Envious Fish Hermitage hadn't always attracted so many cultivators, it was originally a quiet resting place, mostly frequented by ordinary people.
But after last night's spectacle, the Martial Saint Pavilion's ambush, the ritual sacrifice of severed heads, the appearance of the Dragon King, an event so eye-catching that word spread like wildfire, a great many cultivators had arrived, eager to see with their own eyes the aftermath at the Eastern Court Lake, and to find out: who exactly is Chen Kuang?
Some came to join the fun, others were tasked with gathering information.
As a result, every private room and every detached pavilion in the Envious Fish Hermitage was now fully occupied by cultivators with various motives.
Now, hearing the commotion outside, the guests began poking their heads out or simply walking out the door, hoping to gather more details.
When the crowd saw that Chen Kuang had been ranked fifteenth on the Canglang Evaluation, many pupils instantly contracted, each person wearing a different expression.
Most of these cultivators were local to Jishao Prefecture in the Liang Kingdom, and knew each other well. After the initial shock, they eagerly began discussing Chen Kuang's background and deeds.
...
Some argued over the origins of the events:
"I heard Chen Kuang was from the Chen family at the southern dock. That fool Fan Hailong targeted the family and brought disaster on himself."
"Which Chen family?"
"Nonsense. That Chen family only has one son and one daughter. Both lived in Jishao Prefecture for ten years. I never heard of anyone named Chen Kuang. Just because they share the surname doesn't mean they're related."
"Exactly. It was the Martial Saint Pavilion that struck first, trying to collude with local forces to kill Chen Kuang. In the end, they only pissed him off and got wiped out!"
"In my opinion, what he did was a good thing! All the local tyrants and clans in Jishao Prefecture are talking about erecting a shrine in his honor! But too bad, I doubt he'll show his face again…"
"Even if he does show up, what? You think the Martial Saint Pavilion wouldn't dare strike again?"
"Why wouldn't they? The Pavilion isn't just for show. You think they only have two Moon-Embracing Realm experts? Chen Kuang was too bold. Instead of fleeing Jishao Prefecture, he stayed and fought, what a foolish move!"
"The Canglang Evaluation says he took down three Moon-Embracing Realm experts, two dead, one wounded. Tsk tsk. Even for the Pavilion, that's a heavy loss."
"His cultivation must be insanely deep. I remember people saying his strength was fake, all propped up by Huo Hengxuan's secret arts. I bet no one dares say that now."
"What kind of secret art lets you kill two Moon-Embracing Realm cultivators and not explode from the backlash? If that's real, I'll chop off my own head and stuff it in a latrine."
Then the topic quickly turned to his cultivation level:
"Last time, the Canglang Evaluation guessed he was at the Sea-Cleaving Realm. I think that was conservative, he might be at the Moon-Embracing Realm already."
"But this update didn't change his cultivation rank, so maybe he does have other tricks, just not as outrageous as people think."
"True. Back then, even Shen Xingzhu could kill Moon-Embracing Realm cultivators while still at the Sea-Cleaving Realm."
"Tsk… does that mean Chen Kuang really carries the same momentum Shen Xingzhu had when she first appeared?"
"No way! One Shen Xingzhu was already enough to make everyone else feel like trash. If there's another, how do we even live?"
"He has talent, sure, but it's not like the Martial Saint Pavilion will let him go. His movements are exposed now, and the Zhou Dynasty's people will act soon. Plus, the ones he killed weren't nobodies."
"Those trying to kill him must be lining up by now… Whether he can even leave the Liang Kingdom alive is uncertain."
"But still, killing three Moon-Embracing Realms and only ranked fifteenth? That's a bit low. He deserves top ten."
"Both battles were sudden, and few people actually witnessed them. With insufficient intel, the Canglang Evaluation has to play it safe."
...
The opinions were mixed, but most were pessimistic.
After all, cultivators knew full well how terrifying the Martial Saint Pavilion was. And since the ones Chen Kuang killed were the Martial Saint's own disciples, even if they had to mobilize an army, the Pavilion would make sure he died.
Still, some believed that a genius like Chen Kuang had the power to defy fate.
Soon, the discussion became so heated that people were red in the face, barely holding back from fighting each other. If it weren't for fear of offending the Envious Fish Hermitage's mysterious owner, they probably would have started swinging already.
After all, Chen Kuang had been bold enough to lay hands on Fan Chuan, son of Fan Hailong, precisely because Qi Sibai had connections to the Hermitage's owner.
Even cultivators, it seemed, had a thirst for gossip.
The cultivator who had first unfurled the ranking list quickly rolled up the scroll again. Narrowing his eyes, he suddenly grinned and shouted:
"Since everyone's in the mood, why not place some bets?"
"We won't bet on much, just one thing: Will Chen Kuang live to leave the Liang Kingdom?"
"Well? Who's in?"
The crowd exchanged glances… and nodded.
"Alright," one of the loudest debaters stepped forward. "How do we bet?"
The cultivator on the high ground explained:
"Let's have the Envious Fish Hermitage's owner serve as the notary. Everyone wagers one item of their choice. We'll appraise their value and settle winnings accordingly. Win or lose, it's your own risk."
The group was still riding the high of the excitement as they began taking out valuable items as wagers.
Some higher-ranked cultivators even tossed in some low-tier Spiritual Treasures, turning up the heat even more.
With the Hermitage's owner overseeing the wagers, no one worried about theft or foul play.
After all, most of them planned to stay in Jishao Prefecture until the bet was resolved.
Meanwhile…
The man everyone was gambling over, Chen Kuang, had already quietly left the Envious Fish Hermitage after bidding farewell to Lin Eryou and Zhou Yanwei.
