Chapter 191: Master Xiaozhang

Sunlight filtered through the white gauze curtains, illuminating a drowsy scene. Master Xiaozhang, wrapped in a loose gray-white robe, reclined against the chair and gently stroked the Feifei’s back as he spoke with weary listlessness.

"Good. What admirable sincerity."

He raised his eyes.

"Why did you not guess that I belonged to the Grand Joy Sect?"

The Grand Joy Sect inherited the heritage of the Corpse of Prince Ziye, which likewise produced no physical abnormalities.

"Jubi’s Corpse survives dismemberment, while the Corpse of Prince Ziye sunders into divinity." Ding Songyan smiled. "Master Xiaozhang, when you reassembled and revived just now, you displayed no traits of a ghost deity."

He had seen a genuine ghost deity.

"You are remarkably knowledgeable." Master Xiaozhang looked utterly weary.

Ding Songyan glanced at the paintings scattered across the floor and made no attempt to hide his curiosity.

"Were you brutally dismembered because of the Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu or the Martial World’s Jade Tree Rankings?"

Zhang Qiang answered with his eyes half closed, "Those who genuinely make the rankings complain a little at most. My assessments are always fair. The troublesome ones are those who fail to make the list despite having crowds of admirers.

"Sigh. They are already Grandmasters. Why are they still so impulsive and childish, so cruel and vicious, and so eager to prove their courage through violence?"

"Being Resolute does not mean being correct. It only means absolute conviction, and sometimes that means stubbornness." Ding Songyan spoke from experience.

He had exploited precisely this point when he killed Chen Jindong, harnessing the power of belief.

A thought occurred in him as Ding Songyan suddenly laughed.

"Master Xiaozhang, you merely paint the portraits. You do not decide who enters the rankings, so why do those people still trouble you?"

The clean-faced, delicate-featured Zhang Qiang rested a hand against the Feifei’s neck.

"The Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu and Martial World’s Jade Tree Rankings were both established by enthusiasts centuries ago. Each generation has its own new compilers, and I happen to be one of this generation’s. Somehow the news spread, nearly costing me my life."

Still looking weary, Master Xiaozhang turned to the matter at hand.

"Why did you come looking for me?

"If you want someone you are infatuated with to be added to the Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu or Martial World’s Jade Tree Rankings, do not bother asking. As a compiler, I heed only the public consensus and never show favoritism. I may possess little else, but I retain this much integrity. My head may be severed, but my principles cannot be taken."

Your severed head would not truly kill you anyway. And with the trait of sharing mortal calamity, whoever hacked you to pieces is probably wandering the underworld by now... After grumbling inwardly, Ding Songyan asked in earnest, "Surviving dismemberment covers being torn apart. Would you still survive if your bones were ground to dust and your ashes scattered?"

Master Xiaozhang fell silent.

Only after a while did he sigh.

"Most copies of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas do not record Jubi’s Corpse’s traits. Which sect or school do you belong to, that your copy is so detailed?"

"I belong to the Brightnight Sect." Ding Songyan sat as straight as a sword, then added, "But I also have some connection to one of the Five Sacred Grounds."

For example, I know Twelfth Madam Luo, who has Ditai origins. How does that not count as a connection to Ditai?

Twelfth Madam Luo herself described her relationship with Ditai as a connection. That is rather interesting...

Master Xiaozhang raised his right hand and rubbed his forehead.

"Tell me. Why did you come here?"

Ding Songyan stopped joking. He first repeated what he had told Twelfth Madam Luo and Shi Wuyan, then asked, "If I wanted to hire the Ghost Yu Way to kill someone, whom should I contact?"

Master Xiaozhang glanced at Ding Songyan, his expression easing considerably.

"So Senior Brother Shi sent you.

"Other than those from the True Spirit Sect, only seven martial artists in the Flame Capital cultivate underworld arts. Three belong to the Martial Prohibition Bureau. The other four are also under its observation and frequently cooperate with it.

"I have received no word yet about whether any such martial artists recently entered the Flame Capital, but I can ask around. How much silver do you intend to pay, or what will you do for me in return?"

"Chef Shi said there would be no charge for this investigation," Ding Songyan informed him.

He was not reluctant to part with the silver. He simply believed that promises must be kept, including those made by other people.

"Senior Brother Shi is Senior Brother Shi, and I am me." Master Xiaozhang’s voice was soft and weary. "He may waive his share, but you cannot omit mine."

"Very well. I will take my leave and ask Chef Shi to visit you. The two of you can settle it between yourselves." Ding Songyan refused to budge and rose.

After taking two steps toward the door, he suddenly turned sideways with a smile.

"Master Xiaozhang, you appear to have another problem?

"If you consider me a friend, I might be willing to hear about it and perhaps even draw my sword to help."

Master Xiaozhang froze. Only after several moments did he understand what the man before him meant.

Since Shi Wuyan promised not to charge me, I certainly will not pay again. A hero’s word is his bond. How could I make Chef Shi break his promise?

But if you are willing to befriend me, I might still lend you a hand.

The two matters are separate and cannot be confused.

Zhang Qiang studied Ding Songyan carefully, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"You are rather interesting."

It is an act. Artistic types like you always favor people with personality... If I did not want to build a good relationship because I may need your help later, I would never bother with the act... Ding Songyan sat back down on the wooden stool and waited with a smile for Zhang Qiang to continue.

