Chapter 126 - Ridiculous Discovery (Final) (Patreon)

Just as Lucian had expected, the moment he approached the warehouse, a servant stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Grandmaster Miao is waiting for you in his chambers, Young Master Bo Xian.”

Nodding to the servant dressed in simple clothes, Lucian rushed inside. He first confirmed Wang Chen's location through scent, and then headed to the hidden underground chamber where he had previously met Grandmaster Miao.

When he got there, the stone door was already open, but the interior had changed greatly.

The alchemist Old Fang was nowhere to be seen, nor was his cauldron.

Instead, a rectangular wooden desk filled with scrolls stood to one side, with three servants sorting rows of gold, silver, and Spirit Stones into bags and bamboo slips. Grandmaster Miao was also in the room, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, the red dot on his forehead blinking faintly.

Through his Qi perception, Lucian saw fuzzy Qi lines moving around Grandmaster Miao. They seemed like capillaries growing and shrinking, sending Qi through the walls and ceiling above. After a few seconds, the Qi lines settled, and Grandmaster Miao opened his eyes and stood up.

“Whatever Qi technique you were practicing, it’s terrifying,” he said, waving the three servants to leave. “Leave us alone.”

Lucian nodded, not sure what Grandmaster Miao was talking about, and watched as the servants hastily departed.  Next, the stone door closed behind them, and the talismans shone, flooding the passage with Qi.

Staring at Lucian, Grandmaster Miao narrowed his eyes and hissed, “That woman was overly dramatic, but her message was clear. What are you planning to do?”

Frowning, Lucian answered, “The same as before.”

Noticing how certain Lucian sounded, Grandmaster Miao laughed in disbelief.

“You have been quite busy since your return, Fellow Daoist. I’m ashamed to admit it, but even I am not as courageous and inventive as you are. I can only hope you intend to enjoy the upcoming festival like everyone else, rather than finding new ways to show your might.”

“I’m not reckless,” Lucian answered. “I’ll make my moves before it.”

Blinking as he digested the answer, Grandmaster Miao held back the urge to slap his forehead.

“Which moves are you talking about?” he asked, wanting to be sure.

“Starting the sewage construction,” Lucian said, arching an eyebrow. “I believe this kind of mundane matter won’t concern the City Lord or the Vice-Lords.”

Grandmaster Miao correctly sensed that Lucian was hiding something, but he had no way of knowing what, so he sighed and said, “By carrying the surname Bo, your actions will bear greater weight and responsibility than before. You should be aware of it.”

“Your flowery language can be entertaining sometimes,” Lucian said with a faint smile. “Tell me what you are truly thinking. I assume you don't want me to kill more people.”

Partially unleashing his Foundation Establishment aura, Grandmaster Miao almost attacked Lucian, but held back as he considered the bigger picture.

Restricting his Qi flow, he said coldly, “If you dare harm civilians or cause mayhem, I’ll restrain you myself. You are only alive because you are useful, and because your death threatens Bo Qing’s well-being.”

Staring at Grandmaster Miao, who had shed every trace of amicability, Lucian nodded and tossed the black coin toward him.

Catching the artifact with Qi, Grandmaster Miao made it float before him and muttered, “A broken Qi Condensation artifact? Why are you giving me this?”

“I want it repaired,” Lucian said.

Glancing at him, Grandmaster Miao shook his head and said in a cold tone, “That won’t be easy. The runes are damaged. What was its function?”

Pausing briefly, Lucian answered, “I don’t know.”

Grandmaster Miao closed his eyes for a moment and waved his hand. He expected Lucian to be angered or bothered by his previous words, but in the end, only he was losing his patience.

“Leave. Someone will return it to you when it’s fixed.”

Instead of leaving, Lucian stared at him and said, “The Three Decrees should concern us.”

Unsure whether it was a statement or a question, Grandmaster Miao clicked his tongue.

“Whatever they are, they shouldn’t be too troublesome. One decree will certainly concern his new wife. As for the other two, I don’t know. For our sake, let’s hope they have nothing to do with us.”

Then, Grandmaster Miao glared at Lucian as if demanding that he leave.

Glancing at the ceiling, Lucian thought for a moment before saying, “We can ask Wei Zhang, Vice-Lord Verdant Creek, and the Council Members about the festival. The City Lord won’t be the one organizing it. That way we can plan what to do.”

“Hmm,” Grandmaster Miao nodded slowly as the stone door opened and the talismans flared with Qi. Every one of his actions was a signal for Lucian to scram.

