Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 991: Chapter 35: Promise

The found candles are few, naturally, they are limited in supply to Song Tianyou and the others, as well as Zhang Qingrui.

As for the bodyguards, they tried to squeeze into one room temporarily.

Due to the lack of electricity, Uncle Wu could only have the bodyguards gather some firewood to make a fire, boil some hot water for everyone to wash and drink… Overall, it was to cope with this night.

Song Haoran liked adventure and was used to dining in the rough, so he had no objections. As for Old Master Song, he wasn’t someone who hadn’t endured hardships before, so he was quite at ease.

Song Ying said nothing either. The conditions here were actually more comfortable compared to those childhood days spent at the summer camp in the village—of course, she wasn’t trained by the standards of a warrior, she was just learning some self-defense abilities and survival skills.

The one who was probably the least accustomed was Zhang Qingrui, after all, Zhang Li Lanfang did not use the Song family’s methods to cultivate her descendants.

But despite her discomfort, Ms. Zhang didn’t utter a word of complaint, which was something Song Tianyou greatly appreciated.

Song Haoran had just come out of the bathroom after a shower, wiping his hair with a towel—initially, he had intended to invite Luo Qiu to bathe together, as this could strengthen the bond and friendship between men. Unfortunately, Luo Qiu smiled and refused without a second thought.

What a pity… thought Song Haoran.

Since he was moving while wiping his hair and there was no lighting, Song Haoran accidentally bumped his head—it didn’t hurt, but it suddenly made Song Haoran dazed for a moment.

In that daze, Song Haoran suddenly recalled something.

That was when he and Luo Qiu entered, they saw the crawling strange shadow that Song Bo had mentioned—Song Haoran knew his affairs, leaving aside the ‘Sun God Badge’ matter, over the years seeking mysterious adventures, he had occasionally encountered some bizarre things, so he was quite unperturbed.

The key was how did Luo Qiu achieve that?

Even more inconceivable was, at that moment… no, at the time period before he bumped his head, he actually instinctively accepted this, even feeling it was natural, directly accepting it, without finding anything strange.

Why exactly is that?

Song Haoran stood in the corridor, gradually lost in thought—and just at this moment, his shoulder was suddenly slapped hard by something.

It was a hand extending from the darkness…

…

The hand belonged to Uncle Wu, who saw Song Haoran standing here alone and, somewhat curious, gently patted him.

Song Haoran turned his head and saw Uncle Wu holding a candle and carrying a thermos, “Oh… Uncle Wu, is there something going on?”

Evidently, the fearless Song Haoran was not scared.

“Young master, I’m asking if anything is up with you… What are you doing standing here alone?” Uncle Wu asked with raised eyebrows.

Song Haoran was stunned, instinctively saying, “Nothing, I was just thinking about something… Eh, strange, what was I thinking just now?”

He had truly forgotten what he was thinking, searching his mind, yet couldn’t find a trace… But Uncle Wu was still there, looking at him oddly.

Song Haoran chuckled casually, “I was thinking about Song Bo’s ghost story, how come there’s no movement yet.”

“Such superstitions…” Uncle Wu shook his head helplessly, “Young master, I won’t chat aimlessly with you, I’m going to deliver some hot water to the old master.”

“Go ahead.” Song Haoran nodded.

He watched Uncle Wu leave from the corridor, then furrowed his brows, muttering to himself, “Strange… What was I thinking, why can’t I remember?”

He, carrying confusion, didn’t return to his room, but quietly climbed up the rooftop, sitting down—fully rested, his spirits became invigorated, Song Haoran opened up all his senses.

The structure of the Song Ancestral Mansion began to gradually emerge in his mind… it was a 3D line drawing of the building.

…

…

The same 3D line drawing was now appearing in front of Luo Qiu—more accurately, it was emerging on the table in his room.

Luo Qiu walked around the table, then stretched his hand into the 3D line drawing, rubbing different places, then didn’t continue to care, walking out from the room.

