The newcomers all wore the disciple robes of the Heavenly Sword Sect, led by a serene, pure-hearted young man and an innocent, carefree young maiden.
Unable to pause his movements, Hanzhou turned his head slightly and awkwardly greeted them, “Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister.”
Compared to Hanzhou, Yan Mingqiu possessed a slender, petite stature. Cradled securely within Hanzhou’s arms at that moment, he was half-concealed from view, preventing anyone from catching a clear look at his face.
Propping her hands on her hips, Ling Xuan looked around with bright, lively eyes. “Aha, Senior Brother Han! You promised to meet us beneath the sacred banyan tree, but you ran off by yourself here to tryst with a beauty, leaving us searching for a full day and night!”
The young maiden possessed striking eyes and delicately arched brows. Her braided hair was bound into multiple sections by a purple satin ribbon, with several stray strands of hair falling casually across her shoulders as she puffed out her cheeks in protest.
Embarrassed, Hanzhou stammered, “I asked a disciple from the Spirit Talisman Sect to pass a message along to you, did you… not receive it?”
That question was evidently redundant; had they received the message, they wouldn’t have spent a full twenty-four hours searching blindly.
Ling Xuan immediately seized upon the crucial point. “So, Senior Brother Han, you’re admitting that you were trysting with a beauty.”
“No, it’s not like that…” Hanzhou hurried to explain, his hands suddenly freezing mid-motion.
At that moment, Yan Mingqiu was enduring another ferocious wave of the Heart-Burning Poison. The chilling energy Hanzhou had channeled into him could only suppress fifty percent of the agony, leaving him delirious from pain. The sudden halt in Hanzhou’s energy transmission instantly allowed the torment to surge back to its full, unmitigated intensity, drawing a miserable moan from his lips as his body writhed uncontrollably against the torment.
Ling Xuan: “…” Having read far too many romantic pulp novels in her spare time, she understood the situation instantly.
Mu Qing: “…” I have never witnessed such a scene in my life. I should be down at the base of the mountain right now, not standing here…
Fortunately, as the chief senior brother of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he had undergone rigorous training in on-the-spot crisis management. Regaining his composure swiftly, Mu Qing grabbed Ling Xuan’s hand and issued a command: “Everyone, about-face!”
The seven or eight disciples trailing behind them turned around in perfect unison.
Pulling Ling Xuan along, Mu Qing executed a sharp about-face of his own. “Quick march!”
Hanzhou called out, “Don’t go, Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister…”
Now explaining himself would become an impossible task.
When Yan Mingqiu finally regained consciousness once more, only two days remained within the secret realm. Once the time elapsed, everyone inside would be automatically teleported out.
Supporting his weight with his hands against the ground, Yan Mingqiu slowly wriggled his way out of Hanzhou’s embrace.
“Hanzhou, my heart-burning poison won’t flare up for another few hours. You should go out and hunt demonic beasts. This is a once-in-a-century Grand Tournament; I heard that the top ten sword cultivators in the individual matches gain access to the Sword Cave to select a divine blade. You’re a sword cultivator—this is a rare, century-old opportunity that you shouldn’t miss.”
Reaching behind his back to unstrap his weapon, Hanzhou replied, “There’s no need. I already have a sword. I haven’t introduced it to you yet, but this blade is named Xueying (Snow Shadow)—it was a welcoming gift from my master when I entered apprenticeship.”
Since Yan Mingqiu was an alchemy cultivator, his knowledge of spiritual swords was superficial. He only knew that a sword cultivator could form a lifelong pact with a single spiritual weapon known as a natal sword. A natal sword existed in complete spiritual harmony with its master, capable of merging into the master’s divine consciousness and appearing instantly upon command.
Clearly, Hanzhou had never formed a binding pact with Xueying; otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to carry it strapped across his back at all times.
The sole reason a sword cultivator would refuse to bond with a spiritual sword was that the blade fell short of their rigorous standards for a true natal sword.
Thus, Yan Mingqiu knew Hanzhou was lying, yet found it difficult to expose him directly.
Hesitating for a moment, he suggested, “Then let’s go together. I’ll follow behind you to finish off the beasts and rack up some points. I hear the prizes for the top ten alchemy cultivators are quite impressive, too.”
Hanzhou agreed, “Alright, let’s fly on our swords to search for demonic beasts.”
When they last met, Hanzhou was still at the peak of Foundation Establishment; four years had passed, and he had now advanced to the Core Formation stage, enabling him to engage in sword flight.
Such cultivation velocity was undeniably rapid within the realm of cultivation, though it paled significantly in comparison to Yan Mingqiu’s past feat of leaping two major tiers within a single month.
Carrying Yan Mingqiu aloft on his flying spiritual sword, Hanzhou used the quiet journey to strike up a conversation.
“Mingqiu, why hasn’t your cultivation progressed over these past four years?”
“I was lazy and didn’t cultivate,” Yan Mingqiu replied, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Perplexed, Hanzhou asked, “Why wouldn’t you cultivate?”
“Is there a reason needed for everything? I simply didn’t feel like cultivating. Besides, I lack nothing, and I have no desire to attain ascension. What good is living for so eternity anyway? Does longevity automatically guarantee happiness? If life is miserable, immortality is nothing more than an endless torture.”
“Once you achieve enlightenment and ascend, you won’t dwell on such thoughts anymore. Empty yourself to the utmost, maintain stillness in purity.” Hanzhou spoke with absolute solemnity.
Yan Mingqiu fell into deep thought. “No one who has ever attained enlightenment and ascended has ever returned to offer firsthand testimony. Why does everyone assume that all desires vanish upon ascension? In my view, immortals are no different from mortals they possess the same seven emotions and six desires, and must still live ordinary lives.”
“Well, if you wish not to ascend, I will stay right by your side. Once I’ve exacted my heavy vengeance, let’s find a quiet place to live in seclusion, shall we?”
Remaining silent for a long beat, Yan Mingqiu murmured softly, “No. You should keep walking down your broad, sunny path my single-plank bridge has no room for two.”
Landing their spiritual sword on the ground, Hanzhou spun around and gripped Yan Mingqiu firmly by the arm. “Mingqiu, what do you mean by that?”
Yan Mingqiu pried Hanzhou’s fingers loose. “Everyone has their own path to walk; our paths diverge.”
“They will align once my revenge is complete! Wherever you want to go, I will accompany you.” Urgency laced Hanzhou’s voice.
Yan Mingqiu let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh. “What? Are you planning to abandon the Heavenly Sword Sect and join my Medicine Spirit Sect when the time comes?”
“Can we go somewhere else instead? We can find a place to live in seclusion somewhere between our two sects.”
“I only wish to stay on Yucang Peak.”
Hearing this, Hanzhou gazed fixedly at Yan Mingqiu in prolonged silence before whispering, “Alright, I’ll stay with you.”
A sharp pang gripped Yan Mingqiu’s heart, bringing an instant blur of hot moisture to his eyes. “Fool.”
Consulting their map, the pair located a demonic beast’s lair.
Gripping the scabbard with his left hand and drawing his sword with his right, Hanzhou explained, “This is a Foundation-Stage Emerald Lizard not too difficult to handle. Wait for me here; I’ll be right back.”
To ensure safety, Hanzhou instructed Yan Mingqiu to remain outside the lair.
“Alright.” Exhibiting rare docility, Yan Mingqiu agreed instantly, sinking directly onto the ground to wait.
Hanzhou smiled warmly, turned, and strode into the cave with his sword in hand.
Yet, by the time Hanzhou dragged the battered, half-dead beast back out to the cave entrance, Yan Mingqiu had vanished completely without a trace.