Hou Pijing stood grinning before the Poison Incantation Sect's two elders. "Looking for me? Feng Biqing, how come you're growing more like a hemp stalk every day? And you, Tong Kong-damn it, eat less! You're stuffed round as a ball. You two just won't stop haunting me. You've chased me for nearly ten years. If I were a woman, you might have won me over by now. Seeing how devoted you are, and since I've really lost patience, I'll get nice and close to you both today!"
The tall Feng Biqing stared at Hou Pijing in astonishment and stammered, "You... you... you..."
The short, fat Tong Kong reacted faster. He cried, "Damn it! He's broken the Heartless Knot!"
Feng Biqing's hands flew, forming one hand seal after another, fine black threads shooting from his fingertips. Seeing Hou Pijing remain utterly motionless, both men's faces filled with shock and panic. They knew that without the Heartless Knot restraining him, all the Poison Incantation Sect's experts combined were no match for him.
"Hahaha... haha... I put up with this for ten years. You two were really something, chasing me around in circles. Impressive!" Hou Pijing raised his thumb. Smack, smack! Smack, smack! Without warning, each man took two slaps, one on either cheek. Hou Pijing was still standing in the same spot with his thumb raised. Scared out of their wits, the two men simultaneously spat out several teeth.
Li Qiang and the other three peeked from the bushes. Of the four, only Li Qiang vaguely caught Hou Pijing's rapid shifts. The other three were completely baffled, unable to understand how he could strike people without moving.
Feng Biqing and Tong Kong exchanged a look and simultaneously formed a strange hand seal.
Feng Biqing's seal sprayed out a cloud of black threads, which swam toward Hou Pijing from every direction like living things. Tong Kong's seal turned into a strange blue-green mist that drifted into the threads. They shouted in unison, "Ten Thousand Incantations Devour the Heart!"
Ten Thousand Incantations Devour the Heart was the Poison Incantation Sect's most overbearing offensive incantation. Hou Pijing laughed loudly. "That thing's useless against me! Haha, Ten Thousand Incantations Devour the Heart is only good for bullying children." He waved, and a giant hand as large as a tabletop flew from his wrist, giving off cold air and gleaming with white light.
Like snowflakes falling into a fire, the black threads instantly vanished. Both men spat out blood, suffering serious injuries at once.
Zheng Peng exclaimed, "So that's the Cold Spirit Giant Palm! Wonderful! I've learned it too!"
Zhao Hao laughed. "You'll need at least several hundred years of cultivation to reach martial uncle's level."
Zheng Peng rolled his eyes at him. "There you go crushing my confidence again."
Feng Biqing shouted, "The old bastard's too strong! Let's go!"
The two actually vanished into thin air.
Hou Pijing sneered. "Think you can leave? I haven't properly gotten close to you yet." Before his words faded, a thump rang out, and the two reappeared nearby.
The short, fat Tong Kong cried, "We admit defeat! You're an accomplished senior. Aren't you ashamed to hold a grudge against juniors like us?"
Hou Pijing said cheerfully, "No grudges. I won't kill you two bastards. I just want to get close to you and repay your kindness in chasing me so fiercely for ten years!"
Hou Pijing slowly walked over to them. To the four onlookers' surprise, he began pummeling and kicking the pair with a barrage of smacks and thuds, just like a street thug in a brawl. Every blow struck flesh, and he beat them to his heart's content.
In no time, both men lay sprawled on the ground like puddles of mud.
Without ceremony, Hou Pijing searched them and took a heap of things. Clapping his hands, he said, "Tell your sect leader I'll come calling sooner or later. Tell him to be ready. Now get lost!"
Li Qiang and the other three emerged, applauding. Mei Jingjing grinned and flattered him. "Senior Hou, your might commands awe in every direction! Such peerless valor! Those two villains couldn't even fight back. Niuniu admires you so much! Hehe!"
Hou Pijing shuddered. "Stop, stop buttering me up. You're the little villain. Think I don't know what you're thinking, little girl?"
