Upside-Down Candle

"Clang, clang, clang..."

"You little hussy, are you cheating?"

Night deepened, yet the merrymaking in the depths of the complex continued.

Moonlight shone like silk over the spacious front courtyard.

Coal Ball picked up fallen leaves in his mouth and dropped them into a bamboo basket beside the wall, looking like a personal maid sweeping the courtyard.

Supported on two fingers, Xie Jinhuan meditated upside down on the white stone walkway in the middle, leafing through a book of cultivation insights with his right hand.

His cultivation method was the "Joyful Heart Sutra," which included the accompanying "Silver Dragon Eight Forms." The book also contained some insights and interpretations.

Great Qian's many faiths and hundred schools flourished. Its cultivation traditions could broadly be classified as "Immortal, Buddhist, Martial, Shaman, and Demon." Though their approaches differed enormously, all great paths shared one source: they all refined the "Qi of the Origin of All Things," also known as "Primordial Qi."

Since "one qi begets yin and yang, and yin and yang divide into the five elements," the different leanings of Mystic Sect traditions usually made them incompatible.

Martial artists, for instance, followed a balanced path, cultivating "one qi" without dividing it into yin, yang, or the five elements.

Lightning belonged to wood among the five elements and was supremely hard and yang. To employ such an art, one's cultivation method inevitably needed a particular leaning.

For that reason, under normal circumstances, a Pure Martial Artist could not perform Mystic Sect arts.

But long ago, Xie Jinhuan had already entertained a few ideas-for instance, using extraordinary mastery to reverse his cultivation method and separate the True Qi he had already refined, first dividing it into five, then taking one of the five portions. That would let him perform a Daoist Divine Ability with a martial artist's True Qi.

The advantage was that he could forcibly achieve "mastery of all arts," using any Divine Ability he acquired.

But the disadvantages were equally obvious. Forcing everything backward was outrageously difficult, and with True Qi reduced to "one portion out of five," even a hundred percent thermal efficiency would only yield a fifth of his strength.

That was how he had performed "Palm Thunder" in front of Yang Dabiao today. It consumed even more than "Black Dragon Strikes the Pillar," yet produced only a few tiny sparks, with a True Qi utilization rate below five percent.

Still, this approach suited his old personal style of being "capable of everything, master of nothing" very well.

Xie Jinhuan felt the technique had great potential and continued working it out, but before he made much progress, a sound came from the alley:

Whoosh~

A white figure appeared atop the wall.

Still standing on two fingers, Xie Jinhuan lowered his head to look and discovered a sword-carrying heroine on the wall, coldly beautiful as an immortal.

The heroine wore a snow-white dress. Her long, straight legs extended to her hips, forming exceptionally full curves. Her sash bound a slender waist, and above it rose a full bosom of just the right size.

Dark brows like distant mountains and a high nose bridge gave her whole face a distinctly aloof look. Her bright eyes shone with spirit, without a young lady's bashful softness.

Seeing such a cold beauty come calling of her own accord, Xie Jinhuan was slightly puzzled.

"Miss, you are?"

Linghu Qingmo had initially looked quite aloof, but when he looked down, he found the man in the courtyard supporting himself on two fingers against the stone paving, "standing upside down" in a cross-legged meditation pose. His left hand even held a book, and he wore only a pair of thin trousers.

Although the upside-down posture was exceptionally awkward, he could still make out long limbs, handsome features, and an impeccably defined chest, waist, and abdomen exposed beneath the moonlight. His proportions were perfect, his skin fair and unmarked, like a sculpture painstakingly carved from white jade, his eight-pack and pectorals...

?

Linghu Qingmo could be considered an innocent little Daoist novice. How could he bear suddenly seeing a young man stripped bare? He immediately averted his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

Xie Jinhuan put away the book, flipped upright, and looked around.

"Training. This is my home. Have you come to the wrong place, miss?"

At noon in Dongcang Ward, Linghu Qingmo had only seen his back. Judging by his strength, he had thought Xie Jinhuan was around Yang Dabiao's age.

Now that he discovered the young gentleman in the courtyard was about his own age, and neither his appearance nor bearing resembled that ruthless man from earlier, Linghu Qingmo could not help thinking he had come to the wrong place. He looked around.

"You're Xie Jinhuan?"

Xie Jinhuan sensed this woman had not come with good intentions, but he did not know her. After a moment's thought, he cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am. Just who are you, miss?"

Seeing that this really was the man he sought, Linghu Qingmo's heart sank halfway.

After all, if a martial artist around thirty had accidentally injured him, that would merely have been an accident. An apology would suffice.

But if someone his own age had knocked a Purple Emblem Mountain Inheritor unconscious with one blow, the matter rose to the level of his sect's honor.

