Sea of Consciousness

Yesterday, Ding Songyan had thought that he had no substantive contact with this "distinguished guest." With Zhen Estate disciples watching nearby and even their conversation restricted, there should have been no cause for suspicion. That was why he had dared to lie in wait at Beili Ward for a stroke of fortune and witness the wonders of the art of divination.

Who would have thought that Zhen Estate would rather kill the wrong person than let one slip through the net? Even in such circumstances, they had sent Attendants to take turns tailing him.

In Ding Songyan's view, if Zhen Estate had truly done this because of the "distinguished guest," rather than because they had traced the source of that Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, then this "distinguished guest" ought to have foreseen what would follow. Yesterday, he had deliberately used the art of divination and strokes of fortune as bait, tricking Ding Songyan into going to Beili Ward to verify them. That way, in the Zhen Family's eyes, his whereabouts would plainly seem suspicious and his conduct abnormal.

Afterward, even if he chose to come clean with Zhen Estate, they would suspect it was a scheme within a scheme. When one's status and standing meant nothing, the outcome was easy to imagine.

Even jumping into the Yellow River would not wash him clean!

And even if Zhen Estate believed him, once he was entangled in something they valued so greatly, the chance of being silenced was not merely ninety-nine percent—it was practically certain.

Human hearts were treacherous! I neither provoked nor offended you, yet from the very start, you harbored such immense malice and wanted to drag me into the water! Ding Songyan flared with anger. He fumbled for the teacup beside him, trying to soothe his emotions by wetting his throat.

Though he had battled in the business world for many years, he had at least lived in a society of order and sound public security. Never before had he encountered someone who, upon their first meeting, wanted to set another person up for death. Moreover, he did not know enough about the mysteries of this world's various divine arts. He had assumed that, without any overt exchange, he would not be suspected. That was how he had fallen into this dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

Gulp. Ding Songyan took a sip of tea, doing his utmost to calm his anger and panic.

One of the most important lessons he had learned over the years was not to act on emotion, not to think or make decisions while anger, panic, fear, and other emotions ruled his mind.

As the fiercest part of his emotions subsided, he caught a familiar scent:

The scent of a scam.

The many scams he had heard of, seen, and even personally experienced all shared one trait: frighten first, entice afterward. They first used every possible method to make their targets terrified, afraid, and panicked, or genuinely drove them into a desperate situation. Then they displayed their "identity" or "strength," taking advantage of those who had lost their wits and senses to steer them into doing what benefited the scammer.

What you did yesterday and said today—wasn't it all meant to make me fearful, frightened, and panicked? Let's see how you intend to speak next, and how you intend to "entice" me... By the time Ding Songyan handed the teacup back to the Zhen Family disciple beside him, he had already regained a measure of calm.

Within his mind, that aged, hoarse voice continued to echo:

"Even if this old man had not deceived you into going to Beili Ward, Zhen Estate would not have spared you.

"The moment someone who was not a Zhen Estate disciple came to tell stories, this old man knew that Zhen Qianfan could wait no longer.

"Think carefully. Has the Zhen Family controlled your parents or elders, forcing you not to spread word of your storytelling? Have they yet fulfilled their promises to you? If you do not bring it up, will they take the initiative to mention it?

"In their eyes, the moment you agreed to tell stories, you became a dead man."

Still trying to "frighten" me... But the Zhen Family's behavior really was abnormal. They even blindfolded me and led me around in circles just for a meeting. I gave them nothing but my word that I would keep their secret, and they believed me? Ding Songyan opened his folding fan again and, without showing anything amiss, continued telling the part where Lady White and Xu Xian married.

"Young friend, you and this old man are grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Only by casting aside past grievances and joining hands can we find life amid death," the aged, hoarse voice continued.

Now comes the "enticement"... Whether his purpose is true or false remains hard to say... Ding Songyan coolly assessed the other party's words without allowing them to affect his storytelling.

The aged, hoarse voice echoed once more:

"To show my sincerity, this old man will first lend you a strand of qi, allowing you to converse with me within your Sea of Consciousness without Zhen Qianfan or those beside you hearing.

"This strand of qi will remain within you. Ordinarily, it has all manner of wondrous uses: in the eyes, it can pierce falsehood; in the hands, it can wound others; in the feet, it can aid leaps and bounds; in the soul, it can protect the body. But you must remember: outside this dungeon, you will have only two chances."

The map was exhausted, and the dagger revealed? Was his true purpose to trick me into opening my mind so that his strand of "qi" could enter? Ding Songyan sneered inwardly, with no intention of agreeing.

Just then, the cool sensation descending from the crown of his head became extraordinarily dense. Like a galaxy pouring down, it flooded into him, swiftly watering forth a hazy, gleaming "seed."

As the "seed" turned gently, Ding Songyan's divine soul seemed to split in two. One half continued smoothly recounting the Legend of the White Snake, its emotions rising and falling, while the other shrank onto a vast, surging, golden phantom sea.

The sky shrouding that sea was entirely wrapped in thick mist. Only at its highest point was there a breach, from which hazy light streamed down.

Within that light stood a figure with his hands behind his back. He wore a Huayang headscarf and a blue scholar's robe. His temples were streaked with gray, his face lean and refined, his bearing elegant. His eyes were pools of pure black, as though deep waters lay hidden within them.

He directly forced that strand of qi into me? Then why did he waste so much breath? I couldn't have resisted anyway... Is this still another part of the "enticement"? What kind of cultivation art is this? It's so miraculous... Ding Songyan was both startled and suspicious.

And yet an old man possessing such a miraculous cultivation art had still been imprisoned in a dungeon by Zhen Qianfan, unable to escape!

"What exactly do you intend, Senior?" Ding Songyan took the initiative to cup his hands.

