Chapter 1300: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

The totem of Gloom, perhaps the entire Qinghuo tribe's aspiration, yet this aspiration did not belong to Qinghuo Qiming.

His grandfather was a tribal brave, his father the tribe's shame, his foster father the strongest witch doctor in Qinghuo's history who had partially completed the Gloom totem... they all perished because of it.

The Qinghuo tribe was dragged down by an unrealizable dream.

And Qinghuo Qiming was but a youth who had lost his father, his grandfather, and then his foster father.

Due to these repeated losses, he developed a fear of the Netherworld, daring not approach the deep caves, and thus was viewed as a disgrace by the tribe, called a coward. Although he inherited the position of witch doctor, he received no respect.

Jiang Wang had never truly understood what Qinghuo Qiming was thinking when he leaped into the Netherworld.

Their paths crossed so briefly, apart from the searing Bone Lotus on his lower back, it seemed no other trace remained. Yet, Qinghuo Qiming's leap occasionally reappeared in his mind - when he gazed up at the starry sky.

Some are born strong, some may never conquer mediocrity. But under the same starry sky, do they possess equal rights to exist? Or is it survival of the fittest, where only the adaptable can survive?

This was the question Qinghuo Qiming left in Jiang Wang's heart.

Qu Country is located at the border between the Northern and Eastern Domains, also a sovereign nation, constantly entangled in disputes with Zheng Country.

Of course, those with discerning eyes could see that the friction between these two countries was merely superficial, with no substantial actions ever taken; it could be said they were mutually shielding each other.

Over the years, Qu and Zheng, between the three hegemonic nations of Jing, Qi, and Mu, have danced skillfully with long sleeves, benefiting from both sides, and their lives have been surprisingly prosperous.

Speaking of Qu Country, Jiang Wang's first impression was the assassination of Qu Country's border general by Hell's Gate. This was the first mission after Yin Guan established Hell's Gate, shaking the Eastern Domain at the time, and Hell's Gate became famous in one battle.

Only after Yin Guan achieved Divine Coming did Qu Country withdraw the wanted notice.

Stepping onto the soil of Qu Country, a sense of security welled up within him.

Coming here meant returning to the Eastern Domain.

Although the grasslands were safe and leisurely, they were ultimately not as comforting as being in the Eastern Domain.

His official position and noble rank, after all, were most effective in the Eastern Domain.

Though upon closer examination, he hadn't had much peace in places outside of Qi Country within the Eastern Domain...

When he left the Eastern Domain, it was early August. Returning to the Eastern Domain, it was already September. One of the Seven Sceneries of Linzi, the Late Maple Haze, had already passed its season.

In just a short month, he had brushed with death multiple times, traveled a vast circle, circling from the Northern Domain back to the Eastern Domain, inevitably feeling a sense of melancholy.

His injuries had completely healed by now, and both his body and mind had returned to their peak state.

Perhaps it was because he had been constantly recovering with Five Mansions Shimmering Radiance during this time, causing too much power to dissipate, but in any case, the Ruyi Immortal Robe had also recovered.

Finally, he no longer had to dress like a beggar, with rags inside and coarse linen outside... his dragon-headed cane was almost mistaken for a dog-beating stick.

Jiang Wang sometimes thought, even if the Qi court had no requirements for him, he wouldn't reveal his identity in such a state...

This small city within Qu Country's borders is named Yuguang. Years ago, there was a large jade mine nearby, and many people lived dependent on it - miners, traders, carvers...

Those miners and merchants gathered here for a long time, gradually forming a city.

The name "Yuguang" originally referred to the brilliance of jade, and later it simply became "Yuguang".

Jiang Wang found a tavern that seemed pleasant, occupied a table alone, warmed a pot of wine, ordered two catties of sliced boiled lamb, and listened to the discussions of the people, the myriad forms of life...

Some talked of domestic affairs, some spoke of the Eastern Domain's situation.

This city, formed primarily by the gathering of miners, was not as rough as imagined; on the contrary, it was gentle and comfortable.

Perhaps it was because jade nourishes people, or perhaps because after the jade mine was exhausted, the population here changed hands several times, and the entire city developed other industries.

With his current cultivation, ordinary wine could no longer intoxicate him, but as Jiang Wang lazily ate the lamb and occasionally drank a few sips, he still felt a sense of slight intoxication.

From the environment to himself, everything was in a safe state, which made him feel relaxed.

Returning from the sparsely populated grasslands to the densely populated Eastern Domain. The vastness of nature and the worldly bustle of humanity both made him feel comfortable.

"Guest, what would you like?"

"A pot of wine, a plate of茴香豆 (aniseed broad beans)."

This dialogue attracted Jiang Wang's attention.

With his current mastery of the Way of Sound, as long as he had heard a sound once, it was difficult to forget. Especially after activating the Immortal State of Sound Perception, sounds heard a long time ago would obediently provide information, because "all sounds converge."

He did not turn around, his movements of eating meat and drinking wine unchanged in the slightest, merely silently activating the Immortal State of Sound Perception.

"Guest, what kind of wine?"

"The best."

This person who had just entered the tavern seemed somewhat sparing with his words.

But Jiang Wang had already captured it.

The sound was in his ear, and the relevant information had appeared.

Tracing back to its origin, the last time these two people conversed was on the Qiyang battlefield in Chimei County.

At that time, this person had only said, "Understood, thank you!"

Jiang Wang silently drank the wine in his cup and ate the last few slices of lamb.

The waiter, who had been observing this side, hurried forward: "Guest, would you like anything else?"

Jiang Wang shook his head in refusal.

The cost of the wine and meat had already been paid, so he casually put on the cloak propped against the leg of the table and stood up.

As he put away the dragon-headed cane leaning against his leg, he took out the Sheath of Longing Love from his storage box, held it in his hand, and walked towards the newly arrived guest in the tavern.

Seeing this scene, the waiter shrunk back a couple of steps.

The people in the tavern were still eating, drinking, talking, and laughing.

But gradually, some people realized something was amiss and looked over.

Only the ordinary-looking young man sitting with his side facing Jiang Wang slowly pinched an aniseed broad bean and tossed it into his mouth. Without turning his head, he asked indifferently, "Something?"

Having experienced so much, he had developed a remarkable presence. Gone was his former weariness, and unlike his hurried appearance when they met on Haimen Island, he possessed a certain calmness, as if watching the winds and clouds with detachment.

Everyone has their own destiny, everyone is growing.

"Yang Xuance, oh Yang Xuance." Jiang Wang spoke, "You did such great things in Zhaozheng City, causing me much hardship."

These words had already revealed his identity.

Yang Xuance's head snapped around!

The moment he turned, his eyes shone a brilliant golden yellow, and flames actually erupted from them. The raging fire instantly filled the distance between him and Jiang Wang. The fiery serpents blazed high, ferocious to the left and right, seemingly eager to devour people.

Jiang Wang merely reached out and clenched, and the suppression from the True Samadhi Fire divine ability instantly turned the widespread flames into nothingness, extinguishing a disaster that might have affected the entire tavern before it took shape.

And Yang Xuance's figure had vanished!

Jiang Wang reached out and grasped in the air, and a residual flame he had captured turned into the shape of a small blade of grass, pointing downwards to lead the way.

After this period of cultivating the Way of Dao Arts, his Dao Art Retrospection had improved further. Although it still couldn't be considered an excellent tracking secret art, it could provide clues at this moment, having already grasped certain traces.

The waiter only saw a sky full of flames erupting, and before he could panic, he saw them extinguished by a hand.

And the linen-clothed man, who had finished eating the lamb before taking action, had already stepped out of the tavern.