Chapter Eighty-Nine: Standing Against Injustice, Upholding Heaven’s Justice

“Do you still recognize my Fourth Senior Brother?” Qin Yi raised his wine cup with a smile.

Zhan Beihai also lifted his cup, smiling warmly. “How could I not? My brother misses your Fourth Senior Brother dearly!”

Jiang Yao and the other two seemed somewhat reluctant to continue feasting and drinking with this group of men, so they left the Eight Immortals table. The waiter, unwilling to neglect these three beauties, promptly led them to an even finer Eight Immortals table than the one Qin Yi and the others occupied.

Qin Yi still held his cup aloft and asked with a smile, “Doesn’t your brother fear being branded a traitor’s accomplice?”

Zhan Beihai laughed casually, showing no concern. “Except for my brother, no one at our Xijiang Martial Arts Hall who has come into contact with your Fourth Senior Brother believes he’s a traitor. Even if some secretly doubt him within our hall, no one dares to say a word.”

Qin Yi heard this and paused, his hand frozen midair, the wine cup suspended between his fingers as his gaze turned vacant.

After a long while, he regained his composure, raised the cup again, and looked intently at Zhan Beihai. “I’ll toast your brother on behalf of my Fourth Senior Brother.”

He drained the cup in one gulp, then murmured appreciatively, “Purple rice clay pot wine?”

He hadn’t noticed before, but now he realized this was indeed purple rice clay pot wine.

Suddenly, he laughed heartily. “Ah, what a life it is—one must seize joy while one can!”

Zhan Beihai also drained his cup with a laugh. “Brother Qin, you’re truly generous. I suppose your Fourth Senior Brother is no different—no wonder my brother thinks of him so much.”

Qin Yi smiled. “That’s only natural.”

Zhan Beihai savored the wine and asked, “What kind of wine is this? It’s so mellow, and I’ve never tasted anything like it before.”

Qin Yi took another sip and replied, “Purple rice clay pot wine.”

“Do you know about it, Brother Qin?” Zhan Beihai inquired.

Qin Yi pointed at Zhang Chen. “Do you know who produces this wine?”

Zhan Beihai glanced at Zhang Chen. “Could it be connected to this brother here?”

Zhang Chen clasped his hands and smiled. “I am Zhang Chen. This wine is indeed crafted by my father.”

Zhan Beihai sincerely praised, “Excellent craftsmanship! If your father were a cultivator, he might even surpass the great masters.”

Everyone burst into hearty laughter together. Some things are simply wondrous—just like that, a new friend was made.

“Waiter!” Qin Yi called out loudly.

The waiter, who had been watching attentively, quickly trotted over. “Young immortal, how may I assist you?”

Qin Yi raised the pot of purple rice clay pot wine. “How did this wine come to be here?”

The waiter praised before answering, “Young immortal, you truly know your wine.” After a moment, he explained, “I’d never even heard of this wine back in Qinghe Town. But just a few days ago, it suddenly became famous. Our shopkeeper said it’s from a newly opened wine shop in Beihai City, near the South Sea. It’s only been a few days, yet its reputation has soared.”

He looked at Qin Yi with a smile. “Young immortal, do you know the name of that wine shop?”

Qin Yi took another sip and smiled. “Is it called Zhang Family Wine Shop?”

The waiter was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, scratching his head with a grin. “Young immortal, nothing escapes you.”

Zhang Chen chuckled. “How could I not know? I’m the young master of the Zhang Family Wine Shop.”

The waiter immediately laughed sheepishly. “So it’s Master Zhang! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, the waiter smiled brightly. “Master Zhang, I have a small favor to ask. Would you be willing to help?”

Given his perceptiveness as a tavern attendant, Qin Yi immediately took on the air of a wealthy young master and laughed, “Speak freely!”

The waiter beamed. “I’d like to ask Master Zhang to mention our tavern to your father. When you next procure wine in Beihai City, we hope you can give us some favor.”

Zhang Chen responded generously, “No problem. Just tell me the name of your tavern, and when I go to Beihai City tomorrow, I’ll speak to my father.”

The waiter’s heart soared with joy. “Our little shop is called Nanshan Pavilion. Master Zhang, please don’t forget! When you and the other young masters visit us, our shopkeeper will surely serve the finest wine and meat, all free of charge.”

Zhang Chen waved his hand, laughing. “Alright, alright, I got it.”

The waiter smiled happily and left, his light steps betraying his excellent mood.

Watching the waiter’s retreating figure, Qin Yi mused silently. Things insignificant to them could be monumental to others—and vice versa. The worlds of cultivators and ordinary people are ultimately not intertwined.

