Chapter 62 Reencounter with an Old Friend
Not far from the foot of Qingyun Mountain lies Caomiao Village. When Qin Wuyan and Biyao reached the foot of the mountain, a sudden gust of wind swept across the sky, and dark clouds spread out like ink spilled, creating an atmosphere of impending storm.
Seeing this, Qin Wuyan noticed a dilapidated temple in the distance and thought for a moment before saying, "Biyao, it's going to rain. Even if we make it to Heyang City tonight, the inns will probably be closed. It seems we'll have to make do with you in that dilapidated temple for now."
Biyao laughed and said, "I've even lived in a cave, why would I complain about a dilapidated temple?"
As the last rays of sunlight shone on them, the two entered the dilapidated temple. Qin Wuyan was in front, and as soon as he stepped inside, he sensed something was wrong. Biyao was behind him and was about to ask him why he wasn't going in when Qin Wuyan suddenly turned around, protecting Biyao with one hand as they retreated, while with the other hand, he drew his sword, Zhan Xiangsi, and cleaved it forward with all his might.
This strike was not to be underestimated. The dilapidated temple, which was only supported by a few rotten trees and thatch, collapsed with a loud crash. Immediately afterwards, a dozen or so dark figures emerged from the flying dust, each holding a long sword that gleamed white light, and flew towards the two of them.
Biyao's expression changed instantly, and she hurriedly drew out Moxue and Qin Wuyan to fight the enemy together.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky, and swords clashed on the ground, creating a bloody storm. Qin Wuyan had already lost a lot of his cultivation due to the backlash and had not yet recovered. Now, after only a few moves, he was already unable to withstand the onslaught of the group of men in black.
Fortunately, Biyao's sword, Mo Xue, was exceptionally powerful, and its strength was greatly amplified by the power of lightning. She only needed to use the move "Breaking Clouds" to defeat the man in black and prevent him from getting any closer.
"Wu Yan, are you alright?" Bi Yao asked worriedly as she fought off one of the people in front of her and looked at Qin Wu Yan, who was almost falling to the ground.
"I'm fine..." Qin Wuyan forced himself to stand up and whispered, "Biyao, these people are ruthless in their attacks, they obviously want to kill us. Use one more move to scare them away first, then we can take the opportunity to escape."
Biyao nodded, then silently recited the sword incantation. When a clap of thunder sounded in the sky, she swung her longsword and used the lightning to unleash a move called "Shattering Snow." Instantly, the world became as bright as day. The dozen or so men in black were all terrified, their eyes wide open. When the sword came down, they had no power to defend themselves and were all knocked away and fled in all directions.
"Hurry up and go!" Biyao quickly helped Qin Wuyan leave.
The two had only taken a few steps when they suddenly saw more figures rushing towards them, numbering about a dozen. A sense of foreboding washed over them, but they didn't know which way to run. So she simply swung her Ink Snow sword again, about to make a move, when a figure rushed in front of her. He removed the black cloth from his face and smiled, "Yao'er! It's me, I'm Tang Yuan!"
Biyao was startled. With the help of the lightning, she looked closely and saw that it was indeed Tang Yuan, one of the two protectors of the Tianli Divine Sect. She exclaimed with delight, "Brother Tang, it's you! What are you doing here?"
Before Biyao could finish speaking and Tang Yuan could reply, Qin Wuyan behind him suddenly cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
"Sect Master!!" Another person stepped forward and quickly helped Qin Wuyan up; it was Meng Guang, the current Right Protector of the Divine Sect.
Biyao also anxiously went to look at Qin Wuyan, but as soon as she reached out, she felt a chilling aura emanating from him and exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on? Has the backlash started again?"
The backlash from the Soul-Gathering Technique only occurs during the full moon. Now that it's neither the new moon nor the full moon, and it's daytime, how could it possibly happen again?
However, Qin Wuyan's condition was different from before. He was only cold all over before, but now it was getting worse. It felt like his whole body was being cut by knives. He clenched his teeth, his brows were furrowed in pain, and he was covered in sweat. He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly someone appeared in front of him and quickly pressed his acupoint. Qin Wuyan turned his head and immediately fainted!
Biyao looked up at the man and exclaimed in surprise and delight, "Brother Qinglong!!"
Under the light of lightning, the man in the green robe and jade belt with flowing black hair looked heroic and was none other than Qinglong, one of the four holy envoys of the Ghost King Sect who had disappeared for more than ten years.
The torrential rain poured down with the sound of thunder. Qinglong didn't have time to catch up with Biyao. He hurriedly said to Tang Yuan, Meng Guang, and the others who were with him, "Quickly, we have to take him to get healed!"
Meng Guang bent down and carried Qin Wuyan on his back. Several men in black escorted them all the way to Heyang City at high speed.
After settling down at the inn, Biyao told Qinglong about her and Qin Wuyan's affair. Qinglong, however, seemed unsurprised and calmly said, "I have a way to break this Soul-Collecting Technique."
Biyao's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Qinglong nodded and reached out to Biyao: "But to undo this spell, you must give me the Heartbreak Flower, and... I need a little of your heart's blood as a catalyst before I can cast the spell."
Biyao was about to take the Heartbreak Flower from her hand when she suddenly stopped. Hesitantly, she asked, "Brother Qinglong, how do you know how to break the Soul-Gathering Spell?"
