Duosang Jiacuo would say things with childlike innocence, and genuine amusement shone in his smile, yet when one observed his demeanor and looked into his eyes, he radiated an otherworldly sense of tranquility and peace.
The fellow probably truly was an authentic master.
At that moment, clad in a red monk's robe, this true master bowed slightly in courtesy and raised his head to look at Han Qingyu, his gaze calm and sincere.
He had switched up his routine. With the first three, he had asked to be beaten, but when it came to Han Qingyu, he wanted to do the hitting instead.
An extreme three-for-one trade?!
Han Qingyu stood frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.
Beside him, the iron armor clattered as Rusty Sister nodded twice. Bringing an upright palm before her chest, she said with solemn piety, "Certainly, Master. Go ahead and strike."
"Strike as you please, so long as he doesn't die." Wen Jifei raised an upright palm as well, wearing an expression of boundless compassion. "Qingzi, in front of so many local residents, please show some respect for the master's request."
In short, Wu Xu was the only one left who still acted like a decent human being.
Now that they had consented, Duosang Jiacuo's eyes shone with childlike excitement.
"Splendid, here I come then,"
he said. Straightening up, he rolled his shoulders, rested his left hand on his right shoulder... and seemed poised to wind up his arm a few times before hurling a punch.
"...!" Han Qingyu leaped backward on the spot, clearing over a dozen meters in an instant.
Duosang Jiacuo remarked, "Aiyo, you're even giving me room for a run-up..."
"Fuck off..." Han Qingyu said. "No, I mean, I refuse. My apologies, Master. I have injuries that haven't healed yet."
Judging by Duosang Jiacuo's reactions when taking hits earlier, his strength was at least above top-tier, quite possibly even in the super rank. Even in his four-turbine state, Han Qingyu wouldn't dare take such a blow lightly, let alone now when he was unwilling to waste a metal block and could only engage three turbines.
"Oh, so that's how it is." A trace of disappointment flickered in Duosang Jiacuo's eyes. Dropping his stance, he bowed. "Then I was being presumptuous."
"He's lying to you, Master. His injuries healed ages ago," Rusty Sister said.
Duosang Jiacuo asked, "Hm?"
The "hm" trailed off into an excited cadence. At the same time, as if coiled on a spring, the master bounced upright. He looked at Rusty Sister, who nodded vigorously; he looked at Wen Jifei, who nodded sincerely; he looked at Wu Xu...
Wu Xu kept his back turned to Han Qingyu, his whole body motionless, merely pursing his lips and letting out a low, muffled "Mmh."
Duosang Jiacuo turned back to Han Qingyu.
"Major Qing, you..."
"Not a chance."
"I beg of you."
"Don't give me that."
"I will give you something after the hit."
"Don't... What kind of thing?!" Han Qingyu walked over, trying his best to rein in his enthusiasm.
Beside them, Wen Jifei and Rusty Sister exchanged a glance. Of course, Wen Jifei couldn't actually see Rusty Sister's eyes through the visor, but he could easily imagine them.
"If it's source energy blocks, three or five won't cut it. If it's a metal block, that might barely do," Han Qingyu said.
Duosang Jiacuo replied, "I have very few of those things either."
"Then we have nothing to talk about." Han Qingyu turned to leave.
"The item is a piece of bone," Duosang Jiacuo spoke behind him, his tone calm yet brimming with confidence.
Sure enough, Han Qingyu froze, then spun around.
"What kind of bone?"
"A bone bearing the exact same aura as the one on your person," Duosang Jiacuo said placidly. "I... picked it up from someone else in my earlier years.
"Ahem, that was before I renounced secular life. Well, in any case, I know neither where it originated nor what creature it belonged to. Do you want it? If it really puts you in a tight spot..."
"Look what you're saying, Master! It's not like I'm someone greedy for a bone. I simply enjoy sparring with others."
Han Qingyu jogged over as he spoke, took a deep breath, and stood firm.
With a smile, he said, "After you, Master."
Meanwhile, he thought to himself: *If you bald monk dare fob me off with some random cow bone or something after the hit, I swear I'll risk opening four turbines today just to hack you to pieces.*
"Mmh, good." Duosang Jiacuo beamed, stepped back a few paces, and began winding up his arm again.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...*
The air roared violently.
The residents all looked on in shock, and even Rusty Sister and Wen Jifei grew somewhat tense and worried.
"Here I come!"
The moment the words fell, a flash of red streaked across the ground. Duosang Jiacuo was impossibly fast; accelerating into a sprint, he threw his fist—*bang!*
Then, one second, two seconds, three seconds passed.
