Xuan Wei’s master’s lair was an art gallery tucked away at the end of a quiet alley.
Qin Jingzhou parked at the door and immediately understood why Xuan Wei’s master ran a gallery. Layer upon layer of arrays, each serving a different purpose, were embedded beneath the gallery walls, and every painting on the wall could act as a formation node.
Before entering, he swept the entire place inside and out with his divine sense. He said to the system, “The level of talisman arrays in this world is actually pretty interesting.”
After entering, he took down Xuan Wei’s master with a single move, then experienced everything personally. He made a point of asking a long, elaborate question, because beneath the floor was carved an array of “oath must come true, or heart tribulation will be inflicted instantly.” The array was rough, only able to judge ‘yes’ or ‘no’—though it could also handle ‘willing’ or ‘unwilling’.
Wasn’t it fitting to turn their own tricks against them?
With Xuan Wei’s master pinned to the floor, his captor willingly and sincerely chose “willing.” As Qin Jingzhou had expected, the ensuing interrogation went much smoother, or at least he convinced himself it did.
Once done, he bundled the master and disciple into the back seat of the car, then drove straight to the Gu Martial Association headquarters.
Seeing the familiar Vice President accept both captives and the audio recording he’d just made, he excused himself on the grounds he needed to get home and treat his stupid son, then drove straight home.
It wasn’t until they were in the car that the system asked, “So it was Xuan Wei’s master who tampered with Lu Jiuxiao’s memory?”
Qin Jingzhou laughed too. “They hid away my son’s painful memory, just doing the job for money. They didn’t actually manipulate anything else.”
The system questioned, “Surely they’re not that kind?”
“Of course not. Xuan Wei was also raised by them—though she still has a sliver of kindness. Just based on these two things, it’s obvious the group behind her is pretty ambitious. They didn’t do anything extra with the hidden memories because they wanted to gain Lin Baiming’s trust. If she were seen as utterly irredeemable, Lin Baiming would have abandoned her after some inner struggle. That group spent over a decade laying their trap; how could they settle for Xuan Wei being a one-off to provoke Lin Baiming?”
The system chimed in: “So their goal is…the Association?”
“Be confident—drop the ‘probably.’ People like me, wild and self-taught, but who accidentally become xiantian, are practically unheard of in decades. Not to mention xiantian, even people just a step or a few steps away—late houtian or grand completion stage—have a powerful organization backing them.”
The system sighed, “The saying is true, scholars are poor, warriors are rich! In this world, raising a master to late houtian or grand completion—setting aside the cultivation techniques—the resources alone are worth hundreds of millions, right?”
Qin Jingzhou corrected him, “With good talent, maybe. With only average talent, even a couple billion only gets you mid-stage houtian.”
The system jumped in, “So Lin Baiming’s backer… is the Association then.”
Qin Jingzhou smiled and nodded. “The Gu Martial Association is the biggest orthodox sect in Hua Country.” He gave a light sigh. “Dealing with a Gu Su, the type who gets a golden finger yet’s still not in the same league, an opportunist riding the name of divine doctor, I thought I wouldn’t get pulled too deep into world-class extraordinary battles. Turns out, I was being ‘naive.’”
There was no question—Lin Baiming had outstanding talent, the Association personally raised him as a direct and legitimate successor. When he stepped into late houtian in his forties, the Association put him on the “heir” list. From then on, the demonic path, heretical sects, and hostile overseas extraordinary forces added him to their kill lists. Over a decade ago, when Lin Baiming was over forty, the demonic path used a scheme to abduct Xuan Wei, leaving Lin Baiming with a heart tribulation he could never let go of. The severe injury to his left hand was also at the hands of foreign extraordinary forces.
According to Xuan Wei’s master, by healing Lin Baiming’s hand, Qin Jingzhou had also attracted the attention of overseas enemies. The same group even accepted Lu Zhentong’s bounty on the darknet, but when they realized his true strength, they backed off from a direct confrontation, choosing instead to target his family and friends—just like the demonic path had done to Lin Baiming.
In short, the Hua Country’s demonic path had teamed up early with numerous overseas extraordinary forces, working together to weaken the country’s top orthodox sect: the Gu Martial Association. As for the motives, especially those of the famously ‘profit-driven’ demonic sect, Qin Jingzhou had some clues, but he decided to get Lin Baiming back to “talking shape” before having a good conversation.
Qin Jingzhou had just opened his front door when his stupid son tackled him in a tight embrace.
Lu Jiuxiao had a golden needle in his brow, his eyes vacant yet brimming with tears. “So my sister’s accident really had nothing to do with me?”
