Chapter 90: Immortal Fate, Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon!
Rumble!!
First came a tearing roar like a meteor crashing to earth, exploding with a boom.
Then came blinding firelight, shockwaves roiling like an angry dragon lashing its tail, utterly devouring the nunnery hidden on the shaded side of Minghu Residence’s mountain.
A group of monks were escorting a teenager of over ten years, who bore some resemblance to Zheng Shicheng.
Before they could escape the nunnery, they were torn to shreds by blazing fragments of wood and stone, not even having time to scream.
Embers still hot, thunderfire intertwined.
A deep ravine three or four zhang deep and over twenty zhang wide was left in place.
The ground shook, faint firelight illuminating Chen Shun’an’s face, moody and uncertain.
Holy shit!!!
Following Bai Manlou and the others was way too dangerous!
Chen Shun’an nearly bolted and ran.
His gaze flickered with shock and suspicion as he watched Xiao Qingchou and Bai Manlou nearby, shouldering a strange cannon without wheels, just a tubular barrel.
Narrow at the front and thick at the rear, with lugs on both sides, a bulbous knob at the tail, its entire body shimmering purple, exuding an inexplicable ancient and murderous aura.
Five inscriptions adorned it, vivid and lifelike, coming alive under the flames—
Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon!
Immortal Fate!
An offensive one, seemingly tied to thunder essence!
Chen Shun’an’s eyes nearly popped out.
The Guo Lu Society dared enter the Capital City, brazenly defying the nobles to eradicate Hibiscus Paste Fire—they truly had special backing!
They actually hauled out a cannon Immortal Fate!
The cannon fire gradually died down, leaving only the nunnery’s roaring flames and dragon-like thick smoke, visible from far away in the night.
In the distance, guests avoiding the summer heat at Minghu Residence hurried over quickly, shocked by what seemed like heavenly thunder.
Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou shouldered the Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon and quickly departed.
The Hall Master of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, and Fidelity Hall rushed into the flames, returning moments later.
Their gazes met, shaking their heads darkly.
Zheng Shicheng was not here—only his illegitimate son, now gone forever from the light of day.
Thus, the crowd pressed on without pause to the next location.
After the crowd departed.
A sneaky figure darted into this sea of fire.
Wherever Chen Shun’an passed, it seemed to turn into some abyss: the red flames gradually extinguished, sucked into storage, leaving only acrid thick smoke and a few sparks.
And in the Divine Palace of Chen Shun’an’s mind, that faintly burning little flame suddenly flared and burst brightly.
It gained a purplish hue throughout, like flickering electric arcs, filled with ferocity and mania.
This little flame had originally formed two days prior at the Lingguan Intercepting Meeting, when Chen Shun’an was hit by stray shot, storing the matchlock gun projectile’s “Xu Fire” intent.
Yet upon fusing with the flames left by the Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon, it underwent a new change.
“The Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon actually contains some ‘Bing Fire’ essence. Bing Fire entering Xu storage accumulates thunder power, forming a thunderfire mass?”
Luckily Scholar Ma had lent Chen Shun’an the Three Fates Universal Meeting; whenever he had free time these days, he pored over it carefully.
Now he vaguely discerned the mystery within.
Sensing the thunderfire’s pent-up power—needing only a slight trigger to erupt with meteor-shattering, chilling might.
Chen Shun’an nodded in satisfaction.
“An unexpected boon…”
Noticing many people approaching, Chen Shun’an flashed away, vanishing into the light smoke.
The guests who had just arrived at Minghu Residence seemed to glimpse a hazy, neither-smoke-nor-human figure.
Clearly, they had seen flames shooting to the sky and thick smoke roiling while on the road.
Yet with no one fighting the fire and no rain from the high night sky, how had the raging blaze died down upon arrival?
Only thick fog spread, quickly engulfing the nunnery; that blurry figure vanished too, as if merging into the light smoke.
The crowd rubbed their eyes, dumbstruck, thinking they had seen ghosts and gods.
……
Tonight, all of Wuqing County was “lively.”
Spirit Official Ascension Night.
Half of Wuqing County’s folk were busy with sacrifices; the Imperial Carriage had arrived at Lingguan Temple, so crowds lit lanterns and decorated streets on both sides, setting out lamps.
Drums of “Lion Rolling Embroidered Ball” and “Large and Small Eighteen Sets” resounded through the night sky.
