Chapter Fifty-Five: Undercurrents Surge
Lin Cheng seemed to recall something and lowered his head to ask, “An’an, your spiritual root must be of the water attribute, right? What cultivation method are you practicing?”
An’an looked up and took out a manual titled Clear Water Art.
“This is the Clear Water Art of our An family, a high-grade Yellow-tier cultivation method... Grandfather practices this method as well,” An’an replied.
“For the True Qi stage, it is sufficient. But this method can only take you as far as the Sky Spirit stage at best…” Lin Cheng remarked. With a thought, he took out a cultivation manual radiating a faint blue-green glow from his storage ring.
He handed the manual to An’an and said, “This is called the Azure Sea Pure Light Art, suitable for those with water attribute spiritual roots. It comes with matching spells and martial techniques. It should be enough for your cultivation for some time… When we reach Qingyang Sect, I’ll find you a higher-tier method.”
Azure Sea Pure Light Art, middle-grade Profound-tier!
An’an took the manual, and upon realizing it was a middle-grade Profound-tier cultivation method, she was so excited she threw herself into Lin Cheng’s arms.
“Brother Lin Cheng, you’re so good to me…” An’an said sweetly.
The syrupy voice made Lin Cheng’s heart flutter with desire, nearly losing control.
He rubbed his nose and turned to Qiu Yingying, saying, “As for Yingying, I currently don’t have a higher-tier wood attribute method. You can practice the Withered Wood Spring Art I gave to your father. It should suffice for now…”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Brother Lin…” Qiu Yingying replied softly.
After giving the items to the two girls and seeing that it was late, Lin Cheng nervously escorted them out of the side chamber.
Once the girls were gone, Lin Cheng pounded his chest in regret, lamenting why he hadn’t kept them with him.
Ah! This damned halo of a proper gentleman…
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Late at night, the pitch-black sky was pierced only by a lone crescent moon.
All throughout Dragon City, families were spending the night in peace and tranquility.
Only in the inner courtyard of the Qiu family at the City Lord’s residence, waves of murderous rage and angry shouts echoed.
“Who? Who did this?”
“Ah… damn it, damn it, damn it…”
“Where are the Black Armored Guards?”
“Search for me… What force could so audaciously slay two elders of my Qiu family…”
“Bring back all the escaped miners and interrogate them severely. And… make sure to capture Elder Wang Yan’s disciple as well…”
...
Outside the courtyard, those receiving the orders hurriedly withdrew.
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Within the inner courtyard, Qiu Yan and Steward Wang stood off to the side, hardly daring to breathe. Qiu Batian slowly calmed his heaving chest, clarity returning to his eyes.
“Father, I believe this must be the work of the An family…” Seeing Qiu Batian turn around, Qiu Yan hurriedly spoke.
“This old servant also thinks the An family is most suspicious,” Steward Wang agreed.
Qiu Batian waved his hand, frowning. “If that old ghost of the An family acted, my father would have known. I suspect a third party has intervened in Dragon City…”
Qiu Yan was shocked. “Father, you mean… a powerful force is aiding the An family?”
Qiu Batian paced in thought.
“Hahaha… You Qiu family worry too much. It was the work of a youth…” As he spoke, before anyone could react, a young man in a purple robe appeared in the midst.
Qiu Batian was startled, his face paling. This man could appear before him without a trace or sound—either his concealment skills were extraordinary, or his strength far surpassed his own…
Thinking this, he quickly clasped his hands in salute. “May I ask who you are, honored guest? Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner…”
Qiu Yan and Steward Wang immediately bowed and lowered their heads.
“Who I am matters not, but I can help your Qiu family… Do you know who the youth accompanying the An family to Dragon City is?”
Seeing their confusion, the purple-robed youth continued, “He is a true disciple of Sword Peak at Qingyang Sect… Your two elders died by his hand.”
