The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

Liu Zhengfeng wanting to see him was entirely within Wang Jingyuan's expectations. How bad could an old geezer who loved music really be? His methods had been a little underhanded, but in the end, he had helped Liu Zhengfeng.

Besides, Wang Jingyuan had deliberately left himself an opening. If the Songshan Sect came after him again in the future, then the second part of the story, Love Turned to Hate, would be going on sale.

With such excellent customer service, how could a good-natured old man like Liu Zhengfeng not repay him handsomely?

Wang Jingyuan followed the Hengshan disciples to the Liu residence once more. By now, the place had been more or less cleared out. Their valuables and household furnishings had been packed into large and small crates and piled onto the carriages outside.

As soon as Wang Jingyuan entered the house, Liu Zhengfeng's disciple, Xiang Danian, escorted him to the rear courtyard. A pavilion stood there, and Liu Zhengfeng was seated inside it. Besides him, there was an old man and a young girl who looked like a grandfather and granddaughter. They were both strangers to Wang Jingyuan.

But the nameplates above their heads gave them away.

After leading Wang Jingyuan to the rear courtyard, Xiang Danian left on his own, giving the others some privacy. Wang Jingyuan entered the pavilion and sat down casually. "I didn't know you had this trick up your sleeve. That human-skin mask looks pretty convincing."

Qu Feiyan furrowed her brows. "You can even tell?"

"I have a special way of recognizing people. Unless someone's been chopped into mincemeat, no one can fool me." Wang Jingyuan suddenly understood something. If someone killed his chicken now, he'd probably recognize them easily even if they showed up next time wrapped up like a dumpling. Then he'd grab his big cleaver and split them in two.

Alas! In the end, we all turn into the very people we once hated.

While Wang Jingyuan was still lost in thought, someone pushed a dark object in front of him. He looked more closely. It was a token carved from ebony, with clouds supporting the sun and moon shining together engraved on its face.

Wang Jingyuan picked up the token and examined it carefully. "Is this the Blackwood Token?"

Qu Yang nodded. "That's right. This is the Blackwood Token. Even in the Holy Cult, not every elder or hall master has one. Unfortunately, I've let Miss down. Now that I'm leaving the martial world, I should have returned this Blackwood Token to her, but she doesn't want to see me.

"I thought it over and decided to give it to you instead. Perhaps it'll come in handy for you later. This token doesn't count toward the three favors you're owed."

Wang Jingyuan tossed the token up and down, then remarked with an air of composure, "You've certainly thought this through. Once it's in my hands, I'll probably use it to cause trouble for the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

"You're Saintess's man, and she's in the opposition. No matter how much trouble I cause the Sun Moon Holy Cult, it'll be the ruling party that gets the headache. It can only help her.

"You're about to retire from the martial world, and you still want to give her one last hand. But I'll tell you this: my plans do involve going up against the Sun Moon Holy Cult. If I turn everything upside down, I hope you won't regret your choice today."

Qu Yang glanced at Qu Feiyan. She trotted into the side room on her short legs, then came back carrying a basin. Wang Jingyuan recognized it at once: it was the very basin used during Liu Zhengfeng's Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony.

Qu Feiyan set the basin on the stone table in the pavilion. Wang Jingyuan saw that it was already full of water. Qu Yang put his hands in and began washing them. "I don't have many friends, so I'll have you bear witness to my Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony.

"From this moment on, I'm no longer an elder of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, just an old man. The martial world's feuds and tangled affairs have nothing more to do with me.

"Young Hero Wang, the three favors I owe you can only be repaid by me, an old man."

Wang Jingyuan understood what Qu Yang meant. The token had been given to him before Qu Yang washed his hands. Whatever Wang Jingyuan chose to do with it was his own business.

Now that Qu Yang had completed his Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony, he wouldn't interfere, no matter how much trouble Wang Jingyuan caused with the token. But he would repay Wang Jingyuan's three favors through his own efforts alone, without using the Sun Moon Holy Cult's resources.

Wang Jingyuan didn't mind. He had asked Qu Yang for three favors in the first place to support his plans for Blackwood Cliff. Now Qu Yang had given him the Blackwood Token outright. It wasn't a one-use item; he could use it repeatedly. Wang Jingyuan had already achieved his goal.

Those three favors he'd asked for now seemed like an added bonus.

Wang Jingyuan toyed with the Blackwood Token and asked the question he cared about most. "Are all the Blackwood Tokens alike? Is there some mark that proves the bearer's identity?"

Qu Yang smiled and nodded. "Young Hero Wang, you're as perceptive as ever. There are indeed hidden patterns on the token. This one belonged to Miss. The Cult members all know her, so she rarely needs a token and gave it to me instead.

"Ordinary Cult members only know what the token looks like. Only the Cult Leader, the chief steward, and the other token holders know about the hidden patterns. In most situations, this token will be enough."

Wang Jingyuan understood. "So it's like the Fobol ID of the Wen Family Twin Fiends. The police can't recognize it, and neither can the Fobol agents. Only people who use fake IDs themselves can spot it."

"That Wen Family... Forget it." Qu Yang knew that Wang Jingyuan often said things no one else understood, so he didn't ask.

Wang Jingyuan looked at Qu Yang. "I want to use two of those three favors now."

Qu Yang nodded. "Go ahead."

After Wang Jingyuan told him what he needed, Qu Yang didn't hold back.

[Qu Yang is teaching you Black Blood Divine Needle]

[Learn: Yes/No]

[Yes]

[Qu Yang is teaching you Art of Disguise]

[Learn: Yes/No]

[Yes]

Besides instructions on how to use them, these two arts—or crafts, if you preferred—also came with methods for making Black Blood Divine Needles and disguise masks. Once Wang Jingyuan got the materials, he'd be able to make and use them himself.

Having accomplished his goal, Wang Jingyuan flipped his hand, and the Blackwood Token vanished. Liu Zhengfeng's eyes lit up at the sight. "Is that Ancient Color Magic Trick?"

Wang Jingyuan couldn't be bothered to explain. He answered casually, "If you say it's a magic trick, then it is."

Liu Zhengfeng laughed, clapping his hands. "Wonderful! Wonderful! I was just wondering how to thank you. Now I know."

Wang Jingyuan had an idea what he meant, and grinned too. "Could it be the legendary..."

"That's right. It's The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, which Old Qu and I composed together."

"Huh?!" Wang Jingyuan's grin vanished at once. I've been running around all these days for you two tone-deaf old geezers, and this is how you repay me?!