Forty-Six: A Glimpse from Afar

Half a month later, Skyfall City.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and a line of Shi Family guards escorted the goods they had purchased in Silent Town. Riding Earth Dragons, they entered the city at an unhurried pace.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong walked at the head of the group, chatting as they went.

"Old Han, it's getting late. Why don't we head home tomorrow? Once we're in the city, how about finding somewhere to rest for a while?" Shi Yan asked, perfectly at ease.

"Where's Young Master Yan planning to stop?" Han Zhong chuckled, a suggestive look appearing on his face. "Skyfall City is the Merchant Alliance's largest city, with a population of several million. There are plenty of places to have fun, and they're far more upscale than the little cities we passed on the road."

"Old Han, since you know your way around, just lead on."

"I'm afraid I'm running low on crystal coins. Sigh, some places charge a pretty penny."

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

"...Ahem. I really was drunk that time. You're doing me a terrible injustice!"

"I don't care. If you don't cough up this time, I'll ask Uncle Han Feng to judge between us when we get back."

"Don't! Young Master Yan, I'll treat! I'll treat, all right?" Han Zhong pulled a long face and sighed. "You know what my big brother's like. If he found out about the things I get up to, he'd beat me to death. Sigh, is it easy for me to get out here? I work my tail off for the family, and I can't even afford to enjoy myself..."

"Then it's settled. You're treating tonight." Shi Yan turned and called out to the Shi Family Martial Artists behind them. "Brothers, you all heard that, right?"

"We heard!"

The seven Shi Family Martial Artists roared in unison, their faces alight with excitement.

"Let's go!"

In just half a month, Shi Yan had become one of the gang with Han Zhong and the Shi Family Martial Artists.

Shi Yan had none of a young master's airs. He ate and drank with gusto, was game for any sort of fun, and was utterly uninhibited around women. He never felt shy in brothels or pleasure houses. Sometimes, when he spotted a pretty, delicate girl he liked, he was even more forward than Han Zhong, that lecherous old rogue.

The two had visited plenty of pleasure houses together along the way. Each time, either Shi Yan paid or Han Zhong got fleeced; they never made the guards pay.

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

Han Zhong felt that he and Shi Yan were birds of a feather. He repeatedly praised Shi Yan for finally coming around, saying that as his cultivation improved, he had become a completely different person.

On the road, Shi Yan concealed most of what had happened to him in the Gloomy Forest. He only said that, while exploring an ancient cave, he had found some vermilion fruit. After eating three of them, he had gained essence energy and awakened the Shi Family's Petrifying Martial Soul.

He left out everything about the blood pool, the Undying Martial Soul, and the mysterious Martial Soul. He didn't mention meeting Mo Yan Yu or his entanglements with Mu Yu Die, either. He omitted everything he could.

Han Zhong was surprised by Shi Yan's experiences, but didn't press him for details. He just thought the kid had lucked into a fortune—after eating the fruit, even his brain had suddenly started working.

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

The owner of this body had left him plenty of memories, but most were related to the ancient ruins and texts he had studied.

He hadn't inherited much about the Shi Family. Fortunately, Han Zhong had no reservations around him. During their several visits to brothels together, he told Shi Yan everything he wanted to know.

After a few wild nights with Shi Yan, Han Zhong found that they got along better and better. He not only laid out the Shi Family's business and spheres of influence in detail, but also shared all sorts of basic knowledge about Martial Artists, without holding anything back. Shi Yan learned a great deal about Martial Artists that he hadn't understood before.

For example, when Martial Artists suddenly advanced to the Nirvana Realm, they could form a "Sea of Consciousness." Once it formed, a Martial Artist could use it to forge a wondrous connection with their Martial Soul, then combine their essence energy with their Martial Soul to unleash secret techniques with even more incredible effects.

There were also the traits and weaknesses of different Martial Souls: the various Martial Souls found in the Merchant Alliance, the Blazing Fire Empire, and the Divine Grace Empire; which ones were the strongest; what their weaknesses were; and how to counter them.

Though Han Zhong was a lecher by nature, he took martial cultivation very seriously.

