Chapter Five: The Sunhammer Enters the Game

“Second Brother, ever since you parted ways with that woman from the Mo family, I feel as though you’ve become a different person—there’s something intriguing about you.” Xu Hai sighed as he watched Xu Xing’s confident demeanor.

“Brother, it’s just that once a person discerns the true nature of certain things, he is no longer shackled by them. Sister-in-law’s sensitive plant is an excellent clue. Time waits for no one—let’s go.” Xu Xing replied with a smile.

That night, the two spent the night outdoors, sleeping beneath a willow tree.

According to the Xu family’s rules, anyone who committed a wrongdoing must sleep beneath the willow for one night. Regardless of the circumstances, the willow would purify their transgressions.

Haicheng had a population of over seven hundred thousand, bordering the Bitter Sea. Sister-in-law’s seafood tavern ranked among the city’s top fifteen, making her extremely busy. The previous night, she had come to the magistrate’s office to handle matters, then left on urgent business, and did not return home.

Yet, Xu Xing couldn’t understand—what could be more important than his brother’s predicament?

The two rose at dawn, tidied their appearance, and, chatting and laughing, stepped out toward the Xu family estate as the sea breeze picked up.

The wind carried a faint smell of fish and swept dry branches and leaves outside the estate. Walking on the bluestone path, they headed toward the small tavern where the incident occurred.

“Second Brother, do you think you could teach me your Divine Origin Secret Technique again? I want to try once more.” Xu Hai scratched his head and turned to Xu Xing.

“Brother, didn’t I teach you before? The Divine Origin Secret Technique relies on the mind; it’s all about skill.” Xu Xing answered leisurely.

In memories of his previous life, Xu Xing had been born with this technique and had already taught it to his brother once. The trouble was, Xu Hai couldn’t even grasp the threshold, much less practice it.

Still, Xu Xing had gleaned some martial arts techniques from Xu Hai, though his past self had little interest in martial training.

After solving the case, Xu Xing intended to devote himself to training, hoping to secure a good position in the city.

If he could earn a demon hunter’s post in the current era of Great Shu, that would certainly be honorable.

Nowadays, sea demons ran rampant, and murders in the city grew increasingly frequent. In truth, cases like Xu Hai’s were not uncommon, but after employing the Divine Origin Secret Technique yesterday, Xu Xing sensed that someone was deliberately making things difficult for the Xu family.

This heightened his vigilance, though they remained in the light, unaware of who lurked in the shadows.

“What skill? Your brother’s mind is dull, good only for martial arts and physical practice. I’ve trained since I was six, and now at twenty, I haven’t broken through the Foundation Rooster stage. Am I simply unsuited for cultivation? Am I really incapable?” Xu Hai sighed into the autumn wind, a strange unease stirring within him.

His brother’s words touched Xu Xing, who paused, gently patted Xu Hai’s shoulder, and smiled:

“Brother, believe in yourself. Even Sister-in-law says you can do it—how could you possibly fail?”

“And the skill is this: go deep, then shallow. Deep means focusing your mind intensely on one thing; shallow means letting your soul seem to drift out of its shell. Repeated practice of this cycle will lead to mastery.”

Xu Hai shook his head, as if listening to incomprehensible scripture.

Following the wind’s trace, the two arrived at the scene of yesterday’s crime: the small tavern.

The tavern was a five-zhang tall pavilion, its age showing in every corner. The white walls were topped with a pointed red stone roof. Sounds of distant bustle could be heard, but the place was now sealed.

Once they broke the seal and entered, a foul stench hit them, as if something inside had rotted.

“Second Brother, why does it smell so bad in here?”

Xu Xing, cautious and meticulous, searched for clues. “It’s probably lingering gases. By the way, Brother, when you fought the sea demons yesterday, do you remember any distinguishing features?”

Since sea demons could change their appearance at will, Xu Xing hadn’t asked before.

“They all seemed to have tails, and their strength was formidable—about the same as mine, at the peak of Qi Refining.”

Tails? Xu Xing muttered to himself. He felt as if he’d seen tails elsewhere, but couldn’t recall. He continued searching carefully.

At last, they discovered a sensitive plant’s root beneath an oil lamp. Xu Xing leaped up in excitement, hugging Xu Hai.

Examining the sensitive plant closely:

Its feather-like leaflets folded and drooped at the slightest touch; several pairs of pinnae radiated from the main stem, their tips sharp and edges bristly, all withered and blackened as if plucked days ago.

“Brother, this is the key to solving the case!” Xu Xing said, thrilled at the sight of the wilted sensitive plant. Xu Hai, meanwhile, was completely in the dark.

Xu Xing pocketed the clue. Just then, laughter echoed from outside—a man of similar age to Xu Hai approached.

He strode in as the wind settled.

“I knew you’d come here. I’ve been waiting for you a long time. Now you can’t escape—you’re tampering with a crime scene, so prepare to be punished!” The man snapped his fan and walked in.

Xu Xing’s face froze—why had he shown up now?

This man was Hang Ri, son of the Hang family, one of Haicheng’s five leading maritime merchants. He and Xu Xing once competed for the Mo family girl; Xu Xing had prevailed, and Hang Ri bore a grudge, opposing him at every turn.

“Hang Ri, is it you? Did you orchestrate all this? Did you bribe the sea demons to frame my brother?” Xu Xing demanded.

“Frame you? Do you think so little of me? I’m at the Foundation stage—I needn’t resort to such schemes. I heard about the incident yesterday, and knowing your temperament, I figured you’d return today. So I waited here. I’m here to avenge the humiliation of Mo Xi!” Hang Ri replied with contempt.

His words made Xu Xing ponder—he could now confirm Hang Ri was involved; his own words betrayed him.

“You little brat! When you couldn’t win against my brother, you resorted to dirty tricks? No wonder Mo Xi didn’t choose you—so cunning and deceitful!” Xu Hai mocked, knowing well his brother’s affairs.

The Xu and Hang families had always stayed out of each other’s business; their elders cared little for these squabbles.

“You, Xu Hai—say that again! After so many years of training, you’re still stuck at the peak of Qi Refining, a failed candidate!” Hang Ri’s eyes widened, and he hurled his fan at them.

At once, a gale erupted inside the room. Tables and benches crashed against the walls with a loud clatter.

“Xu Xing, hurry—escape through the window!” Xu Hai shouted.

Hang Ri laughed loudly. “Trying to escape? Even the Sea God can’t save you now!”

“Annihilation—The Cross Sutra!”

“What? He’s mastered that technique?” Xu Hai exclaimed. The brothers tried to climb out the window, but Hang Ri’s fan struck them with a perfect arc.

Xu Xing and Xu Hai fell to the floor, hearing Hang Ri recite unintelligible incantations. Xu Xing’s head felt as though it would burst.

The beams above slowly collapsed; the floor tiles began to cave in.

“Annihilation!” Hang Ri shouted, then continued his chant.

As he did so, a golden Sanskrit-like character emerged from his mouth. The surrounding space was crushed; the character flew toward the brothers.

“Is he joining the game himself?” Xu Xing muttered, watching Hang Ri’s actions.