Free Web NovelAfter a long time, Lu Yibei finally awoke from her deep sleep. The first thing she felt upon waking was that she couldn't feel her limbs.
Like mist dissipating, her vision gradually cleared, and finally, her senses returned.
Following that, as Lu Yibei struggled to get up from between the shattered and collapsed rocks, intense pain shot through her limbs and bones, causing her to fall back into the mud soaked by the rain.
In a sense, she had died many times before.
Being cut in half at the waist, explosions... she had experienced various ways of dying, and her tolerance for pain far exceeded that of ordinary people, yet she still felt excruciating pain, unbearable.
However, what surprised her was that while it hurt, her entire body felt unexpectedly comfortable.
The hidden injuries that had accumulated from the Hundred-Armed Giant Power remaining in her body for a long time, as well as the hidden dangers resulting from reshaping her body using Wang Yingying's flesh and blood, had miraculously disappeared for the most part.
There was inexplicably a feeling of having a decade-old cerebral thrombosis cured.
Could it be that the Ancestor's sword strike just now was intentional? Lu Yibei thought.
"Are you alright?"
Hearing the sound, Lu Yibei looked up and saw a pair of pink Hello Kitty flip-flops in front of her, along with a pair of delicate toes and long, toned legs.
Her gaze moved up, and she saw that familiar face.
Her dark long hair, whether from rain or sweat, was somewhat messy, clinging to Hua Sang's cheek.
"..."
What material were her flip-flops made of?
How did they manage to remain intact after the battle just now?
Were they the same material as the Hulk's shorts?
Lu Yibei muttered a few complaints in her heart. At times like this, her focus was always very peculiar.
"I'm fine..." Lu Yibei said weakly. As soon as she opened her mouth, a metallic taste filled her oral cavity, and she coughed up a large mouthful of fresh blood with a 'wow'.
The dark red blood dripped onto the wet ground, immediately emitting a wisp of white smoke.
Is this what you call fine? Hua Sang turned to look at Lu Yibei's pale face, covered in blood from her mouth and nose, her brows tightly furrowed.
After dealing with Hu Chuan, seeing that Qingji hadn't disappeared and was still attacking Lu Yibei, she initially thought Qingji simply wanted to teach Lu Yibei a lesson.
That liar who never spoke a word of truth truly deserved a good education.
It wasn't until she saw Qingji unleash that sword strike that Hua Sang suddenly realized that Qingji might not want to teach Lu Yibei a lesson, but rather to clean house.
In that case, she had no choice but to intervene in their "family matters."
After all, she couldn't just watch Lu Yibei get beaten to death, could she?
Although...
She wasn't sure she could withstand Qingji's sword either.
----
On the other side.
Qingji held his sword in one hand, resting it by his side, and walked towards Lu Yibei. Seeing Hua Sang suddenly blocking Lu Yibei's path, he smiled faintly and continued to walk slowly forward.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped, changed direction, and walked towards the Shui Shu Beast nearby, who was cowering with its large head buried between its front hooves, its perky backside sticking up.
It was quite fond of Qingji. After all, over the long years, Qingji was one of the few humans on Zhenwu Mountain who could play happily with it.
However, Qingji's state today was clearly not right.
Although it couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, it could see that it was at least not a state suitable for happy play.
Qingji, when not in a state for happy play, was terrifyingly dangerous.
Qingji came to the Shui Shu Beast's side, bent down, raised his hand to stroke its mane, and said softly, "Old friend, long time no see..."
Hearing Qingji's voice, the Shui Shu Beast's body stiffened, followed by a strange cry of "Ow!" Thunder light erupted around its body, and it leaped into the air.
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Qingji grabbed its tail and dragged it back to the ground.
"Why are you running? Am I that scary?" Qingji examined the Shui Shu Beast for a moment and said lightly, "You're still the same, you haven't changed at all... Did you not try the method I told you about before?"
Logically speaking, the Shui Shu Beast's Power was special, and its talent was only slightly inferior to urban legend of Ju Meng's level. If it wanted to, Da Chunyang Palace couldn't keep it at all.
The Shui Shu Beast remaining in Da Chunyang Palace was, in a sense, no different from a bird in a cage.
Qingji thought the same, so after he gradually became familiar with the Shui Shu Beast back then, he came up with some methods and taught them to the Shui Shu Beast, trying to help it gain "freedom."
"Woo..." The Shui Shu Beast looked at Qingji with resentful and wronged eyes, letting out a low, pleading growl.
Its appearance was like a mischievous child who repeatedly failed to mend his ways and had messed things up again, only to be caught red-handed by the only person who could control him.
"..." Qingji gazed at the Shui Shu Beast for a moment, then sighed silently, "Alright, as long as you're happy."
What others considered freedom might not be what the Shui Shu Beast liked.
The fact that it could stay on Zhenwu Mountain for so many years, frolicking like a silly roe deer all day long, indicated that it really liked staying there.
What it liked was what was most suitable.
Qingji thought, raising his hand to gently stroke the Shui Shu Beast's large head.
As if sensing what was in Qingji's heart, the Shui Shu Beast finally lowered its guard and snuggled affectionately against Qingji's embrace.
Then...
As if suddenly remembering something important, the Shui Shu Beast abruptly raised its head, looking left and right, scanning the surroundings, as if searching for something.
Noticing the Shui Shu Beast's actions, Qingji tilted his head and asked, "Are you looking for little Yanzhi?"
The Shui Shu Beast looked at Qingji and nodded.
