Chapter 10: Shi Liang Leaves
The huge Cloud Shuttle was like a moving mountain, sailing steadily over the vast and boundless Shenxing Abyss.
The strong wind was isolated by the powerful defensive formation of the ship, leaving only a low whistling sound.
The superior cabin where Bai Qingchen lives is spacious and bright. Through the porthole, he can see the surging dark blue sea below and the magnificent flowing clouds on the distant skyline.
Shiliang lay in his own cushioned nest by the window, curiously looking at the changing scenery outside, his round body swaying with the slight shaking of the ship.
Bai Qingchen sat cross-legged on the couch, with spiritual energy flowing around his body.
The accumulation over the past year has finally shown signs of breaking through the bottleneck that has kept him stuck at the peak of the middle stage of Qi Refining.
He practiced the Taixu Yanxing Jue, and with each circulation, the vortex of spiritual energy in his sea of qi became more condensed.
Early that morning, Bai Qingchen finished a night of practice and felt refreshed.
He pushed open the hatch and prepared to go to the upper deck to get some fresh air, and by the way, see where Shiliang had wandered off to. This little guy always mysteriously disappeared for a while recently.
Just a few steps out of the cabin, an arrogant voice came from the side.
"stop!"
Bai Qingchen paused and glanced sideways. He saw a young man in gorgeous clothes with a magical weapon hanging from his waist, surrounded by several servants, staring at him with gloomy faces.
This young man had an arrogant look in his eyes and a spoiled look between his brows. He was obviously the young master of a certain cultivation family.
"This room of yours is mine." The young master in golden robe pointed his chin at the hatch that Bai Qingchen had just walked out of, his tone unquestionable.
"Name your price. Spirit stones, this young master has no shortage of them." An old man who looked like a manager behind him immediately held out a bulging bag of spirit stones.
Bai Qingchen frowned slightly, feeling displeased with this domineering attitude.
He was too lazy to talk nonsense and said lightly: "No change."
After saying that, he was about to leave.
"How dare you!" The young master in the golden robe frowned. He obviously didn't expect that a casual cultivator who was dressed so simply and seemed to have no background would dare to refuse him.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Zhao Yuanlang, the young master of the Zhao family in Yunzhou! If you know what's good for you, give up your room immediately, otherwise..."
Before he could finish his threatening words, a clear and somewhat teasing voice of a young boy interrupted.
"What else can we do, Master Zhao?"
Zhou Yan appeared at the corner of the corridor at some point, still in his moon-white brocade robe, a harmless smile on his face as he slowly strolled over. Behind him followed Uncle Wang, who looked calm and composed.
When Zhao Yuanlang saw Zhou Yan, his arrogance instantly deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle. His expression became somewhat ugly, and even showed a hint of imperceptible fear.
"Mr. Zhou...Mr. Zhou?" Zhao Yuanlang forced a smile. "You...you know this person?"
Zhou Yan walked over to Bai Qingchen and stood beside him, smiling brightly, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"More than just knowing him, he's my savior. His business is my business."
He tilted his head and looked at Zhao Yuanlang, his tone light and airy, "Why, Master Zhao, do you want to take over my benefactor's room, or do you want to touch my Zhou Yan's people?"
He pronounced the four words "Zhou Yan's people" particularly clearly.
Zhao Yuanlang's face turned pale instantly.
The Zhao family of Yunzhou is also considered a tyrant in the local area, but compared with the Zhou family of Yantian Sect, which has a deep foundation and has connections with Yaowang Valley, it is simply not worth mentioning.
His father had repeatedly warned him not to mess with the Zhou family's young ancestor on the Yunsuo. He was so busy losing his temper that he didn't notice that Bai Qingchen came out of the room next to Zhou Yan.
"Misunderstanding! What a huge misunderstanding!" Zhao Yuanlang's forehead was sweating. He waved his hands repeatedly with a flattering smile on his face.
"Please forgive me, Master Zhou. I was blind and didn't recognize this man as your benefactor. I'm leaving now, leaving now!"
As he spoke, he glared at the manager behind him. The group of people left in shame, their tails between their legs, not even daring to look back.
Silence returned to the corridor.
The fake smile on Zhou Yan's face instantly disappeared, and he curled his lips: "Humph, a guy who bullies the weak and fears the strong."
He turned to Bai Qingchen, put on his sunny smile again, and said as if to ask for credit: "Brother Bai, I didn't scare you, did I? From now on, just let me deal with these annoying flies."
