Chapter 79 Obsession
Tianlang Jun's limbs were already broken and mangled, Zhuzhi Lang was nailed to the rock wall, Master Wuchen supported Wuwang whose head was bleeding, Mobei Jun carried Shang Qinghua, and Yue Qingyuan stood beside Shen Qingqiu.
Only Luo Binghe stood directly opposite the Heart Demon Sword, head bowed, slowly adjusting his sleeves.
Shen Qingqiu said in a deep voice, "Luo Binghe, come here."
Luo Binghe shook his head.
Just once, but with great determination.
Shen Qingqiu was utterly disappointed and said coldly, "...You lied to me again."
Luo Binghe said, "Master, I said I would help you deal with Tianlang Jun. Now I can kill him right now to show you. How can you say I lied to you?"
Tianlang Jun laughed and said, "Raising an enemy to enhance one's own importance is a good strategy. It's just a pity that I'm not very useful, so he still has to take action himself."
The moment the words "nurturing bandits to enhance one's own importance" were uttered, Shen Qingqiu felt increasingly uneasy.
Could the Demon Sword have been deliberately given to Tianlang by Luo Binghe?
After obtaining the Heart Demon Sword, Tianlang Jun's body, which was sculpted by Lu Huazhi, began to corrode faster and faster. Even if he were given the sword, it would not pose much of a threat to Luo Binghe.
Perhaps he had lost his composure and revealed his thoughts on his face. Luo Binghe said sadly, "Master, what are you thinking about again? It's true that he stole the Heart Demon Sword, but it still recognizes me as its master. Why won't you believe me anymore?"
Shen Qingqiu said slowly, "I have believed you many times. Until just now, I still believed you."
Luo Binghe said, "Really?"
He forced a twisted smile: "But I can't trust my master anymore."
That smile was extremely eerie. Shen Qingqiu sensed that something was wrong with him and softened her expression and tone: "What's wrong with you now?"
When he softened his tone slightly, Luo Binghe suddenly stopped smiling.
He looked heartbroken: "Master, I told you, you were happiest when you were with them."
At first, Shen Qingqiu didn't understand what "they" meant.
Luo Binghe paced back and forth slowly in front of the rock wall of the Heart Demon Sword.
He laughed self-deprecatingly, "Every time I begged Master to come with me, you never agreed. Even when you did, it was only because I forced you. But when they asked you to stay, you didn't hesitate at all."
He looked at Shen Qingqiu: "Master, you don't smile often. I love to see you smile, but when I think that you only smile like that when you're with them, I..." He whispered, "...it's very, very painful."
Shen Qingqiu finally understood.
"They" refers to the Cangqiong Mountain Sect!
That day at the bamboo hut, Liu Qingge suddenly opened the window to look out and indeed noticed Luo Binghe, who had been lingering outside.
He didn't leave, but listened to all the laughter and joy inside the bamboo hut, and remembered his "hmm" in response.
Shen Qingqiu asked, "Are you angry because of this?"
"angry?"
After asking the question, Luo Binghe uttered two words with a sinister look: "I hate it!"
I hate myself!
He put his hands behind his back and quickened his pace impatiently.
“I hate that I’m useless. I hate that I can never keep anyone, that no one ever chooses me.”
The others in the cave were not in a position to make any rash moves. Luo Binghe was currently maintaining the supply of the Heart Demon Sword, and no one wanted him to suddenly launch an attack.
Yue Qingyuan replied, "You mean he has to choose between the two?"
Luo Binghe stopped in his tracks and shook his head: "Two choices? No. This isn't it."
"I know that if I had to choose, my master would definitely not choose me. So, it's good that I don't have to choose."
Luo Binghe revealed a strange excitement, and a flush rose on his pale face.
"So this time I've learned my lesson. It would be better if the Azure Sky Mountain Sect didn't exist. That way, Master would only have me left."
Master Wuchen could not bear to listen any longer, so he clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist prayers continuously, saying, "Benefactor Luo, you are possessed by demons."
Luo Binghe laughed loudly to himself, and Master Wuchen continued, "There was no choice, so there was no possibility of abandoning you. But how could Peak Master Shen forgive what you have done?"