On one thing, the crowd was right: his location was no longer secret.
Even if the Martial Saint Pavilion didn't act right away, Ji Chengtian would lose patience soon enough.
Especially now that the Northern Defense Line had fallen, rather than backing off, Ji Chengtian would become even more desperate.
Chen Kuang had to leave as soon as possible.
The Mist-Flower Silk could hide his appearance, but it couldn't fool divination arts. Last time, he escaped detection only because his senior brother had directly teleported him to the Eastern Court Lake.
Now that his general location had been exposed, it was only a matter of time before his exact whereabouts were divined.
The sooner he moved, the better.
He only hoped… that his senior brother could shield him once more.
...
After Chen Kuang left, the betting session eventually dispersed.
The cultivator overseeing the wagers was still shouting, trying to collect some final bets.
"What's the holdup? Come on, folks, just having a bit of fun. Even if you lose, it's no big deal!"
He sighed, then leaned closer and whispered:
"But if you ask me… Chen Kuang's more likely to escape alive."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
A warm, refined voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned toward the source.
The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe. His hair was bound with a square cloth cap, secured with a wooden hairpin.
His eyes drooped, his lips pursed, giving him a somewhat sour and pedantic air, like someone who might burst into a classical verse at any moment.
He gave off the aura of a cranky Confucian scholar. And yet, no one had noticed his presence before.
The man slowly walked forward and gently placed a branch of peach blossoms to the right.
It was late autumn and peach trees shouldn't be in bloom but the flowers were vibrant and fresh, as though plucked directly from springtime.
None of the nearby cultivators recognized him, though they sensed that his cultivation must be high.
If Chen Kuang were still present, he'd have recognized him instantly:
This was none other than Zhang Zhizhou, his acquaintance from the Great Void Illusion Realm, and Liberty Mountain's eldest senior disciple!
The scroll-holder cautiously asked:
"Fellow cultivator… are you placing a bet?"
"Of course."
Zhang Zhizhou smiled and tapped the paper in front of him.
Left for life. Right for death.
He placed the peach blossom on the right.
"I bet… he will die in Liang Kingdom. Chen Kuang cannot escape. Or rather, he cannot escape alive."
The scroll-holder stared, then frowned and picked up the peach blossom.
"We said wager something valuable. A flower? How am I supposed to appraise this?"
Zhang Zhizhou chuckled and spread his hands:
"Fine, then return it to me. But the bet still counts."
The cultivator tossed it back to him and left in a huff.
Just then, someone called out in surprise:
"Senior Brother?! What are you doing here?!"
Zhang Zhizhou turned to see Lin Eryou standing on a nearby balcony.
He laughed and saluted:
"Long time no see, Junior Brother."
Lin Eryou approached, returned the greeting, and eyed the flower:
"Why are you holding a Death Substitution Wood blossom?"
Zhang Zhizhou sighed.
"I encountered something interesting. I wanted to help someone avoid a deadly calamity. But… the other party refused."
He flicked his wrist and the peach blossom vanished.
Zhou Yanwei eyed the man curiously.
"This is your senior brother?"
Zhang Zhizhou looked him over and nodded.
"Pure heart. A good choice."
Zhou Yanwei's heart jolted.
Just one glance, and this man knew why Lin Eryou had chosen him?
This man… was no madman.
Lin Eryou smiled wryly:
"I wouldn't dare dishonor the Sage's favor with a poor choice."
Zhang Zhizhou chuckled:
"Naturally. The Sage's judgment is never wrong."
Then he added mysteriously:
"But this time, my pick will be better than yours!"
Lin Eryou was exasperated:
"What is it this time? A chicken? A toad? Surely not a grease thief?"
(Grease thief = cockroach)
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head solemnly.
"Do I look like someone that random?"
You absolutely do.. Lin Eryou muttered internally.
Then he asked, puzzled:
"I heard you went to the Liang Kingdom to serve as an official. What happened? Did you escape after it fell and find your candidate en route?"
Zhang Zhizhou scratched his head, grimacing.
"Don't remind me. I was this close to finding the person I needed, then got chopped down by some brute."
He looked shaken.
"If not for my Death Substitution Wood Divine Ability, I'd have died in the capital."
Lin Eryou's lips twitched:
"Which brute could manage that?"
Zhang Zhizhou wasn't easy to kill as his body was covered in peachwood clones. Even Lin Eryou didn't know his true strength.
Zhang replied:
"You know him too. Chen Kuang."
Lin Eryou: "…"
Great. It's always him.
This man just couldn't stop offending people.
He and Zhou Yanwei exchanged wry looks.
"So… how did you end up on bad terms?"
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head.
"We are not exactly enemies. Actually, it was my fault.. It's a long story."
Then he shut up, unwilling to elaborate.
Lin Eryou had long suspected that Zhang Zhizhou's involvement in the Liang Kingdom might be connected to its downfall.
So he probed:
"But why go there at all? You're not one to join a corrupt government."
Zhang Zhizhou looked surprised:
"Didn't I say?"
He squinted at the sky.
"I had a dream. A severed head told me:
'Destiny lies in Liang.'
A man will carry fate out of the imperial city."
...
Chen Residence, Main Hall.
The entire Chen family had gathered once more. This time, Chen Kuang was also present.
Standing silently behind him was Pei Xiu, a Grade B member of the Soil True Officials.
In Jishao Prefecture, all Soil True Officials now followed Pei Xiu's orders.
Chen Kuang turned to Chen An and said:
"From today on, Pei Xiu will assist you.
He'll help you gain a firm footing in the Canal Gang, and become its next leader."