Bowls and Basins Brimming Full

Before dawn, Zhou Qing returned to the hotel, his face exhausted and pale. To disperse that last shred of residual consciousness, he had even used his own natal blood essence; naturally, he did not look well. Liao Xiaojin was meditating and refining qi. Ever since Zhou Qing had taught him the path of cultivation, Liao Xiaojin had cultivated diligently every day. The Vampire Clan's body was far stronger than that of ordinary people, and Liao Xiaojin's original cultivation had not been weak to begin with. On top of that, he possessed the Chiyou Bloodline, so in less than two months, he had broken through to a realm that ordinary people needed ten years of bitter effort to reach. He had barely entered the initial stage of Qi Induction. When Zhou Qing entered, Liao Xiaojin had just completed one circulation of his technique. Seeing Zhou Qing's complexion, he cried out, "Master, where did you go? Why do you look so awful? Didn't you go out? America's always been so open, hehe!!" Liao Xiaojin's smile was exceedingly lewd. One look at his expression, and Zhou Qing knew exactly what was running through the fellow's mind. "Bah! What nonsense are you spouting? Naturally, your master had important business to attend to." Zhou Qing looked at Liao Xiaojin in some surprise. "Still, your cultivation has improved quite well lately. You reached the Qi Induction stage so quickly. Looks like next time, I'll forge you a flying sword and teach you the way of sword cultivation. Hehe! A Vampire Clan sword immortal! You'll be the first!"

Zhou Qing had never harbored good intentions toward this cheap disciple of his. The cultivation method he had taught him was merely a second-rate technique passed down to him by that old ghost Ling Yun. Especially since Liao Xiaojin possessed the bloodline of an ancient demon god, he cultivated countless times faster than ordinary people. Zhou Qing could still suppress him with his strength for now, but if he taught Liao Xiaojin the Soaring Sword Qi Art, then in just a few months, Liao Xiaojin's cultivation might catch up to—or even surpass—his own. Strength reigned supreme; this was a principle Zhou Qing had always believed in. But things were different now. Zhou Qing had condensed a Second Primordial Spirit. Given time, once he expelled the energy left within the Nether Blood-Devouring Divine Saber by the Seven Treasures Mystical Tree Staff, and once his Primordial Spirit condensed into a physical body, he could wield the saber with his Second Primordial Spirit. Zhou Qing believed that even if Liao Xiaojin became a hundred or a thousand times stronger, he still would not be his match. No matter what, he is the founding eldest disciple of my Heavenly Dao Sect. Although the Vampire Clan's instincts are formidable, his own cultivation still needs to improve. Once we return to China, we'll have to carve out a career. In today's society, every demon, monster, and freak is coming out to join the fun. Without strength, nothing can be done. Zhou Qing calculated.

Liao Xiaojin was overjoyed when he heard this. Zhou Qing splitting Anthony in two with a single sword strike that day was still deeply etched in his mind. He had long admired that earth-shattering stroke, so now that Zhou Qing said he would teach it to him, how could he not be delighted? Just as he was about to offer a few flattering words, Zhou Qing spoke first. "Don't say anything. I can't be bothered to listen to your flattery. Since you're the founding eldest disciple of my Heavenly Dao Sect, increasing your strength can only bring benefits and no harm. Last night, I explored the secrets of this Blood-Devouring Divine Saber and gained some insight. I need to enter seclusion now. Go out and gather some information. Get familiar with the environment of the Las Vegas casinos. We may have three hundred million US dollars now, but the more money, the better. Once we've earned enough to fill our bowls and basins to the brim, we'll return to China!"

"Master, what about that little lady? She's like sticky candy! She's not the peaceable sort. If she clings to me for dear life, I can't exactly knock her out, can I?" Liao Xiaojin said in great distress.

"That is difficult! We can't use a soul-confusing technique either, or when she wakes up, she might think we had improper intentions. Anyone worth kidnapping by people from Japan's Nine Chrysanthemum Sect must have an unusual family background. There's no reason to provoke her. But we can't let her run around either. I estimate that people from the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect and the Shadow Stream Sect may have arrived in Las Vegas. After all, their young master and Grand Elder were both taken out by us. It would be bad if they found us. Be extremely careful when you go out. Don't clash with anyone." Liao Xiaojin nodded heavily. What should I do? I can't use force on this little lady. How can I make her behave? Zhou Qing thought until his head swelled with dizziness.

At the same time, just as Zhou Qing was calculating how to pacify Ling Ruoshui, more than a dozen eerie figures suddenly appeared at the abandoned warehouse where Zhou Qing had killed the Iga Grand Elder and Mitsui Taro. These figures were wrapped tightly from head to toe in black clothes and black cloth, revealing only two gleaming eyes. One figure carefully examined the terrain within a radius of twenty zhang around the warehouse, then suddenly said to someone who appeared to be the leader, "Lord Aso! The young master's scent is here. The young master came here!" He spoke in Japanese. The black-clad leader called Aso nodded and ordered, "The young master came out this time to trade with the Shadow Stream's Iga Grand Elder, but they all suddenly vanished. People from the Shadow Stream will arrive here soon. We must find the young master, the Sacred Blade, and this Chinese woman before they do." Aso took out a photograph. It was Ling Ruoshui. "Hai!" The dozen or so black-clad men responded in unison. Then they twisted their bodies and vanished into the darkness, where the first thread of dawn had just emerged.

