HomeGuardians of the DafengChapter 171: Lion's Roar

Chapter 171: Lion’s Roar

Hengyuan stopped in his tracks and turned around. Without speaking, he bowed with his palms pressed together towards Xu Qi An.

“I’d like to visit the Yangsheng Hall,” Xu Qi An stated his request.

“That’s fine,” Hengyuan replied.

“Let’s go together,” Xu Qi An extended an invitation to his two colleagues.

“Did you forget to bring money?” Song Tingfeng glanced at him askance.

Xu Qi An smiled without responding. As he took a few steps, his foot touched something hard on the ground. He naturally picked it up and placed it in his palm. “Look, money has appeared, hasn’t it?”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao were bewildered.

The former stared at the dull-colored silver, grumbling, “I wasn’t watching where I was walking earlier and missed this silver. You got lucky picking it up.”

You missed at least several taels of silver… Xu Qi An’s mouth twitched as he pocketed the silver, explaining, “Master Hengyuan lives in the Yangsheng Hall in the eastern part of the outer city. I’ve heard that the widows, orphans, and elderly there aren’t living very well.”

“There are countless people in this world who aren’t living well,” Zhu Guangxiao said in a low voice, then sighed.

The three followed Hengyuan out of the inner city, heading towards the Yangsheng Hall in the east. During their walk, Song Tingfeng noticed something interesting.

“Look at this monk. When we walk faster, he walks faster, always maintaining a fixed distance. But he never turns back to look at us.”

Of course, Hengyuan didn’t have eyes on the back of his head. The three inwardly marveled: What terrifying spiritual perception.

Deliberately quickening their pace, the four soon arrived in the eastern part of the city. This was a slum area, filled with low, dilapidated houses and commoners wearing patched-up old cotton jackets.

They sat in the sun, their faces gaunt and eyes vacant. The children here still had a spark of liveliness in their eyes, but their emaciated bodies, dirty faces, and the way they constantly stared at people’s money pouches inevitably caused others to feel disgust towards them.

Xu Qi An felt a great revulsion in his heart, but it wasn’t directed at these poor people and children. Rather, it was aimed at the environment itself. In his previous life, he had seen many photos of war-torn regions where poverty, hunger, and chaos were constant themes. Whenever he saw similar photos or scenes, he would feel intense disgust because he, who yearned for beauty, was powerless to change these situations.

It was probably what people called impotent rage.

“Watch your money pouches carefully, even though they neither dare nor can steal your silver,” Hengyuan’s voice came from ahead. He continued, “Don’t give alms here, as it will put you in an awkward situation.”

He didn’t explain what kind of awkward situation it would be.

I understand this. As soon as I show kindness, they’ll see me as a fat sheep to fleece… Is Hengyuan worried that we might become angry and hurt the poor people here? Xu Qi An pondered internally, but outwardly said, “I rarely come to places like this. Why don’t they work?”

“Most of the people surviving in such places are landless migrants. They might have had land before, but unable to bear the heavy corvée, they chose to abandon their fields and come to the city to seek a living. However, there’s no space for them to survive in the city, and occasionally, constables come here looking for people to arrest. Nevertheless, to survive, some of them indeed resort to crime,” Master Hengyuan explained calmly.

As they spoke, the four arrived at the Yangsheng Hall, an old courtyard with a faded signboard above the main gate, its color long since washed away by wind and frost.

“Some officials came to repair the courtyard recently, but I replaced the new signboard with the old one. Being too bright and new isn’t necessarily good for Yangsheng Hall. Please, come in,” Hengyuan said.

Entering the Yangsheng Hall, Hengyuan led them inside, saying, “Sir Xu, I know you have difficulties. I’m not asking you for money. I’ve heard that you have good relations with the Divination Bureau’s mages. I hope you can help find some White-Robed Mages to save a child.”

Passing through the front courtyard, they entered the cluttered back courtyard and came to a firewood shed.

The shed was lined with thick layers of dry grass and quilts. In the corner were a charcoal basin and a large bowl. On the quilts lay a curled-up, emaciated black dog.

Hearing the noise, the black dog moved slightly but couldn’t get up. It struggled to lift its head, and seeing strangers, its dull eyes instinctively showed a pleading look. Pitifully, it spoke haltingly:

“Fortune… like the East Sea… great… luck…”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, who had been expressionless until now, suddenly froze.

Xu Qi An felt as if struck by lightning, remembering certain things Hengyuan had said when he rescued Number Six Hengyuan.

“Is this… that child?” Xu Qi An murmured.

“He can only say these eight words,” Hengyuan gazed at the black dog, his face compassionate. “I rescued him while searching for my junior disciple, Henghui. Because of the tragic treatment he endured, he won’t live long. I’ve been using my qi to nourish his body these days, barely keeping him alive. But this can’t last. His body is in terrible condition; he must receive treatment, or he’ll die within three days at most. Ordinary doctors can’t save him; only the mages from the Divination Bureau can. I had no choice but to ask for Sir Xu’s help.”

Song Tingfeng opened his mouth, then said in a deep voice, “Perhaps death would be the best outcome for him.”

Hengyuan glanced at the bronze gong bearer and said softly, “Every day when the sun rises, his eyes are bright. I can read the desire in them because it’s a pure, simple wish to survive. In your eyes, he might seem as insignificant as the weeds in the courtyard. But even a blade of grass wants to live tenaciously.”

Song Tingfeng fell silent.

Xu Qi An looked deeply at the “black dog” and said, “I understand. I’ll ask the Divination Bureau’s mages to come and treat him. Master… if you need money in the future, feel free to come to me.”

He added, “I can give at most three qian of silver per day.”

Three qian per day? Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao were slightly moved. Eight qian made one tael, and Xu Qi An’s monthly salary, not counting the grain allowance, was only four or five taels of actual silver.

