Chapter 195
Chapter 195: The Legend of the Golden Goose Cup & Golden Rooster’s Choice
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
“The Golden Goose Cup?”
Hearing the name, even Junior Leopard could not help being excited.
After being in this world for so many years, he was very familiar with the allusions in Jianghu. Most of them were too exaggerated to be credible, and a lot of them were just as incredible as fantasy novels. However, some of them were real, such as the Golden Goose Cup.
The origin of the Golden Goose Cup was not known, but it was well-known for its function.
That was that an ordinary person’s life could be prolonged for 100 years, as long as he drank a cup of wine from the Golden Goose Cup!
If a man who knew martial arts and had practiced Internal Qi had drank the wine, it would not only prolong his life for 100 years, but also make a wonderful change in the nature of his Internal Strength, making his Internal Qi produce a kind of intelligence!
The intelligence from the Internal Qi!
This was a fabled phase, different from the unique property produced from Internal Qi. The generating of the unique property was because when your Internal Qi had reached Level Seven, it was increasingly connected with your body and then was influenced by your body. Generally speaking, as long as your Internal Qi had reached Level Seven, it could produce the property.
Intelligence on the other hand was different.
It required a lucky chance. Actually, in the Jianghu rumors, the lucky chance laid in the Golden Goose Cup.
Pour wine or water into the Golden Goose Cup, let it soak for an hour and then it would become amber, whether it was wine or water. Once you drink it, your life would be prolonged for 100 years. Likewise, your Internal Qi would generate powerful intelligence.
However, there were limits for the use of the Golden Goose Cup.
A man could only use it once in his life.
Besides, the Golden Goose Cup could only generate three cups of such amazing wine every 100 years. In other words, after three times, it would be 100 years before the Golden Goose Cup could be reused.
Why did people say that the Golden Goose Cup showed up?
Because its function was too amazing, and the number of use was too limited.
It could only be used three times in 100 years. How about after three times?
You could only put it away as a decoration. But could such a thing really be a decoration?
No!
Ordinary people could not wait for 100 years, but the people in the martial arts world could, especially the experts whose martial arts skills had reached the Tendon-Changing Realm, who lived much longer than ordinary people. An expert of Level Nine could live for 300 years, so in his lifetime, the Golden Goose Cup would work at least twice.
Who didn’t want to live a few more years in the world?
In particular, experts whose cultivation had practiced to the Tendon-Changing Realm, if you gave them another 100 years and let their Internal Qi fill with intelligence; they would have the opportunity to elevate their cultivation to the Mysterious Realm. In that case, their lives would be extended by 200 years to 500 years.
That was too wonderful. Maybe even a saint couldn’t resist the temptation, let alone people in the martial arts world.
Besides these people in the martial arts world, there was a man who was most eager for it.
Who?
The Emperor!
However, unfortunately, in history, no emperor had the fortune to use the Golden Goose Cup. Not a single one.
It was because if you wanted to compete for the Golden Goose Cup, you could only rely on your martial arts, but most of the emperors did not know martial arts. Even if he had practiced martial arts, he would not be very powerful in it. Therefore, he could only rely on his subordinates, but how many people could resist the lure of the Golden Goose Cup in this world?
History proved that there was none!
The emperors sent the imperial court martial experts to snatch the Golden Goose Cup, but they either failed or disappeared. No one could ever really bring it to the emperor.
Every time the Golden Goose Cup appeared, there would be a bloody war in Jianghu. In the beginning, it appeared frequently, but later on, it appeared less and less. Because everyone knew that they could not tell anyone after they got it, but could only hide it. After they got the benefits, they would send the treasure out to avoid disaster for themselves and their families.
In this way, the Golden Goose Cup appeared in the martial arts world less and less. It was basically every 100 years or so. Even then it was mostly unusable, because it had been used before it was sent out.
Even so, its emergence would still cause a bruising contest, because each person could use the Golden Goose Cup only once in a lifetime, and not many people would share it with others. To avoid trouble, most people would like to throw it away as if it were a tricky thing after they used it. Therefore, in many cases, when the Golden Goose Cup showed up, it could be used once or twice.
In addition, each time it appeared, the competition was extremely fierce. The course was very short, because no one would be willing to disclose such information. When people got it, they tended to find a place, fill it with water and wait for an hour. After drinking a mouthful, they would think of giving the cup away.
