In the instant before Changling asked this question, it wasn’t that she hadn’t considered this extremely slim possibility.
But when the character “Yu” truly sprang from Ye Qi’s mouth, she still couldn’t help but be astonished.
This fellow who appeared frivolous and glib, slippery and smooth-talking, whose words jumped from one topic to another—could he actually be the “Wang Xun” she had encountered in the military camp all those years ago?! In her memory, he had been a child who never smiled, was old beyond his years, and spoke in a rigid, methodical manner—a pitiable child indeed.
She examined Ye Qi from head to toe, then from toe to head, and truly couldn’t reconcile the two—except that both dragged around a sickly, half-dead body on the verge of collapse.
Seeing her face frozen in shock, Ye Qi glanced at her uncertainly. “We don’t… have any grudges, do we?”
Changling snapped back to her senses. “What, too many enemies, feeling guilty now?”
“I’m already like this, how could I still care about enemies or not… I just…”
His voice suddenly caught, as if choked, and stopped abruptly.
Changling pressed her hand to his wrist. Feeling that the obstruction in his pulse was identical to eleven years ago, she finally understood. No wonder Ye Qi kept talking about journeys with no return—he truly had a dying body. Even without Tianhun’s palm strike, he probably couldn’t have lasted more than a few days.
Changling hesitated for a moment.
Her original intention had been to use him to control the He family, which was why she had generously transferred ten percent of her cultivation. In truth, she hadn’t been fully confident about saving him. Who would have thought that she herself would end up soaking in the Yellow Springs water for over ten years, while this fellow had the tenacity to survive until now—now that she had finally come back from the dead, if she just let him ride the crane to the west so easily, wouldn’t that be a complete loss of her investment?
Ye Qi felt the last thread inside his body about to snap. Faintly, he heard someone say: “With the qi of the dantian, exhale to expel wind, through the Tiantu point, ascending to the crown of the head, exhale to disperse qi…”
For martial artists, breathing and circulating energy was often instinctive. Though Ye Qi was already delirious, upon hearing these words he unconsciously followed them. Strangely enough, in just the space of one inhalation and exhalation, his originally dizzy consciousness recovered some clarity. Ye Qi looked up at her in disbelief: “You…”
“This is my family’s secret healing technique,” Changling said. “Try a few more cycles, and you probably won’t be in such a hurry to die today.”
Ye Qi’s heart skipped a beat. This scene had an indescribable sense of familiarity. Before he could react, suddenly a tiger’s roar came from above, shaking people’s hearts into turmoil. Changling immediately sat cross-legged, one hand circulating to regulate her internal energy, while her other hand’s long fingers sealed several vital points on Ye Qi’s chest. Fortunately, she reacted extremely quickly and managed to suppress the chaotic energy in time.
The tiger’s roar suddenly cut off. Ye Qi recovered and said with concern: “That tiger’s roar, it’s Sect Leader Jiang’s…”
Dragon’s flight and tiger’s roar were indeed divine skills of the Qingxuan Sect, capable of disrupting an opponent’s internal energy with a single long howl to achieve an unexpected victory. However, this Jiang Fangyao was probably exhausted and lost momentum after just two shouts. Changling was puzzled—it was already several watches into the night, and not only had the eight sect leaders failed to escape, how had they ended up heading toward the Great Ascension Tower?
“I guess the monks in the temple have all the gates blocked. Beyond the Great Ascension Tower to the north are cliffs. They’re planning to climb over and escape via the mountain path,” Ye Qi said, feeling his body much lighter as he propped himself up against the wall. “The trouble is that Abbot Yuan Hai happens to be here too…”
Changling also stood up, seeing that Ye Qi wanted to climb the stairs. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“If the sect leaders can recover their power, they might be able to break through the encirclement…” Ye Qi looked down at the glass vial in his hand. “Since I have the antidote, I should deliver it, shouldn’t I?”
Changling had wanted to say that since no one had been sent down to investigate the cellar after all this time, it meant their whereabouts were still undiscovered. With the eight sect leaders fighting their way here, the two of them might be able to slip away in the chaos… However, seeing Ye Qi’s stance, could he really be planning to throw himself onto the blade?
Changling was baffled: the He family had been ambitious schemers for generations—how on earth had they raised such a fool who enjoyed self-sacrifice and was so naive about human malice?
The commotion outside grew louder. It seemed the two sides had started fighting. Ye Qi struggled up the stairs and found Changling following behind. He stopped again and turned back: “Miss, although… you’ve done Mingyue Zhou such a great favor, he probably won’t make things difficult for you, but if you keep following me, I’m afraid you’ll inevitably be implicated…”
Changling raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, I generally never stop someone who wants to go die.”
