Chapter 91 - 89: Decisive Battle at Jinshan Village

Chapter 91: Chapter 89: Decisive Battle at Jinshan Village

In response to Lu Jing’an’s questions, Chen Xuan gave him a detailed analysis of the methods and principles of a Fate Cultivator.

In the afternoon study, light slanted in through the carved wooden windows.

It cast an intersecting grid of light and shadow on the gray brick floor.

Chen Xuan carefully explained everything about Fate Cultivators to Lu Jing’an.

The methods of a Fate Cultivator were indeed miraculous, bordering on the uncanny.

However, to use these techniques, a Fate Cultivator had to prepare many things in advance.

These were all precious and rare materials, some even requiring years of nurturing with Essence Blood before they could be used.

Furthermore, a Fate Cultivator couldn’t just gamble with life and alter fate from a thousand miles away out of thin air.

Their Magic had a limited range, generally not extending beyond a hundred paces.

Additionally, every time they performed their Magic, the Fate Cultivator themselves had to pay an immense price.

Whether gambling with life or changing fate, both required using the Fate Cultivator’s own lifespan as a catalyst.

The art of gambling with life, in particular, required them to wager their own life.

If they won the gamble, they would lose a little bit of their lifespan.

If they lost, they would die on the spot, their soul scattering, with absolutely no chance of survival.

"In short, the more powerful such an ability is, the heavier the price."

Chen Xuan concluded, his eyes flashing with solemnity.

"Though the restrictions are many and the price is staggering, their Magic is so uncanny and unpredictable that it’s impossible to guard against."

Lu Jing’an listened quietly, pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Master, if that Fate Cultivator insists on gambling with your life, what are his chances of winning?"

Chen Xuan had already considered this and answered almost without thinking, "Fifty-fifty."

He picked up the white porcelain teacup beside him, took a light sip, and continued:

"Although my remaining lifespan is not as long as his, my Cultivation Realm is a step above his."

"Besides, as a Martial Cultivator, my blood and qi are vigorous and full of yang energy."

"If he wants to use the art of gambling with life on me, the price he needs to pay will be even greater."

Pausing slightly, Chen Xuan added, "However, my chances of winning might be a bit greater now."

"Although I haven’t formally started my Cultivation of the ’Six Harmonies Fist’ manual you acquired, Young Master..."

"Its core principles have benefited me immensely, and my Cultivation has seen some slight progress these last few days."

Hearing this, Lu Jing’an’s eyes showed genuine joy. "In that case, I must truly congratulate you, Master."

After offering his congratulations, he steered the conversation back to the Fate Cultivator.

"Master, if that Fate Cultivator doesn’t choose you, but comes after me instead, what do you think my chances of winning are?" Lu Jing’an watched Chen Xuan, his expression serious.

Chen Xuan shook his head. "If it’s you, Young Master, the Fate Cultivator most likely won’t choose to gamble with life."

"The Li Family and Liu Family must have already discovered that you are practicing martial arts, Young Master, and have reached the Copper Skin Realm."

"You are young, your blood and qi are vigorous, and your lifespan is long."

"If that Fate Cultivator were to gamble with your life, Young Master, he would have almost no chance of winning."

Then, Chen Xuan’s tone shifted. "What they’re more likely to choose is ’changing fate’."

"Change my fate?" Lu Jing’an raised an eyebrow.

"No."

Chen Xuan waved his hand.

"To change your fate, Young Master, the price is also considerable, and the art of fate-changing cannot directly cause death."

"The most likely thing they’ll do is change the fate of the person fighting you, Young Master."

"Causing them to unleash the strongest single strike of their life at a critical moment, in order to kill you in one blow."

’Changing the opponent’s fate... what a devious yet effective method.’

"Can’t they directly change fate to make their Cultivation temporarily rise to the peak of their life?" Lu Jing’an pressed.

Chen Xuan shook his head again.

"The more you change, the greater the price."

"And once the Magic is initiated, it cannot be stopped midway."

"Besides, a person’s potential is unfathomable. They would have no way of knowing..."

"...what realm that person’s lifetime peak of Cultivation would truly reach."

