Back Street, Taicang
Although Jiang Feng had this idea, and the Celestial Mechanism Cube began to respond on its own, at this stage, he was still unable to carry it out.
The energy that powered the Celestial Mechanism Cube was the luminous force within Jiang Feng's body. As the saying goes, you can only do as much as your strength allows. That was precisely Jiang Feng's situation now.
The Guiding Formula was a very elementary luminous force technique. When Jiang Feng optimized it, he could only proceed step by step.
Hua Su had fallen from the rank of Martial Sovereign of Insight to a Yang Luminous Warrior. The structure of the luminous force tree and its source branches within him was extremely intricate. Establishing a new cycle of luminous force for someone like that was far beyond what Jiang Feng's luminous force could sustain.
He quickly came up with a new idea.
If it was impossible to establish all the cycles of luminous force at once, why not break down the source branches and do it section by section?
Just as Hua Su had said, he was a Yang Luminous Warrior and still had some time before his luminous force was completely exhausted. If they took it bit by bit and finished before then, it would be enough!
Having found this approach, Jiang Feng's mood quickly calmed.
No matter what, he just had to try.
However, the others, like Ping Luan Shan, were still very downcast, only to be fiercely scolded by Hua Su: “Whether I live or die is none of your business! You little brats who’ve only just entered the realm, mind your own business! What use is moping around? Will that add years to my life? The provincial exam is just around the corner—if you can't prioritize what matters, get lost now!”
Though Hua Su's tirade was incoherent, one thing he said did inspire everyone.
They had just entered the realm, their hearts willing but their strength lacking. When they grew stronger, when their horizons broadened, when their luminous force increased, perhaps they would find a way!
Immediately, their spirits were ignited, and one by one, they threw themselves back into training with renewed vigor.
Hua Su understood their intentions clearly. Though he kept cursing aloud, when no one was looking, he turned away and wiped his eyes.
...
While the students of Yuanshan Martial Hall were training with fiery enthusiasm, Jiang Huaiming, wrapped in a black cloak, hurried to a remote corner in the north of Taicang City.
Taicang was rich in the south and poor in the north. Compared to the southern bustle, the northern houses were low and cramped, the streets narrow, and the whole scene was one of decay.
The deeper he went, the narrower the streets became, with garbage piled on both sides of the road, filth everywhere, and a foul stench thick in the air.
Jiang Huaiming frowned tightly, carefully avoiding the refuse and sewage, afraid it might stain his clothes.
Suddenly, with a splash, Jiang Huaiming reflexively dodged sideways. A basin of water had been thrown from the second floor above. He wasn't quick enough; half of him was soaked. The water carried a peculiar, nauseating stench. Disgusted, Jiang Huaiming immediately flung off his cloak and tossed it aside.
He looked up and cursed, “There’s someone down here! Who’s throwing water everywhere?”
No one above responded. In the next instant, another basin was dumped down.
Jiang Huaiming hadn’t anticipated this and was drenched through. He threw his cloak aside, feeling utterly repulsed by the stench clinging to him.
Fury surged within him, and in that instant, he forgot his purpose and instinctively wanted to rush up and kill the culprit.
He had just taken a step when suddenly he felt a chill on his back. He sensed a gaze fixed upon him, filled with intense malice. No, it wasn’t just one—he suddenly realized that every corner of this street was filled with such eyes, countless pairs watching him, eagerly awaiting an excuse to tear him apart!
A cold dread gripped his heart as he recalled what Li Ming had told him before he left: “You can go there if you wish, but you must be careful. Be extremely cautious in that place! No one knows who lurks in Taicang’s backstreets or what might happen. If you get into trouble there, no one will save you, and no one will avenge you—remember that!”
Back then, Jiang Huaiming's heart had pounded, but with excitement. The backstreets of Taicang, so mysterious and dangerous—surely he would find the perfect candidate there!
But now, the excitement had vanished, replaced by pure terror.
Li Ming was right—this place was perilous, and he had to be careful!
Suppressing his anger, he lowered his eyes and hurried away. He could vaguely hear sighs of disappointment behind him. With a swish, a child darted into the alley, and the cloak he had discarded was already gone.
Jiang Huaiming gathered his thoughts, took out his map for a glance, and, following its winding paths, slipped into an even narrower alley, pushing open a dilapidated wooden door at the end.
No sooner had he opened the door than a dark object came flying at him. Caught off guard, it struck him squarely on the nose, bringing tears to his eyes from the pain.
The object landed with a thud and rolled—just a brass cup. Then a voice roared, “You reek! Get out!” At the same time, a chilling, murderous aura emanated from within, freezing Jiang Huaiming where he stood.
Instinctively, he shut the door and clenched his fists in humiliation. After a long moment, he finally took a deep breath and knocked five times on the door in a specific rhythm, announcing, “A thousand gold coins!”
