☆, Chapter 33 Reunion 2.0
Shen Qingqiu looked at the familiar yet seemingly unfamiliar young man, her limbs stiffened, and her throat felt dry.
Didn't we agree that we would make a comeback in five years?
Shouldn't Luo Binghe be in the Abyss right now, hacking and slaying monsters, forging his sword? Why is he suddenly surrounded by the Illusionary Flower Palace?!
Why was it two years earlier?
Why rush things! Leveling up too fast isn't reliable, Brother Luo!
Shen Qingqiu had an urge to turn around and rush downstairs, out of Jinlan City, and out of this damned world, but his first step back was blocked by Gongyi Xiao, who, to make matters worse, asked, "Senior Shen? Why are you suddenly backing away?"
...You really don't know how to read the occasion, the time, or people's expressions when you speak, Gongyi Gongzi!
A low, gentle voice came from behind: "Master?"
Shen Qingqiu stiffened his neck and slowly turned his head.
It was just a simple movement, but now, as he did it, he felt as if the head on his head weighed thousands of pounds. At this moment, Luo Binghe's almost perfect face was more terrifying to him than anything else.
What's even more terrifying is that the expression on that face now isn't icy cold or a smile hiding a knife, but a gentle and approachable feeling that melts you to the bone.
Oh my god, don't do that! It's scary!
The more tender and affectionate Luo Binghe's smile, the more his opponent would perish and be shattered on the battlefield—this is absolutely no joke.
Shen Qingqiu was stuck at the top of the stairs, neither going up nor down, and a layer of hair on his back went cold.
Luo Binghe slowly approached and said softly, "It really is Master."
His voice was light and airy, but every word he uttered was like the sound of his footsteps echoing in the attic, making Shen Qingqiu feel as if she were taking a bungee jump and an ice bucket challenge.
The guillotine was already at his neck; he had no choice but to go! Shen Qingqiu steadied himself, steeled himself, gripped the fan ribs with his right hand, the veins of which were faintly visible, flicked the hem of his blue robe with his left hand, and took a step, finally stepping onto the second floor.
He almost burst into tears the moment he stepped on the platform.
When Luo Binghe participated in the Immortal Alliance Conference, he looked at Luo Binghe at eye level. Now, Shen Qingqiu has to raise his head slightly to meet his gaze. He is much less imposing than Luo Binghe!
Fortunately, Shen Qingqiu had been putting on an act for many years and was very experienced. Regardless of his true feelings, at least his calm and composed expression was ingrained in his skin. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat: "...What exactly is going on?"
Luo Binghe smiled slightly, seemingly not intending to answer.
Instead, a group of disciples from the Illusion Flower Palace rushed forward to block his path.
Shen Qingqiu then realized that the disciples' attitudes were very strange.
Shen Qingqiu was once a grandmaster who swept across the land, and even his peers rarely failed to greet him with deliberate respect, let alone younger disciples from other sects. However, these disciples of the Illusion Flower Palace seemed to be filled with hostility towards him, their eyes filled with ill intent, some already drawing their weapons. Coupled with Luo Binghe standing there silently, this group of respectable young people from prestigious sects looked like a bunch of lackeys ready to swarm and fight for their leader, or demonic dogs poised to commit murder and arson at any moment…
Are you kidding me, kids? Don't rush to be bodyguards, okay? Does the guy behind you need your protection?! He's lucky he doesn't hurt anyone. The one who really needs protection is me! It's me!
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Gongyi Xiao stepped in and scolded in a low voice, "Put your sword away, what kind of behavior is this!"
The crowd became somewhat more restrained, and those who had drawn their swords reluctantly sheathed them, but their hostility towards Shen Qingqiu did not diminish much.
No wonder. No wonder it wasn't Gongyi Xiao leading the team this time. In the past, when the most favored disciple spoke, none of his fellow disciples would dare to show any displeasure. But now, with Luo Binghe, whose brainwashing skills are top-notch after his transformation, he is the absolute center. No one else would be in leadership positions for a thousand years.
Even though Shen Qingqiu was almost suffering a concussion, he still couldn't figure out when Luo Binghe had infiltrated the Illusion Flower Palace. According to the original story, that would have happened at least two years later!
The two sides stood frozen for a moment. Suddenly, a delicate young woman in a pale yellow dress walked out from the side, tears streaming down her face, and said, "You still have the mind to do this? Young Master Luo... Young Master Luo has been harmed by that villain. Can't you think of a way to help him first!"