All four laughed. Hou Pijing said, "Ah, I must have sinned in my last life to run into you little villains. This is for you, and this is for the dark-skinned boy."
Zhao Hao asked, "Martial uncle, where's mine?"
Li Qiang joined the fun. "Anything for me?"
Hou Pijing felt his head swell tenfold. Waving both hands, he said repeatedly, "Nothing left, nothing left! Those were the only valuable things those two had. There's nothing else. Ask for more and I'll have to pawn my underpants!"
Mei Jingjing and Zheng Peng had received storage belts, very practical items. Though inferior to Li Qiang's bracelet, they could still hold quite a lot.
Zhao Hao had received nothing, but he was not upset. After so many years roaming the martial world, he understood that having a master like Li Qiang already meant blue smoke was rising from his ancestors' graves. If Li Qiang had not been so clueless, who would have accepted an old man over seventy as a disciple?
Hou Pijing asked, "Brother, shall we head to the capital first?"
"Wonderful! We're going to the capital to have fun!" Mei Jingjing jumped for joy. These days of cultivation had left her terribly cooped up.
With Hou Pijing's teleportation, the five reached the capital with ease.
Once inside, Zhao Hao smiled. "Martial uncle, Master, please rest at my home first. Tomorrow I'll show you around the whole city."
Li Qiang hesitated briefly. "What do you think, old brother?"
Hou Pijing looked rather strange. Distractedly, he said, "It's changed so much. Oh, yes, let's go to your disciple's home."
Zhao Hao asked curiously, "Martial uncle, do you know this place?"
Hou Pijing sighed deeply. "Yes. I haven't been here for over forty years. There used to be a Qing's Oil Mill here. Now it's a pawnshop."
Li Qiang was deeply moved as well. He wondered what his hometown would look like by the time he could return to Earth.
They arrived at Zhao Hao's home. Mei Jingjing exclaimed, "Wow, so you're rich! Zhao's Treasure Silver and Gold Jewelry Shop-is this your jewelry shop?"
Zhao Hao smiled. "Yes. I'll have them bring out the best gold and silver jewelry for you to choose from."
Mei Jingjing said happily, "Really? But Niuniu doesn't have any money!"
Li Qiang laughed. "He wouldn't ask Niuniu for money."
The moment Zhao Hao entered, the entire jewelry shop fell into an uproar.
News of their disappearance from the Hundred Flavors Restaurant in Panshi Town had long since reached the shop. Several of Zhao Hao's children and grandchildren had rushed to the capital and sent many capable men searching along the road. Just as they were frantic, the group returned.
Once home, Zhao Hao assumed the authority of the family patriarch. He first settled everyone into the finest rooms, then had a lavish feast laid out in the reception hall, doing everything he could to entertain them.
Hou Pijing laughed. "I really envy this fellow, with so many children and grandchildren around him. I've got it rough-not a single true relative left."
Zhao Hao was a clever man. He immediately said, "Martial uncle, my family is your family. Whenever you return to the Gusong Kingdom, come to the jewelry shop at any time. We'll honor you properly."
A servant boy came in to announce, "Master Cheng requests an audience."
Cheng Zizhong cried as soon as he entered, "Oh, Lord Li, you scared this old scholar half to death! We waited two whole days in Panshi Town. Ah, if you hadn't come, I would have had to throw myself into the river!" He thought, Thank heaven! If you'd run away, His Majesty would have had my head.
Seeing Hou Pijing in the seat of honor, Cheng Zizhong asked in surprise, "And this gentleman is...?" He recognized the old man who had snatched the wine at a glance. Why was he with Li Qiang's group?
Li Qiang introduced them. "He's my old brother. Old brother, this is Cheng Zizhong, Old Scholar Cheng."
Cheng Zizhong hastily said, "My respects, old sir."
Hou Pijing snorted. "Enough." He looked utterly disdainful.
