Chapter Six: The Battle for the Soul

"Ah, little Weiwei, you’ve finally come to your senses and brought back a man!" A burly man emerged, fastening his trousers after relieving himself.

But when he saw the swelling and bruises on Qi Wei’s face, his expression turned instantly grim. "Who hit you?"

Qi Wei raised an eyebrow, ignoring his question. "Pang Dazhuang, where’s my uncle?"

Pang Dazhuang replied instinctively, "He’s in the barracks. But you haven’t told me who beat you up yet—"

Qi Wei paid him no further heed and led Chu Jie into the barracks.

The barracks sat at the very center of the camp. Four or five men in black stood guard around it, their faces expressionless as they paced, ensuring that every corner of the courtyard was under watchful eyes.

Chu Jie sensed immediately that these men were all at least at the fifth level of the Body Steel Realm. It was clear at once what Qi Wei’s uncle intended: his subordinates were ruthless and lawless, devoid of humanity. Without his own loyal men, he could be overthrown at any moment.

Qi Wei pushed open the door and brought Chu Jie inside.

It was a wooden tent, simple on the outside, but what met Chu Jie’s eyes within was astonishing—a floor covered with the pelts of long-haired beasts, each nearly a foot long, and furnishings of antique design, gleaming with gold accents everywhere, the air thick with the scent of nouveau riche.

Her uncle sat to one side, speaking with a man in black.

Qi Wei’s uncle wore a dark martial robe, his brows rugged and imposing. Upon seeing Qi Wei barge in, his annoyance was evident. "Wei’er! How many times have I told you, knock before you enter!"

But when he saw the swollen half of her face, his expression darkened. "Who was it?"

At last, Qi Wei allowed herself a hint of girlish fragility. "It was Li Hun, uncle. If not for Chu Jie saving me, I wouldn’t have made it back." With that, she pulled Chu Jie forward a few steps.

Chu Jie clasped his fists. "Chu Jie greets the Boss!"

Qi Batian nodded. "Thank you, boy. Wei’er, this is Lord Lin from the Outer City. Come and greet him." The last sentence was directed at Qi Wei.

Only then did Chu Jie notice the man in black beside Qi Batian, a man of forty or fifty, the wrinkles at his eyes betraying his age, but his gaze sharp and penetrating. His hands were enormous—clearly a master.

Qi Wei composed herself, bowed with clasped fists, and said, "Qi Wei greets Lord Lin."

Lord Lin nodded. "No need for formalities."

"Alright, you and Chu Jie may leave for now," Qi Batian said, issuing his guests their leave.

Qi Wei and Chu Jie departed. Lord Lin watched Qi Batian with a playful glint in his eye. "Boss Qi, your niece is quite something..."

Qi Batian’s heart jolted, and he immediately stood. "Lord Lin, my late brother gave his life to save me, leaving his daughter in my care. I treat Wei’er as my own. Besides, the girl is careless, she’d surely offend you."

A cold light flickered in Lord Lin’s eyes. "Qi Batian, why did you ask me here?"

Qi Batian hesitated, biting his lip. "It’s about my family entering the Outer City. I invited you for that reason alone."

"Is your family more important, or your niece? Besides, I have no intention of taking her to the Outer City. Let her keep me company for a few days, and I’ll see to your entry personally."

Qi Batian stood there, torn and conflicted.

"Come with me." After discussing matters with her uncle, Qi Wei’s mood had calmed slightly. She led Chu Jie to a tent behind the barracks.

Inside lived an old blind woman. As they approached, she heard their footsteps and emerged.

Her face was sallow, her clothing coarse and humble, her hand gripping a withered branch. Yet her smile was gentle and kind.

"Granny Yu, I’ve come to visit you!" Qi Wei called brightly, a true smile lighting her face—a smile that, Chu Jie felt, belonged rightfully to a girl in the bloom of youth.

Granny Yu’s voice was hoarse and soft. "Child, nothing bad has happened, has it?"

Qi Wei rubbed her still swollen cheek. "My uncle’s the boss here. Who would dare trouble me?"

Granny Yu clasped her hand. "That’s good. And who’s this behind you?"

Blind for many years, her hearing was keen; she had already detected a stranger.

"He’s a new follower of mine. I brought him so he wouldn’t accidentally offend you," Qi Wei said with a grin.

"Oh, and Granny Yu, this is your medicine for the month. Don’t forget to take it." Qi Wei offered her a handful of Spirit-Gathering Grass.

Granny Yu sighed, "I’m just old bones, troubling you young people."

When she accepted the Spirit-Gathering Grass, Qi Wei’s eyes curved into joyful crescents.

Chu Jie was puzzled. According to Li Hun, Qi Wei only ever had three stalks of Spirit-Gathering Grass each month herself—why give one away? It didn’t make sense.

