What was happening?

Jian Xingzhi was completely bewildered.

Seeing Jian Xingzhi remain silent, the sword cultivator frowned. “Did you hit someone? Don’t you know private dueling is prohibited in Desolate City’s main city?”

“You’re a city full of sword cultivators,” Jian Xingzhi found this statement unbelievable, “yet you prohibit dueling?!”

Hearing this, the sword cultivator raised his eyelids. “This city is full of sword cultivators. If we allowed dueling, would anyone still be able to live?”

That made some sense. Jian Xingzhi was speechless. Seeing him silent, the sword cultivator took out an immortal-binding rope. “Not speaking means you admit it. Then let’s go.”

“Wait!”

Jian Xingzhi reacted. He glanced at Yan Wushuang lying on the ground stealing glances at him and immediately spoke. “He struck first.”

“Sir!” Yan Wushuang lay on the ground, face full of grief. “You know my ability. How could I possibly provoke trouble?”

The sword cultivator hesitated for a moment. Jian Xingzhi looked left and right, then without hesitation secretly struck himself with a palm. He retreated a step and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

“Sir!” Jian Xingzhi leaned against the table, coughing up small amounts of blood. “Look what he beat me into! These are all internal injuries!”

Hearing this, Yan Wushuang and all the Giant Sword Manor people looked over in shock. Jian Xingzhi completely changed from his earlier imposing demeanor, leaning weakly against the table. “There are so many of them. How would I dare provoke trouble? They beat me like this—can you say I’m bullying the weak?”

“What you say…”

The sword cultivator looked at Jian Xingzhi, hesitating and about to speak a few words for him, when he heard an “Ah!”

Everyone looked toward Yan Wushuang’s direction. Yan Wushuang raised his hand with one broken finger. “Sir, my finger was broken.”

“Ah!”

Jian Xingzhi also shouted loudly. Everyone looked over together to see Jian Xingzhi raise one hand dangling in midair. “My entire hand was broken.”

“Fine.” Hearing this, Yan Wushuang took a deep breath, turned his head to stare at Jian Xingzhi. “Very good. I’ll show you right now what professionalism means.”

Jian Xingzhi looked at Yan Wushuang’s appearance, waving his broken hand. “Come on, bring it!”

Without hesitation, Yan Wushuang went “crack” and broke one of his own arms and one leg. The young boy exclaimed, “Senior Brother broke one arm, one leg, and one finger!”

Yan Wushuang looked over proudly. Before he could speak, he heard the young boy continue exclaiming, “That male concubine broke both his legs!”

Jian Xingzhi calmly raised his eyes to declare, “Come on!”

Yan Wushuang sucked in a cold breath. “Fine, you’re ruthless enough. Let me see how ruthless you can be!”

With that, everyone watched Yan Wushuang raise his hand to strike his leg bone. Face pale, gasping for breath, he raised his head. “Now I have two broken legs, one hand, and one finger. Can you still compete with me?!”

“Why not?”

Without hesitation, Jian Xingzhi broke all ten fingers completely, then used the broken hand bones to viciously strike his good hand bones. After a crisp “crack” sound, he raised his head and sneered coldly. “I’ve already disabled all four limbs and broken all ten fingers. To beat me, you only have one place left. Do you dare go that far?”

Yan Wushuang said nothing. He swallowed, trembling as he looked down at his lower body.

Seeing this, Golden Sword Boy’s face changed drastically. He grabbed Yan Wushuang’s hand, speaking excitedly. “Senior Brother, you mustn’t!”

“Fellow Daoist!” The sword cultivator who had been watching the show finally spoke. “No need, truly no need to go this far. I believe you both.”

“Sir!”

Yan Wushuang looked up with tears. “You’re truly a clear-minded judge…”

“I believe you both have mental problems. Someone!” The sword cultivator called people over. “Carry them both back to the yamen and have their families come claim them!”

“Wait!”

Yan Wushuang anxiously called out. “Sir, we’re the victims! We also need to…”

“Earlier, sword cultivators already reported that there’s been a gang committing fraud through staged accidents, with circumstances highly similar to today’s situation.” The sword cultivator spoke seriously. “Come with us.”

