Fate Artifact: Azure Sea Conch

"Fourth Uncle."

Huang Shendu had been bristling with aggression a moment ago, but the instant he saw his fourth uncle, all his bluster vanished.

He stood at attention like a stray dog whose ears had been flattened by its master's scolding, so deferential he hardly dared breathe.

Fourth uncle?

Li Xiang looked over.

He had known the Yellow Dog Gang had Huang Da, Huang Er, and Huang San, but he had never heard of a Huang Si.

And this Fourth Master was the head instructor of the Eight Gates Martial Hall in Linjiang County, an expert-level martial artist.

Was he the power behind the Yellow Dog Gang?

No wonder the Yellow Dog Gang could run roughshod over Blackwater Ancient Town. They had a great Buddha sheltering them in Linjiang County.

Li Xiang activated his Fortune Teller ability and studied Huang Silang closely. Sure enough, there was a resemblance between his features and Huang Shendu's.

That vicious streak in particular looked as though it had been carved from the same mold.

[Completed one fortune-telling session. Fortune Teller experience +1]

[Profession: Fortune Teller]

[Level: Lv8 (54/90)]

Since arriving in Linjiang County, Li Xiang had kept up his Fortune Teller levels, setting aside time each day to tell fortunes and read classics such as the Book of Changes.

Of course, he took every profession he unlocked seriously.

Only his Embalmer profession remained stuck at Lv10 (100/100), because he had yet to find a target who met the requirements for the Joyful Funeral advancement ritual.

"Fourth Uncle, this brat..."

Huang Shendu hunched his shoulders and trotted over to Huang Silang, his face full of grievance.

"Shut up."

Huang Silang gave him a cold glance. "I sent you out to receive Young Master Lu. How did you end up arguing at the door? This is Zither Strings House, not a vegetable market in Blackwater Ancient Town. What a disgrace!"

Huang Shendu drew his neck in and dared not make another sound.

Huang Silang ignored his nephew and cupped his hands toward Young Master Lu, looking apologetic. "Young Master Lu, my family has failed you. I haven't disciplined him properly, and you've had to witness this embarrassment."

The young man called Young Master Lu merely snorted and covered his nose with a handkerchief, as though he found the air here distasteful. He did not even look Huang Silang in the eye.

Unfazed, Huang Silang turned and fixed his sinister eyes on Li Xiang.

"You're Li Xiang?"

An invisible pressure swept over him.

It was the aura of an expert-level martial artist. Though it was nothing like Hong Tianbao's, vast as mountains and seas, it still felt like a venomous snake coiling around his neck, making it hard to breathe.

Faced with pressure powerful enough to weaken an ordinary person's knees and shake his mind, Li Xiang's body reacted on instinct.

Hum—

A faint vibration, taut as a bowstring about to snap, rang through his body.

In an instant, a scalding current rose from his tailbone, surged up all twenty-four vertebrae, and rushed toward the crown of his head.

The great tendons in his back quivered violently beneath his flesh. Every vertebra seemed to mesh and lock into place like a precision gear.

His spine, which had stiffened slightly under the pressure, rose like a great dragon waking and lifting its head.

Better to break than bend. Such were the bones of a dragon!

Li Xiang's feet did not move an inch. Even the sway of his clothes remained unchanged. His expression was as calm as ever, though a blade's chill had entered his once-gentle gaze.

"Good eyes." Huang Silang looked Li Xiang up and down, his gaze lingering on his slender hands. "Old Mr. Li, who runs the shroud shop at the end of the lane in Blackwater Ancient Town—what is he to you?"

Li Xiang's heart stirred.

Grandpa?

He had not expected Huang Silang to ask about him first.

"He's my grandfather," Li Xiang replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

An expert-level master deserved the proper courtesies. That was respect for strength.

"So you're Old Mr. Li's grandson."

Some of the menace faded from Huang Silang's eyes, replaced by a trace of reminiscence.

"When my father died, your grandfather presided over his funeral. His skill and his principles left a deep impression on me. He gave my father his final dignity."

At that, Huang Silang's tone softened considerably. "How has Old Mr. Li been lately?"

Li Xiang was even more puzzled.

Huang Silang's father?

Was that the former leader of the Yellow Dog Gang?

Huang Silang seemed to see his confusion. "My father was the previous leader of the Yellow Dog Gang. Before I was even a year old, the master of the Eight Gates Martial Hall happened to pass by, took a liking to me, and brought me to Riverside.

