Chapter 49: A Gathering of Heroes—For What Purpose?

Wangxian Tower—a name that frequently appears in novels as a tavern—but in Lu Cheng City, it seemed somewhat incongruous to Feng Xue.

Its signboard bore a classical style, yet inside, it was arranged like a Western hotel. The waitstaff all wore white shirts with black vests, and the dishes on the tables were a mismatched blend of East and West, creating a rather awkward atmosphere.

However, this was merely Feng Xue’s personal impression. At least during his ascent, the patrons he observed in the ground-floor hall—whether dressed in Western suits or traditional Tang garments—did not seem to find the arrangement unusual. One could say that even eccentric styles once had their vogue.

Led by a soldier, Feng Xue was brought up to the third floor. The clamor from below vanished instantly. Compared to the second floor, which was also composed of private rooms but occasionally echoed with noise from downstairs, the third floor felt tranquil, its decor more harmonious than that of the first floor.

The soldier glanced left and right as if confirming a target, then led Feng Xue to a private room marked “Zhilanju.” After knocking lightly twice on the door and receiving no reply, he pushed it open without hesitation.

Feng Xue followed inside, his brow twitching slightly. Although called a private room, this chamber was almost as grand as a wedding hall of later eras. Within, about thirty people were gathered, some seated, others standing. Beyond the familiar Aunt Liu and the owner of Nanshan Residence, Feng Xue awkwardly spotted the master of the Hua Martial Arts School.

Noticing Feng Xue's gaze, the master turned his head. At the sight of Feng Xue, he visibly froze for a moment but said nothing, simply turning back to converse with acquaintances nearby.

Feng Xue suspected he was regarded as just a wealthy onlooker and decided not to approach. Instead, he activated his “Heavenly Sight” to scan the crowd.

Numbers floated above each person’s head. Feng Xue noted a range—from masters with over a hundred years of remaining lifespan, to minions with only a decade or two left, and some with merely thirty or forty years. It was unclear whether those with shorter lifespans were caught at a critical stage or had yet to truly begin cultivation.

The thirty-plus individuals clearly exceeded Aunt Liu’s earlier mention of “around twenty” mystics. With the addition of the master from Hua Martial Arts School, it seemed the invitation extended not only to mystics but also to martial artists.

Feng Xue also noticed the absence of the elderly gentleman who had earlier prompted him to request a secret manual from the owner of Nanshan Residence. Perhaps the county magistrate could not secure his attendance, or had not yet arrived, or perhaps no one even knew of him.

“So it seems none of the five great masters Aunt Liu mentioned are present. The monks, Taoists, and priests here don’t possess particularly high lifespans or strong auras. As for the young ladies… there are two or three, but since Heavenly Sight cannot detect spiritual bodies, I can’t confirm who among them might be spirit mediums.”

While Feng Xue observed silently, a few more people entered the room, yet the county magistrate remained absent. The soldier who had led him earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“Could the county magistrate have gone mad, attempting to round up all the experts in the city at once?” Feng Xue carefully analyzed everyone’s lifespan for any unusual fluctuations. Finding none, he relaxed and settled into a corner, leaning against the wall to continue studying the secret manuals.

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The master of Hua Martial Arts School sold five practical books. “Body Conditioning” resembled a fitness routine focused on physical endurance. “Nourishing the Essence” was akin to a recipe book, essentially guiding nutritional supplementation to keep pace with training demands.

“Static Posture” and “Dynamic Posture” were foundational, involving stances like horse stance to regulate and mobilize one’s qi and blood.

According to the “General Principles,” anyone who methodically practices “Static Posture” and “Dynamic Posture,” supplemented by nutritional nourishment, can reach the second-tier realm. However, to confront foes effectively, one must cultivate martial skills—punches and kicks. Achieving first-tier and beyond depends on individual insight and circumstances.

Feng Xue had no intention of tackling martial techniques yet, as these required abundant real combat experience and acquiring a good set of moves was no easy feat. For now, he would lay a solid foundation.

Nearly half an hour passed. The once harmonious atmosphere in the room began to crack with faint complaints and impatience. Just as the mood grew tense, a man who clearly was no master entered with several companions. At his arrival, the room instantly fell silent.

Sensing the shift, Feng Xue closed his book and directed his Heavenly Sight towards the newcomer.

The man appeared to be in his early fifties, with about seventeen years of life expectancy remaining—relatively long for an ordinary person in this era.

His two companions, however, were no ordinary folk—

One wore a clerical robe, elderly with graying hair, and only had about a decade of lifespan left. Yet from a shoulder-level perspective, a condensed white light shimmered around him.

The other was bald, without a cassock or monastic markings, dressed in a patchwork robe made up of various stitched patches. His wrist bore prayer beads of no precious wood, even different types of wood, but polished smooth from constant use.

His lifespan was slightly better than the cleric’s, just over thirty years. His spiritual light was more subdued—a faint halo behind his head, easily overshadowed by the room’s electric lights if one wasn’t observant.

“These must be two of the five great masters. Their lifespans are shorter than expected… which makes sense. For a priest, longevity is a miracle granted by divinity, not something to be pursued. Monks cultivating for the afterlife would hardly seek to prolong their ‘mortal coil.’ I wonder if Miss Deng is present as well.”

As Feng Xue pondered, the man accompanied by these two masters stepped to the center of the room and unexpectedly spoke:

“Esteemed gentlemen, please forgive the bold invitation today. It is truly out of necessity. Now that all have arrived, I shall not withhold the matter any longer…”

“County magistrate, my master has yet to arrive!”

Before the magistrate could finish, a young man with eyes brimming with naïve earnestness raised his hand and interrupted. The magistrate’s eye twitched slightly but he suppressed his irritation and explained:

“Daoist Chen is attending to urgent affairs related to this matter.”

He scanned the room, noting everyone’s attention fixed on him, with no further interruptions, and continued:

“A few days ago, several murders occurred in Xiangyang Village. The victims’ qi and blood were completely depleted, suspected to be the work of a vengeful spirit. Mr. Ma, the wealthiest man in Xiangyang Village, engaged a sorcerer who confirmed this…”

Upon hearing this, the tense weight in the room eased instantly. Though ghostly qi suppresses magic, after years of cultivation, mystics surely developed countermeasures.

Knowing it was merely a specter, there was little cause for alarm. At worst, one could call upon ancestral masters or dispatch a ghostly official from the underworld.

Seeing the crowd relax, the county magistrate’s expression darkened. A monk standing beside him stepped forward, and as he did, a tranquil and serene aura spread throughout the room—only to contract sharply the next moment.

The sensation was akin to opening a floodgate only to be startled by a sudden tap from behind, causing one to brace instinctively—deeply unsettling.

Seizing the moment when all faces darkened, the elder monk spoke:

“I shall take responsibility for this matter.”

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(I used AI to recreate a black silk cheongsam, less risqué than the previous one. Not sure if it will pass the review.)