Chapter 132: Yin Locust Tree
Suddenly, Wawa crawled out of his hair and stared at the groom on the white horse for a bit. Then, she said in puzzlement, "Hmm? Hey friend, the groom looks exactly the same as you."
"Is that so?" Ye Qing turned serious. He knew that Wawa was no ordinary Stranger. She was a pure soul who could see what most people couldn't see. When he looked up to check out the groom's face once more, the groom turned around to stare at him as well!
Ye Qing shivered. As Wawa said, the groom looked a lot like him. Scratch that, he looked exactly the same as him. Even his gaze was a mirror reflection of his.
It was at this moment a familiar grin spread across the groom's face. Ye Qing blanked out for second, and the next thing he knew, he was sitting on the white horse. He had become the groom himself.
"Please welcome the bride, groom!" The matchmaker, an old woman, said loudly.
Ye Qing slowly got off the horse and walked up to the coffin. He didn't feel in control of himself.
"Please kick the coffin, groom!" The matchmaker yelled again.
Once again, Ye Qing couldn't stop himself from kicking the coffin. Seriously? I know it's tradition to kick the carriage to symbolise having wed one's beautiful bride, but a coffin? My dear dead bride is totally going to come back to life and haunt me, isn't she?
"Please carry the bride, groom!" The matchmaker yelled a third time, and the coffin lid opened on its own. Then, the woman wearing a bridal dress and a red veil over her face sat up without warning.
If he ignored the bride's deathly pale hands, her bony stature, and the suspicious scent permeating the air, he could see that she was quite the beautiful woman in life. But right here and now, the only thing Ye Qing felt was goosebumps!
"Please carry the bride, groom!" The matchmaker yelled again when she saw that Ye Qing wasn't moving.
Ye Qing swallowed. He wanted to carry the bride and get it over with as well, but his legs just refused to listen to him!
When it became apparent that Ye Qing wasn't going to move, the bride slowly floated out of her coffin and landed behind his back. Then, a pair of unblemished arms slithered down his shoulders and wrapped around his neck.
Wow, you're a bold woman, ain'tcha? Ye Qing thought to himself. To say that the bride felt cold would be an understatement. He felt like he was carrying a block of ice.
"Please carry the bride home, groom!" The matchmaker barked a new order.
This is my second life, but I haven't tried carrying a bride before. This should be interesting! Thought Ye Qing as he began walking. However, the longer he walked, the colder and heavier the bride became. Eventually, he felt like he wasn't carrying a block of ice, but a mountain.
It wasn't just a feeling. If Ye Qing could look behind him, he would notice that he wasn't carrying not one, but a mountain of ghosts. She was accompanied by a mountain of ghosts. The ghosts were stacked on top of each other until they reached all the way to the top. When they could not go any higher, they spread out to the surroundings like branches and leaves. From a distance, it almost looked like Ye Qing was carrying a gigantic tree.
Ye Qing was hunchbacked at this point. Every time he took a step, his feet would sink deeper into the ground. His surroundings were covered in a thick layer of frost as well.
"Do you not love me anymore, husband? Or are you having second thoughts about marrying me? If not, why are you walking slower and slower?"
Ye Qing had just pulled his feet out of the earth when Guo Yuniang whispered beside his ear. At the same time, he felt her icy cold arms slowly tightening around his neck as if she would strangle him if she did not like his answer.
What Ye Qing really wanted to say was, "It's because you're way too heavy, woman!" But he was pretty sure his health would be in grave danger if he answered honestly. Instead, he said, "Of course I love you, dear! I love you to death!" Literally, since you know, you're already dead?
"If you really love me, will you stay with me until the end of time?"
As it turned out, his answer didn't really matter. Guo Yuniang continued to tighten her arm around his neck until there was no doubt that she was strangling him. Ye Qing could not seem to feel it, however. He answered, "Sure!" and continued forward.
Guo Yuniang sounded extremely pleased with his answer. "Good, good! Yuniang will stay with you forever, husband. We will never be separated from each other!" She then draped her head over his shoulder and tightened her arms with everything she got.
If Ye Qing died, then they would truly be together forever.
One breath passed…
Three breaths passed…
Five breaths…
Ten breaths…
Guo Yuniang's smile slowly stiffened because the man she was trying to strangle was completely fine. Not only that, cracks were slowly appearing across her arms because she was using too much strength.
"What's wrong? Don't stop! I've never had a neck massage before, but this is more comfortable than I thought!" Ye Qing joked while cracking his neck. "If you're done, then it's my turn now!"
Ye Qing very, very slowly raised his right leg so he wouldn't accidentally topple over from the sheer amount of weight on his back. At the same time, the ground began shaking unnaturally almost as if it was afraid!
After he had raised his foot about three inches into the air, he brought it down and caused the ground to undulate outward like a piece of fabric. Every house in the village collapsed when the "wave" passed under them. At the same time, his hunched back abruptly straightened not unlike a drawn bow that was released, or a spring that had bounced back to its original shape. The mountain of ghosts behind his back were tossed straight in the sky, and his spine was as straight as an arrow once more.
"So that's what I've been carrying this whole time? No wonder it was so heavy!" Ye Qing commented when he turned around and saw the ghosts. He then assumed a stance and threw a punch at them.
"Cloud Vaporization Style"
The Burning Wind washed over the mountain of ghosts. Like a sand castle that was struck by a tidal wave, the ghosts disappeared like they never were.
"It's too bad I didn't actually get to marry my bride. I haven't even seen her face yet," Ye Qing sighed wistfully.
After the ghosts were destroyed, the red suit he was wearing abruptly vanished into nothing, and Faceless, Kung Fu Frog, and his donkey reappeared on the road looking dazed and confused. The trio had suddenly disappeared when he replaced the groom, and it looked like they had no idea what just happened.
Rustle rustle…
A cool breeze blew through the area, and the giant locust tree at the center of the ruined village swayed a little to the wind. Then, without any warning whatsoever, the tree suddenly reached out toward Ye Qing with its branches and roots. It moved so silently that not even Faceless and the others noticed anything amiss!
The branches and roots were less than a meter away from Ye Qing when he suddenly turned around and grinned at the locust tree. "Hehe! I knew it was your doing from the start, Yin Locust Tree!"
As if embarrassed that their true colors were revealed, the branches and roots moved toward Ye Qing even faster than before. In response, the Astral Refiner simply executed another Cloud Vaporization Style punch and turned it all into ash.
Ye Qing dashed forward and approached the Yin Locust Tree's main body at high speed. He then slammed his fist straight against its tree trunk.
The Yin Locust Tree was incredibly huge. Ye Qing looked like an ant compared to it, and his punch seemed just as futile. However, countless faces suddenly pressed out of the branches and leaves and howled on top of their lungs as if they were in abject pain. Some of the faces looked very familiar as well. Ye Qing saw the three men who were arguing whose ghost story was better, the gambler, the groom on the white horse, the bride in the coffin and more.
The next moment, dark red flames and Burning Wind poured out of their orifices and consumed them all. Just a dozen or so breaths later, the entire tree had burned into ash.
"You're free now!" Ye Qing said with a smile. The unnatural fog and darkness trapping the whole village slowly vanished into nothing, and the moon and the stars suddenly appeared in the sky as if an invisible veil had been removed. The light painted a dreamlike scene that was both picturesque and freeing.
The clear moonlight illuminated their surroundings as clear as day. They had never been inside a village. It was a gravesite filled with haphazardly erected gravestones and even unburied bones all along.
Ye Qing and his companions were standing at the center of the gravesite. There was also a pile of ashes in front of him. If he had to guess, it was most likely the ash of the Yin Locust Tree.
"What on earth was that thing, young master?" Faceless asked.
Everything had returned to normal after that locust tree had burned into ashes. Clearly, it was the mastermind behind it all.
Ye Qing scooped up a pinch of ashes as he answered, "That tree is a Hatred-class Stranger called the Yin Locust Tree. The Yin Locust Tree is only born in a land of great yin, which is why it is commonly spotted in gravesites and battlefields."
