The Water Runs Deep in This Godforsaken Place!

At that moment, Wang Ping felt his scalp tingle.

Yet before any emotion could surface, he crushed it down with his powerful Spirit Sense. What showed on his face in the end was utter bewilderment.

"Good disciple? Me?"

Truthfully, he had not changed before or after his rebirth, but with the difference in age and his deliberate concealment, his appearance was not actually that similar.

At least, not similar enough to recognize at a glance.

Besides, the death of his former self had happened before countless witnesses. His corpse might even have been buried somewhere already. The evidence was ironclad—who would imagine that he had actually come back to life?

There were plenty of people in the world who looked alike.

This old bastard is probably trying to trick me... Even if they beat me to death, I can't admit it!

While Wang Ping was turning this over in his mind, Shouchong showed no change in expression. He merely chuckled, then fell silent.

The next second, a voice rang out beside Wang Ping's ear once more.

"Good disciple, there is no need for you to deny it."

"Others may not recognize you, but I am not among them."

"Besides, resurrection from death is hardly a rarity in this world. Many great virtuous ones possess such abilities. Your master experienced it once as well, back in those days."

Wang Ping was even more surprised. The only thing that brought him some relief was that Shouchong had not spoken aloud this time. He seemed to be using some secret sound-transmission technique to communicate with him. Even so, having this unforeseen secret suddenly exposed still made Wang Ping grit his teeth inwardly.

On the other side, Shouchong continued speaking without pause.

"Clearly, like me, you received the compassion of some great virtuous one... What surprises me, though, is how you became a constable at the county yamen?"

At that, Shouchong looked toward Wang Ping.

His expression was exceedingly gentle. Wang Ping could not sense the slightest malice from him; there was even abundant goodwill. He asked, "Well? Can you tell me?"

"Which great virtuous one bestowed compassion upon you?"

"Mine was [Liansheng Bodhisattva]."

After those words fell, Wang Ping did not answer. He remained silent, rapidly sorting through his thoughts, until he finally arrived at an answer that made him breathe easier.

He doesn't know!

His rebirth after death had come from the mighty power of the [Peace Scripture]. As for some great virtuous one or [Liansheng Bodhisattva], Wang Ping knew absolutely nothing about them.

What the hell is that?

Wang Ping felt that something was wrong, because from Shouchong's words, at least in his understanding, these so-called great virtuous ones could bring the dead back to life.

You've got to be kidding me.

Isn't this godforsaken place supposed to be a simple Martial Dao world? Why does it sound like the waters run so deep? Wang Ping swiftly considered how to deal with the situation before him.

He could not let this old bastard keep the initiative.

With that thought, Wang Ping finally spoke. "Come to think of it, it seems the White Lotus Sect's Destiny has scattered by more than half?"

The moment he said this, Shouchong's voice abruptly stalled. But he quickly returned to normal and smiled. "It is only a little Destiny. Nothing particularly important."

Wang Ping nodded faintly. "You're panicking."

"..."

Shouchong stopped speaking. Only the overwhelming sound of rain and thunder rolling across the sky remained between heaven and earth, revealing an intense murderous chill.

Almost at the same time, Wang Ping's heart lurched. His Spirit Sense shook violently, goosebumps rising all over his body as he sensed a powerful crisis of life and death. At the instant that feeling emerged, Shouchong, who had been more than ten paces away a moment ago, had already arrived before the carriage and reached out to seize him.

He's making a move...!

With that grab, Wang Ping clearly saw the changes throughout Shouchong's body. Power rose from the ground, passed through his spine, and spread into his limbs. Blood and qi exploded everywhere within him.

It looked like a casual grab, but it was not merely his palm exerting force.

It was his entire body!

Calves, thighs, liver, gallbladder, intestines, stomach, abdominal muscles, waist, back, spine... the strength of his whole body was packed into his right hand like a cannonball before erupting outward with a bang.

Rumble!

Before the palm even arrived, Wang Ping's hair was blown backward by a savage gale. His vision blurred for a moment, and even the muscles of his face quivered under the wind.

He was not trying to grab Wang Ping at all. He wanted to blow Wang Ping's head apart with a single palm strike!

Wang Ping could not possibly withstand such a violent blow in his current state. The only thing he could do was widen his eyes and clearly observe Shouchong's movements.

He had to learn it!

His intuition told him that learning this method of twisting the strength of his entire body into one rope and unleashing it in a single burst would be of immense benefit to his future martial training.

Besides—he did not believe Chen Haoyan would truly stand by and watch.

After all, if he died like this, the [Lotus Blade] would truly be snatched away. How would Chen Haoyan continue playing his game of diverting disaster eastward then?

Judging by the outcome, his judgment was correct.

At the instant Shouchong was about to slap Wang Ping to death, Wang Ping suddenly heard a hissing sound. Then the view before his eyes was abruptly pulled far away.

This was not his doing. In truth, although he had clearly seen Shouchong's force and movements through his Spirit Sense, he had no time to react at all. He was not a true cultivator, after all; his Spirit Sense was too frail. And Shouchong was no ordinary worldly martial artist either.

