Chapter 9, Shitang Town

Goris sat down on the ground, tears streaming down his face, in the very spot where A-Dai waited for him every day. For an entire day, Goris did not move, surrounded as always by the mist. Throughout this day, Goris thought of many things. When night fell, he finally leaned against the wooden wall behind him and stood up. His stiff body made him appear even older. "A-Dai, you must come back soon! The teacher has made a decision. When you return, you will truly be my student." Deep within Goris's heart lay immense pain; he had never felt such an extraordinarily strong longing even for his own brother. "The teacher has given you too little. As long as you can come back, you will surely see what the teacher has done for you." His stiff body made him appear even older. "A-Dai, you must come back soon! The teacher has made a decision. When you return, you will truly be my student." Deep within Goris's heart lay immense pain; he had never felt such an extraordinarily strong longing even for his own brother. "The teacher has given you too little. As long as you can come back, you will surely see what the teacher has done for you."

Owen glanced at him and said gently, "Yes! I am fifty-eight years old. The reason I look so young is mainly due to the cultivation technique I practice, which has the effect of slowing down aging, so I appear to be around forty years old. Once we settle down, I will pass this skill on to you."

Ah Dou had just finished cleaning the dishes when he heard Owen call him. He dried his hands and walked over, saying, "Uncle."

Owen glanced at Seal and said, "So many years have passed, what use is there in thinking about it?" He took out a few gold coins from his pocket and stuffed them into Seal's hand, saying, "Brother, it's been so many years since I last came back, everything feels unfamiliar. I still need to trouble you to help me find someone to repair this broken house!"

In two days, with the enthusiastic assistance of Xier, Irving's ancestral home was completely renovated, and some new furniture was purchased. With the support of Xier, the town mayor, the people here gradually began to accept Irving and Ah Dai

Owen wore a smile on his face and said in the purest dialect of the West Bo tribe of the Soryu Federation: "Hello, I was born here; I just haven't returned home for a long time."

Understanding the master's intention, Mie felt a surge of joy in his heart and respectfully replied, "Yes, my lord, thank you for your grace of forgiveness." The nine surviving members of the extermination group simultaneously knelt on the ground, letting out a sigh of relief

Dear Brother Goris, greetings. Although we have never met, we have long been spiritually connected. The other day, I was pursued and came here, and I am deeply grateful for the rescue by your disciple. I hold great admiration for your research. Ah Dui used your methods to temporarily suppress the lethal poison of the Wuer Holy Water. I have suddenly discovered that Ah Dui possesses an exceptionally strong vitality, making him very suitable for learning my skills. Due to my greatly diminished power, in order to avenge the deep blood feud, I had no choice but to threaten your life to compel disciple Ah Dui to leave. When Ah Dui achieves mastery, I will certainly allow him to return, to reunite with you and serve by your side. I have suddenly discovered that Ah Dui possesses an exceptionally strong vitality, making him very suitable for learning my skills. Due to my greatly diminished power, in order to avenge the deep blood feud, I had no choice but to threaten your life to compel disciple Ah Dui to leave. When Ah Dui achieves mastery, I will certainly allow him to return, to reunite with you and serve by your side. I have specially left this letter for you, so do not worry. You must treat him well. I hope you will understand my situation. Sincerely, the King of the Underworld.

After a month of arduous travel, Owen and Ah Dui finally arrived at the seaside town of Shitang, located at the easternmost part of the Sui Federation, from the westernmost edge of the continent. This town belongs to the West Bo tribe, the smallest among the six major tribes of the Sui Federation. During this month, Owen purchased a fine steed, and nearly everything was resolved while on horseback. They traveled by day and rested by night, making an effort to take secluded paths. Each time they passed through a city, Owen would change horses. Even so, it took them over thirty days to reach their destination, which was equivalent to crossing the continent.

Ah Dui shook his head and said, "I don't know." During this period, he had been very silent. When Owen rode with him, he would sit on the horse, lost in thought. By the end of the day, his whole body ached, yet he never complained. Unless Owen asked him, he rarely spoke voluntarily. Owen also noticed that Ah Dui had become much more subdued compared to when they first met, and he certainly understood the reason for this. However, he had never asked Ah Dui about it, believing that in time, Ah Dui would adapt to life here. Owen also noticed that Ah Dui had become much more subdued compared to when they first met, and he certainly understood the reason for this. However, he had never asked Ah Dui about it, believing that in time, Ah Dui would adapt to life here.