"In and of itself, the Yin Locust Tree is pretty weak. However, it can absorb the yin energy of the dead and create all kinds of minions such as Yin Souls, Zombies and the like. A Yin Locust Tree that has reached the height of its power is far, far stronger than your average Hatred-class Stranger. In fact, it is a match for some Soulstealer-class Strangers."
Faceless nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Every single ghost we encountered earlier is at least a Malice-class Stranger. The ghost bride might even be a Hatred-class Stranger."
Ye Qing continued, "That said, the Yin Locust Tree's birth condition is too strict, and it takes a long time to reach its full power. Even if that isn't the case, its true body is incredibly fragile. That is why it is only classified as a Hatred-class Stranger."
"I get it now. Thanks for the lesson, young master!" Faceless hurriedly served up a compliment.
Ye Qing nodded and said, "If you're ready, then I want you to collect the Yin Locust Tree's ashes and store them properly!"
"Huh? But why?" Faceless looked confused.
"Just do it."
The ash of the Yin Locust Tree was a key ingredient in making the Incense of Sickness. It was why Ye Qing had deliberately left the ashes behind.
"Yes, young master!" Faceless replied affirmatively and scooped all the ashes into a clay bottle. He handed the bottle over to Ye Qing after he was done.
After Ye Qing had put the bottle in his Nature's Shell, Faceless asked another question, "So, should we continue our journey, or should we stay here for the night?"
Ye Qing smiled. "We're staying, of course. This was the Yin Locust Tree's territory until we came through. Now that it's gone, this place is practically a safe zone for the moment. Besides that, I'm expecting some guests."
Guests who should've known better and left when they still had the chance!
Chapter 133: A Moment of Tranquility
"Can we hurry up, Brother Tian? What if someone else claims our mark before us?"
Tian Hang and his group had been moving at a slow and steady pace toward the gravesite. Mu, the vicious man who wanted to kill Ye Qing earlier, was urging Tian Hang to move faster after finally losing his patience.
Tian Hang glanced at Mu coldly. "What did I tell you yesterday? A Stranger Hunter must always be patient and careful! If not, it's only a matter of time before they die! If you can't even do something so simple, then you might as well go back to your home and till the soil! At least you'd still be alive then!"
Mu visibly flinched and put on an obsequious smile to appease his leader. "Haha, don't be mad, Brother Tian. I'm just worried that they'll get away, you know?" It was clear that he was terrified of the man.
Tian Hang snorted. "That won't happen. The gravesite appears at night and vanishes in the morning. If we get there too early, there's a chance we might be pulled into it. Do you know how dangerous that is? Forget robbing the guy, it'd be a miracle if even one of us manages to make it out alive!"
"At our current pace, the sun should just be rising when we get to the gravesite, so we would be safe. If the boy died, then all is well. If not, he should still be exhausted enough that we can defeat him with ease!"
"Brother Tian is wise!"
"Brother Tian is so awesome he can plan ten steps ahead!"
Tian Hao chided them goodnaturedly, "Enough, you bootlickers. We're getting close, so get ready. I expect all of you to pull your weight if that boy somehow survived the gravesite."
Mu snorted in disdain. "There is such a thing as over-worrying, Brother Tian. That gravesite is so dangerous that I've never heard of anyone walking out of it alive."
Tian Hang smiled. "Perhaps, but one should always be prepared for the worst. It is the only way you can lead a good life in this world."
"We won't forget, Brother Tian!" Everyone responded affirmatively.
As Tian Hang had predicted, the sun rose just as they got to the gravesite. Its warm rays pierced through the heavens, chased away the darkness, and illuminated the world once more.
"Huh?" Mu was leading the way when suddenly, he cried out in surprise, "Brother Tian, look! That locust tree is gone!"
Tian Hang stepped forward and gazed into the distance. "Huh. It really is gone. What happened here?"
"And that boy is right over there, Brother Tian! But… huh? He really is still alive! But he's lying on the ground and breathing very lightly. He must be badly injured or near death already!"
Mu's eyes lit up when he glimpsed Ye Qing in the middle of the gravesite and sensed his faint breathing. He immediately took off while yelling, "I'm going to kill that boy right now, Brother Tian!"
"Come back, Mu!" Tian Hang blanched, but it was already too late. He muttered "dumbass" under his breath before waving for the others to follow, "Let's go, boys! Be careful!"
"Someone's coming, young master!" Beside Ye Qing, Faceless opened his eyes and shot Tian Hang's group a glance. "It's the Stranger Hunters from yesterday, and they do not look friendly. Should I take them out?"
"Those greedy bastards. I knew they would show up," Ye Qing sighed. Tian Hang thought they were unnoticed when they hid in the forest yesterday, but his spirit was far greater than they could imagine. He could even tell that they were watching him with unfriendly eyes. It was then he knew then that they were plotting something heinous against him.
After they ran into the Yin Locust Tree, he quickly figured out that the Stranger Hunters were hoping that the Stranger would kill him or severely wound him at least. That way, they would be able to take advantage and profit from his dead body.
I saved them, and their way of repaying me is to kill me. This world.
"Go!" Ye Qing waved. "No need to hold back!"
"Hehehe! Don't worry, young master. You have my word that their deaths would be painless!" Faceless let out an evil cackle and slowly made his way toward the Stranger Hunters.
"Get out of my way if you want to live, you decrepit thing!" Mu yelled in disdain when he saw Faceless walking toward him.
Instead of getting angry, the Stranger Faceless replied with a polite smile, "I'm afraid I can't do that. My young master has ordered me to entertain you and your friends. Without further ado…"
As soon as Faceless said this, Mu abruptly froze in his tracks. Then, his eyes, his nose, his mouth and his ears slowly vanished into nothing. He hit the ground with a thump and died just like that.
"Mu! Watch out, everyone!" Tian Hang turned pale and cried out a warning when he saw this. The rest of the group hurriedly drew their weapons and spread out. However, they didn't even manage to get close to Faceless when suddenly they felt a strange energy invading their bodies. The next thing they knew, their faces slowly started disappearing as well.
"I can't see! I can't see! My eyes!"
"My nose! I can't feel my nose! Brother Tian, help!"
"Mm! Mmmmmm!"
Everyone was screaming in terror and running their hands over their own faces as if the gesture would somehow prevent their facial features from vanishing. But of course, it was no use.
Out of everyone present, Tian Hang was the only one who managed to stop the unnatural power from killing him. Even so, the fact didn't bring him any comfort at all. Everyone in their group was a Vessel Augmentor, and three were middle-stage Vessel Augmentors. No one was a newbie either. So how did everything go wrong so fast?
When they had chosen to come after Ye Qing, Tian Hang was certain that the worst that could happen was a death or two; practically par for the course for Stranger Hunters. Instead, everyone had died in just a scant few seconds. As if that wasn't bad enough, the boy didn't even look injured or tired from the night's ordeal. It was clear he was ready for them as well.
It was a trap!
The sandpiper and clam war together, and the fisherman catches both. That was what should have happened, except that the sandpiper was really a flesh-eating monster, and after devouring the clam it waited for the fisherman to show up so it could eat him as well. To say that Tian Hang was terrified and dismal would be an understatement. If the servant alone was enough to wipe them out, he could only imagine how strong the boy was!
Flee! I need to flee!
Tian Hang turned around and fled immediately. If he waited a few seconds longer, he worried that he would never get the opportunity to worry again. As for revenge, the thought had never even crossed his mind. Death was a constant in this line of work, and the risks were often as high as the rewards, if not higher. If the Stranger Hunter came through, then the rewards could transform their lives forever. If not, then they would die like the rest. The only one to blame if that happened was themselves.
Alas, Tian Hang had only managed a few steps when he felt a hot wind blowing past his face. The next thing he knew, his blood began boiling, his internal organs started charring, and a raging bonfire suddenly ignited inside his head. His mind felt like it was on fire.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" The pain was so bad that Tian Hang could not help but let out a scream. When he did, dark red flames shot straight out of his mouth. His pores began to leak dark red flames as well.
As Tian Hang burst into flames, he hit the ground with a soft thud. A few breaths later, all that was left was a pile of ash that was quickly scattered by the wind.
