Chapter Fifty-Nine: Within a Month, He Is Doomed to Die?

At the top floor of the Green Sea Grand Hotel, there was an ice rink, generally open for guests seeking entertainment during their holidays.

As Jiang An walked over, he saw more than a dozen children gleefully playing inside, ranging from three to around ten years old. They sped across the rink, showing off their skills and movements, their faces radiant with the innocence of childhood. Around the rails, a group of adults stood—most likely the parents of the children within. Jiang An’s gaze swept gently over the scene; at every critical point along the perimeter stood a stern-faced man, eyes alert, clearly assigned for protection.

Jiang An nodded quietly, satisfied that Dao Mo had thoroughly carried out his command: nothing ostentatious or special was arranged for Xixi. Jiang An did not wish for his angelically beautiful daughter to grow up spoiled and domineering through endless flattery; thus, he had painstakingly instructed the Divine Blade Sect to disturb her as little as possible.

Whoosh—

A sprite-like little girl sped past inside the rink, her laughter ringing like silver bells and drawing everyone’s attention. Even the adults outside the rail couldn’t help but praise her beauty, wishing they had such a daughter themselves. Jiang An felt a surge of pride—that was his girl, carrying his blood. Just as he settled into place, a yellow shadow darted by. Jiang An looked down to find Tiger hugging his calf, grinning, its tail wagging faster than a fan.

Bending down, Jiang An scooped Tiger into his arms, stroked its canine head, and said with a smile, “Tiger, you did a great job this time. Keep it up, okay?”

“Woof woof!”

Tiger answered softly. In the rink, carefree Xixi was already sensitive to its voice. She glanced over, her eyes lighting up as she flashed a beautiful smile, skating toward them with abandon, waving her little hand and calling out loudly, “Daddy, Xixi’s here!”

She skated over, stopped behind the rail, and stretched out her arms to be picked up. Jiang An laughed heartily and gathered her into his arms, planting a kiss on her rosy cheek. He teased, “Xixi, did you miss Daddy?”

Xixi wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling sweetly, about to say she did, but then her little face turned serious. She tossed her head and, imitating an adult, crossed her arms and declared, “Hmph, no! Daddy didn’t pay attention to Xixi for so many days—Xixi’s angry!”

Her petulant pose was so adorable, so devastatingly cute, that the nearby adults burst out laughing. Jiang An patted her back, still laughing, and said, “Alright, Daddy knows he was wrong. How about Daddy treats Xixi to a feast, and Xixi forgives Daddy?”

“Then Xixi wants sweet and sour big fish!” the little girl clapped her hands, then rubbed her tummy, pouting, “Look, Daddy, Xixi’s tummy can hold lots of good food!”

Sweet and sour big fish? West Lake Vinegar Fish?

“Alright, alright, you can have whatever you want!”

Jiang An grinned as he carried Xixi away, thinking to himself that Xixi was nearly four now, much like Tong Yi. Her exceptional aptitude meant her spirit root needed more energy, so her appetite was larger than most children’s. Yet this grain-based energy was the weakest—he needed to start refining some elixirs for her.

“Daddy, Xixi is really amazing! I learned to skate in just two days! Some kids are so silly—they’ve been trying for ages and still can’t do it.” Children can never keep their achievements to themselves; they always want to share them with their parents.

“Xixi is incredible! Who taught you, Xixi?” Jiang An asked.

“A big sister.”

“A big sister taught you to skate, so after you learned, would you want to teach others?” Jiang An continued.

“Mm, I would!” Xixi thought for a moment, then nodded. “When I get back, I can teach Lemon and Xuanxuan!”

“Xixi is such a good girl!”

“Heehee, Xixi’s always been good!” The little one was very pleased, then asked, “Daddy, where’s Mommy? We need to eat the feast together!”

“Mommy’s tired, she’s sleeping. How about we bring the feast to the room and eat together?”

“Mm-hmm!”

...

As Jiang An enjoyed the warmth of family, he was unaware that his name was stirring storms outside.

Korea, the shore of the West Return Sea.

The sky was pure, the sea azure, and even in winter, the climate was spring-like, the scenery picturesque—a nurturing paradise. Waves ceaselessly kissed the beautiful beach; on the far side stood a compound resembling a quadrangle, a Daoist retreat between heaven and earth, white walls and blue tiles, watching the tides rise and fall, everything tranquil.

Suddenly, footsteps shattered the peace.

A middle-aged man hurried to the main gate, then slowed, removed his shoes, entered. Head lowered, he walked across a floor so clean it reflected faces, passed through corridors, and finally stopped before a room. He straightened his garment, took a deep breath, and gently pulled open the door. Entering, he prostrated himself in a grand salute: “Disciple greets Master!”

At the center of the room, a meditation cushion sat, atop which perched an elder with a ruddy face and long, narrow brows, his age indeterminate. At this moment, he exhaled slowly, the faint sound of wind and thunder echoing in the air, which made the kneeling disciple bow lower, more reverent.

“Yonghee, you’re here,” the elder spoke, eyes still closed.

“Yes, Master. Upon receiving your summons, I came immediately, awaiting your instructions,” replied the middle-aged man—none other than Pei Yonghee, whom Jiang An had met. Evidently, the elder he called Master was Choi Sinchang, one of Korea’s great masters.

“No need to be so tense. I called you here only to verify something,” Choi Sinchang said, waving his sleeve. A white paper fluttered out—it was a bounty notice.

Pei Yonghee took it with both hands. From the format, he recognized it as an execution bounty from the Kill List. Looking at the content, his expression changed dramatically. “Kill List number five, two hundred million US dollars! Target: Jiang An, the newly risen master of China! Jiang An? Isn’t that the person I told Master about?”

“You’re certain?”

“I am, Master! The photograph is unmistakable.”

“The bounty says he’s only twenty-seven?”

“He does look very young.”

“Another genius from China!” Choi Sinchang suddenly opened his eyes, which seemed to contain a raging, boundless sea. “Ou Xingkong is strong, at the second master realm—what China calls the Golden Radiance Master level. Even I could only injure, not kill him; yet this man can do so. If it was a solo duel, his strength cannot be underestimated—he could become an obstacle for your junior brother.”

“It shouldn’t be a solo duel. When I faced him, he seemed about as strong as Master at most,” Pei Yonghee said, then reconsidered, “No, thinking carefully, his aura was somewhat less than Master’s.”

Choi Sinchang neither confirmed nor denied, smiling faintly. “I fear no brash youth, and your junior brother fears him even less. Before the Shinto Assembly next year, he’ll reach the third master realm—the Primordial Force level! With that, our chances of completing the matter in the Yuan Energy Space will greatly increase. Once he succeeds, Korea’s rise will be unstoppable!”

“Excellent! Congratulations to Master, to Junior Brother, and to Korea!” Pei Yonghee exclaimed in delight.

Choi Sinchang nodded, then instructed, “To avoid complications, only second-generation disciples will guard the Daoist retreats in China. All first-generation disciples are to return—troubles increase as the Shinto Assembly approaches, so best to have everyone back. That way, those madmen from China won’t always cause trouble.”

“Disciple obeys!” Pei Yonghee answered dutifully, then hesitated, “But as for the disciples under Master Cao, we can’t interfere.”

“Hmph! That old Cao Taihuan—half his blood is from Japan, and even his disciples are mixed breeds. Leave him be! When your junior brother advances to Primordial Force or even Grandmaster, he’ll be the first to come pay homage at Hansong Residence!” Choi Sinchang snorted.

“Disciple understands!”

“Go now. Your junior brother is training at the seabed, not convenient to meet. Just focus on your own cultivation.” Choi Sinchang closed his eyes, dismissing him.

Pei Yonghee withdrew.

At the same time, in Kyoto, Japan.

A vast estate, steeped in antiquity, nestled against mountains and rivers, its layout deep and harmonious, age lending it gravity and tranquility. Immersed within, one's spirit grew calm, as if united with nature.

In a refined training hall, an elder with pale skin and white hair, dressed in loose black kimono, meditated with a sword in his lap. Behind him, a bold “Nin” character stood out.

“…I understand. There’s no need to tell your brother—he’s not at home,” the elder said softly to the graceful woman kneeling before him. “He’s cultivating on Mount Hiei, best not to disturb him.”

The young woman, clad in a well-fitted white kimono, was strikingly beautiful. She asked, “The Kikuchi family trains in the Shinobi sect, but Mount Hiei is the inner Koyasan esoteric school. Why would my brother go there?”

“Chika, don’t worry. He went because he encountered inner demons and needs the thousand-year-old tree on Mount Hiei to aid his practice. Understand, even a month’s meditation beneath that ancient tree cost me dearly in offerings to the Hiei Ajari,” the elder explained, tone tinged with helplessness.

“But isn’t the Hiei Ajari close to the Kikuchi family? He’s father’s friend!” Chika said curiously.

“Apparently, the great Ajari of Hiei recently emerged from seclusion for reasons unknown, then closed the mountain and temple for ten years. So, outsiders must pay a heavy price to enter.”

“So we won’t concern ourselves with this Jiang An from China?”

“Ha, there’s no need. He’ll be dead within a month! Besides, not only is this newcomer Jiang An irrelevant, even Xing Zi, the top of the Sky List, has never been considered an opponent by me. His greatest enemy is himself,” the elder smiled.

Chika smiled too, her gaze full of reverence and affection. “I understand. My brother will always be a god-like genius; he never needs others to prove himself.”