Shen Qingqiu then noticed that a human figure lay in the corner, which was the fake old lady from earlier.
He looked at Luo Binghe again and saw that a section of the latter's sleeve seemed to have been cut off by the sword energy, revealing half of his wrist. Luo Binghe's skin was very pale, making the few red spots on his wrist particularly conspicuous.
He blurted out instinctively, "You've been infected?"
Luo Binghe glanced at him, shook his head sincerely, and said, "It's alright. I'm glad everyone is alright."
Such a selfless and considerate demeanor almost made Shen Qingqiu think that the person in front of her was still the same little lamb that used to bleat and eat grass, nestled at her knees.
Unfortunately, the disciples of Huanhua Palace were quite adept at dampening his spirits, saying sarcastically, "Young Master Luo has contracted this plague; Senior Shen must be overjoyed, right?"
...Shen Qingqiu began to seriously consider where and when he had committed the sins against the entire Illusion Flower Palace.
Gongyi Xiao looked at Shen Qingqiu's face and felt extremely embarrassed. He turned around and scolded, "Shut up, all of you!"
Shen Qingqiu remained indifferent. As a senior figure who had been famous for many years, he wouldn't get entangled with a young man who had been brainwashed by the male lead. He simply lowered his hand, his sleeve naturally covering the red spots that had appeared on the back of his hand after he had touched the fake old lady.
The disciple with half his face covered in freckles who had spoken first was reprimanded and reluctantly shut his mouth, still looking unconvinced. Qin Wanyue said sadly, "It's all our fault. If it weren't for protecting us just now, Young Master Luo, you wouldn't have..."
Shen Qingqiu already had a guess about what was going on in the city. He really wanted to grab a megaphone and shout in her ear: "Girl, wake up! That's not a plague at all!"
Shen Qingqiu would dare to guarantee with the youthful energy and frustration of following over 20 million words of serialized novels: First! This thing is probably just like saline or glucose to Luo Binghe, a half-demon, it doesn't hurt or itch at all!
Second! If Luo Binghe is held back by someone, or gets injured while saving someone, without a doubt, it's intentional! Do you know the fastest way to boost your image and favorability?
Shen Qingqiu couldn't bear to watch the utterly desolate atmosphere at Huanhua Palace any longer. Of course, what he couldn't stand even more was the feeling of silently exchanging glances with Luo Binghe, as if both of them were waiting for the other to speak first.
He steeled himself and prepared to get down to business. Without looking to the side, he walked to the fake old woman's corpse, drew his Xiuya sword, and with a few swift cuts, shredded the black cloth into pieces, revealing the body underneath.
really.
This "person" appears ordinary at first glance, and it's impossible to tell whether they are male or female. But that's not the point.
The most horrifying aspect is that its entire body is scarlet, as if it had been boiled in boiling water from head to toe, yet its body remained intact and was not rotten.
Shen Qingqiu said, "They are the sowers."
Seeders are a profession among demons. Generally speaking, Shen Qingqiu understands them as farmers, ranchers, or wholesalers of animal feed in the demon realm.
Due to geographical and racial reasons, many creatures in the Demon Realm, including some demons with rather peculiar tastes, have rather unusual physiological needs. Specifically, they crave rotten food, the more stinky the better, and food crawling with maggots is considered an absolute delicacy, rich in nutrients.
But where did all that rotten stuff come from?
That is the role of the sower.
Any non-demon creature they approach or touch will develop limb ulceration within a short period. A practice once prevalent in the demon realm involved large-scale communal meals in manors: the manor owner would capture hundreds of living people from the human world at once, lock them up like livestock in one place, and release people into the manor. Within seven days, when the limbs were almost completely rotten, the door could be opened. You could choose to release the people to eat, or go in and eat yourself.
This bizarre eating habit is utterly disgusting. Fortunately, the ancient demon lineage belongs to the most elegant and traditional bloodline of the demon race, essentially the ancient nobility of the demon realm. Their prestige in every aspect far surpasses that of ordinary demon citizens, making them incompatible with such exotic tastes. Otherwise, even if Luo Binghe were incredibly handsome and powerful, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand such a bizarre setting that is both physiologically and psychologically unacceptable. Just imagine how heartbroken the girls would be if they had to kiss him! Hahaha!