The door swung open in silence, and the voice inside spoke in a ghostly tone, “Go wash yourself at the well, then come back.”
Turning his head, Jiang Huaiming saw a well not far from the house, with a bucket beside it.
As the eldest son of the Jiang family patriarch, he had always lived in luxury, with maids preparing fragrant baths. When had he ever washed with cold well water like this?
He stared at the well for a long while, picturing Jiang Feng’s miserable death, steeling himself for the ordeal. Finally, he went to the well.
It was already the height of summer, and the well water was not cold at all—just refreshingly cool.
The heat in his chest faded, and after a quick rinse of his clothes, he pulled them back on while still damp and knocked on the wooden door again.
A towel was tossed out; Jiang Huaiming caught it, dried himself, and was finally allowed inside.
The room was dim and stifling. Not long after Jiang Huaiming entered, the coolness from his wash was replaced by a sheen of sweat.
A shadow shifted in the gloom and asked, “Who do you want dead?”
Jiang Huaiming said, “No one difficult. A boy not yet sixteen, just entered the realm, now in Taicang City preparing for the provincial exam.”
“Oh…” The eerie voice paused in thought. “That does sound trivial…”
Suddenly, the tone turned sharp, the chilling aura pressing toward Jiang Huaiming. “You come to me? For a thousand gold coins? Not difficult?”
Three questions in quick succession made Jiang Huaiming’s breathing tense. He managed to steady his nerves and replied, “That’s really the target. But the boy has a master—that’s the tricky part.”
“Oh? Tell me more.”
“He used to be with the Demon Suppression Army—a centurion, I think, though I’m not sure of his exact rank. He was wounded and retired, opened a martial hall in the countryside, and brought students here for the exam.”
“The Demon Suppression Army? A centurion?!”
The shadow’s voice suddenly grew agitated, rising from the darkness and looming before Jiang Huaiming. “Boy, you dare play games with me?”
A great darkness swept forward. Even at this close range, Jiang Huaiming could not make out the figure’s face. Heart pounding, he stammered, “I—I’m not lying!”
“Do you know what rank a centurion of the Demon Suppression Army usually is?!”
“Wh-what rank?”
“A Martial Patriarch of Heart’s Insight, at least a Martial Sovereign of Insight! Are you asking me to take on a Martial Patriarch of Heart’s Insight?!”
Jiang Huaiming finally breathed a little easier. “N-no, it’s not that! I just said, he was wounded in his Heart’s Insight Seed, fell three ranks, and is now just a Yang Luminous Warrior! Besides, we don’t need to kill him—just avoid him and take out the boy!”
The shadow finally withdrew, allowing Jiang Huaiming to breathe again.
After a pause, the shadow said, “Even so, it’s troublesome. Do you know the most difficult thing about those who have lost their rank to injuries?”
“Wh-what is it?”
“Their experience! Those fellows are cunning as foxes. Snatching someone from under their nose is no simple matter!” The shadow fell silent again, then said, “Fifteen hundred gold coins.”
“T-that’s too much. The target is just a boy who’s only just entered the realm!”
“Heh, boy, that’s already a discount for you. If not for the fact that the man was once with the Demon Suppression Army… Otherwise, it would be two thousand gold, not a coin less!”
When the shadow mentioned “Demon Suppression Army,” there was a sinister undertone, thick with hatred.
Did this person have a grudge against the Demon Suppression Army?
A sudden chill gripped Jiang Huaiming’s heart as, for the first time, he wondered if he was doing the right thing.
Who were the Demon Suppression Army’s greatest enemies?
The demons, of course!
If this person hated the Demon Suppression Army so much, could he be connected to the demons?
As those thoughts turned in his mind, the shadow pressed close again. “Fifteen hundred gold coins, and I’ll take care of him for you!”
The overwhelming pressure bore down on him. In the darkness, a pair of blood-red eyes glowed like twin ghostly flames. Jiang Huaiming’s heart pounded, terror seizing him. Without realizing it, he agreed, “All right, fifteen hundred gold coins!”
A burning sensation swept across his cheek, in stark contrast to the icy chill radiating from the shadow. His palms were hot and slick with sweat. The shadow patted his cheek gently, murmuring, “Good child. Leave the money, and you may go.”
Jiang Huaiming’s gaze grew vacant, becoming dazed. “All right, but… I only brought a deposit…”
The shadow frowned slightly and replied offhandedly, “Fine, a deposit will do.”
By the time an incense stick had burned down, Jiang Huaiming had already left the alley. Standing in the backstreets of Taicang, breathing in the rotten stench, he suddenly came to himself.
Wait, what was I just doing?
I think I met someone… That’s right, he promised to take care of that fellow for me!
Yes, he seemed reliable, just a bit expensive… Tsk, tsk—fifteen hundred gold coins. Jiang Feng, you should be grateful your life is worth so much!
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This chapter had to be rewritten and reposted.