Stranger Danger

“The Endlessly Durable Water is a type of water, but it is tougher than steel and harder than stone. They call it water that is comparable to metal. Hence, the people call it the Endlessly Durable Water.”

Feng Qingyou continued her explanation, “The Thousand Frost Fire is an icy fire. Fire is hot, but the Thousand Frost Fire is colder than even thousand-year ice. It freezes anything it makes contact with burns the mind.”

“Finally, the Dustless Earth is an extremely rare type of soil. Earth is one of the elements in the Five Phases, and as you are well aware, earth is heavy and dense. However, the Dustless Earth is as light as a feather. Assuming there exists a mountain range that is completely made up of Dustless Earth, it is still only as heavy as a speck of dust.”

“The dust in our world is heavy, and it is only a matter of quantity before it becomes heavy. However, the Dustless Earth defies that natural law. That is why the people call it the Dustless Earth or alternatively, the Sinkless Earth. Both refer to a type of soil that possesses no weight whatsoever.”

“Do such items really exist in this world?”

Ye Qing couldn’t help but raise an incredulous eyebrow when he listened to Feng Qingyou until the end. Sure, this world was big and endlessly strange, but still, some of the items she described still sounded too farfetched to exist.

I don’t read many books. If you trick me, the guilt is on your conscience!

“Of course they do.” Feng Qingyou smiled. “The Finger Ring Metal, Lightning Struck Wood, Endlessly Durable Water, Thousand Frost Fire, and Dustless Earth are all items that possess a pair of opposing elements. When put together, they either promote or suppress another element. In the case of a promotion, one will gain yin and yang. In the case of a suppression, one will gain yang and yin. Yin and yang are like one, and yang and yin eventually return to the origin; the nothing.”

“To put it in simpler terms, obtaining these five items will cure the soul poison, heal my mental injuries, and assist me in understanding the miracles of yin and yang and the truths of Primal Chaos.”

“No wonder they say that the world is a big and marvelous place.” Ye Qing sighed before promising her. “Just leave this to me. I’m the king of item collection.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration. With the Annon Sutra in his hand, there was nothing and no one in this world he couldn’t find.

“I trust you,” Feng Qingyou replied simply. She did not ask how he planned to find the items. She simply smiled as if she had full confidence in him.

“Oh right, I almost forgot. Are you sure that Chen Cang is dead, Joyless?” Feng Qingyou suddenly changed the subject.

“Why do you ask?” Ye Qing raised a curious eyebrow.

Feng Qingyou replied indifferently, “A man who can come up with such a scheme is usually well prepared and capable of planning three steps ahead. I don’t think that such a man would perish this easily.”

“Haha, is that what you think?” Ye Qing chuckled. “Well, you’re right. He is still alive.”

“Now, normally I would hate to leave a foe alive, but in this case, it’s better for us.”

“Oh? It sounds like you already have a plan,” Feng Qingyou said smilingly.

A devilish smirk spread across his lips. “Theoretically speaking, all truths in this world can be twisted by a silver tongue. He thought he could frame me, but who says I can’t do the same?”

“Ah, you plan to treat him to a taste of his own medicine. It is a good plan.” Feng Qingyou figured out his plan instantly.

“That’s not all I’m planning to do. I’m going to make him bear the brunt of the Dragonmount Duke’s attention and buy as much time for us as possible,” Ye Qing answered.

“That will not be easy,” Feng Qingyou pointed out.

“Again, don’t worry. I already have a plan!” Ye Qing declared confidently.

“I look forward to it.” Feng Qingyou returned a smile that warmed the spring wind.

……

Fire Dragon Mountain was a tall mountain over hundreds of meters in height. It was also a barren wasteland devoid of plants and creatures. The only thing that existed here was a massive inferno that burned all year long.

From time to time, what sounded like a draconic’s roar would erupt from the mountains and intimidate everything within fifty kilometers of the mountain. That was why it was called the Fire Dragon Mountain.

Today, a man and a woman arrived at the foot of Fire Dragon Mountain.

The woman was tall, slender, and dressed in black. She was also wearing a bronze half-face mask. Strangely, her exposed face was covered in black dragon scales, and her eyes were vertical slits that resembled a reptile’s, cold and emotionless. She was a Trueman.

The man was a Half-Step Trueman, but he was dragging his feet behind the woman. His face was pale and completely covered in sweat. It was impossible to say if his reaction was due to fear or the surrounding temperature.

The woman clasped her hands in salute and declared, “Disciple Xin Mieqing (Burned Emotions) requests a meeting, master.”

The man behind her hurriedly did the same and bent his back, his face carefully arranged into an expression of respectfulness and caution.

One breath, ten breaths, a hundred breaths passed… but there was no response. The only sound that could be heard throughout the entire Fire Dragon Mountain was the flames. It was as if the woman had just wasted her breath, and there was presently no one on the mountain.

Xin Mieqing paid it no heed, however. She maintained her posture without moving a muscle or showing any impatience on her face.

