There were no booths on the second floor. There were no karaoke boxes or bar counters either. There were only maze-like walls of different lengths arranged in no particular order. On every wall, there was a painting drawn with thick ink and heavy colors which Wen Leyang could not decipher. It was as if there was a splash of ink which was simply spread out using a brush into a graffiti. Every wall was filled with the intense and full emotions, pure emotion, nothing else.
There were quite a number of people on the second floor as well. However, unlike the surging wildness downstairs, the men and women here were talking in hushed tones under the influence of alcohol. Occasionally, they would laugh in a low voice, unrevealingly invoking a flirt in the contrasting silence.
Wen Leyang was not afraid of a crowd, he was afraid if there was nobody there. He did not know how to conceal his own breath like a true cultivator’s skill, hence he could not evade a cultivator’s telegnosis ability. However, he would appear as a normal person to a cultivator. The more people there are, the easier he could get away.
Ji Fei and Shui Jing’s telegnosis abilities were not as sharp as the little supreme leader Liu Zheng. The most they could tell was that someone was approaching. They could not detect that the person approaching them was their mentor. Wen Leyang put on his mask, it could at least help him when he comes face to face with Ji Fei. He slowly followed the wall and finally came to a stop in front of the only door. Old monk Ji Fei’s loud cloud-reaching heroic laugh could be heard from the inside, “I didn’t think that this is truly Painting Ton’s establishment. Pray tell, how should I address you, sir and Lord Leyang Wen?”
The inerasable flippant and superiority of Beijing dialect was in stark contrast with Leyang Tian’s body shape, “Leyang Wen? That is my brother, my name is Leyang Tian. You can call me Tangtang, don’t ‘sir’ me, it’s quite uncomfortable.”
The monk coughed, sickened by Tangtang.
Old monk Ji Fei’s voice was solemn and deep, “Tang… Brother Leyang, I think you know what kind of place Painting Town is right?” The old monk could not find in himself to call this black gorilla Tangtang.
Leyang Tian replied with a hint of displeasure, “What are you saying? How can I not know about our house? We, Painting Town have been rogue cultivators for many generations. Although we are not extremely famous, we have been around for thousands of years.”
The monk Shui Jing asked in a low, muffled voice, “Then how come you’re a mortal?”
Leyang Tian’s sounded slightly depressed, “I have been weak since I was little, I could not train in the Heaven’s cultivation. I wasn’t much use in the family. I simply asked some money from my big brother and did some business in Shanghai, just for fun.”
At the door, Wen Leyang was silently amused. It was his first time hearing a sturdy person saying that his body was weak.
The old monk Ji Fei hummed and opened his mouth again after some time, “Are there any Leyang family elites that cultivate in the Heaven’s cultivation?”
Leyang Tian’s voice had some baffled flavor in it, “Of course not. This is only a commercial business, it has nothing to do with the Heaven’s cultivation. What do you mean by that?”
The old monk made loud clicking sounds, giving Wen Leyang goosebumps at the door, “I see… Then this complicates things. I’m afraid this matter needs…”
Leyang Tian’s tone was the same as his big brother Leyang Wen, friendly and seasoned, “You two are friends of my brother, then you’re Tangtang’s friends as well, which makes you friends of Painting Town. Tangtang is not a disciple in the cultivation world but I cannot sit idly by if anything were to happen back home. Please don’t keep me out of the loop! If there’s any real danger, Tangtang reckons that he can handle it.” As he was saying this, a slamming sound came from inside the room. Leyang Tian had placed something on the table.
The monk exclaimed in surprise, “This thing looks very odd.”
The old monk Ji Fei exhaled in a weathered fashion, “Child, this cannot do!” The short-statured Leyang Wen was not around, the old monk had raised his own seniority.
Leyang Tian laughed, “Master monk, if this will not do, what will?”
The slurping of tea was heard. It was unclear whether it was the fat monk or the old monk.
After a while, the old monk’s voice could be heard again, saying earnestly, “Firstly, you can’t face a true elite cultivator with a handgun. Secondly, no cultivator would ever use a gun. If you fire this, the face of the whole Painting Town would be thrown down the drain!”