"I could've taken him, young master!" Faceless turned around and said. It was the truth. Tian Hang wasn't weak, but there was little chance he would be able to defeat Faceless.
Ye Qing shot him a lazy smile. "You could, but it would've taken too long. I'd rather end it now so we can get to our destination as soon as possible."
Faceless slapped his own head in disbelief and chagrin. "I can't believe I almost forgot about it! The shame, the shame! Please forgive me, young master! Next time, I swear I'll prioritize your time and business like I value my own life!"
Faceless had always been a bootlicker, but this was a tad too far even for Kung Fu Frog, who had gotten used to his antics at this point. It rolled its beady eyes and croaked disdainfully at the Stranger.
In response, Faceless puffed up his chest and declared, "How can you say that, Brother Frog? I'm not trying to butter up the young master. I only speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! What do you say, Wawa?"
Wawa was currently sitting on Ye Qing's shoulder. She made a face at Faceless and booed him, "Shameless bootlicker!"
Faceless sighed thematically, "I suppose it was too much to expect the sparrow and the swallow to know the dream of the great swan! A shame!"
Ye Qing interrupted suddenly, "Now I'm curious. What is your dream, Faceless?"
Faceless couldn't say that his dream was to rebel against his master and beat his sorry ass, of course. He let out a good-natured chuckle and answered, "My dream is to serve you as your most faithful servant, and that you will live as long as the heavens themselves, of course!"
Ye Qing shot him a noncommittal smile and stared at the rising sun to the east. He said quietly, "I don't need eternal life. I just want to live my life happily and peacefully."
"Let's go."
And so they resumed their journey on the peaceful, earthly road while the sun was still warm.
...
The reason Maple Leaf Point was called the Maple Leaf Point was because it was situated inside a red maple forest. The leaves turned as red as fire when autumn came, and they were even more beautiful than the red flowers in February. It would not be wrong to say that they were a symbol of humanity's prosperity and passion.
The river running through Maple Leaf Point was called the Luo Shui River. It passed through two commanderies, Luo Shui and Feng Yang, and dozens of villages. Without exaggeration, it had spawned over tens of thousands of acres of fertile land and provided a near endless source of aquatic food. Naturally, it was a center of trade and businesses as well. It was even called the "ribbon of jade that wraps around the Land of Heavens, and produces more goods than Shendu itself".
The "Land of Heavens" in the line was referring to Luo Shui, the commandery famed for its aquatic food, rice, and commerce. Once a traveler had gotten to Maple Leaf Point, they could travel all the way to Luo Shui by boat.
Although Maple Leaf Point was just a ferry terminal, it was as big as a village and much more prosperous than the likes of August Hill Village. It even had a small garrison to defend its denizens from threats.
Unfortunately, this meant that its entry inspection was extremely stringent. Even with the badge he received from the Anyang Pacification Bureau, Ye Qing still had to undergo a detailed interrogation and special registration before he was finally allowed into the terminal. It was mostly because he brought three Strangers with him.
Faceless wasn't afraid of being found out because of his transformation ability and the Invisible Cicada, but Kung Fu Frog and Wawa did not have such luxury. There were plenty of warriors who used Strangers in combat, or wealthy people who kept pet Strangers in this world, so Stranger servants and pets were hardly uncommon. Chu couldn't exactly enforce a realm-wide ban on such practices either.
To make up for this, the imperial court decreed that everyone who wished to bring a Stranger or two with them on their travels or raise a pet Stranger must subject themselves to careful scrutiny and registration. This was to prevent Strangers from controlling a human to infiltrate a human settlement, or to prevent humans from using their Strangers to wreak havoc to their surroundings. Every time there was a supernatural incident, these people were usually the first ones to be investigated as well.
The good news was that the badge was useful, and the guards were perfectly respectful with him. After he completed the processes as per the rules demanded, he was let into Maple Leaf Point without any fanfare.
Ye Qing did not linger after entering Maple Leaf Point. He went straight to the ferry terminal just in time to catch a tower ship that was bound for Luo Shui.
The tower ship was called Cloud Mountain, and it was just as big as its name might suggest. Thirty meters long, thirteen meters wide, and twenty-six meters tall, it resembled a small mountain. Silver clouds were engraved into various parts of the ship such as the hull, the bow, the four-storey tower, the deck and more to give it a mystical and elegant, noble and exquisite appearance as well.
Ye Qing had just set foot on the ship when a ship steward named Qian greeted him. The steward's smile grew wider when he took note of the group's appearance. As a general rule, people who brought Strangers with them should be treated respectfully, and Ye Qing was almost certainly no one to be trifled with.
Chapter 134: I Have Money
Steward Qian began explaining to Ye Qing, "There are three types of lodgings in Cloud Mountain, esteemed guests. The economical lodging offers a bunk room that you will share with up to ten people at the same time. Of course, the bunk room is perfectly clean, and the beddings are all new."
"The standard lodging offers a standard room that you will share with three people at a time. Although you'll all be living in the same room, it has three separate fully-furnished bedrooms. You may not interact with your roommates at all if that is your wish."
"The premium lodging offers a private room that belongs to you and you alone. Not only that, it comes in eight different styles, namely plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum; spring, summer, fall and winter. It is your choice which style you want your room to be. We want to ensure that you are perfectly comfortable during your time with us."
"Not only that, esteemed guests who stay in our premium lodgings are offered the option to hire a private housekeeper. Your food and beverages will be completely free as well."
Ye Qing asked, "Sounds great. Which room would you recommend I stay in, Steward Qian?"
Steward Qian smiled. "You, your servant, and your pets are going to take up a lot of space, but it would be very inconvenient for you to stay in a bunk room. Your pets especially are going to cause alarm among your bunkmates. Therefore, I would suggest that you choose the standard lodging or the premium lodging."
Ye Qing nodded. "How much do they cost?"
Steward Qian answered, "The standard lodging costs five silvers. If you wish to reserve the whole room, then you will have to pay ten silvers instead. The premium lodging costs fifteen silvers."
"Fifteen silvers? That is crazy expensive!" Ye Qing gasped. He already knew that Cloud Mountain's lodgings were going to be expensive, but he was still surprised when he heard Steward Qian's answer. Fifteen silvers were enough for an ordinary household to live comfortably for over half a year.
"If the premium lodging is too much for you, then—" Steward Qian thought Ye Qing couldn't afford the premium lodging because of his reaction. He was just about to offer him the standard lodging when Ye Qing interrupted him and said,
"I choose the premium lodging!"
"As you—huh? Excuse me?" Steward Qian thought he was mishearing things.
Ye Qing tilted his head at his reaction. "What? It is an option, isn't it? Or are you afraid that I can't afford it?
Steward Qian smiled awkwardly. That was exactly what he thought, but he didn't dare to say it out loud as a matter of course.
Ye Qing chuckled. "Don't worry. It's true that I think that your prices are expensive, but that doesn't mean I can't afford it. I have a couple hundred silvers in my purse, so you can be rest assured that I'm not trying to swindle you or whatever."
He was telling the truth. He had taken over the Iron Shirt Gang and robbed the Zheng Clan, the Shen Clan and the Li Clan. Not including the Pacification Bureau, the only major power in Anyang that he hadn't robbed was Qiao Six, so he was filthy rich to say the least. Fifteen silvers were nothing to him.
"Wonderful! I shall make the preparations immediately. By the way, did you know that you're an incredibly lucky man? There is exactly one premium room left."
Delighted, Steward Qian was just about to lead Ye Qing to his room when suddenly, a cunning-looking middle-aged man with a hook mustache blocked his path. He said, "Excuse me, Qian Yong, but I've already reserved the last premium room for my guest. You should find another room."
The guest the middle-aged man spoke off was a suspicious-looking man wearing a black robe and a hood that covered up most of his face. His appearance was gloomy enough, but nothing was more gloomy than the literal coffin he carried behind his back. The coffin looked like it was forged from metal, but it was dark and unreflective. It was as if it was consuming all the light that shone its way. It looked dark and gloomy, enigmatic and sinister.
"It's already reserved? Why am I not aware of this, Jiang Shan?" Qian Yong asked with a puzzled expression.
Jiang Shan sneered. "And what does your ignorance have anything to do with me?"
