Volume One: Autumn Festival Chapter Eighteen: The Immortal Strokes My Head

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Celestial Master Tao’s expression was grave.

He looked at the unusually agitated Jiang Wang and nodded. “The problem is considerable.”

Jiang Wang seized him by the arm. “Then hurry up and take a look!”

Celestial Master Tao said solemnly, “Young friend, your problem is extremely serious.”

“I never imagined that the baleful aura had developed to such an extent. It seems I shall have to risk my life to save you, young friend. This is the greatest difficulty I have encountered in all my years, but so long as you cooperate sincerely, I still have a sixty percent chance of success.”

Jiang Wang: “...”

He had indeed intended to ask Celestial Master Tao to help resolve the problem of the Mirage drawing away his lifespan. But clearly, Little Fish’s condition was far more serious now.

In any case, he was not yet on the verge of death. Perhaps, within the few years he had left, he might successfully embark upon the path of cultivation.

As long as his lifespan was long enough, he need not fear being drained.

Before the Mirage had appeared, Kutan’s most renowned physician had once declared that Jiang Wang would not live past the age of twenty-four.

Yet after the old man in the teahouse accidentally awakened the Mirage’s greater power, Jiang Wang had clearly felt his physical condition improve somewhat.

He had been able to run all the way to West City Lane and bring Celestial Master Tao back with him. That had once been utterly impossible; he would probably have died of exhaustion before even making it out of Qixia Street.

Jiang Wang guessed that perhaps, after drawing away so much of his lifespan, the Mirage had finally begun to return some of it to him.

If he truly wanted to uncover the secrets of the Mirage, relying on Celestial Master Tao was clearly futile.

And yet, everything the Celestial Master said seemed somehow connected to the matter, making it difficult for Jiang Wang to ignore him completely.

“If you can make sure Little Fish is all right, I’ll cooperate. Otherwise, forget it.”

This was also a chance to verify whether Celestial Master Tao truly possessed any ability.

But the Celestial Master was troubled.

No matter how he looked at Little Fish, he could find nothing wrong with her.

Perhaps he should simply deceive the boy?

He nodded. “Very well. Let me have a look.”

Celestial Master Tao pretended to examine Little Fish from every angle, muttering under his breath all the while.

Before long, Little Fish began to grow drowsy from the incantations.

Seeing this, Celestial Master Tao smiled faintly. He took out a talisman and slapped it onto Little Fish’s back.

“The problem has been resolved. The girl will be somewhat weak, but she’ll recover after a good sleep.”

Jiang Wang was deeply suspicious.

That was it? The problem was solved?

What did he take him for, a fool?

He was about to challenge the Celestial Master when the talisman on Little Fish’s back suddenly crumbled into ash. Immediately afterward, her head drooped, and she fell asleep on the table.

“Young friend, it is your turn now.”

Jiang Wang hesitated.

Then he heard hurried footsteps outside.

With the old steward away, everyone remaining in the marquis’s residence was gathered here. Miss Shu came running straight inside.

She was breathing heavily.

Behind her was the First Divine Constable of Hun City, leading a group of yamen runners.

Because of the incident on Pinglyan Street, the guards from the garrison office had arrived a step too late. They had happened to encounter the flustered Miss Shu, and after learning the reason for her panic, had followed her to the marquis’s residence.

In truth, the First Divine Constable of Hun City was in an awkward position.

He found it difficult to believe that the young marquis of Xunyang Marquis’s residence could be a monster.

But Miss Shu’s status was undeniably distinguished, and he did not dare treat her carelessly.

Miss Shu believed she had already uncovered the truth. She suspected that Jiang Wang, who was supposedly a monster, and Celestial Master Tao were about to take action. To save Hun City, she needed assistance, and the garrison office was the obvious choice.

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“Young Marquis. Celestial Master Tao.” The First Divine Constable of Hun City cupped his fists toward the two men in greeting. If anyone was to be accused, Celestial Master Tao seemed the more likely culprit, but the Celestial Master had once saved the life of the garrison commander. The constable truly did not know how to begin.

He could only turn his gaze toward Miss Shu.

He understood his present predicament perfectly.

“Constable Zhou, what is the meaning of bringing so many men here?” Shan Qiyu walked directly toward them.

Constable Zhou pulled him aside.

A short while later, Shan Qiyu turned angrily toward Miss Shu.

“Miss, have you never heard that disaster comes from careless speech? What exactly are you plotting, to dare claim that our young marquis is a monster?”

Miss Shu shouted, “I am not making this up! There is a monster in that Celestial Master Tao’s home—I saw it with my own eyes. And Jiang conspired with Celestial Master Tao. They must be planning to bring harm to Hun City!”

Jiang Wang had already been bewildered upon hearing himself called a monster. When he heard that there was a monster in Celestial Master Tao’s home, he was rendered completely speechless.

Celestial Master Tao’s expression changed drastically.

Constable Zhou was, after all, Hun City’s foremost detective. Although he did not believe Miss Shu’s accusation, he was observing the Celestial Master closely and immediately noticed that something was wrong with his expression.

Could it actually be true?

When monsters were involved, even the fact that Celestial Master Tao had saved the garrison commander’s life could not prevent an investigation.

“Perhaps we should go to Celestial Master Tao’s residence and verify the matter.”

Constable Zhou was decisive. He immediately cupped his fists toward Celestial Master Tao.

“If this proves to be a misunderstanding, the garrison office will naturally apologize to you, Master, and publicly announce the truth throughout Hun City. I, Zhou, will accept responsibility. But if the matter of the monster is true...”

He did not finish the sentence.

