My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

A single syllable fell into his ear, Chen Yi’s hand slightly paused.

Before the Three Pure Ones statues, people came and went, incense customers directly offering incense and prayers before the massive sculptures. The crowd, bustling and jostling, seemed to ignore this area, keeping a distance close to a ten feet away.

Qin Yue bit her finger, her mouth agape with curiosity, watching the man in scholar’s attire. Somehow, he made her feel an inexplicable natural closeness, like all serpent kind naturally closeness to the True Dragon. This was an indescribable fate, and at Qin Yue’s age she naturally couldn’t understand it.

In the incense-filled hall, smoke curled around. No matter how much fog shrouded the sculptures, they remained mere clay figures. Chen Yi lowered his gaze slightly, seeing the scholar-clad man named "Qi" standing there, the Heavenly Eye perceived the incense burning like the River of Time.

To be honest, hearing him call himself "Qi" was unexpected, but not entirely surprising to Chen Yi.

Qi’s gaze remained calm, resting on Chen Yi as if penetrating his external form, seeing the many causes and names he carried.

He pondered slightly, as if weighing his words, then spoke slowly:

"So, how should one address you? Great Ming Venerate Buddha or West Factory Battalion Commander?"

Chen Yi heard this, showing no surprise at having his roots exposed. His expression was calm as he gently patted the back of the daughter in his arms, speaking plainly:

"Just call me by my name."

Qi listened, his gentle smile seeming more genuine, nodding slightly:

"...Alright, it seems between us, there’s no need for such formalities."

Indeed there is no need for formalities.

The incense smoke continued to float, drifting among the incense customers like ribbons. The Three Pure Ones Hall was enveloped in mist as if it were an Immortal Palace.

Chen Yi still held his daughter, without further words, his fingers subtly lifting and lowering.

The scholar-clad man suddenly laughed, asking:

"In the brief exchange we’ve had, how many times were you moved to kill?"

Chen Yi responded with a smile, "Take a guess."

The events in the Tushan Underground Palace remained vivid in memory, though years had passed. If not for the Tushan Clan, he might have severed the Three Corpses and become like a stone immortal. Without the Tushan Clan, he didn’t know where he would’ve been buried.

Heart Lake surged, and ancient memories surfaced in his mind. Chen Yi recalled the golden script seen in the underground palace:

Qi and Ji Bin Shang, Nine Concepts Nine Songs.

He Qinzi slaughtered the mother, and the division ended in the earth?

Qi did not anger at Chen Yi’s direct words, "Take a guess," his gentle smile deepened slightly.

His gaze swept over Chen Yi, shaking his head, his voice still calm,

"There’s no need to reveal your murderous intent hastily, Chen Yi."

He turned slightly, looking once more at the solemn and respectful Three Pure Ones statues, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The hall was filled with woven clouds of incense, the incense customers silently queued to cautiously light their incense and insert it into the already ash-filled massive incense burner.

Muted prayers rose and fell, a blur of melancholic sound.

In Qi’s hand appeared three bundles of incense sticks, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. With precision, he placed them into the ash, not towards the Three Pure Ones, but angled in another direction, then spoke gently:

"On the first day of October, I too come to seek blessings, to burn and send chilly garments."

Chen Yi remained indifferent, speaking the word: "Tushan?"

Qi neither confirmed nor denied it.

He merely turned his head back to look at Chen Yi, those deep-set eyes like ancient wells, showing no ripples.

"It seems indeed you know something about me."

"Saw it in the underground palace."

During the time at the underground palace, Chen Yi was mistaken for Qi by the Tushan Clan, naturally knowing about Qi’s act of maternal eradication and heavenly repair. These ancient secrets now left cryptic remnants in the world.

Qi, son of Yu, upon Yu’s death worshipped as Mountain and River God, Qi worshipped in the Ancestral Temple after his death.

The distinction between them, when pondered, is intriguing. But Chen Yi is not in the mood to delve into it now, more concerned with why Qi would appear here.

Seemingly sensing Chen Yi’s perplexity, Qi began speaking slowly:

"Since entering the underground palace, I’ve vaguely noticed you, though the scent was faint and distant, not knowing who it was. Besides, for thousands of years many have mistakenly entered the underground palace."

This reasoning was logical, and Chen Yi wasn’t offended by it. He wouldn’t pay much mind if he were in Qi’s place.

"And then?" Chen Yi inquired.

Qi waved his hand, as if dispersing the surrounding incense clouds, speaking slowly:

"The battle at Dragon and Tiger Mountain shook the heavens and earth. Those seated in the heavens noticed you, as did I."

Chen Yi lowered his gaze slightly, understanding that Qi’s words "shook heaven and earth" were not mere rhetoric. That battle above the clouds reached a realm beyond ordinary comprehension. The Blind Arrow summoned the Mother of Non-Birth as a Heavenly Person, while Zhou Yitang wielded sword true mysterious, nearly becoming one with the universe.

What happened afterward, his memory was somewhat blurred, recalling only he seemed to reach out; despite such little distance, it broke his meridians, bled from all seven orifices, barely managing to push forward and make contact.

Upon awakening again, he found himself back atop Heart Lake, with Tongxuan awaiting beside him.

Qi’s gaze fell upon Chen Yi, continuing: "I came to see you now, on the one hand, to personally witness the person stirring storms, drawing attention from the heavens."

His gaze seemed to scan Chen Yi from inside out, yet without offense, more like a confirmation.