Chapter 60: Can You Hear, Crane's Cry?

The Fang clan’s ancestral lands lay to the west of Fenglin City, a domain where the city’s most esteemed families congregated. The Zhang clan’s demesne bordered the City Lord’s Manor to the east, while the Wang clan resided to the north, adjacent to the armory. The Fang clan, however, occupied the southernmost reaches, a stone’s throw from the city’s dens of pleasure – the Sanfen Xiangqilou and the Datong Gambling House. Other noble houses were scattered betwixt these three pillars, serving as a buffer.

To reach the Fang clan’s lands from Jiang Wang’s current location, the most direct path would have been a straight line through the City Lord’s Manor. But the bald man would never agree to such a route, and Jiang Wang wouldn’t even suggest it. Instead, he proposed a detour via the South Gate, a winding journey through the commoners’ residential district, past the Datong Gambling House, and near the Sanfen Xiangqilou before finally arriving at the Fang clan’s territory. Though this route was far longer, it offered the bald man unparalleled safety.

Their journey was remarkably smooth. Whenever they encountered patrolling city guards, Jiang Wang would even go so far as to shield the bald man from view. And so, they finally arrived before the gates of the Fang clan. By now, the sky had begun to darken.

***

In Feima Alley, within the Jiang family home, Ling He abruptly rose from his seat. “We can’t wait any longer!”

They all knew that Jiang Wang would never miss his sister An’an’s birthday, an occasion of such import. Initially, they had assumed he was simply preparing some elaborate surprise. But as dusk settled, casting long shadows, they realized that no matter the grandeur of his preparations, he would never be this late. Something had surely befallen Jiang Wang.

Zhao Rucheng gently pressed Ling He back down. “Boss, you must stay here and attend to An’an. My family is numerous; I will go and investigate.” Zhao’s family was wealthy, and their resources were vast. In the event of a search, they would be far more effective than Ling He’s meager means. Moreover, someone had to remain with An’an. Should anything happen to her, even if Jiang Wang were found, he would never forgive them.

Ling He, understanding the truth of this, could only assent.

The aroma of the feast had long since permeated the air, and An’an was famished. Yet, her appetite had vanished. “Where did brother go?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Zhao Rucheng exchanged a glance with Ling He before replying, “He must have gone to Fengxi Town to fetch you some sugar figurines. Didn’t you often speak of wanting the ones from Old Master Zhang’s house in Fengxi Town?”

“Grandpa Zhang’s house!” Jiang An’an corrected him, her voice bright.

“That’s right!” Zhao Rucheng affirmed. “But it’s getting dark now, and I fear your brother might lose his way. I’ll take a lantern and go meet him.”

***

The “Fang clan’s ancestral lands” were not defined by clear boundaries or imposing walls. Rather, it was a sprawling expanse that had become their domain through generations of habitation. It was a place steeped in tradition and lineage.

“We should probably sneak in and avoid causing a disturbance,” Jiang Wang suggested. “Otherwise, I’ll have a hard time explaining your presence if someone asks.” Bringing an outsider to a friend’s residence without prior notice was indeed unconventional, making Jiang Wang’s suggestion entirely reasonable.

“Where is this small courtyard you spoke of?” the bald man inquired.

Jiang Wang, with an air of familiarity, pointed in a certain direction. He was lost in thought, weighing his advantages and disadvantages. His greatest weakness was his lack of a Foundation Establishment, a stark contrast to the bald man’s cultivation in the sixth rank of the Tenglong Realm. The chasm between their realms was immense.

Yet, his greatest advantage also lay in his nascent stage of cultivation. Though lacking a Foundation Establishment, his mastery of the Superb Sword Canon and the military family’s body-refining techniques had granted him strength far exceeding that of ordinary cultivators in the Youmai Realm. This was a fact the bald man could not possibly foresee, and it would surely catch him off guard. Jiang Wang had but one surprise to unleash, one chance to turn the tide.

Throughout their journey, the bald man had kept a firm grip on Jiang Wang’s shoulder. Now, with a subtle pull, they transformed into a fleeting shadow, merging seamlessly with the silhouette of a pedestrian ahead. After trailing this individual for a short while, the bald man drew Jiang Wang forth. “What’s next? Which way do we go?”

Jiang Wang, unable to conceal his surprise at the bald man’s stealth technique, surveyed the path before pointing in a specific direction.

The bald man chuckled. “This Shadow Hiding Technique is not difficult to master. If you heed my instructions, I can teach you.” He then pulled Jiang Wang closer, and they once again dissolved into the shadows.

After several such maneuvers, the night had completely enveloped the sky, and the two figures floated into the small courtyard Fang Pengju had shown Jiang Wang previously. This near-silent method of traversal further heightened Jiang Wang’s vigilance.