Luo Binghe said softly, "Master, Qingjing Peak is gone, but I can build another one for you. You can resent me or hate me, I don't ask for anything. If you're unhappy, you can hit me or kill me, I won't die anyway. As long as... as long as you don't leave me."
He said devoutly, "Really, this is my only wish."
Shen Qingqiu's throat was dry and hoarse, his mouth tasted bitter, and he couldn't speak.
He finally realized that Luo Binghe was no longer in his right mind.
His pupils were dilated, the red ripples expanding and contracting intermittently, his smile twisted—he truly looked like someone who had completely gone mad and lost his mind. The Demon Sword shone with intense purple light; it was unclear whether he was controlling the sword or the sword was controlling him.
Zhu Zhilang suddenly said, "Besides the Cangqiong Mountain Sect, there are countless things in this world that Immortal Master Shen cares about. Do you want to destroy them all?"
Luo Binghe smiled and said, "Okay? Why not!"
He turned his head to the side, his expression suddenly turning sinister: "Tell him to shut up!"
Upon hearing this, Mobei Jun thought for a moment and then punched Zhuzhilang in the face.
Tianlangjun looked at Luo Binghe, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes, and sighed, "...The Heart Demon Sword has already eroded his brain. He has truly gone mad."
Luo Binghe smiled and nodded: "Yes. I'm crazy."
When Shen Qingqiu heard him admit to going mad, her heart clenched with a dull pain.
He said softly, "Hyoga, get away from that sword and stand far away from it."
As he gently persuaded her, he secretly placed his hand on the hilt of the Xiuya Sword under his wide sleeve. Luo Binghe laughed and said, "It's no use. Master, you don't need to do this. The better you treat me, the more afraid I am."
As he spoke, he made a slightly upward gesture with his right hand. In an instant, the purple aura on the Heart Demon Sword intensified.
Zhuzhilang coughed up a mouthful of blood. That punch had only silenced him for a moment. He said calmly, "Pitiful."
"Pitiful?" Luo Binghe murmured, "Yes, I am pitiful. Even if I am pitiful, Master, could you stay by my side just once?"
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Luo Binghe gritted his teeth, his pupils bloodshot: "Master, you always let me go, time and time again."
"Every single time, every single time, anyone or anything can become a reason for you to abandon me, it's always the same!"
Suddenly, Shang Qinghua fell to the ground with a thud. Shen Qingqiu instinctively grabbed the stone wall for support.
The entire ground began to tremble violently.
The descent speed of Burial Ridge has increased!
Yue Qingyuan said calmly, "Junior brother, he's gone mad. What are you going to do about it?"
Luo Binghe sneered, took two steps back, and suddenly grabbed the hilt of the Heart Demon Sword.
The ground trembled more violently, and looking out through the cave entrance, countless mountain peaks of varying heights could be seen emerging from the rolling clouds. Just as Shen Qingqiu was about to unleash Xiuya, a dazzling white light suddenly appeared beside him. Yue Qingyuan drew his sword first.
The sound of a sword whistling tore through the swirling snow and the purplish-black aura.
Xuan Su is drawn!
Seeing Yue Qingyuan's sword tip aimed at Luo Binghe, Mo Beijun stepped forward to meet the attack. Xuan Su's spiritual power surged, and before the two swords even clashed, he was directly blasted away.
Mo Bei Jun seemed completely unprepared for the day he would be sent flying, maintaining that expression as he plummeted down Burial Ridge. Shang Qinghua, utterly terrified, grabbed a sword and charged forward, but Shen Qingqiu quickly pulled him back: "What are you doing!"
Shang Qinghua roared, "Damn it, he can't fly!" Then he jumped down.
Shen Qingqiu looked down from the breach against the flying snow and gale, and just then saw Shang Qinghua, riding a flying sword, grabbing Mo Beijun, a hundred feet above the ice surface.
After confirming that he wouldn't die from the fall, Shen Qingqiu didn't even have time to catch his breath before turning around abruptly. Luo Binghe was already facing Yue Qingyuan head-on.
