Chapter 216: Life Like Striking Stone To Spark Fire
Red Fifth Master spoke in a rapid stream, explaining meticulously, as if he had already devised a plan to deal with the situation over the past few days.
It’s just…
Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou exchanged glances, then looked back at Red Fifth Master in unison.
Their expressions were complex, their demeanors strange, and they seemed to want to speak but stopped themselves.
“What is it?” Red Fifth Master frowned.
The two didn’t say much more. Xiao Qingchou silently took out a thread-bound book with a rough texture from his embrace, which seemed to be some commentary on martial arts, with notes casually scribbled in it.
Xiao Qingchou wordlessly handed it over.
Red Fifth Master, finding it somewhat strange, took the book and casually opened it—
His movements paused, his gaze sharpened, and after a slight hesitation, his entire face nearly pressed against the book.
After a long while, a sharp intake of breath sounded. Red Fifth Master looked at the two with some excitement, even losing his composure, and said,
“Where did you find this book? And who wrote it? This, this is simply a strategy for martial arts enlightenment, a masterstroke that is almost Dao itself! If I had obtained this book back then, I probably would have slain the five thieves long ago!”
Red Fifth Master immediately recognized the value of this commentary.
It was beneficial not only for the present but also for posterity.
Regardless of what martial arts, cultivation methods, fist techniques, palm techniques, finger techniques, movement techniques, hardening techniques, weapons, or combat methods one practiced, this commentary would provide enlightenment, pointing directly to the essence of the martial path.
Red Fifth Master eagerly looked at Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou.
Xiao Qingchou’s expression remained normal as he said, “This commentary was written by Chen Shun’an, who lived with us in Chaodou Hutong and worked at the water station.”
Bai Manlou, composed as ever, continued, “He is that mysterious expert who has repeatedly helped us. Ah, the very person you just mentioned, who could be sacrificed along with everyone else.”
Red Fifth Master was stunned.
His expression flickered, and he stood there blankly, feeling that everything before his eyes and in his ears was unreal.
He, Red Fifth Master, had naturally heard of Chen Shun’an, that man in his fifties.
But he could never connect the ordinarily cautious and unremarkable water carrier, who merely had a stroke of luck and was a late bloomer, with the divine, elusive grandmaster he imagined, whose every move was decisive.
The crucial point was that Chen Shun’an was only at the third-rate realm three months ago!
In just three months, he had slain at least four thieves?
This…
Was he even human?!
Master Tie Yu wasn’t much different in his time, was he?
Ah, no, Chen Shun’an was older.
Fortunately, fortunately, a strange thought surfaced in his mind.
Fortunately, Chen Shun’an was fifty years old, even two years older than himself, otherwise, Red Fifth Master would have been truly awestruck.
He was older than me, so his achievements are natural.
Thinking this way, Red Fifth Master felt somewhat better.
However, Chen Shun’an was in seclusion.
Could he be trying to slay the fifth thief?
If his seclusion was successful, coupled with the use of the Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon and all other means, they might be enough to heavily injure or even kill Tian Xuan Saint?
Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou, who had been suppressing their emotions and closely observing Red Fifth Master’s reaction, finally revealed smiles.
Even Red Fifth Master was so shocked, it was natural for us to lose our composure that day.
It balances out, it balances out.
Red Fifth Master, knowing their subtle thoughts, gave them a stern look and asked,
“In that case, where is this Brother Chen now?”
“Senior Chen is at the Liangjiang Military Academy…”
The two carefully explained Chen Shun’an’s current situation.
Red Fifth Master’s gaze sharpened as he said,
“Then that means Tian Xuan Saint will definitely be lurking outside the Military Academy, looking for an opportunity… You find it difficult to glimpse the immortal, but I will find a way to have Zhang Xiangling also go to the Military Academy.”
Mortals were unaware of the existence of the Mist Gauze Heavenly Law.
And since Red Fifth Master could trap her at Yanwu Mountain for months, he naturally had means to see through this heavenly secret.
Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou nodded silently.
Bai Manlou seemed to recall something, his expression solemn, and suddenly said, “Fifth Master, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Bai Manlou described how General of the Army, First Class, Fei Mo Hanyu, promoted the Hibiscus Paste Fire in the imperial palace.
The dog emperor, misled by prejudice, stood by and did nothing.
Bai Manlou explained his intention to strike at foreign nations and the Qianning Envoy Mission, to administer a strong dose of medicine to the Sacred Dynasty.
Red Fifth Master’s eyelids twitched upon hearing this, and he was inwardly shocked by Bai Manlou’s profound killing intent.
He shook his head and said,
“We’ll discuss that later. The urgent matter is to secretly protect Senior Chen and prevent Tian Xuan Saint from taking his life.”
Just as Bai Manlou was about to say more, Xiao Qingchou nudged him.
Bai Manlou fell silent.
A moment later, Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou quietly departed.
Red Fifth Master returned to his house, lit a stick of incense, and sat down on a cushion.
Amidst the wisps of sandalwood smoke.
From behind Hong Lao Wu, a strange voice suddenly sounded, indistinguishable as male or female, sometimes ancient, sometimes childish,
“Are you sure that Chen Shun’an, by integrating with Azure Gang Yang Huo to enter the Path and escape the Shaman Heavenly Net, can truly lead the new methods and resist the Sacred Dynasty as you envision? Those who indulge in desires are horses that chase disaster; ice and charcoal cannot be in the same vessel, and the ravines are difficult to fill. Once he reaches that position and becomes an immortal, perhaps he will no longer be himself, but rather become them.”
