Chapter Forty-Eight: A Glimpse from Afar

Half a month later, in the city of Fallen Sky.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong, along with a group of Shi family guards, escorted the goods purchased from the remote town of Seclusion, making their way into the city at a leisurely pace atop their land dragons.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong walked at the front of the procession, conversing in low voices along the way.

“Old Han, it’s getting late today. Why don’t we go home tomorrow? Once we’re in the city, let’s find a place to rest for a while, what do you say?” Shi Yan suggested calmly.

“Brother Yan, where do you plan to rest up?” Han Zhong grinned, a mischievous look crossing his face. “Fallen Sky City is the largest city under the Merchant Alliance, with a population in the millions. The entertainment here is leagues above those small towns we passed through.”

“Old Han, since you know the place, just lead the way.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have enough crystal coins left. Some places here are really expensive, you know.”

“Old Han, are you trying to trick me again? Last time at the ‘Fragrant Shadows Pavilion,’ you pretended to be drunk after drinking, and I had to pay for everything. Planning to pull the same trick again?”

“Ahem, ahem, I really was drunk that time! You’ve got me all wrong!”

“I don’t care. If you don’t pay this time, I’ll go to Uncle Han Feng when we get back and let him sort it out.”

“No, please, Brother Yan, I’ll pay, alright? I’ll treat this time!” Han Zhong pulled a long face, sighing. “You know my elder brother’s temper. If he finds out about my escapades, he’ll beat me half to death. It’s not easy for me to get out here—working so hard for the family, yet I can’t even afford a bit of fun...”

“Then it’s settled. Tonight, you’re treating.” Shi Yan turned and called out to the Shi family warriors behind, “Brothers, you all heard, right?”

“We heard!”

The seven Shi family warriors responded in unison, their faces beaming with excitement.

“Let’s go, then.”

...

In just half a month, Shi Yan had already become fast friends with Han Zhong and the Shi family warriors.

Shi Yan showed none of a young master’s airs. On ordinary days, he drank and ate heartily, excelling in every form of merrymaking. He was also utterly uninhibited when it came to women, never shying away from brothels or pleasure houses. Sometimes, when he spotted a pretty girl he fancied, he was even bolder than the notorious womanizer Han Zhong.

Along the way, the two had visited many such establishments together. Each time, either Shi Yan paid, or Han Zhong was the one to foot the bill—never letting the guards spend a penny.

In this short time, Shi Yan had earned both Han Zhong’s and the guards’ approval.

Han Zhong, finding Shi Yan to be a kindred spirit, repeatedly praised him for finally coming into his own. With his cultivation advancing, Shi Yan seemed to have become a completely different person.

During their journey, Shi Yan concealed most of what had happened to him in the Dark Forest. He only mentioned that, in the ancient cave he explored, he had found a crimson fruit, and after eating three of them, he gained vital energy and awakened the Shi family’s Petrification Martial Spirit.

He skipped over everything about the blood pool, the Undying Martial Spirit, the mysterious spirit, and even neglected to mention his encounters with Mo Yan Yu and the entanglements with Mu Yu Die—omitting as much as possible.

Though Han Zhong was surprised by Shi Yan’s experiences, he didn’t press for details, simply thinking Shi Yan had lucked out—eating that fruit seemed to have enlightened his mind as well.

Over the past half month, Shi Yan, through Han Zhong, finally gained a thorough understanding of the Shi family’s affairs.

The original owner of this body had left him with many memories, most of which concerned the study of ancient sites and texts. As for the Shi family’s current matters, he had little knowledge. Fortunately, Han Zhong had no reservations around him. During their visits to the brothels, Han Zhong told Shi Yan everything he wanted to know.

After a few such outings, Han Zhong found Shi Yan to be very much his sort, and not only explained the Shi family’s business and power distribution, but also imparted much essential knowledge about martial cultivation—things Shi Yan had previously been unclear on.

For example, when a martial artist reached the Nirvana realm, they could form a “Sea of Consciousness.” Once this was achieved, they could use it to form a wondrous connection with their Martial Spirit, combining vital energy and spirit to unleash secret arts of incredible power.

