TFOD Chapter 125

Chapter 118: Side Stories – Evil Friends

Xue Yang sat at a small wooden table at a roadside stall, one leg curled up on the bench, eating a bowl of sweet rice wine dumplings.

He clinked the spoon against the bowl, seemingly quite satisfied with his meal, but at the end, he suddenly discovered that the dumplings were too soft and the rice wine was not sweet enough.

Xue Yang stood up and kicked the stall over with one foot.

The stall owner, busy with customers, was stunned by this kick.

He watched as the young man suddenly turned violent, kicking the stall, not saying a word, and turning away with a grin. It took him a moment to react, then he chased after Xue Yang, angrily shouting, “What are you doing!”

Xue Yang said, “Smashing your stall.”

The stall owner was furious, saying, “You’re sick! You’re crazy!”

Xue Yang was unfazed. The stall owner continued to point his finger at him, yelling, “You little bastard! You ate my food without paying, and you dare to smash my stall?! I…”

Xue Yang’s right thumb twitched slightly, and the sword at his waist was drawn with a metallic clang.

The blade shone menacingly. He used the flat of his sword, Disaster, to gently pat the stall owner’s cheek, saying in a sweet, cloying tone, “The dumplings were good. Add more sugar next time.”

With that, he turned and swaggered off.

The stall owner was a mix of fear and anger, daring not to speak out. He stared blankly as Xue Yang walked far away, his heart filled with resentment and fury.

After a long while, he exploded in a roar: “…In broad daylight, you did this for no reason! Why, why?!”

Xue Yang waved his hand without turning back, saying, “For no reason, that’s the way many things in this world are. It’s called misfortune. Goodbye!”

He walked briskly down several streets. After a while, a person came up from behind, walking with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly keeping pace with him.

Jin Guangyao sighed, “I only turned away for a moment, and you’ve already caused such a commotion. I would have only had to pay for a bowl of dumplings, but now I have to pay for the tables, chairs, and everything else.”

Xue Yang said, “Do you lack a few coins?”

Jin Guangyao said, “I don’t.”

Xue Yang said, “Then why are you sighing?”

Jin Guangyao said, “I think you shouldn’t lack a few coins either. Why can’t you try being a normal customer once in a while?”

Xue Yang said, “In Kui Zhou, I never need to pay for anything I want. Just like this.”

As he spoke, he casually snatched a candied hawthorn stick from a street vendor.

The vendor was probably seeing such a shameless person for the first time. He stared blankly as Xue Yang bit into the treat, saying, “Besides, it’s just a small stall. Can’t you handle that?”

Jin Guangyao laughed, “You little hooligan. You can knock over any stall you want. You can even burn the whole street, and I wouldn’t care. Just do one thing, don’t wear the gold-starred snow robe, cover your face well, don’t let anyone know who did it, don’t make things difficult for me.”

He tossed some money to the vendor. Xue Yang spat out a hawthorn pit, and, glancing sideways, saw a small patch of purple bruising that Jin Guangyao had failed to conceal. He chuckled, “What happened to you?”

Jin Guangyao gave him a slightly reproachful look, adjusted his hat, and hid the bruise, saying, “It’s a long story.”

Xue Yang said, “Nie Mingjue hit you?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Do you think if he had hit me, I would still be standing here talking to you?”

Xue Yang thought that made sense.

The two of them left Lanling City and arrived at a strange building in the wilderness.

The architecture wasn’t magnificent; behind the tall walls was a row of dark, long houses. In front of the houses was a plaza surrounded by chest-high iron fences, covered in red and yellow talismans. The plaza was filled with odd equipment, like iron cages, guillotines, and nail boards. Some ragged “people” slowly wandered through the area.

These “people” all had iron-grey skin, empty eyes, and aimlessly walked about the plaza, occasionally bumping into each other, making strange, wheezing sounds.

A corpse refining field.

Back then, Jin Guangshan was obsessed with the Yin Tiger Seal, trying various methods to get it. However, Wei Wuxian wouldn’t budge, no matter how much pressure he put on him. He thought, if you can make it, others can too. I refuse to believe you’re the only one, Wei Ying, with this ability. One day, I’ll let you be surpassed, ridiculed by future generations. By then, let’s see if you’ll still be so arrogant!

Thus, Jin Guangshan recruited those who imitated Wei Wuxian’s demonic cultivation and took them under his wing, spending a lot of money and resources on them. He ordered them to secretly study and analyze the structure of the Yin Tiger Seal, and begin to replicate and restore it. Few of these scholars achieved success, and the one who went the furthest was Xue Yang, the youngest, who had been recommended by Jin Guangyao.