What truly saved him was an external force.

The next second, Wang Ping saw his savior clearly—it was an enormous black serpent as thick as a water vat, nearly ten zhang long, its entire body pitch-black!

Could a creature this massive truly be raised by nature!?

The colossal serpent had coiled its towering body around the carriage, guarding it firmly. What had saved Wang Ping from certain death was the very tip of its tail.

Then, its cold vertical pupils met Shouchong's head-on.

After an instant, Shouchong's palm descended without deviation, exactly as before. At the same time, the black serpent raised its head and met it head-on, crashing forward with savage force!

Bang!

Bright sparks bloomed in the rainy night, only to vanish in an instant. The black serpent recoiled, its head swaying a few times as though it had been dazed.

Meanwhile, Shouchong casually retreated several steps. Yet he paid no attention to the black serpent at close range. Instead, he raised his head and looked toward the roof of a distant building. Following his gaze, Wang Ping saw that at some point, a figure had appeared atop that eave.

It was a handsome Daoist priest.

Like Shouchong, though he stood in the curtain of rain, not a drop touched him. He wore a yin-yang Daoist robe, a smile at the corner of his lips, and every gesture carried effortless composure.

"...Wandering God True Person?"

Shouchong spoke slowly, his tone full of surprise. "For a Transcendent of the imperial court to voluntarily leave his hall, True Person, you have violated an enormous taboo this time."

On the rooftop, the handsome Daoist shook his head. "What a naive thought."

"There has never been any taboo. The only reason we do not leave our halls or set foot in the mortal world is that it is not worth it, nor is it necessary."

"Oh?"

Shouchong's gaze shifted slightly. "Then in other words, this time, it was worth it for True Person to personally enter the mortal world... May I ask what Chen Haoyan gave you?"

"It could not possibly be my [Lotus Blade], could it? Or perhaps..."

"That is none of your concern."

Wandering God True Person flicked his sleeve, and a jade flute had somehow appeared in his hand. Killing intent entered his voice as well. "And you are talking too much."

"Hahaha."

Instead, Shouchong laughed loudly. "So that is how it is. I understand now. What a Chen Haoyan—relying on the emperor being far away and heaven high above, he actually dared commit an outrage condemned by all under heaven!"

By now, Shouchong's tone was full of certainty. "It is the Dragonrise County Seal, isn't it? The imperial court's symbol in Longxing County, a ritual artifact used to gather the incense and prayers of the myriad people. Only such a ritual artifact could move you, True Person, enough for you to break convention and personally leave your hall to deal with me."

"..."

Wandering God True Person did not answer. The killing intent in his eyes only deepened. But silence was also a form of confirmation; clearly, Shouchong's guess had struck the truth.

The next second, the flute began to play.

Wandering God True Person placed the emerald jade flute to his lips and gently played it. A mournful, melodious tune immediately echoed beneath the rain curtain.

Almost at the same time, the previously still black serpent seemed to receive a new command. Its huge body pressed toward Shouchong again, its gaping maw spewing out a mouthful of foul poisonous vapor. Its sharp fangs could slice iron like mud, as though it intended to swallow Shouchong whole in one bite!

At the critical moment, Shouchong withdrew and gave way. The black serpent missed, its head stirring up clouds of dust, but its savagery did not lessen as it continued attacking Shouchong.

Swish! Swish!

Under the rain curtain, thunder-like flashes of white light vanished in the blink of an eye. By the time they could be seen clearly, they had already reached Wandering God True Person. They were Shouchong's greatest specialty—flying knives!

Though he was not using the [Lotus Blade], with Shouchong's cultivation, even a mere leaf could become a Fine Weapon capable of killing. The thrown flying knives exploded at the instant they struck Wandering God True Person, and the shattered iron fragments contained Inner Force, blooming like lotus flowers.

[A Thought Blooms a Flower]!

Wandering God True Person was instantly submerged, and the shockwave even lifted the rain curtain with it. The sight made Wang Ping feel as though he were seeing that shattered artificial hill from that day again.

But he quickly came to his senses.

There's no blood...!

[A Thought Blooms a Flower] did not merely describe the flying knives' speed and power. It also described the scene after the knives were launched—once the blade flew, blood flowers had to bloom.

Yet now, Wang Ping saw no blood flowers.

In other words, that strike had not succeeded.

The next second, the churning rain finally fell, the dust dispersed, and the scene became clear once more. Wandering God True Person indeed stood in place, completely unscathed.

"Such petty tricks..."

The handsome Daoist seemed to curl his lips in mockery, then blew the jade flute with even greater force, commanding the black serpent to continue attacking Shouchong.

But at that moment, a tremendous boom suddenly interrupted this battle in the rain-filled night.

Rumble!

The sound came from afar. More precisely, it came from Shenghua District in the east of the city, Wang Ping's destination—the Spirit Wandering Temple.

