Chapter 0: 37. Unrivaled Divine Skill
Is this person Li Hen?
Qin Gou felt a sense of déjà vu as the young boy from his memory suddenly grew to the same height as him.
“D-My lord?”
However, from Li Hen’s perspective, Qin Gou’s appearance had not changed at all, and it was also the first time he truly and deeply experienced Qin Gou’s immense power.
After all, Li Hen never had the chance to use the Life-and-Death Candlelight spirit tool on Qin Gou back then. Judging by the current situation, the Qin Gou before him seemed to be the ‘Big Brother Qin’ his sister had mentioned.
“Brother, don’t hurt him… My lord? Brother, what are you talking about?” Li You’er looked at her brother’s terrified expression, like a mouse meeting a cat, and couldn’t understand. “Can’t you even see through Big Brother Qin’s shape-shifting technique? He’s not the real Old Ancestor Qin Gou, he’s actually just…”
“No!” Li Hen’s face was as pale as paper. He had no idea what his sister was talking about. In his eyes, this divine being protected by divine light and shaking the universe, if he wasn’t the Celestial Master of Arc-Moon Mountain himself, that would be a ghost.
Due to the Life-and-Death Candlelight determining that the gap between Li Hen and Qin Gou was as vast as heaven and earth, within this specific timeframe, even a simple roar from Qin Gou would be enough to cause significant injury to Li Hen.
“It is him,” Li Hen said with difficulty. Being able to speak three coherent words was already his limit.
“Cough!” Qin Gou narrowed his eyes, almost explicitly telling him to stop, and said, “Three-word Martial King, please don’t misunderstand. Your sister is absolutely right. I have indeed temporarily borrowed the identity of the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain. I hope the Three-word Martial King will be understanding.”
However, upon hearing the title “Three-word Martial King,” Li Hen’s heart trembled violently, and he quickly said, “I’ll be understanding? How dare I dare dare dare…”
Losing control for a moment, Li Hen, in his panic, began an extremely mind-numbing repetition.
Three-word Martial King, four-word soul lost!
Li You’er, who had been confused, was suddenly shocked that her brother had spoken so many words to an outsider. She thought he must have reached the limit of his anger and was about to desperately try to persuade him.
Then, a heavy cough was heard.
Qin Gou stared directly into Li Hen’s eyes.
The next second, Li Hen immediately shut his mouth as if by reflex.
“It is indeed my fault for acting first. How about this, You’er, you go out for a bit. Let me have a private chat with the Three-word Martial King and formally apologize. If you’re not here, it will also save me some face.” Qin Gou winked at Li You’er with a gentle smile.
Li You’er worriedly said, “But Brother…”
“Don’t worry, the Three-word Martial King is magnanimous and won’t make things too difficult for me.” As he spoke, Qin Gou glanced at Li Hen again.
Li Hen responded with lightning speed, nodding emphatically.
Helpless, Li You’er left the cave, her heart filled with worry. In her impression, her brother had always been stubborn, even clashing with the master of the Wind Catching Association multiple times. She was genuinely concerned that the innocent Qin Gou would unjustly be blamed by him.
“Look at your pathetic state!” As soon as Li You’er left the cave, Qin Gou turned to Li Hen and said angrily, disappointed by his lack of spirit.
Upon hearing this, Li Hen was 100% certain that the person before him was indeed Qin Gou, and he said with a desire to cry but no tears, “Please forgive me.”
“Forgive what?” Qin Gou asked, confused. “Also, why is this bad habit of yours getting worse? Don’t bother, just write it with your hands.”
Li Hen immediately used his spiritual power to write in the air before him: “My sister is ignorant of your esteemed status and has offended the Old Ancestor considerably… As for this clumsiness with words, it has become a habit over many years.”
“So, in the end, it’s a matter of mindset,” Qin Gou nodded slightly. “And regarding your sister, it was indeed my intention to let her misunderstand. You don’t need to overthink it, and don’t let her know my true identity for now, this is just a test for her!”
“A test?!” Li Hen’s eyes lit up, and he quickly wrote again: “You fancy my sister?”
Qin Gou unhesitatingly went along with it, smiling kindly and saying, “Yes! I almost took a liking to You’er, this excellent seedling, at first glance. Unfortunately, I had already revealed my identity at the time. But to prevent You’er from being influenced and to let her show her true self, I had to resort to unconventional methods and deliberately teased You’er a little! I reluctantly did some absurd things that were not in line with my identity. Although it was somewhat obvious, I finally succeeded in making You’er misunderstand. I hope the Three-word Martial King will forgive me.”
“Please don’t flatter me further, Hen’er!” Li Hen’s face reddened with embarrassment, and he immediately wrote: “I believe You’er will understand your painstaking efforts in the future.”
Qin Gou was overjoyed in his heart. Getting You’er out of the way first and dealing with Li Hen alone was truly a brilliant strategy.
“However, You’er’s talent is only of inferior celestial orchid grade. I wonder what it is about You’er that you fancy?” Li Hen suddenly wrote with a strange expression.
“Is talent that important?” Qin Gou sighed with a melancholic long sigh, his eyes filled with weariness and incomprehension.
Li Hen immediately remembered the reason he couldn’t officially become a disciple back then. Qin Gou’s words were more convincing than any explanation, and he nodded wholeheartedly, thinking, “Hen’er understands.”
Qin Gou noticed that compared to before, Li Hen had lost much of his arrogance and was exceptionally respectful towards him, as if he were afraid Qin Gou would eat him. He nodded with satisfaction, saying, “You’ve really grown a lot these years, kid.”
As he spoke, Qin Gou reached out and patted Li Hen’s shoulder forcefully.
This was exactly what Li Hen feared the most.
“Ah!”
With a scream, Li Hen felt his body falling apart as Qin Gou’s palm sent him flying to the ground.
“What’s wrong with you?” Qin Gou, bewildered, bent down and held Li Hen’s arm, intending to help him up. But Li Hen cried out in extreme fear, “Spare, spare me!”
Li Hen struggled to break free and hastily retreated a few steps.
This allowed Qin Gou to clearly see that on Li Hen’s arm, where he had just gently held, there was an incredibly exaggerated scarlet handprint.
What was going on?
Qin Gou looked at his hands in astonishment.
“The Old Ancestor’s divine skill is undiminished… even surpassing its former glory!” Li Hen wrote, his heart pounding.
Qin Gou looked utterly incredulous. Was this some new form of flattery?
Li Hen quickly changed the subject, took out a strand of black hair from his Nas ring, and respectfully held it in his hand, writing with a sincere expression: “And Hen’er has also carried this strand of hair you bestowed upon me at all times, remembering the Old Ancestor’s teachings. Since then, I have never coveted what belongs to others, nor engaged in disloyal, unjust, or petty acts. I would never disgrace your name!”
Looking at the strand of hair, a hint of reminiscence flashed in Qin Gou’s eyes. He then clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and said with a furious laugh, “Heavenly Thief Star! I call you, do you dare to answer?!”