Because this profession was so inhumane, it aroused the immense anger of the cultivators in the human realm, leading to a campaign to exterminate the Seed Sowers. Many nameless heroes even risked corruption to perish alongside them. Within ten years, the Seed Sowers were almost extinct, rarely seen even in the demon realm, and it was quite normal that ordinary cultivators had never even heard of them. Shen Qingqiu, having nothing better to do, would often read the various old books scattered around Qingjing Peak as if they were supernatural tales, and he understood them all.
He had clearly made a very insightful judgment, but unfortunately, it was not taken seriously. Only Qin Wanyue said politely, "What Senior said, Young Master Luo had already guessed. Just now, he told us in detail about the Seed Sowers." After speaking, she and the disciples of the Illusion Flower Palace around her looked up at Luo Binghe with admiring and longing eyes, as if his face was shining with golden light.
It's here! Is this the legendary aura of cunning that makes "no matter what the male protagonist says, others will feel an absolute crushing of their intelligence and experience from his words"?
Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu and said softly, "Everything I know was taught to me by my master."
...What's terrifying is that Shen Qingqiu really felt that his face had a soft glow!
Damn it. Has the day finally come when even the villains aren't allowed to show off their coolness, and only the male lead gets to steal the spotlight? [Manual goodbye]
Shen Qingqiu simply couldn't bear to waste his life in this eerie atmosphere any longer. Logically, since the Seed Sower was killed by the Illusion Flower Palace, the right to dispose of the body should belong to them. Shen Qingqiu said, "In that case, may I borrow this body for a look? Junior Brother Mu might discover something, so that we can develop a method to resist the epidemic as soon as possible."
Luo Binghe nodded and said, "I will do whatever Master says. Then I will deliver the body."
Shen Qingqiu felt a chill run down his spine from being addressed as "Master" repeatedly. He finally understood how the original character felt when facing someone like Luo Binghe, who was all smiles and hidden daggers, because he had absolutely no idea what Luo Binghe was up to!
He turned and left without a word. Even after leaving the abandoned building, Shen Qingqiu was still in a state of utter devastation, walking unsteadily and feeling dizzy. Gongyi Xiao caught up and, seeing Shen Qingqiu's pale face and dazed expression, said nervously, "Senior Shen, I'm very sorry. Actually, I've always known, but my master ordered that Young Master Luo's affairs at the Illusion Flower Palace must be kept strictly confidential and not divulged; anyone who violates this order will be expelled. Therefore, I dared not tell you the truth."
Shen Qingqiu: "I only ask you, how did he get to your side?"
Gongyi Xiao said, "It was Junior Sister Qin. Last year, she rescued Young Master Luo, who was seriously injured and unconscious, by the Luo River."
Last year. In just one year, he managed to oust Gongyi Xiao from his position as a trusted confidant. It seems Luo Binghe's invasion of Huanhua Palace not only happened earlier than in the original timeline, but was also more efficient. Incidentally, Gongyi Xiao really is destined to be cannon fodder, constantly being kicked down from his top positions by the male lead!
Shen Qingqiu asked, "Since you rescued him, why didn't he go back to Cang Qiong Mountain?"
Gongyi Xiao carefully observed Shen Qingqiu's expression and said cautiously, "After being rescued and waking up, Young Master Luo seemed unwilling to talk about the past. When he said goodbye, he also revealed that he would not return to the Cangqiong Mountain Sect and hoped that Huanhua Palace could keep his whereabouts a secret. It seems that he plans to wander the world. My master likes him very much and continues to try to keep him here. Although we do not address each other as master and disciple, he treats him in the same way as a personal disciple."
I see.
Luo Binghe's behavior perfectly exemplifies a delicate flower that suffers greatly yet silently endures hardship. People would easily speculate: why wouldn't he return? Perhaps the Cangqiong Mountain Sect, especially Shen Qingqiu, wronged him; there must have been unspeakable secrets behind the false report of his death at the Immortal Alliance Conference.
No wonder the disciples of Huanhua Palace were so hostile towards him earlier. Luo Binghe's brainwashing skills are truly impressive. Just look at how they were following his lead; you can tell what Luo Binghe's status is in the palace now.
A disciple from faction A visited faction B, and everyone in faction B, from the highest to the lowest, cried and begged him to stay, secretly keeping it a secret from other factions—how unscientific and illogical! But under the protagonist's halo, this kind of thing makes perfect sense!
