/ 
Beyond the Timescape – Chapter 60: Invitation Only

Chapter 60: Invitation Only

n

n

nChapter 60: Invitation Only

nThunder crashed!

nThe boom echoed out through heaven and earth as the clouds roiled. It sounded like there were invading gods launching attacks from above. Sometimes the thunder came as muffled booms. In other cases, it sounded like a string of explosions that dragged the citizens of the city out of their deepest dreams. Lightning pierced through the sky, ripping apart the darkness of night. It was almost like the sun, obscured by the dark clouds, had a fleeting chance to illuminate the human world below.

nAt dawn, the rain came down harder.

nThe wind grew in intensity, like a howling giant whose cries reached the most distant corners of the city. It almost vied with the thunder.

nA figure walked along the street holding a black umbrella, barely visible thanks to the sheets of rain.

nRainwater smacked loudly into the umbrella, and seemingly in defiance of the obstacle, ran in rivulets down the sides. Only by struggling to fall to the ground below could the drops of water reunite with their companions on the street. That reunion caused ripples of water to spread out, cleaning the streets of the blood that had been shed during the night. However, it couldn’t wipe away the brutality of the crimes that had been committed.

n“Everyone has evil in their heart. It’s just that the chaotic world we live in makes it easier for people to release it.”

nThat was something Sergeant Thunder had said once during dinner. Xu Qing had to admit it made sense.

nThe rain grew fiercer. The thunder boomed. And as the storm raged, Xu Qing’s thoughts grew calm. Without realizing where he was going, he ended up back at Harbor 79, where the water seemed to be boiling. Like usual, Xu Qing inspected the area, then took out his dharmaboat.

nOnce inside, he activated the defenses, and as the boat rocked up and down, he sat down cross-legged under the canopy.

nThe boat’s defenses blocked the rain, and Xu Qing had long since grown accustomed to the motion of the boat on the water. In contrast to the rocking boat, and the rain and wind outside, Xu Qing felt completely calm as he started concocting some pills.

nIn recent days, Xu Qing had consistently purchased medicinal plants to concoct white boluses, black boluses, and poison powders. Similar to his laboratory back in the forbidden region, he had created a latticework of cabinets within which were packed with all sorts of vital yang and unhealthy yin medicinal plants..𝙘𝙤𝙢

nI still need to find a good place to experiment with concocting poisons. After examining the cabinets, Xu Qing made a grasping gesture, causing several plants to fly toward him. As the storm raged, he continued his concocting work.

nTime passed. It rained all day, heavier and heavier, until it was a true, raging storm.

nWaves surged into the port, causing countless boats and ships to rock violently. Thankfully, the dharmaboats were generally safe once their defenses were activated. From a distance, they looked like a host of fallen leaves bobbing on the surface of the water.

nBecause of the storm, there were no visiting trading ships entering the port, nor did anyone leave. Most of the sect departments closed for business, with many of the disciples staying in their residences. The Seven Blood Eyes port largely shut down during the shocking storm.

nHowever, the slaughter on the streets… continued.

nAs night fell on the second day, and the wind and rain seemed to get even worse, Xu Qing sat in his dharmaboat. His eyes suddenly opened as a sense of profound danger rose up within him. That danger wasn’t because of the nasty weather, but rather, came from the shore just next to his dharmaboat.

nDespite the rain and wind, he was able to detect the odor of poison powder. It came from some powders he had deposited in the area to act as an early warning system. If anyone got close to his dharmaboat, they would have to step through that powder. Then, if they stepped onto his boat without his permission, other poison gasses on his boat would mix with the powder to create something fatally poisonous. Furthermore, his psychic power, which had enabled him to take first place in the entry assessment, had advanced by leaps and bounds thanks to his cultivation of the Seaforming Scripture. His sensory abilities were far beyond the level of his peers.

nThanks to these two lines of defense, he knew that someone… had approached his dharmaboat and was now standing outside.

nEyes glittering coldly, he didn’t wait inside the boat. Instead, he stepped out onto the open deck and looked through the defenses to the outside world.

nThe dense rain and wind was interspersed by the flash of lightning, which illuminated someone standing on the shore wearing a woven rush raincoat and carrying a jug of alcohol. 1

nHe was looking at Xu Qing.

nXu Qing looked back.

nA moment passed, and then the man lifted up his wide conical hat to reveal the smiling face of a middle-aged man.

n“Junior Brother Xu, you don’t need to be so overly cautious. It’s me! I went out to buy some alcohol, and was passing by, so I figured I’d ask if you’d like to have a few drinks together. How could it not be a wonderful thing to drink together in wretched weather like this?”