The fool stubbornly shook his head and said, "No, that won't do either. I must practice magic. I may not use it in front of others, but I must practice every day."

Owen thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, since you insist, I will allow you to practice for one hour every evening. However, at other times, you must not let magic interfere with your martial arts training. Can you do that? If not, you will have to give up magic."

Owen exclaimed excitedly to the book: "Sil, it really is you, I am Owen! You don't recognize me? It's been nearly fifty years since I left, haven't you forgotten the times we urinated and played in the mud together as children? Back then, we even got a beating."

Owen smiled and said, "Actually, it's nothing much. Perhaps it's because I've been living in the mountains and forests for so long, absorbing the essence of nature, which makes me appear a bit younger. Xier, is our ancestral home still standing?"

Throughout this journey, Owen has been exceptionally attentive to Adai. In order to ensure that Adai can endure the long hours on horseback, he specifically purchased a thick, soft cushion. Although Adai's responses are always a shake of the head, Owen asks him with concern almost every day whether he is tired or hungry, and so on. Although Adai is no longer as silent as he was when he first left the Enchanted Forest, there remains a profound barrier between him and Owen.

Owen looked at the other person a few times and suddenly exclaimed with surprise: "Ah! Are you one of the Seal brothers?"

Ah Dou nodded and asked, "Uncle, when will you start teaching me martial arts"

Owen smiled faintly and said, "Are you anxious? I know you want to return to see your teacher soon, but learning martial arts is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two. We must lay a solid foundation before we can begin, right? Come, I will take you inside to have a look; I haven't been back in over forty years"

Xier nodded and said: "Are you here? Let's go, I will take you to see. I have now taken over my father's position and have been the mayor for over ten years. Given our past relationship, no one would dare to touch your family's ancestral home. However, it is somewhat dilapidated now, so if you want to live there, it will need some renovations. Brother, are you planning to leave again after you return this time?"

Owen and Ah Dui entered Shitang Town. Since it was daytime, the able-bodied men in the village were either out at sea fishing or working at the shipyard of the Xibo tribe. The village was left with only the elderly, women, and children. On the small roads of the town, a few women could occasionally be seen sitting together washing clothes, while simply dressed children played with one another.

Ah Dui's mood has relaxed significantly. Compared to the cabin in the Enchanted Forest, this place feels more like a home, and everyone treats him very well. He met three sons of Xier, and the eldest son looks to be about the same age as Owen. When Xier told them that Owen is older than he is, his family all displayed expressions of disbelief. Xier's three sons are all married, and the eldest granddaughter is only two years younger than Ah Dui, along with two grandsons aged seven and three. When Xier told them that Owen is older than he is, his family all displayed expressions of disbelief. Xier's three sons are all married, and the eldest granddaughter is only two years younger than Ah Dui, along with two grandsons aged seven and three.

Ah Dou understood the few sentences that Xier and Owen discussed about age, and asked in confusion: "Uncle, are you really fifty-eight years old?"

As he watched the gradually disappearing figure of Xier, Owen said to Adai: "From now on, when you see him, you should call him Uncle Xier and call me Uncle, understood? This is where we live."

How could it be him? A-Dai was taken away by the "King of the Underworld." In Goris's mind, the "King of the Underworld" was undoubtedly a far more evil person than he was, and a sense of worry filled his chest. Countless questions flickered in Goris's mind: why did the King of the Underworld come here? It was not surprising that he was being hunted; after all, he had killed so many people, and it was inevitable that he had enemies everywhere. But who had the ability to poison him with the deadly "No. 2 Holy Water"? As a killer, one's vigilance is at its peak. Moreover, why did he want to take A-Dai away? From what he said in the letter, it seemed he had no ill intentions towards A-Dai; rather, he was prepared to impart all his knowledge to him. At this moment, Goris was filled with concern for A-Dai's safety, and he did not even think about the fact that with A-Dai gone, his experiments could no longer continue.