With that, the sword cultivator instructed people to enter. “Carry both of them away!”

Jian Xingzhi and Yan Wushuang were carried into the prison together. Since they were both completely disabled, they were placed in one cell. Golden Sword Boy, being a child, was locked in a side room. The others weren’t detained yet and were all kept outside.

After Jian Xingzhi was locked up, the sword cultivator inquired about his identity and went to notify someone to come get him.

Qin Wanwan had just returned to Ning Manor. Xie Gutang had just taken medicine to apply to her wounds when they were notified to come to the prison to bail someone out. She sat in her wheelchair, quite shocked. “What did he do to get detained?”

“Public brawling.”

The notifying sword cultivator was matter-of-fact. Qin Wanwan swallowed, somewhat panicked. “Did he… did he beat someone to death?”

“No.” The sword cultivator shook his head. Qin Wanwan relaxed. “Then how many did he injure?”

“One.” The sword cultivator spoke, then added, “Himself.”

Jian Xingzhi injured himself?

Qin Wanwan couldn’t believe it, but the Desolate City yamen law enforcement personnel were right here. She didn’t dare overthink. She carefully asked about the entire process. After confirming Jian Xingzhi had encountered a fraud scheme, she quickly called Cuilu, Xie Gutang, Nanfeng, and the others, pushing her wheelchair to rush to the yamen.

Arriving at the cell, Jian Xingzhi and Yan Wushuang were lying flat on the ground exchanging insults. Both couldn’t move their hands and feet, lying straight like corpses, trading extremely childish insults.

“You’re shameless.”

“You’re more shameless.”

“You’re disgraceful.”

“You’re more disgraceful!”

“Master!”

Qin Wanwan couldn’t stand listening to such image-destroying insults any longer. Sitting in her wheelchair, she observed Jian Xingzhi lying on the ground through the wooden bars. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Jian Xingzhi was circulating Chunsheng’s mental cultivation method. “I’ll be better in a moment.”

Hearing Jian Xingzhi’s words, Yan Wushuang glanced over sideways, his tone leisurely. “Better in a moment—your cultivation technique is impressive.”

“Heh.” Jian Xingzhi laughed coldly. “A scum like you—where would you know my level?”

With that, Jian Xingzhi went crack-crack setting his bones, sitting up from the ground. He flexed his hand bones, turned his head to glance at Yan Wushuang. “You just keep lying there.”

“Who says I’m lying here?”

As Yan Wushuang spoke, his body also went crack-crack. He sat up, crossing his legs to look at Jian Xingzhi. “Setting bones—like only you can do it?”

At these words, everyone was stunned. Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi both stared at Yan Wushuang. They swept their divine sense over Yan Wushuang’s entire body and saw the spiritual energy flowing within Yan Wushuang’s body was actually consistent with theirs!

“Chunsheng…”

Jian Xingzhi murmured. He was actually seeing Chunsheng in this small world, in this Yan Wushuang?!

“Oh, you know this cultivation technique?”

Yan Wushuang raised an eyebrow. “You have some knowledge.”

“Why do you know Chunsheng?!”

Jian Xingzhi spoke urgently. Yan Wushuang propped up his chin. “Why should I tell you?”

“You!”

Jian Xingzhi was somewhat anxious. Qin Wanwan raised her hand to stop Jian Xingzhi. “Master, let me ask.”

With that, Qin Wanwan looked at Yan Wushuang warmly. “I observe that Fellow Daoist has a clear and upright bearing—surely an honorable gentleman. Chunsheng is my sect’s secret transmission mental cultivation method. If Fellow Daoist doesn’t explain the origins of this technique, I’m afraid it will cause misunderstandings.”

These words directly accused Yan Wushuang of stealing someone’s mental cultivation method. As long as Yan Wushuang had even a shred of self-respect as a sword cultivator, he would surely explain.

Unfortunately, she overestimated Yan Wushuang. He just sat cross-legged with arms crossed on the ground, raising an eyebrow. “So what? What does your misunderstanding have to do with me?”

“Master.”

