Chapter 19: Xi Yao Injured
The statue in the temple had been cleaned by Ji Guanqi himself. The matter of rebirth was truly absurd—hard to believe—and it only deepened Ji Guanqi’s reverence for the divine.
Yet Qiao You seemed indifferent to this, and Ji Guanqi didn’t bother to correct him.
“Master,” Xiao Tangqing, though not seriously injured—just a cultivation mishap—immediately rose and knelt halfway upon seeing Wu Xingbai enter, respectfully saying, “Your disciple was caught off guard and ambushed by evil cultivators. Thanks to the Master’s timely rescue, I am unharmed now.”
“Unharmed is what matters,” Wu Xingbai responded casually. He rarely showed emotion; in all the years Ji Guanqi had followed him, he had seldom seen him lose composure. The entire cultivation world knew him as the most stern, impartial, and unyielding figure.
In retrospect, the only one who truly caught his attention seemed to be Xi Yao.
Perhaps sensing Ji Guanqi’s gaze, Xi Yao glanced over, hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, “Senior Brother’s Gentleman Sword shines with a fierce brilliance; its aura of righteousness can be felt ten miles away.”
Such flattery was met with a polite smile from Ji Guanqi. “You overpraise me, Junior Brother.”
“Master, I have searched the entire village. There’s no one left alive,” Ji Guanqi reported the situation and added, “It seems the evil cultivators have moved on elsewhere.”
This village had been wiped out a month ago; the evildoers were likely no longer there. Still, they needed to look for clues and, more importantly, destroy remnants left behind by these evil cultivators to prevent harm to other towns.
“Senior Brother,” Xi Yao suddenly said, “Though Luo Town is deserted, on the way here, we encountered a group who escaped from Luo Town and intend to go to Chunshui City.”
“Escaped from Luo Town?” Ji Guanqi’s gaze fixed on Xi Yao. “Luo Town was destroyed a month ago. Those who could escape already did; those who couldn’t wouldn’t survive that long. Where exactly did you meet them?”
“In the forest before Luo Town,” Xi Yao explained. “They said they hid in the back mountains during the slaughter by the evil cultivators, which saved their lives. They only dared to come out once the evildoers left, hoping to seek refuge with relatives in Chunshui City.” He paused, then added, “But I lack experience and can’t vouch for their truthfulness. We must rely on Master and senior brothers.”
“The sect’s rule is elders and above may only intervene in life-or-death matters when bringing new disciples out for experience,” Qiao You said. “Though suspicious, what they said isn’t unreasonable. In any case, we should keep them close; whether friend or foe will become clear.”
“What does Senior Brother think?” Xi Yao looked to Ji Guanqi, passing the decision to him.
Ji Guanqi wanted no further entanglement. “Everyone has their own views. Let’s proceed as you wish.”
The ragged, emaciated group looked as if they had suffered greatly. Their eyes held a flicker of hope but also deep despair.
As Ji Guanqi passed by, he paused slightly. The Gentleman Sword in his hand resonated faintly. Raising his eyelids to look at them, he suddenly asked, “You’re heading to Chunshui City to join relatives?”
“Yes, yes,” they trembled. “Thank you, Immortal, for saving us!”
“Where are your relatives? Which street? What are their names?” Ji Guanqi smiled slightly. “I once lived in Chunshui City; perhaps I know them.”
They exchanged glances, hesitant. One coughed before saying, “Near Jishui Alley. My sister lived there, but you probably don’t know her.”
“Jishui Alley?” Ji Guanqi continued, “That’s fortunate. When I was in Chunshui City, I lived right in Jishui Alley. Which family are your relatives from?”
“Well... um...” The leader stammered for a long moment before finally saying, “My sister lived there years ago but no longer does. Now she... she...”
Before he could finish, a sword was suddenly pressed against his neck. Ji Guanqi warned, “Think carefully before you speak. Blades have no mercy.”
“Immortal... what are you doing? Are you no different from those ruthless evil cultivators?” the man asked.
“You know quite a lot,” Ji Guanqi’s eyes showed no amusement. “I’ll count down from three. If you can’t tell me your sister’s full name and where she lives, I’ll have no choice but to treat you as an accomplice of the evil cultivators.”
“Three,” Ji Guanqi said.
