☆, Chapter 31: Countdown to the Male Lead's Return (Revised)
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three years, apart from occasionally asking Liu Qingge to help him clear his meridians and cure poison, asking Mu Qingfang to help him prepare four kinds of medicinal herbs, and going to Qingjing Peak to assign leveling tasks to the disciples, Shen Qingqiu spent most of his time wandering around outside.
In his previous life, he was a shut-in, spending his time watching anime, playing games, and reading novels. After being reborn here, all his computer-related entertainment was gone, so his interest in traveling was rekindled. He lived a leisurely life until Yue Qingyuan sent him a letter, suddenly summoning him back to Cang Qiong Mountain.
By this time, he had been nowhere to be seen for quite some time. Suddenly returning to the mountain, the disciples of Qingjing Peak had already gathered at the foot of the mountain gate to welcome their master. As soon as they saw Shen Qingqiu slowly climbing up the hillside, they all rushed over to him.
The leader, Ming Fan, was now a tall young man. Although he wasn't exceptionally handsome, he was no longer the narrow-minded, cannon fodder-like figure he had been in his youth. Ning Yingying had grown into a graceful and charming young woman. She had also chosen her own immortal sword from Wanjian Peak. Upon seeing Shen Qingqiu, she rushed over, grabbed his arm, and started walking up the Heavenly Ladder.
Although the fragrant little girl liked to hug him, Shen Qingqiu couldn't handle it, especially since Ning Yingying had developed quite well and was no longer the petite little girl she used to be. Her chest would occasionally brush against him accidentally, making Shen Qingqiu expressionless and sweating profusely.
I really wouldn't dare to even dream of Luo Binghe's wife!
Ning Yingying said coquettishly, "Master, you're never on the mountain, and we disciples miss you so much."
Shen Qingqiu said affectionately, "I miss you all too."
That's not right. You should be thinking of Luo Binghe, not some scumbag villain!
Were Shen Qingqiu and Ning Yingying really that close in the original work? It seems that after Ning Yingying grew up and became more sensible, it was only Shen Qingqiu who was unilaterally attracted to her.
Moreover, as one of Luo Binghe's wives, shouldn't you have been suffering from insomnia, loss of appetite, emaciation, and heartbreak for five years straight?
Why do I look like I've gained weight now?
The disciples escorted Shen Qingqiu to the summit. Yue Qingyuan greeted him outside the hall as usual, and the two brothers entered the hall hand in hand.
Inside the domed hall, all twelve peak leaders were seated, with one or two of their trusted disciples standing behind each seat. Only Liu Qingge was an exception.
The traditional style of Baizhan Peak is laissez-faire education, where everyone trains on their own. The peak master only occasionally pops up to beat up a group of disciples and basically doesn't teach anything else until the disciples can beat their master back. Then the position of peak master can be handed over. Therefore, there are naturally no trusted disciples.
Shen Qingqiu greeted everyone and then sat down at his seat on Qingjing Peak, with Ming Fan and Ning Yingying standing behind him. Opposite him were Qi Qingqi and Liu Mingyan from Xianshu Peak.
For some reason, a thought popped into Shen Qingqiu's mind: if Luo Binghe were still alive, there would probably be no one else standing behind him.
Stop! Stop!
Ugh, stop showing up all the time, male lead! [Bye]
Yue Qingyuan, seated at the head of the table, said, "I have urgently summoned all of you fellow disciples back for one reason only. Do you know this place, Jinlan City?"
Shang Qinghua said, "Jinlan City? I've heard of it. It's located in the Central Plains, at the confluence of the Luo River and the Heng River. The city lord is fond of commerce, and it's said to be very prosperous."
Yue Qingyuan nodded and said, "That's right. Jinlan City is a place where waterways and land routes connect in all directions, and it has always been a gathering place for merchants from all directions. But two months ago, Jinlan City was closed." He paused and added, "Not only were the city gates closed, but people were also not allowed to enter or leave, and letters could not be sent."
The sudden closure of a perfectly healthy commercial city is as incomprehensible as a financial center abruptly cutting off all connections with other entities. There's definitely more to come.
Shen Qingqiu picked up the teacup beside him, scraped the tea leaves off the surface, and said, "Jinlan City is the closest to Zhaohua Temple, and I remember that they have been in close contact. If something really happened, the masters in the temple should have noticed something amiss."
Yue Qingyuan said, "That's right. Twenty days ago, a merchant from Jinlan City escaped from the city by waterway and rushed to Zhaohua Temple for help."
He used the word "escape," indicating that the situation was indeed very serious. Everyone fell silent.
Yue Qingyuan continued, "The middle-aged man was originally the owner of the number one weapons shop in Jinlan City. He regularly offered incense at Zhaohua Temple, and many of the monks there knew him. At the time, he was completely wrapped in black cloth, with only half of his face showing. When he arrived at Zhaohua Temple, he was exhausted and collapsed on the steps, repeatedly saying that there was a terrible plague in the city. The monks guarding the temple immediately carried him into the main hall and reported to the abbot. But by the time the abbot and several masters rushed out, it was too late."
Dead?
Yue Qingyuan said slowly, "That merchant has already turned into a skeleton."
Shen Qingqiu was horrified.
Just now they said they risked their lives to escape to the temple gate, how could they turn into a skeleton in the blink of an eye?
Shen Qingqiu pondered for a moment and said, "Senior brother just said that the merchant was wrapped in black cloth? From head to toe?"
Yue Qingyuan said, "That's right. During that time, a monk tried to help him remove the black cloth, but as soon as he touched it, he cried out in pain, so he dared not forcibly pull it off."
Judging from this description, it sounds like they're tearing his skin off.