"They can’t afford to take such a risk."

Chen Xuan paused briefly, then said, "But if it’s just to make them unleash their ’strongest strike,’ both the cost and risk are within controllable limits, making it the safest option."

After hearing this, Lu Jing’an slowly nodded.

’If it’s just the strongest single strike, then maybe there’s room to maneuver.’

Lu Jing’an’s thoughts stirred, and the orange entry ’Absolute Guardian’ faintly circulated in the depths of his consciousness.

’The strongest strike of a lifetime should still be within the range of what the entry can block.’

’If they directly raised someone’s Cultivation to its peak realm, he would have no counter and could only retreat.’

’But it’s only one strike.’

’After blocking it, the opponent would still just be at the Copper Skin Realm.’

’When fighting someone in the same realm, Lu Jing’an was confident of victory.’

"Master, when a Fate Cultivator uses the art of fate-changing, do they need to be present on site?"

"They must be."

Chen Xuan affirmed.

"The effects of such fate-changing are short-lived. The caster must be nearby to maintain the Magic’s operation."

"If the other party really uses this art at that time, can you pinpoint the Fate Cultivator’s location on the spot, Master?"

Lu Jing’an asked again.

Chen Xuan’s gaze sharpened. "I can."

Then, his tone shifted. "This plan is far too risky."

"You can’t predict just how powerful that ’strongest strike’ will be."

"It’s not entirely impossible that its power could surpass even my full-strength attack."

But Lu Jing’an’s expression was calm. "Master, I have my own way to block that strike."

"As long as you can use this opportunity to find that Fate Cultivator and kill him in one fell swoop, we can break this entire scheme."

Seeing Lu Jing’an’s solemn expression and knowing he wasn’t speaking recklessly, Chen Xuan felt slightly relieved, but still worried.

"Young Master, this is ultimately a desperate gamble."

"But that Crimson Gold Copper... we must have it," Lu Jing’an’s tone was resolute.

"It’s the key to dealing with the Water Monkey. We can’t afford to lose it."

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "The provincial stock is depleted, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any outside the province."

Lu Jing’an shook his head.

"My Lu Family has few connections outside the province. If we were to establish new channels to acquire it..."

"...not only would it be time-consuming and laborious, but it would also be difficult to conceal our actions."

"The Li Family and the Liu Family would never give us that time."

Lu Jing’an rose and walked to the window, gazing at the old locust tree in the courtyard as he continued:

"Right now, they may not know what I need the Crimson Gold Copper for, but if I don’t go to Jinshan Village this time..."

"...they must have other plans. Sooner or later, they’ll find a way to force my Lu Family to go and exterminate that demon."

"As for how they’ll push me, I don’t know."

"But I am certain they will create a situation where I have no choice but to go."

Turning around, Lu Jing’an’s gaze was calm. "Between two evils, this setup in Jinshan Village is actually the more controllable one."

After hearing Lu Jing’an’s analysis, Chen Xuan knew his mind was made up and didn’t try to persuade him further.

If he truly had to choose between facing the demon unprepared and walking into a prepared trap, the latter was indeed the better option.

"Master, then it’s settled."

"However, before that, I need you and Black Bear to go ahead to Jinshan Village and investigate it thoroughly."

Lu Jing’an walked back to the desk, his fingertips tapping the surface. "Black Bear will be the overt presence, while you, Master, will be covert."

"If there’s a chance to retrieve the Crimson Gold Copper secretly, that would be for the best."

Chen Xuan didn’t offer any empty promises like "I’ll do my best," but simply nodded solemnly.

Chen Xuan was not a man who made promises lightly.

But Lu Jing’an knew he would pour all his effort into this matter.

After sending Chen Xuan off, Lu Jing’an summoned Black Bear.

He gave him detailed instructions for the reconnaissance mission to Jinshan Village.

Black Bear accepted the order, packed his bags that very day, and rode out of the city, heading straight for Jinshan Village.

「Three days passed in a flash.」

At noon on the third day, a travel-worn Black Bear rushed back to report his findings to Lu Jing’an.

