Chapter 13: Master (Part 5)

Qin Tan’s temperament was quite cold and stern, mainly due to his pair of narrow eyes—pupils black and deep, eye corners sharp and upturned like a sharp knife tip, ice-cold and murderous. Combined with brows pressing over eyes, brow constantly furrowed, looking at people by arrogantly raising his head, glancing down from high to low—quite the air of regarding everyone as beneath him. Very fierce.

After the earlier chaos, he’d finally dressed properly. Now he pulled his collar to the highest point, unwilling to even expose his neck. Clearly an extremely dignified, ascetic appearance, yet his movements had some wild, unrestrained swagger. Qin Tan leaned against the chair, crossed legs, arms folded, overbearingly staring at the two little thieves below in the hall.

“I’ll give you the time of one tea to explain clearly. Otherwise don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Qin Tan extended one hand impatiently tapping the table, extremely forceful—thud thud thud—as if the next second that finger would whoosh out a whip from his sleeve, lashing the two below into spinning tops.

He Tingtong cautiously looked up: “Do you truly remember nothing?”

Qin Tan glanced at him, very indifferent, gaze like needle pricks. “Otherwise why have you speak?”

He only remembered finishing off that group of evil Wuqi Road scum. One external release of his consciousness sea heart domain drained most his spiritual power. At that time already at the end of his strength, to prevent his consciousness sea from boiling, he needed to immediately find a place to meditate and recuperate.

At that time these two people were following sneakily behind. He flew by sword intending to shake them off, only when flying to mid-air his whole body went numb, then bizarrely lost all consciousness.

Upon waking, he was here, having gone directly from Dongxu Realm to Tuomi Province. A full six hours in between, he’d been completely unaware with no consciousness whatsoever.

Qin Tan was always cautious, also confident that with his cultivation, no one in this world could ambush him without a sound.

Yet he’d actually blacked out—something that had never happened since entering the dao.

“Immortal Lord, we saw you get struck by lightning.” He Tingtong thought for a moment, speaking truthfully. He made a gesture. “Then you fell from heaven, landing in water. We two minor cultivators were scared out of our wits, fearing something happened to you, quickly diving in to fish you out.”

Fu Fengyan beside him nodded like a pecking chicken.

“Then you woke, asking us what year it was. Seeing we two were penniless, cultivation inadequate, freezing and trembling, you felt compassion.”

“Hearing we were also going to Central Province to participate in the Azure Cloud Trials, you invited us to travel together, giving us a ride.” He Tingtong looked at Qin Tan gratefully. Fu Fengyan beside him observed for a long while, learning to do the same.

Two faces washed clean, pale, expressions tender and pretty, together looking up at him. Two pairs of pitch-black eyes bright and shining, like two innocent fledgling birds looking at their bird mother, docile and well-behaved.

“We’re the little followers you accepted. Immortal Lord, don’t you remember clearly?”

Qin Tan: “…”

The heart-knowing spell showed no reaction—they weren’t lying.

In a turn of thought, he abandoned interrogation, instead checking himself over. Entire body, dantian, consciousness sea, meridians… all had no problems. Cultivation was still same as before, even his originally violent consciousness sea had calmed down, showing no abnormalities whatsoever.

Really too strange.

Could his spirit have some problem?

“It was you who brought us by sword to Tuomi Province. Also you who wandered the streets for a long while, saying tomorrow we’d travel so today we needed good rest, thus booking upper rooms.” He Tingtong looked at Qin Tan very sincerely. “You also told us not to be formal, call you Brother Tan. From now on we needn’t be frightened or displaced—you’d cover everything… you don’t remember any of this?”

Qin Tan: “…”

He silently pressed his brow, alarmed and uncertain.

He went alone everywhere, didn’t give fellow disciples much face, let alone accept little brothers. This was completely unlike something he’d do. Could he have gone insane?

Qin Tan checked himself over again. He still detected no signs of possession. Besides, even if possessed, someone capable of making him fall victim without awareness naturally couldn’t allow his soul to casually control his body as now. Truly strange…

Could it be that long-term solitude, cultivating alone, caused mental problems?

Such situations weren’t nonexistent in the cultivation world. A senior in Sword Sect once cultivated eight personalities—men, women, old, young, all present, appearing randomly…

Qin Tan’s heart sank to the depths, beginning to regret not visiting the Clear Sound Hall more often.

Lowering his eyes to look at the two below, he was silent for a long while before coldly saying: “You said you’re going to participate in the Azure Cloud Trials.”

He Tingtong and Fu Fengyan nodded together.

They still wore ill-fitting coarse cloth clothes, garments short a section, patched and mended—looking exactly like simple youths from small places, without schemes or knowledge, all their thoughts written on their faces, appearing easily controlled.

So Qin Tan chose to announce his identity, using force to intimidate: “I am Shangxuan Realm Sword Sect’s chief disciple, Qin Tan, also one of this Azure Cloud Trials’ examiners.”

The youths in the hall indeed showed dazed expressions. After a moment, the gazes looking at him carried careful awe.

“That we met here can be considered fate.” Qin Tan looked down at them, not changing expression as he bluffed: “Now, I’ll give you a task as a test.”