Celestial Master Tao hurriedly explained, “It truly is a misunderstanding! I merely captured a monster once and kept it at home. It could never possibly harm Hun City!”

Constable Zhou frowned. “I know very well that you possess the ability to draw talismans and drive away monsters, Master. But if you captured one, why keep it in your home? There are so many commoners living in West City Lane. Should anything go wrong, you would bear no small responsibility. I believe you harbor no ill will, but the matter of monsters is extremely serious. Forgive me for offending you.”

Even after hearing Celestial Master Tao’s explanation, he still had to make the trip to West City Lane.

As Constable Zhou led Celestial Master Tao away, Miss Shu pointed at Jiang Wang.

“There’s another one here!”

Jiang Wang’s face darkened. “What makes you think I look like a monster? Besides, I went to West City Lane to ask Celestial Master Tao to treat my maid. You were there at the time. Exactly which part of our conversation made you come to such a conclusion?”

The truth was that Miss Shu’s suspicion had not arisen from anything Jiang Wang and Celestial Master Tao had said. She had simply formed an initial prejudice, after which everything looked suspicious. Besides, she really had discovered a monster.

Now, seeing Little Fish asleep on the table and then looking toward the one-armed Zhao Si, she felt that the threat was probably low. But if they were all monsters, remaining here would still be extremely dangerous.

She was just about to run when Shan Qiyu blocked the doorway.

Miss Shu once again felt that she had acted rashly.

She looked at Jiang Wang with wounded eyes. “Please don’t eat me...”

Jiang Wang rubbed his forehead and sighed. “I have no appetite. I can’t eat.”

Miss Shu burst into tears.

No appetite now—but once he regained his appetite, wouldn’t he eat her then?

Her sobbing woke Little Fish.

The very first thing she did upon waking was grab a few more mouthfuls of food.

“That Celestial Master Tao is a swindler!” Jiang Wang said furiously. “He keeps a monster in his house. He must be up to no good!”

Little Fish let out a small burp and said weakly, “I think I ate too much.”

Jiang Wang hurried over with concern. “Little Fish, this is all my fault. I shouldn’t have rubbed your head. Don’t worry, your young master will sell everything he owns if necessary to cure you.”

Little Fish froze for a moment, then suddenly said with delight, “When Young Master touched my head, was it like what storytellers describe as divine enlightenment? I felt a warm energy nourishing my body. Then I became terribly hungry, and after eating my fill just now, I felt strength surge through my entire body!”

Shan Qiyu frowned. “Little Fish has indeed broken through into the second realm of martial cultivation. That should be the Marrow-Washing stage, but without proper guidance, it is extremely difficult to accomplish.”

He looked toward Jiang Wang.

His heart was filled with astonishment.

According to Little Fish, the young marquis had merely touched her head, and she had broken through an entire realm. But how could that possibly be?

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Jiang Wang was utterly bewildered.

What did this mean?

Had the power of the Mirage helped Little Fish wash her marrow?

Little Fish had only just broken through into the second realm of martial cultivation, yet earlier she had already been able to wield a sword with power comparable to that of the third realm. This proved that Little Fish truly was a prodigy of martial arts.

He realized that he had misunderstood the situation.

But it remained difficult to imagine that the Mirage possessed such an ability.

He immediately stepped forward, rubbed Little Fish’s head again, and pinched her cheek.

“How do you feel?”

Little Fish shook her head.

Jiang Wang sighed in disappointment.

But he soon brightened again.

He felt that the power of the Mirage had probably not yet dissipated at the time, whereas he was now nothing more than a useless weakling.

As long as he slowly figured out how it worked—or waited until he was next placed in mortal danger, then rubbed the heads of every member of the Black Flame Army, perhaps even raising them all to the Grandmaster realm—would he not be able to dominate Kutan?

He was getting somewhat carried away.

Jiang Wang very much wanted to try having Shan Qiyu stab him directly, but he knew that the Black Flame Army’s loyalty to Xunyang Marquis’s residence was absolute. Even if he beat Shan Qiyu to death, the man would never agree to such a thing.

Besides, it would be difficult to explain.

Though one was best served by relying on oneself, Jiang Wang had indeed tried it in his room during that silent night.

If Little Fish had not been living next door and rushed over after hearing the commotion, he might well have lost his life.

Fortunately, Little Fish was easily deceived, so the old steward never found out. Moreover, with the few golden pills left behind by his father, the Marquis of Xunyang, Jiang Wang had been able to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible.

The facts had proven that there was no shortcut to be taken.

His gaze fell upon Miss Shu, who was lingering hesitantly nearby, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Since Miss Shu suspected that he was a monster, she must harbor considerable hostility toward him. All he needed to do was give her an opportunity, and surely she would attack.

He immediately sent Shan Qiyu along with the others to West City Lane to investigate.

Then he turned toward Miss Shu and revealed a smile that he considered friendly.

Miss Shu felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck, as though she were being watched by a venomous snake. Instinctively, she raised her spear.

Jiang Wang was very satisfied.

I haven’t even done anything, and she already wants to attack me.

As expected, she is quick to learn.

“Miss Shu, I have something to say.”

Jiang Wang waved off Little Fish, who was about to protect her master, then half-dragged and half-led Miss Shu outside.

They arrived in a courtyard filled with rare flowers and exotic plants. Jiang Wang drew a deep breath and deliberately turned his back to Miss Shu.

In a deep voice, he said, “You said I was a monster...”

“I never imagined that, after hiding for so long, I would still be discovered by you.”

He pointed toward the flowerbed before them.

“You have no objections to being buried here, do you? I chose this place especially for you.”

Jiang Wang was filled with anticipation.

He had gone this far.

Come on, hurry up and kill me!

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