Cai Zhao intended to support Yang Xiaolan, but Mu Qingyan dragged her away, leaving Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue to deal with Siqimen’s henchmen.
“Your parents love you dearly. Why watch a family tragedy unfold? Have some sense—hasn’t Miss Xiaolan suffered enough? Hurry, go save your senior sister Lingbo!” Mu Qingyan urged.
Angrily shaking off his hand, Cai Zhao snapped, “Let go! I’ll walk on my own!”
Mu Qingyan calmly replied, “You already know where the underground palace is. Do you intend to face Qi Yunke alone?”
Cai Zhao shook her head. “My affairs are none of your concern. Sect Leader Mu, your cleverness often entraps others. I fear your schemes and prefer we part ways.”
“I won’t deceive you again,” Mu Qingyan assured her. “You can’t face Qi Yunke alone. You need my help.”
Cai Zhao scoffed, “Help? Who knows what other motives you have? Your schemes run deep, and I dare not guess. I simply can’t trust you anymore.”
“I found Mu Zhengyang’s remains,” Mu Qingyan suddenly revealed.
Startled, Cai Zhao quickly retorted, “So what?”
“They were in a cave passage on the other side of the Hanhai mountain range,” Mu Qingyan explained. “Your aunt killed him, nearly cleaving his body in half with her Yanyang blade.”
Cai Zhao gritted her teeth. “He deceived my aunt terribly. He deserved to die! Mu Qingyan, I’m warning you—if you ever do something so heinous…”
Mu Qingyan interrupted, “I won’t repeat Mu Zhengyang’s mistakes.” He looked at her intently. “I won’t push things too far, destroying my destiny and taking the life of the one I love.”
Cai Zhao stubbornly stood silent. Mu Qingyan stepped forward, emphasizing each word, “Whether you believe me or not, I can’t stand by and watch you follow your aunt’s path of facing enemies alone.”
Cai Zhao turned away and sped off without a word. Following Song Yuzhi’s instructions, they entered through a hidden path behind a circular white jade flowerbed. After navigating twists and turns and activating mechanisms, they descended stone stairs into an unknown underground chamber. The long corridor floor was paved with mirror-like purple-gold bricks, while crystal bowls of whale oil lamps hung from the high-domed ceiling.
“Old Yin Dai spared no expense,” Mu Qingyan mused. “Where did he get all this money? Reputable sects can’t openly amass wealth.”
Cai Zhao ignored him.
Mu Qingyan continued, “No wonder he took Guo Zigui as his disciple. It wasn’t just to spite Elder Zhou. The Guo family was once the wealthiest in Jiangdong, but after Guo’s parents died, only a few hundred taels of silver were found. Someone must have gradually emptied their coffers.”
Still, Cai Zhao remained silent.
“Recruiting assassins, accumulating vast wealth, building secret chambers—this Elder Yin is truly a remarkable figure of our time. He and Nie Hengcheng make quite the pair,” Mu Qingyan added.
Cai Zhao finally broke her silence: “My aunt should have killed Yin Dai first. Without him, many people’s fates would have changed.”
Mu Qingyan gently consoled her, “True villains are easy to eliminate, but hypocrites are hard to punish. When your aunt killed Nie Hengcheng, people cheered. But if she had killed Yin Dai, the Qingque Sect leader, imagine the backlash. She was in a difficult position.”
As they cautiously proceeded down the long corridor, mindful of traps, Cai Zhao pondered the consequences if her master hadn’t schemed to kill Yin Dai.
Mu Qingyan smirked, “Naturally, he’d be surrounded by children and grandchildren, with worthy successors, all enemies vanquished, and universal praise for his brilliance. Elder Yin would be living quite contentedly!”
Cai Zhao shuddered at the thought of the mastermind behind countless tragedies enjoying a long, prosperous life. “Regarding killing Yin Dai, I think my master did the right thing,” she whispered. “But he shouldn’t have killed so many innocent people—Uncle Zhou, Fakong Shangren, your father, Uncle Chang, and the people at the fortress. They were good people who didn’t deserve such deaths.”
Mu Qingyan smiled, though his brow betrayed a lingering resentment. “Indeed, they shouldn’t have died like that.”
Sensing his hatred, Cai Zhao suddenly asked, “What did you do to that blood orchid? Did you poison it?”
“More or less. I used gold needles to introduce something into its stem and leaves,” he replied.
Cai Zhao stopped and looked up. “The Seven Insect Seven Flower Soul-Chasing Pill? Won’t my master discover it? What if he expels the poison while practicing the Purple Wei Heart Sutra?”
Mu Qingyan smiled. “The Seven Insect Seven Flower poison has been used in our sect for 200 years. Every victim was a skilled martial artist. The poison only activates when triggered, causing no interference with normal cultivation.”
“Sect Leader Mu, your family traditions run deep,” Cai Zhao said sarcastically.
Mu Qingyan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “We’re practically family. No need for such formalities.”
“Here!” Cai Zhao found a white stone lotus bud-shaped wall lamp. She twisted it, opening a hidden door in the left wall. They entered, finding themselves in a vast circular room. In the center stood a meditation platform carved from a single piece of green jade. Qi Yunke sat cross-legged upon it, with a black stone—the stolen Purple Jade Golden Sunflower—beside him.
“Master!” Cai Zhao exclaimed, surprised to find him so easily.
