Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 71: The Paranoid Patriarch

The night sky was clear, the moon bright against a scattering of idle clouds.

Yet, standing in the shadows outside a cave dwelling on the Sixth Peak, the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch looked utterly dim. The darkness seemed to cling to the deep lines of worry etched into his face.

He didn’t actually care about the stolen wealth. The true reason he had coughed up blood was the sheer indignity of having his sect’s gates reduced to ash. Those stolen Spirit Stones had merely been bait left out in the open.

His real terror stemmed from the fact that his enemy was rapidly taking root and growing stronger within the ruthless syndicate of Seven Blood Eyes.

Anxious, he stared at the silent cave dwelling ahead. No response came.

It wasn’t until half an incense stick of time had burned away that a heavy sigh finally echoed from within.

“You Lingzi. It has been a long time.”

The Vajra Sect Patriarch’s Daoist name was You Lingzi. However, for years, everyone in his territory—both inside and outside his Sect—had simply referred to him as ‘Patriarch.’ It had been a very long time since he had heard his own title spoken aloud.

A flash of nostalgia crossed his face. He let out a soft sigh. “It has.”

Rumbling filled the air as the heavy stone door slowly ground upward, revealing a pitch-black interior. From the depths of that darkness, a figure emerged.

The man’s gait was unnatural, every step rigid and perfectly measured. As he stepped fully into the moonlight, he revealed himself to be an old man in a deep blue Daoist robe. Beneath his graying hair was a face carved with severe, inflexible lines.

He stopped directly in front of the Vajra Sect Patriarch. A mountain breeze caught the hem of his robe, lifting it just enough to reveal that the legs beneath were not made of flesh and blood.

They were prosthetic limbs forged entirely from artifact-refining materials, emitting a cold, blue luminescence that seemed to chill the moonlight itself.

“Since it has been a long time, what business brings you here today?” the blue-robed Elder asked flatly, his gaze drifting up to the clouds.

Even though they stood on level ground, the Vajra Sect Patriarch seemed to shrink in his presence.

The Patriarch’s expression turned bitter. After a long silence, he finally spoke of Xu Qing.

“My home suffered a calamity… Before that little thief left, he ruthlessly plundered my Sect’s resources and maliciously set a fire that burned the Vajra Sect to the ground.”

“If this boy were just an ordinary rogue, I wouldn’t take it to heart. But after spending a fortune to track him, I discovered he joined Seven Blood Eyes and is steadily securing a foothold here. It leaves me in a constant state of panic. I keep recalling the ancient texts I’ve studied over the years.”

“Based on my extensive reading, I’ve cross-referenced his actions and discovered that people like him possess an unstoppable, heaven-defying Providence. I was foolish. I shouldn’t have just attacked him with two Sect Elders. I should have mobilized the entire Sect’s forces to obliterate him at any cost, or alternatively, offered him heavy compensation to turn hostility into friendship…”

“Alas, the opportunity was missed. According to my analysis, if I cannot suppress him before he fully matures… I will undoubtedly die in the future!”

“I have a terrifying premonition. Once this person rises to power, he will absolutely bring a storm of blood to Seven Blood Eyes and put your Sect at risk of total annihilation. The ancient texts are very clear about this! When that time comes, a single casual word from him will reduce my Vajra Sect to dust.”

Having poured out his fears, the Vajra Sect Patriarch lowered his head in bitter resignation.

The blue-robed Elder stared at him. His expression slowly contorted into one of utter bewilderment. After a long moment, he shook his head.

“You Lingzi… After all these years, how are you still so utterly paranoid? A nobody suddenly possesses heaven-defying Providence? He’s going to bring a bloodbath to Seven Blood Eyes and threaten us with annihilation? He’ll destroy your Vajra Sect with a single word? How do you even hallucinate this kind of nonsense…”

“You don’t understand. I trust my instincts…” the Vajra Sect Patriarch sighed again.