nThis man was a fellow constable from the Violent Crimes Division, and was actually in the same unit as Xu Qing. He was the same person who had invited him out drinking previously.

nXu Qing said nothing. He just stared coldly at the man.

nThis caused the man to chuckle helplessly. “Well, never mind. In this damnable sect, it’s hard to trust anybody. All I can say is that I don’t have any ill intentions. I just want to make friends, Junior Brother Xu. Lots of members of our unit have had drinks with me, but if you’re not interested, I’ll take my leave.”

nShaking his head, he turned to go.

nBut that was when Xu Qing said, “Alright. Step aboard.”

nThe man stopped walking and looked back curiously at Xu Qing. He looked at his boat, and a deep glimmer of light passed through his eyes. Then he shook his head.

n“Forget about it. I’m not interested in forcing the issue.”

nThen he started walking a bit faster. However, he’d only taken five or six steps when a high-pitched whistling sound erupted out as a dagger shot toward him with spectacular speed.

nHe immediately jumped out of the way, his face falling as he looked at Xu Qing leaping out of his dharmaboat, his iron skewer in hand.

n“Junior Brother Xu, what are you doing?”

nHis pupils constricted as he realized Xu Qing was rushing right toward him. Quickly performing an incantation gesture, he caused the raindrops in the area to turn into arrows that shot toward Xu Qing. However, before they got close, Xu Qing waved his hand, and the raindrop arrows shivered, then shifted directions and shot toward the middle-aged constable.

nThe constable was shocked by this, and as a sense of profound crisis rose up in him, he bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood. It instantly expanded into a blood mist that blocked the incoming rainwater arrows. Meanwhile, he started moving backward as if to flee.

nBut he wasn’t quick enough. He had misjudged Xu Qing’s cultivation base. In the blink of an eye, Xu Qing shot toward him, his iron skewer shining like a lightning bolt as it closed in on the man’s head.

nIt radiated a coldness that could pierce bones.

nThe constable’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he howled as he unleashed the full extent of his cultivation base. A glittering defensive shield sprang up, while a vicious-looking mouth appeared on his chest, ripping through his garments and unleashing a piercing shriek in Xu Qing’s direction.

nThe man’s defenses shattered, but the sound waves erupting from the mouth on his chest managed to slow down the iron skewer. Taking advantage of that extra time, the man threw the jug of alcohol at Xu Qing, turned, and fled at top speed.

nHalfway to Xu Qing, the jug shattered, revealing that it didn’t contain alcohol, but rather, a viscous poison liquid. As it splattered, it began to corrode everything it touched. Even the defenses of the dharmaboat began to melt.

nXu Qing’s eyes glittered coldly. He had suspected from the beginning that something fishy was going on, but couldn’t be sure. But given the weather, and the fact that this constable had shown up under such strange circumstances, Xu Qing decided to act first. Killing intent glittered in his eyes as he looked at the fleeing man. He didn’t give chase. He just reached out and made a vicious grasping gesture.

nInside of him, the Seaforming Scripture roared to life.

nIn response, the surrounding rain shivered, then flew through the air madly and converged in the area surrounding the middle-aged constable. There, they transformed into a huge hand that clasped around him. His eyes went wide with astonishment, and he struggled to free himself, but failed.

nRUMBLE!

nThe man was suspended in midair, his face ashen as death, his eyes filling with terror. He was just opening his mouth to say something when Xu Qing arrived and slashed his throat open with his dagger.

nThe force of the blow sent the man’s head flying off his shoulders.

nAs blood sprayed everywhere, the huge mouth in the constable’s chest bulged out and tried to bite Xu Qing’s hand.

nXu Qing’s Sea and Mountain Incantation surged, and the spectral hobgoblin appeared, howling noiselessly. At the same time, the hand of rainwater smashed down toward the ground.

nA boom rang out as the man’s headless corpse was smashed into a paste, and the mouth was crushed. Afterward, Xu Qing stood in place, breathing hard.

nThe battle had ended quickly. But the truth was that this man’s cultivation base was extraordinary, and his battle prowess shocking. In fact, it was about the same as Xu Qing’s before he entered the city.

nNot even Master Greencloud would have been a match for this man. After all, people who cultivated the Seaforming Scripture had battle prowess that surpassed small organizations by a wide margin.

nXu Qing looked around to see if his dead foe had any companions in the area. But because of the wind and rain, the port was pitch black, and was only illuminated by the occasional bolt of lightning.

