Chapter Eleven: Tong Yi Pays a Visit

Black Panther Bar, once bustling, was now silent. The crowds and dazzling lights had vanished without a trace, for all the patrons had been cleared out. In their place stood over two hundred elite members of the Divine Blade Sect, each robust and fierce, surrounding the entrance to the bar’s secret door in tight layers, under the command of a scholarly man in glasses. The front line wielded firearms—mostly pistols, some long guns—while behind them gleamed sharp blades, and in the shadows, a powerful sniper rifle lay in wait. If not for the concern that a grand commotion might draw the attention of National Security, the bespectacled man would have summoned every member to turn the entire Prince’s Street into an impenetrable web, letting not even a fly escape.

Their vigilance was due to a mysterious master infiltrating the sect leader’s place of cultivation. Though Cheng Yang and Gao Chao were formidable in their own right—especially Cheng Yang—so much time had passed. Had the intruder been eliminated, there would surely have been some sign, but the deadliest concern now was the utter absence of any communication from within. The prospects seemed grim.

They could wait no longer; a forceful assault was the only option.

The scholarly man gritted his teeth, about to give the order, when footsteps echoed from behind the secret door—slow and deliberate, setting every nerve on edge. Countless hands gripped triggers and blades tighter, poised for lethal action.

“What are you doing, what are you doing! Put those away, you nearly scared me to death!”

Gao Chao, the young man known for his gaming prowess, poked his head out, only to be met by a dozen gun barrels. Startled, he shouted loudly.

“Chaozi, where’s Blade Lord?” the bespectacled man asked, his eyes lighting up in anxious inquiry.

“I’m right here!”

A booming voice followed, and then Blade Mo and Cheng Yang, tall and imposing, stepped out from the secret door.

Seeing their leader safe and sound, the members erupted in cheers, thinking the intruder had been dealt with. Blade Mo’s eyes, round as bronze bells, flashed, and all quickly fell silent, fearful and respectful. The bespectacled man noted that the leader’s aura seemed unconsciously stronger and more domineering than before. As he puzzled over this, Blade Mo spoke: “Everyone except Fan Jun, stand down. Go about your business! I don’t need your service—get to work!”

With a single command, the members dispersed in orderly groups, led by their respective chiefs. Soon, the vast bar was empty, leaving only Blade Mo and a few others.

“Your Highness, you may come out now.”

Blade Mo suddenly bowed and spoke toward the secret door. To the bespectacled man’s shock, a tall and handsome young man stepped out.

“Your Highness, this is Fan Jun. He may lack martial prowess, but he’s an expert in business,” Blade Mo introduced, standing between them. “Fan Jun, from now on, His Highness is the sole master of the Divine Blade Sect!”

“Not bad,” Jiang An remarked, then said, “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave. Remember what I told you.”

“Rest assured, it will be done!” Fan Jun promised.

Jiang An nodded, never glancing back. With a few quick, ghostly movements, he vanished without a trace. No one knew how he left the bar. After his departure, a strange silence lingered for several seconds, the atmosphere thick and tense.

Unable to hold back, the bespectacled man asked, “Blade Lord, what’s going on? How do we suddenly have a new master?!”

“Sigh, it’s a long story. Here’s how it happened…” Blade Mo recounted the events to his strategist, who listened quietly, occasionally probing for details.

“I see. So, Blade Lord, you’re now a Grandmaster, but still no match for this ‘Highness.’ His strength is unfathomable. This might not be a bad thing for us, in fact—it’s the perfect time to expand our influence,” Fan Jun concluded.

The others nodded slightly, then Gao Chao asked, “Blade Lord, do you think His Highness is a Yuan Gang Grandmaster?”

“There’s a strong possibility. His understanding of ‘Qi’ is far beyond mine. For example, he can subdue your moves without even lifting a finger—that’s unheard of! But I’ve only just advanced to Grandmaster myself, so what I know about this circle is mostly hearsay, not much more than any of you.”

“Blade Lord, His Highness said we might have a chance to become Grandmasters too. Do you think that’s true?” Gao Chao asked eagerly, and even the usually quiet Cheng Yang’s expression changed.

“If someone had told me this before, I’d have spat in their face. But what happened tonight has shaken me—perhaps there really is a way to advance more easily to Grandmaster? Judging from His Highness, he’s not a man given to empty boasts,” Blade Lord’s words filled Gao Chao and Cheng Yang with joy, their hands clenched in excitement. Yet his next words were admonishing: “Even if His Highness can help you with that last step, you must first unblock thirty-six vital points. Hey, how many have you each unlocked?”

“Eight. I’ve only unlocked eight,” Gao Chao replied, crestfallen.