Many felt regret, though—the most flashy Thunder Fire Golden Whip of past years wouldn’t be seen this time.
Rumble!
The ground shook with cannon sounds from outside the county.
The crowd thought some great household had set off big firecrackers early, so the atmosphere grew even more festive.
……
【Encountering one of the Three Methods and Two Teachings, Huaguang Tradition magic tool: Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon, forged from Form Qi molten iron, utmost rigid and yang, thunderfire vast as the sea】
【Owned item, cannot transform Immortal Fate to divine】
“As expected, owned Immortal Fate cannot have its essence absorbed.”
Time seemed to slow; Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou shouldered the cannon past an earth temple outside Wuqing County.
Paper ash fluttered everywhere, red and yellow silks on the idol flapping loudly.
A hand silently reached out, touching the Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon’s barrel.
Seeing this info from the mind’s treasure edict, Chen Shun’an shook his head regretfully and withdrew his right hand.
By Zhao Guangxi’s account, owned Immortal Fate meant unresolved karma, so others couldn’t seize it.
The karma had to be severed!
Of course, in Chen Shun’an’s crude terms, one Immortal Fate matched one slot.
To claim the slot, you had to drive off or kill the prior occupant, then lightly step in and take the Immortal Fate slot.
Now, Chen Shun’an had seen the Guo Lu Society’s backing.
Very strong, very big.
Chen Shun’an no longer wished to interfere; as a handful of paper ash drifted midair, not yet landed, he withdrew.
Tonight the city was livelier than New Year’s, every household lighting lamps and bursting firecrackers.
Chen Shun’an should return to keep Wan Niang company and watch firecrackers.
The rest could be left to the Guo Lu Society folk.
Trust the “allies'” wisdom.
Paper ash landed, swirling dust away.
The flapping of red and yellow silks still echoed in his ears.
Xiao Qingchou and Bai Manlou’s expressions unchanged, they slightly checked direction.
Then, like ox-headed and horse-faced demons on duty, carrying wails of death, they sped toward Bewitching Bay.
……
Buying two cans of ginger candy at the candy shop, Chen Shun’an took out a piece, thin as a cicada’s wing, covered in sugar frost.
Placing it in his mouth, strands of sweetness melted from the tongue tip.
Chen Shun’an’s taut nerves finally relaxed, feeling the primal happiness from the sugar.
Tonight the streets were packed with people.
The nimble-footed climbed trees or hauled ladders to rooftops, setting up tables with melon seeds and clear tea, watching the festivities from above.
Slow old ladies and grandpas took folding stools at their doorsteps, fanning themselves, chuckling happily.
Many small vendors sold food, drink, toys, cigarettes, snacks, fruits, and big bowls of tea, like a grand market.
Passing the produce market.
The greenwood bandits executed by beheading in broad daylight still hung on the gallows.
But passing folk felt little fear, stepping over the bloodstained-then-washed stone slabs.
Chen Shun’an walked this dusty street, like a passerby, yet also heading to his home.
At Chaodou Hutong’s alley entrance stood a woman alone, cool and forlorn, watching the flower lanterns.
Wan Niang’s face showed worry, her gaze piercing through the brilliant flower lanterns, searching the street.
Suddenly spotting Chen Shun’an returning through jade trees and silver flowers at night, her worry vanished, replaced by sparkling joy.
“Brother, you’re finally back.”
Likely the firecracker noise had woken Wan Niang at midnight; finding Chen Shun’an gone from bed, she searched Chaodou Hutong to no avail.
Thus she waited at the alley entrance for his return.
She didn’t ask where Chen Shun’an had gone or what he’d done.
As long as brother was back, all was well.
Chen Shun’an smiled and handed over a bamboo basket.
Inside were fragrant fruits bought from rural vendors en route, plus powdered and painted clay figures with colored paper, flags, and parasols behind.
Chen Shun’an said: “The county’s been chaotic lately, so these clay figure sellers didn’t dare enter. Thinking today calmer, I went out strolling and bought gifts for the kids.”
Perhaps woken by street firecrackers, San Dezi and Scarred Liu, in short jackets, rubbed sleepy eyes and came to the alley entrance.
San Dezi said: “What happened, Brother Chen?”
Scarred Liu said: “More villains causing trouble?”
Chen Shun’an smiled: “Nothing, it should all be over. Rest easy.”
Chen Shun’an’s expression calm, his words pointed.
