Secret Buyer-Chapter 30: Six Ding Divine Fire

"Target No. 1 went to No. 19 Bar."

"Two people, identification of the companion is underway... Results are out, Zhang Fusheng, prospective freshman at Jiang University, father Zhang Wentao, underground doctor in the Seventh District, mother Zhou Guifang, an ordinary primary school teacher... He is a trainee at Hongji Martial Arts Dojo."

"His last contact with Chen Nuanyu should be on the night of June 28, when Target No. 1 received emergency treatment at Zhang Wentao’s clinic."

"Should we list him as a new surveillance target?"

Listening to the report, the rugged man with a big beard flicked his cigarette ash:

"Hongji? Just a trainee?"

"Hard to say, the deputy director of the Jiangzhou General Office submitted a report yesterday, Hong Tianbao walked side by side with him, hmm, and here is a surveillance video outside Hongji Martial Arts Dojo from last night, the content shows the two talking on the long street for a long time."

The rugged man pondered:

"Then do not monitor him for now, lest we offend Hong Tianbao. That old guy is not simple."

The inspector nodded decisively, but then questioned:

"But what if this Zhang Fusheng is actually a cultist of Taoism?"

"Almost impossible." The rugged man shook his head, "The data shows Hong Tianbao bears deep hatred toward the Western Sect."

He extinguished the cigarette butt:

"Continue to follow up, as for this Zhang Fusheng... let’s put it aside for now, do not actively monitor, but look into his past data and social connections."

"Yes, boss."

......

It is not out of lust, compassion, or the thrill of desecrating the once-pompous.

Simply because...

Curiosity.

Curious to see if this silky-smooth face could be pinched to swell.

People, in the face of perfect things, always harbor an irrepressible ’destructive urge’, which can vaguely be summed up in psychology as ’cute aggression’ or ’cute destructiveness’.

It’s like seeing a porcelain doll-like child, feeling uncomfortable unless you make them cry, or like seeing a beautiful little cat, needing to stroke it hard a couple times.

Zhang Fusheng continued to knead the face of the red-haired girl.

It was really pinchable, smooth and tender, surprisingly good to the touch.

He contemplated himself, transforming into a white bone, the sharp energy within him slowly receding, another wonderful use of the White Bone Observation.

When viewing oneself as bones, as a dead thing, one’s vitality, spirit, and energy, indeed settle and quiet down, appearing as an ordinary person, not seen through by outsiders,

also calming the ripples of the heart, observing the white bones and gaining true purity.

"Why forcefully take a shortcut?"

He asked again.

Chen Nuanyu remained silent.

"Why, you can’t even say this?" Zhang Fusheng reached out, hooked the girl’s chin, lifting her head slightly, scrutinizing the confusion in her eyes.

"To seek medicine," she softly spoke.

"Seek medicine?"

Zhang Fusheng was puzzled:

"You injected the spirit potion, advancing the Contemplation Technique to ’Pseudo Great Success’ as a shortcut for... seeking medicine?"

"Mm."

She spoke lowly:

"Achieving Great Success in the Contemplation Technique can completely liberate my heart—the Eternal Burning Heart. They said if I achieve it, they would give me a Golden Core... a First-Turn Golden Core that can save my mother."

Hmm?

Detected an element.

A First-Turn Golden Core... is this right?

Could it be there’s also a Nine-Turn Golden Core or something like Tai Shang Laojun, where eating one makes you immortal??

Zhang Fusheng pressed his lips:

"Who are those people?"

"..."

After another silence, Chen Nuanyu took a deep breath:

"Cultists, from a mysterious sect called Taoism."

Zhang Fusheng’s gaze suddenly became sharp.

Again, Taoism.

As he caressed the girl’s cheek, he fell into deep thought, the Snake Fist Hall Master, that Huang Qiuxian is a Taoism follower,

who also implanted something into his body, claiming it was the Five Thunders Technique, to be passed to his master...

His dad also mentioned a few days ago, that cultists of Taoism would be gathering in the Lower Three Districts.

And Zhong Mountain once said Taoism is divided into Eastern and Western, seeming that one is righteous, the other evil.

"Eastern Sect or Western Sect?" he asked.

Chen Nuanyu was bewildered, shook her head:

"I don’t know..."

"Actually I’m just at the entry level." Zhang Fusheng chuckled, "Still don’t understand why you’re so afraid of ’overdue’? Mind telling me?"

Chen Nuanyu clenched her fists, pressed her lips.

She trembled:

"Those who break the promise will have their soul extracted, thrown into endless Purgatory, enduring unbearable torment, thus earning a three-month extension, breaking again will keep them in Purgatory forever, until... they too become those monsters."

