Chapter Six: The Mysterious Arts of Qimen Dunjia

After bidding each other farewell, the four of them dispersed in different directions.

As she left, Zhou Ling'er glanced first at the spot where Fang You had gone, then at the path Senior Brother Zhang Zhiheng had taken. She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then departed.

Meanwhile, Fang You walked along, pulling a phone from his pocket. On the screen was a message: Where are you now? Do you want me to come pick you up?

Fang You replied: I’ll just take a taxi, no need to pick me up, Uncle.

Uncle: All right, I understand. Come over early for dinner!

Fang You: Got it, Uncle, I’ll be there as soon as I can.

Putting his phone away, Fang You murmured, “The trial is finally over. The world is vast—at last, I have the chance to travel and explore!”

Suddenly, as he wandered through a sparse thicket, a tongue of fire darted at him from behind. But Fang You seemed prepared. He drew a coin sword from behind his back and cleaved the flames apart.

Behind him stood Senior Brother Zhang Zhiheng, a handful of talismans gripped in his hand, his face expressionless.

“Senior Brother, what are you doing? After all these years, have you come all this way just to see me off?” Fang You remarked as he turned to face his senior.

“Forgive me, Little Brother,” Zhang Zhiheng said, casting the talismans with swift precision. “Incantation of Departing Flame, Summoning Gale—wind and fire, unite and raze the heavens!”

In an instant, several tongues of fire leaped toward Fang You. With the force of the wind summoned by Zhang Zhiheng, a fierce gale rose, whipping the flames into a raging inferno that surged toward Fang You from all directions.

“Why do you want to kill me?” Fang You wondered aloud, unable to escape as the flames engulfed him. From Zhang Zhiheng’s vantage, Fang You was entirely surrounded; it seemed certain he would be reduced to ash.

“I’m sorry, Little Brother,” Zhang Zhiheng apologized again.

At that moment, a peachwood sword suddenly swept down from above, striking Zhang Zhiheng with such force that he was knocked to the ground.

Reeling from pain, Zhang Zhiheng turned to look behind him—and there stood Fang You.

“How is this possible? Just now—!” Zhang Zhiheng spun around to look at the spell he had cast, which should have trapped Fang You.

But as the flames died down, the only thing left within was a paper effigy with eyes and a mouth drawn on it.

“Qimen Dunjia’s Substitution Technique. I prepared a few talismans as I walked—it seems they came in handy,” Fang You said, looking at Zhang Zhiheng. “You just reminded us to use the Maoshan Command, and now you try to kill me—why?”

“You really are a genius with spells,” Zhang Zhiheng managed, slowly rising despite his injuries. “Did you know, I’m actually a descendant of the Zhuge clan?”

“Zhuge clan?” Fang You asked in puzzlement. “I’ve heard of them—they could read the stars, divine the past and future, predict fortune and fate. But I also heard the entire clan was wiped out by an unknown force over a decade ago, not even sparing the children. So, you’re…?”

“You’re mistaken. I am the sole survivor. I slipped out to play, and when I returned, I witnessed the massacre with my own eyes. I joined Maoshan in hopes of one day uncovering the truth behind my clan’s destruction. I even changed my name from Zhuge Zhiheng to Zhang Zhiheng.”

“But what does that have to do with me? Why try to kill me?” Fang You pressed.

“My specialty is the art of divination. But that branch of magic lacks strong combat techniques; its core is geomancy, not battle. So I wanted to visit different sects and acquire martial spells suitable for me, to prepare for revenge. Your Qimen Dunjia contains the world’s secret arts collected over centuries—surely there are combat techniques I could learn. I must obtain it!”

Before Zhang Zhiheng could finish, he lifted his sleeve. From within darted a small green snake, baring its fangs and striking at Fang You.

Caught up in the conversation, Fang You was unprepared for the sudden attack. The snake bit his arm before he could react.

In a panic, Fang You tore the snake away and flung it aside. But seconds later, dizziness overwhelmed him, and he collapsed to the ground, his strength draining away.

“This is a venomous snake I’ve raised myself and trained for days. I meant it for self-defense, not to use against you, but now I have no choice,” Zhang Zhiheng said, standing over the fallen Fang You. “Forgive me.”

Struggling, Fang You managed to say, “If you want the Qimen Dunjia, I could simply give it to you. I was never interested in that book—collecting secret arts isn’t my ambition. All I want is to use my skills to banish evil and uphold the Way. It was the head of the sect who foisted it on me, hoping I’d leave something behind for future generations. Can’t you see that?”

But Zhang Zhiheng stubbornly replied, “No matter how you try to talk your way out of it, I won’t listen. You’re too cunning—I won’t be deceived. Hand over the Qimen—!”

“Take it!” Fang You pulled the book from his robe. “Here, just give me the antidote. I really don’t care about these secret arts.”

“…Uh… Aren’t you going to refuse me? Say something like, ‘I’ll never give it to you,’ or ‘Don’t even think about it,’ or—”

“Enough. You think this is a movie? It’s not some priceless treasure. Why would I risk my life to protect a mere collection of spells?”

“…Ugh…” Zhang Zhiheng turned his head away with a touch of pride. “To get it so easily feels… strange. But a gentleman does not accept charity. I must win the Qimen Dunjia by my own strength.”

“It’s not some great treasure! And you’re already resorting to force—what’s this talk of a gentleman’s honor? Just give me the antidote already! If you want the Qimen Dunjia, take it!”

“No. If it’s given to me, I don’t want it. I must earn it. When you die here, I’ll claim the Qimen Dunjia from your hands. Then, once I’ve learned a suitable combat art, I can seek my revenge. Hahaha!”

Zhang Zhiheng could not help but burst into wild laughter.

“Ah…this…uh…I’m at a loss for words,” Fang You thought, his consciousness fading. “No…am I really going to die here?”

Just then, a cold, imperious voice rang out: “Senior Brother, I suspected you might try something like this…”