71: Chapter 57, Lu Ban’s Book of Death!

71: Chapter 57, Lu Ban’s Book of Death!

The night was long, filled with many stories to be told.

But perhaps only one encounter, two encounters, three encounters of intimacy…

An Ning climbed out of bed, tidied up slightly, and leapt over the courtyard wall to head toward the rear mountain.

If an outsider were to see this, their eyes would surely pop out of their heads.

Residents of the Henshan Gathering Area would never imagine that such a scrawny little girl, as frail as a bean sprout or a clump of foxtail grass, possessed such agility, with even a nearly two-meter-tall wall unable to block her path.

An Ning entered Henshan and arrived at the familiar Ghost Cliff.

Next to the cliff, stood the silhouette of a man.

He was so thin and so aged, standing at the cliff’s edge, seemingly as if he could be swept into the abyss by a strong wind at any moment.

“Master!” An Ning approached the old man from behind and respectfully saluted him.

The old man turned to look at An Ning and smiled, saying, “Silent on the grass, traceless on the snow, this ‘Nine Provinces Footstep Spell’ seems to have made great progress recently.”

“It’s all thanks to Master’s guidance.” An Ning grinned, and the scars on her face became even more striking.

The old man looked at An Ning and said, “Do you know why I took you as my disciple?”

An Ning shook her head and replied, “I do not know.

Master never told me.”

“Tang Fei cannot be taught, Little Fatty cannot be taught…” the old man began to explain, “You are not as perceptive as Tang Fei, nor as talented as Little Fatty…

but you have tenacity.

You are determined, and once you set your mind to something, not even nine bulls could pull you back.

Therefore, I believe you can achieve great things.”

“Thank you, Master, for your cultivation,” An Ning bowed again in thanks.

“Your cultivation of the Array Formation and Talisman originates from a divine book called ‘Lu Ban’s Book of Death’,” the old man began his lesson, “This book is divided into two parts, the first part being the Array Formation and Talisman, full of strange and cunning methods.

The second part concerns Mechanical Hidden Weapons, a true art for strengthening the nation and its military.”

“I have imparted to you the first part, the Array Formation and Talisman, while the second part, the Mechanical Hidden Weapons, was given to Tang Fei….

only you have managed to learn some tricks from it; Tang Fei has not even started.”

“Brother Tang Fei…

with his high intelligence, how could he not have started yet?” An Ning curiously asked.

“The environment does not permit it,” the old man explained, “The Array Formation and Talisman can be practiced autonomously at home, but Mechanical Hidden Weapons require systematic study, a lot of manual work, tools, and machinery…

none of which Old Land can provide.”

An Ning nodded her head, understanding the reason.

Reluctantly, she looked toward the old man and asked, “Master, you are leaving, aren’t you?”

The old man was quite surprised and asked, “How did you know?”

An Ning smiled again and said, “Although Master liked to teach me at night, you have never before elaborated on the origins and background of our cultivation technique.

Moreover, someone like Master, having such skills, proves you are not an ordinary person…”

“I do not know why Master came to such a place, but I do know…

one day, you will leave.”

“This Henshan…

only has hatred, no love.

Where there is no love, people cannot be retained…”

The old man nodded and said, “You are a smart child, keen at observing, proficient in summarizing…

someone like you, placed beside Tang Fei, would indeed be a great help.

Unfortunately, I cannot take you with me this time…”

“I cannot go,” An Ning shook her head, “My mother is still here, I need to stay by her side.

Without me, she cannot survive.”

The old man pondered for a moment, then said, “I could take her with us as well.”

An Ning looked at the old man and said, “I appreciate Master’s intentions, but I don’t want to put Master in a difficult position.

Master hiding in a place like Henshan must have his inexpressible hardships.

Going back this time…

isn’t going to be an easy task, right?”

The old man nodded and said, “Life and death are unpredictable, as are fortune and misfortune.

I haven’t gone back for so many years, I’m afraid things are no longer the same.

That’s also why I’m hesitant to take you there for now.”

“I understand Master’s concerns,” An Ning said nonchalantly with a smile.

“Even Master himself is uncertain about the future, let alone us, which would only add to Master’s burden.”

“Besides, I want to stay myself…”

“You want to stay?”

“Master, if you leave, Brother Tang Fei will leave too, won’t he?” asked An Ning.

The old man knew how the girl felt about Tang Fei, nodded, and said, “Yes, he will leave too.”

“Is New Star really a place for Brother Tang Fei to settle?” An Ning asked.

The old man remained silent.

A place to settle?

It could also be a place of sacrifice.

How unpredictable life is!

How unpredictable indeed!

“I want to stay for another reason.

I want to help Brother Tang Fei complete his arrangement in the Old Land.

He has Wang Tianlong infiltrating the Flame Shrine, and recently, Wang has been gathering forces to do just that.

By staying, I can keep an eye on Wang Tianlong…”

The old man looked at An Ning and asked, “Have you done what I asked you to do?”

“I have,” An Ning nodded and said, “I’ve already had him drink the Nine Dragons Bone Transformation Water…

If he can’t get my antidote in time, I’m afraid his life will be at risk.”

“It’s necessary to guard against others,” the old man nodded and said.

“Looking at his face, this man is not a great villain; if properly guided, he could actually be a formidable general.

With his protection, you and your mother should have a worry-free life, and the residents of the Henshan Gathering Area might also find a way to survive.”

“Master, I plan to join the Flame Shrine myself,” An Ning said.

“That’s not possible,” the old man refused, saying, “It’s a place that harbors filth, what business does a girl like you have there?”

