Qitian Imperial Dynasty

The Xiao Clan ancestral grounds.

A tall, handsome man with blood-red hair came to the edge of a blood pool.

"Father. Yan'er has been brought home," the blood-haired man said to the pool.

The blood pool bubbled, and a skull floated to the surface. Its hollow eye sockets turned toward the blood-haired man, and it spoke. "How severe?"

"Severe." The blood-haired man's voice was heavy. "His dantian was burned out, his realm fell back to Yellow Dragon, and his flesh, tendons, and bones were badly damaged. He won't be able to enter the Divine Strategy Manor anymore."

"He's crippled, and he still wants to return to the Divine Strategy Manor?" The skull's tone was rather cold. "Choose another one to cultivate."

"Yes." The blood-haired man nodded.

Clearly, he still found it hard to accept. "A severe outbreak of Fire Burning, ten pills a day, and it still can't be cured completely. Let alone marrying and having children—it's a fate worse than death."

"Then give him a quick end." The skull paused. "The Xiao Clan doesn't keep cripples."

Hearing this, the blood-haired man slowly closed his eyes.

"Father, could someone have seen us take the Ice Mystic Crystal vein and secretly put obstacles in our path? I think there's something strange about this. With our clan's precautions against Five Decays Disease, we haven't had a severe outbreak in hundreds of years." He paused. "I want to investigate! At the very least, find out what means they used to poison him."

The bloodfire in the skull's eyes doubled in intensity. "Investigate."

"Yes."

The blood-haired man's gaze turned strangely cold as he spoke.

"There's one last matter I'd like to ask you about. Tomorrow, the Demon-Slaying Headquarters is sending 'Shen Xintang' to conduct a public lesson at the Divine Strategy Manor. The puppet empress will be there, and there will also be a demonic bone test. I want to use Shen Xintang to give the Shen Clan a warning."

"Either don't do it, or finish it completely."

As the skull spoke, it began sinking into the blood pool.

"Also, notify Mystic City. Don't wait three days. Act immediately, slaughter every living thing that can still breathe, and burn the whole city to the ground."

"Yes, Father."

A cold light shone in the blood-haired man's eyes, like a storm on a sea of blood.

"Remember! Don't sell a single head from Mystic City. Bring them all back to the Divine Capital and pile them at the gates of the Tang Clan and the Shen Clan."

Though the skull had sunk into the blood, its chilling voice still echoed over the pool.

"Those wine sacks and rice bags dare laugh at our Xiao Clan? I'll make sure they can't laugh for the rest of their lives."

Mystic City.

Outside the He Family Medical Hall.

Enjoying a rare moment of leisure, Doctor He was playing chess with a thin old man wrapped in bandages.

The thin old man held a chess piece between his fingers. Though his arm trembled constantly, he was indeed a skilled player.

He was Yang Ting, a veteran of the Great Cang Kingdom.

"Checkmate!" Yang Ting won the game and felt refreshed. "Old He, when it comes to medicine, I, Old Yang, can't match you. But when it comes to commanding the battlefield, you old fool couldn't catch me even on horseback."

"Stop showing off. Don't let your arm fall off again." Doctor He was unwilling to accept his loss and secretly looked down on him.

"Can't stand losing! Tsk, tsk, can't stand losing." Old Yang looked at his one arm, his eyes lighting up. "Celestial Master Qi reattached this arm. It won't fall off. Don't believe me? In a couple of days, I'll be able to swing a saber and cut people down. I could cut down dozens of those Xiao Clan beasts without so much as a frown."

"Oh? If you're that impressive, why don't you hurry over and join that 'Qi Clan Escort Agency' across the street? Han Yuan and those young fellows were howling from that young lady's training today. I wonder if you could take it?" Doctor He said.

At the mention of the Qi Clan Escort Agency, a look of longing appeared in Yang Ting's eyes.

Following his gaze, one could see an old courtyard across from the medical hall. After a day of renovations, it was already looking the part.

A brand-new signboard bearing the words "Qi Clan Escort Agency" had been hung high above the entrance.

A vertical banner hung beneath it, bearing two large, crooked characters: Recruiting!

It was lively in front of the Qi Clan Escort Agency.

Han Yuan and the other City Guardsmen, stripped of their armor, had taken on a new appearance and become members of the Qi Clan Escort Agency.

