Volume Two: The Life of a Bandit - Chapter Fifty-Three: Crow Leaf's Memories

What do you mean, "what do I mean"? This young master is speaking the truth, yet you, old codger, refuse to believe it. Pointing an angry finger at Wu Ye, Qin Si put on a deeply aggrieved expression. Since you claim I am lying, why pry endlessly into the Golden Body Art? I told you long ago that I created it myself, but you simply wouldn't believe it. Not believing that is one thing, but Lin Meng being my second uncle is also a fact, yet you insist I am deceiving you. Well then, since you won't believe it, there is nothing more I can do.

Qin Si spread his hands. Wu Ye's previous attitude had already made it clear that his relationship with Lin Meng might not be hostile after all. Otherwise, the constant provocations just now would have been more than enough to blast him into smithereens.

However, everything still required further verification. Qin Si was no fool; when facing such a mighty powerhouse over an issue like this, he certainly wouldn't make a rash decision.

Right now, he was capitalizing on Wu Ye's psychological reluctance to believe that Lin Meng could be his second uncle, using the absolute truth to provoke doubt. This was a psychological reaction common to everyone.

Often, the simpler a truth was, the more it would cause people to ponder and doubt it. Someone as clever as Qin Si naturally understood human nature even better. Of course, this did not mean an old monster like Wu Ye, who had lived through countless epochs, couldn't see through it. Precisely because he had lived for so long and grasped human nature so thoroughly, he fell into misunderstanding and skepticism when faced with Qin Si's truthful words.

You are Lin Meng's nephew? Wu Ye sneered once more, a cold smile playing on his lips. Although Lin Meng is capable of nurturing a formidable junior like you, he could never tolerate such a personality—unrestrained and arrogant. With his steady disposition, how could he possibly cultivate a descendant like you?

Qin Si was dumbfounded. In his impression, Second Uncle had always been exceptionally gentle, doting on him even more than his father, Qin Feng. One need only look at the Primordial Fire Spirit Pearl within his soul to catch a glimpse of this. How could Second Uncle Lin Meng possibly have the kind of personality Wu Ye described? Wouldn't that be enough to bore someone to death?

Wearing a faint smile, Qin Si glanced sideways at Wu Ye. Senior, you and Second Uncle Lin Meng must have a profound relationship, right? If you are foes rather than friends, I suppose you could kill me right now. Doing so would surely secure you a meeting with Second Uncle Lin Meng.

Wu Ye froze, looking Qin Si up and down. After a long while, he muttered, Are you out of your mind, kid? I should kill you just to see Lin Meng? What kind of logic is that? Fine, fine, if you refuse to talk, then so be it. Looking at your Golden Body Art, I refuse to believe it has not the slightest connection to Lin Meng. However, I don't believe for a second that Lin Meng is your second uncle. He has always traveled alone, with neither elder brother nor younger siblings.

Qin Si was left speechless. He smacked his forehead and groaned, Fine, since you know Second Uncle Lin Meng so well, could you tell me some stories about him? How about this: do you have a place with nice scenery around here? Get some good wine ready, and we can discuss heroes over drinks.

Such a place exists, though I never drink and have no fine wine whatsoever, Wu Ye retorted ungraciously. An invisible force enveloped Qin Si, and the two vanished instantly. When they reappeared, they were standing inside a pavilion. Outside the pavilion lay a crystal-clear, emerald-green pond filled with blooming lotus flowers. Waves of fragrance drifted into their noses, making for a remarkably pleasant atmosphere.

Qin Si sat casually on a stone stool, rolling his eyes as he looked at Wu Ye, and muttered under his breath, A dignified Heavenly Sovereign, an old immortal who has lived through countless epochs, yet doesn't drink. Who knows how he's managed to live for so long without wine? What on earth does he do all day?

While grumbling, he fished bottles of liquor out of his spatial ring, setting them neatly one by one on the stone table.

Wu Ye could naturally hear Qin Si's muttering. But for one thing, this brat was hopelessly lazy and his temperament was simply like this; if he were to pick a bone with him now, it would only make himself look petty, so he simply treated it as wind past his ears, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

Secondly, his habit of abstaining from alcohol had long been a running joke among the other Heavenly Sovereigns. Over time, he had naturally grown accustomed to this good-natured mockery. Qin Si's complaints now amounted to nothing more than one more instance, and they held zero offensive power for him.

Seeing those rustic, crude wine bottles, Wu Ye's curiosity was heavily piqued. He looked at Qin Si and asked, What kind of wine is this? Why are the bottles so crude?

As a Heavenly Sovereign, he had naturally visited the lower realms before, yet he had never laid eyes on such crude wine vessels. Of course, this was also related to the fact that he had only ever visited the Immortal Realm; wine from the Immortal, Devil, and Demon realms naturally never came in such crude bottles. Good wine there was generally stored in vessels carved from the finest jade.

