Chapter 137: The Sloppy Old Beggar

The Canglan River basin.

Within the borders of the Lingyang Kingdom.

Fang Longye concealed the supernatural aura of his carriage, transformed the Bishui Jinjing Beast into a crimson steed, and, appearing as a noble young master traveling with beauties, drove along the bustling main road.

Lingyang Kingdom, the head of the Cang Lan Shi Guo.

The core of this region.

The ruler of the entire Canglan River basin—the Yuanyang Sect—is even located within this very kingdom.

Sitting in his carriage, Fang Longye observed the diverse crowd on the main road, listening to their conversations.

From the chatter of the crowd, Fang Longye once again confirmed the intelligence he had previously gathered—the Yuanyang Sect's once-in-a-century grand initiation ceremony would be held in three months.

At that time, fifty outstanding individuals would be selected to enter the Yuanyang Sect and become disciples within.

Yet, they were merely mortals; even though the Yuanyang Sect was located within this Lingyang Kingdom, not a single person knew the specific details of the situation inside the sect.

Fang Longye shook his head; relying on these mortal beings was a foolish hope of his own.

It would be more convenient to wait until he reached the Yuanyang Sect's territory, find someone, and perform a direct Soul Searching Technique to seize their memories.

The reason he was so focused on the Yuanyang Sect was that, through divine ability calculations and the guidance of the Acquired Seeking Wood seedling he had brought with him, he had a lead.

He had already determined the approximate location where that Taiyi Realm Honghu had perished.

Basically, it was located in the very area of the Yuanyang Sect's mountain gate, coinciding perfectly.

Talk about a coincidence.

If not for a vague intuition that this wasn't some special arrangement by someone else, he would have suspected it was another test set by some unknown great power.

Just as he was pondering this, he heard an "Ouch!" from ahead.

A dusty figure leaped up directly from the side of the road and crashed straight into Fang Longye's "carriage."

"Ouch, what are you doing~? Are you blind? Can't you show some respect for the elderly and care for the young?"

Inside the carriage, Fang Longye's mouth twitched as he forced a smile.

Look, didn't I say it was bad to dwell on it?

I had just mentioned this, and immediately a senior expert in disguise appeared.

Does he really think I've wasted my time reading all those stories from my past life? Can't you come up with something new? The figure who crashed into the "carriage," or rather, was hit by the "carriage," was a ragged, slovenly old beggar.

With gray hair and beard, a filthy appearance, and curled up on the ground, he wailed incessantly, drawing the eyes of passersby, with some kind-hearted people even stopping.

"Clang—" A few pieces of broken silver were tossed onto the ground beside him.

"Old man, be sensible. Is this kind of noble someone you can pester?"

"Take the silver this master has rewarded you with and get lost!"

Don't look at the passerby's scolding; he was actually acting out of kindness. He didn't believe that such a high-profile noble traveling with beautiful maids could be a good person.

Who would have thought that this old beggar, for some reason, went crazy, rolling around in front of the carriage and wailing and groaning.

Fang Longye looked at the old beggar lying on the ground with great interest, sneering internally.

Please, big shot, can you be more professional with your scam? Looking at this clumsy acting, are you really afraid I won't see through it?

However, since this big shot wanted to act, he would accompany him to the end.

He first signaled Ao Ying, who was driving the "carriage" at the front, to step forward and help him up.

The result, naturally, was that she couldn't budge him; she couldn't lift him even an inch.

Fang Longye shook his head, then pushed aside the hanging curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

Ignoring the gasps of the surrounding crowd, he reached out to support the beggar's arm, wearing an apologetic expression and smiling gently: "Old man, it is this young master's fault. Are you hurt anywhere? Let me help you up~"

"Ouch, be careful, you've strained my old waist again." Under the old beggar's complaints, his oily filth rubbed off onto him, and he smeared snot and tears all over him.

Fang Longye frowned slightly.