Jin Guangshan was overjoyed and made him a guest minister, granting him immense power and freedom. The corpse refining field was a piece of land that Jin Guangyao had specially requested for Xue Yang, where he could secretly study, or rather, recklessly mess around.

As they arrived at the refining field, two fierce corpses were engaged in battle in the center of the grounds.

These two were different from the other walking corpses. They were dressed in proper clothes, their eyes rolled back, holding weapons, and swords clashed, sending sparks flying. Two chairs were placed before the iron fence. The two men sat down at the same time. Jin Guangyao straightened his collar. A trembling walking corpse shuffled over, bringing a cup of tea.

Xue Yang said, “Tea.”

Jin Guangyao glanced at the cup. At the bottom was a piece of strange, purplish-red substance, swollen from being soaked. He didn’t know what it was.

Smiling, he pushed the cup of tea forward, saying, “Thank you.”

Xue Yang pushed the cup back, saying affectionately, “This tea is personally prepared by me. Why won’t you drink it?”

Jin Guangyao pushed the cup back again, also speaking warmly, “Precisely because it is personally prepared by you, I dare not drink it.”

Xue Yang raised one eyebrow, turning his head to continue watching the fierce corpses fight.

The two fierce corpses fought more and more fiercely, using both swords and claws, their flesh flying. The bored look on his face grew stronger. After a while, he snapped his fingers and made a gesture.

The two fierce corpses immediately convulsed, reversing their swords and slicing off their own heads. The headless bodies fell to the ground, still trembling.

Jin Guangyao said, “Weren’t they fighting well?”

Xue Yang said, “Too slow.”

Jin Guangyao said, “They’re much faster than the ones I saw last time.”

Xue Yang extended the hand wearing a black glove, raised a finger, and shook it, saying, “That depends on what you compare them to. These, don’t even compare to Wen Ning. They’re not even as good as ordinary fierce corpses controlled by Wei Wuxian’s flute.”

Jin Guangyao laughed, “Why are you so impatient? I’m not. Take your time, and tell me what you need. Oh right,”

He took something from his sleeve and handed it to Xue Yang, saying, “Perhaps you need this?”

Xue Yang flipped through it, his body abruptly straightening from his chair, saying, “Wei Wuxian’s notes?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Indeed.”

Xue Yang lowered his head to read, his eyes shining. After a moment, he looked up, asking, “Is this really his handwriting? He wrote this when he was nineteen?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Of course. Everyone wanted it, and they were fighting over it. It took a lot of effort to gather them all.”

Xue Yang cursed under his breath, his eyes becoming more excited. After finishing the notes, he said, “They’re incomplete.”

Jin Guangyao said, “There was a huge fire and a lot of fighting at the Burial Mounds. It’s good enough that we could find these fragments. Save them for later.”

Xue Yang said, “What about his flute? Can you get Chenqing?”

Jin Guangyao spread his hands, saying, “Chenqing is impossible. Jiang Wanyin took it.”

Xue Yang said, “Isn’t he supposed to hate Wei Wuxian? Why does he want Chenqing? Didn’t you also get Wei Wuxian’s sword? Give the sword to him and exchange it for the flute. Wei Wuxian abandoned that sword a long time ago. It’s sealed and no one can pull it out. What use is it to you except to display it?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Young Master Xue is really demanding. Do you think I haven’t tried? Nothing is that simple. That Jiang Wanyin is already obsessed. He still thinks Wei Wuxian is not dead. If Wei Wuxian returned, he may not go for his sword, but he would definitely go for Chenqing. That’s why he won’t hand it over. If I say anything more, he will flip out.”

Xue Yang chuckled twice, saying, “Mad dog.”

At that moment, two Lanling Jin Sect disciples dragged a disheveled cultivator over.

Jin Guangyao said, “Didn’t you want to refine new fierce corpses? Good, I’ve brought you some materials.”

The cultivator’s eyes were bloodshot and his teeth were clenched. He was still struggling, his gaze seemingly burning with hatred for Jin Guangyao. Xue Yang said, “Who is this?”

Jin Guangyao said calmly, “Those I send to you are, of course, criminals.”

Hearing this, the cultivator struggled mightily. He spat out the cloth gagging his mouth, saying, “Jin Guangyao! You evil, despicable, worse-than-a-beast traitor, how dare you call me a criminal? What crime did I commit?!”

