Chapter 113: You May Call Upon My Divine Name, Upper Abyss Water Origin
“This nap, surprisingly only half a shichen?”
Dim moonlight flowed in like water through the leaks in the rice barn.
Chen Shun’an slowly awoke, opened his eyes, with sharp light in his gaze, feeling completely refreshed, as if he had slept his fill and was invigorated.
Surging qi and blood nearly burst forth, consciousness robust, the spiritual sense depletion from slaying the ear thief fully compensated, even further strengthened.
“The reason I only slept half a shichen is that I only need half a shichen of sleep to recover from fatigue, nourish spirit and replenish!”
Chen Shun’an abruptly stood up, feeling this body that seemed a few years younger, filled with surprise.
“Moreover, if I drink Calming Water long-term, it seems I can fall asleep instantly? In the gaps of walking, eating, or even queuing to scoop water, in just a dozen breaths, I can steal a deep sleep?”
Chen Shun’an muttered a couple times, his expression somewhat strange.
This is too intense!
Do you think I’m old and drowsy?
I am the immortal in dreams!
Sleeping only half a shichen each day suffices to nourish spirit, strengthen power, recover state, and continue fiercely practicing martial arts!
Chen Shun’an further realized the terrifying, almost perverse value of Ran Yi Calming Water to other martial artists.
“No, must dilute it, the full Ran Yi Water effect is too shocking…”
“The remaining Si He Fu Shi Mu is enough for two more sessions of practice. Equals one session burning fifty taels of silver, probably another seven or eight times, another two hundred plus taels of silver, then thoroughly slay the ear thief, step into Slay Four Thieves realm.”
“Heh, other martial artists, even those with exceptional talent, slaying one of the six thieves takes months to nourish spirit, recover, adjust state. But with sufficient resources, I can climb to the peak repeatedly in the shortest time.”
“Chen Mou is the true Heavenly Pride!”
Chen Shun’an nodded in satisfaction, feeling his future was promising.
He practiced a bit more, and when the sky slightly brightened, quickly left the rice barn and returned to Chaodou Hutong.
……
After breakfast, everything packed properly, telling Wan Niang that craftsmen would come today to plaster and repair walls, then Chen Shun’an went out on duty.
It was early autumn, north wind sweeping the ground, yellow leaves battering the eaves.
Passing Vegetable Market Intersection, Chen Shun’an saw crowds of commoners gathered in layers inside and out.
A bloody stench mixed with dust hit his face, carrying a smell of rust, along with the lingering intent of a first-rate expert.
Chen Shun’an frowned, like the others, squeezed into the crowd, looking inside.
He saw several bailiffs in training brave jackets, holding sabres, eyes cold, standing before a temporary wooden rack.
Several corpses bound at ankles with straw ropes, hung upside down from the rack, covered in bloodstains, no longer human-shaped.
Chen Shun’an’s gaze swept over, suddenly noticing the headless corpse in the middle, pupils contracting sharply, waves of shock surging in his heart!
That was…
The Xin Character Hall Master of Guo Lu Society he met yesterday at Chaodou Martial Arts School?
How could it be?
Dead?!
Bai Manlou and the others, joining hands for jailbreak, actually failed?
Chen Shun’an was somewhat stunned.
On the notice board beside the rack was posted a wanted notice—
Ministry of Justice for reward capture of jailbreak rebels: On the fifth of the eighth month this year, Guo Lu bandits armed assaulted Patrol Inspector’s prison, plotting to free honored prisoner Jin Li Wu.
Officers fought fiercely, killed several bandits, but ringleader Bai Manlou led remnants to flee.
This criminal is from Sichuan in Zhili… Slayer of ringleader rewarded two thousand taels of silver, Ninth Rank military merit official document… Slayer of accomplices rewarded one thousand taels of silver… Informants of Guo Lu hideouts also rewarded.
“Jin Troupe Leader died miserably, such a good man, implicated by a gang of bandits, ending up exposed in the market!”
“Pah! A bunch of lawless, fatherless, motherless rebels!”
“Sigh, these damn Guo Lu Society folks, before they came Wuqing County was peaceful, after they came it’s panic everywhere, sinful!”
“Don’t say that, Guo Lu Society are all first-class Great Heroes, saving people from water and fire, from dire straits, haven’t you heard of Hibiscus Paste Fire? Without them, this world would be done for long ago.”
“What damn Paste Fire, I haven’t seen it, can’t afford it, what does it have to do with me? I only know they harmed my shop, closed for days, lost a lot of silver!”
“Dead without a whole corpse, dying far from home, sigh, miserable.”
The commoners whispered, discussing animatedly.
Chen Shun’an expression wooden, standing in place.
His eyesight extremely sharp, even fly wing patterns dozens of zhang away clear as day.
