Chapter 201: I’m in Charge!
“Xu Qing,” the Captain said angrily, “you’ve become even greedier than me nowadays!” At the same time, he rushed forward and helped Xu Qing chop away at the octopus’ tentacle.
The Gold Core octopus was clearly enraged, but it couldn’t stop Xu Qing from removing a small tip of one of its tentacles, about three meters in length. Throwing it over his shoulder, Xu Qing left with the Captain.
A short while later, the force of suppression vanished, and the octopus let loose a howl of fury. Then, just as it seemed it was about to rise up to its full height, it collapsed onto the ground.
And that was because, out of nowhere, a middle-aged man had appeared in front of it. The man’s face was a mask of bitterness as he slowly walked forward, drinking alcohol out of a gourd bottle.
He was none other than Master Sixth, the peaklord of the Sixth Peak. Long ago, Master Sixth had been like Master Seventh, a chosen member of the sect. In fact, he had joined the sect along with Master Seventh. However, years later, he experienced tragedy. His daoist partner died a horrible death, leaving behind him and his only son. In his grief, he had focused all of his love and attention on his son. And his son didn’t let him down.
As the years passed, his son became an outstanding figure in Seven Blood Eyes. But one day he went out to sea for training and never returned. His life slip in the sect even shattered. It caused a huge stir in the sect. However, his killer was never identified, and the matter became a source of unending torment for Master Sixth. After that, the peaklord was never seen without a bottle of alcohol. [1]
Taking another drink from the bottle gourd, Master Sixth came to a stop in front of the octopus. “I’m crafting a magical device that could use two eyes. Yours. Give them to me.”
The octopus shivered, and without hesitation, reached two tentacles up to its two eyes. Gripping the eyes, it ripped them out of its head, causing blood to spray everywhere. Then, it respectfully offered the eyes to Master Sixth.
“Now screw off and wait outside for your owner.” Master Sixth tossed the eyes into his bottle gourd, then turned and headed back toward the Sixth Peak.
The octopus kept its head bowed until Master Sixth was gone. Then, trembling, it returned to the ocean and sank into the water. After it was some distance away from the sect, light glittered around it as it turned into a burly man.
His eyes had been gouged out, yet the flesh on his forehead wriggled and twitched, and then opened up, revealing a third eye. As he looked at Seven Blood Eyes, his expression was one of fear and trepidation.
Seven Blood Eyes has grown a lot more confident now that Sir Bloodsmelter achieved his breakthrough. From the outside, they still seem like a subsidiary branch of the Seven Sect Coalition from the Revered Ancient mainland. But actually, over recent years, Seven Blood Eyes... has come very close to being an independent sect.
Low-level recruits are venomous bugs in a jar. Their mid-level disciples are set free to do whatever they want. But once a disciple gets into the echelon and becomes truly high-level, Seven Blood Eyes takes care of them!
Years ago, the Seven Sect Coalition came to realize that trying to alternate patriarchs and peaklords didn’t do much. Sir Bloodsmelter has always been around keeping an eye on things, and even when the peaklords are forced to rotate back into service in the Seven Sect Coalition, their hearts always stay with Seven Blood Eyes.
This is exactly what you expect to see when a sect rises to prominence!
The trepidation in the burly man’s eyes grew deeper.
***
Xu Qing and the Captain parted ways. Once Xu Qing was back on his dharmaskiff, he took out his bamboo slip and added a name.
Yanyan.
This time, he scratched a circle around the name, indicating that he couldn’t kill this person in public. He needed to find her outside of Seven Blood Eyes and get rid of her in secret. Otherwise, there would be too much trouble.
Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior was very excited when he saw the new name being added to the list.
Another one! YES!
After finishing carving the name, Xu Qing was about to put the bamboo slip away when he noticed the iron skewer trembling off to the side. After thinking about how hard the patriarch had been working lately, he went to ‘Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior’ and scratched another line through the name.
When the patriarch saw that, his heart filled with unprecedented excitement and appreciation. The trembling of the skewer became even more pronounced. All of his hard work was worth it! Completely worth it!
Appearing in projected form, he clasped hands and bowed, trembling from head to toe.
“Many thanks... milord!!”
He really had been working hard lately. And that was even more the case after some of the successes the shadow had experienced. On more than a few occasions, he had come close to developing inner devils during cultivation, thanks to always wondering if he was going to be discarded. But now, seeing Xu Qing scratch that line through his name, many of his doubts simply vanished.
What Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior didn’t notice was that, behind Xu Qing, his shadow had opened an eye and was paying very close attention to the patriarch. Clearly, it was trying to learn something.
Seeing how excited the patriarch was, Xu Qing offered a few encouraging words, then put away the bamboo slip, walked out of the cabin, and sat on the deck looking off into the distance. He was waiting for someone.
Before long, a rotund figure appeared off in the distance, swaying through the night. He was none other than Huang Yan. He had obviously been drinking, as he couldn’t walk straight. He looked depressed. And this time, instead of sitting down off to the side, he jumped right onto the dharmaskiff. Plopping down next to Xu Qing, he let loose a long sigh.
“Brother Xu Qing, I owe you for today. I’m really, really sorry. I had no idea my Elder Sister’s bestie was such a loon!”
Huang Yan pulled out a bag of holding and solemnly offered it to Xu Qing.
“I don’t have much on me, Brother Xu Qing. That’s 200,000 spirit stones. It’s the thought that counts, right?”