Cheng Zizhong thought, What airs! If not for Lord Li, who would bother with a shabby old man like you? A hint of displeasure showed on his face.
Li Qiang smiled faintly. "Please sit, old scholar." He added, "Am I supposed to see His Majesty? When should I go?"
Cheng Zizhong replied, "Yes. Tomorrow morning would be best, Lord Li. I'll accompany you into the palace."
Mei Jingjing was unhappy. "Brother, why go to the palace? Niuniu wants to go shopping tomorrow. If you go to the palace, how are we supposed to have fun?"
Zhao Hao interjected, "Don't worry, Niuniu. I'll take everyone tomorrow. There are plenty of fun places in the capital. We can take our time. Master will be back soon after seeing His Majesty."
"All right, all right. Brother, hurry back after seeing His Majesty. Niuniu will wait for you." Helpless, Mei Jingjing asked, "Senior Hou, are you coming with us tomorrow too?" The little girl feared too few people would make things dull.
Hou Pijing shook his head. "I'll accompany my brother to the palace tomorrow. You go enjoy yourselves first."
Cheng Zizhong asked in astonishment, "How can you enter the palace without an imperial summons?"
Hou Pijing's gaze swept over Cheng Zizhong like a knife. "I've never needed any summons to enter the palace. If I weren't accompanying my brother, I wouldn't even care to go."
Under that gaze, Cheng Zizhong could not help trembling inwardly.
He could not quite fathom this shabby old man. Just what did this fellow do, with his constant swagger and such coarse speech? He thought, Whatever. The guards at the palace gates will stop him.
Cheng Zizhong was extremely smooth in his dealings. He smiled. "Of course. Since you wish to go, old sir, the three of us will enter the palace together tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Li Qiang and his two companions arrived at the palace gates on time.
Cheng Zizhong handed the imperial decree to the gate guard. The guard knelt to read it, then rose. "Lord Cheng, Lord Li, please enter!"
Hou Pijing followed them inside. Several guards stepped forward to block him, shouting, "Unauthorized persons may not enter! Halt!"
Cheng Zizhong secretly laughed. Let's see how you handle this.
Hou Pijing sneered. "Dogs' eyes looking down on people. Catch!" A token shot from his hand.
The guards caught it and took a look, then all dropped to their knees with a thud.
Silence fell over the palace gates. One guard turned and sprinted into the palace.
The guard holding the token kowtowed respectfully, raising the small token in both hands. With the utmost reverence, he said, "The second-class, fourth-rank captain of the armed guards leads the guards in respectfully welcoming the Great Wisdom Prince of Majestic Sainthood!"
Cheng Zizhong nearly collapsed with fright and dropped to his knees with a thud as well. Of course he knew who the Great Wisdom Prince of Majestic Sainthood was, but he had never imagined it would be the shabby old man who had come with him.
Hou Pijing was a true imperial kinsman of the Gusong Kingdom. Originally named Zhao Yue, he had been given the name Hou Pijing by his master. In his youth, he had relinquished the throne to pursue cultivation, letting his younger brother ascend and inherit the imperial succession. He had thus been made the foremost imperial kinsman and granted the title Great Wisdom Prince of Majestic Sainthood.
To better pursue cultivation, he had followed his master to Bada Star. When he returned home with accomplishments in cultivation, he discovered that the passage of time had changed everything beyond recognition.
To protect his homeland, he had helped the Gusong Kingdom through crises many times, giving him an extremely exalted standing there. However, he had not returned to the palace in over forty years.
Taking back the token, Hou Pijing said, "All of you, rise." He grinned and winked at Li Qiang, transmitting his voice. "Well, brother? What do you think?"
Li Qiang was quite astonished too. He had never imagined the man was some sort of prince. He transmitted back, "Say, you aren't an impostor, are you? It won't be funny if you're exposed."
Hou Pijing transmitted, "What's worth impersonating about this? I don't give a damn about it."
A eunuch emerged from the palace, drawing out his words in a drake-like voice. "His Majesty approaches..."
