"I knew you would come. I had the innkeeper brew some good tea this morning. Of course, I can't really tell whether it's good or not. It's not to my taste." Xia Yi pointed to the empty seat, inviting Song Qu to make himself comfortable.
Song Qu sat down and took the initiative to pour Xia Yi some tea. As he did, he asked, "May I ask your name, senior?"
"What, you want to look into my background?"
"I wouldn't dare. It's just that Chisel the Wall to Steal Light, a three-star Saint Soul passed down secretly in my family, has suddenly appeared in an outsider's hands. If I don't get to the bottom of it, I fear I won't be able to answer to my founding ancestor-eight generations back-when I meet him someday." Song Qu did not deny it, speaking frankly.
"Trying to intimidate me with your king-ranked founding ancestor?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Song Qu was neither servile nor overbearing.
Xia Yi sipped his tea and smiled. "It seems my good intentions have brought me trouble?"
Song Qu paused briefly. "Your kindness saved Ziyu several days of hard work, and of course I appreciate it. But this concerns my family's legacy. Please understand."
"Your Song family isn't the only one with a legacy of the Chisel the Wall to Steal Light Saint Soul, is it? Nor did your family create it, did you? I've traveled far and wide. I learned Chisel the Wall to Steal Light years ago in Great Wei, in the southwest."
"Great Wei?" Song Qu understood.
Watching his unsurprised expression, Xia Yi cursed inwardly. Comparing what he knew with the map he had seen at Zhou Xiaoxian's home, Xia Yi was certain his mausoleum lay within Great Wei. There had been plenty of records inside, including ones on Chisel the Wall to Steal Light.
Now it seemed highly likely that his mausoleum had been discovered and excavated. Of course, from the moment he had emerged from a grave out in the wilderness, he had held little hope that his mausoleum remained intact.
I'll have to make a trip there when I get the chance.
Song Qu took a light sip of tea, then asked, "May I ask what brings you to Lieyang City this time, senior?"
Xia Yi stroked his white beard. "I'm nearing the grave. I'm merely taking on an heir to my teachings."
"Zhou Xiaoxian truly is exceptionally gifted," Song Qu praised sincerely. "To be honest, I once considered taking her as my disciple too. But I still harbor some hope of glimpsing the mysteries of six-star Kaiyang. I worried that even if I took her in, I would have no time to teach her and would only hold her back."
"Haha, then I got there first."
Xia Yi laughed heartily, then remarked casually, "You've already built up enough. You're only two final small steps away from attempting advancement-or perhaps just one. The Saint Soul you just used on me is only a hair's breadth from five-star mastery!"
Song Qu froze, visibly shaken.
Ever since they had met, he had addressed Xia Yi as senior, but in truth, having reached the peak of five-star Jade Balance himself, he had not thought he would be much weaker than Xia Yi. He had even had some confidence that he could defeat him.
After all, six-star Kaiyang practitioners varied in strength too. An old, declining six-star Kaiyang like Xia Yi looked every bit the weakest sort. Just because the Record of Redressing Injustice could not see through him now did not mean it would still fail once they fought.
Who could have imagined that Xia Yi would see through his capabilities in those mere two or three seconds, without the slightest error!
His expression shifted several times. He rose and cupped his hands slightly, sincerely apologizing once more. "Your insight is remarkable, senior. I was offensive earlier. Please forgive me."
[Name: Song Qu] [Age: 52] [Faction: Human Race] [Level: 298 (Jade Balance)] [Saint Soul: Record of Redressing Injustice (five-star) Mastery: Four-star, level 99] [???] [Threat level: High]
Closing the light screen, Xia Yi inwardly marveled at how useful player skills were. He replied with a smile, "I was the one who was discourteous first. My intention in selling that book to your son was to draw you here. How could I blame you?"
At those words, the last of Song Qu's misgivings vanished. He hurriedly replied politely, "My son benefited from it. I'm not someone who fails to appreciate a kindness. What instructions did you summon me here for, senior?"
"I wouldn't call them instructions. It's just that I expect to be living in Lieyang City for a long time, and I'd rather avoid whatever trouble I can." Xia Yi smiled. "After all, I hold no official position. If I happen to offend some powerful, well-connected dignitary, I hope you, Lord Xiyuan Marquis, might put in a word for me, insofar as you're able.
