Chapter Seventy-Three: One Hundred Kowtows

After speaking, Master said no more and in a flash appeared before Lu Tangjun. With one hand, he lifted him up and snatched away the hand bone from his grasp. Then he declared, “The hand bone of Li Guang—there is no need for your two factions to keep fighting over it. Today, I’ll take responsibility and bring it away myself. Five years from now, if you still wish to contest it, come find me. Do you have any objections?”

With that, Master turned to Cheng Guang, who met his gaze, thought for a moment, then nodded without hesitation. “Senior, as long as the hand bone doesn’t fall into the hands of villains, I have no objections.”

By “villains,” Cheng Guang clearly meant Lu Tangjun. Master turned back to Lu Tangjun and asked, “What about you?”

Lu Tangjun’s face was grim as he nodded. Master, satisfied with the answers from both factions, nodded as well and addressed Lu Tangjun, “Also, Lu Tangjun! I know your character inside and out. Don’t try any tricks. From today, I will protect the corpse-driving branch; anyone who dares to harm them, I will destroy. As for Tianyu’s death, I don’t require you to end your life in repentance, but you must give me an explanation. This is your last chance—handle it wisely.”

Lu Tangjun, pale as death, stared at Master in silence. Master curled his finger, and the golden sword hovered above Lu Tangjun’s head. Terrified, Lu Tangjun glanced up at the sword’s brilliant tip but still did not speak. Then Master flicked his finger, sending the golden sword plunging toward Lu Tangjun’s head.

“Don’t! Don’t! Tan Boqing, I’ll give you an explanation, I will!”

Just as the golden sword was about to pierce his skull, Lu Tangjun cried out. Master withdrew his hand, and the sword stopped just at the strands of Lu Tangjun’s hair, its sharp tip severing a lock, which drifted down between them.

Lu Tangjun watched his falling hair, gulped, and stammered, “Tan... Tan Boqing, I’ll give you an explanation.”

Master looked at him, tightening his grip on Lu Tangjun’s collar. Startled, Lu Tangjun blurted, “I’ll go myself to Brother Tianyu’s grave and kowtow three times, and I promise not to suppress the corpse-driving branch anymore. In fact, I’ll help them. Tan Boqing, is that enough?”

Master released him, and Lu Tangjun fell to the ground, tidying his clothes, glancing with embarrassment at the crowd behind him.

Master sheathed the golden sword, looked at Lu Tangjun, and said simply, “A hundred.”

Lu Tangjun was stunned, as if he’d misheard. He stared at Master, who repeated, “Three kowtows aren’t enough. I want a hundred.”

Lu Tangjun was bewildered, his face dark with outrage, unable to speak. Master pressed again, “What’s wrong? Do you have an opinion?”

With a cold snort, Master stepped forward. Lu Tangjun retreated in panic, waving his hands, “No opinion! No opinion! A hundred is fine.”

Master stopped, nodded coldly, and returned with the hand bone. He took me from Cheng Guang’s arms and carried me on his back. Just as he was about to leave, he paused, turned slightly, and said, “Lu Tangjun, I have placed a curse on you. If you think you can avoid those hundred kowtows after I leave, you’re mistaken. I will watch you until every one is done. Take care.”

With that, Master carried my sleeping self straight out. Cheng Guang remained where he was, glanced at Lu Tangjun’s ashen face, then looked at Master and followed him.

No one spoke along the way until they reached the edge of the woods. There, Cheng Guang stopped. Master, carrying me, looked at him in puzzlement, but Cheng Guang bowed deeply and said, “Senior, thank you.”

Master smiled faintly, adjusting his grip to keep me from slipping, and said, “No need to thank me. Our two branches are family—if you need anything, just come to me.”

---

Cheng Guang was stunned, tears glistening in his eyes at the words “family.” He knew he owed it all to his master Sun Tianyu; otherwise, why would Master stand up against the ancient Miao village for the corpse-driving branch?

He nodded, and Master continued, “By the way, where is your itinerant guest?”

Cheng Guang suddenly remembered, glanced eastward, and said, “Senior, I’ve settled him over there. We’ve lost much time these days, and it’s time I continue my journey.”

