Overthrow the Great Tang, bring chaos to the world.

These words rang out like thunder on flat ground, shaking everyone present to their core. No one had expected Blue-Robed Guest to be so audaciously reckless as to openly display this mysterious object that had been rumored about in the jianghu for so long. Some cautious people felt uneasy, like startled birds, unconsciously glancing frequently toward the door, fearing government spies might be eavesdropping and bring catastrophic disaster.

Yin Shu, chief of Dragon Gate Society, was first to break the silence, unable to help asking: “You openly carry this thing – aren’t you afraid the government will ransack and exterminate your entire clan?”

Wei Xun said expressionlessly: “You all have parents, wives, and children, relatives and friends. Even those who’ve left secular life still have temples and disciples to depend on. However, we Setting Sun Academy disciples all have no family whatsoever – our sect is cold and indifferent, without attachments or weaknesses, naturally fearless. Whoever wants to turn around and report to officials for reward, please feel free.”

Hearing this phrase “no family whatsoever, fearless,” everyone’s hearts shuddered again. Most famous heroes with names and reputations had families and property, so when walking the jianghu, they naturally had many concerns. This group of madmen from Setting Sun Academy had no ties or attachments, so they could act completely without restraint. For this very reason, few people in the jianghu were willing to provoke them on their own initiative.

Wei Xun continued: “Anyone who obtains this object can dominate the jianghu, command wind and rain, become supreme ruler of the martial world… even removing the two words ‘martial world’ wouldn’t be difficult.”

In these chaotic times of famine, heroes arose everywhere. Among jianghu warriors were many with ambitions to claim dominion over the world. Remove “martial world,” and what remained were those infinitely alluring two words: “supreme ruler.” At this moment, those with ambition gazed at this gorgeous lacquer box, their hearts pounding wildly. The box appeared quite small, seemingly unable to contain any divine weapons, but perhaps that fierce weapon wasn’t an ordinary blade at all?

Since Chen Shigu was acknowledged as the previous generation’s number one expert under heaven and was also skilled in tomb raiding, his possession of this mysterious weapon made perfect sense upon reflection.

“Three people abducted her. One was tall with extremely advanced lightness skills; the second was small and thin with excellent fist and palm techniques; the third person – there are still no clues.” Wei Xun lightly tapped the lacquer box and called out loudly: “If any of you can find Donkey-Riding Lady or provide information leading to finding her, the person belongs to me, the object belongs to you.”

With Blue-Robed Guest’s words, the great hall immediately fell into buzzing low discussions. In an instant, greedy, wary, suspicious, and worried gazes all focused on that small lacquer box.

The Setting Sun Academy members exchanged glances, understanding that Wei Xun’s purpose in appearing at Golden Wave Pavilion today to demonstrate power was to use Chen Shigu’s relic as bait, coercing and enticing Luoyang’s heroes to join in searching for Donkey-Riding Lady. This way, the number of searchers would instantly expand a hundredfold.

However, that box was most likely ninety percent empty. When they actually found the person, how did he plan to placate the other party? Could this scheme actually be reckless of consequences, just for a desperate gamble?

All the Setting Sun Academy members thought: it would be better if the person died right before their eyes so he could take revenge that very night and end the matter. With the missing person’s fate unknown and whereabouts unclear, even the identity of the enemy was unknowable. In such circumstances, the torment this brought was far more prolonged than death. No matter what, this madman was going to bind and drag them all into the quagmire of Chen Shigu’s absurd dying words.

Having finished the important business, Wei Xun put the lacquer box back in his bosom and prepared to leave Golden Wave Pavilion. Elder Huijue called out to stop him. After some consideration, he said solemnly: “All conditioned existence is impermanent, all existence is suffering; all phenomena are without self, nirvana is bliss. If this is heaven’s will, you must not let deep obsession trap you in inner demons.”

“Inner demons? Heaven’s will?” Wei Xun was slightly startled, seeming to feel he had heard these words somewhere before, but his thoughts weren’t on himself at all, and the moment passed in an instant.

“I heard that White Camel Temple originally had five elders, but later, to jointly eliminate some demon from Guanzhong, after a fierce battle, only three returned. Since then, White Camel Temple members never set foot in Guanzhong. That should have been before I was born… is that right or not?”