n1. I’m sure most of you have an idea what a Chinese woven rush raincoat looks like, but just in case, here’s a cool photo reference of a historical raincoat and matching hat. ☜

n

Chapter end

<<Prev
Next>>
Catalogue
Chapter 1: Living
Chapter 2: Mutagen
Chapter 3: May You Rest in Peace
Chapter 4: An Unexpected Guest
Chapter 5: Scavenger Basecamp
Chapter 6: The Kid
Chapter 7: Please, Eat
Chapter 8: Set for Three
Chapter 9: Consequences of a Threat
Chapter 10: New Clothes
Chapter 11: A Gathering
Chapter 12: The Dangers of the Forbidden Region
Chapter 13: Vile Shadow
Chapter 14: Danger Everywhere
Chapter 15: Blood-Colored Evening
Chapter 16: You Ask When I’ll Return, My Lord; I Can’t Give
Chapter 17: What Are You?
Chapter 18: Grandmaster Bai
Chapter 19: Life
Chapter 20: Home?
Chapter 21: Thirsting for Knowledge
Chapter 22: Temple Complex
Chapter 23: Single Saber Strike
Chapter 24: Kid, You Answer
Chapter 25: Dao of Poison; Corpse-Ravaging Powder
Chapter 26: The Dusk of a Person’s Life
Chapter 27: A Stranger Like Jade
Chapter 28: You Don’t Need Light to Travel the Night
Chapter 29: The Sorrow of Parting
Chapter 30: An Unexpected Gift
Chapter 31: He Bought Insurance from Me
Chapter 32: Life to the Left, Death to the Right
Chapter 33: Eternal Darkness
Chapter 34: A Chance Encounter
Chapter 35: Troubles Bring a Frown
Chapter 36: Killing with Impunity
Chapter 37: Power over Life and Death
Chapter 38: Total Extermination
Chapter 39: A Requiem to the Mortal World
Chapter 40: Growing Up
Chapter 41: Nets Above and Snares Below
Chapter 42: Faceless Woman in White
Chapter 43: Complete Success with the Hobgoblin
Chapter 44: Cause and Effect
Chapter 45: Seeking Revenge over the Smallest Grievance
Chapter 46: Razing the Golden Vajra Warrior Sect
Chapter 47: Seven Blood Eyes
Chapter 48: Buy Corpses?
Chapter 49: Godly Blood
Chapter 50: Seventh Peak
Chapter 51: A Boat for Life
Chapter 52: Colleagues
Chapter 53: Sea Cultivation
Chapter 54: Total Transformation
Chapter 55: An Unusual Captain
Chapter 56: A New Recruit in the Violent Crimes Division
Chapter 57: Take a Spirit Coin
Chapter 58: A Birthday Alone
Chapter 59: A Lonely Figure on a Rainy Night
Chapter 60: Invitation Only
Chapter 61: A Beautiful Young Woman with an Umbrella
Chapter 62: A Ladies' Man
Chapter 63: Hardworking Xu Qing
Chapter 64: Coo. Coooo
Chapter 65: A Secret Worth 100 Spirit Stones
Chapter 66: Trying to Take Credit for My Work?
Chapter 67: Crossing the Line!
Chapter 68: Everyone Has Difficulties
Chapter 69: Fair and Just
Chapter 70: Let Me Treat You to an Egg
Chapter 71: Jabbering Patriarch
Chapter 72: Terrifying Huang Yan
Chapter 73: Domineering Second Highness
Chapter 74: The Path to the Yellow Springs
Chapter 75: Fish-Killing!
Chapter 76: Drought Demons can Scorch all Living Things
Chapter 77: Forbidden Sea Dragonwhale
Chapter 78: Zhang San Makes an Investment
Chapter 79: A New Person at Sea
Chapter 80: Bronze Dragon Chariot
Chapter 81: A Fair Price
Chapter 82: Countless Movements Became Sinister
Chapter 83: A Dragon from the Depths
Chapter 84: Magical Enlightenment from the Sea
Chapter 85: The Summit of a Fiendish Island
Chapter 86: Don’t Mess with Me
Chapter 87: A Vicious Night
Chapter 88: Xu Qing’s Rules
Chapter 89: Unbreakable Alliance
Chapter 90: A Golden Glow that Causes Madness
Chapter 91: Killing for Treasure
Chapter 92: Blood-Soaked Sealizard Island
Chapter 93: Like a Phoenix. Like a Hawk
Chapter 94: Gu Muqing
Chapter 95: The Creditor Comes Knocking
Chapter 96: A Gruish Inn
Chapter 97: The Asuras Appear
Chapter 98: One out of Fifty
Chapter 99: Traveling to the Crimson Wilds
Chapter 100: The Patriarch’s Anxiety
Setting
Font
Arial
Georgia
Comic Sans MS
Font size
14
Background