Vision blurred, then brightened. Meng Qi found himself sitting inside a dilapidated mountain temple, where a waning crescent moon poured in a sliver of clear light.
Across from him sat the towering man from earlier, cross-legged. Leaning against a rickety incense table, the man was cloaked in black, his figure imposing—nearly a head taller than Meng Qi. His face was obscured by thick, bushy whiskers, making it hard to discern his features, but his eyes were deep as the starry sky, with faint glimmers of brilliance flickering within.
Meng Qi was still suffering from the aftereffects of the “Self-Sacrifice Formula,” his body weak and his head throbbing. However, he had already taken the Great Rejuvenation Pill and was gradually improving. Half out of curiosity and half to buy time, he asked, “Senior…”
“Who’s a senior? Am I that old?” the man grumbled. “Call me Brother.”
Hmm, this fellow doesn’t seem like a vicious brute… Meng Qi calmed slightly. Judging from Gu Xiaosang’s reaction earlier, this man was definitely no ordinary figure—perhaps even a name on the Earth List. Meng Qi knew he wouldn’t stand a chance if he tried to resist. “Brother,” he asked, choosing his words carefully to comply with the man’s preference, “may I ask what you need me for?”
The phrasing felt awkward to Meng Qi, but he had to go along with it.
The man slapped his thigh. “Why else but to borrow your ‘True Emperor’s Seal’!”
“You know the ‘True Emperor’s Seal’ is with me?” Meng Qi was genuinely surprised. He had thought no one else knew except for the “Great Sorcerer” Wang, and that he could watch the storm unfold unnoticed. How had this random passerby found out the seal had fallen into his hands?
The man chuckled. “Others may not know, but can you hide it from me? The ‘True Emperor’s Seal’ naturally has a unique resonance with a true emperor!”
He sounded smug.
A true emperor… Meng Qi glanced at the man’s bearded face and his choice of words, and inwardly doubted he was a true emperor.
Still, Meng Qi wasn’t foolish enough to argue. Instead, he asked curiously, “Brother, if you only wanted to borrow the ‘True Emperor’s Seal,’ why did you take me away?”
Though grateful for being rescued from Gu Xiaosang, Meng Qi wanted to understand the situation. Borrowing the seal didn’t justify kidnapping, did it?
The man paused, scratching his head. “Don’t you think just asking for the seal would be like highway robbery? But if I say I’m borrowing a person, it sounds more like the manner of a reclusive master, ha ha…”
He chuckled awkwardly, exuding a vibe of “don’t worry about the details.”
For the image’s sake… Meng Qi stared at the man in disbelief, seeing a clear image of himself decades from now.
If I end up like this goofy guy, I might as well just bash my head in!
You can’t say such things if you care about appearances. You must keep it hidden and consistent, understand?
He took a deep breath. “Brother, when I obtained the ‘True Emperor’s Seal,’ I made a soul oath and took on karmic consequences. If you wish to borrow it, perhaps you could offer some collateral?”
If he could “sell” it for a good price, he would fulfill Sima Tu’s request.
“I’m not saying I won’t return it!” The man suddenly looked flustered. “I left in a hurry and didn’t bring anything valuable.”
His gaze shifted to Meng Qi, and he nodded slightly, his expression turning solemn. “Karmic entanglement—your words are true. Since you bear this karma, I’ll just accompany you. The ‘True Emperor’s Seal’ can stay with you.”
You just couldn’t afford any treasures, could you! Meng Qi reluctantly nodded. He couldn’t let someone just “borrow” the seal and take on the karma lightly.
“Brother, may I ask your esteemed name?” Meng Qi asked cautiously. Someone who understood karmic entanglement couldn’t possibly be unknown!
The man straightened his back and sat up straight, feigning indifference. “I haven’t walked the martial world for many years, and I’m not from Nanjin. You, young brother, probably haven’t heard of me. Ah, fame is but a fleeting cloud, not worth mentioning—my name is Gao Lan.”
He stared at Meng Qi intently, as if expecting recognition or shock.
Nanjin—he was from Beizhou? Meng Qi frowned slightly. “I truly haven’t heard of you.”
Apart from those on the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, Meng Qi had limited knowledge of martial artists beyond the Great Jin and the瀚海 (Hai) region. Even the Earth Ranking contained too many names for him to memorize in detail.
Upon hearing Meng Qi’s reply, the man raised his eyebrows, his tone quickening. “Think again—Changle Gao Lan!”
Changle Gao Clan—the royal family of Beizhou! So this was a Gao Clan expert. No wonder Gu Xiaosang was startled… Legends said the Gao Clan’s “Xinji Wuwai Pian” was extremely difficult to cultivate, and the slightest mistake could lead to madness or insanity. Hence, the Gao Clan was known for its ferocity and brutality… At least this guy seemed only goofy for now… Meng Qi was startled inwardly and fell silent, careful not to provoke Gao Lan further.
Gao Lan furrowed his brow. “Still don’t remember who I am? Let me give you a hint—Mad King, no, wait, Virtuous King Gao Lan!”
Meng Qi slapped the nearby brick, his emotions bursting forth in exaggerated “shock.” “So it’s that Gao Lan! I’ve long admired you, always regretting I wasn’t born in your time to meet you. Who would’ve thought I’d have such a fortunate encounter today!”