The waiter, chuckling, went to the kitchen, where a middle-aged man dressed far better than him awaited. Seeing him approach with a grin, the man laughed and asked, “Is it done?”

Hearing this, the man sighed with relief and then clapped the waiter’s shoulder. “Well done, Xiao Li. You’ve accomplished something great.”

Xiao Li chuckled. “Shopkeeper, what about that matter?”

The old man smiled. “Now that you’ve succeeded, our tavern has a bright future. I can rest easy entrusting my daughter to you.”

Xiao Li was overjoyed and at a loss for words, stammering.

The old man continued, “But don’t rush. Let’s wait and see how things go. I won’t be around much longer, but when the tavern flourishes, the daughter will be yours, and so will the tavern. I’ve watched you grow up and always knew you’d make it.”

“Hahaha, shopkeeper, I’ll get back to work now,” Xiao Li said, grinning and scratching his head.

The old man suddenly snapped, “What did you just call me?”

Xiao Li, still caught up in joy, realized and bowed his head slightly, blushing. “Fa… father-in-law.”

The old man smiled.

Xiao Li bounced away happily, thinking this was the happiest day he’d had in years.

After three rounds of drinks, though no one was drunk, they had all consumed quite a bit.

Nanshan was certainly restless now. Even if Jiang Yao and the others were fine, overindulgence was unwise—better safe than sorry.

Zhan Beihai and his group were in the same boat—drinking, but with caution.

Qin Yi smiled. “Though we can’t all get drunk together today, I assure you I drink with genuine heart.”

Zhan Beihai laughed. “If there’s a chance another day, we’ll drink until we’re drunk.”

Qin Yi smiled. “Naturally. And if Brother Beihe can join, all the better.”

He had once feared Beihe greatly—not because he couldn’t defeat him, but because Beihe would always challenge him, and Qin Yi dreaded every encounter, wishing never to meet him again.

But now, he suddenly wanted to see him—not to fight, but to share a drink and good conversation.

Zhan Beihai laughed heartily. “Naturally, naturally.”

Qin Yi proposed, “Brother Beihai, why not stay here for the night?”

To his surprise, Zhan Beihai shook his head. “We’ve heard a ruthless man is hunting a father and daughter nearby, likely to appear tonight. We want to investigate.”

Qin Yi clasped his fists seriously. “I admire the caution of everyone from Xijiang Martial Arts Hall. Sadly, we must travel tomorrow and cannot join.”

Zhan Beihai waved a hand. “No need to trouble Brother Qin. It’s just a petty thief. Our group is enough to bring him down.”

Qin Yi raised his cup again. “Then I toast all of you in advance for a victorious return.”

Zhan Beihai lifted his cup. “We’ll await good news, Brother Qin.”

After a few more drinks, the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall group departed promptly.

Watching their retreating backs, Qin Yi smiled. This must be the kind of immortals the mundane world speaks of.

They see injustice and act on behalf of heaven.

Once they left, Qin Yi called out loudly, “Waiter, prepare four upper rooms.”

The waiter chuckled. “Right away, young immortal. The rooms are ready and together. Just follow me to the backyard.”

Jiang Yao leaned toward Qin Yi, smiling. “Why only four rooms, not five?”

Qin Yi laughed awkwardly. “Haha, ran out of money.”

Jiang Yao gave him a big eye-roll.

The five followed the waiter to the backyard. Once they were settled, he sighed in relief and returned to the main hall, paying no more mind to the remaining room.

A long night’s rest followed.

Early the next morning, the five rose early. Although as cultivators they couldn’t yet fast or forgo sleep entirely, their mastery of routine far surpassed ordinary people.

Upon leaving the tavern, the waiter was already waiting at the door, handing them several pots of purple rice clay pot wine as a treat for the journey. Qin Yi accepted generously.

They didn’t immediately soar on their swords within the town, avoiding unnecessary attention from the townsfolk.

At the town’s edge, they encountered Zhan Beihai’s group, returning in frustration.

Qin Yi asked curiously, “Brother Beihai, was that thief difficult to handle?”

Zhan Beihai sighed. “We didn’t expect him to have Golden Core cultivation.”

Qin Yi was surprised. “You managed to retreat unscathed despite that?”

If one thought numbers and unity could defeat a Golden Core cultivator with only Nascent Soul levels, they greatly underestimated the Golden Core realm.

Zhan Beihai said, “Though he’s a Golden Core cultivator, he fights clumsily—probably just entered that realm. He didn’t want to fight us, and we couldn’t hold him, so he escaped.”

