Meanwhile.
Ten li outside Jinyong City, at the junction of the Tianchu Grand Canal and the Tianlang River.
At Jiangbei Pier, covered boats, passenger boats, and cargo ships came and went.
Just then, a large ship slowly approached the pier. At its bow stood a young woman dressed in white, her figure graceful, her face veiled in white gauze, and an ancient sword on her back. Her raven-black hair cascaded over her fragrant shoulders, and her beautiful eyes were like a pool of autumn water.
Standing at the bow, she looked like an immortal banished from heaven, someone no one dared profane!
Her appearance made the world pale in comparison, drawing the eyes of every traveler at the pier!
"My heavens! How can such a Peerless Woman exist in this world?"
"She's so beautiful! This woman belongs in heaven!"
"..."
The young woman's arrival set the people and travelers at the pier abuzz with discussion.
Yu Shiqie was used to all the attention. When the ship was three zhang from the pier, she stepped off in one graceful motion and landed on the dock.
"Shiqie, your Martial Uncle Bi strayed from the righteous path all those years ago. You must guard your Sword Heart and not follow in her footsteps!"
As Yu Shiqie walked slowly onward, her master's earnest instructions from the day she'd left the mountain still echoed in her mind.
"Master, rest assured. Your disciple will never let you down!"
"I'll recover the Sacred Heart Buddhist Scroll and redeem the Demon Seed!"
Yu Shiqie gazed at the distant Tianlang River, determination glimmering in her autumn-water eyes.
The Sacred Heart Buddhist Scroll was Pudu Jing'an Nunnery's treasured heirloom, consisting of six volumes.
Back then, Martial Aunt Bi Ziyuan had carried a "Sacred Heart Buddhist Scroll" that could strengthen one's Buddhist faith. Yet she'd eventually fallen into the Demon Lord's hands and borne him a Demon Seed. The volume she had carried was lost.
Including the volume stolen by the Demon Lord, Yellow Springs Heavenly Saber Li Tianhen, one hundred and ten years ago, only four volumes of the Sacred Heart Buddhist Scroll remained.
She was determined to fulfill her master's wish!
She wouldn't return to the mountain until she found the Sacred Heart Buddhist Scroll!
The next day, eight in the morning.
Qingzhou City.
East side of the city.
In one of Yin Tianxing's former hidden courtyards.
Qin Shuang sat in his room, bare feet on the grass, a dragonfly in his right hand and a pill rolling between the fingers of his left. Before him lay the Silver Fragment he'd obtained from Chen Qinglang.
[Heavenly Wolf Bone Forging Art (Not Started)] [Simplification: Pet a wolf's head for ten minutes to get started]
"Hm? Heavenly Wolf Body Forging Art?"
Hearing the prompt in his mind, Qin Shuang's eyes lit with excitement. The name alone made this technique sound impressive.
"Pet a wolf's head? Looks like I'll have to send Chen Qinglang and the others into the Xuan Yin Mountain Range to catch a wolf!"
Qin Shuang thought to himself.
Having subdued the Green Wolf Gang and the Flying Eagle Gang, he was now the strongest fighter in Qingzhou City. As long as no Divine Wheel Realm expert came to the city, he should be safe.
"I have to get Jin Shisan, Jiang Chao, Jiang Quan, Jin Yang, and Liu Hao to build a powerful intelligence network. If any suspicious experts enter the city, I need to be informed at once!"
Qin Shuang knew that Situ Rui could show up at any time, so he had to make arrangements in advance.
With that in mind, Qin Shuang was about to head out when Chen Wang's voice suddenly rang from outside. "Hall Master, the braised eagle meat is ready!"
"Mm. Bring it in!"
Qin Shuang's eyes filled with anticipation. When he'd returned yesterday after subduing the Green Wolf Gang, Chen Wang had reported that they hadn't been able to buy an eagle. Jin Yang had taken men into the mountains to catch one, and they'd had the cook prepare it early that morning.
"Creak!"
The hall door swung open. Chen Wang, dark circles beneath his eyes, walked in carrying a food box. He respectfully set it before Qin Shuang and said, "Hall Master, the braised eagle is ready! The cook is my distant cousin, and he's absolutely trustworthy! Once the eagle meat was cooked, I used clean chopsticks to take a piece and eat it myself. You can rest assured!"
