Chapter 58 A Long-Awaited Reunion
A bright moon hung in the sky outside the cave, dotted with stars. The night was dark and chilly.
Qin Wuyan huddled in Biyao's arms, probably unable to bear the biting cold any longer. He instinctively reached out and hugged Biyao tighter, his face deathly pale, a thin layer of frost on his brows. When Biyao's breath touched his face, it even froze into tiny ice shards...
Biyao simply used her Zhuxian Sword to cut down the winding vines growing at the cave entrance and piled them on the ground to build a fire. The warm and bright firelight illuminated the narrow cave as if it were daytime. She moved Qin Wuyan closer to the fire, and when her fingers touched his body, she couldn't help but shiver from the cold.
At this moment, Qin Wuyan was dozens of times colder than a block of thousand-year-old ice!
She found his condition too strange, so she tried to wake him: "Wu Yan... Wu Yan, can you hear me?"
But the person in my arms still kept his eyes closed and did not respond. I could only feel him trembling all over and feeling cold to the bone.
"It's no use, he's only like this because he suffered a backlash from the spell."
The mountain demon materialized into human form from the Immortal Execution Sword, stepped forward to check Qin Wuyan's pulse, and then looked Biyao up and down, her brows furrowing more and more. After a long while, she finally said, "Soul-gathering technique, this person is simply courting death."
Biyao asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
The mountain demon said, "The Soul-Gathering Technique uses the blood of two people as a catalyst to plant Soul-Gathering Flowers on the recipient, forming a protective aura that safeguards the soul from harm. However, each activation of the Soul-Gathering Technique requires burning the caster's soul to generate the strongest protective power. The caster not only suffers the pain of the spell's backlash on the fifteenth of each month, but also risks having their soul scattered if the Soul-Gathering Technique is activated too many times. This is one of the most powerful forbidden techniques in the world. He willingly practiced it, so he deserves the backlash."
Biyao couldn't help but recall the time in the Illusion Moon Cave when she leaped between Qin Wuyan and Zhang Xiaofan to try and stop their fight. When she couldn't dodge in time, a strange blue light shield emanated from her body. Suddenly, everything became clear to her…
She looked at Qin Wuyan, and for a moment only the words "soul scattered" remained in her mind. The thought that he might die made her feel as if a huge boulder was pressing on her chest, and the heavy pain made it hard for her to breathe.
After a long while, she finally came to her senses and grabbed the mountain demon, asking urgently, "What if we undo it? Is there any way to break this soul spell?"
The mandrill shook its head: "The reason why forbidden techniques are forbidden techniques is because once they are used, there is no turning back."
Biyao slowly released her grip, collapsing weakly to the ground. He was clearly risking his life for her! How could he go to such lengths for her?
"Who says it can't be solved?"
Suddenly, a strange male voice came from outside the cave.
As if grasping at a lifeline, Biyao hurriedly got up to look. She saw a strange man appear at the cave entrance. He was dressed in white with white hair and even his eyebrows were white, but his face did not look old or dejected. He had an extraordinary air about him and could be vaguely seen as handsome in his youth.
"Are you Biyao?" the man in white asked.
Biyao's eyes flashed with wariness as she asked, "That's right, who are you?"
The man smiled gently: "Don't worry, I won't harm you. I'm just doing this on someone's behalf to take you to see an old friend."
"Old friend?"
"Yes, you'll see when you come with me."
Biyao hesitated, "How can I trust you?"
The man in white looked at Qin Wuyan lying on the ground and said, "This young master looks to be in great pain. Didn't you just ask if there was any way to help him get rid of the backlash? As long as you come with me, I will tell you."
Biyao looked at him with some doubt, then glanced at the mountain demon, wanting to hear her opinion.
To everyone's surprise, the mountain demon waved its hands and said, "Don't look at me. I did say that the Soul-Collecting Technique is unbreakable. But I was also imprisoned for a thousand years. It's not impossible that someone might have found a way to undo it during these thousand years."
She yawned lazily: "This trip has been exhausting. I'm going to rest now. You're on your own. Just don't die. I still need your spiritual energy to nourish my primordial spirit!"
Before she disappeared, she turned back and chuckled, "Oh! I almost forgot, you're protected by the Soul-Concealing Technique now, you won't die!"
"..."
Biyao was speechless. After a moment's thought, she could only say to the man in white, "I'm willing to go with you, but what about Qin Wuyan?"
Although she could fly herself, with her current cultivation level, it would still be quite difficult for her to carry Qin Wuyan off this bottomless cliff and land safely.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be trapped in this cave.
The man in white said, "It's alright, I can take you away on my sword!"
Biyao had visited Qingyun Mountain dozens of times for Zhang Xiaofan, and thought she was so familiar with the Qingyun Sect that she could practically call herself at home. But she never knew that there was a hidden paradise beneath the cliffs behind the Qingyun Sect.
The man in white, riding his sword, carried her and Qin Wuyan straight down the cliff. The night was pitch black, and Biyao couldn't see anything. As the sword's flight slowed and stabilized, the moonlight revealed a faint, cold shimmering reflection in the distance, resembling a lake in the valley.