Why would people want to give it away instead of throwing it away?
Because they were afraid of being suspicious!
There was nothing like an absolute secret. Even if no one really knew that you once got the Golden Goose Cup, you would certainly use your Internal Qi in Jianghu in the future, which, full of intelligence, was quite different when compared to others. Thus, could not the others find it?
Therefore, people would think that the Golden Goose Cup was in your hands, even if you did not have it any more. Then it would invite a disaster.
Thus, you might as well try to put the Golden Goose Cup in the light and let the men in Jianghu compete for it. Whoever got it finally had nothing to do with you.
It had been 150 years since the Golden Goose Cup showed up last time.
The Golden Goose Cup had become a legend in Jianghu. Even the Leaders and Elders of the prestigious sects and schools in the martial arts world had never thought of getting it, not to mention Junior Leopard. Gradually, in the entire martial arts world, the issue of getting the Golden Goose Cup became a lucky chance.
As the saying goes, the natural fetish belongs to predestined one.
If it was not meant to be yours, you would not get it, no matter how high your cultivation was. On the contrary, if it was meant to be yours, you would get it, no matter how low your cultivation was.
The question lay in your destiny and its fate.
Li Jianxin was a man of destiny. It was just that the fate of him and the Golden Goose Cup was too shallow.
After he got the Golden Goose Cup, he was found out before he could warm it up.
What if someone chased after him?
Run away!
Where should he run to?
Run to the mountains. As long as he could shake them off an hour, he would succeed. It was a pity that he overestimated his Lightness Skill too much.
He was blocked in this place.
“Li Jianxin, don’t be silly. Just hand over the Golden Goose Cup!”
Seeing Li Jianxin raising his parcel high, Huang Deguang’s face grew darker, “Do you want to become a public enemy of the martial arts world?”
“Damn it! My life is worth nothing. I’ll have to die, whether you catch me or I break it, if I can’t use it, nor can you. I’m not gonna make you happy!” The muscles on Li Jianxin’s face twitched and he showed a very resolute look.
“Well, Li Jianxin, don’t be impulsive. Let’s talk it over. As long as you hand over the Golden Goose Cup, we promise not to kill you. What do you think?” This time the speaker was an old man. He looked kind, graceful and had an elder’s demeanor. But when he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Li Jianxin’s cyan parcel, which showed his greed.
“Hum, it’s not that easy. There are two other chances to use the Golden Goose Cup. When I’m done with it, I’ll naturally hand over it!”
“Li Jianxin, stop dreaming!” Hearing Li Jianxin’s words, Huang Deguang was in a hurry, “Such a treasure should belong to a man of virtue. Who are you? That you got it was just a fluke! That was lucky enough, but you want to keep it!” Before he had finished his words, his face suddenly stiffened. His mouth that kept talking just now was still open, but he could not say a word. The spirit of his eyes died away and the strength of his body began to fade away as well. He fell to the ground with a splash and died quietly.
“This… Who?”
After two breaths of eerie silence, the crowd that laid siege to Li Jianxin finally reacted. Looking at Huang Deguang who died without any sound, everyone could not help but step back two steps with heart tremble. This was a good opportunity for Li Jianxin who was surrounded. As soon as he saw the crowd retreating, he was ready to break the siege. Unexpectedly, he had just raised his saber when it froze in the air. He was as lifeless as Huang Deguang was. His body fell to the ground along with the parcel that held the Golden Goose Cup.
Having witnessed that the two men die strangely, everyone around dared not take any further action.
Suddenly, a black figure flashed past at a tremendous speed, like an invisible wind. Before they had time to react, the parcel in Li Jianxin’s hand was gone. Almost simultaneously, another black figure jumped up and they vanished after a few of ups and downs.
The people who laid siege to Li Jianxin looked at each other and saw the horror in each other’s eyes. They had only heard of such Lightness Skills and the means of killing in the Jianghu rumors. They never thought of meeting such experts. After the horror, they felt lost, incomparably lost, because they knew that the Golden Goose Cup in the legend was completely out of their sight after that presence. They could handle neither of the two black figures. Even if they could handle them, they could not catch up with them.
“Alas, let’s go. Come on!” The old man who spoke to Li Jianxin sighed heavily, “Huang Deguang was right. ‘Such a treasure should belong to a man of virtue.’ We only have the chance to have a glimpse of it!”
