Chapter 0: Broken Wing
Yan Cang Zhou’s heart ultimately hoped for the Bi Fang Clan to develop in a positive direction. But the problem was, he needed to survive first, didn’t he? If he disappeared without a trace, in a short period, the Fire Crow Bi Fang would struggle to find another person who understood the truth.
Seeing the elder brother before him display such high moral awareness without hesitation, Qin Gou, who had a bunch of words he wanted to say, felt rather embarrassed. He chuckled and said, “It was just a momentary jest, Elder Cang Zhou. There’s no need to be so serious. After all, you know I can’t possibly stay with the Bi Fang Clan for long.”
Only then did Yan Cang Zhou finally breathe a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his brow and saying, “Your joke truly gave this old man quite a scare!”
Qin Gou couldn’t help but wave his hand. “By the way, some of my companions seem to have arrived near West Qin Mountain. Could I trouble Elder Cang Zhou to secretly escort them here?”
“Yes, Clan Leader… Senior Qin!” Yan Cang Zhou’s face was filled with embarrassment, but he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you referring to Fairy Li Yuanzhen, whom you mentioned before? Was she invited to help heal Qi Hao?”
Qin Gou nodded and instructed, “She is indeed one of them. However, Elder Cang Zhou, don’t be too eager to ask for her help when she arrives. It would be best if I meet with her first and discuss this matter with her personally.”
After Yan Cang Zhou left, Ren Ci, who was by his side, couldn’t help but inquire, “Zhenyu, what exactly do you plan to do with the Bi Fang Clan? It’s clear that you have deep animosity towards them.”
“At least eighty percent of the cultivators who truly participated in the war between the two clans have died at the hands of the ‘Crow Exterminator’ Yan Shang in the Holy Pavilion. Although there are still many who slipped through the net, the seeds have been sown.”
Qin Gou fiddled with the teacup before him, thinking as he spoke, “I will lead the other clan to eradicate the last ‘mixed-blood Night Phoenix’ in this world! As long as a Bi Fang cultivator harbors this thought, I guarantee they won’t… return disappointed.”
“It’s ironic, truly ironic. Yan Shang’s expression at that time must have been quite a sight! Now, Yan Shang can openly slaughter the Fire Crow Bi Fang, and those Bi Fang cultivators who got a taste of their success and became fanatical can go all out in pursuit of their ultimate mission… everyone will get what they wish for.”
Ren Ci thought for a moment. “What about Yan Cang Zhou? I remember Yan Shang saying that he did not participate in the war between the two clans.”
“Guess who inspired this idea of mine?” Qin Gou retorted.
“Could it be…”
“Elder Cang Zhou has repeatedly told me these past few days that on the day we officially step into the Sacred Flame Pool, he wishes to personally lead a crowd of Bi Fang cultivators to the scene. He will settle his score with Yan Shang in person, a fight to the death.”
Qin Gou glanced in the direction Yan Cang Zhou had left. “Elder Cang Zhou once told me that he is actually a person who greatly cherishes his life, and he appears to be like that in everyday life. However, his resolute determination when protecting Yan Qi Hao, and after learning that his respected older brother Yan Rui was harmed by Yan Shang for selfish reasons, made him seem like a completely different person.”
“A warrior dies for his confidant. It seems that every tribe has at least one or two people with such unyielding integrity. This Fellow Daoist Yan is quite a character.”
Ren Ci praised him with great admiration. But then, her brow furrowed with sadness, and her smile turned weary. “Zhenyu, I really can’t hold on any longer. It seems I need to go for a ‘little nap’.” She clearly intended to re-enter hibernation and let Xiao Su take control of the Dao Body.
“You have indeed been working hard during this period. Rest well,” Qin Gou nodded, understanding tacitly, and watched Ren Ci leave.
Afterward, Qin Gou personally wrote a short letter and had someone deliver it to Shang Jieyi in Yan Qi Hao’s cave dwelling. The content was mainly to explain that the person who saved her, a young girl from another clan, from Yan Ming’s hands was not the same person as the current Yan Qi Hao. After all, Qin Gou could see that Shang Jieyi was a very grateful little one. If this was not explained quickly, and she saw the currently comatose Yan Qi Hao, who knew how worried and distressed she would become.
…
A moment later.
“A’Qin.”
“Lord Qin!”
“Father!”
Hearing these familiar calls, Qin Gou couldn’t help but smile. At this moment, the nerves that had been on high alert since entering West Qin Mountain completely relaxed.
“A’Qin’s progress is too fast! We rushed here non-stop, and we just arrived at our destination, only to find that you’ve already accomplished everything!” Li Yuanzhen crossed her arms and examined Qin Gou from head to toe, a hint of relief in her smile. “It’s not hard to imagine that A’Qin must have had a very perilous time these past few days, but thankfully, you overcame all dangers one by one. To put it professionally, why did you have to use your trump card right from the start?”
“Indeed. We saw the Bi Fang’s Lord fleeing West Qin Mountain with our own eyes, and we almost thought we had the wrong person,” Qingyu agreed, nodding her head lightly.
“What? You happened to discover Yan Shang fleeing?” Qin Gou’s eyes widened in shock.
“Not just discovered him! At that time, Little Chair only took a split second, and Senior Qingyu, without a word, chased after him on the spot!” Little Chair gestured animatedly, describing the scene vividly.
“What?”
Qin Gou immediately approached and asked with concern, “Little Yu’er, are you injured?”
Qingyu smiled, shaking her head. “Master, look, do I show any signs of injury from head to toe? However, I never imagined that Yan Shang’s strength would be even more formidable than the rumors suggested. It far exceeded my expectations!”
Qingyu’s voice was very soft and pleasant, always giving people the impression that this girl must have come from a scholarly family, a gentle and virtuous lady from a prominent household, making one feel as if basking in the spring breeze. Then, she lightly touched her Nas space ring and naturally extracted a single-winged artifact covered in frost. Yan Shang’s broken wing.
…
Meanwhile.
“Jia Ren… Demon Lord Jia Ren!”
“Godplunder Altar? Why are you speaking in my mind at this moment?” Ren Ci’s expression was one of confusion.
“Hasn’t Demon Lord Jia Ren ever considered bringing me back to the Abyss? Demon Lord Jia Ren has seen the astonishing benefits I can bring to cultivators. And I also know that here in West Qin Mountain, only Demon Lord Jia Ren can easily escape Qin Gou’s pursuit.”
Ren Ci let out a cold laugh. “You blind fool, you want this Seat to betray Zhenyu?”
“I just want to return to where I rightfully belong… As a creation of the Abyss, my greatest wish for many years has been to be controlled by a true Abyss Mighty Figure, instead of being forced to serve outsiders as before! And a Ten Pillar Demon Lord like fellow Daoist Jia Ren, who is so important to the Abyss, is the most suitable choice!”
“In my eyes, no one in this world is more qualified to be the true master of my Godplunder Altar than an Abyssal Demon Lord!”
“Then I should truly congratulate you! Controlled by an Abyssal Demon Lord? Hasn’t your wish already come true?” Ren Ci stopped in her steps, her expression becoming serious as she began to introduce, “Could it be that no one actually knows… Zhenyu, he… he just looks like a human!”
