Bells

Seeing the white-robed woman paying at the counter, Qin Xuan felt all the more that the book was vital—as though a celestial sword art were about to slip through his fingers. Pride was important, but he was hardly some grand dignitary anyway. Amitabha your Buddha—on this count, he would just have to channel a bit of the Western Religion's shameless spirit. Qin Xuan tossed aside the erotic tales, only to pause, pick them back up, and return them properly to their place on the shelf. Only then did he hurry toward the young woman. By this point, she had already put away her coin pouch. The purchase was complete. "Miss, could you perhaps part with that book?" As Qin Xuan spoke, he had already prepared his backup plea in his mind: if she refused, he would simply ask for a brief look. The woman in white turned toward him, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. In a gentle, soft voice, she said, "I have often heard it said that immortal Qi Refining cultivators seek out the secluded and scenic, dwelling amidst the spiritual grace of mountains and streams, accompanied by plain tea and light fare as they brew celestial stones and white elixirs. Judging by your bearing, sir, you are vastly different from the ordinary folk bustling through the marketplace. "You surely come from immortal grottoes and blessed lands of mist and clouds. Why would you have any interest in a mundane storyteller's tale?" Seeing that the young woman possessed a sharp eye, Qin Xuan did not deny it. He merely replied, "You think of it far too idyllically, Miss. While Qi Refining cultivators may live a bit longer and have more time to reflect, troubles never truly leave us. Our sorrows are often greater than those of worldly folk, which is why there are sayings like 'worldly rise and fall are common fare.' "I desire this book precisely to dispel my sorrows." Cradling the volume, the white-robed woman pressed on. "How could this *Spring Flowers, Autumn Harvest* dispel your sorrow?" Qin Xuan seized the opening. "Spring flowers are the cause; autumn harvest is the fruit. As the saying goes, 'Plant flowers for three hundred li in youth, only to gather half a basket of fruit in old age.' Cultivation often brings confusion, so naturally one wishes to reclaim the past and find the self that was never lost. "Whether immortal or mortal, both cherish the beginner's heart. Perhaps this worldly book can help me gather up my past." Having heard him out, the woman opened the book and quickly flipped through it. She made as if to hand it to Qin Xuan, but hesitated halfway as though regretting it, pulling it back. "Sir, may I ask your esteemed name?" "My family name is Qin, and my given name is Xuan." Once Qin Xuan answered, she passed the book over. Qin Xuan took it and was just about to offer his thanks. The white-robed woman suddenly covered her lips and laughed. "Young Master Qin truly is an amusing man. You can spin lies to deceive people without batting an eye, and yet you make it sound so reasonable that I cannot even refute it. And to think—an immortal cultivator with leisure enough to read romance tales claims to have so much sorrow." At this, she broke into a giggle. Qin Xuan's face fell, his mood souring slightly. "And what might your name be, Miss?" "Me? My name is Bai Ran." She gave her answer. From their brief exchange, she already knew that the youth before her possessed quick wit and sharp eloquence; continuing the conversation would only put her at a disadvantage. Refusing to give Qin Xuan a chance to vent his frustration, she added, "Young Master Qin, until fate brings us together again." With that, she gathered up her books and walked away. Her white-robed silhouette vanished into the crowd moments later. Qin Xuan let out a soft chuckle and brought out *Spring Flowers, Autumn Harvest*. What did a war of words matter? He had not spent a single coin on this book, so who had really come out on the losing end? Just as he was about to flip it open, his senses flared. He felt a fierce gust of wind plunging from the tiles of the adjacent roof. From the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of yellow. Qin Xuan swiftly tucked the book away and stepped forward, striking out faster than the incoming gale! His right hand reached into the air, fingers locking tightly onto the yellow flash, grasping a soft, squishy mass. Applying just a bit of force, he heard... "Meooww—!!" A pathetic feline shriek echoed through the alley. The cat was plump, round, and covered in mottled fur. At this moment, its body was rigid, its tail puffed out like a bottle brush. Just as it tried to struggle, another jolt of pain shot through it, and it dared not twitch another muscle. Two round eyes, wide as copper bells, stared fixedly at the hand holding it captive. Pity the two little bells between its legs—Qin Xuan had nearly crushed them to bursting. "Meoowwooww~~!" It cried out in mournful agony, as though it were about to be turned into a cat maiden on the spot. "Young Master Qin!" "Young Master Qin, please show mercy!" Not far off, Zhu Gui and Zhu Ping were drenched in cold sweat. Two burly men who could sprint freely through rugged mountains tripped over each other on the flat ground of the alley, tumbling into an undignified heap. Terrified that Qin Xuan might court disaster, Zhu Gui cast all secrecy aside and called out as he scrambled to his feet, "Young Master Qin, that