“Sky Gu Grandma, what’s wrong?”
Hearing her father’s voice, Lina turned her head to see a muscular, tall middle-aged man with rock-hard muscles and angular facial features approaching.
He stood at nine chi tall, towering above the surrounding Gu Clan members by two heads, his upper arms thicker than Lina’s waist. (Author’s note: Since the Northern Wei Dynasty, one chi has been between 29.6 and 31.1 cm.)
As he walked, his eyes were sharp like an eagle’s and vigilant like a wolf’s, exuding an overwhelming presence.
Compared to him, the hunched Sky Gu Grandma looked like a child.
The Sky Gu Grandma raised her head, nodded slightly, and quickly returned her gaze to Lina, saying in a trembling voice, “Girl, speak up, Grandma is waiting.”
Grandma seems anxious… What’s wrong with her? Does she also want to pick up silver every day like Number Three’s friend? Lina felt uncomfortable due to the Sky Gu Grandma’s intense reaction.
As the Sky Gu Grandma refused to move on, the large group came to a halt. The elites of the Sky Gu tribe turned their gaze towards Lina. People from other tribes whispered among themselves, still unaware of what was happening.
The Sky Gu Grandma turned her head and said to a young man from her tribe behind her, “Go inform the leaders of each tribe to take a short break. Come, girl, let’s talk over there… Longtu, you’re not allowed to follow.”
The Power Gu tribe leader named Longtu stopped in his tracks, silently watching his daughter being led away by the Sky Gu Grandma.
The leaders of the other five tribes gathered around Longtu, standing beside him and gazing at the departing old woman and young girl.
“Longtu, what’s going on?”
The Power Gu tribe leader shook his head, “Perhaps you should ask the Sky Gu tribe members.”
The leaders looked back.
“Lina just said something in jest to Grandma, who knew Grandma would be so excited.”
“What did she say?”
“Lina has a friend who picks up silver every day.”
“…”
…
The Sky Gu Grandma held a torch and came to a tree. They were now far from the main group, only able to see tiny lights in the distance.
The crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a pure white glow. The firelight illuminated the Sky Gu Grandma’s wrinkled, aged face. She had now calmed down from her earlier agitation and excitement.
“Girl, tell Grandma carefully, what’s going on?”
Lina pursed her lips and said, “I recently made a friend who said he has a friend who always inexplicably picks up money. He’s troubled by this and doesn’t understand why it’s happening.”
The Sky Gu Grandma narrowed her eyes and asked for confirmation, “How does he pick up silver? How much? Is there anything special besides picking up silver? Tell me everything, no matter how small.”
Lina scratched her head somewhat coyly and apologized, “I don’t know that, after all, it’s a friend of a friend. But I heard from Thr… my friend that it seems just by picking up silver, one can live a comfortable and affluent life.”
Out of curiosity, Lina thought that since the Sky Gu tribe could observe all things and knew many things, she’d casually ask about it.
Who wouldn’t be curious about picking up silver every day?
“Where is that person?”
Number Three is in the capital of Great Feng, his friend should be there too… Lina said uncertainly, “It seems to be in the capital of Great Feng.”
“The capital of Great Feng?!” The Sky Gu Grandma was startled and shook her head repeatedly, “Impossible, it shouldn’t be, it can’t be in the capital of Great Feng of all places… This doesn’t make sense…”
The Sky Gu Grandma furrowed her white brows, sometimes seeming to realize something, sometimes doubtful, her expressions changing constantly.
“Grandma, what’s all this about?” Lina, feeling quite clever, had already sensed something was amiss. If it were just about picking up money, the Sky Gu Grandma wouldn’t have pulled her aside to talk privately.
Nor would she appear so concerned.
But she found it absurd that an amusing incident in the capital of Great Feng could make the Sky Gu Grandma so serious and concerned.
It was as if she had accidentally met a nice friend, only to discover it was the Sky Gu Grandma’s long-lost child.
