Chapter 85 - 80: Parchment Map

Jiang Che examined the parchment map closely, but he couldn’t recognize the location.

He saw an ’X’ marking a spot, with some small words written beside it.

But he couldn’t understand the writing.

It wasn’t the script of Great Chu.

It consisted of many repeating, letter-like symbols.

These different letters formed individual words.

’Judging by the script, it seems to be some sort of phonetic writing system.’

’It looks like the Latin alphabet from my previous life, but there are some differences...’

Still not giving up, he studied the terrain on the map again, trying to recall if he had ever passed through a similar area during his escort missions.

Suddenly, he felt that half a mountain depicted in the map’s southeastern corner looked a bit like a mountain northwest of Lin Yuan City.

’So the destination might be even farther to the northwest?’

Jiang Che’s interest was piqued. If he had the chance, it might be worth investigating.

Sacrificial Envoy Li had carried this on his person, and it looked quite old.

It might lead to some secret.

He carefully put the parchment map away and then turned his attention to the token.

The token was pure white, apparently carved and polished from the bone or tooth of some animal.

It was engraved with intricate patterns, and in the center were carved the two words: "Sacrificial Envoy."

’It seems this was his identity token.’

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Che stuffed it into his bundle as well.

Finally, there was the matter of disposing of the body.

Although technology in this world wasn’t advanced enough for forensic analysis, who knew what other strange methods might exist?

For example, deducing the Cultivation Technique used from the wounds.

Jiang Che dared not take the risk.

’If only there were a well or a river...’

He recalled the Young Servant from last time. Tossing the body into a well and covering it up had been quite convenient.

With this in mind, he immediately used his Qinggong to search the area for a suitable place to dispose of the body.

However, after searching the entire area, he found neither a well nor a river.

Fearing that delaying any longer might attract other enemies, Jiang Che found a large rock and began smashing it viciously against the corpse.

Once he had battered the corpse’s wounds beyond recognition, leaving no trace of the struggle, Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief.

BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ...

Suddenly, a black insect appeared from nowhere and began circling him persistently.

Jiang Che grew annoyed. He swatted at it, but it kept clinging to him.

BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ...

A flash of anger surged through Jiang Che. He instantly entered the Heart Stream and clapped his hands together.

SPLAT!

Looking at the flattened black bee, its guts splattering out, Jiang Che frowned.

"I thought it was a blowfly. Why is it a bee?"

He shook his hand to fling off the bee’s carcass and quickly departed.

What he failed to notice, however, was a silver waist token lying in a patch of grass nearby, engraved with the two words ’Seven Stars’.

「...」

Jiang Che didn’t go to find Li Rushan directly. Instead, he first went home to bathe and change his clothes.

’Sigh... One Transformation and a whole set of clothes is ruined...’

Jiang Che was at a loss for words.

He recalled some of the TV shows he’d watched in his previous life.

Other people’s transformations were always so cool, but his own just left him in such a pathetic state.

If the trousers of this era weren’t so naturally baggy, they would have been torn to shreds, and he would have had to streak all the way home.

’If only I had clothes that didn’t rip when I transformed...’

’Worse comes to worst, I’ll just have to strip before transforming.’

After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Jiang Che suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over him.

He realized he had consumed a great deal of Qi Blood in the previous battle.

He took out some Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Dried Meat and began to gnaw on it.

But as soon as the Qi Blood was generated, it was instantly absorbed by the Heart of the Black Abyss.

’It seems fighting after a Transformation accelerates the Heart of the Black Abyss’s consumption...’

He still hadn’t completely figured out the mechanics of the Heart of the Black Abyss.

However, after fighting twice post-Transformation, he had roughly deduced two things.

First, feeding the Heart of the Black Abyss with Exotic Beast Meat or Black Crystals would make him stronger in his next Transformation.

Second, fighting after a Transformation would quickly deplete the Heart of the Black Abyss, requiring it to absorb new Exotic Beast Meat or Black Crystals.

’So it both strengthens and stores energy?’

Therefore, Jiang Che stopped eating the Exotic Beast Meat and instead took out a Black Crystal.

Just as he expected, the Black Crystal quickly vaporized and vanished.

Simultaneously, a powerful, cold current surged into his body, flowing toward the Heart of the Black Abyss.

However, even after absorbing an entire Black Crystal, Jiang Che felt that it still wasn’t sated!

’Has its appetite grown?’

He was exasperated and took out another one.

This time, the Black Crystal "vaporized" by about a third before the process stopped.

His Heart of the Black Abyss was finally ’full’.

’At this rate, my stash of Black Crystals won’t last more than a few days...’

Jiang Che had thought his large supply of Black Crystals would last a long time; he never expected consumption to be this high!

’These things cost five hundred silver a piece... I hope it’s worth it...’

Jiang Che shook his head. After putting the Black Crystals away, he headed out.

Worried he might run into Sacrificial Envoy Li’s accomplices, he took a different route this time.

After leaving Prefecture Street, Jiang Che took a left, cut through a few small alleys, and arrived at West Market Street.

This was the same street where he had first set up a stall to write letters for people.

Now, however, the street was cold and desolate, with barely anyone around.

Only a few scattered vendors lined the sides.

Few of the shops along the street remained.

Continuing onward, he reached the Inner City.

It was much cleaner here, but the streets had long lost their former prosperity.