Qian Yong's expression turned a little ugly, but he swallowed his displeasure and said, "I would know if a room has already been reserved. Let us bring this up with the chief steward."
The corners of Jiang Shan's lips immediately curled down as he rebuked Qian Yong, "I gave you face, Qian Yong! You're the one who decided to throw it away. Do you think you can bear the consequences of obstructing my guest's registration?"
"You… you shut your mouth!" Qian Yong replied rather weakly despite his beet red complexion. Jiang Shan was a distant nephew of the chief steward, which was why everyone on Cloud Mountain tolerated him and gave him special treatment to a certain extent. Unfortunately, this made Jiang Shan bossy and domineering to the point where he no longer hesitated to steal their business from right under their nose. It was their own fault, but it was far too late to correct that mistake.
Jiang Shan hmphed loudly as he glared at Qian Yong, "This is your last warning, Qian Yong. Let this go, or I swear you will regret this!"
Qian Yong shuddered as the blood drained away from his face. He was angry and indignant, but he knew that the temporary ecstasy he would feel for standing up to Jiang Shan wasn't worth the consequences. So, he turned back to Ye Qing and said, "My apologies, esteemed guest, but—"
"You have nothing to apologize for, steward! Just leave this to me!"
Ye Qing patted Qian Yong on the shoulder before stepping forward and smirking evilly at Jiang Shan. "Steward Jiang, is it? I don't know what gave you this impression, but you seem to think that I am somehow less esteemed than your dear guest. You claim Steward Qian can't bear the consequences of obstructing your guest's registration, but has it crossed your mind that the same also applies to me?"
He wasn't a meddlesome person by nature. If Jiang Shan had spoken nicely, he would've given up the premium room without fanfare and stayed in a standard room instead. He wasn't a pampered young master who couldn't stand anything but the highest quality anyway. Heck, he had slept in an abandoned temple that was haunted by literal man-eating women not long ago. What was that meme again? If it fits, he sleeps!
But Jiang Shan's attitude was just unbearable. It was one thing if he lorded over his colleagues only, but his attitude also extended to their customers. Did his daddy never teach him that there were people out there he couldn't afford to offend?
"Hah! You're just a poor scholar! Like the likes of you can do anything against me!" Jian Shan snorted in disdain. "Now get lost, or I'll—"
"I'll pay twenty silvers for the premium room."
It was at this moment Jiang Shan's mysterious customer stepped into the argument. His voice was cold, dark and emotionless as if everything in the world was beneath his notice.
Jiang Shan was surprised by the interruption, but he quickly looked over to Ye Qing and raised his head arrogantly. "You heard that, scholar? Twenty silvers. Do you think you can afford that?"
"Thirty silvers," and a smile was Ye Qing's response. You think you're made of money? What a coincidence! So am I!
Jiang Shan's smile immediately stiffened.
The mysterious man didn't seem displeased or angered by Ye Qing's retaliation, however. He responded in his icy voice, "Forty."
"Fifty."
"Sixty."
"Seventy." One thing Ye Qing learned in his previous life was that bluffing was a powerful weapon. So what if you didn't actually have the money in your pockets? If you could convince your opponent into believing that you were a million bucks, then you were, essentially, a million bucks. Even better, he wasn't even bluffing this time!
"Eighty," the mysterious man was still upping the price, but this time he was two breaths slower. It was clear he needed to think if he could really afford it.
"Ninety!" Ye Qing answered without hesitation. Good! This is my win!
This time, the mysterious man hesitated for a long time before he finally said, "One hundred!"
"Most impressive, brother!" Ye Qing abruptly complimented the guy and gave him a thumbs-up. "The room is yours!"
Qian Yong: "..."
Jiang Shan: "..."
The mysterious man: "..."
A long time later, the mysterious man finally squeezed out an incredulous question, "W… Why did you stop?"
Ye Qing tilted his head in confusion. "You must have a heck of a reason to be willing to pay a hundred silvers to get this room, which is why I decided to be the better man this time. What's wrong?"
The mysterious man's mouth twitched under his hood. I wouldn't mind it if you chose not to be the better man though!
"Also, it'll take two days at most to go from here to Luo Shui. Worst case scenario, I could just find a random floor and meditate until the ride is over. I'd rather spend a hundred silvers on a high-class restaurant in Luo Shui than a room that I'll be leaving in two days. What, do you think I'm stupid?"
"..." The mysterious man's arms shook under his sleeves. He's definitely calling me stupid in a roundabout fashion. You sonuvabitch. I don't even know you, and you screw me over like this? I might be well-off, but I'm not that well-off that I could afford to fuel a forge with silver! Is it too late to change my mind?
"You paid a hundred silvers for this room, so you first, brother!" Ye Qing goaded and stepped aside to let Jiang Shan and the mysterious man through.
Seeing that the argument was over, Jiang Shan also let out a cough and beckoned, "This way please, esteemed guest!" He then led the way toward the upper floors where the premium rooms were located.
The mysterious man wasn't done with Ye Qing though. When he was walking past Ye Qing, he "accidentally" bumped his shoulder against Ye Qing's. It looked as harmless as a breeze, and the contact had lasted only for an instant. However, when the duo were three or four steps apart from each other, the entire ship abruptly sank a meter into the water as if a mountain had suddenly sat on it. It was so forceful that it kicked up a massive wave that was at least dozens of meters tall. The passengers, the crew and everyone else aboard the ship were all crying out in surprise.
It was at this moment cloud-shaped runes appeared around the ship. Like a calming breeze, it neutralized the unknown force and returned everything back to normal.
"Huh? Did I just sense a clash aboard the ship?"
Inside a luxurious room, a thin but healthy-looking middle-aged man with a long beard suddenly opened his eyes. "What powerful auras. They're both Astral Refiners. Thank goodness they're only sounding each other out, or my Cloud Mountain would've suffered serious damage!"
In a differently-styled but equally luxurious room, a woman was playing her yaoqin when she sensed the clash as well. Her fingers paused, and a hundred flowers suddenly bloomed inside the room.
"Oh? I wasn't expecting to see him here!" The woman said smilingly before resuming her play once more. The resonant plucks of her strings slowly washed away the beautiful flowers until everything had returned back to normal. It was almost as if the flowers were a desert mirage or a reflection of the moon.
The two of them weren't the only ones who noticed the clash. Every warrior aboard the ship had noticed the sudden outburst of power, and their reactions were fairly mixed. There were people who were surprised, wary, afraid, disdainful and more.
Ironically, the two people who had caused the commotion in the first place simply gave each other a nod and continued on their way. It was almost as if nothing had happened.
The mysterious man sent Jiang Shan away after he was led to his room. After the steward was gone, he abruptly let out a violent cough that caused a small amount of blood to trickle down his lips.
"An Astral Refiner… and not just any Astral Refiner either!"
He had wanted to teach the young man a lesson, but it turned out to be a big mistake. Like an ant trying to topple a mountain, the only one hurt in the collision was himself. His energy had rebounded and damaged his own internal organs. Man, I am so unlucky today.
The mysterious man's face turned increasingly pale as he coughed a couple times more. Knowing that he couldn't dilly-dally any longer, he immediately assumed a meditative stance and channeled his energy. Wisps of dark energy started flying out of the coffin and into his body. Some time later, his aura finally returned to normal.
A few breaths later, the mysterious man finally opened his eyes and allowed himself to think once more. That Astral Refiner is incredibly young too. I should recognize him, but I don't. Is he a genius from a major clan or something?
You can practically hear Xu Banren's internal scream when Ye Qing suddenly left the negotiation table.
Chapter 135: The Hundred Mouth Dragon
"I knew he was an Astral Refiner. He's pretty strong too!" Ye Qing muttered under his breath while massaging his slightly sore shoulder. The mysterious man probably possessed some sort of Strange Artifact that allowed him to hide his aura or cultivation level, because he wasn't able to tell until they bumped shoulders with one another.
He had only used fifty percent of his strength because it was one thing to teach someone a lesson, and another to hit them with a full-powered attack. Despite this, he could tell that the mysterious man was injured by his retaliation. It wasn't a serious injury, but it certainly wasn't something he could just ignore either.
