Chapter 40 - 39: Zhang Qing

Chapter 40: Chapter 39: Zhang Qing

He hadn’t forgotten that Cheng Lian’Er was still in the mountains.

As he walked, Xu Guang couldn’t help but reflect on his journey. Ever since he started practicing martial arts, he had killed quite a few people, yet all of them seemed to possess significant backgrounds: people from the State Capital, Peach Branch—the Black-clothed Envoy of the Bright Moon Canon Seat, and today, Qian Neng—the biological son of the Jade Elephant Canon Seat. He thought, "Without realizing it, I’ve provoked so many powerful enemies. It’s truly terrifying."

For some inexplicable reason, he felt a wave of relief that his current world was not a world of Cultivators. Otherwise, with the absurd methods those Cultivators possessed, they would have long since discovered he was the murderer. Who knew how much trouble would have come knocking at his door?

After stuffing the surrounding corpses into snow hollows one by one, Xu Guang walked away with peace of mind. Tonight, the wild beasts in the mountains would have an extra feast; it was destined not to be a quiet night.

East of the Wei River, atop a high mountain.

An ancient, rustic Daoist platform appeared as if naturally formed, displaying the colors of black and white. A Daoist knelt upon the platform. Surrounding him stood a dense crowd of people dressed in white, appearing to be disciples.

Zhang Qing was a man with a very ordinary face. He looked exceptionally amiable, lacking any powerful aura, and appeared no different from a commoner. However, for some unknown reason, the closer one got, the more one could feel the unapproachable Qi Mechanism emanating from him. It was as if he was born extraordinary.

Within five steps of Zhang Qing, no one dared to raise their head.

"May I ask, Great Mage, when will we launch the attack on the city?"

Beneath the high platform, a figure wearing a bamboo hat asked, their tone unexpectedly carrying a hint of questioning. Yet, if one listened closely, they could hear the figure’s inner cowardice masked by outward bravado. However, he had to ask. The Court was about to issue a Golden Decree ordering his Patriarch back to the capital to take up an official post. Only if the Yellow Sky initiated its movement would his Patriarch have a valid excuse to remain in Qing State.

Zhang Qing ignored him at first. Only when the hat-wearing man spoke again did he react. Like a child disturbed from a sweet dream, he casually waved his sleeve with heavy childishness, as if shooing away a fly.

The man in the bamboo hat’s expression changed instantly. He could clearly see a streak of silver lightning dart out—like a ribbon of silk, like a Flood Dragon! On another level, he seemed to witness the overturning of mountains and rivers, the entire world pressing down upon him.

BANG!

The bamboo hat exploded instantly, revealing a figure that looked incredibly like a Demon. With ox horns growing from his head, a face like a green ghoul, and protruding fangs, one could only vaguely see the shadow of a human through this terrifying visage. Such an appearance was absolutely not that of the Abnormal People!

"What gave you the courage? A mere Mutated Sensing Profound dares to act so insolently before me!" Zhang Qing’s tone was calm as he opened his eyes.

His eyes were extraordinary—one green and one white, like twin suns hanging in the sky.

"Spare my life, Great Mage! Please forgive my recklessness."

The Minotaur knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. The gap in strength between him and Zhang Qing was too massive; he couldn’t muster the slightest thought of resistance.

Zhang Qing remained silent, yet it felt as if he had said everything. The silence carried a heavy, suffocating pressure. For a time, the peak of the high mountain was dead silent. Only the clear mountain breeze dared to rustle the Great Mage’s long robes.

"Go back and tell your master. I don’t care what he wants to do, but whatever I wish to do, I do not need his permission."

Ox stood woodenly in place, his eyes blank and somewhat terrified.

Zhang Qing sat in his original spot, his expression carrying an inexplicable look. He was clearly sitting right there, yet it felt as if he didn’t exist in this world. As he closed his eyes, the small mountain beneath him seemed to fall into a deep silence as well. His physical body became illusory once more, as if he were no longer in the mortal realm!

