Scheming

As a decent man, as a civilized person who had received nine years of compulsory education, as a modern man accustomed to order, and as a formerly overweight middle-aged shut-in, Gao Xian disliked using violence to solve problems.

After becoming Gao Xian, he had gradually grown used to cultivation, alchemy, earthen huts and wooden beds, and the sight of people relieving themselves all over the ground. He had even gotten used to Evil Spirits with half their heads missing, running wild everywhere.

But he still wasn't used to killing people.

Last time, Zhu Qiniang had jokingly offered to help him kill Zhu Hong'an, and he had taken it as nothing more than a joke.

Now that she had brought it up again, Gao Xian couldn't treat it as a joke anymore. He couldn't afford to.

If Zhu Hong'an got a hold over him, things would go very badly. But Zhu Hong'an hadn't even made a move yet. If Gao Xian killed him first, he wouldn't be able to live with himself!

Gao Xian looked up at Zhu Qiniang. Her expression was calm, but her emerald eyes held a hint of cold resolve.

He couldn't quite read her. He didn't know whether she was acting for his sake, or whether she harbored a deep resentment toward Zhu Hong'an and wanted to seize the chance to get revenge.

"Qiniang, Shopkeeper Zhu isn't just one man. He belongs to a lineage, and there's a Lianyun Sect elder backing him.

"If we kill Shopkeeper Zhu, how will we answer to the Zhu Family and that elder?"

Zhu Qiniang had already planned it out. "Zhu Hong'an is always going into the mountains to buy medicinal herbs. We'll find a chance to deal with him there, without anyone knowing. No one will know we did it."

Gao Xian thought her plan was far too crude. If Zhu Hong'an vanished without a trace, the Zhu Family would surely investigate and hunt for the culprit.

Could he and Zhu Qiniang really escape their pursuit?

But Zhu Qiniang was determined. She spoke of murdering Zhu Hong'an without the slightest hesitation.

He thought it over, then said, "Qiniang, this isn't a small matter. If we're exposed, the Lianyun Sect won't let us off. I need to think it through..."

Zhu Qiniang looked at Gao Xian with a complicated expression. She started to say something, then stopped. Finally, she sighed softly. "If you keep hesitating, you'll regret it."

She was somewhat disappointed in Gao Xian, and no longer felt like giving him a massage. She turned and walked out at once.

Watching Zhu Qiniang's retreating figure, Gao Xian couldn't help sighing too.

He understood plenty of principles, had read many historical tales, and had lived through a few things himself.

The experience of a successful person might not suit you. Their story was still only a story.

Take Ban Chao, who killed the enemy's envoy by night. If he succeeded, he was decisive, wise, and brave. If he failed, he was reckless and impulsive, acting without a thought.

Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between a man's legs. Because he later succeeded, people called him ambitious and praised his ability to endure and adapt. Without that later success, the same act would have been called cowardly, weak, and worthless.

People who came afterward could look back at the outcome and spin ten thousand explanations. But when you were the one caught in the moment, it was hard to judge the future accurately.

In Gao Xian's experience, every situation had to be weighed on its own. There was no universal truth that held true across all lands and all ages.

Gao Xian and Zhu Qiniang hadn't reached an agreement. He had no mood to cultivate, let alone make pills.

Back in his bedroom, he shut the doors and windows, lay on the bed, and thought for a long time without finding a solution.

He took out the Wind and Moon Mirror. The Humanity Aura on it had accumulated to 3,992 points.

As Huang Ying sold large quantities of Heavenly Gui Pills, Gao Xian had discovered that the pills could also increase his Humanity Aura.

In just over three months, the Heavenly Gui Pills and Deer Antler Powder had helped him accumulate nearly 4,000 points of Humanity Aura.

Gao Xian had originally planned to upgrade the Lightning Dragon Hand, but seeing how quickly his Humanity Aura was building up, he changed his mind.

The Lightning Dragon Hand was good, but it was nowhere near as good as the Great Idol Spirit Method.

