Taken Hostage

Judging the age of a Spirit Transformation Grandmaster solely by their appearance is highly unreliable. Leaving aside the special case of Wu Xiu, the appearance of most martial artists remains fixed at the moment of advancing to the Nascent Spirit Transformation. Unless the body begins to age, loses its ability to retain its Jing Essence, or suffers a severe injury that damages the body's fundamental nature, aging will not occur.

For example, if nothing unexpected happens, Murong Qing will maintain the appearance of a young girl even when she is a hundred years old. Of course, this state is under her control. If Murong Qing feels that maintaining her current appearance makes her seem immature and dignified, or makes her seem unreliable, she can also loosen the restrictions and let her body grow like a normal person.

However, while it is easy to grow old naturally, it is difficult to grow old in reverse. If a martial artist advances to the Nascent Spirit Transformation at the age of seventy, it is very difficult to restore his youthful appearance. For example, Painting King Yan Kai advanced to the Nascent Spirit Transformation at nearly eighty years old, so he has always looked like an old man with a venerable and otherworldly appearance.

To Si Ming, the Holy Maiden Tu Wangyue looked to be only in her thirties, but there was no guarantee that she hadn't actually advanced to the Nascent Spirit Transformation in her thirties and still looked the same after more than seventy years.

Ji Shichen seemed to have guessed Si Ming's thoughts, rolled her eyes, and said, "What are you thinking? The Holy Maiden is still young. I remember she's about fifty-six this year."

For most people, fifty-six years old is roughly the time when they are transitioning from middle age to old age, and is definitely not considered young. However, for Spirit Transformation Grandmaster, it is precisely the time of youth and promise, and can be described as the prime of life.

Compared to the average person, the age of Spirit Transformation Grandmaster can be discounted by 60%. Fifty-six years old is equivalent to thirty-three and a half years old for an average person, which is indeed very young.

Thinking about it this way, Murong Qing is only twelve years old this year... What's with this inexplicable sense of guilt?

Si Ming quickly shifted his attention back to the main topic. "Since you're still so young, there's no need to rush to find a successor, is there?"

"It's always better to be prepared. We must always guard against unexpected events. For example, when Xiao Xuan inherited the position of Grandmaster, he was not yet forty years old. Everyone thought he was strong and healthy, like a tiger or Grandmaster, and that there was no need to worry about a successor for at least thirty years. As a result, the position of Grand Prince was left vacant and has remained so ever since."

"I see, that makes sense." Si Ming found this explanation acceptable.

However, Ji Shichen continued, "But it's understandable that you have concerns. None of the previous Holy Maidens lived long lives; they usually passed away in their sixties."

Lin Qingxiang frowned and said, "Sixty-something is too young. If he died an unnatural death, that's one thing, but if he died of natural causes, this is almost premature death."

Remembering the warning Martial Uncle Xiao had given him, Si Ming said, "There's definitely something wrong here. Could it be Curse? Has no one investigated this?"

Ji Shichen said, "You've misunderstood something. The position of Saintess is different from that of the Grandmaster. It doesn't necessarily require one to be Spirit Transformation Grandmaster. In fact, Tu Wangyue was the second Saintess to become a member of the Heaven's Will Palace. The first was a Saintess from the same era as the Grandmaster who founded Heaven's Will Palace. Nearly twenty Saintessses in between were not recommended to enter Heaven's Will Palace. For ordinary people, dying in their sixties is a bit early, but it's still within the normal range and can't be considered an early death."

Si Ming frowned and said, "But it's still far below the average age of death, which clearly indicates there's still a problem."

"There are definitely problems, but none of the past saintesses have proposed to investigate this matter. On the contrary, when others proposed to investigate, they stepped forward to stop it, saying that they knew the truth and there was no need to investigate. Since the person involved has said so, others can do nothing. After all, if the other party does not cooperate with the investigation, others have no way to proceed. We can only guess that the position of saintess may be burdened with some kind of mission."

"So many Holy Maidens, not one of them spoke up?"

"No, it's probably a secret that can't be told to outsiders."

Si Ming turned to look at Liu Qingqing, unable to imagine his childhood sweetheart refusing to reveal her secret to him.

Lin Qingxiang couldn't help but say to Liu Qingqing, "Since there are so many doubts about the position of Saintess, let's call off this mission. There's really no need to take the risk. Both my aunt and I hope you can live a peaceful and safe life."

Before Liu Qingqing could answer, Ji Shichen retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? If you don't want to take risks, then stay home and don't go out. You've already stepped into the world and now you want to back out? Don't you think it's too late?"

