Chapter 432: Qi Qiu City

He Jiaqing only recognized the man when Chu Shaoqiang took off his hat.

He would be lying if he said he was not shocked. In Puluo Province, everyone knew Chu Shaoqiang was dead. Most believed he had died while activating land, while a small number knew he had died at the hands of a Border Controller.

Almost no one knew Chu Shaoqiang was still alive, and He Jiaqing certainly had no idea. However, there was one thing He Jiaqing did know. Meeting Chu Shaoqiang here was probably no coincidence.

"Uncle Shaoqiang, did you come to Kinless Township to see me?" Chu Shaoqiang was his elder, so He Jiaqing spoke to him very politely.

Chu Shaoqiang smiled. "Let's eat first. My treat."

He ordered two bowls of noodles, two side dishes, and a pot of liquor.

The two of them ate together. After the meal, He Jiaqing asked, "Uncle Shaoqiang, isn't it time we talked about why you are really here?"

Chu Shaoqiang paid for the meal, then smiled. "Let's talk outside. The people here are neither kin nor friends to us. It wouldn't be right to drag them into this."

The two left the noodle shop. Chu Shaoqiang even gave him a warning. "Don't walk too close to the walls. There are mud pits."

With that, he glanced down at his leather shoes. The dried mud from earlier was still stuck to them.

The two talked as they walked.

Chu Shaoqiang said, "You were a very lovable child when you were little. Haiqin and I were quite close back then, and we even thought about arranging a childhood engagement between you and Huaiyuan. But I spoiled that girl too much. No matter what I said, she simply refused."

He Jiaqing smiled and said, "It's me who isn't good enough for Miss Huaiyuan."

"That's why I have always said you were such a sensible child. Even now, you still know how to be considerate of others."

They left the main street and turned into a small alley. Only then did Chu Shaoqiang get to the point. "I have heard quite a few rumors about you in Puluo Province."

He Jiaqing said, "If you mean the rumors involving Sage's Peak, then there are probably quite a few misunderstandings."

Chu Shaoqiang nodded. "I think there's been a misunderstanding too. I have had a few misunderstandings with the Sage's Peak myself lately. I am planning to take you there so we can clear everything up."

Hearing this, He Jiaqing slipped both hands into his pockets. "Uncle Shaoqiang, is that why you came to Kinless Township?"

"Not entirely. But since we have already run into each other, you might as well come with me."

"I can't go to Sage's Peak. The Sage can't stand my presence."

"Jiaqing, I want to take you to Sage's Peak, but I am not asking or negotiating with you," Chu Shaoqiang said. He looked at He Jiaqing's hand and said, "You have got your hand in your pocket. You have a pistol or something?"

He Jiaqing shook his head. "I am an obedient kid. How would I dare cause trouble in front of a senior like you?"

"I don't mind if you pull something out. I like juniors like you, and I would like to see what you are really capable of," Chu Shaoqiang said with a smile. A hunting net dropped from above and landed right over He Jiaqing.

A trace of disappointment appeared on Chu Shaoqiang's face. He Jiaqing was not as powerful as he had expected.

"Kid, don't struggle. You won't get out of that net. Fighting it will only make things harder on yourself."

He Jiaqing touched the hunting net, feeling the material. He sighed and said, "I really can't break out of this net, but you might be able to."

Chu Shaoqiang frowned. He couldn't understand what He Jiaqing meant by this. Could it be that He Jiaqing is a Mentalism Cultivator and can control me to deactivate the hunting net? But according to the Sage's Peak, he should be a Wanderlust Cultivator.

Chu Shaoqiang didn't dare let his guard down. He focused his mind and prepared himself against any Mentalism Cultivator abilities.

He Jiaqing pulled his hand out of his pocket. There was a small knife in it. He used the small knife to cut the hunting net and rapidly escaped, disappearing from Chu Shaoqiang's sight.

"Impossible. How could that knife cut through my hunting net?" Chu Shaoqiang could hardly believe it.

As the shock set in, he suddenly realized he lost something.

That knife? The knife He Jiaqing was holding is mine?

Chu Shaoqiang looked in the direction He Jiaqing had fled. He did not chase after He Jiaqing. Thievery Cultivators were good at getting away. In terms of speed or endurance, they were not on par with Wanderlust Cultivators. Still, they had a huge advantage over Artificer Cultivators.

Chu Shaoqiang did have an artifact of the Wanderlust cultivation path, but He Jiaqing had already started running for a while. Even with the artifact, it would be hard to catch up to him.

Moreover, Artificer Cultivators were heavily countered by Thievery Cultivators, and Chu Shaoqiang had no intention of taking an unnecessary risk.