Even in the inner city, that could provide a fairly comfortable life.

Three qian a day meant one tael every three days. Where did he get so much money? Oh right, he had a thousand taels of gold awarded by His Majesty. That explained it.

Hengyuan shook his head.

“Don’t worry, the money comes easily as if picked up off the ground,” Xu Qi An reassured him.

Master Hengyuan then nodded, comforted the “black dog,” and led Xu Qi An and his companions back to the front courtyard. He said, “Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I have something to discuss with Sir Xu.”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao nodded. One turned to play with the children peeking at the visitors from their rooms, while the other went to talk with the old people sunbathing at the stone table in the courtyard.

Entering a simple room, Hengyuan closed the door and, pressing his palms together, said, “Sir Xu, your qi is profound, and your spirit is complete. Are you about to enter the Spirit Refining realm?”

He’s so perceptive? I only know that Number Six is an Eighth-Grade Warrior Monk, but I’m not sure of his true strength. I don’t even know his capabilities, yet he’s already gauged mine… Xu Qi An composed himself and said, “What advice does Master have?”

“Do you have a visualization diagram?”

“I do.”

Master Hengyuan nodded in realization and said, “As a monk, I can’t repay Sir Xu with silver. I originally planned to gift you a visualization diagram when you reached the peak of the Qi Refinement realm. Since you already have such a method, this humble monk will offer a different supreme skill.”

I’ve already mastered the Heaven and Earth Slash, and the pros and cons of that supreme skill are quite obvious… I should indeed learn other supreme skills to compensate for my weaknesses… Xu Qi An’s spirits lifted. “Then I thank the Master.”

Hengyuan nodded, “I am an Eighth-Grade Warrior Monk. I don’t know any of the profound Buddhist magic techniques, only some offensive methods. My most proficient skill is the Buddhist Lion’s Roar. This technique is both a visualization method and a supreme skill.”

A complete package, huh? So it’s all about roaring… Xu Qi An felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this. The Lion’s Roar sounded like something only a brute would use, lacking some prestige.

Number Six Hengyuan noticed the flash of disappointment in Xu Qi An’s eyes. After some thought, he said, “This humble monk can demonstrate the power of the Lion’s Roar for you.”

As long as you don’t deafen me… Xu Qi An nodded, but cautiously reminded him, “It won’t affect the elderly and children in the courtyard, will it?”

Hengyuan shook his head, “I’ll contain the power within this room.”

After saying this, Xu Qi An saw the usually somber Number Six take a deep breath and throw a punch in a normal stance.

This punch seems utterly ordinary, with both power and speed at a D-level. It doesn’t pose any threat at all… Just as this thought flashed through his mind, he heard a deep, resonant lion’s roar.

┗|`O′|┛ Roar~~

Xu Qi An’s brain shook, and he entered a state of unconscious dizziness. When he regained his senses, he saw a fist as large as a sand pot right in front of his nose.

Hengyuan withdrew his fist and said in a deep voice, “This technique shakes the primordial spirit and intimidates the enemy. When cultivated to a profound level, even the most powerful Yin Spirits of the Dao sect can hardly resist it.”

This skill, combined with my Heaven and Earth Slash, is perfect… My biggest concern was missing the target, but with the Lion’s Roar’s control effect, I don’t have to worry about my ultimate move failing… Xu Qi An said excitedly, “Please teach me, Master.”

At the same time, a question flashed through his mind: Is this just an Eighth-Grade Warrior Monk?

Hengyuan turned and walked to the bedside, pulling out a worn wooden box from under the bed. He solemnly took out an illustrated book and handed it to Xu Qi An:

“This book records the method of qi circulation, as well as my insights from cultivation.”

Xu Qi An reached out to take it, but Hengyuan pressed his hand on the cover and said sternly, “You must return it.”

Why did he add that? Has he also heard of my reputation for freeloading? Xu Qi An nodded, “Of course, Master.”

Leaving the room and returning to the front courtyard, they met up with their two colleagues. The three discussed briefly and pooled together one tael of silver to donate to the Yangsheng Hall.

Bidding farewell to Hengyuan, they walked to the main gate. Suddenly, Song Tingfeng said, “Wait a moment.”

He turned and ran back, silently staring at the old clerk with gritted teeth and a fierce expression.

“Sir?” The old clerk was somewhat frightened.

Song Tingfeng, gritting his teeth and steeling his heart, took off his money pouch and threw it over. Unable to bear looking any longer, he turned and left.

That was the five taels of silver he had planned to use at the pleasure house tonight, his entire month’s salary.

“Damn that Xu Ningyan, if I ever come to a place like this with you again, I’ll take your surname,” Song Tingfeng kicked Xu Qi An.

Xu Qi An dodged and sneered, “I don’t care if you take my surname or not. It’s enough if your son takes my surname in the future.”

Song Tingfeng took off his scabbard and chased after him, ready to strike.

Returning to the inner city, Xu Qi An dumped the street patrol work on his two colleagues and went to the Star-Gazing Tower himself.

“Young Master Xu,” the White-Robed Mages greeted him warmly. No one stopped him from going upstairs.

Xu Qi An searched around but couldn’t find Chu Caiwei or Song Qing. He caught an alchemist and asked, “Where’s Miss Caiwei?”

“The Crown Princess came, and Junior Sister Caiwei is accompanying her to meet the Supervisor on the Eight Trigrams Platform,” the alchemist said.

So my first wife and second wife are both here… Xu Qi An then asked, “Where’s Senior Brother Song?”

“He requested a death row prisoner from the government office and is researching in the secret room.”

“…”

Xu Qi An gave up on the idea of seeing Song Qing and asked, “Where’s the kitchen?”

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