Chapter 13

His hammer had been confiscated by Shen Qingqiu. Could it be that he intended to crush Luo Binghe to death with his sheer bulk?

But seeing him spread his arms wide, as if to embrace Luo Binghe, several realizations flashed through Shen Qingqiu’s mind like lightning, and a cold sweat drenched his back.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit! He’s still wearing the Poison Thorn Armor!

In that instant, Shen Qingqiu completely forgot Luo Binghe’s plot-armor law of the indestructible golden body. At the critical moment, he instinctively moved to block the path once more.

Xiuya left its sheath, its blade gleaming like snow, and plunged straight into the Elder Heavenly Hammer’s massive frame. But driven by brute strength and sheer viciousness, the Elder didn’t retreat even with a hole pierced through him. Instead, his face lit up with manic joy. He surged forward violently, forcing Xiuya’s blade to erupt from his own back, and with a ferocious grin, changed his target to Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu acted decisively, immediately releasing his grip on the sword. But it was already too late.

A sharp, stinging pain shot through his right hand, chilling him from heart to toe.

Elder Heavenly Hammer collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he roared with laughter. "To have Shen Qingqiu accompany me in death, hahahaha! Worth it! So worth it!"

"Shizun!" Luo Binghe grabbed Shen Qingqiu’s right hand. "You were struck?!"

Shen Qingqiu pulled his hand free. "It’s nothing. It didn’t hit me. Don’t listen to his scare tactics." As he spoke, he glanced down, and another frantic stream of internal curses scrolled through his mind.

From the back of his hand up his arm, a neat row of tiny puncture marks! They were already starting to redden!

Thankfully, he didn’t have trypophobia. Luo Binghe, however, went deathly pale the moment he saw them.

If only someone could hear the tsunami of panic raging in Shen Qingqiu’s heart: Goddammit, how many times has the protagonist screwed me over now?! I told you he wouldn’t die! He won’t die! Why the hell did you have to rush in to save him, you idiot!

Having dragged such a heavyweight down with him, Elder Heavenly Hammer wasn’t the least bit despondent. He crowed triumphantly, "This old man never deals in empty threats. This poison is called ‘Incurable’ for a reason. Peak Lord Shen, resign yourself to your fate and await death!"

A flash of sword light. Luo Binghe had drawn Xiuya and pressed it against the Elder’s throat with blinding speed—so fast Shen Qingqiu almost missed the movement.

Luo Binghe seemed like a different person, his voice icy. "You must have an antidote. Hand it over, or I swear you’ll die first!"

Sha Hualing suddenly spoke up. "Young Master, Heavenly Hammer isn’t lying to you. The poison is indeed called ‘Incurable.’ For ordinary humans, there truly is no cure. Having lost the duel and resorted to this, he faces death either way. Why would he fear your threats?"

‘Incurable’!

He had never in his life heard a more lazily named poison!

Even though he knew about this bizarre toxin from the original novel, it didn’t stop Shen Qingqiu from mentally roasting Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky’s supremely utilitarian naming style.

Sha Hualing’s eyes gleamed, clearly recalculating her plans now that the situation had shifted.

Shen Qingqiu knew this character’s nature all too well. While circulating his spiritual power to suppress the waves of pain and spasms shooting up his right arm, he forced a faint smile, affecting nonchalance. "While that may be true, has Young Lady Sha forgotten that I have cultivated for many years? At the mid Core Formation stage, can I still be considered a mere mortal?"

Sha Hualing’s expression shifted, but she quickly regained her composure, letting out a tinkling laugh. "Whether you’re mortal or not, I cannot say. But I know of a method to determine if Senior Shen has been poisoned. Victims of ‘Incurable’ find their spiritual power flow blocked starting from the wound, slowly spreading throughout the body. In the end, not only spiritual energy, but even their blood will congeal and stagnate. If Senior Shen would kindly execute a spiritual power blast with his right hand, we shall have our answer."

A spiritual power blast, as the name implied, involved gathering a massive surge of spiritual power at a single point and releasing it explosively, using the violent shockwave as an attack. The effect was similar to pulling a trigger, firing a bullet, or throwing a grenade—the specifics depended on the cultivator’s level.