cat has a tremendous background! You cannot harm it!" While they were shouting, Qin Xuan had already shifted his grip, pinching the fat cat by the scruff of its loose flesh. The fat cat was terrified out of its wits and dared not misbehave. It had roamed Pingyuan City unchallenged for so long, yet this was the first time anyone had dared lay a hand on it—and nearly crippled its 'martial prowess' to boot. This brutally savage man before it was absolute poison; it could not afford to provoke him. And so, Zhu Gui and Zhu Ping witnessed that notoriously disobedient cat dangling obediently in Qin Xuan's hand as he swung it gently through the air, exceptionally docile. "Brothers Zhu, could this be the very cat Manor Lord Zhu dotes on so dearly?" This matter was a secret, mentioned only during their peril at the ruined temple. Zhu Gui nodded, glancing all around. Seeing no eavesdroppers, he lowered his voice. "Young Master Qin, whatever you do, do not spread word of this. This cat is named A'quan. Because our manor lord's ancestors had ties to an exalted figure, he was granted the opportunity to care for it for a time." Beside him, Zhu Ping lamented, "The cat is unruly and swift as lightning. It often slips outside the manor to play, which makes life miserable for us all." Qin Xuan recalled the flash of yellow from earlier. Had he not been studying sword arts and honed his senses, he might not have caught it at all. "This cat moves so fast. How did you two manage to track it down?" Zhu Ping extended his hand, revealing a jade talisman resting in his palm. Qin Xuan recognized it all too well—it was a Talisman of Conferment, the very life-saving talisman Old Daoist Wu had given him, now being used on a cat. Moreover, it was not being used to confer godhood upon a spirit, but merely as a homing beacon for fear of the beast running off. Just what kind of domineering, extravagant figure was this? "I return it to you both. I will certainly keep this secret." He hurriedly handed the cat back. Heavens above, this creature was too precious; he could never afford to pay for it if it broke. He glanced down at the cat's bells; fortunately, they were still intact. "Meow—!" The moment the fat cat landed in Zhu Gui's arms, it showed signs of stirring, but one look at Qin Xuan sent a phantom ache straight to its bells. It immediately shrank back, not daring to act brazenly before this fierce brute. Zhu Gui expressed his thanks, and Qin Xuan casually inquired about the duck-tongue vine and curled lily stamen. Zhu Ping hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Young Master Qin, truth be told, those mountain-sun herbs were indeed swept up entirely by our manor recently. It was an order from above, and only our manor lord knows the exact reason." With that, he glanced at the cat. The implication was crystal clear: it concerned the figure backing the feline. For the two Zhu brothers to speak this openly was already a great display of loyalty and goodwill. Zhu Gui offered an iron plaque inscribed with the character 'Wei'. "Young Master Qin, given your relationship with our manor lord, if it is solely for your own alchemy needs, you may use this plaque to purchase them at any of the manor's shops." Qin Xuan accepted the token. "Rest assured, I need only a limited amount. I will never put the two of you in a difficult position." "Ai! Speak nothing of difficulty—you shame us!" Qin Xuan exchanged a few pleasantries before asking about the situation at the Geng residence. Zhu Ping sighed. "The Geng residence has seen no peace lately. Many people have died, and even the folks from Yingyang Prefecture have been drawn into it. "Young Master Qin, it would be best if you avoided contact with them." "Thank you for the warning!" Just as they were saying their farewells, a black pigeon landed on the eaves not far away, its eyes sweeping across the group. Normally, no one would pay any mind to a bird perched there. Yet unexpectedly... The cat in Zhu Gui's arms bristled instantly, transforming into a streak of yellow as it sprang straight for the black pigeon. All three men were startled. Qin Xuan frowned. On the nearby roof, pigeon and cat clashed in a frenzy—a claw here, a peck there, moving with blinding speed until they blurred into entwined flashes of black and yellow. "Meooww!" "Coo-coo, coo-coo-coo!" Before long, the black pigeon was battered wide open by the fat cat, feathers scattering in all directions. Clearly outmatched, it flapped its wings in panicked flight, while the cat gave relentless chase, streaking after it. "A'quan!" The Zhu brothers cried out in alarm and, paying no further heed to Qin Xuan, took off in pursuit. In the central district of Pingyuan City, within a dilapidated attic rarely visited by anyone, a tall, gaunt man fumed with fury, cursing under his breath. "Where did that blind stray cat come from, daring to ruin my affairs!" The speaker was, naturally, Zeng Mu. He had been using the spiritual pigeon to execute the Thousand-Li Hawk Eye art. After immense effort, he had finally located Qin Xuan and was just about to spy on his every move when a blasted cat leaped out of nowhere. Preposterous! Zeng Mu's hawk-eyes were currently synchronized with the spiritual pigeon's vision. The cat gave chase for over twenty li and still showed no sign of letting up. Zeng Mu's expression darkened. "Fine, then. I'll lure you here and deal with you properly!" ……