“I’m a bit older—I’ve unlocked thirty-one,” Cheng Yang said.

“Then don’t aim too high!” Blade Mo reprimanded, then ordered, “Tonight’s events stay between the four of us. And Cheng Yang, go with Chaozi to the treasury and bring out the ‘Divine Blade.’ With the blade’s sharp metallic Qi, I should be able to condense my true Qi into blade Qi much faster!”

“Yes!”

…

By the time Jiang An opened his door and returned home, it was deep into the night.

At the sound of the door opening, Tiger, who had been waiting, immediately sprang forward, circling his master with his tail wagging like a fan.

Jiang An crouched to pet its head, inspecting it with a smile. “Good job—you behaved well and didn’t mess up the room. You deserve praise.”

Tiger was overjoyed at his master’s compliment, standing upright and nodding repeatedly, looking adorably obedient, making Jiang An smile even more.

After changing shoes, Jiang An entered the living room and sank into the soft sofa. He pulled a sleek black phone from his pocket—it was a custom encrypted device given by Blade Mo, for secure communication.

Jiang An’s decision to take over the Divine Blade Sect wasn’t driven by a thirst for power, but rather for the cultivation benefits. In this modern society, it was too difficult for Jiang An alone to search for treasures; with subordinates, many problems could be solved, and he needn’t handle everything himself. Why not? His choice not to disguise himself when challenging the Hongyi Dao Hall was for the same reason: to make a statement, to declare his presence, so that all major powers in Lincheng would know of his existence.

Reflecting on the day’s events and finding no loose ends, Jiang An drew out three green stones, each the size of a baby’s fist.

Spirit stones!

A precious find—even just three lower-grade ones were valuable to Jiang An now; the more, the better. But with only three, and given the domineering nature of the Dunan Sutra, he could absorb their pure spiritual energy in less than an hour. Jiang An considered saving them—once he had twenty-four, he could set up a basic spirit-gathering array to attract and refine the ambient spiritual energy, greatly accelerating his cultivation.

Thus, for the next two days, with no classes or work, it was as if the world had forgotten him. Jiang An stayed inside, cultivating, except for nightly walks with Tiger to replenish dog food. Otherwise, he didn’t step outside at all, becoming a true recluse.

In the blink of an eye, Sunday arrived.

Early in the morning, Jiang An was meditating as usual, while Tiger puffed away at its food in the living room. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Ah, mundane affairs indeed.

“Tiger, you need to grow up quickly—one day, opening the door will be your job,” Jiang An said as he stood, passing Tiger. He walked to the door and opened it, feeling pleased at the sight of something beautiful.

The weather had warmed, sunlight was bright. Tong Yi, dressed in a stylish coffee-colored coat, stood gracefully at the door. Her figure was tall and elegant, not bulky, her curves refined. A touch of makeup made her features flawless, almost otherworldly. Her long black hair added purity to her appearance, sunlight casting a golden glow on her fair, delicate face, giving her a crystalline lustre. Her large eyes sparkled like autumn lakes, drawing the gaze irresistibly—her entire presence radiated vitality and charm.

“Good morning, Teacher Jiang! You really live here! Hehe, here, I brought you some fruit.”

She smiled, bright as a hundred flowers blossoming.

Without waiting for Jiang An’s response, Tong Yi handed him two fruit baskets, her hands cold to the touch.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” the girl said mischievously.

Jiang An stepped aside, “Thank you. Please, come in.”

As soon as he spoke, Tong Yi walked in with her hands behind her back, curiously inspecting the décor. “Teacher Jiang, your home feels so chilly. No air conditioning? Oh, there’s a puppy! Teacher, your puppy is cleaning the house! So impressive!”

When Jiang An turned from closing the door, he saw Tong Yi crouched in the living room, hugging Tiger with sparkling eyes, utterly smitten.

“Teacher, your dog is cleaning the house!” Tong Yi repeated.

Nonsense—the mess is all its doing. If it doesn’t clean, who will? Jiang An replied perfunctorily, “It’s alright. What brings you here, student?”

Tong Yi, still clutching Tiger and sitting on the sofa, pouted at his words. “Teacher Jiang, really? Don’t you remember my name? Think again?”

Her perspective was certainly unique—was the name so important? He replied, “Of course I remember: Tong Yi, right? So, what brings you here?”

“Hehe,” Tong Yi’s smile widened. “As long as you remember my name, you should remember why I came.”

Seeking treatment? Jiang An smiled without answering, pouring her a glass of water. “Is it about the cold energy in your body?”

“Mm, mm, mm!” Tong Yi nodded repeatedly. “Teacher Jiang, you definitely have a way, don’t you?”