He also knew every sort of information a Martial Artist ought to know. From his explanations, Shi Yan finally gained his first comprehensive understanding of the powerful beings known as Martial Artists. He also became thoroughly familiar with the differences between the various realms before the Hundred Tribulations Realm.

Han Zhong himself was only at the Hundred Tribulations Realm. He couldn't explain the subtleties of the realms beyond it, so he skipped over them. He only discussed the knowledge he felt he could explain clearly.

And that was precisely what Shi Yan needed most right now.

The Soul-Entwining Dream Pavilion.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong were drinking and making merry in a large private room on the third floor, accompanied by four Shi Family Martial Artists.

A square table, a meter high, stood in the center of the room's antique furnishings. Fine wine and delicacies crowded its surface, and soft carpets covered the floor beneath it.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and the others sat on the carpets, arms around scantily dressed young women. They shouted, played drinking games, and rolled dice, having the time of their lives.

"Old Han, drink!" Shi Yan called.

Han Zhong hung his head, resigned to his loss. He downed the wine in his cup, then gave the buxom girl in his arms a squeeze before picking up the dice again. "This hand's had its share of good luck. I'm definitely winning this round."

"Heh, if that's what you call good luck, then both my hands are soaking in it." Shi Yan grinned and slipped both hands inside the young woman's clothes. Smiling, he said, "Qiu Xiang, you're so well-endowed. Do you think I'll keep getting bigger than him?"

Qiu Xiang had fair skin and a full bosom. Her eyes shimmered with desire as she blushed bashfully. "Young Master Yan, you're such a tease. You're always picking on me."

"You can pick on me too." Shi Yan smiled, took a sip of strong liquor, and urged, "Old Han, what are you dawdling for? Why haven't you rolled yet?"

"...Yin Kui and Jiu Shan are nearby. The yin energy around those two is too heavy. I can feel it even from this close." Han Zhong frowned, pushed the girl in his arms away, and quietly went to the window.

He opened it a crack and peered outside by the light of the red lanterns. "Just as I thought. Bei Ming Ce has come. Yin Kui and Jiu Shan never leave Bei Ming Ce's side. If they're here, he must be too."

At the mention of Bei Ming Ce nearby, Shi Yan's thoughts stirred, and Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan immediately came to mind.

After a moment's hesitation, he went over to the window too, opened it a little farther, and peered coldly down at the procession in the street.

It was a group of around thirty people. At the head, Bei Ming Ce rode a snow-white Ling Xiao Steed, a faint smile on his lips as he spoke with someone in the sedan atop an Earth Dragon.

Whenever the curtain concealing the sedan was lifted, Mu Yu Die's ethereally beautiful face appeared for a fleeting instant.

Di Ya Lan rode a warhorse clad in black armor. Her voluptuous body rose and fell gently with the horse's steps. A trace of sorrow lingered between her brows, and she looked listless.

Only when Bei Ming Ce spoke to her did she manage a faint smile. She didn't seem interested in talking.

A fat elder and a thin one, both radiating a heavy yin aura, rode black-armored horses in silence behind Bei Ming Ce. Their eyes were half-closed, as if they were resting.

As Shi Yan lifted the window a little and looked toward them from dozens of meters away, the two elders suddenly sensed something and whipped their heads toward him.

Two bone-chilling waves of yin energy seemed to spill from their eyes. Even from dozens of meters away, Shi Yan felt a chill run through him, and his heart filled with shock.

The two elders seemed to know Han Zhong. When they spotted him at the window, they gave him a slight nod, and the chill in their eyes eased.

Under the elders' gaze, Han Zhong's usual playful grin vanished. His expression grew solemn as he clasped his hands toward them from afar, giving them the salute due to his elders.

The two elders nodded again, then paid Han Zhong no further attention. They turned back and resumed resting with their eyes closed. Their half-lidded gazes were fixed on Bei Ming Ce's back.

The Bei Ming Family's procession didn't stop. It continued slowly down the street.

Martial Artists had come to the street in search of pleasure, but as soon as they saw the approaching procession belonged to the Bei Ming Family, they respectfully stepped aside without a word of complaint.

The street should have been crowded, but the people made way of their own accord, opening up a path for the Bei Ming Family's procession to pass without obstruction.