Do You Think I'm Stupid?

Hui Mountain

After leaving the Blood-Colored Forest, Qin Yi headed straight for the Eight Treasures Pavilion. He had not forgotten that he had yet to collect the Spirit Stones from the auction of his Deep-Sea Sunken Silver. By rights, the Spirit Stones should have been held at the Eight Treasures Pavilion, so he planned to ask Qian Jin how things stood.

As soon as Qin Yi entered the Eight Treasures Pavilion, he spotted Qian Jin sitting in a chair, gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Deacon Qian, I'm here to collect the Spirit Stones from the auction of the Deep-Sea Sunken Silver," Qin Yi said with a smile, showing Qian Jin his consignment token.

"I see. I've been holding on to the Spirit Stones. Your Deep-Sea Sunken Silver sold for twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators pooled their money to buy it. The auction house took a ten percent service fee, so you get eighteen thousand Spirit Stones." As he spoke, Qian Jin wiped his greasy hands on his clothes, then handed Qin Yi a Storage Bag.

"By the way, do you know where Jin Peng went?" Qian Jin asked, sounding a little puzzled.

"He went to the Blood-Colored Forest to temper himself. Once he's finished, he'll return to the sect," Qin Yi said casually.

Half a month later, Star City

Qin Yi had chosen not to ride a mount back to the Eight Gods Pavilion. He wanted another look at the scenery of the mortal world. Once he returned, barring any surprises, he would enter seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment. There was no telling how long it would be before he came down the mountain again.

Though Star City was only an ordinary small city, it was larger and more prosperous than the Qin Kingdom's imperial capital, with grand and magnificent buildings. Its walls were said to contain star meteorite, and on nights when the moon shone brightly, stars seemed to twinkle across them. That was how it had come to be called Star City.

Qin Yi entered the city and looked at the bustling streets and the cultivators coming and going around him. He could not help recalling his time in the Qin Kingdom. Its streets had not been as prosperous as these, but they had felt familiar to him. After all, he had lived there for ten years. Yet times had changed, and everything and everyone was different.

As Qin Yi was enjoying the sights, the crowd ahead suddenly erupted into an uproar.

"Don't run! Catch her, quick!"

A group of guards in fitted martial attire were chasing a girl. Qin Yi joined the others at the side of the street to watch the commotion. From what people around him were saying, he learned that the girl was Zhang Ningrong, the eldest young lady of the Zhang Household, a minor lineage in Star City. Her pursuers had been sent by Song Qingyun, the good-for-nothing second young master of the city lord's manor.

"Catch her, quick!"

Just as the girl was about to be caught, she suddenly rushed into the crowd. People scattered at once, and before Qin Yi had time to leave, she seized his arm. Qin Yi frowned, displeased.

"Help me, and I'll reward you afterward," the girl whispered.

Qin Yi bent down and whispered in her ear, "Do you think I'm stupid?" The moment the words left his mouth, he shoved her toward the pursuing guards with a palm.

A clamor broke out.

After restraining the girl, the guards drew their swords and glared at Qin Yi.

"Don't misunderstand. I don't know her," Qin Yi said in a low voice.

"I love him! Let me go! I'm going to marry him!" Seeing Qin Yi push her so heartlessly into the tiger's jaws, the girl could not help shouting at the top of her lungs.

As Qin Yi looked at the guards surrounding him, a surge of violent Spiritual Qi gathered in his palm. While the guards hesitated, an effeminate-looking man emerged from the crowd.

"What's going on?" Though a longsword hung at the man's waist, it could not conceal his effeminate air. The moment the guards saw him, they became exceedingly respectful.

"Second young master, Zhang Ningrong has been caught. She can be sent to your room tonight," a guard hurried forward and replied, bowing his head.

Song Qingyun nodded to the captain of the guards behind him. "Take her back to the manor first. We'll talk when I return."

Then Song Qingyun looked at Qin Yi. "Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to come with me to the city lord's manor to discuss a few matters?"

Qin Yi glanced at Song Qingyun's frail frame. "Of course. Sorry to trouble you to lead the way, Brother Song."

The city lord's manor

"I don't believe I've asked your name, Fellow Daoist," Song Qingyun said. He had dismissed the people around him and was brewing tea for Qin Yi as he spoke.

"I am Jin Peng, an ordinary disciple of the Eight Gods Pavilion," Qin Yi replied.

Song Qingyun could not help being slightly startled when he heard the name of the Eight Gods Pavilion. No wonder Qin Yi had such cultivation at so young an age. He had invited Qin Yi only because the captain of the guards had revealed one piece of information at the time: he was stronger than the eldest young master.

Hearing that Qin Yi was from the Eight Gods Pavilion only strengthened Song Qingyun's resolve.

"Brother Jin, do you wish to reach Foundation Establishment?" Song Qingyun asked Qin Yi after taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

Qin Yi looked up at Song Qingyun and chuckled. "Who in this world doesn't want to reach Foundation Establishment?"

Hearing that, Song Qingyun set down his cup and said quietly, "I know of a place that can help you reach Foundation Establishment, Brother Jin."

Qin Yi's interest was immediately piqued. He was certainly interested in a fortuitous opportunity, but he was no fool. There was no such thing as a free lunch; Song Qingyun must have wanted something from him. So he asked, "What price would I have to pay?"

Sure enough, when Song Qingyun saw that Qin Yi was tempted, he immediately shifted closer and whispered, "Kill my elder brother."

Qin Yi glanced at Song Qingyun. The man had a ruthless heart. He did not agree at once, however, and Song Qingyun was in no hurry, giving Qin Yi time to think. After a long while, Qin Yi asked, "How will you help me reach Foundation Establishment?"

A glint flashed through Song Qingyun's eyes, and he hurriedly said, "In three days, my father will go to the Blood-Colored Forest to search for a particular spirit medicine. If you kill my elder brother then, I guarantee that you'll have a place in that secret realm a year from now, Brother Jin. You can search for fortuitous opportunities inside. If I haven't kept my promise after a year, you may take the head from my shoulders."

"Agreed," Qin Yi replied. A year was enough time for him to return to the Eight Gods Pavilion and break through to Foundation Establishment. When the time came, Song Qingyun would give him that opportunity whether he wanted to or not.

"Good, good, good! As a token of my esteem, I'll send Zhang Ningrong to your room tonight, Brother Jin. She actually dared slander you, so you must teach her a good lesson tonight." In his excitement, Song Qingyun gave Zhang Ningrong to Qin Yi. Women were the one thing he did not lack. As long as his elder brother died, he could have as many women as he wanted. He could still tell which was better, one or a whole group.

Qin Yi nodded and agreed. After so many tiring days, it was time for him to get some rest and give himself a coming-of-age ceremony while he was at it.