Settling Things

[Talents (4): Bear-Type Strength, Basic Fire Spirit Root, Basic Blade Technique, Basic Fist and Foot Technique]

"There are four talents now. 'Fist and foot' and 'bear' both belong to the category of strength.

As long as their proficiency increases, my overall physical constitution will improve. That's quite practical."

Chen Guan felt he had gained a great deal.

Meanwhile,

Whoosh—

a faint, warm breeze passed by.

Chen Guan saw his grandson seemingly take something from Bandit Brother's corpse.

Unfortunately, he didn't have Yin-Yang Eyes now.

He couldn't see souls, no matter how much he wanted to.

But before Chen Guan could think it over,

Chen Changhong looked at him and pointed at him from a distance.

A flash of light suddenly crossed Chen Guan's vision. Then his sight warmed, and he saw the "illusory Bandit Brother," limp as a noodle, being held in his grandson's hand.

"Grandpa, this technique is called the Soul-Observing Technique. It lets you see most souls in the world."

Chen Changhong spoke normally, but his words carried a strange rhythm of the Fire Attribute that only Chen Guan nearby could hear.

"And this conversation, which can only be heard within arm's reach, is called the Sound-Isolating Technique.

The technique I used earlier to move through the air is called the Air-Stepping Technique.

Once this matter is settled, I'll write down all three techniques for you, Grandpa."

Although these three techniques were secret arts that the sect forbade its members from sharing with outsiders,

Chen Guan was Chen Changhong's grandfather, not an outsider.

In particular, the sect turned a blind eye when its disciples passed techniques on to their families.

In fact, if a disciple had younger relatives with some aptitude for cultivation,

they could even be recommended internally.

But as Chen Guan listened to his grandson,

he found the Soul-Observing Technique far less wondrous than the Air-Stepping Technique.

For one thing, he had already opened Yin-Yang Eyes using Locust Tree Sap by chance.

For another, compared to the "clarity" and "lack of heat" of his Locust Tree Yin-Yang Eyes,

Bandit Brother's soul looked faint through the Soul-Observing Technique, and it was covered in an indescribable shade of red.

The vision was awkward.

It was much like the patchy heat map of an infrared camera.

Still, it was impressive.

At least, this was a technique he could use anywhere, anytime.

He wouldn't have to return to the Dilapidated Temple now and then to fetch Locust Tree Sap.

"That tree's almost rotted away. It probably won't last much longer.

It's a good thing to have a substitute now."

As Chen Guan considered it, he felt this substitute was quite handy.

He had never let go of the matter of finding Xiao Qing, or the karma tied to it.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, he would open his Yin-Yang Eyes and wander around town.

Unfortunately, Xiao Qing didn't seem to be in this city.

Still, there was good news: he had found his grandson first.

Especially since techniques like the Soul-Observing Technique and Air-Stepping Technique were generally secrets that sects didn't pass on.

Now, he'd truly gotten quite a lot by taking advantage of his grandson.

But just then,

after glancing around at the crowd, who dared not speak, Chen Changhong took out a small bottle and opened it. A fresh fragrance, like the scent after rain, wafted out.

The next moment, Chen Changhong formed a hand seal, using fire spiritual energy to spread the fragrance until it filled the nearby streets.

"What is that?"

When Chen Guan smelled it, he suddenly felt dizzy.

"Grandpa, hold your breath."

Chen Changhong then sent a stream of spiritual energy into Chen Guan, bringing him back to his senses almost at once.

But everyone else inside and outside the inn seemed dazed.

Only after a while

did they come around and start whispering among themselves.

"I never expected Young Hero Chen to know a cultivator!"

"That bandit committed countless crimes. He deserved to die!"

"Greetings, Immortal!"

Along with their murmurs, people began bowing one after another.

They seemed to have forgotten that Chen Guan was Chen Changhong's grandfather, and forgotten that Chen Guan was a "reincarnated person."

