At the Shanglin Heavenly Palace, in the depths of its prison.
Xie Kanhua leaned against the wall, eyes half-closed, softly humming a tune.
“Hey, brother,” a hoarse voice suddenly echoed from the darkness. “I’ve been in this prison for years, and you’re the most cheerful prisoner I’ve ever seen. Humming songs and practicing martial arts every day—what’s got you so happy?”
Xie Kanhua’s eyes snapped open. He walked over to the cell door and peered into the depths of the prison. “I’ve been here for quite a while, but I only just now realized there was someone else down here. May I ask who you are, senior?”
“Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first before asking someone else’s name?” the person replied with a cold chuckle.
“Xie Kanhua!” Xie Kanhua responded cheerfully, cupping his hands in greeting.
“Oh, that’s quite a poetic name,” the man replied, his tone still calm.
Xie Kanhua raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know who I am, senior?”
“Why? Are you famous or something?” Finally, a hint of curiosity crept into the person’s voice.
“How long have you been locked up in this prison, senior?” Xie Kanhua asked.
The man sighed. “Ten years? Fifteen? I can’t remember anymore. I only recall that when I was imprisoned, it was the eleventh year of the Tianyuan era.”
“The eleventh year of Tianyuan?” Xie Kanhua was taken aback.
“What is it?” The person noticed the surprise in Xie Kanhua’s voice.
“Tianyuan is the old calendar. We’re now in the twelfth year of the Longshi era. It’s been twenty-seven years since the eleventh year of Tianyuan!” Xie Kanhua exclaimed, his voice filled with amazement. “Senior, you must have been imprisoned here even before the Shanglin Heavenly Palace made its debut in the world.”
“Twenty-seven years, huh…” The person fell silent for a long while. “So much time has passed…”
“May I ask for your esteemed name, senior?” Xie Kanhua’s curiosity was piqued.
The man didn’t answer him directly, instead asking, “How is Su Heyu doing?”
Xie Kanhua furrowed his brow slightly. Su Heyu was Su Han’s father, and he had already passed away when Xie Kanhua first met Su Han. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Senior Su fell gravely ill in the eighteenth year of Tianyuan and unfortunately passed away.”
“So he’s been dead for twenty years,” the man murmured. The only sound that followed was the clatter of chains hitting the ground. Then, silence reigned for a long time. Xie Kanhua sat down cross-legged, and after a prolonged quiet, he tentatively called out again, “Senior?”
There was no response.
“Senior?” Xie Kanhua called out again.
“What is it?” The person finally acknowledged him. “Twenty-seven years have passed. I’m sure the martial world has long forgotten someone like me. There’s no point in mentioning my name.”
“That’s not it, senior. I was wondering if you’d like some roast chicken?” Xie Kanhua asked with a smile.
“Roast chicken?” The man let out a dry laugh. “I’ve been in this prison for so many years, but I haven’t even seen a scrap of meat. Where would roast chicken come from?”
“Oh, there will be, there will be,” Xie Kanhua licked his lips. “I reckon we’ll have some in a few days. Why do you think I’ve been so cheerful lately? I’ve been looking forward to this treat.”
Just as he finished speaking, the door to the prison swung open. This prison was the deepest dungeon in the Shanglin Heavenly Palace, housing the most important prisoners. Ordinary disciples couldn’t enter at all, and even the heads of the four courtyards couldn’t come here without Ning Qingcheng’s hand-written order. However, the person entering now was one of the rare few who could ignore these rules.
“Helian, you’ve finally come,” Xie Kanhua said with a sigh.
Helian Xiyue, the master of the Spring Breeze Tower, stood at the entrance. The guards at the door wore uneasy expressions, but Helian Xiyue held a lofty status in Shanglin Heavenly Palace, second only to Ning Qingcheng and Bai Jile. Moreover, he didn’t belong to any faction within Shanglin Heavenly Palace, making him someone everyone wanted to win over.
“I’m going in,” Helian Xiyue stated his request simply.
“Please don’t make it too difficult for us lowly guards,” the guard pleaded, head bowed.
“I won’t,” Helian Xiyue stepped into the prison and walked towards Xie Kanhua’s cell, carrying a basket in his hand.
“Why did you only come today? Do you know how awful the food is in this prison? Three meals a day of nothing but coarse steamed buns and rotten vegetables, and even the water is sour. I am the renowned Xie Kanhua, master of the Misty Rain Tower, once the most charming man in the martial world. Even if you don’t consider me, you should at least think about yourself, who shares my reputation!” Xie Kanhua complained incessantly.
“Eat.” Helian Xiyue set the basket down.
“Let me see what you’ve brought. Did you bring roast chicken? I’m telling you, in all the years since I left the Shanglin Heavenly Palace, I’ve craved nothing but the roast chicken from here. It’s truly the best in the world! Ah, there really is roast chicken!” Xie Kanhua licked his lips, then tore the chicken in half. He held one half in his left hand and placed the other half back on the plate. With a gentle push, he slid the plate into the depths of the prison, followed by the sound of the plate hitting the iron bars. “See, senior, I wasn’t lying to you.”
“If I can get out of here someday, I’ll help you kill someone,” the man replied.
“Anyone?” Xie Kanhua took a bite of the chicken leg.
“Anyone at all,” the man said while chewing on the chicken.
Helian Xiyue frowned slightly and turned to look into the depths of the prison.
“You didn’t know there was another person imprisoned here?” Xie Kanhua asked, puzzled.
Helian Xiyue took three steps forward.
“Don’t come any closer.” The man pushed the plate back to Helian Xiyue’s feet. The plate was completely empty; the person must have swallowed even the bones.
As Helian Xiyue attempted to move forward again, a surge of qi emanated from the depths of the prison, attacking him. He activated his Spring Breeze Contentment technique, lightly swinging his sleeve to disperse the energy. However, the qi was far more powerful than he had anticipated, forcing him to retreat three steps. Helian Xiyue steadied himself, exchanging a glance with Xie Kanhua.
“Not bad.”
The master of the Spring Breeze Tower of Shanglin Heavenly Palace was reduced to such a simple compliment.
“Senior, that burst of qi is worth another jug of wine!” Xie Kanhua laughed and tossed a jug of wine from the basket.
“I never thought I’d taste wine again in this life. For this jug, I’ll kill ten people for you,” the man’s hoarse voice carried a hint of laughter.
“Senior, I have a good reputation in the martial world, I’m not a murderous villain. How about this: instead of killing, could you help me save people? That way, you’d owe me eleven lives. As for the future wine and meat, we can settle that separately. What do you say?” Xie Kanhua suggested tentatively.
“I can save anyone you ask, except those with the surname Su,” the man readily agreed.
Xie Kanhua scratched his head. “What a coincidence, the one I most want you to save is a young man surnamed Su. Never mind, let’s not dwell on this. Enjoy your drink, senior. I need to chat with my friend here for a bit.”
Helian Xiyue spoke calmly, “Bai Jile has left the mountain.”
Xie Kanhua smiled faintly. “I’ve been prepared for that. What I want to know is, how’s my disciple doing? Many people think he’s just a somewhat foolish scholar, but only I know that he’s actually quite the schemer!”
Helian Xiyue chuckled, “Just like you.”
Thank you