"I wonder how he's feeling right now, paying a hundred silvers for a single room and getting schooled by the very guy who screwed him over, hehe!"
"Esteemed guest? Did you say something?" Qian Yong asked curiously.
Ye Qing smiled. "It's nothing. Please get me a standard room, Steward Qian. Of course, I'll be reserving the whole thing!"
"As you wish, esteemed guest! Please, follow me!" Qian Yong smiled back. He was grateful that Ye Qing was willing to stand up for him, so he quickly led Ye Qing to his room and did his best to accommodate him.
After everything was ready, Qian Yong said, "I'll be taking my leave now, esteemed guest. I hope you'll enjoy your stay with us. In the meantime, do not hesitate to seek me out for anything!"
"I will. Thanks, Steward Qian!" Ye Qing said.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you, esteemed guest, not to mention that it is my duty to serve. See you later!" Qian Yong saluted him and left after that.
"Brother Frog, Wawa, Faceless, feel free to catch some rest. I'm going to train for a bit!" Ye Qing told his companions before he started practicing the Cloud Vaporization Style once more.
Training was very important. Without training, not even the most talented person in the world could become proficient in anything. This was especially true when it came to fist martial arts.
Since he had grasped the basics of applying the Cloud Vaporization Style in combat, it was time to master the little details such as weight, speed, movement, control, power and so on. Everything must be honed into perfection, and he must know his moves so well that it was practically second instinct. Only then could he unleash the Cloud Vaporization Style's full potential all the time.
Right now, he was still a long, long way from reaching that ideal state. That was why he must train as often as he could. Besides that, practicing the Cloud Vaporization Style could temper his astral qi. Once he had fully mastered the Burning Wind, he would use the Blood Jade Lotus to refine his astral qi and enter the late stage of the Astral Refinement stage in one go.
Finally, he was training like his life depended on it because it did. He could not rest easy until Sunset Hill and Wang Luori were dealt with. Sure, the Luo Shui Pacification Bureau would keep him safe, but even they could not protect him forever. In the end, the only one he could truly rely on was himself.
The foghorn sounded, and the Cloud Mountain began cutting through the waves. Soon, it was speeding toward a foreign and unfamiliar land.
...
Ye Qing spent the entire morning practicing the Cloud Vaporization Style in his room. It was a fulfilling and peaceful experience.
"Friend! Look!"
He had just finished going through the motions for the nth time and was enjoying a cup of wine when Wawa caught his attention. He turned around and saw the Book Sprite lying on top of the window sill and shouting excitedly at something outside.
Ye Qing walked over to her and looked outside the window. He immediately saw a school of big fishes with translucent wings riding the waves kicked up by Cloud Mountain and jumping in and out of the water. Sometimes, they jumped so high and far that it almost looked like they were flying. The fact that their wings glittered like rainbows under the sunlight only made the scene even more picturesque.
"These fishes are so big and beautiful! Wawa loves them!" The young girl squealed with joy and clapped her hands.
Ye Qing leaned on top of the window sill with a smile as he explained, "This fish is called the Wavechaser. Despite being a Red-class Stranger, it is perfectly harmless and enjoys nothing more than to ride the waves."
"We should go to the deck for a better view. It would look even more impressive if they formed a fish tide!" Ye Qing beckoned Wawa and started toward the exit.
Still clapping her hands in excitement, Wawa immediately leaped over to Ye Qing's shoulder and cried, "Okay!" She was so happy that her eyes were curved like crescents.
There were a lot of people on the deck when they got there. Clearly, they had come to watch the Wavechasers as well. It was at this moment someone shouted, "Here they come!"
Ye Qing looked. Countless Wavechasers had come together to form a tidal wave behind Cloud Mountain, chasing after its waves. When they finally reached the ship's sides, they leaped into the air, unfolded their wings, and cut through the air like living rainbows for several seconds before falling back into the river. They would repeat this feat again and again as if they were tireless. It was a colorful, picturesque scene straight out of a dream.
"It's beautiful!"
"It's magnificent!"
"I can't believe this is real!"
The scenery was so fantastical that it almost felt insulting that the crowd could only muster simple words to describe it. But then again, did it really need to be fanciful? Sometimes, simple was the best.
Unfortunately, the good moment didn't last. Out of seemingly nowhere, gaping maws with rows and rows of sharp teeth suddenly appeared on the river surface. Not only were they everywhere, they were at least thirty meters wide in diameter. Caught off guard, the tidal wave of Wavechasers had no choice but to fall right on top of them!
This wasn't a kid-friendly show where certain details were fudged or cut out, or the camera would conveniently move out of the way right before a gruesome scene would take place. Everyone who was watching the scenery be it young, old, male or female was treated to the horrific sight of the maws chewing up the helpless fishes until this entire section of the river ran red. It was brutal and unbearable to look at.
"Aaaahhh!" Many timid people screamed at the sight. Some were even covering up their eyes. This was just the beginning, however.
Boom!
After the maws had eaten every Wavechaser around the ship, the river suddenly exploded and kicked up a massive wave that was at least tens of meters tall. It was as if a giant had suddenly burst through the water surface.
The wave crashed against the Cloud Mountain's hull and shook it heavily, causing some people to fall over their feet. The good news was that the ship's defenses came alive and blocked the wave. The bad news was that everyone was staring in a certain direction with wide eyes and gaping mouths. Something had captured their attention fully, and that something was, of course, a Stranger.
The Stranger resembled a giant worm. Its body was as thick as a millstone, and the part suspended above the waters alone was over fifty meters long. It was also covered in colorful, bowl-sized scales that glittered ominously under the sun and formed mysterious patterns that looked like the huge maws that devoured the Wavechasers.
Ooooooooooh…
A loud, unspeakable noise resounded from inside the worm Stranger's body. It sounded like an angry roar. The next second, the mysterious patterns abruptly spread open into big, toothy maws. The Stranger roared again, and this time the maws joined in as well. It was loud enough to deafen the ears, and its breath smelled so bad it was a surprise no one fainted from it.
"I-It's a S-S-Stranger! RUN!" Someone finally shouted and jolted the stupefied crowd from their daze. Panicked screams filled the air as everyone started running in every direction. It was utter chaos.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared on the deck. He looked thin but healthy. He yelled, "Calm down, people! Calm down! This Stranger is not strong enough to break through Cloud Mountain's defenses!"
At the same time, an invisible energy spread throughout the deck and separated the people from one another. It was just in time to prevent the people from causing a stampede and injuring one another. Moreover, the middle-aged man's voice was gentle, kind, and seemingly infused with some sort of calming power. Slowly but surely, the crowd calmed down somewhat.
Boom!
It was at this moment the worm Stranger swooped down from above in an attempt to strike Cloud Mountain's side like a battering ram. The cloud engravings covering the ship immediately lit up and conjured what looked like a sea of clouds around the ship. For a moment, it looked as if Cloud Mountain was riding the clouds.
The worm Stranger managed to sink a few meters deep when it struck the clouds, but a tremendous force sent its whole body flying through the air. It caused a gigantic splash when it finally crashed back into the river.
"I am the chief steward of Cloud Mountain, Jiang Yuzhen. You have my word that this Stranger won't be able to hurt us!"
Jiang Yuzhen relaxed after the worm Stranger was bounced away and added, "Cloud Mountain is protected by one hundred and eight Profound Cloud Restrictions, a restriction that is excellent for defense. At full strength, it can block a full-powered attack from any Stranger below the Soulstealer-class, so please, be at ease!"
Some of the passengers looked convinced by Jiang Yuzhen's assurance, but Ye Qing only shook his head. "Is he joking?"
As if on cue, the tower ship started shaking violently as the worm Stranger reappeared from the waters and crossed over the ship to the other side. It would repeat this another three times like a python that was wrapping around its prey. Once it was ready, it began squeezing the ship while releasing filthy, most likely corrosive breath from its many maws. Slowly but surely, the surrounding clouds began straining under the pressure.
Jiang Yuzhen's expression immediately turned ugly. As the one controlling the ship, he could clearly feel how much pressure the Profound Cloud Restrictions were under. The corrosive breath especially had corrupted the restrictions and made them far less potent than they would be otherwise.
