Volume I: Autumn Festival Chapter 30: The City God Temple Fair and Princess Qingping

[Page 1 of 3]

Upon returning to the Xunyang Marquis Residence, Jiang Wang immediately took out the golden pills his father had left behind. Their effect on healing injuries was remarkably potent.

After sending Little Fish back to her room to rest, Jiang Wang reclined in the rattan chair in his own room and looked at the two golden pills remaining in his hand.

“Is this thing related to the golden pill you spat out? They look rather similar.”

The Night Roaming God lay sprawled across the table and said weakly, “How could a mere monster’s golden pill be compared with mine?”

Jiang Wang was astonished.

If these golden pills belonged to monsters, how had his father obtained them?

He asked again, “Do all monsters possess golden pills?”

The Night Roaming God turned over, pointing both feet toward the ceiling, and gave an irritated snort.

“What are you thinking? You truly know nothing about this world. Only monsters with profound cultivation can condense a golden pill. Even the weakest of them is far more powerful than a Wraith or a Winged Serpent.”

Jiang Wang said regretfully, “Then that monster, Ao Yin, must have had one too? If I had known, I should have taken a handful while I had the chance.”

Although he still had no clear idea how powerful the monster Ying Yong truly was, judging from his direct confrontation with Ao Yin, there ought to have been a considerable gap between them.

The two Azure-Robed cultivators had once dealt with Wraiths in the ruined alley and had also fought the monster Ao Yin. Judging from that alone, neither was someone an ordinary martial artist could contend with.

The strongest member of the Black Flame Army was Sun Qingya. Even without knowing his exact realm, he was certainly no Grandmaster. To kill a monster of profound cultivation and take its golden pill seemed impossible.

Unless his own father had been extraordinarily powerful.

“Forget knowing this world. I’m afraid I haven’t even figured out what is going on in my own household.”

Before reaching adulthood, he had scarcely ever left home. On the rare occasions he did, he merely wandered around Qixia Street. He had never even left Hun City. How could he possibly claim to understand the world?

Jiang Wang looked at the listless Night Roaming God lying on the table and asked curiously, “Didn’t you say that the Divine Kingdom drained your power, leaving you with only the strength of Ao Yin? But Ao Yin’s destructive power didn’t seem nearly as exaggerated as what you displayed just now.”

The Night Roaming God replied sourly, “The Divine Kingdom drew upon my strength, but I can borrow a little of it back. I merely have to pay a price. Don’t go wandering outside for the next few days. The prestige you displayed at the Du residence is temporarily gone.”

Jiang Wang frowned. “To deal with Feng Linghuai, Ao Yin’s strength should have been enough. Why did you make such a huge spectacle?”

The Night Roaming God fell silent for a moment, then snorted.

“I wanted to. What business is it of yours?”

Jiang Wang seemed to understand.

The bird was still upset deep down; it had merely seized the opportunity to vent its anger.

It really was an arrogant little bird.

...

In the dead of night, the Azure-Robed and White-Robed cultivators returned.

Shan Qiyu followed behind them.

They threw Du Heng and his son, Du Zicheng, directly before Jiang Wang.

“Master Jiang, Du Yanruo escaped.”

They lowered their heads, deeply ashamed.

The two Azure-Robed cultivators felt that, despite having worked for Master Jiang all this time, they had never once managed to accomplish anything perfectly.

This matter in particular had involved far too much.

Jiang Wang, however, took it in stride and waved his hand.

“No matter. Let him run.”

He was merely worried that the Azure Profound Office might send some formidable figure after him, but he was not truly afraid. Surely the death of Old Six Tan would not be enough to make the Azure Profound Office mobilize in force.

[Page 2 of 3]

At worst, he could have the Night Roaming God pay a price. Saving his life should not be a problem.

Had the Night Roaming God not been sleeping inside the Mirage Sea at that moment, it would certainly have leapt up and cursed:

“I am a majestic deity, not some beast for you to abuse!”

“Little Marquis, this has nothing to do with me! We are honest, law-abiding citizens!”

Du Heng wore a miserable expression. He could only blame himself for being too slow. How had he ended up getting caught?

Du Zicheng, however, was remarkably steadfast.

Du Yanruo had hidden herself in time, while Du Zicheng, looking at his own broken leg, knew perfectly well that he could never escape. He did not even know why they had needed to flee, but seeing his father in such a state, he could more or less guess that the old man had stirred up trouble in secret yet again.

Having come here once before, Du Zicheng limped about with practiced ease, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup.

“Kill me or torture me as you please.”

Jiang Wang smiled.

“Your Du family truly knows how to invite trouble. Why do you never learn? Now you’ve even provoked the Azure Profound Office. Tell me, whose idea was it?”

Even though Du Zicheng had no idea what the Azure Profound Office was, he answered without hesitation:

“In the entire Du family, I’m the only one who could have done something like this. Your question is pointless.”

Du Heng’s mouth opened slightly, as though he wanted to speak but did not dare.

Jiang Wang noticed and smiled.

“Orange, you’re the person in the Du family I know best. You may be foolish and a little childish, but you aren’t truly stupid. This time is different from the last. You’d better think carefully.”

Du Zicheng continued to face death with composure.

“There’s nothing to think about. If I did it, then I did it. Stop wasting your breath. If you have the ability, kill me. I’ve never known how to write the word fear!”

Jiang Wang shook his head and looked toward Du Heng.

“If you have nothing to say, the Du family line will end here. Surely you don’t actually believe Du Yanruo can escape my grasp?”

Cold sweat poured down Du Heng’s face.

“You, Jiang!”

