1089: What are you hiding?
1089: What are you hiding?
The air around Yang Qing shifted subtly after the statent, but his steady movents with the tea remained uninterrupted.
A brief silence followed, neither Yang Qing nor Fan i speaking, as the forr focused on finishing the brewing process.
Only when he was satisfied that the tea t his exacting standards did he finally look up.
“It’s done,” he said, his tone and expression devoid of the playfulness they held earlier.
“Thank you,” Fan i replied with a slight nod of gratitude.
“The paynt…” Yang Qing began as he took his seat.
“Is it for him, or is it a last will?” he asked.
“A last will,” Fan i answered, her smile tinged with bitterness.
“Figures,” Yang Qing murmured, as if he’d already expected the response.
“What do you think his chances are?” he asked suddenly.
“Who can say with these things?” Fan i replied.
“It’s the domain realm.
We both know anything can happen.
Talent, preparation, foundation—while they play a role…
in the end…” She paused, her gaze growing distant.
“Luck is the ultimate deciding factor,” she finished with a sigh.
“That is true,” Yang Qing said, his voice almost a whisper.
Whether it was the weight of their exchange or the unspoken thoughts lingering between them, the air in the office grew heavy.
Even with the calming scents of spirit-rejuvenation and spirit-calming incense wafting through the room, the atmosphere felt oppressive, like the silent aftermath of tragic news.
And in a way, it was.
For every cultivator about to face the domain realm tribulation, they were counted as dead long before the ordeal began.
The fatality rate was staggering, and no matter how much hope one held for soone about to confront it, an undeniable truth echoed in the back of everyone’s mind: “This person might die.” That thought wasn’t a faint whisper easily ignored.
It was a relentless boom, shaking the hearts of both the one facing the tribulation and those who cared for them.
Because of the tribulation’s harrowing nature, those about to face it often followed two—perhaps three—standard practices.
The first was to exhaust every possible asure to improve their chances of survival.
This ant expending vast quantities of resources to strengthen themselves, resources specifically tailored to deepen their understanding of the Grand Dao.
One of the greatest drains on a cultivator’s resources—often enough to leave them penniless—ca during major breakthroughs, especially into higher realms like the domain realm.
The process required imnse amounts of resources, whether to refine their strength further or to prepare for the tribulation.
Preparations could include setting up formation arrays to safeguard themselves from outside interference or to contain the tribulation’s destructive effects.
It was an expensive endeavor in every sense.
Alternatively, so cultivators chose a different path.
Instead of using resources to bolster their own chances, they would amass as much wealth and material as possible before the tribulation—but not for themselves.
These resources would be left behind for their descendants, whether children, family, or clan, to ensure they had sothing to rely on in the event of failure.
It was preparation for the worst-case scenario.
From the countless accounts Yang Qing had read, particularly those written by cultivators preparing for breakthroughs to the domain realm, most seed to lean toward this second approach.
They gave away their wealth and possessions, choosing to unburden themselves before facing the tribulation.
So did it to preserve their legacy, others to secure a safety net for their families, and so as a way to repay debts.
For a few, it was about entering the tribulation untethered and free of attachnts, hoping this freedom might improve their odds of survival.
All who faced such trials ultimately fell into one of these two camps, and it seed Fan i’s contact had opted for the second.
“Who is it for?” Yang Qing asked.
“His wife and two children,” she replied.
“Do you know anything about their situation?” Yang Qing pressed further.
Fan i raised a brow, briefly curious about the question, but answered anyway.
“His wife is a core formation realm expert, middle stage, and an alchemist specializing in healing,” Fan i said.
“That’s how the two t.
As for the children, they’re twins—two girls, both at the early stages of the core formation realm.
One takes after her mother and is also an alchemist, but the other…” She paused, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
“The other?” Yang Qing prompted, his curiosity piqued by her reaction.
“The other is a cook,” Fan i finally said, smiling and shaking her head as a mory surfaced.
She could still picture the girl’s father ranting for nearly an hour about his daughter’s choice.
“I take it the father doesn’t agree,” Yang Qing said, filling in the gaps from her expression.
“It’s not that he doesn’t agree,” Fan i replied with a knowing smile.
