Chapter 10: Bloodline Divine Eye

After bidding farewell to Sun You, Ling Yan returned to the inn to rest.

"Miss, I think Sir shouldn't let you take part in this!" Zhong Shifu remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said.

Ling Yan laughed and said: "I have Uncle Zhong's protection, plus the Wind Guard Commander of the Iron Tiger Guard, and all the righteous martial artists of the jianghu—what are the trifling Three Mountains Bandits to fear?"

Zhong Shifu sighed: "In worldly affairs, one fears not the ten thousand but the one chance; if we really find the whereabouts of that Blood Essence Skill, I fear it will bring another storm of blood."

Ling Yan felt a bit strange: "Uncle Zhong, although I know this Blood Essence Skill is extraordinarily vicious, could it truly be an immortal Dao art capable of flying to immortality in broad daylight and feathered ascension?"

"This is merely a rumor; after all, events from several hundred years ago could have been distorted through miscommunication. I'm more inclined to believe that the ancestor of the Blood Flow Sect used some means to cause that commotion. How could mortal martial arts produce such terrifying power?" Zhong Shifu shook his head.

"Furthermore, if the ancestor of the Blood Flow Sect were already an immortal, how could they act against a mundane royal family? Besides, although I've never seen an immortal, it's said that those immortals who subsist on dew and moonlight cannot interfere in mundane affairs." Zhong Shifu said.

"Why?"

"This... perhaps those immortals also came from the mundane world."

Ling Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded: "But the jianghu never lacks those with wolfish ambitions; cultivating evil arts for power and realm is commonplace. What Uncle Zhong worries about is whether those jianghu forces that once followed the Iron Tiger Guard, like my Ling family, harbor ulterior motives?"

"One cannot be without caution toward people." Zhong Shifu nodded.

Ling Yan fell silent: "If the Blood Flow Sect remnants have been practicing the Blood Essence Skill all this time, they might have broken through to the legendary Heaven-Man Realm by now."

"If that's truly the case, our going there would be a one-way trip. But since the Iron Tiger Guard commanders have sent only a single Wind Guard Commander, the situation likely isn't as dire as we imagine."

"I think the same, Miss. However, since the family head sent you over, he likely also wishes for your divine eyes to gain the favor of the Wind Guard Commander." Zhong Shifu laughed heartily.

Ling Yan smiled without speaking.

From childhood, her eyes could detect some abnormal conditions; as a child she thought she was possessed, but only upon growing up did she realize that Ling Yan's eyes, like stars, were actually a throwback phenomenon.

Her father once said that the ancestors of the Ling family had once been a cultivator of the Dao, having practiced something like... bloodline... divine eye, which could be passed down through the bloodline.

Yet after so many generations, only Ling Yan has awakened—truly quite remarkable.

Ling Yan's father also thought that, using imperial power, he might be able to send her to that legendary immortal realm; if fortunate enough to set foot on the Dao of immortality, then their Ling family could flourish anew for a thousand generations!

However, Ling Yan can now only perceive a person's rough qi and blood flow; by judging that flow she can gauge their strength, which is undoubtedly a great threat to martial artists who wish to conceal their identity.

"Huh?!"

Ling Yan turned her head to look outside the window; a middle-aged sturdy man entered from outside the inn, wearing cloud-patterned robes but with exceptionally developed muscles and qi and blood unlike ordinary people.

"What's wrong, Miss?"

"Must have been mistaken; who was that person just now?"

"Who? Miss, are you referring to that tall guy?" Zhong Shifu asked.

"Hm." Ling Yan nodded, doubt rising in her eyes.

Zhong Shifu laughed: "Miss, you may not know, but that man is the wealthiest tycoon of Lin Shan Cheng, Yan Buji, Boss Yan. This Boss Yan is also talented; having been orphaned and struggling alone since youth, he amassed such great wealth by the age of thirty, and is no ordinary mortal."

"Moreover, although merchants call him a profiteer, he never spares money for his partners and those in need, even actively funding road and bridge repairs. A few years ago, when Lin Shan Cheng suffered drought, he even traveled thousands of miles to Huanglong City to buy large quantities of grain to relieve the victims; now many surrounding villages still enshrine Boss Yan's longevity tablet." Zhong Shifu laughed.

Ling Yan's face full of surprise: "Oh? Uncle Zhong always judges people accurately; praising him this much shows that although he does business with integrity, he's not truly a profiteer, understands how to benefit the people—truly rare. He's far better than those who speak sweetly but are full of chicken-and-dog theft."

"Indeed, when I previously came to this place, I actually had a brief encounter with Boss Yan; at that time he was relieving disaster victims, personally serving porridge. That porridge was better than what the victims usually ate, even containing meat, eggs, scallions, and chicken. When someone caused trouble then, I couldn't stand it and went to help him, thus we became acquainted." Zhong Shifu laughed.

Ling Yan chuckled: "How about we go pay a visit to Boss Yan?"

"Miss, you have such interest?" Zhong Shifu exclaimed; usually the Miss keeps distant from strange men, never having proactively said she'd visit an unknown man.

"Hehe, Uncle Zhong, please invite Boss Yan upstairs." Ling Yan chuckled.

"Yes."

Although Zhong Shifu was curious, not knowing what Ling Yan had in mind, he turned and went downstairs, just seeing the waiter and shopkeeper kneeling before him in the back hall, weeping bitterly and saying:

"Sir, why are you selling even this place? Have we done poorly?"

"Get up, get up; if I weren't occupied, how could I bear to part with you old comrades?" Yan Buji sighed.

"But sir, you've already sold so many properties; what are we to do from now on?"

"I've figured it out; I'll give each of you fifty taels of silver, considered as our lifetime acquaintance—let's part on good terms."

"Sir, we don't want money; we only wish to follow you, even if we have to eat chaff and drink thin broth."

Seeing the shopkeeper and waiter's genuine emotion, Yan Buji couldn't help but redden his eyes, turn away, and wipe the corners.

Just then he also saw Zhong Shifu and was stunned.

"You go attend to your work first; I have an acquaintance arriving, and later I'll discuss things properly with you."

"Hmm, thank you for your trouble, sir."

The waiter and shopkeeper left the back hall, gave Zhong Shifu an apologetic clasped-hand salute, then went about their own affairs.

Zhong Shifu watched Yan Buji approach and asked strangely: "Brother Yan, after not seeing each other for years, what's this...?"

"Ah, it's not just for my daughter... never mind; it's rare to see you again, Master Zhong—how about a drink?" Yan Buji rubbed his eyes and said with a smile.

"Brother Yan, let's talk about drinking later; my Miss kindly requests your presence for a meeting." Zhong Shifu laughed.

"Your Miss? Could it be the Ling family of Huanglong City...?" Yan Buji realized.

"Indeed, we have fate with several people; we just met and fought last night, and today we meet again."

"Yes."

"Well, since Miss Ling has invited us, there's no reason not to go; please."

"Please."

Zhong Shifu reached out, leading Yan Buji up to the second floor.