Chapter 433: Qiqiucheng

When Chu Shaoqiang removed his hat, He Jiaqing finally recognized him.

It was untrue to say he wasn't surprised; in Pulu Province, everyone knew Chu Shaoqiang was dead, most believing he died in frontier clearing, a few knowing he was killed by the Border Warden.

But almost no one knew he was still alive—He Jiaqing certainly didn't.

But He Jiaqing knew one thing: meeting Chu Shaoqiang here couldn't be coincidence.

"Uncle Qiang, you came to Wuqinxiang to find me?" Chu Shaoqiang was an elder, so He Jiaqing spoke to him with great respect.

Chu Shaoqiang smiled: "First, eat your noodles—I'll treat you."

Chu Shaoqiang ordered two bowls of noodles, two small dishes, and a pot of wine.

The two ate together, then He Jiaqing said: "Uncle Qiang, shouldn't we get to the real matter?"

Chu Shaoqiang paid for the meal and smiled: "Let's talk outside. These people here are strangers—better not drag them into this."

They left the noodle shop, and Chu Shaoqiang added: "Don't walk along the walls—there are mud pits."

After speaking, Chu Shaoqiang looked at his shoes, the dried mud still not cleaned off.

As they walked and chatted, Chu Shaoqiang said: "You were always a likable child when you were young. I and Haiqin were close back then—I even thought of arranging a childhood marriage between Huaiyuan and you. But Huaiyuan was spoiled by me; no matter how I pleaded, she refused."

He Jiaqing smiled: "I was never worthy of Miss Huaiyuan."

"That's why I say you're a sensible child—always so considerate in your words."

They walked from the main street into an alley, and Chu Shaoqiang brought up the subject: "In Pulu Province, I've heard many rumors about you."

He Jiaqing replied: "If the rumors concern Sacred Sage Peak, there must be many misunderstandings."

Chu Shaoqiang nodded: "I agree there are misunderstandings. I've had some myself with Sacred Sage Peak lately. I plan to take you there and clear them up."

He Jiaqing's hands slipped into his pockets: "Uncle Qiang, is that why you came to Wuqinxiang?"

"Not entirely—but since we've met, you might as well come with me."

"I can't go to Sacred Sage Peak. The Sage there won't tolerate me."

"Jiaqing, I only intend to take you to Sacred Sage Peak, and I never planned to ask your opinion," Chu Shaoqiang glanced at He Jiaqing's hands. "You're keeping your hands in your pockets—planning to pull out a weapon?"

He Jiaqing shook his head: "I'm a good boy—I'd never dare act rashly before a senior."

"Pulling out a weapon's fine. I admire youths like you—I'd like to see your true skill." Chu Shaoqiang smiled, and a hunting net descended from above, landing squarely on He Jiaqing.

Chu Shaoqiang's face showed slight disappointment—He Jiaqing's strength had let him down.

He advised: "Child, don't struggle. You won't break free. Struggling only brings you more pain."

He Jiaqing touched the net's material and sighed: "I can't break this net—but Uncle Qiang might have a way."

Chu Shaoqiang frowned—he didn't understand what that meant.

Could He Jiaqing be a Mind Cultivator, able to control the net to release itself?

But according to Sacred Sage Peak's intelligence, He Jiaqing should be a Traveler Cultivator.

Chu Shaoqiang didn't dare underestimate him—he focused his mind, guarding against Mind Techniques.

He Jiaqing pulled his hand from his pocket, holding a small knife.

He slashed through the net with it and vanished from Chu Shaoqiang's sight.

"Impossible—how could his knife cut through my net?" Chu Shaoqiang couldn't believe it.

In shock, he suddenly felt something missing from his person.

That small knife?

Was that knife He Jiaqing held—mine?

Chu Shaoqiang turned to look in the direction He Jiaqing had fled.

He didn't pursue. Thief Cultivators excelled at escape; though slower and less enduring than Traveler Cultivators, they far outpaced Artisan Cultivators.

Chu Shaoqiang had a Traveler Cultivator's magic treasure, but He Jiaqing had already fled far enough that even using it would be hard to catch him.

Besides, Artisan Cultivators were severely restrained by Thief Cultivators—Chu Shaoqiang had no desire to risk a pointless chase.