In the short time since they parted at Peiiqiong Mountain Villa, Qi Yunke had changed dramatically. His once kind face was now gaunt and sharp, exuding a sinister aura. Cai Zhao could hardly recognize the man who had lovingly raised her for over a decade.
Qi Yunke glanced at them indifferently. “You’ve finally arrived. Yang He’ying and Song Xiuzhi truly are useless, unable to delay you even half a day.”
As Cai Zhao was about to speak, they heard a muffled female voice. Turning, they saw two iron frames opposite the lotus platform. On one, the unconscious Qi Lingbo was chained—Cai Zhao sighed in relief to see her alive. On the other, Yin Qinglian was bound, her disheveled hair wild and mouth gagged, only able to make muffled sounds.
Cai Zhao remembered visiting Madam Qinglian just over a month ago. Then, though melancholy, she had been youthful and elegant. Now, the middle-aged woman before them was tear-stained and haggard, her once-prized black hair half-turned gray. Yin Qinglian struggled frantically, trying to reach Qi Lingbo several yards away, but her bonds held her fast.
Shocked, Cai Zhao instinctively moved to free Yin Qinglian, but Qi Yunke flicked a pebble to block her path.
“Master!” Cai Zhao cried, “If you want to kill her, do it! Why torture her like this?”
Qi Yunke replied coldly, “I won’t kill her. I want her to live and watch her loved ones die one by one. Just as I once watched your aunt become crippled, suffer for over a decade, and finally perish.”
Cai Zhao struggled to speak, “Master, would Aunt approve of this?”
Qi Yunke looked up at the domed ceiling, his voice venomous, “Your aunt always sacrificed herself. I only hope Yin Dai’s spirit can witness his daughter’s suffering.”
“Master, you can’t mean to kill Senior Sister Lingbo! She’s your flesh and blood!” Cai Zhao pleaded.
“Lingbo has a bad temper and worse character, but that’s not a capital offense. Unfortunately, she was born Yin Dai’s granddaughter. I’ll spare her the pain—she’ll die in her sleep,” Qi Yunke stated matter-of-factly.
Mu Qingyan interjected, “If you hate the Yin family so much, why spare Song Yuzhi? Isn’t he Yin Dai’s grandson too?”
“How can you ask that now?” Cai Zhao exclaimed, exasperated.
Qi Yunke’s eyes flashed with hatred as he looked at Mu Qingyan’s handsome face. He closed his eyes, composing himself, “Sect Leader Mu, you’re truly cunning. I suspected ‘Chang Ning’s’ identity but never imagined it was you in disguise. I’d never seen you before and didn’t take you seriously. I thought Nie Zhe and Sun Ruoshui’s plot had killed you. The Suzi Fragrance and Qianxun Wood poisons are incurable—you’re lucky to have survived.”
He continued, “As for Yuzhi, he’s different. Raised by my side, he’s talented, handsome, noble, and righteous. He’s perfect for Zhaozha.”
Mu Qingyan’s smile vanished. “Dream on, old fool! Perfect? Righteous? Once I’ve dealt with you, I’ll finish that spineless Song!”
“Please, show some restraint,” Cai Zhao rolled her eyes.
Mu Qingyan glared at her, “You’d better worry about Song’s well-being.” He then produced an odd black bone whistle from his robes. “Sect Leader Qi, just groan if you can’t take it anymore.”
He began to play an eerie, mournful tune. Cai Zhao watched anxiously as Qi Yunke’s complexion turned a strange purple, his facial muscles twitching.
After a moment, Qi Yunke spoke, “You poisoned the blood orchid?”
“Correct,” Mu Qingyan continued playing, activating the Seven Insect Seven Flower poison while channeling his inner force through the whistle’s sound. The energy waves crashed against Qi Yunke, forcing him to defend and accelerate the poison’s effects.
Cai Zhao watched intently. Qi Yunke closed his eyes, summoning a faintly glowing energy shield to block Mu Qingyan’s attacks. As the shield weakened and Mu Qingyan’s assault intensified, Cai Zhao prepared to free the Yin women.
Suddenly, a metallic crack resounded. Qi Yunke let out a chest-deep laugh as his shield shattered. Several invisible energy blades shot out, catching Mu Qingyan off guard. He slammed into the stone wall, clearly wounded.
“You’re not affected by the Seven Insect Seven Flower poison?” he asked, blood trickling from his mouth.
Cai Zhao rushed to support him.
Qi Yunke chuckled, “I am, but I was born with the ‘Heavenly Fire Dragon’ constitution.”
Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan exchanged confused glances.
Qi Yunke explained mockingly, “The ‘Heavenly Fire Dragon’ is not only an extremely rare cultivation aptitude, but it also has a perk—once all meridians are opened, one becomes immune to all poisons. Your ancestral poison was wasted! Haha!”
Before they could react, Qi Yunke activated a mechanism beneath the lotus platform. A stone wall slid towards them, nearly crushing them. Cai Zhao helped Mu Qingyan dodge, but the wall suddenly turned, locking into place with side projections, trapping them in a small fan-shaped stone chamber.
“Poison immunity? How did I not know this about the Heavenly Fire Dragon?” Mu Qingyan muttered.
Cai Zhao began striking the wall, “I didn’t know either. Aunt never mentioned it. How come you didn’t know, with all your sect’s resources?”
Mu Qingyan replied glumly, “The ‘Heavenly Fire Dragon’ constitution is incredibly rare. Only one in a thousand can break through in cultivation, and only one in a hundred of those can fully open their meridians. Who knew it also granted poison immunity?”
