Martial King's Retired Life

“Brother Hong, their patrol system is unlike that which is employed in the martial world,” said Fang Xiaoyu, peeking out from a window.

“Based on their footsteps alone, we can tell that they are well-trained guards. We could randomly pick a few, and they’d be competent enough to lead. Don’t you feel they resemble what we see in the martial world?”

“Mm, I can’t hear their footsteps. I can identify the sects some of them are from based on their appearances, but their walking style really isn’t like what we see in the martial world.”

“Huh? What walking style?”

“Their posture. They clearly train martial arts, yet they walk with a straight torso and step straight… It’s like how you affluent families’ employees walk a certain way. This is Fiends’ Genesis’ base, isn’t it? I heard they’re not so fussy over such things.”

“Hmm… So, what you’re saying is, they could just walk casually, yet they’re deliberately walking like servants?”

“That’s it. That’s the vibe.”

“In that case, something’s fishy. Either they’re trying to harm someone or dupe someone. In the words of my leader: they’re unorthodox factions. Do you expect them to do charity work instead?”

“Oooh, makes sense, makes sense.”

Hong Jiu simply didn’t pay too much thought to it because, as long as whatever they were planning didn’t affect him, why should he care?

“Brother Hong, what are you doing?”

“Planting tinders,” answered Hong Jiu, still digging. In one hour from now, the plan was to light up one tinder. He wanted to plant one in every room so that the time between each one igniting would be reduced to the bare minimum.

They didn’t have time for any more conversation as a group started walking back and forth outside. Strangely, eight people entered the building they were in. Despite his speed, Hong Jiu couldn’t simultaneously cover eight mouths. Moreover, how would they cover the fact that eight guards had suddenly gone missing? It would be obvious if that many guards vanished at once.

Hong Jiu promptly put out the tinder. Unfortunately, the light shining through the agape door had invaded their secure spot. Fang Xiaoyu, with his heart in his mouth, patted Hong Jiu on the shoulder and pointed toward the interior. The two of them strode into the inner sanctum of the room as the lights chased them. With his left hand, Hong Jiu broke the door’s lock. With his right hand, he used two fingers to gently pinch Fang Xiaoyu’s shoulder and pick him up to throw to his side, avoiding being caught in view just in time. Hong Jiu pressed Fang Xiaoyu up against his back, then rolled across the ground to enter the room before gently shutting the door. Had he been one second slower, the flame would’ve illuminated them instead of the door.

The people outside the room stopped moving about.

“Hey, grab it and leave. Don’t waste anym-, hmm? What’s that smell?”

Hong Jiu prepared himself to end the eight if they accidentally left behind a trace of their presence.

“I thought I said not to put any flammables in here?! Get out! Leave once you’ve got what you need. Don’t you know my baby fears fire?!”

His companions hastily responded and exited once they fetched what they needed.

***

“Vivianite, please wait a bit. Everything is ready here. We will commence once we enter the capital, and we will support.”

The only person Hai Yecha gave time of the day was Vivianite. As a matter of fact, nobody could afford to disrespect him in the last year. To a certain degree, he was a grim reaper.

“Have you retrieved what I asked for?”

The nervous subordinates hurried into the hall. “Yes, it is right here.”

“Mm, bring it over for me.” Hai Yecha held his hand out for the pipe, then grinned. “This is called ‘Nightfire’. With just one pipe, you can turn night into day. We had artisans from the Western Regions manufacture them for us. Most importantly, it’s completely invisible to the eye if used during the day unless someone is perceptive. We will use this to give the order to gather at dawn without anyone finding out. Vivianite and we will take care of a few people, and then we can commence our operation.”

Vivianite suddenly asked, “What… is that?”

***

Master Qi and Guan Ning, using a specially-designed roll of paper that was used as a torch once lit up, went through every room for evidence to prove their innocence. There was no guarantee they could finish searching the estate in two weeks, let alone in a single night. That was until they entered a certain room.

The moment they entered aforementioned room, Master Qi felt it was distinctly different to previous rooms. “Wait. Stop for a sec…”

Guan Ning stopped what he was doing.

Master Qi made her way to the bedside. She tried to move one of the bed head’s pillars, and it turned out to be movable. At the same time, a hidden path appeared by the bookshelf beside the bed.

Guan Ning: “You’ve been here before?”

Master Qi went straight into the hidden room, Guan Ning following suit. There wasn’t much in the room, so it didn’t take Master Qi long to end her search. She found an old, maybe some years old, sheet of paper, which was a title deed over land. There was no signature or seal to identify the sender. One of the several seals on the desk, however, was half complete.

Guan Ning picked up the half-complete seal and held it up to the dim light. “Wondrous Warrior Li… This is…”

“It’s Northern Wondrous Warrior Estate’s seal…” Master Qi started to be stricken with panic. “No, no, no…. Someone is weaving a plot to lay a sin at Muye’s door! Muye is in danger! Wait. Go tell the others that we can’t strike tonight! This pl-”

The pair were muted against their will.

***

A while before Master Qi and Guan Ning’s discovery.

Fang Xiaoyu whispered, “I think they’ve left.”

“Not only are you inexperienced, but you’re also a scaredy cat. You think I can’t handle this small-time situation?”

“… Yet it was I who spotted this room.”

“Uh, half of it is your work, I guess. Call it even?”

Fang Xiaoyu almost punched Hong Jiu in the face whilst trying to give a fist bump.

“Don’t worry. I brought some fire paper rolls.” Hong Jiu lit up the roll, illuminating his smug visage in addition to chests and more chests that were filled with pipes.

“Brother Hong, what are these?”

Hong Jiu looked down. “Hah, they made it sound it like some treasure, but what do you know. It’s called nightfire. They’re used to transmit messages. You could see the light in the sky from cities away.”

“Whoa, that’s crazy.”

“Yeah, it is. Don’t worry, though, because, as long as it doesn’t come into contact with… uh, fire.”

An ember broke away from the roll in Hong Jiu’s hand. Thirteen curse words failed to stop the fleeing ember.

“Run!” Fang Xiaoyu grabbed Hong Jiu and ran faster than ever before.

Hundreds and thousands of explosions went off.

Fiends’ Genesis’ group had their mouths agape for approximately one hour.

Hundreds and thousands of stars rose up to paint the dark canvas of Jiangnan.

Later on in history, people debated the theory behind what happened that night. Some argued a scholastic star descended on mankind. Some said it was a sign Zhu Bajie reincarnated. Some claimed it was the advent of a dragon.

Nightfire ends the night. Brothers and distance dance in the light.

People casted their gazes heavy bound for a peek. Hong Jiu went underground for a sleep.

Tonight was the night. A hero shone bright.

Glossary

Rolls of paper that are used as torches/fire paper roll – I have no clue if this has an actual English word, but I couldn’t find one. Visually, they look like so http://www.xuanlishi.com/lishijiemi/201812/2419.shtml . While you won’t see a flame as you would with a candle, it provides constant dim lighting similar to embers.

Zhu Bajie – A character from Journey to the West.