“Have a glimpse? I didn’t even see it!” A man beside him sharply cursed and thrust the long saber in his hand into the ground before turning away.
…
…
“Hey, Golden Rooster, you can’t monopolize this treasure!” Junior Leopard made full use of his legs strength to rush to the front, with the Yanfu Inner Strength running crazily. About 300 feet away from him, Golden Rooster Jin Yuquan was also exerting his body movement and rushing forward like the wind.
Their chasing lasted for four hours before Golden Rooster finally slowed down and stopped. For Junior Leopard, 300 feet were only the distance of two ups and downs.
“Hey, Golden Rooster, you’re too f**king much! We found it at the same time. And I killed them. You got it and wanted to run away?” Junior Leopard cried fiercely as he rushed to Jin Yuquan.
“Boy, isn’t your Lightness Skill too good? My speed was at least twice as fast as that night, and you followed me unhurriedly. You really impress me!” Golden Rooster said, a little breathless. Apparently, it was not easy for him to run for four hours.
“Stop talking nonsense and get it out!” Junior Leopard exclaimed. “It’s a tricky thing. We should get things done quickly and then leave. I want to let sleeping dogs lie!”
“Well!” There was a bitter smile under his Bronze Mask. Jin Yuquan opened the parcel in his hand and there was a small sandalwood box within. He and Junior Leopard glanced at each other and felt each other’s tension.
In the face of treasures like the Golden Goose Cup, no one could be as steady as usual.
Jin Yuquan gently opened the box and then they saw a fist size cup with a simple shape.
The cup was about the same size and style as a teacup. However, its porcelain body was extremely thin; the outside had a layer of azure enamel and the inside was pure white without any impurities. Beyond that, it was nothing special.
“Is this the legendary Golden Goose Cup?” With a slight sigh, Jin Yuquan picked up the Golden Goose Cup, slowly turned it over and there were two golden words at the bottom that read ‘Golden Goose’.
“It’s indeed the Golden Goose Cup. It’s exactly the same as the legend described. Golden Rooster, don’t procrastinate. I don’t know who you want to share it with, but I tell you that I won’t give up!”
“Is there no room for negotiation?”
“Do you think I’m that stupid?” Junior Leopard sneered, “Even a saint may not be able to stay calm when he sees it. Moreover, I’m not a saint. How could I give up such a chance?”
Jin Yuquan gave two hollow laughs sounding a little helpless, “Then I need to ask you a favor!”
“What is it?”
“Keep this secret for me!” Jin Yuquan said gently, “Li Jianxin just said that there are two other chances, but it’s not confirmed. If after it is used once and it doesn’t work when the second time, I use it. I will have to wait another 100 years. That would be terrible!”
“You want to keep this cup?”
“Yes, I’ll give you the first chance to use it, but you have to promise to keep the secret for me for 100 years!”
“100 years?” Junior Leopard exclaimed, “It’s a bit of a hassle, I can’t guarantee it!”
“You have to promise, and swear, or I’ll crush this cup right now!” Jin Yuquan’s voice was soft, but it showed he was resolute. At the same time, his Gang Qi worked, covering his body. “You can kill them silently, but you can’t do it to me!”
“I must swear, then!” Junior Leopard smiled bitterly, “Okay, today I, Zhou Bao, swear that no matter when and what happens, I won’t reveal the secret that the Golden Goose Cup was in Jin Yuquan’s hands. If I break it… if I break it, the… the…”
“If you break it, your tendons and vessels must be broken. Your martial arts must be destroyed!” Said Jin Yuquan in a very cold voice.
“Now, Golden Rooster, why are you so wicked?”
“Hmph, if it were not wicked, would you obey it?” Jin Yuquan sneered.
“Well, okay, as you say, if I break it, my tendons and vessels must be broken, and my martial arts must be destroyed! Well, are you satisfied this time?”
“Yes, I’m satisfied!” Golden Rooster nodedd and the Gang Qi around him was gone. Then he placed the Golden Goose Cup in Junior Leopard’s hands, “Now, you can use it. I hope it won’t disappoint you!”
“I don’t think it’ll disappoint me!” Taking the Golden Goose Cup, Junior Leopard glanced at Golden Rooster, smiled, stopped talking, turned around to take a cup of water from the nearby stream and put it in front of himself.