The sky was already bright, and the blazing red morning sun made the earth gleam. Another fine day! Zhou Qing stood beside the enormous transparent floor-to-ceiling window, watching the ant-like crowds flowing endlessly beneath his feet. Having money really is good! From the seventieth floor, I can see all of Las Vegas. This room is huge and luxurious too. It's just too expensive—damn it, ten thousand US dollars a night. Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

"Big Brother Zhou, where did Big Brother Liao go?" Ling Ruoshui ran in and asked the moment she saw him. Today, Ling Ruoshui wore a white casual outfit with a huge Pikachu printed on it, along with tight jeans that made her figure look even more slender, graceful, and adorable. Unfortunately, Zhou Qing's resistance to beautiful women was simply too strong, and he was utterly unmoved. "Oh! He went out to handle some business," he said blandly. Ling Ruoshui pouted unhappily. "How could he do that? He clearly promised to take me out to play. Oh, right, Big Brother Zhou, why don't we go shopping?" Zhou Qing suddenly took out a fire talisman. "Ruo Shui, do you know what kind of people we are?" Ling Ruoshui froze, her eyes widening, but she said nothing. Zhou Qing continued, "I really am the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, and Xiao Jin is also my disciple." Ling Ruoshui burst out laughing. "Big Brother Zhou, you really know how to joke!" Before her words had even faded, the talisman paper in Zhou Qing's hand suddenly transformed into a fireball as large as a bucket and floated in the air. "Ah!" Ling Ruoshui cried out in surprise. "Big Brother Zhou, you have superpowers! No wonder you have so much money despite being so young. You must have used your superpowers to win it gambling!" Ling Ruoshui's eyes were filled with stars.

This girl has watched too many gambling movies! Zhou Qing did not know whether to laugh or cry. "This isn't a superpower. It's an ancient Chinese art called Daoist magic. As long as one has a cultivation method, anyone can do what I do." The fireball drifted through the air in accordance with Zhou Qing's gaze. "How about it? Do you want to learn? I can teach you!" Zhou Qing's eyes suddenly turned cold, and deep killing intent flashed through them.

"Why would you teach me? What are you plotting?" Ling Ruoshui suddenly seemed like a different person. The innocent, adorable expression on her face turned frosty as ice. Her sharp gaze met Zhou Qing's killing-filled eyes without yielding in the slightest. A faint current of air blew Zhou Qing's robes about. Zhou Qing abruptly withdrew his killing intent and said slowly, "Miss Ling, your cultivation is quite profound. You're even a bit stronger than my disciple." Ling Ruoshui said coldly, "How did you discover it? I didn't reveal any flaws." "If I hadn't discovered a faint flow of True Essence in your Dantian while removing the Puppet Worm from your brain, you really would have fooled me. But someone worth kidnapping by Japan's Nine Chrysanthemum Sect and Shadow Stream Faction could hardly be an ordinary person, could she? Miss Ling, your acting is absolutely worthy of an Oscar." Zhou Qing teased her. Seeing Ling Ruoshui's face flush faintly red, he asked, "What? Even people from the Shadow Stream have come out?" Yet Zhou Qing did not wait for an answer and continued, "With your cultivation, if Mitsui Taro had not ambushed you with a Puppet Worm, he really wouldn't have been able to do anything to you. You concealed your identity, and I assume you had your own difficulties. I can overlook that. I only saved you by accident in the first place. But you put on an innocent, adorable face to use us, wanting us to deal with those Japanese devils and drag us into the water. That's repaying kindness with enmity! Miss Ling, your scheming runs rather deep, doesn't it?" Zhou Qing still smiled pleasantly.

"Since you saw through me, what are you planning to do with me now?" A smile suddenly appeared on Ling Ruoshui's face as she answered a question with another question. "The waters you're in are too deep. I don't want to wade in any deeper," Zhou Qing said with a smile.

"You killed the young master of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect. Even if you don't want to wade into these muddy waters, you have no choice now!" Ling Ruoshui's innocent smile reappeared. Zhou Qing could only shake his head inwardly.

"That's right, I killed the young master of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect, and while I was at it, I slaughtered some Iga Grand Elder from the Shadow Stream Sect! But who knows?" Zhou Qing still wore that half-dead, forced-smile expression. It made Ling Ruoshui's teeth itch.

"Oh! What a pity. Yesterday, I already told our people that you killed Mitsui Taro. By now, the news has probably reached the ears of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect!" Hearing Zhou Qing say that he had also killed the Iga Grand Elder of the Shadow Stream Sect, Ling Ruoshui remained incomparably calm on the surface, but she was secretly shocked. This man is so young, yet his cultivation is unfathomable! Even I only reached this level because my master fed me who knew how many spiritual medicines from childhood onward. Heavenly Dao Sect? I've never heard of such a sect!