"The outside world says He Jiaqing is both literary and martial. Sacred Sage Peak claims he's a Traveler Cultivator. I never imagined he's a thief."

Chu Shaoqiang walked a while through town and saw Ma Wu preparing a construction site.

He glanced at Ma Wu's blueprints and learned Ma Wu planned to build a tavern.

Wuqinxiang had few people and poor customs—could a tavern here even make money?

Then again, Ma Junyang was a genius at business—perhaps he could truly make something of it.

Chu Shaoqiang looked at Ma Wu's blueprints and said: "Young brother, your tavern is too extravagant for this place."

Ma Wu turned and studied Chu Shaoqiang—he felt he recognized him but couldn't place where.

Anyone who could read the blueprint's details was clearly an expert—Ma Wu always respected experts: "I think this tavern is still quite plain—it's several levels below Qianyue Tavern."

"Qianyue Tavern?" Chu Shaoqiang laughed. "That's one of the top two taverns in Lüshui City. This is Wuqinxiang—how could it possibly match such a place?"

"It can!" Ma Wu was confident. "Big brother, this place won't be called Wuqinxiang anymore—it's Qiqiucheng now."

"Qiqiucheng? Wuqinxiang's been its name for years—who changed it?" Chu Shaoqiang didn't understand.

Ma Wu smiled: "I say the Earth Spirit changed the name. Do you believe me?"

It was Qiuluoye who named it. Li Banfeng thought it should be Qiucheng, since Qiuluoye was the elder brother—his name should come first.

Qiuluoye said: "Qiucheng sounds like seven cities—we have only one. When we have seven, we'll call it Qiucheng!"

Thus, Qiqiucheng was settled.

Ma Wu told Chu Shaoqiang: "Big brother, you're clearly skilled. Qiqiucheng is hiring—come work for me if you're willing. I'll never shortchange anyone with real talent!"

"Alright," Chu Shaoqiang nodded. "I'll draw you a new blueprint—better than Qianyue Tavern!"

…

Xiao Zhenggong walked along the village path as Liu Guocai explained the situation.

"Captain Xiao, this is all a misunderstanding. Please explain to the higher-ups."

Xiao Zhenggong sneered: "I've come all this way, and you tell me it's a misunderstanding? Sacred Sage Peak is waiting for my report."

"Then please also explain the truth to the Sage."

"How? Teach me?"

"I dare not! Captain Xiao, just convey the facts—I'd be eternally grateful."

"We'll see. Is your 'truth' really the truth? Wait until the investigation is complete."

That night, Liu Guocai hosted a banquet for Xiao Zhenggong's party, repeatedly emphasizing: "Wuqinxiang has nothing—ingredients and chefs were all sent from Lüshui City."

Xiao Zhenggong nodded slightly, his expression hinting at approval.

Honestly, neither the wine nor the dishes had ever been so refined in his life.

But he didn't dare pick up his chopsticks. Their mission was unusual; he didn't know Liu Guocai well, and Liu's rank was high—this excessive humility unsettled him.

"Eat," Xiao Zhenggong finally said. "Liu Shi's hospitality is rare—don't be shy."

As he raised his chopsticks, a woman in a deep-blue qipao sat beside him and poured him wine.

In Waizhou, qipaos weren't rare—but this was the first time Da Tou had seen one so exquisitely detailed, every stitch rendered with perfect clarity.

Of course, the details on the qipao reflected the woman herself.

Da Tou's face flushed. Xiao Zhenggong glanced at him and smiled: "Eat. Everything's delicious. In Pulu Province, there's no need for such restraint."

…

Xiao Zhenggong stayed in Wuqinxiang only two days, then departed for Jianren Gang.

When he reached Sacred Sage Peak, checkpoints blocked the mountain path—no one allowed to ascend.

Xiao Zhenggong studied the guard and lowered his voice: "Do you know who I am?"

The guard did know. He whispered: "Senior brother, don't make this hard on me. They won't let you up for your own good—the mountain has an epidemic. Dozens of senior and junior brothers have died."

Xiao Zhenggong froze: "What kind of epidemic?"