Since Xin Mieqing wasn’t moving, the man didn’t dare to move either. He allowed his sweat to roll freely down his face and drench his shirt.

A teatime or so later, something finally happened. Fire began rising from the peak of Fire Dragon Mountain.

The next moment, a thick pillar of flames shot into the sky and formed a gigantic, fiery cloud that seemed to blot out the heavens itself. It looked like it could crush an entire city and burn everything in an instant.

The man was stunned to put it mildly. Just when he thought he would burn into a crisp, the fiery cloud abruptly stopped in its tracks. It churned for a bit before the humongous, gnarly head of a dragon emerged from the clouds.

It was only now the man realized that the Fire Dragon Mountain wasn’t a mountain at all. It was a dragon that was coiled up like a snake. It was just so big that anyone who didn’t know the truth would think that it was a mountain.

As the dragon’s head approached, the earth shook incessantly, and draconic pressure so thick it felt like a tangible object pressed down on the world like a blanket. Unable to withstand it, the man hit the ground with a thud and stayed there, trembling.

“Why have you come to me, Mieqing?” the dragon stared at the duo for a bit before asking. Its voice was so loud that it spread far, far into the horizon and cowered every living being who heard it.

“My apologies for disturbing your rest, master.” Xin Mieqing saluted the dragon and said, “I have an urgent matter to report to you.”

“Did something happen to my son?” The dragon asked.

“Your wisdom knows no bounds, master. That is exactly correct.” Xin Mieqing said indifferently, “Junior brother Weilong has been killed by someone.”

“I had been feeling strangely anxious for the past two days, almost as if something bad was about to happen. Now, I know that it is not just a feeling.”

The dragon was none other than the Dragonmount Duke. At first glance, he did not seem saddened nor angered by Xiang Weilong’s death. It was only by looking into the churning flames that one would realize the true depths of his fury and killing intent.

“Who is the one who killed my son?”

“It seems to be one Joyless Ye, a Grandmaster,” Xin Mieqing answered.

“Are you sure?” Dragonmount Duke pressed.

“Before junior brother Weilong left on his mission, he left behind a letter claiming that a friend had invited him to intercept and kill Joyless Ye. However, he never returned. Even if Joyless Ye wasn’t the one who slew him, the role he played in junior brother Weilong’s death cannot be overlooked[1],” Xin Mieqing replied.

“Where is the letter?” Dragonmount Duke asked.

For the first time, the man on the ground spoke up with a tremor in his voice, “It… it’s with this humble one, my lord.”

The man produced a letter from his shirt. As soon as he held it out, it automatically slipped out of his grasp and flew into the cloud of fire, burning into a crisp.

“Mm. This is definitely my son’s handwriting.” Dragonmount Duke asked, “And who are you?”

The man stammered, “I-I am the steward of Weilong Villa, Xiang Chong.”

“Were you the one who discovered this letter?” Dragonmount Duke asked.

“Y-Yes,” Xiang Chong said carefully, “I found this letter while I was cleaning up his study.”

“Mm. Well done,” Dragonmount Duke praised him.

“T-Thank you, my lord,” Xiang Chong responded with a hint of astonishment and relief. He wasn’t expecting to be complimented by the duke.

Alas, he was relieved too soon. “But why are you still alive when my son is dead?”

“W-What?”

Dragonmount Duke looked down on Xiang Chong. “You are his steward, but you failed to protect him. Since my son is dead, it is only right that you accompany him in the afterlife, no?”

“N-No! Please! My lord! Mercy! Mer—”

Terrified, Xiang Chong dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. Unfortunately, it was useless. Dragonmount Duke opened his mouth and inhaled him before he could even finish pleading.

Dragonmount Duke returned his attention to Xin Mieqing after swallowing Xiang Chong. “Have you looked into the killer’s background?”

“Yes, the investigation is already complete. A body-tempering Grandmaster, Joyless Ye is a wanderer from Chu with no sect or clan to call to his name. A few days ago, he cooperated with Wen Anran, disciple of the True Lord of the World, to slay the three goddesses of Goddess City and kill Duanmu Longhua. He is quite the powerful warrior,” Xin Mieqing answered.

“Weilong must have coveted the treasures of Goddess City and tried to rob Joyless Ye. Unfortunately, he proved wanting and was killed for his troubles,” Dragonmount Duke deduced in an even tone.

“Your wisdom knows no bounds, master. That is correct,” Xin Mieqing responded.

“Greed is good, but greed that isn’t backed by absolute power is foolishness.”

Dragonmount Duke said coldly, “Still, he is my son, and someone must pay for it. Mieqing, declare a Dragonmount Order and command the jianghu to capture my son’s killer—dead or alive.”

“Those who instigated my son into action should die as well. My son is dead, so why should they stay alive?”

“Finally, kill everyone in Weilong Villa. My son must have a fitting burial.”

“As you command, master.”

1. Basically the same thing that happened with Chu Wangsun. ☜