# Chapter 180: The Past
Jiang Wang was quite exasperated.
From the moment they entered the residence, Chongxuan Sheng hadn't let go of his hand.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with showing respect to capable people, demonstrating closeness and intimacy.
Chongxuan Sheng had no choice but to make such a show. Even though he and Jiang Wang were already on such good terms, there would be no shortage of people trying to secretly approach Jiang Wang.
And if he and Jiang Wang appeared even slightly distant, the line of poachers would probably stretch all the way outside Heavenly Treasury City.
This was a future divine-power Inner Prefecture cultivator! Across the entire world, such a person was an undisputed powerhouse—a regional lord!
Chongxuan Sheng had to extinguish those people's dirty ideas. He didn't even mind if they harbored dirty misunderstandings.
So he gripped Jiang Wang's hand even tighter.
Let them misunderstand however they wanted!
"Old Jiang, you've done me an enormous favor! Before we entered the Heavenly Treasury Secret Realm, we agreed—if we failed, that would be the end of it, no more talk. But if we succeeded, we'd celebrate lavishly and share the fortune!"
Chongxuan Sheng's saliva flew as he spoke. "Cultivation techniques, secret arts, wealth, beauties—whatever you want, just name it!"
"First, let go of my hand."
"Ha ha ha." Chongxuan Sheng felt no embarrassment at all. He insisted on pulling Jiang Wang to the banquet seat before releasing him. "Before, we had to prepare for the Heavenly Treasury Secret Realm—on edge every day, walking on eggshells. I didn't have time to properly host you. Come, try the finest cuisine of Great Qi!"
The entire courtyard was now decorated with colorful streamers, brightly lit, presenting a scene of prosperity.
However, if one noticed Shisi's solemn, silent gaze by the door, one might truly grasp the meaning behind Chongxuan Sheng's words—"walking on eggshells."
Who knew if today's lavish feast wouldn't tomorrow become withered flowers?
The dishes on the table weren't numerous, but each was exquisite, with unique flavors.
Among them, Jiang Wang's favorite was the Five-Flavor Dried Meat—exceptional in taste, with a wonderfully rich broth. It was said that the broth required separately crushing beef and mutton bones, simmering them to extract the juice, skimming off the foam, letting it settle until clear, and only then adding it to the dish.
As for the tea-based cuisine that the people of Qi were rather fond of, Jiang Wang wasn't particularly accustomed to it. So-called "tea cuisine" involved cooking with tea, which had an elegant quality—but it was hard to avoid the lingering astringent taste.
He thought: It's too bitter. An'an definitely wouldn't like it.
After several rounds of wine, Chongxuan Sheng brought up the old topic once more.
But perhaps because of the alcohol, his words now seemed more sincere, lacking that overly deliberate slickness: "You traveled thousands of miles to come to Qi and help me. Before entering the Heavenly Treasury Secret Realm, I even made you swear an oath under the Heart-Demon Curse. Brother, I handled that poorly. But the Heavenly Treasury Secret Realm was too important to me! I truly didn't dare take even the slightest risk!"
As he spoke, he leaned closer to Jiang Wang. "Brother Jiang, please state your demands, so I can show my gratitude. Otherwise, I'll truly feel terrible about it."
Jiang Wang shook his head. "There's no need to thank me again. The divine-power Inner Prefecture itself is already my reward. You owe me nothing."
Only Jiang Wang and Chongxuan Sheng sat at the table for the banquet. Shisi stood like a statue outside the door, silent and still. Always armored, always ready to fight.
If Chongxuan Sheng were to speak from the heart—Chongxuan Zun might have the luxury of relaxing, even indulging. But Chongxuan Sheng? When had he ever had the luxury of "celebrating lavishly"?
Now he had merely earned the资格 to stand before Chongxuan Zun.
All the ostentation displayed now and in the near future was nothing more than a performance he had to put on.
He had to project confidence, or he couldn't win anyone's belief.
In a family like the Chongxuan clan, the battle for succession was as fierce as the politics of any small nation.
"Brother Jiang, I won't speak empty words. I've now opened up the situation, but the circumstances remain difficult. I have few people I can trust, and I'm desperate for talent! Especially someone like you. I hope you'll condescend to become my retainer and help me!"
"You said you want to travel the world and temper your cultivation. But within the Chongxuan clan, standing by my side, you'll encounter even more numerous and fiercer challenges! Whether it's Chongxuan Zun or Wang Yiwu, they're both first-rate geniuses! When you spar with them, why would you need to wander the world?"
"And I'll fully guarantee your cultivation resources!"
This fat man was eloquent indeed, turning negatives into positives and danger into opportunity.
But in truth, for Jiang Wang, it didn't seem so bad.
Seeing Jiang Wang still hesitating, Chongxuan Sheng added, "You mentioned before that something happened in your hometown and you don't want to go back for now. You didn't want to say what, so I didn't ask. Although you'd be my retainer in name, I consider you a friend. If one day you need my help, no matter how far—thousands of miles away—I'll be there without hesitation!"
Helping Chongxuan Sheng explore the Heavenly Treasury Secret Realm could be considered a straightforward transaction. If he left now, there would be no problem at all. Chongxuan Zun's faction wouldn't trouble him either.