But aside from those two things, they remembered everything else clearly.

"Grandpa."

At the same time, Chen Changhong once again used the Sound-Isolating Technique and said to Chen Guan, "My sect specializes in the way of souls.

For your safety, Hong'er took it upon himself to erase everyone's memories of what happened, so that you wouldn't get into trouble.

And..."

Chen Changhong paused before continuing:

"And Hong'er... Hong'er knows that Grandpa is from the Zhao Family.

Even two- or three-year-old children in the Zhao Family call you Fifth Uncle.

If this matter gets out now... Hong'er would have to call two- and three-year-old children uncle.

Hong'er isn't... quite ready for that yet.

Perhaps I should go pay my respects to the Zhao Family after some time?"

As a young talent and a cultivator, Chen Changhong did care about saving face.

"I understand."

Chen Guan also understood that "awakening one's past wisdom" came with one rather awkward consequence: blood relations were suddenly pulled close.

Especially from Chen Changhong's perspective, it would feel even stranger.

For example, if Chen Changhong were a different cultivator,

and he'd been searching for his family, only to discover that his relatives had reincarnated—and suddenly he had a secular great-grandfather, the Eldest Young Master of the Zhao Family; a second grandfather, the Second Master; a Sixth Master, the Sixth Brother; and an ancestral grandfather, Patriarch Zhao,

it would certainly feel awkward.

He might even feel speechless and resentful without meaning to.

Especially if Patriarch Zhao and the others knew about their grandson, but their grandson didn't come to pay his respects.

That would make things awkward for everyone.

But if he did go and greet them, it would be even more awkward.

It would at least spare everyone some embarrassment.

It would also prevent the Zhao Family from clinging to this connection and getting carried away.

Chen Guan agreed. He felt it was a good idea to keep things under wraps for now.

After all, among cultivators, his grandson had only just started out.

Keeping his grandson's ties to the Zhao Family to a minimum would also prevent the family from attracting trouble on his behalf.

Likewise, if his grandson had an enemy,

and that enemy couldn't defeat him, they might take their anger out on the Zhao Family and destroy the "family power" Chen Guan had worked so hard to build.

But if they simply said Chen Guan had an old acquaintance who was a cultivator, that would usually be no problem.

The Zhao Family might even be able to borrow a little of his influence.

Even if someone came seeking revenge, they would hardly target "the family of my grandson's friend."

Because that would sound absurd.

Ten minutes later,

in a wilderness outside town,

"Grandpa, I'll take this man to the Underworld Bureau first. You can handle things with the Zhao Family."

Chen Changhong held Bandit Brother's soul in his grasp. "When I return after some time, I'll take you near my sect and find you a place to stay."

Chen Changhong wanted to take Chen Guan with him.

First, to fulfill his duty as a grandson. Second, to ask the founding master to examine his grandfather and see if he could recover more of his memories.

Third, to see if his grandfather could join the sect.

As for seniority, they could each follow their own rules: "You can call me senior brother, and I'll call you Grandpa."

Chen Changhong had explained all this on the way out of town.

And now,

Chen Guan could see that his grandson was set on taking him along to "enjoy the blessings of immortal cultivation."

To be honest,

Chen Guan wanted to go, but facing a sect devoted to the soul—and that so-called founding master—

he was genuinely afraid they'd see right through him, down to his "underwear."

He was afraid they'd see the scroll in his memories, along with his memories of Earth.

"Grandpa, then it's settled!"

Chen Changhong was determined to fulfill his duty as a grandson.

Of course,

though Chen Changhong was certain Chen Guan was his grandfather reincarnated,

to be safe,

he still wanted to confirm it again.

So returning to the sect was a must.

And it was the perfect excuse to fulfill his filial duty.

After saying this,

he took out a Life-Extending Pill and placed it in Chen Guan's hand.

"Grandpa, once I return, I'll take you to my sect!"