Chapter Sixteen: Master Jinghai

"This is a secret, okay? You absolutely can't tell anyone," Xia Dan said, leaning in close to Qin Xiaochuan's ear with a conspiratorial air. She whispered, "He got his bottom smacked a hundred times..."

"Ahahaha!" Qin Xiaochuan burst out laughing at the thought of the Little King of Hell being spanked a hundred times by his father. "A brat is still a brat—even if he's lived for thousands of years, he's still a little rascal, hahahaha!"

"Keep your voice down! Don't let anyone else hear you!" Xia Dan immediately regretted sharing the Little King of Hell's embarrassment with such a big mouth. If the Little King found out she'd spilled his secret, he’d surely throw a fit.

"But that's not such a bad punishment, all things considered. So the matter of the three great treasures being stolen was resolved peacefully after all."

"Yes..."

"Morning..." Fan Fan, carrying her backpack, brushed past the two of them from behind, offering only a hasty greeting before striding on without looking back, her demeanor suggesting she was slightly annoyed.

"Wait, Fan Fan!" Seeing her hurry by, Qin Xiaochuan slapped his forehead and rushed after her. "Wait, wait, let me explain! I have something to tell you..."

It seemed yesterday’s misunderstanding had yet to be cleared up with Fan Fan. Perhaps she was the greatest trouble in Xiaochuan’s life. Watching him run off, Xia Dan gave a wry smile.

"Hey, wait for me, Xiaochuan, Fan Fan! I'm coming..." she called, waving after the two receding figures and hurrying after them with her own bag. Perhaps, having not been human for so long, she didn't realize she herself was the real spark that had set off the discord between the pair.

A few days later, on a bright morning, Qin Xiaochuan was trekking along a man-made path deep in the mountains, map in hand.

"Why on earth do I have to spend my rare day off in the middle of these godforsaken woods?" He glanced at the map, following the path with his eyes to where a flight of stone steps began at the road's end. "According to the map, I just follow this path, climb those steps, and I’ll be there."

He started up the steps, scrambling on hands and feet. At the top, a mountain gate stood with three bold characters inscribed above: "Jinghai Pavilion." Beyond the gate stretched a spacious clearing, perhaps half a football field in size, and at its far end rose a complex of ancient-style buildings—presumably the residence of Master Jinghai.

A sign reading "Master Jinghai’s Disciple Selection Tournament" stood prominently by the main entrance. Seeing it, Qin Xiaochuan recalled what Xia Dan had told him on the school balcony a few days prior.

"What kind of infiltration mission have you sent me on this time? Dragging me out this early—I almost got called into Huang Kui's office," he complained when he reached Xia Dan. "Don't tell me you want me to investigate the Demon Realm or something. I’m telling you, I just recovered from my injuries, and if there are any monsters stronger than me, I’m not going! Last time I was nearly finished off by Feiyan—that guy’s speed was insane..."

"Don't worry, heh. This time the mission is still in the human world," Xia Dan replied with her signature smile. "Master Jinghai, a friend of the Little King of Hell, is recruiting disciples. He asked me to have you attend the selection in disguise."

"Master Jinghai? Who’s that?"

"Master Jinghai is a renowned spiritualist in all of Jiuzhou, one of the top five experts known to the Little King of Hell. She’s never taken on a disciple before, but due to her age and impending death, she wants to pass her ultimate techniques to an heir."

"Is that so? Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Actually, Master Jinghai is famous even beyond the human world. Many powerful demons know of her. Some have escaped here, disguised as humans, to join the selection in hopes of obtaining her secret techniques and boosting their own power," Xia Dan explained, smiling at Xiaochuan’s confusion. "One in particular, a demon called Yaotong, has already taken the ultimate techniques of ninety-nine spiritualists. He plans to make Master Jinghai his hundredth, to combine her mastery with his own and become even more formidable. The Little King of Hell instructed me to make sure you attend, so you can capture Yaotong. He’s already claimed the lives of many humans, so you must be there this Saturday. I’ve already got your train ticket."

