"I have not studied medicine? How should I save you? Otherwise, I can go north of the mountain to see a physician surnamed Zhu there; perhaps he has a good remedy."
The woodcutter hurriedly said, "No need, you only need to carry me to the imperial temple on the mountain to rest for one night, and wait until the craftsmen come up the mountain tomorrow, then I will be saved."
"Carry you into the temple?"
Xu Qing smiled and said, "Alright, I love helping people the most."
After saying this, Xu Qing turned around, bent down, and crouched.
Behind him, the woodcutter's simple smile completely disappeared, replaced by a fierce and sinister gleam in his eyes.
He picked up his woodcutting axe, aimed at the back of the young man's neck, and raised it high.
However, before the axe could fall, the woodcutter saw the young man's rear head change, unexpectedly growing a brand-new face!
Xu Qing grinned, and with a quick display of the Two-Faced Three-Blade Technique, he drew a long sword and pierced the woodcutter's body through effortlessly!
"You..."
The woodcutter was appalled; how could this young man have two faces?
As the long sword penetrated, the woodcutter's figure dispersed, and the second thread of Emperor's Purple Qi was also captured by Xu Qing.
"If you want to be a hunter, you must first be prepared to be prey."
Xu Qing sheathed his long sword and looked around, saying, "Dayong's fate is but four parts; now half is lost. In less than ten years, Dayong's fate will exhaust. Dare you still gamble with me?"
From the child wanting to push Xu Qing off the cliff to the woodcutter deceiving him into turning around to reveal his back, all were for stealing the Emperor's fate from him.
As long as Xu Qing slipped, and his luck was inferior to the opponent's, the Emperor's Purple Qi on him would be stolen by the opponent.
This has nothing to do with life or death; even if Xu Qing didn't die from falling off the cliff, or wasn't killed by the woodcutter's axe, he still couldn't stop the flow of the Emperor's Purple Qi.
This is a pure contest of fate, unrelated to anything else.
It's just that the fate of this grand dragon harbors selfish intentions and has tried multiple times to take his life.
Now that Xu Qing has won twice, the Dayong's Dragon Vein has likely become a frightened bird and won't be lured into the trap again.
Xu Qing didn't feel it was a pity; he had already achieved his purpose on this trip. Dayong now has at most two parts of fate left and is no longer influential.
Next, he just needs to wait for the right timing. In a few years, when Dayong falls, and the Eight Banner Marshals exhaust their luck, it will be time for him to perfect the Undying Bone and ascend to Flying Corpse.
As dusk approached, Xu Qing came alone to the imperial temple on the mountain, but did not enter the temple gates, merely standing before them, waiting for the night.
The imperial temple belonged to the Dayong's Imperial Court, and besides the Dayong's Emperor, others bearing the Emperor's fate avoid entering, and Xu Qing was no exception.
Thus, carrying three parts of Emperor's Purple Qi, Xu Qing lingered outside the temple's gates all night, no peculiar events occurring.
The next day, as dawn was approaching.
Xu Qing said somewhat helplessly, "Forget it, no matter the fate, when your time comes, you will naturally return to where you belong."
Dayong's fate is not yet exhausted, so Xu Qing cannot casually enter the Imperial City to seek trouble with the current emperor.
Perhaps he could rely on his own fortune and forcibly kill the old dragon, but the loss of fate for this would inevitably affect the development of Bao Sheng Temple and Cat Immortal Hall, making it unworthy of the cost.
Comparatively, it was more economical to follow the natural order.
Xu Qing made his way down the mountain path and unexpectedly found a village near Zhaoshi Mountain.
Under the Huanglu tree at the village entrance, an old man was playing chess.
As Xu Qing approached, the old man seemed unaware, still completely absorbed in the chess game in front of him.
On the chessboard, the black pieces the old man first played had been forced into nearly a desperate situation by the advancing white pieces.
Xu Qing glanced at the chessboard, seeing the old man ignoring people, planned to explore the village alone.
But just as Xu Qing prepared to move ignoring the old man, he suddenly spoke up:
"Stop, youngster! This place is a keeper's dwelling, generations have guarded the royal tomb, do not disturb carelessly, leave at once!"
Xu Qing halted, turned back to the tree, and smiled, "So this is the keeper's dwelling, no wonder there are so many Huanglu trees in the village."
Huanglu, the Emperor's Tree, is an essential ornamental species in royal gardens, referred to as 'Resplendent Maple and Huanglu' is about Huanglu trees.
Though the old man was thin, his presence did not lack power compared to young men, he finally raised his head.
Only now did Xu Qing clearly see the old man's appearance.
Despite the old man's cloudy eyes, they revealed a domineering amber-colored pupil, and besides the gaze, his features were a standard reflection of three courts and five eyes.
Xu Qing had only heard of the Dragon Appearance but never seen it before. Now, seeing the old man, he instinctively felt this was the Dragon Appearance.
While observing the old man, the old man was also scrutinizing the young man before him.
"Elegant conduct, jewel-like appearance, seemingly transcendent and detached, with a uniquely stately aura, yet regrettably does not resemble one of insular or solitary disposition."
The old man nodded and shook his head, pointing to the chessboard, asked Xu Qing, "Does this chess game resemble the current world's situation?"
Xu Qing glanced and nodded, "It does resemble it in some ways."
The old man picked up a chess piece, hesitated to place it, then continued, "I see sir as someone of exceptional cleverness. In your view, is there a chance of rebirth in this chess situation?"
Xu Qing, accustomed to surpassing those skilled in chess and painting, naturally inadequately skilled, he smiled, "There is. This chessboard indeed has a chance to turn around, but if black revives and white is driven to desperation, there might still be a chance for redemption."
"Yet it's a pity these pieces, fighting without end, only burdens others."
The old man seemed not to pick up on Xu Qing's subtext. He placed the black piece down, and the previously one-sided situation on the board instantly became intricate and unpredictable.