Chapter 58: Let’s Turn Into a Woman in One Breath (Part 2)
Huang Qi, born ordinary, with no strong background or illustrious lineage, was fortunate that heaven favored him, granting him some aptitude for cultivation, hence he cherished this opportunity.
After entering the HongHua Sect, Huang Qi dared not slacken in the slightest. Even the medicinal ingredients needed for cultivation were acquired by going hungry and saving up. After six or seven years of diligent cultivation, as success was within reach, he unexpectedly failed at the final step.
After leaving the HongHua Sect, Huang Qi dared not tell his parents about this matter until the elders personally came looking for him.
Huang Qi would forever remember the disappointed, even despairing, expressions of his parents at that time. Thus, he vowed that if someone had indeed poisoned him, he would tear that person to shreds in the future.
“Poisoned?”
As soon as Hu Bing uttered these words, the scene erupted.
“How did you know he was poisoned?” Sect Leader Qin questioned.
“After he failed in his breakthrough, I examined his physical condition and discovered a poison residue in his body that could dissipate spiritual energy. It should be Xieqisan!” Hu Bing explained the situation in detail.
“Heh heh, Deacon Hu, do you have persecutory delusion? Who would poison such an ordinary disciple? Xieqisan is not cheap, his value is probably less than the poison itself!” Elder Wu said sarcastically.
“This old fool is truly impertinent. Anyone who didn’t know would think I was his father’s murderer!” Huang Qi was already seething with anger, and seeing the other party ridicule him repeatedly, he wished he could rush up and fight to the death immediately.
“You are not qualified to measure the value of others. It was evident from Cheng Hong Ling’s test that day that your eyes have long been clouded,” Hu Bing said, shaking his head dismissively.
“Bold! How dare you, a mere deacon, be disrespectful to me?” Elder Wu became enraged, his body moved, and he lunged like a mad dog. The sword in his hand, like a venomous snake’s tongue, stabbed towards Hu Bing’s face.
“Be careful!”
Huang Qi was greatly alarmed and wanted to step forward to help, but he was somehow unable to control his body.
Hu Bing naturally would not sit idly by. He stepped out with mysterious footwork, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Elder Wu, gaining the upper hand, pressed his advantage, changing his sword thrust to a sweep, hacking towards Hu Bing’s neck with extreme ruthlessness.
Hu Bing quickly squatted to dodge, then drew the sword at his waist and counterattacked towards Elder Wu’s legs.
Elder Wu squatted his feet, sprang up more than two zhang, pushed down with his left hand, and roared, “Volcanic Palm!”
Immediately, a ball of flame erupted from his palm, transforming into a giant palm more than ten feet long and suppressing downwards towards Hu Bing below! The flames roared terrifyingly in the gale, like a voracious demon.
True Qi emerging from the body! A long-range attack! This is the power of reaching the Guiyi Realm!
Below, Hu Bing was only at the peak of the Body Refining Realm and could not use True Qi to resist, so he scrambled to dodge.
“Boom!”
With a loud explosion, the giant flame palm slammed heavily onto the ground. The granite ground, like thin ice, instantly cracked, turning into pieces of rubble that whizzed outwards, their speed so fast they emitted a piercing sound.
The onlookers were terrified and backed away in fear!
Hu Bing, however, was not so lucky. He was at close range and had no place to dodge. Thus, he desperately raised his sword, slashing left and right, deflecting the flying rocks. However, a small portion still grazed his body, leaving him with wounds and bloody holes.
At this moment, Elder Wu closed in, his sword turning into a cold gleam, directly slashing towards Hu Bing’s throat, each move aimed at killing!
Hu Bing was in a sorry state and could no longer resist, about to have his throat slit by Elder Wu!
“Stop!”
Huang Qi was greatly alarmed and struggled fiercely to help, but unfortunately, he still couldn’t control his body at all.
Just then, Qin Quan moved. His figure floated like a ghost between the two, and he lightly grasped Elder Wu’s wrist.
Elder Wu’s killing intent was resolute. He tried to break free from Qin Quan, but after several attempts, he could not move him in the slightest.
“My heavens, True Qi emerging from the body! Elder Wu has indeed reached the Guiyi Realm. I thought it was just a rumor before!”
“Heaven truly blesses our HongHua Sect. Now we have three Guuyi Realm experts.”
“Three? Wasn’t it two? Elder Wu plus Sect Leader Qin!”
“And Elder Xu’s youngest disciple, Cheng Hong Ling! That little girl over there. I heard she has also reached the Guiyi Realm.”
“How is that possible? How old is she?”
“I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it’s all over the outside world!”
… The onlookers discussed with lingering fear.
