It only took about a day and a half to reach the village near Luoyang where Tian Wujin lives. Originally, it would take about four days by horse, but because I carried Wang Liang and crossed the mountains, we were able to significantly shorten the distance.
Wang Liang was lying down behind me, panting and resting. It was because we had come too quickly.
"Phew... Phew... Whatās going on here..."
"Iām sorry, but we had to save as much time as possible."
"Ah... Iāve calmed down a bit. Anyway, who are you? How do you know about my junior brotherās affairs?"
"Please wait a moment."
Instead of explaining, I went to the nearby pine forest and buried the Heavenly Rock Scripture. Since there would be no pursuers like the Jinyiwei this time, and we would be moving relatively quickly, I wanted to avoid unnecessary conflicts with Tian Wujin. When I returned, I said to Wang Liang,
"I feel bad that things have progressed so suddenly. However, once the calamity caused by Muye is averted, I will definitely explain everything to you."
"Hmm, thatās fine. In any case, you probably wouldnāt explain in the current situation."
With a grumbling Wang Liang, we entered the village where Tian Wujin resides.
Then, the temple Wang Liang had visited before appeared, and I strode towards it. It was the temple where the treasure, the Water Seal of the Seven Stars, was enshrined.
Tian Wujin was standing in front of the temple. Dressed as a farmer, he looked at me with a suspicious eye and said,
"Who are you? You seem to possess an unusual treasure."
"My name is Bai Xiong. I came here because your senior brother said thereās someone here who can handle this matter."
I spoke calmly and then drew Muye from my waist.
"This is Muye, a secret treasure of the Seven Stars. I managed to remove it from the seal, but I know that it will soon bring a massive flood to the world. Iāve been told that to avert this disaster, we need to set up an altar for Muye and perform a ritual to govern the heavens, which is why I came to you, Tian Wujin."
"......"
Tian Wujin glanced at Wang Liang beside me. Wang Liang looked away, seemingly feeling guilty for bringing him this trouble. Perhaps he felt bad for giving his junior brother unnecessary work. Then Tian Wujin said,
"That sword is neutralizing my illusions. Itās a treasure worthy of being called a precious artifact of the present age, so I believe it is indeed Muye, the secret treasure of the Seven Stars. However, why should I help you?"
"The water qi condensed in Muye is thousands of years old, which is why a disaster is imminent."
"Thatās not what Iām asking. Why should I help a rude person who suddenly barges in and asks me to clean up someone elseās mess?"
Tian Wujinās words were laced with cold sarcasm. I had seen it before, but Tian Wujin had a very different personality from Wang Liang. He was not exactly a chivalrous person and would never get involved in matters unrelated to him. He only cared about protecting his environment. Moreover, his personality was very stern and ruthless.
'Well, thatās probably the normal appearance of a genius...'
I thought for a moment and then said,
"Do you want to see the people of the world suffer from the flood? The situation has already arisen, and you are the only one who can stop it."
"The words are true, but tell me why you took Muye out of the seal in the first place. Was it not out of your own pure greed? If itās the source of the disaster, isnāt it your own desire?"
"I wonāt deny that. However, I believed that Muye could greatly help protect the peace of the world, so I risked my life to take it out. If I were truly irresponsible, I wouldnāt have come here to deal with the aftermath."
As I spoke, I knelt down. Tian Wujin and Wang Liang both looked surprised. I said earnestly,
"I beg you, help me this one time."
"Hmm..."
Tian Wujin frowned. Then he looked at Wang Liang with a disapproving eye and said,
"Senior brother, you always bring troublesome things."
Wang Liang laughed awkwardly.
"Ahaha... Iām sorry, junior brother. But I agree with this Bai Xiong. Who else could handle this matter besides you? Neither Jinyu Island nor Kunlun Mountain would get involved in secular affairs."
"Thatās true, butā"
After pondering, Tian Wujin said,
"Wait an hour. Iāll inform my masterā"
But Tian Wujin suddenly paused mid-sentence. He stood still, tilting his head as if deep in thought, and then let out a sigh.
"... No, Iāll do it myself. Senior brother, help me prepare the altar with the technique of Qimen Dunjia."
"Understood."
"Iāll set up the altar in the north and invoke the power of the Great Venerable of the Void."
Then, Wang Liang and Tian Wujin began to move busily. They set up arrays all over the temple, planted flags and instruments. It seemed they intended to use the temple itself as the altar. I stood there, not knowing what to do, but Tian Wujin said,
"Please step back. Those who donāt understand the array will only be a hindrance."
"When will it be ready?"
"Come back in an hour."
I wandered around the village for an hour. Since I had nothing else to do, I thought it was for the best. This village operated on the principle of self-sufficiency, so the farmers only cultivated their own fields, and there were no landlords. Normally, such a system would lead to poverty, but because Tian Wujin lived here, the crops were always abundant.