"Sigh! Kid, were you not paying attention? Driving the carriage so fast, what for? In such a rush to be reincarnated?"

After speaking, he took off the worn-out shoes from his feet, threw them aside, and rubbed his own smelly, mud-caked feet.

A moment later, he put his right hand, which had been fiddling with his smelly feet, to his nose and sniffed.

He looked completely refreshed.

Qingli and Ao Ying, who were beside Fang Longye, were female cultivators after all. Seeing this scene, even though they knew this was a senior expert in disguise doing it on purpose, they still felt nauseated.

"Hey, kid, don't just stand there. I can't get up for a while, go pick up my shoes for me," the old beggar said lazily.

He looked arrogant and conceited.

Fang Longye narrowed his eyes; he was playing the "Yiqiao Sanjinlü" trick on him! Unfortunately, he was not Zhang Liang.

Qingli and Ao Ying, having deduced from the old beggar's previous oddities and this behavior that this senior expert was testing their master, immediately stepped forward to share the burden.

But Fang Longye waved his hand.

Playing along for a moment was fine, but if he really had to immerse himself in the performance, that was a no-go.

Picking up shoes for this old fellow would definitely be a dark history in the future.

Besides, he didn't believe that this old man was really here to test him.

It was just an excuse to rationalize his subsequent act of bestowing favors.

Both sides knew this clearly; as long as they kept up appearances, that was enough.

"Let's go!" He turned around immediately, stepped onto the carriage, and prepared to drive it, intending to roll right over the old beggar.

The old beggar's expression froze; good fellow, you're not playing by the rules? Fortunately, he was quick-witted and knew it wasn't good to keep acting.

"Hahaha!"

He burst into loud laughter.

He stood up, patted the dust off his body, and forcibly smoothed things over, saying: "Possessing benevolence and patience, yet not losing one's bottom line. You are indeed the talent I value."

Immediately after, he walked around Fang Longye, wearing a fake, exaggerated expression of surprise, and said: "Oh my, oh my! The light behind your head is profound and illuminates the great thousand worlds. At a glance, I can see you shoulder the mission of saving all living beings!"

"Just in time, I have a heaven-sent opportunity, and I shall bestow it upon you!"

As he spoke, clouds and mist swirled around his body, prompting the surrounding passersby to cry out "Divine Immortal."

His entire person became increasingly awe-inspiring.

In the end, hundreds of auspicious rays of light burst forth, obscuring his figure.

Fang Longye rolled his eyes and flicked his hand, causing the crowd of emotionally agitated passersby to instantly fall unconscious.

He addressed the halo of light before him, which he could not see through, saying, "I do not know which senior has graced me with their presence; Fang Longye has been negligent."

Amidst the interlacing light, it shattered layer by layer and dissipated. Finally, a figure was revealed, having undergone a change in appearance.

With graying hair and beard, an uninhibited temperament, a face full of pockmarks, and dressed in non-mainstream beggar's rags, a hunchbacked old man stood before Fang Longye with his hands on his hips, looking quite spirited.

Hmm, he had indeed undergone a change in appearance.

If he had been slovenly and dirty before, he was now old, ugly, and dirty, yet possessed an extraordinary sense of confidence.

"How is it? Handsome enough, right?" "Handsome! Truly handsome!" Fang Longye said, caught between laughter and tears.

No, Big Shot, are you playing with me here!

The old beggar shook his graying, disheveled hair and said narcissistically, "It's not what it used to be. Thinking back to those years, that was what you called handsome and dashing; I captivated thousands of goddesses."

Fang Longye echoed his sentiments, though in his heart, he kept wondering which great power could have such a personality.

While this old beggar—whoever this great power might be in disguise—was looking smug, he sat down on the ground, pulled a glistening pig's trotter from his bosom, and began to gnaw on it wildly.

With his left hand, he unhooked a Wine Gourd from his waist and took a swig.

"Ha—" He looked thoroughly refreshed.