If he failed to recover his standing, how would Purple Emblem Mountain hold its head up in the world?

His master would return after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Wouldn't she expel him then?

Realizing this, Linghu Qingmo's mindset changed completely. Seeing that the other man had not recognized him without his armor, he displayed his green-sheathed sword.

"We only just met, and you've forgotten already?"

Xie Jinhuan glanced at the sword. Like the Zhenglun Sword, it was clearly standard Purple Emblem Mountain issue, but he truly had never seen this person before. Confusion showed on his face.

"Dongcang Ward."

"?"

This time, Xie Jinhuan understood. Looking distinctly surprised, he surveyed the young lady atop the wall with her impressive pectorals.

"You're the brother who ambushed me today?"

?

Hearing those absurd words, Linghu Qingmo's brows shot up.

"Who are you calling an ambusher?"

Seeing that she was not a beauty fallen from heaven but a Prince's Manor personal guard here to settle accounts, Xie Jinhuan certainly could not apologize now. Otherwise, all the blame would fall on him, and he might even have to pay medical expenses. He had no silver!

"You don't look that young, miss. Why were you so reckless? At noon, I was fighting Demon Bandits to the death. You charged in from behind without warning. Do you know how dangerous that was?

"Luckily, I didn't use my full strength, or your fragrance would have faded and your jade shattered. I slew demons and vanquished evil, only to be treated as a bandit myself, thrown into prison, and subjected to every humiliation. It was simply... ah!"

Having faced the Sea-Breaking Mad Dragon head-on, Linghu Qingmo had felt as though Xie Jinhuan wanted to pound him into dumpling filling. If he had not dodged quickly, he really would have died there. He absolutely did not believe Xie Jinhuan had held back.

But reviewing events afterward, he indeed had charged in upon discovering that the Daoist had been killed, without first understanding the situation. Not only had he been injured, he had also caused Xie Jinhuan to spend half the day locked in jail.

Feeling somewhat in the wrong, Linghu Qingmo thought for a moment, then dropped into the courtyard.

"I was indeed reckless at noon. I'm truly sorry."

Seeing how reasonable this young lady was, Xie Jinhuan inwardly sighed with relief.

"As long as you understand. Remember, if your skills aren't solid, don't rush in so recklessly. The road through the martial world is long, but you only have one life..."

My skills aren't solid...

As a Purple Emblem Mountain Inheritor, Linghu Qingmo could not endure being lectured like a junior by someone his own age. Though he knew there was a gap in their strength, he still raised his sword and assumed the bearing of a sword immortal.

"Do you know who I am?"

Seeing that this young lady was young and still lively after taking a blow from him to the chest, Xie Jinhuan knew her background was extraordinary. He briefly examined her sword.

"Are you an inner disciple of Purple Emblem Mountain?"

Linghu Qingmo placed one hand behind his back, adopting his master Fairy Nangong's bearing.

"I am Linghu Qingmo of Purple Emblem Mountain. My master is its current sect leader. I now serve as a squad leader in the Prefectural Guards, overseeing disturbances caused by evil beings within the city..."

Linghu Qingmo introduced himself in preparation for issuing a challenge, so they could have an honorable match.

But Xie Jinhuan's reaction was truly unlike most people's. Hearing that he was the disciple of the "greatest beauty of the Daoist schools," he immediately looked doubtful.

"You're Fairy Nangong's disciple? You couldn't withstand even half a move from me. Did you only inherit your master's beauty?"

"You..."

Those words were nothing less than the ultimate humiliation for a cultivator!

Linghu Qingmo's eyes widened and his chest heaved. He nearly choked, thinking:

Is this because I'm weak? It's clearly because you're too strong!

I took a killing move from you to the chest and I'm still up and about. What more do you want?

But saying that would only fan the other man's prestige too much.

For now, Linghu Qingmo could only grit his teeth and explain:

"I was rushing to save someone today and had no time to prepare. That was why you accidentally injured me. If we fought face-to-face, the outcome would still be unknown."

"Really?"

Xie Jinhuan's eyes were full of doubt.

He knew this young lady was quite capable, but who was Fairy Nangong?

A peerlessly beautiful sword heroine famed north and south of the great river, a mountaintop patriarch ranked second in Dan Prefecture, a Daoist immortal master who had personally slain countless evil beings, and the dream wife whose name had thundered in his ears since childhood!

If a disciple personally trained by such a figure could not withstand even half a move from him, what kind of monster must his own master be?

Although Linghu Qingmo heard no words from Xie Jinhuan, his eyes already conveyed the greatest contempt and doubt he had experienced in his life. Unable to endure it any longer, he raised his sword.

"I told you, today was an accident. If you won't accept that, I'll spar with you again."

