Chapter 20: I Don't Ask, He Doesn't Tell
“Brother Zhao, you really know me quite well.”
After a long pause, Wu Gensheng finally managed to utter these words with difficulty.
Though he was visibly trying to maintain his composure, beneath the surface his heart was already roiling with a storm of emotions.
Regarding the matter of the Divine Spirit Technique, he had displayed it publicly at the Yinghe Tower before, but he had never once mentioned its name to anyone!
Even Gu Jiting, who had known him the longest, only knew of his abilities but had never inquired about the name of that particular technique.
So the question arose: how on earth did Zhao Zhen learn the name?
Slowly, Wu Gensheng’s gaze shifted and changed as he looked at Zhao Zhen.
If before, he was merely curious because Zhao Zhen was a disciple of Master Jin Guang and interested in the secret art of the Golden Escape Flow, now Wu Gensheng’s curiosity about Zhao Zhen himself deepened considerably.
“It’s nothing special; I just have my own methods,” Zhao Zhen said with a slight smile, attempting to maintain an air of mystery.
Some things need not be stated explicitly—just enough to hint.
The more you leave room for imagination, the more your image in others’ minds grows mysterious and grand through their own embellishments.
This is why some charlatans posing as Taoist priests prefer to speak in riddles.
“Brother Zhao, your methods are certainly no less impressive than my Divine Spirit Technique...”
Wu Gensheng looked deeply at Zhao Zhen but did not press further.
Everyone has their secrets, and Wu Gensheng was no exception.
Even among the closest of friends, digging endlessly into each other’s secrets often leads to bitter enmity. Besides, he and Zhao Zhen hardly knew each other beyond a single meeting.
“You flatter me.”
Zhao Zhen smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze toward the man standing behind Wu Gensheng.
“And who might this be?”
“I am Quan Xing, Gu Jiting,” Gu Jiting quickly responded, breaking free from his earlier shock and clasping his fists respectfully.
“Gu Jiting...”
A flicker of something unusual crossed Zhao Zhen’s eyes.
Gu Jiting was one of the inheritors of the Great Luo Cave Observation, one of the Eight Marvelous Techniques of later generations; a hereditary sorcerer and Wu Gensheng’s most loyal follower. He had joined Quan Xing solely to accompany Wu Gensheng.
He was an enigma, and even Zhao Zhen, before crossing over, could not be certain of the true powers of the Great Luo Cave Observation that Gu Jiting had mastered.
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From Gu Jiting’s life goal—to see the true nature of all things—it seemed the core of the Great Luo Cave Observation lay in the word “observe.”
What exactly Gu Jiting could “observe” through this art was beyond Zhao Zhen’s guess.
“Brother Zhao, you know me?”
Noticing the unusual expression on Zhao Zhen’s face, Gu Jiting asked with some confusion.
He had not been with Quan Xing long and usually stayed behind Wu Gensheng, rarely appearing in public. Even among Quan Xing disciples, few recognized him, let alone an outsider like Zhao Zhen.
Soon, however, Gu Jiting’s doubts were eased.
After all, anyone who could effortlessly uncover the secret of their leader’s ability with just a few words—simply by stating their own name—was hardly surprising.
“Just now, you spoke of the Divine Spirit Technique—the name that the leader has never revealed to outsiders. Could it be that you too are a sorcerer?”
Gu Jiting asked because sorcerers can obtain desired answers by querying within the internal realm.
For instance, he had learned Zhao Zhen’s whereabouts through such internal inquiries.
If Zhao Zhen were a sorcerer, then his knowledge of their leader’s secret would be understandable.
“True, the old man did teach me some basic Qimen Dun Jia techniques before, and I have studied a bit over the years. But to claim the title of sorcerer on that basis alone would be rather presumptuous.”
“Oh, I see...”
Gu Jiting nodded, not fully believing Zhao Zhen’s modesty but assuming it was just humility.
After all, if the information was not gained through internal divination, what other explanation was there? Omniscience? Foreknowledge?
If that were the case, how was Zhao Zhen any different from an immortal?
“Brother Zhao, are you heading to the Lu family’s event to celebrate Old Master Lu’s birthday?” Wu Gensheng asked suddenly.
“Yes.” Zhao Zhen nodded.
“Although you are not a disciple of Quan Xing, after the commotion caused by Yuan Jingu that night at Yinghe Tower, the entire extraordinary world knows your connections.
If you were to attend as a Quan Xing disciple, you would likely face harassment from the righteous sects present.”
“I understand, but since a friend invited me and I promised to attend, unless that friend personally turns me away, why would I refuse?
As for the rumors, let them talk. As long as I have a clear conscience, those who attack me based solely on my background are nothing but petty clowns unworthy of attention.”
“Well said, clear conscience indeed. Then I wish you a smooth journey.
As for these children, Xiao Gu and I are going the same way, so we’ll take them to a shelter in a nearby town.”
Zhao Zhen glanced at Wu Gensheng in surprise.
He was not doubting Wu Gensheng’s capability but was struck by how he chose to remain silent about the tragic scene that had just unfolded.
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Did he not suspect that he was responsible?
Or had he, as leader of Quan Xing, long grown accustomed to his disciples’ misdeeds and thus chosen to turn a blind eye?
Or perhaps he and Gu Jiting had already caught up with Zhao Zhen and witnessed him killing those three men in black?
No matter the reason, since Wu Gensheng did not ask, Zhao Zhen saw no need to explain.
“In that case, I’ll trouble Leader Wu.”
“Leader Wu...”
Wu Gensheng was momentarily taken aback; it was the first time someone had addressed him in such a peculiar way.
Previously, Quan Xing disciples had always called him “Leader,” while the righteous ones either called him by name or worse, “Great Demon.”
Zhao Zhen was the first to use this strange term.
Watching Zhao Zhen’s figure recede, Gu Jiting frowned and stepped forward.
“Leader, the entire village was slaughtered, and judging by the ritual on the ground, it resembles the dark arts of Wild Maoshan. Why didn’t you ask him what happened here?”
“Xiao Gu, do you think he did it?”
“Probably not. Though he smelled of blood earlier, from what I’ve seen, Zhao Zhen doesn’t seem capable of such cruel deeds,” Gu Jiting shook his head.
“Then that settles it.” Wu Gensheng shrugged.
“If it’s not him, why question it? Remember, we are Quan Xing. It’s quite possible that this tragedy was caused by our own disciples.
If we asked and found out that was true, that Zhao Zhen killed our people, how would a Quan Xing leader and disciple face that?
So I don’t ask, and he doesn’t say. Isn’t that better?”
“True enough. Leader, you always think things through.”
“It’s not about being thorough; mostly, I just don’t want to confront Zhao Zhen.”
“...”
“Ha, just kidding. Come on, Xiao Gu, let’s take these kids to the shelter. We have other matters to attend to.”
“Heh, the leader of Quan Xing personally escorting children to a shelter—if the righteous sects heard that, they’d drop their jaws.”
“Heh, just how I like it...”
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