Chương 275: Tianji Zi (Master of Heavenly Mysteries)

Having returned home for ten days, aside from spending the first few days inspecting his various properties once, Song Que hid in Plum Villa, focusing entirely on cultivating with Xiong Ba and the others. But today, no matter how much this Pavilion Master wanted to slack off, he had to make a trip back to the Moon-Lacking Pavilion. Old Shen had sent word. After a few days of screening, three 5th Grade martial artists who met his conditions had applied to join the faction.

Master Song needed to show his face to show them some respect, didn't he? Furthermore, there was a big surprise waiting for him! Song Que rode out, bringing only Xiong Ba and Nie Feng, and quickly headed into the city......... Moon-Lacking Pavilion Headquarters. The three 5th Grade martial artists were a man named Zhang Tianyang, and a married couple named Xu Yi and Gu Sijia. All three were martial artists from neighboring commanderies.

Finding their development in their home regions unsatisfactory, they decided to take a gamble this time and join the rising star, Song Que. Although given Master Song's growth speed, a 5th Grade expert could hardly provide him with much assistance now, everything required a process. The Moon-Lacking Pavilion couldn't use cheat codes like him; it still needed a transition period to undergo a complete transformation. Because of this, Song Que felt it was necessary to supplement the middle-tier forces.

Furthermore, these three people were selected based on his requirements: aside from passing the character check, they weren't too old—just in their early thirties—meaning they still had plenty of potential to be mined. Therefore, he received them with great grandeur this time, letting them feel the high regard the Moon-Lacking Pavilion had for them. At the same time, using high salaries and the position of Elder, he quickly and successfully recruited the three of them.

Zhang Tianyang indicated he could assume his post on the same day, while Xu and Gu could not. They still had children and relatives in their hometown, and the couple needed to make a trip back to bring their extended family over. To this, Song Que naturally welcomed them with both hands raised. People with roots and a foundation were even more reassuring to use. Wealthy and generous, Master Song boldly allocated a courtyard for them, treating it as an advance distribution of faction benefits.

Ordering people to prepare a welcoming banquet for the three at noon, and having Shen Ziming continue to host them on his behalf, Song Que headed to his small courtyard. A 6th Grade martial artist who had come out of admiration was waiting there for him to recruit! This was the big surprise Old Shen had mentioned earlier....... The Pavilion Master's Courtyard. Since Song Que didn't live here and visited less than a handful of times a month, there were no secrets hidden inside.

Thus, it became his dedicated place for receiving important guests. At this moment, in the courtyard sat a man in his early thirties. Dressed in a Daoist robe and sporting a long beard, his entire person exuded an extraordinary, transcendental aura of an immortal as he leisurely sipped tea.

"Pavilion Master Song has arrived! Why not come in and show your face?" Song Que was currently standing at the end of a corridor, using Lightning's eyes to observe this person. Yet before he even opened the door to enter, the person inside had already spoken first. Master Song's eyes brightened slightly. This was the Headquarters; people walked back and forth in countless numbers. For the other party to accurately recognize his approach truly showed some ability. His interest in this meeting suddenly surged.

Without further hesitation, he led Xiong Ba and Nie Feng inside:"Haha, truly excellent skill! I am Song Que. May I know Mister's esteemed name?"

"Pavilion Master Song is too polite. Just calling me Tianji Zi is fine."

"So it's Daoist Master Tianji. A pleasure to meet you, a pleasure to meet you!" Although he had never heard of this title, anyone who dared to use such a lofty name must absolutely be a formidable figure. Grandee Song's face immediately filled with enthusiasm as he stepped forward, cupped his hands in a polite greeting, and conveniently shouted toward the door: Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Men, brew a pot of the best tea for the Daoist Master!"

"Understood, Pavilion Master!" Waiting for the servants to come in and tidy the table and chairs, once the host and guest were all seated, Song Que finally turned to introduce the others:"Daoist Master Tianji, these are my two capable right-hand men, Xiong Ba and Nie Feng."

"Greetings, Daoist Master!" Nie Feng and Xiong Ba cupped their hands in greeting without losing their manners. They watched as Tianji Zi looked at the two with a puzzled expression. He raised his hand, pinched his fingers to calculate for a moment, and then furrowed his brows deeply. Seeing this, Song Que and the others also grew particularly curious:"What's wrong, Daoist Master? Is there something wrong with them?" Not in a hurry to answer him, Tianji Zi pinched his fingers to calculate once more.

Only after a while did he look up at the sky and sigh:"Sigh... originally, the heavenly mysteries must not be revealed. But since I have encountered this matter today, my heart will not be at peace if I don't speak of it."

