Viewing Incense

In the northwest of the Wasteland, dark clouds loomed overhead, blotting out the sky and sun. With the howling blizzard, everything between heaven and earth had been obscured, as though it were a starless, moonless night.

Amid the whistling wind, a spark of fire appeared. A black Langya Flying Boat descended from the sky.

Mu Zhiqiu stood in midair, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. Only after surveying the surroundings and confirming there was nothing unusual did he bow slightly toward the cabin.

"Mr. Chu Ye, we've arrived."

A moment later, the Langya banner at the bow fluttered in the wind. A halo spread out with it, like a slowly expanding bubble. It pushed back the snowstorm, blocked the howling wind, and enveloped the entire flying boat.

Inside the cabin, an old man wearing a fur hat and a fur cloak emerged and stepped onto the deck.

The old man appeared to be well into his eighties. His steps were somewhat unsteady, his back slightly hunched, and the age spots on his face especially prominent. Only his eyes remained bright and spirited.

The old man walked to the bow and gazed around for a long while without saying a word.

Mu Zhiqiu could not help speaking.

"Sir, forgive my boldness, but you really didn't need to come personally. The cold here is too severe. Even with the barrier, it will seep into your body. You have yet to enter Dao. If the cold of this place invades you, there may be lasting trouble."

Chu Ye shook his head and let out a long sigh.

"I must come personally. I don't believe what they said—that the Soul Lantern has gone out.

"Though a person's death and the extinguishing of their lantern are the natural order, that only applies to other people. The Langya Academy has conducted research over the years. Soul Lanterns are not infallible.

"My old brother was a rare talent in all the world, with knowledge as deep and vast as an ocean. Even though he has yet to enter Dao, I believe that if he wanted to fool the Soul Lantern from afar, it would be as easy as turning over his hand.

"I must personally come to the place where he fell and take a look. I must personally confirm it once."

The old man flicked his wide sleeve, and an Incense Altar appeared before him. A Three-legged, Double-eared Beast Cauldron sat atop it, with Soul Banners hanging on either side and Coiled Dragon Candles standing beside it. In front of the altar lay a stack of Golden Talisman Paper, containing immense power.

Chu Ye waved at Mu Zhiqiu.

"Come. You also cultivate Body Tempering and practice Internal Cultivation of Martial Intent. Your body is brimming with Yang energy, and no evil can invade you. Lend me some of your Yang energy. This will be the safest."

Mu Zhiqiu knelt on one knee and inclined his head slightly. Chu Ye formed a seal with one hand and flicked his finger with the other. In an instant, a spark flew from each of Mu Zhiqiu's shoulders and ignited the two Coiled Dragon Candles. A blazing flame also flew from the top of his head and set alight the stack of Golden Talisman Paper on the table.

Holding the burning Golden Talisman Paper, Chu Ye took out a bundle of incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner. He then took out a folding fan and tossed it into the flames.

Wisps of smoke, carrying paper ash, spiraled above the altar. As the Golden Talisman Paper wrapped around the folding fan burned and the incense sticks burned halfway down, the swirling smoke and ash slowly transformed into a twisted human face, howling in agony.

The hazy human face that had taken shape swayed and shifted with the smoke. Gradually, it gathered into a human form, which could faintly be seen as an old man with a hunched body.

Chu Ye's expression tightened, and a trace of anticipation appeared in his eyes.

"I knew it. He couldn't have fallen so easily..."

But in the next moment, the Golden Talisman Paper and incense sticks began burning rapidly. In the blink of an eye, they were nearly consumed. The smoke and ash also accumulated to their limit. The increasingly clear phantom of the old man slowly fell to the ground. Supporting himself with both hands, he let out one last pained wail before crashing down and becoming utterly still.

At that moment, the flames went out, and all the smoke scattered with them.

The last spark of hope in Chu Ye's eyes dimmed as well.

"He's really gone. How is that possible? How could he just be gone...?"

Chu Ye's body swayed from the blow. Mu Zhiqiu hurriedly supported him and helped him back into the cabin.

At the entrance of Jinlan Village, a man in close-fitting martial attire and a conspicuous vermilion cloak emerged from the fog, holding a volume of scripture in one hand.

He put away the book and glanced back, a hint of gravity in his eyes.

"What exactly happened in the Wasteland? Even Jinlan Mine has suffered such a huge upheaval. If I didn't have the Danqing Calligraphy bestowed by my lord, entering this place would have cost me an enormous price."

He surveyed his surroundings, sensing the Strange Power filling the area. Then he took out a Jade Talisman and hung it around his neck. Its power began to circulate, sinking little by little into the skin of his chest like a living thing and emitting a series of sizzling sounds.

Once the phenomenon ended, he was completely cut off from the outside world.

The advantage was that he would not be eroded. The disadvantage was that he could not carry out his daily cultivation here, and once his strength was depleted, there was no way to replenish it.

Before long, someone discovered him and immediately went to report to the Village Chief.

When he saw the Village Chief slowly approaching with Er Han supporting him, he quickly put on a faint smile, strode forward, and clasped his hands in greeting.

"This junior is An Yue. Greetings, Village Chief. A year has passed, yet you still look hale and hearty, no less vigorous than in your prime."