“With the skills you’ve taught me, where can’t I make my way?” An Ning spoke out, “Even if it’s difficult to succeed, I should at least be able to protect myself.”

“You want to take control of the Flame Shrine?” the old man looked at An Ning and asked.

“Yes,” An Ning nodded and said, “I need to leave a way out for Master and Brother Tang Fei.

If you aren’t happy on New Star, and we retreat back to the Old Land, at least we’ll have a place to settle…”

“Have you decided?”

“Yes,” An Ning said.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time.

Even if Master doesn’t leave this time, I still want to try.”

The old man looked at An Ning’s face and said, “This is really too dangerous.”

An Ning felt the old man’s gaze on her, touched the scar on her face, and said, “Brother Tang Fei has told me many times that he could help remove this scar…

Although it might not be completely erased, it would surely look much better.

I declined.”

“I want to keep it.

I want to constantly remind myself of how my father died, and what insults my mother and I would have endured without Brother Tang Fei…

Master, in fact, I already died that night.”

“It was Brother Tang Fei who brought me back, so, I want to give this life to him.

If I can help Brother Tang Fei do something, and even avenge my father…

then what is that little danger to me?”

“A long time ago, I had already secretly vowed in my heart.

The Flame Shrine…

If I can’t control it, then let me destroy it.

It was once just a wild thought, but with Master, and the skills Master has bestowed upon me…

I want to try.”

The old man fell silent for a moment, then cracked a smile and said, “It’s you young people who think more thoroughly, willing to fight and take risks while I, an old geezer, am too conservative, too cautious.

Life and death, isn’t that all there is to it?

To live, live heartily; to die, die gloriously.”

“I’ll accompany you and Brother Tang Fei to New Star to carve out a path to survival, and you take revenge on Old Land…

Alive, we must all find ways to stay alive.”

Thump!

An Ning knelt to the ground and heavily kowtowed three times to the old man.

“Master, An Ning has no offering for apprenticeship, nor have I arranged a banquet for it.

Today, as Master is about to depart, I wish you to shatter the Imperial Court and trample the spirit realms.”

The old man was startled—how did she know their journey was meant to shatter the Imperial Court and trample the spirit realms?

But seeing An Ning’s calm, dark eyes, he dismissed the suspicion in his heart.

“Such grand aspirations are better left to you young people,” the old man waved his hand, yawned, and said, “I’ll just hide in a corner, drink, sing operas, and wait to die.”

“Master…”

“I’m leaving soon, this separation…

I hope it’s only temporary.”

“Master, take care!”

“An Ning…

take care.”

The old man patted An Ning’s shoulder and turned, walking towards the shadows of the forest trees.

——-

When Tang Fei opened his eyes, he found Little Fatty sitting by the bed, staring at him.

“What’s up?” Tang Fei asked.

“Godfather is gone,” said Little Fatty, his voice filled with sorrow.

Tang Fei was shocked and quickly asked, “Gone?

How?”

He was fine last night, how could he be gone now?

“I don’t know,” Little Fatty shook his head.

Tang Fei stared at Little Fatty’s chubby face for a while, then asked, “When you say gone…

do you mean he left?”

“Yes,” Little Fatty nodded, his expression delayed before adding, “He also left us a letter.”

Bang!

Tang Fei smacked Little Fatty on the head and said, “Be more careful with your words next time.”

“…”

Little Fatty, holding his head, looked puzzled—had he said something wrong?

Tang Fei jumped out of bed and quickly ran around the old man’s room.

Nothing had changed…

It was just as messy as before.

And that familiar salty, fishy scent was still there…

Tang Fei reached under the pillow where those frequently flipped-through hypnotism magazines still lay.

Tang Fei looked at Little Fatty and asked, “Where’s the letter?”

Without the letter, he couldn’t be sure if the old man had really left.

Perhaps he’d just gone for an early morning walk to the village entrance, or maybe he’d spent the night at a widow’s house and hadn’t come back…

Little Fatty handed over a small sweat-stained paper from his palm, and Tang Fei, wiping it on Little Fatty’s clothes, said, “Gonna get you some Schisandra to brew…

You’re sweating quite a bit.”

“Mm,” Little Fatty nodded.

He felt he indeed needed some replenishing.

Tang Fei unfolded the paper, which bore only eight characters: “Take care of yourselves, until we meet again!”

“Is this what you call a letter?”

Little Fatty, confused, asked, “Isn’t it?”

“It’s a note,” Tang Fei said.

“Oh.”

“Where did you find this note?”

“On my bedside table,” Little Fatty said.

Tang Fei then believed him; Little Fatty was a heavy sleeper, so the old man must have left the note on his bedside table when he left…

But why would he leave just like that?

Take care of yourselves, until we meet again?

Does this imply he sensed some danger and decided to run away?

Was the Flame Shrine coming to kill them?

There was no news from Wang Tianlong’s side…

“The old man has left,” Tang Fei murmured to himself.

After a long while, he added, “Why did he leave?”

The person he’d once so disliked had suddenly left, giving him a sense of profound loss.

This feeling was very uncomfortable, even more so than when Phoenix had left.

“Brother, I’m with you,” Little Fatty, seeing Tang Fei staring blankly at those few words, spoke up to comfort him, “I’m not leaving.”

Tang Fei patted Little Fatty’s shoulder and said, “Yeah, we won’t let you carry stones anymore.”

Little Fatty instantly smiled broadly and said, “Thanks, bro.”

Just then, someone outside the courtyard shouted, “The Star Disc has arrived…

The Star Disc has arrived…

the Phoenix Princess has brought a lot of supplies…

everyone come and get your supplies…”

Tang Fei and Little Fatty exchanged glances, then quickly ran outside.