chapter 8

Chapter 8 – The Purple Jade Spirit-Gathering Lamp
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Luo Guan opened his eyes, sensing the obvious surge in his strength. Gratitude flickered across his face.
The Twelve Emperor Swords of the Great Wastelands suited him perfectly. Cultivation with them was twice the result for half the effort. His teacher’s vision was like a torch; clearly, he had chosen this for him with painstaking care, though without telling him the truth.
A knock came at the door.
Uncle Ku said, “Young Master, the Patriarch summons you to the ancestral hall.”
Luo Guan pushed open the door. “Understood.”
The ancestral hall was filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Luo Zhenshan swept his gaze over the assembly, his voice grave. “Aside from the elders and consecrated guardians, the rest of you gathered here are our Luo clan’s younger generation who have already condensed the Tongtian Bone (Sky-Penetrating Bone).”
“I’ve called you here because the situation has grown dire.”
He waved his hand, and a report was sent before them.
Luo Guan skimmed a few lines, his brows knitting tightly.
The matter was straightforward: to raise silver, the Luo family had previously sold and mortgaged a significant portion of their ancestral property. Though they had recovered part of it, the losses remained severe.
Now, within Jiangning City, an undercurrent was surging; someone was preparing to topple the Luo family.
Until recently, the threat had been subtle. But earlier that very day, the Fifth Elder had been gravely injured while on patrol. That was a dangerous signal.
If the Luo clan did not strike back quickly and suppress the unrest, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“From today onward, the Luo family enters a state of alert!” declared Luo Zhenshan.
“All elders and consecrated guardians, take positions across the city and stabilize the situation.”
“And the younger generation who have condensed the Tongtian Bone, you too will participate in maintaining order.”
The assignments were swiftly made.
Consecrated Elder Xu Tai would temporarily assume the Fifth Elder’s duties, taking charge of Qingwa Street. Xu Qingqing, Luo Cheng, and Luo Guan were to cooperate with him.
Once they left the ancestral hall, everyone dispersed in haste.
Riding in the carriage toward Qingwa Street, Xu Tai warned gravely, “The enemy hides in the dark, while we are in the open. You must be twice as cautious.”
“If trouble arises, send out a distress signal immediately. I’ll rush to your aid.”
Qingwa Street lay in the western part of the city, having long been under the influence of the Luo family. Two gambling houses, three brothels, along with restaurants and shops of every sort, always a bustling district.
Upon arrival, Xu Tai stationed himself at the Black Mountain Gambling House, where the Fifth Elder had been ambushed. No further mishaps could be allowed.
The three juniors were tasked with patrolling the streets.
The avenue teemed with life, yet tension hung between them.
Luo Ning sighed inwardly. Why had the Patriarch assigned these two together? Did he hope this would reconcile them?
At that moment, Xu Qingqing suddenly stopped. “Luo Guan, do you really hate me so much that you won’t even say a word to me?”
Looking at the angry girl, Luo Guan’s thoughts drifted away.
Xu Qingqing, daughter of Xu Tai, a year younger than him.
Since childhood, she had been his little shadow. If she couldn’t “marry” him during their childish play, she would cry her eyes out.
At sixteen, she succeeded in condensing her bones. At the same time, Luo Guan, having failed twice, saw his prospects grow dim. Whatever tender feelings of youth he’d once held were mostly scattered. And she was not only gifted, but beautiful and poised, the center of attention wherever she went.
One rainy day, he had gone to her door with an umbrella, only to be turned away. He stood in silence beneath the rain for a long time, then turned and left and never went again.
Luo Guan returned to the present. “No. It’s just… It’s been so long, I didn’t know what to say.”
His calm tone made Xu Qingqing’s eyes redden. She spun on her heel and walked off.
Luo Ning gave a wry smile. “Luo Guan…”
Luo Guan waved him off. “Brother Luo Ning, go after her. Make sure nothing happens. I’ll patrol this side alone.”
“Fine. Be careful.”
Luo Guan walked on, expression calm. Some things, once broken, could never return.
Qingwa Street allowed temporary stalls as well, though their goods were of uneven quality, sold as-is with no responsibility afterward.
As Luo Guan patrolled, his gaze swept idly over both sides.
The voice of the Black Turtle (Xuan Gui, his teacher’s spirit) suddenly sounded. “Wait.”
