Heading to the Dark Canal

Feng Ao pondered for a moment, then looked at Feng Xiu.

Feng Xiu immediately understood. He took a banknote from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "True Person, you saved the people of an entire city. Please accept this small token of our gratitude."

Daoist Yellow Dragon looked down. It was a full hundred taels.

His expression changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "Young Master Feng, I prayed for rain of my own free will, not for money. Besides, Young Master Feng has already had Master Black repair my temple."

Before he could finish, a little head peeked out from behind him.

Jiaojiao rose onto her tiptoes, staring at the banknote, her eyes shining.

"Grandpa, a hundred taels!" She tugged at Daoist Yellow Dragon's sleeve and muttered under her breath, "With money, we can buy lots of tasty things. We won't have to drink thin porridge every day."

"Be quiet." Daoist Yellow Dragon turned and glared at her.

Jiaojiao pouted, but her eyes remained glued to the banknote. She had even forgotten to lick the candied hawthorn in her hand.

"True Person, please accept it. This is a token of the Feng Clan's gratitude, and it also comes from the people of the entire city."

With that, Feng Xiu held out the banknote again.

Daoist Yellow Dragon hesitated, but in the end, he sighed and accepted it.

"Thank you, Young Master Feng." He clasped his hands solemnly. "This old Daoist gratefully accepts."

When Jiaojiao saw that her grandpa had taken the money, her little face blossomed into a smile. She spoke in a small voice.

"Grandpa, I want osmanthus cakes."

Daoist Yellow Dragon gave her a helpless glare, then prepared to leave.

"True Person, please wait. I have one more favor to ask." Feng Xiu spoke again, his tone earnest.

As he spoke, he shifted to the side, making it possible for Daoist Yellow Dragon to see Zhou Gang seated in the chair.

"My uncle accidentally suffered memory loss this morning. Your methods are profound, True Person. Might you examine him?"

Since Daoist Yellow Dragon had been able to bring down rain, he was probably a great master of the Daoist sect. Perhaps examining Zhou Gang would yield something useful.

"Young Master Feng is too kind. This is but a small favor."

Hearing this, Daoist Yellow Dragon nodded and stepped forward to examine Zhou Gang.

First, he lifted Zhou Gang's eyelids, then felt his pulse. Finally, he pressed a hand against the palm-shaped mark on Zhou Gang's chest.

A moment later, he straightened, his expression grave.

"Clan Head Feng, Eldest Young Master." Daoist Yellow Dragon spoke slowly. "This man's injury wasn't caused by ordinary martial arts."

Feng Ao asked in a low voice, "What did you discover, True Person?"

Daoist Yellow Dragon considered his words for a moment.

"From what I can see, his complexion is pale and his qi and blood are in disarray, but his life isn't in danger. The real problem..." He paused. "Is that one of his souls has been injured."

"One of his souls?" The two of them stared at him in shock.

Daoist Yellow Dragon nodded. "That's right. People have three souls and seven spirits. The soul governs memory and consciousness. This palm strike didn't injure his body, but his soul."

As he spoke, he pointed at Zhou Gang's brow.

"I examined him just now. His Heaven Soul and Earth Soul are intact, but his Life Soul has diminished. That's why he can't remember what happened the day before yesterday. The Life Soul governs memory."

Feng Xiu felt a chill creep over his scalp. Suppressing his thoughts, he asked, "True Person, do you think his soul can be restored?"

Daoist Yellow Dragon answered slowly, "It's no serious problem. He only needs to rest quietly for a few days, and he'll recover."

"However, that palm mark is small and delicate, and it carries a trace of evil energy. It doesn't seem to be from orthodox martial arts."

Feng Xiu took a deep breath and briefly explained what had happened with Su Wantang.

Daoist Yellow Dragon fell silent for a long while after hearing him out.

"Erasing someone's memories and injuring their soul..." he murmured to himself, then looked up at Feng Xiu.

"You two, this woman is no ordinary member of the Thousand Sect. If my guess is correct, she may be practicing some kind of wicked art."

"Judging by its origins, it should be a technique from the North Ridge Sect of Taizhou."

The moment he heard Taizhou, Feng Xiu felt something stirring in his memories.

That was right. Feng Shouzhuo had once mentioned in passing that Su Wantang loved to sing Record of Spirit Flowers from Taizhou.

Thinking about it now, her claim that she had fled Jin Province was merely an excuse to conceal her origins.

As he recalled this, Feng Ao asked in a low voice, "The North Ridge Sect? Does the True Person know how to counter it?"

Daoist Yellow Dragon shook his head. "That sect has many wicked arts. I've only heard about them. This old Daoist's cultivation is shallow; I only know a few simple prayers for blessings and rain. Such wicked arts are beyond my abilities."

"Thank you for enlightening us, True Person." Feng Xiu clasped his hands solemnly.

Daoist Yellow Dragon waved a hand and was about to take his leave, but he paused, then turned back to Feng Xiu.

"Eldest Young Master, this old Daoist has one more thing to say."

"Please speak, True Person."

