The sky had completely darkened by the time Huang Yulang emerged from the water and reached the shore.
The blood-soaked clothes he’d been wearing were long gone.
He took a tiger skin from the bundle on his back, wrapped it around himself, then started a bonfire and sat down cross-legged, planning to rest for the night and continue his journey at dawn.
But before Huang Yulang could enter a meditative state, he heard a faint disturbance from the lake behind him.
A little startled, he fixed his gaze on the water and saw a blurry figure gliding toward him at an incredible speed.
Huang Yulang’s pupils constricted.
He scrambled to his feet, staring intently at the figure as it grew clearer.
A moment later, an old Daoist in a National Master Robe appeared, walking across the water while holding a Floating Dust.
Huang Yulang was absolutely stunned.
It was actually a person, an old man no less.
Immediately after, a Divine Sense no weaker than his own locked directly onto him.
Huang Yulang’s heart pounded, and he let out a startled cry.
“A Cultivator?” Aside from his master, Master Xuanmu, and his senior brother, this was the first time Huang Yulang had ever seen another Cultivator.
He was naturally shocked.
‘I don’t know what his cultivation level is, or why he’s here.’
Huang Yulang suddenly had a thought, and a sense of unease washed over him.
‘Could it be because I killed that Imperial Uncle and his gang of River Bandits?’
Huang Yulang then recalled his master’s words: a Cultivator must not casually reveal their abilities to outsiders, and more importantly, they must not kill the innocent wantonly.
Otherwise, the consequences would be severe.
‘Don’t tell me those poor women sold me out.’
Huang Yulang shook his head.
‘That’s unlikely.
My face was covered the entire time.
There’s no way anyone knows who I am.’
‘Besides, I changed direction halfway here and even threw away my bloodstained clothes.
I shouldn’t have been discovered.’
But Reed Lake was huge.
For this old Daoist to follow his exact path was clearly no coincidence.
Huang Yulang grew increasingly uneasy.
‘A Cultivator who can walk on water must have a high cultivation level.
He probably knows many Divine Techniques, too.
Although I’ve reached the first layer of Qi Refining, I can only cultivate the Small Magic in the Qi Refining manual after reaching the third layer.
If this old geezer is really here to kill me, I’m afraid I’m no match for him at all.’
Flee!
Huang Yulang didn’t dare take any chances.
He took off at a dead sprint.
“Hmph.
A mere ant at the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage dares to murder a relative of the imperial family.
Who gave you the gall?
Die!”
Yun Ji tapped the surface of the water with his toe.
A current of water, like a Flood Dragon bursting from the sea, lifted him into the sky in hot pursuit.
When Huang Yulang saw that the old Daoist could actually fly, his face turned pale with fright.
‘How can my two legs possibly outrun someone who can fly?’
But what terrified Huang Yulang even more came next.
Before the man even landed, the old Daoist formed a set of Finger Formulas and pointed.
The water beneath his feet transformed into dozens of Water Swords that shot through the air.
“A misunderstanding, Senior!
Senior, it’s a misunderstanding!
I beg you to be merciful!” Huang Yulang had no time to think.
He quickly drew his Spirit Wood Sword and swung it desperately.
CLANG!
A Water Sword struck Huang Yulang’s Spirit Wood Sword, producing the sound of metal on metal.
Huang Yulang felt only a slight vibration in his sword; it was completely unscathed, while the Water Sword shattered on impact.
“Er…” Huang Yulang had thought his wooden sword wouldn’t be able to withstand the attack at all.
As it turned out, the Water Swords weren’t as powerful as he’d imagined.
Huang Yulang secretly breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t let his guard down for a second.
The other Water Swords were now diving down one by one.
Gritting his teeth, Huang Yulang locked onto the incoming Water Swords and slashed out rapidly.
DING!
DING!
DING!
One after another, the Water Swords were shattered by Huang Yulang.
He retreated as he shouted:
“Senior, don’t!
Don’t attack!
We can talk this out!” When Yun Ji saw Huang Yulang easily shatter his Water Swords, his eyes narrowed.
He was secretly astonished.
‘A mere Junior Cultivator at the first layer of Qi Refining not only blocked all the Water Swords I conjured with my Magic Technique but shattered every single one.
I’m a late-stage Qi Refining Stage cultivator.
The power of a few casually created Water Swords isn’t something an ordinary fifth or sixth-layer Qi Refining Stage Cultivator could block.’
“Interesting.
Very interesting.” Yun Ji’s interest was piqued.
He descended to the ground and gave a sinister laugh as he watched the still-panicked Huang Yulang backing away.
“Boy, don’t waste your energy.
You can’t escape from me.” Seeing that the man had landed and wasn’t immediately charging at him, Huang Yulang stopped.
He kept his eyes locked on his opponent, but his face wore a pleading expression as he bowed respectfully.
“Senior, could there be some misunderstanding?
I beg you to be merciful.
This junior knows he is no match for you.
As long as you spare my life, I am willing to offer you all the silver taels I have on me.”
As he spoke, Huang Yulang quickly took a thick stack of silver notes from the bundle on his back and watched the other man warily.
The old Daoist’s expression turned peculiar.
He merely glanced at the stack of silver notes before fixing his gaze on Huang Yulang again and snorting coldly.
“Boy, which sect are you from?
Do you not know the rules of the Immortal Realm?
As a Cultivator, you dare to slaughter the innocent wantonly?
If the Inspection Department, which oversees all Cultivators in the world, finds out, they will definitely not let you off lightly!”
Although this was the first time Huang Yulang had heard of the Inspection Department, the old Daoist said it oversaw all Cultivators in the world.
