Chapter 452: He Jiaqing, You Must Listen to Advice

Chu Duan Shaohong brought five helpers, and in the blink of an eye, the Peepers and Mud Cultivators were both down; the Poison Cultivator had vanished somewhere.

Chu Duan Shaohong was still locked in combat with He He Jiaqing; facing the Thief, he had many concerns about using his magic treasures, yet he remained calm.

Green Water Beggar found Chu Duan Shaohong's condition strange—how could he be so composed?

Perhaps he was relying on the Fire Cultivator and the Offerer still being alive, giving him confidence.

The Offerer's techniques were hard to predict, and under the Fire Cultivator's cover, he could launch unexpected strikes.

The Fire Cultivator could suppress Green Water Beggar's lesions; as long as the lesions were alive, close combat was nearly impossible.

But if you thought Green Water Beggar relied solely on his lesions to harm others, you vastly underestimated the Ancestors of the Lesion Cultivators.

To hold such a reputation in Pulu Province and control its largest city, Green Water Beggar's methods went far beyond this.

As the flames surged toward him, Green Water Beggar sniffed and sneezed twice.

After the sneezes, a sudden gale arose, scattering most of the flames created by the Fire Cultivator.

The Fire Cultivator was not surprised by Green Water Beggar's defense strategy; he continued casting flames to create openings for the Offerer's ambush.

Smoke suddenly rose from Green Water Beggar's body; his temperature spiked, drying up all pus, sweat, and tears on his skin.

His skin turned red like a glowing iron, and his tattered clothes burst into flame, turning to ash in an instant.

The feverish Green Water Beggar charged straight at the Fire Cultivator.

The Fire Cultivator hastily blocked him with flames—he couldn't understand Green Water Beggar's logic. If he wanted to force his way through the fire, he should lower his body temperature, ideally freezing himself in a layer of ice.

Why burn himself like this?

Amid the flames, Green Water Beggar made no parry, no dodge, not even a single step faltered.

When Green Water Beggar reached close range, the Fire Cultivator finally understood his intent.

Green Flower had altered his own body—he damaged himself, using the fever to adapt from within outward to the fire's heat, allowing him to fight calmly even inside the flames.

How could this beggar be so insane?

The Fire Cultivator focused his strength on Green Water Beggar's weak points, starting with his eyes.

Under the searing heat, Green Water Beggar's pupils glowed like polished porcelain.

His vision was unaffected; he reached out, grabbed the Fire Cultivator's throat, and tore off a clump of flame.

Bad!

Fire Seed!

The Fire Cultivator turned pale with shock and retreated rapidly.

All Fire Cultivator techniques derive from the Fire Seeds on their body; each cultivation level adds one Fire Seed—a tenth-level Fire Cultivator has exactly ten.

Fire Seeds are the lifeline of Fire Cultivators; once extinguished, it takes days or even months to reignite them.

Extinguishing Fire Seeds is the most effective way to defeat Fire Cultivators, but getting close to them is extremely difficult; the usual strategy is to fight from afar and wait for an opening to strike the seeds.

Who could have imagined that Green Flower would risk himself and actually close the distance?

Now the Fire Seed at his throat was extinguished; before the Fire Cultivator could react, Green Water Beggar reached up and grabbed another clump of flame from his forehead.

The second Fire Seed was extinguished.

The Fire Cultivator panicked, unsure whether to attack or defend.

The Offerer scooped up a handful of mud from the ground and hurled it at Green Water Beggar.

This mud could help cool Green Water Beggar—no matter how little effect it had, it was still assistance, and that entitled him to demand a reward.

But the flames were too hot; the mud turned to ash halfway through its flight and missed Green Water Beggar entirely.

The Offerer shielded a clump of mud in his palm, preparing to rush forward and smear it onto Green Water Beggar.

It was dangerous, but the Offerer decided to take the risk.

First, Green Water Beggar was deep in flames—his lesions must be dead by now, so approaching him posed no risk of infection.

If he could successfully smear the mud on Green Water Beggar, the payoff would be obvious: controlling him in this situation, then coordinating with the Fire Cultivator, might give them a chance to kill him.

This Offerer lacked Green Water Beggar's methods; enduring the flames to close in had cost him dearly—his entire body was covered in burns.

Just as he was about to fling the mud, He He Jiaqing suddenly appeared beside him and splashed water over the Offerer.

How did He He Jiaqing get here?

Wasn't he still fighting Chu Duan Shaohong?

Chu Duan Shaohong was rushing over, but He He Jiaqing had broken off combat abruptly—his speed was too fast for Chu Duan Shaohong to follow.

Where did He He Jiaqing get the water?

He used Water Cultivator techniques.

For a Thief to know Water Cultivator techniques wasn't unusual, but the Offerer didn't understand why He He Jiaqing was dousing him with water.

What happened next stunned the Offerer beyond imagination.

He He Jiaqing said: "You accepted my water, so you obey me. Stay right there."

The Offerer couldn't move.

He He Jiaqing knew Offerer techniques!

Green Flower whirled around, seized the Offerer's crown, twisted his wrist, ripped off his head, and tore the headless corpse into several pieces.

The Fire Cultivator tried to rush forward to help, but He He Jiaqing used the Water-Dripping-Through-Stone technique and extinguished six Fire Seeds on the Fire Cultivator in succession.

The Fire Cultivator froze in place.

He had ten Fire Seeds total—two extinguished by Green Water Beggar, six by He He Jiaqing; now only two remained. Most of his techniques were unusable—he couldn't even summon fire anymore.

