On the Path to the Great Dao

Golden Granny took a punch to the face from the Red Fetus Matron, crashing heavily into the Min River. The surface exploded instantly, sending waves surging over two zhang high as countless ships scrambled to evade.

Ships on the river were usually those of the Canalmasters' Guild. Their boat bosses were seasoned water manipulators who could whip up wind and waves at will—ordinary swells posed no threat to the guild's vessels.

The impact into the Min River created a tremendous commotion, but Golden Granny's massive frame was simply too enormous.

They tried to quell the surges, yet despite numerous boat bosses hurriedly activating their water talismans, their ships were still flung high by the waves. The massive swells carried the vessels straight toward the shores.

"Quick, deploy the Stabilizing Water Talismans!"

Someone shouted at the top of his lungs.

The boat bosses tossed Stabilizing Water Talismans into the water one after another, but they watched as the two-zhang-high waves swept up a fleet of ships, barreling toward the bank. Just as it seemed they would smash into the streets along both shores, the waves suddenly calmed, leaving no trace of ripples.

Over ten li up- and downstream along the Min River, the water lay flat as a mirror.

Golden Granny and the petite Red Fetus Matron battled fiercely on the river surface, turning the sky dark and earth dim. Yet only where they landed did the water churn violently; everywhere else remained perfectly still, without a single ripple.

The Canalmasters' Guild's prowess was truly awe-inspiring. Cao Yunsen of the Canalmasters' Guild also received the news. He hurried out of the guild hall and stood by the riverbank, peering out. He saw two colossal beasts locked in combat mid-river. Without the guild's boat bosses holding the waters steady, plenty of riverside folk would have drowned.

If the floods overran Gongzhou City and drowned countless civilians, both Crimson Embryo Mountain and the Golden Granny Gang would be lined up for the chop. Then those two bastards, Yu Jinguo and Wu Daozheng, could reunite as brothers inside the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Cao Yunsen's eyes flickered. He was about to secretly relay an order for his boat bosses to stop controlling the river when he spotted a lone pleasure barge still afloat on the surface.

A father and his daughter stood on the barge's deck, having halted to watch the spectacle.

Cao Yunsen's heart skipped a beat, and he abandoned the notion.

"This father-daughter pair... what exactly is their background?"

As he pondered, the river surface erupted again. The boat bosses' Stabilizing Water Talismans could barely contain it, the shock sending their blood and qi roiling.

The figure who smashed into the river, nearly shattering the cluster of water-stabilizing talismans, was none other than Wu Daozheng.

The Golden Granny Gang's mountain lord, Wu Daozheng, had been struck down by Yu Jinguo. He slammed into the river, his body bouncing back up before crashing down again, then rebounding and falling once more in a tumbling roll. Fresh blood streamed from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

He had just struggled to his feet, his body unable to halt as his feet skidded forward across the river surface, when Yu Jinguo came slashing diagonally from above. Condensing qi into a sword, he thrust with gathered fingers. A shadowy apparition vaguely materialized before him—a black silhouette with moonlight ringing it like a wheel—likewise thrusting its fingers in a sword strike toward Wu!

This sword strike brimmed with majestic force, yet it carried an eerie evil qi. Before it even struck Wu Daozheng, he felt the evil qi invade his body, corroding his cultivation and assailing his dao heart.

Wu Daozheng surged his true qi, mobilizing his primal soul to activate the Skull Primal Yang Inquiry Hammer in his grasp. Instantly, countless skulls coalesced into a massive shield blocking his front.

The sword qi pierced the skull shield, erupting in power as countless skulls shattered.

The strike landed on the Primal Yang Inquiry Hammer, and Wu Daozheng spewed blood from his mouth, sent tumbling backward through the air!

Cao Yunsen watched with gleeful delight, thinking to himself: *If these two idiots wound each other badly enough, I can scoop up two bargains and take them both out. But if that father-daughter pair finishes me off afterward, I won't get the pickings—the old fart from the Saltmasters' Guild will snag all three instead.*

With his own injuries unhealed, Wu Daozheng didn't dare act rashly.

At that moment, along both riverbanks, Crimson Embryo Mountain's talisman masters and instructors were chasing down the Golden Granny Gang's members amid cries of slaughter.

These talisman masters were veterans of slaying evils and spirits, every one a battle-hardened expert. The Golden Granny Gang's cultivators specialized in ambushes and rarely clashed head-on. This encounter was a total rout—they were routed in disarray, helmets and armor discarded.

The Golden Granny Gang's cultivators outnumbered those of Crimson Embryo Mountain several times over, and they had come seeking vengeance with ferocious momentum. Yet they crumbled at the first clash.

Cao Yunsen saw this and felt his heart lurch: *Crimson Embryo Mountain's people are few, but they can really fight! Can't underestimate them!*

Even Crimson Embryo Mountain's stone lions sprang to life, pouncing and tearing into Golden Granny Gang cultivators, taking down quite a few.

Crane cries echoed from the sky as immortal cranes repeatedly swooped down—they were Crimson Embryo Mountain's crane spirit offspring, targeting one of the Golden Granny Gang's evil profounds and forcing him into constant retreat.