The old man paced two steps with his hands behind his back, then nodded in praise.

"Your mind has not descended into chaos. Your future holds promise."

First, I need to have a future... Ding Songyan waited for him to continue.

The old man smiled faintly.

"For the next few days, you need not panic for now. Before you finish telling stories for this old man, before they find any clue in Zhen Estate, they will not do anything to you.

"You should have guessed this old man's purpose as well. Help this old man escape and recover. When the time comes, I will grant you a great fortune."

"Senior, this junior does not even have the strength to truss a chicken. What virtue or ability do I possess that could help you escape? Not to mention Old Master Zhen—even the two Zhen Family disciples beside me could beat me to death with a few punches." Ding Songyan was so angry that he laughed.

Was he not overestimating me a little too much?

The old man's pitch-black eyes regarded Ding Songyan as he said calmly,

"Great strength is merely icing on the cake. Even if you lack the strength to truss a chicken, it does not matter. Once you begin following this old man's instructions, you will naturally discover that those who attain the Dao receive abundant aid. There will be no shortage of people willing to help you."

"Then why must it be me?" Ding Songyan would not be so easily deceived.

The old man nodded slightly.

"Not bad. You possess the caution I had in my youth.

"To speak frankly, when Zhen Qianfan sent you here to tell stories to this old man, he intended for this old man to use you. This old man merely turned his own scheme against him. Otherwise, why would he choose someone like you, who has little connection to Zhen Estate and no martial arts to protect himself? So many Zhen Estate disciples have studied storytelling for so long, yet they still cannot learn the Legend of the White Snake?"

That was true enough. Mr. Yu had clearly followed me to Beili Ward yesterday, yet Zhen Estate showed no reaction today. Even if, out of consideration for Ren Youyang's face, they chose not to kill me, they should have done something else. As things stood, was it not obvious that they were laying a trap? Ding Songyan deliberately revealed an expression of agreement.

The old man raised his head toward the mist-filled "sky" and chuckled.

"Your performance has exceeded this old man's expectations. It has allowed this old man to see hope."

"Senior, what exactly is going on here?" Ding Songyan played along, attempting to draw out more information.

Of course, he also knew that the other party's words were certainly a mix of truth and falsehood. He could neither believe everything nor dismiss everything.

The old man in the Huayang headscarf and blue scholar's robe paced toward Ding Songyan and sighed.

"This old man was blind to have regarded Zhen Qianfan as a friend who would share life and death with me.

"This old man's original name was Yan Changqing. In my youth, my family had a respectable heritage. But one day, my elders offended some evil demons and Outer Dao practitioners, and my entire family was exterminated, leaving only me alive.

"That night, I had climbed over the wall to go fool around with a band of fair-weather friends. By sheer chance, I escaped the disaster. One of those fair-weather friends was Zhen Qianfan.

"Later, I traveled far from home and, through the bond of my ancestors' incense and offerings, entered a sect and cultivated divine arts.

"For the sake of vengeance, I sought opportunities everywhere. I encountered no few strange fortunes and, with them, dominated for a time.

"That day, when I returned to my hometown, I found that my childhood friends had long scattered to the ends of the earth. I could locate only Zhen Qianfan. His family had declined, and he had joined the Four Waters Gang, cultivating that ridiculous Water Ape Divine Art.

"I was alone in the world. Remembering the friendship of our youth and all that had passed between us, I revealed myself and met with him. I helped him acquire all kinds of resources and find the Northern Abyss Fishback Scripture left behind by a predecessor, which could accommodate the Water Ape Divine Art. It allowed him to break the saying, 'If one does not become a Martial Grandmaster by forty, one will have no hope for life,' and enter the Law Realm at forty-two..."

Yan Changqing sank into his memories. Even the way he referred to himself had changed from "this old man" to "I."

As he listened, Ding Songyan analyzed which sentences were true, which were false, and which could be verified.

Yan Changqing withdrew his gaze from the high sky, and a faint, nearly imperceptible hatred appeared in his expression.

"This old man regarded him as a blood brother, and he respected this old man as an elder brother. But when this old man was gravely wounded while fighting for a divine object and rushed to Dingjiang Prefecture to seek refuge with him, he coveted that divine object instead. He betrayed his word, forgot his gratitude, and seized the chance to strike.

"Heh. Fortunately, when this old man was previously on the verge of death from grave injuries, I did not dare carry that divine object on my person. The moment I obtained it, I found a place to hide it. Since Zhen Qianfan could not find it on me, he spared my life and imprisoned me in this dungeon, interrogating me day and night. By now, this old man no longer knows how much time has passed."

He was being vague about how many years he had been imprisoned because he feared I might uncover his true identity? Ding Songyan made a guess.

Yan Changqing resumed that carefree, composed manner.

"Zhen Qianfan has already reached sixty. He can no longer wait."

"Why can't he wait any longer?" Ding Songyan did not ask what that divine object was. Since the other party had not said earlier, asking would most likely yield no answer.

Yan Changqing chuckled.

"His Northern Abyss Fishback Scripture is incomplete. After entering the Law Realm, there is no further path ahead, and it carries certain hidden dangers. Once he passes sixty, his body will rapidly decline. Unless he finds an elixir of immortality, even life-extending treasures will merely grant him a few more decades. They will not restore his strength.

"That divine object can help him in this matter."

"So that was it." Ding Songyan put on an enlightened look, then casually asked, "Which family or sect does Senior come from?"

Yan Changqing was silent for a while.

"Back then, for that divine object, this old man betrayed his sect. Now, I dare not speak of it again."

You're afraid I'll trace your sect and ask around, then discover there is no Yan Changqing, aren't you? Ding Songyan sneered inwardly.