The Village Chief wore a kindly expression. The look on his face was almost identical to Er Han's beside him.

"General An, it's been a year. I hope you've been well. Why have you come so early this year?"

"I happened to be out on official business. I figured that taking a detour here wouldn't be too far, so I came by first. Otherwise, I was afraid that once my business was over, I might delay the trade and break my word to you. That wouldn't do."

"Oh, I see. It's just that the goods are still a little short. Will General An wait a few days, or take them now? If you take them now, we'll make up the missing portion with extra next year."

"Then I'll wait a few more days. A few days won't make much difference." An Yue replied casually.

"Then it's settled. General An, please wait a few days. Our conditions here are rather crude, so I hope you won't take offense." The Village Chief glanced at Er Han. "Go and arrange the best place for General An to rest."

Er Han nodded with a foolish grin.

"Don't worry, Grandpa."

A moment later, Er Han brought An Yue to an Earth Den at the foot of the mountain and said with an honest smile, "General An, you can rest here. The dry grass inside is the driest and thickest. It's very comfortable. Even when I want some, Grandpa won't give me any."

"..."

An Yue looked as though he wanted to speak, but no words came out. Seeing Er Han's envious yet courteous expression, he could only cup his hands in thanks.

After settling An Yue in, Er Han returned to report. Only then could he no longer hold it in.

"Grandpa, haven't we already mined enough Jinlan Ore?"

"You don't know shit." The Village Chief smacked Er Han in annoyance. "The date we agreed upon is the date we agreed upon. Not a day can differ, and it never has. Yet this year, he came before we even ate our Yellow Millet Cake."

"Uh..." Er Han was baffled.

"That brat is up to no good. He says he's on official business and afraid of delaying things, yet he still plans to waste several days here. Does he really think I don't know how strict their laws are? He actually dares to waste time like this. Besides, don't you know what things are like outside the village? How did he get in?

"He has no damn official business. The place where he is conducting official business is right here!

"Remember this: while he's here, don't speak carelessly. If you don't know what to say, pretend you're mute."

Er Han nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I guarantee not even eight poles could knock a fart out of me. If I have one, I'll hold it back."

Until it was time to eat, Er Han never came out. He simply avoided contact with An Yue altogether, so there was no need to worry about saying the wrong thing. But they still had to eat.

As for An Yue, he remained outside the entire time and never entered the Earth Den to rest. Coming from the prosperous Great Qian, he considered himself quite capable of enduring hardship. But after entering the Earth Den, he discovered that it was not only so low he could barely straighten his back, the so-called dry grass was indeed dry—but no one had said it was clean. There were even sheep droppings inside...

He simply could not endure the murky air tainted by fermented sheep droppings. Sitting outside was better.

When the village began serving dinner, An Yue's eyes flickered as he looked at everyone's food. Without changing expression or batting an eye, he joined the line, even bringing his own clean ceramic bowl.

Some people were curious and merely watched. Not a single one asked a question.

Soon, he received a bowl of thick soup made from Jinlan Mushrooms. The moment it went down, his gaze shifted slightly.

Jinlan Mushrooms were precious things. Even in Great Qian, only a very small number of people could occasionally taste fresh ones. Anyone who could get a share certainly would not pass it up.

But this preparation was clearly different from the last time he had come. Judging by the flavor alone, it was better by more than a little. After sensing it carefully, he found that whatever it contained seemed easier to absorb, and more of its efficacy had been utilized.

He raised his head and looked toward Yu Ziqing, who stood behind the large pot. He had not seen him on his previous visit. Among the sturdy village aunties, the slender Yu Ziqing was especially conspicuous.

An Yue held his bowl and sipped the thick soup in small mouthfuls, but his eyes occasionally swept over the villagers.

He also saw Yu Ziqing take a wooden bowl for himself after serving everyone and return to his own Earth Den. An Yue did not pay him too much attention and continued observing the others.

Yu Ziqing returned to the Earth Den and placed the wooden bowl before Old Yang.

"Aren't you eating?" Old Yang asked casually.

Usually, Yu Ziqing brought the food back, and the two of them ate together in the Earth Den.

"Someone from outside has come. He's here to trade for Jinlan Ore, from Great Qian. I asked Er Han. He came a few days earlier than agreed. Eat first. I'll go back to the kitchen and eat later. There will definitely be leftovers."

After a few words, Old Yang understood why Yu Ziqing had brought back only one bowl of food today.

"Good. I won't go out for the next few days."

The moment Yu Ziqing saw that person, he knew he would definitely attract attention. The changes in the village's food, the new cook, the unfamiliar face, and so many other changes were all connected to him. It was no secret.

If he brought back two bowls of food now, it would certainly be even more conspicuous. He would not gamble that the other party would fail to suspect there were two mouths in the Earth Den that needed feeding.

Though this was no secret in the village, those who knew the truth certainly would not meddle with idle remarks. That was the village's rule.

A few days was a very limited amount of time. As long as he was not pursued and forced to dig deeper, there was a good chance he could muddle through.

The prerequisite was to conceal as best he could any clues the other party might seize upon and pursue relentlessly. Anything he could not hide had to be delayed as long as possible before discovery.

He did not know whether that An Yue had been sent by Old Yang's enemy.

But caution was paramount. For now, he would assume that he had.