“Your friend is probably the one picking up silver every day, not the so-called friend of a friend,” the Sky Gu Grandma looked at the naive girl.
Lina’s rosy lips parted slightly, her light blue eyes frozen.
Number Three had lied to her. She never thought he was the kind of bad person who liked to deceive others. She had even thought Number Three was a chivalrous and righteous scholar.
Hadn’t the elders in the tribe said that scholars were all upright and unyielding?
The Sky Gu Grandma sighed lightly, looked up at the moon, and said in a deep voice, “Many years ago, two thieves, for some reason, snuck into a wealthy household and stole a very, very important item. That thing is still missing to this day, and the thieves who stole it have never appeared again.
“In that wealthy household, some people know the thing was stolen, while others still don’t know about it to this day.”
Lina blinked her eyes, “What was stolen?”
The Sky Gu Grandma didn’t explain, just repeating that it was a very, very important thing.
…
Soon, the elite team of a hundred Gu Clan members arrived at the Extreme Abyss, a deep, bottomless ravine.
Poisonous mist permeated the ravine, nurturing toxic vegetation and various poisonous insects and fierce beasts. This was a natural breeding ground for Gu insects, providing an endless supply of “raw materials” for the Gu Clan.
Lina had been here many times, but always stayed on the outskirts to capture Gu insects, never venturing deep inside.
The team moved forward in silence, the insect-repelling powder and poison-dispelling pills on their bodies immunizing them from the poisonous mist and insects’ disturbance.
The Poison Gu tribe members were in their element here, their faces glowing with vitality.
Following the path trodden by their predecessors, they delved deeper into the great ravine. Gradually, the scenery began to change, with deformed and bizarre plants covering the black-brown soil.
“Rustle rustle” sounds came from the dense branches, leaves, and grass as the poisonous insects living there were startled by these uninvited guests.
“Ah…” Suddenly, someone screamed. It was a man wearing cloth clothes. His skin turned red all over, his crotch bulging and becoming increasingly swollen and enormous.
“Women, I need women…” He shouted as he pounced on his male companion, hugging him tightly and frantically making monotonous movements.
But because of the clothes between them and the incorrect posture, unable to find the right way, he became almost irrational with urgency.
Strange cries rang out everywhere, with people continuously showing abnormal symptoms, both men and women. Men hugged trees, women also hugged trees…
Lina knew these people had been poisoned by the Desire Gu.
The Gu Clan members remained calm, voluntarily stepping back, even pointing and laughing.
The Desire Gu tribe members spread out to treat the poisoned members of various tribes. They took out black, leech-like soft insects from their bags and sprinkled them on the chests, necks, and crotches of the poisoned individuals.
The “leeches” attached to the skin surface, their mouthparts piercing into blood vessels, frantically consuming blood.
Before long, these leeches swelled up one by one, falling off the skin surface contentedly. The poisoned clan members’ symptoms improved immediately.
Except for those who recovered quickly feeling weak as if their bodies had been emptied, those who lasted longer were hardly affected.
The deeper they went into the ravine, the more Gu insects they encountered, and the more diverse the species became. For example, there were bugs as large as bulls; butterflies with brilliantly colorful bodies; snakes with twelve eyes; groups of walking dead animals; male wild dogs with three genitals, and so on.
Finally, the team stopped in a flat area where there were no plants, only rugged stones.
Amidst the poisonous mist, Lina saw a tall stone statue. It vaguely resembled a man wearing loose robes and a tall crown, one hand behind his back, the other on his abdomen, slightly lowering his head, looking at the opening of the Extreme Abyss.
The seven tribe leaders instinctively stepped forward, walking towards the statue.
“Mosang, who is that person?” Lina tugged at her brother’s sleeve.
Mosang, with the scar on his left face and an untamed demeanor, said in a deep voice, “I don’t know his name, but you should have heard his title…”
He paused, his tone filled with respect: “The Sage of Confucianism.”