Xu Qing didn’t immediately take the bag of holding. Looking at Huang Yan, he said, “What do you plan on doing about it?”
Huang Yan sighed. “Why does love have to be such torment? I have it so rough! Xu Qing, did you know that I came to Seven Blood Eyes specifically for Elder Sister? That year... I caught sight of her from a distance. Just one glance. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. So I decided to join Seven Blood Eyes so that I could make her my daoist partner.”
Huang Yan was in a very different mood today than he ever had been in the past. Lifting his bottle of alcohol, he took a drink. Then he produced a second bottle and offered it to Xu Qing.
Xu Qing accepted it and took a drink.
“I never would have guessed that her bestie would also be competition!! You know what? After that shrew showed up today, she wouldn’t leave my Elder Sister alone. And thus, Elder Sister hasn’t had any time for me. And when I went looking for her, she told me to leave! She looked guilty about it, but still!!
“I could tell something strange was going on, so after I had a bit to drink I went and eavesdropped. And guess what? The shrew is trying to steal Elder Sister from me!” Huang Yan ground his teeth. “Why did this have to happen now? If it had happened a few months ago, I would have crushed her with a single breath.”
Huang Yan seemed to be getting very worked up.
Meanwhile, Xu Qing seemed confused. He wasn’t really sure what Huang Yan was talking about, and had never experienced anything like this. Given he didn’t understand the situation, he wasn’t sure how to comfort Huang Yan. In the end, he just raised his bottle of alcohol.
Huang Yan saw that, sighed, and then clinked bottles and drank.
“You’re too young to—” Suddenly, Huang Yan’s identity medallion vibrated in his bag of holding. Eyes flickering, he took it out. After reading the message that had just come in, he frowned in displeasure.
Meanwhile, Xu Qing’s identity medallion also vibrated. Sending some dharma force into it, he saw a long message.
“A quarter of an hour ago, our Celestial Bureau received a request for backup from the Patrol Division. A Foundation Establishment cultivator from outside the sect attacked the Pilot Assistance Division. Many disciples were injured. When Patrol responded, the commanding officer was injured and all the constables were taken captive.
“Celestial Bureau provided backup, but were unable to stop the outside cultivator, and everyone was taken captive.
“The perpetrator demands Huang Yan come over from Harbor 176, immediately.
“This matter surpasses our ability, so we request that the deputy director decide what to do next.”
Xu Qing looked up at Huang Yan, who was doing the exact same thing, his expression unsightly and apologetic. Then Huang Yan stood and rushed in the direction of the Pilot Assistance Division.
Xu Qing suddenly thought back to what happened that day in the Sixth Peak shop. Then he looked down at the bag of holding, which Huang Yan had surreptitiously placed off to the side after Xu Qing refused to take it. [2]
Huang Yan really does stick by his friends.
Xu Qing stood and also went toward the Pilot Assistance Division. He could move much faster than Huang Yan, so it didn’t take long before he caught up.
When Huang Yan saw him, he smiled. “You’re coming too?”
Xu Qing also smiled. “Pilot Assistance reported the incident. So of course I’m going to go.”
“There’s something special about you, Xu Qing. I’ve been in Seven Blood Eyes for years, and you’re actually the first friend I’ve made. After years of caring only about Elder Sister, now I have you at my side. I don’t have very many friends....” Huang Yan took a deep breath, but instead of saying anything further, he started running even faster. Xu Qing kept pace as they got closer to Pilot Assistance.
The Pilot Assistance Division in Harbor 176 looked like a giant sailboat. As they neared, an astonishing shockwave suddenly erupted from within it.
The sailboat exploded, sending pieces flying out everywhere. At the same time, a black figure shot out from inside, heading toward Huang Yan with astounding speed.
Eyes narrowing, Xu Qing entered the profound radiance state and stepped in front of Huang Yan. Viciously thrusting his hand out, he sent black fire streaming out, which the incoming figure slammed into.
A boom echoed out as the figure was shoved backward into a nearby rock. At that point, it became clear that the person who had clashed with Xu Qing was none other than Yanyan.
“What are you doing here?” she said, glaring at him.
Xu Qing’s eyes shifted from her to the wreckage of the Pilot Assistance Division. At least three hundred disciples were visible, scattered about randomly.
All of them were seriously injured, but none were dead. Among them was the Mute.
Xu Qing took everything in, his expression grim.
“You don’t need to look at all of them,” Yanyan said. “Given who I am, I didn’t kill anyone. But even if I did, so what? Do you think anyone would bother to help Offpeak bugs in a jar like this? From the moment I arrived here until now, not one person showed up to stop me.” Looking at Xu Qing’s face, she licked her lips. “I had no idea that you were actually in the Seven Blood Eyes’ echelon. I guess that’s going to make things difficult.”
“Wrong,” Xu Qing said quietly. “The reason the sect didn’t do anything to stop you is that this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Violent Crimes Division. Until I escalate this matter to my superiors, I’m the one in charge here.”
With that, Xu Qing held up a jade signal slip, then crushed it. Instantly, a bright stream of light shot up into the night sky, creating a multicolored glow that read ‘Violent Crimes.’
“According to Section 7 of sect law, outside cultivators who cause trouble in the capital city shall be arrested on sight. All constables from the Celestial Bureau, heed my command: lock down Harbor 176 and arrest this criminal!”
1. The incident with Master Sixth’s son was mentioned in chapter 148. ☜
2. The Sixth Peak shop incident mentioned here was in chapter 72. ☜