Chapter 3

"The dishes you ordered will be served as soon as they are ready."

The waiter brought the first bottle of huajiu. Yaxian lifted the sealed lid with anticipation. A pungent aroma tickled his nose.

Clink, he poured the huajiu into a cup and drank it in one go.

"Good."

An involuntary sigh of admiration escaped him. The huajiu Yaxian drank was by no means a fine wine. It was a cheap, common huajiu that could be found anywhere. The taste in his mouth was harsh, rough, and even sour. In terms of quality, it was the lowest grade.

However, to Yaxian, the huajiu he was drinking now was more delicious than any fine wine. It was this taste that he had missed, which led him to travel across great distances to get here.

He hadn't felt this way in a long time. Only now did Yaxian feel truly alive.

One bottle was quickly emptied, and in the meantime, simple appetizers were served.

When the waiter approached after Yaxian had finished two bottles, he said:

"The room has been cleaned. I've prepared a quiet room on this floor for you to rest comfortably. The windows have been carefully covered."

The waiter smiled affably.

"Understood."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Rather... Do you know anything about the Quanzhen Sect?"

The waiter's eyes widened in surprise as he asked:

"Is it a new religion?"

"No."

"I've heard many things and know quite a bit, but I've never heard of the Quanzhen Sect."

"Understood. Go and do your work."

"Yes, sir. If you need anything, just call me."

The waiter left, and Yaxian fell into thought.

'Hmm... He doesn't know about the Quanzhen Sect...'

It was somewhat unexpected.

When he left Central Plains 150 years ago, the Quanzhen Sect was at its peak, known even to the most innocent children.

As a Daoist temple that cared for the common people.

As a martial temple that stood tall before the swords and sabers of the jianghu.

The Quanzhen Sect was the largest Daoist holy site and martial sect at the time, and its influence seemed to be eternal.

'Sensei, are you trying to trouble me even in death?'

Though he complained inwardly, a smile appeared on Yaxian's face as he thought of his teacher, Zhenren.

'Sensei, I'll look for you. I was planning to visit my hometown anyway. But if you've been wiped out, there's nothing I can do.'

Yaxian thought of an organization that would be useful in such a situation.

It was the Information Guild that existed in the Western world.

People are the same wherever they are.

Whether in the West or Central Plains.

Though it might have a different face, there must be a place in Central Plains that deals with information. Finding the whereabouts of the Quanzhen Sect could be solved through such a place.

'Sensei, wait a moment.'

Yaxian raised his cup as if toasting to an empty space.

And time passed...

The sun set.

In the pitch-black room, a faint smile appeared on Yaxian's face as he lay on the bed. He opened his eyes and looked at the window covered with thick cloth.

The unseen landscape outside.

But Yaxian knew that night had fallen.

Strength returned to his body, which had been powerless under the sun.

"Hmm—."

The faint smile disappeared, and his throat convulsed.

The intense thirst rising in his throat, and the hunger.

Yaxian got out of bed and picked up the robe hanging on the chair. His eyes, now bloodshot, were hidden under the hood of the robe. He left the inn with a rough gait, unlike his usual self.

Whoosh—

A sudden gust of wind distorted Yaxian's face like a demon. A faint scent of blood accompanied the wind.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

The sound of metal clashing indicated that a fight was happening nearby. The thickening scent of blood further stimulated his thirst.

Yaxian clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth. Sharp fangs flashed above his red lips.

"Hmm— Hoo—."

Yaxian closed his eyes and circulated his inner energy through one cycle. As the calm energy enveloped his body, his thirst and hunger subsided, and his fierce expression relaxed.

Yaxian moved to a deserted area.

He closed his eyes and recalled the majestic and rugged Daxueshan Mountain he had seen on his way from Yumen Pass to Nanzhou.

A moment later.

When he opened his eyes again, not only his pupils but his entire eyes had turned a bloody red. In that state, Yaxian's right hand sliced through the air.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound accompanied the distortion of the space in front of Yaxian. Without hesitation, he leaped into the distorted space.

The deep darkness of Daxueshan.

Suddenly, a space in the mountains began to distort.

Pop!

The one who emerged from that strange space was none other than Yaxian. He removed his hood and focused all his senses on his sense of smell and hearing.

"Roar!"