Seeing the Patriarch in such a state, the blue-robed Elder shook his head slightly. They weren’t particularly close; they had merely crossed paths a few times years ago. Deep down, he couldn’t care less.

“Which peak did this boy join?”

“The Seventh Peak… According to my costly intelligence, his name is Xu Qing. He entered the Homicide Department,” the Patriarch admitted quietly, knowing he couldn’t hide it.

“The department is irrelevant. While our Sect treats the disciples at the base of the mountain like Gu bugs, letting them slaughter each other and survive like wolf cubs, there are still rules that cannot be broken…”

Seeing the Patriarch’s crestfallen expression, the Elder sighed.

“Fine. At most, I will have someone knock this boy down a peg. We will force him to spit out the assets he took from your Vajra Sect. If his pockets are light, we will liquidate everything on his person to cover the debt.”

With that, he retrieved a jade slip, transmitted a few cold directives, and then pointed a finger at the Patriarch.

“It’s done. The orders have been dispatched. But you—spend your time actually cultivating. All these years and you’re still stuck at the early stage of Foundation Establishment with zero progress. Stop reading those garbage ancient texts. You’re paranoid every single day. If you keep this up, I guarantee you’ll breed an Inner Demon.”

The Vajra Sect Patriarch opened his mouth to argue. This wasn’t the absolute eradication he had hoped for. But seeing the Elder’s absolute finality, he swallowed his words, sighed internally, and clasped his hands in a deep bow.

***

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Xu Qing opened his eyes from his meditation and looked down at the leather bag beside him.

This was the gift Huang Yan had given him last night. Inside were three mutant beast materials: two diamond-shaped bones and a single feather.

All three pulsed with a faint red glow, sharing a similar origin and a rather extraordinary aura. The only downside was that they offered nothing in terms of durability; their value lay entirely in augmenting techniques and speed.

I wonder how many Spirit Stones these will fetch on the market.

And my White Pills… I’ve accumulated nearly 1,000 again. Xu Qing mentally audited his assets. He stepped off his Dharma Boat and headed to his usual breakfast stall.

The stall owner was a middle-aged mortal, an ordinary resident of the main city with no cultivation base. He had an honest, simple face and offered a wide grin the moment he saw Xu Qing.

He had a deep impression of this handsome youth from the Homicide Department. Unlike the typical Seven Blood Eyes disciple, the boy carried no overt malice and was surprisingly polite. Without needing an order, the boss quickly served up several steamed buns, a bowl of steamed egg, and a complimentary side dish.

Xu Qing thanked him, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks, eating at a measured pace. He was completely accustomed to using chopsticks now. Once his plates were spotless, he placed a single spirit coin on the table, stood up, and walked toward the Homicide Department.

Clocking in at the Homicide Department was a purely systemic process. He simply tapped his identity token against the bluestone in the Black Department’s courtyard.

Familiar with the routine, Xu Qing finished his check-in and used his patrol duties to walk the sunlit streets.

He passed several Homicide Department disciples along the way, most of whom greeted him with polite nods. After the battle with the Night Dove, Xu Qing had carved out a solid reputation within the department.

As he walked, Xu Qing bought a few pears. Eating one, he headed toward the pharmacy. His plan was to liquidate his White Pills first, then appraise Huang Yan’s materials. Once he knew his total capital, he could calculate exactly how much he still needed for the giant whale skull.

The pharmacy soon came into view. It was the same bustling shop where he always conducted his herbal and pill transactions.

Xu Qing was a regular here. The moment he stepped inside, the busy manager’s eyes lit up. He hurried out from behind the counter with a welcoming smile.

“Haven’t seen you in a while! Buying herbs or selling pills today?”

“Selling pills.”

The manager’s enthusiasm spiked. When Xu Qing produced the batch of pills, the manager barely glanced at them before decisively handing over 20 Spirit Stones.

“You aren’t going to inspect them?” Xu Qing asked, watching the man.

“For your pills? No inspection needed,” the manager laughed, waving a hand dismissively.