He continued harshly, “And he’s chasing a common father and daughter. The girl is quite a beauty. I fear this thief might be a lecher!”

Qin Yi glanced subtly at Jiang Yao and asked, “Should we intervene?”

Zhan Beihai shook his head firmly. “No trouble for Brother Qin. You have to hurry to the South Sea. Last night we were just stunned by his cultivation. Today, we’ll surely bring him down.”

Qin Yi smiled understandingly. “Then I wish you success, Brother Beihai. But don’t overextend yourselves. As long as the thief hasn’t succeeded, news of him will surely come again.”

Zhan Beihai nodded and led his group into town, likely to prepare for capturing the thief.

Qin Yi took the lead, soaring on his sword, the others close behind.

As they flew through the misty sky, Qin Yi curiously asked Jiang Yao, “A Golden Core cultivator, even a novice, shouldn’t be unknown in Lingzhou. Why would he stoop to chasing a father and daughter? Doesn’t he lose face?”

Jiang Yao replied, “There may be other reasons.”

Qin Yi smirked. “Whatever the reasons, I hope I never meet him. Cultivators who bully ordinary people are the least worthy of forgiveness.”

Jiang Yao suspected, “If they were ordinary people, they shouldn’t have escaped his grasp for so long.”

Qin Yi thought carefully. “Maybe that father and daughter are just lucky.”

The five quickly flew on their swords. At this pace, they would reach Beihai City by nightfall.

As the sun began to set, they neared Beihai City. Having been here once before, Qin Yi remembered some landmarks.

Yet his gaze was drawn downward to the official road, where two figures ran desperately. The sunset cast long shadows behind them, revealing they were similar in size.

Jiang Yao said, “You want to go down?”

Qin Yi nodded. “Let’s see. They might be that father and daughter.”

Without another word, they descended, arriving just ahead of the two figures on the road. The four followed closely.

Qin Yi now saw clearly: an old man with graying hair, stooped, and a rather cute young girl with a delicate, fair face.

Qin Yi’s anger flared anew. That Golden Core cultivator was truly shameless—not even respecting the elderly and young.

Strangely, the girl’s gaze upon seeing the five was not happy, but somewhat troubled.

Qin Yi asked, “Are you the father and daughter who have been pursued by a thief recently?”

The girl narrowed her eyes at the word “thief” and replied evenly, “We were pursued by a thief, yes, but we are not father and daughter. He is my grandfather.”

The stooped old man merely nodded.

Qin Yi smiled. “That matters not. We’re here to help you.”

The girl hesitated. “Can we trust you?”

Qin Yi pointed to Jiang Yao with a helpless smile. “Can you not trust such a beautiful immortal sister?”

He had already noticed the girl’s gaze lingering mostly on Jiang Yao, unable to look away.

The girl’s tone grew serious. “That thief is very powerful. Last night, a group tried to rescue us, but he easily escaped.”

Qin Yi still looked at Jiang Yao with a smile. “Trust this immortal sister—she can handle it.”

The girl continued, “That thief may arrive as night falls. We might not reach Beihai City by then.”

Qin Yi smiled. “Then we’ll rest here and prepare.”

Battle depends not only on power but on timing, terrain, and unity. For example, He Anjian’s strength in the South Sea differed greatly from his power in Yulong Fort after mastering the unity of sea and sky.

Moreover, mindset matters—not just one’s Dao heart, but also one’s combat mentality.

The seven sat on the ground, waiting for the thief’s arrival. Jiang Yao remained silent throughout.

The girl and old man appeared less tense.

Soon, dusk faded completely, and the night was deep. A waning crescent moon cast pale light on the road, not bright but enough to illuminate the path.

Suddenly, a faint breeze stirred, barely audible in the silent night.

“Here he comes!” Qin Yi opened his eyes, staring at the bright stretch of road.

At the road’s end stood a tall black figure, shadow elongated by moonlight.

Qin Yi’s group remained motionless.

The figure began walking toward them, growing closer.

Just as they could barely discern his features in the darkness, he stopped and spoke: “How degenerate the world has become! I never thought someone would help this demoness.”

His voice was slow, hoarse, as if starved for days.

Qin Yi stood and spoke with extreme disdain, “You’re a Golden Core cultivator, yet you shamelessly bully an old man and a child. Aren’t you afraid of being scorned by the martial world?”

It was the first time Qin Yi had spoken with such contempt.

The man paused, then with an even raspier voice responded, “She deceived me. I must have my justice.”

Jiang Yao was about to act, but Qin Yi stepped in front of her. “If his combat ability is weak, let me try first!”

The battle was about to begin.