Heaven’s Shadow

Lao Ma fell silent as well. After a moment, he poured himself a cup of wine from the jar.

“Here, have a drink.” He gently raised the cup to his chest. Lu Chen nodded and took his cup, clinking it with Lao Ma’s.

“I think neither of us can be considered good people,” Lao Ma said with a smile. “Your hands are stained with blood, and I’ve killed people too. But what can we do? We’re on this path; there’s no turning back, is there?”

Lu Chen murmured, “Hmm,” and remained silent.

Lao Ma took another sip of wine and continued lightly, “As for whether you’re ruthless or not, it’s actually meaningless. Does being less ruthless mean others won’t kill you? The remnants of the demon cult who have been wishing to crush your bones into dust for years will let you off?”

Lu Chen laughed and said, “You’re too good at comforting people.”

Lao Ma chuckled and then looked at Lu Chen with a hint of deep meaning. “I find you a bit strange. You used to never ask such questions. Killing was just killing, without a blink. That was the real you. But since you came to Kunlun Mountain, you’ve seemed a bit off.”

He leaned his plump body forward, lowered his voice, and looked at Lu Chen with a glimmer of light in his eyes, as if half-smiling. “So, have you had a change of heart? Wanting to be a good person now?”

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly swore, “To hell with being a good person; I’m someone who specifically kills good people.” He then flipped his hand and slammed the wine cup onto Lao Ma’s head.

Lao Ma laughed loudly, ducking his head and then waving his hand with a smile. “Don’t try to hit me; I’m not a good person. We’ve both done this kind of work all our lives, so let’s not overthink it, alright?”

Lu Chen laughed heartily, then looked up at the sky. The small, square patch of blue sky above the courtyard seemed to be the entirety of his world.

His laughter grew even more joyful, and he eventually ended up coughing a bit, closing his eyes.

—

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you,” Lao Ma said casually.

Lu Chen nodded. “Hmm, what is it?”

“I’ve received some news that someone in the city seems to be secretly investigating vermilion sand recently.”

Lu Chen paused momentarily while drinking, then looked at Lao Ma, his expression calm. “Who is it?”

“Still unclear. Apparently, the person is very cautious, frequently changing disguises to avoid detection. Plus, with so many shops and visiting cultivators in Kunwu City, it’s hard to find out.”

Lu Chen frowned. “How did you find out?”

Lao Ma smiled. “People from several major shops have been questioned about these things recently. Besides asking about the quantity of vermilion sand, they also subtly inquired about the identities and origins of people buying in bulk.”

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. “Would those shops casually share this information?”

“Generally, they wouldn’t,” Lao Ma said. “But a few shopkeepers mentioned that they saw the Kunlun Sect’s token. You know, in Kunwu City, no one dares to offend the Kunlun Sect.”

Lu Chen frowned. “Kunlun Sect?”

Lao Ma said lightly, “I suspect it’s likely related to some demon cult fiend’s actions on the mountain recently, which attracted the attention of the major sects.”

Lu Chen smiled. “Can they find you here?”

Lao Ma took a sip from his wine cup. “They can’t find me.”

Lu Chen looked at him. “Are you so sure? Kunwu City is under the Kunlun Sect’s control. It’s hard to hide anything from them here.”

Lao Ma sneered. “That’s true, but I didn’t buy the vermilion sand in Kunwu City. You won’t catch me, will you?”

Lu Chen was taken aback, and then a look of realization appeared in his eyes. “You bastard, did you go to another place to buy it?”

Lao Ma sighed. “As someone who does all the dirty, hard work, I have to find ways to live a bit longer besides just cleaning up after people like you.”

Lu Chen laughed, patting Lao Ma on the shoulder. “Alright, I know you’re the best in this business. Otherwise, I wouldn’t trust my life to you.”

“Get lost!” Lao Ma scolded him unceremoniously.

—

“Can you find out who’s behind this?” Lu Chen asked Lao Ma.

—

Lao Ma frowned and said, “Is it necessary? It’s definitely people from the Kunlun Sect.”

Lu Chen said, “No matter what, I still want to know who’s secretly dealing with us. Even if it’s just for my own peace of mind. There might be a chance to meet them on Kunlun Mountain in the future.”

Lao Ma squinted, his expression a mixture of amusement and skepticism. “So, if you meet them, what are you planning to do?”