His words were like sharp nails, each syllable stabbing Jin Guangyao. Xue Yang scoffed, asking, “What’s going on?”

The cultivator was pulled back by the person behind him like a dog on a leash. Jin Guangyao waved his hand, saying, “Gag him.”

Xue Yang said, “Why gag him? Let me hear it. Why are you evil, despicable, and worse than a beast? He’s barking like a dog, I can’t understand what he’s saying.”

Jin Guangyao said, in a slightly reproachful tone, “Young Master He Su is also considered a man of renown. How can you be so rude to him?”

The cultivator sneered, “I’ve already fallen into your hands and am at your mercy. Why put on a show now?”

Jin Guangyao said with an affable smile, “You don’t need to look at me like that. I am helpless as well. The promotion of the Immortal Supervisor is the trend. Why try to stir up trouble and start conflict? I have warned you repeatedly, but you insisted on ignoring me. It’s too late now. I am also saddened and regretful…”

He Su said, “What is the ‘trend’? What is ‘stirring up trouble’? Jin Guangshan wants to establish the position of Immortal Supervisor so he can be as powerful as the Qishan Wen Sect. Do you think the world is blind and ignorant? You are framing me simply because I spoke the truth!”

Jin Guangyao smiled and did not speak. He Su continued, “When you finally succeed, all the cultivation sects will see the true colors of your Lanling Jin Sect. Do you think killing me will guarantee your peace? You’re wrong! The He Clan of Tingshan is full of capable people. From now on, we will unite and never surrender to you, another Wen dog in disguise!”

Hearing this, Jin Guangyao narrowed his eyes slightly and a smile formed on his lips, a smile that was usually gentle and affable. He Su’s heart skipped a beat. At this moment, a commotion arose outside the corpse refining field, mixed with the cries of women and children.

He Su turned his head abruptly and saw a group of Lanling Jin Sect cultivators dragging in about 70 people in matching clothes. There were men and women, young and old. All were in panic. Some were crying. A young girl and a young boy were tightly bound, kneeling on the ground, crying out to He Su, “Brother!”

He Su was stunned. His face turned as pale as paper in an instant. He said, “Jin Guangyao! What do you want to do?! Killing me alone is enough. Why involve my entire clan?!”

Jin Guangyao lowered his head and straightened his cuffs. He said with a smile, “Didn’t you just remind me? Killing you alone won’t guarantee my peace. The He Clan of Tingshan has many talented people who will unite and never give up. I’m afraid. After thinking hard, I realized this was the only way.”

He Su’s throat felt like it had been stuffed with a fist. He couldn’t speak. After a long time, he roared, “You are destroying my entire clan for no reason. Are you not afraid of being condemned by everyone?! Aren’t you afraid of what Chifeng-Zun would think?!”

Hearing him mention Nie Mingjue, Jin Guangyao’s eyebrow twitched and Xue Yang laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair. Jin Guangyao glanced at him before calmly replying, “You can’t say it like that. Your He Clan of Tingshan rebelled and tried to assassinate the sect leader. They were caught red-handed. How can you say it is for no reason?”

A few people were crying, “Brother! He’s lying! We didn’t! We didn’t do anything!”

He Su said, “That’s a load of rubbish! Open your dog eyes and look clearly! There are even nine-year-old children! Old people who can’t even walk! How could they rebel? And why would they assassinate your father?!”

Jin Guangyao said, “Of course it’s because Young Master He Su committed a crime first by killing people, and they were not satisfied.”

Only then did He Su realize why he had been sent to this terrifying place, saying, “It’s all lies! I never killed a Lanling Jin Sect cultivator! I’ve never even seen the person who died! I don’t even know if that person was one of your sect’s members! I… I…”

He stuttered for a while, then broke down, “I… I have no idea what’s going on, I don’t understand at all!”

However, no one would listen to his explanation. Sitting in front of him were two ruthless and evil men who were already treating him as dead. They enjoyed his dying struggles. Jin Guangyao leaned back with a smile and waved his hand, saying, “Gag him, gag him.”

Knowing his death was certain, He Su was filled with despair. He bit his teeth and roared, “Jin Guangyao! You will be punished! Your father will rot in a brothel! And you, the son of a whore, will have no good end either!!!”

Xue Yang, who had been happily enjoying the show, suddenly saw a black shadow flash. A silver light streaked by, and He Su screamed in agony while clutching his mouth.