"We've arrived!" The man slowly brought his sword to a stop on the grass. In front of him was a small house with a lamp lit. In front of the door, where a dim yellow lantern hung, a woman walked gracefully over in the candlelight.
When Biyao saw the woman's face clearly, she was stunned.
"Aunt You!!" she cried out in shock, staring at her in disbelief.
The person before them was none other than the legendary Vermilion Bird Envoy of the Ghost King Sect, who had been missing for many years.
"Biyao!" Youji rushed forward excitedly, grasped her hand, and exclaimed, "I heard from the Qingyun disciples that you had really been resurrected, and I've been longing to find you ever since! Thank goodness, you're really standing here safe and sound before me!"
The two embraced tightly, weeping with joy. It took them a long time before they finally let go. Biyao asked in confusion, "Aunt You, what are you doing here?"
She glanced at the man beside her, and remembering that this was the Qingyun Sect, she was suddenly startled: "Could he be...?"
You Ji smiled faintly: "He is Wan Jianyi. I asked him to find you."
Biyao was both suspicious and surprised: "How do you know about my affairs?"
Youji said, "Come inside with me first, and we'll talk slowly!"
Biyao followed her into the small house, and Wan Jianyi followed behind, carrying the unconscious Qin Wuyan inside.
"Fifteen years ago, in order to revive the Beast God and save you, the Ghost King took most of the Ghost King Sect to the Southern Frontier. At that time, Zhang Xiaofan and I hid in the Demon Suppression Cave with you in your slumber. Originally, all our hopes for saving you were pinned on the matter of reviving the Beast God."
"Who knew that you would suddenly disappear, and then we were besieged by the three major righteous sects. I was seriously injured at that time and thought of ending it all, but unexpectedly, Wan Jianyi saved me and brought me back to Qingyun Sect. Since then, I have been staying in this valley."
Youji held Biyao's hand and recounted the past events one by one: "At that time, I thought you had been taken away by Zhang Xiaofan, but later I found out that Zhang Xiaofan hadn't found you either, but he had killed the Ghost King. I was indignant about this and was thinking of taking revenge someday, but then I heard that Qin Wuyan had gathered the disciples of the Ghost King Sect, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, and the Blood Refining Hall together and dealt a heavy blow to the righteous path in the Southern Frontier. Afterwards, he even established a new sect to rival the righteous path."
“Although I don’t dislike Qin Wuyan, the thought of his master makes me feel disgusted, so I haven’t gone back. Until a month ago, Wan Jianyi told me that he learned from Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan that you were actually alive and well…”
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, but then she felt that she was acting too pathetically, and still smiled and said, "Biyao, seeing that you are safe and sound, I can say that I have fulfilled one of my wishes. But I never imagined that it was Qin Wuyan who saved you!"
Speaking of Qin Wuyan, Biyao couldn't help but glance at him, saying worriedly, "But he suffered a backlash while saving me. Aunt You, when Senior Wan came to find me just now, he said that the Soul-Gathering Technique Qin Wuyan used on me could be undone. Is that true?"
You Ji was stunned for a moment, then looked at Wan Jianyi: "Qin Wuyan used the Soul Concealing Technique?"
Wan Jian nodded and said, "That's right. That's why he's been unconscious. You used to be the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect and you've also dealt with the Witch Clan. I think you might know how to unravel this."
Youji was shocked. She took Qin Wuyan's pulse and found that it was as thin as a thread. She also examined his soul and found that it was unstable.
She exclaimed, "I never imagined that Qin Wuyan was so devoted to you."
Biyao said, "But I would rather he not be like this. I... I also hope he can live a good life."
Youji laughed and said, "I never expected that one day you would stop liking Zhang Xiaofan and instead fall in love with Qin Wuyan, whom you used to hate the most."
“I…” Biyao blushed. She did care deeply for Qin Wuyan, but upon seeing Youji, she revealed a girlish side and said shyly, “I… I just don’t want to owe him too much!”
Youji shook her head and laughed. Why was this girl getting shy in front of her?
Biyao then said, "Aunt You, please tell me quickly, what is the way to break this soul-binding spell?"
Youji said, "I've only read about it in books, and I'm not entirely sure. The Holy Maiden Clan's records mention a divine herb on Yanluo Island in the East Sea that withers once every thousand years and turns green again every thousand years. When this herb rejuvenates, it can cure all kinds of poisons and break a hundred secret spells and curses. When you lost your life to the Immortal Execution Sword, I thought of searching for this divine herb, but when I arrived in the East Sea, I learned that the time for the withered herb to rejuvenate had not yet arrived. Counting the days, it is indeed time for the withered herb to turn green again this year. If you insist on breaking this spell, you'll have to go and look for it."
Upon hearing this, Biyao's eyes lit up: "No matter what, I'm going to give it a try!"
"Biyao..." Qin Wuyan called out weakly from the bed, then slowly opened his eyes, finding himself lying in an unfamiliar room. Besides Biyao, there were two other people beside him, and that woman...
"The Vermilion Bird Envoy!?" Qin Wuyan was extremely surprised. He forced himself to sit up and made sure he wasn't seeing things: "Is it really you?"