"The day my father was buried was the first time I returned to Blackwater Ancient Town, and the last."

So that was it.

That was why the Yellow Dog Gang had managed to hold its ground in Blackwater Ancient Town.

By sheltering beneath the great tree of the Eight Gates Martial Hall, the Huang family had secured a share of the spoils in these chaotic times.

"A few months ago, my grandfather accepted a job escorting someone on their final journey and left to travel. He hasn't returned yet," Li Xiang answered truthfully.

"Gone traveling..."

Huang Silang did not seem surprised. "The Eight Gates Martial Hall and your Li family share an old bond. I hear you're training at the Shocking Heron Martial Hall now?"

"That's right."

"A pity."

Huang Silang glanced at Qin Zhong behind Li Xiang, his gaze resting briefly on his towerlike frame before returning to Li Xiang.

"I hear Hong Tianbao chose you to fight for the Shocking Heron Martial Hall in a few days?"

The onlookers who had not yet dispersed let out a chorus of surprised murmurs.

"The Shocking Heron Martial Hall? The one everyone's been talking about, that's going to fight the Eight Gates Martial Hall?"

"This young fellow is fighting the first bout?"

"Tsk. He looks so mild-mannered. I never thought he'd be the sort to throw his life away."

News traveled fast.

Li Xiang nodded. "The master said I'd fight first."

"Knife-Clasping Hand-Wrestling is no easy assignment."

Huang Silang's tone held both regret and temptation.

"Young man, that's a fight to the death, not a game. Hong Tianbao is using his disciples' lives to pave the road to his own fame."

"For Old Mr. Li's sake, I'll show you a better path." Huang Silang clasped his hands behind his back, wearing the air of an elder looking out for a junior.

"Come to the Eight Gates Martial Hall. If you're willing, I'll take you as a personal disciple. You won't have to fight in that life-or-death match, and you'll learn the authentic Eight Gates Fist. That's far better than risking your life for a Southern Barbarian at the Shocking Heron Martial Hall."

Huang Silang added, "After all, we're on the same side."

Poaching a disciple!

He was openly poaching a disciple right in front of everyone!

And at the critical moment before the two martial halls' match.

If Li Xiang agreed, the Shocking Heron Martial Hall would suffer a stinging slap in the face. It would lose before the fight even began, its morale in tatters.

"Fourth Uncle!" Huang Shendu protested from the side. "This brat is connected to Third Uncle's death. How can you take him as a personal disciple? We still have to—"

"When adults are speaking, children don't interrupt!"

Huang Silang turned and barked at him, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Besides, even if Li Xiang doesn't join me, he's still Hong Tianbao's disciple. Hong Tianbao and our hall master belong to the same generation. By the rules of the martial world, that makes Li Xiang your elder."

"Call him Martial Uncle!"

"Fourth Uncle..." Huang Shendu's face turned green.

What kind of mess was this?

His enemy had become his elder?

"Enough with the 'Fourth Uncle.' Call him Martial Uncle Li." Huang Silang's voice sank. "If my second brother never taught you manners, I'll teach you today."

"Yes, yes..."

Huang Shendu shuddered under his fourth uncle's savage gaze.

He knew his fourth uncle was a man who could kill without blinking. If he dared argue again, he might leave today with a broken leg.

So Huang Shendu's face flushed red and the veins stood out on his neck. He glared at Li Xiang and forced three words through clenched teeth, as though he wanted to chew them up and swallow them.

"Martial... Uncle... Li!"

The words were so humiliating that saying them hurt worse than death.

The surrounding crowd broke into low laughter.

This reversal was more entertaining than anything on a stage.

Li Xiang stood where he was with his hands behind his back. He nodded without expression and gave a soft "Mm" through his nose, as though the title was his by right.

He could not have looked more smug if he tried.

Then Li Xiang straightened his collar and cupped his hands toward Huang Silang, his expression solemn.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Instructor Huang. But Master Hong has treated me well and taught me real skills. He has done nothing cruel or dishonorable. If I switched allegiances so easily, how would I be any different from a household slave?"

"So I intend to remain at the Shocking Heron Martial Hall. I'll see you in the ring in seven days."

His words rang with conviction. Many in the crowd nodded to themselves and looked at him with approval.

In an age when rites had crumbled and virtue had fallen away, anyone who held fast to loyalty—even foolish loyalty—deserved respect.