"You did well."
Qin Shuang studied Chen Wang carefully. Though he looked simple and honest, he wasn't stupid. With his First-Rank Alchemy, Qin Shuang could naturally tell whether the food was poisoned.
"Wait outside."
Qin Shuang waved Chen Wang away.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Chen Wang respectfully cupped his fists toward Qin Shuang, then turned and left.
[Flying Eagle Movement Technique advanced to Proficient] [Simplification: Imitate an eagle spreading its wings a thousand times; eat ten servings of braised eagle to reach Mastery]
Sitting in the hall, Qin Shuang polished off the braised eagle meat in no time. Two system prompts rang out in his mind.
"To reach Mastery, I have to eat ten braised eagles?"
Qin Shuang studied the prompt on the panel, lost in thought.
It seemed that while Chen Qinglang and the others were catching wolves, he'd have them catch ten eagles as well.
"Chen Wang, come in."
Qin Shuang's voice rang out.
"Hall Master!"
Chen Wang entered with an eager look and respectfully cupped his fists toward Qin Shuang.
"Go tell Jin Yang to head into the mountains with Chen Qinglang and catch ten eagles and a few wolves."
Qin Shuang spoke in a firm voice.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Chen Wang answered respectfully, then knelt before Qin Shuang and said, "Hall Master, I'd like to ask you to place the Life and Death Seal on me as well!"
"Oh?"
Qin Shuang stared at Chen Wang in surprise. "Why are you asking me to place the Life and Death Seal on you?"
The Life and Death Seal was a way to control people. Others would do anything to avoid it, yet Chen Wang was asking for it himself?
Had he been kicked in the head by a donkey?
"Because I want to make something of myself, gain power, and avenge my family!"
Chen Wang bowed deeply to Qin Shuang. "I understand that the only way I can make something of myself is by earning the Hall Master's trust. But I'm already getting on in years, and my comprehension is mediocre. I'm not the sort of person who catches the Hall Master's eye. The only thing I have to offer right now is my loyalty!"
"So I'm asking the Hall Master to place the Life and Death Seal on me! That way, the Hall Master can entrust me with tasks without worry!"
"Once the Life and Death Seal is placed, you'll have to take an antidote once a year. If you betray me, you'll wish you were dead and be unable to die. Think carefully."
Qin Shuang looked at Chen Wang and spoke gravely.
"My whole family was killed by the people from Golden Whip Martial Arts School. I scraped together ten taels of silver to join the school and learn martial arts so I could take revenge, but even now, my Fierce Tiger Fist is only at the Proficient level... I understand that serving the Hall Master is my only hope of revenge!"
"I've thought it through. If I serve you sincerely, the Life and Death Seal will never flare up!"
Chen Wang bowed to Qin Shuang again and again, his forehead thudding against the floor. Tears filled his eyes as he looked up at Qin Shuang with hope.
"Well said. I'll place the Life and Death Seal on you, too. How far you go from here is up to you!"
Qin Shuang nodded at Chen Wang. "Come forward."
"Yes!"
Chen Wang shuffled forward on his knees and looked up at Qin Shuang.
Qin Shuang pressed his fingers together like a sword, gathered a Qi and Blood Seal, and touched it to Chen Wang's brow. At once, Qin Shuang felt the Life and Death Seal sink into Chen Wang's forehead. Chen Wang's life and death were now in his hands!
"Chen Wang thanks the Hall Master! I swear to go through fire and water for you, and to remain loyal to the end!"
Chen Wang bowed to Qin Shuang once more.
"Mm. Work hard. You may go."
Qin Shuang waved Chen Wang away.
Chen Wang rose respectfully, retreated three steps, then turned, closed the door, and left.
"Chen Wang is an interesting one."
Listening to Chen Wang's footsteps fade away, Qin Shuang fell into thought.
Chen Wang was getting on in years, and his comprehension was poor. If he wanted revenge on the people from Golden Whip Martial Arts School and to serve Qin Shuang well, this really was his only hope.
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