Stranger Danger

Chapter 598: Tian Ling Ling, Di Ling Ling

“What are you trying to say, brother?” Ye Qing’s eyes glinted.

Yi Pin answered, “I performed a divination for you earlier. It states that your trip promises great opportunities.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? So why do you look unhappy?” Ye Qing didn’t think that Yi Pin would perform a divination for him. More importantly, he did not think that he would succeed. He was the man with the Annon Sutra, and he knew that the Strange Artifact could conceal his fate completely—or at least, it did. Somehow, Yi Pin managed to circumvent the Annon Sutra’s protection and divine his future. As expected of a former champion, he could do things he shouldn’t be able to do even in his current state.

“I’m not finished yet.”

Yi Pin said seriously, “Great opportunities are often accompanied with great dangers, and this is no exception. My divination also told me that the dangers you face... may cost you your life.”

“Really? Like what?” Ye Qing feigned ignorance. Of course he knew he was going to face life-threatening dangers in the upcoming adventure. It was the Death Sea after all. It would be stranger if he didn’t encounter any danger. He was curious to know if the old Taoist found out any specifics though.

“I don’t know. Your fate is concealed, and the fate of the place you’re headed to is also concealed. The threads of karma are so thick that it is impossible to make out anything.” Yi Pin shook his head with a severe expression.

That’s more like it! Ye Qing thought to himself. He had the Annon Sutra, and the Death Sea was where the Dark Overlord’s inheritance was hidden. The man was an invincible, overpowered champion when he was alive, so it made sense that his burial place was just as deadly. Otherwise, small fries like them would never have gotten a shot at the inheritance. The giants would have claimed it for themselves a long time ago.

Ye Qing teased Yi Pin, “You found nothing? I knew you’re a charlatan!”

That was what he said, but he was pretty touched by the old Taoist’s gesture. The old man had gone through the effort of performing a divination for him as soon as he heard of the trip from Ye Qing.

“Hmph! You know nothing about divination! Just as some things should not be said too clearly, one should not attempt to look into the rivers of fate too closely either. In fact, the rivers of fate represent one facade of the will of the heavens. To look into it is to fight against the heavens themselves, and that is one battle one simply cannot win unless they have joined the heavens themselves!”

Yi Pin huffed in annoyance. “Besides, your karmic entanglement is one of the most complex I’ve seen, not to mention that the place you’re headed is just as mysterious and hidden. It’s incredible I managed to find out that your journey will be accompanied with great opportunities and greater dangers already, okay? I dare say any other diviner in my position would have suffered retribution from the heavens and died before they even began their work!”

“I’m not playing with you, brother. This trip of yours is seriously going to endanger your life. You best take me seriously!”

“Fine, fine! Sorry for questioning your expertise!” Ye Qing apologized smilingly. “What advice do you have for me then?”

“The will of the heavens is difficult to disobey. The best thing you can do is to not tempt fate at all. In more secular terms, that means you just stay here and go nowhere!”

Yi Pin stroked his beard as he continued, “If you must go on an adventure, at least avoid this place and head elsewhere.”

Ye Qing fell silent for a moment before sighing. “You said it yourself, brother. The will of the heavens is difficult to disobey.”

A rare silence overcame Yi Pin. He then asked, “Must you go?”

Ye Qing nodded. “I must.”

Yi Pin did not say anything, and the conversation died there. For a while, there was only the crackling fire of the stove, popping wine bubbles, and the rich fragrance of wine.

A wine could not know the sorrow of parting. No matter the circumstances, it could only offer its unique scent and taste.

“Alright. There’s nothing to worry about. A man should have an optimistic outlook toward life. Didn’t you say it yourself? Yes, there will be great dangers up ahead, but also great opportunities.”

Ye Qing grabbed the wine pot and personally filled Yi Pin’s cup for him. He said in a carefree tone, “Who knows, maybe I’ll return from my journey as a Grandmaster. You’ll finally be able to walk around Bei You as you please!”

“I already can walk around Bei You as I please, you impudent bastard!” Yi Pin grunted, though it quickly morphed into a wistful, helpless sigh. “I just don’t understand why so many people are willing to risk their lives over some fortune they didn’t even know if it was real when they could be leading a peaceful, stable life.”

“Are you kidding me? That sounds awesome. Who doesn’t want a peaceful, stable life? But a dream is simple, and reality is harsh. You make it sound easy, but for some people, a stable life is but a fantasy that’s always out of reach. After all, there are too many things in this world that are out of one’s control; too many greater goods that outweigh the smaller ones.”

