Chapter 183 - Past Memories

Jiang Wang felt helpless.Ever since he entered the residence, Zhongxuan Sheng had been clutching his hand without letting go.

Of course, showing respect to the wise and associating closely with one another weren’t problems in themselves.

Zhongxuan Sheng had to make such a gesture; even though he was already on friendly terms with Jiang Wang, there would be no shortage of people secretly trying to contact Jiang Wang.

And once he showed the slightest estrangement from Jiang Wang, those trying to undermine him could probably queue up all the way outside of Heavenly Mansion City.

This was a future God’s Inner Mansion, after all!

In all the world, a God’s Inner Mansion was a formidable force, a hero among heroes!

He, Zhongxuan Sheng, had to dispel those people’s dirty thoughts.

He didn’t even mind if they misunderstood the closeness for something unsavory.

So he gripped Jiang Wang’s hand even tighter.

Let them misunderstand however they like!

“Old Jiang, you’ve really helped me out big time!

We said it before we entered the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, if we failed, we’d drop all and speak no more.

If we succeeded, we’d definitely celebrate grandly, sharing the joys together!”

Zhongxuan Sheng’s spit flew as he spoke, “Cultivation Technique, secret technique, wealth and beauties—whatever you want, just say the word!”

“First, let go of my hand.”

“Hahaha.” Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t feel embarrassed in the slightest and persisted in pulling Jiang Wang to sit at the table before finally releasing him, saying, “Before entering the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, I was tense and cautious, like walking on thin ice.

I hadn’t had the chance to properly treat you, so come, try out the great cuisine of Daqi!”

The courtyard was filled with decorations, brightly lit, a sight of prosperity.

However, one might only truly understand what Zhongxuan Sheng meant by “walking on thin ice” if they noticed the solemn and silent eyes at the entrance.

Who knows if today’s intense heat isn’t tomorrow’s withered and fallen flowers?

The dishes on the table weren’t numerous, but each was refined, with unique flavors—

Among them, Jiang Wang’s favorite was the five-flavor dried meat, which tasted excellent, with particularly fresh broth.

It’s said that the broth for this dish requires pulverizing beef and mutton bones separately, boiling them to extract the juice, skimming the scum, allowing it to settle so it clarifies, and only then is it added to the dish.

As for the tea-flavored dishes beloved by the people of Qi Country, Jiang Wang wasn’t very accustomed to them.

Tea-infused dishes carried a touch of elegance, but inevitably, they couldn’t shake off a bitter taste.

He thought, it’s too bitter; An’an definitely wouldn’t like it.

After three rounds of wine, Zhongxuan Sheng raised the old topic again.

But perhaps because of the alcohol, his tone was much more sincere this time, lacking that overly deliberate greasiness: “You came all the way to Qi Country to help me, and yet before entering the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, I even made you swear on the Heart Demon’s curse.

Brother, that was not quite proper of me.

But the Heavenly Abode Secret Land was too important to me!

I really couldn’t take any more risks.”

As he spoke, he leaned closer to Jiang Wang, “Brother Jiang, whatever you ask, just say it.

It’ll make me feel better.

Otherwise, I really wouldn’t feel at ease.”

Jiang Wang shook his head, “There’s no need for more thanks, the position in God’s Inner Mansion itself is already my reward.

You don’t owe me anything.”

Only Jiang Wang and Zhongxuan Sheng were at the table, with fourteen guards standing outside like statues, silent.

Always armored, always ready for battle.

If Zhongxuan Zun could afford to relax or even indulge himself, where did Zhongxuan Sheng get the privilege to “celebrate grandly”?

Now, he was barely qualified to stand before Zhongxuan Zun.

All the extravagance he was showing now and would show for some time to come was just a necessary display.

He had to show his confidence, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to win anyone’s belief.

The intensity of the succession struggle within a family like the Zhong Xuan Family was as fierce as that of any small country.

“Brother Jiang, I’m not talking empty words.

I’ve got a start, but the situation is still tough.

I hardly have anyone I can trust, and I’m in dire need of people!

Especially someone as talented as you.

I hope you will condescend to be my guest and lend me a hand!”

“You said you want to travel the world, to hone your cultivation.

But in the Zhong Xuan Family, standing by my side, you’ll face even more, even fiercer, challenges!

Whether it’s Zhongxuan Zun or Wang Yiwu, they are both geniuses of the top order!

You’ll learn much more from a bout with them than from wandering the world.”

“And I’ll definitely ensure ample resources for your cultivation!”

This chubby man was eloquent, selling troubles as opportunities, danger as challenges.

But for Jiang Wang, it seemed like a reasonable proposition.

Seeing Jiang Wang still pondering, Zhongxuan Sheng added, “You mentioned before that something happened back home and you don’t want to return right now.

You don’t want to say, and I didn’t ask what it was.

Even though you’ll be a guest in name, I actually consider you as a friend.

If one day you need my help, regardless of the distance, I won’t hesitate to stand by you!”

Previously helping Zhongxuan Sheng to explore the Heavenly Abode Secret Land was a clear and straightforward transaction.

If he chose to leave now, there would be no problem.

Even Zhongxuan Zun wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

But once he became Zhongxuan Sheng’s guest, truly involving himself in the competition between Zhongxuan Sheng and Zhongxuan Zun, he would undoubtedly be entering one of the most perilous whirlpools in Qi Country.