It remembered the little cook who was inseparable from Qingji. ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) She always made it delicious food that couldn't be eaten in Da Chunyang Palace.
After Qingji and Lu Yanzhi left Da Chunyang Palace, it couldn't eat those delicious foods and once had the idea of completing its Power according to Qingji's method, transforming into human form, and then going down the mountain to search for food.
However, that thought didn't last long before it was happily cast aside.
From a certain perspective, calling the Shui Shu Beast the number one 'lying flat' urban legend in Z Country was not an exaggeration.
"Ah, her..." Qingji gently stroked the Shui Shu Beast's soft fur, looked into the distance, and said lightly, "She's been gone for a long time."
The Shui Shu Beast looked up at Qingji, Stunned for a few seconds, then seemed to understand, a hint of sadness flashed in its eyes, and it lowered its head, letting out a whimpering growl.
----
Lu Yibei sat slumped in the mud for a while. Perhaps due to the Spiritual Energy replenishment from the night's erosion emanating from Hua Sang, she felt much better and stood up, leaning on a rock.
Seeing Qingji nearby, engrossed in "petting the dog," she raised an eyebrow slightly, took a step forward, and immediately staggered.
Seeing this, Hua Sang quickly supported Lu Yibei and asked in confusion, "You're like this, and you still dare to go over?"
In her opinion, in this situation, Lu Yibei should stay put obediently and let her deal with Qingji until support from Da Chunyang Palace arrived.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Lu Yibei pouted.
"Because..." Hua Sang hesitated, looked at Qingji, and frowned, "It's very dangerous."
She had understood a truth since she was very young: even family members might not be without malice.
This sort of thing was like opening a blind box; "no returns or exchanges after sale."
Whether you got a kind relative like her Grandma or a malicious relative like her father depended entirely on the luck of opening the blind box at the moment of birth.
What's more, the Senior "Qingji" was now being eroded by the Code F Monster, so any actions he took wouldn't be strange.
"Don't worry..." Lu Yibei waved her hand at Hua Sang and said with certainty, "The Ancestor won't hurt me."
Even if he really wanted to hurt me, I'd have to find a way to persuade the old man to help, wouldn't I?
Lu Yibei thought, took a deep breath, her gaze focused slightly, and walked towards Qingji.
Hua Sang looked at Lu Yibei's back, bit her lip, and followed her steps.
A moment later.
Lu Yibei stopped beside Qingji, adjusted her breathing slightly, and said, "Ancestor, I want to ask you for a favor, is that alright?"
"Worst case, I'll work hard and in three or two years, let you hold a grandson earlier?"
Hua Sang looked at Lu Yibei's back, wanting to say something but hesitating, her expression tense.
At a time like this, why was she still spouting nonsense?
She was still single and alone; how could she possibly let Senior Qingji... in three or two years?
Thinking of this, Hua Sang suddenly realized the existence of her engagement with Lu Yibei, and a blush quickly spread across her face.
Hearing Lu Yibei's words, Qingji withdrew his gaze from the distance, a playful smile appearing on his face, "That sword strike just now didn't scare you out of your wits?"
"Naturally not..." Lu Yibei said calmly, "Not only was I not scared, but I should also thank the Ancestor!"
Qingji smiled, glanced at Lu Yibei sideways, and teased, "Smooth talker! Alright, tell me, what help do you need?"
As he spoke, a hint of the unique doting look that elders have for their juniors appeared in his eyes.
As expected of the Ancestor, he still loves me... Seeing Qingji relent, Lu Yibei secretly breathed a sigh of relief and recounted the whole story with a straight face.
"Ancestor, here's what happened..."
----
Lu Yibei briefly summarized what Chatterbox Girl had said to her and conveyed it to Qingji.
"This is impossible!"
Upon hearing that Lu Yibei wanted him to unleash a full-power sword strike towards the strange urban legend behind Hu Chuan, Qingji's face changed dramatically, and he sternly interrupted Lu Yibei.
"Why not?" Lu Yibei blurted out, asking. She didn't quite understand why Qingji would refuse her.
"..." Qingji realized he had lost his composure just now, remained silent for a few seconds, looked into Lu Yibei's eyes, and said earnestly, "Do you know that if I unleash a full-power sword strike, this wisp of my remnant soul will dissipate?"
"Ah, this..." Lu Yibei widened her eyes and froze in place.
Damn it, that damn Chatterbox Girl, if there was such a hidden detail, why didn't she tell me earlier?
"Ancestor, I didn't know that if you used your full power, you would... In that case, let's forget about it? I'll think of other ways."
Qingji glanced at Lu Yibei, waved his hand and said, "If sacrificing just this wisp of remnant soul can prevent that urban legend from awakening and save countless lives, it would be fine, but..."
He paused, then changed the subject, asking Lu Yibei, "Do you know why this fragment of Lingtai Pure Karma, forged into a ruler, is kept in Da Chunyang Palace?"
Lu Yibei shook her head.
Qingji then looked at Hua Sang and asked, "Little friend, do you know?"
Hua Sang looked at Qingji, then at Lu Yibei, and also shook her head.
"Heh..." Qingji shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Let me tell you, this fragment was given to that kid Zhang Huainan for safekeeping. You could say it was abandoned in Da Chunyang Palace."
"Abandoned? Why?" Lu Yibei asked in surprise.
"Want to know?"
Lu Yibei nodded.
"..." Qingji lowered his eyebrows, pondered for a few seconds, then as if having made up his mind, he straightened his back, looked forward, and said with a nostalgic expression, "Alright! Then I'll tell you..."
