Chapter 9

The Lingxi Caves were a labyrinth of winding passages, but after a hundred twists and turns, one could find a hidden world within. No wind or moonlight reached here, yet the air was cool and profoundly still. White stones drifted like clouds, green ones gleamed like jade, forming countless strange landscapes and natural stone platforms. At the center lay a pool of emerald water, its surface a perfect mirror reflecting another realm.

The only flaw in this sanctuary was the apparent disregard of the previous occupant for shared facilities. The cave walls were scarred with countless crisscrossing gouges from blade shadows and sword energy. Cascades of blood had long since dried and blackened upon the stone.

This was just one of many such caverns. Though it bore a suspicious resemblance to a murder scene, Shen Qingqiu was satisfied and had no intention of searching for another spot. He settled onto a stone platform and began his cultivation, following the memorized texts with deep focus.

However, it seemed the heavens were determined to deny him a peaceful session of power-leveling. Before he had meditated for long, an unusual sound reached his ears.

Low, ragged panting.

The sound of someone in pain.

Simultaneously, he sensed a surge of spiritual power, wild and on the verge of eruption.

Alright. I know what’s happening.

The Lingxi Caves were vast. Naturally, he wasn’t the only one granted permission to enter secluded cultivation. Someone else was here, practicing as well, and… they had suffered a deviation. They were at a critical juncture.

I! Just! Want! To! Cultivate! In! Peace! Is that too much to ask? Is it?!

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes snapped open. He decided to investigate. Following the sound and the erratic spiritual fluctuations, he navigated the twisting tunnels. The disturbances grew louder and more violent with each turn.

Finally, he entered another cavern. His gaze immediately fell upon a figure in white robes, facing away from him. A longsword was driven into the stone floor, buried to the hilt.

Chaotic sword energy lashed wildly through the cave. The white-robed man was spattered with blood, looking every bit a victim. Yet his movements were those of a frenzied killer.

This deviation is… spectacularly severe.

Shen Qingqiu pondered his options. Given his own slapdash, half-baked cultivation methods, if he tried to help stabilize the other’s spiritual flow, was he more likely to assist or to deliver the final blow? Just as he was weighing this, his eyes caught the sword.

Trembling violently from its master’s rampaging power, the blade was slowly, inexorably pulling itself free from the stone with a piercing shriek. Silver light raced along the intricate curse-seals and phoenix patterns etched into its hilt.

Shen Qingqiu recognized that sword in an instant. He knew exactly whose it was.

Damn it all!

Of all the people to run into!

If he’d held any intention to help before, it vanished, replaced by a single-minded urge to flee. But it was too late. The man in white whirled around, his presence discovered!

Shen Qingqiu had no mind to spare for admiring the man’s beauty. Even the most handsome face loses its appeal when its eyes are blood-red and glaring at you with bulging veins, ready to kill.

He turned on his heel and ran. Behind him, the man slammed a palm against the cave wall. Stone shards exploded outward. The longsword finally tore free from the rock and shot through the air like a bolt of silver, embedding itself in the ground directly before Shen Qingqiu, blocking his path. Had he been a fraction faster and unable to stop, the blade would have taken his head. In the next heartbeat, the deranged swordsman was upon him.

Seeing escape was impossible, Shen Qingqiu braced himself. He gathered his spiritual power into his right hand and, with a desperate gamble, struck the man squarely in the chest.

If this person truly lived up to the legends—possessing combat prowess nearly on par with the protagonist’s cheat-like abilities—then this palm strike would be utterly useless. Not only useless, but Shen Qingqiu would likely be the one sent flying thirty feet, coughing up blood.

Yet, it worked. The one sent flying three feet, spitting blood, was not Shen Qingqiu, but the other man.

For a moment, Shen Qingqiu stared at his own right hand, then at the white-robed figure he’d just knocked down. A profound thought struck him: I don’t need to pretend; I’m just this awesome!

In truth, while someone in the throes of a deviation was terrifyingly violent, they were also incredibly vulnerable. With enough luck, a single strike might just snap the last thread holding them together.

