"With this final stroke, your esteemed father's last flicker of life will be completely extinguished. Have you considered this carefully, First Young Master?"
In a secluded courtyard of the Qian Residence, within Qian Yuhan's room.
Qi Xiu stood with his brush before the Jade Bodhisattva.
The Jade Bodhisattva, sealed by over a hundred "Suppress" Characters, was almost entirely petrified.
Only the hand resting on Mr. Qian's head still retained its jade-like texture.
Gazing at his father, who was clinging to his last breath, Qian Yuhan knelt and kowtowed before his aged father:
"I am incapable, Father. I was unable to treat your illness, and instead, you have endured such suffering. Rest assured, after you pass, I will do my utmost, devoting all my heart and energy to protect our Qian Family's legacy."
With his head touching the ground, Qian Yuhan's shoulders trembled slightly. His repressed sorrow turned into tears that instantly overflowed from his eyes.
Qi Xiu watched all this silently, sighing inwardly.
Just as he was about to inscribe the final "Suppress" Character to completely seal the eerie Jade Bodhisattva, he noticed Mr. Qian, who had been as still as a puppet, now had the corners of his lips turned up in an almost imperceptible smile. There was a faint sense of relief and contentment in it.
Seeing this, Qi Xiu was slightly moved. This so-called life extension by the Jade Bodhisattva… for the patient, it's more of a torment, isn't it?
The "Suppress" Character was set in place.
The "Suppress" Characters already embedded within the Jade Bodhisattva all surfaced at once.
Golden light rippled, majestic and dignified.
In that mystical moment, the hundred "Suppress" Characters interconnected, forming what looked like golden chains that firmly bound the entire Jade Bodhisattva.
This is… Staring at the golden chains formed by the "Suppress" Characters, Qi Xiu's mind vibrated unceasingly. A flash of spiritual insight felt almost within his grasp.
His brow furrowed as he pursued this insight. Qi Xiu felt that if he could only grasp it, he might comprehend another level of the "Suppress" Character's Divine Marvel.
Regrettably, though this epiphany came suddenly, it always felt just out of reach, like something separated by a thin sheet of paper. No matter how Qi Xiu concentrated, he couldn't fully grasp this understanding, and it eventually subsided.
A sense of poignant loss arose in his heart; it felt as if a great Opportunity had just slipped away. Qi Xiu rubbed his brow. Is it because my Calligraphy Realm isn't high enough? Is that why this insight is constrained, unable to break through?
Vaguely sensing the reason this insight remained elusive, Qi Xiu's eyes flickered.
His calligraphy had only recently broken through to the Second Realm. His proficiency was less than one percent.
The slow progress wasn't due to laziness or negligence. After his calligraphy broke through to the Second Realm, the growth in proficiency seemed to have entered a period of stagnation.
Practicing calligraphy as he had before still yielded proficiency, but the gains were minimal.
If he wanted to rapidly increase his calligraphy proficiency, he would need another method; at the current pace, it would take at least half a year.
Moreover, as calligraphy improves, the Innate Cloud Inscriptions obtained become almost exponentially more powerful. Consequently, their consumption also increases proportionally. A Second Realm 'Martial' Character, used once, could drain me completely. I daren't even imagine Third Realm Innate Cloud Inscriptions. Calligraphy needs practice, but other skills like martial arts must also be improved simultaneously. Becoming a versatile fighter is the safest bet in these chaotic times.
While Qi Xiu was contemplating his new training plan, Qian Yuhan quietly picked up his father's body and personally dressed it in burial clothes.
"First Young Master, when do you plan to hold the funeral for Mr. Qian?" With their business concluded, Qi Xiu stood aside, his hands clasped within his sleeves.
"This is a significant matter. I will immediately send messages to Yu Chuan and Yu Ze, asking them to return and discuss Father's affairs. You have worked hard during this time, Mr. Qi. Here is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you will accept it." A stack of silver notes was thrust into Qi Xiu's hands.
With a flick of his fingers across the notes and a slight lowering of his eyelids, Qi Xiu's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. Good heavens! Ten thousand taels! He certainly lives up to the name Qian!
"Even if you hadn't sought me out, I would have done this. You could say we've both benefited." Tucking away the silver notes, Qi Xiu turned to leave. He reached the door, then paused and half-turned back.
"You should have your illness attended to sooner rather than later. Ignoring an ailment and avoiding medical advice is not the mark of a wise man."