I just told everyone that they would be safe!
Before Jiang Yuzhen could muster a response, the worm Stranger abruptly exerted its full strength and destroyed many Profound Cloud Restrictions.
"Dammit!" Jiang Yuzhen cursed. Knowing he had no time to waste, he immediately flew into the sky and summoned a whip to his hand. The whip looked firm, flexible, and completely useless in this situation. But when the chief steward swung the weapon, it conjured countless transparent whips and water threads that wrapped around the worm Strangers like chains.
The worm Stranger roared furiously and struggled with all its might, but it was unable to break free for a time.
"That's the inferior-grade astral qi, Soft Water!" Ye Qing exclaimed in recognition. The ship was shaking violently from the clash of powers, but his feet were firmly rooted to the floor.
Soft Water was an inferior-grade astral qi and the embodiment of the softness of water. Out of all the types of water astral qi out there, it was the softest and most flexible of them all. Its flexibility could defeat brute strength if applied properly, and it could transform into a million things depending on the warrior's skill and imagination.
Although Soft Water was unsuited for offense, it was extraordinarily capable in terms of defense and control. It was why the worm Stranger couldn't break free even though the watery chains keeping it pinned might look as thin as threads.
"It's not enough though!" Ye Qing sighed. Jiang Yuzhen's skill in water manipulation was incredibly impressive, but he was only an early-stage Astral Refiner.
The worm Stranger was a Hatred-class Stranger called the Hundred Mouth Dragon. Despite its name, it was really a kind of earthworm that was usually born in rivers. As massive as it was strong, its body was covered in huge maws filled with rows and rows of sharp teeth. Obviously, it was carnivorous.
The Hundred Mouth Dragon was also as tenacious as an earthworm. It would live even if it was cut into two or more parts.
The Hundred Mouth Dragon was one of the stronger Hatred-class Strangers among its peers. Not only that, it was twenty to thirty percent stronger in water than it was on land. Jiang Yuzhen wasn't weak, but there was little chance he would be able to defeat the Stranger by himself.
Chapter 136: Nightmare
What happened next did not exceed Ye Qing's expectations. The Hundred Mouth Dragon visibly gathered its strength, opened its maws, and let out a mighty roar. At the same time, its body grew bigger than before. The watery chains immediately snapped inch by inch.
"Pwack!" Jiang Yuzhen spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and turned as pale as a sheet. While he struggled to soothe his damaged energy, the enraged Hundred Mouth Dragon squeezed even harder around the ship. The hull began to break little by little.
"Dammit!"
Jian Yuzhen's eyes flickered with regret and despair. The passengers had long since lost their cool and were running all over the place like headless chickens. But where could they run, when even jumping off the ship wasn't an option? The Strangers lurking in the river would consume them long before they reached the shore.
"Aren't you going to stop it, young master?" Faceless asked Ye Qing in a hushed voice. The Stranger had rushed to Ye Qing's side a while ago.
Ye Qing shook his head. "Not yet. Backup should arrive any moment now!"
Before he even finished saying this, a man wearing a black robe and a hood appeared in the sky. He was none other than the mysterious man from before.
Floating above the Hundred Mouth Dragon, the mysterious man brought his hand down and conjured a massive gray palm. His hand had turned grayish black as well. The attack hit the Hundred Mouth Dragon squarely on the body and pressed it back into the water.
"Roar!"
Of course, the Stranger wasn't going to go down so easily. The next second, it burst out of the river and pounced toward the mysterious man.
The mysterious man hmphed as thick corpse energy seeped out of his body, and his limbs gradually stiffened as if he was actually turning into a corpse. The next moment, he raised his stiff right arm and met the Hundred Mouth Dragon's charge with his own fist.
Logically speaking, the mysterious man should have turned into a star in the sky. In reality, it was the Hundred Mouth Dragon whose head was crushed like a watermelon, spilling blood and gore everywhere. Not only that, his corpse energy quickly spread from the wound to the rest of the Stranger's body, dyeing it grayish black and robbing it of its vitality. The flesh and blood that had rotted completely automatically fell off the Hundred Mouth Dragon's body and sank into the blue waters.
"The Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi…" Ye Qing narrowed his eyes a little when he identified the mysterious man's astral qi.
The Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi was one of the best average grade astral qis out there. Normally found in wastelands where all life had perished, anyone who made contact with it would immediately start rotting and dying at an exponential rate. As if that wasn't enough, it could inflict its victims with Corpse Poison as well. It was why the Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi was considered the equal of some superior grade astral qis in terms of potency.
Unfortunately, the Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi was a double-edged sword. A warrior who cultivated the Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi would gradually be corrupted by the astral qi and lose their humanity in every sense of the word. Their vitality would die, their flesh and blood would stiffen, and even their personality would gradually take on a darker tone. Those who were weak-willed could even be taken over by their own astral qi and transformed into a zombie, a ghoul, or other similar Strangers who knew nothing but slaughter.
Thankfully, the mysterious man was anything but weak-willed. Ye Qing could tell that his core hadn't changed despite cultivating such an insidious astral qi because one, he didn't go overboard when he was testing him out yesterday, and two, he had stepped forward to battle against the Hundred Mouth Dragon even though he could've stayed out of it.
He might be a little slow probably because of his astral qi, but he was definitely a good person.
"Roar!"
Back to the battle, the Hundred Mouth Dragon let out a furious roar and tried spitting its corrosive breath after taking a tremendous amount of damage, but the mysterious man easily canceled it with a single punch.
His limbs looked stiff, and his fighting style was one-note. He was basically throwing straight punch after straight punch at the Hundred Mouth Dragon. However, it was enough to push back the Stranger again and again.
Unfortunately, the Hundred Mouth Dragon was a tenacious being. Not only was it still alive, its retaliation was growing more violent by the second.
It was at this moment Ye Qing called out via sound transmission, "Brother, the Hundred Mouth Dragon is like an earthworm! You can break it into a million segments, and it's still going to survive unless you hit it in its weak point!"
The mysterious man was slow, but he wasn't a bad person. That was enough for Ye Qing to lend him a hand.
The mysterious man visibly slowed down and glanced at Ye Qing's direction. It was clear that he had heard his voice. His hands hadn't stopped, but he was clearly waiting for Ye Qing to say his piece.
Ye Qing continued, "To kill a snake, one should hit it seven inches from its head. It's because that's where its heart is located. As it happens, the Hundred Mouth Dragon's weakness is its seventh mouth. Destroy it, and it will cease to be."
"Hundred Mouth Dragon? The seventh mouth?" The mysterious man slowly processed the information. The Hundred Mouth Dragon must be the name of the Stranger it was fighting, and the seventh mouth… The mysterious man started counting down from its head, and as expected, he noticed something strange about its seventh mouth.
Every other mouth on the Hundred Mouth Dragon's body was agape, but its seventh mouth was only half-open almost as if it was afraid to get hurt. It was confirmation that the Stranger's weakness was, indeed, its seventh mouth.
Choosing to believe in Ye Qing's words,the mysterious man took one step forward and appeared on the river surface where the seventh mouth was in the blink of an eye. Then, he punched it with his full power.
For the first time, the Hundred Mouth Dragon let out a panicked roar and tried to twist out of the way. Although the mysterious man's movements were stiff, his speed was a completely different story. The punch landed squarely on its target and ripped it in half. This time, it neither regenerated nor continued its mad attacks like before. It was over.
It was at this moment Ye Qing disappeared from the deck and reappeared at the spot where the Hundred Mouth Dragon had split apart. He grabbed something from its severed torso and returned to the deck just as quickly as before.
Ye Qing had moved so fast that no one except the mysterious man, Jiang Yuzhen and a handful others even noticed his movement, and even they couldn't capture his movements perfectly or figure out what he took from the Hundred Mouth Dragon's body. Not that it mattered. Even if the item he took turned out to be exceedingly valuable, his one move had made it clear that he was no one to be trifled with.
After the Hundred Mouth Dragon was dead, and the mysterious man had returned to the ship, Jiang Yuzhen hurriedly went over to him. "On behalf of everyone on the ship, thank you so much for saving our lives, senior!"
