Immortal of the Nine Realms

“I don’t have any money for them to steal,” Fang Chen said.

“No money?” Xu Qinghe blinked in surprise, giving him a puzzled look. “You’re dressed rather well for someone with no money.”

“I truly don’t,” Fang Chen replied.

“Fine, I’ll believe you. But don’t wander around here again.”

She had barely finished speaking when a group of rough-looking men appeared at the end of the street. Their trousers were rolled to the knees, sleeves to the elbows, arms and legs covered in garish tattoos. The man in front had several deep scars across his face, so many it was almost ruined.

The scarred man grinned the moment he saw Xu Qinghe. “Miss Xu, feeding those filthy beggars again, are you?”

Xu Qinghe’s face darkened. “What’s it to you?”

She grabbed Fang Chen’s sleeve and tried to leave, but the gang circled them, blocking their way. They smirked as they sized them up.

The scarred man, Master Leopard, said with a sleazy smile, “What’s it to me? This street’s my turf, that’s what. You’re such a kind lady, Miss Xu. When you go around handing out charity like this, doesn’t it make me look heartless in comparison?”

He then turned his attention to Fang Chen, sizing him up and down.

“Well, well, looks like you found yourself a pretty boy. I thought you’d never get married.”

Xu Qinghe’s voice went cold. “He’s not my husband, and don’t talk nonsense. We’re leaving. Tell your men to move.”

“He’s not your husband?” Master Leopard chuckled. “Then how about this, since you’re such a kind soul, why don’t you marry me? I’ll let you serve me properly and live in comfort. You can keep feeding those beggars all you want. I won’t stop you.”

“Marry you?” Xu Qinghe snorted. “I’d have nightmares every night just looking at those scars. I still value my life, thank you.”

Her mockery hit home. Master Leopard’s jaw tightened, teeth grinding audibly.

What he hated most was people mentioning his scars.

“Get out of the way,” Xu Qinghe said sharply. “You think there’s no law here? If you dare touch us, the constables will be at your door by nightfall.”

“This little lady sure has a sharp tongue. Master Leopard, how about we teach her a lesson?”

“Yeah, does she want to die, talking to you like that?”

The thugs stepped closer, their faces twisted with menace.

Inside the ruined temple nearby, the beggars watching trembled. Some ducked into corners. Others hovered anxiously at the doorway but didn’t dare step forward.

“Enough.” Master Leopard suddenly raised a hand. “Let them go.”

His underlings were stunned.

“Master Leopard?”

“I said let them go,” repeated Master Leopard, his voice even colder.

None of the gang dared disobey. They could only watch as Fang Chen and Xu Qinghe walked away.

“Master Leopard, that girl insulted you. Why didn’t we rough her up a little?” one man muttered.

“Rough her up? In broad daylight? With half the city watching? You want to bring the constables down on us?” Master Leopard sneered and slapped the man across the face. “Listen up. Be smart. Don’t draw unnecessary trouble. If we stay quiet, the magistrate’s men will keep turning a blind eye to our business.”

He glanced in the direction Xu Qinghe had gone. “We’ll deal with them later, when the time’s right.”

“You’re really wise, Master Leopard! We never would’ve thought of that,” the men quickly flattered.

***

“From now on,” Xu Qinghe said as they walked away, “stay out of that area. Master Leopard is trouble, especially for someone like you, well-dressed, mysterious, and blind. Be careful, or he’ll trick you into something you can’t get out of.”

Fang Chen asked, “Miss Xu, he said you’ve been feeding those beggars regularly. Why?”

“Why? I can’t eat all that rice myself. What’s wrong with sharing it?” She smiled, then waved it off. “Forget it, you wouldn’t understand.”

“You tell me to stay away from there, yet you, a young woman, go every day. Aren’t you afraid something might happen?”

“What could happen? It’s broad daylight. I’m not stupid. You think I’d go there at night?”

“I see...”

In the days that followed, Fang Chen met Xu Qinghe often, sometimes near the ruined temple, sometimes at local charity halls. One day he offered to help her in doing her charitable work. At first, she refused, but when she saw his sincerity, she reluctantly agreed.

Day after day, seeing that he worked hard and treated the poor with respect, she finally let her guard down.

***

Meanwhile, Chen Enxue and the others finally received a response from the Enlightenment God Palace.

The core members stood silently around the motionless bodies of Fang Chen, Xie Aman, and Little Immortal Honglian.

In front of them stood a man in white robes.

The ordinary disciples might not know his identity, but the senior core disciples did. He was a special envoy of the Elders’ Council, one who often accompanied the Palace Lord himself.

His arrival brought the group a measure of calm.

“Their current state resembles people who carried out the Soul Crossing Ritual,” he said softly. “But I’ve tested it, this place doesn’t allow that. Strange...”

His gaze moved across the crowd and settled on Chen Enxue. “You’re the third core disciple in line. Since your senior is incapacitated, you’ll take charge here. You’ll plan the next contest for control. As for me, I’ll remain and safeguard their bodies.”

Chen Enxue frowned. “Even you can’t tell what’s happened to them?”

“No,” the white-robed man replied. “We can only wait. Perhaps one day, they’ll awaken.”

The group exchanged uneasy looks. For an eighth-transformation immortal like him to say he couldn’t discern the cause, this was no small matter.

“If we lose the coming contest,” Chen Enxue said quietly, “and the Rulai Monastery reclaims this territory, we’ll have to take their bodies and retreat. Would that worsen things?”

“The Enlightenment God Palace will negotiate with the Rulai Monastery,” the man replied calmly. “Your task is simply to win. Victory will give us a thousand years’ reprieve. They won’t sleep that long.”

“Win, huh,” Chen Enxue muttered. “Easier said than done. Those monks have a strange technique. When they fall into demonic madness, their power’s terrifying.”

The white-robed man ignored her complaints, still staring at the motionless trio, eyes sharp with thought.

***

“So...” drawled the shabby Daoist from his straw hut outside the city, “when do you lot plan to talk to the Ghost Mother?”

“Today,” Fang Chen said.