If Qi Zhengyan were here, he would probably comment again, “Too showy.” But Gao Lan threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Haha, I thought after all these years away from the martial world, people had already forgotten me. But who would have thought such an opportunity would arise today!”
“Don’t call me senior, just call me Brother Gao!”
“Brother Gao, your performance is a bit over the top…” Meng Qi’s eyelids twitched as he followed up with some polite words of admiration, carefully avoiding any specific examples—after all, he had no idea who Gao Lan was!
Both host and guest were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Meng Qi, sensing the conversation might soon run dry, swiftly changed the subject: “Brother Gao, I wonder if your destination requires secrecy? I was taken away by that witch, and I fear my friends may be worried. I’d like to leave them a brief message to assure them of my safety.”
Gao Lan put away his smile and waved his hand dismissively, saying, “No matter. If I decide to act, no one in the world can stop me!”
As he spoke, his words were filled with heroic spirit, as if he looked down upon the entire world.
Though seemingly eccentric, he truly exudes the demeanor of a powerhouse… Meng Qi felt slightly relieved and said, “Thank you, Brother Gao. If we encounter any prefectural or provincial cities ahead, I’d like to enter and leave messages at the establishments of the Cleansing Sword Pavilion or the Splashing Flowers Sword Sect…”
Before he could finish speaking, Gao Lan leaned in closer and whispered mysteriously, “However, if someone tries to stop us, things won’t go smoothly. Keep your message to your friend brief and don’t reveal our destination.”
“…” Big Brother Gao, I just praised you for having the demeanor of a true warrior! Meng Qi’s expression froze for a moment before returning to normal, forcing a dry laugh as he said, “Alright!”
Anyway, I don’t know where to go either…
……
In the city of Anjun, Meng Qi and Gao Lan set foot within its walls.
Perhaps it was because he hadn’t set foot in the world for many years, but Gao Lan found everything fresh and exciting. Like a child, he was full of enthusiasm—laughing heartily one moment and engaging in animated discussions the next, acting entirely as he pleased.
“After this is done, I’ll treat you to drinks—we won’t go home until we’re drunk!” Gao Lan clapped Meng Qi on the shoulder and said.
He seemed to possess innate divine strength. Even though Meng Qi had cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, which granted him immense power and an indomitable physique, he still found it somewhat unbearable.
At this moment, the two arrived at the “Sword Appreciation Pavilion” of the Sword Washing Pavilion. Meng Qi took a light breath, stepped inside, and walked straight toward the person in charge.
“I am Su Meng, pleased to meet you, Senior,” Meng Qi said with a respectful bow.
The official’s expression changed as he sized him up from head to toe: “Su Meng, the ‘Mad Blade’?”
“Yes, Su was chasing the Wolf King and left Ying City. I was afraid Miss Jiang might worry, so I came to inform her.” With Gao Lan by his side, Meng Qi could only use the Wolf King as an excuse.
The supervisor breathed a sigh of relief: “Junior Sister Jiang has been looking for you. Good, nothing unexpected happened.”
“Also, remind her that the Wolf King possesses mysterious techniques and can neutralize killing swords. This must not be overlooked.” Meng Qi had no intention of keeping the Wolf King’s secrets—he wished the whole world knew. If not for the Wolf King’s hidden move, he could have slain him right there in Xingyun Manor!
However, having gained the upper hand and the advantage of a precious weapon, he remained unharmed and was not affected by the invasive killing intent. On the contrary, the Wolf King, whose left hand was not treated in time, faced the risk of permanent disability. Moreover, the devastating damage inflicted by the Heavenly Thunder Strike on his meridians would leave him severely injured and bedridden for a long time. Even with the aid of miraculous elixirs, he wouldn’t be able to contemplate breaking through the Mystic Pass within a year.
His eyes flickered, and he said with a smile, “By the way, I recently met a senior named Gao Lan. I wonder if you know him, brother?”
He put on an air of testing common knowledge.
Gao Lan took a step closer, leaning in attentively to listen.
“Gao Lan? Gao Lan from Changle?” The disciple from the Sword Washing Pavilion was utterly astonished.
Gao Lan gave a light cough, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding the full demeanor of a master.
“So you recognize it too,” Meng Qi said with feigned surprise.
The disciple of the Sword Washing Pavilion took a deep breath and said, “How could I not recognize them? To put it bluntly, over the past twenty years, Senior Uncle Su has been like the bright moon at night, illuminating both the Human Ranking and the Earth Ranking, an unshakable pillar that all rising talents in the martial world must reckon with. But in the two decades before him, it was a time of twin stars shining upon the world—one being ‘Demon Master’ Han Guang, the other ‘Mad King’ Gao Lan. They were evenly matched, and it wasn’t until ‘Demon Master’ attained the Dharmakaya that the gap between them widened.”
However, with the “Demon Master” falling at the hands of Monk Kongwen and the “Mad King” descending into madness—later suppressed by the Northern Zhou sects and several noble families in Changle, where he passed away years ago—they have long become relics of the past… To think the Mad King still lives! Young Master Su, could you have mistaken his identity?
Listening to his words, Gao Lan gradually became expressionless, his aura withdrawn, like an unfathomable deep pool.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly strolled toward the outside of the Sword Appreciation Pavilion. Meng Qi dared not delay and hastily took his leave before following him.
Gao Lan gazed at the dawn and suddenly let out a sigh.
“Let’s go, to Longtai.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage