Chapter 13: A Vow of Devotion

Wu Tiande entered his own shop and saw that half of the tables were already occupied by customers. He nodded approvingly; business seemed to be going well. It was only midday, but in a while, even more guests would likely arrive.

At that moment, Mrs. Lou was tallying the accounts at the counter. Upon noticing the owner’s entrance, she gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before returning to her work. The wife of Bao Er carried a tray, weaving through the customers, occasionally exchanging a few cheerful words, creating a lively atmosphere inside the shop.

“Mrs. Bao Er, bring me another bowl of realgar wine. It just wouldn’t feel right to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival without some,” said a customer named Ni Er. Since his neighbors Jia Yun and her son worked here, he often came by to support the business and was regarded as a straightforward, genuine man.

A companion at the same table teased, “One bowl of yellow wine might be interesting, but not enough. If you’ve got the guts, bring out a whole jar. The two of us will drink until we’re satisfied.”

“Drink then, why fear? As long as Mrs. Bao Er is willing to pour, I’ll drink three jars more without complaint,” the customer said with a trembling voice, his eyes lingering appreciatively on the graceful figure of Bao Er’s wife.

“Drink, drink, drink! You drunken tiger,” she laughed, then truly brought over a jar of yellow wine.

Wu Tiande nodded in approval at Bao Er’s diligent work, which pleased her greatly. It seemed she could look forward to a bonus commission for May. With more staff in the shop, Bao Er’s workload had become much lighter.

Usually, she had to push a food cart along the street to sell meals. But now that Jia Zhi, Jia Yun, Jiao Fu, and Jiao Gui—Wu Tiande’s personal guards—were involved in the business, she no longer needed to sell outside and instead served wine inside the shop.

Indeed, Bao Er’s coquettish charms and flirtatious glances were not without effect. Many regular customers, drawn by the atmosphere, shifted their patronage from her food cart to buying drinks from her. Although her base salary was lower, her commissions were quite substantial—three to five taels of silver monthly at least, sometimes up to ten taels—a considerable profit.

If not for financial constraints and the risk of losing control given her status, Bao Er might have opened her own tavern.

Seeing the thriving shop, Wu Tiande intended to rest in the backyard but was abruptly interrupted by a heart-wrenching scream outside: “Grandpa—!”

The voice sounded like Qu Feiyan’s. In the capital city, anyone daring to attack an elder of the Demon Sect must have a formidable background.

Witnessing a street fight, the customers inside the shop feared being caught in the crossfire and quickly scattered. Even Ni Er, the drunken tiger, hurriedly left, sticking close to the wall and avoiding looking back, quite unlike his usual arrogant self.

Wu Tiande didn’t bother to collect payment from the fleeing customers but instinctively turned to shut the door immediately. He thought, if this was an investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had no reason to intervene just because Qu Yang and Qu Feiyan were his patrons. Such consequences would be unbearable for a low-ranking military officer like him.

Soon, Wu Tiande overheard Qu Yang’s voice: “Master Xue, your formidable Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth skills make blades powerless against you, but you won’t take us away without a fight. Are you sure you want to keep this up?”

Master Xue replied, “Elder Qu, I do not wish to trouble you. Orders have come down from Blackwood Cliff that you’ve been fraternizing with a certain scoundrel in the righteous sect. They fear you might harm the Divine Sect, so I was sent to investigate. If you have grievances, speak directly to Chief Yang; there’s no need to complicate matters with me.”

“Hmph, so you’re my subordinate? Ever since you sided with Chief Yang, your tone has grown arrogant, no longer respecting me as your superior. But you should know, this is the capital. If I risk my old bones to fight you on Ningrong Street, do you think you can elude the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s pursuit?” Qu Yang said sternly.

Master Xue hesitated. He had avoided bringing many people into the city to not attract the Guard’s attention. If he pushed Qu Yang too hard and a brawl broke out, drawing official intervention, the consequences would be unpredictable. He was still in his prime and had no desire to gamble his life with an old man.

“Very well, I won’t force you. But wherever you go, I’ll follow,” Master Xue said gravely.

“Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. My grandson and I just want to have lunch and a bowl of realgar wine. Are you planning to come in and pay for us too?” Qu Yang retorted.

Master Xue thought it over and decided against it. The shop was cramped, and despite his sturdy skills, his vulnerable points—eyes, ears, nose—were hard to protect. Getting too close to Qu Yang might expose a weakness. Moreover, a single meal wasn’t costly, but if Qu Yang ordered dozens of precious dishes, was Master Xue supposed to foot the bill? No one’s silver grows on trees.

With that in mind, Master Xue halted at the shop entrance, unwilling to enter but confident Qu Yang wouldn’t abandon his precious granddaughter.

Seizing the opportunity, Qu Yang and Qu Feiyan quickly retreated into the shop.

“You two really cause me so much trouble,” Wu Tiande smiled wryly. Crossing the Moonlight Divine Sect was no small matter; what would become of him now?

By then, the staff had already hidden in the backyard, leaving only Wu Tiande inside to avoid leaks.

Qu Feiyan reassured Wu Tiande, “Please rest assured, Master Xue won’t harm the innocent despite his pride in his status.”

But thinking of the ruthless people on Blackwood Cliff, she doubted such words would comfort Wu Tiande.

She wanted to soften the tone further when suddenly Qu Yang uttered a fearful cry and his face turned pale as paper.

“It’s over, I’ve lost the antidote,” he murmured, his hands trembling.

“What?” Qu Feiyan screamed. “Can’t we search again?”

“During the fight outside, my movements were too forceful. I probably lost it then. The area’s vast and distant—where could we possibly look in such a short time?” Qu Yang said, his face ashen.