Seeing someone so tactless, Qin Wanwan decisively raised her hand. “Beat him.”

“Hey, wait!”

Yan Wushuang immediately spoke. “Don’t you just want to gather information? Just pay money. Why all the fighting and killing?”

“How much do you want?”

Hearing this, Cuilu frowned and spoke. Yan Wushuang turned to look at Cuilu. Cuilu looked at him, her eyes flickering slightly. Yan Wushuang smiled lightly. “Two hundred spirit stones. One hundred is for compensation and apology for you beating my junior brother today. The other hundred is the price for answering questions.”

“Compensation?”

Cuilu scoffed. “I’m afraid you don’t value your life…”

“Yan Wushuang.”

A jailer suddenly entered, interrupting Cuilu’s words. One of the jailers stepped forward, opened the wooden bars, and called to Yan Wushuang. “Come with us.”

“Hey!”

Yan Wushuang’s expression immediately changed. He quickly got up and followed them out.

Only Jian Xingzhi remained in the cell sitting cross-legged, watching Yan Wushuang walk out. Nanfeng couldn’t help murmuring. “What kind of person is this? A sword cultivator being this money-grubbing—can he even use a sword properly?”

“When he was using swords, you were still a baby.”

Hearing Nanfeng speak, Golden Sword Boy spoke coldly. Everyone looked over. Qin Wanwan didn’t quite believe it. “You mean he used to be an expert?”

“My senior brother was once Desolate City’s earliest Gentleman Sword.” Speaking of the past, Golden Sword Boy felt somewhat proud. “Back then, Giant Sword Manor was the number one sect in Desolate City besides the Ning family. Even the Ning family had to show some respect. Senior Brother was Giant Sword Manor’s most promising sword cultivator back then. Divine Transformation at two hundred years old—have you seen that?”

“Two hundred years.” Jian Xingzhi scoffed. “Some excellent people had already ascended by then.”

Like him—he ascended in less than a hundred years.

These words made Golden Sword Boy especially angry. He snorted coldly. “Just bragging.”

“Then how did he end up like this today?”

Xie Gutang frowned, quite puzzled. “His current cultivation… hasn’t even reached Nascent Soul, right?”

Hearing this, Golden Sword Boy’s expression became somewhat dimmed.

“Over a hundred years ago, sister-in-law died. His dao heart was damaged and his cultivation plummeted greatly. Since then, he’s been stuck at Nascent Soul, never advancing further. Don’t look at how frivolous he usually is, but if sister-in-law were still alive, he should be Desolate City’s top sword cultivator.”

Over a hundred years ago.

Hearing this time point, Qin Wanwan became somewhat sensitive. “Over a hundred years ago, did something happen?”

“What’s it to you?”

Golden Sword Boy coldly swept a glance at Qin Wanwan. “I’m just reminding you all that my senior brother can use a sword well.”

With that, they heard Yan Wushuang’s voice returning from outside. Yan Wushuang was flattering and thanking the jailer. “Sir, you can leave me here. Thank you so much. Another day I’ll treat you to…”

“Wang Ergou.”

Before Yan Wushuang finished speaking, the jailer impatiently pushed him into the cell, locked the chains, and called out a name.

The entire scene fell into silence. Golden Sword Boy turned his head away. Yan Wushuang quietly urged, “Junior Brother, he’s calling you.”

“I’m called Golden Sword Boy!”

Golden Sword Boy corrected with a red face. The jailer coldly repeated. “Wang Ergou.”

“Calling, calling, what are you calling!” Golden Sword Boy kicked open the cell door with one foot. “I’m not deaf. Shut up.”

With that, Golden Sword Boy walked out of the cell with a red face.

The group watched him leave, then turned their gazes back to Yan Wushuang.

Surrounded by five people, Yan Wushuang swallowed and feigned composure. “I’m warning you all—don’t think you can intimidate me just because there are more of you. Whatever you want to do, just say it directly.”

“This Fellow Daoist…”

Qin Wanwan spoke carefully. Yan Wushuang immediately gave his name. “I’m called Yan Wushuang.”

“Oh, Daoist Yan.” Qin Wanwan nodded. She asked curiously. “I have some questions I’d like to ask Daoist Yan.”

