Song of Adolescence

Chapter 363 Connected by Blood

Directorate of Astronomy.

Fei Xuan and Zitong were chasing a butterfly in the courtyard. They were children to begin with and it should be normal for them to chase butterflies. But, the butterfly they were chasing was different.

It was a paper butterfly.

At first glance, the two appeared to be chasing the butterfly, but they were competing their Great Dragon and Elephant Strength against each other. From young, their elders had often called them gifted with great talent and this was the first time they experienced what it felt like to meet someone their own age and skill level. Both felt a rush of competitiveness but also a feeling of camaraderie. After a few days, they’d already become good friends.

"Looks like this sect will prosper for at least a few hundred years." Xie Xuan sat in the pavilion, watching the scene in the courtyard, and couldn't help but sigh regretfully.

Qi Tianchen smiled and said, "Over the past few years, Daoism has flourished while Buddhism declined. After another few years, Buddhism will prosper and Daoism will weaken. Such is the passage of time."

"Well, the Daoists produced a Daoist Sword Immortal and Heavenly Revelations has you, State Preceptor, overseeing all. With Qingcheng Mountain in the country and the Directorate of Astronomy in the court, the authority is second to none. As for Buddhism, after the death of Master Wangyou, I’ve only met one monk whose talent was truly stunning." Xie Xuan frowned. "He said he was coming to Heavenly Revelations City but if he did come, his name should have spread around Heavenly Revelations City. With his temperament, he’d be creating a storm wherever he went."

Qi Tianchen's expression twitched. "Indeed, I have met the monk you’re referring to."

"And then?" Xie Xuan asked.

"He disappeared." Qi Tianchen sighed. "I noticed his presence from the moment he entered the city and tested him using the Great Dragon and Elephant Strength. He quickly discovered my probing, then disappeared completely without a trace."

Xie Xuan tapped lightly on his forehead. "Perhaps only Bai Xiao Hall would know. Wouldn’t Xiao Se know too?"

As soon as Xie Xuan spoke, a young Daoist priest walked in and announced, "State Preceptor, Yong'an Prince requests an audience."

Xie Xuan couldn't resist a chortle. "What a coincidence."

"Please bring him in," Qi Tianchen said.

Very quickly, Xiao Se walked in with Sikong Qianluo and Lei Wujie. When they saw Xie Xuan, the three of them hurriedly bowed their greetings.

Xie Xuan returned a jovial smile. "I’ve only just arrived in Heavenly Revelations a few days ago and haven’t had the chance to pay the little Prince a visit."

Xiao Se shook his head. "Senior, please don't say that. That day, Senior gifted me with an untitled book and the Circulation Array described inside saved our lives several times."

"Your latent meridians were damaged, but your internal strength was profound. In an emergency, the Circulation Array could maybe save your life, but I didn’t expect you would have to use it for real. What about you?" Xie Xuan turned his head and asked Lei Wujie, "How was the book I gave you?"

Lei Wujie blushed. "Senior, you gave me the book, "Late Snowfall" which anyone can buy for three coppers on the street…"

Xie Xuan chuckled and shook his head. "Naturally, the one I gave you is not the same. It’s an unabridged version."

"Huh?" Lei Wujie was taken aback.

"There are many indescribable plot points that cannot be written in the book, according to the law. But the one I gave you is the one and only copy. A lot of plot was added." Xie Xuan wagged his eyebrows. "They’re all very interesting."

Lei Wujie didn’t understand. "In that case, why do you have this copy, mister?"

"Who is the author of "Late Snowfall"?" Xie Xuan returned a question.

Lei Wujie thought for a moment. "Xie Feixuan, a talented lady from Jiangnan."

"And what is my name?" Xie Xuan asked again.

Lei Wujie was taken aback for a moment. "Xie… Xuan? Could it be that the author of "Late Snowfall" is…"

Xie Xuan nodded and said slowly, "It's me."

Lei Wujie’s expression turned somewhat difficult to describe, and even Xiao Se and Sikong Qianluo's expressions became a little odd.