Bai Qingchen looked at the boy's expressionless performance and the sincere protectiveness in his eyes, and felt a little warm in his heart, but his face remained calm: "Thank you."
He paused and asked, "Did you go to Medicine King Valley to ask for medicine?"
Zhou Yan nodded, his smile faded a bit, a hint of worry in his eyes. "It's my mother. She was injured in her early years and has been bedridden ever since. The alchemists of the Yantian Sect are helpless. My father said that perhaps only the masters of the Medicine King Valley can help. This time, I'm following my father's orders, bringing the sect's token and a generous gift to ask for medicine."
Bai Qingchen understood. No wonder Zhou Yan was waiting for the flying boat in Yunmengze, and no wonder he was so obsessed with Medicine King Valley. He nodded, "Medicine King Valley has a deep foundation, and there may be a turning point."
Zhou Yan heard this and hope ignited in his eyes again: "Thank you, Brother Bai, for your kind words."
The flying boat sailed smoothly and the days passed.
Bai Qingchen spent most of his time practicing in the cabin to consolidate his realm.
Shi Liang became more and more elusive, disappearing for an hour or two every day.
At first, Bai Qingchen thought it was just playing around and exploring the flying boat, but after paying close attention several times, he found that the direction it disappeared in always led to deeper parts of the ship, as if something was attracting it.
When asked, the little guy would just blink his big innocent eyes and rub his furry head against the palm of his hand.
It was late at night and everything was silent.
Bai Qingchen sat cross-legged on the couch, his mind sinking into the sea of qi. After several days of accumulation and impact, the membrane at the peak of the sixth level of Qi training had become as thin as a cicada's wing.
He held his breath and concentrated his mind, practicing his skills with all his strength. The spiritual energy was like a trickle of water that gathered into a turbulent river and rushed towards the last barrier!
It was as if a slight sound came from the depths of the soul, and the invisible shackles suddenly broke free.
The sea of qi suddenly expanded, and the speed of the spiritual power vortex suddenly accelerated, becoming more powerful.
An aura several times stronger than before rose from Bai Qingchen's body, but was quickly restrained and suppressed by him.
The late stage of Qi Refining will come naturally.
He slowly opened his eyes, with a gleam of light in them. He felt his five senses become sharper, and his perception and control of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth also reached a higher level.
More importantly, he seemed to be more adept at suppressing the half-demon blood in his body.
After more than ten days, the flying boat finally penetrated the thin mist that lingered over Chenxing Abyss all year round.
A vast and vibrant continent appeared at the end of the sight.
We have finally arrived at Lingdu, Yaowang Valley.
The flying boat slowly landed in the huge port.
The dock was bustling with people, and various monk caravans came and went. The air was filled with the rich aroma of various medicinal herbs.
Bai Qingchen held the ten taels and walked down the gangway with Zhou Yan.
"Brother Bai, I'm going to Medicine King Valley first." Zhou Yan's face was filled with reluctance to leave. "I will always remember your life-saving grace. If there is any mission from the Yantian Sect or Zhou family in the future, I will definitely not refuse."
"Take care." Bai Qingchen looked at Zhou Yan, who had been with him on the flying boat for half a month, and a wave of emotion rose in his heart. He nodded and said, "See you later."
Watching Zhou Yan join the crowd heading towards the gate of Yaowang Valley under the protection of Uncle Wang, Bai Qingchen stood on the bustling dock with ten taels of silver in his arms, feeling a little dazed for a moment.
Although Yaowang Valley was just around the corner, Bai Qingchen began to hesitate. After all, he had been "dead" for four hundred years.
Just then, a gentle and smiling voice sounded behind him.
"Friend Bai, how are you?"
Bai Qingchen's body suddenly stiffened and he turned around abruptly.
In the bustling crowd, a handsome man in a sky-blue cloud-patterned gown was standing with a smile on his face.
He had curved eyebrows and a temperament as gentle as jade. He was the mysterious monk who had saved him from danger outside Yancheng and showed an unusual interest in Shiliang.
"It's you?" Bai Qingchen became alert instantly, subconsciously holding Shiliang in his arms tighter, and the spiritual power in his body was hidden.
This person was actually on this flying boat, but he had no idea about it at all.
The blue-robed monk ignored his guard and cast a gentle gaze on Shi Liang: "Little guy, are you having fun playing outside?"
When Shiliang saw the blue-robed monk, he did not bare his teeth and growl like last time. Instead, he seemed a little excited. He twisted in Bai Qingchen's arms, making whimpering sounds, and his dark eyes were full of admiration and grievance.