“Immortal! Immortal!” The man panicked and hurriedly said, “I haven’t seen my sister for many years, I…”
“Two,” Ji Guanqi continued. “I know all who lived in Jishui Alley years ago. Surely you remember your sister’s name. You wouldn’t have forgotten it just because you haven’t met this year, would you?”
The other disciples from the temple emerged, witnessing the scene. Qiao You, though sometimes scatterbrained, held the position of junior sect leader of the Xuanti Sect and quickly grasped the situation. He stepped forward and said, “Don’t think you can run. My Moonchasing Bow doesn’t discriminate; piercing an arrow through the heart is easy for me.”
“Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, what’s happening?” Xi Yao also came out.
At these words, some who had intended to flee immediately knelt, kowtowing and pleading, “We... we were forced. Immortal, spare us! You saved our lives!”
But just as they spoke, Ji Guanqi sensed something wrong. Almost instantly, he used his spiritual power to shield in front. However, the group exploded too quickly—just like the one who had exploded before Wu Xingbai at the Xuanti Sect.
The first to suffer was Xi Yao. He had barely retreated before the explosion’s blood surged upon him. The poisonous gas spread rapidly. Even though Qiao You immediately caught him in his arms, Xi Yao fainted instantly.
“Xi Yao!” Qiao You panicked. Fortunately, other senior brothers were inside the temple and unharmed. Ji Guanqi only managed to dodge in time to avoid being splattered; he casually wiped the blood off his hand. Looking at Xi Yao, pale and unconscious in Qiao You’s embrace, he said, “Seal his meridians and spiritual power to prevent the poison from spreading.”
“Xi Yao was injured saving me,” Qiao You suddenly stood and knelt toward Wu Xingbai. “Master, please save Xi Yao!”
Ji Guanqi: ...
If he wasn’t mistaken, Xi Yao had stepped forward to speak with them, which led to him being caught off guard. How did it become that he was injured saving Qiao You? The thought struck Ji Guanqi as somewhat ridiculous.
Soon, Qiao You turned on Ji Guanqi, shouting angrily, “If you hadn’t provoked them, would they have exploded? If anything happened to Xi Yao, I would never forgive you!”
“If they hadn’t exploded then, would you prefer if they did so amidst a crowd, causing countless casualties?” Ji Guanqi replied. “Besides, I didn’t expect Xi Yao to suddenly approach. You were closest to him and failed to protect him. Isn’t that your failure?”
“You!” Qiao You rose furiously, grabbing his Moonchasing Bow to fight Ji Guanqi, but Wu Xingbai calmly said, “He won’t die.”
“Master!” Despite his anger, Qiao You dared not disobey Wu Xingbai and knelt again. “Master, please save Xi Yao.”
Qiao You’s spiritual energy poured into Xi Yao’s body without restraint, yet the latter’s face was already turning dark. Wu Xingbai looked down silently for a long moment.
Ji Guanqi glanced at Wu Xingbai. If he remembered correctly, Wu Xingbai had a top-tier antidote pill to counter such poisons effortlessly.
He knew this because he had once sought out that antidote pill and presented it to Wu Xingbai. Thinking back now, it was heart-wrenching.
In his previous life, that very antidote had ultimately been used on Xi Yao.
“Give him the pill and take him back to the sect,” Wu Xingbai said, tossing down a detoxification pill. However, it was a standard antidote, not the rare one Ji Guanqi had found. Wu Xingbai remained unaware of Ji Guanqi’s surprised gaze and calmly added, “The elder in charge of the pharmacy will handle it. Go.”
Qiao You looked up at Wu Xingbai and asked, “Master... won’t you accompany Junior Brother back? My sword flight is slower than yours. If delayed, Junior Brother’s foundation might be damaged. Please intervene.”
Ji Guanqi was indifferent at first but suddenly had an epiphany hearing this. He joined Qiao You in saying, “Third Junior Brother is right. This poison will eventually harm the foundation. Junior Brother is gifted and must not suffer injury. Master, please personally take him back for treatment. As for Luo Town, leave it to us disciples. Rest assured, Master.”
“You want me to leave?” Wu Xingbai clearly understood Ji Guanqi’s meaning.
“Disciple dares not,” Ji Guanqi said, shaking his head insincerely. “But Junior Brother’s injury must not be delayed.”
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