He Tingtong immediately straightened his back like all little disciples receiving orders, bowing, respectfully speaking: “Immortal Lord, please instruct.”

“Can you write?”

“Yes.”

“You?” Qin Tan looked at the other person beside him standing dazed like wood, brows furrowing. “Why does he always speak? Are you mute?”

Fu Fengyan belatedly answered: “…Can write, not mute.”

Qin Tan’s fingertips impatiently tapped the table. He pondered briefly before coldly saying: “From today, I’ll continue bringing you to Central Province. Only as an exchange, you two need to observe me, recording everything I do, everything I say, stroke by stroke, without the slightest omission.”

“Clear?”

He Tingtong nodded repeatedly: “Clear.”

Qin Tan’s dissatisfied gaze fell on Fu Fengyan. “You?”

Fu Fengyan also nodded along.

Qin Tan clicked his tongue, criticizing: “Not clever at all.”

Fu Fengyan tilted his head, replying: “Because I’ve read little, uncultured, slow-witted, react slowly.”

Qin Tan choked.

If he discovered such a dull disciple who dared talk back in the Azure Cloud Trials, he’d absolutely eliminate them first thing.

But his current situation was truly wrong—he did need people watching him. After all, his spirit now had problems. Still didn’t know what situation that other “self” was. If he ran around alone when his consciousness was off, this time waking up was fortunate—at an inn. Next time if it’s in a demon palace, nothing could be explained clearly.

Qin Tan had been smooth sailing for decades. When had he ever been controlled by circumstances like this? He was very dissatisfied with this situation yet powerless. Especially having to rely on these two minor cultivators barely different from mortals before him.

Feeling angry inside made him irritable, but he couldn’t be so classless as to lose his temper at two children. So after thinking, he could only be angry at himself.

Gaze lifting, Qin Tan looked at the inn a few times, brows furrowing, criticizing: “What terrible place was chosen—not even a training ground.”

He stood, hands clasped behind: “You two, one stays to accompany me, the other goes to rest.”

Then he took his sword, circled outside the room, found a plum tree, leaped onto branches, sat cross-legged to cultivate.

He Tingtong pushed Fu Fengyan’s back, signaling him to return to his room to rest. Under the other’s reluctant gaze, he himself moved a chair in the hall, placing it in the corridor to sit, distantly watching that snow-white figure on the tree branch.

This was the original owner.

Shangxuan Realm’s Guili Sword Master Qin Tan, Sword Sect’s Sword-Wielding Elder’s direct disciple, number one among cultivators under a hundred on the Azure Cloud Rankings. Born with dao bones, at twenty years old broke into the Sword Tomb, gained recognition from divine sword Chengying. Also Sword Sect’s only absolute genius in a thousand years of establishment who made all sword spirits in the Sword Tomb bow in submission. Truly heaven’s favored, dao path clear and smooth.

Qin Tan’s personality was forceful, couldn’t tolerate sand in his eyes. Su Tan’s nature was soft yet protective. Truly not the slightest bit similar.

Stuffing two such completely different people into the same body was really…

He Tingtong somewhat wanted to laugh.

He’d thought it failed, yet unexpectedly Fu Fengyan’s strike intercepting that lightning fire actually worked.

Now they were one body with two souls. Would the fate imposed on Su Tan also change?

He Tingtong didn’t know what kind of character Qin Tan was, but he knew—someone like Qin Tan who was naturally blessed, killing his way out from Shangxuan Realm’s genius nest as Sword Sect’s chief disciple—absolutely wouldn’t be some soft persimmon easily bullied.

Thinking thus, his lips curved slightly.

“What are you smiling about?” A shadow fell before him. He Tingtong looked up to discover Qin Tan had somehow descended from the tree, only ten steps away.

“Thought of some interesting past events.” He Tingtong still held paper and brush. He looked at the youth before him, neither humble nor arrogant: “Does the Immortal Lord want to hear?”

“Not interested.” Qin Tan moved his shoulders and back, feeling uncomfortable everywhere. “Which sect are you from? Today you could actually break free from my grasp. Who’s your master?”

“Formerly a member of Jubei Province’s Yuheng Sect. Later left the sect, now a small rogue cultivator.”

“Studied sword for how many years?”

“Took up the sword at age six. Now it’s been eleven years.”

“Get up.” Qin Tan took out a sword from his storage pendant and tossed it over. He stood in the courtyard, robes blown by night wind. “Strike at me.”

He Tingtong caught the spirit sword, somewhat dazed.

“This place is boring. Let me see your swordsmanship.” Qin Tan clasped hands behind, frowning as he looked at him, somewhat impatient.

“Then please instruct, Immortal Lord.” He Tingtong lifted the sword, leaping to strike.

Spiritual power rose from his dantian, traveled meridians, circulating his whole body. He worked hard to let surging spiritual energy impact meridians, breaking through blockages throughout. The long sword in his palm was better than any he’d used before, only Qin Tan’s current cultivation far exceeded his—the gap between them like a chasm.

Qin Tan with just two fingers, without using any spiritual power, could make He Tingtong run circles.

“Slow.”