Red Fifth Master’s expression remained unchanged, and he calmly replied,
“Life is like striking fire from stone; how long can one remain in the world? I only wish for martial arts, not immortality. Lifespan will eventually end, so why be indecisive and timid? It is merely to leave more hope for the common people.”
This time, the strange voice did not argue or press further.
It seemed to fall into a long period of contemplation.
…
“This 《Jian Deng Xin Hua》 seems useless; I remained completely unfazed, let alone gained any enlightenment…”
A day passed. Chen Shun’an read the book back and forth. He even scrutinized every word and every page of the martial arts classics on his bookshelf, even to the point of reciting them backward, yet he still couldn’t find the supposed opportunity to slay the mind thief.
“Even with my martial arts aptitude, after searching for a day, I gained nothing. Slaying the mind thief is indeed difficult…”
Chen Shun’an sighed with emotion and no longer forced himself. He stood up.
【Grass Talisman（80/100）】
【Wish:1834】
Information flashed in Chen Shun’an’s peripheral vision.
Chen Shun’an had tamed Tun Mengzi and led a group of porpoises back, naturally harvesting some reverence and curiosity from them.
Coupled with selling water and the Sweet Dew Lottery these past two days, Chen Shun’an’s wishes had reached their peak accumulation for this period!
Chen Shun’an felt the happiness of being a hoarder.
“Even if I don’t find the opportunity to break through, in a couple more days, when I accumulate two thousand points of wishes and Grass Talisman Perfection is achieved, and the Divine Aspect Ran Yi Fish is upgraded, I can further explore the potential of the Niwan Acupoint…”
“I already had a ninety percent chance of defeating Tian Xuan Saint, and by then, shouldn’t it be ninety-five percent?”
Chen Shun’an mused silently.
He walked to the stone door and gently turned the oil lamp.
The heavy stone door opened with a creak. He followed the somewhat dim corridor to its end, ascended the stairs, and emerged onto the ground.
Striking green branches just appeared in his peripheral vision.
A figure with an anxious expression immediately rushed towards him.
“Shopkeeper Chen, something terrible has happened!”
Chen Shun’an looked at the approaching person, frowned, and asked, “Warehouse Keeper Fang? What happened?”
Warehouse Keeper Fang’s expression was grave. After cupping his hands, he said very cautiously,
“A demon tide has erupted at the Three Forked Road, and the bays where the porpoises live are the first to be affected. Leader Lu wants you to return to the Three Forked Road immediately to relocate the porpoises to ponds on land for temporary shelter!”
“What?”
Chen Shun’an’s frown deepened.
When he left the Three Forked Road, all affairs had been arranged.
And Liu Qingyi’s creation of the Linked Iron Lock would take at least four or five days, so he had nothing else to do during this period.
And this demon tide, why did it erupt now, just as he was preparing to enter seclusion to break through?
“Have you found the cause of the demon tide’s eruption?”
Chen Shun’an asked in a deep voice.
Warehouse Keeper Fang replied, “It seems that someone accidentally killed the offspring of a turtle demon in the deep water area, which had no conflict with humans. It became enraged and its entire clan came to retaliate…”
Is that so?
A trace of thought flashed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes, then he shook his head and said,
“Please inform Leader Lu that Chen cannot be in two places at once and has no time to return… However, Warehouse Keeper Fang can take this garment. The Grand Canal Porpoises are familiar with my scent, so you can use it to lure them to the ponds on shore.”
“This… will it work?” Warehouse Keeper Fang seemed doubtful.
“Of course, if it doesn’t work, I will go there personally.”
Chen Shun’an’s expression remained unchanged; he was full of deception.
This garment would naturally be useless.
But Tun Mengzi was now his shallow believer apostle; he could use incense to cast his gaze, couldn’t he?
There was no need to leave the Military Academy!
A moment later, Warehouse Keeper Fang left with a garment, his face filled with worry.
Who would have thought that not long after Warehouse Keeper Fang left,
Shopkeeper Li from Grit Well also arrived in a panic.
No one knew what had happened, but Shopkeeper Li was so anxious and upset that he had large sores on his lips and his cheeks were severely swollen. He asked people for directions and finally found Chen Shun’an at the Quiet Room.
“Shopkeeper Chen!”
As soon as he saw Chen Shun’an, Shopkeeper Li looked as if he had seen a savior and scrambled towards him.
“Something has happened at the well! A few Baishan disciples, with a group of commoners, claim to have gotten stomachaches and the plague from drinking our well water. They are surrounding Crouching Tiger Well and Grit Well, insisting that you come out and give them an explanation!”
“Such a thing?!”
Chen Shun’an was angered.
Then he said, “Then let them make a fuss. We’ll suspend selling water, and it will give the brothers a few days of rest.”
“Ah?” Shopkeeper Li looked bewildered.
“If they got sick from the water, then an investigation should be conducted, and compensation should be paid. If there are malicious individuals involved, they should not be let off. We will handle it impartially, business as usual.”
Chen Shun’an’s expression was calm, his tone leisurely, showing no sign of the anxiety that usually comes with wells being surrounded.
“This… isn’t this too cowardly?” Shopkeeper Li hesitated.
Our water station operates in the underworld; we don’t play by the rules!
How dare some villains come to demand an explanation!
Shopkeeper Li also sensed that there was something fishy about this matter. Those Baishan disciples were known to be opportunistic and had never bought water from Crouching Tiger Well.
Now they were leading a group of commoners to cause trouble, which was clearly motivated by ulterior motives.