At this, all three looked up at the purple-robed youth, their eyes filled with shock. They realized the youth’s background was indeed extraordinary!
But thinking that their two elders were slain by him, anger surged within.
“Honored guest, do you bear a grudge against this youth?” Qiu Batian asked.
The purple-robed youth glanced at Qiu Batian, replying carelessly, “Not a grudge, really. I simply find him disagreeable. A true disciple of a peak should be cultivating on the mountain instead of bullying you people in the mundane world… I disliked it, so I decided to help you.”
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll leave right now…”
Seeing the purple-robed youth about to depart, Qiu Batian hastily said, “Honored guest, calm yourself… With your assistance, I am naturally delighted. From now on, the Qiu family will follow your orders, obeying only your command…”
The purple-robed youth waved his hand indifferently, his eyes lazy. “Arrange a chamber for me. I’ll stay here for a while. Unless I summon you, do not disturb me…”
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Inside the chamber, watching Qiu Batian and the others leave, the purple-robed youth’s gaze dripped contempt. He muttered to himself, “If it weren’t for my uncle’s request, I wouldn’t bother coming to this godforsaken place… And uncle, really, why not just have me kill Lin Cheng directly, rather than going through all this trouble and using others… Seeing the Qiu family’s incompetence, I’ll probably have to do it myself in the end…”
Though grumbling, he had no choice but to carry out his uncle’s orders.
In fact, he didn’t realize that if the three sects openly assassinated disciples of other families, it would be utter chaos and none of the disciples would dare leave the mountain.
In the study, Qiu Yan looked to Qiu Batian. “Father, do you believe what he said?”
“I don’t know if it’s true, but he certainly wants to use us to kill that youth… But one thing puzzles me: from his skills, he should be far superior to me—killing that youth should be easy for him… Why does he need our Qiu family?” Qiu Batian said, doubt clouding his face.
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Qiu Yan said, “Could it be he wants to divert disaster onto us, making the Qiu family face the wrath of Qingyang Sect alone…”
Qiu Batian stood. “Qingyang Sect is absolutely not a force we can provoke… We must deliberate carefully…”
“But father, the youth killed two elders of our Qiu family—are we just going to let him go?” Qiu Yan asked.
“This was surely orchestrated by the An family; An family… I, Qiu Batian, will not let this go!” Thinking of the An family, Qiu Batian slammed his palm on the table.
Qiu Yan asked, “What do you plan to do, father?”
“I’ll consult your grandfather first, then decide…” Qiu Batian replied.
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Lin Cheng cared little for what transpired in the Qiu family.
At this moment, he was quite pleased with himself. Early in the morning, An Zhan invited him to the backyard, saying the old master of the An family wished to meet him.
In a rather humble little courtyard stood a low pine, surrounded by spiritual herbs and exquisite flowers. Not far from the gate to the right was a stone table and a few stone stools.
Entering the courtyard, Lin Cheng saw that a white-haired elder and a young girl in pink were already seated by the stone table.
The girl was An’an. Seeing Lin Cheng arrive, she stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Grandfather, Lin Cheng is here…” An’an said sweetly to the elder beside her.
The old man turned to Lin Cheng, muttering, “Hm? Such vigorous aura, truly a master of True Qi… and so young…”
Seeing the old man’s astonished gaze, An’an felt proud and chirped, “Grandfather, I told you Brother Lin Cheng is amazing, but you didn’t believe me… Now you’re surprised!”
The elder lightly tapped the girl’s forehead and said, “Young hero Lin, please come this way…”
After Lin Cheng was seated, An Zhan introduced, “Brother Lin, this is my father, and An’an’s grandfather…”
“Grandfather, this is Lin Cheng. The events in Autumn Bright City were thanks to Brother Lin’s righteous aid—otherwise An’er would have been in grave danger.”
The old man nodded gently, his look at Lin Cheng full of satisfaction.
“How does young hero Lin view our An’er?”
...
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