The Path Toward Heaven

Jing Jiu sensed he might have said something inappropriate, asking, “What is wrong?”

“First time?” asked the doctor.

“Yes, I have never done this before,” Jing Jiu answered.

The doctor thought to himself. Perhaps this kid heard about the Curtain Rollers from his parents and then came here. However, the code “is the begonia flower is still the same” he used earlier was an old code; those who still used this code were from the major Cultivation sects with long heritage or prestigious families, ones whom the Curtain Rollers didn’t want to offend.

The doctor sighed, “Nobody would ask such a question, since this question is too broad and reaches a Cultivation level that is way too high.”

Jing Jiu asked, “How high?”

“The Peak Master of Xilai, Fang Jingtian, is an important figure at the Green Mountain Sect, in the upper state of Broken Sea; he is one step away from becoming a figure in the State of Heavenly Arrival. You tell me how high the level is.”

The doctor said helplessly, “Not to mention Immortal Taiping, who had the highest level ever.”

“I heard you people know everything,” said Jing Jiu.

The doctor said in a serious stone, “But I don’t have the qualification to know these matters; and even if I knew them, you couldn’t afford the price.”

Jing Jiu asked, “How much?”

The doctor thought to himself, “Do you think this is the same as buying foods?”

“Very much so.”

Seeing the iron sword wrapped in cloth behind his back and hands, the doctor said, “At the very least, you haven’t brought enough today.”

As Jing Jiu reached his hands out, two cases suddenly appeared on the ground, full of gold leaves.

The golden glint filled the entire room.

The doctor was a bit startled. “It’s still not enough,” he said, “But if you’re willing…to give up this magic space relic, maybe we can negotiate.”

Jing Jiu shook his head, “No, I need it to contain stuff.”

“Then I’m sorry. But…you can use information as exchange,” the doctor said.

After some thought, Jing Jiu said, “The fake manor cave of Immortal Jing Yang was opened last night, something had happened there.”

“I knew Young Zen Master was there with his Lotus Throne,” the doctor said.

Jing Jiu said, “Fang Jingtian was there as well.”

The room fell silent.

After a moment of silence, the doctor picked up a brush pen and wrote down a few lines on a piece of paper.

Those words looked ordinary, but to every one of them was added a few more strokes, so nobody could understand them.

“This news is indeed valuable.”

After lifting his head to look at Jing Jiu, the doctor continued, “But it’s far from enough.”

Jing Jiu didn’t take notice of the remark. “It’s too apparent to have the contact place for the Curtain Rollers here. Aren’t you afraid someone might take revenge on you?” he asked.

The doctor said, “These channels in the outside world can be cut off at any time. Death means nothing to us, the ordinary caretakers.”

“But you’re not an ordinary caretaker.”

Jing Jiu said, “You’ve determined the news about Fang Jingtian is valuable before you make contacts with the outside, which means you know all the firsthand information of the Curtain Rollers.”

Putting down the pen, the doctor looked at Jing Jiu with narrowed eyes.

The young man walking in the medical house with a conical hat displayed his inexperience and lack of common sense, but somehow, unexpectedly, he had a sharp sense of observation.

“Who are you actually, and what do you want?”

“I need to find out your position in the Curtain Rollers before we can talk seriously.”

After a moment of silence, the doctor reached out his hand and pushed the golden cutter, which was used to cut the medicine, to the end of the table.

A Formation had been activated silently, sealing off the whole room.

This Formation was small in size and also delicate; it could conceal all the energy within the room, but not passing out to the street.

After he had finished setting up the Formation, the doctor looked at Jing Jiu again, his expression a lot more serious now. “Please tell me,” he said.

Jing Jiu said, “A few years ago, Zhao Layue asked your organization to investigate Bihu Peak. Yet someone in your organization revealed the information, causing a lot of trouble.”

The doctor of course knew about this incident.

This was the biggest scandal in recent years for the Curtain Rollers.

He hadn’t expected this young man to know about this incident, and now it seemed he came here as a representative of Zhao Layue.

“Sorry, we’re still investigating the case.”

“It has been three years. You still can’t find the perpetrator.”

Jing Jiu said, “According to the rules I heard of, you have to compensate for the incident.”

The doctor said, “Please tell me what it is you want.”

“As I said, I want to check out Fang Jingtian,” said Jing Jiu.