"Rashes—green-pus rashes. They spread all over the body in one day. By the third day, the person is dead."

"Just being assigned to guard the checkpoint is lucky. The brothers on the mountain don't even know if they'll live till tomorrow."

Xiao Zhenggong immediately left Sacred Sage Peak. As a high-level Wu Xiu, he ran at the speed of a Traveler Cultivator.

No wonder the Sage had been silent lately.

Dozens of disciples lost at once.

Sacred Sage Peak was severely weakened.

Who did this?

Lühuazi?

When did he turn against the Sage?

Xiao Zhenggong glanced at the farmers tilling the fields—none showed signs of rashes.

Only targeting Sacred Sage Peak, sparing the commoners of Jianren Gang?

That wasn't like Lühuazi's style.

…

Cui Ti ke drank a bowl of water handed to him by a farmer, gulping it down in one swallow.

Three days.

He had walked for three full days and still hadn't escaped Jianren Gang.

The Sage had used a technique: a high-level Joy Cultivator technique—Layered Peaks and Ranges.

Cui Ti ke had seen this technique once, but didn't know how to break it.

Two paths lay before him.

The first: keep walking, find a way out of Jianren Gang. Layered Peaks and Ranges has an end—but whether he walks the right direction depends on Cui Ti ke's luck.

Even if luck was extraordinary, the right direction chosen, and ten or fifteen days spent walking to the edge of Jianren Gang, the Saint need only change his technique once, and one must start over.

The second path: spread plague directly through the village.

These villagers are the Saint's crops; the Saint depends on them to survive.

Cui Ti only needs to spread the plague into the villages, letting one village die out after another, to force the Saint to let him go.

But doing so would expose Cui Ti's whereabouts—he could be captured alive by the Saint at any moment.

Cui Ti was torn; he had to choose one of these two paths.

Just as he was about to decide, a man in a white slant-collar long robe and a white top hat, holding a folding fan, arrived beside Cui Ti.

"From afar? Lost your way? I'll guide you."

Cui Ti frowned: "Who are you?"

The man smiled: "I'm your benefactor now, and soon your acquaintance. Your ancestral master has shown considerable sincerity in partnering with me—I must offer him a return gift."

"What partnership? What return gift?" Cui Ti refused to believe the man before him.

The man urged: "Let's leave here first. Of all places in this world, Jianren Gang is the last I should be in."

The man truly did not deceive Cui Ti; he led him for over two hours, until the end of the mountain path revealed a valley.

Cui Ti had walked this mountain road many times—he had never seen this valley before.

"What technique did you use? How did you find this way out?" Cui Ti could not understand.

The man looked at the valley: "Let's walk through first—hard to say if this is even an exit."

Beyond the valley lay a wasteland.

Cui Ti exclaimed in delight: "This is Wuyou Ping."

The man nodded: "Wuyou Ping—the former capital, now ancient land. Let's move quickly; we'd best not run into the Actor Prince."

Cui Ti said: "You know this place well."

"Indeed. The people here invited me to come—if I couldn't find my way, how would I dare show up unannounced?"

After leaving Wuyou Ping, the man took Cui Ti onto the nearest train and returned all the way to Lüshuiwan.

At Wujie Hospital, a doctor was reviewing medical records in Cui Ti's office.

"Ancestral Master, I've completed the mission." Cui Ti bowed to the doctor.

Lüshui Gai removed his mask and nodded with a smile: "I've also been watching over your business."

Then Lüshui Gai turned to the man in the white robe: "He Jiaqing, you're as good as your word."

Cui Ti's heart jolted—he realized this man was He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing raised an eyebrow: "The boss of Lüshuiwan must be just as trustworthy."

Lüshui Gai pulled a half-arched iron token from his robe and handed it to He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing accepted the token, verified it, then said to Lüshui Gai: "I never expected you'd trade something so precious for a single disciple."

Lüshui Gai looked at Cui Ti: "He deserves it."

He Jiaqing took the contract: "I believe we'll have many more opportunities to cooperate."

Lüshui Gai nodded: "There's one right now—do you know Chu Shaoqiang?"

PS: Lüshui Gai had extra contracts in his possession, obtained from another beggar.

(End of Chapter)