Chapter 84: Profound Mysteries, the Brocade Dragon Gate
Xu Xiaoyan sighed, “But Dàxīng City is becoming increasingly chaotic. Even if Floating Cloud Monastery survives this, I’m afraid there will be more trouble later.”
Shi Hao asked, “What’s happening?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “It’s not directly related to Floating Cloud Monastery, but the gangs in Dàxīng City are in turmoil, constantly fighting and vying for power. When the nest is overturned, no egg is left unbroken. Small sects like Floating Cloud Monastery are vulnerable in such times.”
Shi Hao pondered for a moment and nodded.
Xu Xiaoyan looked up at him, “You understand?”
Shi Hao said, “The entire country is changing. Many have lost faith in the barbarian court. In such times, these sects and families will start looking for ways to protect themselves. If the barbarian court collapses, whoever controls a fortified city like Dàxīng will have a significant advantage in the struggle for power.”
“Conflict is inevitable. The barbarian court wants to maintain control and stability in Dàxīng City. The Chongxian Sect wants to control the city for themselves. But the three gangs and six societies have their own ambitions. And other factions also want a piece of the pie.”
“Just as the cicada senses the coming autumn wind before the leaves even fall, Dàxīng City will likely become a microcosm of the coming chaos. Remaining neutral is impossible, and choosing the wrong side could mean destruction for your entire family.”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “You’re quite perceptive. But for many martial artists, such chaos is an opportunity for fame and fortune. Life is cheap, after all.”
“What about you? What do you want in these turbulent times?”
Shi Hao said calmly, “My ambition is simple: to revitalize China and restore our people’s homeland.”
Xu Xiaoyan sighed, “That’s a lofty goal. Even if we expel the barbarians, restoring China won’t be easy. The Sheng Dynasty was the peak of our civilization, but don’t forget, it was preceded by centuries of chaos.”
Shi Hao looked up at the night sky. The waning moon was a thin crescent, and the stars were dim.
Xu Xiaoyan clasped her hands behind her head and smiled, “My ambition is much simpler. I just want to make lots of money and live a good life.”
Shi Hao looked down at her and smiled, “Is that so? If that were true, you wouldn’t have gotten involved in the God-Sealing Stones incident, wouldn’t have helped me deliver those pills. And you wouldn’t have helped me undermine Kou Deqiu, ensuring my victory.”
Xu Xiaoyan turned and walked towards her room, saying softly, “I just… couldn’t stand for injustice.”
Shi Hao watched her leave, a smile playing on his lips.
He returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and continued cultivating.
His Daoist and demonic energies, opposing forces, clashed within him. After half an hour, he was exhausted, his meridians aching, as if about to tear.
He stopped. If he continued, he might injure himself, like when the Holy Jade Immortal and Su Mei had first established his foundation, accidentally severing his heart meridian.
Although he stopped, he could sense the new, mysterious energy within him growing stronger.
But he still didn’t know the purpose of this new energy, a fusion of Daoist and demonic energies, so subtle and elusive.
He tried releasing it, but it didn’t create any noticeable force… It was useless for combat.
However, with a thought, he could easily retract it.
This surprised him. It wasn’t tied to his dantian like his other energies. Although it originated from his meridians, it could move freely throughout his body, responding instantly to his thoughts.
It was a profound and mysterious energy.
He tried using the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique to extend this mysterious energy outwards.
And something extraordinary happened. He could sense everything within a five-zhang radius.
He sensed Xu Xiaoyan in the next room, humming softly as she undressed, preparing for bed.
He could sense her every movement: the graceful curve of her back as she bent down to remove her trousers, the faint smile on her face.
Although he couldn’t see her, he perceived her actions with incredible clarity.
He heard the chirping of insects in the grass outside, their tiny legs rustling against the blades, sounds inaudible to ordinary ears.
He sensed a bird landing on the roof, hopping twice before taking flight, its trajectory arcing through the night sky.
Shi Hao was stunned by this profound and incredible sensation.
As his astonishment faded, the mysterious energy retreated.
He exhaled slowly… This new energy was even more powerful than he had imagined.
It wasn’t ordinary internal energy, nor was it Daoist or demonic energy.