By the time Chu Duan Shaohong arrived, Green Flower's body temperature had returned to normal; his lesions had regrown, and he had coated the Fire Cultivator in pus-filled sores.

The Fire Cultivator was beyond saving; in moments, he collapsed into a pile of rotting flesh.

All five helpers were wiped out.

Chu Duan Shaohong remained utterly calm, as if he had no intention of fleeing.

Green Water Beggar looked at Chu Duan Shaohong and said: "We've had our share of dealings. Leave now—I'll spare your life."

At these words, Cui Ti panicked.

Why was the Ancestor softening?

Why was he remembering old ties?

Wasn't Green Water Beggar always determined to kill Chu Duan Shaohong?

In a flash of thought, Cui Ti pieced together several truths.

Green Water Beggar did want to kill Chu Duan Shaohong.

But he wanted the Ink Fragrance Shop more.

Burning himself like that had cost him dearly—he'd lost significant combat power, and his lesions couldn't fully recover in the short term.

He wanted to preserve his strength to deal with Murong Gui and Ge Ge Junma, so he decided to temporarily let Chu Duan Shaohong go.

The Ancestor's wisdom impressed Cui Ti, but why did he want the Ink Fragrance Shop?

The Ink Fragrance Shop wasn't adjacent to Green Water Bay; in terms of foot traffic, it couldn't compare.

Was it really to leave He He Jiaqing a foundation? Would the Ancestor be that kind?

The reason was impossible to guess, and Cui Ti didn't care much—he truly cared about the current battle: if both sides stopped fighting, the Ancestor wouldn't move, and the fish wouldn't be caught.

Cui Ti was just feeling regret when Chu Duan Shaohong showed no sign of leaving.

He looked at He He Jiaqing and smiled: "You know Water Cultivator techniques, Offerer techniques—just now I saw you daring to close in on the Fire Cultivator. You probably know some Fire Cultivator techniques too."

He He Jiaqing nodded: "Uncle Chu, sharp eyes. But there's no need to care so much—by tomorrow, I might know any sect's techniques at all."

"No need to wait until tomorrow. Let's settle this today."

As he spoke, a character "Hidden" appeared behind Chu Duan Shaohong.

The "Hidden" character vanished; a middle-aged man in a dark blue robe, holding a folding fan, slowly materialized from the night.

Green Water Beggar's cheek twitched—he recognized this man.

He He Jiaqing recognized him even better—his name was He He Caiyuan, father of He He Haiqin, grandfather of He He Jiaqing, founder of the He family's legacy.

He He Caiyuan had been dead for ten years; in He He Jiaqing's memory, he had died as an eighth-level Literary Cultivator—yet here he stood before him today.

"Grandfather, you're…" He He Jiaqing didn't know what to say.

He He Caiyuan smiled: "He Jiaqing, impressive. With a worthy heir like you, I can rest easy."

"Thank you for your praise," He He Jiaqing could only reply.

He He Caiyuan waved his hand: "That's not praise—I'm being honest. At your age, my cultivation was far behind yours.

I've been watching you all along—I've noted many of your techniques. Using such cunning against my own descendant feels a bit shameful.

But the new waves push the old ones forward; many old men like me have been toppled by younger generations. Some precautions are necessary."

No wonder Chu Duan Shaohong was so calm—he had a ruthless ally behind him.

The five tenth-level cultivators he brought were all sacrifices: first to weaken Green Water Beggar and He He Jiaqing, second to let He He Caiyuan devise his tactics.

Green Water Beggar gritted his teeth: "Old bastard, your face is still as thick as ever."

He He Caiyuan frowned slightly: "Green Flower, we'll settle our business later. Let me finish speaking to my family first.

He Jiaqing, did you send He Haiqin to the Sacred Land?"

Sacred Land—some people's term for Neizhou.

He He Jiaqing didn't answer.

He He Caiyuan smiled: "Don't be afraid—you didn't do wrong. When your cultivation reaches the level, you must go to the Sacred Land to train—that's the proper path.

He Haiqin endured hardship before, but now his temperament has improved greatly. I used my old reputation to secure him a decent post.

In no time, He Haiqin's cultivation will reach Cloud Above. Whether he returns to become a local lord or stays in the Sacred Land to serve—that can be decided later."

From these words, it was clear He He Caiyuan held considerable status in Neizhou—even higher than Chu Duan Shaohong's.

He He Caiyuan opened his folding fan, waved it a few times, then dropped his smile and said to He He Jiaqing: "But there are some things you truly did wrong—like today's mess, you shouldn't have waded into it."

You're young and have strong cultivation—your focus should be on family matters. He Yuxiu isn't cut out to be the head of the household. Listen to your grandfather: go home right away."

He He Jiaqing stood still. He He Caiyuan closed his folding fan.

"You must listen when your elders advise you!"

The character "listen" appeared in the night sky and shot swiftly toward He He Jiaqing.

He He Jiaqing dodged desperately—the "listen" exploded beside him, triggering his Kuixiuji. His last remaining ear rang with piercing shrieks.

Greenwater Beggar's body swelled with pus-filled sores, readying himself for battle.

He He Caiyuan's face darkened as he looked at Greenwater Beggar: "As for you, I'll give you a path to survival. If you still want to live, return to Greenwater City, hand over the contract immediately, and go to the Sacred Land to beg for forgiveness."

PS: The water grows muddier, but the fish grow harder to catch.

(End of Chapter)