Chapter 218: Tracking

Wandering Man accepted Qin Sang’s respect with a calm smile. He took a sip of wine, holding his cup as if lost in thought for a long while. After some hesitation, he finally asked, "Brother Qin, when you met Jixin... how was he doing?"

"Daoist Jixin is a man of great compassion, willing to live in poverty, healing and treating the poor. When I sought refuge at Qingyang Temple, it was a year of disaster. Refugees from the north flooded south, famine and death were everywhere. Daoist Jixin gave out medicine without charge, saving countless lives..."

Seeing Wandering Man’s interest, Qin Sang recounted everything he had witnessed at Qingyang Temple in detail.

He held deep admiration for Daoist Jixin, who truly embodied the spirit of a compassionate heart willing to shelter and comfort all.

Qin Sang knew he couldn’t live up to such ideals himself, but it did not stop him from respecting those who could.

"He did well," Wandering Man said as he nodded, a look of relief washing over him.

"Daoist Jixin passed on the tradition you left behind to a disciple named Ming Yue, who was also a bright and kind-hearted person. However, before I left the Great Sui, I visited Qingyang Temple one last time. By then, Daoist Jixin and Ming Yue had left the temple to escape the chaos of war. But now, more than forty years have passed..."

Qin Sang’s expression turned somber.

Time spares no one.

Ming Yue was only two years younger than him. Unless Daoist Jixin had encountered a miraculous opportunity, he had likely already passed away.

Wandering Man also seemed to realize this, sighing quietly. To walk the path of immortality is to leave the mortal world behind forever.

"Senior, did you join Taiyi Core Sect?"

Qin Sang recalled the scene when he first met Wandering Man. The steward from Taiyi Core Pavilion had addressed Wandering Man as "Senior Uncle," indicating a close relationship.

Wandering Man hummed in acknowledgment. "My mentor, Sage Piaoya, was from Taiyi Core Sect. Back then, he saw my skill in medicine and my talent for alchemy, so he made an exception and brought me into the sect as a medicine apprentice. Fortunately, my knowledge of medicine helped me maintain my health. Even in old age, my body remained sturdy, and with the help of a few spiritual pills, I managed to step into this path."

Although Wandering Man spoke casually, Qin Sang knew well the hardships hidden within these words.

...

Outside Changyang Market, Qin Sang bid farewell to Wandering Man.

"Brother Qin, you should return. You are a disciple of Shaohua Mountain, and our sects both guard Xuanlu Stronghold together. We’re bound to meet again. Until then!"

Wandering Man cupped his hands from a distance and then turned, walking westward alone.

Qin Sang watched as Wandering Man’s somewhat frail figure disappeared into the mountains.

According to Wandering Man, although he had broken through to the Foundation Building Realm, his advanced age had left a hidden sickness in his cultivation, hindering his future progress.

He had roamed the Ancient Immortal Battlefield for years, searching for a way to resolve these issues. This time, he had finally obtained some clues, which brought him on this journey, only to unexpectedly encounter Qin Sang at Changyang Market.

This encounter made Qin Sang think of himself. In a way, they were fellow sufferers. Qin Sang’s struggle was self-imposed, but Wandering Man’s was simply fate—he had encountered his path to immortality at seventy-eight, truly a twist of destiny beyond human control.

As for the exact nature of Wandering Man’s hidden sickness, Qin Sang didn’t pry further.

His acquaintance with Wandering Man was born of a connection through Daoist Jixin and was only a brief encounter. They did not share a deep friendship, and it was wise to avoid speaking too openly with a shallow bond.

Wandering Man had casually mentioned his troubles and showed no intention of inviting Qin Sang to help. Qin Sang, understanding this, refrained from asking further.

Standing there, Qin Sang turned and looked toward the southeast, lost in thought.

His unexpected encounter with Wandering Man had stirred memories.

What would his life be like now if he had chosen to stay in the Great Sui instead of pursuing the path to immortality?

Perhaps he would hold great power, perhaps immense wealth, perhaps a family with countless descendants...

This life would surely have been dazzling.

But deep down, would there still have been a trace of lingering regret, surfacing from the heart every time one gazed at the night sky alone?

After all, immortals truly exist in this world!

Qin Sang looked up at the vast heavens, then turned and walked into the marketplace. Finding a secluded corner, he activated the

Spirit Evasion Art

, concealing his cultivation at the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Donning a ghostly mask, he returned to the bustling streets with hurried steps, as if pressed by something urgent.

...

Surrounding Changyang Market were uneven stone mountains, creating a complex terrain.

A masked figure departed from the market. Just as he exited, he immediately mounted a flying artifact, escaping westward at full speed while frequently glancing back, highly vigilant.

He seemed unaware that two figures were silently tailing him from the shadows of the surrounding mountains, moving as stealthily as venomous snakes, constantly lurking behind!

One of the two was a burly man in tight clothes, while the other had the scholarly air of a frail scholar.

"Brother, he’s just a thirteenth-stage Qi Refining Realm guy, similar in strength to us. Even without the poisonous miasma, the two of us could easily take him down together. Why go to the trouble of involving Big Brother?"

The burly man, frustrated with stealthy pursuits, was holding his breath to avoid detection, feeling terribly stifled and restless, his voice tinged with annoyance.

But the scholar was adamant about waiting for their big brother to join the fight.

Their big brother was a Foundation Building expert. Disturbing his cultivation for a mere Qi Refining Realm sheep seemed like overkill.

The scholar’s eyes stayed fixed on the figure ahead, his voice low and cautious. "This guy is extremely careful. He only sells a little bit in each shop, but we’ve seen him go into seven or eight stores in a row, selling the same items each time. He’s definitely carrying a large amount of Fire Elemental Stones and evil spirit-bound items. For someone with that many resources, it’s best not to underestimate him, no matter his level. Stay alert and quit complaining, or he’ll slip away with an illusion technique."

Chastised, the burly man swallowed his grumbles and obeyed orders.

The three brothers had been running their shady business across towns and markets for years without trouble, thanks to the second brother’s[1] meticulous planning. Even the big brother followed the second brother’s advice, so he dared not object—grumbling was all he could do.

They continued tracking their target for a while longer. Eventually, either due to exhaustion from using spiritual power to maintain his artifact or simply out of complacency, the masked man slowed down, relaxing his pace.

At that moment, the scholar whispered, "Big Brother’s here. Move!"

"Got it!" The burly man grinned fiercely and, with a powerful stomp, shot up like an arrow, while the scholar followed suit. In an instant, the two closed in, flanking their target from the left and right.

In their eyes, the man behind the mask was full of helplessness and fear.

Both men raised their hands, releasing a cloud of foul, poisonous miasma. As they approached, they immediately unleashed the miasma, enveloping the masked man in a thick cloud.

The burly man cackled. "Fall, fall, fall..."

However, the scholar’s expression changed abruptly. "Something’s wrong—the poison miasma isn’t working! Big Brother, act now!"

1. The second brother is the scholar. ☜