The insect was about the length of a pinky finger and no thicker than a slender twig. Its underside was covered with countless fine, hair-like legs. Clutched between Xue Qiming’s fingers, it wriggled and twisted frantically, instinctively trying to gnaw into his palm. Xue Qiming’s thick and calloused skin rendered its efforts futile. It simply couldn’t break through his tough hide.
Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s face turned awkward, and he stammered, "T-This..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xue Qiming’s free hand rose high into the air and came crashing down.
The sound of his palms colliding was like a sudden thunderclap. The force of the impact sent a gust of wind surging through the room, nearly making Grandfather Lan Zhuo squint in reflex.
When Grandfather Lan Zhuo looked again, Xue Qiming was grinning at him, holding out his hand. The worm in his palm now a mangled mess of blood and crushed flesh. "Old man, let’s talk this out properly. Don’t cause trouble."
Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s beard quivered in anger, but he had no ground to argue. In the end, he said nothing and silently led the way forward.
The three of them arrived at Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s bamboo house. As soon as they stepped inside, they found someone already waiting for them.
An elderly woman with a kind face sat in a wicker chair. She was plump, with gentle brows and warm eyes. Holding herself steady with a jade-green bamboo cane.
As the three entered, the elderly woman’s gaze fell on Xue Niang. She stood up with a warm smile and said, "Little Ling’er, do you still remember me?"
Xue Niang dashed forward and embraced the old woman, calling out in a crisp voice, "Grandma Xi!"
Grandfather Lan Zhuo nodded at Grandma Xi as a greeting. From his demeanor, it seemed he had already known she would be here, he had probably sent someone ahead to inform her.
"This is the great hero, Xue Qiming." Grandfather Lan Zhuo gestured toward Xue Qiming as he spoke to Grandma Xi. "He was the one who brought Ling’er back... and he claims to have taken her as his disciple. It was also thanks to his incredible strength that One-eyed Ba was driven away outside the village gates."
"Oh?" Grandma Xi studied Xue Qiming for a moment before giving him a slight nod in greeting.
Grandfather Lan Zhuo cleared his throat, then turned to Grandma Xi. "Take Ling’er away for now. I need to discuss something important with our hero."
Grandma Xi was just about to agree when someone else spoke up first.
A man’s voice and a young girl’s protest rang out almost simultaneously as Xue Niang clung tightly to Xue Qiming’s sleeve.
Grandfather Lan Zhuo and Grandma Xi were both momentarily stunned.
"This..." Grandfather Lan Zhuo forced a smile and said to Xue Niang, "Be good, Ling’er. Look, your clothes are dirty. Let Grandma Xi take you to change into something clean."
Xue Qiming scooped up Xue Niang and placed her on his lap, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Old man, let’s get something straight. I brought Xue Niang back because she kept saying she missed home, so I figured I’d let her visit and assure you all of her safety. But if you intend to forcefully keep my disciple here, then I won’t stand for it. Don’t blame me for turning hostile."
Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s face darkened, his lips trembling for a long moment before he finally rebuked, "This is the Miao village! This is her home!"
Xue Qiming sneered. "You call this a home? A place where enemies show up at your doorstep whenever they please? Who’s to say the Dark Miao won’t tear this place apart tomorrow? How could I possibly leave Xue Niang in such a dangerous place?"
"Bullshit!" Grandfather Lan Zhuo roared. "I’ve already sent word to unite the twelve Light Miao villages! If One-eyed Ba dares to come again, I’ll knock his teeth out!"
Xue Qiming curled his lips in disdain, his face full of skepticism.
Grandfather Lan Zhuo abandoned all pretense, his eyes wide and bloodshot as he snarled at Xue Qiming. "And you! Unbound Bodhisattva! Don’t think I don’t know the truth. I had people investigate. My son and daughter-in-law were killed by the Ghostbane Association, and the one who took that job... guess who it was?"
Xue Qiming raised an eyebrow and met Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s crazed gaze head-on. "It was me."
"Bold indeed!" Grandfather Lan Zhuo slammed the table and let out an enraged laugh. "You dare admit it outright? At least you have guts. But we Light Miao are not ungrateful people! Today, you saved my village. Consider that repayment for my son and daughter-in-law’s lives. From this moment on, we are even! Our grudges are settled! Now leave!"
"Oh, alright then." Xue Qiming nodded and called to Xue Niang, "Let’s go, disciple."
Xue Niang nodded, hopped off his lap, and headed straight for the door.
"Wait!" Grandfather Lan Zhuo’s temple veins throbbed as he watched, his voice trembling with suppressed fury. "Lan Ling stays!"
Xue Qiming pursed his lips and ignored him. Xue Niang, however, turned back and waved. "Goodbye, Grandpa."
"Wait!" Grandfather Lan Zhuo lunged forward, grabbing Xue Niang’s small hand, his voice lowered to a desperate whisper. "Ling’er! What kind of spell has he cast on you?! He murdered your father!"
"I know," Xue Niang nodded and looked up at Xue Qiming. "Once I’ve mastered martial arts, I’ll take my revenge."
Grandfather Lan Zhuo hurriedly added, "Stay! Stay here and learn gu poison to avenge them! Gu poison is far more powerful than his martial arts!"
"Bullshit!" Xue Qiming erupted in fury.
"Enough arguing," Grandma Xi’s voice finally broke in, cutting through the tension. With a pleasant smile, she gestured toward the nearby chairs. "Sit down and talk it out."
Grandfather Lan Zhuo hesitated for a moment before finally releasing Xue Niang and returning to his seat at the head of the table. Xue Qiming’s gaze flicked between Grandfather Lan Zhuo and Grandma Xi before he, too, sat down. Once again, he pulled Xue Niang onto his lap, holding her like a squirrel guarding its winter stores.
Grandma Xi’s eyes lingered briefly on Xue Qiming’s face before shifting to the dull, shabby gourd hanging from his waist. She spoke slowly, "Your surname is Xue? As in snow?"
Xue Qiming narrowed his eyes slightly, puzzled by the seemingly random question, but he still nodded in response.
Grandma Xi tilted her head and asked again, "And what is your relation to the Sovereign of Strength?"
"Sovereign of Strength?" Xue Qiming was momentarily stunned. "Who?"
A flicker of doubt flashed through Grandma Xi’s eyes before she quickly brushed it aside. She tapped her forehead with a light laugh.
"That was my mistake, the Sovereign of Strength was the nickname he had in his youth. Let me rephrase. What is your relation to Xue Yinlong, the ‘Sky-supporting Arhat’ of Lingnan?"
Xue Qiming immediately straightened his posture, his expression turning solemn as he cupped his hands in respect. "He was my master. Do you know him?"
Grandma Xi waved a hand dismissively. "I wouldn’t say we were well acquainted, only that we met a few times. When I first heard your surname was Xue and witnessed your extraordinary strength, I suspected you might be his descendant. But since you bear no resemblance to him at all, I wasn’t certain. It wasn’t until I saw that gourd of yours that I became eighty percent sure."
Xue Qiming took a deep breath and replied respectfully, "Your insight is keen. I was originally a beggar from a small town at the foot of the Lingnan mountains. By the mercy of the Buddha, my master took me in and granted me the fate of becoming his disciple. I had no name of my own, so I took on my master’s surname."
Grandma Xi gave him a sly smile. "Did your master ever tell you... that you are sick?"