Du Zicheng slammed his teacup onto the table.

“It was I who brought Jian Liren here. My purpose was to kill you. What happened today was also my doing. If I am responsible for something, I will bear it alone. Do not drag anyone else into this!”

Jiang Wang suddenly felt as though he were some villain, while Du Zicheng was the embodiment of absolute justice.

“Who actually did it isn’t all that important. Since you are both protecting each other, Du Yanruo will surely risk everything to save you. I only need to wait patiently.”

Jiang Wang beckoned to Shan Qiyu.

“Take them to the Black Flame Army camp. Be sure to entertain them properly. And notify Uncle Tong while you’re at it. Tell him to come back.”

Shan Qiyu bowed and acknowledged the order.

...

By the beginning of the Tiger Hour, Hun City was already bustling with activity.

People from every household carried offerings out of their homes.

When they met on the road, some exchanged a few words, while others joined together and traveled in groups.

Constables from the Governor’s Office maintained order.

However, the large-scale destruction in South City Alley meant that the office also had to spare men to investigate. With the incident occurring on the eve of the City God Festival, it had left the Governor in a state of utter disarray. He had begun cursing before even getting out of bed.

Jiang Wang, still sleeping soundly, suddenly sneezed and woke with a start.

He lay dazed on the bed for a moment, turned over, and went back to sleep.

Then came a knock at the door.

The old steward’s voice sounded from outside.

“Young Master, today is the City God Festival. In the past, the Marquis himself would attend, and afterward I went in his place. Would you like to go and offer your respects this time?”

Jiang Wang lay face-down on the bed and slowly opened his eyes. He thought of what the bird had said the previous night. If anything dangerous happened at the City God Temple, he might not make it back alive.

Although the Night Roaming God still possessed strength comparable to Ao Yin even without borrowing the Divine Kingdom’s power, it had paid a price to borrow that power and was likely extremely weak now. This was no time to place itself in danger.

Thus, in a languid voice, he said, “Go yourself, Uncle Tong. Or take Zhao Si with you.”

[Page 3 of 3]

The old steward had returned the previous night and intended to ask the young master about Feng Linghuai, but Jiang Wang had already gone to sleep, so he had not disturbed him. Now that Jiang Wang was unwilling to go to the City God Temple, the old steward could only offer a brief reminder before turning away.

By then, Jiang Wang had completely forgotten about South City Alley.

While investigating, the Governor’s Office soon discovered that the Du residence was empty except for a little girl. There were also signs of destruction throughout the house, especially in the kitchen, which was utterly惨不忍睹.

With no results from their inquiries, they could only bring the little girl back to the office temporarily.

The most important matter today was to ensure that the City God Festival proceeded as scheduled.

On the fifth day of the ninth month in the fourteenth year of the Changping era, under the Sui calendar, the area before the City God Temple was packed with people.

The Governor personally presided over the ceremony and delivered a speech full of formalities. The people then began their offerings.

The rites began at the second quarter of the Tiger Hour and did not end until noon.

After returning home to tidy themselves up, the people would await the City God Fair at dusk. By then, lanterns would hang throughout the city, making the night as bright as day. The people could then revel to their hearts’ content, displaying the grandeur of the greatest temple fair in the Sui Kingdom.

Jiang Wang woke at the Dragon Hour and continued to sprawl in his rattan chair.

Little Fish, whose injuries had nearly healed, practiced her sword with great effort.

Watching her swing the blade again and again, Jiang Wang wondered whether he should ask Sun Qingya to instruct her. Otherwise, her natural talent would be wasted. Even now, Little Fish had yet to realize that there was something wrong with that supposedly peerless manual.

“Bird, does Little Fish possess any aptitude for cultivation?” Jiang Wang asked the Night Roaming God inwardly.

The Night Roaming God replied in great embarrassment, “Not the slightest bit!”

Jiang Wang naturally understood the reason for that tone and deliberately ignored it.

“Then how high is her aptitude for martial arts?”

The Night Roaming God calmed itself and said, “I have indeed seen some martial artists before. Of course, I mean martial artists from a thousand years ago. There was once a group of martial artists who could send their swords twenty thousand miles, shatter mountains and rivers with their fists, and stand in one place so firmly that even cultivators could not pass them.”

“To find martial artists like that in the present age would be harder than ascending to the heavens. Little Fish’s aptitude cannot be said to equal theirs, but it should still be the highest in this era.”

Jiang Wang was stunned.

He immediately called out to Little Fish, “Stop practicing!”

The Night Roaming God said, “I don’t know how to teach martial artists.”

“I never expected you to,” Jiang Wang replied. “In the future, I will find the finest martial artist in the world to teach Little Fish.”

Little Fish came before him, puzzled.

“Master, is something wrong?”

Jiang Wang held her cheeks in both hands.

“A good martial artist needs a good teacher. If you want revenge, you must become powerful as quickly as possible. From today onward, I’ll have Sun Qingya teach you.”

Given that Old Six Tan had already appeared, Little Fish’s enemies were clearly no ordinary people. If he continued deceiving her into practicing a counterfeit manual and another incident like the one involving Old Six Tan occurred, it would be too late for Jiang Wang to regret it.

Little Fish had indeed encountered a bottleneck. Hearing this, she was deeply moved.

Her master was truly too good to her.

She felt that there were some things she could no longer keep hidden.

Because of the affair with Old Six Tan, she had already drawn her master into the matter. At the very least, he needed to understand the reason behind it so that he could be prepared.

As Little Fish recounted everything, Jiang Wang’s eyes gradually widened.

He stared at his little maid in shock.

“You’re a princess? The Princess Qingping?”