There was unquestionably great risk, but the potential gains were also tremendously attractive.

First and foremost, he’d have the visible support of Zhongxuan Sheng’s personal resources.

Currently down to his last penny, Jiang Wang had neither a Sect to guide him nor influential backers.

Traveling the world alone, with just one sword and a Taixu Illusion Realm, he needed resources.

Next, he needed power.

Whether facing Bone Tao or Zhuang Ting, unless he could ascend to the heavens in a single step, a man against a country, by himself he would never realize his revenge.

If he could help Zhongxuan Sheng win the position of heir to the Zhong Xuan Family, then the forces at Zhongxuan Sheng’s command could also serve him.

Of course, this was the hardest goal to achieve, but also the most enticing one for him.

At that thought, Jiang Wang made up his mind and spoke out, “I came to Qi Country because I trust you.

Today I help you, and one day I come to your door, you must not turn me away.”

“Ask and you shall receive!” Zhongxuan Sheng declared magnanimously.

Their clinking cups echoed with youthful voices.

Chen Country.

In the Valley of No Return.

The stream babbled, a yellow dog lay idle, and chicks pecked at grains.

The woman donning a faceless mask floated down in front of the creek, casually tossing a person in front of the cabin as if discarding a lump of garbage.

She shouted, “Old man!

Old man!”

An elderly roar instantly resounded from the cabin, surprisingly strong and spirited, “Who are you calling old man?

You’ve got no respect for your elders!

I am in the prime of my life!”

The woman couldn’t help but mutter quietly, “Damn it, that you can hear loud and clear.”

Yet she approached the man, raising her voice, “You insisted on collaborating with Bone Tao back then.

Now Bone Tao is gone, and Ouyang Lie is left without a bone to his name!

Who am I supposed to find?”

The old man shuffled around for a while before emerging from the wooden house, stretching and yawning leisurely before asking, “What Bone Tao?”

The woman had already resigned herself to the situation and continued loudly, “It’s that skeleton-looking Sect!

They even had an elder, the one who always rolled his eyes back!”

“Hahaha, have you gone stupid, Yanzi?

He wasn’t rolling his eyes, he had Innate Nether Eyes!”

Suppressing the veins popping on her forehead, the woman stressed, “The point is, Xiong Wen is dead, and you asked me to check it out!

The entire Maple Forest City Region has fallen into the crevice between the Underworld and the mortal world.

There’s not a single clue left!

I just grabbed anybody from outside Maple Forest City Region.”

“Ah,” the white-haired old man waved his hand and sighed, “If he’s dead, he’s dead, what’s there to look at?”

“It was you who told me to look.”

Her voice inexplicably grew softer.

The slow-moving white-haired elder also felt a trace of chill.

He couldn’t help but shrink his neck and changed the subject, “Who is this person?”

“Don’t know, don’t recognize.

Just grabbed him randomly.” The woman was no longer angry, starting to state things with resignation.

But after all, she was addressing her boss, the leader of the nine great Heart Demons.

She couldn’t help adding another sentence, “He must be one of the only survivors in Maple Forest City Region.”

“Oh.

Then let’s keep him,” the old man responded indifferently.

“You casually soul-search him and ask a few questions, what’s the point of keeping him?

He has consumed blood-returning pills.

His foundation is ruined.

Unless he dissolves his meridians and starts over.”

“Then let’s have him start over,” the old man said matter-of-factly, “Skip the soul-searching.

What can such a weakling know?”

“The pain of rebuilding cultivation channels, can he, someone like him, withstand it?

I hold no such expectations.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of hatred.”

“Nor should you underestimate the power of being useless.

Some useless people, no matter how you push them, will never gain strength.” The woman seemed to imply something with her words.

The old man didn’t seem to understand; he just sighed, “Let’s give it a try.

Alas, it’s about time someone filled Little Tiger’s vacancy.”

“Boss, Little Tiger has been dead for a very, very long time!

The last ninth Heart Demon was Little Bear!

Ah, spit, Xiong Wen!”

The white-haired old man had already squatted beside the person who lay on the ground, seemingly not noticing the woman’s speech as he asked, “What’s the situation with this person?”

“Oh, he seems to have gone mad.”

The woman kicked the person on the ground with her foot.

That person abruptly rolled over, shouting loud and clear, “I’m not useless, I’m not useless!”

His gaze was vacant, his expression deranged.

The white-haired old man simply waved his hand in front of him, and he calmed down.

“He hasn’t completely lost his mind.

It’s just a temporary inability to handle stress.

Easy to fix.”

The woman shook her head, uninterested in these matters, “Well, he’s all yours now, I’m leaving.”

“Yanzi.”

The old man called out as he looked back, but the woman had already disappeared.

Truly swift and decisive.

He couldn’t help but slap his forehead, “What was I going to say?”

“Forget it.”

It was as if there were nothing in this world that was worth his concern.

Nothing that couldn’t be let go of or forgotten.

He slowly turned around, standing in a daze, his thoughts a mystery.

The old yellow dog lying at the entrance suddenly barked.

The old man seemed to awaken from his stupor.

He looked down at the vacuous person on the ground and touched his forehead with a wrinkled, thin finger.

After a moment of stillness, life slowly returned to that vacant stare.

Loathing, hatred, sorrow, agony… All emotions seemed to squeeze together in his pained eyes.

“Kid, what’s your name?”

“Fang!

Fang…

Heling!”