Chapter 31

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, aside from occasionally seeking out Liu Qingge to help unblock his meridians and purge toxins, asking Mu Qingfang to prepare certain medicinal ingredients for him, or visiting Qing Jing Peak to assign cultivation tasks to his disciples, Shen Qingqiu spent most of his days wandering the world.

His life was leisurely and carefree, until a sudden missive from Yue Qingyuan summoned him back to Cang Qiong Mountain.

Given that the Peak Lord had been absent for so long his shadow was scarcely seen, his sudden return prompted the disciples of Qing Jing Peak to gather early at the mountain gate to welcome him. The moment they saw Shen Qingqiu slowly ascending the stone steps, they swarmed around him.

Ming Fan, now a tall and slender young man, stood at the front. While not exceptionally handsome, his features were regular and well-proportioned, a far cry from the sharp-faced, narrow-minded look of a destined cannon fodder character he had in his youth. Ning Yingying had blossomed into a graceful, delicate young woman. She rushed forward the moment she saw Shen Qingqiu, clutching his arm and pulling him toward the Ascending Sky Stairs.

While having a fragrant young lady cling to him was certainly a pleasant experience in this mortal world, Shen Qingqiu found himself unable to fully enjoy it. Especially since Ning Yingying had developed quite well, no longer the petite little girl she once was. When her chest occasionally brushed against him, Shen Qingqiu’s face remained impassive while cold sweat trickled down his back. It reminded him of those two towering forum threads demanding the castration of ‘Shen Qingqiu’ from the Proud Immortal Demon Way review section.

Ning Yingying cooed, "Shizun, you’re never on the mountain. Your disciples have missed you terribly."

Shen Qingqiu replied with paternal affection, "This master has missed you… all of you as well."

Wait, that’s not right. The one you should be missing is Luo Binghe. Why are you thinking about a scum villain? And as one of Luo Binghe’s future wives, shouldn’t you have been sleepless for five years, unable to eat, wasting away to skin and bones, heartbroken?

Why do you look like you’ve gained weight instead!

Surrounded by his disciples, Shen Qingqiu made his way to Qiong Ding Peak. In the main hall, the lords of all twelve peaks were already seated, each flanked by one or two trusted disciples—with the sole exception of Liu Qingge.

Bai Zhan Peak’s traditional style was one of laissez-faire education. Disciples trained on their own. The Peak Lord, aside from occasionally popping back to beat the lot of them up, basically taught nothing else. The position was only handed over once a disciple could beat their master back. So of course, there was no such thing as a ‘trusted disciple’ there.

Shen Qingqiu exchanged greetings and took his seat in the second position, reserved for Qing Jing Peak. Ming Fan and Ning Yingying stood behind him. Across from him sat Qi Qingqi of Xian Shu Peak and Liu Mingyan.

Before Yue Qingyuan could officially begin the meeting, Shen Qingqiu flicked his folding fan open and shut, his gaze sweeping over each Peak Lord and their accompanying disciples. He thought, If Luo Binghe were still here, there would likely be no one else standing behind me. And the most outstanding disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain’s next generation would be beyond doubt.

As his mind wandered, Yue Qingyuan spoke. "Are my fellow disciples aware of the city of Jinlan?"

Shang Qinghua said, "I’ve heard a little. It lies in the central plains, at the confluence of the Luo and Heng Rivers. The city lord values commerce; it’s said to be quite prosperous."

Yue Qingyuan nodded. "Correct. Jinlan City is a hub of land and water routes, a gathering place for merchants from all directions. Yet two months ago, the city sealed its gates. Not only is passage through the city gates forbidden, but correspondence cannot be delivered either."

For a thriving commercial city to suddenly close itself off was as inexplicable as a financial center cutting all ties with the outside world. There had to be more to the story.

Shen Qingqiu lifted the teacup beside him, gently skimming the leaves from the surface. "Jinlan City is closest to Zhao Hua Temple. If I recall correctly, their interactions were quite frequent. If something truly happened, the venerable masters of the temple should have noticed the anomaly."

Yue Qingyuan said, "Precisely. Twenty days ago, a merchant from Jinlan City escaped the city by waterway and fled to Zhao Hua Temple to seek help."

He used the word ‘escape.’ The situation must be grave indeed. A solemn silence fell over the hall.

"That middle-aged man was originally the proprietor of the number one weapons shop in Jinlan City. He made regular offerings at Zhao Hua Temple for years, and many of the temple’s monks knew him."

"He arrived wrapped head to toe in thick black cloth, only half his face visible. By the time he reached Zhao Hua Temple, he was utterly exhausted, collapsing before the mountain steps, repeating over and over that a terrible plague had taken hold in the city."

"The mountain-guarding monks immediately carried him into the main hall and reported to the abbot. But by the time the abbot and several senior masters arrived, it was too late."

Liu Qingge asked, "Dead?"

Yue Qingyuan replied, "The merchant had been reduced to a skeleton."

He just said the man fought tooth and nail to reach the temple gates. How could he turn into a skeleton in the blink of an eye?

Shen Qingqiu pondered. "Senior Brother mentioned the merchant was wrapped in black cloth? From head to toe?"

Yue Qingyuan confirmed, "Indeed. At one point, a monk tried to help remove the cloth, but the merchant screamed in agony at the slightest touch, as if his skin and flesh were being torn away. They dared not force it."

"The abbots of Zhao Hua Temple were deeply unsettled. After deliberation, they dispatched several senior Buddhist masters, including Master Wuchen, to investigate that very night. They have not returned to this day."