Elder Huijue’s expression darkened, feeling more and more that this youth’s dazed state and evil aura were extremely similar to that person.

“Even if it’s heaven’s will, even if I must search the azure heavens above and the yellow springs below, I will find her.”

After Wei Xun said these decisive words, he walked out of Golden Wave Pavilion alone.

The heroes harbored their various thoughts, leaving behind tables of completely untouched banquets, and gradually rose to leave. Qiu Ren casually grabbed a piece of golden milk pastry to chew on, thinking while eating that the wound medicine he kept stocked in his medicine box was almost used up – he needed to find time to buy more to replenish it, lest he run short when urgently needed.

He went alone to the South Market, heading to Rongqing Pharmacy where he had previously stayed. Who knew that just as he stepped through the threshold, someone without a cap and with disheveled hair rushed toward him. Qiu Ren initially thought it was a beggar asking for food and casually pushed him aside. Looking more carefully, though this person’s clothes were messy, the fabric quality was quite fine – it was actually Xu Shan, the manager of Rongqing Pharmacy.

“Divine doctor! Divine doctor! I’ve been waiting for you so desperately – is the Great Joy Powder ready?!” Xu Shan’s face was full of anxiety, his voice trembling.

Qiu Ren frowned impatiently: “I’ve been very busy recently, wait a bit longer. Business flows like a long stream – no need to rush for a moment.”

Xu Shan no longer cared about face at this point and simply dropped to his knees with a “thud,” tightly hugging Qiu Ren’s shoes and pleading mournfully: “I don’t want money, I just beg you to hurry, otherwise my whole family… Ah! Please hurry!”

Qiu Ren calculated silently. The missing ingredient for making Great Joy Powder didn’t cost money to obtain, but it was quite rare – he’d have to personally go to North Mang Mountain to pry open coffins to find it. But with the current urgent business of searching for someone, where would he find the leisure time for such trouble?

He glanced at Xu Shan and said casually: “Without that sovereign herb, even if prepared and consumed it won’t work. This is different from other tonic medicines – you can’t just fool people randomly.”

Xu Shan thought Qiu Ren was deliberately haggling and tremblingly took out a wooden box from his bosom. Opening it, he offered it with both hands. Qiu Ren looked and saw inside was actually a good ginseng root bound with red thread, complete with all its tendrils. His eyes immediately brightened. Taking it in hand, he broke off a bit of tendril and put it in his mouth, chewing carefully to taste it. Being an expert who knew goods, he recognized this as genuine Shangdang ginseng.

Seeing Qiu Ren was moved, Xu Shan cried even more pitifully: “The Shangdang ginseng has arrived! I don’t want to sell it for money – I’ll give it all to you, just please hurry and prepare the medicine, Boss Qiu!”

Without another word, Qiu Ren pocketed this precious medicinal material and smiled: “Great Joy Powder isn’t life-saving medicine. Which impotent old fool is so anxiously worked up?”

Xu Shan looked terrified and said nothing, kneeling to kowtow again.

Qiu Ren was inherently cold-hearted bandit who didn’t care about others’ lives or deaths at all. Though he accepted the ginseng, he had no intention of immediately going up the mountain to find medicine. He kicked Xu Shan aside and said perfunctorily: “Good, good, wait then – it’ll be ready soon.” Then he strode away, leaving only the pharmacy manager collapsed on the ground, his eyes full of despair and helplessness.

Coming out of Golden Wave Pavilion, Wei Xun wandered the streets like a lost soul.

Bone-piercing cold moved like a line of ice water, flowing upward against the governing and conception vessels toward his spiritual platform, rapidly spreading. The last trace of warmth in his chest gradually dissipated. These days he had rushed about day and night tracking, extremely exhausted and heartbroken. His body was already unable to bear the load and could no longer suppress the sickness rampaging within.

The dull pain accumulated in his chest spread out. Suddenly, fresh blood surged up his throat. He could no longer control it and staggered to the bridge railing, bending over to vomit – that blood wasn’t bright red but black as mud.