Blood splattered everywhere. He Su’s family members cried and cursed, the scene was chaotic, but they were still under control. Xue Yang stood in front of the collapsed He Su, tossing a bloody piece of flesh in his hand. He snapped his fingers at the two walking corpses and said, “Lock him up.”

Jin Guangyao asked, “You’re directly putting him in alive?”

Xue Yang turned his head, a corner of his mouth lifted, saying, “Wei Wuxian never refined a corpse using a living person. I’d like to try it.”

The two walking corpses obeyed his command, dragging He Su’s legs, who was still screaming, and throwing him into the iron cage in the corpse refining field. Seeing their elder brother crazily banging his head against the iron bars, a few young men and women rushed forward, crying loudly. The cries were high-pitched and piercing. Jin Guangyao raised a hand and massaged his temples, as if wanting a cup of tea to calm his nerves. However, looking down, he saw the swollen, purplish-red object at the bottom of the cup. Then, looking up at the piece of tongue Xue Yang was tossing about, he pondered for a moment before asking, “You use this to brew tea?”

Xue Yang said, “I have a big jar of them. Do you want some?”

“…”

Jin Guangyao said, “Never mind. Go clean up. Come with me to pick someone up, and then we can drink tea somewhere else.”

As if remembering something, he straightened his hat, unintentionally touching the concealed purple bruise on his forehead. Xue Yang gloated, “What’s with that swollen head?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Like I said, it’s a long story.”

Jin Guangshan left all the big and small matters to Jin Guangyao, while he himself went out to enjoy the night life and didn’t return until dawn. This had caused Jin Madam to go into a rage at the Golden Carp Tower. When Jin Zixuan was alive, he could act as a mediator between his parents, but now there was no room for reconciliation between them. Every time Jin Guangshan went out to mess around with women, Jin Guangyao would have to make up an excuse for him. If Jin Madam couldn’t get a hold of him, she would vent her anger on Jin Guangyao, smashing incense burners one day, throwing tea the next. So, in order to survive a few more days in the Golden Carp Tower, Jin Guangyao had to personally go to various brothels to bring Jin Guangshan back on time.

Having done this many times, Jin Guangyao already knew the fastest way to find Jin Guangshan. He entered an ornate small building with his hands clasped behind his back. The person in charge of the hall greeted him with a flattering smile, but Jin Guangyao gestured that he needn’t bother. Xue Yang casually took an apple from a customer’s table and followed Jin Guangyao slowly upstairs. He rubbed it on his chest and started munching on it. Soon, the sounds of Jin Guangshan and the giggling women came from upstairs. And there was more than one woman, chattering, “Sect Leader, look, do you like my painting? This flower painted on my body, it’s like it is alive, right?” “Painting isn’t anything special! Sect Leader, look at my calligraphy, how is it?”

Jin Guangyao was already used to this, knowing when to appear and when not to. He made a gesture to Xue Yang to stop, and they remained at their spot. Xue Yang clicked his tongue, looking very impatient. He was about to go downstairs to wait when he heard Jin Guangshan roughly say, “Ladies, it’s enough to tend to the flowers and apply powder, and make yourself pretty, isn’t it? Why bother writing? How boring.”

The women had originally been trying to please Jin Guangshan, so this statement made the atmosphere upstairs awkward for a moment. Jin Guangyao’s steps faltered slightly.

After a while, someone laughed, “But, I heard that the famous courtesan of Yunmeng was known for her poetry and songs, captivating everyone!”

Jin Guangshan was clearly very drunk and his words slurred.

He said with a thick tongue, “That’s… that’s not how it is. I have learned that women are best to not dabble in unnecessary things. Women who have read a bit always think they are superior to others, demanding, unrealistic and overthinking. The most troublesome.”

Xue Yang stood in front of a window, leaning back with his arm propped up on the window. He ate an apple while looking out at the scenery. Jin Guangyao’s smile was like it was frozen on his face, his eyes curving, not moving at all.

Upstairs, the women laughed and agreed. Jin Guangshan, as if thinking of something from the past, said to himself, “If I had her redeemed and brought to Lanling, I don’t know how much she would pester me. It’s better to just stay in the same place, maybe she could stay popular for a few more years and not have to worry about food and clothes for the rest of her life. Why did she have to give birth to a son, the son of a prostitute, hoping for…”

A woman said, “Sect Leader Jin, who are you talking about? What son?”

Jin Guangshan said dreamily, “Son? Ah, never mind.”

“Alright, we won’t mention it!”

“Since Sect Leader Jin doesn’t like us writing or painting, then we won’t do it. How about we play something else?”