"Snap!" The old beggar finished the pig's trotter in three or four bites, tossed the bone onto the ground, and glared at Fang Longye.

With meat still in his mouth, he mumbled, "Kid, why are you dawdling? Hurry up and come over here to Laozi; Laozi has a heaven-sent opportunity to give you."

Fang Longye looked at the eccentric old beggar before him, thinking that his appearance didn't matter; since he was undoubtedly a senior expert, who cared who he was! As long as he could get the opportunity~

Perhaps it was because this senior's true self usually had to maintain a serious demeanor due to his status, so he had to let loose in private.

"Old Senior, what is the opportunity you speak of?"

"This opportunity, well~" After giving Fang Longye a sideways glance, the old beggar said unhurriedly, "Transfer half of the merit you possess to me, and I'll tell you. But don't worry, if you obtain that opportunity, the merit you lose now will be nothing but a drizzle!"

After hearing his words, the smile that had appeared on Fang Longye's face immediately stalled and then vanished. He argued, "Didn't you say you were bestowing it? Why do you still want to collect merit?"

Seeing that this senior had no sense of propriety, Qingli boldly chimed in to support her young master: "Exactly! You old man, your words don't count for anything!"

"Look at my signboard!" The old beggar reached out from somewhere and produced a long banner, waving it in front of the three of them.

"'Cures All Diseases'!?" Qingli and Ao Ying widened their eyes and exclaimed in disbelief in unison.

"What?" The old beggar flipped the banner over, took a look, threw it aside, and pulled out another one: "Wrong one. Here, this is the one."

Looking at the four large, silver-hooked and iron-drawn characters for "Golden Mouth Divine Calculation" on the banner, Fang Longye smiled: "Alright, Senior, please stop joking."

The old beggar shook his head and said, "Sigh! Truly blind. I spent a great deal of effort to help you divine a thread of future Heavenly Secrets."

"Very well, I am going to the Yuanyang Sect mountain gate to watch a good show. If you wait on me hand and foot during this time, I will give you a great opportunity when the time comes."

Fang Longye breathed a sigh of relief; this was at least somewhat reliable.

However, the Yuanyang Sect.

Are you sure it's not because of me?

"Then many thanks to you, Senior, for letting me accompany you."

He thought for a moment, then casually opened a Mustard Seed space, taking the carriage and the Bishui Jinjing Beast into it.

He straightened his clothes and gestured for the senior to go first.

The old beggar curled his lip and immediately used the "shrinking the ground to an inch" technique, flying forward.

His expression was full of disdain for Fang Longye's stinginess in not letting him ride the carriage.

Fang Longye didn't feel awkward; a carriage is like a woman—never lent out.

He immediately took Qingli and Ao Ying and used his travel divine ability—"Diving into the Abyss and Shrinking the Earth"—to follow closely behind the old beggar.

"Senior, you said you wanted to watch a good show. May I ask what kind of good show it is?" Fang Longye chatted with the old beggar intermittently.

Earthly Qi rose and water vapor swirled, blending into colors. There was just one thing: a group of handsome men and beautiful women who looked like Divine Immortals, walking along with an old, ugly, smelly beggar, chatting and laughing—it was exceptionally incongruous.

"What kind of good show? Hehehe—" The old beggar smiled mysteriously, "I'm afraid you couldn't even imagine it."

Seeing that Fang Longye's appetite had been whetted, he asked unhurriedly: "Do you know the origin of the name of this sect, the Yuanyang Sect?"

Seeing Fang Longye shake his head, the old beggar scratched the lice in his crotch, feeling quite comfortable.

He then continued: "I imagine you are also aware of the great ability of the Yuanyang Sect Master, having two Dao companions by his side, both of whom are in the Golden Immortal Realm."

"I have to say, in this regard, you 'lucky' kid are somewhat similar to him."

As he spoke, he gave Qingli and Ao Ying a faint glance.

Hearing the words "Dao companions" and "similar," the two women couldn't help but blush, feeling happy in their hearts.