Huang Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had known for a long time that his master had safely left the HongHua Sect three years ago, he did not want to see the old man get hurt.
“What’s wrong? Can’t argue, so you want to bully the weaker?” Hu Bing spat out bloody saliva disdainfully.
“Sect Leader, this fellow is making baseless accusations. You can’t believe him! He’s clearly resentful because Huang Qi was expelled, so he deliberately made up lies to slander the HongHua Sect and have me eliminate this scoundrel,” Elder Wu pleaded, unable to break free.
“Deacon Hu, since such a thing happened, why didn’t you tell me at the time?” Qin Quan ignored Elder Wu and asked directly.
“Although my disciple failed in his breakthrough, he continued to cultivate. I didn’t want to affect him because of this matter…” Hu Bing put away his sword and began to state his purpose.
“Ridiculous! If he failed in his breakthrough, he becomes a cripple with his spiritual energy completely depleted. How could he continue to cultivate?” Elder Wu interrupted impolitely.
“This is common knowledge. Do I need you to remind me?” Hu Bing retorted, then explained, “Actually, Huang Qi understood this too, but he didn’t give up. As his master, should I drag him down? Moreover, he was harmed by villains, so I took him in for ten years.”
“What a good master!” Ruan Lingyu and others exclaimed.
“Master, how can I repay your great kindness?” Huang Qi understood the whole story upon hearing this. He was deeply grateful, but unfortunately, separated by time and space, he could not thank him in person.
“Ten years! You took in that waste for ten years! Just out of sympathy? I don’t think so. Your actions are not those of a normal disciple. Perhaps that waste is your illegitimate son,” Elder Wu said heartlessly and did not believe it.
“Elder Wu, do you not treat your own disciples like this? As long as they encounter a little setback, you drive them out?” Hu Bing asked as if out of curiosity.
“Elder Wu really is like this! As long as an outer disciple’s cultivation is slightly unfavorable, he will immediately expel them!”
“Is his heart made of iron? No trace of human emotion.”
“The outer disciples under his name, from their entry to their expulsion, never had the chance to receive his personal guidance. Where does the affection come from?”
“Someone like this can be an elder? I could do it too!”
… Some disciples around began to discuss, after all, Elder Wu’s reputation in the HongHua Sect was not good.
“How dare you slander me! Be careful, I’ll make you shut up forever.” Elder Wu became enraged.
“Put away your sword!” Qin Quan commanded coldly.
Elder Wu was cornered and wanted to speak but stopped. However, he ultimately did not dare to challenge the sect leader, so he reluctantly put away his sword.
“Although Elder Wu’s actions were excessive, what he said might have some truth. You are making baseless accusations, how can I believe you?” Qin Quan’s expression softened considerably.
“I have no evidence, but there is only one organization in the cultivation world that sells Xieqisan. As long as we find them, we can find out who in our sect bought that thing, and the truth will naturally be revealed,” Hu Bing stated his idea.
“I’m sorry, since you cannot provide evidence, I cannot forgive the mistake you have made today!” Qin Quan regretfully shook his head.
Elder Wu heard this and his face showed a hint of schadenfreude.
“How about this! I will give you a chance to atone for your mistakes. Go down the mountain and investigate this matter. If the result shows that someone in our sect is indeed responsible, I will not pursue it further, and you can continue to be a deacon,” Sect Leader Qin chose a compromise to handle the matter. He then added, “Of course, if you can never find out, then don’t come back for the rest of your life.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader, for your magnanimity!” Hu Bing was also someone who knew to be content, so he cupped his hands in thanks. He then looked around and said, “I know the one who poisoned him is here. Listen carefully, you harmed my disciple, this matter is not over! I will find you sooner or later!”
After saying this, Hu Bing took a deep look at the HongHua Sect, where he had spent decades, and then limped out.
“What a fool. Ten years have passed, let’s see how you investigate?” Elder Wu scoffed.
…
Huang Qi woke up from his dream, feeling his face cold and damp. He reached out to wipe it and found it was all tears.
“Master! So you left the HongHua Sect for me.” Huang Qi murmured foolishly, unable to extricate himself, because this dream was not only real but also had a great impact on him.
Time ticked by, and after a full quarter of an hour, Huang Qi’s eyes gradually cleared. He suddenly realized that he was now in the real world and still had to save his father. What he saw in his dream was from three years ago, and it was impossible to change anything.
Thinking of this, Huang Qi hurriedly reached out to probe downwards. At this moment, his heart was incredibly complex, filled with both fear of failure and dread of success!
“Perhaps this mask can feminize my legs first? This way, I can achieve my goal without completely turning into a woman!” Huang Qi fantasized, struggling like a dying man.