Master nodded, saying, “Take care on the road. Don’t worry about the Miao village. Li Guang’s hand bone will stay with me for now. Put your energies into restoring the corpse-driving branch—it’s so few now, and you’ve inherited Tianyu’s role. Don’t let him down. Let’s part here, then. Until we meet again in the martial world!”

Cheng Guang nodded heavily, replied with a sound, bowed and cupped his hands to Master, donned his straw hat, and walked east. Master watched him go, glanced at me sleeping on his back, and sighed, “People—just struggling to live.”

He hugged me closer, adjusted his hold, and turned toward Phoenix Ancient Town.

---

Inside the ancient city, Chu Mengxi paced the room with her phone, anxious since yesterday afternoon—unable to sit or stand. Only when the landlord’s voice came from downstairs did she feel a bit calmer.

“Oh, where have you two been wandering? Why are you only back today? The young lady upstairs is nearly frantic.” The elderly host remarked.

Master replied casually, carrying me upstairs. Chu Mengxi was already waiting in the corridor; seeing Master with me, she rushed over, “Uncle Tan, what’s wrong with Lin Xuan?”

Master shook his head, “Let’s talk inside.”

He went straight to my room, Chu Mengxi opened the door, and Master laid me on the bed, tucked in the quilt, then went to the table for a drink of water.

Chu Mengxi glanced at me—my face rosy, sleeping peacefully—then hurried to sit beside Master. “Uncle Tan?”

He waved his hand, “Don’t worry, the boy is just exhausted. A good sleep will fix him.”

Relieved, Chu Mengxi nodded and asked, “Uncle Tan, where have you and Lin Xuan been since yesterday? The phone wouldn’t connect. I thought you’d abandoned me.”

Her nose tinged with sadness. Master quickly chuckled, “Hey, Chu girl, aren’t we back now? We ran into some trouble yesterday, got delayed, and the phone died. You know, Lin Xuan was worried about whether you’d be anxious.”

Master took another sip. Chu Mengxi glanced at me, her cheeks reddening, eyes shimmering with tears, and whispered, “Who’s worried about him?”

Master laughed, handed her a glass of water. She looked at it, wiped her red eyes, and Master patted her head, “All right, Chu girl, we’re home safe—don’t cry, or you’ll ruin your pretty face. Your father would be angry with me.”

She smiled through her tears, wiped them away, nodded, cleared her throat, and asked, “Uncle Tan, what about Uncle Zhang’s two children?”

---

Master drank more water, took out a small black medicine bottle and set it on the table. Chu Mengxi, curious, reached for it, but Master stopped her, “It’s filled with toxic insect powder, girl. Best not touch it.”

Hearing about the poison, Chu Mengxi’s face changed and she withdrew her hand. Master chuckled, “This is the antidote. No rush to visit the Zhangs now; our main task is—eating!”

As he spoke, his stomach growled. Chu Mengxi remembered that Master and I hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon and must be starving. She giggled and went downstairs, for reasons unknown.

I still lay on the bed, dreaming of two children playing carefreely, only to be harmed by a woman. Master led me to pursue her, but we encountered a strange house, entered a village, and in my dream there was a huge figure wielding a mountain axe, destroying all the peace around.

Outside the dream, I don’t know how long passed before I suddenly woke, panting heavily, wiping sweat from my brow, and looked around. To my surprise, I was back in the ancient city guesthouse.

Master sat at the table nearby; seeing me awake, he asked, “All right, boy, how do you feel?”

I exhaled deeply, “Thank goodness it was only a dream. Thank goodness, whew—”

“Hmm? Boy, what are you muttering about?”

Master glanced at me in puzzlement. I hurried to reply, “Oh, nothing. I feel fine, just a bit hungry.”

At that, Master’s stomach grumbled as well. He was about to speak when Chu Mengxi’s voice rang from downstairs, “Uncle Tan, dinner’s ready!”

Master smiled, “See, just in time for dinner, boy.”

I chuckled, put on my shoes, and went downstairs with Master. The table was already filled with delicious dishes. Chu Mengxi brought a ladle from the kitchen, and on seeing us, she called out, “Lin Xuan, you’re awake! Come, eat!”

I smiled and nodded. Master looked at us, a bit exasperated. As I sat down, I remembered Master, and Chu Mengxi, realizing belatedly, beamed and said, “Uh, hehe, Uncle Tan, you eat too.”

“Master, please take your seat first.”

I stood awkwardly as Master came over.