“Do what?” Lu Chen spread his hands, looking harmless and innocent.

Lao Ma clicked his tongue, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll look into it. But it won’t be quick. These matters need to be handled carefully.”

“I understand. No rush.”

—

Leaving Black Hill Pavilion and stepping out of the secluded alley, the scene immediately became bustling. The long street was lined with shops, and the cultivators coming and going were as numerous as the fish in the river. It seemed that people from all corners of the world were here.

Lu Chen walked quietly down the busy street. 

People brushed past him one by one. The noise, laughter, and commotion around him seemed to create a small distance, making it hard for them to get close. It was as if he always stood outside the hubbub, unable to truly integrate into the lively scene even though he was physically present.

He walked slowly, a sense of solitude following him like a shadow. This feeling was unpleasant; it often made one feel downcast, even for those who had grown accustomed to it.

Then, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure ahead.

For some reason, he felt a sudden desire to chat and talk to someone. Smiling, he approached and called out, “Yi Xin!”

The woman ahead was startled, turned around, and upon seeing Lu Chen, she relaxed. The worried expression on her face turned into a slight smile. “Brother Lu, it’s you!”

Lu Chen smiled and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Yi Xin replied, “I had some matters at home that required me to return. I’m on my way back to the mountain now. Brother Lu, what about you? I see you’re here in Kunwu City. Has the matter with Sister Su been resolved?”

Lu Chen said, “Yes, it’s done. Didn’t you know?”

Yi Xin sighed and said, “I’ve been so focused on my master’s situation lately that I haven’t paid attention to other things.” She briefly explained the situation on San Zhang Peak to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen nodded and said, “No wonder I haven’t seen you these past few days. But if there are signs of something unusual at your master’s place, they might come out of seclusion at any time. Why did you still come down the mountain?”

Yi Xin’s expression grew more troubled, with a hint of worry. She forced a smile and said, “Since yesterday, there’s been no sound from the cave dwelling on San Zhang Peak. I’m worried about my master, but Aunt Yan said there wouldn’t be any news for a while and advised me to take this opportunity to come down and have a look.”

Lu Chen wasn’t sure what to say, so he comforted her, “It’s alright. You don’t need to worry too much. Your Aunt Yan is far more knowledgeable than we are. Since she’s not anxious, it’s likely that nothing major has happened.”

Yi Xin nodded slightly, then said, “Brother Lu, are you planning to stay in the city? I’m still worried about my master, so I might head back to the mountain.”

Lu Chen said, “Let’s go together. I don’t have anything else to do.”

Yi Xin agreed with a gentle “Hmm,” and her expression seemed to soften a bit.

As they turned and started walking, just before they left the bustling long street, a group of several people approached. The leading young men walked with an air of arrogance, swaggering as if they didn’t care about anyone around them.

Lu Chen looked ahead, frowning slightly. Just as he was about to pull Yi Xin aside to avoid them, someone in front spotted them. There was a shout of surprise, and someone pointed at Lu Chen and cursed, leading to seven or eight people crowding around and surrounding Lu Chen and Yi Xin.

Yi Xin was stunned but soon recognized a few of the people and called out, “Su Qian, Su Wen, what are you doing?”

The group was from the Su family, led by Su Qian and Su Wen. Su Mo was not among them, possibly still recovering from the severe beating Su Qingjun had given him.

Su Qian glanced at Yi Xin with slight surprise, then snorted coldly. “So it’s you, the little girl from the Yi family.”

In Kunwu City, the Su family was far more powerful than the Yi family. Usually, Su Qian, Su Wen, and Su Mo showed little respect to Yi Xin. However, being neighboring families, there was a semblance of courtesy. Occasionally, the Su family would request tea leaves from the Yi family, so relations were kept polite.

Now, Su Qian waved his hand and ordered, “Pull her away.”

Someone quickly stepped forward to block Yi Xin, while the others grabbed Lu Chen.

Lu Chen didn’t resist. From the start, he had a faintly mocking expression on his face. He looked at Su Qian and Su Wen indifferently and then smiled, “What’s this, Young Masters Su? Looking for trouble with me?”

Su Qian approached with a mocking look, disdainfully patting Lu Chen’s face and sneering, “What, are you not satisfied?”

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a dark shadow flashing briefly in their depths.

(Continued…)

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