Emergency Alert

Zhao Hu's residence.

The rain was still falling.

When Xie An heard that the monstrous youth had left because he had something more urgent to attend to, unease crept into his heart.

"Don't panic, Mingxi. Return to the Xie Residence first, and we'll discuss a solution!" Uncle Shui reassured him before turning to Li Dao and Chen Mo. "Since you two have been dragged into this, you'll become targets of that Monster Strain sooner or later. This matter must not be spread. Come back to the residence with me."

Li Dao and Chen Mo both agreed, following Uncle Shui toward the gates of the Zhao Residence.

The moment they stepped outside, a burly saber-wielder in black fitted clothing came up to them. "Uncle Shui."

He had likely arrived earlier with Uncle Shui.

Uncle Shui swept his gaze over both sides of Sheep-Dung Alley outside the gate, then looked at the torrential curtain of rain. Finally, he frowned. "A San, guard the entrance. Do not go in, and do not let anyone else enter."

Only after making those arrangements did Uncle Shui bring Xie An aboard the carriage nearby.

Li Dao sat on the carriage shaft, driving through the rain. Chen Mo had originally been seated outside as well, but Uncle Shui called her into the carriage compartment.

Chen Mo sat alone on one side of the compartment. Her clothes were soaked through by the rain and clung tightly to her skin, outlining her slender, graceful curves. Water droplets still fell from her hair, sliding along her fair skin, down her neck, and across her breasts... lending her an extra measure of feminine allure.

Chen Mo was, in fact, very beautiful—full-breasted, slim-waisted, and long-legged. Having trained in martial arts year-round, her figure was exceptionally straight and fit.

Especially after entering the inner school and cultivating Inner Force. Inner Force could nourish and preserve one's looks, making the skin softer and smoother.

Yet Xie An had no mind to admire her. The words the monstrous youth had spoken before leaving kept echoing through his mind: "Heehee... Have you paid your Grave Tax?"

The atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy enough to suffocate.

Only the wind outside remained, along with the crackling patter of raindrops striking the carriage.

At last, Uncle Shui spoke. "Instructor Chen, has your father been keeping well lately?"

Chen Mo brushed her sodden long hair behind her ear. "Thanks to the master's care, my father is in good health. Lately, he has often been exchanging martial arts insights with the senior martial artists on Drill Ground Street."

Uncle Shui nodded slightly. "Lu Tang is a fine martial artist. He entered Dark Force at only fifty, and with his reserved nature and fondness for delving deeply into martial arts, he may yet glimpse a higher realm in this lifetime."

Chen Mo answered cautiously, "My father has only been able to gain a foothold on Drill Ground Street thanks to the master's and Uncle Shui's protection. He merely tinkers about blindly; his talent in martial arts naturally cannot compare to a great martial artist such as Uncle Shui."

Uncle Shui gave a snort of laughter. "It was only casual conversation, Instructor Chen. No need to be so modest. What happened at the Zhao Residence today was sudden. Until we understand the situation, I'll have to trouble you to stay temporarily at the Xie Residence. As for your father, I'll have someone inform him. We'll say Mingxi has recently become engrossed in martial arts and specifically invited you to accompany him in training day and night."

Chen Mo gritted her teeth, but ultimately did not dare disobey Uncle Shui. "I'll abide by Uncle Shui's arrangements."

Before long, they arrived at the gates of the Xie Residence.

Uncle Shui hurriedly jumped down from the carriage and called over the gatekeeper. "Find Cai Xia. Circle the courtyard walls and hang a White Goddess Shrine lantern every seven zhang."

After saying that, Uncle Shui looked sternly at Xie An. "Mingxi, take Chen Mo and Li Dao to the West Courtyard. Do not leave. Wait there for me; I'll come find you once I've seen the master."

Leaving those words behind, Uncle Shui turned and plunged through the curtain of rain. In a few breaths, he had vanished from sight.

The gatekeeper seemed to have heard some terrifying command. He immediately ran toward the central courtyard, banging a gong and beating a drum as he went, to find Cai Xia, the head maid of the residence. Before long, the servants and attendants throughout the estate were bustling about.

