The Geng Family Patriarch

Those entering the Cold Pool, besides the four who had held secret discussions, also included Old Huang and Old Wu carrying offerings. Qin Xuan gave Liu Xi and Yu Han some instructions, cast a water-avoiding charm on himself, and followed behind Geng Zhi, entering the water along that whirlpool. The water-avoiding charm was a minor spell, usable only on lakes with calm currents. It was sufficient for this Cold Pool. As soon as he entered the water, he sensed something amiss. Elder Wu was not as simple as Geng Zhi had said; it had already cast spells in the water, completely without need of a water-avoiding charm. This whirlpool led straight to the bottom. At first there was still light, but the deeper they went the darker it became; at twenty or thirty zhang deep, one could not see one's hand before one's face. All around was deathly still, occasionally an icy current sliding past beside him. Suddenly ahead appeared a faint light; as it drew nearer, it turned out to be the entrance to a cave abode. Qin Xuan landed at the rear; the others were already standing at the cave entrance. Stone pillars stood on either side, growing water moss and water shells. Elder Wu glanced at them, gave a cold snort, swished its tail, and entered first. Inside was another world: first a long corridor, embedded with many night pearls, large as hen's eggs, small as soybeans, illuminating the water bottom with a greenish luster. At the end of the corridor it suddenly opened up into a great hall. The hall was the size of three or five rooms; stalactites hung from the ceiling like ice spears, like curtains and draperies, in a thousand forms. Surrounding pearl-light reflected, as if a fairyland. Qin Xuan was greatly surprised; this fish demon's cave abode was not bad! He also saw a stone stele inscribed: "The Spirit Grotto is unstained by mortal dust; the Water Palace has its own heavenly fragrance." Oh, it seemed this abode was not built by the fish demon; most likely it was a case of the cuckoo taking over the magpie's nest. "Gentlemen, please be seated." Elder Wu spat out a water bubble, indicating the stone table in the hall to everyone. The table was spread with brocade, set with bowls, dishes, cups, and goblets, and a table of fine chicken and duck dishes, as if they had known they were coming. Old Huang and Old Wu had no seats, standing behind Geng Zhi. After Qin Xuan and the others were seated, Elder Wu suddenly became polite, holding a small cup of wine, asking about their origins one by one. Geng Zhi needed no introduction; after Jinghui and Jinyanshu announced themselves, Elder Wu's pair of fish eyes fixed on Qin Xuan: "Young fellow, what is your background?" Qin Xuan smiled and gave him only three words: "Guanjiang Mountain." Having said that, he joined his fingers in the sword-finger technique, pointing at the cups and goblets on the table from afar; the wine turned into a sword-like stream of light, which he swallowed in one mouthful. The sharp qi contained within was clearly Immortal Gate Sword Art at a glance. Elder Wu's eye corner twitched. Earlier when it asked Jinyanshu's background and learned he was a rogue cultivator from Linpu City, it had only moistened its lips with a little wine, very much not giving face. Now it drank it all down. And in front of Jinyanshu, it poured two more cups in succession. Its cold fish face suddenly broke into an ugly and eager smile, its words all the more generous: "Qin brother, come, bottoms up!" "Elder Wu, you are too kind." Geng Zhi beside them interjected: "Elder Wu, we..." Halfway through, Elder Wu interrupted with a frown: "Call me Elder Wu, don't disturb my drinking with Qin brother. The accounts between the two of us can be settled slowly." The fish demon was like a chameleon, turning its face to Qin Xuan, again becoming a smiling face, and pushing a plate of spirit fruit before him: "These are early spring hawthorn berries, raised by this water abode's spirit spring, my favorite. Qin brother, try some fresh ones." Jinyanshu coldly observed from the side. In his heart he secretly swore: within his lifetime, he must find a way to use the lineage identity of Daoist Fangyuan to return to Guanjiang Mountain. He wanted to climb step by step to the highest position, when the time came making this fish demon who looked down on him serve tea and pour water, to toy with him properly. Qin Xuan picked up a hawthorn berry, tasted it carefully, and his eyes brightened involuntarily. This fruit had abundant spiritual qi and was extremely sweet. As the saying goes, don't strike a smiling face; he and Elder Wu had no grudge, and the other was so courteous, so he also smiled: "Elder Wu, first attend to your proper business." Elder Wu nodded, coldly looking at Geng Zhi: "Where is the thing I want?" Geng Zhi said: "Right before your eyes." Jinghui, Qin Xuan, and Jinyanshu all looked at Geng Zhi, to see what treasure he would produce. However, Geng Zhi's action made them tremble with fear. "Elder Wu, the thing you want is here." Geng Zhi pointed in the direction of the three, pointing precisely at Jinghui! Qin Xuan and Jinyanshu felt something was wrong, immediately stepping aside from Jinghui. The latter changed color in alarm, face full of disbelief. "Amitabha, Head of the Geng family, what does this