Chapter 119: Jade Hands Pluck Pearls to Challenge the Heavens

The next morning, at the gate of the Yang City Lord’s Mansion, Feng Wuliang was listlessly clutching Master Gong’s collar, rambling on incessantly. Meanwhile, Jiang Pingchuan watched as Beauty Fu, looking radiant and refreshed, stood to the side holding Feng Xiaoge’s hand.

Having been tirelessly "tilled" by Feng Wuliang all night, Beauty Fu appeared even more enchanting. Jiang Pingchuan groomed the mane of his Cloud-Listening Horse, thinking the creature was even more miraculous than himself. The last time they had rushed through the night to reach East Continent City, the horse had been wounded, yet now it was once again full of vigor. He did not know where the horse went whenever it wandered off, but it always arrived just in time whenever he needed it.

"Pingchuan, be careful on your journey. My scouts report that the Barbarian King’s bounty for your head has spread across the entire Changfeng Continent. I fear many are plotting against you—stay vigilant," Jun Moyan said earnestly, looking at Jiang Pingchuan, who responded with a smile.

"Will you ever draw your sword against me one day?" Jiang Pingchuan stopped grooming the horse and looked into Jun Moyan’s deep eyes. Jun Moyan wore a look of displeasure for a moment, but then burst into loud laughter.

"I will," Jun Moyan replied, his laughter suddenly cutting off as he leaned in close to Jiang Pingchuan’s face, his expression grave. After saying this, he reached out to touch Jiang Pingchuan’s neck. The two exchanged a smile, and Jun Moyan patted Jiang Pingchuan on the shoulder, saying nothing more.

Wan Tang, standing behind Jun Moyan, watched the two without understanding their exchange. To Jiang Pingchuan, Jun Moyan was not a dull man, so why could he not see the oddity in Wan Tang? Perhaps Jun Moyan had his own plans. Jiang Pingchuan had never mentioned Wan Tang to him; often, he felt that Jun Moyan was still guarding against him—a feeling he hoped was merely a misunderstanding.

"Young Hero Jiang, you will be able to eat more authentic breakfast once you reach the Royal Capital," Su Tianji said, shaking his golden abacus in front of Jiang Pingchuan. Jiang Pingchuan remembered the breakfast he had eaten at the Wan Palace Pavilion that morning; the taste was unforgettable, magical, and rare.

"Heh, I really didn't recognize Boss Wan as a master at first," Jiang Pingchuan remarked. It was only after Boss Wan appeared as Su Tianji that he learned that decades ago, Su Tianji, the Palace Master, Feng Wuliang, and Su Qianyun were known as the Four Sons of Changfeng. These four had traveled far and wide, earning a reputation for formidable strength. The Boss Wan before him was none other than the legendary Su Tianji, known for the saying: "With a golden-jade abacus and exquisite eyes, his jade hands dare to calculate the heavens."

"Travel carefully," Su Tianji said in a low voice. He knew that many were now targeting Jiang Pingchuan, and they could not stay by his side forever. East Continent City had already crumbled, and Yang City was now the first line of defense against the Royal Capital. The border along the eight-hundred-mile Black Water River was likely the most perilous front, and with the Barbarian King’s bounty, Jiang Pingchuan would not be safe anywhere within the defensive lines.

"I hear Su Tianji can calculate the heavens. Why not cast a hex for me?" Jiang Pingchuan smiled slightly. He understood the current situation better than anyone. Su Tianji nodded, and the others, hearing that he was about to divine the secrets of heaven for Jiang Pingchuan, gathered around. Since Su Tianji had adopted the persona of Boss Wan and lived in seclusion, no such phenomena had occurred. They were curious to see him in action again after so many years.

Su Tianji channeled his inner energy, his eyes turning crystal clear like shimmering glass beads. One hand glowed with a faint, ghostly green light. With his other hand, he manipulated the beads on his golden abacus. The clicking of the beads was constant, and soon, sweat covered his forehead. Yet, the beads would not settle into a stable position. Just as the onlookers grew confused, blood trickled from the corner of Su Tianji’s mouth, and the light in his eyes faded.

The energy in his hands dissipated, and Su Tianji retracted his abacus. He looked at Jiang Pingchuan with a bewildered expression and shook his head.

"Did you forget how to do it after all these years?" Master Gong asked, looking at the disheveled and exhausted Su Tianji. Jiang Pingchuan could see that Su Tianji had given his all. The lack of any celestial phenomena left everyone puzzled, but Su Tianji ignored Master Gong’s accusatory tone.

"Young Hero Jiang’s origins are mysterious. I have spent my life calculating all things, yet I cannot see his fate. Perhaps even the heavens do not know his destiny," Su Tianji sighed, looking up at the sky with a bitter smile. The others were even more baffled, especially Jun Moyan, who looked shocked that Jiang Pingchuan was so enigmatic that even Su Tianji could not divine his fate.