Han Zhong also explained the characteristics and weaknesses of various Martial Spirits, those that appeared in the Merchant Alliance and the Empires of Blazing Fire and Divine Grace—which ones were strongest, their weaknesses, and how to counter them.

Though a notorious womanizer, Han Zhong was earnest in matters of martial cultivation.

He was well versed in all the information a martial artist should know. From his accounts, Shi Yan, for the first time, gained a comprehensive understanding of the true power of martial artists, and was able to clearly distinguish the differences among the various pre-Calamity realms.

Han Zhong himself was only at the Calamity realm, and knew little about the subtleties of the higher realms, so he simply avoided those topics, sharing only what he could clearly explain.

And that was exactly what Shi Yan needed most at this moment.

...

The House of Dreams and Longings.

Shi Yan and Han Zhong, accompanied by four Shi family guards, were drinking and making merry in a large private room on the third floor.

In the center of the old-fashioned room stood a square table, a meter high, laden with fine wine and delicacies. A soft carpet was spread out beneath the table.

Shi Yan, Han Zhong, and the others sat on the carpet, each with a scantily clad young woman in his arms, shouting, playing dice, and having a grand time.

“Old Han, drink!” Shi Yan called out.

Han Zhong, resigned to his loss, drained his cup in one gulp, then seized the opportunity to grope the ample bosom of the girl on his lap before picking up the dice again. “With this hand blessed, I’ll definitely win this round.”

“If that counts as blessed, then both my hands are overflowing with luck.” Shi Yan grinned, sliding both hands inside the bodice of the girl in his arms and said, “Qiu Xiang, you’re so well-endowed. Do you think I’ll always outdo him?”

Qiu Xiang, with her fair skin and abundant charms, gazed at him with moist, alluring eyes, blushing as she replied, “Young Master Yan, you’re so bad, always bullying me like this.”

“You could always bully me right back,” Shi Yan replied with a teasing smile, taking a swig of strong wine. “Old Han, what are you waiting for? Roll the dice!”

...

“Yin Kui and Jiu Shan are nearby. The aura of death they carry is so heavy that I can sense it even from here.” Han Zhong furrowed his brows, pushed aside the girl in his arms, and slipped quietly to the window.

He opened it a little, peering out by the light of the red lanterns. “As I thought, Bei Ming Ce is here. Yin Kui and Jiu Shan never leave his side. If they’re here, he must be as well.”

Upon hearing that Bei Ming Ce was nearby, Shi Yan’s heart stirred and he immediately thought of Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan.

After a moment’s hesitation, he too approached the window, opening it wider to observe the procession on the street below.

It was a group of about thirty people. At its head, Bei Ming Ce rode a snow-white Skycloud steed, a faint smile on his lips as he conversed with someone inside the sedan chair atop a land dragon.

Whenever the curtain of the sedan was lifted, Mu Yu Die’s ethereal beauty would flash into view like lightning.

Di Ya Lan rode a warhorse clad in black armor. Her voluptuous figure swayed gently with the horse’s gait, a hint of melancholy in her arched brows, and she looked listless and disinterested, forcing a smile only when Bei Ming Ce spoke to her.

Two elderly men—one fat, one thin—followed behind Bei Ming Ce, both shrouded in a chilling aura, each astride a black-armored warhorse, eyes half-closed as if dozing.

When Shi Yan opened the window a bit more and gazed across the dozens of meters, these two old men seemed to sense it instantly, suddenly turning their heads to look his way.

A pair of icy, sinister glares shot from their eyes, and even from this distance, Shi Yan felt a chill run through him, his heart gripped by terror.

Recognizing Han Zhong at the window, the two old men nodded slightly, the menace in their eyes abating somewhat.

Under their gaze, Han Zhong’s usual flippancy vanished. He stood solemnly at the window, giving a respectful salute from afar.

The two elders nodded again, then turned away, resuming their meditative posture, both keeping their half-closed eyes fixed on Bei Ming Ce’s back.

The Bei Ming family’s procession did not pause, moving steadily down the street.

Though the street was not wide, many martial artists out seeking pleasure gave way in awe when they saw who was coming, daring not utter a single complaint.

What should have been a crowded street was swiftly cleared by those making way, leaving a smooth path for the Bei Ming family’s party to pass through unhindered.

...