As a former itinerant cultivator, Yi Qing had had more than his fair share of dealings with Fiendish Cultivators and was very familiar with their scent, but the fact that one of them could infiltrate the Blackheaven Sect and kill a Perfected Nascent Soul cultivator meant that they must have been fully prepared. It had taken him one full hour to find the traces of Yin Qi even though he was very sensitive to it. Strangely, this Qi was not found at any of the exits but at the base of the nearby Yingyuan Peak.
With Yi Qing leading the hall masters, they followed the trail which led right back to the hut where Yi Qing lived in. Even before nearing the hut, they could already detect a pungent whiff of blood. Feeling his heart quickening, he hastily walked inside. What he saw was a big mess: the plates which had been on the stone table were now scattered all over the ground in pieces and the gravy from a dish mixed with fresh blood covered the whole table.
"This… this is…" Yan Qiu was also shocked. "What happened?"
"Where's Shen Ying?" Lonemoon looked around, but did not see any trace of her.
Yi Qing quickly searched around the house but did not find her. Turning around, he walked towards the blood-stained stone table and formed a hand seal. Immediately, the entire stone table lit up brightly and an image slowly appeared. This was the scene that had taken place an hour ago.
A familiar figure was eating, her whole attention on the food. If one could not fail to see the food on the table visibly diminishing, one would have mistaken it for a looping movie clip. It was not until the dishes were completely empty that the scene changed. A figure covered in blood suddenly came crashing down. Wearing a red dress, her hair was dishevelled and half her face was smeared in blood. But even so, one could still make out that she was a stunning woman.
"Fiendish Cultivator!" Xi Qiu blurted out. Stepping forward, he stared carefully at the image above the table. Suddenly struck by a thought, he whispered, "A female Fiendish Cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage… and wearing a red dress. Could she… be the Venomous Witch—Qi Chengyu?!"
The badly injured female Fiendish Cultivator in the image seemed to be talking to the person at the table. Suddenly, she grabbed the person holding onto a bowl by the neck and flew off in the southwest direction.
Upon seeing this, Yi Qing's eyes widened and he exclaimed, "Master!" He immediately turned around and headed out towards the southwest.
"Wait…" But before Lonemoon could stop him, Yi Qing had already disappeared. Lonemoon had no choice but to fly after Yi Qing on his sword. However, Yi Qing was flying so fast that Lonemoon only caught up with him after a considerable distance. "Yi Qing, calm down. Blackheaven Sect has been sealed off. Let's find out what this Fiendish Cultivator is up to before pursuing her. Shen Ying will not be in…"
Wait a moment!
"With her freakish strength, shouldn't we be more concerned for the Fiendish Cultivator?!" Why the hell are you so worried!
"I know Master will be okay." Instead of stopping, Yi Qing flew faster. "I am worried about Master going out alone."
"What's the problem?"
"The problem is…" He suddenly turned his head and said with a look of certainty, "She'll never find her way back!"
"…"
Holy shit! So it turns out that this creature isn't only a foodie, but is also freaking directionally challenged. What made you choose such a worthless creature as your teacher? I really don't know! "By the way, how did she end up in the clutches of the Fiendish Cultivator?" That image had provided no sound so he had no idea what the Fiendish Cultivator had been saying.
"From what I know about Master…" Frowning, Yi Qing hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's not that she can't fight and defeat the Fiendish Cultivator."
"Then?"
"Master was just… too lazy to resist!"
"…"
(╯‵□′)╯(┻━┻
That worthless creature can laze to death for all I care!
————————
On her last legs, Qi Chengyu flew out of the Blackheaven Sect. She was badly hurt; even Nascent Soul cultivators could be driven to the point of collapse. The meridians in her entire body were badly damaged. She had to give it to Yu Ding, that cunning old thief. Even though she had planned this for so many years before the opportunity finally came by, he had still somehow managed to injure her before he died.
Her body was at the brink of collapse. She had to regulate her meridians, otherwise she would die. With no options left, she found a secluded place and stopped. She released her grip on the hand of her hostage, preparing to push her away.
Qi Chengyu didn't know if it was the lack of strength caused by her severe injuries, but she was unable to push that person away. Instead, she was the one who staggered a couple of steps back; she had to use all her strength to suppress the blood from rushing to her heart. She then turned to look at Shen Ying.
"Seeing that you are so obedient, you can go! I won't kill you."
The alarm bell had sounded, signifying that the Blackheaven Sect had discovered what she had done. The various escape routes left were all sealed off, so it would be extremely difficult for her to break out of this place. Her original intention had been to find someone to use as a hostage during her escape, and in this she had been unexpectedly lucky. She had not only taken a hostage but also managed to leave the mountain exit with her hostage without being intercepted. Even the guards on patrol that they encountered on the way did not seem to see them. It seemed that even God was helping her, letting her take her revenge!
She raised her hand and tried to release the immobilizing lock she had put on the hostage. But just as soon as she activated her Spirit Qi, she felt a great pain originating from the meridians of her whole body. Blood Qi started to surge up from within her, but she suppressed it once again. She growled fiercely, "Hurry up and leave, before I change my mind."