“I seek a good, stable life myself. That is why I have to fight. That is why I cannot allow a single opportunity to slip through my grasp. Who knows, maybe I’ll actually be able to dictate my fate one day?”

Yi Pin fell silent. He knew that Ye Qing was speaking the truth. He also knew what Ye Qing had experienced in the past, and what he was going to face in the future. Even if the young man himself sought stability and peace, the choice was not in his hands just like so, so many other things in this world.

He was old and weary. His time was long behind him. That was why he believed that there was nothing better than leading a stable, peaceful life. It was why he was willing to seclude himself in this backwater region and live in this shabby temple. It was why he asked for nothing more but a full belly and a roof over his head every day.

But Ye Qing was young. He was at the age where his heart would not settle, and the horizon seemed full of possibilities. You only live once in your life, so how could he not do his best to lead the best life he could possibly have? How could he tolerate mediocrity and stagnation when it was clear that he wasn’t even close to his fullest potential?

In the end, Bei You was just too small for a dragonling ready to take to the skies and become a dragon.

“Heh. Longxiang is right. I have gotten old!” Yi Pin sighed after a long time.

“No one’s doubting that, brother. But you are still hale and hearty, long and hard, and a pervert and a child at heart!” Ye Qing paid him a compliment.

“You’re the pervert and the child here, you bastard!” Yi Pin nearly spat out his wine when he heard this. The heavy atmosphere hanging over the courtyard was gone just like that.

It was at this moment Li Longxiang appeared with the wooden box Yi Pin told him to bring over.

“Master, your box.”

Yi Pin accepted the box and removed the lid. Then, he grabbed a palm-sized tortoise shell from it.

The tortoise shell looked ancient and covered in cracks. It looked like it had existed for a very, very long time.

Yi Pin caressed the tortoise shell while explaining, “This is a Strange Artifact I came by during my adventures while I was still young. It’s called Tian Ling Ling[1].”

“Tian Ling Ling? What a strange name!” Ye Qing responded curiously.

“Tian Ling Ling is a rather unique Strange Artifact. It possesses no offensive or defensive capabilities whatsoever, but if you ever find yourself in a situation where there is nothing you can possibly do to save yourself, and there is no one around who can save you, then you may summon it. It will light the path of survival for you.”

Yi Pin chanted, “‘Tian ling ling, di ling ling, Taishang Laojun please save me!’ That more or less sums up how the Strange Artifact works.”

“That sounds incredible!” Ye Qing’s eyes lit up.

Yi Pin chuckled. “It depends. Tian Ling Ling only triggers if an extremely strict set of conditions are met. First, you can use it only during an actual fatal crisis. Otherwise, it would not activate. Second, Tian Ling Ling will show you the way to survive your crisis, but in the end, it is just a vision. It’s up to you to turn it into reality. Finally, Tian Ling Ling needs a certain amount of time to activate, so there is no way you’ll be able to activate it during combat. You can see why that narrows its applicability a lot.”

Ye Qing shook his head. “It’s still incredible.”

It was a Strange Artifact that would show him the way to survive a fatal crisis. Despite its many restrictions, it could mean the difference between life or death. That quality alone made it a priceless treasure.

“Catch!” Yi Pin tossed Tian Ling Ling into Ye Qing’s hands.

“You’re giving it to me?” Ye Qing caught it and broke into a grin.

“Keep dreaming! I’m just lending it to you. I fully expect you to return it to me in the future.” Yi Pin rolled his eyes at Ye Qing. “Your journey this time would be rife with dangers. Tian Ling Ling is useless to me, but it could save your life at a critical moment. Naturally, you need it more than me right now.”

“The way to activate Tian Ling Ling is very simple. You simply need to kneel on the ground with Tian Ling Ling in front of you, lift your hands high and shout, ‘Tian ling ling, di ling ling, Taishang Laojun please save me!’, and Tian Ling Ling will guide you to safety.”

“Thanks, brother.” Ye Qing thanked him warmly and sincerely.

He had to say that this non-blood brother of his was worth it. Not only did he divine his future for him, he even lent him a Strange Artifact so he might survive the coming journey. He was like a dad doing his best to see his son safe and sound.

The world is hypocritical and everchanging,

But there exists true bonds in the world as well.

1. It’s basically a chant like abracadabra. In Chinese, it’s “tian ling ling, di ling ling”. ☜