“Ask questions? Sure.” Yan Wushuang relaxed. “Pay money.”

“You’re a cultivator—what do you need so much money for?!”

Cuilu couldn’t stand it anymore. “Have you fallen into a money pit?”

“Big sister, don’t be someone who doesn’t manage a household and doesn’t know the price of salt and rice, okay? Giant Sword Manor is such a large sect, entirely supported by me. If I don’t earn more money, what will all my crying junior brothers and sisters eat? Stop the nonsense—are you doing business or not? If you’re doing business, take out two hundred spirit stones.”

“Two hundred?!” Nanfeng exclaimed. “Are you robbing us?”

“I’m already very cheap.” Yan Wushuang glared at Nanfeng. “One hundred is the money for compensation and apology for you beating my junior brother. One hundred is the money for answering questions.”

“Your junior brother was so disrespectful.” Xie Gutang frowned. “Yet you still have the face to ask for money?”

“What are you saying? What was disrespectful about my junior brother? He was just a bit lively, a bit talkative. This Daoist Qin on your side directly beat someone until even their mother couldn’t recognize them! Is she that cruel?”

“He stepped on my disciple’s face!” Jian Xingzhi got angry just hearing about it.

Yan Wushuang turned to look at Jian Xingzhi and immediately asked back. “Haven’t you stepped on other people’s faces?”

Jian Xingzhi was immediately silenced. Yan Wushuang argued with everyone in a circle, still full of fighting spirit.

Hearing him so valiant in battle, Qin Wanwan fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. “I just heard someone reported that recently there’s been a cultivator gang committing fraud through staged accidents.”

Hearing this, Yan Wushuang froze. Qin Wanwan calmly raised her eyes. “That’s you, isn’t it?”

“You… what are you joking about!”

Yan Wushuang’s eyes dodged. Qin Wanwan nodded. “Then I’m relieved. Since it’s not Fellow Daoist, we’ll go report to the authorities now, saying someone tried to defraud my master through a staged accident. One case is coincidence, but several people reporting together—I believe the truth will come to light very soon.”

After Qin Wanwan finished, she turned to look at Xie Gutang. “Daojun Xie, let’s go.”

Xie Gutang nodded and pushed Qin Wanwan’s wheelchair to leave. Seeing Qin Wanwan really going to report, Yan Wushuang quickly stopped her. “Hey, wait! Let’s talk this over nicely. How about 100 spirit stones?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t listen, pushing her wheelchair outward. Yan Wushuang panicked. “Fine, fine, fine—no money needed. Let’s call it even. Don’t report to the authorities. What do you want to ask?”

“I just want to ask—over a hundred years ago, did anything major happen in Desolate City?”

“Major events?” Yan Wushuang thought about it, pulling out a wine gourd from his waist. “Nothing major.”

“Daojun Mingqing came to Desolate City.” Qin Wanwan observed Yan Wushuang’s expression, testing him. “That’s not a major event? Back then, Giant Sword Manor was Desolate City’s number one sect. You wouldn’t be unaware of such a thing, would you?”

Hearing this, Yan Wushuang’s movements paused. After a moment, he smiled. “What exactly do you want to ask? Daojun Mingqing was Ghost City’s city lord back then—he fell to demonic cultivation overnight. If he came to Desolate City,” Yan Wushuang raised his wine gourd and took a drink, “how would a small fry like me know?”

“What about the Chunsheng mental cultivation method?”

Qin Wanwan frowned. “How do you know this?”

“I should be asking you that.” Yan Wushuang raised his eyes. “This mental cultivation method—how do you know it?”

“This is my sect’s mental cultivation method.” Jian Xingzhi stared at Yan Wushuang. “If you can’t explain clearly today, don’t think about leaving this door.”

“Fine.” Yan Wushuang sighed, having no choice but to answer. “I learned it by stealth.”

“From whom?” Jian Xingzhi frowned.

Yan Wushuang took a drink of wine and spoke honestly. “Daojun Mingqing.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi was stunned. Yan Wushuang turned to look at them. “Any other questions?”