Amid the spectacle, Cao Yunsen suddenly spotted a wooden cart speeding along the shore. A pale-faced youth sat atop it, a tiny shrine in his brow constantly spewing sword qi to reap lives.

A black dog trailed the cart on foot, rearing up on its hind legs and sprinting madly to keep pace.

The dog glanced toward Cao Yunsen, who abruptly felt dazed and averted his gaze.

The two factions fought on in a world-shaking melee. Seeing Yu Jinguo pounce, Wu Daozheng's heart filled with dread. All thoughts of avenging Child-Harvesting Peak vanished from his mind: *Why haven't the bigwigs come to save me yet?*

Ignoring everyone else, he fought and retreated toward the House of Xia.

The Golden Granny Gang stuffed the House of Xia with silver every year, which was how they ran rampant in Gongzhou unchecked. Otherwise, under Ming law, they would have been wiped out long ago.

Wu Daozheng knew he was no match for Yu Jinguo, so he fled to the House of Xia.

Just then, a voice rang out: "Yu Jinguo, Wu Daozheng—stand down!"

Outside the House of Xia, a young man rose into the air, hovering as he declared loudly:

"By order of General Xia, I command you to cease fighting and restrain your followers. Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

At these words, Yu Jinguo and Wu Daozheng immediately halted. The Red Fetus Matron was still pummeling Golden Granny, but Yu Jinguo hurriedly sent a sound transmission ordering her to stop.

Only then did the Red Fetus Matron reluctantly release Golden Granny.

"All Crimson Embryo Mountain disciples, hear my order: stand down!"

Yu Jinguo shouted, then quietly transmitted to the Red Fetus Matron: "Matron, go see Lord Cen and Lord Ma at once. Have them come immediately."

Understanding, the Red Fetus Matron transformed into a gust of阴 wind and departed.

Wu Daozheng also ordered his Golden Granny Gang members to stand down.

The fighting stopped. Wu Daozheng breathed a sigh of relief, only to see his followers all wounded, some slain outright—two or three in ten dead. He inwardly ached at the loss.

The young man from the House of Xia stood firm in midair, his gaze sweeping the riverbanks before settling on the two mountain lords.

"Both of you are major figures in Gongzhou City, yet you engage in private brawls, violating Ming law. Do you know your crimes?"

Wu Daozheng recognized the young man from the House of Xia and hurriedly said: "Young Master Luoying, Crimson Embryo Mountain's Chen Shi slaughtered seventy-four of my Golden Granny Gang brothers and even crippled our incense master. This is the utmost humiliation—an enmity that pierces the heavens! Yu Jinguo indulges his subordinates' chaos. I came to reason with him, yet he led his Crimson Embryo Mountain rebels to slaughter my brothers! Please, young master, stand up for the Golden Granny Gang!"

The young man from the House of Xia was named Xia Luoying, the eldest son of Gongzhou's House of Xia—shrewd and capable.

General Xia promoted talent without favoritism, elevating Xia Luoying to deputy general. Father and son together commanded Gongzhou's military power.

Xia Luoying hovered motionless in the air, demonstrating profound cultivation. His face darkened as he said: "Yu Jinguo, what do you have to say? Speak your piece—this official will not show bias or heed only one side."

Yu Jinguo bowed and said: "My lord, the Golden Granny Gang traffics in people, abducts children to refine them into child-harvesting dolls..."

Xia Luoying cut him off: "Do you have proof?"

Yu Jinguo paused slightly. Hadn't the Child-Harvesting Peak already been inspected by the patrol inspector and the county yamen runners? Wasn't that proof?

Xia Luoying said flatly: "The yamen reports seventy-four corpses in Child-Harvesting Peak—all gang members, slain by your Crimson Embryo Mountain instructor Chen. No child-harvesting dolls were found."

Yu Jinguo sighed and fell silent.

Xia Luoying continued: "Crimson Embryo Mountain massacred so many from the Golden Granny Gang and openly pursued their mountain lord. That is going too far, you rebels."

Suddenly, a shrill laugh rang out: "Deputy General, you overstate the case! Everyone from the Golden Granny Gang clearly died at the hands of Chen Shi, Scholar Chen. Even their mountain lord was wounded by Scholar Chen—what does it have to do with Crimson Embryo Mountain?"

Hearing the voice, Xia Luoying felt a chill. He traced it to a pale, beardless man in a gauze hat and red robe with a horse-face skirt, smiling as he strode over briskly.

The guarding eunuch, Cen Xuefu! This old codger had come to back Yu Jinguo!

So thought Xia Luoying.

The Red Fetus Matron arrived at Yu Jinguo's side and whispered: "Lord Ma refused to come. Only Lord Cen heard and rushed over."

Yu Jinguo breathed easier and murmured: "Lord Ma took so much of my money, yet he's not worth a damn eunuch."

The guarding eunuch Cen Xuefu and Inspector Ma Weigong were both Crimson Embryo Mountain's backers.

The guarding eunuch oversaw the general, controlled a portion of the military, and handled security across Gong Province—evils fell under his jurisdiction too.

The Inspectorate managed criminal cases in Gongzhou and pursued evils.