The antidote he referred to was no ordinary remedy but the counteragent to the Three Corpses Brain Elixir. It must be taken before noon on the Dragon Boat Festival, or the intestinal corpse worms would awaken, invade the brain, and cause madness and death.

Despite having faced countless storms, the thought of such a grim fate shook Qu Yang to his core.

“The Holy Maiden delivered the antidote last night. She’s probably not far from Beiping. Perhaps we can seek her help again...” Qu Feiyan sobbed.

Qu Yang sighed, “No, no. The Holy Maiden’s already done us a great favor by obtaining and personally delivering one dose. How can we trouble her further? She comes and goes without a trace; we don’t even know which direction she left or where to meet her again. It’s impossible in such a short time.”

He paused, lowering his voice, “More importantly, the antidotes are limited. If I waste one, someone else will have one less. We’re all brothers in the Divine Sect; how can I bear to let others die in my place or ask the Holy Maiden for more?”

His expression was somber, but soon he seemed to steel himself, his gaze hardening with resolve.

He comforted Qu Feiyan, “If I die, so be it. Death cancels debts, and the people on Blackwood Cliff won’t trouble you anymore. Though the Holy Maiden is close to you, the martial world is dangerous. It’s best you stay here in Beiping and help at Wu’s shop. Wu Tiande is a man of great affairs and broad vision; he won’t make things difficult for you.”

Qu Yang’s words clearly prepared for what lay ahead, causing Qu Feiyan to weep bitterly.

Wu Tiande promptly objected, “That won’t do. Men and women should keep proper distance...”

He thought to himself that although death erases debts, Qu Feiyan was a high-ranking member’s daughter from the Demon Sect and likely held many secrets, treasures, and martial manuals from Blackwood Cliff. If someone targeted her, endless troubles would follow.

Qu Yang refused to accept his refusal: “Others may doubt your character, but I trust you deeply. On Ningrong Street, many whisper behind your back, calling you depraved and promiscuous, claiming you’re involved with Mrs. Lou, Mrs. Bao Er, Jiao Ya, and Qing Wen. But I have observed coldly; you have shown no disrespect to the voluptuous women, nor have you touched the virginal Jiao Ya or Qing Wen. Young Wu, I hadn’t expected such restraint from someone so young. You’re not a reckless rogue but a gentleman of propriety. I admire you greatly.”

Wu Tiande thought, Spare me the flattery—Qing Wen is just too young, and Bao Er is overly flirtatious. As for Mrs. Lou and Jiao Ya, their looks leave something to be desired, so he never fancied them and wouldn’t boast about it.

After making these arrangements, Qu Yang seemed somewhat relieved. He looked at Qu Feiyan with reluctance, about to say more when suddenly, clutching his abdomen, he screamed, “Not good! The corpse worms are stirring; they’re about to awaken!”

“Quick! Quickly, kill me with one stroke...” Qu Yang shouted at Wu Tiande.

Just back from the Divine Mechanism Battalion, still in his armor, Wu Tiande carried a waist blade but was reluctant to strike down an elderly man—especially one he knew and who was an old customer.

But Qu Yang’s eyes blazed with urgency as he urged, “If we delay any longer, it’ll be too late. Once the worms invade the brain, the afflicted move like ghosts and monsters, even biting their own parents and spouses to death...”

Seeing Wu Tiande hesitate, Qu Yang pressed his fingers onto his Tian Shu and Zhang Men acupoints. He tried to touch He Gu as well, but after the first two, his limbs went numb, preventing further action.

Though still able to speak, his voice trembled, “Kill me now, or once the worms break free, you will all die...”

Master Xue had overheard the commotion and, fearing trouble, fled immediately, taking the antidote and swallowing it himself.

He worried that if Qu Yang went mad and tried to kill him for the antidote, he wouldn’t dare to face him again in Beiping City.

The more he thought about it, the faster he ran, eventually leaping beyond the city walls, causing chaos among the guards.

Meanwhile, failing to coerce Wu Tiande, Qu Yang turned to pressure his granddaughter.

“Feiyan, you understand the deadly power of the Three Corpses Brain Elixir. You’ve witnessed many who, deprived of the antidote, went mad and died horribly on Blackwood Cliff. Would you let your own grandfather become such a pitiful half-human, half-ghost? That fate is worse than death!” Qu Yang said sorrowfully.

Qu Feiyan knew rationally she should act decisively to save him, but emotionally, how could she bring herself to harm her own kin?

Seeing her hesitation, Qu Yang grew furious and collapsed.

“Grandpa!” Qu Feiyan cried, drawing a dagger, ready to strike.

At that moment, Wu Tiande muttered, “Couldn’t we just open him up and remove the corpse worms?”

“What nonsense! Opening him up would kill him instantly!” Qu Feiyan instinctively retorted.

But then she realized if Wu Tiande dared say it, he must have some confidence.

Even if her grandfather wouldn’t survive the operation, that might still be more bearable emotionally than her killing him with her own hands.

Better to blame Wu Tiande than herself in the future.

With that thought, she knelt and bowed deeply to Wu Tiande. “Master Wu, please accept my humble bow. If you can save my grandfather’s life, I have no way to repay you except by pledging myself to serve you as a slave for life, in gratitude for your great kindness.”

Her words flushed Wu Tiande’s face red with embarrassment. “What nonsense are you talking?”

Fortunately, she hadn’t promised to be a beast of burden in another life, which gave Wu Tiande confidence in her appearance.

Without delay, Wu Tiande shouted toward the backyard, “Qing Wen, bring my anesthetic powder, wound medicine, and high-proof alcohol quickly!”

As a clinical medicine doctorate from Beiping Medical College, this was indeed the moment for him to demonstrate his skills.