“Wait, isn’t Qi Lingbo also a ‘Heavenly Fire Dragon’?” Cai Zhao asked, still striking the wall.
“That was just flattery for the Yin women,” she answered. “The ‘Heavenly Fire Dragon’ depends on chance. Senior Sister Lingbo might just be ordinary.”
After several strikes, Cai Zhao created a small crack in the wall. Qi Yunke’s voice came through, “Don’t rush, Zhaozha. Once my divine skill is complete, I’ll deal with this Mu dog, then arrange a grand wedding for you and Yuzhi.”
Hearing this, Mu Qingyan found renewed strength and stood up, ready to fight. Cai Zhao held him back worriedly, “Rest a bit more. Internal injuries are no joke.”
Before Mu Qingyan could respond, a familiar voice came from outside—”Master, Master, so this is where you are!”
The battle raged fiercely on the cliff, with Li Wenxun’s larger force gradually gaining the upper hand. Zhou Zhixian and her companions struggled to hold their ground, finding it increasingly difficult to resist.
“Surrender your weapons, and I’ll spare your lives,” Li Wenxun said coldly.
“Go to hell!” the Daoist priest Yun Zhuan cursed loudly. “I’ve already faced death once, experiencing the agony of flesh and bone torn apart. Your threats mean nothing to me!”
Master Juexing exchanged a glance with Zhou Zhixian. If defeat was imminent, they would need to stay behind to cover the retreat of the others through the last iron chain mechanism back to Fengyun Peak.
Suddenly, they heard the clanking of the iron chain mechanism at the edge of the cliff. A slim, upright elderly nun leaped down, followed by seven or eight people in various attire. Zhou Zhixian and the others cried out in joyful surprise, “Master Jingyuan!”
Master Jingyuan stood at the cliff’s edge, her robes billowing in the wind. Among those who followed her were individuals dressed as shopkeepers, fishermen, and even middle-aged neighborhood women. One woman wielded two large axes like a butcher fresh from the meat shop. The diverse group would have astonished Cai Zhaoruo, as these seemingly ordinary folks who had haggled with her now revealed themselves to be skilled martial artists in disguise, their eyes sharp and their energy focused.
Master Juexing’s eyes lit up. “Wang the shopkeeper, Boss Chai, Fish-head Fang, Liu the butcher, and even the old tofu beauty… How did you all get here? And since when did you know martial arts?”
The middle-aged neighborhood woman glared at him. “Watch it, baldy! Drop that ‘old’ when you’re talking about me!”
Li Wenxun’s expression darkened. “No wonder some of those fierce bandits and street ruffians Cai Pingshu dealt with years ago went missing. I thought you were dead, but it turns out you’ve been hiding in Luoying Valley under new identities.”
Fishhead Fang stepped forward. “Thanks to Lady Cai, we survivors have lived peacefully for over a decade. We’re here today to test our skills, hoping our martial arts haven’t grown too rusty.”
“Very well,” Li Wenxun said haughtily. “Let’s begin!”
“Master, Master! You’re here!” Zeng Dalou came running, drenched in sweat. “It’s chaos outside! The Yu brothers are fighting to the death, and that Yang girl is even more deadly, battling Yang Zhangmen for her life. I saw the doors wide open here and came to check—Master, what should we do now?”
Qi Yunke, having just countered Mu Qingyan’s attack, was regulating his breath to stabilize the qi in his dantian. “No matter. Once I break through this final barrier, these people will be mere insects to me.”
Zeng Dalou nodded, hovering anxiously by the lotus platform. “Master, you don’t look well. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Qi Yunke gazed at Zeng Dalou’s concerned face, remembering how Cai Pingshu had found him years ago—skinny, small, and covered in wounds and frostbite, like a dying monkey. He sighed softly, “Bring me two Qingxin pills from that shelf. They’ll help.”
Zeng Dalou eagerly complied, circling the platform to fetch the pills. As Qi Yunke began to relax, he suddenly sensed a faint movement behind him. He instantly tensed, but a blade had already pierced his back by an inch. Howling in pain, he struck back forcefully. With a sickening crunch of breaking bones, Zeng Dalou was thrown against the stone wall like a rag doll.
Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao witnessed this shocking scene through a crack in the wall. Cai Zhao fretted, “If only we had a ‘Thunderstorm’ bomb to blast through this wall!”
Mu Qingyan scoffed, “Don’t be foolish. Setting off a ‘Thunderstorm’ in this underground chamber would bring the ceiling down on us. We’d be buried alive.”
Qi Yunke remained seated on the lotus platform, his body still. He fixed Zeng Dalou with an icy stare. “Dalou, I’ve treated you well, and Pingshu saved your life. Now that I’m avenging her, you dare to interfere? Have you lost all conscience?”
His last words, fueled by inner force, reverberated throughout the vast chamber, causing Yin Qinglian to collapse in agony, her eardrums nearly ruptured.
Zeng Dalou coughed up blood. “Disciple… couldn’t stand by… and watch Master… make a grave mistake… forcing Shimu to her death.”
“You…” Qi Yunke seemed to realize something, disbelieving. “You betray Pingshu and me for Yin Qinglian, that selfish, cold-hearted, affected woman?!”
