Chapter 0.31 – Fellow Travelers Arrived
“Qingyu, did you actually consider the Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan as food at one point?” Qin Gou asked, his expression astonished.
As the saying goes, there’s always someone stronger. Had those ferocious Fire Crow Bi Fang finally encountered a formidable opponent they couldn’t afford to offend?
“Not exactly. These thoughts were actually shared with me by Steward Qianshou! After all, having experienced the vastness of the sea, one naturally becomes less impressed by mere water. Thinking back, I used to prefer it when certain foolish dragon clans provoked me. That way, I could truly feast… *cough*!”
Suddenly, Qingyu noticed her companion Little Banwei trembling in fear. She then sharply realized that she had lived into the very image she once ‘most admired’ – a peerless prodigy, a ‘Dragon Slayer who became a Dragon Saint.’ Her tone immediately shifted as she lowered her head, gazing at her own small, silver-white boots and said, “I was bragging.”
Of course, Qin Gou completely ignored Qingyu’s last-ditch effort to mend the pen after the sheep were lost. He had already heard about her past glories as the ‘Sea Demon’ and ‘Lord of the Sea of Blood,’ now gradually buried by the sands of time, from Little Banwei.
However, what Qin Gou never expected was that the one who actually acted against the Fire Crow Bi Fang wasn’t Qingyu herself, but merely Qianshou, the meticulous subordinate under Little Yu, who was easily flustered and prone to furious impotence when teased. She was the captured wife of Qiu Qianyue, the foremost practitioner of ‘bandit’ style courtship.
“Besides these things, what else do you know about the Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan?” Qin Gou continued to ask.
“In the past, the overall strength of the Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan wasn’t particularly outstanding in the Cultivation World. It was only during a certain period that they surged forth, their influence spreading throughout the Beast Land, gradually becoming an undeniable overlord. In inverse proportion to the rise of the Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan… was the sudden disappearance of the Mi Tian Ye Huang Clan, known by the moniker ‘Companion Moon Immortal Envoy.’ Many people believe there must be some unknown connection between the rise of these two clans and the decline of the other.”
As she spoke, Qingyu noticed Qin Gou and Duoyu’s expressions growing increasingly solemn. She elaborated in greater detail:
“Furthermore, the current leader of the Bi Fang Clan must be an individual of extremely profound strength. Although I’ve never met him personally, my sources are quite reliable. I know that when the Bi Fang Clan first appeared in Human Race territory, they committed many wicked deeds. However, after several Human Emperors and mighty figures arrived, they merely persuaded that Bi Fang Clan leader and his subordinates to leave, without demanding any compensation for their crimes! The Sea Race has always been on good terms with the Human Race, so I know very well that the Human Race has never lacked those willing to sacrifice their righteousness and face death calmly. This is an absolutely rare situation!”
“Qingyu, you speak quite correctly.” Qin Gou pondered for a moment, nodding slightly. “Even if the Bi Fang Clan leader’s personal cultivation is exceptionally strong, it’s impossible that he could intimidate thousands of humans and spiritual beasts, preventing even one from daring to oppose him. Unless, he possesses something of immense importance that forces both the Human Race and the Beast Land to be wary and concede!”
“Master seems very interested in this Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan?” Qingyu blinked her silver eyes curiously and asked.
” indeed. One day, I will definitely go to West Qin Mountain and personally meet that so-called Bi Fang Clan leader. Just how overbearing and awe-inspiring is he, to the point that one’s eyes are rendered useless with just a single glance?” Qin Gou’s voice was frigid.
Not long after, Qin Gou also carefully recounted the experiences of ‘Xie Yu’ to Qingyu. However, no matter how attentively others listened, they could likely never truly empathize with the despair of a girl on a certain rainy night, clinging to the last straw of hope, dragging her battered body to seek refuge under Arc-Moon Mountain, only to be intercepted and ruthlessly slaughtered halfway. Her final glimmer of light in a world of pitch-black darkness was cruelly extinguished.
A moment later, Qingyu’s eyes turned icy. “From this day forward, I will make it known throughout the four seas: the Fire Crow Bi Fang Clan will be the most unwelcome guests for my myriad Sea Race citizens!”
If these words were spoken by Zi Dian, the current guardian of the Sea Soul, there might be a possibility of insubordination among his subordinates. But coming from the lips of Dragon Saint Qingyu, a legend of the four seas with a thousand years of accumulated prestige, they were an absolute decree, a final pronouncement.
“This is…” Suddenly, a flash of surprise crossed Qin Gou’s eyes. He muttered to himself, “Although I haven’t fully refined the Profound Realm laws of this place and integrated them into my cultivation progression, I’ve only grasped a small portion preliminarily. Yet, some invisible force is already informing me that someone else has successfully passed through the Valley of Resentful Thunder and officially entered the Little Profound Realm.”
“What a coincidence? We have fellow travelers?” Duoyu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Fellow travelers? Duoyu, don’t spout nonsense!” Qin Gou looked at Duoyu sternly, lecturing him.
“Just like us before, cultivators coming to explore and plunder, turning over every stone! Let’s not be like the pot calling the kettle black!” However, Duoyu clearly hadn’t understood Old Qin’s meaning and replied with unvarnished honesty.
“You…” Qin Gou couldn’t help but feel heartbroken and earnestly lectured, “Is that the same? We were invited by your Falling Prison Stele. And judging by the example of A’Yuan once living here with you for a long time, Fuling Mountain might be powerless, but it has never explicitly forbidden outsiders from coming here to search for treasures. Therefore, we are acting legitimately.”
Duoyu was almost dumbfounded by Qin Gou’s words, but he accurately identified a loophole and shrugged. “Well, no one is prohibiting outsiders from coming now either…”
“I prohibit it!” Old Qin crossed his arms and smirked. “Only the Xuan Realm Master has the final say on this matter, and at this very moment, it is a time of changing rulers. Thus, these later friends are simply a bit unlucky… Trespassing on private territory that is not a Legacy Secret Realm like this is no minor offense in any sect. The best course of action is probably to respectfully offer tribute and repent to the master of this place?”
“In the past, when stepping into another’s secret realm as a master, we were the ones passively subjected to difficulties. Now, it’s our turn to test and toy with others. This feeling is quite novel and interesting!”
“But…” Duoyu shook his head, finding it both amusing and exasperating, seemingly wanting to say something more.
Just then, Li Yuanzhen, who had been silent for a long time, sidled up. How could any mischievous fun be complete without her?
“Well-reasoned!” Little Gambler quickly said to Old Qin.
“Logical and well-supported!” Qingyu immediately added.
“Master (A’Qin) sees clearly!”
Duoyu’s mouth twitched. It was one thing to deal with the astonishingly villainous Righteous Valor Fairy, but who would have thought that the Dragon Saint Qingyu was also no simple character!
And in the next second, as if perfectly coordinated, the ‘dog-fish’ duo exchanged a look of mutual admiration and understanding. They smiled at each other, like kindred spirits who met too late, and linked their small hands.
