaving him to bear all the suffering.