Amid the dead silence and petrified gazes of the crowd, Duosang Jiacuo quietly drew back his fist, pressed his palms together, and said with a solemn countenance, "Sure enough, fuck me, I can still only take a beating, not dish one out."
Han Qingyu stood right where he was, completely unmoving, as his peak three-turbine surge slowly subsided.
He had braced himself to be sent flying, and wouldn't even have minded coughing up a mouthful of blood on the spot.
Yet the outcome... how should one put it? It wasn't that the master's offensive prowess was truly feeble, but the power and surge behind Duosang Jiacuo's punch were roughly on par with He Tangtang's. Compared to his astonishing resilience when taking hits earlier, the difference was night and day.
"So this is why they say you aren't suited for the battlefield, Master?" Han Qingyu asked.
Duosang Jiacuo nodded. "Indeed. Tell me, isn't that fucking depressing enough to vex the Buddha himself?"
Han Qingyu agreed, "Yeah."
"Buddha, forgive me, I was wrong," Duosang Jiacuo looked up at the sky and repented.
Lowering his head, he instantly reverted to his demeanor of an eminent monk—tranquil, serene, and carrying an air of profound wisdom.
Turning around, he looked at the plateau dwellers without the slightest hint of embarrassment and said, "You must be tired. Follow me back.
"As for the four of you, seeing as your whereabouts should not be exposed, I won't invite you to stay for a meal. Please wait here a moment while I fetch the item."
With that, Duosang Jiacuo waved his hand and led the plateau dwellers away.
About twenty minutes later, he returned alone.
"Major Qing, take a look and see if this is the kind of bone you've seen before." Standing before Han Qingyu, Duosang Jiacuo moved aside a dark red cloth draped over his left hand.
A Bone of Eternal Life, his fourth piece. It was only about the size of a thumb, but its aura was potent.
"Yes, thank you, Master." Han Qingyu promptly offered his thanks, tucked the item away, and looked up at Duosang Jiacuo.
"Rest assured, Major Qing. I will never mention this matter to anyone in Azure. In exchange, please promise that once you leave, you won't speak of my situation to anyone either."
"Deal," Han Qingyu answered decisively.
"May your path lead you ever higher." Duosang Jiacuo smiled faintly. He took several steps to the side, coming before Rusty Sister, and raised the dark red monk's robe flat in both hands.
Only then did everyone see clearly that it was not a monk's robe at all, but a voluminous dark red cloak.
"Second Lieutenant Shen faces many inconveniences when traveling abroad. This cloak was originally prepared for the Vajra Masters of our monastery when journeying outside. If you do not mind, try it on," Duosang Jiacuo offered, holding the cloak forward.
Shen Yixiu felt a touch of warmth. "Mmh, thank you, Master." She accepted it with both hands.
The armor she currently wore was not overly thick, nor was her stature excessively large; she generally resembled an ordinary fully-armored Azure warrior.
The cloak was slightly large on her. Rusty Sister pulled up the hood as well.
Draped in red that concealed her iron plating, she spun in a circle on the grassland.
It seemed Rusty Sister was very happy.
Watching from the side, Duosang Jiacuo smiled merrily as well. "Then I shall see you off no further."
He stood there and waved.
The four of them bowed in farewell, turned north, and strode out toward the boundless grassland before them.
Clouds drifted in the sky.
Standing behind them, Duosang Jiacuo watched their retreating figures, then gazed at the sky and the distance... He closed his eyes, reopened them, and murmured to himself, "Go then, go on. For what I see is an exiled blade that shall one day cleave the heavenly clouds and return in all its sharp brilliance."
Behind him, Jiayina came running up, panting for breath. Stopping beside Master Duosang Jiacuo, she cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, "Uncles! Sister! Will Uncle Liu Shiheng come back to see me?"
"He will! Don't you worry!" Wen Jifei shouted back.
At that moment, if one were to draw a line from Jiayina through Wen Jifei, the line would stretch continuously northward until nearing the very edge of the far north.
Bundled in a heavy coat, Liu Shiheng looked up at the sky in boredom. The polar night was descending...
He had money—not just in the country, but in all the accounts he had opened across the globe while gallivanting around the world in the past. At the same time, Young Master Shiheng was extremely careful and cautious. The entire way, he had done his best to avoid crowded areas, picking the most bizarre routes.
Today, he had finally made contact with a ship. The vessel wouldn't arrive for another two days, and its route went through the Arctic Ocean.
"Who the fuck could have ever guessed this?! Haha."
Liu Shiheng comfortably envisioned his upcoming life... A pity he still had to wait two days.
"Just as well. Young master here has never been to the Arctic before anyway. I'll go fish first."
Chapter 372