After eating a simple meal at an inn, I returned. As expected, Wang Liang and Tian Wujin had set up the altar for Muye. When I placed Muye on the altar, Tian Wujin, who had changed from his farmerās clothes into a Daoist robe, began to chant fiercely.
"Whenever a person fails to meet the harmony of the Five Elements, or the Nine Stars lose their order, or they encounter the clash of punishment, or all the divine punishments, it is a matter of movement and application. If one fails to follow harmony in both action and concealment, the heavens will be angry and the earth will scold, leading to the loss of life or danger. All these are due to the Three Officials, the Five Emperors, the Four Saints, and the Two Dippers, who turn fate. The failure to meet the harmony of the Five Elements and the disorder of the Nine Stars are all due to the many divine punishments.
I command the Six Spirits to resolve the heavenly calamity, the Earthly Official to resolve the earthly calamity, the Water Official to resolve the water calamity, the Five Emperors to resolve the calamities of the five directions, the Four Stars to resolve the calamities of the four seasons, the Southern Dipper to resolve the calamity of oneās destiny, and the Northern Dipper to resolve all calamities. The Three Officials, the Five Emperors, the Four Stars, and the Southern and Northern Dippers are all under the command of the Great Venerable of the Void.
Therefore, the Upper Clarity is to inform people of the Great Venerableās vast benevolence. The net of heaven and earth cannot be escaped, and when a malevolent star arrives, it must be destroyed. Chant the name of the Great Venerable with a sincere heart.
Thus, I, Tian Wujin, hereby inform the heavens and earth that I will use the power of the Great Venerable to avert the calamity of heaven and earth!!"
Whoosh
At that moment, a bright golden light flowed from Muye, which was placed on the altar. The ancient script became clearly visible, and Muye rose into the sky. After a moment, it pierced the sky, creating a massive pillar of light. Tian Wujin was frantically waving the flags and stepping through the ritual movements.
Wang Liang was no different. He seemed to be assisting the array by waving the flags of the Twelve Earthly Branches from behind. However, his strength seemed insufficient, and he eventually fell on his buttocks, panting. Tian Wujin completed the 72 ritual steps regardless, and at that moment, the sky began to darken.
Rumble
Whoosh - !!
Dark clouds gathered, and heavy rain began to pour. Tian Wujin, who had been standing there, muttered,
"It worked."
"Is it done now?"
"Yes. By offering the water qi of Muye to the Great Venerable of the Void, I have averted the calamity. As a result, you, the master of Muye, will receive a great gift from the Great Venerable of the Void."
I was taken aback by the unexpected news.
"A gift? What is it?"
"I donāt know either. But since the Great Venerable of the Void interferes with fate, it might be related to that."
Tian Wujin chuckled.
"Of course, I and my junior brother also gained something from this ritual."
Indeed, it seemed he had proceeded with the ritual because it would benefit him. I took Muye from the altar and put it back at my waist. Then I said,
"Thank you very much. I will repay this debt someday."
"Never mind that. Take your senior brother and leave the village quickly. My master finds your presence very uncomfortable."
"Wang Liang?"
"Even if you come back here again, Iāll lock the door. Thatās it."
Whoosh
When I came to my senses, Wang Liang and I were outside the village. It seemed Tian Wujin had used a spell to send us away. Fortunately, it wasnāt raining outside the village, so I went back to the pine forest to find the Heavenly Rock Scripture.
Wang Liang said,
"Wow, that was lightning-fast. Now, isnāt it time to explain who you are and how this all happened?"
"Of course."
I thought there was no need to hide anything from Wang Liang.
"I am a reincarnated soul..."
I had already seen enough of Wang Liangās chivalry and righteousness through my past lives. Moreover, I thought it wouldnāt matter if he betrayed me, so I intended to share my secrets with him as a companion in this life.
Wang Liang, who had been listening calmly, looked quite surprised. He paced around for a while, trying to process the information, and after about half an hour, he calmed down and said,
"Wait... This is quite a burden, isnāt it? Are you saying youāll bring me to your masterās village like this in your tenth reincarnation too?"
"Ah... Yes."
"Ah yes is not enough. This is really a burden."
Wang Liang clicked his tongue and said,
"Hmm, but I will still bring you along next time. An assistant is needed."
"Understood."
"Junior brother Tian Wujin performed the ritual this time because he received an order from his master. He will definitely do it again next time."
"An order from Wang Liang?"
"If not, do you think junior brother would help clean up someone elseās mess? The voice of his master echoed in our minds, commanding him to avert the calamity if possible."
"I see."
I then asked another question.
"Earlier, Tian Wujin said he and his junior brothers gained something from this ritual."
"The Great Venerable of the Void is known for bestowing great favors on those who offer sacrifices. Naturally, not only you, the master of the treasure, but also I and my junior brother received a boon. My junior brother probably learned an ancient technique that was sealed and couldnāt be practiced, and I feel my talent for spells has been unlocked to a new level."