The dozens of strapping young men were drenched in sweat and shouting as their escort chief drove them around Pingyang District in laps.

And their escort chief was an extraordinary woman!

She looked to be about forty, the age of a woman with the appetite of a wolf or a tiger, and she looked like a fierce tiger herself. Though a woman, her arms were thicker than Han Yuan's thighs. She wore chain mail, her muscles knotted, her frame tall and imposing... yet her face was far from ugly. It possessed a grand, healthy beauty, with well-proportioned features and a high, straight nose. When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons, making her look rather cute.

At the moment, the female escort chief was performing a trick for the locals outside Lin Xiaoyu's steamed bun shop.

"Look, everyone, take a look!" the female escort chief growled. Her "cherry-like little mouth" suddenly opened, and she swallowed six large buns in a single mouthful.

It gave Sister Xiaoyu quite a fright. Then she looked at the escort chief in amazement.

"Wow!"

"The escort chief is amazing!"

The locals' eyes went wide, and they admired her so much they could have prostrated themselves.

"As expected of Celestial Master Qi's distant niece."

Watching from afar, Yang Ting couldn't help applauding. "That girl is a real hero!"

The Celestial Master Qi he spoke of was Qi Lin's grandfather, Qi Tianji. "Celestial Master" was the respectful title the locals used for him.

After Celestial Master Qi returned, he reattached Yang Ting's arm and leg, and the locals instantly began treating him like an immortal.

"Xiaoyu, girl!"

The female escort chief patted Lin Xiaoyu on the shoulder. "You make fine buns, and you're a pretty girl too. My heart aches for you! An old friend of mine is coming later. He might be able to heal the injury to your tongue, so just wait!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyu's eyes reddened slightly. She opened her mouth, but couldn't speak.

"That's wonderful."

"As expected of the Qi Clan!"

Looking at the newly opened Qi Clan Escort Agency, the locals couldn't help feeling a little safer in these troubled times.

"Our escort agency is always recruiting and always taking jobs. Folks, please give us your support!"

The female escort chief waved cheerfully, then went back to tormenting Han Yuan and the others.

Yang Ting couldn't help smiling. "This escort chief hasn't thought her business through. Our neighbors farm a little land. What would they need escorted?"

Doctor He's gaze grew deep, and his eyes reddened faintly. "It's probably a pretext to protect the people of Mystic City."

"That makes sense!" Yang Ting was very excited. "To cultivate martial arts and enter the world—that's what makes a hero!"

Just then, a deep, far-reaching voice sounded outside the He Family Medical Hall.

"Xiao Tao'er, are you feeling better?"

A white-haired old man with an immortal bearing had picked up a little girl who had been crouching on the ground playing. Holding her by the back of her neck, he lifted her to eye level and examined her.

"Grandpa Qi!" Xiao Tao'er reached out to scratch his beard as she asked, "Where's my big brother?"

"Your brother went to woo a pretty young lady. He doesn't want you anymore," Qi Tianji said.

"Waaah!"

Hearing that, Xiao Tao'er angrily pulled at his beard while wailing.

"Still got plenty of strength."

Qi Tianji put her back on the ground and laughed heartily.

"She's young, full of vitality, and has no True Essence. With another ten Ice Mystic Pills, I should be able to bring her close to a complete cure, leaving her free of worries for the rest of her life."

The speaker was a man wearing a conical hat beside Qi Tianji.

"That's good."

Qi Tianji smiled casually, then headed toward the He Family Medical Hall with a beaming smile. "Doctor He, Old Yang, playing chess without inviting me?"

"Celestial Master Qi!"

The two old men grew a little reserved and hurried to their feet to greet him.

"Sit, sit." Qi Tianji sat down with them. "Don't stand on ceremony with Old Qi."

"Celestial Master Qi, who is this brother?"

Doctor He glanced at the man in the conical hat.

The man was emaciated and looked to be around forty. He wore a straw rain cape, and his fingers were long, with green nails about an inch in length.

His nose was large.

"He's the son of an old friend of mine, a barefoot physician. He's traveled all over the land these past years... Just call him Xiao Dan," Qi Tianji said casually.

"Physician Dan, please sit."

Doctor He brought over another wooden stool.

"You three are my elders. I'll stand," Physician Dan said.

