Umbrella Sect

The carriage moved slowly. As it crossed the stone bridge connecting the inner and outer cities, snow began to fall.

The snow fell in silence. The icy wind lifted the curtain, and white flakes slipped in from outside.

One flake after another, one strand after another.

Qi Yu's pupils contracted slightly.

At the far end of his vision, umbrellas were drifting by—black umbrellas. They looked like filthy flowers floating upon a white current.

What was the worldview of Abandoned World?

The gods were born in this land, yet fled from it, leaping beyond the Three Realms to look down upon the mortal world and amuse themselves.

The gods' vile tastes might have varied, and they might have harbored grudges against one another, but they shared only one interest: bloodshed.

To determine victory, and to decide life and death.

Blood, victory, and death brought auspiciousness and the gods' blessings.

Those blessings came in many forms, and as the versions continued to update, they continued to stack.

By the time Qi Yu had played Abandoned World, it was already in its later versions. The current era, however, was most likely before even the original version.

Still... he had learned a little about the earliest version. The original version had no blessings yet. A player's combat power was determined by three factors: first, breaking through realms by cultivating martial arts manuals—the higher the realm, the higher the lower limit of combat power; second, comprehending killing moves from the manuals—the stronger the killing moves, the higher the upper limit of combat power; third, weapons and items such as poisons, which could provide additional combat power.

As for the later versions, there were simply too many blessings stacked on top of one another... The difficulty and the required procedures were both considerable.

For a more satisfying experience, the cheat program Qi Yu used included some special functions.

He glanced at the panel.

[Qi Yu]

[Realm: None]

[Skill Point: None]

[Combat Power: 0~1]

[Martial Arts Manual: None]

[Blessing: None]

At first glance, this panel seemed utterly ordinary. It was the panel belonging to every player in Abandoned World. Yet after its internal logic had been altered, the gaming experience had improved by leaps and bounds.

Normally, Skill Points were obtained by "hunting demons and monsters" and "martial combat." Now, that had become "touching demons and monsters" and "cultivating diligently."

There were two main ways to obtain blessings:

1. Believers. Sects had their own methods of ensnaring people's hearts—perhaps some secret incense, perhaps some secret scripture—that could make believers abandon their homes and families until only the Holy Religion remained in their eyes;

2. "Various bloodbaths, pleasing the gods with death and victory to obtain blessings." These blessings could sometimes be outrageously absurd, and might even completely overturn the game's balance.

But... the gods' blessings could be withdrawn at any time. Once you grew powerful enough, the gods would certainly reclaim the blessing and bestow it upon someone else instead.

Of course, the gods did not bestow blessings lightly either, because every blessing was, in essence, nothing more than the gods dividing off a portion of their own power.

With this system of blessings, the gods maintained the vitality of this land, causing it to revere martial virtue and produce one powerhouse after another. One side's song ended, and another took the stage; like a surging river, the blood of heroes flowed without end.

Yet even though the world's heroes were as plentiful as carp crossing a river, not one had managed to leap through the Dragon Gate. For whenever they reached the point where they could leap through it, their blessing would be reclaimed.

But the blessing on Qi Yu's panel was different. Even if the gods reclaimed it, a "copy" would remain.

That was what it meant for one proof to stand forever.

Qi Yu returned home, and a servant hurried over with a black umbrella to receive him.

Black Umbrella.

Qi Yu asked, "It's only a little snow. Do I still need an umbrella?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "Master ordered it. He said snow is cold and damp, so you'd better hold an umbrella."

The master was naturally the third son of the Qi Family—Third Master, Qi Yu's father, Qi Changshun.

Qi Changshun was a somewhat scholarly middle-aged man with an elegant bearing and jet-black hair. Yet a sickly air showed clearly between his brows. In his youth, he had been chivalrous and martial-minded, and had even made quite a name for himself. Otherwise, he would never have become sworn brothers with Spirit Serpent Vajra Song Qinghong. But... after suffering a severe injury once, the hidden wounds from his youthful life of fighting and chivalry had erupted as well. This had stripped Qi Changshun of all his strength, leaving him an ordinary man.

When Qi Yu saw his old father, the figures floating above his head were: 0~1 (50~100).