It was something more profound, transcending both.
If he had to name it, he would call it “Primordial Energy.”
Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders.
“Xuan” (profound) was a Daoist term for the subtle and formless. Before this, the concept of “Primordial Energy” didn’t exist in this world, at least not as far as Shi Hao knew.
And he couldn’t find any other word to describe this extraordinary energy.
Although he could currently only sense things within five zhang, its potential was limitless.
He was ecstatic.
After resting for a while, he took out the Jade Clarity Stone and walked outside under the moonlight, letting it absorb the moon’s essence.
He went back to bed as dawn approached. Xu Xiaoyan didn’t come looking for him this morning.
Unlike him, the three Evil Lotus factions only knew his “hooked-nose” appearance was a disguise, but they didn’t know his true face.
But the Moon Lotus Pavilion knew her real identity. If they were cooperating with the other two factions, then they would all know what she looked like.
In that case, it was safer for her to stay put.
He hadn’t been asleep long when he heard a knock on the door next door, followed by a woman’s voice he didn’t recognize, “Xiao Yan? Xiao Yan?”
Then, the sound of the door opening, and Xu Xiaoyan’s surprised voice, “Sister Jing Ya? Yan’er said you weren’t in Dàxīng City.”
The woman said, “I just returned last night. Yan’er left me a message, so I came to see you first thing this morning. Xiao Yan, it’s been so long. You’ve grown so much.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “You’ve changed a lot too, Sister Jing Ya.”
The woman, Jing Ya, said softly, “Yan’er said you brought a… friend. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Xu Xiaoyan snorted, “Don’t listen to her nonsense. He’s just a friend.”
Shi Hao got up, put on his Daoist robe, and opened the door. A woman in her early twenties was talking with Xu Xiaoyan. They both looked at him as he emerged.
From their conversation earlier, Shi Hao knew this was Li Jingya, an older sister figure to both Xu Xiaoyan and Chen Yan’er, who had married a scholar surnamed Zhao.
They now lived in Dàxīng City, her husband working as the chief accountant for the Brocade Dragon Gate, one of the three gangs and six societies.
Since she was Xu Xiaoyan’s “sister,” Shi Hao bowed respectfully, “Shi Chongyun greets Madam.”
Li Jingya smiled, returning the gesture, “There’s no need for formalities, sir. I heard about your impressive victory over Kou Deqiu yesterday, shortly after arriving in Dàxīng. Seeing you today, your reputation precedes you. No wonder Xiao Yan, usually so independent, is now…”
Xu Xiaoyan tugged at her arm, “Sister Jing Ya, it’s only been three years. Why have you become so talkative, like Yan’er?”
Li Jingya chuckled, “It’s just… surprising to see you with a man.”
Xu Xiaoyan changed the subject, “Where’s Yan’er? Why did she let you come alone?”
Li Jingya said, “My husband is in the main hall, discussing Floating Cloud Monastery joining the Brocade Dragon Gate with the abbot. Yan’er is serving tea. I haven’t seen you in so long, so I asked for directions and came to see you.”
Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “Floating Cloud Monastery joining the Brocade Dragon Gate?”
Li Jingya quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand, sir. The Brocade Dragon Gate has no intention of absorbing Floating Cloud Monastery. Since you’re new to Dàxīng City, you might not know, although we’re one of the three gangs and six societies, we’re different from the other gangs.
“The Brocade Dragon Gate is essentially a trade association, a collective of artisans and craftsmen. We’re responsible for constructing stages and floats for festivals, creating fireworks, and handling arrangements for important events for the prominent families and gangs in Dàxīng City. We also create the dragon and flower lanterns for New Year’s and the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“Since we’re just a trade association, we rarely get involved in conflicts, but…”
Shi Hao smiled, “In these times, without the ability to defend yourself, your business will be taken by others. And with such a large and profitable business, it’s natural for other gangs to be envious.”
Li Jingya sighed softly, “Exactly! Especially recently, with all the gangs expanding their territory, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for smaller sects and organizations to remain independent. We have no choice but to unite them under the Brocade Dragon Gate’s banner.
“This not only strengthens our numbers and influence, but also offers them protection. Other gangs will think twice before attacking us.”
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