Qingli waved her hands repeatedly: "Not at all, not at all. How could we sisters be considered the young master's Dao companions? However, Senior is truly possessed of great divine powers, even knowing that I have dabbled in the culinary arts..."

As she spoke, she suddenly realized the implication, stole a glance at the old beggar, and saw him looking at her with a teasing expression, grinning at her.

Instantly, her face turned crimson, as if it were burning.

"This senior is truly an old lecher. To think he would actually use such boudoir pleasures to tease others."

Qingli wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. She even had the urge to kill.

Fang Longye saw that Ao Ying was completely bewildered and shook his head; this little girl still needed more tempering! He immediately used sound transmission to tell her exactly what the old beggar meant.

Ao Ying understood, and in an instant, her cheeks flushed red. She secretly cursed this senior expert who had transformed into a beggar for being truly shameless.

Seeing that both women were shy and silent, Fang Longye immediately changed the subject and continued to ask about the previous question: "What does this have to do with the name of the sect he founded?"

"Hehehe, listen to me as I tell you slowly. The experiences of this Yuanyang Sect Master are quite explosive, even among the Human Race Divine Immortals."

"I imagine you also know that the Human Race is different from the Demon Clan; there are initial age restrictions for beginning to cultivate and enter the Dao."

"If one is truly too old and has yet to enter the Dao, their Qi and blood will have decayed, making it far from easy to enter the Dao thereafter. Without rare heavenly treasures, wanting to defy the heavens and change one's fate is difficult indeed."

"Therefore, even for the immortals and deities who attained success as Human Race rogue cultivators, most of them entered the Dao and began cultivation while they were still young."

"But this Sect Master of the Yuanyang Sect is different. He only truly entered the Dao and encountered cultivation at the age of fifty-nine."

"Moreover, he did not consume any rare heavenly treasures to regain his youth or anything of the sort. He relied solely on a method of fierce battle and the art of Dual Cultivation."

"Coupled with his own exquisite special skills, he used his mortal body to capture the heart of a female immortal, entering the Dao through harvesting and supplementing, and rose to prominence in a single leap."

"Is it shocking?"

"Furthermore, during his mortal life before the age of fifty-nine, this Sect Master of the Yuanyang Sect was neither a high official or noble, nor a wealthy merchant or tycoon. On the contrary, he was merely a lowly gatekeeper in the mortal world."

"And he was an ugly, wretched old widower at that."

"Tell me, can his encounter be considered bizarre? In a certain respect, can he be considered a talent?"

The old beggar stopped speaking here and began to drink heartily from the Wine Gourd in his hand.

The mellow wine spilled slightly onto his tattered clothes, and the rich aroma of the wine somewhat masked the faint stench emanating from the old beggar's body.

Fang Longye had a strange expression; the more he heard of this Sect Master of the Yuanyang Sect's story, the more he felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

He could not help but ask immediately, "I wonder what the name of this Sect Master of the Yuanyang Sect is?"

The old beggar wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth, pondered for a moment, and said, "That brat has been famous for some years now. He now styles himself the Yuanyang Old Immortal; his name in the mortal world seems to have been, let me see... right, I remember now."

"At first, he was just a gatekeeper raised by a wealthy family surnamed Qin in a mortal kingdom, so naturally, he followed his master's surname, Qin. It's just that the name doesn't sound very pleasant in the Human Race's language—surname Qin, given name Shou, the two characters Qin Shou."

"Hmm, but this name is a perfect match for his later actions of turning the tables, taking down all the female members of his master's household on the bed, and bullying his master as a servant."

Well then—Gatekeeper Qin Daye.

Fang Longye thought to himself that the experiences of this Sect Master of the Yuanyang Sect were a hodgepodge of plotlines from several types of works from his previous life.

No wonder it sounded so familiar to his ears!

Over four thousand words, making up for yesterday's update.

(End of this chapter)