"50~100" was his former Seventh Rank strength, while "0~1" was his current strength.

Qi Changshun was in the reception hall.

His eldest brother—Qi Family's eldest son, Qi Changfu—was there as well.

Compared with Qi Yu's father, Qi Changfu was much more robust. His padded clothes bulged, and he sat bolt upright with an imposing air. He was an Eighth Rank Bloodburst Realm martial artist of the clan. But... he practiced martial arts only to strengthen his body, not for combat, and naturally had not studied killing moves in any depth. Thus, the values above his head were: 12~20.

There was another guest seated opposite the two men.

A middle-aged guest.

He wore a red padded jacket, and his short hair was neatly combed, seemingly with hair oil applied to it. His eyes were rather deep-set, though a smile showed openly on his face. The data above his head were strange: 10~70. The gap between the upper and lower limits was far too wide.

When his father saw him pass the doorway, he waved and called, "Yu'er, come here!"

As he spoke, he smiled at the red-clad, short-haired man and said, "Master Chen, this is my son."

Then he said to Qi Yu, who had approached, "Yu'er, this is Master Chen of the Holy Umbrella Sect. Call him Uncle."

Qi Yu's pupils contracted slightly. He had no idea when his family had become connected with the Umbrella Sect. This was no good. If this truly was Abandoned World, then no sect could possibly be good. The only difference was how completely insane it had become.

Master Chen watched him with a beaming smile.

Qi Changshun smiled and said, "The boy is introverted. Didn't he donate a large residence to one of your sect's believers a few days ago, only to receive a sachet in return?"

Beside him, Qi Changfu added, "He's been introverted since childhood and isn't good with words."

Master Chen continued smiling as he observed Qi Yu. Both that smile and his eyes made Qi Yu extremely uncomfortable. After a long while... Master Chen finally spoke with that mask-like smile. "This child is blessed, but he has been suppressed."

Qi Changshun smiled. "Then I'll trouble you to offer him some guidance, Master Chen."

Master Chen said, "He needs to wear red."

Qi Changshun nodded thoughtfully, then waved his hand. "Go play."

In his eyes, his son was simply a wastrel. But wastrels had their advantages too—he had never seen a great household ruined by a wastrel's amusements.

The Qi Family's fortune could withstand his spending.

Qi Yu left the room.

Blessed but suppressed? He needed to wear red to break free of it?

Bullshit.

This was simply an obedience test.

He had imagined that the Umbrella Sect's entry into Mount Wei City must have been backed by one of the city's wealthy families, but he had never imagined... that wealthy family might be his own Qi Family.

No wonder nobody had said anything when he donated a residence.

He did not know whether his father would really buy him red clothes, but he knew... he had to hurry and grow stronger.

Qi Yu arrived at his small courtyard.

In the courtyard, his personal maid, A Bi, spotted him with her sharp eyes and hurried over. When she saw his swollen fist clearly, a look of heartache instantly appeared in her eyes. Then she silently turned around and began heating water.

A Bi had been bought into the household when she was seven or eight. Because she had a delicate, pretty appearance, she had been assigned to serve the young master.

Over the years, she had studied and practiced calligraphy with Qi Yu, played and frolicked with him, and accompanied him through countless moments.

When Qi Yu had grown into his teens and his feelings had first awakened, she had gently and considerately guided him in learning the ways of men and women, gradually helping him shed his innocence.

A short while later, the water boiled.

Inside the room, behind the screen, a packet of circulation-enhancing medicine slowly dispersed into the warm water. An aura that seemed capable of searing the blood and qi spread through the air.

Steam rose in wisps, while fine medicinal particles drifted lazily.

The charcoal brazier in the quiet room burned Beast Gold Charcoal, releasing threads of pine-branch fragrance.

A Bi lightly raised her fair wrist and reached out to stir the water's surface. Then she tilted her delicate head slightly and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Young Master, it's ready."

After saying that, she hurried out and began helping Qi Yu undress and bathe.

Qi Yu let her small hands deftly undo his clothes and pull down his trousers, his gaze sweeping lightly over her.

A Bi was not a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, but her gentle and considerate expression put anyone at ease. With such a maid, why would he need to seek pleasure among the flowers outside?

From now on, he would devote all his thoughts and energy to martial cultivation.