Youji smiled and said, "It's me! I've always been alive, but I haven't been back since the Ghost King Sect was destroyed. Over the years, I've heard that you've managed the Holy Sect quite well, and you even specially reserved the positions of Holy Envoy for me and Qinglong."
Qin Wuyan smiled slightly: "The Vermilion Bird Saint Envoy has made great contributions to the Holy Sect. How can I easily let someone replace him?"
After offering some compliments, he glanced at the man beside him and, realizing it wasn't Qinglong, eagerly asked Youji, "By the way, where is my elder brother Qinglong? Does the Holy Envoy know where he is?"
Youji shook her head: "Back then, during the battle at Mingling Peak, we were both eager to fight. After we were separated, I never saw him again."
Qin Wuyan was very disappointed. He had sent people to search for many years, but there was still no news. Now, Youji also did not know the situation of Qinglong, and he became more and more worried.
Youji comforted her, "No news might be good news. Qinglong's cultivation is profound, and few can do anything to him. You don't need to worry too much."
Biyao also said, "Yes, Wuyan, once your injuries are better, I'll go with you to find Brother Qinglong."
Qin Wuyan nodded, then looked at the unfamiliar man beside him, "And this is...?"
Wan Jianyi said with a pleasant expression, "I am Wan Jianyi from the Qingyun Sect."
Qin Wuyan was immediately startled: "Wan Jianyi, the once unparalleled number one expert of Qingyun?"
Wan Jianyi smiled faintly: "These are all things of the past, not worth mentioning. Now, I am just a sweeper in the Qingyun Sect."
Qin Wuyan had met Cangsong before and knew a little about the relationship between Wan Jianyi and Dao Xuan. Moreover, he was not one to pry into other people's private affairs, so he changed the subject and asked, "Why are you here, senior? And where is this place?"
Wan Jianyi said, "This is Yunmeng Valley at the bottom of the cliff behind Qingyun Sect, and it is also the place where the secret passages of the various peaks of Qingyun Sect are connected."
"You will rest for a few days, after which I will escort you out of Qingyun Sect. However, I hope you will keep this secret from now on."
Qin Wuyan couldn't help but smile. Everyone said that Wan Jianyi was loyal to the Qingyun Sect. Even though his senior brother took away his position as sect leader and his junior brother stole his love, he had never done anything to betray the Qingyun Sect. Seeing him today, it was indeed true.
Qin Wuyan replied, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness in saving me, senior! I will certainly not reveal any secrets here. However, I don't understand why, since you were able to find me, you must know why I was at Qingyun Sect, but you didn't step in to stop me from taking the Zhuxian Sword?"
Wan Jian smiled and said, "Because I also know the secret of the Zhuxian Sword. Actually, I should thank you for eliminating the malevolent energy of the Zhuxian Sword."
Qin Wuyan and Biyao were both startled, but upon reflection, it made sense. Back then, he refused to take over as sect leader and even publicly declared that Wan Jianyi was dead, causing the world to speculate whether he had been killed by Dao Xuan. Now it seems that his refusal to become sect leader was probably also due to the matter of the Zhuxian Sword.
Wan Jianyi said, "Before his master Qingye passed away, he told our grandmaster the secret of the Zhuxian Sword Formation and warned him not to use the Zhuxian Sword unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, later, due to constant conflicts, my grandmaster and master had to use the Zhuxian Sword to defend the sect's survival. My master died at my hands, and I saw with my own eyes how he was devoured by the malevolent energy, no different from a demon."
"After learning what Ancestor Qingye did to the Mountain God back then, I've been pondering: what is righteous? What is evil? The Mountain God of Qingyun Mountain is a deity who protects the region. Although Ancestor Qingye did it to slay demons, is betraying a friend and seizing divine power a righteous act? I've been unable to understand this for years, but because I'm a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, I can't break the sword formation seal. So, when I learned that you were able to take away the Zhuxian Sword, I was happy to see it happen."
"Shameless scoundrel!"
Before Qin Wuyan and Biyao could speak, the mountain demon's voice came from the Zhuxian Sword. She cursed bitterly from within the sword: "As expected, Ye Xuan is despicable and vile, and his disciples and followers are no better."
Wan Jianyi respectfully bowed to the Zhuxian Sword and said apologetically, "Even if I have a thousand words, I know I cannot atone for my sins. But Ancestor Qingye has passed away, and the successive leaders of Qingyun Sect have all suffered from the torment of resentment. I hope that the Mountain God will not involve future generations in this feud."
"Bah! What descendants? Without me, your Qingyun Sect is nothing but a bunch of trash. I'll tell all your good disciples to cultivate to death. Once I regain my divine power, I will definitely come back and massacre your Qingyun Sect."
Although she spoke harshly, because she was surrounded by swords, it didn't sound like she was making threats at all. Instead, it sounded like a child venting their anger, and the four of them laughed.
Biyao and Youji hadn't seen each other for many years, so they sat together and talked for a long time. Qin Wuyan was seriously injured and also stayed in the valley to recuperate for a few days.
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