A conflicted expression crossed Shen Qingqiu’s face as he watched the man struggle painfully to his knees, trying and failing to rise, each attempt ending with him crashing back down, clearly intent on tearing Shen Qingqiu apart. Finally, Shen Qingqiu sighed and approached, placing a hand on the man’s back.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Shen Qingqiu said, regardless of whether the other could understand. “If I don’t help you now, it’ll be too late. I’m not exactly an expert at this. If you… well, haha… at least I tried. Don’t blame me.”

An immeasurable time later, Shen Qingqiu felt the chaotic spiritual energy within the man gradually settle into a normal flow. Only then did his own heart ease, and he withdrew his hand. All that remained was to pray his reckless attempt at healing hadn’t caused the man’s cultivation to regress.

The man he’d accidentally saved sat with his head bowed slightly, still unconscious.

Shen Qingqiu had already guessed his identity. The system notification confirmed it utterly.

[Congratulations! System Notification: Plot Point “Liu Qingge’s Death” altered. Villain Shen Qingqiu’s ‘Seeking Death’ Points and ‘Hatred’ Points decreased. ‘Coolness’ Points +200!]

Just as I thought.

This was his fellow disciple. Another one of the poor souls who had died at the hands of the original Shen Qingqiu.

The master of Bai Zhan Peak, one of the Twelve Peaks of Cang Qiong Mountain. Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge was a formidable character.

Each of the Twelve Peaks of Cang Qiong had its own distinct flavor. Qiong Ding Peak, the leader, oversaw the grand scheme of things. Shen Qingqiu’s Qing Jing Peak was the favorite of intellectuals and artsy types. Wan Jian Peak, blessed by heaven, earth, and human talent, had produced master swordsmiths since ancient times. The name Ku Xing Peak said it all—Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t go there even if whipped. And Xian Shu Peak was an object of widespread longing, as it accepted only female disciples, historically renowned for their stunning beauty. The shameless, reader-written fanfiction was endless and varied, with masterpieces like The Tyrannical Beauty of Xian Shu Falls For Me and My Days of Embracing Beauties on Xian Shu Peak standing out for their elementary-school-level prose and scandalously lowbrow plots, their influence nearly rivaling the original work.

But among them all, the peak most adored, worshipped, and fervently sought to join by the younger generation was undoubtedly Bai Zhan Peak, presided over by Liu Qingge!

It was the most battle-hungry lineage in Cang Qiong Mountain, and also the most powerful in combat.

Every master of Bai Zhan Peak in history had been a peerless swordsman. A hundred battles, a hundred victories—an undefeated legend. How thrilling! How cool!

Male readers always had a special appreciation for the strong. Though Liu Qingge hadn’t officially appeared in the story yet, he had no shortage of fans who admired his might. Shen Yuan, in particular, had idolized him. The image he’d conjured in his mind was of a majestic, imposing, and sharp-edged man of war. A battle god!

Shen Qingqiu looked down at the face before him, delicate and lovely as a beautiful woman. His dream shattered. His soul wept. The fantasy he’d cherished for so long lay in ruins.

Master of the ever-victorious Bai Zhan Peak, why is your true style completely wrong?! This is clearly the face of a graceful young lord who should be arranging flowers and plucking willows!

How can you face your legion of combat fans with a face like this?!

Then again, it made sense. Liu Qingge was the elder brother of Liu Mingyan, the story’s primary female lead, a peerless beauty. The protagonist’s wife had to be top-tier. The power of genetics was strong. And scientific!

Undefeated in battle, arrogant in personality, and unfairly handsome. With someone like “Ice Brother” around, the world didn’t need a second. No wonder Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky had written his early demise.

Dare to pile this many settings onto someone other than the protagonist? They’re either destined to be a downgraded cannon-fodder or dead!

He hadn’t considered this earlier. Now he wondered: by saving this man, would he affect Luo Binghe’s enjoyment of the story?

Liu Qingge hadn’t received much page time, but he served one crucial purpose: to highlight the depths of Shen Qingqiu’s scumminess.

The two, though fellow disciples, had always been at odds.

That was precisely why Shen Qingqiu had been so desperate to flee earlier. With two people who normally didn’t get along, one suffering a deviation, the outcome was either the deviated one chasing Shen Qingqiu down to kill him, or Shen Qingqiu killing him as in the original plot.