On the way, he encountered several Song Family bodyguards patrolling, but Luo Qiu’s innate skill of being unnoticed was fully activated, and even though the bodyguards passed by him, they paid no attention to his existence.

Perhaps just a small stone on the way, perhaps merely a weed… definitely wouldn’t think this is Young Master Qiu of the Song family.

Later, Luo Qiu came to the courtyard of the Song Ancestral Mansion.

Although calling it a courtyard, it was exceptionally vast, with artificial hills, fake forests, and small bridges over flowing water. Though it had been abandoned for many years, it still retained some of its past grandeur.

Luo Qiu walked slowly, stopping in front of an ancient well. He looked around, only to see a shadow flickering among the trees, like a monkey playing tricks in the forest.

Suddenly, something rapidly approached Luo Qiu from behind, the grass rustling.

Luo Qiu turned around unhurriedly, only to see the crawling figure that had flashed by earlier now present behind him.

Arms pressing on the ground, elbows raised high, resembling a spider’s forelimbs.

His clothes were torn in many places, hair disheveled, with an unclean face. His eyes radiated the fierce light of a wild beast yet to be tamed, throat lowly growling, akin to beast language.

When Luo Qiu turned around, he stopped like this, eyes wary, baring his teeth.

“Have you really considered yourself a beast?” Luo Qiu suddenly looked down at the crawling man on the ground and said.

But he did not respond, only opening his mouth wider, emitting a deeper and more penetrating wild growl.

“We’ve met before, remember.” Luo Qiu slowly crouched down, “It should have been twice. The first was at a small antique auction. The second was at your master’s Taoist temple.”

As he spoke, Luo Qiu extended his finger to his forehead, lightly tapping on it.

“Remember.”

Under Luo Qiu’s voice, his fierce expression began to gradually calm down—ferocity often indeed transformed one’s appearance, making one frightening, as the ferocity gradually vanished, the person became less terrifying.

If the dirt on this face were removed, beneath the filth there would likely be a delicate visage.

Zhan.

This creature transformed into a beast-like being was originally the Taoist Yang Taizi’s disciple, a young Taoist who retained childlike innocence.

“You… are…”

As clarity returned to his gaze, he looked at Luo Qiu in bewilderment, then consciousness faded, and he fell directly to the ground with only a faint glimmer of golden light on his back.

Attached to Zhan’s back was a bizarre mark resembling those Taoists’ sigils, painted on yellow paper.

Luo Qiu glanced at it, finding it special, and intended to reach out for a touch — often when sight cannot penetrate the truth, he must resort to the most primitive method, feeling through direct contact.

But just as he was about to touch the mark on Zhan’s back, a low and cold voice sounded from behind.

“Don’t move! Don’t move him!”

Luo Qiu stood up.

The voice continued from behind Luo Qiu… somewhat like from the location of an ancient well, “You misguided Taoist cultivators, have you abandoned the Heart of Heaven, Earth’s core, and human heart…”

The weak voice was slightly trembling.

“You’ve been injured this badly, can’t you just rest a while?” Luo Qiu turned around at random and said, “Mr. Mo Mo.”

Dark clouds quietly moved aside, and then moonlight became bright and clear. In the cold winter night, the moonlight scattered, which for ordinary people was weak but sufficient for Mo Mo to see the outline of the figure before him.

He opened his mouth, puzzled, but then more so surprised, “You are… it’s you! Senior!”

It turned out that this was the eccentric ‘Senior’ who had once discussed the warmth of human hearts with him by the seaside in Lv Village. The discussion had brought Mo Mo rare insights during his travels after descending the mountain, leading to a significant elevation in his Taoist practice.

If not for this enlightenment, his determination in Taoism and rise in mana, he couldn’t have brought Zhan out from the chaotic rivalry on Mount Tai — although quite in disarray, in front of all those Taoist-cultivated field seniors!

“Actually, I should be younger than you,” Luo Qiu suddenly said.

Mo Mo was startled, then shook his head, saying, “The wise come first. Moreover, I am indebted to Senior’s guidance, eternally unforgettable in this lifetime, so calling you Senior is not excessive.”