"It’s a little… appalling," Lei Wujie said hesitantly.

Xie Xuan flicked a finger and his Book of Knowledge vibrated violently. Lei Wujie jumped in shock and almost wanted to draw his own sword in defense but realised that he couldn’t draw his Heart sword at all.

"The Heart sword is afraid of Mister Xie, yet could sense that Mister Xie had no murderous intent at all. Indeed, it’s a good sword." Qi Tianchen flicked his horsetail whisk and changed the topic. He asked Xiao Se, "What is the purpose of Your Highness’s visit today?"

Xiao Se bowed his head and replied, "Xiao Se knows that the Directorate of Astronomy only fulfills the mandate of Heaven and does not involve itself in party disputes. That is why I have avoided coming to pay my respects as I was afraid of causing others to misunderstand and bring unnecessary trouble to the Directorate of Astronomy. But, Xiao Se has encountered an incident, and has come here to request for assistance." He paused before continuing, "I have a friend who said he was coming to Heavenly Revelations, but I’ve been unable to find any news of him."

Qi Tianchen and Xie Xuan exchanged a glance and he asked, "Are you asking about a monk?"

Xiao Se frowned slightly. "State Preceptor is aware?"

"I'm becoming more and more interested in this little master, someone whom both the Confucian Sword Immortal and Yong'an Prince value so much. Indeed, he entered Heavenly Revelations City and I tried to track him, but he escaped my eyes," Qi Tianchen said. "Why not ask Bai Xiao Hall? When it comes to tracking people, they’re truly number one under Heaven."

"They lost him too." Xiao Se shook his head. "So I was very curious where he could have gone. But, yesterday, I saw him."

"Where is he?" Xie Xuan asked.

"He’s with the Red Prince Xiao Yu," Xiao Se said.

"Red Prince Xiao Yu…" Xie Xuan thought for a moment. "That's the fellow who didn’t like to study back then."

When the three princes were young, Xie Xuan served as Chancellor for a period of time, and was a teacher to all three princes. Among them, Xiao Yu was notorious for hating his studies and he was obstinate and arrogant. Back then, Xie Xuan had once given him a thorough lecture.

"Not only that, Wuxin has also lost his mind, but his martial arts has greatly increased. Even with several of us joining forces, we couldn’t defeat him," Lei Wujie added hurriedly.

"It’s a coincidence that Mister Xie is here today. Then, I have another question that Mister Xie can help me solve." Xiao Se looked at Xie Xuan. "It’s about… the Western Chu medicine men."

Xie Xuan was shocked when he heard the words. "Western Chu medicine men? Is this wicked craft still being passed on in this world? After the extinction of the Western Chu kingdom, only the Medicine King Valley would have a copy of the refining method. Xin Baicao would absolutely not use it, and Miss Bian passed away long ago. Could it be… that Ye Ya is still alive?"

"Ye Ya?" Xiao Se frowned. "If we find him, we’ll be able to find a way to counter the medicine he used?"

Xie Xuan shook his head. "Based on what you said, Wuxin was entrapped by someone and has now been refined into a medicine man. A medicine man loses his consciousness but his martial arts will increase by several times. That’s congruent with your description. However, although Ye Ya knows the craft of creating medicine men, he’s not necessarily the owner of the medicine men he refined."

"Owner?" Xiao Se asked.

Xie Xuan nodded. "The so-called medicine man must have an owner. To refine a medicine man, he requires blood as a connection. This drop of blood needs to be fresh blood from someone related. Generally, birth parents would be the most perfect, but brothers born of the same parents will also work. Without this connection, the medicine men refined using only medicine will be susceptible to backlash. Typically, they won’t live past three days."

Lei Wujie recalled the Hidden River killers from last night and said, "No wonder those people died in the end, but Wuxin gave us a very different sort of feeling from the others. There was no aura of death on him. But, whose blood could have been used to refine him into a medicine man?"

Xiao Se exhaled a deep breath. "I understand."

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