It's a secret, but this is truly, genuinely good wine, and supplies are limited. Seeing that you're a friend of my Second Uncle Lin Meng, I'll treat you to a taste today, hehe. Qin Si smiled mysteriously, uncorked the bottle, took a somewhat intoxicated sniff, and then took a reluctant sip.

ever since Li Yang produced this liquor and shared it with the Qin brothers, Qin Si and Qin Shuang had unsurprisingly fallen in love with this mortal brew, which combined fiery potency with a rich, mellow fragrance. The burning sensation was utterly intoxicating. Therefore, before leaving the Purple Mystery Alliance with Zhou Fei'er, Qin Si had practically nagged Li Yang until he handed over a portion of his stash. It was only out of consideration for taking away Zhou Fei'er—that source of trouble—that Li Yang had parted with it through clenched teeth.

Curiously pulling out the cork, a rich aroma surged straight to his nose. Wu Ye took a light sip, set the bottle down with a disappointed look, and mumbled flatly, Not much to speak of. The spiritual energy is far too weak. This kind of wine is probably only fit for mortals.

Qin Si remained silent. Mortals, so be it; even Heavenly Sovereigns, before reaching a higher realm, were ultimately just mortals struggling desperately in cultivation. Though their lives were long, the possibility of falling in battle still existed.

Furthermore, the art of drinking resided in the heart. Everyone's tastes differed, and it was something that could not be forced.

Little fellow, what is your exact relationship with Lin Meng? Seeing Qin Si drinking with an expression of pure bliss, Wu Ye frowned slightly. He had not given up on the question.

He is my second uncle, Qin Si answered crisply and decisively.

...Very well, I shall tentatively believe you for now. Care to hear how Lin Meng and I first met? Wu Ye fixed his gaze on the distance, ignoring Qin Si's reaction, and murmured, Back then, I was a Godking who had just comprehended the Laws of Time Stoppage. In the Primordial God Realm, I was already considered a famously formidable figure.

Relying on the might of comprehending the Laws of Time Stoppage, I slaughtered three Godkings who only understood ordinary laws in a single stroke, shocking all directions. From that day onward, my name carved out a permanent place for itself in the Primordial God Realm.

He glanced at Qin Si and chuckled, The arrogance I had back then is something your current self cannot hope to match.

Nonsense, I am never arrogant, Qin Si retorted firmly.

Yet because of that, I offended many factions. Around that time, the Broken Waters Sect under my leadership expanded aggressively in all directions, broadening our sphere of influence. As you know, in the Primordial God Realm, Heavenly Sovereigns are not permitted to act without cause. For the vast majority of the time, a Godking who possessed the power of Time Reversal and Stoppage was practically invincible. Thus, the Broken Waters Sect quickly grew into the largest power in the surrounding region.

Put that way, you were quite foolish back then, Qin Si gave Wu Ye a pensive look, seemingly forgetting the fact that he was a Heavenly Sovereign.

Indeed, I was very foolish. I was full of burning ambition back then, always plotting to lead the Broken Waters Sect to become the greatest power in the God Realm. The Eight Great Sage Emperors, the Nine Great Ascendant Factions—humph, I even wanted to swallow up the other top ten bandit factions in one fell swoop, Wu Ye said coldly, his tone instantly shifting into one of despondency. Fortunately, although I was arrogant and overbearing, I never bullied the weak. In the God Realm, harboring ambition is the most fundamental trait of any faction; lacking ambition is cowardice. Therefore, my ambition back then to lead Broken Waters City to become the supreme power in the entire God Realm was not wrong in itself.

Wu Ye turned around, his burning gaze fixed on Qin Si, as if anticipating his validation, or perhaps telling him that his present self was no different.

Qin Si nodded noncommittally. I don't have any grand ambitions. Building a faction, to put it plainly, is just for fun. It's a trial for my younger brother and me; we don't want to live beneath the wings of our parents.

It seemed Wu Ye had been stirred by the deepest emotions within his heart. Smiling faintly, he picked up the bottle of wine he had only tasted once, took another sip, and continued, However, I underestimated the hidden strengths of the major factions in the God Realm. Come to think of it, in a world like this, how could any faction stand unbroken for countless epochs without concealing some hidden strength?

Wu Ye let out a self-deprecating laugh. Just as I led the Broken Waters Sect to wipe out a certain faction, a Heavenly Sovereign suddenly emerged from within that very faction—a true Heavenly Sovereign.

A Heavenly Sovereign whose cultivation realm was roughly on par with my own today. He smiled bitterly. As a result, the hundred Godkings, over a thousand deities, and countless lesser immortals who followed me into battle all perished. And I was heavily wounded by that Heavenly Sovereign in a single blow. Had I not possessed a Primordial Supreme Treasure, I likely would have been slain on the spot.

A look of nostalgia and reverence surfaced in Wu Ye's eyes. Just as that Heavenly Sovereign flew right up to me, and I could already see his ferocious smile, a single person appeared—the most ordinary of Godkings.

(To be continued)