“Then, you said you didn’t know about Daojun Mingqing coming. But do you know what relationship he had with the Ning family’s Old Ancestor?”

Seeing Yan Wushuang unwilling to answer these things, Qin Wanwan switched to a question that ordinary cultivators would know. Hearing this, Yan Wushuang lightly scoffed. “Who doesn’t know this? Daojun Mingqing’s real name was Ning Yanzhi. He was the Ning family Old Ancestor’s—” Yan Wushuang drew out his tone. Everyone looked at him. Yan Wushuang spoke lightly. “Blood grandson.”

Everyone was stunned. Only Cuilu stood in place, unsurprised.

Seeing their shocked expressions, Yan Wushuang showed a surprised look. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know? Lin Yanzhi was the son of the Ning family Old Ancestor—in other words, the illegitimate son born outside to a songstress by the current clan head Ning Wenxu. However, he wasn’t in the Ning family from birth, so outsiders don’t really consider him Ning family.”

“Why wasn’t he in the Ning family?”

Qin Wanwan pressed. Yan Wushuang looked baffled. “How would I know such private matters?”

“Are there any other messages you know? Over a hundred years ago, besides Daojun Mingqing, was there anything else?”

“Nothing.”

Yan Wushuang spread his hands. Qin Wanwan wanted to ask more, but heard Yan Wushuang ask back. “You’ve asked me so many questions. I should ask you one question.”

“What do you want to ask?”

Qin Wanwan frowned. Yan Wushuang looked at Jian Xingzhi, then at Qin Wanwan. “Desolate City hasn’t had outsiders for many years. You traveled thousands of miles to Desolate City, and you want to become the Gentleman Sword. The Gentleman Sword’s greatest benefit is being able to meet Young Master Wuyou and ask him one question. You’re going to such great lengths—what exactly do you want to do?”

“Save someone.” Qin Wanwan answered truthfully.

Yan Wushuang took a deep breath and raised his hand to applaud. “So it’s a bodhisattva incarnate. Truly admirable. May I know who you’re trying to save?”

“None of your concern.” Jian Xingzhi used Yan Wushuang’s words to strike back. Yan Wushuang stared at Qin Wanwan but asked, “Could it be the Ning family Old Ancestor you just mentioned?”

The crowd fell silent. Just then, the jailer’s loud voice rang out. “Jian Xingzhi!”

With that, the jailer brought Golden Sword Boy back to the cell. Golden Sword Boy, in a bad temper, kicked open the cell door and sat inside.

He glared fiercely at Jian Xingzhi. “Go get your scolding!”

Jian Xingzhi laughed scornfully, stood up, and followed the jailer out.

Yan Wushuang stretched lazily. Qin Wanwan looked up to see some strange markings faintly visible at his collarbone.

She found those markings somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall for a moment. Worried about Jian Xingzhi, she didn’t think much more about it and followed Jian Xingzhi out. Jian Xingzhi mainly just gave a statement, admitting his fighting mistake and writing a guarantee letter.

Hearing he had to write a guarantee letter, Jian Xingzhi’s anger surged. Qin Wanwan held him back. “Master, calm down. I need to go back and apply medicine!”

Thinking that Qin Wanwan came to pick him up while injured, Jian Xingzhi finally had a surge of conscience and endured.

Suppressing his dog temper to write the guarantee letter, Jian Xingzhi then went to push Qin Wanwan’s wheelchair. But unexpectedly, Xie Gutang had already moved a step ahead, long since standing behind Qin Wanwan. Hearing they were leaving, he pushed Qin Wanwan outward.

Jian Xingzhi’s movement came up empty. He was stunned for a moment before reacting—from the beginning, he had asked Xie Gutang to push the wheelchair to protect Qin Wanwan.

Somewhat irritated, he scratched his head and followed them out.

Pushed by Xie Gutang, Qin Wanwan spent the entire journey sorting through the conversation with Yan Wushuang, her mind full of the final tattoo strokes she had seen.

She hadn’t seen the full tattoo, but always felt it was somewhat familiar. She thought left and right. Nearing the gate, she suddenly realized—

It was Jishan.