Wen Leyang understood at this point, that Leyang Tian had placed a gun on the table. Then he thought about the old monk’s words. It seems that Xiaoyi was already infamous in the cultivation world.
Leyang Tian’s tone lost its original flippancy, “I beg that the two of you be more straightforward. What happened to Painting Town?”
The old monk was still beating around the bush, unwilling to get to the point, “Then I’ll ask you again. Regarding your family, how much do you truly know?”
Leyang Tian seemed to get slightly impatient, “There are only my brother and I in the current Painting Town’s generation! Although Tangtang does not even have an ounce of true cultivation skill, you don’t have to keep my family’s matters from me…”
The monk Shui Jing suddenly opened his mouth to interrupt Leyang Tian’s words, “Then how about the matters regarding your family and the World Sect?” His voice was cold and stern.
Leyang Tian’s voice also deepened abruptly, “What you two immortals mean to say is what ties do we, Painting Town, have with the World Sect?” As he was saying this, Leyang Tian sneered, “You two had better be nice with your mouths. If these rumors were to reach outside ears, Painting Town would become the shooting target of all.”
There were three factions of true cultivators under the heavens. The first one is the right cultivation path headed by the Five Blessings. Their power was the greatest. They were highly skilled and had a great number of disciples. They were the ultimate leaders of the cultivation world. The second is the wicked faction. They had been greatly weakened by the right cultivation paths thousands of years ago. They are now lying low in the world. However, they had been stirring starting a few years ago. Not long ago, when One Word Palace’s Third Elder Wei died on Mount Emei, the conflict between the right and the wicked became more intense. However, no particularly outstanding elite had shown their face from among the World Sect. The third faction was the rogue cultivators. Although they were great in numbers, they were a motley crowd. A few outstanding ones like Red Grandaunt, Giant Bull and others were a far cry from the proper elites of the Five Blessings. Painting Town had silently become the leader of the rogue cultivators, but they had a hard time on Mount Emei, greatly decreasing their popularity.
In the battle between the right and the wicked, the rogue cultivators had been strictly neutral on the surface. Of course, with their abilities, meddling in the battle between the right and the wicked was like a rabbit wanting to join in the war between two brown bears.
Even if Painting Town was the first among rogue cultivators, if they had ties with the World Sect, they were bound to be attacked mercilessly by One Word Palace, Eyang Sect and other hardliners.
But Painting Town’s actions in the Gold-Consuming Lair and City God Temple of Shanghai had left Wen Leyang uncertain. Moreover, just a few moments earlier, a hundred cultivators were mercilessly exterminated by witchcraft. One could even guess by using the buttons on one’s clothes, that Painting Town was no mere rogue cultivator family as seen on the surface.
The monk Shui Jing snorted, “Right cultivation path or wicked path, these have nothing to do with us rogue cultivators. If Painting Town had any ties with the wicked path, us brothers would turn a blind eye. However, this time, we came here because of the past relationship between us brothers and Leyang Wen. There’s something that we must tell you.” As he was saying this, there was a ruffling sound. The monk seemed to take something out before saying, “This is for you!”
The room fell silent instantly.
The Poison of Life and Death inside Wen Leyang’s body flowed quickly. Ji Fei and Shui Jing seemed to know the ties that Painting Town had with the World Sect and made this visit on purpose. Wen Leyang was worried that the black gorilla Leyang Tian would launch an attack. A person, who could kill a hundred cultivators without making a sound, could easily pinch Ji Fei Shui Jing to death. It would be as easy as raising an arm.
After a while, Leyang Tian suddenly opened his mouth, “May the two immortals show mercy! Please tell me the cause and consequences of the entire thing.”
The old monk grunted and ordered the monk, “Junior, you say it.”
The fat monk was quite aware and he spoke right after he replied, “Ten days ago, when us brothers were in Jiaxing City, we had inadvertently noticed a few adversaries, the ox noses of Eyang Sect!”