Any evils appearing in Gong Province were handed to Crimson Embryo Mountain for disposal, with the Inspectorate footing the bill.

Yu Jinguo knew how to butter people up, gifting hefty sums of silver to Ma Weigong and Cen Xuefu each year. That was why, upon hearing of Crimson Embryo Mountain's trouble, Eunuch Cen had rushed over first.

Eunuch Cen laughed: "All the misdeeds were the work of that lone Scholar Chen, Nephew Luoying. Don't you agree?"

Xia Luoying had yet to respond when a hearty laugh sounded. General Xia Chuli emerged from the House of Xia, chuckling: "Lord Cen is right. Everything was Scholar Chen's doing alone, unrelated to Crimson Embryo Mountain. Mountain Lord Wu simply fell for bandit lies, leading to all those Golden Granny Gang deaths. He ought to compensate them."

Eunuch Cen smiled: "Jincheng, hand over that Scholar Chen, pay the Golden Granny Gang some silver, and host a banquet to apologize to Mountain Lord Wu. Then this matter is settled."

With one sentence from these two powerhouses, Crimson Embryo Mountain's involvement was cleanly absolved.

All eyes turned to Yu Jinguo. Instructor Lu and Instructor Xiao's gazes fixed on Chen Shi in the wooden cart, winking furiously for him to slip away quick.

Yu Jinguo remained unruffled and bowed: "In reply to the lords, Crimson Embryo Mountain has no one named Scholar Chen."

Eunuch Cen frowned faintly. He had given Yu Jinguo a way out—why not take it? Claiming no such person now only embarrassed him and General Xia.

Xia Luoying sneered: "Your Crimson Embryo Mountain's Scholar Chen is your newly promoted instructor, named Chen... Chen... Chen..."

His face twisted in confusion. Chen Shi's name reached his lips, then slipped away.

Blackie Pot beside Chen Shi stared at Xia Luoying with幽 deep eyes.

Cold sweat beaded on Xia Luoying's forehead. He couldn't recall the name at all—finally, even Chen Shi's surname escaped him.

General Xia's gaze swept the crowd like lightning, sneering: "Mere parlor tricks—how dare you flaunt them!"

His eyes passed over the black dog beside Chen Shi. Seeing it rear up and stare back, he abruptly felt dazed.

General Xia shook his head, still hazy.

In the fog, the name on the tip of his tongue vanished utterly clean.

Chen Shi's name was clearly so familiar, yet he couldn't utter it—to his lips and gone.

He had never encountered anything so bizarre!

Eunuch Cen startled inwardly. Following the general's gaze to Chen Shi's cart, his eyes landed on the black dog, and suddenly Chen Shi's name slipped from his mind.

General Xia's forehead also broke out in sweat. He suddenly shouted: "Wu Daozheng, what was the name of the one who uprooted your Incense Mountain?"

Wu Daozheng bore a blood-deep feud with Chen Shi over Incense Mountain. He immediately replied: "That man's name is..."

Confusion crossed his face. He furrowed his brow, racking his brains, but Chen Shi's name wouldn't come.

"I know his name!"

Golden Granny's enormous head floated up as she bellowed: "This brat killed my Golden Granny Gang disciples and ruined my incense offerings—I could never forget! He's called..."

Her hag eyes bulged round, suddenly revealing a glint of terror and unease.

Golden Granny Gang members chimed in: "I remember that man's name. He's called... he's called..." "Called... what was it?" "Strange! I clearly remember his name!"

Chaos reigned throughout the Golden Granny Gang.

Terror deepened in Golden Granny's eyes. She suddenly shrieked: "Evil! There's evil here!"

She herself was an evil, yet she fled in abject terror, screaming of evil as she whistled away!

General Xia, Xia Luoying, and the others showed fear on their faces too, steadying their minds as they quietly backed away.

Wu Daozheng closely trailed Golden Granny, vanishing in a whoosh!

Eunuch Cen composed himself and whispered to Yu Jinguo: "Jincheng, this evil is no trifle—even I was affected. Be cautious! I'm off. Send word if trouble brews!"

Yu Jinguo bowed: "Farewell, my lord."

Eunuch Cen waved dismissively, then shuddered and strode away briskly.

Instructor Lu came to Chen Shi's cart and whispered: "Instructor, what was your name again? I seem to have suddenly forgotten it."

Before he finished, the black dog beside the cart swayed, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, fainting dead away.

Seeing this, Chen Shi cried out in alarm. He scrambled from the cart, struggling to lift the dog and place it inside.

He felt the dog's chest—its heart still beat. Only then did he exhale in relief.

Yu Jinguo came to his side: "Come with me! Wait—what's your name again?"

The Red Fetus Matron crowded in front of Chen Shi, peering curiously: "What's your name? You still owe me three jin!"

Chen Shi was stunned. Everyone present—even Yu Jinguo and the Red Fetus Matron—seemed to have had all memory of his name wiped utterly clean!

Where had Grandpa picked up Blackie Pot?

A thought bubbled up in Chen Shi's mind: *If I fatten up Blackie Pot and take him out for breeding... I'll strike it rich!*