While Luo Binghe's explosive power was indeed terrifying, Shen Qingqiu hadn't expected that Xuan Su, once fully unsheathed, would be so powerful, capable of fighting Luo Binghe to a standstill in his berserk state. Shen Qingqiu could feel his eardrums and throat rumbling under the pressure of the surging spiritual and demonic energy in the air.
Seeing that the cave would collapse sooner or later, he rushed up the rock wall, grabbed the Demon Sword with his bare hands, and pulled it out with a forceful pull!
Although the sword was pulled out, the downward momentum of Burial Ridge had not yet slowed down. Seeing this, Luo Binghe tried to seize the sword. Yue Qingyuan would not give him the chance. The tip of the Xuan Su sword drew a dazzling trajectory visible to the naked eye in the air. A giant restriction and intricate incantations formed an invisible cage, imprisoning Luo Binghe within it.
Seeing Shen Qingqiu draw his sword, Yue Qingyuan said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"
"Still want to leave?!" Shen Qingqiu immediately shook her head. Just as she was about to throw the Heart Demon Sword to him, she felt her legs go weak.
It's not that he's gone soft, it's that the ground has gone soft.
The cave has finally collapsed!
The second level of Burial Ridge.
Shen Qingqiu dug Yue Qingyuan out of the pile of rocks: "Sect Leader? Senior Brother? Sect Leader Senior Brother!"
Yue Qingyuan's face turned slightly pale, blood trickled from the corner of his lips, and he swallowed, as if swallowing a mouthful of hot blood.
He opened his eyes and glanced at Shen Qingqiu: "...Where are the others?"
The internal structure of Burial Ridge resembles an irregular honeycomb, with one cave after another. Shen Qingqiu looked around and said, "I didn't see Master Wuchen and Tianlangjun. They might be buried here, or they might have collapsed into other caves with the rubble."
He turned around: "Senior brother, when were you injured?"
Yue Qingyuan did not answer, but asked, "Is the Heart Demon Sword still in your possession?"
Shen Qingqiu showed him the sword: "It's here. But Burial Ridge is still under construction, and the merger shouldn't be over yet. Senior brother, take the sword and go down there, destroy it."
With his help, Yue Qingyuan slowly stood up: "...And you?"
Of course, we should go back and find Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu avoided answering: "Senior brother, what happened to your injury?"
Yue Qingyuan gave an irrelevant answer, saying, "I didn't originally intend to. But... I am ultimately an impulsive person."
Shen Qingqiu found his words strange, but didn't have time to think about them. He helped him continue walking and said, "Senior brother, can you still walk? You go down first, destroy the sword, and find Junior Brother Mu. Leave Luo Binghe to me."
Supported by him, Yue Qingyuan struggled to his feet, blood dripping to the ground. Shen Qingqiu, thinking he was alright, released his grip.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he let go, Yue Qingyuan collapsed after standing for only a short while.
Shen Qingqiu was shocked and quickly helped him up again: "Senior brother? Senior brother?"
Yue Qingyuan seemed dazed, as if he hadn't heard Shen Qingqiu's words. He said in a low voice, "I managed to stay calm and consider the overall situation during the two times Jinlan City and Luo Binghe surrounded the mountain... But whenever I think back on it, I think it would have been better if I had acted impulsively."
Seeing that he was drowsy, Shen Qingqiu wanted to pinch Yue Qingyuan's philtrum to wake him up, but he didn't dare to do such a thing. So he could only speak loudly in his ear to keep him from fainting: "Senior brother, wake up! You did the right thing!"
Yue Qingyuan closed his eyes and shook his head.
He took a breath, and then burst into another violent cough that made Shen Qingqiu's heart pound.
Blood kept flowing out with each cough. He managed to say, "Help me... take Xuan Su back."
Shen Qingqiu quickly sheathed the Xuan Su sword, which had fallen to the side and whose blade gleamed with blinding white light, and handed it to him. Yue Qingyuan's expression finally improved slightly, and he caught his breath.