The old monk Ji Fei had been with the fat monk for many years now, but he had not gotten used to him calling other Taoist priests as ox noses. He managed a cold grunt from his throat.
Leyang Tian’s voice was slightly hesitant, “Eyang Sect is one of the Five Blessings right? Had those priests bore a grudge against you two immortals?” Listening to his tone, he seemed to not understand the current cultivation world at all. He even needed confirmation on the famous Eyang Sect.
The old monk Ji Fei continued the conversation, “It’s not that they bore a grudge against us, but they did not treat our close kin rightly. At that time, a few shady Eyang Sect priests were spotted by us brothers, and we followed them…”
Leyang Tian suddenly interrupted the old monk’s speech, “Do you two know this person?”
Old monk Ji Fei exclaimed with surprise and smiled without warning, “Of course, it’s Andy Lau!”
He squinted his eyes and muttered, “This frame looks familiar.”
Wen Leyang was astonished then he was shocked. He had hoped to be lucky in his heart. Maybe they were looking at Liu Zheng… Then he lifted his head and saw a camera, pointing at him dead-on.
Leyang Tian laughed loudly, “Cultivator or elite, how could you not check if there’s a CCTV on top of you? You’re worse than a burglar! Andy Lau, if you’re not bent on running then come in!”
Wen Leyang hesitated slightly before pushing the door open and went in. He removed his mask.
Leyang Tian was leaning on a big fat sofa. He chuckled as he looked at Wen Leyang. He had wanted to open his mouth but Ji Fei and Shui Jing jumped while giving astonished cries, “Y-y-you… have come from Mount Qilian to Shanghai?”
The two monks last saw Wen Leyang when the Five Blessings gathered together to combat the Weeping Buddha at Wen Village. After that, Wen Leyang had brought a group to Mount Qilian. After these two brothers had made a small fortune with First Uncle Wen Tunhai, they went traveling. They did not know that Wen Leyang had left the Gold-Consuming Lair.
Leyang Tian was slightly startled. He pointed at Wen Leyang and asked old monk Ji Fei, “You guys know each other?”
Ji Fei nodded, “He was our… the close kin that we mentioned.”
Leyang Tian was still smiling, “Then we’re one family.” However, his gaze towards Wen Leyang did not have an ounce of friendliness.
Wen Leyang raised his hand and pointed at the roof, “The people outside have nothing to do with me. I came here to ask some questions.”
Leyang Tian looked at Wen Leyang with bright eyes. He was neither friendly nor hostile, “Thank goodness they had nothing to do with you.”
Ji Fei was quick to sense that something was amiss but Wen Leyang was his reassurance. He smiled widely at Leyang Tian, “What, there were cultivators outside? Child, you don’t understand the methods of the Heaven’s Cultivation, but worry not!”
Leyang Tian nodded without saying a word, suddenly inattentive. He turned his head as he frowned slightly. He returned to normal after a few seconds and asked Wen Leyang, “The people out there were truly unrelated to you?”
Wen Leyang did not understand why he would say this. He nodded, “We only came in a pair.”
Leyang Tian picked up the phone on the table. He pressed a button and said two words, “Come here!” After a while, a burly youngster knocked on the door. Leyang Tian picked up the handgun and went out. He whispered an order to the youngster and shoved the gun into the youngster’s chest.
The handgun’s shape was odd. The barrel was very long.
When Leyang Tian returned, he bid Wen Leyang to sit down with a smile. He toyed endlessly with a black jade talisman in his hand as he spoke to Ji Fei, “May the two immortals please continue.”
Fat monk Shui Jing knew his manners. He first glanced at Wen Leyang.
Wen Leyang was flattered. He nodded quickly.
Ji Fei and Shui Jing had been strolling about in Jiangnan when they inadvertently saw a few gloomy looking Eyang Sect disciples. They were curious and followed them. They discovered that they were hunting a person from the World Sect’s wicked faction. This wicked faction person had suffered grievous wounds. The two parties, one chasing, the other running eventually died off together.
The two monks waited until all of them laid down. They braved themselves and moved in closer. They did not expect that the person from the wicked faction had not died completely and could recognize the both of them. The person knew that they were rogue cultivators.