"Go inside and have a look. See if it meets your requirements," Qi Tianji said.

"All right."

Physician Dan was a man of few words. He entered the He Family Medical Hall.

Doctor He was briefly taken aback. "Celestial Master Qi, what's this about?"

"Here's the matter." Qi Tianji took Doctor He's hand. "Old He, this son of my old friend has wandered for a long time and wants to settle down. He's taken a liking to your medical hall and wants to buy it from you. Do you think there's room to discuss a deal?"

Doctor He froze, and his eyes began to redden.

"Is there a problem?" Qi Tianji asked.

"No, no!" Doctor He was very excited. He clasped Qi Tianji's hand in return. "Celestial Master Qi, did you know that in my twenty years of practicing medicine, aside from charging for materials and medicines, I've never taken a single coin for my services?"

"Doctor He, I naturally know of your great virtue," Qi Tianji said.

"Times are hard, and the common people suffer. I was born into decent circumstances and learned a skill, so I don't have to worry about food or clothing. But ninety-five percent of the people in this world are struggling to survive in a sea of suffering..."

As Doctor He spoke, tears streamed down his face.

"Born to wealth and honor, yet you bent down to serve the countryside." Qi Tianji looked at Doctor He with a fervent gaze. "Old brother, when it comes to integrity, those so-called great clans couldn't catch you even on horseback."

Doctor He smiled bitterly. "What can I do? Saving people is nowhere near as easy as killing them."

Then he suddenly looked at Qi Tianji, his voice growing impassioned. "Celestial Master Qi, I came to understand something later!"

"What did you understand?"

"Studying medicine can't save the people of the world!"

Doctor He sighed deeply. "Or rather, studying medicine alone can't save people."

"What the hell!" Yang Ting looked at Doctor He in bewilderment. "Are you going to abandon medicine for martial arts?"

"Abandon your head!" Doctor He glared at him. "At my age, what the hell would I do with martial arts? I couldn't even beat a feather duster."

"Then are you selling the medical hall or not? You've been yapping forever," Old Yang said, glaring.

"Sell! Of course I'll sell! And I won't take any money—not a single coin!" Doctor He gripped Qi Tianji's hand tightly and looked at the emaciated man inside the medical hall. "I only ask that Physician Dan take over from me and treat the people of Pingyang District free of charge."

"Understood." Qi Tianji looked into the medical hall. "Xiao Dan, can you do that?"

Physician Dan turned and glanced at Doctor He. "Uncle, I'm not short of money."

"Then it's settled!"

Qi Tianji laughed heartily.

"Settled!" Doctor He let go of his hand and slumped comfortably into his reclining chair. The furrow that had gripped his brow for decades finally eased. He let out a long breath, tears streaming down his aged face. "I, Old He, can finally retire!"

"Good for you." Yang Ting patted the chessboard. "Then what are you still lying there for? Get up and watch me wipe out every last one of your pieces!"

"Afraid of you?" Doctor He sprang up and wiped away his tears. "Damn it, I'm going to smash all four of your limbs today."

"Even if you smash them, I'll still have one more fifth limb than City Lord Su."

"Your fifth limb's already in the grave!"

"Isn't yours the same?"

Bickering noisily, they set up the board and played.

Qi Tianji stood up, exchanged a glance with Physician Dan, and smiled.

He reached out and pointed!

On the sign of the "He Family Medical Hall," the bronze character for "He" twisted and reshaped itself out of thin air, forcibly becoming the character for "Qi."

It had become the Qi Clan Medical Hall.

A vertical banner was also hung beside it-

Recruiting!

From that point on, in front of the Qitian ancestral hall,

the Qi Clan Escort Agency and the Qi Clan Medical Hall... stood facing each other!

Shining brilliantly.

"One to protect, one to save the world."

Qi Tianji stood before the ancestral hall, looking at the escort agency and medical hall on either side, his gaze distant.

"Ten thousand years ago, the Qitian Imperial Dynasty held sway over all humanity on the Divine Scion Continent, and it was an age of peace and prosperity."

"Ten thousand years later, the Qitian Clan's ancestral grounds quietly await the Qitian descendants wandering in all directions, so the spark may blaze again..."

As his heart swelled with emotion, Xiao Tao'er tugged at his sleeve and asked:

"Grandpa Qi, do you dare eat shit?"