He stared blankly as Shen Qingqiu took Xuan Su's hand away, not taking it back, but saying, "If I perish here, you... will help me bring Xuan Su back to Ten Thousand Swords Peak."
Shen Qingqiu was taken aback: "What did you say?"
He's dead? Is Yue Qingyuan really that badly injured, to the point where he might die?!
Yue Qingyuan said, "Xuan Su is incredibly powerful, but I never draw it to fight. You must have guessed why."
Shen Qingqiu nodded. He wasn't the only one who had guessed it; many others had.
Yue Qingyuan said, "Xuan Su is my life. Do you understand what that means?"
I don't understand at all.
But Shen Qingqiu knew it was definitely not a rhetorical device.
He also knew that what Yue Qingyuan was about to tell was a secret he had never told anyone before.
As expected, Yue Qingyuan said, "Every time I draw out Xuan Su, it consumes my lifespan."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu suddenly felt that Xuan Su in his hand had become a thousand pounds heavier.
No wonder he never draws his sword unless absolutely necessary.
He used his lifespan to fuel his spiritual power, binding his life and his sword together.
Why would Yue Qingyuan practice such an evil path?
Shen Qingqiu said in shock, "Senior brother, you... have you ever suffered a qi deviation?"
Yue Qingyuan slowly said, "I joined Qiongding Peak at the age of fifteen. I was eager to achieve success and pursued the state of oneness between man and sword, but I failed and ended up like this. I went against what I wanted and left behind great regret for the rest of my life."
As he spoke, the last trace of color that had returned to his face from coughing vanished completely. Shen Qingqiu quickly interrupted him, "Stop talking. This isn't the time for this. I'll take you down to find Junior Brother Mu."
The two took a few steps with difficulty, and Yue Qingyuan suddenly whispered, "...I'm sorry."
Why apologize? Yue Qingyuan had done nothing to wrong him. On the contrary, he was the one who always dragged Yue Qingyuan into trouble.
But Yue Qingyuan's next words completely stunned him.
Yue Qingyuan's voice trembled: "...I'm really...sorry."
"I wanted to get back faster, I wanted to pick you up right away... but I messed things up instead. I'm just an impulsive person after all..."
“After that, my master locked me in the Lingxi Cave for more than a year, crippling all my muscles, bones and spiritual meridians, disrupting everything, and forcing me to start over.”
"I tried my best, but when I returned, the Qiu residence had already been abandoned for many days..."
A sound of something shattering came from deep within my mind.
That was Shen Qingqiu's worldview.
In an instant, all the images and details of Yue Qingyuan's past earnest care and silent protection flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern, crystal clear.
No wonder that no matter how much "Shen Qingqiu" courted disaster, the sect leader never made things difficult for him, always showing him endless tolerance and forbearance.
No wonder Shen Jiu didn't wait for the person who came back to save him.
Yue Qingyuan, Shen Qingqiu; Yue Qi, Shen Jiu.
I see, I see!
Yue Qingyuan said, "I really...didn't mean not to go back. It's just that I missed it..."
With each word he spoke, the blood gushed forth more violently. Shen Qingqiu supported him, taking one step and then stopping twice, gritting her teeth as she said, "Stop talking."
He knew what happened afterward.
Yue Qingyuan insisted, "This time, just let me finish."
"As you've always said, 'I'm sorry' is just an empty phrase, completely useless. I've never explained myself before. I'm telling you today not to ask for forgiveness, but because if I don't say it now... it might really be too late."
Shen Qingqiu felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and her eyes welled up with tears.
It's too late. It's already too late!
Shen Jiu is no longer here.
Perhaps they died, or perhaps, like Chen Yuan, their souls were transferred to another unfamiliar world.
But no matter what, he would never hear Yue Qingyuan's words again.
The system sent a series of notifications:
[Hidden character ① Takeshiro, 100% completion]
[Hidden Character ② Tianlang Jun, 100% Complete]
[Project Filling in the Gap ① Shen Qingqiu, 100% Complete]
[Project Filling Gaps ② Yue Qingyuan, 100% Complete]
[Character completion is basically up to standard; no obvious logical flaws were found after system detection. Each individual item receives +300 points, for a total of 1200. Congratulations on upgrading from "Slightly More Flaws" to "Readable When You're Out of Reads" badge.]