mean?" "Master Jinghui, I said I would not let you return empty-handed. Are you satisfied with this surprise?" Jinghui shook his head: "This poor monk does not understand Head of the Geng family's words." "Hmph! To test me, you ruined my business, caused the deaths of my brothers, and even killed my nephew; do you take me for deaf and blind? This Pingyuan Commandery is not your territory." Geng Zhi was stern in both voice and countenance. Jinghui sighed, still shaking his head: "Head of the Geng family, you may inquire at Master Zhiguang of Xiling Mountain; this poor monk has a pure background and has no grievance with you; there is a great misunderstanding in this matter." Old Huang asked: "Do you know Huo Yu?" "I did not know him before." "You are lying," Old Huang poked his solar plexus, "when we were singing and dancing on his grave, I saw you were not at peace." Qin Xuan and Jinyanshu stood together, silently eating melons; hearing this, they had a feeling of sudden realization. Geng Zhi stroked his beard, recalling: "Back then I trusted Brother Huo greatly, and went with him to explore a secret place; unexpectedly he stabbed me in the back, causing me to lose all my spiritual power these past years. Back then he set up a yin spirit ghost array, which implicated Elder Wu's child, ruined the feng shui of the Shooting Water Fish clan, causing his career to decline and his spiritual power to not increase but decrease." "This karmic debt falls precisely on you." Upon hearing this, Elder Wu's demonic qi surged all over its body. Qin Xuan asked at the right time: "If so, why did Head of the Geng family not act earlier?" "Young Master Qin does not know; this person is not only sinister and cunning, but has many helpers. I had to lure him here, using the water abode to isolate him. Earlier I told you I had never contacted the Copper Mountain Xieling Sect; this was no falsehood." "He and my brothers are not of the same family." It seemed there were not many troubles; Qin Xuan did not want to ask further. Jinghui suddenly looked at him, solemnly saying: "The two of you must not fall for the scheme. Head of the Geng family is colluding with a demon, intending to divide us and defeat us one by one." Old Wu on the other side sneered: "Since it is a scheme, take out your hundred-treasure pouch and let us search it, to see if there are any yin spirit objects." "This can also prove that last night the corpse-controlling person who entered the ruined temple to test whether the family head's spiritual power had recovered was not you, Master Jinghui!" Hearing this, Jinghui was momentarily speechless. Elder Wu's eyes were full of killing intent: "Back then I was unable to kill that dog Huo Yu with my own hands; today killing you will vent the malice in my heart!" Having spoken, it was about to act. Unexpectedly, Jinghui's face sank, and he suddenly waved his hand; the string of prayer beads turned into eighteen golden pellets, whistling as they flew over. The golden light dimmed for an instant, and yin qi suddenly rose! Yin spirits rushed out from among them, about to set up an array in all directions. Elder Wu did not dodge or evade; it opened its mouth and spat out water arrows, those water arrows carrying biting cold; upon touching the golden pellets, they actually froze the golden pellets and the yin spirits within in midair, clattering down to the ground. Jinghui was greatly alarmed, about to cast another spell, when suddenly he felt the water ripple, his shoulder gripped; Elder Wu had somehow gone around behind him and grabbed his pipa bone in one hand. Exhaling demonic qi from its hand, half of Jinghui's body went numb. Elder Wu dragged him to a memorial tablet, without any more nonsense, reached out and yanked, tearing off Jinghui's head and placing it down. Elder Wu kowtowed three times, then laughed heartily. "Geng Zhi, come with me." It turned and walked toward the depths of the hall, pushing open a stone door, revealing an upward passage. Qin Xuan and the others caught up, discovering an abode within an abode. It was a natural grotto, but artificially repaired. The cave ceiling was over ten zhang high, embedded with countless fluorite stones, arranged in the stars of the heavens, light flowing, like the night sky. Directly below, two stone doors carved full of runes were tightly closed. To the right of the door stood a tombstone with clear inscriptions. As soon as Geng Zhi arrived here, he knelt and bowed his head to the ground. Qin Xuan listened to the sound of Geng Zhi kowtowing, reading the inscription word by word: "Patriarch Geng's testament: within this water abode, I leave several volumes of my essential arts, together with fortuitous encounters. Later-generation disciples who enter this door are my disciples. The old turtle in the center, do not touch it; this turtle is inauspicious, be cautious and wary." So this person was called Patriarch Geng. Geng Zhi stood up and said to Qin Xuan: "Young Master Qin, have I ever deceived you?" Indeed he had not deceived; it really was the grave of Patriarch Geng of the Geng family. However, this did not prevent Qin Xuan from finding him somewhat displeasing: "Head of the Geng family Geng Zhi, actually not straightforward at all." These words were most agreeable; Elder Wu also nodded with delight... ...