The night passed peacefully, without incident.
Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Xu Ziqing awoke.
After a night of meditation, his foundations were stable again, with no lingering instability from the previous day’s expenditure of mental energy and spiritual qi. When he looked up, Nan Zhengya was already standing across from him, still dressed entirely in black. Though his appearance remained hidden, he seemed to be smiling.
Nan Zhengya said, ‘I owe you thanks for last night.’
Xu Ziqing merely smiled and shook his head, paying it little mind.
They did not talk much further. Nan Zhengya had business to attend to and wanted Xu Ziqing’s escape technique to help him leave.
Xu Ziqing readily agreed, though he asked, ‘Has the Ghost Spirit Sect stopped searching for you?’
Nan Zhengya replied, ‘I lured them out of the city earlier. They should have pursued me in the opposite direction by now. They certainly won’t know I’ve come back.’
He had intended to rest for several nights before leaving under cover of darkness. Now that he had encountered Xu Ziqing, however, he could borrow his unusual technique to depart much sooner.
Xu Ziqing agreed. ‘Then I’ll see you out, Brother Nan Zheng.’
Nan Zhengya nodded and this time offered his sleeve first.
Green light flashed. The plants throughout the prince’s residence stirred for an instant. No one noticed the tiny green glimmer vanishing, or the two men who quietly appeared in a secluded lane on the next street.
Having delivered Nan Zhengya safely, Xu Ziqing prepared to return.
Nan Zhengya smiled. ‘You really are cautious. Even now, you haven’t asked what business I’m attending to.’
Xu Ziqing shook his head. ‘Your cultivation is far beyond mine. If even you consider the matter urgent, I doubt it’s something I could handle. There’s no need for me to know.’
Nan Zhengya chuckled, then said something that startled him.
‘Did you know that Dragonflight Trading House holds a secret underground exchange after its grand auction? It’s extremely discreet, and ordinary people know nothing of it. The participants are separated by cultivation realm, with those of equal standing gathering together to trade their rare possessions for what they urgently need. So many people came to this grand auction that they must have brought considerable treasures. I’ve stayed here precisely for this exchange.’
Xu Ziqing looked at him. ‘And what are you suggesting, Brother Nan Zheng?’
Nan Zhengya said, ‘You’ve protected me with your technique and escorted me out. I’ll take you along in return. Nascent Soul old monsters have some worthwhile possessions. If you see something you want, I can trade for it on your behalf. Consider it my thanks.’
Xu Ziqing was tempted, but shook his head. ‘It was nothing more than a small favor. I couldn’t accept such a lavish repayment.’
He truly was curious and wanted to attend, yet he did not wish to take advantage of anyone.
Nan Zhengya sighed. ‘Even if you don’t need anything, does your senior brother need nothing? His sword intent reaches the heavens, yet he lacks a life-bound spirit sword. Unless he finds an ancient blade perfectly suited to him, that deficiency may become troublesome when he reaches Nascent Soul. Ancient swords are excellent, but his Sword Dao is unusual, and ordinary treasures may not suit it. It would be better to find rare ores, forge a sword embryo, and nurture it with the Geng Metal sword qi in his body, allowing it to develop on its own.’
Xu Ziqing did not understand swordsmanship deeply, but knew enough to see the reasoning. He began to hesitate.
Nan Zhengya continued, ‘Even in the Tianlan Secret Trove, you might not find anything suitable. Those old monsters have been hoarding treasures for years. Perhaps we’ll find the right materials among their possessions.’
Xu Ziqing jolted. ‘You…’
Growing impatient, Nan Zhengya tossed him an object. ‘Put your spiritual sense into that. You’ll understand.’
Xu Ziqing froze. It was another beast-control token, but of excellent quality. When he examined it with spiritual sense, he found a fox curled up within. Its entire body was dark as ink, its fur exquisitely sleek. Nine long tails stretched behind it, each ending in a patch of snowy white, and the creature radiated a peculiarly seductive aura.
Could this be the Ninefold Profound Alluring Fox?
Xu Ziqing knew only one such fox, the one that had made a bargain with him. And this one…
Sure enough, Nan Zhengya said, ‘I recently acquired a new beast pet. You should recognize it.’
Everything clicked into place in Xu Ziqing’s mind.
After parting from them, the Fox King had somehow been subdued by Nan Zhengya. All its knowledge and secrets had naturally fallen into his hands.
Perhaps their meeting at Prince Tiancheng’s residence really was a coincidence. But Nan Zhengya had already known about Xu Ziqing’s techniques before they met again. Their conversation last night had indeed been truthful, but who could say how many tests were hidden within that truth?
Thinking back, Xu Ziqing suspected that if anything he had done or said had failed to satisfy Nan Zhengya, their situation would be very different. The man was unpredictable, stubborn, and rather obsessive. Even the cunning Fox King had fallen into his hands. Xu Ziqing hardly knew whether to pity the fox or marvel that there was always someone more formidable.