Xu Qing nodded. He was absolutely certain that every single pill he refined was of premium quality. He clasped his fists and left the shop.

The moment Xu Qing was out the door, the manager immediately pulled out a jade slip, transmitted a message to his boss, and called over an apprentice. He carefully packed Xu Qing’s pills into a wooden box and ordered the boy to deliver it to the Second Peak immediately.

The apprentice was sharp. Knowing the boss highly valued these specific pills, he sprinted out of the shop, taking shortcuts all the way up the Second Peak.

Shortly after, the box arrived inside a cave dwelling on the Second Peak, placed directly in front of a young girl.

She looked about 16 or 17, dressed in a pale orange Daoist robe. Sitting there with a fresh, unadorned face, she reached into the box, picked up a pill, and held it up to the light.

Under the sunlight, her skin was as pale as snow, her eyes like clear spring water. Her black hair was tied up in a princess bun, pinned with a pearl-flower hairpin. Tassels dangled from it, giving her an air of vibrant agility.

This girl was the true owner of the pharmacy—the very same person Xu Qing had encountered at the shop’s entrance days ago.

As she inspected the pill, a soft gasp escaped her lips. Her delicate brows arched in surprise.

“The purity actually increased again?”

She had studied Xu Qing’s pills previously and found that while she could match his purity, she couldn’t do it consistently on every single attempt. A fierce spark of competitiveness ignited in her chest.

“If a mere Seventh Peak disciple can do this, there is absolutely no reason I, a dedicated Dao of Alchemy cultivator, cannot!”

With a wave of her pale hand, medicinal herbs flew out from the surrounding shelves. Her expression turned dead serious as she began to refine.

While she waged a one-sided alchemy war against him, Xu Qing was currently walking down the street, his gaze sweeping over the Sixth Peak’s artifact-refining workshops.

A nearly imperceptible frown touched his lips. A sliver of suspicion flashed in his eyes.

He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but as he passed these shops today, several of the Sixth Peak shopkeepers seemed to be casting intentional glances his way, as if verifying his identity.

It hadn’t been like this before.

They are observing me. Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. This anomaly instantly triggered his survival instincts. He immediately abandoned his plan to visit any Sixth Peak shop.

He didn’t step foot inside a single one to sell his materials. Instead, he retreated directly to his berth at Port 79, cultivating behind a wall of deep vigilance.

Several days passed without a single ripple of trouble. Xu Qing felt a lingering doubt but maintained his caution. Every day, he used his patrol route to walk past the Sixth Peak shops, secretly observing them from blind spots.

The surveillance on him never repeated. Yet, Xu Qing still refused to lower his guard. He waited a few more days. Only after repeatedly confirming that the environment was completely sterile did he finally select a shop that had never once looked his way.

He had no choice. If he wanted to upgrade his Dharma Boat, he had to interact with the Sixth Peak’s supply chain. Almost all shops dealing in Dharma Boat materials were monopolized within the port district. The Sixth Peak shops in other sectors rarely carried the necessary inventory.

So, despite the faint lingering risk, Xu Qing prepared to make the transaction.

He moved swiftly down the street, his senses dialed to maximum. But just as he was about to step into his chosen shop, a familiar voice rang out from behind.

“Xu Qing!”

Xu Qing glanced back and saw the chubby figure of Huang Yan jogging toward him.

Huang Yan had spotted him from a distance and was waving enthusiastically. He broke into a run, his flesh jiggling with every step, until he arrived panting but triumphant.

“Xu Qing, guess what? My Senior Sister replied to my messages again! Hahaha! Come on, let’s go. I’m in a great mood today, I’m treating you to eggs!”

He reached out to drag Xu Qing away. Xu Qing took a smooth half-step back, evading the grab. He thought about the bizarre, potent eggs, and remembered that Huang Yan had just gifted him valuable materials a few days ago. He hesitated.

“I need to sell materials first.”