He didn’t know the exact reason for their deep-seated animosity, but it was an ironclad fact that the original Shen Qingqiu was Liu Qingge’s murderer. The exposure of this event was one of the direct catalysts for Shen Qingqiu’s eventual downfall and disgrace. The original novel’s condemnation went something like: “Taking advantage of a slight misstep during his cultivation, he intervened and struck a fatal blow.” That probably happened right here.

Shen Qingqiu had killed the female lead’s only family. Of course Luo Binghe would want to avenge his wife. The density of hate-worthy traits in Shen Qingqiu’s character was truly extraordinary!

While Shen Qingqiu was busy fretting over his future, Liu Qingge, having finished coughing up blood, finally stirred and regained consciousness.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Shen Qingqiu sitting casually nearby, watching him with an air of detached amusement that looked utterly suspicious in every way. Alarm bells screamed in Liu Qingge’s mind. He tried to jerk upright into a defensive posture, but the movement agitated his severely injured internal organs. His spiritual energy churned violently, and another mouthful of blood sprayed forth.

From the side, Shen Qingqiu’s cool voice drifted over. “Junior Brother, regulate your breathing. Don’t be so agitated. As the master of Bai Zhan Peak, how can you be in such a sorry state? Here, wipe your face.” He offered a handkerchief.

“Shen… What trick are you playing now…” Liu Qingge managed between coughs of blood.

Seeing his obvious difficulty, Shen Qingqiu reached out and gave his back a light pat.

Liu Qingge had braced for an attack but was too weak to evade. When the contact came, however, he felt a stream of pure, gentle spiritual energy pour into him. It traveled methodically through his limbs, helping to straighten his chaotic internal flow.

This was worse than Shen Qingqiu stabbing him in the back. After all, backstabbing was something he was already used to.

Shen Qingqiu continued patting his back, his tone earnest. "Junior Brother Liu, to be honest, this recent period of secluded cultivation has given me many insights. Seeing you hanging by a thread just now, nearly… well, meeting an untimely end, it made me reflect on the past. I feel deeply ashamed and filled with regret."

Liu Qingge seemed to cough up even more blood.

Shen Qingqiu extended an olive branch. "Why don't we let bygones be bygones from now on? Join hands and advance together, become a model pair of Senior and Junior Brothers, a shining example of sect harmony. What do you say, Junior Brother?"

It was a bit shameless to be so direct. But since he hadn't killed Liu Qingge and had already altered that hate-generating plot point, why not go all the way and try to build a good relationship? Maybe Lord Liu could even become a powerful ally!

Liu Qingge's face was a picture of profound disgust. He stared into Shen Qingqiu's eyes for a long moment before finally speaking through gritted teeth, as if unable to endure another second. "You. Get away from me."

Shen Qingqiu understood perfectly.

After so many years of mutual loathing, he couldn't expect to raise his favorability meter overnight. This required patience.

He nodded, turning to leave without another word. As he walked away, he waved a hand over his shoulder without looking back. "If you run into any more trouble during your cultivation, Junior Brother, don't be shy. Feel free to call for your Senior Brother's help. We're so close by, after all. We should look out for each other."

Liu Qingge looked as though hearing another word might make him vomit more blood, his gaze terrifying.

Shen Qingqiu wisely shut his mouth and "got away." He left Liu Qingge alone, struggling to cough up yet another mouthful of crimson.

Their mutual animosity ran deep. Since their youth, Liu Qingge had despised Shen Qingqiu's character, and the feeling had been entirely mutual.

This was no playful rivalry, no bickering between opposites who secretly attracted. This was the genuine article—a single disagreeable word could lead to a life-or-death battle. For Shen Qingqiu to refrain from kicking him while he was down would be as likely as the sun rising in the west. To help him? Save him?!

Yet the evidence was undeniable, twisting Liu Qingge's expression into something ugly.

His memory ended the moment his cultivation had spiraled out of control. But now his spiritual energy flowed smoothly and steadily. There was no way he could have calmed that chaos by himself in such a state. An external force must have intervened.

Could it really be that Shen Qingqiu had helped him?

The mere possibility made Liu Qingge feel nauseated, a sensation worse than death.