After some warm conversation, Qi Wei and Chu Jie took their leave.

Seeing Chu Jie’s confusion, Qi Wei explained, "When I was little, Granny Yu was the kindest to me, indulging my every whim. Later, she lost her sight and her cultivation was crippled saving my uncle—she needs Spirit-Gathering Grass to survive."

Chu Jie nodded, and Qi Wei continued, "There’s no humanity, no law, no morality in this chaotic region. I can’t change anything. Without my uncle’s protection, I’d have been violated long ago. So, what little I can do, I try my best."

Chu Jie fell silent. In such a place, he thought, her kindness would only invite ridicule. These were vicious people, their cruelty bred into their very bones.

"By the way! Tomorrow is the Spirit Snatching Contest. I’ve lost all my subordinates—there’s only us left. You must do your best," Qi Wei said worriedly.

"What is the Spirit Snatching Contest?" Chu Jie asked.

"It’s a monthly event. People from the Outer City come and throw in Spirit-Gathering Grass, and the three bosses like my uncle send their men to fight for it. The spoils are split fifty-fifty. The underboss who gets the most can command the one who gets the least to do a task."

Chu Jie nodded. "What if someone grabs the grass and runs away?"

Qi Wei scoffed, "Didn’t you see how Li Hun cornered me for a single stalk today? Alone, you couldn’t possibly keep it. Besides, my uncle’s Six Vajra Guardians will be watching."

She sighed. "My uncle gives these thugs women, food—even lets them keep half their loot. No one wants to run."

"How much Spirit-Gathering Grass is dropped each time?"

"One hundred stalks," Qi Wei replied heavily. "Tomorrow will be a fierce battle. Prepare yourself."

Chu Jie clenched his fists. Only by seizing the Spirit-Gathering Grass could he have a shot at defeating Young Master Luo and destroying the Yang family.

He looked up and asked, "Qi Wei, do you know Young Master Luo?"

Qi Wei nodded. "You mean Luo Long of the Luo family, one of the three great families in the Outer City?"

Chu Jie nodded. "That could be him." His fists tightened.

Sensing his anger, Qi Wei said, "The Luo family is one of the top three in the First Ring of the Outer City. Even my uncle is like an ant before them. Chu Jie, I advise you to be patient."

Chu Jie said nothing, but his resolve only hardened. With the Reincarnation Scroll, his Nine Tribulations Body—though called a cripple—would, after surviving adversity, be stronger than any other!

Chu Jie nodded calmly. By the time he left Granny Yu’s, night had fallen. Qi Wei arranged a tent right beside hers for him and left. The bedding was all new, showing her thoughtfulness. Yet, though the night was deep and silent, Chu Jie could not sleep.

He was unsettled—new to the place, feeling pressure from Young Master Luo, and vaguely uneasy about the way Lord Lin looked at Qi Wei. Though just a hunch, he sensed danger.

After a while, as sleep finally crept upon him, he suddenly tensed and rolled to the side of the tent!

A jet-black gleam sliced through the darkness, shredding his tent and bringing it crashing down.

Cold sweat drenched him. A second slower and he’d have been cut clean in two!

He sprang up, tearing through the tent, and bolted out.

With a sudden twist of his waist, a warm white glow blazed in the night as he punched toward the attacker.

The man in black was startled by Chu Jie’s speed and reflexively swept his blade sideways, sending a wave of energy slashing out.

Chu Jie dodged, the blade energy smashing into the ground and gouging a massive pit.

He landed lightly, then shot forward like a sword.

"Chu Jie! You’re dead!" the man in black hissed.

Chu Jie grabbed his shoulder, but the man twisted free, his clothes tearing under Chu Jie’s grip.

The commotion had roused the whole camp. Seeing things go awry, the man in black stamped the ground and sped off, vanishing with a few leaps.

His strength was clearly at the seventh or eighth level of the Body Steel Realm—otherwise, he could never have infiltrated so silently.

But Chu Jie had noticed a bloodied eagle tattoo on the man’s shoulder.

The Yang family! That eagle was their mark. Chu Jie frowned. He hadn’t expected the Yangs to react so swiftly. Unable to act openly in Dark City, they had resorted to assassination.

"What happened?" Qi Wei appeared, hastily dressed. "What’s going on?"

Chu Jie shook his head. "Someone tried to kill me."

"It must be that bastard Li Hun!" Qi Wei fumed.

Chu Jie just laughed. "It’s alright, really."

Once he was settled in a new tent, Qi Wei finally left.

But Chu Jie’s expression grew cold. The Yang family’s reach in Dark City was shallow—they could only send assassins. Chu Jie realized this was the perfect chance to strike back.