The smile in the blue-robed monk's eyes deepened, with a hint of imperceptible heartache. He then looked at Bai Qingchen with a sincere tone.
"Little friend Bai, don't be nervous. My name is Lan Jin, and I'm not a bad person. I was in such a hurry last time that I didn't have time to explain in detail."
"Yu'er is not an ordinary white fox." He paused, his voice lowered. "He is the wandering descendant of my Qingqiu fox clan, my biological brother."
Bai Qingchen's pupils shrank slightly. Although he had guessed that Shi Liang was extraordinary, he did not expect that he was a descendant of the Qingqiu fox clan.
Lan Jin continued, "Back in Yancheng, it wasn't that I didn't want to take him with me. At that time, the clan conflict hadn't been resolved, and the remnants of the rebellion hadn't been cleared out. If I had taken him back, I would have put him in danger."
He looked at Bai Qingchen with gratitude in his eyes.
"Thank you for taking care of him. Now that the civil strife has subsided, I have succeeded him as the clan leader. The Fox Clan's Qingqiu Mountain is now a pure land. It's time to take him home."
He stretched out his hand, and a soft and pure silver light emanated from his palm, carrying an ancient and noble aura.
Shiliang's body began to change in the light. His body lengthened slightly, his limbs became slender, and finally he turned into a boy about three or four years old, with silver hair and silver eyes, and two furry little ears on his head.
He was barefoot, wrapped in a simple robe that was a faint silver glow. He looked at Bai Qingchen with his big, watery eyes, then looked at Lan Jin, and timidly called out, "Brother..."
Shi Liang has transformed!
Bai Qingchen was struck by lightning. Looking at the strange yet familiar little figure in his arms, his heart was in turmoil.
All the little moments of their daily life together for more than a year came to mind: the warmth of his palm, the pride of his prey, and his dependence on her as he curled up at his feet.
In Bai Qingchen's heart, Shiliang is no longer just a spiritual pet, but his family member and partner.
Bai Qingchen's throat was tight and his voice was dry. He opened his mouth and wanted to call him "Ten Liang" as he did in the past, but changed his mind when the words came to his lips.
"Lan Yu."
After transforming, Lan Yu seemed to understand something. His little mouth pursed and his silver eyes were instantly filled with tears.
She stretched out her chubby little hands and tightly grasped Bai Qingchen's clothes, crying: "I won't leave, I'll stay with Bai Bai"
Lan Jin looked at his brother's attachment to Bai Qingchen, and a hint of complexity flashed in his eyes, but he knew that returning to the tribe was crucial to his brother's inheritance.
He said softly, "Little Friend Bai, I know you and Yu'er have a deep bond. But Qingqiu Mountain is its root. There is the most suitable environment for its cultivation, and there are tribesmen who can protect it."
He said sincerely, "If you are willing, Qingqiu Mountain will always welcome you to be a guest."
Bai Qingchen looked down at the little fox boy who was holding him tightly with tears in his eyes, and his heart was broken.
He understood that what Lan Jin said was the truth. Shiliang's identity was destined to be extraordinary. Following him, a half-demon, the road ahead was dangerous and unknown, and it would only delay him.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging reluctance, and tried to make his voice sound calm.
He gently pried open the little guy's tightly clasped hands and carefully handed him to Lan Jin. His movements were gentle, yet carried an unmistakable farewell.
"Take good care of it." Bai Qingchen's voice was low and hoarse.
"Wow--!! Baibai! No!" The little vixen instantly burst into heart-wrenching cries, waving her little hands desperately trying to grab Bai Qingchen.
Lan Jin took his brother steadily and soothed his violent emotional fluctuations with gentle spiritual power. At the same time, a layer of soft silver light enveloped the two of them, isolating them from the noise and prying eyes of the outside world.
He looked at Bai Qingchen and handed him a pill. "This pill is called the Hidden Breath Pill. Taking it can conceal the demon's aura, making it undetectable to cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage."
He paused, his eyes seemed to penetrate Bai Qingchen's disguise and saw the subtle blood aura in his body.
"Little friend Bai, take care, we'll see you later."
With a flash of silver light, Lan Jin and the crying and struggling little figure disappeared instantly, as if they had never appeared.
The bustling dock is still bustling with people, and the rich aroma of medicine fills the air.
Bai Qingchen felt that all the sounds around him had faded away, leaving only a trace of warmth and an empty coldness in his arms.
He stood there alone for a long time without moving. Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky, landing on his shoulders and hair, making them cold.
In the wind and snow, he was alone again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