The markings on this Yan Wushuang’s body were in Jishan’s brushwork style!

Realizing this, her emotions were difficult to calm. She didn’t dare let anyone notice, restraining her excited and anxious feelings, instructing everyone. “Everyone go back and rest. Today was tiring.”

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

Xie Gutang didn’t think much, pushing Qin Wanwan toward the room. Jian Xingzhi habitually followed. “Have you applied medicine? I’ll apply it for you.”

“No need.” Qin Wanwan suddenly remembered something. “Master, you were also tired today. Rest first. I’ll have Big Brother Xie help.”

Jian Xingzhi’s movements paused. He watched Xie Gutang push Qin Wanwan into the room, realizing for the first time that he seemed to be pushed away by Qin Wanwan.

He stood in place, somewhat at a loss for a moment. 666 quickly comforted him. “Master, the female lead is worried about your injuries and doesn’t want you to tire yourself, so she deliberately gave the work to someone else! She’s really thinking of you!”

“Oh.” Jian Xingzhi came back to his senses and nodded. “You’re right. She must be worried about her master. Perfect—give them a chance to develop their feelings!”

With that, Jian Xingzhi walked toward his own room. As he walked, he couldn’t help glancing at Qin Wanwan’s room.

After entering his room, he immediately rushed to the wall separating him from Qin Wanwan’s room and pressed his ear against it.

Xie Gutang pushed Qin Wanwan into the room. Just as they entered, he heard Qin Wanwan speak. “Big Brother Xie, don’t leave yet. I have something to ask.”

Xie Gutang stopped his movements and watched Qin Wanwan raise her hand to set up a barrier.

Once this barrier was set, Jian Xingzhi couldn’t hear anything.

He was stunned for a moment, his heart instantly growing ice-cold.

Qin Wanwan set up a barrier? She discovered he was eavesdropping? Why did she need to set up a barrier? What did she have that he couldn’t know?

In an instant, his mind recalled the dream where he was expelled from Xie Manor by Xie Gutang, in the pouring rain, separated from Qin Wanwan by a gate, the cruel scene of being so close yet worlds apart. Jian Xingzhi’s heart trembled.

He sat dazedly at the table and picked up the morning’s cold tea, taking a drink.

It could be called both bitter and cold—bone-chillingly cold, heart-soaringly miserable.

Meanwhile, in the room, Qin Wanwan looked at Xie Gutang and lowered her eyes. “Big Brother Xie, I want to ask—over a hundred years ago, did you come to the Desolate City or Ghost City area?”

“A hundred years ago,” Xie Gutang thought about it, “I was still in seclusion in the Realm of Life and Death. That place has no connection with the outside world, so I’m not clear about many things.”

“Then, this person Yan Wushuang—do you think I have the capability to deal with him?”

Xie Gutang shook his head. “A first-rate expert. If you’re alone, I’m afraid not.”

“What if you’re added?” Qin Wanwan raised her eyes.

Xie Gutang thought about it and nodded. “Possible.”

“I want to ask Big Brother Xie for a favor.” Qin Wanwan thought of the markings on Yan Wushuang’s collarbone, thought of her parents whose whereabouts were unknown, her words firm. “I want to capture Yan Wushuang alive. I have things I want to ask him.”

Xie Gutang nodded. He was accustomed to not asking many questions, but this time after thinking, he still couldn’t help asking back. “Can this matter not be told to Senior?”

If it could, this hard labor shouldn’t fall to him.

Qin Wanwan’s movements paused, then she coughed lightly. “No need.”

Matters involving Jishan—better not to mention them.

Lest someday he suddenly discover she was Jishan’s Nujun.

If the immortal realm found out she became his disciple, she couldn’t bear the shame.

After all, she was twice his age. A two-hundred-plus-year-old naturally immortal body, the high and mighty Jishan Nujun, taking a hundred-plus-year-old hothead as her master—saying it out loud was too unseemly.

—

**Author’s Note:**

**[Mini Theater]**

Qin Wanwan: “I now have a big plan. My mind is entirely on my career.”

Jian Xingzhi: “I also have a big plan now. I want to smash this wall.”