"Of course, I won't put you in a difficult position. If I'm in the wrong, I naturally won't trouble you."
"You jest, senior. If someone abuses their official position to commit wrongdoing, I would intervene regardless."
Song Qu spoke with righteous conviction, then smiled. "Though I doubt anyone would dare provoke you, senior."
"That's hard to say." Xia Yi shook his head. "Didn't you run into one on your way here? His name was... Lin Gong?"
Boom!! Just then, a thunderous crash suddenly erupted out of nowhere, as though the earth were splitting and the heavens collapsing. Even the floor beneath Xia Yi's feet creaked and shook!
"Was that... someone's doing?" Song Qu glanced aside.
Xia Yi paused, his expression darkening slightly. "It really was Zhou Lizhu!"
"Who is Zhou Lizhu?"
Xia Yi did not answer. Song Qu followed him out of the room. In the corridor, Song Ziyu looked nervous. "Father, that sound-could it have been the ground collapsing?"
Song Qu shook his head.
Xia Yi knocked on Zhou Xiaoxian's door.
"Girl, you're awake, aren't you? I'm going out for a while. Stay in your room at the inn and don't wander around. I'll be back before noon!"
"Understood, teacher."
Having received her reply, Xia Yi said, "Lord Xiyuan Marquis, come take a look with me."
"I'm not worthy of being addressed as lord by you, senior." Song Qu's respectful expression filled Song Ziyu with surprise. Then he heard his father say, "Ziyu, you and Zhou Xiaoxian both newly formed your Celestial Pivot last night. Stay and exchange some insights with her."
"Junior sister is Condensing the Tianxuan Star too?"
Delight immediately appeared on Song Ziyu's face, only for Xia Yi to veto the suggestion. "No. He's coming with us."
Song Qu was slightly taken aback, but did not insist. He tugged at the somewhat reluctant Song Ziyu and followed Xia Yi downstairs, hurriedly leaving the inn.
Why won't he let me stay? I thought that now junior sister Xiao Xian has a teacher and is no longer simply a commoner, even Father seemed to have changed his attitude, and I could court her openly. But now it looks like... this senior is the obstacle instead? Song Ziyu's thoughts were in turmoil. Why?
The young could not hide what was on their minds. Xia Yi easily detected that trace of resentment and felt amused.
I'm saving you, boy.
"What the girl and I went to your residence to discuss yesterday-did you not pass it on to your father, or have you already told him?" he suddenly asked.
"I... told Aunt."
Song Qu nodded. "Ruo Jun told me."
"It seems you didn't take it seriously." Xia Yi pointed ahead. "Take a look at how he died!"
At the Great General's Residence.
Feng Shuhu's expression was grave. "That six-star Kaiyang expert took Zhou Xiaoxian as his disciple?"
Feng Mo nodded in confirmation. "Father, he'll obstruct my pursuit of Xiao Xian. That's why I sent Ding Shan to investigate and Uncle Lin to test him."
Feng Shuhu shook his head. "Since this concerns Zhou Xiaoxian, we do need to investigate. But Mo'er, you were too impatient! You shouldn't have had Lin Gong act before you'd sounded out the other party's background!"
"Yes!" Feng Mo answered respectfully, but inwardly felt innocent. All of Great Zheng's six-star practitioners were renowned veterans. How could he have expected another one to pop up?
"Then, Father, what should we do now? Uncle Lin won't be in danger, will he?"
"No. Lin Gong has already achieved four-star mastery of his Replace the Beams with Rotten Timber Saint Soul. Unless the other party is so utterly unrestrained as to hunt him down in the streets, he should have no trouble escaping. Still, we've alerted the-"
"General! General! Something terrible has happened!"
Just then, a household servant burst in, gasping for breath, and reported, "Commander Lin Gong! Commander Lin Gong, he-he was beaten to death in the street!"
Feng Shuhu's expression changed violently. He reached back and seized the long halberd at his side, driving it against the ground with a bang that cracked the floor!
"How dare he?!"
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