One yellow lantern after another, bearing the words "Xie Clan White Shrine," was hung high in the air, one every twenty meters, encircling the entire Xie Residence.

The whole Xie Residence carried the tense air of an emergency alert.

Xie An did not know what "Xie Clan White Shrine" meant, and he could not help thinking of the "Dragon King's Blessing" lanterns that had once hung above the doors of every household in Li Family Village.

It was probably the same sort of thing.

Chen Mo clearly knew some of the inside details. With tightly furrowed brows, she said, "Young Master Mingxi, let's hurry to the West Courtyard."

Xie An nodded and led the two of them to the West Courtyard.

Qiu Lan was still boiling hot water in the West Courtyard kitchen, planning to prepare a medicinal bath for Xie An. Seeing him return soaked from head to toe, she hurriedly rushed out. "Young Master, how did you get caught in the rain? I just boiled the water, perfect for your medicinal bath."

"Get Chen Mo and Li Dao two sets of suitable clothes." Xie An left those words behind and strode into the main room.

Once Qiu Lan had filled the bath barrel behind the screen with hot water and added a dose of Tiger-Bone Essence Decoction, Xie An dismissed her, removed his clothes, and lowered himself into the bath.

The medicinal power seeped through his pores into his body, gathering within the bones throughout his body and tempering them. A tingling, numbing sensation spread through his bones.

This was Xie An's fourth day soaking in Tiger-Bone Essence Decoction. For now, there was still no sign that he was about to break through the Bone Tempering barrier.

Though the water in the bath barrel was hot, Xie An's heart was cold.

Everything that had happened tonight at the Zhao Residence replayed in his mind.

Zhao Hu, who had followed him for six years, had apparently died only days after leaving Li Family Village a month ago. Today, even his corpse had been devoured clean, bones and all.

And that refined and gentle Liu Fu...

And the words the monstrous youth had said to him before leaving...

That nightmare...

Countless scenes flashed through Xie An's mind, bringing with them a suffocating pressure.

Once he had the next nightmare, it would probably be time for him to follow in Zhao Hu's footsteps... He just did not know whether his father had a solution.

His fear was real.

But so was his unwillingness to accept it.

"I finally transmigrated here. I have considerable family wealth, a loving father and filial son, an adorable younger sister, a gentle second mother... a happy, complete family, and even a golden finger..."

"My life has only just begun. I can't die!"

With that thought, Xie An gathered up his tangled thoughts and opened the panel.

[Ten-Thousand Questions Martial Arts Model Lv1]
[Qi and Blood: 1.9]
[Spirit: 1.9]
[Martial Arts Realm: Muscle-Tendon Tempering]
[Talents: Spirit Sight (Qi-Gazing), Withered Abyss (Pending Activation)]
[Martial Arts: Taishan Fist (Perfected), Five Animal True Form Diagram (Perfected)]

Since activating the Qi-Gazing talent last time had consumed a full 1.2 units of Qi and Blood, Xie An truly did not dare activate it directly. If his Qi and Blood proved insufficient, he might drain himself unconscious.

The situation at the Zhao Residence was now out of control and could very likely spread to the Xie Residence.

At a critical moment like this, I can't pass out.

"Ten Thousand Questions, estimate the Qi and Blood required to activate the Withered Abyss talent."

[Estimating...]
[Estimation complete: Activating the Withered Abyss talent requires 1.8 units of Qi and Blood.]

Xie An let out a breath of relief.

Fortunately, it was within range.

This Withered Abyss talent might have come from ghosts or demons. He had no idea whether implanting it into his body would bring some unknown change.

But looking at it from another angle, perhaps it could help him find a way to deal with ghosts and demons.

Even Uncle Shui, whose martial arts realm had reached Dark Force, had been unable to do anything to that monstrous youth.

Could only ghosts and demons deal with ghosts and demons themselves?

Besides, implanting a demon's talent would not kill him. At most, it would bring some unknown changes.

The risk-to-reward ratio was still worthwhile.

After weighing it all, Xie An decided to gamble.

"Activate Withered Abyss for me. Thank you!"