“It’s more that he’s jealous—envious, really—that neither of his children took after him.” “That’s as good a reason as any,” Yang Qing said with a laugh.
The mood lightened slightly, though the somber undertone still lingered like an unseen shadow.
“And their father, that rogue cultivator…” Yang Qing’s tone shifted as he leaned forward slightly.
“What do you make of him as a person?” “A person?” Fan i asked, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
“Do you an in relation to the job or sothing else?” “No, not in relation to the commission,” Yang Qing clarified.
“Just in general—human to human.
What’s your impression of him from your interactions?
Is he soone worth befriending?” “Why do you ask?” Fan i decided to be direct, opting not to dance around Yang Qing’s intentions “If he accepts the commission…” Yang Qing began, his voice quieter now.
“Regardless of the fact that we’re paying him, this is soone with one foot in the grave and the other in the land of the living.
Taking this job won’t be the sa as soone else taking it.
For soone like him, with his ability and the sword hanging over his head, it’s a sacrifice in a way—a sacrifice to help us.” Yang Qing clasped his hands together.
“So I need to know what kind of person he is, so I can decide how far I’m willing to go to repay that favor.” Fan i’s eyes flickered in surprise at Yang Qing’s remark.
“What a conflicting and conscientious person… No wonder he’s always in troubleso situations, only to complain about them.
A truly interesting person indeed,” she mused, a smile crossing her face.
Her eyes glimred briefly before she quickly masked it with calm composure.
“I’d say…” Fan i paused, holding her chin thoughtfully.
“There’s not much I can say about him since most of my interactions have been within these four walls.” She gestured around with her quill.
“And from what I’ve read in reports,” she continued, “but based on those interactions and what I’ve read, one thing I can say about him is that he’s loyal—bordering on obstinate.
There’s a reason he’s well-regarded in the rogue cultivating community and has cultivated so many friendships and favors.” She lowered the quill, eting Yang Qing’s gaze.
“He’s dependable, which is why I thought of him imdiately for this case.” “Does that answer your question?” she asked.
“It does.
Thanks, Sister Fan i, for humoring ,” Yang Qing said with a light smile.
“No problem.
It’s what I’m here for,” Fan i replied, returning his smile.
“How long will it take you to arrange everything?” “Preparing the contract won’t take more than a few minutes.
It’s getting them signed that’ll take ti, but even then, it shouldn’t take more than 12 hours before all parties are here,” Fan i answered after briefly calculating the tiline.
“Good.
Please let know when they arrive.
I should have gathered more clues by then, hopefully, so they’ll have sothing to work with,” Yang Qing said, his thoughts briefly flashing to Bai Chen’s soul lantern.
At the top of his priority list was deciphering the nature of the yin qi he had detected in Bai Chen’s and Jiang Hao’s soul lanterns.
The sooner he identified it, the better prepared they’d be moving forward.
Yang Qing ironed out a few more details with Fan i before finally leaving her office.
He set off toward the Administration Hall to pick up Ming Wa.
…
Outside Silver Cloud Pavilion “You will be staying here for the ti being.
If you need anything, you can reach via the token I’ve just handed to you,” Yang Qing said to Ming Wa, who stood beside him outside one of the pavilion’s gates.
The Silver Cloud Pavilion was one of many inns within the Order’s compound that catered to outsiders—and even mbers of the Order, should they choose to stay—and it would serve as Ming Wa’s temporary residence.
“How long do I need to stay here?” Ming Wa asked, grievance seeping into her tone.
“Not too sure…” Yang Qing answered whimsically, touching his chin thoughtfully.
“Maybe until you tell what it is you’re keeping to yourself—and why you think the disappearance of the flying ferry and the rest has sothing to do with you,” he added, casting a aningful look at the now flustered Ming Wa.
“I don’t know what you an,” Ming Wa replied, trying to feign ignorance as she turned her head away to avoid eye contact with Yang Qing.
“I saw your reaction…” Yang Qing said slowly.
“When we were discussing the ship’s disappearance, I saw your face and your body’s reaction.
You may try to hide it, but your body doesn’t do too good a job at it.” “What are you hiding?
Who are you running from, Ming Wa?”
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