Lucian looked toward the doorway, then back at Grandmaster Miao. "One more thing.”

“What?” Grandmaster Miao snapped.

“Tell someone to guide me to Little Crab,” Lucian said flatly.

Controlling his temper, Grandmaster Miao nodded and returned to his meditation.

Noticing a servant approaching the corridor, Lucian left the chamber.

He could barely control his mood. He hadn’t foreseen this, Lucian thought, his eyes shining with a crimson hue. I must contact Wei Zhang, secure the sewage plan, and rescue Bai Xiaomeng within this month.

Lucian had a feeling that the festival and the Three Decrees were not so simple, and he should be hasty. Besides, in a few months or years, there would be a Sect Tournament, which would shake the city up. He should prepare all his cards before that!

While adjusting his plans, he followed a servant to Little Crab. Then, a few minutes later, Lucian stood inside a room in an annex building of the warehouse, looking at the unconscious smuggler, whose body was covered in wounds.

Dismissing the servants who had been caring for Little Crab, Lucian sat by his side, frowning.

Wang Chen was the first, Bo Qing the second, and Chen Yuan the third, he thought. Little Crab will be the fourth. So, after the next ghoulification, the Curse of Pride will worsen.

Each curse carried specific downsides, and every single one affected Lucian deeply. More importantly for now, however, was that he didn't account for the nameless servant he turned into a ghoul before Bo Qing.

I should question Little Crab, but waking him up could kill him. What a waste that would be. Finding a loyal servant takes time and luck, Lucian thought, shaking his head. If he's guilty, that’s my fault for failing to read him.

Not wanting to delay the inevitable, Lucian placed a hand above Little Crab’s face and commanded his Blood Essence. Without a sound, a crimson rune appeared on his forehead, formed by a circle of shifting sigils surrounding the image of a five-thorn crown.

Devilish Art: Boon of Pride - Heavy is The Crown

A slit opened in his palm, and a drop of blood fell toward Little Crab’s mouth. Then, the blood forced its way inside, like a parasite entering its host. Next, when the rune on Lucian’s forehead flickered and vanished, Little Crab started vomiting blood.

After a second, sounds of cracking bones echoed through the room. Little Crab’s legs, once crooked inward, began to straighten. His small deformed arms, which had resembled a crab’s pincers, tore apart and grew in size.

While Little Crab lost blood and his muscles ripped and rebuilt themselves, Lucian stepped back, avoiding the medicinal paste leaking from the wounds. He watched until the sounds gradually ceased and Little Crab healed.

Then, with a sharp gasp, Little Crab sat upright, opening his now gray eyes and clutching his hands, his fingers curling inward as he silently screamed. He felt a mixture of dull and intense pain, his nervous system having changed too much to send proper sensations.

Even so, the moment his eyes landed on Lucian, he lowered his head slightly and, while unable to understand what had happened, said through trembling lips, “I... I greet... greet you, Boss.”

Looking into his eyes, Lucian smiled. He was now confident that Little Crab had not willingly betrayed him.

Which means I should task him later with finding out how Prince Xuan learned of my whereabouts, Lucian thought, nodding slightly.

Then he said, “You need to change your name.”

Widening his eyes, Little Crab stammered, “Am I being hunted? No, I was captured by Prince Xuan. Wait...”

As his mind was flooded with memories of what had happened, Lucian patted his shoulder.

“You once told me your name was given because of your deformity,” Lucian said. “It is meaningless now.”

Lucian left the room, while Little Crab sat in confusion, struggling through a growing migraine as he organized his thoughts.

It took him a few seconds to notice his curled hands. Their bones and fingers looked completely normal, yet he was still curling them out of habit. With his mouth wide open and bulged eyes, he stared at his palms and arms. Then, he tore away the bloodied bandages and hurriedly stood up.

Or at least, he tried to.

His legs had given way beneath him. Looking down at his feet and legs, he froze. Mumbling incoherent sounds, he sat back down and touched his hands, then his wrists, arms, legs, and feet.

“Ah... Ah...”

Unable to form words, he began to cry, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Next, Little Crab knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the door, slamming his forehead on the wood.

“Thank you. Thank you, Boss. Thank you.”

Crying softly, Little Crab realized something.

Despite all the stress, fear, and pain he had endured, despite everything he had suffered under his parents, friends, and even while carrying out Lucian’s orders over the past few months, there was more to life than misery.

For the first time, he discovered that life could be beautiful.

And he would die before allowing the one who gave him a new chance in life to be disappointed. From now on, Lucian became his heaven and earth!