Stranger Danger

Chapter 627: Fight Over

Xi Duoduo explained, “Unfortunately, something terrible happened to the True Martial Sect just three years later. Li Wangxian never appointed a successor three years after resigned as the sect master, and that resulted in a fierce clash between the disciples of each peak as to who should become the next sect master. This was especially true for the two disciples of the late Demon Subjugating Monarch, Li Chunfeng and Ren Huayu.”

“The two disciples had formed cliques and grown their powerbase to defeat the other person. Such was their conflict that it almost resulted in the True Martial Sect being torn in half. In the end, the farce only ended after the sect master of San Qing Temple and the Elderly Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain stepped up and chose Li Chunfeng, the Demon Subjugating Monarch’s eldest disciple, to be the new sect master on the basis of primogeniture.”

“Ren Huayu personally believed that his martial cultivation, talent and gift were all on par with Li Chunfeng, if not better, but now, his rightful place had been robbed from right under his nose. Furious and defiant, he stole ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ from the True Martial Shrine and left the sect.”

“Obviously, Li Chunfeng wasn’t going to let this slide. He did not hesitate to send his men after Ren Huayu. Not long after that, a rumor sprung in the jianghu claiming that the reason Ren Huayu had stolen the painting, and the reason Li Chunfeng wouldn’t stop pursuing the man was because ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ hides the secret to Li Wangxian ascending to the heavens and transforming into a celestial.”

“This time, Li Chunfeng wasn’t the only one who was after Ren Huayu. Every warrior from both sides of the jianghu was after him as well. In the end, Ren Huayu was surrounded and killed at Celestial Pilgrimage Mountain, and Li Wangxian’s ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ disappeared to heavens-know-where. It was never seen again.”

“Both the True Martial Sect and the jianghu never stopped searching for the painting for the past couple centuries, but they never found anything. In the end, the painting too became a legend.”

“‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ contains Li Wangxian’s secret to becoming a celestial? Really?” Ancestor Greenwood asked, his breathing quickening before he knew it. Most people shared the same reaction. After all, who didn’t want to become a celestial?

“That is just a legend. I have no idea if it’s real or not.”

Xi Duoduo shook his head and said honestly, “I’m not even sure if this painting truly is the legendary ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’. I mean, I literally just found out about this!”

“Speaking of which. Celestial, since you know that ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ is hidden within this wooden hairpin, you must know if it is genuine or not, right?”

Everyone looked at Red Calabash Celestial instinctively when they heard this.

“What are you looking at me for? How would I know if this is the real thing or not?”

However, the Red Calabash Celestial looked just as confused as them. “I don’t even know that this painting is that whatchamacallit!”

“Huh? Then how did you know that the wooden hairpin is a painting?” Someone asked.

Red Calabash Celestial explained, “The wooden hairpin is something called the Art Vault. I’d seen something like it from an old friend working for the Exploitation of the Works of Nature. He told me that it was a unique method invented by a craftsman named Gungshu Yang[1] to store various arts.”

“As you are aware, arts like paintings and calligraphy are normally created on a piece of paper or fabric. Unfortunately, these materials are flimsy and difficult to preserve, not to mention that certain famous and expensive art pieces were constantly targeted by thieves.”

“Gongshu Yang was a craftsman and a zealous collector of the arts, and he had collected many famous art pieces in his time. In order to protect them, Gongshu Yang used a unique method that somehow transformed these soft, frail, easily damaged art pieces into small, tough objects such as wooden hairpins, bracelets, jade necklaces and more. This both protected the items from damage and hid them from prying eyes. He named it the Art Vault. If he needed to extract the items for whatever reason, he only needed to boil them in boiling oil to restore them to their normal appearances.”

“Unfortunately, the method was lost after Gongshu Yang’s passing. My old friend happened to obtain an Art Vault that was also a wooden hairpin. It took him a long time before he was finally able to figure out its secret. That is how I know that the hairpin is really an Art Vault that’s hiding a painting.”

“However, I have no idea what kind of art piece was hidden in the Art Vault, and I definitely did not know that it was ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ until just now.”

Red Calabash Celestial looked a little disgruntled as he ended, “If I knew it was Li Wangxian’s ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’, I wouldn’t have told anyone about it.”

If the painting really was the legendary ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ by Li Wangxian, and if it really hid the secret to becoming a celestial, then why the hell would he share it with anyone?

Even if it turned out that he was incapable of deciphering its secret, he could still sell it to the highest bidder or return it to the True Martial Sect for a huge favor.

Just how stupid would he have to expose the painting right here and now?

The only reason he did it was because he truly did not know that the hairpin was hiding ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’.

“I see. Thank you for answering, celestial.” Xi Duoduo nodded.

It was at this moment Ancestor Greenwood interrupted, “How much is this painting? I want it.”

But Xi Duoduo replied with a chuckle, “Hahaha... my humble apologies, ancestor, but I do not have the right to make that decision.”

“What do you mean by that?” Ancestor Greenwood asked.

“It’s simple. I cannot make that decision because the painting is no longer ours.” Xi Duoduo smiled. “I mentioned it before, didn’t I? Anyone who can reveal the origin of an item during this segment shall receive said item for free.”

“Since Red Calabash Celestial had done exactly that, the item now belongs to him. Naturally, it is up to him whether he wants to sell the painting or not, not me.”

“Huh?”

Xi Duoduo’s declaration surprised everyone. After all, ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ was no ordinary painting. Assuming it was the real thing, then its value was literally immeasurable. It would be more valuable than even the Wenliang Pearl.

This item was worth a fortune and a half, and yet Xi Duoduo had given it away without any hesitation whatsoever. On this at least, the Hill Carrier was without a doubt a man of principles.

“You’re... really giving it to me for free?” Red Calabash Celestial exclaimed in surprise.

“But of course! We Hill Carriers are men and women of our word. I gave you my word, so of course I’m going to keep it,” Xi Duoduo said. “Congratulations, celestial.”

Red Calabash Celestial was overjoyed for one instant. Then, he noticed the hungry looks all around him and jolted back to reality. I like free stuff, but free stuff that might cost me my life? Not so much!

If he was powerful, then he would happily accept the painting. But as he was, ‘A Celestial Rides A Bull Across A Green Hill’ was no different from a time bomb.

“Just say the price, Red Calabash, and I’ll pay it!” Ancestor Greenwood rose to his feet and stared straight at Red Calabash Celestial.

“Cough cough... Red Calabash, you and I share an amicable relationship, don’t we? Why don’t you sell the painting to me?” Weak Old Man spoke up next.

“Haha... you are as shameless as you are old, Weak Old Man. Who doesn’t know that you and Red Calabash Celestial are enemies?”

Amorous Mother licked her lips and giggled. “Big brother, I’m not as greedy as they are. I’m unwilling to steal another person’s opportunity either. All I ask is that you allow me to serve you as your faithful mistress and the chance to study the Great Way with you. Let’s become a couple that everyone envies, shall we?”

1. Probably a reference to Lu Ban, a legendary Chinese architect and inventor, whose original name was Gongshu Yuzhi. ☜