In order to avoid alarming the villagers and provoking hostility, Owen concealed his broad sword among a cluster of rocks by the sea before entering the village, changed into ordinary civilian attire, and even sold his horse. However, despite these precautions, their unfamiliar faces still drew skepticism from the locals. A man in his fifties, resembling a local constable, approached them and asked with suspicion, "You are not locals, are you? What brings you here?" The language of the Sovereign Federation differs from that of Tianjin, and even within the Sovereign Federation, the accents of the six major races each have their own distinct characteristics, making it difficult to discern unless one is very familiar. On the road, Owen would teach A-Dai some peculiar pronunciations of the local language every day, patiently explaining them to him. Due to A-Dai's slow comprehension, he only managed to learn a few simple phrases. It was only now that A-Dai realized that what Owen had been teaching him was the local dialect. He could barely understand the man's question.

One month after Owen and A-Dai left the Enchanted Forest, the Fire Sorcerer Goris returned, his mood exceptionally heavy. Time was running short; despite three months of deep contemplation, he still could not fully harden his heart. Accustomed to solitude, his life had gained much color since A-Dai's arrival, and A-Dai's kindness and simplicity had deeply touched him. The experiment still had to be conducted; the wish he had harbored for decades was something he could not abandon. With conflicting emotions, he returned once more. In another month, it would be April of the year 989 in the Sacred Calendar. According to Goris's calculations, that would be the rare opportunity he had been waiting for. In this month, he had to steel his heart if he hoped to successfully fulfill his long-held wish.

Owen shook his head and sighed, "Ah, I won't be leaving anymore. After wandering outside for most of my life, it is time to return to my roots. Ah! By the way, brother, this is my distant cousin, and he is now my only relative. We will settle down here, and perhaps I will live here until the end of my days."

The letter in his hand fluttered to the ground, and two lines of clear tears flowed down his face. He had never imagined that the foolish boy A-Dai, with whom he had spent less than a year, would have such profound feelings for him. The tears left by Goris were tears of regret. At that moment, it seemed that his long-held wishes no longer mattered. He suddenly ran outside, shouting loudly: "A-Dai, come back, please come back! The teacher will teach you magic, teach you alchemy, please come back, the teacher won't use you for experiments anymore." He regretted it; the tears left by Goris were tears of regret. At that moment, it seemed that his long-held wishes no longer mattered. He suddenly ran outside, shouting loudly: "A-Dai, come back, please come back! The teacher will teach you magic, teach you alchemy, please come back, the teacher won't use you for experiments anymore." He regretted it; he truly felt deep regret in his heart. Why did he have to leave this place? Why was he so selfish? A-Dai was such a good child! Throughout Goris's life, no one had ever treated him so sincerely.

Xier stared in astonishment at Owen, and after a long while, he said: "You, you are really Brother Owen, but, but how can you be so young?"

Shitang Town is one of the dozens of seaside towns inhabited by the Xibo people. Many of the Xibo here are immigrants from the Huasheng Empire, which is why individuals like A-Dai, with black hair and black eyes, are quite common. Upon arriving here, A-Dai no longer stands out as much as he did in the Tianjin Empire, and this is the only aspect that brings him some comfort.

Yes, my lord. A red light flashed and then disappeared in the dark room

A fool nodded and said: "I, I will definitely be able to do it."

A vague voice said: "You do not understand, the extermination team has made significant contributions to the organization, and now is a crucial time for personnel. Do you not realize how much effort it takes to cultivate a killer of the exterminator level? Although the nine of them combined cannot compare to the title of the continent's number one killer, 'King of the Underworld', they can certainly handle the assassination of some high-level mages. 'King of the Underworld' was originally the one I valued the most, but unfortunately! He has yet to reach the highest realm of a killer—emotionless and desireless. Relay my orders, offer a substantial reward for the thieves' guild to find the whereabouts of 'King of the Underworld', living or dead. At the same time, issue my Nine Star Extermination Order, instructing the Yuan Killing Team to be on standby at all times. As soon as there is news of 'King of the Underworld', they are to act immediately, leaving no survivors. The 'King of the Underworld', poisoned by the Holy Water of No Two, has lost all value for use."

