Chapter 1 A Thousand Cranes

Zhao Yuezhu handed over a phone displaying what looked like a photo of a note.

The note appeared to be quite old, with a symbol resembling a crane drawn on it.

Zhao Yuezhu said, "This is a Xin Piao (trust token) from Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall). Take it; things will be easier. My dad doesn't have the original; only this photo."

After Zhao Yuezhu explained, I understood that the so-called Xin Piao (trust token) was just a token of Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall).

The tattoo industry flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties, but it was banned by the imperial court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although it didn't lead to execution, tattoo artists didn't operate openly.

Back then, tattoo artists were either hidden within gangs or did business through personal introductions. Without the master's Xin Wu (token), the tattoo artist wouldn't accept the business; the Xin Piao (trust token) was one such item.

Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall) had been around for quite a while! At least a century, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

Such places usually harbored unknown legends or secrets.

I took Zhao Yuezhu's phone and stepped into Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall), cupping my fist at the tattoo artist sitting inside: "I am Li Po, here to seek acquaintance with the master."

The tattoo artist, who was working, didn't even raise his head: "I don't mingle in the Jianghu (martial world); I have no acquaintances to seek."

I placed Zhao Yuezhu's phone on the table: "Can this thing buy me an acquaintance?"

The tattoo artist glanced at the phone, and the work in his hand stopped: "A friend wants a tattoo? What do you want to get?"

That was the key. If I mentioned dragons or tigers, I might as well not have come.

Without hesitation, I said, "The Vajra Sutra in Sanskrit. Can you tattoo it?"

The other party was clearly taken aback: "You want to get it?"

"Not me, her!" I pulled Zhao Yuezhu over.

Zhao Yuezhu was about to speak when I pinched her, forcing her to shut up.

The tattoo artist sized Zhao Yuezhu up and down: "How do you want it? Jin Wen (gold tattoo), or Xue Wen (blood tattoo)?"

Although I hadn't gotten a tattoo, there were indeed cases in the world of magic where scriptures or even incantations were tattooed on the body.

However, tattooing scriptures required special techniques. The person being tattooed also needed a special identity; otherwise, it would be no different from courting death.

I smiled faintly: "Jin Wen (gold tattoo). Can you do it?"

In the world of magic, the highest-grade Vajra Sutra was handwritten by eminent monks using golden ink, and after being blessed by the monks, its power was formidable. Even a sorcerer would consider it a treasure.

The so-called Jin Wen (gold tattoo) also uses golden dye, something many tattoo artists can't achieve.

The tattoo artist smiled faintly: "There is nothing Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall) can't tattoo, only patterns you dare not get."

"Then let's begin!" I pulled Zhao Yuezhu over and pressed her into the chair.

The tattoo artist stood up: "You're not here for a tattoo. What does my friend really want?"

I leaned back in the chair and said, "Your human skin isn't worn well; it's a bit wrinkled."

The tattoo artist subconsciously touched his cuff, realizing he had been tricked.

At the same time, the customer sitting in the chair suddenly leaped up, darting towards me like a nimble cat. The tattoo artist turned and ran into the back room.

While airborne, the customer's right fingernails extended like cat claws, and his right pupils turned upside down. Like a nimble cat, he aimed his claws at Zhao Yuezhu's face.

The opponent was very clever, knowing to attack the weakest target first.

My left hand drew Ziye Dao (Midnight Blade) instantly, blocking Zhao Yuezhu's face. The opponent's claws scratched fiercely against the blade, and a harsh metallic sound erupted. The person then fell to the ground.

As I turned the blade to strike at the opponent's head, Zhao Yuezhu suddenly squatted down, took out a large bill, and slapped it on the person's face.

Pressing down on the person's face, she shouted, "Go chase him! I can handle things here!"

When I rushed into the back room of Qian He Tang (Thousand Crane Hall), all I found was a blood-red corpse. The tattoo artist was nowhere to be found. Only a bloody mark remained on the window near the street.

I slowly approached the window, pushing it open with the tip of my blade. Just as I glanced outside, I heard someone behind me say, "What are you looking for?"

As soon as that person spoke, Zhao Yuezhu's voice also came: "Li Po, there's someone behind you! Don't move, don't move! That person is going to grab your leg, don't move..."

My left hand, hanging by my side, gently tapped the hilt of Ziye Dao (Midnight Blade). The curved blade slashed out diagonally by my leg, spinning several times in the air to form a wheel of blades. It swept past the bloody corpse's shoulders, and the corpse was instantly decapitated. The hand that had been reaching for my leg also shattered.

Zhao Yuezhu finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Li Po, are you okay?"

I tilted my head and looked at Zhao Yuezhu: "You saw a human-shaped bacon, and you didn't react at all?"

"Ugh—" Zhao Yuezhu covered her mouth and tried to run out, but I grabbed her and pulled her back: "Puke here. There's a sink over there. If you puke outside, a ghost might drag you into the toilet, and I won't have time to save you. I'll just wait to eat my fill."

"Li Po... you... ugh..." Zhao Yuezhu didn't have time to curse me before she leaned over the tattoo artist's washbasin.