In an instant, Wandering God True Person, who had just been calm and composed, underwent a drastic change in expression. He even forgot about Shouchong and immediately turned to look toward the Spirit Wandering Temple. When he saw flames and smoke rising from within it, his expression nearly froze. Only after a moment did he manage to squeeze out a few words.

"...Chen Haoyan?"

For the first time, anger appeared in his voice, along with a measure of incredulous shock. Shouchong, on the other hand, still wore an expression that said it was exactly as expected.

"Just as I thought."

"If he even dared use the Dragonrise County Seal as a wager, then barging into a Transcendent's hall is hardly anything strange. True Person, you have been played by him this time!"

Wandering God True Person ignored him. He no longer had the mind to care about the Dragonrise County Seal inside the carriage and immediately tried to turn back, only for Shouchong to block his path.

Their roles had abruptly switched.

"You are accomplices?" Wandering God True Person's tone was icy.

"Not quite."

Shouchong shook his head and said blandly, "We merely happened to think alike. So I cannot let you return now and ruin the good thing."

"The long night is bitterly short. True Person, you should stay here and have a proper chat with me. I am quite interested in Transcendents. It will not be too late to return tomorrow morning."

"Courting death!"

Under the rain curtain, Shouchong, Wandering God True Person, and the towering black serpent clashed once again. The sounds of their collision even drowned out the thunder in the heavens, rumbling endlessly.

In the midst of battle, the two figures tangled with one another and swiftly disappeared into the distance.

Chen Haoyan, Shouchong, Wandering God True Person.

Every one of them sought something immense. Yet precisely because of that, every one of them had forgotten that there was still one insignificant person inside the carriage.

Wang Ping opened his eyes.

"So that was it."

Only now did he truly understand Chen Haoyan's scheme.

"Diverting disaster eastward to deal with Shouchong was merely the surface of the plan. It was something deliberately said and done for outsiders to see—a smokescreen."

"So that was the purpose of the Dragonrise County Seal. The incense and prayers of the myriad people? Wandering God True Person desperately needed that thing. Chen Haoyan used it to move him and invite him to act... Yet this was the true meaning of luring the snake from its hole. The one being lured was not Shouchong, but Wandering God True Person!"

The result had been perfect as well.

Wandering God True Person had been lured out and entangled in battle with Shouchong, leaving the Spirit Wandering Temple empty and allowing Chen Haoyan to seize the opening to break in.

"...Hmph."

At that thought, Wang Ping gave a cold laugh. Clearly, since Chen Haoyan had made such arrangements, he had treated Wang Ping as a disposable pawn from beginning to end.

Nine deaths and one life?

In Chen Haoyan's plan, Wang Ping had been doomed to certain death from start to finish!

"The only reason I'm still alive now is because his plan went wrong... Shouchong, that old bastard, seems to have thought of the same thing he did."

Thus, Shouchong, who should have been determined to obtain the [Lotus Blade], had no intention of taking the blade now that Wandering God True Person had voluntarily given up. Instead, he raced against time to stop Wandering God True Person from returning, creating an opening that allowed Wang Ping to survive.

"Because I don't matter."

He was irrelevant to the overall situation. Whether it was Chen Haoyan, Shouchong, or Wandering God True Person, any one of them could slap him to death whenever they wished.

"These beasts..."

Wang Ping gritted his teeth and looked again at the [Lotus Blade] before him and the Dragonrise County Seal inside the hollow blade rack. His understanding of Chen Haoyan's intentions became even clearer.

"That fellow probably never intended to truly give away the Dragonrise County Seal from the start. He knew that once something went wrong at the Spirit Wandering Temple, Wandering God True Person would abandon everything and rush back. And Shouchong's target was the [Lotus Blade]; he did not even know the Dragonrise County Seal was hidden inside the carriage."

Therefore, the Dragonrise County Seal would ultimately return safely to Chen Haoyan's hands.

And as long as that thing was not lost in the end, even if it had been handed over midway or nearly lost, it would amount to nothing more than a minor matter of three cups of penalty wine.

As for the death in the line of duty of a young constable, that did not even count as an issue.

"If I run now, I might still survive."

Though he said that, Wang Ping did not move at all. He did not even leave the carriage. He simply sat there in silence, then slowly let out a long breath.

He could not swallow this anger.

For twenty years since transmigrating here, he had joined the White Lotus Sect to make a living, served as an undercover agent for the county yamen, and walked every step as if on thin ice, only to be discarded after crossing the river.

Before getting a cheat, I swallowed this anger.

After getting a cheat, do I still have to swallow it?

Then wouldn't I have transmigrated for nothing!

With that thought, Wang Ping suddenly reached out. One hand gripped the [Lotus Blade], while the other smashed the blade rack apart and took out the Dragonrise County Seal.

Then he looked around.

"No one wants these things? Then I'll take them."

The surroundings were silent as a grave.

The next second, Wang Ping finally stopped concealing himself. Activating the [Peace Scripture], he grabbed both treasures and refined them in an instant, making them vanish into nothingness.

"They're mine!"