San Dezi and Scarred Liu looked puzzled.
At around two quarters past midnight, said to be when Spirit Official Wang, after ascension, was additionally enshrined, his three eyes scanning the mortal world for evil, protecting the folk’s peace.
Street firecrackers grew louder.
Womenfolk roused the drowsy children.
Like staying up for New Year’s Eve, they kept watch through this hour.
Moments later, wives led children, children held younger siblings, younger siblings trailed a puppy, all gathering at the alley mouth.
The children received Chen Shun’an’s gifts and cheered joyfully, sleepiness gone, clutching the clay figures tight.
Thus,
Everyone leaned or sat on small stools at the hutong entrance, watching the nearby street’s festivities and colored lamps.
Occasionally a skyrocket whistled skyward, popping with a bang, making Dou Dou and the kids shriek excitedly.
Chen Shun’an’s heart suddenly felt intoxicated.
……
Bewitching Bay.
Cold winds whistled, reeds bent low.
Zheng Shicheng watched the distant shiphands still unloading cargo, yawning boredly.
His mind schemed: once done here, he’d book more courtesans—beautiful mother-daughter pairs—to the mansion for drinks, tunes, and shared bliss.
He’d been pent up this time.
Young Master Lu, new to the Capital City, was extremely curious about its splendor.
Now he gazed at the Banye Ferry Crossing opposite, lights weaving like threads, pondering business opportunities to bolster his bid for family head.
Money Dragon Head chuckled, eyeing the three red-headed ships marked with Golden Snake Trading Company, recalling his prime-of-youth days wandering the Martial World with Master Li.
Youthful heroes, befriending capitals’ champions, meeting in high spirits, reining horses to sing aloud.
Yet to some eyes, though two men, there was only him—the successor to the late Caobang Transport Chief “Golden Snake Gentleman.”
This irked Money Dragon Head.
Now, he felt much better.
“Eh, what’s that?”
Zheng Shicheng casually spotted white firelight suddenly flaring deep in the distant reed marsh, on a rise.
Very bright, laced with purple.
As Young Master Lu and Money Dragon Head wondered,
The firelight neared, howling in with crackling thunderous booms.
Air seemed scorched, bringing suffocation!
Zheng Shicheng’s pupils shrank, face twisting, but no time for more reaction.
Next instant, shockwaves warped, scorching winds rolled clouds, towering flames surged skyward.
Zheng Shicheng and the other two’s figures were instantly torn and devoured.
Finally, in Zheng Shicheng’s mind, one thought remained—
“Who betrayed my whereabouts?!”
……
Rumble!!!
Suddenly, the ground shook, dust sifting from roof tiles.
A muffled thunder-like rumble rolled in.
San Dezi startled: “Who’s firing cannons with such a racket?”
Scarred Liu squinted: “Not yet temple fair flower box time—and without Thunder Fire Golden Whip this year, what cannon makes this noise?!”
Chen Shun’an silently felt the vibration from outside the county, from Banye Ferry Crossing direction, saying nothing.
Suddenly, San Dezi and Scarred Liu seemed to sense something, looking up sharply to see black shadows on street ends, eaves, and walls—some in groups of three or five, some alone.
Ill-intentioned, eyeing greedily.
Sleeve cuffs occasionally flashed cold metal gleams, like beasts only daring to prowl in night’s chaos.
Staring at the stallholders collecting money below, the brocade-clad young masters and ladies.
Government offices suppressing unrest, Zheng Shicheng’s whereabouts unknown.
Guo Lu Society hitting walls, forced to stand down.
Many guessed tonight might be this turmoil’s final frenzy.
All wanting a big score.
Produce market’s warning corpses only scared the timid, further emboldening the bold.
After all, human nature is complex.
Human by day, beastly by night.
Among these shadows were even local Wuqing County martial artists, senior brothers from certain Martial Arts Halls, even government runners and constables.
San Dezi and Scarred Liu quickly ushered womenfolk and children inside; they gripped weapons, guarding the door alertly.
Chen Shun’an’s gaze sharpened, gold coin darts in hand.
Then a roar echoed across all Wuqing County—
“Zheng Shicheng submits, chief evil eliminated, Guo Lu Society Brothers withdraw!”
“Zheng Shicheng submits, chief evil eliminated, Guo Lu Society Brothers withdraw!”
Uninformed folk looked up in confusion, unsure whence the voice came.