Cheng Zizhong was inwardly vexed. He had missed such a fine chance to grow close to him yesterday. Hou Pijing's remark about dogs' eyes looking down on people had truly hit home. At the same time, he secretly rejoiced that he had not offended the old gentleman yesterday.
The imperial palanquin stopped at the palace gates. The emperor descended and, supported by a eunuch on either side, approached Hou Pijing with a broad smile.
Wherever the emperor passed, the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids standing nearby knelt together like grass bent by the wind.
"Imperial grandsire, you look just as you always did. You haven't changed at all. After more than forty years apart, you've finally returned to the palace. I've missed you dearly." The emperor's tone was exceedingly warm.
Kneeling on the ground, Cheng Zizhong thought, Without the prince's support over forty years ago, His Majesty could never have taken the throne. Naturally, he treats him differently.
Hou Pijing did not have to kneel. He belonged to an ancestral generation of the Gusong Kingdom's imperial clan; even the emperor had to salute him.
Though Li Qiang knew one was supposed to kneel before an emperor, his upbringing had included no such custom, so he stood still beside Hou Pijing.
Hou Pijing smiled. "Hehe, seeing Your Majesty's face glowing with health makes me happy too. But if not for this brother of mine, I wouldn't have returned to the palace just yet."
Everyone was utterly terrified. In all their years serving in the palace, they had never heard anyone speak with such swagger before the emperor. Cheng Zizhong thought Hou Pijing had actually been quite polite to him yesterday.
The emperor knew this old ancestor all too well and knew he had always been like this. Glancing at Li Qiang, he smiled. "I never imagined the young hero who displayed such might in Hanlin City was Imperial Grandsire's brother. Splendid!" He thought, No wonder he speaks the imperial court dialect. So that's why. Li Qiang would have a hard time explaining away this misunderstanding.
Hearing the emperor address him, Li Qiang found himself in a quandary. He did not really understand court etiquette.
After a moment's hesitation, Li Qiang suddenly remembered television dramas he had watched and immediately had an idea. He stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands. "This commoner, Li Qiang, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Cheng Zizhong inwardly groaned. He had intended to have Li Qiang learn etiquette at the Ministry of Rites before his audience. He had never expected the emperor to come personally to the palace gates to welcome the prince, catching him completely unprepared. If His Majesty blamed him, he would have no way to explain his suffering.
Hou Pijing laughed. "Your Majesty, my brother doesn't understand these rules. Don't make things difficult for him."
The emperor smiled too. "Very well. Imperial grandsire, let us talk inside. There are some matters on which I would like your opinion."
Led by two pairs of eunuchs and palace maids, with the imperial palanquin following, the grand procession arrived at the emperor's study.
Li Qiang looked up at the plaque. Its three large characters read "Rain-Listening Pavilion," written in excellent Slender Gold script, the strokes firm and powerful.
After they were granted seats, Hou Pijing, who had the least patience for imperial etiquette, transmitted, "Your Majesty, did you summon my brother because you want him to join the Attendant Hall? Let me tell you first: his sect is the Chongxuan Sect, and Fu Chongbi is his elder brother. If you can recruit him into the Gusong Kingdom, hehe, our future relations with the Great Han Kingdom... you understand, don't you?"
Unable to transmit his voice, the emperor nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was thrilled.
Imperial Grandsire still cared about his homeland. As emperor, he understood better than anyone what Fu Chongbi and the Chongxuan Sect meant.
Fu Shan's standing in the Great Han Kingdom was roughly equivalent to Hou Pijing's in the Gusong Kingdom. He was revered as the "guardian god of the kingdom." This important information, deliberately disclosed by Imperial Grandsire, immediately gave the emperor an idea.
His tone grew even gentler as he smiled. "My worthy subject Li, you saved countless commoners in Hanlin City and wounded En Gang, commander of the Black Banner Army, causing them to withdraw. Such achievements deserve a generous reward. Attend me! Send word to the Privy Council: Li Qiang is hereby appointed a first-rank Attendant, with the rank of Tiger Might General, and special permission not to bow at court."