If he could raise the Great Idol Spirit Method to the Grandmaster level, he would receive a tremendous boost in every respect.

Besides, he was in good shape now and had no trouble he needed to deal with. So he had kept saving his Humanity Aura.

Today, though, things had changed.

"What a pity, what a pity..."

Gao Xian looked at the Humanity Aura with reluctance. If he saved for just another month or so, he would have enough for 5,000 points!

His gaze shifted to the True Yang Spear. Old Wang had come back to life and grown stronger. The True Yang Spear had to be upgraded.

After more than two months of nonstop practice, the True Yang Spear was only 431 points short of the Grandmaster level.

He poured in the Humanity Aura, and in the blink of an eye, the True Yang Spear reached the Grandmaster level.

Sister Lan emerged from deep within the mirror. Without moving her hands or opening her mouth, a flash of golden light in her eyes summoned a golden spear.

Gao Xian's brow grew warm. The techniques for wielding the True Yang Spear surged into the depths of his consciousness like a rising tide. He felt his spiritual sense swell and expand.

When his spiritual sense reached some kind of limit, it burst open with a roar. A mass of golden light rose from the darkness...

After an unknown length of time, Gao Xian opened his eyes and found that dusk had fallen.

This time, raising the True Yang Spear to the Grandmaster level had taken at least half an hour.

The wooden window in his bedroom was very small, its thick, hard timber arranged in a crisscross pattern to keep people from climbing inside.

The heavy mulberry-bark paper covering it blocked out most of the daylight.

The room was very dim now, yet Gao Xian could make out the fine grain of the wood in the window's lattice.

The low light could no longer block his vision.

It was a marvelous feeling.

It was as though he were watching a black-and-white movie. Everything had turned to shades of black and gray, yet no details were lost.

Gao Xian could clearly tell where the insects and frogs outside were making their cries.

Even in the sealed bedroom, he could sense faint currents of air moving.

There was no doubt about it: raising the True Yang Spear to the Grandmaster level had strengthened his spiritual sense, sharpening his six senses and even speeding up his thoughts and reactions.

Unfortunately, the Wind and Moon Mirror didn't show changes like these.

Gao Xian opened the Wind and Moon Mirror, and the first thing he noticed was a change to his status panel.

His lifespan had risen from 68 to 72 years.

He was overjoyed. The most important goal of cultivation was longevity.

Living longer was an instinct buried deep in every living creature's genes.

The Grandmaster-level True Yang Spear had added a full four years to his life. Its description had changed too.

True Yang Spear: Condenses yang energy into a formless spear forged from spiritual sense. Can temper spiritual sense, shatter souls, and slay Evil Spirits (1/2000 Grandmaster).

The Grandmaster-level True Yang Spear was clearly much more powerful.

At a thought from Gao Xian, Sister Lan responded immediately. A golden True Yang Spear formed between his brows, ready to strike.

At this level, he no longer needed hand seals or incantations, and Sister Lan responded faster too. He could truly unleash the True Yang Spear instantaneously.

Gao Xian hadn't tried it yet, but he was certain he could now thrust with the True Yang Spear three times in quick succession.

If Old Wang dared show his face again, Gao Xian would send him flying with a three-shot burst.

As he circulated the True Yang Spear, Gao Xian also sensed a wisp of smoky blackness clinging to him.

He didn't need anyone to tell him. He immediately understood that this was the evil aura Old Wang had left on him.

It was through this wisp of evil aura that Old Wang had been able to find him.

The True Yang Spear had grown stronger and stronger, and the wisp of evil aura had become extremely faint.

If Gao Xian activated the True Yang Spear, he could certainly purge it completely.

He was about to do so when an idea suddenly struck him.

He put the True Yang Spear away. There was no need to rush to get rid of the wisp of evil aura. It might still be useful!

The Grandmaster-level True Yang Spear had also given Gao Xian a little more confidence, making him more composed in his actions...