Jin Guangyao stood on the staircase for a stick of incense’s worth of time. Xue Yang also looked at the scenery for a stick of incense’s worth of time. The sounds of laughter gradually subsided.

After a while, Jin Guangyao turned around calmly and started walking slowly downstairs. Seeing this, Xue Yang tossed the apple core out the window and followed unsteadily behind him.

The two walked on the streets for a while. Then, Xue Yang suddenly laughed without holding back.

He said, “Hahahaha! I’m so sorry hahaha!”

Jin Guangyao stopped and said coldly, “What are you laughing at?”

Xue Yang clutched his stomach, saying, “You really should have looked at your own face in a mirror just now, your smile was so ugly, so damn fake, it was disgusting.”

Jin Guangyao snorted, “What would a little hooligan like you know? Even if it is fake and disgusting, you still have to smile.”

Xue Yang said lazily, “You asked for it. If anyone dares call me the son of a bitch, I’ll find his old mother and screw her hundreds of times first, and then drag her out and throw her in a brothel for others to screw hundreds more times. Then, we can see who is the son of a bitch, easy.”

Jin Guangyao smiled too, saying, “I don’t have the time or the energy for that.”

Xue Yang said, “You don’t, but I do, I don’t mind doing it for you. If you say so, I’ll go screw them for you, hahahahaha…”

Jin Guangyao said, “No need, Young Master Xue, save your energy. Are you free in a few days?”

Xue Yang said, “Whether I’m free or not, I’d still have to do it, wouldn’t I?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Help me go to Yunmeng, clean up a place. Make it spotless.”

Xue Yang said, “As they say, when Xue Yang acts, not even the chickens or dogs will be left behind. What misunderstanding do you have about how well I do things?”

Jin Guangyao glanced at him and said, “I don’t think I have heard that saying?”

By now, night had fallen and it was quiet and there were few people on the streets. As they walked and talked, they passed by a roadside stall. The stall keeper was lethargically packing up his small table. Looking up, he suddenly screamed and jumped back.

His scream and jump were very startling. Even Jin Guangyao was slightly taken aback and immediately put his hand on his sword hilt. But when he saw that it was only an ordinary vendor, he ignored him. However, Xue Yang, without saying anything, kicked the stall over.

The stall owner, both shocked and afraid, said, “It’s you again?! Why?!”

Xue Yang laughed, saying, “Didn’t I tell you? It’s for no reason.”

He was about to kick it again when he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand. His pupils contracted and he quickly retreated. Looking at his hand, he saw several bloody red streaks. He looked up. A black-robed Taoist was retracting a horsetail whisk and was staring coldly at him.

The Taoist was tall and slender, with a handsome and cold face. He held a whisk, with a long sword on his back, its tassel fluttering slightly in the night breeze. Xue Yang’s eyes flashed with killing intent and he attacked with a palm. The black-robed Taoist waved his whisk, intending to deflect it. But Xue Yang’s attack was unpredictable, suddenly shifting to strike at his heart.

The black-robed Taoist frowned slightly and dodged the attack, but he was grazed on his left arm. Though it had not even broken the skin, a frost seemed to settle between his brows, as if he found it extremely unpleasant and unbearable.

This subtle change of expression was seen by Xue Yang. He sneered, and when he was about to attack again, a white figure suddenly cut into the battle. It was Jin Guangyao, who stood in between them and said, “For my sake, Daoist Song Zichen, please stop.”

The vendor had already fled. The black-robed Taoist said, “Lianfang-Zun?”

Jin Guangyao said, “It is me.”

Song Zichen said, “Why is Lianfang-Zun protecting this barbaric person?”

Jin Guangyao smiled bitterly, appearing helpless, saying, “Daoist Song, you don’t know, he’s a guest minister of my Lanling Jin Sect.”

Song Zichen said, “If he’s a guest minister, why does he act so unbecoming?”

Jin Guangyao coughed and said, “Daoist Song, you don’t know, he… has a strange temper and is young. Please don’t take him too seriously.”

At this time, a clear and gentle voice was heard, saying, “He is indeed still young.”

Like a ray of moonlight in the darkness, a white-robed Taoist, with a whisk on his arm and a long sword on his back, appeared silently beside the three of them.

The Taoist was tall and graceful. His sleeves and sword tassel fluttered as he walked calmly, as if he were walking on clouds. Jin Guangyao bowed and said, “Daoist Xiao Xingchen.”