Recalling his master’s words, Huang Yulang realized the Inspection Department must be a terrifyingly powerful organization.
His heart filled with even greater dread, and he quickly replied:
“I dare not hide it from you, Senior.
This junior is a disciple of Qingcheng Mountain.
I was passing by the Huai River when I heard that the River Bandits were running rampant and plaguing the region, so I acted to deliver justice on behalf of heaven.”
Huang Yulang announced his sect to test the waters.
Qingcheng Mountain was an Immortal Sect, so the other man, being a Cultivator, should know of it.
Perhaps he would let him off for Qingcheng Mountain’s sake.
The fact was that by killing the bandits who were a scourge on the region, Huang Yulang had performed a service to the people.
Even if the imperial court found out, they would probably reward him.
It wasn’t a wanton slaughter of the innocent, so the Inspection Department shouldn’t convict him without reason.
“Qingcheng Mountain?” Yun Ji frowned as if in thought.
Huang Yulang watched his expression carefully, and his heart sank.
‘No way, does he really not know of Qingcheng Mountain?’
“Oh, so you’re a disciple of Qingcheng Mountain.
I am Yun Ji of the Water Cloud Sect.
A pleasure.” The old Daoist seemed to have finally recalled Qingcheng Mountain, but it appeared he had only read about it in some ancient text.
With his limited cultivation, he had only wandered through the few nearby countries and didn’t know much about the long-declined Qingcheng Mountain.
Still, he politely clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.
Seeing that the old Daoist seemed to know of Qingcheng Mountain, Huang Yulang was overjoyed.
He had never heard of the Water Cloud Sect, but he assumed it must be some great and powerful sect.
With a delighted expression, he also clasped his hands and said:
“So you are a Senior from the Water Cloud Sect!
It is truly an honor.” As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face; flattery was always the right move.
The old Daoist gave a faint smile but still spoke.
“It is certainly good of you to kill the bandits, my young friend, but abducting the Imperial Uncle of Yun Country and killing him was not.” Huang Yulang’s heart sank again.
After a slight hesitation, he explained:
“Senior, there is something you don’t know.
The leader of those River Bandits was none other than this Imperial Uncle.
Originally, this junior had no intention of killing him.
He just…
accidentally died in the chaos of the battle.” Killing a relative of the imperial family was no small crime.
He had to explain it clearly.
Hearing this, Yun Ji’s brows furrowed tightly.
Considering that the young man was also from an Immortal Sect, he hesitated for a moment before looking at Huang Yulang and saying:
“How about this: the Imperial Uncle did die at your hands, after all.
As long as you return with me to explain the situation to the king, I believe His Majesty will not make things difficult for you, for the sake of your Qingcheng Mountain.
What do you think, my young friend?”
Huang Yulang looked at Yun Ji and fell silent.
‘Going back is impossible.
If my identity is exposed, my own death would be a small matter, but I absolutely cannot let my father and the others be implicated.’
‘Looking at this old geezer, he probably won’t let me leave so easily either.’ This made Huang Yulang’s heart pound with anxiety once more.
After a moment of contemplation, Huang Yulang took a deep breath and bowed to Yun Ji again.
“I beg you, Senior, for the sake of our shared status as members of Immortal Sects, please let this junior go this one time.
I promise to act with discretion in the future.
When I return to Qingcheng Mountain, I will report this to my master, and we will personally visit you with generous gifts to express our gratitude.”
Huang Yulang was out of options.
He couldn’t win a fight, and he couldn’t go back.
His only choice was to bring up his sect, hoping the other man would let him go for his sect’s sake.
Of course, there was a veiled threat in his words, letting the man know that he had backing and should think twice.
“Hmph.
What, if I refuse, are you planning to bring your sect to hold me accountable in the future?”
The old Daoist’s cultivation level was far higher than Huang Yulang’s.
Furthermore, there were no Immortal Sects in the surrounding countries, and they were in a desolate, wild place.
He was confident that even if he killed this disciple of Qingcheng Mountain, no one would ever know.
How could he, Yun Ji, be intimidated by the threats of a mere ant at the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage?
“Senior, I…
I didn’t mean that!” Seeing the man’s expression turn cold, Huang Yulang cursed his luck inwardly and hurriedly tried to explain.
“Hmph.
Enough nonsense.
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come back with me.
Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll never be returning to your Qingcheng Mountain.” As soon as he finished speaking, his surging Divine Sense locked onto Huang Yulang once more.
The air around him stirred though there was no wind, and a vast Magical Power rushed out, bearing down on Huang Yulang with immense pressure.
Huang Yulang felt the might emanating from the man and was terrified.
But seeing that his opponent was about to strike, he didn’t dare hesitate any longer.
He stuffed the silver notes into his clothes and turned to run.
“Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit.” Yun Ji was now thoroughly enraged.
If Huang Yulang had listened and returned with him, Yun Ji might have spared his life for the sake of the Immortal Sect backing him.
But Huang Yulang didn’t know what was good for him and even dared to threaten him.
How could Yun Ji, a mighty expert at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Stage, not be furious?
Yun Ji swiped a hand over a pouch hanging at his waist, and an azure Longsword shot through the air, piercing toward Huang Yulang’s back at incredible speed.
The sound of something whistling through the air reached him.
Huang Yulang’s senses were sharp; he instinctively released his Divine Sense and locked onto the Longsword attacking him from behind.
When he saw that it wasn’t a Water Sword but a legendary Magical Flying Sword, he was utterly terrified.
Forgetting about escape, he whirled around and swung his Spirit Wood Sword down with all his might.