Seeing that the two still looked worried, Daoist Yellow Dragon continued.

"The North Ridge Technique isn't some righteous, aboveboard art. Its methods rely on many kinds of mediums. This man is sturdy, with qi and blood like a furnace. He was only caught off guard and fell victim to it."

His words put the two of them somewhat at ease. Feng Ao straightened, then bowed with clasped hands.

"The Feng Clan will remember your kindness, True Person. This ring is my personal token. If you ever find yourself in difficulty, come to the Feng Clan. Whatever you ask, we'll grant it!"

Feng Ao removed the ring from his thumb, his tone emphatic.

"Please, there's no need. Clan Head Feng, you flatter me."

Daoist Yellow Dragon tried to refuse, but in the end, he accepted the ring. He sighed, then composed himself.

He clasped his hands to bid the two farewell, then turned and left.

Not long after Daoist Yellow Dragon had left, Uncle Zheng hurried over, with Feng Shouzhuo behind him.

Feng Shouzhuo wore a clean blue-green robe. His complexion was so rosy it was almost unbelievable, and his steps were steady.

Feng Ao's eyes narrowed.

Feng Xiu unconsciously took half a step back.

Feng Shouzhuo, however, seemed not to notice anything unusual about them. He walked over with a smile.

"Father, Big Brother, you're both here. Ah, Big Brother, I heard you were the one who prayed for this rain?" He asked the latter part of his question with eager interest.

"Shou Zhuo," Feng Ao said, "are you feeling better?"

Feng Shouzhuo nodded and replied with a smile, "I'm fine. I just got back from the Wenjin Society and took a nap. When I woke up, I felt full of energy."

Feng Shouzhuo's eyes were clear and his smile sincere. He didn't mention the woman who had made him lose his appetite and sleep.

Feng Xiu looked him up and down, studying him intently.

He was fine after a nap?

Feng Shouzhuo showed none of the timidity he usually felt around Feng Ao. Needless to say, he didn't know of Su Wantang's existence; his memories stopped after the Wenjin Society.

An injured Life Soul could cause memory loss, yet Feng Shouzhuo looked practically strong and healthy.

There wasn't a trace of weakness or pallor about him. He was no less robust than Feng Xiu after his own training!

"Big Brother?" Feng Shouzhuo called when he saw him staring blankly.

Feng Xiu came back to himself and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I'm glad you're better."

He paused, then asked, "Shou Zhuo, do you remember a woman named Su Wantang?"

Feng Shouzhuo furrowed his brow and thought for a long while, then shook his head in confusion. "Su Wantang? Who's that?"

Just as expected!

"It's nothing, just someone who doesn't matter." He patted Feng Shouzhuo on the shoulder. "Go back and rest. Read some more books. In a few days, I'll test you myself."

At the mention of a test, Feng Shouzhuo shrank his neck and forced a smile. "M-maybe we can forget about that?"

"Hm?" Feng Xiu glared at him.

"Fine, fine. I'll go right back."

Feng Shouzhuo shuddered and hurried off in a flash.

He'd grown up under Feng Xiu's beatings. When it came to intimidation, Feng Xiu was even worse than Feng Ao.

After he left, the three of them fell silent again.

Shou Zhuo's complete recovery unsettled them even more than Zhou Gang's amnesia.

"She has feelings for Shou Zhuo," Feng Ao said, his eyes narrowing. "Or rather, she couldn't bring herself to be cruel to him. So she only erased his memories and let him recover."

"At least she isn't pure evil. Sigh..." Uncle Zheng replied. He was about to continue, but let out another sigh.

Feng Xiu forced down his distracting thoughts. Right now, he only wanted to find the scale that would prove his suspicions.

As long as he had that, he'd know he was right!

"There's no use talking about it now. Our top priority is to go to the Dark Canal and take a look."

He turned to Feng Ao as well. "I'm leaving right away."

Feng Ao nodded. "Be careful. No, never mind. I'll go instead." He changed his mind halfway through.

Although Su Wantang had escaped, no one knew whether she had another trick up her sleeve.

Feng Xiu had only just begun cultivating martial arts and was still weak. It would be safer for Feng Ao to go.

"No. This happened because of me. Father, Uncle Zheng, keep an eye on Shou Zhuo." Feng Xiu immediately shook his head, his tone firm.

Feng Xiu didn't dare gamble on whether Su Wantang might change her mind. Zhou Gang was unconscious, and someone had to stay behind to guard the household!

Feng Xiu's reply was decisive. Though Feng Ao was concerned, he still reminded him, "All right. Take more people with you, and don't try to be a hero if anything happens."

"That wouldn't be wise. Bringing too many people would only make things worse." Feng Xiu still refused.

He wouldn't trust this matter to anyone else. Besides, he had an even deeper concern.

Daoist Yellow Dragon had just brought down rain. If Feng Xiu took people to the Dark Canal now, what would the River Law Bureau think?

Feng Xiu had prepared for the worst, but he couldn't tip them off ahead of time.

Feng Ao understood Feng Xiu's concerns and didn't stop him.