Shen Qingqiu had tested it privately; he could manage something akin to a grenade. But now, his right arm felt like a precision robot with its circuitry partially severed. He could still muster physical strength, but the flow of spiritual power was completely obstructed.

Son of a bitch, am I really going to be crippled like this?!

Hearing the description of ‘Incurable,’ Luo Binghe’s lips trembled.

In that moment, all of Shen Qingqiu’s past harshness was erased from his heart.

All that remained, crystal clear, was the fact that his Shizun had been harmed by demons, might lose all his cultivation, might even die.

All because of him.

Seeing the turmoil on his face, Shen Qingqiu reached out and casually ruffled his hair. "No need to worry."

Shen Qingqiu raised his eyes, a sly smile playing on his lips. "A demonstration is harmless enough. But I won’t perform it for free. Young Lady Sha, you have caused quite the disturbance on Qiong Ding Peak today. I have exercised considerable restraint until now. But I’ve changed my mind. You cannot simply come and go as you please, or our Cang Qiong Mountain Sect would become a laughingstock. How about we exchange a single palm strike? A life-or-death pact. Any injuries sustained shall be borne solely by the recipient, with no recourse or retaliation. What say you?"

He could not show weakness now!

On the entire Qiong Ding Peak, he was the only senior holding the line. If he faltered, given Sha Hualing’s ruthlessness, the best-case scenario would be the demons dismantling the Qiong Ding Hall, carrying off its plaque and mountain gate back to the demon realm, forever tarnishing the sect’s reputation. The worst case? A massacre!

Don’t doubt it—this woman was absolutely capable of such a thing.

Better to take a desperate gamble! One final strike to finish her off shouldn’t be too difficult.

Shen Qingqiu failed to notice that, without realizing it, he had stopped viewing the disciples around him—some anxious, some resolute, some furious, some lost—as mere background characters sketched out in a few lines of text.

Sha Hualing bit her lip, deeply conflicted.

If Shen Qingqiu truly wasn’t poisoned, a direct palm strike would be a pure contest of spiritual power. She would undoubtedly die. But if he was merely bluffing, and she missed this golden opportunity to crush Qiong Ding Peak in one fell swoop, wouldn’t she regret it for the rest of her life?

Shen Qingqiu watched her calmly, his expression neither expectant nor evasive, waiting for her decision.

Luo Binghe tugged at his sleeve. "Shizun, this disciple is willing to receive this strike in your stead."

Shen Qingqiu imperceptibly pulled his sleeve back. "What kind of precedent would it set for a disciple to stand in for his master?"

Luo Binghe said, "Shizun was injured because of this disciple…"

Shen Qingqiu glared at him. "Since you know it was for you, then guard your own life properly."

The words struck Luo Binghe’s heart like a physical blow. He fell silent, but the rims of his eyes reddened.

Finally, Sha Hualing gritted her teeth. "Then Senior Shen, please forgive Ling’er’s impudence!"

Shen Qingqiu said, "Come, then! Show no mercy. Life and death are in fate’s hands!"

Her heart pounding wildly, Sha Hualing didn’t dare reply. Her crimson figure shot into the air, a pale jade palm driving forward, wreathed in a domineering surge of black demonic energy!

Shen Qingqiu kicked Luo Binghe out of the way, bracing himself. This strike would surely leave both parties grievously wounded!

However, he was neither sent flying by Sha Hualing’s palm nor did he cough up blood and explode.

The master of Bai Zhan Peak, whose killing intent was palpable and whose sword was already drawn, didn’t move a single finger. The torrent of spiritual power that erupted from his body alone was enough to repel Sha Hualing’s full-force attack.

After a moment of stunned silence, Qiong Ding Peak erupted.

"Uncle Liu!"

"Uncle Liu has left seclusion!"

"The War God of Bai Zhan Peak is out! See if you demons dare act arrogantly now!"

The cheers were even louder than all the posturing Shen Qingqiu had painstakingly maintained earlier. Tears of frustration welled in Shen Qingqiu’s heart: What’s the point of looking cool now?! Couldn’t you have come out a bit earlier?! Would it kill you to leave some of the spotlight for me?!

