Stranger Danger

Chapter 597: Tomorrow, I Shall Cleave Chu Wangsun

It wasn’t like he got nothing out of his fight against Chu Wangsun, of course. At the very least, he found out just how strong his opponent was and what was the power gap between the two of them.

The first time he encountered Chu Wangsun at the Ghost Tower, the scholar had sent him fleeing with his tail tucked between his legs with a single finger. Today, the man he was once forced to look up to was now rolling on the floor trying to wipe away the shame and real injuries he had inflicted upon him. The memory alone was worth the trouble.

A tiny smirk crept on Ye Qing’s face when he thought this. He fell back on his back and stared at the white clouds in the blue sky for a moment. Then, he laughed at the top of his lungs.

Laughter should come to the young like breathing. The young should cut open the sky with a smile on their faces.

“Today, I humiliated my nemesis with my fists. Tomorrow, I shall cleave a Wangsun with my saber.”

Ye Qing sang out loud while crossing his legs and tapping the ground with his fingers. For today at least, he deserved to be happy.

A while later, when Ye Qing was finally done venting his emotions, his smile was slowly replaced by a serious expression.

Despite how he made light of Chu Wangsun verbally, he had to admit that the scholar was extremely strong. If the man had been in peak condition, he would probably be dead or half-dead by now. He would not have the leisure to sing insulting songs about his nemesis.

He didn’t feel too dejected though. Back at the Ghost Tower, he couldn’t even take a single finger from Chu Wangsun. During the Hidden Dragon Conference, Chu Wangsun remained as untouchable as a celestial. But today? He proved that he was now strong enough to trade blows with him. In the future, who knows what will happen? Their positions could be reversed completely, couldn’t it?

“Never bully the young and downtrodden, for they won’t remain that way forever.” Ye Qing was absolutely certain that he would surpass Chu Wangsun one day.

For now though, he should focus on his cultivation.

The Dark Overlord’s inheritance was tempting, but... well, he would make up his mind later.

There were still over three months before the Death Sea emerged. He had plenty of time to mull over his options.

After lying on the hill for a little over two hours, and his external injuries had mostly recovered, Ye Qing got up and slowly made his way back to Bei You City.

Sunrays shone down from the blue sky and covered the young man in layers of gold. It gave him the appearance of a morning sun.

This was just the beginning. When the sun reaches the middle, none shall shine brighter than it.

......

“The previous year passes with the pop of firecrackers,

Spring wind delivers warmth into every house,

Tusu wine are shared to spread the joy,

And a new year is upon us. A new year!”

Inside the Temple of Divination, Ye Qing sighed while listening to the firecrackers popping all over Bei You City while enjoying a jar of Tusu wine.

“Indeed, a new year has replaced the old yet again. Time sure flies quickly!”

Yi Pin was also sitting on a recliner and enjoying a jar of Tusu wine that was warmed just right. He glanced at Li Longxiang—the young man was busy warming the wine at the moment—and sighed wistfully. “And this foolish boy is a year older.”

“You’re a year older as well, master,” Li Longxiang replied smilingly.

“Screw you! Who are you calling old?!” Yi Pin got angry and kicked Li Longxiang in the butt.

“Hehe...” Li Longxiang didn’t dodge out of the way. He simply took the hit and let out a chuckle.

“Is he wrong though? You are a year older like the rest of us. The wrinkles on your face are so deep I reckon they can squeeze a fly to death!” Ye Qing echoed in agreement. When he noticed the unkind look in the old Taoist’s eyes, he hurriedly added, “But! You remain hale and hearty despite the years, so who cares?”

It was New Year’s Eve, so Yi Pin kicked him out of his room first thing in the morning and made him work like a horse. Together, they swept the courtyard, bought a ton of New Year goods, slapped some good couplets on the walls, changed the peachwood charms and more. They worked practically the whole day, and it wasn’t until late at night that they finally got the time to relax a little. Right now, they were sitting around a small stove, chatting and enjoying wine in the courtyard.

“Hmph!” Yi Pin harrumphed and looked away in a tsundere fashion.

“Your wine cup is empty, senior uncle. I’ll fill it for you.”

Li Longxiang raised the pot cooking on the stove and poured some Tusu wine into Ye Qing’s cup. “My master used rhubarb, atractylodes rhizome, cinnamon, siler, pepper, aconitum, monkshood and more herbal medicine to create this Tusu wine. Not only is it nutritious and healthy, it can prevent illnesses, cure diseases, drive out the evils and repel miasma. It’s also tasty to boot. They’re one of my master’s most cherished possessions, and he almost never brings them out unless it’s a special occasion!”