Still, he did not believe Nan Zhengya’s invitation came merely from liking him. Since it involved his senior brother, Xu Ziqing could not help asking again. ‘Brother Nan Zheng, your eagerness to help leaves me uncertain what to make of it.’
Nan Zhengya sneered. ‘Your temperament is good, but you’re far too fussy. I owe your senior brother a debt and will have to repay it sooner or later. If he doesn’t live long enough, how am I supposed to do that?’ His tone turned teasing. ‘I’ve finally taken a liking to you and offered you a chance to curry favor with Perfected One Yun. Are you really going to waste it?’
Xu Ziqing’s face burned. ‘You… you noticed?’
Nan Zhengya snorted. ‘You can’t hide those little feelings of yours from me.’
Xu Ziqing was embarrassed. It was the first time anyone had seen through his feelings and stated them so bluntly. There was nothing shameful about them, but he could hardly avoid blushing.
Nan Zhengya’s patience ran out. ‘Just tell me whether you’re coming. Stop wasting time!’
Xu Ziqing caught his breath and blurted, ‘Then I’ll trouble you.’
Nan Zhengya finally smiled. ‘That’s more like it. Cultivation defies heaven. If I fretted and dawdled over everything the way you do, I’d have died countless times already.’
Xu Ziqing smiled without arguing. His nature differed from Nan Zhengya’s, as did their paths. What Nan Zhengya could do might not be right for him. Exercising caution and restraint was itself a way of cultivating in accordance with heaven.
But having decided to attend, he could not simply disappear without arranging anything.
He produced his beast-control token and released Chonghua, giving the bird a jade talisman containing a message. He did not expect to be away long, but if Yun Lie came looking, his senior brother should know where he had gone.
Once satisfied that nothing was overlooked, he asked, ‘Brother Nan Zheng, where is the exchange held?’
Nan Zhengya offered his sleeve. ‘Take me three streets to the right, then ten buildings forward. There’s an inn with an alley beside it. Stop there.’
Xu Ziqing caught his sleeve and, in a flash, delivered them to the place.
The alley was dim. Anyone peering into it from outside would feel confused and strangely drowsy.
Nan Zhengya raised his sleeve and pointed, opening a passage through a formation he had evidently set up earlier. Xu Ziqing followed him inside, and the formation sealed again.
A streak of black light suddenly shot toward Xu Ziqing. He caught it and found a hideous, ghostlike mask, sinister and frightening.
‘What’s this?’ he asked.
Nan Zhengya put on a mask of his own and instantly transformed into a blue-faced giant nine chi tall, wrapped in demonic qi. ‘There are plenty of precious things at the exchange. Wear it. If others see your real face, you might be murdered on your way home.’
Xu Ziqing put his on at once. His body changed too: his Wood qi was hidden, replaced by an aura of bloody baleful energy. His appearance resembled Nan Zhengya’s assumed form, only younger, like a nephew or other junior relative.
Nan Zhengya, now disguised as the blue-faced giant, warned, ‘The demonic qi is only an illusion formation. You’re an immortal-path cultivator. Stay behind me and don’t use your techniques recklessly. If someone recognizes your divine abilities later, don’t blame me.’
Xu Ziqing obediently agreed.
After a little thought Nan Zhengya added, ‘People at these exchanges may attack at the slightest disagreement. You shouldn’t use ordinary spells, but you can summon your demon vine in an emergency. Its blood qi is strong enough to maintain the disguise. Just be careful how you use it.’
Though Nan Zhengya’s elaborate warnings were mostly meant to spare himself trouble, Xu Ziqing was grateful and promised to follow them, remaining doubly vigilant.
Having settled everything, they wasted no more time.
Nan Zhengya waved away the formation and led Xu Ziqing outside.
Several people were lingering beyond the alley, inspecting the formation. Some eyed the emerging pair with unmistakably malicious intentions.
Nan Zhengya released a little of his aura. Their expressions changed, and they scattered to either side as if they had noticed nothing, no longer watching the pair hungrily.
Xu Ziqing followed silently as instructed, revealing nothing. Everyone’s attention remained on the formidable giant Nan Zhengya had become rather than the inconsequential Essence Transformation junior behind him.
Nan Zhengya swaggered along as though entirely accustomed to such scenes. His fierce expression and aggressive bearing discouraged anyone from approaching.
They passed the onlookers, entered the inn, and were guided to an inner staircase, where a stone door was opened at the far end.
Beyond the door was absolute darkness. Then light flared, revealing a passage half a zhang wide that led straight downward.
The manager who opened it said, ‘This is the passage for Nascent Soul ancestors. Please enter.’
Nan Zhengya glared at him as though offended. ‘Hmph! Why all this pointless trickery?’
With that, he caught Xu Ziqing by the sleeve and strode inside.
Before they had gone a hundred steps, a key appeared, floating in midair.
Nan Zhengya flicked out a whip and wrapped it around Xu Ziqing. With his free hand, he seized the key. White light flashed, and both vanished.