Emerging from Wan Manor with mixed feelings, Qin Xuan made his way to a teahouse for a pot of tea.
He had no idea where this "One-Horned Ascetic" hailed from, and he considered himself far from meddlesome.
Yet he couldn't help thinking the scoundrel truly deserved death.
The Wan family had met a pitiful end.
If it lay within his power, he wouldn't mind lending them a hand.
The yin souls formed by the Wan family differed from the yin spirits he had encountered in the ruined temple. By all rights, they should have entered the reincarnation cycle of the Nine Nethers. It was only because their resentment had yet to disperse, compounded by the conferment left behind by an expert, that they lingered in the mortal realm, their minds still clear.
However, having never practiced cultivation, after death they could speak only the tongue of ghosts.
To the ears of the living, it sounded like nothing more than mournful, eerie wailing.
"The reason I can understand the speech of ghosts must be tied to the Taiyin Soul Transformation Art."
His thoughts churning, Qin Xuan looked up toward the sky.
Countless stars hung high across the Nine Heavens, known as the Biluo Star Sea—the place where heavenly astral qi was most abundant.
When mortals gazed at the heavens, they saw only an endless expanse, sparking all manner of reverie.
Yet to the Qi Refining cultivators of the Nine Provinces, the Nine Heavens were hardly unfamiliar.
Some practitioners would brave the danger of astral winds, piercing through veils of cloud laced with snaking lightning to harvest astral qi among the stars.
There were even major sects of the Nine Provinces that established branch sects stationed atop the stars, proudly boasting to the world of being immortal sects high above the Nine Heavens—a magnificent display of grandeur.
Corresponding to Biluo of the Nine Heavens was the Netherworld of the Nine Nethers, located at the end of the Huangquan River beneath the cavern depths, where the dark streams flowed through the cycle of reincarnation.
The reincarnation of living beings followed the workings of the Heavenly Dao; none could manipulate it.
The Yin Court of the Nine Nethers likewise operated relentlessly under the laws of the Heavenly Dao.
Qin Xuan pondered, recalling the words carved on the stone stele—*Fengdu has fallen?*
"Fengdu is the seat of the Yin Court, yet the souls of the Wan family have already smoothly returned to the Nine Nethers. Doesn't that directly contradict Senior Chen Yin's inscription?"
He could make no sense of it and quietly visualized the Taiyin Soul Transformation Art in his mind.
This mental cultivation method was truly unfathomable.
After turning it over for a short while, he grew restless, eager to meet Geng Zhi as soon as possible.
"That fellow is unreliable. If the tortoise shell array chart stays in his hands, it's bound to be lost sooner or later. It's much safer kept with me."
Qin Xuan finished his tea and glanced left and right out the window. Having waited nearly two double-hours, no follow-up moves came after Zeng Mu.
At this moment, no Eagle Eye Technique was prying into his movements either.
He paid his tab and headed toward the Geng residence...
As the twilight mist withdrew to the west, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the Yishui River, which wound through the commandery seat.
Drawing near the Geng residence in the eastern quarter of the city, Qin Xuan reached a ferry crossing just as a fisherman packed up his nets. Carrying an oar across his shoulder and balancing a fish basket on a carrying pole, the man hurried toward home.
The fisherman was roughly forty years old, with sun-darkened skin. He walked with brisk steps, as though pursued by a ghost.
The blade of his oar nearly bumped into Qin Xuan.
"Brother, why the great hurry?"
The fisherman glanced over his shoulder. Seeing a handsome young lad who looked nothing like a villain, he lowered his voice:
"Young man, don't linger out late. These past few days, zombies have been roaming outside the city, eating people in the dead of night."
"Pockmarked Wang the Second on the adjacent street went out to relieve himself the night before last and vanished into thin air. Take my advice: bolt your doors and windows the moment the sun goes down, and don't go wandering about. Wait until the brave heroes of our commandery purge the evil pestilence before you do."
Qin Xuan probed further: "Has Yingyang Prefecture stepped in to handle it?"
As a local fisherman, he was naturally no stranger to Yingyang Prefecture. Whenever river demons or water ghosts appeared, Yingyang Prefecture was usually the one to deal with them, save for Yuansong Temple.
The fisherman let out a sigh:
"They probably will, but word has it Captain Hong went off to the lower river hamlets. Quite a few people went missing from that village, so Captain Hong likely won't be back anytime soon."
Yingyang Prefecture had two captains: besides Captain Hong, there was Captain Lu.
The latter rarely troubled himself with actual work.
Not knowing Qin Xuan's background, the fisherman naturally wouldn't badmouth Captain Lu to his face.
"Many thanks!"
"No need. If you're from out of town, find an inn near Yuansong Temple or Liangfeng Temple and stay put."
As the fisherman walked away, Qin Xuan unobtrusively flicked a small bit of broken silver into his fish basket.
