Chapter Ninety: Breaking Through to the Celestial Realm, a Losing Bargain

Han Chong’s heart stirred, and he instinctively probed his own cultivation. He was astonished to discover that in the night of unconsciousness after slaying the Iron Shark Demon Marshal, his martial cultivation had, through the blood-draining feedback of the Bloodshadow Serpent, advanced with effortless smoothness to the very peak of the Innate Realm, just one step away from the Heaven-Human Realm.

He returned to his room and sat cross-legged, circulating the innate true energy within his dantian in a steady cycle, waiting only for it to merge with his flesh and blood. At that point, he would break into the Heaven-Human Realm.

Mi Ling came three times a day to request an audience, but the doors to all three rooms remained tightly shut. As a result, two sword masters were arranged to guard the courtyard, ensuring no one disturbed them. Thus three days passed.

The first to emerge was Leng Yue; half a day later, Ming Zhen followed. The two ate a little in the courtyard afterward, then one chanted scriptures while the other sat in silence, lost in thought.

A breeze drifted by. Then came a faint inward pull, and at first neither of them noticed anything unusual.

After more than a dozen breaths, the wind grew stronger, until even a small whirlwind began to sweep through the courtyard. Their expressions shifted, and both turned toward Han Chong’s room.

Gradually, the doors and windows of the room began to open and close in a steady rhythm, while fierce gusts, accompanied by surging waves of blazing heat, roiled without cease.

Inside, Han Chong sat upright on the couch. A layer of white true energy clung to his body, rising and falling like mist, making him seem almost otherworldly. Beneath his skin, innate true energy coursed like dragons’ tendons plowing through the earth.

After a long while, the true energy on his body suddenly flowed back inward. Han Chong could not help but let out a low cry that rang for a mile around. The instant he opened his eyes, two threads of force shot out, punching twin tiny holes through the floor tiles.

He steadied his breathing, rose, and stepped outside.

Footsteps sounded, and Elder Mi hurried into the courtyard first, followed closely by the Mi clan members.

“General Han, are you perhaps both a martial and an immortal cultivator? I clearly sensed that the cry just now was made by someone possessing extremely formidable innate internal force!” Elder Mi asked in shock.

“That’s right. I had nothing else to do, so I practiced my martial arts for a bit. I’ve troubled everyone,” Han Chong said with a smile, cupping his hands.

“Hiss!” The Mi clansmen drew in a sharp breath. Had nothing else to do? Practiced a bit?

If Han Chong had not already been in his thirties in appearance because his lifespan had sharply dwindled, they might all have been too ashamed to show their faces.

In general, a martial practitioner began training at the age of ten. To reach the ranks of a first-rate postnatal expert before the age of twenty already marked one as elite; to enter the Innate Realm before thirty could be called the mark of a prodigy; and to achieve the Heaven-Human Realm before forty was enough to make one a renowned hero of a region.

Yet Han Chong was clearly a highly accomplished qi refiners, and to think that he had also achieved such heights in martial cultivation was truly enough to make others envy him to death.

“Ha-ha, good. I, an old man, congratulate General Han on his great increase in power. Your future is beyond measure. Come, all three of you, please join us in the reception hall for a small gathering,” said Elder Mi with a hearty laugh.

“Thank you, Elder Mi. However, the situation in Qiongzhou is critical, and the three of us must hurry there. We have already delayed three days, so we should take our leave now,” Han Chong replied with a polite shake of his head.

“Hm.” The sword masters all felt deep admiration for Han Chong’s steadfast heart, unmoved by outside temptations. No wonder he had such achievements.

“Very well. General Han serves the nation and the people without sparing himself; this old man greatly admires that. I shall not keep you.

“However, I hope you will allow my grandson, Mi Ling, to accompany you. First, he may gain some experience by following General Han. Second, if there is ever anything the Heavenly Sword Manor can do, please feel free to command us.

“Soon, I too shall summon the sword practitioners of the world and swear to eradicate every last remnant of the Iron Shark Gang in Qiongzhou, so that the common people of Qiongzhou may have peace once more!”

“That would be splendid indeed. I wish Elder Mi success from the first banner raised. If anything is needed, you may send someone to the provincial office to find me. Whatever command you give, I shall do my utmost to fulfill. Farewell!”