The mysterious man replied coldly, "Your thanks is unnecessary. Jiang Shan helped me, so I'm just repaying the favor. With this, my debt is settled."
He then pointed at Ye Qing and added, "Also, the one you should really be thanking is him, not me!"
Jiang Yuzhen did not understand why—he hadn't heard the silent conversation between Ye Qing and the mysterious man—but he still went over to Ye Qing to thank him. The young man looked like an extraordinary person anyway, so there was no harm making his acquaintance whatsoever.
Before Jiang Yuzhen could say anything, Ye Qing said smilingly, "It's fine. I've already received my compensation."
He was telling the truth. The Hundred Mouth Dragon was a tenacious bastard, so it wasn't immediately dead even after taking a fatal strike to its weak spot. That was when Ye Qing stole its exposed gallbladder away. The gallbladder was the Hundred Mouth Dragon's true weakness; the beating heart of a monster that didn't possess a true heart. It was only then the Stranger truly died.
The Hundred Mouth Dragon's gallbladder was extremely valuable. It was a potent medicine that could strengthen one's vigor and body. Not only that, scoring the last hit had netted him a silver dragon-serpent rune as well, so Ye Qing had essentially killed two birds with one stone.
Ye Qing then looked at the mysterious man and asked, "My name is Ye Qing, and my moniker is Joyless. May I know your name, brother?"
The mysterious man hesitated, but not because he didn't want to tell Ye Qing his name. He just seemed uncomfortable with social situations in general. A while later, he finally said, "My name is Xu Banren. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Brother Ye!"
He turned around and left after saying that.
"Xu Banren? He's Halfman Xu!" Jiang Yuzhen exclaimed in surprise when he put two and two together.
Ye Qing asked curiously, "Halfman Xu? Is he famous?"
Jiang Yuzhen told Ye Qing everything he knew. "Xu Banren is an Astral Refiner and a Lieutenant of the Pacification Bureau. Although he is withdrawn and unsociable, he is famed for his strength and has slain many Hatred-class Strangers singlehandedly. In Luo Shui, everyone calls him Halfman Xu."
"I see! I didn't realize he's a colleague!" Ye Qing rubbed his nose in relief. Thank goodness he hadn't gone too overboard during their first meeting, or else… "Halfman Xu, eh? That's a pretty cool moniker!"
Jiang Yuzhen: "..." Are you sure? Because it sure sounds more like an insult to me. And it would be an insult if he isn't as strong as he is…
"If there's nothing else, then I shan't keep you from your duties any longer, Steward Jiang. See you later!" Ye Qing waved him goodbye and left just like that.
"See you later, Warrior Ye!" Jiang Yuzhen really wanted to curry favor with Ye Qing, but the ship had just survived a Stranger attack. If he, the chief steward, did not assuage his passengers' fears as soon as possible, then Cloud Mountain's reputation would suffer for sure. So, he had no choice but to leave and perform his duties.
Ye Qing immediately resumed his training after returning to his room. The sky may fall, but training must never stop. Cloud Mountain would continue to encounter more Strangers during their voyage, but thankfully, none were nearly as malicious or deadly as the Hundred Mouth Dragon.
Night soon fell, and everyone was feeling tired after the day's excitement. It wasn't long before the passengers returned to their rooms and fell into a deep slumber.
For a time, everything was quiet and peaceful. The only sound that could be heard was the river sloshing in the background. It was almost dreamlike.
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew through the air and caused some ripples. Then a curtain of fog gently draped over the waters and added a mysterious and dreamlike quality to the night sky.
The unexpected phenomenon was supposed to make the night even more pleasant, but the sleeping faces of the passengers on Cloud Mountain suddenly grew uncomfortable. Their expressions looked fearful, and beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads as if they were experiencing a nightmare.
What was really strange, however, was the fact that not a single one of them was able to wake up from the nightmare!
In his room, Ye Qing was sleeping soundly when his eyebrows suddenly twitched imperceptibly. It was because he was being chased by a rabbit inside his dream. No, the rabbit was neither a normal rabbit nor a bunny girl. Instead, it was the Arnold Schwarzenegger of all rabbits! Not only was it taller and bigger than him in every way, it was also a kung fu rabbit! Although he was an Astral Refiner, the rabbit had easily beaten him blue and black without being able to resist whatsoever with its Mad Rabbit Fist! That was why he was running for his life right now!
Even in this strange, new world, Ye Qing reckoned that he was the first person ever to be hunted by a rabbit. No one would ever believe it if he told them.
Ye Qing knew he was dreaming because the higher a warrior's cultivation was, the greater their control over their essence, qi and spirit would become. That was how he was able to distinguish the difference between dream and reality. Strangely, he wasn't able to wake up even though he was fully aware, and he was done getting his ass kicked by a kung fu rabbit since practically the beginning.
"No. No. Something's wrong! This must be some sort of mental attack!"
His fear seemed to fuel the kung fu rabbit's growth, because the greater his fear, the stronger the kung fu rabbit became. Not only that, his surroundings kept growing more and more bizarre as he ran. He had seen a battlefield of corpses, scarecrows that ate hearts, dolls with wicked grins on their faces, flying rivers with mountains covered in giant maws growing out of their waters and more.
"I need to wake up now!"
He had a strong inkling that this nightmare would never end so long as he was still asleep. Worst case scenario, he would be stuck in this nightmare until he died!
Chapter 137: Fog of Nightmare
"Emperor Fuxi Visualization Method"
Having realized what was happening to him, Ye Qing immediately visualized the Emperor Fuxi Visualization Method. The majestic image of Emperor Fuxi appeared inside his dream at once and unleashed an incredible amount of light. It was like he was the sun itself.
Rumble…
As if crushed by an invisible power, the bizarre, monstrous dream that had trapped Ye Qing's consciousness abruptly shattered into a million pieces. The next moment, Ye Qing opened his eyes and realized he was back in his room, eyes still glowing white with power.
"Huh? Why is there so much fog?" The first thing Ye Qing noticed after waking up was a thick white fog shrouding his whole room.
"Is this the source of that strange nightmare?" He tried probing the fog with his spirit, but it felt just like a normal fog would.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
It was at this moment a loud scream came from Wawa's room. He immediately dashed over to see what was going on.
As soon as Wawa saw him, she immediately flew over to his shoulder and hugged him tightly. She sobbed, "Friend, friend! A really, really, really big worm wanted to eat me! I'm so scared! Uuuu…"
"It's okay, it's okay. I've already squashed the big worm, so don't be scared!" Ye Qing consoled her, though he was surprised that she was able to wake up on her own. He reckoned that it was because Wawa was really a book, and her mind was pure and simple. That was why the nightmare couldn't really entrap her.
"Let's check up on Kung Fu Frog and Faceless!" Ye Qing declared and went over to his companions' room in an instant, thinking that there was also the possibility that the nightmare only affected humans. He was wrong. Faceless and Kung Fu Frog's faces were contorted in fear, and their entire bodies were drenched in cold sweat. They were even rolling back and forth as if trying to shake themselves awake. Unfortunately, it was no use.
Ye Qing tried calling out to their minds with his spirit, but nothing happened. He couldn't help but frown deeply. "What on earth is going on here?"
"I should ask the Annon Sutra!" When in doubt, just ask the Annon Sutra!
Ye Qing encountered a small problem when he was attempting to cut his finger though. It had been a while since he used the Strange Artifact, so it was only now he realized that his body had become too resilient. He literally could not cut his finger even with the sharpest tool he could find. Eventually, he had no choice but to punch himself in the chest and spray out a mouthful of blood.
His blood wriggled atop the vellum for a bit before slowly disappearing. Soon, the familiar blood text surfaced once more.
"I had encountered a strange incident while traveling to Luo shui. Everyone on Cloud Mountain had fallen into a nightmare they cannot awake from."
"I managed to avoid the same fate thanks to the Emperor Fuxi Visualization Method, but I do not know who or what is behind this nightmare."
"Perhaps I should observe the fog closer. Something doesn't feel right about it!"
"The fog?" Ye Qing withdrew the Annon Sutra and frowned. The fog was the first thing he suspected since waking up, but he hadn't discovered anything strange about it. Was he mistaken?