There were indeed some new faces in Jinshan Village, but most of the villagers were acting as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary.

When Lu Jing’an asked about the Smiling Tiger, Black Bear scratched his head and said, "That Smiling Tiger... something feels strange about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is."

’For someone with Black Bear’s powers of observation, just noticing that something is ’strange’ is already quite an accomplishment.’

Lu Jing’an didn’t ask further, just told him to go and rest.

Two more days passed, and Chen Xuan returned in secret.

The news Chen Xuan brought back was more detailed:

"There are indeed traces of the Li Family’s activities around Jinshan Village."

"But there aren’t many of them, likely because they fear alerting the enemy."

"I saw the person who wields the Crimson Gold Copper weapon, but I didn’t see the weapon itself."

"They are heavily guarded. The weapon must be hidden away and won’t be revealed unless it’s a direct confrontation."

’Just as I thought.’

After hearing this, the last trace of hesitation in Lu Jing’an’s heart vanished.

"It seems this trip to Jinshan Village is unavoidable."

Having made his decision, he would delay no longer.

That night, Lu Jing’an dispatched several dozen skilled men.

He ordered them to advance in batches and set up an ambush and support position on the outskirts of Jinshan Village.

At dawn the next day, before the sky had fully brightened.

Lu Jing’an led Chen Xuan, Black Bear, and a dozen or so overt retainers out of the city on horseback, heading straight for Jinshan Village.

The moment Lu Jing’an’s party left the city, the news spread like the wind.

Yin Mountain County seemed like a solid block of iron, but in reality, it was full of cracks.

The last purge of traitors was swift and forceful, but it was hard to eliminate everyone who would sell their lives for money in the shadows.

There would always be those willing to risk everything for gold and silver.

「Jinshan Village. A secluded courtyard on the west side.」

Inside the side room, candlelight blazed, and the window paper was completely covered by a heavy cloth curtain.

Inside the room, a secret fate-changing ritual had already been prepared.

Complex array patterns were drawn on the floor with Cinnabar mixed with animal blood.

In eight directions were placed objects like Copper Lamps, Bone Artifacts, and Talismans. The air was filled with a faint, cloying scent mixed with the smell of incense ash.

This place was a certain distance from the fighting arena set up on the village’s threshing ground.

Less than fifty paces in a straight line—well within the range of the Magic.

"Master Qin, everything is ready."

Li Mansion’s Steward, Li Rong, bowed and stepped forward, presenting a foot-long brocade box to an old man.

The old man’s hair was gray, his face covered in wrinkles.

Only his eyes held a sharp, inner light, showing no signs of cloudiness.

This was the very Fate Cultivator the Li Family had supported for many years, Master Qin.

He looked to be in his sixties, but in truth, he had just passed the age of forty.

His prematurely gray hair and weathered face were all part of the price paid for changing fate and shortening his lifespan.

Master Qin didn’t immediately take the box. Instead, he first glanced at the sky outside the window before reaching out to open it.

The box was lined with dark red satin, upon which lay a ginseng-like object, shaped like a baby and entirely crimson.

Its fibrous roots were intact, and a faint radiance seemed to flow across its surface.

"A three-hundred-year-old Blood Essence Ginseng..." Master Qin spoke in a hoarse voice, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

This item could replenish Essence Blood and extend one’s lifespan—exactly what he needed most right now.

"The Patriarch has decreed that if this matter is successful, this item will be Master Qin’s reward. If it is not..."

Li Rong paused.

"...it will still be gifted to you, Master Qin, as thanks for your years of service."

Master Qin’s dry lips tightened. He reached out a withered finger.

He gently stroked the surface of the Blood Essence Ginseng for a long time before finally closing the brocade box.

"Inform the Patriarch," his voice was low and hoarse, but each word was clear.

"After this, regardless of success or failure, I, Qin, and the Li Family... will be even."

Li Rong bowed his head. "Yes."

Master Qin said no more and turned to walk into the center of the array.

The Copper Lamps lit up one by one, their flames casting his stooped shadow on the wall, making it flicker like a phantom.

The ritual was about to begin.