Goris turned around and staggered into the wooden house, his lonely figure appearing so frail. This old man, who had devoted his entire life to alchemy, finally understood the true essence of emotions

Silence returned to the room once more. After a long while, a sinister voice broke the stillness, "My lord, this seems to be against the rules. Are you really going to let them go just like that?"

Owen was taken aback; this was the first time that the fool dared to refute his words. He was not angry because of it, and replied in a gentle tone: "Child, you must understand that magic and martial arts cannot be learned simultaneously. A person's life experiences are limited, and mastering either of these two professions to the peak is already quite difficult, let alone pursuing both. Your teacher, Goris, will not blame you for this."

Pushing open the unlocked door, a musty odor rushed towards them. Owen frowned and pulled A-Dai inside. A courtyard of approximately thirty square meters came into view, with nothing around it and two tile-roofed houses with closed doors. There were numerous cobwebs in the corners of the surrounding walls. Due to its proximity to the seaside, the area was salt-alkali land, which is why there was no moss; otherwise, it would have been even more difficult to clean.

In the evening, Owen saw off the Seal family and stood in the yard, taking a deep breath of the slightly briny sea breeze, and said: "A-Dai, come here."

Owen rolled up his right sleeve, revealing his fair-skinned arm, which bore a prominent dark purple crescent-shaped scar. He said, "Look, this was from when I saved you, scratched by the anchor on the ship. Don't you remember?"

Xier said, "Brother, you should go back to the courtyard first. I will prepare things for you. Let's have lunch at my place today. We must drink a few good glasses together. I have some aged wine, haha." As he spoke, Xier turned and walked towards the town.

Ah Dui stood by, staring blankly at Owen and Seal. Since they spoke very quickly, Ah Dui could only barely understand a few words.

The calls went unanswered, and a sudden alarm gripped Goriss's heart. He hurriedly entered the wooden house where Adai lived. Everything was just as it had been when he left; nothing had changed. However, Adai was nowhere to be found. Approaching the bed, he tossed a stone aside and picked up two letters lying on the bed. A sense of foreboding filled his heart. He eagerly tore open one of the letters, and the flamboyant handwriting on the paper was clearly not something Adai could have written.

Xier patted Owen on the shoulder and said, "What’s the matter? Are you missing your uncle and aunt again? Ah, that great tsunami back then really claimed a lot of lives"

Returning to the room, Owen said solemnly: "The essence of the Shengsheng Jue consists of only four words, which I have mentioned to you before: 'endless vitality.' Only the true energy of endless vitality can enable you to consistently unleash your fighting spirit." It was precisely because of the endless true energy of the Shengsheng Jue that Owen was able to withstand and scare off the likes of Mie Yi. "You must remember the first level's mantra: 'Qi moves with thought, Qi is born from the heart, refine essence into Qi, and endless vitality.' The first level of cultivation is also the foundation of the Shengsheng Jue; it is the foundational stage. Alright, let us begin."

There is no need to go; the 'King of the Underworld' will not wait for you to return to capture him. Remember my words: in the future, you must remain calm when faced with situations. I forgive you this time, as the 'King of the Underworld' has always been your leader, and it is understandable that you have some reservations about him. However, if the same mistakes occur during the next mission, you should understand what the consequences will be

Xier stared blankly and said, "How do you know my name is Xier? Who are you? I have no recollection of you."

Owen said: "From today onwards, you are not to practice the magic that Goris taught you before, as it will distract you. Magic is quite rare in this small town, and you are not allowed to use those fire spells in public, do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord." The nine members of the extermination group respectfully bowed towards the shadows before retreating.

Under the enthusiastic guidance of Sil, Ah Dai and Owen arrived outside a small courtyard located on the eastern side of Shitang Town, near the sea. This small courtyard is quite a distance from the residences of other inhabitants of Shitang Town. Upon seeing the small courtyard before him, Owen's eyes turned red, as this was, after all, where he had experienced his childhood.

