The girl with bite marks on her legs, the wounded servant holding a long saber, and the tiger that had died without any external injuries… Before Meng Qi could even finish asking his questions, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Wasn’t it obvious?
Feng Yuanjing tried to remain calm: “My lord, I indeed encountered the tiger spirit. I was nearly killed when it attacked me, but this young man saved me just in time. However, he was noble-hearted, asked for no reward, and has already left in that direction.”
Duan Rui, who had been concealing his breath and dared not let his inner energy flow, felt blood rushing to his head when he heard Feng Yuanjing’s words. His temple throbbed. She—she betrayed me? There really are no good people in this world!
Luckily, she wasn’t a “cultist” either. He barely managed to restrain himself and listened to the entire conversation. He suddenly understood, feeling both relieved and happy, yet also regretful.
It seemed he had been influenced by the “cultists,” becoming overly biased and misunderstanding such a kind girl. Truly deserving of a scolding!
Meng Qi still smiled: “No wonder the tiger spirit’s death looked familiar.”
Feng Yuanjing quietly exhaled in relief, grateful she hadn’t outright denied seeing him.
“But, young lady,” Meng Qi turned slightly more serious, “there’s something I must remind you.”
Feng Yuanjing bowed: “Please, my lord.”
“The young man just now was kind-hearted and had a heroic spirit, but you mustn’t be careless. He suffers from dissociative disorder, often suddenly attacking and killing people without remembering afterward. If you meet him again, you must be cautious,” Meng Qi warned.
Feng Yuanjing was startled. Duan Gongzi seemed perfectly fine—how could he possibly have dissociative disorder? How could he be a bloodthirsty cultist? Could it be that Meng Qi wanted his martial arts manual and made up this lie to ensure Duan Gongzi could never settle down anywhere?
Thoughts raced through her mind, causing her expression to shift. Finally, she bit her lip: “Thank you for your warning, my lord, but Duan Gongzi has already left. With the vastness of the martial world, we may never meet again.”
Meng Qi smiled: “Indeed. In this vast world, even friends may part ways and never reunite. Young lady, your legs are injured, and your servant is gravely wounded. If you remain in the wilderness, you may face danger. Why don’t I escort you to a nearby city?”
Feng Yuanjing’s face paled. She didn’t know how to respond. If she agreed, he would surely make her retrieve the items from the carriage. If she refused, it would seem unnatural.
Her servant rasped: “Thank you for your kindness, but my master’s men will arrive shortly.”
Qi Zhengyan watched from behind, expressionless, wondering why Meng Qi was being so talkative.
“I spoke out of turn,” Meng Qi said politely. “Your family’s men are coming. Are they from the Feng Clan of Changchuan?”
The items on the ground already indicated as much.
Feng Yuanjing quickly replied: “Indeed, from the Feng Clan of Changchuan. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”
“I’ve heard that the ‘Nine Refusals Physician’ Zhong Taiping resides in Changchuan under the Feng Clan. Is this true?” Meng Qi finally asked his intended question.
Zhong Taiping, a top-tier martial artist on the Human Rankings ten years ago, once ranked twenty-third, had aged past the rankings but had since become a half-step Master of External Scenes. His medical skills were even more renowned, famed for being able to heal anyone below the Master of External Scenes and even revive the nearly dead.
Known for his “Nine Refusals” rule, he was called the “Nine Refusals Physician” and was rumored to have cured two cases of dissociative disorder.
Meng Qi had read about him in a Six Sects Bureau report, particularly remembering the line: “Won’t heal if in a bad mood.”
Feng Yuanjing smiled: “My lord flatters him. How could such a renowned physician and martial artist ever be under the Feng Clan? We are simply old friends who help each other.”
Changchuan, a famous city in Jiangdong, had several Masters of External Scenes and many half-step ones. The Feng Clan was among its prominent families.
Since Changchuan was nearby and the Feng Clan wasn’t a major aristocratic family, it made sense Feng Yuanjing hadn’t brought any experts on her trip.