Though gold and silver were mundane items, Qi Refining cultivators had uses for them as well—either refining quantities down into purified essence to meld into artifacts, or employing them as adjuncts in the alchemical arts of lead and mercury.
Hence, they carried considerable value in the streets and markets.
News of the Yunxiu Mountain water palace had long since spread. Although Qin Xuan had entered it, he was a core disciple of Yuansong Temple, so others could do nothing more than look on with envy.
Geng Zhi, however, was in a very different position.
While major powers in Pingyuan Commandery were few, cultivation clans and Qi Refining cultivators were plentiful. In their eyes, Geng Zhi was nothing short of a fat sheep; his predicament was easy to imagine.
Yet what defied understanding was that the fellow hadn't fled immediately, remaining holed up at home instead.
Night was about to fall when Qin Xuan arrived near the Geng family estate.
Over the past decade or so, the Geng family had made its fortune through horse caravans, hauling goods between two commanderies and befriending heroes from all walks of life. The entire household carried a distinct martial air.
Before the vermilion front gate sat a pair of stone lions, fangs bared and claws poised.
Yet behind them hung two lanterns—one bright, one dim—and the door plaque tilted crookedly. Against such a backdrop, even the stone lions failed to project an imposing air.
The wide avenue before the gate was devoid of people, with only a desolate evening wind kicking up dust.
The surroundings appeared quiet, but Qin Xuan knew it was thoroughly bustling beneath the surface.
*Tap, tap, tap...*
His footsteps had been rather light, yet now they sounded like an abnormal intrusion. Upon reaching the main gate of the Geng residence, he immediately felt countless gazes prying from all around.
However, no one stepped forward to bar his path.
"Croak! Croak!"
Near the threshold, two toads hopped out. Their eyes, like specks of black lacquer, stared brightly at him.
Qin Xuan cast a glance over them and paid them no heed.
"Croak! Croak!"
The toads croaked twice more and hopped forward, trailing behind him as if intent on watching what he meant to do inside.
After a few paces, Qin Xuan stopped and turned around.
He abruptly scooped a willow twig from the ground and lashed out. Struck by the twig, fury flared in the toads' eyes, and a layer of yellow light burst from their bodies, enveloping them like a shroud.
Qin Xuan channeled his sword art, and a shimmering white glow enveloped the slender willow twig. With two crisp cracks, the yellow shrouds shattered on impact.
With that strike, the consciousness of whoever controlled the toads from behind the scenes was briefly splintered within their bodies, unable to disengage.
"Don't you know the taboos of Qi Refining cultivators?"
Admonishing them, Qin Xuan swung the willow twig, raining blows down upon them in rapid succession.
The two toads wailed in agony: "Ouch, ouch! Croak, croak, croak!"
"Ouch! Daoist friend, stop hitting us! We know our mistake!"
"We're leaving, we're leaving right now!"
Qin Xuan chuckled. "Oh, not bad. You two fellow Daoists even know a bit of the Human-Demon Symbiosis Technique."
The two toads cried incessantly for mercy. After being whipped dozens of times by Qin Xuan, they were chased into another courtyard.
Many of those watching from the shadows were astonished.
Judging from the toads' actions, they seemed to belong to disciples of Frog Daoist from Wangmiao Mountain. That layer of yellow light was a Wangmiao Mountain spell known as Silt Earth Astral Qi, originally devised to mimic the method of Core Formation cultivators who refined baleful energy into astral qi.
This technique enjoyed great renown in Pingyuan Commandery; none but core disciples of Wangmiao Mountain were permitted to practice it.
Who would have thought it could be broken so effortlessly?
Many gazes turned toward the willow twig Qin Xuan casually tossed aside. It was truly a mundane object, yet he had shattered the astral qi with it—a remarkably refined display of skill.
A li away from the Geng residence stood a small courtyard.
Inside, a young man in hemp robes suddenly let out an eccentric yelp of pain, shouting to the senior brother beside him:
"That kid from Yuansong Temple is utterly abominable! Knowing full well the Human-Demon Symbiosis Technique shares physical sensations, he still whipped us like that! How outrageous!"
Though he bore no wounds, he ached terribly.
Pulling out a bottle of Safflower Miracle Oil for external injuries, he didn't even know where to rub it.
Massaging himself haphazardly, he asked in wonder, "Senior Brother, don't you feel any pain?"
The senior brother knitted his brows. "Strange, truly strange. Could it be that my whole body was itchy? Being whipped by that willow twig actually felt rather refreshing..."
"What?!"
……
With a creak, the main gate of the Geng residence swung open. Old Huang and Old Wu led the way, respectfully ushering Qin Xuan inside.
Crossing through two winding corridors past the entrance brought them into a massive courtyard.
No flowers or trees could be seen, only a ground paved in blue flagstones. Weapon racks stood on either side, displaying rows of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. In the center lay a martial drill ground roughly half an acre across, its tamped earth packed hard as iron.