Li Qiang was truly dizzy. He had somehow become an official without knowing why. Looking at Hou Pijing, he stammered, "Well... that..."
Hou Pijing was an old fox. Before Li Qiang could recover, he said, "Brother, serving in the Attendant Hall is easy. You can do whatever you like. No court attendance, and you draw a salary. Where else could you find such a good deal? Accept the decree!" He secretly delighted in it.
Still muddled, Li Qiang said, "Li Qiang accepts the decree."
The emperor's anxious heart immediately settled. Greatly pleased, he added, "Grant him a Tiger Might General's official residence, an estate, one thousand taels of gold, and ten bottles of imperial wine."
Li Qiang's jaw dropped in astonishment. He had never encountered anything like this in his life, much less such lavish rewards.
Cheng Zizhong stood to one side with his hands lowered, equally astonished. As the Gusong Kingdom's Wind-Patrolling Envoy, he could be counted among the emperor's trusted confidants, yet he had never seen His Majesty reward anyone so generously.
Hou Pijing interjected, "My princely residence has stood empty all these years, and I can't be bothered to go there. Leaving it unused is a waste. Why not give it to my brother as his official residence?"
Startled, the emperor hurriedly said, "No, no! Imperial Grandsire's residence is incomparably exalted. How would I dare bestow it on anyone?"
Hou Pijing glared. "If I say it's fine, it's fine. Even if the house goes to my brother, can't I still use it?"
Helpless, the emperor smiled wryly. "As you wish. As you wish-will that do?"
Hearing Hou Pijing's swaggering words one after another truly frightened Cheng Zizhong. He thought, The prince is far too disrespectful. No wonder I couldn't imagine who he was at the jewelry shop.
Li Qiang was pondering too. As the saying goes, no reward without merit. My little contribution in Hanlin City doesn't deserve such rewards. Does he value me as a cultivator and want me to fight his wars? No, that doesn't fit either. If the palace could produce an expert as powerful as Hou Pijing, it can't lack other accomplished people. Then why? No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand.
A eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, the Litang Kingdom's special envoy requests an audience."
The emperor said, "Take him to Yihe Hall to wait. Summon the Privy Council commissioner, the minister of war, and the minister of rites." He then waved everyone else out. Li Qiang was about to leave too, but Hou Pijing kept him there. Only the three remained in the study.
The emperor said, "Imperial grandsire, relations with the Litang Kingdom have been very strained lately. War may break out. Fortunately, your arrival has put my mind much more at ease. Please advise me."
Hou Pijing said, "Your Majesty knows that cultivation experts aren't allowed to take part in wars between the countries of the Green Basin. You must decide what exactly to do yourself. At most, I can offer advice. It isn't appropriate for me to take the lead."
The emperor smiled bitterly. "Yes, I understand."
There was an unwritten rule in the cultivation world: on any planet, cultivation experts were forbidden to participate in wars between local countries. Their destructive power was simply too great; such conflicts would badly sap both sides' strength. If a cultivation expert directly joined a war, it would bring punishment from the cultivation world as a whole.
The emperor sighed. "The Litang Kingdom's special envoy has already entered the palace. If these negotiations fail, I'm afraid-ah!"
Li Qiang asked curiously, "What caused the dispute with the Litang Kingdom?"
Hou Pijing's eyes lit up. He gave the emperor a meaningful look, secretly gestured with his mouth, and discreetly pointed at Li Qiang.
The emperor paused, but he too had an exquisitely perceptive mind and immediately understood. Here was a ready-made negotiator. Someone backed by Fu Shan and the Great Han Kingdom could not be more suitable for negotiations. Used skillfully, he could equal a million mighty soldiers.
The emperor burst into delighted laughter.
Li Qiang had no idea Hou Pijing had sold him out, and was even smiling as he helped count the money.