“I’ve heard the Nine Refusals Physician cured dissociative disorder?” Meng Qi asked with a smile.
Feng Yuanjing hesitated slightly: “Yes, he cured a couple while traveling. But since returning to Changchuan, he hasn’t encountered any such cases.”
She thought of Duan Rui, who had been accused of having the disorder.
Duan Rui’s heart leaped with joy. There was a physician in Changchuan who could cure dissociative disorder! Once Meng Qi and the others were gone, he would go seek treatment!
Suddenly, a surge of violent emotion passed through him, but with Meng Qi nearby, he barely managed to suppress it.
“Sigh, Xiao Duan is kind-hearted, but his dissociative disorder is troubling. I’ve been searching for him, hoping to bring him to Zhong Taiping,” Meng Qi said in a tone of an old man, subtly preparing Feng Yuanjing psychologically in case Zhong refused to treat Duan, forcing him to ask for her help.
Feng Yuanjing looked at Meng Qi, speechless. You look no older than eighteen or twenty—barely older than Duan Gongzi—and yet you call him Xiao Duan!
Meng Qi walked past Feng Yuanjing with his hands behind his back: “Xiao Duan, come out. Do you think you can truly hide from me?”
Feng Yuanjing’s face changed instantly. He knows?
Duan Rui’s heart nearly stopped. Impossible! How could he know?
Meng Qi walked steadily, full of confidence. Duan Rui’s demonic techniques to conceal his presence were indeed formidable. Without reaching the Primordial Unity state, it would be hard to detect him merely by sensing his aura.
But Meng Qi had long been experienced in the martial world. After seeing the tiger, he had guessed Duan Rui was nearby. He chatted casually with Feng Yuanjing, using the “Heaven-Shaking Earth-Shattering Method” to sense her emotions and confirm she was lying—Duan hadn’t left. Then he mentioned dissociative disorder, the topic Duan cared most about, and sure enough, sensed a sudden, quickened heartbeat from inside the carriage that then vanished.
With Duan’s current experience and state, facing Meng Qi was like Meng Qi’s first encounter with the old Duan Xiangfei, without any hidden techniques to turn the tide.
As Meng Qi approached, Duan Rui could no longer endure and suddenly lunged from the carriage, striking Meng Qi with a surprise punch.
He wasn’t entirely foolish. He knew fleeing now would be like turning his back to an enemy, just like ordinary bandits whose greatest losses came during retreat.
Feng Yuanjing’s heart clenched. Duan Gongzi might not win, but he should be able to escape… Yet recalling how he had punched the tiger spirit to death, she felt slightly reassured.
Seeing the hatred in Duan Rui’s eyes, Meng Qi felt a pang. Previously, Duan had trusted him greatly. Could his dissociative disorder have worsened?
After a moment’s thought, Meng Qi allowed the punch to land.
The punch struck with heavy force, producing a metallic clang upon impact.
Meng Qi’s body shimmered faintly with a golden glow, unmoving. The hidden venomous energy entering his body vanished instantly, most of it failing to pass through his Golden Bell Shield.
Taking the opportunity, Meng Qi’s right hand extended slowly but sealed all Duan Rui’s possible movements, grabbing his shoulder and sending a subtle current of energy to seal several acupoints.
Duan Rui’s eyes suddenly turned deep and nearly black. He opened his mouth, spitting toward Meng Qi. The saliva was dark, resembling wriggling insects.
Meng Qi was prepared, sidestepping slightly to avoid the saliva while sending more energy to seal all of Duan Rui’s acupoints, lifting him effortlessly.
The saliva landed on the ground, hissing. Within moments, the nearby yellowing grass withered completely.
The battle was over in an instant, just one exchange. Feng Yuanjing had barely blinked before Duan Rui was captured.
The man who had punched the tiger spirit to death hadn’t even managed to resist, being subdued in a single move!