The doctor sighed, “He is an important figure at the Green Mountain Sect. That’s very hard for us to do!”

“I know you have your informers on the nine peaks of Green Mountain.”

Jing Jiu was certain of it; Zhao Layue should have gotten her information from this source.

“As I have to make sure that the person is safe, I need to know your identity.”

The doctor had already guessed Jing Jiu’s identity, but he wasn’t certain.

Jing Jiu didn’t respond, but said, “I want to investigate another person.”

“Who is it?” the doctor asked.

“Xiwan Sun,” Jing Jiu answered.

The doctor said, “This is beyond the compensation price.”

“But I can use other information as exchange for yours,” said Jing Jiu.

The doctor said, “It will depend on the value of your information.”

“Did the former Emperor feign his death to become a monk at the Fruit Formation Temple? What is the origin of Young Zen Master? Why has he never showed up in person?”

Jing Jiu asked, “Are these enough?”

What he revealed were no doubt the biggest secrets in the Chaotian.

But the doctor laughed, “These things have been rumored in the land for many years, but these are merely stories not based on evidence; they are worth nothing.”

“What I’m going to tell you is definitely true, and can also be confirmed.”

Jing Jiu said, “I can give you a piece of information for free. The secular name of Young Zen Master is Jing Shengsheng. His parents died when he was a little child. He was raised by a mountain demon. You can check the History Book of Cuiping County, in Luzhou, recorded twenty seven years ago. The History Book of Cuiping County has recorded that a heavy snow fell on the seventeenth day of the first month twenty-seven years ago, and a rainbow suddenly appeared on the eastern mountain, meaning the mountain demon didn’t succeed in transforming; on the same day, a monk in the vegetable garden of the Fruit Formation Temple found an abandoned child. This event has been also recorded in the Justice Hall Chronicles. I believe you have the ability to check them out.”

There was complete silence.

The doctor was so shocked that he couldn’t speak for a long time.

As he had said, it was merely a story without evidence.

However, Jing Jiu was very composed when he spoke, and he also gave adequate clues for further investigation.

“We will check them out as soon as possible.”

The doctor spoke seriously, his expression respectful.

The Curtain Rollers respected those who knew more than they did.

Jing Jiu got up, ready to leave.

“Wait. The news you offered is too significant. I can’t take it for free.”

The doctor said, “I’d like to give you three pieces of information.”

Jing Jiu halted his step.

“The first is that the five winners at this year’s Plum Meeting will get the Blessing on the Head by Young Zen Master.”

The doctor said, “Second is that Tian Jingren will come to Zhaoge City soon, evaluating the disciples of various sects participating in the Plum Meeting.”

Jing Jiu asked, “Who is this Tian Jingren?”

The doctor was surprised, wondering how Jing Jiu knew the secular name of Young Zen Master but not who Tian Jingren was?

…

…

Tian Jingren lost his eye sight at a young age. He studied at the One-Cottage Sect, then went overseas to seek Cultivation opportunities. Unfortunately, he couldn’t practice Cultivation. Instead, he founded the White-Deer Institute because of his overwhelming knowledge.

He was famous for his insights of the heavenly and earthly secrets even though he couldn’t see with his eyes. His words could determine someone’s future.

It was said that at the time when the Godly Swordsman was still an unknown young man, he wanted to join the No-Mercy Sect, but was refused; so disappointed was he that he decided to commit suicide by the river. Tian Jingren happened to pass by and prevented him from killing himself and offered him a poem. Then the Godly Swordsman went overseas without hesitation, and his fate totally changed as a result. He had inherited the treasures in a manor cave left by the previous immortals on an island, and became a significant figure in the State of Heavenly Arrival. Later, he founded the Western Ocean Sword Sect, which had been suppressing the No-Mercy Sect ever since. The Godly Swordsman had great respect for Tian Jingren even till now, and asked him to create the Hall of Heavenly Calculation for the Western Ocean Sword Sect.

It was said that the Two-World Connection of the Water-Moon Nunnery and the Two-Mind Connection of the Fruit Formation Temple were not even as effective as his Way of Heavenly Understanding.

Countless high-ranking officials and gifted Cultivation practitioners would pay any price to get his evaluation.

Having heard the introduction, Jing Jiu commented, “It sounds like he knows how to bluff.”