Chapter 135 - Paper Tiger (Part IV) (Patreon)

Maintaining an amicable expression, Zhi Jian seemed no older than twenty, his innocent eyes scanning the surroundings like a curious child. He stared at Grandmaster Miao, smiled, and said, “Miao Long, I’m happy to see you’ve improved your inner heart. We should celebrate by sparring later.”

“Lunatic,” Grandmaster Miao muttered under his breath.

Then Zhi Jian turned to Lucian, his smile deepening.

“You must be Fellow Daoist Bo Xian,” he said, smiling with his eyes. “Let’s spar.”

Along with those words, Lucian heard a cry of glee from Zhi Jian’s sheath. It sounded like metal scratching a hard surface, but it was clearly joyous.

It came from the sword, Lucian thought, narrowing his eyes.

“What business do you have here, Zhi Jian?” Grandmaster Miao asked, moving to stand beside Lucian, both of them facing the sword cultivator.

“Didn’t I say it already, Miao Long?” Zhi Jian asked gently, bringing a hand to his chin in thought. “Yes, I did! I came to spar.”

As he finished speaking, his hand moved to the sword’s handle. When his fingers touched it, everyone present felt a wave of bloodlust crash into them.

Hao Bang passed out immediately, while Grandmaster Miao protected himself with Qi.

This person, Lucian thought, mobilizing his Blood Essence to resist the bloodlust. He doesn’t kill without reason.

Since arriving in this world of cultivators, Lucian had never felt such overwhelming bloodlust or battle intent. At least no one else had leaked enough of it for it to be almost tangible like Zhi Jian’s.

Lucian would know, as he was experienced in sensing such things. And that experience showed itself as he analyzed the aura radiating from Zhi Jian. 

This man seems to have fought tens of thousands of battles, drawing blood but not necessarily taking lives, Lucian thought. Impressive for someone at his level. But in front of that sleeping lizard or that true battle lunatic, this amount of bloodlust is nothing.

Remembering two of the other Beyond the Supreme existences, he clicked his tongue.

If I could control the darkness within me, my bloodlust would also overwhelm his, Lucian analyzed, feeling slightly irritated.

Stabilizing his thoughts and resisting the urge to act rashly, he observed Zhi Jian and waited.

No one spoke, and time itself seemed to have frozen. Then Zhi Jian shrugged, taking his hand off the sword and looking at Grandmaster Miao.

“If I sparred with Bo Xian, you would interfere, wouldn’t you, Miao Long?” he asked with a smile, waving dismissively. “I was talking about sparring without Qi, okay? Don’t be silly.”

Neither Lucian nor Grandmaster Miao answered, their eyes fixed on Zhi Jian.

Chuckling and scratching the back of his neck, Zhi Jian said, “Come on. Vice-Lord Obsidian Sea would become enraged if we damaged the district. We could spar lightly.”

He was effectively saying that a spar involving Qi techniques would be enough to level the warehouses, docks, and nearby ships of Three Feathers City. It sounded so innocent that Lucian almost thought he was being played.

Glancing at Lucian, Grandmaster Miao faced Zhi Jian and asked, “Fellow Daoist Zhi, leaving seclusion for a spar is unlike you. What business do you have with my Bo Merchant Chamber?”

Offering a wry smile, Zhi Jian nodded.

“It’s about him. I’m serious now. I spent the whole night investigating who killed one of my people and caused trouble in the Sword Vein, so I’m certain he’s involved.”

Suppressing the urge to shout at Lucian, Grandmaster Miao turned and asked with a glare, “Fellow Daoist Bo, do you know what he’s talking about?”

This is bothersome, Lucian thought, trying to recall everything that had happened the previous night at the Sailor School. I don’t think I left any clues, but it’s impossible to say. Qi techniques are weird.

Frowning, he answered in a serious tone, “Grandmaster Miao, I have no idea what he's talking about. I have never heard of him either.”

Then he turned to Zhi Jian and cocked an eyebrow.