"Give it a rest. I know you’re good, but if you can’t calculate it, just admit you’re failing, don't try to hoodwink us," Master Gong sneered, waving his hand to dismiss the nonsense.

"Old Man Gong, it is not that I cannot calculate—I can calculate the heavens, but I cannot calculate Young Hero Jiang. If you don't believe me, then so be it: I fear Young Hero Jiang’s origins lie beyond this heaven," Su Tianji said coldly. At these words, the way the others looked at Jiang Pingchuan changed. Master Gong felt a jolt in his heart and offered an awkward smile.

Jiang Pingchuan, however, felt a sense of confusion. When Su Tianji mentioned that he might be from "beyond the heaven," he felt as if he had forgotten many things. The lost memories seemed to play out before him, and though he felt familiar with the sensations, he could not find their source.

"Though this hex yielded no result, I thank you, Boss Wan," Jiang Pingchuan said, cupping his hands. He knew that Su Tianji had risked a severe backlash to attempt this divination; had he forced it further, he might have been reduced to dust.

"Enough talk, we must be off," Master Gong said, patting Jiang Pingchuan’s shoulder to signal him to mount. He whispered something to Gong Luoying, who nodded earnestly.

"Big Brother, you will come back to see us, won't you?" Feng Xiaoge and Feng Li asked, looking at Jiang Pingchuan with sadness. Jiang Pingchuan patted Feng Li’s shoulder; he had heard of Feng Li’s bravery during the battle for Yang City and knew him to be a fierce warrior.

"I will," Jiang Pingchuan promised, squatting down to cup Feng Xiaoge’s face. Feng Xiaoge nodded, pressed his forehead against Jiang’s, and pulled a grasshopper from his pocket. It was more lifelike than any he had made before. Jiang Pingchuan accepted it, knowing it was Feng Xiaoge’s most treasured possession.

"All of you, hold the line. Once I reach the Royal Capital, I will surely return to fight alongside you," Jiang Pingchuan said, rising and bowing to the group. Master Gong wiped the tears from Gong Luoying’s eyes, walked over to Su Qianyun and punched him in the chest, then did the same to Feng Wuliang and Su Tianji before mounting his horse. Jiang Pingchuan mounted the Cloud-Listening Horse, and the two galloped away. As they vanished from the city gate, Su Tianji groaned, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and collapsed into Su Qianyun’s arms, his eyes glazing over.

"I saw it... I saw it... I saw him slaying gods and demons..." Before he could finish, Su Tianji lost consciousness. The group rushed him inside. Jun Moyan looked in the direction where Jiang Pingchuan had disappeared, his expression somber, wondering what their next meeting would hold.

Jiang Pingchuan and Master Gong rode leisurely. Master Gong sat cross-legged on his horse, his eyes scanning the surroundings with constant vigilance. Ever since they left the city, he had not blinked, his large, bell-like eyes darting everywhere. Seeing this, Jiang Pingchuan felt a bit embarrassed; Master Gong knew he was currently a commoner and was determined to act as his bodyguard to protect him from the slightest harm.

"Old man, aren't you tired of being so serious?" Jiang Pingchuan teased. Master Gong looked at him with disdain but continued his duties.

"It’s all because of you! If you hadn't been struck by the Thousand-Seal Blade, we could walk through here with our heads held high and no one would dare touch us," Master Gong grumbled. It was true; if Jiang Pingchuan were at his peak, they would fear no one. Master Gong had witnessed the ferocity of Jiang Pingchuan in his prime—even half a realm below his opponent, Jiang could crush them like a chick. Now, the difference in strength was like heaven and earth; Master Gong figured it would be easier for their enemies to kill Jiang than to kill a chick.

"It is what it is. Old man, they all have their titles—what is yours?" Jiang Pingchuan asked, not wanting to dwell on his lost strength. Only he knew the Thousand-Seal Blade had little to do with it. Once the ninth Dao-Crystal in his body appeared, he would break through the constraints of the Changfeng Continent and touch the level of the one who controlled this world—the only way he could ever leave.

"Heh, you still have the mind to ask that? Those others' titles aren't as imposing as mine. Back in the day, they said, 'Gong’s Nine Beads suppress ten thousand paths; he who holds the beads possesses the deathless body'—that was me!" Master Gong said proudly. Jiang Pingchuan pondered this. He understood the first half—Master Gong’s prayer beads were indeed nine in number—but the mention of the beads and the deathless body intrigued him.

"Old man, are you truly deathless?" Jiang Pingchuan asked. Master Gong shook his head with a chuckle.

"If only I were. But as long as I am separated from those beads, I am unkillable. Understand now?" Master Gong revealed his secret. Jiang Pingchuan finally understood why he had only found the beads in the ruins of East Continent City and not the man himself. The old fellow had thrown the beads away to save his own life, making himself unkillable. It was truly incredible that he had pinned his life to a string of prayer beads.