“Who are you? State your identity and purpose for coming to my Bai family’s second courtyard with such a large entourage!”
Tang Jianhao let out an angry laugh, his palm lifting a Bai family guard and flinging him heavily into the courtyard. His voice, like a great bell, boomed, deafening. “This old Daoist, Tang Jianhao of the Sword Questioning Sect, has come specifically to pay respects to the Bai family’s Great Elder, Bai Lianqiu.”
The disciples of Enemy Subduing Peak drew their swords, their sharp spiritual energy surging towards the heavens.
Qin Gou quietly transformed a Myriad Seed into a Sheathed Fruit and shot it straight into the sky. Standing beside Li Yuanzhen, he calmly watched Tang Jianhao’s upright, pine-like posture. This old Daoist was truly as reckless as ever. Back then, he had rushed to Arc-Moon Mountain, clamoring to be defeated on his knees, annoying Qin Gou to no end. Only after Qin Gou suppressed his strength to match the old Daoist’s realm and defeated him head-on did the old man finally become somewhat obedient.
Suddenly, a black figure shot out from the depths of the mansion, hovering in the high sky and looking down at them. “Tang Jianhao, you mad Daoist, how dare you barge in here like this? Do you think my Bai family has no one?”
The majestic might of a Dharma Aspect True Person emanated from the black-robed old man. All the disciples of Enemy Subduing Peak turned pale and became uneasy. Tang Jianhao, showing no fear, stomped his foot hard, his power clashing invisibly with the black-robed old man’s aura.
“Barge in? Bai Lianqiu, how dare you say that!” Tang Jianhao’s voice seethed with overwhelming rage. “Your Bai family envoys colluded to kill my proud disciple, Hai Buxing. Today, this old Daoist has come to collect the debt for my pitiful disciple!”
“Utter nonsense!” Bai Lianqiu’s eyes flashed with a hint of shock and anger. “Are you referring to Bai Dengfeng and Bai Tanhai? Several days ago, their soul lanterns were extinguished, and they died unexpectedly. I am also thoroughly investigating this matter.”
“That is because I brought them to justice on the spot,” Tang Jianhao sneered. “This old Daoist only wants to know why your Bai family targeted my pitiful Hai’er. Were those two beasts instigated by you, Bai Lianqiu?”
“This is impossible… There must be something strange about this!” Bai Lianqiu frowned deeply. “It’s not the first time Bai Dengfeng and Bai Tanhai have traveled to your Sword Questioning Sect. Even if a conflict arose, they would never disregard the bigger picture and try to assassonate the Holy Son of Enemy Subduing Peak. Mad Daoist, I know you have a wild temper, but to kill Bai Dengfeng and Bai Tanhai without even clarifying the truth is a bit too much, isn’t it?”
“Hai’er had my spiritual seal’s blessing. I saw everything his dying moments clearly. It was indeed Bai Dengfeng and Bai Tanhai. How could it be fake? Bai Lianqiu, are you suspecting this old Daoist of making unreasonable demands and deliberately slandering your Bai family?” Tang Jianhao’s entire body was filled with sword intent, about to erupt completely. As a cultivator in the Dao Integration Body state, he had fought against Dharma Aspect True Persons before.
“I know your strength, mad Daoist. If it comes to a fight to the death, you are indeed not to be underestimated. But when have I ever feared you?” Bai Lianqiu said with a grim expression. “I simply find this matter somewhat peculiar. Furthermore, while your disciple had a spiritual imprint, are our Bai family’s soul lamps merely for show? Although the soul lanterns are extinguished, I can still use spirit arts to display the recent activities of Bai Dengfeng and Bai Tanhai, clearly showing all the places they have been! How about I order someone to retrieve the soul lanterns now, and we can get to the bottom of this before taking any action.”
Tang Jianhao paused briefly. “Very well. But this old Daoist wants to personally inspect the soul lanterns to ensure you, Bai Lianqiu, don’t tamper with them.”
Seeing this, Li Yuanzhen, who was in the crowd, quietly tugged at Qin Gou’s clothes and whispered, “Oh no, it looks like there won’t be a fight. Shall we slip away quickly?”
Qin Gou smiled knowingly. “To say something like that means you, little gambler, have finally returned to your senses.”
Li Yuanzhen gave a wry smile. “Is this really the time to bring that up? If Tang Feng Master and Bai Lianqiu discover the truth, we’ll both be in trouble.”
Qin Gou shrugged nonchalantly. “Precisely because such a situation might arise, I insisted on coming with you. Otherwise, do you really think I’m here for a stroll? With me here, they’ll have to fight even if they don’t want to.”
“Really?” Li Yuanzhen said, unconvinced.
“How about we bet on something?” Qin Gou said playfully.
Li Yuanzhen blinked, then broke into a smile. “What’s wrong with you? Did I infect you? Fine, let’s bet. I’m happy to oblige and honored.”
Qin Gou smiled faintly. “I’m not particularly interested in gambling. I just feel that you, little gambler, still don’t fully trust me. I ought to teach you a lesson. However, you’ve already lost to me so many times, what capital do you have left to play with me?”
“This humble Daoist… still has himself!” Li Yuanzhen said earnestly.
“You!” Qin Gou’s mouth twitched, and he let out a wry smile. “You must be joking, right?”
Li Yuanzhen’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Don’t misunderstand. This humble Daoist is certainly not referring to using myself as a stake, but rather, our spiritual oath has been fulfilled. I am no longer obliged to provide any further assistance to A’Qin. However, if I lose to you again this time, then in the future, I will still be at your beck and call!”