Only the establishments frequented by the wealthy seemed largely unaffected.

Before long, he arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower, where he had arranged to dine with Li Rushan. It was a six-story building with walls of gray brick and massive, red-lacquered logs for its beams and pillars.

It was the dinner hour, and groups of lavishly dressed young masters periodically entered the establishment.

A portly man who looked like a steward stood at the entrance, skillfully greeting the arriving guests.

Jiang Che straightened his clothes and strode inside.

When the steward learned Jiang Che was looking for Li Rushan, his eyes lit up, and his attitude became even more solicitous.

He personally led Jiang Che to the very top floor.

The top floor consisted of a series of small, private rooms, from which Jiang Che could occasionally hear the sound of men and women chatting and laughing.

Suddenly, the door to one of the rooms opened. A woman in a light green, gauzy dress, drenched in perfume and wearing heavy makeup, emerged while supporting a drunken Young Master.

Seeing the steward, the woman quickly bowed and said:

"Young Master Li is drunk. I’m taking him to rest."

"Mm, go on," the steward said with a cursory glance.

The two of them continued on, arriving at the private room at the very end of the hall.

The steward knocked on the door and announced:

"Master Li, Young Master Jiang is here!"

"Come in!"

A powerful voice called from within.

Opening the door revealed a burly man sitting at an Eight Immortals Table by the window.

Though his temples were gray, the man had a ruddy complexion and showed no signs of old age.

It was none other than Li Rushan.

His eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Che, and he waved him over to take a seat.

After Jiang Che was seated, the steward turned to Li Rushan with a smile.

"Master Li, will you be needing any company for drinks?"

"Not today. This young brother and I have some things to discuss," Li Rushan said.

"Very good. I’ll have them bring up the dishes. Please, take your time and enjoy your meal!" Steward Zhang said with a smile before withdrawing.

Seeing Jiang Che occasionally glance out the window, Li Rushan asked:

"Little Brother Jiang, what are you looking at?"

Jiang Che replied:

"The view from here is magnificent. You can see half of the Inner City, and even the distant Quicksand River is in full view. Senior Li, you have excellent taste!"

He gazed at the distant scenery, momentarily lost in a memory from his past life, of dining in a restaurant overlooking a river.

Feeling the river breeze while enjoying a delicious meal was a fine pleasure indeed.

"Bah, I’m just a simple brute. Don’t know a thing about ’refined taste.’ I just think the food here is damn good! Back at Seven Stars Castle, the food is so bland I could spit. Since I finally got a chance to come out, you’d better believe I’m going to eat my fill!" Li Rushan chuckled.

Jiang Che nodded and took a sip of tea.

It seemed to be a barley infusion, with a faint sweetness and a nutty, grain-like aroma.

"This Inner City really is something, isn’t it? Great food, fine wine, beautiful women! Little Brother Jiang, how about I take you out for some real fun another day?" Li Rushan said with a smile, waggling his eyebrows.

"No, thank you. For now, this junior wishes only to focus on his Martial Arts Training," Jiang Che said, quickly shaking his head.

Li Rushan shook his head.

"You’re no fun at all. Martial Arts Training is important, sure, but you also need to learn to relax. Why, when I was your age, I already had a kid!"

"Senior Li’s words are wise," Jiang Che replied, not bothering to argue.

Before long, all the dishes had been served. The two ate and chatted about various rumors from the Jianghu.

Jiang Che discovered that Li Rushan was a motormouth and an incorrigible braggart; once he got started, he was impossible to stop.

He recounted all his youthful tales of repaying favors and taking revenge as he saw fit, and the many legends he had left behind in the Jianghu.

Jiang Che responded intermittently, his main focus still on the food.

The dishes were truly excellent, featuring ingredients like Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp, as well as other precious mountain delicacies.

A venison dish, in particular, was exceptionally delicious.

After they finished their meal, the two went downstairs to settle the bill.

When they reached the main hall, Jiang Che saw that the first floor was also packed with diners.

Just as a party was leaving, Jiang Che glanced at their table. They had ordered a feast of fine dishes but had only taken a few bites of each.

Jiang Che thought of the beggars he’d seen on the streets and sighed to himself.

A line of poetry came to his mind:

"The gates of the rich reek of wine and meat, while on the road lie the bones of the frozen dead."

But that was the way of the world, and he was powerless to change it.

Outside, a carriage from the Seven Stars Gang was already waiting.

A wiry old man came forward to greet them.

He smiled and made a few gestures toward the pair.

Jiang Che didn’t quite understand.

Li Rushan laughed. "This is the stableman, Old Wang. He’s a mute and has been with me for many years. He’s complimenting you! He says you’re very handsome and have a fortunate air about you, that you’ll have a great future ahead of you!"

Jiang Che quickly replied, "Thank you, Uncle Wang!"

He then took a silver ingot from his robes and offered it to him.

Old Wang, the stableman, hastily refused, shaking his head and refusing to take it.

Li Rushan frowned. "What are you giving him silver for? We’re all family here. You’re being too distant!"

Jiang Che gave an embarrassed smile and had no choice but to put the silver back in his pouch.

"Come on, I’ll take you to have a look at Seven Stars Castle!"

Li Rushan said with a laugh, clapping Jiang Che on the shoulder.

The two of them then boarded the carriage and rode off.