"Miss Cheng? Are you still there?" Xu Guang stood in front of the cave and asked in a low voice.

Although he hadn’t looked closely earlier, he remembered that Cheng Lian’Er had quite a few injuries in places that were inconvenient to be seen by others. He respected Cheng Lian’Er very much.

After a moment, Cheng Lian’Er’s cold, clear voice echoed from inside the cave.

"Xu Guang?"

"It’s Xu."

"Come in."

Only after receiving permission did Xu Guang enter the cave. Cheng Lian’Er had lost quite a bit of blood and was already freezing. Coupled with the fear of lighting a fire due to their pursuers, she was currently curled up, leaning against a corner of the cave. Seeing this, Xu Guang squatted down, took out a flint, gathered the dead branches and fallen leaves inside the cave, and started a fire.

Cheng Lian’Er couldn’t help but shoot Xu Guang a glance, her eyes filled with disbelief. Then, her cold and weak voice sounded, "Did you take care of those people?"

Xu Guang shook his head. "How could I? I merely used some tricks to lure them elsewhere. At the very least, Miss Cheng can get a good rest tonight. I wonder... is there anyone else coming to escort you? If you don’t mind my meager skills, Xu is willing to escort Miss Cheng into the city."

Cheng Lian’Er glanced at him, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly. Seeing his clear eyes and deeply sincere tone, she forced a smile and shook her head. "There is no need. I have already released a Pigeon. At the latest by dawn, someone should come looking for me."

Xu Guang nodded and said no more, simply adding firewood to the flames. The fire radiated a tremendous amount of heat, casting flickering, dancing shadows against the uneven stone walls of the cave.

"Miss Cheng previously recommended Xu to study at the Immortal Institute, and we had a two-year agreement. However, now that Xu is a member of the military, this agreement... will most likely be impossible to fulfill. I hope Miss Cheng can forgive me."

Xu Guang’s sudden words left Cheng Lian’Er with a look of astonishment. It was hard to imagine that a woman like her, who always presented herself as aloof and wise, would show such an astonished expression. It created an incredibly strong contrast, which, to a man, held an ultimate kind of allure.

"So, you risked your life to save me just to repay the favor you owed me?"

Under Cheng Lian’Er’s shocked and indignant gaze, Xu Guang nodded firmly. "Xu has always valued promises. I absolutely have no intention of using this favor to demand anything in return. I just felt guilty about being unable to fulfill the agreement with Miss Cheng..."

Cheng Lian’Er felt both angry and helpless. With the way Xu Guang was acting, she had actually suspected him of having ulterior motives earlier. Could it be that her life was worth less than this so-called favor in his mouth?

She scoffed coldly. "So, you plan to save me today and escort me back to the city tomorrow, and then we’re completely even?"

Xu Guang responded with silence.

Cheng Lian’Er was a child of a wealthy family and a famous beauty in Feiyun City. He had always kept his distance from women like her who had power, fame, and a multitude of suitors. If possible, that was exactly what he intended.

"And what if I don’t want you to escort me? Do you think the favor you owe me would be considered paid off?" Cheng Lian’Er took two deep breaths, her rather magnificent chest heaving several times before she asked in a serious tone.

Xu Guang remained silent. He personally felt it was enough, but when it came to matters of favors, who could really say for sure? In all fairness, if Cheng Lian’Er had been born a commoner, saving her would have just been an act of convenience, and he would still repay the favor he owed her. But she was from a large family, and people with such backgrounds were the most troublesome. He had always despised trouble.

Failing to get an answer from Xu Guang, Cheng Lian’Er also stopped talking. For a time, the fire-lit cave, though filled with warmth, was also steeped in silence.

"I heard you are a filial son. Do you want your mother to live a long, healthy life?" Cheng Lian’Er suddenly asked.