“Yes, the herbal aroma is strong, and the taste is thick and sublime. It’s certainly tastier than all the wine I’ve tasted until now!” Ye Qing complimented loudly on purpose, though he must admit that the old Taoist’s Tusu wine was one of a kind.

The Tusu wine was also known as the Age Wine. It was a drink every citizen of Chu enjoyed during New Year’s Eve or New Year. It represented the departure of the old and ushering in the new.

“Hmph! At least your sense of taste is still intact.” Yi Pin’s expression remained stern, but the tiny curls at the corner of his lips made it clear how he really felt.

After saying that, Yi Pin kicked his disciple again and said, “What about your master, boy? My cup is empty as well! Ever since your senior uncle showed up, you barely paid any attention to me...”

“Yes, master.” Li Longxiang did not get angry. He simply smiled and dutifully filled Yi Pin’s cup as well.

Yi Pin took a small sip before ordering, “Longxiang, head to my room and bring the wooden box on the table to me.”

“Yes, master,” Li Longxiang responded and left immediately.

After Li Longxiang was gone, Yi Pin hesitated for a moment before asking, “Are you sure you’re going to leave Bei You tomorrow?”

“I’m sure.” Ye Qing nodded.

He had mulled over his decision again and again during his secluded cultivation. In the end, he was unable to resist the temptation that was the Dark Overlord’s inheritance.

For one, he was hoping to get lucky. Yes, he would be going up against powerful champions such as the Sun Sovereign and Madman Chu, and there were even more young, gifted warriors like Chu Wangsun, and yes, his chances of obtaining the Dark Overlord’s inheritance was next to nothing.

But what if he succeeded? What household hadn’t enjoyed at least one bowl of dumplings during New Year? What human hadn’t gotten dogshit lucky at least several times in their life?

Even if Lady Luck did not favor him this time, the experience would still be worth it.

Two, he had several paybacks he needed to dish out. Chu Wangsun was one, Greenlake Bai was another, and the Ghost Tower—while not as severe as the previous two—was a third. Chu Wangsun was the one who damned him, Greenlake Bai had framed him for a crime he didn’t commit and put his life in danger, and Ghost Tower had tried to chase him down and kill him. This was a great opportunity to get all of them.

Although Chu Wangsun was strong, Greenlake Bai’s power level was unknown, and Ghost Tower was a powerful faction, the Death Sea was a dangerous place. No one was truly safe in a place where anything could happen. Besides, there was only one Dark Overlord inheritance, so a battle was sure to break out. Who was to say he didn’t have a chance if he roleplayed the oriole?

Finally, he had a strong premonition that his chance of perfecting the “Chaos Demon Ape Body Tempering Sutra” and becoming a Grandmaster through his body lay in the Death Sea.

Even before he took part in Joy Bodhisattva’s Trueman feast, his body had already reached the limit of what a late-stage Spirit Master could achieve. After refining a good amount of Profound Yellow Qi for the past couple days, he was finally able to advance the “Chaos Demon Ape Body Tempering Sutra” and improve his body to the Half-Step Grandmaster stage.

Of course, he was still a ways away from a Half-Step Grandmaster like Chen Ah Sheng as the brigand leader had had years to hone his cultivation, much less a genius like Chu Wangsun. The scholar could have entered the Grandmaster stage a long time ago if he wanted to.

There were still over three months before the Death Sea emerged. The reason he wanted to leave tomorrow was because he was hoping to temper himself on the way there. If possible, he wanted to lock down his body at the Half-Step Grandmaster stage completely during this time so he could enter the Grandmaster stage at any moment.

These were the reasons why he must head to the Death Sea. It was also why he told Yi Pin that he was leaving Bei You tomorrow. Of course, he wasn’t able to tell the truth because of the Oath of Burden, and because he didn’t want to worry the old Taoist. It was why he lied partially claiming that he was going on a long trip to temper himself.

“Must you go?” Yi Pin asked with a frown.

“Huh? Are you trying to say something, brother? You can be frank with me!” Ye Qing frowned, puzzled. Hesitation was unbecoming of the old man.

Yi Pin fell silent for a moment before staring at Ye Qing. “You’re not heading out just for a simple trip, are you?”

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