Besides, is living a peaceful and uneventful life really a good thing? Don't we see that flowers cultivated in a greenhouse are more likely to wither and die? Many elderly people long to live longer when they are dying. What were they doing when they were young? Weren't they just thinking about living a peaceful and uneventful life? However, no Spirit Transformation Grandmaster can break through without experiencing hardships.

Lin Qingxiang said, "However, the position of Saintess is too questionable. Don't you think so too, Senior?"

Ji Shichen said, "A saintess is a saintess, and a mission is a mission. They are not the same thing. If you don't want to be a saintess, you can refuse when the time comes. Back then, when they asked me if I was interested in becoming a saintess, I refused. I never force people to do these things. And Qingqing can't be a saintess even if she wants to now. She doesn't even have the right to choose, so what's the point of talking about refusing?"

Ji Shichen is both Spirit Transformation and a priestess of the Mohist Religion, so it was only natural that she was considered Saintess Candidate in the past, and none of the three people present found it strange.

At this moment, Liu Qingqing said to Lin Qingxiang, "Brother, I will not give up the mission. I also have my own path to follow."

As if sensing the other's will, Lin Qingxiang remained silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I have never fulfilled my duties as an elder brother to you in the past, and I have no right to treat you like one now. You don't need to take my words to heart, just know to act within your capabilities."

"I will."

Lin Qingxiang then turned to look at Si Ming. He had already heard about his future brother-in-law's remarkable feat and was well aware of its significance. Compared to ordinary people who blindly believed in Spirit Transformation Grandmaster, he knew that many Body Refining Martial Artists were not skilled in Internal Cultivation, yet possessed combat power comparable to Spirit Transformation Grandmasters. Therefore, even though he was somewhat reluctant, he still said, "Please take good care of my sister as well."

"Of course, it's my responsibility," Si Ming said with a smile.

Chapter 749 Hostage

Si Ming and his group got off the train and looked around, but they couldn't find Chen Xiangduan, who should have been there. Even when they released their aura to sense him, they found nothing.

"Has the person not arrived yet?" Lin Qingxiang asked in confusion.

Si Ming stroked his chin, pondering, "People who work in intelligence can't be without a sense of time. They must have already arrived, but they're pretending to be passersby to scare us. We have to understand that these veterans have one or two eccentricities; it's perfectly normal."

Liu Qingqing asked, "Then who will he pretend to be?"

Si Ming hummed twice, raised his index finger and shook it, saying, "The answer to this can be found with a little reasoning. First, he couldn't have been a passenger on the same train as us. Second, he must have been in a position where he could see all the passengers getting on and off. Finally, he must have an identity that wouldn't seem strange even if he moved around a bit. In conclusion, the answer is obvious."

"Who is it?" Liu Qingqing asked.

Si Ming looked around, scanning the crowd with his sharp eyes, and then quickly locked onto his target.

He pointed to an old man selling peeled water chestnuts to passersby near the entrance and said, "That old man selling water chestnuts over there perfectly fits the criteria. He can move around freely, and even if he strikes up a conversation, no one will suspect him. And look, his eyes are darting around, as if he's on guard against something. His furtive manner is very suspicious. I suppose Senior Chen didn't want to make things difficult for us, so he deliberately revealed such an obvious flaw."

"Is that so?" Lin Qingxiang, still somewhat doubtful.

You may question my martial arts skills, but you cannot question my wisdom.

Si Ming strode up to the old man, thought for a moment, and then lowered his voice, saying, "Heavenly King covers the Earth Tiger."

The old man paused, a puzzled look on his face, then picked up a small bag of clean, white water chestnuts and asked, "Young man, would you like to buy a bag?"

Hmm, it seems "Heavenly King Covers the Earth Tiger" isn't a universal code across all planes. Si Ming was somewhat disappointed. He figured "Earthquake on the High Hill, a Thousand Years of Beauty in the Western Mountains" wouldn't work either. He shook his head and asked, "How much is a bag?"

Five yuan a bag.

Will you sell it for five yuan and fifty cents?

The old man was stunned again. He had never heard of bargaining up the price, and he couldn't help but feel suspicious. Just then, there was a commotion not far away. He looked up and saw several railway police officers walking towards him. He immediately realized that his identity had been exposed and that the young man in front of him was deliberately making Xilai stall him.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Si Ming's wrist with a Muscle-Separating and Bone-Dislocating Hand and pressed it behind his back. With his other hand, he pulled a sharp blade from the basket and held it to Si Ming's neck.

"Don't come any closer! If anyone comes any closer, I'll slit their throat!"