But once he became Chongxuan Sheng's retainer and truly participated in the competition between Chongxuan Sheng and Chongxuan Zun, he would undoubtedly be drawn into some of the most dangerous vortexes in all of Qi.
The risk was undeniably great, but the rewards were also considerable.
First, there were the resources Chongxuan Sheng himself could provide. Jiang Wang was currently destitute—no sect, no backing. Traveling the world alone meant nothing more than one person, one sword, and access to the Great Void Illusion. He needed resources.
Second, he needed a power base. Whether facing the White Bone Path or the Zhuang court, unless he could ascend to the pinnacle in a single step and become a one-man nation, he could never achieve revenge alone.
If he could help Chongxuan Sheng secure the position of Chongxuan clan heir, then the power Chongxuan Sheng wielded could also be used for his purposes. Of course, this was the most difficult goal to achieve—but it was also what tempted him the most.
With this thought, Jiang Wang stopped deliberating and said directly, "I came to Qi because I trust you. I help you today, and when the day comes that I need your help at your door, don't turn me away."
"If you ask, I will answer!" Chongxuan Sheng pledged solemnly.
The wine cups clinked together, both making the sound of youth.
...
...
The Chen Kingdom.
In the Valley of No Return.
A stream babbled. A yellow dog lay idly. Chicks pecked at grain.
The woman wearing a featureless mask descended before the stream and casually tossed a person in front of the small hut, as casually as throwing down a lump of trash.
She called out, "Old man! Old man!"
From within the wooden hut came an ancient roar, surprisingly full of vigor: "Who are you calling old man? No respect for your elders, no sense of propriety! Your boss here is in the prime of his life!"
The woman muttered under her breath, "Damn it, at least he heard that clearly enough."
She strode forward and shouted, "Back then you insisted on cooperating with the White Bone Path. Now the White Bone Path is gone—even Ouyang Lie doesn't have a single bone left! Who do I go to now?"
The old man dawdled for a while before shuffling out of the hut, slowly yawning, and then saying, "What White Bone Path?"
The woman had long since resigned herself to her fate and continued loudly, "That skeleton cult! They had an elder who was always rolling his eyes!"
"Ha ha ha, you fool, Yanzi! That wasn't rolling his eyes—that was the Innate Nether Eye!"
The woman fought back the veins bulging on her forehead. "The point is, Xiong Wen is dead. You told me to go check! The entire Fenglin City domain is trapped in the gap between the Netherworld and the mortal realm. There are no clues! I just grabbed someone from outside the domain at random."
"A sigh." The white-haired elder waved his hand. "He's dead. What's there to see?"
"You told me to go look."
His voice dropped inexplicably low.
Even someone as slow-witted as this white-haired elder felt a chill.
He couldn't help but shrink his neck and change the subject. "Who is this person?"
"Don't know. Don't recognize. Just grabbed him at random." The woman was no longer angry. She was now making her statement with the expression of someone who had abandoned all hope.
But after all, the person opposite her was her boss—the leader of the Nine Great Human Demons.
She couldn't help but add another sentence: "He's probably the only living person left in the entire Fenglin City domain."
"Oh. Then let him stay." The old man's reaction was indifferent.
"Just search his soul and ask a few questions, then let him go. Why keep him? He's taken the Blood Returning Pill. His foundation is already ruined. Unless he dissolves his meridians and starts over."
"Then let him start over." The old man said calmly. "Forget about searching his soul. He's too weak to know anything."
"The pain of reconstructing his Dao meridians—can someone like him bear it? I wouldn't hold my breath."
"Don't underestimate the power of hatred."
"And don't underestimate the power of uselessness. Some useless people, no matter how you push them, will never have any strength." The woman seemed to have deeper meaning in her words.
The old man appeared not to understand. He simply sighed. "Let's try it for now. Sigh, Xiaohu's position needs someone to fill it."
"Boss, Xiaohu has been dead for a very, very long time! The last Ninth Human Demon was Xiaoxiong! Ah呸—Xiong Wen!"
The white-haired elder had already crouched beside the person lying on the ground, seemingly not noticing the woman's words. He asked, "What's this person's condition?"
"Oh, he seems to be insane."
The woman kicked the person on the ground with her foot.
The person suddenly rolled over and shouted, "I'm not useless! I'm not useless!"
His eyes were vacant, his expression manic.
The old man simply waved his hand before the person's eyes, and he calmed down.
"Not completely mad. Just a temporary breakdown from the shock. Easy enough to fix."
The woman shook her head. She had no interest in such matters. "Then, I'll leave him with you and be going."
"Yanzi."
The old man turned to look back as he spoke, but the woman had already vanished.
Truly swift and decisive.
He couldn't help but slap his own forehead. "What was I going to say again?"
"Oh well."
It seemed as though there was nothing in this world that truly concerned him.
Nothing that couldn't be "let go" or "forgotten."
He slowly turned around, staring blankly for a long moment, lost in thought.
The old yellow dog lying at the door suddenly barked once.
The old man seemed to snap back to awareness.
He looked down at the vacant person on the ground and extended a wrinkled, bony finger, tapping once on his forehead.
The person stiffened for a moment, and the vacant look in his eyes gradually came alive.
Resentment, hatred, grief, suffering—as if all emotions were crammed together, appearing in those tormented eyes.
"Boy, what's your name?"
"Fang... Fang... Heling!"