Struggling to breathe, Zeng Dalou replied, “Disciple knows… the great kindness… you and Lady Cai showed me. I’d give my life… for your orders. But… but…” His smile was bitter. “Who one loves… isn’t something even we can control. I couldn’t watch… her and her daughter die. Master, if only… you had understood your own heart earlier… if only…”
His last words seemed to hint at something, leaving Qi Yunke momentarily stunned. Just then, Qi Yunke smelled something burning. Looking down, he saw a fist-sized iron case wrapped in cotton at the mechanism beneath the lotus platform. The thin fuse had just burned out—
Before Qi Yunke could extinguish it, the package exploded with a bang. The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to cause temporary ringing in the ears. The explosion, precisely calculated, damaged the mechanism under the platform, breaking the springs and disabling the trap. The stone wall slowly slid open…
Unable to obtain a powerful ‘Thunderstorm’ bomb, Zeng Dalou had painstakingly saved this small amount of gunpowder. Its force was just enough to break the mechanism, equivalent to striking it with a knife handle, but it caught Qi Yunke off guard.
As the wall opened, Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan rushed out, just in time to see Zeng Dalou breathe his last. Qi Yunke could no longer maintain his composure. He slowly stood up from the tilting, cracked lotus platform and descended. “It seems I won’t be able to complete my cultivation without confining you. Zhaozao, I’m afraid I’ll have to hurt you. Don’t worry, you’ll heal afterward.”
Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao knew that now, their only option was to fight head-on. They drew their weapons—the long sword ‘Fuying’ and the Yanyang Knife.
The scene shifts to other ongoing battles:
The Azure Rainbow Sword flew into the air as Song Yuzhi drew Bai Rainbow, executing the fourth move of the Song family’s Cloud-Parting Sixteen Techniques. His strike was swift and beautiful, instantly effective. With a hiss, blood sprayed as Song Xiuzhi’s right palm and collarbone were pierced through. His sword clattered to the ground as he collapsed.
The observing disciples cheered, momentarily transported back to carefree days of watching Song Yuzhi’s masterful swordsmanship. If Li Wenxun hadn’t been on patrol, they might have even brought out snacks to enjoy the show. But now…
“Was that… Cloud Parting Mist Scattering?” Song Xiuzhi gasped, struggling to support himself.
Song Yuzhi nodded.
Song Xiuzhi smiled bitterly. “I practiced that move for so long, yet still fall short of you. I used to secretly pride myself on my swordsmanship being better than Maozhi’s when others praised him. Who knew… Ah never mind. What do you plan to do with me?”
Meanwhile, Yang Xiaolanf finally locked Yang He’ying’s sword with her double axes. Yang He’ying, exhausted, looked pleadingly at his daughter, but Yang Xiaolanf remained unmoved. She channeled her inner force through her arms, snapping Yang He’ying’s sword in two. With a palm strike to his abdomen, she shattered his dantian!
Yang He’ying crumpled to the ground, terrified and broken. Yang Xiaolanf approached slowly. “Don’t worry, Father. After you’re gone, I’ll take good care of Tiansi. He was born weak and can’t cultivate advanced martial arts. I’ll have him taught to read and write, to live as a simple farmer.”
Slumped against the wall, Yang He’ying wept, barely able to move. “Xiaolanf, I’m still your father! Blood is thicker than water! You can cripple my martial arts and imprison me, but please… Xiaolanf, do you remember when I took you to see the lantern festival as a child?”
Yang Xiaolanf continued impassively, “As for the position of Siqi Sect Leader, I’ll take it over. Some elders may oppose it, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll defeat anyone who stands in my way. They remained silent during your years of wrongdoing; they have no right to object when I become the leader. Don’t you agree, Father?”
Growing more terrified, Yang He’ying cried, “You… you ungrateful girl! You mean to kill me! You… you dare…!”
The double axes arced through the air, descending with the force of wind and thunder.
Yang He’ying let out a terrible scream as his throat was slashed open. Blood gushed forth as his eyes bulged in disbelief, unable to accept that he would die at the hands of the daughter he had always disregarded.
You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan, having just dealt with Siqi Sect’s minions, arrived to witness this scene. Even these two demonic cult leaders were shocked. You Guanyue murmured, “I thought the girl was just talking tough, but she killed her father.”
Yang Xiaolanf knelt before her father’s corpse, kowtowing three times until her forehead bled. She said softly, “Out of consideration for our father-daughter relationship, I’ll leave your body intact and won’t take your head.”
Turning with tears in her eyes, she requested, “Would the two elders please move my father’s body and these two heads to the pavilion ahead? I’ll return to handle the burial later.”
“Of course, of course,” Shangguan Haonan eagerly volunteered, examining Yang He’ying’s body closely before giving a thumbs up. “Young Heroine Yang, you’ve exacted your revenge without being bound by empty reputations. You’re truly capable of great things! If you ever need help in the future, just send word. As long as it doesn’t violate our sect’s rules, I’ll do my utmost to assist!”
“Capable of great things?” For the first time since Lady Zhuo’s death, Yang Xiaolanf shed tears. “I’d rather never accomplish anything great or be known to anyone if it meant those who love and care for me could live well in this world.”
Shangguan Haonan was taken aback, his raised thumb slowly lowering.
On the cliff, the tide of battle turned with Master Jingyuan and her companions joining the fray. Given her age, Master Jingyuan was on par with the Three Elders of Qingque. Her skills were formidable, and without the need to protect weaker nuns, she could now unleash her full abilities.
Cloud Seal Daoist and Zhou Zhixian surrounded and attacked Ouyang Kexie from both sides. Zhou Zhixian seized the moment when Cloud Seal Daoist’s whisk entangled the enemy’s hands, thrusting her weapon through his ribs and striking his acupoints to capture him.