…
In a small courtyard, a single candle flickered.
“I’ve been searching for Hengyuan’s whereabouts, but so far, I only know he’s still in the city. I don’t know where exactly,” Daoist Jinlian said, shaking his head as he sat cross-legged on the bed.
“Can’t you locate him through the Earth Book?” Xu Qi An remembered that “Number Nine” could locate his position through the Earth Book, and it didn’t take long.
Logically, with Hengyuan missing for nearly ten days now, Daoist Jinlian should have found him already.
“I guess Number Six, or rather the Earth Book, has been sealed.”
…Huh? If it’s sealed, what should we do? This is putting me, Fatty Tiger, in a difficult position. Xu Qi An was a bit confused.
“Unless I can get close enough, I’ve been walking through most of the outer city for the past ten days, using the most foolish but most reliable method to search. If Heng Yuan’s Earth Book fragment is within thirty zhang of me, I can immediately sense it, even if it’s sealed,” Daoist Jinlian said confidently:
“Don’t doubt it, this is the inherent status of a heavenly treasure.”
It’s the inherent coolness… Xu Qi An thought to himself, while also feeling relieved.
Though the method was foolish, it was effective, and that was good. The worst would be having no method at all.
“If I get any news about Number Six, I’ll notify you immediately. Hehe, you showing up is better than me. I also need the Night Watchmen’s power. After all, this is the capital, the Night Watchmen’s territory,” saying this, Daoist Jinlian seemed to remember something:
“By the way, what’s Wei Yuan’s view on this case?”
“No particular view, he just told me to do my job well,” Xu Qi An shook his head and sighed.
At this point, he noticed Daoist Jinlian’s expression was very strange because his expression was like this: (﹁﹁)
Xu Qi An’s mouth twitched, and he said glumly, “Why are you looking at me like that, Daoist?”
Daoist Jinlian said, “Wei Yuan probably wants to turn you into a secret agent for the Night Watchmen, or drive you out of the capital.”
… Xu Qi An widened his eyes in surprise.
Daoist Jinlian seemed very satisfied with Xu Qi An’s reaction and explained with a smile, “The fact that he could give you the Earth Book fragment shows he values you highly. But he doesn’t give you any guidance on the case.
“This proves he’d be happy for you to offend Emperor Yuanjing, making it impossible for you to stay in the capital.”
Xu Qi An wanted to defend Wei Yuan, but the words stuck in his throat. Wei Yuan had indeed been quite open about such thoughts.
“No, Wei Yuan is somewhat standing by, but at most he’s letting things take their course, neither caring nor interfering, leaving me to handle it with my abilities.”
“You’re underestimating Wei Yuan. This man holds great power as a eunuch, led tens of thousands of troops to win the Shanhai Pass battle as a eunuch, and even outmaneuvered the Northern Border King. His ability, skill, and cunning are all first-class in the world. I’m sure that regarding the Sangbo case, he knows much more than you do.”
“…” Xu Qi An sat stunned for a long time without speaking.
Is this just a fragile father-son relationship?
Daoist Jinlian scrutinized him, “But I can’t figure out why Wei Yuan is forcing you to leave the capital. He doesn’t lack for agents.”
After a moment of silence in the room, Daoist Jinlian, having stirred up trouble, wanted to leave. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes!” Xu Qi An didn’t miss the chance to gain an advantage: “I want to visit the Marquis of Pingyang’s mansion, but it’s heavily guarded. I have ways to get in, but I don’t have the means to subdue people silently. I’d like to ask for your help, Daoist.”
“You want to find the Marquis of Pingyang’s eldest son.” Daoist Jinlian understood.
“Hengyuan mentioned that his junior disciple Henghui was kidnapped by a broker. He wouldn’t say that without reason. Since we can’t find Hengyuan now, let’s try to find a breakthrough from the Marquis of Pingyang,” Xu Qi An said.
“But he’s already dead.”
“He still has an eldest son.”