"This Saturday? But that's an important day off! I don't want to spend it at some selection contest, especially with a dangerous demon involved. No way, I want to sleep in, take it easy, and then..." At this, a lascivious grin crept across Qin Xiaochuan’s face, thinking of who knows what.

"Well, if you do go, whether or not you’re chosen as a disciple, there’s a reward for you."

"A reward?" That got his attention immediately. "What kind of reward?"

"Front-row tickets to the WBA World Championship finals," Xia Dan said, pulling a ticket from her pocket and waving it enticingly. "It took a lot for me to get this, you know, hehe."

"Deal! I’ll take the job!" Snatching the ticket, Qin Xiaochuan acted as if he'd won the lottery, kissing it repeatedly. "For the cause of justice and ridding the world of evil, I, Qin Xiaochuan, am duty bound! WBA finals tickets, oh yes!"

"That's right, Xiaochuan, you’re the best, hehe..."

Now, thinking back, Qin Xiaochuan felt a bit regretful. She really tricked me—how did she know I was such a die-hard WBA fan? Oh well, if I’m not chosen, I can just go home. I hope this place has a shower and a toilet...

"Hey, Qin Xiaochuan? What are you doing here?"

"Zhang Yang?" Startled by the familiar voice, Qin Xiaochuan turned to see Zhang Yang behind him, looking just as surprised.

Seeing it was really him, Zhang Yang could hardly believe his eyes. "You’re here for Master Jinghai’s disciple selection, too?"

"Why? I can’t be? Judging by your tone, you’re here for the same reason?"

"Yeah. Lately, I don’t know why, but my spiritual sensitivity has spiked. I keep seeing things I shouldn't and getting sleep paralysis—sometimes I even hear voices. So, on my sister’s advice, I came to join Master Jinghai’s selection, hoping she can tell me why my senses have become so sharp."

"Really? Your sister sent you? Is she a spiritualist, too?"

"Of course! My sister’s way stronger than me—she actually catches demons."

"Tch, boasting again. Does she know Master Jinghai?"

"Of course she does! According to my sister, Master Jinghai is a top-tier spiritualist, and her technique—the Spirit Light Wave—is especially formidable."

"Spirit Light Wave? What’s that?" As an avid martial arts fan, Qin Xiaochuan was instantly intrigued by any mystical combat technique.

"My sister says the Spirit Light Wave is when a spiritualist channels energy throughout their whole body. If you can control your spiritual power freely, you gain all sorts of special abilities and attacks. Concentrate it at a single point, and you can shatter solid rock to dust. Direct it into your palm, and you can harm—or heal—others. With someone as skilled as Master Jinghai, she could probably defeat opponents without even laying a finger on them, just using the Spirit Light Wave."

"Wow, that’s impressive. But..." Qin Xiaochuan noticed more people gathering behind Zhang Yang. "Let’s head inside first."

"Wow, lots of people here today," Qin Xiaochuan remarked as they entered, seeing the courtyard packed with people in all sorts of attire: Taoists, monks, sorcerers, students, businesspeople, martial arts masters, and fighters dressed for wrestling, muay thai, or boxing. There must have been several hundred.

Master Jinghai’s reputation was clearly immense, to draw so many to the selection. As Qin Xiaochuan surveyed the crowd, a loudspeaker blared:

"Attention, all contestants for Master Jinghai’s selection! Please proceed to the corridor to assemble—Master Jinghai herself will be coming out to greet everyone. Please remain quiet!"

After the announcement repeated twice, the chatting groups in the courtyard began moving toward the corridor.

"Let’s squeeze in, too. I wonder what Master Jinghai looks like?" Qin Xiaochuan beckoned Zhang Yang, pushing into the crowd, eager to get a glimpse of this legendary spiritualist for himself.