“I certainly hope you have proof for these accusations. Otherwise, I’ll take them as a move against the Bo Merchant Chamber.”

Groaning inwardly and already suspecting Lucian was at fault, Grandmaster Miao smiled and asked, “Zhi Jian, do you have any proof?”

Blinking his large, round eyes, Zhi Jian said, “Ohhh...”

Then he pulled a scroll from his uniform and unfurled it before them. On it was a realistic drawing of Lucian, completely naked.

“This is you, right?” Zhi Jian asked, looking from the drawing to Lucian and back several times. “Old Qi Zhi captured your image through the Sword Formation. Ohhh... I'm not saying he drew everything right, but you might want to check your yang sword, Fellow Daoist.”

Nodding in satisfaction after confirming that Lucian’s features mostly matched the drawing, he rolled the scroll back up and stored it inside his inner shirt.

Slowly, Grandmaster Miao turned to Lucian in silence, his gaze concealing a fury beyond measure.

It had not been long since he had warned Lucian not to cause trouble. He himself had been busy plotting to advance his cultivation and devouring the remains of the other forces to strengthen the Bo Merchant Chamber.

Who could have guessed that Lucian would refuse to sit still and instead meddle with the city's taboo?

Deciding to join forces with Zhi Jian, apprehend Lucian, and distance himself from this entire mess, Grandmaster Miao was about to unleash the Cyan Sea Swallows the Shore killing technique when Zhi Jian suddenly coughed.

“Anyway, I just want to know what orders the Ancestor behind you has,” he said, stretching his arms. “That Gong Xi wasn’t particularly talented anyway, so just give me one or two Qi Condensation artifacts and we can settle this matter.”

Surprised, Grandmaster Miao kept his expression under control and observed how the conversation unfolded. Meanwhile, Lucian almost blurted out that he had no idea what Zhi Jian was talking about, but held his tongue.

Be smart. Don’t overextend this, he thought, feeling a headache coming on. My mind is slower than usual, and trying to deceive him too much could backfire.

Considering what he could reveal without relying too heavily on Zhi Jian’s misunderstanding, Lucian said, “I cannot tell you. However, I will consult the Ancestor and see what I am allowed to share.”

Making a sound somewhere between a whine and a groan, Zhi Jian slapped his forehead.

“Of course! Sorry, sorry.” Then he leaned forward slightly. “Can you at least tell me who the Ancestor is?”

Lucian saw the cunning hidden behind Zhi Jian’s innocent eyes and immediately understood that this was the first real question.

Without giving it much thought, he only had one answer.

“Resonant Sea Ancestor,” Lucian said.

Grandmaster Miao felt his mind freeze.

Zhi Jian, however, nodded slowly, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “Very well. I met one of her pawns a few years ago. Do you know how he has been?”

Nodding, Lucian replied, “Xu Hua was a Sword Master the last time I saw him.”

That answer seemed to satisfy Zhi Jian.

“That one was fierce!” he said with a chuckle. “I bet he can help gather a few Vestiges. Oh, well, I’ll be waiting for you at the Sailor School, along with the Ancestor’s orders!"

It went without saying that he would also be waiting for compensation regarding the dead Gong Xi.

Turning toward Grandmaster Miao, Zhi Jian cupped his hands again.

“I hope you can settle that heart of yours and push forward. Sparring with you will be fun!”

After saying those words, he vanished in a ray of silver light, not waiting for a reply.

Left alone with Grandmaster Miao and the unconscious Hao Bang, Lucian calmed his thoughts and sat down cross-legged. He didn't care about the two others inside the room and returned to cultivation.

Watching him, Grandmaster Miao said nothing and walked away. Whether Lucian was deceiving Zhi Jian or truly involved with an Ancestor was something Grandmaster Miao did not want to know.

He would rather pretend he had never learned any of it, because neither possibility fit into his plans. Nothing would be gained by fighting either Lucian or the Sailor School, after all.

For now, this matter was settled.

Just for now.