Taken aback, the hostage was silent was a moment before answering with a nod, "Ok." She then turned and left.
Qi Chengyu made sure that Shen Ying had walked quite a distance away before sitting down in the lotus position. She began to regulate her meridians. But just as her Spirit Qi finished circulating one cycle through her body, a familiar female voice suddenly rang in her ear.
"Sister, do you remember which direction we flew from?"
Qi Chengyu almost suffered a Qi Deviation at the shock of hearing this voice. Forcing down the fresh blood that had surged up to her mouth, she looked up and glared at Shen Ying. Is this person asking for death? Does she really think that I will not kill her?
Taking a deep breath to suppress her boiling anger, she pointed to the right. "Over there!"
"Oh, thank you!" Shen Ying nodded with a smile before walking away in that direction.
Qi Chengyu closed her eyes again and continued to regulate her meridians. Just as she had completed half a cycle…
"Sister, are you sure that's the way?" That familiar voice rang out again. "There is no sea over there, only a river!"
"You have to cross the river, then go through the woods before reaching the sea!"
"Ok, thanks."
"If you come back again, I will really kill you!"
Seeing her walk away, Qi Chengyu decided to choose another place to regulate her meridians. However, ten minutes later…
"Sister, I can't find the river!"
"…" Qi Chengyu clenched her hands and almost vomited blood. "Do you want to die?! I told you go to the right, to the right. Can't you follow directions?"
"I can't!" she replied honestly. I guess this means I'm lost.
"You…" She had to take several deep breaths before she managed to suppress the urge to kill. Pointing hard at one direction, she said, "If you dare to come back, I will use your bones for my spirit practice. Over there!"
"Ok… I'll remember."
After that, she turned and walked away again. Ten minutes later…
"Sister!"
"If you dare ask the way again, I'll kill you now!" Qi Chengyu straightaway hurled a fireball in Shen Ying's direction, burning a half-meter pit into the ground next to her.
"No, it's not that." Shen Ying blinked innocently and shook her head. "It was getting late so I decided to stay." Then as if by magic, she pulled out two pheasants from behind her. "Sister, can you roast chicken?"
Qi Chengyu: "…"
A feeling of utter powerlessness overwhelmed Qi Chengyu. She looked up and down at the person in front of her. "How did you manage to survive till now?" She could not believe such a clueless person was actually accepted by the Blackheaven Sect. Was the sect blind?
"Huh?" She probed the Spirit Qi around Shen Ying's body again. "You are actually a mortal!"
Assuming that it was her injuries that had prevented her from detecting Shen Ying's cultivation level, it had never occurred to Qi Chengyu that Shen Ying was a mortal without the slightest Spirit Qi. Even a maid in the Blackheaven Sect practiced cultivation, yet she did not have a hint of Spirit Qi. It seemed that she was born without any spirit roots. To be in the elite Blackheaven Sect, yet be unable to practice. She was also a pitiful person…
At this thought, much of Qi Chengyu's anger dissipated, but all this went unnoticed by the other party who had instead started pulling out the feathers of the pheasant. Immediately after, the colorful feathers began to reflect the light of the rising moon, forming a rainbow-like pattern on the ground.
Something was not right—the feathers were actually emitting light.
Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Wait!" Qi Chengyu quickly grabbed the other party's hand that was plucking the feathers, and then looked at the two birds closely. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "This… these are fifth-level spirit beasts—the Bright Luan! Where did you find them?"
"By the riverside!" Shen Ying pointed her finger to the left, but after thinking for a moment she switched to the right.
The incredulous look on Qi Chengyu face deepened. Looking at Shen Ying, she didn't seem capable of killing a fifth-level spirit beast. Did some hunter capture the beasts, then abandon them by the river? She really had good luck!
"What's a spirit beast? Isn't this a chicken demon?" asked Shen Ying, waving around the bird in her hand.
"How come you don't even know this?" Qi Chengyu looked at her in surprise and then explained, "Demons are demons, beasts are beasts. Demons are originally animals that turned into demons upon gaining sentience. If they cultivate in divine powers, they can attain manifestation. Beasts are extraordinary creatures at birth but they do not have sentience. They can only attain manifestation and gain sentience if they reach a high level of cultivation."
"Oh…" She nodded. No wonder this little animal didn't speak the human language just now. "Can it be eaten?"
Qi Chengyu's mouth twitched. Was this the key point? But upon closer thought, she remembered that Shen Ying was just a mortal and really needed to eat. Therefore, Qi Chengyu formed a seal on the ground and ignited a ball of fire. "The flesh of a spirit beast is putrid, so it can only be eaten after cleansing it with spirit fire." So saying, she took over the featherless spirit beast that Shen Ying was holding and placed it in the fire to cook.
Shen Ying: Waiting obediently for food!
(•̀ω•́)✧
Qi Chengyu first cleansed the head of the beast, directly opening it with a spirit cleansing blade. Sure enough, a bright blue bead was found inside it; it was a fifth-level beast pill, and it was of the water attribute. She could not help but marvel again at this mortal's luck—just by wandering about she had managed to pick up the bodies of fifth-level spirit beasts left behind by a hunter.