They sat on the ground and waited quietly. As time went on, the water in the cup began to change gradually, from the original crystal clear to pale golden color. Then, the pale golden color gradually deepened, turned yellow, then slowly deepened again, and finally turned into thick dark amber.
“Sure enough, it’s the legendary Golden Goose Cup. It’s real!” Looking at the amber liquid faintly shining, Junior Leopard and Jin Yuquan could not help but breathing rapidly.
“What? Golden Rooster, you want to change your mind?” Junior Leopard laughed grimly, “It isn’t too late to change your mind!”
“Drink it! Then we will leave here to avoid creating new issues!” Jin Yuquan took a deep breath and fought down the greed in his heart, “Or, how about you listen to my condition?”
“No need!” Junior Leopard answered. He then raised the Golden Goose Cup and emptied it.
A slightly hot liquid passed through Junior Leopard’s throat and fell straight into his abdomen. Then it became an amber gas and was incorporated into his limbs and Internal Qi. Then, there was no more change.
“Well, how do you feel?” Jin Yuquan had been observing Junior Leopard’s reaction. However, Junior Leopard was wearing a weird Smiling-face Mask and he could not see his expression.
Junior Leopard did not reply him, but closed his eyes and began to circulate his Internal Qi.
“There seems to be some differences!”
Yes, he felt some changes in his physical and Internal Qi, but the changes were not obvious, especially the physical changes. In addition to feeling that his body was once again full of energy, the tiredness of the chase was completely driven away. There was nothing else to be surprised about. As for his Internal Qi, there were more changes, but the changes were somewhat ambiguous.
Ambiguity was exactly what Junior Leopard was feeling right now, but he did not do any further research.
“I can’t figure out what this difference is. It might take some time!” In the tone of Junior Leopard, there was some helplessness. Then he handed the Golden Goose Cup to Jin Yuquan, “Now, here you are. It’s your turn!”
Jin Yuquan took the cup, did not speak, and did not hold the water as Junior Leopard did. Instead, he put the cup back in the box and pulled a piece of black cloth from his pocket to wrap the box and hung it on his body.
“You are not trying?”
“100 years later!” Jin Yuquan stood up, “Okay, let’s go. It’s getting late. If we don’t hurry up, we will have to spend the night in the mountains!”
“Are you really not trying?” Junior Leopard gave him an incredible look, “Don’t tell me you want to give the chance to someone else?”
“I don’t need it for the time being. I can wait 100 years!” After saying this, Jin Yuquan stopped talking. Once again, he exerted his body movement and went away.
“A strange guy!” Junior Leopard shook his head in disapproval. But he wasn’t in the habit of forcibly changing other people’s ideas. He wanted to keep this tricky thing and Junior Leopard had no obligation to persuade him otherwise.
Just now when they were fleeing, they ran into the mountains of the Shu. They ran over 50 km in four hours. Although Junior Leopard looked relaxed when he caught up with Jin Yuquan, the fact was that he had already exerted his Yanfu Inner Strength to the extreme, which consumed lots of his Internal Qi. Without his External Elixir, he would not have persisted. For this reason, the Internal Qi of the External Elixir between the eyebrows consumed a lot as well. Though he had a rest, it was not easy to recover.
As a result of such a thing, even Jin Yuquan, a Level Seven expert, had to be careful and did not want to go back the same way. Therefore, along the way, they were walking in the wild mountains, secret forests and beast trails. By the time they were out of the mountains, it was five days later.
Junior Leopard felt exhausted.
“Alas, finally out of this damn mountain!”
In a small town centralization at the foot of Cave Palace Mountain, fatigued Junior Leopard and Jin Yuquan entered the only inn here. As soon as they entered the inn, Junior Leopard sat down and did not want to get up again!
“You’ll rest at the inn and I’ll go to the market and see if there are any horses.” Jin Yuquan told Junior Leopard a few words and went out of the inn.
“Jianghu, Jianghu, this is how an itinerant lives? It’s really tiring!” After Jin Yuquan went out, Junior Leopard asked the waiter to quickly burn a tub of hot water for him. Taking a hot bath and changing his clothes, he immediately felt refreshed.
“There seems to be some strange changes in my body and Internal Qi lately. Maybe the Golden Goose Cup has worked, but its hard to be clear. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to practice and see what kind of benefits the Golden Goose Cup will bring me?”