“Off.”

“Weak.”

Thus passed a night. When dawn neared, Qin Tan finally hummed, evaluating: “Swordsmanship is terrible, but the person is acceptable.”

He seemed extremely tired, looking at He Tingtong who’d been thrown around on the ground by him, covered in dust, full of scrapes, propping head with one hand: “Reactions not bad, spiritual roots somewhat lacking. If diligent and hardworking, not impossible to accomplish something.”

Speaking thus, Qin Tan’s lashes lowered. “The Azure Cloud Trials aren’t so easy to pass. You follow me into Central Province. If you can’t even pass trials then, I’ll be laughed to death by those idiots.”

“Work diligently.” He sat cross-legged in the corridor, hands forming seals, but head drooped, voice also wrapped in heavy drowsiness. “Next time let that blockhead come.”

“Right.” Qin Tan forcibly mustered a trace of spirit, coldly saying: “Remember to tell that other me—if he dares ruin my reputation even slightly, I’ll definitely kill him.”

He Tingtong: “…”

Dawn broke.

He Tingtong panted. He leaned against the corridor pillar to meditate. This night had been truly too “exciting.” Worthy of New Year’s Eve—could count as welcoming the new year.

After an unknown time, sunlight scattered from the sky. Amid the chirping of several sparrows, He Tingtong heard a thud beside him. The youth sitting cross-legged in the corridor toppled headfirst, falling to the ground.

Su Tan had returned.

---

Early morning, Fu Fengyan held wound medicine expressionlessly applying it to He Tingtong’s injuries.

He had many scrapes on his body, along with large bruises, looking like he’d been severely beaten. Though superficial wounds that’d heal in a day or two, cultivators didn’t care about such minor injuries, but they looked truly frightening.

The youth’s ice-cold voice flowed in through transmission: “Next time I’ll fight him.”

He Tingtong raised an eyebrow. “Divine Lord, calm down. Don’t forget our current identities—small rogue cultivators from the north without sect or school. Where could we learn profound sword arts? I know you’re very capable, but if identity is exposed and others ask, how to explain?”

Fu Fengyan: “…Then what to do?”

He Tingtong: “How’s your swordsmanship?”

Fu Fengyan: “Usually fighting doesn’t require me to use swords.”

He Tingtong pondered briefly. “Actually Qin Tan’s swordsmanship is very good. Sparring with him will indeed bring progress. Can try suppressing cultivation to second or third realm, purely using swordsmanship to compete with him.”

“If control isn’t good, then when he hits you, learn like written in story books—topple over with one fall, pitifully cry while looking at him.”

Fu Fengyan: “…That’s truly a bad idea.”

“But it’ll work very well.” He Tingtong blinked. “He seems to most hate people crying.”

Across from He Tingtong, Su Tan bent over looking at those injuries, pointing at himself, eyes widened considerably. “I did this?”

“Your meaning is I fainted from soaking in the bath, then the original owner suddenly popped out, beat you up, then wants you to monitor me?”

“Observe your movements.” He Tingtong emphasized. “This injury came from my inadequate cultivation, not a big deal.”

Su Tan: “…”

“Why?” He completely couldn’t understand. “I’m the one occupying his body. Whatever issues should come at me. Explaining clearly isn’t impossible either. Why hit people?”

Su Tan’s clenched fist dejectedly loosened again. He looked at the marks on He Tingtong’s body, frowning, very unhappy.

He came from a fair and just world. Even between teachers and students, there was no excessive corporal punishment. Qin Tan called it guidance—in his view, this was obvious bullying the weak, taking advantage of power.

“Also, what does he mean ‘if I ruin his reputation he’ll kill me’? How? Like this?” Su Tan grabbed his own neck, sticking out tongue making a hanged ghost face. “If I do this what can he do to me? Does he want us to perish together?”

“Besides, is his current reputation so good?”

He Tingtong pondered briefly, hand pointing outside, indicating the bookshop in front of the inn, softly saying: “Qin Tan, Guili Sword Master, famous throughout the world. If you run out now shouting you’re Qin Tan, this place would immediately be surrounded until not even water could leak through.”

Su Tan: “…”

---

Last night’s events were just a small interlude. Ultimately traveling was still important.

Spirit boats after New Year’s were still rare. Spirit boats headed to Central Province had only three per day. After discussing, the three chose to depart in the afternoon.

In the morning they ate breakfast at the inn, then packed baggage to travel. Su Tan really couldn’t stand He Tingtong and Fu Fengyan’s impoverished appearance. Before departing he went to a clothing store to buy several outfits for them both to wear. To avoid boring journey, he also scoured quite a few pastries, foods and story books, stuffing everything into storage pendants.

Fine feathers make fine birds. Su Tan’s eye was indeed excellent. With slight grooming, he pulled the two’s temperament from poor countryside boys back to Central Province young immortal lords.

Then found three veiled hats to wear covering faces. The three walked staggered, like aristocratic disciples on tour, attracting attention.

From Tuomi Province to Central Province, the journey was a full month and a half.

He Tingtong looked at Su Tan’s murderous eyes, feeling these several dozen days would probably have much turmoil.