At this moment he could see, on that decapitated corpse’s neck stump, still congealed purple-black blood clots, skin, tendons, and bones, the cut not clean, even shriveled skin draped over it.
Seemed like torn off the head by a massive force.
Chen Shun’an sensed a obscure, extremely chilling strength from the corpse.
While Xin Character Hall Master’s head was in a willow basket, eyes not closed, staring at this autumn dim sky.
A great hero in life, in death like meat hung for sale.
“From the look, should be a Slay Three Thieves expert proficient in fist and claw skills, struck boldly, killed in one blow… But I haven’t heard of any chief constable recently at Patrol Inspector’s, could it be from infantry camp or Tongzhou City commander?”
Chen Shun’an quickly analyzed Xin Character Hall Master’s cause of death.
He could faintly sense, near the vegetable market, many latent breaths hidden in various places, carrying deep killing intent.
The government offices probably ambushed men in secret long ago, using Xin Character Hall Master’s corpse as bait to lure remaining Guo Lu Society heroes to act…
Seize the corpse!
Seeing this, a chill flashed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes.
His expression unchanged, he followed the crowd flow, left Vegetable Market Intersection, headed to Grit Well for duty.
Chen Shun’an could only hope Bai Manlou and others rational, not do moth-to-flame stupidity for companion’s corpse.
But…
Liver and gall pierced, hairs standing on end. In casual talk, share life and death, a promise worth a thousand gold.
So-called heroes, unrestrained, eccentric tastes, yet all harbor Sincere Heart.
The answer seemed already destined.
……
Master Li was about to die.
Chen Shun’an shouldered turbid water into Li Mansion, immediately sensing the oppressive suffocating air.
Gate-guarding A Da and A Er, eyes red and swollen, faces sorrowful.
Passing maidservants, eyes on nose tips, holding breath heads down, not daring loud speech.
Steward Zhao barely smiled at Chen Shun’an, led him to the courtyard water vat.
Passing main hall, Chen Shun’an saw Master Li, in most dignified purple sable robe, leaning on century-old huanghuali Grand Tutor’s Chair, sitting like a withered mountain.
His eyes slightly closed, breathing heavy like broken bellows, each inhale like laboriously lifting from deep pool bottom, each exhale carrying faint rotten wood scent.
Good difficulty pooling money for merchant ship, but trusted wrong person, betrayed by young-time friend.
Master Li’s heart energy burned away clean by that heavenly thunder two months ago, that big fire.
He already nearly half a month without sleep.
Once eyes closed, seemed to see Money Dragon Head’s disgusting yet enthusiastic face, that merchant ship buried in sea of fire.
Nearly turned to nightmare, tossing turning, waking in terror.
He now nearly oil exhausted lamp dry, intent collapsing.
Under corridor steps, deathly silent.
Main room yet crammed with people.
Master Li’s eldest son, second master, fourth master, several aunts… Li Family children scattered everywhere.
All these days like nesting swallows, or grieved, or panicked, or hiding expectation, gathered in this deathly main hall.
At this moment all gazing complexly at that soon-to-cool body.
And from time to time warily eyeing each other’s faces.
Everyone waiting.
Both grief and revelry.
Chen Shun’an said: “Divine Doctor Li also no way?”
Steward Zhao eyes dimmed, sighed: “Incurable by medicine or stone. Divine Doctor Li said pulse like roof leak pecked by sparrows, divine light scattered, beyond mortal salvation.”
Chen Shun’an narrowed eyes, slowly said: “Aren’t there still two merchant ships left?”
Steward Zhao half-crying half-laughing: “After that incident, even Nanhai Twelve Guilds Lu Family’s eldest young master died miserably in Bewitching Bay… Who dares do business with Li Family? Merchant ships all stopped at Jindu Port, idle, crew etc. all dismissed.”
Steward Zhao speaking, looked at those choking yet hard-to-hide wild ambition faces in main room, said,
“They’re all waiting for Master to breathe last, read will, divide family property, especially that《Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand》 true cultivation manual, Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual…”
Chen Shun’an silent.
With Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual, it’s a hen laying golden eggs, sell family true skill every few days, hundreds of taels income.
This interest enough to make many eyes red.
“However…”
Steward Zhao mouth curved up, sarcasm laughed: “Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual, Master already decided secretly give to Yi Yan. This child mature beyond years, good at core, plus exceptional talent, passing Li Mansion’s true skill mantle to him, not wasted.”
At this, Steward Zhao glanced at Chen Shun’an’s aged face, hesitated to speak.
If Chen Shun’an thirty years younger, Master Li might pass mantle to Chen Shun’an.
Steward Zhao took from bosom a somewhat mottled yellowed scroll.
“This is…”
“Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual. Master instructed, let you visualize, no charge.”