"Forget it... forget it... isn't it just losing a few years of lifespan? What does it matter? I only seek to live a carefree and joyful life!" Laughing freely for a moment, Tianji Zi finally opened his mouth to dispel everyone's doubts:"This Almsgiver Xiong harbors a massive murderous tribulation within his body. A single misstep, and it will become a monstrous disaster in the future. Pavilion Master Song, you must absolutely be on guard."

Just as he finished speaking, Tianji Zi shuddered, the hairs all over his body standing on end uncontrollably. It wasn't because of the backlash from revealing heavenly secrets, but because the foolish bear opposite him was boiling with fierce intent, glaring at him with wide, bull-like eyes!

"Xiong Ba! Do not be insolent!" Scolding him, Master Song's heart also grew much heavier. Did I really meet an expert this time?

"Please do not take offense, Daoist Master. This person is indeed as you said—he has a lot of fierce Qi. Furthermore, he hasn't been very bright since childhood, and his temper is sometimes easily agitated, but he absolutely means no harm."

"Pavilion Master Song need not explain. I naturally understand these things in my heart." Tianji Zi remained unbothered, calmly stroking his beard and shaking his head with a faint smile.

"Many thanks to the Daoist Master for being magnanimous." Seeing his demeanor, Song Que breathed a sigh of relief, not forgetting to ask with concern:"Daoist Master Tianji, I wonder where the great murderous tribulation on Xiong Ba originates from? Is there a way to resolve it?"

"Pavilion Master Song, do not be impatient." Smiling to pacify them, Tianji Zi continued:"Having just revealed a heavenly secret, I have suffered a severe backlash and cannot continue speaking much to everyone. It's not that I begrudge losing these few decades of my lifespan, but rather that I still have too many unresolved karmic ties in this world, forcing me to remain attached to the mortal realm." This tone!

Master Song raised an eyebrow in doubt, though outwardly he still praised loudly in admiration:"The Daoist Master is truly noble!" Stroking his beard, Tianji Zi laughed heartily:"In the end, it is still an attachment to mortal desires. Pavilion Master Song praises me too much! As for Almsgiver Xiong Ba, the only warning I can give is that because he is entangled with too much karma from a past life, can it still be resolved? This matter is extremely difficult, but not impossible.

It requires a person with profound Daoist arts to perform rituals for him over a long period, erasing the karma bit by bit every day. Within three years, this murderous tribulation should be completely resolved." These words contained far too much hidden meaning. Who else had 'profound Daoist arts' here besides this guy? Wasn't this the exact tone of those jianghu swindlers trying to scam a meal ticket—and a long-term meal ticket at that?!

Not knowing whether this guy had genuine talent or was just a fake charlatan, Master Song's eyes began to turn strange. However, he didn't reveal the slightest clue outwardly, continuing to converse with Tianji Zi.

"Does it really need to be this troublesome?" Actor Song began to get into character.

"Young Master, what karmic murderous tribulation?! It's all nonsense! Let me smash this swindler's mouth!" The foolish bear, having been badmouthed the whole time, now had extremely unfriendly eyes. Gripping a pair of Heavenly King Hammers tightly, he glared fiercely in their direction.

"Shut your mouth! Is there a place for you to speak here?!" Song Que scolded him loudly, then turned to Tianji Zi with an apologetic smile:"My discipline is lacking, making a fool of myself before the Daoist Master."

"No matter, no matter. Almsgiver Xiong Ba is merely straightforward by nature; I will not truly take it to heart." Although he spoke magnanimously, his heart was already trembling severely.

"That's good then, that's good!" Song Que smiled in relief.

"I wonder what brings the Daoist Master here today? If there is anything I can help with, please do not hesitate to ask." The person opposite him once again looked up at the sky and stroked his beard, his voice gradually turning ethereal:"Pavilion Master Song, do you believe in fate?" Here it comes! Time to show off my acting skills! Actor Song's face turned serious, nodding decisively:"Naturally, I believe!

I won't hide it from the Daoist Master: my ability to reach where I am today is entirely thanks to the guidance of an expert."

"Oh? I wonder if Pavilion Master Song could explain it in detail?" Tianji Zi also grew curious.

"There's nothing to hide. It just so happens that I also hope the Daoist Master can resolve some of my doubts," Master Song nodded readily and began recounting:"The story goes like this: When I was young, my parents died early. Alone and destitute, I had to go into the forest to forage for wild vegetables, or go to the shallows to catch crabs and pick up snails just to stave off hunger day by day. I still remember clearly: one day, it was the dead of winter, and the cold cut straight to the bone.

All the wild vegetables at the edge of the forest had been completely dug up by me. Going deeper meant facing a treacherous jungle filled with ferocious beasts, poisonous insects, and countless dangers. With my small body, I couldn't possibly enter."

"Just as I was starving and in despair, sitting blankly by a freezing pond, a Daoist wearing a robe that was half-monk, half-Daoist approached me, stepping barefoot on the frost. That person observed me for a while, then finally opened his mouth and read my fortune..."