Fortunately, this place was indeed unoccupied, left to the elements. This small courtyard had belonged to Fang Pengju’s deceased father, and its peculiar location meant few would ever venture here. Of course, even if this set of courtyards had been reallocated by the Fang family, Jiang Wang had a plausible explanation: his friend rarely returned to reside there, making it reasonable for the clan to assign it to other members. Moreover, he hadn’t visited in a long time, excusing his lack of knowledge regarding any changes.

Inhaling the scent of long-abandoned dust that permeated the courtyard, the bald man nodded in satisfaction. According to his usual practice, he would have immediately proceeded to slay and extract the heart.

But Jiang Wang, with practiced ease, had already steered the conversation. “The first three rooms in this courtyard form a large dining hall. You could find something to eat there.” Jiang Wang, with his back to the bald man, gestured towards the direction of the dining hall. “My friend dislikes the strictures of the clan and rarely returns to live here.” He then turned in another direction, his voice casual. “The Fang clan guards patrol at these times…”

A blinding flash of sword light!

Jiang Wang, without a moment’s hesitation, drew his sword! The first stance of the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Killing Technique, the swiftest of the five killing techniques. But this sword was not aimed at the bald man. Instead, it propelled Jiang Wang over the high wall, sending him flipping into the courtyard next door!

The bald man was undoubtedly a man of action, but Jiang Wang’s words about the Fang clan guards’ patrol times were crucial for his concealment. He simply hadn’t expected this sudden eruption of movement mid-sentence. What the bald man expected even less was the astonishing speed and sharpness of this young man’s sword, a force far exceeding his assessment of someone at this level. It caused him to miss his grab!

“Who dares trespass into the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall?”

The moment Jiang Wang landed in the adjacent courtyard, a thunderous shout echoed through the air. An old man with a shock of white hair and a long beard sprang forth from the building.

Yes, this small courtyard where Fang Pengju once resided was indeed adjacent to the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall. This was Jiang Wang’s reliance for his delaying tactic! Fang Pengju’s father, after his failed cultivation, had been relegated to the role of caretaker for the Fang family. Of course, the true caretaker was not him; he was merely responsible for cleaning the courtyard and tending to the ancestral tablets – a thinly veiled insult. He had silently endured this indignity, his hopes resting entirely on his son. Fang Pengju had grown up in this very courtyard, and as his talent blossomed, he had refused to move to other, more prestigious courtyards.

Jiang Wang had long since devised his plan. Upon encountering the white-haired old man, he turned and fled, simultaneously urging his Dao Yuan and shouting, “Heart-Swallowing Human Demon! Today you meet your end here!”

This declaration, however, sent both Xiong Wen, who was now pursuing Jiang Wang into the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall, and the white-haired old man into a state of shock. The former was stunned that his true identity had been revealed, while the latter was rattled by the infamous name of the Heart-Swallowing Human Demon.

But the shock was fleeting. Now face-to-face, neither had reason to back down. This was especially true for the white-haired old man, the guardian of the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall. How could he abandon his duty merely because of a frightening moniker?

He had begun preparing his Dao techniques the moment he leaped from the room, intending to target the sword-wielding intruder. But now, his hands rubbed together, and a stream of arrows, their feathers fluttering, shot forth. This was the Fang family’s inherited Dao technique, the Thousand Feather Arrows.

To be frank, this Dao technique lacked the subtlety of those taught in the Dao Academy, and was even somewhat crude. The rapid advancements in Dao techniques within the Dao Academy were, in fact, a contributing factor to the gradual decline of family-style cultivation. However, the old man had dedicated years to this technique, achieving a mastery that, coupled with his eighth-rank Zhou Tian Realm cultivation, imbued it with considerable power.

Yet, Xiong Wen merely roared, his tyrannical Dao Yuan unleashing sound waves that scattered many of the fluttering feather arrows. He casually swatted aside the few arrows aimed at his vital points, then lunged at the white-haired old man, his hand outstretched to pluck out his heart! With Jiang Wang’s loud declaration, his presence was now exposed. He had to escape as quickly as possible, ending this conflict swiftly. Thus, he employed thunderous force, willing to suffer a minor injury for an instant kill.

Xiong Wen gazed at the shriveled heart in his hand before casually tossing it to the ground. “Disgusting.”

The white-haired old man, who had never expected to fall in a single exchange, decided to offer his opponent one last, unexpected surprise. He looked down at his rapidly aging heart, gathering his remaining strength. He urged all the Dao Yuan within his Tongtian Palace, channeling it into the token clutched in his hand.

A brilliant light erupted, enveloping the entire Fang Clan Ancestral Hall in a layer of radiant clarity. Upon this clear light, the ethereal form of a crane materialized, standing tall and gazing with cold detachment. The white-haired old man had used his final breath to activate the ancestral hall’s protective formation.

He vaguely heard the cry of the crane.