Steward Zhao smiled, said: “Consider repayment for your Blessed Water gift.”
Chen Shun’an cupped fists then took scroll, suddenly said,
“Does Brother Zhao know, these decades, how many martial artists in your mansion practiced Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand? Sold how many times? Any list?”
“This…”
Steward Zhao frowned said:
“From Master Li’s generation down, including several direct lines, branch families, not few, plus brought-in disciples, even more. Probably only ask Master. But now Master consciousness fuzzy, few lucid times, probably no heart or strength…”
Chen Shun’an nodded, said no more, found a step to sit, began visualizing the Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual in hand.
Steward Zhao stood by side.
Moments later, Chen Shun’an returned Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual, drifted away.
Steward Zhao though puzzled why Chen Shun’an visualized just a bit then quit, but at this juncture, no mind to ask more.
“Old Chen self-aware, knows when to stop, lest intent burdened, also good.”
Steward Zhao thought darkly, looked toward main hall, bottom of heart surged boundless sorrow and powerlessness.
Hero’s twilight, nothing more than this.
……
Night like ink, thoroughly swallowed Wuqing County’s last sky light.
Like clay sculpture, sitting at main room head Master Li, as if waking from dream, propped on crutch, slowly stood.
“Dad, I support you…”
“Scram! I Li Shicheng qi and blood not cold yet, need you this unfilial son support?”
Li Shicheng like a sick tiger, eyes glowing cold, as if putting all his spirit into eye sockets to burn.
Hall below crowd, none dared meet his gaze.
Li Shicheng steps unsteady, each landing like stepping on cloud wisps, heavy yet nowhere to root, slowly toward bedroom.
Steward Zhao silently followed behind.
Back to that familiar bedroom, Li Shicheng as if used his last strength, arduously climbed onto bed.
Incense cage burning precious agarwood, trying dispel lingering death scent, yet only mixed into sweet cloying suffocating smell.
“Oh, little Zhao…”
Seeing Steward Zhao, Li Shicheng dazed, vaguely recalled something, voice suddenly full of vigor,
“That kid Chen Shun’an, saw the transformation manual?”
Li Shicheng over eighty, full two cycles older than Chen Shun’an, calling him ‘kid’ no fault.
Steward Zhao warmly said: “Saw. Half incense stick time.”
“Hahahaha…”
Li Shicheng laughed, said: “I knew, that kid covets our family’s true skill, really give him, can he understand?!”
“Back then insisted I teach him Coiling Silk Hand, full two months passed, three days fishing two days drying nets, no progress!”
“Fine, day after tomorrow when he comes, let him look two more times, lest say I Li Shicheng stingy!”
Steward Zhao said: “Understood.”
“Alright, you withdraw, I not dying yet! No matter what, must drag more days for that kid Yi Yan.”
Passing family mantle to an outsider, once Li Shicheng dies, matter exposed, Yi Yan absolutely becomes target.
After all, he only a Zuoling’s illegitimate son.
Steward Zhao slowly left.
Room inside, only one eternal lamp flickering on bedside lamp stand.
Heaven and earth dead silent.
Li Shicheng even clearly felt, within body that rapidly flowing vitality.
Aging and death, heaven-earth iron law.
None can escape.
Li Shicheng’s turbid, nearly unable-to-open eyeballs, strenuously turning, sweeping bed canopy intricate carvings.
He unwilling.
He dies, vast Li Family no more first-rate experts, remaining unfilial sons each hiding ambitions, none useful.
Family foundation, how can end in his hands?
His mind flashed countless young times scenes.
Youthful spirit, golden drums iron horses, inherit Family Head, grandchildren around knees, extend Li Family decades more lifespan.
Occasionally got Chen Shun’an pointer, rouse last heroic courage, stake life one fight, yet trusted wrong, all hopes down the drain.
A deep helplessness, like ice water immersed Li Shicheng’s bit unwilling embers.
Perhaps, my this lifetime, just like this?
Li Shicheng’s turbid gaze gradually scattered, could no longer see those representing Li Family glory ornate objects.
He unwilling, yet helplessly stepped into eternal night.
Suddenly, time seemed abruptly frozen.
Flickering flames, fixed mid-air.
Wind seeping outside window, even Master Li’s about-to-congeal blood flow sounds, all fallen into stagnation.
An indescribable, vast as star sea, desolate as great abyss voice, coldly rang in Li Shicheng’s mind—
“Do you wish to live?”
Merely few words, yet like great bell toll, shocked Li Shicheng’s scattered consciousness abruptly clear!
Li Shicheng somewhat dazed, thin intent instinctively trembled, prostrated, like dust gazing at firmament.
“You are?”
That voice silent a moment, then said,
“You may call me by divine name, Upper Abyss Water Origin.”