He should have died from illness long ago. What sustained his life in this lingering existence was the sole obsession in his heart. Wei Xun roughly wiped his face with his sleeve and continued forward, only one thought in his mind: where should he search next? Where might she be hidden?

Unknowingly, he wandered like a walking corpse onto Tianjin Bridge. Many small vendors doing business gathered on both sides of the bridge head. Wei Xun carefully examined each person, looking for that child selling peaches, but still found nothing. After this habitual disappointment, a fortune-telling and character-reading stall came into view. The sign read: “Characters reveal spiritual connection, divination determines heavenly secrets.”

Wei Xun had mixed with street people since childhood and naturally knew these fortune-telling tricks were all lies to deceive customers. But today, looking at this sign’s content, he seemed drawn by some invisible force and unconsciously approached.

The fortune teller saw a young beggar staggering over on the bridge and was about to drive him away, but noticed this person had clear, handsome features with brilliant spiritual energy. Though he showed signs of light fortune and thin fate, he was definitely not an ignorant, lowly person. Moreover, being able to read the sign showed he was at least literate, indicating something extraordinary about him.

Wei Xun slowly crouched in front of the stall. After hesitating briefly, he picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote the character “籠” (cage). This was the most complex character from the line “Long caged in a pen, I’ve returned to nature” that Baozhu had taught him when learning to write.

At that time, she required him to copy it a hundred times or he wouldn’t be allowed out. Now these warm, harmonious memories had all turned into sharp blades – each stroke written on paper simultaneously cut into his heart, each cut drawing blood.

This fortune teller was Qian Zhiwei, a famous scholar in Luoyang whose character reading and divination were often remarkably accurate, possessing genuine skill. He observed this youth’s expression carefully, seeing his spirit didn’t stay in place, his eyes were hollow – he was already heartbroken to the extreme.

After pondering for a moment, Qian Zhiwei pointed at the character “籠” with his fan and said gravely: “A dragon in a cage – this represents an extremely noble person trapped in prison, with wings but unable to fly.”

Hearing this, Wei Xun’s breathing immediately became erratic. Nearly losing composure, he urgently asked: “Where is the person imprisoned?!”

Qian Zhiwei helplessly shook his head: “The divination is unclear.”

Wei Xun gritted his teeth and asked again: “Is she well?”

Qian Zhiwei sighed and pointed to the bamboo radical: “Bamboo switches striking the body, double daggers threatening – the situation is not good.”

The youth’s face immediately showed grief-stricken expression as he asked hoarsely: “Can she still be rescued?”

Qian Zhiwei closed his eyes in contemplation, trying to find a trace of hope in the character’s form, but ultimately found nothing. He knew this person was extremely desperate, with death qi about his face. If he spoke frankly, fearing this person at the end of his rope might take extreme measures, he considered carefully and pointed to the moon component within the cage, saying ambiguously:

“The moon component represents legs and feet – the person still stands firm in the cage, hasn’t surrendered.”

The youth’s eyes immediately streamed with tears as he said like talking in sleep: “She hasn’t given up, so naturally I won’t give up either.” After speaking, he dropped the brush, stood up, and drifted away.

Fortune telling tradition emphasized “three accepts, three rejects” – those near death with life hanging by a thread generally weren’t charged fees. Therefore, though the youth gave not a penny, Qian Zhiwei didn’t call out to stop him, only watched his departing figure and sighed deeply.

Wei Xun walked the streets for a while, suddenly noticing wetness on his face. Reaching up to touch it, he found clear tears. He hadn’t intended to cry, but his thoughts involuntarily drifted to Baozhu: not knowing what grievances she was suffering at this moment, not daring to cry, her tears somehow transmitted to him. With this thought, he no longer wiped his face, letting the tears flow down his cheeks.

Author’s Note: In “Miscellaneous Records of Youyang,” this character-reading scholar named Qian Zhiwei on Tianjin Bridge was mentioned as being very accurate. Next Da Tang Pi Zhu Ji – Chapter will switch to Baozhu’s perspective.

Later note: Both “苞藏祸心” and “包藏祸心” are correct – 苞 is interchangeable with 包. In the future I’ll try to use more common expressions [laughing-crying emoji]