Masters of the ‘Wu’ generation were of equal or higher seniority compared to Shen Qingqiu and his peers, and their cultivation levels were certainly not inferior. Shen Qingqiu felt a flicker of surprise. "Not a single one returned?"

Yue Qingyuan gave a heavy nod. "Huan Hua Palace and Tian Yi Monastery also sent over a dozen disciples. Similarly, none returned."

With three of the four great sects already drawn into this, Cang Qiong Mountain naturally could not stand idly by. No wonder an urgent summons had been issued. Sure enough, Yue Qingyuan continued, "Our fellow cultivators from the other sects, left with no choice, have sent missives and envoys requesting Cang Qiong Mountain’s aid. Aid will certainly be given. However, this matter is of great import. We fear foreign elements may be stirring the waters and fanning the flames behind the scenes. While some must go, others must remain behind." This was to avoid a repeat of the situation with Sha Hualing, where the mountain was left undefended.

‘Foreign elements’ undoubtedly referred only to the demon race. Liu Qingge was the first to speak. "Bai Zhan Peak. I will escort Junior Brother Mu."

Since a plague was ravaging the city, Mu Qingfang of Qian Cao Peak was essential. Shen Qingqiu glanced over. These two who were going—one responsible for brewing his medicine, the other for unblocking his spiritual veins—were both heading into danger. Without the protection of a protagonist’s halo, he worried they might come to harm. He needed to keep an eye on them. He quickly added, "Qingqiu is willing to accompany them."

Yue Qingyuan said, "My original intention was to have you guard the mountain."

Shen Qingqiu knew how to handle this: be persistent. "Why must Sect Leader think of me as so feeble? Though lacking in talent, Qingqiu knows a thing or two about the demon race. If they are indeed behind this, I may be of some small assistance."

A walking encyclopedia on demons—both the original and the current version could certainly claim that title. The accumulated scrolls and ancient texts of Qing Jing Peak, which every successive Peak Lord had to read before inheriting the position, were piled up behind the bamboo house… Yue Qingyuan considered. Having him act together with Liu Qingge and Mu Qingfang would make it easier to suppress the effects of Without A Cure on him, and in a fight, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord could provide protection. In the end, they were divided into three groups. Liu, Mu, and Shen would form the vanguard to first investigate Jinlan City. A second batch would wait outside, ready to act according to the situation. The third would remain to guard Cang Qiong Mountain.

The situation was urgent; there was no time for leisurely travel by carriage or boat. Shen Qingqiu didn’t particularly like sword flight, but he knew he had to keep pace with the group. The three of them set off on their swords. In less than half a day, Shen Qingqiu peered down through the clouds and called out to his two companions, "Below is the confluence of the Luo and Heng Rivers!"

From high above, two rivers indeed intersected, like two long, winding, slender ribbons of silver shimmering in the sunlight, scales of light dancing wildly.

One of them was the Luo River—the very river where the newborn Luo Binghe had been set adrift, the river from which he took his surname.

The three chose a broad, flat mountaintop as their landing point. From here, they could faintly make out the upturned eaves and corner ridges of Jinlan City in the distance, its gates shut tight and its river bridge drawn up.

Shen Qingqiu lowered the hand he had been using to shade his eyes from the sun. "Why don’t we just fly directly into the city?"

Mu Qingfang explained, "Zhao Hua Temple, at the request of Jinlan City’s lord, once laid a massive barrier over the city’s airspace. It prohibits flying swords or any object carrying spiritual or demonic energy from passing overhead. Anything attempting it will be deflected off course."

Shen Qingqiu had witnessed Zhao Hua Temple’s barrier-setting prowess before—they were the premier barrier specialists employed for the Immortal Alliance Conference. If they claimed second place, no one dared claim first. Shen Qingqiu asked no further questions.

Since they couldn’t drop from the sky, nor enter through the main gate, there had to be another way. Sure enough, Mu Qingfang, who had been thoroughly briefed by Yue Qingyuan, led the other two into a stretch of forest. Amid the green shade, the sound of flowing water reached their ears.

The sound came from a low cave entrance. Mu Qingfang gestured for them to approach. "There is an underground river here. It leads into the city."

Shen Qingqiu understood. "The weapons merchant escaped through here?"

Mu Qingfang nodded. "Some merchants involved in underground dealings meet here, or use it to smuggle goods. Not many know of this path, but that weapons merchant was on good terms with several of Zhao Hua Temple’s abbots and once revealed some details."

The cave mouth was choked with green vines, only chest-high. The three had to bend to enter. After walking a stretch, they finally felt the space above them open up. The sound of water became a rushing torrent. Moored beside the riverbank were a few dilapidated, lonely boats.

Shen Qingqiu selected the least dilapidated boat—one that at least wouldn't spring a leak—and with a flick of his finger, ignited a flame within the withered lantern hanging from its prow. He glanced around. There was only one oar.

With a gesture of invitation, he turned to Liu Qingge. "We're going against the current. Rowing into the city will certainly require the strongest arms among us. What do you say, Junior Brother?"

Liu Qingge's face darkened as he snatched the long, slender pole. Without complaint, he began to row. Each powerful stroke sent the boat surging forward, the lantern at the bow swinging and creaking wildly.

Shen Qingqiu pulled Mu Qingfang down to sit, his gaze drifting to the shimmering water alongside the boat. He could even see a few fish darting happily past, their tails flicking. "The water is remarkably clear," he remarked offhandedly.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a larger shadow drifted into view behind the playful fish.

A corpse, face down in the water.