Qinglong said, "Over the years, I have traveled to many places and naturally learned some new spells. This Soul-Gathering Spell was created by the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border Witch Clan. When I was in the Southern Border, I also exchanged and learned from several members of the Witch Clan. So I know how to undo it. Qin Wuyan is like this now because the Soul-Gathering Spell has been triggered too many times, so the backlash has become more severe. As long as it is undoed, everything will return to normal."
Upon hearing this, Biyao couldn't help but look at Qinglong. Only then did she notice that Qinglong had never called Qin Wuyan by his full name before, but today he had been addressing him by his full name. Moreover, although Qinglong and Qin Wuyan were brothers, he had always treated her like a younger sister and had always put her first no matter what happened in the past. Why was he so unhesitating today when he proposed to take her heart's blood?
She wasn't thinking of herself, but upon closer reflection, the appearance of the Azure Dragon seemed too coincidental. What if there was a trap involved... Regardless of whether it could help Qin Wuyan, it would be bad if it ended up harming him instead.
Biyao glanced at Meng Guang and Tang Yuan, who had been standing silently to the side. The two men met her gaze, somewhat puzzled. Suddenly, she swayed as if she were about to faint. Meng Guang, who was closest, quickly caught her and asked anxiously, "Vice Sect Master, what's wrong?"
Tang Yuan stepped forward to look at her. Bi Yao's eyes darted around, and she rubbed her temples, saying, "It's nothing, I just suddenly feel dizzy and weak all over."
Meng Guang looked at Qinglong and said, "Holy Envoy, since the Vice Sect Master is currently weak, it is not advisable to take his heart's blood. This Soul-Gathering Technique was cast by the Sect Master himself, so let's wait until the Sect Master wakes up before deciding on the matter of undoing the spell!"
After listening, Qinglong lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, then you can take her down to rest first."
Tang Yuan stepped forward and said, "Vice Sect Master, Holy Envoy, you must be tired after a long day. I think the Sect Master won't wake up until tomorrow, so I'll stay here tonight. You can go and rest!"
Biyao nodded and said, "Brother Qinglong, with Tang Yuan here, let's go out first. It's perfect timing, we haven't seen each other for so many years, and I have so much to say to you." Her eyes were full of sincerity, and she looked like someone who had just reunited with a long-lost relative.
Qinglong followed Biyao to another private room. The waiter came to ask what they would like to eat. Biyao ordered several dishes and suddenly said to Qinglong, "I remember Brother Qinglong used to be someone who couldn't live without drinking. I suppose today will be no exception?"
Qinglong smiled and said, "It's kind of you to remember my preferences. Of course, wine is indispensable with the meal."
Upon hearing this, Biyao turned to the waiter and asked, "I would also like a pot of wine. Do you have Three Days of Intoxication here?"
The waiter scratched his head and replied, "Miss, we have Nu'er Hong, Fu Tou Zui, and Xi Feng Jiu, all of which are top-quality wines. As for San Ri Zui... I've never heard of it before, and I don't know where it's produced."
Biyao said, "This Three-Day Intoxication was brewed by the Hehuan Sect using spring water from Xiaoyao Stream. It is the most famous wine in the Central Plains, known to everyone. How come you haven't heard of it?"
The waiter lowered his head and pondered for a moment, thinking and thinking, but still had no recollection of this "Three-Day Intoxication." He replied, "Miss, the Hehuan Sect was incorporated into the Ghost King Sect a hundred years ago. Later, the Qingyun Sect, together with the Fenxiang Valley and Tianyin Temple, wiped out the Ghost King Sect. Naturally, the Hehuan Sect also suffered heavy casualties, and now no one knows where they've gone. In my more than ten years at the inn, none of the guests from north and south mention this sect anymore. So, naturally, I don't know about 'Three-Day Intoxication' either. Would you like to try some of our other fine wines?"
Although she had expected the waiter to say he didn't know, Biyao still felt a deep sadness upon hearing the phrase "annihilate the Ghost King Sect." She sighed softly and said to Qinglong:
"Brother Qinglong, I remember that Three-Day Drunkenness used to be your favorite wine. I never imagined that things would change so much, and the Hehuan Sect would no longer be seen in the martial world. Oh well, I'll make do with this. Which of the wines in this shop would you like?"
Qinglong's expression changed slightly, and he immediately said, "It's alright, just pick one. We have important business to attend to tomorrow, so it's not advisable to drink too much."
Biyao smiled and said, "Alright, then let's have a pot of Daughter's Red wine!" As soon as she finished speaking, the waiter had already left the room to prepare the wine and dishes.
Qinglong did not react to Biyao's words. Biyao looked at his indifferent expression and felt endless worry.
She clearly remembered that Qinglong did indeed love to drink when he was in the Ghost King Sect in his early years, but after a drunken mistake once caused trouble, he made a rule for himself that he would never drink unless invited by a close friend. Furthermore, while Qinglong's favorite wine was indeed Three-Day Intoxication, he never drank Daughter's Red, because Qinglong had once told her, "Daughter's Red is only drunk when a daughter is born or married off. I can't bear to see my Biyao get married, how can I drink it so casually!"
But in order to find out the man's true purpose in impersonating Qinglong, Biyao decided not to expose him for the time being, so she continued to ask with a smile, "Brother Qinglong, where have you been all these years? Qin Wuyan has been looking for you for many years without any news. I almost thought you..."
Her tone gradually lowered, and her eyes were filled with endless worry. This was not an act; she was thinking that if this person was not Qinglong, then the real Qinglong was probably in a precarious situation.
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