From the shadows emerged a monk, his silhouette solemn. Sweat dripped down Xu San's forehead, but he forced himself to remain composed.
"The Twelve Emotions-Fatigue Formation... So, Master Yongjue (Perpetual Awareness) Gao Ning have come as well. I suppose the rest of Quan Xing's Four Madmen are close behind?" Xu San sneered. "And what of the Six Fiends and the Three Corpses, come on out! Today, your granddaddy Xu is putting an end to the Quan Xing!"
Xia He, known as the Bone Scraper, curled her lip in disdain at his outburst.
"Big words, Xu San," she mocked. "I'd love to see how you plan to wipe us out today. Gao Ning, pick up the pace, will you? Looks like we're getting two for the price of one."
Gao Ning, the ever-serene monk, simply smiled faintly at Xu San's defiant words.
"Xu San, there's no need to probe for information. Since you're caught within my 'Twelve Emotions-Fatigue Formation', your emotions are laid bare before me."
Turning toward Xia He, Gao Ning added:
"Don't be fooled, Xia He. Xu San isn't as furious or reckless as he appears. He was caught off guard at first and succumbed to the spell, but he's quickly reined in his mind since becoming aware of it."
"I'll admit it, he's a formidable opponent. As a naturally gifted wizard whose telepathic talents have awakened, Xu San's mental fortitude is impressive."
Xia He scoffed. "So what? Even if he's resisting your 'Twelve Emotions', the two of us together can still bring him down."
Gao Ning shook his head slowly.
"He's not resisting, he's barely holding on. His innate psychic strength gives him some delay, but only that. Time, however, is precisely what we don't have. He's right about one thing, this is Beijing. If we don't move now, we might never get out."
"Xia He, take Wentworth and leave. I'll buy you time. We'll regroup outside the city. Go!"
Before Xia He could respond, Xu San interrupted, roaring, "No one's leaving! You think you can come and go as you please? You Quan Xing bastards think I'm a joke?"
As he spoke, the pebbles scattered around him began to rise slowly into the air, floating ominously.
"Amitabha…" murmured Gao Ning as he clasped his hands in a prayer. Inside the Twelve Emotions-Fatigue Formation, Xu San's expression shifted once again, and he grumbled aloud:
"That idiot Xu Si! Got lured away so easily, he's got no brain whatsoever!"
"And the company, why does he get to tag along with the foreigner, living it up while I'm out here eating instant noodles in the dark every night?"
"More pay! I want a raise! If they don't give it to me when I get back, I'm quitting!"
His sudden shift from fury to grievance drew side-eyes even from Wentworth, who until now had paid attention only to Xia He. Xia He shot a glance at Gao Ning, clearly displeased.
"Gao Ning, can't you tweak another meridian or something? He started out angry, now he's whining. What about fear, can't you give me fear?"
Gao Ning frowned. "The 'Twelve Emotions' can indeed agitate twelve key meridians to elicit corresponding emotions. But I can't just choose any meridian I like, it only works if the emotion is already dormant within him. These two, rage and grievance, are part of his nature. That's why they're so easily provoked."
Xia He rolled her eyes and stretched lazily. Turning to Wentworth, she smiled playfully.
"Little brother, let's go. You did great today. When we get back, I'll make sure you're properly rewarded. Let the two angry men play among themselves."
Wentworth nodded eagerly. "Sure, sure! I'll do whatever you say, big sis!"
Satisfied, Xia He turned to leave, but then froze mid-step. Gao Ning noticed her hesitation and asked, while still maintaining the formation of the Trials:
"What's wrong, Xia He? What happened?"
Xia He didn't respond. She remained rooted to the spot.
Gao Ning tensed and looked behind them.
There, standing silently, was a man in traditional Taoist robes, eyes nearly closed in a perpetual squint, smiling faintly at them all—no, at Wentworth, specifically.
Xia He and Gao Ning exchanged glances, both visibly shaken. Neither of them had sensed the man's approach. If he had attacked from behind just now, they would've fallen instantly.
After a long silence, Xia He swallowed hard and asked cautiously:
"May I ask your name, Master? And where you come from?"
The man gave a polite bow. "This humble one is Zhao Huanjin, from Tianshi Temple of Mount Longhu."
The mere mention of it sent a jolt through both Xia He and Gao Ning.
"Mount Longhu?!"
"Tianshi Temple?!"
Inside the formation, Xu San saw his chance. With Gao Ning momentarily distracted, his control of the spell weakened. Xu San straightened up and shouted, "Master Zhao! I'm with the Company! These two are members of the Quan Xing, Xia He, the Bone Scraper, and Gao Ning, the Thunder Smoke Cannon! Please, help me… Well? Help me!"
Gao Ning quickly recovered and resumed control of the spell, but his attention, and most of his energy, was still fixed on Zhao Huanjin.
Yet Zhao remained unmoved by Xu San's plea, or by the reactions of Xia He and Gao Ning. His focus stayed squarely on Wentworth. Bowing again, he addressed the boy:
"By order of my master, I have come to invite you to the mountain."
Wentworth blinked. "Who's your master?"
Zhao answered with serene calm:
"My master is the Sixty-Fifth Celestial Master of Tianshi Temple on Mount Longhu, Daoist name: Tiantong (Heaven Connection)."
The moment he spoke, Xia He and Gao Ning's eyes widened in shock.
"Zhang Zhiwei?!"
"A Supreme?!"
They exchanged another look, and then, as if in perfect synchrony, stepped back several paces, instinctively distancing themselves from Zhao.
But Wentworth merely waved a dismissive hand.
"Never heard of him. Don't care. Big sis, let's go—eh? Sis? Where are you going?!"
Xia He laughed awkwardly, glancing nervously at Zhao.
"Wentworth… maybe you should go with the good master after all."
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This fanfic has been fully translated!