Suddenly, Ye Qing looked toward the exit. "Someone's awake!?" He could feel someone exiting his room and appearing on the deck. Not only that, he was someone he had just recently gotten acquainted with. It was none other than Xu Banren.
"He's awake too?" Ye Qing immediately chased after the guy.
As soon as he appeared on the deck, Xu Banren turned around to face him. Ye Qing greeted him first, "You had a nightmare too, Brother Xu?"
Xu Banren hummed affirmatively before asking, "You too?"
Ye Qing nodded. "It's not just me, my two friends are having a nightmare as well. However, they wouldn't wake up no matter what I did. If I'm not mistaken, everyone besides the two of us are trapped in a nightmare as well."
Xu Banren looked surprised. He had come out because he noticed something odd, but he wasn't expecting everyone on the ship to be trapped in a nightmare as well. At the same time, he was curious how Ye Qing managed to wake up from the nightmare. He succeeded only thanks to his coffin, but what about Ye Qing?
Xu Banren didn't say anything though. He was, by nature, not a very curious person, and this was hardly the time to indulge in his curiosity.
"Brother Xu, you're a Lieutenant of the Luo Shui Pacification Bureau, right? Do you know what Stranger this is?" Ye Qing asked.
Caught off guard, Xu Banren grew wary and stared at ye Qing with cold eyes. He did not answer his question.
Realizing why Ye Qing was acting like this, he quickly explained, "You misunderstood me, Brother Xu. Jiang Yuzhen is the one who told me about you!"
Xu Banren was still silent, but most of the wariness in his eyes vanished after he heard Ye Qing's answer. He fell into thought for a good few minutes before he finally shook his head. "I do not know."
Ye Qing frowned deeply. "This isn't good. I have a feeling that something bad would happen if we cannot wake everyone up as soon as possible!"
"I agree." Xu Banren's tone was still icy, but now there was a tinge of severity in it as well. "Have you found anything yet, Brother Ye?"
Ye Qing purposely looked out to the thick fog shrouding the river and mused out loud, "I think something's not right with this fog!"
"The fog?" Xu Banren followed his gaze and fell into deep thought. Just when Ye Qing thought he would turn into a pest and ask a million questions, Xu Banren raised his fist and launched a mighty punch at the fog.
The Heavenly Yin Corpse Qi swept through the river and stirred up the waters like crazy. It should've been more than powerful enough to dispel the fog completely, but it didn't. More accurately, the fog had rolled back into the clear space after just a short while.
"You're right. Something is wrong with this fog!" Xu Banren confirmed and withdrew his fist.
Ye Qing blinked and swallowed his justification back down his throat. As expected of Halfman Xu, his tactic was simple yet effective!
"So, did you find anything, Brother Xu?" Ye Qing asked.
"No."
Fuck, I feel like I completely wasted my time there, Ye Qing thought as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. In the end, the only one he could rely on was himself.
Ye Qing closed his eyes and spread out his spirit in every direction like the wind. He was trying to see if there was anything unusual around them. There were bad news and worse news. The bad news was that he couldn't sense anything unusual whatsoever. The worse news was that this made no sense, because even the shores were completely devoid of activity. He couldn't hear any Stranger, people, animals, or even insects! It was the entire world had fallen dead!
"Phew…"
In the end, Ye Qing withdrew his spirit without anything to show. A wave of fatigue washed over him as he rubbed his forehead.
So, the fog was strange. But how was it strange, and what could he do about it?
This was the first time he encountered a Stranger that he had absolutely no idea how to deal with. What a conundrum!
"What do we do, Brother Ye?" Xu Banren asked.
"I'm the one who should be asking you that!" This time, Ye Qing did roll his eyes at the man before suggesting, "What if we carry the passengers out of the fog? Perhaps they'll return to normal after they get out of its range!"
Xu Banren frowned. "But there's only two of us. How many people can we save before it's too late?"
Ye Qing sighed. "I know. But it's better than saving no one."
Xu Banren wasn't a pedantic man. A few seconds later, he nodded. "Very well. We shall do as you say."
But right as they were about to move, a gentle voice rang beside their ears, "There's no need to go through all that trouble. This is the Fog of Nightmare, a Hatred-class Stranger. It has no fixed body, shape, form or substance. It usually appears during the night and at places with huge bodies of water as a fog."
"When the Fog of Nightmare appears, everyone who is asleep will fall into an eternal nightmare. If they do not awake, their mind would eventually perish, and they would turn into a vegetable [1]."
"Since the Fog of Nightmare has no form, it cannot be dispelled or killed. Although it's just a Hatred-class Stranger, it is extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with. Barring a handful of exceptions, any warrior below the Astral Refinement stage is probably not going to walk away from a Fog of Nightmare alive."
"The Fog of Nightmare?" Xu Banren shuddered as if he recalled something. "Now I remember. I've read a few cases in the archives where the Fog of Nightmare is the culprit. Everyone in those cases were dead."
"According to the records, the Fog of Nightmare has no obvious weaknesses except sunlight. Every time the sun rises from the east, it would naturally disappear into nothing."
Ye Qing rubbed his nose. "So, we just need to wait until daybreak?"
Xu Banren nodded once but shook his head quickly. "You and I can afford to wait until daybreak because we're awake, but those trapped inside the nightmare are most likely going to die."
Ye Qing thought for a moment before clasping his hands together. He asked, "Miss, you recognize the Fog of Nightmare, and you're the one who said that there's a better way of handling this, so…"
Once again, the woman's clear, quiet voice rang beside their ears like dark orchids in an empty valley, "The Fog of Nightmare is a dreamweaver who weaves nightmares to kill its victims. Therefore, all you need to do is to enter a dream and destroy the nightmares it weaved to wake everyone up. It's very simple!"
Ye Qing: "..."
Xu Banren: "..."
Excuse me, but what part of that line sounds simple?
Plunk…
Suddenly, they heard a sound that sounded like a stone falling into a spring. It was crisp, clear, and melodious. It was the sound of a qin being plucked.
Ye Qing and Xu Banren immediately sharpened their hearing. The woman had only plucked the first note, and already their minds were drawn to it.
What followed was a peaceful, auspicious song that sounded like the spring wind blowing past a massive stretch of plum blossom trees and blooming them all at once; or a single flame lighting the candles of ten thousand households at once. It was a song of peace and prosperity.
The music was quiet, but not one-note. It was mild, but not uninteresting. Just because the world is big and chaotic, doesn't mean you can't lead a pure, peaceful life.
"This tune… it's the Song of Purity and Peace!"
Ye Qing's eyes lit up. The song the woman was playing was a very famous song. He had heard it in Coming Clouds before.
The Song of Purity and Peace was a quiet, mild song that most people might find boring be it sung or played using an instrument, which was why most songstresses and musicians tried to mix it up and add some richness to the tune so to speak. Regardless of the successes, it was a fact that the song's original meaning and intent had been distorted by the alterations.
On the other hand, the woman did not make any changes to the song. She played it exactly as it was meant to be—pure and peaceful.
"Clouds, one thinks of her clothes; flowers, one thinks of her countenance;
the spring wind sweeps dew from her balustrade, splendid and dense.
If not seen at the peak of the Jade Mountain,
then she will be encountered under the moon on the gemstone terrace…" [2]
Ye Qing and Xu Banren were more or less tone deaf, but even they were fully absorbed in the wonderful music. Their irritation, worry, fear, sorrow, anger, and all other negative emotions were silently removed from their hearts, leaving only peace, purity, and calm.
Plunk…
They didn't know when it happened, but when the music finally ceased, silver light shone down from above like the grace of heavens. A beautiful moon hung in the sky, and the river glittered like a bed of stars.
1. Not literally. I realize now I have to clarify things like this because of how insane this world is XD ☜
2. I borrowed this from a website called eastasiastudent.net, which is part 1 of the Song of Purity and Peace. This is NOT what the author did, he basically threw in some random wishes he made up himself as if he was interjecting the narrator's perspective, which no matter how I tried to translate, felt jarring at best or devastating at worst. Hence the alteration.