Master Juexing’s staff whistled through the air, finally finding an opening to shatter Chen Qiong’s shoulder. Seeing their numbers dwindling, Situ Hui surrendered.
Li Wenxun, sustaining several severe injuries, looked around and realized the battle was lost. He smiled bitterly, “No need for you to act. I’ll do it myself.” Suddenly, his eyes blazed with anger. “I’ve done no wrong! I sought vengeance for my master, his brothers, and my senior disciples! The world may have forgotten them over these past decades, but I remember!”
With those words, he raised his right palm and smashed his skull, dying instantly. The onlookers sighed in dismay. Zhuang Shu, who had just arrived, fell to his knees before Li Wenxun’s body, wailing in grief.
After a moment of stunned silence, Master Juexing suddenly cried out, startling the Tofu Beauty. “What’s wrong with you, baldy?” she asked.
“We must help my niece—I mean, Amitabha, this poor monk is again concerned with worldly ties… We must help young benefactor Cai!” Master Juexing exclaimed, grabbing his staff and running off.
Qi Yunke stood alone, wielding two extremely long ropes against Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan. Only now did Mu Qingyan realize the depth of Qi Yunke’s inner power. The ordinary ropes in his hands moved like agile dragons, yet made no sound, as if wielded by a ghost.
Cai Zhao attempted to cut the ropes with her Yanyang Knife, but each time the blade touched the rope, a powerful force repelled it, leaving her arm numb. Mu Qingyan could barely fend off one or two moves directly, while Cai Zhao could only circle the periphery, looking for an opening.
After a brief exchange, Shangguan Haonan, You Guanyue, Yang Xiaolanf, Song Yuzhi, and others arrived. The battle-hungry Shangguan Haonan immediately tried to grab the flying ropes, only to be violently repelled as if touching a red-hot iron.
You Guanyue quickly drew his ghost-headed hook, attempting to tangle with the ropes. However, one rope wrapped around his hook, twisting the steel weapon as if it were made of clay. You Guanyue was a fraction too slow in releasing his grip, resulting in three broken finger bones.
Qi Yunke contemptuously flicked the rope, tossing aside the mangled hook—all while still engaging Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao with his other rope.
After observing for a moment, Yang Xiaolanf called out, “Sect Leader Qi’s inner power is profound. Let’s attack together!”
Everyone had been thinking the same, and so, including several Liejiao members, over a dozen people surrounded Qi Yunke.
Qi Yunke laughed heartily. Through some incredible manipulation of force, he wove his two ropes into countless overlapping circles, ensnaring his opponents. Two Liejiao members, unable to escape in time, were caught in a circle that tightened around their necks, simultaneously breaking their cervical vertebrae. The crack of shattering bones echoed ominously under the brick dome.
“Commander Li! Commander Qiu!” You Guanyue cried out hoarsely. “Yan Laosan, run!”
Yan Laosan reacted quickly, nearly escaping the rope’s range when the rope’s end suddenly appeared from nowhere, striking his back with a loud crack. That single blow shattered his spine, instantly paralyzing the once-towering man.
This display of power terrified everyone except Yang Xiaolanf. While fending off the layers of rope circles, she said, “Sect Leader Qi, I know you’re skilled, but what you’re doing is wrong!”
Qi Yunke inwardly scoffed, intending to crush the girl’s skull. Song Yuzhi, seeing the danger, rushed in with his sword to save her. Unexpectedly, the rope meant for Yang Xiaolanf snaked behind Song Yuzhi’s head, striking his left forearm with a crack. The bone shattered, and Song Yuzhi retreated in agony.
Mu Qingyan inwardly sneered, silently cursing Qi Yunke for still showing mercy to Song Yuzhi at such a time.
Yang Xiaolanf seized the opportunity to lock a section of rope with her double axes, attempting to break through the circle before her. As she applied force with both hands, the rope suddenly reversed direction, enveloping her entire body.
Just as Yang Xiaolanf seemed doomed to share the fate of the two Liejiao commanders, Qi Yunke unexpectedly locked eyes with her. He hesitated—when he first met Cai Pingshu, she had been about Yang Xiaolanf’s age, similarly small and unremarkable, except for her eyes that shone with righteousness and chivalry.
Qi Yunke’s grip unconsciously loosened for half a beat. The python-like rope was about to constrict Yang Xiaolanf when Shangguan Haonan, who had just struggled to his feet, rolled across the ground. Taking advantage of Qi Yunke’s hesitation, he dragged Yang Xiaolanf out of the rope’s circle.
Master Juexing and the others arrived, following the sounds of battle. Cloud Seal Daoist, seeing the carnage, cursed loudly, “Qi Yunke, have you gone mad? I’ve always respected you, yet you’ve become so vicious and cruel. Today, we must eliminate you, you treacherous villain!”
“Then come,” Qi Yunke replied, his expression unchanged, his inner power still contained like the sun behind clouds, revealing no weaknesses.
The ropes began to move again. Those previously injured withdrew from the battle circle, while Zhou Zhixian and others joined in. The rope circles, like silent snakes lurking in a swamp, imperceptibly ensnared people.
Situ Hui, who had just surrendered, rushed to the front lines hoping to redeem himself. As the rope circles around him grew smaller, he dodged left and right but couldn’t escape. The circles before him seemed like the gaping maw of a venomous snake. Terrified, before he could cry for help, his neck was snapped with a crack.