Zhang Fusheng’s heart stirred, thinking about his master’s Spirit Divine Realm, thinking about those skeletal monsters.

Although the monsters’ gnawing was painful, it was not unbearable, certainly not enough to make the girl fear like this... Hmm, indeed.

He was undergoing training, practicing the Contemplation Technique, not genuinely enduring torment.

But if her so-called Purgatory was the master’s Spirit Divine Realm...

Zhang Fusheng slightly narrowed his eyes. Were those skeletal monsters in the Divine Realm once real living people?

He felt a bit of horror.

Chen Nuanyu took a deep breath at this moment:

"I’ve already missed the deadline once, I’ve endured that kind of ordeal before..."

Recalling past experiences made her body tremble more violently:

"When I first borrowed the money, I didn’t know there were truly people in this world who could take souls, nor did I know she was Chen Yuque."

Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow and then reached out with both hands to pinch the girl’s cheeks:

"Second Senior Sister? She’s yours?"

"Cousin."

Chen Nuanyu’s speech was slurred:

"But there’s a blood feud between our two families."

"Let’s hear it."

"In short, my dad killed her dad, and her mom killed my dad."

"...Is that right?" Zhang Fusheng let go of his hands, feeling a bit unsatisfied, and carefully examined the girl.

"Did you deal with the forty jin of goods from the Chai Gate?"

"Yes, handed it over to Mr. Hei."

"How much is still needed to repay the debt?"

"Twenty-four million."

Zhang Fusheng rubbed his chin, thinking it’s a bit of trouble...

The Eternal Burning Heart, he was really interested in having it, but how could he persuade her to trade?

Save her mother’s life?

"First, tell me about the Eternal Burning Heart."

Upon hearing this,

Chen Nuanyu placed her hand on her heart and looked up at the delicate young man, half of whose face was shrouded in shadow.

She said:

"It will never stop beating, and I will always be full of vitality, never exhausted."

"It continually improves my aptitude and nourishes my body. Although the effect is subtle, every minute and every second, I am becoming stronger."

"As the name suggests, it harbors a flame, an eternal flame. The cultists say it’s called the [Six Ding Divine Fire], and it seems to be a key to unlocking something. Only after achieving Great Success in the Contemplation Technique can I perceive that flame."

Zhang Fusheng’s eyes widened.

Six Ding Divine Fire.

In the mythical stories of his past life, the fire burning in the Eight Trigrams Furnace once forged the Golden Cudgel and the Nine-toothed Nail Rake, scorched Avalokitesvara’s willow branch, and gave the Monkey Brother the Fire Eyes Golden Gaze.

Zhang Fusheng was a bit confused.

Are there really gods and immortals, and even a Supreme Lao Jun?

No, that’s not right.

If deities were truly reclining in the nine heavens above, a roaring celestial thunder would have long split the Federation into pieces.

After all, the Federation classified Taoism as an evil cult.

He calmed his breathing.

"Those cultists, if they plan to use you, why not help you reach Great Success in the Contemplation and help you repay your debt?"

"They say it’s a test, an essential test to join them."

Zhang Fusheng pressed further:

"What illness does your mother suffer from?"

Chen Nuanyu replied somberly:

"I don’t know. She’s constantly decaying uncontrollably, and at this rate, in another six months, she will die for real."

"No wonder you’re in a rush to achieve Great Success in the Contemplation Technique."

Understanding dawned on Zhang Fusheng, and his mind began to churn with thoughts. Could he purchase health and then sell it to Chen Nuanyu’s mother?

This approach seemed a bit cumbersome, requiring multiple transactions to ultimately acquire the Eternal Burning Heart. The problem was, the effect of Star Beast meat was diminishing...

No, that’s not right.

A sudden flash of inspiration hit him.

Why buy an extra health?

Why not purchase her mother’s mysterious illness directly?

As this idea surfaced,

Zhang Fusheng felt as if he had opened a brand new door.

In the silence,

The red-haired girl suddenly placed her chin in his palm, much like a docile kitten.

She softly asked:

"Can I get an extension? I beg you."

The girl trembled slightly, her eyes filled with irrepressible fear, clearly having endured unimaginable suffering in Purgatory.

There was a moment of hesitation.

Chen Nuanyu clumsily extended her tongue, gently licking Zhang Fusheng’s palm.

Zhang Fusheng came to his senses, staring at this demon-level face, the dim light casting over her features, making her appear even more breathtakingly stunning.

He chuckled:

"Do I look like someone who’s into charity? I can’t just give away my master’s generosity, can I?"

"So, no."

The light in her eyes faltered instantly.