Shen Qingqiu remained silent. Gongyi Xiao assumed he was heartbroken and disappointed that his beloved disciple, who was not dead, would rather linger outside than return to see him. He said, "Senior Shen, there's no need to worry too much. Perhaps Young Master Luo simply has some unresolved issues. He never left the Huanhua Palace area before, but this time he took the initiative to come, which shows that things have turned around. However, my fellow disciples... cough, they have misunderstood you in this matter. I hope you won't hold it against them."
Shen Qingqiu was heartbroken and locked up by the great river.
All the positive reputation I'd painstakingly built up over the years couldn't withstand the male lead's ability to smear me so easily, and he did it beautifully.
No! Actually, this isn't slander at all. Because he wasn't wronged at all; he did indeed kick someone into the abyss of despair!
There's simply no reason for me to defend myself!
Shen Qingqiu asked, "And what about you? Why didn't you misunderstand?"
Gongyi Xiao was slightly taken aback, and immediately said, "Although I don't know what exactly happened in the Valley of Despair, I believe that you are not the kind of person who would harm your disciple."
Okay, let me tell you why... because you and I are both cannon fodder standing on the opposite side of the male protagonist, so we can better understand and sympathize with each other's situation.
The group from Huanhua Palace followed behind. Shen Qingqiu glanced back casually and saw Luo Binghe looking in their direction. He stood with his arms crossed, observing coldly.
Now, when Shen Qingqiu sees him, he feels his heart has become much more fragile, often like a small boat caught in a stormy sea. For example, right now, although Luo Binghe is not close to him and maintains a polite smile, his pair of dark eyes are cold and penetrating, making Shen Qingqiu suddenly feel a chill.
Hey bro, grandpa! What's wrong with you now—did two cannon fodder guys offend you just by talking and huddling together for warmth?!
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the Jinzi Weapon Shop, they heard a commotion inside that nearly lifted the roof off. This was all Liu Qingge's doing. He was in charge of the hard labor, and after splitting up, he went out to find test subjects for Mu Qingfang. The city was in a state of panic, and no one was willing to cooperate. At this point, there was no time to worry about such things; they could only resolve the issue with force. Moreover, Liu Qingge was not a patient or reasonable person. His style was very much in line with the traditions of Hundred Battles Peak. He went out and casually grabbed a dozen burly men, tying them up next to the forging table behind the main hall. That place had now become Mu Qingfang's research and testing ground. The shouts, curses, and cries of this group of grown men were no less than those of women.
Shen Qingqiu went to the underground vault and explained the series of events that had just transpired to the others. He temporarily set aside the fact that he had been infected.
Master Wuchen chanted Amitabha again: "Thanks to the fellow Daoists of Cangqiong Mountain, things have finally made progress."
Shen Qingqiu said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Those who are infected cannot infect each other, and the largest area covered by the seed sower recorded in the ancient books on Qingjing Peak was only a little over three hundred people. If the infection area is as large as an entire city, there must be more than one seed sower."
Liu Qingge placed the sword on its hilt and stood up. Shen Qingqiu knew he was a man of action, ready to leave at a moment's notice, and was about to go out to find other seed sowers, so he quickly said, "Wait! I have something else to say."
Mu Qingfang: "Senior brother, please speak?"
Shen Qingqiu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Luo Binghe is back."
The crowd didn't react much. Of the three, Master Wuchen from Zhaohua Temple didn't know who Luo Binghe was, Mu Qingfang rarely cared about anything other than medicine and pharmacology, and only Liu Qingge frowned and asked in surprise, "Your disciple? Didn't he die at the hands of the demons at the Immortal Alliance Conference?"
Shen Qingqiu found it increasingly difficult to explain: "...He didn't die. He came back alive. Sigh." He said with annoyance, "Let's go patrol the city first. We'll talk about this in detail when we get back."
Mu Qingfang said, "That's good. The sooner we deal with the remaining seed sowers, the less bloodshed there will be. I should also go and see those patients."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu immediately recalled Mu Qingfang's ever-present set of gleaming silver surgical instruments, complete with scalpels and needles, laid out in a row like a forensic autopsy scene. He also remembered the hundreds of bottles and jars in the infinite space, each labeled with a name and description as terrifying and frightening as the contents themselves. He figured the group of burly men next to the forging table would really be tearing the roof off soon.
Shen Qingqiu chuckled dryly and was about to follow Liu Qingge out of the cellar when suddenly, without warning, his heartbeat seemed to amplify hundreds of times, and his movements faltered.
