A Distant Glance

Half a month later, Skyfall City.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and a group of Shi family guards, escorting goods purchased from Silent Town, entered the city at a leisurely pace on Earth Dragons.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong walked at the front of the group, muttering to each other.

"Old Han, it's getting late today. Shall we head home tomorrow? How about we find a place to rest after we enter the city?" Shi Yan said casually.

"Where are you planning to rest, Brother Yan?" Han Zhong chuckled, a suggestive expression appearing on his face. "Skyfall City is the Merchant Alliance's largest city, with millions of people. The places for entertainment here are much more upscale than in the smaller cities we passed."

"Old Han, since you're familiar with it, just lead the way."

"I'm afraid I don't have enough crystal coins on me. Alas, some places are very expensive."

"Old Han, are you trying to trick me again? Last time we drank at 'Dark Fragrance Pavilion,' you pretended to be drunk afterward, and I paid the bill. What? Are you trying to pull the same stunt?"

"...Cough, cough, I was genuinely drunk that time! You're wrongly accusing me!"

"I don't care about that. If you don't cough up this time, I'll go to Uncle Han Feng to settle this when we get back."

"No! Brother Yan, I'll treat! I'll treat, alright?" Han Zhong wailed, sighing heavily. "You know my elder brother's temper. If he finds out about my affairs, he'll beat me to death. Sigh, is it easy for me to come out? I work hard for the family, and I don't even have enough money for some fun..."

"Then it's settled. You're treating tonight." Shi Yan turned back and shouted to the Shi family Martial Artists behind them, "Brothers, did you hear that?"

"We heard!"

Seven Shi family Martial Artists shouted loudly, their expressions excited.

"Let's go."

In just half a month, Shi Yan had become close with Han Zhong and the Shi family Martial Artists.

Shi Yan had no airs of a young master. He ate and drank heartily, enjoying himself in all sorts of activities. He was also uninhibited when it came to women, never shying away from brothels or entertainment venues. Sometimes, when he saw a pretty girl he fancied, he was even more forward than the lecherous Han Zhong.

The two of them had visited many entertainment venues together on their journey. Each time, either Shi Yan paid, or Han Zhong was fleeced. They never let the guards spend any money.

In a short time, Shi Yan had earned the approval of Han Zhong and the guards.

Han Zhong felt that he and Shi Yan were kindred spirits, constantly praising Shi Yan for finally opening up. He felt that with the improvement of his realm, Shi Yan had become a completely different person.

Along the way, Shi Yan concealed most of his encounters in the Gloomy Forest. He only said that in an ancient cave he explored, he found a vermilion-red fruit. After eating three of those fruits, he obtained Essence and awakened the Shi family's Petrifying Martial Soul.

He omitted everything about the blood pool, the Undying Martial Soul, and the mysterious Martial Soul. He didn't even mention his meeting with Mo Yan Yu or the entanglement with Mu Yu Die. He omitted anything that could be omitted.

Although Han Zhong was surprised by Shi Yan's experience, he didn't press for details. He simply thought Shi Yan was incredibly lucky, and that eating the fruit had not only benefited him physically but also sharpened his mind.

Over the past half month, through Han Zhong, Shi Yan had finally gained a thorough understanding of the Shi family's situation.

The original owner of his body had left him quite a few memories, but most of these memories were related to ancient ruins and texts that the person had studied.

He hadn't received many memories related to the Shi family itself. Fortunately, Han Zhong had no reservations about him. During their few outings to entertainment venues together, Han Zhong revealed everything Shi Yan wanted to know.

After a few more escapades with Shi Yan, Han Zhong felt even more that Shi Yan was his kind of person. Not only did he clearly explain the Shi family's businesses and sphere of influence, but he also generously shared much common knowledge about Martial Artist cultivation with Shi Yan, allowing Shi Yan to learn a lot about Martial Artists that he hadn't understood clearly before.

For example, after a Martial Artist suddenly reached the Nirvana realm, they could form a "Sea of Consciousness." Once the "Sea of Consciousness" was formed, the Martial Artist could establish a wondrous connection with their Martial Soul through the "Sea of Consciousness," thereby combining Essence and the Martial Soul to unleash secret techniques, achieving even more incredible effects.

For example, the characteristics and weaknesses of various Martial Souls, the Martial Souls that appeared in the Merchant Alliance, the Blazing Fire Empire, and the Divine Grace Empire, which Martial Soul was the most powerful, what were its weaknesses, and how to counter it.