"Everyone says He Jiaqing is a Literary and Martial Cultivator. According to the Sage's Peak, He Jiaqing is a Wanderlust Cultivator. I didn't expect that he would also be a Thievery Cultivator," Chu Shaoqiang muttered. He wandered through the town for a while before spotting Ma Wu by the roadside, making preparations for a construction project.

He took a glance at the plans in Ma Wu's hands and saw that he intended to build a restaurant. There were not many people in Kinless Township, and there was nothing good about the way people do things here. Could a restaurant built here really make any money?

Then again, Ma Junyang was a genius when it came to business. Perhaps he really could make something out of this.

Chu Shaoqiang studied Ma Wu's blueprints and said, "Young man, this restaurant of yours is far too extravagant. It doesn't really suit a place like this."

Ma Wu turned to look at Chu Shaoqiang. The man seemed familiar, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember where he had seen him before. However, anyone who could tell that much from the blueprints was clearly a professional, and Ma Wu had always respected people who knew what they were doing.

Ma Wu responded, "I actually think the restaurant that we are building is still a little plain. It's several levels below Qianyue Restaurant."

"Qianyue Restaurant?" Chu Shaoqiang laughed. "That's one of the best restaurants in Greenwater City. This is Kinless Township. How can the people here keep a restaurant that good running?"

"They can!" Ma Wu was very confident. "Sir, this will not be called Kinless Township anymore. It will be Qi Qiu City."

"Qi Qiu City? This place has been called Kinless Township for many years. Who changed the name?"

Ma Wu laughed. "If I told you the land deity changed it, would you believe me?"

It was Qiu Luoye who had changed the name. Li Banfeng thought it should be called Qiu Qi City as Qiu Luoye was the elder brother, and the character in the elder brother's name should come first in the new name.

However, Qiu Luoye said, "Qiu Qi City gives the meaning of seven cities. We only have one city. When we actually have seven cities, we can call it Qiu Qi City!"

And that was how the new name of the city was decided.

Ma Wu said to Chu Shaoqiang, "Big Bro, you are really someone capable. Qi Qiu City is hiring right now. If you are interested, come work with us. As long as you have the skills, I promise you will be treated well."

"Sure!" Chu Shaoqiang nodded. "I will draw up another blueprint for you, one that will make it even more respectable than Qianyue Restaurant!"

***

Xiao Zhenggong walked along the road, listening to Liu Guocai explain the ins and outs of the matter.

"Deputy Xiao, this is all a misunderstanding. I am sorry to trouble you to explain it to the higher-ups."

Xiao Zhenggong gave a cold laugh. "I came all the way here, and you are telling me it's a misunderstanding? Sage's Peak is still waiting for my reply."

"Then I will also have to trouble you to say something to the Sage as well."

"How should I tell him? Why don't you teach me?"

"Deputy Xiao, I wouldn't dare to teach you. I just plead that you tell the truth about it and I will be forever grateful."

"We will see. Do you think I will take what you say as the truth? We will decide after the investigation."

When evening came, Liu Guocai set up a banquet to host Xiao Zhenggong and his group. Liu Guocai also repeatedly expressed, "Kinless Township has nothing to offer. The ingredients and the even the chef were all sent over from Greenwater City."

Xiao Zhenggong nodded slightly, with what seemed to be a trace of approval in his expression.

To be honest, whether it was the liquor or the food, Blockhead had never eaten such a high-class meal before. He didn't dare to eat the food. Their mission this time was highly unusual. Blockhead didn't know Liu Guocai well, but he knew that Liu Guocai held a very high position, which was why he really couldn't get used to how humble Liu Guocai was behaving.

"Eat! It's rare for Border Controller Liu to host such a fancy banquet!" Xiao Zhenggong said. With that, Blockhead stopped acting courteous. He just picked up his chopsticks when a lady in dark blue qipao sat beside him and poured him a drink of liquor.

In the Outer Provinces, qipaos weren't exactly rare, but this was the first time Blockhead had seen such an exquisite qipao, one that showed every detail so clearly. Of course, the qipao was beautiful, but it was really the girl who gave it those details.

Blockhead's face turned red. Xiao Zhenggong looked at Blockhead and smiled. "Eat up. It's all good food. There aren't so many restrictions in Puluo."

***

Xiao Zhenggong stayed in Kinless Township for only two days. After that, he set off for Vilefolk Hillock.

When he reached Sage's Peak, a checkpoint had been set up on the mountain path, and no one was allowed up.

Xiao Zhenggong looked at the man guarding the checkpoint and asked in a low voice, "Do you know who I am?"

The man actually did know. He replied quietly, "Senior Brother, don't make this hard on me. I am keeping you from going up the mountain for your own good. There's a disease spreading up there, and dozens of our fellow disciples have already died."

Xiao Zhenggong was stunned. "What kind of disease?"