She took out the beast pill directly. Such a complete internal pill was very rare. Tossing it to Shen Ying, she instructed, "Take it. Keep it carefully."
Shen Ying glanced at it and then threw it back. "No, you can have it!"
"You… you want to give it to me?!" Qi Chengyu stared at her in disbelief, the words 'Are you stupid?' all but written on her face. "Rest assured. Since I promised to let you go, I will not go back on my word. This is a fifth-level water attribute spirit beast pill, a medicine with magical healing powers. Since this beast was found by you, it is destined to be yours. I won't deprive others of their good fortune."
"No need." She had plenty of such beads.
Thinking that she didn't understand the benefits of this pill, Qi Chengyu couldn't help explaining again, "Although you are a mortal, this fifth-level beast pill is a rarity. You can benefit in many ways from it."
"Oh, then you can have it." Just take it as payment for roasting the chicken. "Is the chicken cooked?"
"You…" Gripping her palms tightly, Qi Chengyu looked at Shen Ying with a complicated expression.
Is she giving me the beast spirit pill to heal my injuries? Why? I was the one who took her hostage, yet she wants to help her enemy?
"I… am a Fiendish Cultivator!" she couldn't help but remind Shen Ying.
"Ah?!" Shen Ying turned her head to look at her, frowning in uncertainty. Qi Chengyu's heart sank a little, but then she heard Shen Ying asking seriously, "Fiendish Cultivators… can't roast chicken?"
What?
Puzzled, Qi Chengyu nodded reflexively. "… We can."
"Oh, then please get on with it!"
Get on with it? Get on with what?
"Are you sure? Just like this…" Is she giving it to me? With no conditions!
"What more is there to it? Ah, do you have cumin with you?" I didn't know that you were such a meticulous chef… sister!
"… No."
"Oh, then we'll just stick with the original taste!" Disappointment.
"…"
Qi Chengyu felt like she was about to choke. Were they on the same topic?
(ー` ́ー)
This mortal really had the ability to lead people astray. Yet… she was unable to raise her temper at all; instead, she subconsciously raised the intensity of the spirit cleansing fire. She felt strange emotions stirring in her chest. A mixed concoction of bitter and sweet feelings.
Really… She really wants to give me the beast spirit pill even though I, a Fiendish Cultivator, was the one who held her hostage. Just because… she sees that I am seriously injured? How can there be such a 'stupid' person in this world! So stupid… so stupid that I actually want to protect her!
Clenching her hands, Qi Chengyu wanted to say something but didn't know what she could say. In the end, she could only snort coldly and say, "With a character like yours, you will be cheated sooner or later!" So saying, she stuffed the roasted bird into the other's arms. "Here, eat quickly! Eat quickly! By the way, what's your name?"
"Shen Ying," replied Shen Ying as she ate, not forgetting to stuff the other bird into the other's arms. "Continue with this one!"
"You seem to be very experienced in ordering people around. Is one chicken still not enough for you? I hope you don't die of overeating!" She grumbled for a while, but still took over the bird to cook. How long had it been… how long had it been since she had held such a peaceful conversation with another person? There was no fear in the other's eyes, no hatred and no disgusting greed.
"My name is Qi Chengyu, a Fiend Venerate. You seem like a person I can relate to. If you find that you cannot make it in Blackheaven Sect in the future, look for me in Ming Yin Mountain. Maybe then you can survive a little longer!" Such a stupid person like this would surely die without protection?!
"Uh-huh, huh." Shen Ying continued eating her chicken diligently.
"I just killed that hypocrite Yu Ding. If you go back tomorrow without any injury, the Blackheaven Sect will suspect you!" She glanced at Shen Ying, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes. "You better wait a few days before returning. If they question you, just tell them the truth that the one who killed that old thief Yu Ding was me, Qi Chengyu."
"…" A certain someone was still eating chicken nonstop.
"But you don't have to mention giving me the beast pill." She turned the blue bead over in her hand. "These so-called righteous people from established sects think very highly of themselves but secretly do the dirtiest things. Don't try to tough it out! If you're afraid of saying the wrong thing, say that the pill was taken by me." In any case, she no longer cared whether one more count of killing and robbery was added to her list of crimes.
"…" It was very, very, very delicious.
"If anything goes wrong… abandon the sect and escape. This so-called orthodox and immortal sect is not the godly place you think it is. If they really want to avenge the old thief, just invite them to come and attack me in Ming Yin Mountain." She laughed coldly, then seeming to think of something, her eyes slowly turned blood red and her hands gripped her dress unconsciously. "I want to ask these famous orthodox sects this. Five hundred years ago, Yu Ding defiled my Nascent Soul body, destroyed my hundred years of cultivation and imprisoned me in the dungeons to use as a cultivation sex slave. Why can't I take revenge?"
Shen Ying finally slowed her chewing and slowly raised her head to look at her.
"Why do you look at me like this? What? You don't believe that a hall master of a sect would do such a thing?"
"No… I wanted to ask, is the other chicken cooked?"
"......"
She really regretted it now. She should have killed this foodie earlier!
o(▼皿▼メ;)o
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