Cloud Seal Daoists found that every step forward was met with a web-like barrier of ropes. He swung his whisk desperately, willing to sacrifice his life to wound Qi Yunke. After just two steps, a rope from the side struck his skull with a loud crack, instantly shattering it and spilling his brains—the last disciple of the once-renowned Qingfeng Temple, who had survived Nie Hengcheng’s massacre and the erosion of decadent years, finally met his end here.
“Daoist!” Master Juexing cried out in anguish, lunging at Qi Yunke. With a flick of his wrist, Qi Yunke trapped him and his staff in a large rope circle. Master Juexing struggled to keep the circle from tightening with his steel staff. Qi Yunke applied a bit more force, and the steel staff suddenly bent in half.
As Master Juexing was about to be strangled, Cai Zhao wailed, “Master, that’s my uncle!”
Qi Yunke paused, memories flooding back—years ago, he and Cai Pingshu, along with the tagalong Ning Xiaofeng, had spent all their money helping a village of widows and orphans. The three of them, cold and hungry, huddled in a dilapidated temple, watching Ning Xiaofeng shiver with hunger. They were considering robbing the rich to help the poor when the scruffy-faced Master Juexing walked in, grinning, with two jugs of wine and four roasted chickens. Under the starry sky and before the crumbling Buddha statue, the four of them had eaten and drunk their fill.
Qi Yunke’s heart softened. He lifted Master Juexing high and threw him toward the end of the corridor, thinking the fall would incapacitate the big monk for hours.
Seeing Qi Yunke’s distraction, Zhou Zhixian seized the chance to strike with her sword. However, the rope coiling in the air seemed to have a mind of its own, loudly striking her lower back. The intense pain sent Zhou Zhixian crashing to the ground, unable to move her lower body.
Looking at the paralyzed Zhou Zhixian, Qi Yunke vaguely recalled how, when Old Lady Min had given Pingshu a hard time with her sarcastic remarks, Zhou Zhizhen had only shrunk his neck like a turtle, playing the filial son. Only the young Zhou Zhixian had consistently spoken up for Pingshu.
Suddenly irritated, Qi Yunke thought: Having decided to embrace evil, why hesitate now? A great fire, a great flood, a cataclysmic disaster—it would be better if everyone died together. We could all be reborn and start anew in the next life!
Suddenly, Qi Yunke unleashed his power. His two long whips coiled around the crowd like endless poisonous vines. With a series of rapid strikes, he shattered a monk’s limbs, crushed the skulls of two Peiqiong Manor disciples, and pulverized the left leg of the Tofu Beauty. The old fisherman died instantly as his ribs were crushed.
“Enough!” Master Jingyuan shouted, realizing that ordinary experts couldn’t withstand even a single move from Qi Yunke. To prevent further casualties, she commanded, “Don’t fight alone! Form groups to face him!”
Qi Yunke, no longer holding back, lashed out with his whips. Master Jingyuan barely dodged as the whip struck the white marble dome, shattering the massive stone and sending debris flying everywhere.
Amidst the dust cloud, Mu Qingyan saw Cai Zhao leaping towards Qi Yunke. He quickly pushed off the marble wall, caught the girl mid-air, and retreated behind a stone wall as rocks rained down and others fought fiercely.
“What were you thinking?” Mu Qingyan growled.
Cai Zhao, her eyes red, replied, “You saw it. Master has gone mad. He won’t listen to reason. But he still cares for me. If I don’t use lethal moves, he won’t kill me. I want to—”
“You want what?” Mu Qingyan’s eyes reddened. “Are you trying to imitate your aunt? Use the Celestial Demon Disintegration technique to unleash your power and perish together with your master?”
“What else can we do?” Cai Zhao cried.
Mu Qingyan took a deep breath and gripped her shoulders. “Listen to me. Your aunt used that technique because she had no choice. Yin Dai stood by, Qi Yunke was indecisive, Mu Zhengyang had evil intentions, and others couldn’t help. She had no one to rely on, so she chose to die with Nie Hengcheng. But you’re different. You have me!”
“You? What are you?” Cai Zhao pushed him away, sobbing. “You’re no good either. If not for you, we wouldn’t be in this mess! I only expect you to help fight my master. Don’t think our past grievances are forgotten! You deceived me terribly. I won’t forgive you so easily! Get away from me!” She tried to rush out.
Mu Qingyan held her back. “Fine, you don’t have to forgive me. It’s all my fault! But if you and Qi Yunke destroy each other, who will keep me in check? Even for revenge, you can’t go alone!”
“You’ve said so much, but do you have a plan?” Cai Zhao asked angrily, struggling to break free.
“Of course I do. First, we need to get close to him,” Mu Qingyan whispered. “I’ll distract him while you pretend to be injured and approach…”
Cai Zhao hesitated. “Will that work? You’re not planning to use the Celestial Demon Disintegration technique, are you?”
Mu Qingyan’s eyes shone like the moon as he smiled confidently. “Me, die with Qi Yunke so you can be with that Song fellow? Dream on. Even if heaven allows it, I won’t!”
Cai Zhao considered his plan and found it feasible. “Alright, let’s do it.”
Before rushing out, Mu Qingyan grabbed the determined girl and said firmly, “Don’t act rashly. Follow the plan. Remember what we agreed on before? If you don’t die, I won’t die. If I live, you must live too. We never abandon each other. We die together or live together.”
Cai Zhao remembered every word, of course. Recalling happier times, she felt a pang in her heart and turned away. “I’ve forgotten everything. Not a single word!”