Xiao Xingchen bowed back with a smile, “It’s been a few months since we last met, I didn’t think that Lianfang-Zun would still remember me.”

Jin Guangyao said, “Daoist Xiao Xingchen’s Frost Blossom sword is known throughout the world, it would be strange if I didn’t remember it.”

Xiao Xingchen smiled slightly, as if he understood Jin Guangyao’s nature of speaking with a bit of flattery. He said, “Lianfang-Zun is too kind.” Then, his eyes turned to Xue Yang and he said, “However, even if he is still young, now that he is one of the Jinlin Tower’s guest ministers, he should be more self-disciplined. After all, the Lanling Jin Sect is a prestigious family, and must be a role model in all aspects.”

His black eyes shone brightly and softly. When he looked at Xue Yang, it was without condemnation. So, though it was a word of advice, it was not offensive. Jin Guangyao immediately took this opportunity and said calmly, “Of course.”

Xue Yang laughed mockingly. Xiao Xingchen, hearing the snort, did not become angry. He sized him up and said thoughtfully, “Furthermore, looking at this young man, his movements between attacks seem to be…”

Song Zichen said coldly, “Ruthless.”

Hearing that, Xue Yang laughed, saying, “You say I am young, but how much older are you than me? And you say my attacks are ruthless, but who was it that lashed out with a whisk at me first? You two are too hilarious when giving people lessons.”

He shook his hand back, showing the bloody marks. He had clearly been the one to smash a stall, yet he had now twisted the facts, acting as if he were in the right. Jin Guangyao was at a loss, and said to the two Taoists, “You two…”

Xiao Xingchen couldn’t help but smile, “Truly…”

Xue Yang narrowed his eyes, saying, “Truly what? Why don’t you just say it?”

Jin Guangyao said gently, “Chengmei, stop talking.”

Upon hearing that name, Xue Yang’s face darkened immediately. Jin Guangyao then said, “You two Daoists, sorry for the trouble today. For my sake, please forgive us.”

Song Zichen shook his head. Xiao Xingchen patted his shoulder and said, “Zichen, let’s go.”

Song Zichen looked at him, nodded slightly. The two of them bowed to Jin Guangyao before leaving side by side.

Xue Yang watched the backs of the two men with a dark look in his eyes. He smiled and said, “Damn, those stinky Taoists.”

Jin Guangyao asked, surprised, “They didn’t do anything to you, why are you so angry?”

Xue Yang said, “I hate people who pretend to be morally superior, especially those who are self-righteous. That Xiao Xingchen, he is clearly not that much older than me, acting like he likes to meddle in other people’s business. I hate looking at him. He even taught me a lesson. And that Song guy,” he sneered, “I only grazed him with a palm, and look at his eyes. One day, I’ll gouge out his eyes and smash his heart, see what he can do then?”

Jin Guangyao said, “You have misunderstood. Daoist Song has a slight case of germaphobia and dislikes contact with others. He wasn’t targeting you.”

Xue Yang said, “Who are those two stinky Taoists?”

Jin Guangyao said, “After all this time, you still don’t recognize them? They are two popular figures right now. ‘The bright moon and clear breeze Xiao Xingchen, the proud snow and frost Song Zichen’. Haven’t you heard of them?”

Xue Yang said, “Never heard of them. Don’t understand. What a waste of space.”

Jin Guangyao said, “Whether you’ve heard of them or not, or whether you understand them or not, just know that they are both gentlemen and that you shouldn’t offend them.”

Xue Yang asked, “Why?”

Jin Guangyao said, “As the saying goes, ‘It’s better to offend a petty person than to offend a gentleman.'”

Xue Yang looked at him, suspiciously, and said, “Is that how that saying goes?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Of course. Offending a petty person, you can just kill them to avoid trouble, and others will clap their hands and cheer; but offending a gentleman is more difficult. These people are very troublesome. They will chase after you and never let you go. If you touch them, you’ll be condemned by everyone. So, it’s best to stay away from them. Today it’s fortunate that they think that you’re just young and a bit unruly. They don’t know the things you actually do on a daily basis, otherwise it wouldn’t be that easy to deal with.”

Xue Yang scoffed, saying, “Too restrictive. I’m not afraid of such people.”

Jin Guangyao said, “You are not afraid, but I am. It’s better to avoid trouble. Let’s go.”

They couldn’t walk much further. Soon, the two arrived at a fork in the road. Going to the right would lead to the Golden Carp Tower, and going to the left would lead to the corpse refining field.

They smiled at each other and parted ways.