"A rash... with green pus. If you get it, it will spread all over your body within a day and you will die within three days. I am lucky to be here guarding the checkpoint. I don't know if the brothers up on the mountain will live to see tomorrow."

Xiao Zhenggong immediately left Sage's Peak. As a high-level Martial Cultivator, he ran the whole way at the speed of a Wanderlust Cultivator.

As he ran, his thoughts churned. No wonder the Sage has been so quiet lately. He lost a dozen disciples. The Sage's Peak has definitely suffered greatly, but who did this? Did Greenwater Beggar do this?

When did the Greenwater Beggar have a fallout with the Sage?

Xiao Zhenggong looked over at the farmers sowing and farming by the road. There were no rashes on them, which meant that this was only happening to the people on Sage's Peak.

The Greenwater Beggar spared the commoners of Vilefolk Hillock? This doesn't seem like his style, Xiao Zhenggong thought.

***

Cedric asked a farmer for a bowl of water and drank it down in one go.

It had been three days. Despite having walked for three whole days, he was still stuck here in Vilefolk Hillock.

This was an ability that the Sage used. It was a high-level Hedonism Cultivator ability: Neverending Peaks. Cedric had seen someone else use this ability before, but he didn't know how to break out of it as the victim.

As of now, he had two options.

His first option was to keep walking. He could try every way to get out of Vilefolk Hillock. On the contrary to the name of the ability, Neverending Peaks, there was an end. However, whether he could walk in the right direction depended on his luck.

If his luck was extremely good and he chose the right direction and managed to reach the edge after walking for ten days to half a month, the Sage could reactivate the ability. If that was done, he would have to start all over again with trying his luck to walk the right direction.

The second option was to spread the plague in the villages. These villagers were the Sage's resources, and the Sage needed them to survive. As long as Cedric spread the plague into the villages and caused one village after another to die out completely, he could force the Sage to let him out of Vilefolk Hillock.

However, if he did that, he would expose his location and he could then be captured alive by the Sage at any moment. And so, Cedric felt really conflicted. He had to choose one of these two paths.

Just when he was about to make a decision, a man, dressed in a white fedora and a white changsan and holding a folded fan, appeared beside him.

"You must be a foreigner? You don't know the way, do you? I will guide you."

Cedric frowned and asked, "Who are you?"

The man smiled and said, "I am your benefactor. We will be quite familiar with each other in the future. Your founding cultivator wants to work with me and he has shown quite the sincerity. I must return a gift to him."

"What do you mean by working with you? And what gift?" Cedric asked. He refused to believe the guy before his eyes.

The man urged, "Just get out of here first. This is the place that I really shouldn't come to the most."

The man was not lying to Cedric. He led Cedric for over two hours until a valley appeared at the end.

Cedric had walked this path many times, and he had never seen a valley.

"What ability did you use? Why are you able to find the way out?" Cedric asked in confusion.

The man glanced at the valley and said, "Just try that path first. I don't know for sure if it is the way out."

When they had passed the valley, a large stretch of wilderness appeared before them. Upon seeing this, Cedric said with such delight and surprise, "This is Worry-Free Flat!"

The man nodded. "Worry-Free Flat used to be the imperial capital. But it is just an Old Land now. Let's walk faster so we don't bump into any imperial descendants."

Cedric said, "You know this place well."

"Of course. The people here wanted me to come. If I didn't know the way, I wouldn't dare show up at their doorstep."

After leaving Worry-Free Flat, the man took Cedric onto the nearest train and rode all the way back to Greenwater Bay.

At Boundless Hospital, a doctor was reviewing medical records in Cedric's office.

"O Great Ancestral Cultivator, I have completed the mission," Cedric said as he bowed to the doctor.

The Greenwater Beggar took off his mask and nodded with a smile. "And I have been keeping an eye on your business here as well."

With that, the Greenwater Beggar turned to look at the man in the white long changsan: "He Jiaqing, you are a man of your word."

Cedric was secretly startled as he muttered inwardly, So this man is He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing raised his eyebrows. "And the master of Greenwater Bay will surely keep his promises too."

The Greenwater Beggar took out a half-arched iron deed from his pocket and handed it to He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing accepted the iron deed, inspected it, and after confirming it was correct, said to the Greenwater Beggar, "I never expected that you would trade something so precious for just one disciple."

The Greenwater Beggar looked at Cedric and said, "He's worth it."

He Jiaqing put away the deed and said, "I believe we will have many more opportunities to work together."

The Greenwater Beggar nodded. "As a matter of fact, there are quite a few opportunities right now. You know Chu Shaoqiang, don't you?"

Author's Note:

The extra piece of iron deed that the Greenwater Beggar gave out is from another beggar.