They charged out to find Qi Yunke still standing in the circular hall, like an invincible evil god. Those who could still move were helping each other retreat from the domed chamber.
Cai Zhao took a deep breath, channeling her energy into her right arm. She struck at the whip with all her might, ignoring the pain and blood from her tiger’s mouth. A golden-red blade flash appeared, and she managed to cut off a large section of the whip.
Qi Yunke frowned and lashed out, striking Cai Zhao’s right hand. The pain was so intense that it felt like every bone in her hand had shattered. She dropped her Yan Yang Blade as Master Jingyuan tried to grab the whip with her inner force.
Seizing the opportunity, Mu Qingyan discarded ‘Fu Ying’ and struck Qi Yunke’s back with both palms. Qi Yunke grunted and tried to strangle Mu Qingyan with his shorter whip, but Mu Qingyan didn’t dodge. Instead, he grabbed the whip, letting it coil around his left arm and tear into his flesh, blood dripping steadily.
As they reached a stalemate, both men resorted to pure inner-force combat. Qi Yunke felt pain in his back and numbness in his hands, realizing that this “Mu puppy” was unexpectedly skilled.
Cai Zhao attacked again with her silver chain, but Qi Yunke, already dealing with Mu Qingyan and Master Jingyuan, struck her hard, hoping to knock her out. Cai Zhao cried out in pain and fell, rolling to his feet, seemingly unconscious.
Slightly relieved, Qi Yunke focused on the other two opponents. Mu Qingyan cleared his mind, reciting his father Mu Zhengming’s “Primordial Qi Regulation Technique” word by word. He circulated his inner force from his dantian, continuously cycling it through his body without letting a drop escape.
Qi Yunke noticed the change in the inner force traveling through the whip. It was no longer domineering, but a pure, righteous, and gentle force that emphasized wearing down resistance, like water-eroding stone. He recognized it as a remarkable breathing technique that, if mastered, could rival the legendary Purple Micro Heart Sutra, allowing a mortal to approach divine cultivation.
As they battled with their inner forces, the surrounding air became chaotic, sending debris flying. Meanwhile, Master Jingyuan kept moving, attacking, and retreating quickly to avoid Qi Yunke’s counterattacks.
Suddenly, Qi Yunke felt a chill in his abdomen and an unfamiliar, intense pain. He looked down to see Cai Zhao, now awake, thrusting a razor-thin blade into his vital organs. This was the second time she had tried to kill him, but unlike before, she aimed directly for his dantian!
“Forgive me, Master!” Cai Zhao said tearfully. She was seriously injured and weak, nearly knocked out by Qi Yunke’s earlier strike, but had feigned unconsciousness as planned.
Severely wounded, Qi Yunke’s suppressed inner force problems from his incomplete Purple Micro Heart Sutra cultivation erupted. Chaotic energy surged through his body like venomous snakes, tearing at his meridians. He roared, his madness taking over. With both palms, he sent Master Jingyuan flying, then summoned the Yan Yang Blade to his hand, preparing to strike Cai Zhao.
Horrified, Mu Qingyan leaped forward, deflecting the blade with one hand and pulling Cai Zhao away with the other. Qi Yunke quickly changed tactics, entangling them both with his whip and thrusting at Mu Qingyan from the left. Unable to dodge without exposing Cai Zhao, Mu Qingyan took the hit.
Cai Zhao felt warmth on her face—Mu Qingyan’s blood from the Yan Yang Blade piercing his chest. Seeing Mu Qingyan take the blow for Cai Zhao, Qi Yunke’s expression turned blank. After exchanging over a hundred moves in the past half hour, he knew Mu Qingyan could have easily avoided the strike.
As if waking from a long dream, Qi Yunke murmured, “So you’re not Mu Zhengyang…”
Gripping the blade in his chest, Mu Qingyan angrily retorted, “Of course, I’m not Mu Zhengyang, and Zhao Zhao isn’t her aunt! Wake up! If you kill Zhao Zhao, how will you face Cai Pingchu in the afterlife?”
Qi Yunke staggered back, his chest heaving and inner force raging through his meridians. Struggling to control his chaotic mind, he struck wildly at the air, causing the marble underground palace to tremble and crumble.
In his confusion, Qi Yunke searched until he spotted the unconscious Qi Lingbo. With one thought in mind—to absorb his daughter’s energy and break through the third level—he stumbled towards her.
Guessing his intentions, Cai Zhao broke free from the whip and rushed towards him, dodging falling rocks. Mu Qingyan, clutching his wound with one hand, grabbed Cai Zhao with the other. “Zhao Zhao, don’t go! He’s lost control. Even draining Qi Lingbo won’t save him now!”
Cai Zhao resolutely shook off Mu Qingyan. “We can’t stand by while an innocent person is harmed!” As Qi Yunke grabbed Qi Lingbo and placed his palm on her forehead, Cai Zhao lunged forward, clinging to his arm. Qi Yunke brushed her aside.
Despite her severe injuries, Cai Zhao desperately threw herself at Qi Yunke again. Sprawled at his feet, she cried out hoarsely, “Master, think of my aunt! She wouldn’t want you to do this!”
Qi Yunke froze, his thoughts scattered. Slowly, he released Qi Lingbo. Waves of pain coursed through his body as his meridians began to rupture. His cultivated inner force fled his dantian, leaving him feeling empty. He collapsed, lying on his back.