Qin Gou’s expression turned strange. “You little gambler, aren’t you getting addicted to this devil-may-care attitude with me? You’re just finding an excuse for yourself. After all, besides me, who else at the Sword Questioning Sect knows your true identity?”
Li Yuanzhen glared at Qin Gou playfully, gritting her teeth. “Absolutely not! This humble Daoist simply looks down on you and thinks you absolutely cannot win this time. If you lose to this humble Daoist this time, I’ll punish you by making you bark like a dog, just like I did before!”
“Alright,” Qin Gou chuckled and shook his head. “You brought this upon yourself.”
Just then. Under Bai Lianqiu’s command, the Bai family members respectfully brought out two soul lanterns. Seeing that it was already too late, Qin Gou, who was hidden in the crowd, lightly clicked his fingers.
The Sheathed Fruit that Qin Gou had sent into the clouds earlier shrunk to the size of dust and slowly descended. Like an almost imperceptible speck of dust, it landed gently in the Bai family courtyard. In an instant, it returned to its normal size and spat out an exquisite token. Then, in its Myriad Seed form, it slammed fiercely into the token.
It was the Xuan Nu Luo Sha, Palace Lord’s Token.
A terrifying aura filled with furious killing intent from Ancestor Ye rippled outwards, unignorable, revealing its sharpness. Instantly, all present felt their hair stand on end, utterly terrified.
“There’s another Dharma Aspect True Person?!”
“Damn it, disciples of Enemy Subduing Peak, form up immediately!”
In that moment, Tang Jianhao was furious, his eyes wide open. The violent sword energy was no longer restrained, attacking everything in front of him indiscriminately.
“So there was a trap all along! Bai Lianqiu, you have a lot of nerve!” As he spoke, Tang Jianhao, like a meteor chasing the moon, rode the river of sword energy straight towards Bai Lianqiu.
Bai Lianqiu looked back in astonishment and then let out a sinister laugh. “Interesting, truly interesting. It seems I, Bai Lianqiu, have offended a master! I’ve noted this debt!”
Explanations would be futile now. Killing intent filled Bai Lianqiu’s eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, he immediately turned and engaged Tang Jianhao in a fierce battle.
Li Yuanzhen stared intently at Qin Gou, surprised. “It was that fruit you sent into the sky earlier, wasn’t it? You planned this from the beginning?”
“Just planning ahead. This is today’s knowledge point. Did you learn it, little gambler?” Qin Gou winked at Li Yuanzhen with a smile.
“I learned it. Truly, as long as I’m with you, this humble Daoist truly benefits greatly every day,” Li Yuanzhen nodded like a pecking chick, seeming like a humble student.
“Then let’s go. There’s no point in staying any longer. Tang Jianhao can’t possibly defeat Bai Lianqiu in one go,” Qin Gou said, looking meaningfully at the two figures battling fiercely in the sky. “Today can only be considered a trivial greeting from my side to the Bai family. And as for Tang Jianhao, I will not forget this favor.”
“Ding. New mission ‘A True Greeting’ issued. Bai family Great Elder ‘Bai Lianqiu’ is cruel and wicked, having harmed countless loyal individuals, a heinous offender. A mere greeting cannot appease the grievances of thousands of spirits! The host is ordered to defeat this person head-on with their own strength. Reward: Seventy thousand Merit points, five lottery draws, one top-grade Emperor Weapon. Time limit: One year. Failure to complete the mission will result in a forced punishment: the host must publicly demand one piece of personal undergarment from the Bai family’s eldest daughter, ‘Bai Yunxi,’ as another form of greeting to the Bai family.”
Suddenly, Qin Gou grabbed Li Yuanzhen’s wrist and pulled her rapidly out of the battle, finding a secluded spot. Qin Gou gently tapped the jade belt on his left arm and said calmly, “Come out, Debt Girl.”
“Ha!”
The short-haired female warrior in white, exuding a stunning aura, immediately revealed herself, looking spirited and asking, “Master, who should I bite?”
A playful smile played on Qin Gou’s lips. “Your Master intends to write a challenge letter, inviting someone to a battle. I need you to deliver it to his desk without anyone noticing. With your Divine Footwork Technique, this should be a simple task, right?”
“Don’t worry, Master, this girl guarantees the mission will be completed,” Qiu Qianyue said with a radiant smile, eager to try.
Qin Gou nodded slightly and took out a jade slip, using spiritual power as an ink brush. As he wrote, he suddenly sneered, seemingly talking to himself. “Hmm, I need to add one more sentence: the battleground will be Purple Ridge Arc-Moon Mountain, with the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain as the witness!”
“Error! Error! Additional condition: The battleground shall be any location other than Arc-Moon Mountain. Merit points will increase from seventy thousand to one hundred thousand.”
A look of triumph flashed in Qin Gou’s eyes as he thought to himself, “Error? This is the second time already? They’re trying to brush me off with a mere thirty thousand Merit points? Old friend, we’re all people of dignity, you can’t do things like this.”
“Error, error…”
“Stop the nonsense. I knew you’d cause trouble once I did that, so I made it clear early on. Now, I just want to ask you one question. Answer honestly, and stop playing silent… Tell me, who am I?”
System: “Master of Arc-Moon Mountain. Qin Gou, the Celestial Master who hates evil like an enemy and is virtuous and upright!”
Qin Gou was so gratified his eyes welled up with tears. “It’s good that my old friend understands me.”