"Ha ha! I never expected that not only is Miss Ruo Shui's acting first-rate, but her lying is first-rate too! You can tell blatant lies with your eyes open and still smile so brilliantly!" Zhou Qing genuinely laughed this time. Casually forming a hand seal, he caused a faint talisman mark to suddenly appear on Ling Ruoshui's wrist. "What a pity! I placed this talisman mark on your hand that day. None of your movements can escape me. If you had really tried to send word, I would have acted long ago."

Ling Ruoshui stared blankly at the tiny talisman mark on her wrist, not knowing what she felt. She had always been confident in her own cleverness and believed she could make use of Zhou Qing and the other man. Yet in the end, Zhou Qing had played her around in circles. A rare flush suddenly crossed Ling Ruoshui's face, and she cursed Zhou Qing, "Shameless!"

Zhou Qing froze, then hurriedly said, "Don't misunderstand. I didn't know when you changed clothes, bathed, or slept!" The moment those words, meant to conceal yet only expose more, left his mouth, Ling Ruoshui's entire face flushed red. Just as she was about to stamp her foot and curse him, Zhou Qing shouted, "Five Elements Tracing Formation, swift as the law commands!" Instantly, a cloud of mist enveloped the entire room. Zhou Qing's calm voice came from within the fog. "Miss Ruo Shui, I'll have to trouble you to bear with this. You can't leave the Five Elements Tracing Formation in this room, so stay here obediently! I still have business to handle. The snacks you bought that day are on the bed. You can watch television when you have nothing to do. Eating, drinking, relieving yourself—all of it can be done in this room. Once I finish my business, I'll let you out."

After saying that, the mist in the room vanished without a trace. By the time Ling Ruoshui came to her senses, there was not even a shadow of Zhou Qing left in the room. Ling Ruoshui hurried toward the door, but when she was still three feet away, the dense mist that had vanished suddenly reappeared, making the room so dark she could not see her hand before her face. A tremendous yet gentle force bounced Ling Ruoshui three feet away, and the dense mist vanished again. She tried repeatedly, but the result was identical every time. Finally, Ling Ruoshui had no more ideas left. Panting furiously, she cursed, "Zhou Qing, you bastard! I won't let you off!"

"Big Brother Liao, please, have mercy and let me out!" Ling Ruoshui pleaded softly. Zhou Qing had vanished to who knew where, and she had not seen him since that day. Liao Xiaojin also moved in a mysterious fashion. Other than bringing her food every other day, she had no idea what he was busy doing. He did not even return at night, and it had nearly driven Ling Ruoshui mad from confinement. Although Ling Ruoshui was deeply calculating, she was still young, and her girlish nature had not faded. Being trapped in the room without being able to leave was tolerable for a day or two, but nearly twenty days had passed. In the end, she could no longer endure it. At first, she had sulked and ignored Liao Xiaojin, but now she was actually speaking kindly and begging him.

"Hehe! I say, Miss Ruo Shui, who told you to take advantage of us after we treated you so well? Right now, those Japanese devils are practically turning Las Vegas upside down! Even if I took you out, you'd fall into their hands. It's safer to stay here peacefully. Besides!" Liao Xiaojin paused. Seeing Ling Ruoshui's anxious expression gave him the feeling of a poor man finally turning the tables and becoming master of his own house. "Besides, I can't get out of this formation either. I rely entirely on this talisman my master gave me!" Liao Xiaojin pulled out a yellow talisman from his robes and waved it before Ling Ruoshui. Ling Ruoshui grabbed for it, but Liao Xiaojin was countless times faster than her. With a flash, he vanished, leaving only his voice echoing in the room. "My master will return in a few days. Then you can go wherever you want, and you won't be able to find us anyway!" Ling Ruoshui was so furious she nearly went mad, clenching her pearly teeth tightly.

Only five days later did Zhou Qing finally appear before Ling Ruoshui. Seeing her face dark as iron as she stared fixedly at Zhou Qing without uttering a word, utterly devoid of her former liveliness, Zhou Qing knew there was no use saying anything more. He gave Liao Xiaojin a look and said, "Those who kill will be killed; those who scheme against others will be schemed against. Even heavenly divine powers cannot overcome the karmic force of cause and effect. Disciple, let's go!" With that, Zhou Qing flashed and disappeared. Faint talisman marks flickered across the surrounding walls and vanished in an instant; Zhou Qing had removed the Five Elements Tracing Formation before leaving.

Looking at Ling Ruoshui, who remained silent, Liao Xiaojin felt a little sorry for her. He gently took out a card and placed it beside the bed. "My master knows you didn't bring any money. There are two hundred thousand yuan in this card, and the password is today's date. My master has taken care of all the Japanese devils. You can leave now." After saying that, Liao Xiaojin also transformed into a blur and vanished through the door, leaving behind only a pair of bewildered eyes.