Why did even Zhao Zhao oppose him? He only wanted to avenge Pingchu. The Northern Chen Demonic Sect, all of it could turn to dust. Then, in a clean, bright world, Zhao Zhao and Yuzi could rebuild their sect, have children, and grow old together.
Qi Yunke felt dizzy as the familiar nightmare resurfaced. Revolving lights revealed a massive, blood-tinged door. Behind each panel lurked Pingchu’s killers: Yin Dai, Yang Yi, Yin Qinglian, and the Mu from the demonic sect. He had eliminated them all. Yet, in the deepest part of the palace, another door remained. His heart raced as he slowly pushed it open, his breath catching in his throat. Inside was himself.
Tears streamed down Qi Yunke’s face as he murmured, “We promised to be righteous heroes together, to turn the tide… I broke that promise.” He had been enchanted by Yin Dai’s beautiful daughter, seduced by promises of power, blinded by vanity and sweet words. He had forgotten their original vow.
Cai Pingchu had seen through it all but said nothing, ascending Mount Tu alone. Suddenly, Qi Yunke was clear-headed for the first time in years. He realized he had been ill for over a decade, ever since Cai Pingchu became disabled. He had been trapped in a state of apparent lucidity but true madness. However, no matter how many atrocities he committed, he could never bring Cai Pingchu back to life or return to those precious youthful days.
“Zhao Zhao,” Qi Yunke said softly, “Marry whoever you want in the future. As long as you’re happy every day, that’s what matters most.” Cai Zhao stared at him, dumbfounded.
“And that Mu fellow…” Qi Yunke continued, “Not all surnamed Mu are treacherous dogs after all.” Mu Qingyan silently cursed the old fool as he disentangled himself from the whip.
“Also,” Qi Yunke hesitated, “In the future, bury me—” Before he could finish, the largest beam supporting the dome collapsed. The entire circular chamber crumbled like paper, along with the Twin Lotus Pool Palace above it.
Pillars, jade stairs, silk, jewels, and a rain of debris fell endlessly. It was like an unprecedented flood, with the tiny humans struggling to escape. Finally, the rockfall ceased. Sunlight poured through the broken dome, and the scent of the lake wafted in, cutting through the heavy smell of blood. The survivors felt as if they had crossed into another world.
Cai Zhao emerged from the rubble, next to an unconscious Mu Qingyan. He had shielded her completely during the collapse, taking the full brunt of the falling rocks. Cai Zhao, terrified, clung to his broad shoulders, calling his name and frantically pressing his acupoints. The pale young man finally stirred, his lips moving soundlessly.
Nearby, Shangguan Haonan awoke first. Yang Xiaolan helped him dig You Guanyue out of the debris. You Guanyue lay motionless, clearly badly injured. Shangguan Haonan shook him, but he remained unconscious. Understanding the situation, Yang Xiaolan immediately went to find Lei Xiuming and Fan Xingjia. Shangguan Haonan wept over You Guanyue’s body.
“Moon, you can’t die like this! We were supposed to be in-laws someday. You haven’t even had children yet! It’s all my fault for being too slow. You’re half-dead because you saved me. How can I ever repay this debt? Don’t worry, if you go, I’ll take good care of Xinger. I still have an opening for my fourth wife. I was saving it for Qiu Cuilan to make it an even number, but now I’ve decided to give that last position to Xinger. Not for any reason, just for our brotherhood… I promise I’ll take good care of Xinger!”
“Go to hell!” came a weak voice.
Shangguan Haonan lifted his head, confused. “Moon, was that you speaking? Are you thanking me? No need for thanks between brothers.”
You Guanyue mustered all his strength: “Go to hell! Who’s thanking you?”
Shangguan Haonan, his face covered in tears and saliva, wept with joy.
Cai Zhao, initially tearful, couldn’t help but chuckle at the pair. Feeling movement in her arms, she quickly looked down at Mu Qingyan. “What did you say? Speak up, I can’t hear you.”
“I said,” Mu Qingyan whispered, using all his strength, “Tell those two idiots to shut up. They’re embarrassing themselves!”
Cai Zhao burst into laughter, holding him tightly. “After escaping death, that’s the first thing you say to me?”
Mu Qingyan smiled too. After a moment, he said, “No, I have many things to tell you.”
“Go on, I’m listening.” Cai Zhao held him, leaning against a pile of rocks. Both were badly injured and unable to move, so they nestled together, waiting for Lei Xiuming and Fan Xingjia to come with help.
Mu Qingyan spoke softly, “I’ve always felt our first meeting was unlucky. Not only was it in the harsh winter, but also before a memorial ceremony for the dead…”
“What dead person? That was your ancestor, the Northern Chen Patriarch.”
“I never knew him. Don’t interrupt. Because our meeting was inauspicious, our journey together has been fraught with difficulties. To ensure a smoother future, we should have a joyous event to balance things out.”
Cai Zhao suppressed a smile, deliberately asking, “What joyous event? A housewarming party?”
Expecting the Great Master Mu to be angry, she was surprised by his newfound patience. He laughed, “Sure, you can move to Busi Studio, or I can move to Luoying Valley. What does Miss Cai think?”
Noting his labored breathing, Cai Zhao realized how seriously he was injured. After a moment, she replied, “Miss Cai thinks… this is acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” Mu Qingyan asked, disbelieving.
“Yes, acceptable.” The girl pressed her cheek against his pale, blood-stained forehead, suddenly feeling enlightened. “As long as we’re together, anything is fine.”