Hearing Qi Xiu's reminder, Qian Yuhan smiled faintly and bowed to him. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Qi. I understand."
Leaping over the wall from a corner of the Qian Residence, Qi Xiu found a concealed spot. He took a mask from his robes and affixed it to his face.
In the next second, the handsome and refined scholar vanished. In his place stood a man with sallow, rough skin and weather-beaten cheeks, clearly someone who had labored long in the fields.
The Qian Family's affairs are settled for now. Even if Qian Yuchuan and Qian Yuzhe return, it will be some time before they think of me. I'm not short of money now. I need to find a proper place to settle down.
Clutching silver notes worth ten thousand taels, Qi Xiu felt for the first time what it truly meant to be wealthy.
He arrived at a brokerage firm in the South Market. The boisterous crowd nearly filled the firm's main hall to capacity. It was louder and livelier, even more bustling than a vegetable market.
"Friend, excuse me," Qi Xiu said, stopping a man in his forties who looked like a peddler. "Could you tell me what's happening here? What is everyone doing?"
"What else? Renting houses, of course."
"Renting houses?" Qi Xiu was perplexed, looking at the hundred or more people in the room. So many people are here to rent houses?
"Don't you know? There were nine murders in the West Market yesterday, all over the district. People living in the West Market are either staying with relatives or have gone back to their villages. Those who don't want to leave and have some spare cash are all out trying to rent. Hey, hey, it's my turn, my turn!" After a brief explanation, the peddler hurriedly squeezed back into the crowd, leaving Qi Xiu frowning.
Murders…
The sun set behind the western hills, casting a rosy glow over the long street. Carrying two large bags of daily necessities, Qi Xiu arrived at his new home: an independent courtyard in the East Market. He had rented it for two taels of silver a month—four times the usual price—with three months' rent paid in advance.
The courtyard was three times larger than Qi Xiu's previous residence, enclosed by high walls. It had a serene atmosphere, and a flowerbed had been built in one corner.
Passing through the courtyard into the main hall, he saw several guest rooms and inner chambers flanking either side.
After arranging his belongings, Qi Xiu sat in a chair in the main hall, his expression calm, tinged with contemplation. After a month of peace, murders have started in the city again. The Jade Bodhisattva has been sealed, so who committed these murders? Qian Yuhan? Qian Yuzhe? Mr. Qian is dead; they no longer have a reason to act. Or is it someone else entirely?
Forget it. The authorities will handle the murders. Why should I meddle in things that don't concern me? I should just focus on my own life. After pondering for a long time without reaching any conclusion, his mind a tangled mess, Qi Xiu decided to stop thinking about it.
He was just a scholar with some minor abilities. Upholding justice and vanquishing demons—such matters were not yet his concern.
No longer dwelling on these thoughts, Qi Xiu felt much more relaxed. He hummed a tune and went to the kitchen to busy himself.
He had recently spent some time in seclusion in Lu Family Village, often helping Sister Dongmei with chores. His cooking skill had also risen to 37%. He could now prepare some simple home-cooked dishes.
After dinner, a hot foot bath, and some calligraphy practice, Qi Xiu went to bed early, enjoying the novelty of his new home.
「Night fell, the moon bright in a clear sky.」 Baoho County's lights gradually extinguished as the town sank into a deep slumber.
RUSTLE, RUSTLE, RUSTLE—
Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps could be heard.
An agile, shadowy figure moved swiftly along the rooftops, then slipped into a courtyard with a distinctive pointed roof.
The figure slipped quietly into a room. In less than half a minute, a muffled grunt was heard.
A window was flung open from the inside, and the shadowy figure leaped out with ease.
Hefting the new bundle at his waist, the figure chuckled softly, leaped onto the wall, and continued toward the next house.
After raiding house after house, the bundles at the shadowy figure's waist grew heavier. Eventually, he arrived at Qi Xiu's newly rented home.
Producing a thin wire, the figure slowly slid the door bolt open and slipped silently into the house.
The figure glanced around, entered the inner room, and approached the sleeping Qi Xiu.
Peering at Qi Xiu in the darkness, the figure seemed to shake his head, perhaps because the light was too poor to see clearly. He then took a scroll—a portrait—from his robes and lit a tinder-box.
The faint, flickering flame dispelled some of the darkness. After carefully examining the portrait in his hand, the figure nodded and turned to look at Qi Xiu on the bed.
And at that very moment, a pair of calm, cold eyes were quietly observing him from the bed.