Qin Jingzhou ruffled his son’s head. “That’s right. You, your mother—even your half-sister by a different father—were all collateral damage because of Old Lin. It was only when Old Lin suddenly realized this that he couldn’t accept it, and immediately had a massive heart tribulation.”
Lu Jiuxiao gripped his father tightly, refusing to let go. “Oh…” The single syllable carried an entire story—hesitation, uncertainty, and sorrow.
Qin Jingzhou suddenly felt interested. “Did you have some sort of breakthrough from all this?”
Lu Jiuxiao let out a breath. “I don’t think so… I just feel my luck in love is so bad. So few people in the world really care about me. The ones who did died early or…” He looked up at his father. “I guess Lin Uncle is even more unlucky than I am. Thinking that makes me feel a little more at peace. I don’t really want to admit this, but I used to think how he treated me was fatherly love. But compared to you… when you compare people, it’s just fatal.”
Qin Er and the others exchanged looks—well then, it wasn’t often Lu Jiuxiao bared his heart like this.
As for the faint hint of schadenfreude, they didn’t think it was over the line. Boss was right: Lu Jiuxiao and his mom and sister were all collateral damage because of Lin Baiming. The fact that Lu Jiuxiao only blamed rather than hated him was already pretty generous.
Qin Jingzhou lifted his son by the collar again. “Where did he show you fatherly love? At best, he coexisted with you peacefully and didn’t mistreat you. But your mom truly cared for you.”
Lu Jiuxiao muttered a soft “yeah.” “As long as my mom was feeling well, she’d be with me and teach me, and when she wasn’t, she’d stay away... But honestly, she wasn’t often around while I was growing up… I know she tried her best.”
Qin Jingzhou placed his son on a chair at the table, tousled his hair, and was just about to “deal with” Lin Baiming in front of everyone, when Lu Jiuxiao spoke again. “The reason I suddenly started feeling better is because I realized—you and Mom both love me and care about me. I’m not some cursed star after all…” Then, with a barely audible voice, he said, “Dad.”
Qin Jingzhou shoved Lin Baiming aside, pivoted back to his mildly flushed son. “Hmm, say that again.”
Lu Jiuxiao kept his head down, not daring to meet his dad’s eyes, but enunciated each word clearly. “Daddy.” Then, with sudden boldness, he pulled out his phone, lit up the screen, and pointed. “Dad, why are you carrying my sister like that?”
Qin Jingzhou glanced at the photo. It was a snap of him carrying Xuan Wei while leaping up three stories… Was his stupid son jealous? He scooped him up in a bear hug. “Are you asking whether being carried by me should be your exclusive treatment?”
Lu Jiuxiao tossed his phone aside, then bravely slipped his arm around his father’s shoulder. “Yes!”
Qin Jingzhou burst out laughing. “You really are a silly boy!”
Lu Jiuxiao seemed to catch his drift. “Pushing my luck here,” he said, making his hold even tighter and blushing. “So is hugging what really matters?”
Qin Er and the others were at a loss—so this was the real little boss!
Qin Er was braver than the rest and muttered, “Turns out Uncle Cheng likes affectionate types.”
Qin Jingzhou good-naturedly corrected him, “I only like when my son’s affectionate with me.”
Lu Jiuxiao, his chin nestled on his father’s shoulder, gave a bright, dimpled smile.
Lin Baiming, sprawled weakly across the dining table, managed to turn his head and croaked, “Old Cheng, I can’t hold on much longer…”
Qin Jingzhou set his son down, replying very seriously, “Not bad, your will to live is strong.”
Blood foamed at the corner of Lin Baiming’s lips as he looked over, forcing out with little spirit, “I object!” Those three words sounded powerless.
To reach grand completion of late houtian and become such a valued member of the Association, even with heart tribulation rampaging, true qi running wild, damaging his brain and organs, his mind was still sharp. If Qin Jingzhou, as an outsider, could so easily unravel the whole truth, Lin Baiming could do even more as someone directly involved.
Qin Jingzhou decided to let Lin Baiming “cool down” first. In five minutes, he’d turned the man into a pin cushion, then poured down his throat the bottom dregs of a special medicinal decoction he’d made days earlier—reserved for patients who barely had a breath left.
Sure enough, Lin Baiming gradually calmed. When Qin Jingzhou finally unwrapped the sheet binding his hands and feet, Lin Baiming, barely breathing, rasped out, “My dantian is ruptured.”
Qin Jingzhou peeled off his disposable medical gloves, settled down beside his beaming son, and pulled out the golden needle—now faded to silver—from his son’s brow. “You want to hear if I can fix you?” Then, changing tone, “I can, but many of the ingredients are rare, and the process is mentally exhausting.”