Luo Qiu did not dwell on this topic, glanced at Mo Mo’s current appearance, which could only be described as miserable.

His lips were dry and darkened, with his chest wrapped in large patches of gauze, and even blood was seeping out… the color of which appeared oddly black.

“You seem to be poisoned?”

Mo Mo coughed twice, then smiled bitterly, “Yes, poisoned… who would have thought, poisoned by those self-proclaimed righteous high-minded… the coldest of all is the human heart, senior, you were right, when the heart must be cold, it remains cold.”

“Let me take a look for you.” Luo Qiu approached Mo Mo, saying softly, “Extend your hand.”

Mo Mo’s current state was exceedingly poor; not to mention the Senior whose depth he hadn’t yet grasped, even if someone weaker than him within the Taoism-cultivated field appeared, he could only wait passively… so he hardly hesitated to extend his arm.

Subconsciously, he was willing to trust this Senior, feeling he lacks any intent to covet the coveted ‘Emperor’s Decree.’

At this moment, Luo Qiu placed his palm over Mo Mo’s palm, then closed his eyes.

In that instant, Mo Mo felt the sinking and feeble sensation throughout his body slowly dissipating, the poison suppressing his mana within seemed to slowly dissipate.

He incredulously sensed his transformation, while intensely observing this Senior’s countenance — there was no sign of strain.

Could it be so effortlessly that the tenacious poison within him was dispelled?

“It’s done.”

When Luo Qiu opened his eyes, Mo Mo already felt a refreshing fluidity throughout his body, though still fatigued, it was remarkably light.

Just then Luo Qiu’s hand lifted, and it revealed a dragon-eye-sized pitch-black bead leaving with his hand.

This was the aggregation of extracted poison from Mo Mo’s body.

“These poisons, however they’re handled, will pollute the environment, so why not leave them with me?” Luo Qiu suddenly said.

Mo Mo dumbly nodded.

Luo Qiu then performed a sleight-of-hand conjuring up a small box, storing the toxin within — after all, Mo Mo had no idea how this Senior brings things out or sends them away… probably a spell akin to the legendary Sleeves of Qian Kun?

“Thank you, Senior, for the life-saving grace,” Mo Mo clasped his fists in thanks at this moment, “Gratitude is beyond words, if ever Senior instructs anything that doesn’t defy Taoism, Mo Mo will never refuse!”

“Such promises should best not be made,” Luo Qiu shook his head.

Mo Mo was surprised once more.

Luo Qiu further said, “If it’s difficult to accomplish easily, why make it?”

“As long as it doesn’t defy Taoism, Mo Mo would brave fire and waters for any task!” the young Heavenly Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain declared with determined eyes.

But Luo Qiu retorted, “To seek means to need… if the need cannot exceed the bounds of Taoism, and yet requires only this one thing, then… this gratitude, will it be repaid or not?”

“Senior, I…”

“I don’t need your assistance,” Luo Qiu shook his head again, “Besides, any promise is precious because of its own merit, but if conditions are added to it, saying nothing would make no difference.”

Mo Mo silently pondered for a lengthy moment, finally exhaling heavily, “Thank you, Senior, for your guidance.”

“Can’t be called guidance, only personal reflections of mine,” Luo Qiu said calmly, “Unrelated to you, merely unilateral refusal. The warmth and coldness of the human heart is complex; you have much to learn, and equally, I have much to experience, no one is wiser or earlier than the other.”

“Senior!” Yet Mo Mo seemingly wouldn’t give up so easily, “Then, let me phrase this differently… the grace of guidance and saving life, unforgettable through eternity! Regardless if Senior is righteous or wicked in future, if ever Senior faces danger, my life will stand before yours!”

“Far too heavy,” Luo Qiu shook his head, “Let it go… first, tell me what’s going on between you and him. The apparitions at Wang Family Gully and Song Family Village, were they caused by you all?”

“This matter probably starts with the emergence of the ‘Emperor’s Decree’ on Zhan’s body,” Mo Mo sighed, “On that day…”