“Sell materials? What are you short on? I’ll just give it to you,” Huang Yan offered with casual wealth.

Xu Qing shook his head.

“Alright, fine. I’ll keep you company while you sell your stuff, and then you keep me company to eat eggs. It’s a deal!” Huang Yan beamed, clearly desperate for an audience to share his joy. He looked around and pointed directly at the shop beside them.

“Let’s just use this one. I’ve been here a few times, they’re not bad.”

Xu Qing looked at the shop Huang Yan was pointing at. It was the exact destination he had chosen. Inside, several disciples were browsing. Xu Qing’s gaze swept the room and landed on a familiar face—Zhang San.

Zhang San was currently purchasing materials. Noticing Xu Qing at the door, he smiled and waved.

“Let’s go, let’s get this over with quickly. Eating eggs is the priority,” Huang Yan urged.

Xu Qing’s eyes locked onto the shopkeeper behind the counter. Deciding the risk was manageable, he stepped inside.

The shop was expansive, spanning two floors. Various mutant beast materials hung from the walls, every single piece carrying a hefty price tag. As they approached the counter, the shopkeeper looked up.

He was a middle-aged man with a sharp handlebar mustache and the shrewd eyes of a seasoned merchant. He offered a practiced smile.

“Fellow disciples, what are you looking to buy?”

“Selling materials,” Xu Qing stated flatly.

He stepped up to the counter and, under the shopkeeper’s gaze, emptied the contents of his leather bag. It wasn’t just Huang Yan’s gifts; he also included the loot harvested from the wanted criminals he had killed.

The shopkeeper looked at Xu Qing, then down at the pile of materials. He hummed thoughtfully, picking up a few pieces to inspect them closely. Then, he looked up, his gaze locking onto Xu Qing with heavy implication.

Slowly, the shopkeeper’s expression darkened. The light in his eyes turned razor-sharp.

“Little friend, there is something very wrong with these items.”

“A few days ago, the Vajra Sect filed a report with our Sixth Peak. They stated their sect was burglarized and a massive amount of resources were stolen. These items of yours… perfectly match the recorded stolen goods. What is the meaning of bringing stolen Vajra Sect property to sell to us?”

“Could it be that the Vajra Sect burglary is connected to you?”

“Did a dignified disciple of Seven Blood Eyes’ Seventh Peak actually stoop to robbing the Vajra Sect?!”

The shopkeeper was clearly doing this on purpose. His voice grew louder with every word, echoing throughout the entire two-story shop. In an instant, the ambient chatter died. Every disciple from every peak turned to stare at them.

Xu Qing felt no surprise, only a quiet, internal sigh. He had been as cautious as possible, yet the trap had still sprung. He instantly deduced that this was the Vajra Sect Patriarch’s doing, which meant whoever was backing the Patriarch was a heavyweight from the Sixth Peak.

A chilling killing intent flooded his veins. The threat level was critical.

His gaze immediately dropped to the shopkeeper’s neck, mapping the exact angle required to sever the carotid artery. His peripheral vision swept the shop’s layout, calculating the blind spots, the exits, and the fastest trajectory toward the Endless Sea.

He rapidly weighed the cost: slit the man’s throat, grab the assets, and flee into the suffocating, mutagen-choked waters of the abyss, or stay and argue the logistics of the law.

But before Xu Qing could execute his strike, the chubby Huang Yan beside him reacted.

Huang Yan’s eyes bulged to the size of saucers. He literally jumped into the air and slammed his meaty palm onto the counter with a deafening BANG.

“Stolen goods?! This is a stolen good?!”

The little fat man snatched up the mutant beast bone he had personally gifted Xu Qing. His eyes burned with an unprecedented, volcanic rage, as if he had just suffered the ultimate personal humiliation. He roared at the top of his lungs.

“These are my fucking items! You dare call my property stolen goods?!”

Furious beyond reason, Huang Yan hurled the heavy bone directly into the shopkeeper’s face.