Before the wicked faction person died, he insisted on asking a favor of Ji Fei and Shui Jing, requesting them to bring a jade talisman to Painting Town in Shanghai and give it to the people of Leyang family.
If this had happened earlier, Ji Fei and Shui Jing would most probably have thrown the jade talisman down a drain and run away as far as they could.
However, the brothers had a different perspective from before. They were the saviors of the big and small rabbit demon. If they really had any trouble, they would only need to run to Great Mercy Temple and all will be well. They did not need to take the battle between the right and the wicked to heart. Moreover, Leyang Wen had indeed acted honorably with the both of them. Hence, they brought the jade talisman to Painting Town in Shanghai.
However, the two monks had been cautious. They had inquired if there were any Leyang Town cultivators here beforehand, only then did they dare to bravely take out the jade talisman and talk about the whole incident. If Leyang Wen was present, they would have kept their mouths shut. They could not guarantee that Painting Town would kill them to cover up.
The whole incident from its beginning to its end was nothing complicated. Ji Fei and Shui Jing had come to Painting Town to help deliver an object from a dead World Sect disciple to the Leyang family. However, due to the involvement of the relationship between World Sect and Painting Town, it had become somewhat dangerous.
After the fat monk Shui Jing finished, old monk Ji Fei opened his mouth earnestly, “Leyang Tian, you don’t understand the methods of the Heaven’s cultivation. It would be best if you let your brother handle these things. After all, the dangers of the cultivation world…”
He had not finished when a sharp ‘pa’ sound came suddenly from downstairs, followed by a furious howl akin to a tiger’s roar!
A few seconds later, a cacophony of panicked screams erupted in the whole Painting Town.
Leyang Tian comfortably stretched his limbs and opened his mouth absent-mindedly, “The immortal had been worried for nothing. Heaven’s cultivators may not be superior to others. Before god’s punishment, they are nothing but leather sacks. After god’s punishment, they might not even be leather sacks. Mortals have the methods of mortals. That youngster just now was not even trained in Wushu but he still managed to kill a cultivator. It seems that this cultivator is quite skilled.”
Wen Leyang let out a strange cry and wanted to jump up. Leyang Tian was startled with a jump, his fat palms waving about, “What’re you getting excited about?”
With a boom, the wooden doors of the room shattered to pieces. The little supreme leader Liu Zheng appeared at the door. When he saw that Wen Leyang was unscathed, he let out a relieved sigh, “Thank goodness you’re alright.” Liu Zheng was carrying his newly bought backpack, which contained the blunderbuss and his flying sword.
Wen Leyang asked Liu Zheng, “What happened?”
Liu Zheng sighed and pointed at his temple, “The supreme leader of Eyang Sect, the enlightened person San Wei just died. He got shot here.”
Leyang Tian smiled easily, “Desert Eagle, nine millimeters. It could even penetrate a normal steel board, what more a soft temple? No matter the person, if they had an extra iron lump in their heads, they won’t be able to live anymore, no?” Then, with a movement, he bulged his eyes, “The person who died was a supreme leader of the Five Blessings?”
The old monk Ji Fei’s face was full of shock. He stood up with a thump, “Impossible. Is San Wei out of his mind? Allowing others to freely fire on him?”
The fire weapons created by modern technology had always been at odds with magical powers refined using ancient methods. Cultivators fear the powerful impact of fire weapons, but a Heaven’s cultivator may rely on his telegnosis ability. Especially short-range weapons like handguns, it would be useless against an elite, such as the enlightened person San Wei. San Wei’s telegnosis ability would have kept an eye on his surroundings at all times. If a person takes out a gun, he would not have the time to raise it and pull the trigger before being killed by him.
Leyang Tian answered old monk Ji Fei’s question with a smile, “Painting Town has other talents. We can conceal the shooter from San Wei’s telegnosis ability.” As he was saying this, he heaved a sigh. He looked at Wen Leyang and little supreme leader Liu Zheng, “Now that that’s settled. Tell me what you came to say!”
