I heard a handful of knowledge from Old Qin.
It started with basic things, such as his close friends, and the villages around this land, before he diverged into a non-stop session of his journey throughout the Jianghu.
'For a man who considered himself a "humble doctor", he really had lots to boast about.'
Well, the most surprising thing to me is how I can understand him.. It's not like I learned any Chinese in my past life, or at least that's what I assume it to be.
"Hey, are you still listening?"
He had noticed me dozing off into my own thoughts before I snapped back keeping a straight posture.
"Yeah, keep going. A lot of this is about your personal life, what about the big stuff I was talking about?"
Aiyahhh..
A cold sigh escaped from Old Qin's mouth as he shook his head in disapproval.
"Kids these days really don't know how to respect their elders.. especially after I helped you make a great leap in your abilities!"
"I thought that was only you paying me back for stopping those two.."
He looked at me with surprise.
"If I can force your cultivation to open.. you don't think I couldn't actually handle those two? It's called deception. Those kids needed to know their place so I was setting them up."
I gulped.
"So, the necklace.."
"Of course I still value it! Fine, let's move on to what you want to hear."
He began by explaining the question I had most wanted to hear.
"To put it, there are the five great sects. One of them, as I mentioned before, is the 'Big Rice Sect." It may sound ridiculous, but back when I was affiliated with them, they were the third-rated Sect of Yunchuan (云川)."
He took a pause, preparing himself to regain those memories.
"Despite being only number three, their martial prowess was unimaginable. For a sect full of disciples who only ate rice for meals, their motto was, 'Kill without mercy. (杀无赦)'"
I turned to him, excitedly.
"Why didn't you just say you were a big shot back in the day! You know their Vice Leader right?"
Old Qin looked annoyed.
"Weren't you listening to what I was saying at all? I said I 'by chance' got to work with him. He was a fearsome warrior whose name was passed around all over the west, wielding a single 'Jian' (Sword) to the battlefield. Despite that, he was always worth one thousand men."
. . .
"Then doesn't that mean.. the sect leader is.."
"No."
"He has never shown his face before."
What..?
"That's right. A man of unknown origins. They call him the 'Nameless.' (无名)"
He lightly chuckled.
"Even in a world where kins of dragons exist, he is still the most mysterious man."
Then, just as things were beginning to be good, Old Qin stood up.
"I think it's time.."
He reached for his waist, realizing his wine gourd wasn't there anymore.
"For me to go.."
I stood up with him.
"Wait, but aren't you going to tell me more?"
He arched his back, cracking it.
"I don't have all the time in the day! If you want answers, find them yourself. Following along this trail and go north to enter the city. It's going to be a big sign, saying '佛慈 Fuoci City.'
And with that, he left me all alone again.