Great Dao Lord through Deducing Myriad Arts

The speaker was an old man, his face a pile of wrinkles and his hair snow-white. He was stooped, making his already short frame seem even smaller. Only his hands were an exception—fair, slender, and as delicate as a young maiden’s.

Someone recognized him.

He was none other than the man they called Ghost-Hand Liu, a master of classic sleight-of-hand tricks like the Cups and Balls.

This man’s seniority was extremely high; even Jin Qiang had to respectfully call him "Third Uncle."

So when he saw him step forward, Jin Qiang couldn’t help but stand up and speak.

"Third Uncle, what are you doing...?"

Ghost-Hand Liu waved his hand. "Say no more. Everyone is contributing to the gang, and these old bones of mine can’t just sit idle. Besides, I’ve lived long enough. My son has learned most of my craft, so I can die in peace even if it’s today."

Jin Qiang fell silent.

He knew this old man all too well. He was eccentric and stubborn; once he’d set his mind to something, not even nine bulls could pull him back.

Ghost-Hand Liu glanced at the woman across from them—the one who had gouged out her own eye—and grinned, baring his teeth.

"A bit of grit, but not enough."

The one-eyed woman snorted coldly. "Old fossil, do it yourself if you’ve got the guts!"

"Heh heh, don’t be hasty. You’ll see soon enough."

He then looked toward Cao Juncai in the distance.

"You, with the surname Cao! You’re really something else. You’ll keep company with any piece of trash, won’t you? Doesn’t the stink of shit bother you?"

This remark was dripping with sarcasm and insults, and it was aimed at Ni Jingtian as well.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Cao Juncai found it hard to keep her composure.

As for Ni Jingtian, he just snorted coldly and said, "Cut the crap, old fossil. If you’re going to make a move, then hurry up. Otherwise, scram and stay put."

"Heh heh!" Ghost-Hand Liu didn’t get angry. He just smiled faintly and gave an order.

"Prepare a wok of oil!"

The moment he said this, not only did the faces of Cao Juncai and her people change drastically, but even Jin Qiang and his men were dumbfounded. They all rushed to dissuade him.

"Third Uncle, let’s drop it!"

"Third Grand-uncle, don’t be rash!"

But Ghost-Hand Liu just shook his head. "Everyone, stop trying to persuade me. My mind is made up. Prepare it!"

Everyone from the Qingxiang Gang fell silent.

Ghost-Hand Liu glared. "What? My words don’t count for anything anymore?"

Only then did someone, tears in their eyes, bring over a wok and start a fire beneath it.

In an instant, thick, oily smoke billowed up.

Ghost-Hand Liu took off his shirt, revealing a frame so gaunt that his ribcage stuck out like a pair of wings. He then cupped his fist to the crowd.

"Everyone, I bid you farewell!"

With that, he strode toward the wok of oil.

"Father!"

A cry rang out from the crowd, and a middle-aged man dropped to his knees with a THUD, his face covered in tears.

Ghost-Hand Liu faltered for a moment but didn’t even turn his head. He just said coldly, "Get up. Don’t let these outsiders see you make a fool of yourself."

The man on his knees was Ghost-Hand Liu’s son. Hearing his father’s words, he wiped away his tears, clenched his jaw, and stood up. He glared with eyes full of hatred at Cao Juncai and Ni Jingtian in the distance.

Wu Liangchen, who had a clear view from the side, couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

For these people of the martial world, death itself wasn’t truly terrifying. What was terrifying was that Ghost-Hand Liu had chosen such a brutal way to die, yet showed not a single trace of fear.

Setting everything else aside, that courage alone was enough to command respect.

Sure enough.

Ghost-Hand Liu reached the wok and grinned wickedly at the distant Cao Juncai, whose face had turned a little pale.

"Watch closely! Today, I, Master Liu, will show you a real masterstroke!"

With that, he jumped straight into the wok of oil without a moment’s hesitation.

SIZZLE! The boiling oil instantly seared the skin from his body.

Yet Ghost-Hand Liu didn’t even grunt. He even roared with laughter, "How satisfying! This hot bath is truly satisfying...."

Cao Juncai’s expression changed dramatically. Even Ni Jingtian could no longer sit still; he stood up, a grave look on his face as he stared.

Ghost-Hand Liu thrashed in the wok a few times. At first, he could still talk and laugh, but his voice grew weaker and weaker until it soon fell silent.

The smell of burnt flesh filled the courtyard, a nauseating stench.

Cao Juncai’s expression shifted several times. She glanced back at her subordinates, but wherever her gaze fell, they all shrank back, daring not to meet her eyes.

’I’ve lost this death match,’ she knew.

Utterly and completely.

But she was nothing if not decisive. She gave Jin Qiang a cold smile.

"Fine. The Qingxiang Gang really has some capable people. We’ll see about this."

With that, she turned and left with her people.

Ni Jingtian gave Wu Liangchen a deep, meaningful look before leaving with them.

Wu Liangchen remained seated, watching Ni Jingtian’s retreating back with cold eyes. A sharp glint flashed in their depths.

At that moment, Jin Qiang and his men pulled Ghost-Hand Liu from the wok of oil. The old man was long dead.

Before he died, his back, stooped for most of his life, had miraculously straightened.

Tears fell from everyone’s eyes. Ghost-Hand Liu’s son collapsed to his knees, crying his heart out.

Jin Qiang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and patted Ghost-Hand Liu’s son on the shoulder.

"Alright, stop crying. The old master was a proud man his whole life, and even his death was this spectacular. None of us will ever forget the debt we owe him."

After a few more words of comfort, Jin Qiang turned and cupped his fist to Wu Liangchen.

"Master Wu, thank you for coming to preside over this matter."

"You’re too kind. It was nothing."

But Jin Qiang shook his head. "It may have been nothing to you, but it was an immense favor to us. After all, if you hadn’t been here, Cao Juncai would never have conceded so readily."

With that, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small pouch and a bamboo token.

"Master Wu, this is a small token of appreciation from the brothers. We didn’t dare give it to you earlier, fearing you’d refuse. Now that the matter is settled, we hope you won’t turn it down."

He respectfully placed the pouch on the table.

It clinked, clearly full of silver coins.

Wu Liangchen didn’t look at the pouch; he was more interested in the bamboo token.

"What’s this?"

"This is a guest credential for our Qingxiang Gang. With this, you can command any member of the Qingxiang Gang at any time, and they will not dare to disobey."

"Also, the Longxing Temple fair is in two days. If you’re free then, Master Wu, you could bring Miss Lian over to enjoy the festivities."

Wu Liangchen nodded. "Alright."

With that, he stood up, taking only the bamboo token and leaving the money pouch.

"I’ll take the token. Forget about the money."

"How can we do that? You...."

Jin Qiang tried to say more, but Wu Liangchen waved his hand to cut him off.

"We’re both far from home, and fellow countrymen at that. It’s only natural to help out a bit. More importantly, you all don’t have it easy earning a living. Leave this money for the injured brothers and for the family of the old master who died so heroically."

Hearing this, Jin Qiang bowed deeply. "Then we thank you, Master Wu. Once we’re done with the temple fair, I will be sure to visit you again to express my gratitude."