Chapter Fifty-Four: You Already Have a Dao Companion?

She watched as Zhou Changwang took another detour, and just then, a cultivator happened to walk alongside them. That person, unhesitating, pressed forward alone.

Suddenly, with a sharp twang, an arrow tore through the air and struck the cultivator’s chest, piercing straight through.

A scream rang out, and a martial artist burst from the tall grass, his blade sweeping sideways. The unfortunate cultivator’s head flew from his shoulders.

Rogue cultivators seldom had the luxury to carry defensive talismans at all times. Without protection, ambushed, death was inevitable.

Qian Xiaoyue’s face turned ashen. It happened so quickly, so suddenly. She had never imagined that, so close by, someone had laid an ambush to attack passing cultivators. Had she not followed Zhou Changwang’s winding path, had she continued straight ahead, would she have been the one skewered by the arrow and beheaded in a single stroke?

But how had Zhou Changwang predicted the ambush ahead?

Zhou Changwang, too, noticed the situation unfolding nearby, his expression shifting. He had not known there was an ambush at the fork in the road. Only, with his Divination Technique, he sensed a faint flash of red light in that direction, prompting him to change his route instinctively.

He hadn’t expected an actual ambush, targeting passing cultivators.

“It seems this Divination Technique is truly useful—at least in terms of safety, I have a considerable advantage,” Zhou Changwang mused silently, his steps unwavering. He knew this road all too well, having walked it back and forth almost daily.

Sure enough, before long, he spotted the familiar land ahead—his spirit field.

It was clear he wasn’t alone in his thinking. In the distance, he saw several familiar figures, spirit farmers from the foot of Changling Mountain. Most had brought their families, fleeing here for refuge.

“Changwang, you’re here as well? And… you have a Dao partner now? That’s not very considerate, you didn’t even notify us!”

As Zhou Changwang approached, a small elderly man hurried over, his gaze lingering behind him. It was Old Xu, sharp-witted from decades in the market.

He had long noticed something amiss in the market, and when trouble broke out, he led his family to the outskirts. Seeing more familiar spirit farmers, he relaxed considerably.

“This is my neighbor, Fellow Daoist Qian, an alchemy apprentice from the Six Directions Pavilion,” Zhou Changwang introduced, relieved himself.

There’s safety in numbers—even if most were spirit farmers with little strength, their unity made them unafraid of petty bandits.

“An alchemy apprentice? That’s wonderful, much higher status than us mere spirit farmers…” Old Xu immediately grew respectful, his eyes flickering with unknown schemes. He turned to Zhou Changwang, pressing, “And your father? Why isn’t he here with you?”

“He’s returned to the mundane world,” Zhou Changwang replied.

“That’s good. This time, it was all too sudden; who knows how it will end. Thankfully, everyone here knows each other. The Zhao brothers, seeing we’re all spirit farmers from the foot of Changling Mountain, are willing to share a side house for us to rest. With them here, we needn’t worry too much about safety… Oh, this is my grandson Xu Jiang—triple attributes: wood, fire, and metal. He’s just laying his foundations, soon to break through to the first level of Qi Refining. Fellow Daoist Qian, I hear alchemists need fire roots. My grandson has some talent; you have status and knowledge—could you see if he’s suited for this path?”

Old Xu, all the while introducing his grandson, clearly meant to have Qian Xiaoyue recommend him to the Six Directions Pavilion.

“I am only an apprentice,” Qian Xiaoyue replied coldly.

Though she seemed gentle, she was strong-willed and paid the request no mind.

Zhou Changwang glanced at the grandson, a boy of twelve or thirteen, whose gaze showed little regard until he heard Qian Xiaoyue was an alchemy apprentice; then his demeanor shifted slightly. But hearing her refusal, his face hardened, and he scoffed, “Grandfather, I’ll join Qingyuan Sect one day.”

“Yes, yes, but having a skill at hand gives you an advantage in the sect entrance trials,” Xu Fugui urged.

Zhou Changwang smiled faintly, then, called by another spirit farmer, followed him toward the Zhao brothers’ side house. After their journey, they did need a safe place to rest.

As for Old Xu’s grandson, he was just a spoiled child; Zhou Changwang paid him no mind.

“Old Xu spoils that grandson far too much. One day, the boy will surely suffer for it,” said the spirit farmer, Old He—He Youtian. His wife worked at Lin’s Tavern. Previously, Zhou Changwang had asked Old Xu to inquire about Lin’s Tavern purchasing spirit insects, since he and Old He weren’t close and their fields were far apart, but Old Xu and Old He were neighbors and more familiar. In the end, Old Xu handled the matter, and Zhou Changwang didn’t press further.

Now, seeing Old He’s attitude, he wondered if it was generosity or simply ignorance of the situation.

“Lately, we spirit farmers have been anxious, and now this happens. The times are hard,” He Youtian said, leading the way.

“What’s happened?” Zhou Changwang asked, startled.

“You wouldn’t know. Since autumn harvest, just in our area at the foot of Changling Mountain, at least five spirit farmers have died. Two outside—we couldn’t determine the cause. But three died in their own homes, so we believe it was done by someone they knew,” He Youtian explained.

“Who died? Which acquaintances?” Zhou Changwang frowned.

Qian Xiaoyue, too, looked curious.

“Old Jiang, Zhang Fan, and Xu Zhong—all three died at home. You know our houses on the outskirts have expensive rent but are protected by arrays; outsiders can’t enter or dare not. Yet they died. If it wasn’t someone familiar, who else? Remember the rice thief from some time ago? I suspect he may be the murderer. Pity Old Xu and others failed to catch him while standing guard; otherwise, Old Jiang and the others might not have died…”

He Youtian spoke with conviction.

Zhou Changwang nodded, recalling his previous encounter with Wang Chang. He thought it highly likely the culprit was him. After all, if Wang Chang targeted him, he could easily target others too.