System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests-Chapter 38: Before Life and Death, All Are Equal

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Before Life and Death, All Are Equal

Wu Qianhuan thought carefully for a moment and couldn’t help but admire it.

The method of writing this secret message is indeed exquisite, but the only flaw is that it requires pairing with a copy of the Chronicles of the Strange, which could leave a clue.

However, this dislocation method makes up for this deficiency...

She immediately nodded:

"Alright, I understand. Then what? Once I’ve written the secret message, how should I get it to you?"

"Hmm... just use the oil and grain store."

Chu Qing said:

"In the back alley of Chen’s Oil and Grain Store on North Main Street in Celestial Dance City, after writing the message, place a stone on top of it.

"I’ll have someone check every night at midnight, so I won’t miss your message."

Wu Qianhuan carefully memorized this and, after glancing at Chu Qing, said:

"Alright, I’ve done what I needed to do. Goodbye."

"Miss Wu, please wait."

Chu Qing suddenly spoke.

Wu Qianhuan paused and looked back at him.

Chu Qing smiled:

"Speaking of which, my understanding of the Valley of Myriad Nights is limited, and I must ask Miss Wu for some help, some intelligence."

"That’s easy."

Wu Qianhuan seemed prepared in advance, directly taking an envelope from her bosom and tossing it to Chu Qing:

"This contains information on the various experts of the Valley of Myriad Nights, just memorize it."

"Alright, alright, I’ll definitely keep it in mind. Once I mark the prices, don’t forget to prepare the silver, Miss Wu."

"...There will be some for you."

Wu Qianhuan’s face darkened slightly, then she leaped away.

Only when Wu Qianhuan completely disappeared from sight did Chu Qing ponder while looking at the Profound Nether Sword in his hand.

"Since the beginning of the year, the Valley of Myriad Nights has been active in Celestial Dance City.

"This sword was obtained before the new year...

"However, it’s called Profound Nether Sword, not Cyan Leaf Sword. Could there be some mystery hidden in the sword’s hilt?"

He looked carefully at the sword, it seemed to be crafted by a master, the hilt forged seamlessly, with no sign of assembly.

Chu Qing searched for a moment, but found nothing and let out a silent laugh.

"That’s right, I had already told Wu Qianhuan about this information. She shouldn’t ignore this sword, how could she not inspect it thoroughly?

"If there was anything, it would have already been taken... But if something was genuinely hidden in the hilt, what could it be?"

Somehow, he suddenly recalled Xin Youhen’s words before his death:

"The lost secret teaching of the Valley of Myriad Nights?

"But how do ’tian tian tian’ explain?

"It probably doesn’t mean there are three heavens; that person, gasping for breath, likely repeated one word three times.

"Then, what starts with ’heaven’?"

Thinking carefully, he found nothing related in his mind, so he lightly shook his head.

He decided to stop thinking about what he couldn’t understand.

As an assassin, what use was there in wasting mental energy on this?

Tasks requiring mental effort should be left to Chu Tian and the others.

Thinking of this, he looked at Er Gou, who still sat in front of the Earth God Temple, with a complex expression.

Er Gou would likely die soon if left unattended.

Chu Qing exhaled softly and, with a flick of his hand, tossed the wooden box over.

The sudden movement startled Er Gou.

He instinctively looked up and saw a masked man in black sitting quietly on the rooftop, watching him.

"It’s you?"

Er Gou recognized Chu Qing by the mask and felt the blood in his veins surge all over his body.

"Inside is the head of Tang Xi."

Chu Qing said softly.

Upon hearing this, Er Gou’s body trembled. He took a deep breath and reached out to open the box.

A pale head appeared before his eyes.

Er Gou looked silently, with blazing anger in his eyes.

Yet tears started to flow involuntarily.

Initially, it was silent weeping, but it eventually turned into loud sobbing.

It was only after he finished crying that he knelt towards Chu Qing, bowing low to the ground:

"Thank you, benefactor... for avenging my wife!!"

"Benefactor?"

Chu Qing’s voice sounded particularly cold and detached:

"You call me benefactor? Did you forget the agreement we had that day?"

Er Gou shook his head repeatedly:

"Er Gou dares not forget; from today, this life is yours, benefactor."

"In that case, there’s no favor between us, and you owe me nothing."

Chu Qing spoke softly:

"Your life, exchanged for Tang Xi’s life, is quite fair."

Er Gou was bewildered:

"My worthless life can’t compare to someone like Tang Xi."

"A human life is neither high nor low in status..."

Chu Qing’s voice suddenly reached Er Gou’s ears, startling him, and he discovered that Chu Qing, who had been on the rooftop, was now beside him.

Chu Qing placed one hand on his shoulder and spoke in a low voice:

"Whether you are a peerless hero or a worldly emperor, ultimately you cannot escape death.

"In the face of life and death, everyone is equal.

"Er Gou, remember, your life is now mine... and you don’t even have the right to die without my consent."

Er Gou nodded instinctively, believing Chu Qing to be right but sensing something was amiss.

He lowered his head in contemplation, unable to think of anything appropriate to say.

Then he heard Chu Qing ask:

"Do you have any family left at home?"

"...No, none."

Er Gou’s expression was dejected:

"I’m the only one left."

Chu Qing nodded and suddenly grabbed Er Gou’s wrist. A purple glow flashed at his fingertips and instantly entered Er Gou’s body.

Er Gou was still confused when Chu Qing had already let go of his hand,

making him turn involuntarily, as raindrop-like fingers pressed on various acupoints on his chest and back.

With each point pressed, a purple glow flickered.

Altogether more than thirty acupoints were targeted, after which Chu Qing turned both palms over and placed them on Er Gou’s back.

Intense pain immediately surged from all parts of his body, causing Er Gou to cry out in agony.

"Hold it in, don’t scream."

Chu Qing’s voice suddenly came to his ears.

Though Er Gou didn’t understand why he was being tortured, recalling their prior agreement, he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

He was inherently resilient, having pushed past many limits under Tang Xi’s continuous pressure.

Now, although his body felt as if it were being stirred with blades, and beads of sweat covered his forehead, he persisted in keeping quiet.

The time for burning an incense stick quickly passed, and wisps of white vapor rose from Chu Qing’s head as well.

Suddenly, he exerted a slight force with his two palms, causing Er Gou’s body to lurch forward uncontrollably.

After staggering two steps, he steadied himself and turned back to see Chu Qing slowly pressing his hands down, the purple hue in his eyes quietly fading.

His heart tightened inexplicably, filled with confusion, yet unsure how to inquire.

Chu Qing seemingly read his thoughts and spoke bluntly:

"Tang Xi planted a Demon Seed in you, cultivating your hatred, intending to use your heart for his own practice.

"Now that he’s dead, the Demon Seed remains.

"Since you’ve joined my ranks, life and death follow my command; how could you die by another’s hand?"