Knowing Sect Leader Nangong's standing in the martial world, Xie Jinhuan did not believe this young lady could possibly be Fairy Nangong's disciple.

Even if she was, she was probably some small-fry disciple at the very bottom, waving a tiger's hide as her banner.

Seeing that she wanted a duel, Xie Jinhuan did not refuse. He retrieved the Heavenly Gang Mace from beside the steps.

"You're the one who won't accept it, Miss Linghu. We can spar, but I have one condition."

"What condition?"

Xie Jinhuan glanced at the courtyard covered in fallen leaves.

"If you lose, clean the courtyard for me and spare Coal Ball the effort."

Linghu Qingmo frowned, glanced over the enormous two-courtyard residence, and asked in return:

"What if you lose?"

"If I lose, I'll give you Coal Ball."

"Gooji?"

Holding fallen leaves in his mouth, Coal Ball looked shocked!

Linghu Qingmo looked at the large, spiritually vibrant Coal Ball and really was a little tempted. But seeing Xie Jinhuan's confidence, he remained cautious.

"Fine. A gentleman's word cannot be overtaken by four horses. Purple Emblem Mountain cultivates both swordsmanship and qi. I specialize in Thunder Magic and am also versed in swordsmanship. Take care."

Xie Jinhuan raised his left hand as though holding up the sun and moon.

"My repertoire is rather mixed. I know a little of everything. I was just studying this move, so its power is hard to determine. Take care yourself, miss."

As he spoke, a light breeze rose within the residence, stirring the white skirt before growing fiercer and fiercer, like a storm-driven sea!

Whoosh, whoosh~

Coal Ball quickly hopped onto the steps and peeked out from behind a veranda pillar.

Seeing the tall, straight-backed Xie Jinhuan's presence climb steadily, Linghu Qingmo thought he was about to unleash the "Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation." But on closer examination, it did not seem right. Gripping his sword in his right hand, he took a stance as though facing a formidable enemy and asked:

"What move is that?"

"Upside-Down Candle. A unique supreme technique."

"Upside-Down Candle?"

Bewildered, Linghu Qingmo noticed clear signs of True Qi circulating through Xie Jinhuan, but it did not look as though he was gathering strength. He asked again:

"True Qi is spilling everywhere. You don't seem to be gathering qi. Are you dispersing your cultivation?"

Reversing the normal process, Xie Jinhuan frantically split apart his own True Qi. His condition was precisely that of dispersing his cultivation.

But he had only dispersed four-fifths, retaining some within his body.

After accumulating enough qi for one use, Xie Jinhuan tipped up his chin.

"Ready?"

Linghu Qingmo frowned deeply and wanted to strike first, but just then:

Bang-

With a dull boom, the figure standing in the middle of the courtyard suddenly hurtled right up to him!

Linghu Qingmo had already made an estimate, but he still underestimated Xie Jinhuan's explosive power. With only thirty feet between them, he had no time to perform any lightning Divine Ability and could only draw back and unsheathe his sword to meet the attack.

Clang-

Amid a flash of swordlight, Linghu Qingmo's figure almost became an afterimage. His three-foot blade slashed toward the waist and abdomen with the force of rushing thunder.

But at that same instant, Xie Jinhuan unsheathed the Heavenly Gang Mace. The heavy mace swept upward toward the incoming sword while his left hand thrust straight through the center like an azure dragon extending its claws!

This was merely a normal combination of attack and defense, and Linghu Qingmo saw through it completely. He intended to turn his wrist slightly, slip around the iron mace, and deliver his sword to Xie Jinhuan's chest.

But what he never could have dreamed was that, as their weapons met, a dim azure radiance would emerge from the right hand of this thick-browed, bright-eyed young gentleman, followed by:

Crackle-

The gleaming iron mace was instantly wrapped in electric sparks, which vanished in another flash!

As a Purple Emblem Mountain disciple, Linghu Qingmo recognized this as the common Daoist technique, "Thunder-Binding Sword"!

This move wrapped a weapon in lightning, granting it immense killing power against sinister ghosts and spirits. Against ordinary people, it could also cause paralysis.

Who knew where Xie Jinhuan had learned this miscellaneous technique? His Thunder-Binding Sword was extremely weak and could not even be sustained, making it difficult to inflict any actual damage.

But however weak it was, good timing could make all the difference.

Linghu Qingmo had not expected this trick from Xie Jinhuan. The instant their weapons met, numbness spread through half his body, freezing his movement for a moment, and then:

Thump~

Xie Jinhuan's left hand executed an "Azure Dragon Claw Probe," driving straight through his unguarded center and landing on Linghu Qingmo's chest.

He had not used his full strength in their spar, but his five fingers still sank into the front of the robe, soft and springy...