Although Han Zhong was lustful by nature, he was very serious about Martial Dao cultivation.

He was also well-informed about all the knowledge a Martial Artist should know. From his narration, Shi Yan finally gained a relatively comprehensive understanding of the powerful existence of Martial Artists for the first time, and he understood the differences between various realms before the Hundred Tribulations.

Han Zhong himself only had the cultivation of the Hundred Tribulations realm. He couldn't explain the subtle differences in the realms after the Hundred Tribulations, so he simply skipped over them. He only shared knowledge that he believed he could explain clearly.

And these were precisely what Shi Yan needed most at the moment.

Soul-Entwined Dream Pavilion.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong, along with four Shi family Martial Artists, were drinking and reveling in a large private room on the third floor.

In the center of the rustic room, a square table about a meter high was placed. The table was laden with exquisite wines and delicacies. A soft carpet was spread beneath the table.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and the others sat on the carpet, embracing scantily clad girls, shouting loudly, playing dice games, and having a great time.

"Old Han, drink!" Shi Yan shouted.

Han Zhong dejectedly admitted defeat and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. He then took the opportunity to grab the ample bosom of the girl in his arms before picking up the dice again, humming, "This hand got lucky. I'm definitely winning this round."

"Heh heh, if that's considered lucky, then both my hands are full of luck." Shi Yan grinned, his hands reaching into the girl's clothes. He said with a smile, "Qiu Xiang, you're so generous here, do you think I'll always be bigger than him?"

Qiu Xiang had fair skin and a full chest. Her eyes were watery, brimming with passion. She said shyly, "Young Master Yan is so naughty, always bullying me like this."

"You can bully me too." Shi Yan smiled, took a sip of the strong liquor, and urged, "Old Han, what are you dawdling for? Why aren't you rolling yet?"

"...Yin Kui and Jiu Shan are nearby. The Yin energy on these two is too heavy. I can feel it even at this close distance," Han Zhong said with a frown. He pushed the girl in his arms away and quietly moved to the window of the private room.

He opened the window slightly and glanced outside, using the red lantern's light. "It's indeed Bei Ming Ce who has come. Yin Kui and Jiu Shan never leave Bei Ming Ce. If they are here, Bei Ming Ce must be here too."

Upon hearing that Bei Ming Ce was nearby, Shi Yan's heart stirred, and he immediately thought of Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan.

He hesitated for a moment, then also leaned towards the window, opening it a little wider. He coldly watched the procession on the street.

It was a procession of about thirty people. At the very front, Bei Ming Ce rode a snow-white Ling Xiao Steed, a faint smile on his lips, conversing with someone inside a palanquin on an Earth Dragon.

When the curtain of the palanquin was occasionally lifted, the ethereal and beautiful face of Mu Yu Die would flash by.

Di Ya Lan rode a warhorse covered in black armor. Her fiery figure swayed gently with the horse's steps. A faint sadness lingered in her dark eyebrows, and she seemed listless.

Only when Bei Ming Ce spoke did she manage a weak smile, appearing to have little interest in conversation.

Two elders, one fat and one thin, exuded a heavy aura of yin energy. Both rode black-armored warhorses and followed silently behind Bei Ming Ce, their eyes slightly narrowed as if resting.

Shi Yan pushed open the window slightly and looked toward them from dozens of meters away. Suddenly, the two elders became alert and sharply turned their heads to look in his direction.

Two chilling, sinister energies seemed to emanate from the elders' eyes. From dozens of meters away, Shi Yan felt a chill run through his body, his heart filled with dread.

The two elders seemed to recognize Han Zhong. Upon noticing Han Zhong at the window, they nodded slightly, and the chilling aura in their eyes lessened.

Under the gaze of the two elders, Han Zhong's usual playful demeanor vanished. He looked solemn and clasped his fists in a gesture of respect from the window, as a junior would to his elders.

The two elders nodded again, then ignored Han Zhong, turning their heads to continue resting with their eyes closed. Their slightly narrowed eyes were both fixed on Bei Ming Ce's back.

The Bei Ming Family's procession continued down the street at an unhurried pace, without stopping.

On the not-so-wide street, there were Martial Artists looking for entertainment. However, upon discovering that the approaching procession was from the Bei Ming Family, they respectfully moved aside with fearful expressions, not daring to utter a single complaint.

The street, which should have been crowded, became clear because the people voluntarily made way, creating a path for the Bei Ming Family's procession, allowing them to pass unimpeded.