Only then did Ye Qi breathe a sigh of relief, though he felt a vague sense of disappointment. Hearing the fighting sounds erupt outside, he dawdled no more and shot straight up.
Ye Qi’s guess was correct.
Outside the Great Ascension Tower, the eight sect leaders were indeed intercepted here. The Daxiao Temple’s Arhat Hall had a total of fifty members, and at least thirty had gathered now, along with the Eight Great Vajras and Four Great Elders—four times as many people. The Arhat Hall consisted of obscure young monks who didn’t follow any martial world etiquette when facing the eight sect leaders. Each wielding a staff, they swarmed forward, people upon people and staffs upon staffs, trapping the eight sect leaders so tightly that not even water could leak through.
But these sect leaders were no pushovers after all. Even though they were affected by the Soft Bone Powder, they couldn’t be easily taken down by these young arhats. When several elders saw the juniors couldn’t contain them, they were too proud to gang up on fewer opponents, so they signaled with their eyes for the Eight Great Vajras to enter the fray. In an instant, the area outside the tower descended into chaos—quite lively indeed.
At this moment, only two young monks stood at the tower entrance, either guarding the door or watching the excitement. Ye Qi paused at the corridor entrance, hesitating about how to knock them out, when he saw two silver needles accurately pierce the young monks’ acupuncture points. As if frozen, the two fell backward simultaneously.
Ye Qi turned his head to see Changling already wearing the bronze armor, her expression calm: “Just convenient.”
At that moment, a cry of angry curses rang out—it was Lu Tianlan’s voice: “The Daxiao Temple truly is remarkable! You don’t keep a single monastic precept but do all these despicable things, taking advantage of others’ misfortune!”
“Sect Leader Lu, you’re giving them too much credit!” Then Chi Zishan’s voice joined in: “How dare they still call themselves monks? They’re the Yan Court’s running dogs—after they die, even Buddha won’t take them in!”
Ye Qi and Changling hid behind the door and peered out. The eight sect leaders’ formation was centered on Yang Xuzi and Xiao Yin, with the other six dispersed around them to respond to the Arhat Hall’s attacks. Whenever someone’s strength failed, Yang Xuzi and Xiao Yin would promptly channel true qi to them—if not for the Soft Bone Powder’s limitations, such a formation would be difficult to break even after a day and night of fighting.
Changling turned to look at Ye Qi and saw his gaze darting everywhere, as if he wasn’t particularly worried about the eight sect leaders being surrounded.
Just moments ago he’d been coughing blood while clamoring to save people, and now he was standing aside watching.
What a strange person.
After the Eight Great Vajras joined the melee, the situation became increasingly precarious. The sect leaders of the Tianlong Sect and Canghai Sect fell one after another from punches, creating gaps in the formation that instantly collapsed. The young monks of the Arhat Hall surged forward, subduing the remaining six sect leaders as well.
These sect leaders had finally escaped from that hellish Dome Tower only to be captured again by human wave tactics. How could they accept this? Yang Xuzi snorted coldly: “The grand national temple of Yan Kingdom uses methods even worse than common thugs! Having fallen into your hands today, kill us if you will—no need for empty words!”
“Exactly!” Jiang Fangyao said. “At worst, we’ll resign from our positions as sect leaders. Our eight sects will have new leaders, and from now on, generation after generation will be enemies of your Daxiao Temple!”
Since the leaders of the Taixu Sect and Qingxuan Sect had spoken thus, the others naturally weren’t willing to show weakness either. They competed to express their determination to die rather than be humiliated. Then Abbot Yuan Hai clasped his hands together: “Amitabha. Our temple has been remiss in its treatment of the sect leaders these past days. This old monk deeply apologizes. When you all leave in the future, should you wish to seek revenge—whether alone or in groups—the Daxiao Temple is willing to accommodate you.”
Changling heard that the old abbot’s tone not only lacked murderous intent but even seemed inclined to release them. Suspicion grew in her heart. The sect leaders all frowned as well. Yang Xuzi said: “Yuan Hai, you captured us first, injured us second, and now show this ingratiating attitude. If you think controlling us means controlling the Central Plains martial world, that’s a pipe dream!”
“Sect Leader Yang misunderstands,” Yuan Hai said. “How you all fell into the trap, you should know quite clearly. The people of our temple did not participate. But since the Daxiao Temple is the national temple, when the court sent you here, we naturally couldn’t refuse…”
“You’re spouting bullshit!” Chi Zishan couldn’t stand it anymore. “If we just ran off like this, I don’t believe the Yan Court wouldn’t hold you accountable! You’re all the court’s dogs—stop putting on this false compassion here!”
