Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1456 - 787: Rebirth in the Small Town (Part 2)

Yet, the forehead stood bare, devoid of the anticipated blood seal.

Zhao Sheng whirled about abruptly, racing down the riverside trail in pursuit of that willow-patterned vessel.

Witnessing this, Chen San wore a baffled expression yet hastened his steps to keep up.

Just then, the willow-patterned boat drifted gently toward the shore, from which a scholarly man of middle years disembarked, glanced back at Zhao Sheng approaching swiftly, and promptly offered a cupped-hand greeting.

"How should I address you?" Zhao Sheng halted a couple of paces distant, reciprocated the gesture, and inquired.

The scholarly man of middle years offered no reply, instead gesturing toward a nearby teahouse and suggesting, "Why don’t we sit there? I have many questions too."

"Alright." Zhao Sheng's gaze sparkled with interest, and he agreed without hesitation.

Moments later, the pair stepped into the teahouse and chose a secluded chamber to settle in.

Once the server delivered the tea, Zhao Sheng dismissed Chen San, leaving just the two of them alone in the space.

"Haha, I am Nangong Wuliang, delighted to encounter this fellow Daoist." The scholarly man of middle years lifted his teacup and chuckled boisterously.

Zhao Sheng lifted his own cup in response, grinning as he said, "I am Zhao Gongzhu, pleased to meet Nangong Wuliang Dao You."

With that, he pressed on eagerly, "I wonder how much Nangong Dao You knows about this place?"

By chance, the scholarly man of middle years harbored the identical query and shook his head in mild frustration, "I've only just awakened and grasp little of this location, nor the reason for our arrival here."

Upon hearing those words, Zhao Sheng let out a quiet sigh and stated gravely, "Nangong Dao You, do you know the whereabouts of other Dao You?"

The scholarly man of middle years shook his head once more, "You're the initial soul I've crossed paths with since stirring, no others whatsoever."

"At present, both you and I stand sealed, with prospects appearing dim. The wisest course right now involves swiftly gathering all fellow Daoists, pooling our insights to unravel this place's enigma."

"Fellow Daoist's insight rings true. Yet how might we swiftly locate the other fellow Daoists?" The scholarly man of middle years pondered briefly, his brow furrowing.

Zhao Sheng grinned and replied, "Simple enough. Mingxi Town spans no vast expanse, and should you and I stir up a stir, other fellow Daoists will surely be drawn forth."

"Ah, my mind must be muddled—why didn't this approach occur to me?" The scholarly man of middle years smacked the table lightly, feigning self-reproach.

In response, Zhao Sheng merely smiled silently, toasting with his cup.

...

Half an hour passed, when abruptly a towering column of inky smoke erupted from the town's southeast, soaring tens of yards into the sky.

The townsfolk stirred at once, their eyes fixed on the distant plume.

Streetgoers buzzed with animated chatter, while the more inquisitive ventured toward the rising smoke.

This smoke column's rise likewise roused diverse figures across the little town.

"Youn...Young Master, is it enough?"

Gasping for breath, Chen San clutched a stack of damp logs, hurled them into the blaze with effort, mopped the perspiration from his brow, pivoted to face the young master, and murmured feebly.

Crowds had amassed by then, gesturing and murmuring with a mix of faces.

As the damp logs hit the flames, thick ebony fumes billowed upward instantly, thickening the smoke column to greater density.

"Chen San, fetch two additional bundles of firewood."

Brushing off Chen San's departure, Zhao Sheng shot a look at the scholarly man of middle years nearby.

The scholarly man of middle years caught on, surveyed the gathering, and swiftly pinpointed a prospect.

He was a lean, weathered woodcutter of middle years, bearing a vivid crimson "seal" glyph boldly etched on his brow.

The woodcutter likewise noted the blood seals adorning the brows of the pair, their essences instantly recognized.

As moments ticked by, throngs swelled around the fire, ultimately drawing in local authorities.

All at once, the assembly parted, as a burly, flushed officer in uniform shoved through, bellowing, "Clear a path! Let's see who has the nerve to set fires in daylight."

Zhao Sheng knew this fellow, stepped forward, and offered a faint grin, "Chief Liu, this is a misunderstanding. I am simply acting on impulse, not deliberately committing arson."

While uttering this, he extended a hand to clasp Chief Liu’s sleeve, allowing a sliver of silver to glide unnoticed into the man's garb.

Sensing the heft within his sleeve, the flushed man's demeanor eased at once, "Ah, the Young Master of the Chen household. A mere mix-up, then—no issue. Still, starting fires isn't trivial. Should nearby establishments ignite by mishap, the fallout rests with you, Mr. Chen."

Zhao Sheng responded offhandedly, "Naturally. I won't impose on Chief Liu in the least."

The flushed man inclined his head, "Very well, duties call, so I'll depart now."

"Fare well, Chief Liu!"

Once the man had gone, Zhao Sheng scanned about, steadily spotting a handful of marks.

The scholarly man of middle years had merged seamlessly into the throng, linking up with fellow Daoists.

Zhao Sheng lingered at the blaze, tending it while awaiting further fellow Daoists.

With the sun cresting noon, close to another hour elapsed, and the onlookers of the spectacle began to thin.

Deeming the moment apt, Zhao Sheng directed Chen San to remain and douse the flames, then strode into the dispersing group.

Reuniting with the scholarly man of middle years, the woodcutter, and the rest, they claimed an empty yard and commenced their exchange.

Counting Zhao Sheng, six souls total: beyond the scholar and woodcutter lay a ragged urchin, a portly merchant of middle years, a refined maiden from secluded halls, and a sturdy riverman.

These six bore varied guises, their strengths bound by the blood seals.

Through their talks, all grasped they'd roused of late with scant knowledge of surroundings.

They remained blind to the intent behind the enigmatic force that deposited them in this hamlet.

"In my view, no haste is needed." The sturdy woodcutter broke in abruptly, "The Sky-reaching White Tower permits entry for seven days alone. We hunker in town, venture not, until the tower seals. Then, expulsion comes unbidden."

His statement landed, and the ragged urchin piped up sharply, "Mr. Hong speaks soundly, yet overly yielding. Initiative serves better. This town hides depths beyond its facade."

"Precisely! I won't idle toward doom. A peculiar tale demands sharing. Soon after awakening, I stumbled upon a large yellow hound. Not mere beast—this one senses keenly, comprehends speech. Most crucially—"

The refined maiden from secluded halls shone with beauty, her tone clear and enticing, masterfully building suspense.

"What marks it crucial?" The scholarly man of middle years queried with keen anticipation.

"Most crucially, I discovered this upon its form."

With that, the maiden drew a collar from her sleeve and displayed it to the assembly.

Palm-sized and wholly aureate, the collar gleamed with intricate ancient Dao Patterns etched across its face, while within lay three Immortal Seal Characters, marking it no ordinary trinket.

Zhao Sheng possessed keen visual prowess, and upon glimpsing those three Immortal Seal Characters, he cried out in astonishment, "Vajra?!"

The scholarly man of middle years matched his shock, leaping up to claim the collar from the maiden.

"What? Where did this Vajra come from, hurry and let me see."