After a while, a small but mountain-shaking roar of a tiger was detected. A predator's sticky and cruel smile formed on Yaxian's lips.

Pop!

In a flash, Yaxian's figure darted toward the source of the roar like a falcon.

"Roar!"

On the white snowfield, a white tiger the size of a house was tearing the neck of a wild boar. The tiger, which seemed ready to swallow the dead boar whole, suddenly raised its head as if sensing Yaxian's presence.

Grin.

The tiger and Yaxian's gazes met.

Yaxian smiled and licked his lips.

The white tiger was larger than he had expected. The piercing blue eyes indicated that it was a spirit creature.

'Not all blood is the same.'

Crunch!

"Roar!"

As Yaxian took a step forward, the white tiger roared ferociously. The situation was quite menacing.

Sssss.

Claws grew from Yaxian's five fingers like hooks. A low, grating sound emerged from Yaxian.

"Roar!"

As the killing intent around Yaxian intensified, the white tiger lowered its roar and bared its sharp teeth. The tiger must have sensed the thick killing intent surrounding the area.

Yaxian released his killing intent and walked toward the white tiger without hesitation. Each step was filled with confidence. In contrast, the white tiger lowered its stance, becoming more cautious of Yaxian.

"Roar!"

Unable to bear it any longer, the white tiger, with its claws fully extended, leaped at Yaxian.

Yaxian slid forward as if on ice and plunged under the white tiger's belly as it leaped into the air.

Bang!

Yaxian punched the white tiger's underside with great force.

The punch was strong enough to shatter a rock, but the white tiger only flinched for a moment. It became even more ferocious, lunging at Yaxian and slashing with its front paws.

Crack!

Yaxian's clothes were torn, and four red blood lines appeared on his chest.

It was a severe injury, with bones exposed.

"Indeed, a spirit creature."

Yaxian dismissed the injury as insignificant. Such a wound was nothing to him. His movements to attack the white tiger again were neither hesitant nor slowed.

"I'm too hungry to play with you."

Bang!

Yaxian punched the white tiger's jaw.

"Roar!"

The impact made the white tiger stagger. Yaxian wrapped his arms around the tiger's neck and squeezed with all his might.

"Roar!"

The white tiger thrashed in agony, but the harder it struggled, the stronger Yaxian's grip became.

Crack!

Finally, Yaxian's fangs sank into the white tiger's neck.

"Roar, roar...!"

The tiger's movements gradually slowed. Its massive body, which had boasted of its weight, now looked as if it had been starved for months.

"Roar!"

In the end, the white tiger collapsed on the cold snow, emitting its final roar.

"Ha ha ha!"

Yaxian, having absorbed the last drop of blood, exhaled a hot breath and looked up at the moon in the night sky.

Crunch, crunch.

The flesh was torn, and the white chest bone was exposed. The wound on his chest slowly healed. It took less than a quarter of an hour for the injury to fully recover.

* * *

Pop!

In a back alley of Nanzhou, the last place Yaxian visited before heading to Daxueshan, the space distorted, and Yaxian reappeared. After quenching his thirst, his beauty seemed to glow even more.

'Shall I start looking now?'

The night was Yaxian's time. There was nothing to do if he returned to the inn. Yaxian slipped into the shadows of the alley.

Swish.

Like a white fog that quickly dissipated, Yaxian soon blended into the darkness.

After some time, a man walking menacingly caught Yaxian's eye.

A cheap sword at his waist and an inconsistent stride.

Uneven breathing and meager inner energy, reeking of cheap alcohol.

The man was either a simple ruffian or a slightly better thug from the back alleys.

Yaxian's pupils glowed red, like a predator spotting its prey.

The lower the person, the more they knew about the underworld.

Even if he couldn't find a direct clue to the information guild, this man could provide enough leads.

"What are you looking at? Huh? Cough—! Spit!"

The man threatened a passerby and spat on the ground. Yaxian quietly approached and grabbed the man's neck.

"Choke!"

The man choked and was dragged into the darkness. His face, now red from lack of air, was suddenly met with Yaxian's pale face.

"S-Save me..."

The man, overwhelmed by fear, trembled and couldn't resist.

But it was only for a moment.

"..."

The moment Yaxian's red eyes met the man's, the fear and pain vanished. Instead, his focus scattered, and he had a dazed expression.

# 4