Far from getting angry, Huang Silang looked impressed.

"Well said!" He clapped and laughed.

"We martial artists stand between heaven and earth. How could we become household slaves?"

"With that spirit, I won't press you."

Then Huang Silang changed tack, a playful smile appearing on his face.

"But there's one thing you need to change."

"'Instructor Huang' is far too distant."

"Given the relationship between our families, and Hong Tianbao's history with the Eight Gates Martial Hall, you should call me Senior Brother Huang."

"Senior brother?"

Li Xiang froze.

How had they suddenly become kin again?

Just because he'd met Grandpa once?

No. Something was off. Very off.

Li Xiang frowned slightly and looked back at Qin Zhong, his eyes asking, The Shocking Heron Martial Hall has that kind of connection to the Eight Gates Martial Hall?

Qin Zhong scratched his head, just as bewildered. Then he seemed to remember something, and his expression turned strange.

He leaned close to Li Xiang's ear and lowered his voice. "I heard Master mention it once... When he was wandering the martial world, he did spend some time at the Eight Gates Association as an apprentice who'd brought his own skills, under an assumed name.

"By seniority, he really is of the same generation as the current master of the Eight Gates Martial Hall. If we trace the lineage back, calling Huang Silang 'Senior Brother' isn't wrong."

"..."

Li Xiang's mouth twitched hard.

Well, now.

Senior Brother Qin, I'm afraid he did more than just 'spend some time as an apprentice,' didn't he?

Back at the Eight Gates Association, Hong Tianbao probably hadn't just learned their true skills. For all Li Xiang knew, he'd walked off with their core manuals—or even eloped with the association leader's daughter.

No wonder the Eight Gates Martial Hall had rushed over to challenge the Shocking Heron Martial Hall as soon as it opened. So there was an old grudge behind it all.

This wasn't rival businesses trying to push each other out. This was a sect cleaning house!

But now that the truth was out, he had to call Huang Silang senior brother whether he wanted to or not.

Those were the rules of the martial world, and seniority carried weight.

Though Li Xiang had his doubts, he followed the custom without a hitch. He cupped his fists in salute.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Huang."

Huang Silang nodded, apparently pleased with the address.

"Junior Brother Li, if you ever find you can't stay at the Shocking Heron Martial Hall, or if that fat fellow Hong Tianbao treats you poorly, come find me anytime. The doors of the Eight Gates Martial Hall will always be open to you."

Having made another attempt to poach him in plain sight, Huang Silang turned to leave. Halfway there, he seemed to remember something and looked back at Li Xiang and Qin Zhong.

"Oh, right. Junior brothers, meeting like this must be fate. Why not come in together? There's quite a show at Zither Strings House tonight."

"A show?" Li Xiang asked.

Huang Silang smiled enigmatically. "You came to Zither Strings House to see the Azure Sea Conch, didn't you?"

"What's the Azure Sea Conch? Seafood?" Li Xiang looked blank.

These courtesan cultivators offered quite a range of services. They even served seafood feasts.

Beside him, Qin Zhong's expression changed, shock flashing in his eyes.

"The Azure Sea Conch? Someone that exceptional is appearing tonight?"

Qin Zhong explained quietly, "Brother Li, the Azure Sea Conch isn't seafood. It's a person—a woman with an extremely rare Fate Artifact constitution among courtesan cultivators."

"It ranks seventy-ninth on the Top 100 Life Artifacts List. They say a woman with this Fate Artifact holds a world within her body, like a conch from the depths of the sea."

Young Master Lu, who had not spoken until now, emerged from the private room, toying with his walking stick. Hearing Li Xiang's question, he curled his lips into an amused smile and slowly recited:

"Hear the conch shell's call, and grasp the Zen within your heart."

Huang Silang supplied the next line: "The tide comes like a sutra; at sunrise, heaven's gate appears."

He turned to Li Xiang and Qin Zhong and gestured toward the private room. "Junior brothers, since you're here, why not come feast your eyes?"

"Let's see what wonders this legendary Fate Artifact holds—the one said to let a man 'hear the ocean tides and glimpse Zen's mysteries.'"

"If you miss it, you may regret it for the rest of your lives."

"Junior Brother Qin, Junior Brother Li, please!"

Li Xiang and Qin Zhong exchanged a glance.

Since they were already here, they might as well see it through.

"After you."

Li Xiang stepped forward and followed them.

He wanted to see what this so-called Azure Sea Conch was all about.