Master Xiaozhang nodded slightly.

"I will investigate the practitioners of underworld arts and how to commission the Ghost Yu Way for you without charging a single coin.

"I currently face a serious problem. See whether you can help me resolve it."

"I would like to hear the details," Ding Songyan replied cooperatively.

Master Xiaozhang shifted in the reclining chair and settled into a more comfortable position.

"I offended a yao."

A yao? You have come to the right person! So long as it has not reached the Heaven-Man Realm, I can suppress and expel it... Below the Heaven-Man Realm, I rank second when it comes to dealing with monsters. Only Demoness Ji could claim first, though she may no longer be below the Heaven-Man Realm... Ding Songyan’s expression did not change as he thought.

Master Xiaozhang continued,

"I do not know the yao’s exact origins. He calls himself the Book-Loving Yao. In past years, he often visited me to discuss the stories I wrote, and I considered him something of a kindred spirit.

"Later, I stopped writing several of those stories. He could not let the matter go and had a falling out with me. I did not fear him at first, but somehow he learned formidable martial arts and became exceptional even among Dharma Realm Grandmasters, firmly surpassing me.

"Recently, he declared that if I did not finish those stories, he would teach me a lesson. I do not fear death, but I fear being burned to ashes."

Oh, the story of an author who drops his work and an obsessive reader... Ding Songyan extracted the essential meaning.

He asked, puzzled, "Would the problem not disappear if you simply finished those stories?"

Zhang Qiang sighed.

"If I found a wandering hero and threatened to kill him unless he became a Sage, would that let him enter the Spirit Platform Realm?"

"No." Ding Songyan shook his head.

Master Xiaozhang resumed stroking the Feifei’s fur.

"The same principle applies. Even if he kills me, I still cannot write the rest of those stories.

"If he merely wanted an ending, that would be easy. But he insists that I write them properly."

The corner of Ding Songyan’s mouth twitched.

"My conscience tells me that I should not help you."

Zhang Qiang had expected this and answered with weary listlessness,

"I am not asking you to deal with him. You are not capable of that.

"Judging from your reaction after seeing me survive dismemberment, you should also possess Dharma Realm strength, so he cannot easily kill you. You need only exploit the fact that he is a yao to warn him and make him lower his demands.

"I will first adopt an unyielding stance and show that I would rather die. In the end, he will accept one installment every month or even every season."

I get it. First threaten to tear off the roof, so the yao accepts opening a window... Ding Songyan found the scheme amusing. After some thought, he asked, "Is that yao hiding among the people of the Flame Capital?"

Zhang Qiang immediately perked up.

"His name is Ou Luwen. He likely cultivates the Mirage Dragon True Transformation Art, which can conceal his true nature and appearance, allowing him to walk about in human form. He currently frequents Martial Star Ward south of Golden Pool. He carries himself as a bold hero and can rally crowds with a single call. The Orchid Rankings rate him first-rank Spirit Resonated."

The Mirage Dragon True Transformation Art... Ding Songyan now knew that, since heaven and earth were severed, almost no yao could transform into humans. Only the rare few whose innate traits or martial arts involved transformation or illusion retained that ability.

Although the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas did not record the Mirage Dragon, Ding Songyan recalled something similar.

The Great Crab of the Eastern Sea, spanning hundreds of miles. The result of consuming it? Grants the power to stir winds and waves, nurture monsters and conceal true forms, lift mountains and overturn seas, and form a domain unto oneself.

"Is the matter urgent?" Ding Songyan glanced at the sky outside.

The golden sunlight was already tinged with crimson.

He was considering whether to visit Martial Star Ward that night, lest Master Xiaozhang suddenly be reduced to ashes and leave no one to investigate the jianghu on his behalf.

"There is no hurry. He should not come looking for me within the next ten days." Master Xiaozhang spoke calmly with a faint smile. "By the way, I will move elsewhere soon. I will have Senior Brother Shi relay whatever information I uncover."

Ding Songyan nodded gently and glanced at the books on the low table.

"The latest Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu and Martial World’s Jade Tree Rankings? How much would they be?"

"Take them. There is no charge." A trace of pride appeared on Master Xiaozhang’s face. "I have never actually seen half the people within. I could only portray them from jianghu rumors and the accounts of those who have. Those portraits are at most forty to fifty percent accurate, so do not trust them completely."

His unspoken meaning was that he had personally seen half of both the peerless beauties and the martial world’s most handsome men.

Ding Songyan did not stand on ceremony. He took one copy each of the Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu and Martial World’s Jade Tree Rankings, tucked them into his robe, and departed.

As soon as he left the Zhang residence, a group of men and women with visible physical abnormalities crowded around him and shouted, "Is Master Xiaozhang home?"

Ding Songyan froze briefly, then put on an indignant expression.

"That accursed, short-lived bastard has hidden somewhere. I searched the entire place and could not find him!"

The surrounding men and women all sighed in bitter disappointment.

"We finally had a chance to catch Master Xiaozhang, yet he escaped!"

Ding Songyan raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Who told you that Master Xiaozhang lived here?"

"Hero Ou Luwen." The men and women made no attempt to conceal it.

Those two truly are destined adversaries... Ding Songyan shook his head, squeezed through the crowd, and strode away.

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