Chi Zishan’s crude words made all the monks present show anger. The Four Great Elders were about to step forward when Yuan Hai raised his hand to stop them. Without arguing with Chi Zishan, he looked at Yang Xuzi and changed the subject: “Does Sect Leader Yang remember the Battle of Taixing City?”
Yang Xuzi’s expression changed slightly. “What did you say?”
“In the Battle of Taixing City eleven years ago, nearly two hundred thousand of our Great Yan’s soldiers were completely annihilated. Our sovereign sent an envoy to sue for peace, and two elders from our Daxiao Temple accompanied them, but none returned,” Yuan Hai said lightly. “Later, this old monk went to Taixing to examine the elders’ bodies and learned they had all been struck by the Taixu Sword and died at Sect Leader Yang’s hand…”
Yang Xuzi said: “Your people pretended to sue for peace while actually attempting to assassinate our general. That’s why I acted to protect him. What, does the abbot wish to avenge those two elders?”
Yuan Hai shook his head. “If this old monk wanted revenge, I wouldn’t have let it go eleven years ago. I bring up old matters to help the sect leaders understand that when serving one’s country, one cannot always observe martial world etiquette. Our temple has no intention of settling private scores with public authority. The prince has also promised to release everyone in two months. We only hope the sect leaders won’t waste their lives over temporary anger.”
Hearing this, Ye Qi couldn’t help but scoff: This Abbot Yuan Hai was truly a formidable character. He neither wanted to defy the Yan Court nor wished to offend the Central Plains martial world, so he put on this appearance of thinking of others. Seeing that Sect Leader Yang wasn’t buying it, he brought up the matter from eleven years ago to shut him up—who would have thought Sect Leader Yang really wouldn’t take the bait? Could the events of that year be related to him?
Changling gazed quietly at Yang Xuzi and Jiang Fangyao, her eyes flickering with an inscrutable darkness.
Seeing that the sect leaders had adopted a conciliatory attitude, Yuan Hai signaled for the Arhat Hall to escort them back. Before he finished giving instructions, Chi Zishan suddenly said: “You say you’ll release us in two months—is this true?”
Yuan Hai was about to answer when someone laughed loudly: “Naturally, it’s not true.”
Everyone looked toward the sound to see a man in blue robes slowly emerging from the darkness. Changling fixed her gaze on him—his hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold and arrogant. It was actually Mingyue Zhou himself!
Ye Qi let out a soft “oh” and saw that behind Mingyue Zhou were several Yan Army soldiers, but not that charming and lovely sister of his. He murmured softly: “Just him alone?”
Changling saw his composed expression and didn’t understand. “You expected him to appear?”
“No, no,” Ye Qi lowered his voice to deny it. “I just wonder why the Eighth Princess isn’t here.”
Changling leaned back against the wall. “Don’t forget, these people all fell into that girl’s hands. If she came, at least four of these eight would want mutual destruction with her. If I were Mingyue Zhou, I’d pin her down at home even if I had to.”
Ye Qi saw her arms folded across her chest, her posture relaxed, and felt that the tense atmosphere had been smoothed out considerably by her presence. He smiled faintly: “You’re right.”
Both sides present recognized the newcomer. Even Yuan Hai and the Four Great Elders showed surprise on their faces and stepped forward to bow: “Greetings to Your Highness.”
Mingyue Zhou surveyed the surroundings in a circle, ignoring the heavy resentment of the sect leaders. “Quite lively. Looks like this prince arrived at just the right time…”
Chi Zishan cut him off: “Mingyue Zhou, what do you mean by ‘naturally it’s not true’? You don’t want to release us?”
“This prince never said such a thing, but I also never said I would release people after two months—” Mingyue Zhou turned his gaze to Yuan Hai. “Abbot, did I?”
Yuan Hai coughed. “Perhaps this old monk remembered incorrectly…”
“How strange. The abbot remembers events from eleven years ago so clearly, yet forgets this prince’s instructions so quickly?” Mingyue Zhou took a step forward. “Speaking of which, elders from the Daxiao Temple died under the Taixu Sword eleven years ago—how is it this prince knew nothing of this?”
At this question, Yuan Hai was stunned, and even the sect leaders from the Central Plains were confused: What was happening? Internal strife?
Hearing this, Changling gained some clarity: Eleven years ago, after the Yue family army was betrayed, the Yan Army that had allied with Shen Yao was completely annihilated. Afterward, Shen Yao became emperor of Eastern Xia. There must be some unspeakable connection between these events. Yang Xuzi was certainly in the know, and Yuan Hai seemed to have noticed something but didn’t want Mingyue Zhou to find out.