Luo Guan halted. “Teacher, what is it?”
A chuckle. “Something good.”
“Don’t turn your head. Left-hand side, second stall. In the corner, that pitch-black thing. Find a way to buy it.”
Without a change of expression, Luo Guan first lingered at a nearby stall, bargaining over a so-called heirloom jade before buying it.
Then he strolled to the target stall, picked up the item in the corner after a cursory glance.
It looked like a wine cup, felt similar to the jade he had just bought, but its appearance was dreadful, charred as if burned, caked with years of grime.
“How much for this?”
The stall owner’s eyes lit up. “Young Master, sharp eyes indeed! This is my most treasured item.” He raised three fingers with a smile. “Three hundred taels of silver.”
Luo Guan’s face darkened. “Think I’m easy to cheat because I’m young? Three hundred taels, you might as well rob me!”
He set it down and walked away.
But having seen his earlier purchase, the vendor was unwilling to lose such a fat sheep. “How much would Young Master pay, then?”
“Thirty taels.” Luo Guan sneered.
The stall owner clutched at his heart. “Ah, you drive such a bargain… I’ll be ruined!” Even as he complained, his hands swiftly wrapped the item in paper and thrust it toward him.
“Thirty taels it is. Please, take care of it.”
Luo Guan tossed down the silver and left with the parcel.
As he turned, both their lips curved in secret smiles.
At a teahouse, Luo Guan rented a private room. Impatiently, he unwrapped the parcel, setting the blackened item before him.
“Teacher, what is this?”
“The Spirit-Gathering Lamp (Juling Zhan),” the Black Turtle replied.
“A special spirit jade, forged with secret arts. It can automatically absorb the qi of heaven and earth, condensing it into spiritual liquid.”
“It looks so wretched because it was sealed in filth. All it needs is a wisp of Emperor Sword intent to break the seal and restore its true form.”
Luo Guan tapped it lightly. With a soft crack, black miasma burst out, the charred surface splitting apart to reveal exquisite, lustrous purple jade beneath.
“Purple jade?” The Black Turtle was startled. “You lucky brat.”
“The purple lamp is the rarest kind. It can condense one cup of top-grade spiritual liquid per day; drinking it greatly accelerates cultivation.”
Luo Guan’s eyes shone with joy. He carefully tucked the Purple Jade Spirit-Gathering Lamp into his robe.
Just then, noise erupted from the street below. Luo Guan’s face changed as he caught a few words.
Shua.
He leapt from the teahouse and raced toward the Black Mountain Gambling House.
Arriving outside, he met Luo Ning and Xu Qingqing. But before they could enter, the gambling hall’s great doors exploded with a thunderous crash.
Xu Tai tumbled out, blood covering his body.
“Father!” Xu Qingqing cried.
“It’s the Yan family…” Xu Tai gasped, “Quick… send the signal, call for aid from the clan!”
Even as he spoke, several men emerged from the casino.
At their head, Yan Du’s face twisted with rage. “Xu Tai shattered the Yan family’s treasure: the Purple Jade Spirit-Gathering Lamp! Unless this is explained, even Luo Zhenshan himself cannot protect you!” He held out shards of violet jade that shimmered in the sunlight, their extraordinary quality plain to see.
“Do you know? This lamp could condense one cup of top-grade spiritual liquid every day, a priceless boon for cultivation.”
“The Yan family owes much of its rise to this treasure. Its value is beyond measure!”
The crowd erupted in shock. Pity flashed in their eyes as they looked upon the Luo family. Destroying such a treasure, how could compensation be anything but astronomical?
Xu Tai roared, “You framed me!”
But his rage only brought up another mouthful of blood, making Xu Qingqing weep in terror.
As chaos broke out, Luo Guan studied the grief-stricken Yan Du. Then, to everyone’s surprise, a cold smile touched his lips.
With the Luo family shaken and Xu Tai grievously wounded, Luo Guan suddenly stepped forward.
“Compensation for damage is only right,” he said evenly. “Name your price, Young Master Yan.”
Yan Du sneered. “At the recent Golden Cauldron Auction, a single bottle of second-grade Blood-Boosting Pills sold for ten thousand gold.”
“But compared to the Spirit-Gathering Lamp, such pills are nothing. The Luo family must pay at least one hundred thousand gold!”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
One hundred thousand in gold?!