[Satisfaction level reset to zero. In this case, you can use your B-grade points to pay for the key item drop requirements. Do you accept this?]
The notification sound was overwhelmingly positive and cheerful. However, Shen Qingqiu felt more depressed than ever before.
He said, "What's the point?"
The system, of course, wouldn't answer him. Shen Qingqiu sincerely gave the interface two middle fingers.
System, your whole family is in an uproar!
What the hell is this system? What's the point of it?
Was it just to let him know just how unlucky these people could be? Was it just to let him witness firsthand the most tragic and devastating things that could happen to anyone?
Or was it to drive Luo Binghe insane?
Everyone said Luo Binghe had gone mad. Even he himself laughed and admitted that he was crazy.
In the original novel, the demonic sword, which struggled for millions of words and was eventually suppressed by Luo Binghe, gained the upper hand here and began to erode Luo Binghe's mind.
This wasn't caused by one or two events, but rather by a gradual accumulation that finally erupted. There had been many warning signs beforehand, but Shen Qingqiu had never noticed them.
To be honest, he never knew that Luo Binghe was so insecure at heart, to the point of being self-conscious.
He initially thought of Luo Binghe as too evil, but later he thought of him as too sunny and strong.
Looking back, the Demon Sword began to erode Luo Binghe's mind, and there were signs of this at Zhaohua Temple.
Upon learning the truth about his origins, Luo Binghe was deeply shocked. It was in his most bewildered moment that he reached out his hand to Shen Qingqiu, begging her to come with him.
But he didn't take Luo Binghe's hand; instead, he let Luo Binghe walk on his own first.
At that time, Luo Binghe's mental state became extremely unstable. What he needed wasn't a safe evacuation, but to be with Shen Qingqiu. Even being trapped in Zhaohua Temple and unable to escape, even being surrounded and attacked by everyone present, was better than leaving alone!
For Luo Binghe in that mental state, this was tantamount to "abandonment".
It was like a replay of the scene when Su Xiyan took the medicine, only wanting to see Tianlang Jun.
As Luo Binghe himself said, he was not forcing people to choose between two options.
Because deep down, Luo Binghe firmly believed that he knew the answer: Shen Qingqiu would one day abandon him.
My mind is filled with near-paranoia-like fear and anxiety about things that haven't even happened. How can I not be completely insane?
Yue Qingyuan's steps became increasingly weak, and he could barely stand.
It seems that the short time Xuan Su drew his sword just now had taken a huge toll on Yue Qingyuan in all aspects. Shen Qingqiu had never seen the sect leader so weak.
Yue Qingyuan was always calm and powerful. Even though he didn't talk much, he was not aggressive, gentle and approachable, but very reliable and dignified.
Now, he not only has difficulty walking, but he has also become unusually talkative, probably because he really feels that he can't hold on much longer.
Shen Qingqiu practically dragged him along, saying as they went, "Senior brother, hold on, don't faint. You'll be all better soon."
Yue Qingyuan said blankly, "For so many years, you have never mentioned the past and have always called me Senior Brother. Have you made up your mind to never call me Seventh Brother again?"
The tendons and bones in Shen Qingqiu's hand, which was gripping the sword, gradually bulged out.
Yue Qingyuan wanted to hear Shen Jiu call him Seventh Brother. But he wasn't Shen Jiu!
He pondered the cold, hateful aura of the original and resolutely refused: "No."
Don't make promises you can't keep!
Look at the characters in TV dramas and novels who fulfilled their last wishes; as soon as their wishes were fulfilled, they immediately turned their backs on the world and kicked the bucket.
Shen Qingqiu said coldly, "I didn't hear a thing you said. Hold on and get down!"
Yue Qingyuan closed his eyes and sighed, "Little Jiu..."
Stop yelling.
He dared not think about it. In the original story, Luo Binghe cut off Shen Qingqiu's two legs and sent them to the Cangqiong Mountain Sect in a brocade box. What kind of feelings did Yue Qingyuan have, knowing that he would never return, yet still resolutely stepping into Luo Binghe's trap, until he was riddled with arrows?