"......!!"
Wang Liang laughed heartily.
"Thank you. I will now be able to enter the intermediate level of spells."
Wang Liangās reaction left me speechless.
'Is it really true that a god can bestow blessings?'
To me, the techniques of the Left Dao Sect were just some interesting spells. But the idea that a god-like being truly exists and can grant supernatural powers was quite absurd.
"I didnāt practice any spells, yet I received a gift from the Great Venerable of the Void..."
"Um... I donāt know either. But itās probably not bad, so just live as usual. If you go on dangerous adventures, it might be a great help."
Indeed.
I decided to let this matter go for now. There was no point in overthinking something that had no clear answer. I told Wang Liang,
"Then Iāll take you back to Jinlang Valley. Iām sorry for bringing you here so suddenly."
"Ah, thatās fine. We have things to talk about on the way."
Clippety-clop
We didnāt need to rush to Jinlang Valley, so we borrowed horses from the post station. While riding, Wang Liang said,
"From what you said earlier, I donāt think you need to return to Qinglong Martial Hall immediately."
"What do you mean? I havenāt mastered the Thunder God Technique yet."
Wang Liang shook his head.
"Building strength is important, but understanding why you are building it is equally important. Your master, Li Guang, sent you on a martial journey to the Black Night Sect to increase your practical experience. You have already learned the basics of the Thunder God Technique, so it might be good to travel around the martial world in this life and practice on your own."
"......"
"Isnāt it a good idea to try to escape your current awkward state through independent practice?"
"Hmm."
"Besides, you donāt even know what the Jinyiwei is doing or what they are after. Without that information, building strength would just be a waste of time."
Wang Liangās words made sense. If I returned to Qinglong Martial Hall now, I would still spend years practicing the basics. It might be more efficient to travel around the martial world and refine the secret techniques I had learned. When I eventually returned as the successor of the Thunder God Technique, it wouldnāt be much different. In fact, it might be less suspicious to return as a young successor who had mastered the techniques rather than one who had over-practiced them.
Moreover, Wang Liangās point about the importance of understanding the Jinyiweiās movements was crucial. I only had suspicions that the Jinyiwei had abandoned human sacrifices and was now seeking the Seven Stars, but nothing was certain. I needed to gather more information.
A few days later, Wang Liang and I arrived at Jinlang Valley.
"Ha, home!"
I said to Wang Liang, who was excited to be back home,
"Hereās your payment for this job."
I gave Wang Liang one root of the Black-White Lotus, two gold ingots, and Muye. Wang Liang was momentarily stunned and then asked,
"What is this?"
"The Black-White Lotus contains the essence of extreme yang. When boiled and consumed, it can significantly enhance oneās internal energy, comparable to a thousand-year-old ginseng. The two gold ingots are for you, and practicing with Muye will further improve your spell abilities."
"......!!"
I also handed him a piece of the silver phoenix from Bohai.
"Hereās a favor. Please interpret the secret hidden in this. Return Muye to me after youāve used it enough. I will go on a martial journey in the martial world."
Wang Liang, who was amazed, stopped me.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
"What is it?"
"Are you sure you can give me such a great boon? Donāt you think itās a waste or that I might betray you?"
"Well, these things arenāt very useful to me now. Eating the Black-White Lotus wonāt improve my internal energy much, and I still have plenty of gold. Right now, I want to improve my martial arts more than practicing spells with Muye."
"Thatās not what I mean. We only met a few days ago. Is it really okay to just give me all this?"
"......?"
What was he talking about?
I tilted my head, but Wang Liang sighed deeply and said,
"Ha... Of course, Iām grateful for these gifts. I wonāt refuse them and will use them well. But you should knowā"
"What?"
Wang Liang raised his finger.
"To you, I might be a companion who has faced death with you many times, but to me, I only met you a few days ago, and you feel like a strange person. Asking me to accept you as a companion is too much of a burden."
"......"
I was speechless.
Wang Liang was right. From his perspective, even if he believed my story about being a reincarnated soul, it was still too sudden. I owed him a debt of gratitude, but he didnāt remember it, and it was something he had never experienced. After much thought, I said,
"I have no words to say. I suppose itās just for my own satisfaction..."
"Hmm... Youāre a difficult person to understand. But itās probably because youāre still sane."
Wang Liang shook his head and said,
"How about this? Next time you meet me, say itās an investment for the future."
"An investment for the future?"
"Iām a thorough materialist, so if you say that, Iāll work day and night to repay the favor. And when you face a great enemy and need help, Iāll do my best to repay you."
Wang Liang smiled.
"That way, we wonāt owe each other any unnecessary emotional debts."
I see.
This was also Wang Liangās way of showing consideration.
At the same time, I realized how I should deal with people in my reincarnated life. Instead of relying solely on my memories and being overly kind, it was better to maintain a certain distance and treat them as transactional relationships. It