Liu Qingge noticed something was wrong and immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Qingqiu did not answer. He tried to unleash a burst of spiritual energy with his right hand, but a weak stream of spiritual energy passed through it intermittently without causing a spark.
Are you kidding me?! You're going to have a meltdown at this crucial moment?!
Mu Qingfang said in a low voice, "'There is no solution'."
Liu Qingge pressed his pulse, paused for a moment, and then decisively pressed him back down: "Sit down. Wait."
Waiting for what?! Waiting for Luo Binghe to come knocking on our door?! Shen Qingqiu suddenly stood up: "I'll go out with you."
Liu Qingge: "Don't get in the way."
You, my lord, are the invincible master of Hundred Battles Peak! What's the harm in taking me along?
Mu Qingfang asked, "Senior Brother Shen, did you take your medicine today?"
Shen Qingqiu really wanted to shout to the heavens, "I haven't given up on treatment!!!"
I've been taking my medicine on time this month! I've also asked Master Liu to help me circulate my energy and open my spiritual meridians on time! Why did this attack suddenly occur? It's like a bolt from the blue, I'm completely baffled!
Just then, the system unexpectedly sent a notification: [Protagonist's enjoyment level +100]
Get out!
Are you implying that "Shen Qingqiu is unlucky, but the male lead is very happy"?!
Do you dare to be so vague? If you have the guts, explain clearly why you suddenly got extra points!
Mu Qingfang added, "Senior Brother Shen, please don't push yourself. Senior Brother Liu is doing this for your own good. Exerting yourself to circulate your energy during an attack will cause great harm. You stay here to rest, and I'll go make medicine. When Senior Brother Liu returns, I'll help you open your spiritual meridians."
Shen Qingqiu stood up three times, but Liu Qingge pressed him back down each time. Mu Qingfang's tone was like she was lecturing a naughty child. She said helplessly, "Alright. Junior Brother Liu, listen to me. The Seed Sowers have scarlet skin all over their bodies and are extremely infectious. If you encounter a suspicious person who looks similar, don't rush forward. Attack from a distance. When you come back, be sure to come to my room. I have something very important to discuss with you."
The last sentence is the most important, and Shen Qingqiu deliberately emphasized the words.
"An army is raised for a thousand days to be used in one moment," so Mr. Liu, you must protect me!
After Liu Mu and his companion left the cellar, Wu Chen pondered, "Master Chen, don't you find it strange? The Demon Realm has been dormant for a long time, but in recent years, it seems to be making a comeback. At the last Immortal Alliance Conference, many rare demons reappeared in the world. And this time, the Seed Sowers, who have been extinct for a hundred years, have appeared in Jinlan City. I am worried that this... is probably not a good omen."
Not only that, but these seed sowers are clearly reinforced. The original seed sowers made absolutely no stipulations about how far the infected could be from them. Shen Qingqiu deeply agreed: "What the master is worried about is exactly what I cannot trust."
Yeah. Luo Binghe was supposed to stay in the Abyss for another two years, but he was released early. Is that a good sign?!
After being infected, Master Wuchen's martial arts were severely damaged, and his energy was greatly depleted. He soon felt tired after a short conversation, so Shen Qingqiu helped him lie down and quietly left the cellar. Wuchen was hidden in the cellar because he couldn't be exposed to light or wind, while Shen Qingqiu's room was on the second floor of the inner hall of the weapons shop. Liu Qingge hadn't returned yet, and he couldn't sleep even if he wanted to, so he sat at the table in a daze. One moment he thought of Luo Binghe, the little sheep who used to follow him around calling him "Master," and the next he thought of the black lotus Luo Binghe from earlier, who seemed distant and made him feel uncomfortable all over. He wished he could pluck out all his hair.
After a while, someone knocked on the door twice. Not too loudly, not too softly.
Shen Qingqiu abruptly stood up from the table: "Junior Brother Liu? I've been waiting for you until the middle of the night, come in quickly!"
The door was suddenly flung open to both sides.
Luo Binghe stood at the doorway, his back against the boundless darkness, his hands behind his back, a slight upturn at the corners of his lips, but his eyes seemed to hold a thousand-foot-deep, icy pool.
He squinted his eyes and said, "Master, hello."
Author's Note: Thank you engeramy, guoxiaoyuan, huanziyinyue, ximenkaochi3, erhuoyang, and GN's landmines~(>_<)~
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