It was like an adult bullying a child, the child swatting playfully before being picked up directly…
If the black-clothed young man were a half-step Master of External Scenes, she wouldn’t be surprised, given the vast difference in cultivation levels. Yet his every movement lacked the aura expected of such a high-level martial artist!
Looking at Duan Rui glaring at him, Meng Qi chuckled: “If I wanted to kill you, it would be effortless. Don’t think of escaping. Come with me to see the physician.”
His Golden Bell Shield had reached the seventh stage, nearly at the peak of the Qi Opening stage, excluding the eighth stage focused on spiritual cultivation. Ordinary people couldn’t even scratch him, let alone tear his clothes!
Duan Rui’s eyes returned to normal. Hearing the physician’s name, his resistance weakened.
“Feng Miss, you can ask Xiao Duan yourself if he has dissociative disorder,” Meng Qi said, holding Duan Rui back to Feng Yuanjing.
Feng Yuanjing looked at Duan Rui with concern: “Duan Gongzi, do you truly have dissociative disorder?”
Duan Rui couldn’t speak but nodded.
Feng Yuanjing relaxed slightly. If so, the young man before her didn’t seem like a bad person?
Even if he were, she couldn’t stop him. If he truly brought Duan Gongzi into Changchuan, she could ask her elders for help to prevent him from harming Duan or stealing his martial arts manual.
“Feng Miss, will you now accompany us to Changchuan? We’ll also need your help introducing us to the physician,” Meng Qi said with a smile.
If the dissociative disorder could truly be cured, knowing its key could become a secret weapon against Gu Xiaosang, such as suddenly awakening Xiao Zi during a fight.
Feng Yuanjing steadied herself and agreed: “Duan Gongzi saved my life. How could I refuse? However, the physician has a peculiar temper. If he’s in a bad mood, he might not listen to anyone.”
On the way to Changchuan, the servant whispered into Feng Yuanjing’s ear: “The black-clothed young man’s martial arts are terrifying, at least among the top thirty on the Human Rankings. His companion also has a long breath and steady aura, likely also a Human Ranking expert…”
“Encountering two Human Ranking experts at once?” Feng Yuanjing began speculating their identities.
Not long after noon, the group entered Changchuan City. Feng Yuanjing excused herself to return home first, while Meng Qi placed a hand on Duan Rui’s shoulder and went with Qi Zhengyan to find an inn.
After walking a while, the street ahead suddenly became crowded, with people gathering around something.
Meng Qi became interested and pulled someone aside: “Brother, what’s happening ahead?”
“The forty-second-ranked ‘Cloud Dragon’ Fang Bai is challenging the young master of Changchuan Escort Agency, Yi Song. He’s the top young martial artist in Changchuan,” the passerby excitedly answered, repeatedly trying to peek ahead but blocked by the dense crowd.
“Indeed, Jiangdong is Jiangdong. You might encounter Human Ranking or former Human Ranking experts anywhere you go,” Meng Qi chuckled, moving like a fish through the crowd with Qi Zhengyan, weaving through until reaching the middle of the street.
A tavern stood ahead, with many martial experts gathered on the second floor. Two men stood at the entrance. One bowed: “Brother Fang, your dragon claw technique is exceptional. Yi cannot match you.”
Fang Bai, in his early twenties, smiled slightly: “Brother Yi is also formidable, but my fighting spirit is high. Who else dares challenge me?”
The crowd fell silent. Young experts dared not step forward, while established ones valued their reputations and hesitated to fight.
Seeing this, Qi Zhengyan tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
Meng Qi sensed it clearly and turned with a smile: “Senior Brother Qi, do you want to challenge him?”
“Yes, I want to test my current strength,” Qi Zhengyan, usually expressionless, showed rare excitement.
After months of traveling, his “Hun Tian Treasure Mirror” could finally be considered an opportunity for an encounter.
To Meng Qi, Fang Bai wasn’t particularly worth fighting. He chuckled: “If you want to fight, just do it. I’ll cheer for you.”
I’ll do my best as a commentator—a promising job!
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