Ah Dou raised his head and stared at Owen, resolutely saying: "No, I must continue to practice magic, the magic that my teacher taught me, I cannot forget it"

Goris's hands trembled. The name "Underworld King" resonated with him, even though he had little contact with worldly affairs. This was a name he was very familiar with, that of the continent's foremost assassin who rose to fame thirty years ago. Throughout his life, he had killed countless individuals and had never missed a target. With a single Underworld King sword, he swept through the world's masters. The description "When the Underworld King strikes, heaven and earth tremble; when the Underworld King strikes again, even gods and spirits are astonished" is by no means an exaggeration. No one could escape his pursuit; he was the ace assassin of the Assassin's Guild, having already reached the level of exterminator thirty years ago.

Owen turned around, looked at Adai, and said seriously: "I know that you hate me, hate me for forcing you to leave your own teacher. However, starting tonight, I will begin to impart to you everything I have learned in my life. I hope you will study diligently. If you wish to meet your teacher again, you must first master all of my skills before you can leave. Do you understand?"

Xier laughed heartily and said, "Brother, I was just worried about not having anyone to keep me company. From now on, the two of us can be companions. Come, I will take you to see the ancestral home. When my boys return, I will have them help you with the renovations, and we can be neighbors again."

Owen instructed Ada to sit cross-legged on the bed, while he positioned himself behind her, placing his right palm on the area of her back. He said: "Close your eyes and silently recite the mantra. The mantra is something to be understood; use your mind to sense the direction of the warm energy flow and remember this direction. Alright, let us begin."

Owen said, "How can that be? I already feel bad for troubling you, how can I let you put in money? Here, take it quickly, otherwise, I might not come back to stay. " The two argued for quite a while, but in the end, Seal could not persuade Owen and accepted the money.

Ah Dou nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "I understand." He responded with his mouth, but his heart had already flown to the Enchanted Forest, wondering whether Teacher Goriss had returned by now

Hearing the same language as his own, the other party's expression visibly relaxed a bit, and he said: "Are you from the town? I don't recall you."

Gazing at the boundless sea, Owen said to A-Dai: "From now on, we will live here. Do you know what this place is?"

Alright, you may leave. From now on, you are not allowed to step outside the headquarters for one year. You must find a reason to handle your identities in the light. The organization is currently lacking the 'Underworld King' and urgently needs to enhance its strength, so you must work hard on your training, understood? Mie Yi, you will temporarily take over the position of Underworld King and serve as the leader of the extermination team. If there are any changes in the future, I will inform you.

Xier grasped Owen's arm, took a careful look, and said: "Ah! You are truly Brother Owen. If it weren't for you back then, I would have long since perished in the sea. But Brother, how is it that you still look so young! I remember you seemed to be two years older than me. I am fifty-six years old this year, and you were born in February of the year 931 in the Sacred Calendar, which means you should be fifty-eight years old now. I can't tell at all; you really don't look it!"

Xier quickly declined, saying: "Elder brother, what are you doing? Isn't this a bit too formal? You have returned with great difficulty, and it is only right for me to help you. Rest assured, in the town, I am still considered a prominent figure. When my sons, who are working away, come back, I will have them bring you some tarpaulin and wood to make some repairs. A day's work should be sufficient. Do not give me any money; otherwise, I will be quite upset."

"A-Dai, A-Dai, I am back." Goris shouted loudly in the direction of the cabin. Although he was reluctant to admit it, he indeed still cared about A-Dai.

The sovereign murmured: "Hades! If you wish to contend with me, you are still far from being my match"

Owen Zhengse Dao: "Very well, today I will first teach you the most fundamental method of cultivating energy. The fighting energy I practice is called 'Shengsheng Jue,' which signifies the concept of perpetual vitality. Its primary purpose is to enhance one's life force intensity and transform it into fighting energy imbued with a sacred aura. It can be said to be the most authentic and superior method of fighting energy cultivation on the continent, as well as the best approach to health preservation, which is why I appear so youthful. When Shengsheng Jue operates within the body, it is what your teacher, Chris, refers to as true energy, and when the energy is released for attack, it is known as fighting energy. It can be said to be the most authentic and superior method of fighting energy cultivation on the continent, as well as the best approach to health preservation, which is why I appear so youthful. When Shengsheng Jue operates within the body, it is what your teacher, Chris, refers to as true energy, and when the energy is released for attack, it is known as fighting energy. Since you have consumed the Rebirth Fruit, your cultivation will surely be twice as effective with half the effort. Now, let us return to the house, and I will impart the incantation to you."