Several glossy white horses were tethered beneath the covered walkway, snorting as Qin Xuan walked past.
Beyond that, not a single extraneous sound could be heard in the residence.
"Where are the people of the household?"
Qin Xuan naturally meant the maids and servants.
Old Huang explained, "After the residence came under surveillance, several servants were killed. The master handed out some silver and dispersed everyone who wasn't involved. Now, only us old-timers remain."
He pointed toward the horses. "Even the stable hand went back to his hometown today."
"Your situation isn't looking good."
"It's very bad."
Qin Xuan spoke as they walked: "Those outsiders are interested in Master Geng's gains. Why haven't they simply moved in to take them?"
Old Huang didn't conceal anything. "Because people from Mount Tong arrived, claiming the things here belong to them."
"The Xieling Sect?"
"Precisely."
"And the outsiders are that obedient?"
"A few of the disobedient ones died. The rest are watching the fire from across the river. Because the Xieling Sect hasn't dared to strike, everyone else assumes we must have a backup plan."
"What is the Xieling Sect afraid of?"
Having asked, Qin Xuan glanced sideways into Old Huang's eyes, hearing him reply without hesitation:
"People from the Xieling Sect once suffered at the master's hands; they're startled birds frightened by the mere twang of a bow. Monk Jinghui died under peculiar circumstances, unable to send word out via sect secret techniques. That made the Xieling Sect even more wary, as they can't gauge whether the master's magic power has recovered."
"The minor characters who came harassing us these past few days were handled by our men."
"However..."
Old Huang paused, and Wu Xuanshu chimed in from the side: "We're also nearing our limit. The defensive formations in this residence are dilapidated, and our spirit stones are nearly exhausted."
Qin Xuan asked again, "Haven't you sought help?"
"We haven't. Friends within the commandery can't resolve this; involving them would only drag them down. Some factions have approached us of their own accord, but the master hasn't agreed to their terms."
Old Wu lowered his voice: "To tell the truth, we never planned to agree to their demands, only stalling for time. The master says... those people cannot be trusted."
Upon hearing this, Qin Xuan smiled. "I see. So you specifically picked an honest fellow like me, didn't you?"
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!"
The burly men waved their hands repeatedly in unison, declining the notion. None of them believed the man standing before them was an honest, gullible sort.
Just moments ago, they had heard the two toads from Wangmiao Mountain howling outside under his lashes. Would an honest fellow ever do something like that?
"The day you left Yunxiu Mountain, why didn't you leave right away?"
As Qin Xuan asked the question, a voice carried from within: "Young Master Qin, allow Geng to explain."
Night fell completely. A single oil lamp burned inside the chamber, its dim yellow light falling upon a middle-aged man wearing a scholar's cap, looking somewhat haggard.
After inviting Qin Xuan to take a seat, Geng Zhi reached into his sleeve and produced a stone slate, handing it over.
Qin Xuan examined it and saw that it was indeed the tortoise shell array chart from the water palace, capable of completing the missing portions he had yet to see.
Stowing the slate away, he said, "Master Geng is quite straightforward. Aren't you afraid I might take the item and simply walk away?"
"Young Master Qin is a modest gentleman of upright character. I believe my eyes have not deceived me."
A smile appeared on Geng Zhi's haggard face.
Then he explained:
"The day we left Yunxiu Mountain, I could indeed have fled. But the moment I left, the Xieling Sect would have concluded I had no magic power and hunted me down without hesitation. Whether I could have escaped is uncertain, but the brothers following me would not have survived—not a single one."
"In this life, a man must have brothers he refuses to fail. Am I right, Young Master Qin?"
Qin Xuan nodded. "Those words of yours are worth at least three cups of wine. However, I have a question."
"Please, speak."
"After all, they possess no cultivation aptitude. Relying solely on cold steel, no matter how devoted they are, how can they ever keep pace with your footsteps?"
Geng Zhi's gaze turned deep as he said slowly, "Young Master Qin, are there many clever people in this world?"
"Many."
"Indeed, there are many clever people. Among them are individuals of transcendent intellect who lack cultivation aptitude yet refuse to accept mediocrity. Why should only immortals be allowed to roam heaven and earth? Why shouldn't mortals be permitted to ascend the Nine Heavens or plunge into the Nine Nethers?"
"Thus, certain peerless heroes poured out their life's blood over hundreds of generations to create a miraculous path known as Fiendgod Body Refining."
Geng Zhi continued, "Those whose physical bodies reach the pinnacle of strength may be called fiendgods."
"I possess a substantial portion of that method. Though the requirements are harsh, it offers these brothers of mine a glimmer of hope."
Geng Zhi fixed his gaze on him and said in a measured tone:
"Therefore, Young Master Qin, if you provide timely help in our hour of need today, in the future, you may find a host of fiendgods standing at your side..."
……
Chapter 23