A once-in-a-lifetime act of loyalty, and yet so much has to be repaid.
Yue Qingyuan didn't even have time to tell "Shen Qingqiu," who was full of resentment and wanted to live a little longer, the reason why he didn't pick him up back then.
Why didn't you say so sooner?
Just like him and Luo Binghe, it's the same. Why didn't they say it sooner?
If there had been less speculation and assumptions from the beginning, Luo Binghe might never have turned evil and would have remained the obedient and shy disciple on Qingjing Peak for his entire life.
Even if we take a step back and assume that he insisted on kicking Luo Binghe into the Abyss of No Return, he could have achieved his goal in a different way.
In fact, there was no need to put in any effort at all. Only now did Shen Qingqiu realize that if he wanted Luo Binghe to go down, he could probably just say the word and Luo Binghe would obediently go down.
Shen Qingqiu had never considered this possibility before. He didn't believe that people could be so foolish, or that Luo Binghe could be so obedient.
But in reality, he really is that silly and that obedient.
After going around in circles, taking many detours, and going in such a big circle, I look around blankly, not knowing how to deal with myself, and can only regret, "If only I had known this would happen."
But in this world, there is never a "better late than never" situation.
After turning the corner of the cave, two figures covered in dust suddenly appeared.
Upon seeing those two round, shiny bald heads, Shen Qingqiu blurted out, "Master Wuchen. Master Wuwang."
The short monk carrying the tall one was none other than Master Wuchen. His wooden prosthetic leg was missing one, and he was walking with difficulty on one leg. He couldn't free his hands to clasp his hands together, so not wanting to be impolite, he chanted a few more Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha, Peak Master Shen, I've finally found you. What happened to Sect Leader Yue?"
After Yue Qingyuan closed his eyes, he leaned against Shen Qingqiu, feeling drowsy. Shen Qingqiu said, "Sect Leader... he was hit on the head by a rock. How is Master Wuwang?"
Wuchen said, "He was injured by the demonic energy of that Tianlang Lord and is not awake yet. The cave collapsed, and all those demons have disappeared without a trace."
Shen Qingqiu drew Xiuya sword and handed it over: "Master, may I ask you to take my senior brother and Master Wuwang away from Burial Ridge by flying on your sword?"
Wuchen asked, "Where is Peak Master Chen?"
Shen Qingqiu said succinctly, "My disciple, I'll go and take care of him."
Master Wuchen solemnly said, "If Peak Master Shen is willing to face this calmly, that would be the best outcome."
Shen Qingqiu said, "I am ashamed. I only ask that this matter be settled before it causes irreparable consequences. I will entrust the sect leader to you, Master. Please hand him over to Junior Brother Mu of Thousand Grass Peak as soon as possible after you go down. I will be extremely grateful."
Wuchen put down Wuwang, accepted Xiuya, bowed respectfully, and suddenly said, "Inner demons all arise from obsessions."
Shen Qingqiu was taken aback: "Master, are you saying that to get rid of inner demons, one must sever attachments?"
Wuchen shook his head and said, "If you can sever it, then it's not an obsession."
"I thought so too." Shen Qingqiu returned the greeting and turned around.
Who told him that he was Luo Binghe's obsession?
Author's Note: I'm late again today. With the ending so close, the urge to revise is really strong. I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting. But I always ask for a break in the comments of the previous chapter TAT
It'll probably still be late tomorrow, I can't stand not fixing this...
Thank you, angels who threw the lightning!
zzzsl threw a landmine
Zhuolian threw a landmine
Like a mad dog, he threw a landmine.
Orli threw a rocket launcher.
Puff puff puff, threw a grenade
Puff puff puff, threw a grenade
Jiuqi threw a landmine
Jiuqi threw a landmine
Mobei Jun threw a landmine in a cute way.
I prayed that you threw a landmine.
I prayed that you threw a landmine.
I prayed that you threw a landmine.
I prayed that you threw a landmine.
Pig Fairy threw a landmine while flying.
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