Lin Baiming felt the pacified true qi and, mind clearer, managed a weak smile, though the blood on his face had not dried, making his grin look ghastly. “You want to know why so many people and so many forces are after me, after the Association, right?”
Everyone’s attention sharpened.
Lin Baiming closed his eyes and spoke slowly. “Because Spirit-Nourishing Grass is unique to the Association… Only the Association can stably cultivate it.”
Qin Jingzhou nodded. “That matches my guess.”
Lin Baiming took a moment and explained to Qin Er and the others, “No matter if it’s our Eastern martial system or the Western mystical side, every pill or potion that aids advancement to xiantian or extraordinary status needs Spirit-Nourishing Grass as the main ingredient—nothing can replace it. There’s no such thing as too much of it, and there are never any side effects. Of course, if you’re truly talented, you can advance on your own, without relying on pills or potions. But in the last fifty years, the only one who advanced to xiantian without pills—without Spirit-Nourishing Grass—was Boss Cheng here.” He paused, then added, “Old Cheng, the Association is already watching you closely. They just didn’t want to bring you trouble too early.”
“With your current status, you must know how to cultivate Spirit-Nourishing Grass?” Qin Jingzhou smiled. “Let me guess, supply has dropped in recent years, which is why the demonic path joined forces with overseas extraordinary factions and started plotting?”
Not only did Lin Baiming not deny it, but he added, “The elusive Association President spends almost all his time guarding the forbidden ground and the Spirit-Nourishing Grass fields. The Vice President can allocate some of the quota… I didn’t mention it before, but—yes, the President is my father.”
At that, Lu Jiuxiao couldn’t help but speak up. “No wonder certain people target your mind, always trying to get to you.” He took a deep breath. “Did my mom know your real identity?”
Lin Baiming answered honestly, “She knew. But she didn’t know our daughter was still alive, because I only found out recently…” He started coughing, spit up a bit of blood, and—his head still bristling with golden needles—slowly sat up. “Old Cheng, your techniques are wild—my dantian is already showing signs of healing.”
Qin Jingzhou said, “I’ll give you a list. Once the ingredients are all gathered, I’ll cure you. As for emotional healing, that’s your own business. By the way, give me all the pill recipes you can make with Spirit-Nourishing Grass.”
Lin Baiming, eyes bloodshot, stared at Qin Jingzhou, at a loss for words.
Qin Jingzhou spoke so matter-of-factly, he really couldn’t think how to respond.
Qin Jingzhou smiled. “Because I’m still in the ‘probation phase,’ you feel awkward? At least let me see a sample of Spirit-Nourishing Grass.”
Lin Baiming pondered a bit. “I have one… My old man earned it with merit.” He turned to Li Assistant. “Can I borrow your assistant? To run an errand?”
Of course Qin Jingzhou agreed.
A little over an hour later, Assistant Li returned with a small car fridge.
Qin Jingzhou opened it, took out the carefully iced Spirit-Nourishing Grass, and grinned on seeing it. Before, he’d thought that, with spiritual energy and various spiritual plants existing in this world, even if the spiritual energy was limited, there was no way the masters wouldn’t make good use of it. Now he understood—it wasn’t that they couldn’t use other spiritual plants, it’s that they used only this one.
If the spiritual energy content in previous spiritual plants was in the range of one to five, the Spirit-Nourishing Grass was five hundred.
A difference of fully one hundred times. No wonder the Gu Martial Association, the demonic path, and all the extraordinary factions put aside other plants and focused solely on Spirit-Nourishing Grass.
He returned the Spirit-Nourishing Grass to the fridge. “What has Gu Su done with her golden finger?”
The system answered, “Give me a sec to check.” After about five seconds, it continued. “She devoured all the fortune of every Fate’s Son in the world, half the spiritual energy from all xiantian and extraordinary practitioners, and destroyed three of the world’s four spirit veins before leaving for good…”
“That’s not just robbery, that’s grave robbing too.”
The system responded, “So the World Will was willing to go to any length, no matter the cost, to bring you here—to get revenge even at a loss.”
Qin Jingzhou laughed. “I get it.”
Meanwhile, Gu Su was at home packing her things when the doorbell rang downstairs, followed by Auntie calling out, “Mr. Lu, welcome.” Her heart tensed—she knew she couldn’t avoid this meeting, so she stepped out to the landing and greeted him. “Zhentong, you’re here.” She also gave Auntie a meaningful glance.
Auntie caught the signal and retreated to the kitchen to prepare drinks and snacks.
Lu Zhentong came quickly upstairs, stood in front of Gu Su, and reached straight for her earring. “Is it this?” With a twist, he tore the earring right off.
Gu Su stared wide-eyed, then collapsed in a dead faint.