Yue Qingyuan continued, "The abbots of Zhaohua Temple felt deeply uneasy. After discussing it, they immediately dispatched Masters Wuchen, Wuhuan, and Wunian to investigate. They have not yet returned."
The masters without a given name were of equal or higher seniority than Shen Qingqiu and his group, and their cultivation levels were not far behind. Shen Qingqiu asked with slight surprise, "Not a single one has returned?"
Yue Qingyuan nodded heavily and said, "The Illusion Flower Palace and Tianyi Temple also sent more than a dozen disciples, but they too never returned."
With the other three of the four major factions already dragged into this mess, Shen Qingqiu suddenly understood why he had come back today.
As expected, Yue Qingyuan said, "Fellow Daoists from other sects had no choice but to send letters and messengers to Cangqiong Mountain requesting support. Support is certain, but this matter is of great importance, and there is a fear that some villainous alien races may be stirring up trouble behind the scenes. While some people are going, others must remain behind to guard the area."
This "alien race," needless to say, refers only to the demon race. Liu Qingge was the first to speak: "It is our duty, Hundred Battles Peak, to escort Junior Brother Mu there."
Since there was an epidemic in the city, Mu Qingfang from Qiancao Peak had to be dispatched. Shen Qingqiu saw that the two people going were one responsible for brewing medicine for him and the other responsible for opening his spiritual meridians. They were both going, and without the protagonist's halo to protect them, he was really worried that something might happen to them. He couldn't let it go unchecked, so he quickly replied, "Qingqiu is willing to go with you."
Yue Qingyuan hesitated and said, "My original intention was to arrange for you to guard the mountain."
Shen Qingqiu didn't know how to deal with him yet, but he would keep pestering him: "Why do you think of me as so delicate, Senior Brother Sect Leader? Even though I am not very talented, I know a little about the Demon Clan. If it is really them causing trouble, I can be of some help."
This is a mobile encyclopedia of demonic beings, and whether it's the original or readily available, it absolutely deserves this title. The books and materials accumulated over hundreds of years by successive peak masters of Qingjing Peak, which require them to read them before they can succeed to the throne, are piled up behind the bamboo hut… Yue Qingyuan thought that having him act alongside Liu Qingge and Mu Qingfang would make it easier to suppress the demonic poison in his body, and the peak master of Baizhan Peak could also protect him in a fight. Therefore, it was finally decided to split into three groups: the first group, with Liu Muchen and the other two as the vanguard, would go to Jinlan City to investigate first. The second group would go out and act according to the situation. The third group would stay behind at Cangqiong Mountain.
The situation was urgent, and there was no time for leisurely travel by carriage or boat. Shen Qingqiu was not used to flying alone on his sword and was even a little afraid of heights, but he knew that he had to keep up with the main group at this moment. Less than half a day after the three of them set off on their swords, Shen Qingqiu lifted the fluttering hem of his robe, looked down from above the clouds, and shouted to his two fellow disciples, "Below is the confluence of Luochuan and Hengchuan!"
Looking down from above, you can indeed see two rivers intersecting. They resemble two winding, long, and slender silver ribbons, shimmering in the sunlight like dancing silver scales.
One of them is that Luo Binghe, who was just born that year, was thrown downstream and took Luochuan as his surname.
The three chose a flat, open hilltop as their landing point. From there, they could vaguely see the upturned eaves of Jinlan City in the distance, as well as the closed city gates and the raised river bridge.
Shen Qingqiu lowered his hand from between his brows, shielding his eyes from the sun: "Why don't we just fly into the city?"
Mu Qingfang explained, "At the request of the city lord of Jinlan City, Zhaohua Temple set up a giant barrier covering the sky to prevent immortal swords or anything with spiritual or demonic energy from flying over them, otherwise they would be deflected from their course."
Shen Qingqiu had witnessed Zhaohua Temple's ability to set up barriers; they were the go-to barrier-setting team for the Immortal Alliance Conference. If they were second, no one would dare to claim first place. Shen Qingqiu stopped asking questions, thinking to himself that if this plague wasn't a normal one, but rather a deliberate act by someone with ulterior motives, he would have entered the city gates openly and honestly.
Since they couldn't parachute in or enter through the main gate, there must be another way. Sure enough, Mu Qingfang, who had been given detailed instructions by Yue Qingyuan, led the two into a grove of trees. Amidst the lush greenery, the sound of flowing water could be heard.
The sound came from a low cave. Mu Qingfang beckoned the two over and said, "There's an underground river here. It leads into the city."
Shen Qingqiu understood: "That weapons shop merchant escaped from here?"
Mu Qingfang nodded: "Some merchants who do underground business meet here or transport goods. Not many people actually know about this route, but the weapons merchant is on good terms with several abbots of Zhaohua Temple and has revealed some information about it."
The cave entrance was covered in green vines, only chest-high, requiring the three of them to bend over to enter. After walking for a while, Shen Qingqiu's back ached, but finally, she felt a sense of spaciousness above her. The water flowed into a rushing sound. Along the riverbed, several dilapidated, lonely boats drifted.
Shen Qingqiu chose a slightly better one that wouldn't leak, and with a flick of his finger, a flame ignited in the withered lamp hanging at the bow.
There was only one oar. Shen Qingqiu gestured for Liu Qingge to proceed, saying, "This is against the current. To row into the city, we'll definitely need the strongest among us. Junior brother, please?"
With a dark expression, Liu Qingge snatched the long, thin pole and began rowing diligently. With each stroke, the boat lurched forward a considerable distance. The lantern at the bow creaked and swayed wildly.
Shen Qingqiu comfortably pulled Mu Qingfang down to sit, and glancing at the water beside the boat, he could see several fish swimming happily by, and casually remarked, "This water is so clear."
No sooner had he said that than an even larger puddle of something floated up behind the fish.
A body buried face down in the water.
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