Yuan Hai answered respectfully: “Your Highness was still young then, so it’s normal not to know. After the two countries made peace, this old monk didn’t wish to create friction over the matter…” Seeing Mingyue Zhou about to speak, Yuan Hai continued: “If Your Highness is curious, you might wait until after the sect leaders are sent back to inquire in detail. Tonight there was an intruder in the temple who not only removed the Iron Skull that the princess brought but also broke into this Great Ascension Tower. Right now the urgent matter is…”
Yuan Hai’s intention was to redirect attention, but unexpectedly Mingyue Zhou interrupted impatiently upon hearing this: “How was the Iron Skull removed?”
Yuan Hai didn’t know the details. Beside him, Yun Zhen answered: “Someone gouged out its right ear and pried open the lock.”
Mingyue Zhou’s heart raced wildly. How many people in this world could gouge out iron ears to open locks?
Before he could feel happy, he looked up and saw thick smoke billowing from the scripture pavilion of the Great Ascension Tower. His heart sank as he pointed at the tower top and asked: “What’s going on?”
“That little thief must have climbed up from outside the tower to the pavilion roof and accidentally triggered the thin oil mechanism in the scripture pavilion…”
Mingyue Zhou trembled suddenly. His brain hadn’t reacted yet, but he had already involuntarily taken two steps forward. He heard Yun Zhen continue in his slow, leisurely manner: “…We’ve already extinguished the fire. There wasn’t a single body in the scripture pavilion. The person most likely escaped.”
“…” Mingyue Zhou’s body swayed.
Hearing that the person had escaped, the sect leaders all secretly breathed a sigh of relief for Ye Qi. Mingyue Zhou gradually collected his shocked thoughts and belatedly sensed something was wrong: “Did anyone see clearly what this little thief looked like?”
Behind the tower door, the two “little thieves” watching the excitement quickly withdrew their gazes. They heard Yuan Hai say: “That man is most likely the person Your Highness has been looking for… The urgent matter is still to send people to search. If we let him escape, it will be difficult to find him again…”
Changling heard this and knew that the comfortable business of watching from across the shore had come to an end. She estimated that at this point, Ye Qi should no longer be thinking about delivering the antidote, so she reached out and patted his shoulder, saying softly: “Come on, I’ll help you leave this place.”
Ye Qi acted as if he hadn’t heard, standing immovably and gazing ahead.
Mingyue Zhou stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes seeming to penetrate through to the other side of the tower door. “This prince has already sent troops to seal off all the mountain paths outside the temple. Escape is certainly impossible… As for searching, there’s no need…”
He paused, looking ahead with certainty: “The person is probably inside the tower.”
Changling was startled. When had this slow-witted little prince become so clever?
Now, forget about taking along a Ye Qi—leaving with all limbs intact would probably be difficult to accomplish.
She was struggling with this difficulty when Ye Qi suddenly grasped her hand. Before she could react, he pressed a ring-shaped jade into her palm. She looked up to meet his unfathomably deep eyes and heard him say: “For ten years I’ve been searching for someone without any news, wanting to give this jade to her. But now, I’m afraid I can’t…”
Outside the tower, several young monks from the Arhat Hall were walking in step by step.
“I had planned to bury this jade with me in the yellow earth. Just now I saw that the bronze armor fits you perfectly, and I thought if paired with jade, they would surely complement each other beautifully.” Ye Qi’s lips curved into an attractive arc. “I’ll give you the jade. Whether you keep it or sell it is up to you, miss.”
Changling was somewhat dazed—she had collected things all along this journey without batting an eye, but somehow, she couldn’t hold onto this jade ring steadily no matter what.
“What’s the name of the person you’re looking for? If I meet her in the future, I can pass it on for you.”
Ye Qi’s hand had already been reaching for the door handle. Hearing her question, his movement froze.
He glanced at Changling, as if for an instant wanting to say something, but only smiled and turned his head back.
The door of the Great Ascension Tower was slowly pulled open. Ye Qi looked calmly toward the crowd outside, seriously answering Changling’s question: “Her name is Changling. Ling as in hills and ridges.”
For an instant, Changling could hardly believe her own ears.
The next moment, Ye Qi stepped out, his gaze coldly meeting Mingyue Zhou’s, still wearing that calm and carefree smile: “Third Prince, long time no see. You’re still as heroic and extraordinary as ever.”
Mingyue Zhou revealed a cold smile: “Your manner is also as bold and reckless as before, not knowing whether to live or die, Marquis He.”