358 The Strange Truth
“Her hand slowly slipped into my collar, her fingers gently tracing my skin… all the way to my heart,” the old man began, his audience rapt. “My face flushed, and I just knew I was going to have a good time later. But just as I had taken off my shirt, my vision turned black, and my body froze.”
The old man clenched his teeth, growling like an angry lion, “When I came to, I felt a gaping void in my body. That’s when I realized that my ribs had been stolen. And the culprit was that woman…”
“And then?” a curious voice piped up from the crowd.
The old man’s wrath subsided, replaced by a tranquil expression. “I chose to forgive her.”
A wave of confusion rippled through the room.
“And then?” one person asked, face burning with curiosity. “How did you manage to cultivate the king’s force with five full patterns after having your ribs stolen?”
As questions tumbled out, the old man resumed his mischievous grin, leaving everyone in suspense. “Please tune in for the next chapter!”
On the upper level, Qin Huai and Zhou Cunzhong sat near the railing, their identities concealed by bamboo hats.
“Invite him up,” Qin Huai said, watching the old man relishing his meal. He held out little hope for the veracity of the old man’s story, but it was worth a shot.
Zhou Cunzhong moved swiftly. Before long, he ushered the old man to the second floor, pushing him onto a bench.
“Sir, which story would you like to hear next?” the old man asked, unperturbed. His eyes flicked over the table laden with delicacies, drooling with anticipation.
“Eat first. We’ll talk after you’ve had your fill,” Qin Huai said, expressionless.
“Well, I won’t stand on ceremony then,” the old man replied before diving into the feast. In no time at all, he had devoured the entire spread.
Qin Huai studied the old man. His swift movements and voracious appetite were indicative of a martial artist. However, his dull, yellowed skin hid his true strength. He couldn’t sense any power from him.
The old man burped loudly, a sound that rippled through the room, prompting discontent from the surrounding patrons.
“We should move this conversation elsewhere,” Qin Huai decided, signaling a waiter to reserve a private room. “Guard the door. No one is allowed in,” he instructed Zhou Cunzhong.
Once in the private room, only Qin Huai and the old man remained. “May I ask your name?” the former asked.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
Suddenly, the old man’s face turned unsightly, and his stomach growled loudly.
“Sir, my stomach seems to be in a bit of distress,” he confessed, hastily excusing himself to the restroom within the private room.
The echo of his belch was still ringing in Qin Huai’s ears. He maintained his calm, pleased that the laxative he often used on great blood refinement martial artists had worked its magic once again.
Before long, the old man returned, carefree demeanor back in place. This buoyed Qin Huai’s suspicion. Was this man a martial artist of considerable talent?
The old man’s eyes shone with fervor. “Of course, of course! That place… teeming with terrifying, colossal creatures! There were other travelers too, all geniuses of their kind, yet even they would succumb to these creatures.”
Qin Huai asked gently, “What was the world like? Was there anything beyond these giant creatures?”
The old man’s brows creased in concentration. “That world… It felt like an island, a secluded one. Surrounded by a bottomless abyss, the land was bronze-hued with complex, profound patterns all over.”
Qin Huai listened attentively, thinking of his own bronze-colored dantian world. He wondered if this was somehow connected to his ancient azure illusion force.
“And how did you manage to leave?” Qin Huai asked.
The old man seemed puzzled. “I… I don’t quite recall how I got out. Nor do I remember much of what I did on the island.”
Qin Huai tried to probe further, asking about the patterns and the appearance of the giant creatures. However, the old man was of little help.
He sighed, another clue ending in a dead-end. Despite this, he believed the old man’s account. It corroborated his own experience when he activated his cultivation technique.
It was possible that this man, many decades ago, was indeed a genius with five full patterns and a king’s force. Or, at the very least, he had known such a genius. However, his current circumstances were a far cry from his illustrious past.
“Thank you for sharing your story,” Qin Huai said, slapping a thousand taels of silver across the table. “This is your reward.”
“Wow, such a generous amount! I can’t possibly accept this!” Despite his protestations, the old man’s hands moved swiftly, greedily pocketing the money. His grin was so wide it seemed to stretch from ear to ear.