This was, without a doubt, a stallion novel overflowing with fanservice. After being repelled, Sha Hualing let out a delicate cry of surprise. The already-scant crimson gauze that covered the bare minimum of her body shredded into tatters, eliciting gasps from the crowd. She executed a graceful roll to cushion her fall, scrambling to her feet. Demons were indeed a bold and unrestrained folk. Even covered in strategic blurring, she showed no shame or anger, only snatching a subordinate’s cloak and draping it haphazardly over herself. "Everyone, today I miscalculated. We will have plenty of opportunities to meet again! Let’s go!"

Liu Qingge sneered. "Come as you please, leave as you please. What audacity. A fine fantasy!"

His form blurred. The Cheng Luan sword on his back shot into the sky, tracing hundreds upon thousands of tangible sword energies that arranged themselves into a radiant formation. They rained down upon the demonic entourage like hail and icy sleet.

Leading her forces in a frantic retreat, Sha Hualing spun her red gauze into a crimson cloud and hurled it skyward. Unfortunately, it was utterly incapable of blocking the sharp, fierce sword energies. The gauze was soon pierced full of holes. Combined with the Cang Qiong Mountain disciples blocking their escape, most of the demons were either wounded or captured. Only the small core group closely following Sha Hualing managed to flee down the mountain in utter disgrace.

After sheathing his sword, Liu Qingge turned with a stern face to examine the wound on Shen Qingqiu’s hand. The disciples of Qing Jing Peak crowded around. A dozen faces wore identical expressions of tension.

Shen Qingqiu sighed. "Having Ning Yingying learn from Aunt Xue to frantically pound on the Lingxi Cave walls to howl you out was an extremely correct choice."

Liu Qingge: "Who is Aunt Xue?"

Shen Qingqiu: "A peerless beauty of the mortal world. How am I?"

Liu Qingge snorted. "You won’t die for now."

Despite his words, the stream of spiritual power he was channeling into Shen Qingqiu’s body with his left hand never ceased, and his expression grew increasingly grave. Shen Qingqiu looked at his hand. Liu Qingge clarified pointedly, "Repaying what I owed you from inside the Lingxi Cave!"

Tsundere!

The plan to recruit Liu Qingge as an ally showed promise! But the waves of spasms shooting through Shen Qingqiu’s spiritual meridians made it impossible for him to smile.

Luo Binghe’s voice was tight. “Uncle Liu, this ‘No Cure’ poison… is there truly no cure?”

Before Liu Qingge could answer, Shen Qingqiu’s knees buckled, and he would have crumpled to the ground if Luo Binghe hadn’t been holding him up. He couldn’t stand any longer. “Let me lie down,” he managed, waving a weak hand. “Just… let me lie down for a moment.”

Luo Binghe had never seen his master so utterly drained. He knelt beside him, eyes bloodshot, voice choked. “…Shizun.”

With a monumental effort, Shen Qingqiu lifted an arm and did something he’d wanted to do for a long time: he ruffled the protagonist’s hair. Finally, the mouthful of blood he’d been holding back for ages trembled past his lips and spilled onto the ground.

Even then, with grim determination, he forced out the critical line to boost his favorability rating.

“I knew… you would win.”

The words hit Luo Binghe like a physical blow, making his whole body shudder.

Later, thinking back on it, Shen Qingqiu felt that from a god’s-eye view, he would have thrown the book down in disgust. What kind of character is this, beating him up one moment and saving him the next? He’s insane! A split-personality lunatic!

Right then, the system chimed a notification.

[Shen Qingqiu: Character Complexity +20. Philosophical Depth +20. Mystique +10. Total Pretentiousness +50.]

Shen Qingqiu was horrified. Was a character’s philosophical depth calculated like that?

And please don’t just activate weird stats without warning, thank you very much!

His vision swimming with black spots, Shen Qingqiu looked up and thought he saw Luo Binghe’s tears falling like broken beads from his eyes.

Must be an illusion.

That was his last thought before darkness swallowed him whole.