“Farewell. General Han, take care!” Mi Tianjian led the clan members in seeing Han Chong and the others off as they left the manor.

...

Two hundred li outside the manor, in a teahouse by the roadside.

“Senior Han, what are your plans next?” Mi Ling asked curiously.

“Heh. The day before yesterday, after hearing your grandfather speak, I learned that serious cases have been occurring frequently in Qiongzhou. I’ve thought a great deal about it and decided it would be best not to reveal our identities for now, but to travel in disguise and keep a low profile.”

“Travel in disguise?” Leng Yue and Ming Zhen both looked puzzled and curious.

“The major cases in Qiongzhou revolve mainly around grain, silk, and salt, and they involve officials, merchants, and commoners alike. When we enter Qiongzhou City this time, we shall pose as merchants. I’d like to see what methods those greedy officials and wealthy tycoons have.”

“Senior Han, what a brilliant idea! Disguising ourselves as merchants will let us investigate the grain, silk, and salt channels, interact with officials, merchants, and common folk alike, and avoid drawing attention. Truly an ingenious plan.” Mi Ling marveled, clearly very interested.

Then he gaped even more in amazement as Han Chong, in the blink of an eye, transformed into the appearance of a stout and prosperous merchant, clad in a golden cloak, his eyes gleaming with shrewd commercial calculation. He was the very picture of a slippery profiteer.

Leng Yue could not help but press her lips together in a smile, before quickly resuming her frosty elegance. Ming Zhen stared curiously at Han Chong’s face, seemingly trying to uncover some clue to this art of disguise, but after looking for a long while, he found nothing at all.

“Senior Han, you really are extraordinary. Mi Ling is utterly convinced.”

“Ahem! From today onward, the three of you shall address me as Shopkeeper Jin. Miss Leng shall be my precious jewel, Ming Zhen my distant nephew, and Young Master Mi, you shall serve as my personal bodyguard.”

Han Chong coughed lightly and spoke with a smile that was half serious, half teasing.

“Understood! Shopkeeper Jin.” The three of them cupped their hands and answered in unison.

Hiring a carriage, Han Chong sat inside it while the group traveled to the west gate of Qiongzhou City.

As expected of a vast city famed for its wealth, Qiongzhou City had deep moats and towering walls. Before the gate, traffic surged like a river, and along both the land and water routes stood checkpoints manned by a hundred soldiers each.

...

“What? An entry tax of two taels of silver?” A cry of alarm rose near the city gate, and the four of them heard it plainly.

A peddler carrying two loads of silk cocoons was being inspected, his face a picture of disbelief.

“Officer, my two loads of silk cocoons would at best fetch two taels and five mace if sold well. If business is poor, I might not even get two taels. Please show some mercy and charge a little less for the entry tax. I’ll even bring you a jug of fine sorghum liquor later.”

“Enough nonsense. You dare openly bribe a government officer? Have you tired of living? Pay up. If you have no silver, then get as far away as you can.”

The crooked-mouthed clerk at the gate snapped at him.

The peddler lowered his head in utter dejection, sighed miserably, hoisted his load, and turned to leave.

“Xiao Mi, buy those silk cocoons from the peddler for three taels of silver, and hire him to follow us into the city,” Han Chong said, lifting the carriage curtain and handing out a silver ingot.

“Yes, obeying the shopkeeper’s orders.” Mi Ling froze. Were they starting business already?

But he had heard clearly enough that those two loads of silk cocoons would at most sell for two taels and five mace. Buying them for three taels would mean taking a loss, wouldn’t it?

The peddler was stopped by Mi Ling and told that the silk cocoons would be bought for three taels. He, too, thought he had run into a madman, until Mi Ling produced the silver and tossed it to him. Only then did he believe it was real.

Once Mi Ling’s foolish purchase of silk cocoons for three taels spread, the several hundred peddlers waiting in line to enter the city immediately descended into chaos. Since the heavens and the earth were first opened, none of them had ever encountered such a good thing.

In an instant, no one was willing to remain in the queue. Instead, they crowded around Han Chong’s carriage, shouting and competing to sell their wares.

After Han Chong handed over another hundred taels in gold and silver, Mi Ling finally felt full of confidence.

He ordered the peddlers to line up properly, one by one, and bought all of their goods, hiring them all to enter the city together.