Even if the Luo clan sold everything, they could not raise that sum.
The matter had blown beyond control.
Yet Luo Guan’s expression remained calm. “Young Master Yan, what a grand appetite.”
“Very well. One hundred thousand it is.”
The crowd stared in disbelief. Was this boy insane?
Yan Du narrowed his eyes, then sneered. “Even if you cast Xu Tai out of your clan, the Luo family won’t escape this debt!”
Xu Tai froze, lips trembling. He shut his eyes with a deep breath. Perhaps… this was the only way.
Years ago, he and his daughter had been saved by the Luo clan’s old patriarch. Today, he could repay that kindness.
Xu Qingqing shook her head in disbelief. “My father has been loyal for over ten years. Luo Guan, even if you hate me, you can’t treat him like this!”
Luo Guan glanced at her, his tone cool. “That sounds more like the Yan family’s way of doing things.”
“But to my Luo family, Xu Tai, as a consecrated guardian, is one of us. Whatever comes, we share it together.”
His words rang out, stirring admiration in the onlookers.
Luo Guan continued, “Let all present be witness: the Luo family acknowledges the loss of the Yan family’s Purple Jade Spirit-Gathering Lamp, and agrees to compensate one hundred thousand gold.”
“However, if this is proven false, a deliberate fraud, then the compensation shall be threefold. Young Master Yan, do you have any objection?”
Yan Du’s pupils contracted, then he barked a laugh. “Produce your proof, and tenfold compensation would mean nothing. But without it, slandering my Yan family will cost you dearly.”
“Magnanimous indeed.” Luo Guan’s smile widened.
From his robe, he produced an object. Gasps burst from the crowd as violet radiance bloomed in the sunlight, endlessly absorbing spiritual qi and condensing it into liquid.
“This,” Luo Guan declared, “is also a Purple Jade Spirit-Gathering Lamp.”
“What a coincidence; I happen to own one as well.”
“This treasure is forged from a rare jade. The success rate is abysmally low. A failed attempt leaves only a brittle shell, crumbling at a touch.”
Xu Tai’s eyes lit up. “Yes! All I did was brush against Yan Du, and it shattered instantly!”
Yan Du’s face went pale. He had never imagined Luo Guan would produce a genuine lamp.
Still, he forced a sneer. “Even so, you can’t prove mine is fake!”
“Proving it is simple,” Luo Guan said calmly.
He raised the lamp. “Smash it. One look will tell true from false.”
Yan Du’s breath caught.
“To destroy this lamp would mean certain proof of fraud. The Yan family would owe a million in compensation, its reputation ruined forever. Can you bear those consequences, Young Master Yan?”
Yan Du’s face turned ashen. “We’re leaving!”
“Stop.” Luo Guan’s voice cut cold. “You’re not walking away without an answer.”
Fury flickered in Yan Du’s eyes.
But before he could act, Luo Guan darted forward. In a blur, his hand closed around Yan Du’s throat.
Buzz!
Sword intent seeped into flesh, freezing Yan Du’s body in place.
“Release our young master!” the Yan family retainers roared.
Luo Guan pressed harder. Yan Du shrieked, “Stay back! Stay away!”
Sweat poured down his face. “Luo Guan, this was all a misunderstanding…”
Bang!
Luo Guan kicked the back of his knee. Yan Du collapsed, forehead smashed against the ground, blood splattering.
“No one harms a consecrated guardian of my Luo family.”
“That bow of yours, that’s mercy enough.”
Then Luo Guan drove his boot into Yan Du’s chest, sending him sprawling.
The sword intent within him exploded, ripping flesh. Yan Du screamed, face drained of color.
“Save me! Fetch my father!”
The Yan family retainers paled, scrambling to carry him away.
Among them, a black-robed man paused, giving Luo Guan a long, intent look before following.
Luo Guan’s heart skipped. “Teacher… I think I’ve seen that man before.”
The Black Turtle’s voice was grim. “Xu Hai.”
Luo Guan’s face changed. In a flash, pieces fell into place. The long-silent Xu Hai suddenly moving, the Fifth Elder’s injury, the swelling unrest in Jiangning, Yan Du’s scheme today…
No good!
The Yan family had joined hands with the Qingjiang Gang.
The Luo family was in grave danger.