Chapter 41
The next day, Shi Anxu woke up very early in the water dungeon (although he couldn't see what time it was outside), and with things on his mind, he had no desire to sleep.
He said yesterday that he was not afraid of death, but as death approaches, he is still somewhat afraid.
Looking back on his life in the modern world and the world of cultivation, he suddenly felt that his life was actually quite fulfilling.
Just as he finished thinking, a disciple opened the dungeon door, and light shone into the water prison through the passage.
Shi Anxu reached out and cupped the light in her hands, feeling the warmth of the sunlight.
The disciple who came to take him away saw Shi Anxu's actions and mocked, "You don't need to bask in this little bit of sunlight anymore. You'll be 'bathing' in the sunlight soon, hahaha."
After saying that, he beckoned to the disciples behind him, "Hold him up and take him to the Heavenly Punishment Platform."
Upon receiving the order, the disciples immediately came forward, helped Shi Anxu up, and led him outside.
As soon as he stepped out of the dungeon, Shi Anxu was blinded by the bright sunlight. He shielded his eyes with his hand, and the warmth of the sun on the back of his hand warmed his heart.
When he finally adjusted to the sunlight and put his hand down, he had already arrived at the Heavenly Punishment Platform.
All the disciples of Qingyun Sect (except Mu Qingzhou), the disciples who came to demand an explanation from him, and the sect leaders and elders of various sects were present and formed a circle around him.
Shi Anxu's gaze lingered on Qiu Yunli's location, and he said, "I never expected that a mere disciple like me would warrant such a grand fuss from the sect leader."
Qiu Yunli scolded, "You traitor! You have harmed so many people, yet you show no remorse and no restraint in your actions. You are a disgrace to the sect!"
Yunxiao said to Qiu Yunli, "Why waste words with him? Just execute him. He injured one of my sect's disciples, and I don't think that price is enough."
Qiu Yunli smiled and said to Yunxiao, "Sect Master Yun, please calm down. After all, he is a disciple of our sect. I still want to teach him a lesson before I die. Now, let's begin the execution."
The disciples who had just carried Shi Anxu over continued to carry him, binding him to the stone pillar in the center of the Heavenly Punishment Platform with chains, and then stepped aside.
Qiu Yunli drew his sword and began to wield it while chanting incantations.
The sky darkened instantly, lightning flashed a few times, and then struck down.
Pain instantly swept over Shi Anxu's entire body, and a metallic taste immediately welled up in his throat. He clenched his teeth to keep himself from making a sound, and tried to curl up, but he couldn't move because of the chains, so he could only endure it.
——
Mu Qingzhou's soul reminded him again that Shi Anxu was in danger, so he quickly sent his soul into Shi Anxu's sea of consciousness.
Seeing Shi Anxu's current condition made him tremble, and he disappeared from the spot without having time to think.
The punishment the sect gave Shi Anxu was the most severe punishment in the sect; the sect leader wanted to execute his senior brother.
If struck directly by heavenly lightning, even a cultivator at the Mahayana stage wouldn't last more than five strikes before their soul is scattered.
Shi Anxu, due to his own aptitude, did not take cultivation seriously, and he could only sustain it three times at most.
He's already been struck once; he has to hurry over to save his senior brother, or it will be too late.
——
After Qiu Yunli finished his first strike, he didn't rush to strike again. He walked up to Shi Anxu, lifted his chin with the hilt of his sword, and asked, "I'll ask you one last time, do you admit it or not?"
Shi Anxu spat out the bloody saliva in his mouth and said to Qiu Yunli, word by word, "I, do not, admit!"
Qiu Yunli moved the sword hilt away and took two steps back. "I originally planned to give you a less painful way, but since you don't appreciate it, we'll continue."
After saying that, Qiu Yunli wanted to continue the execution.
"Wait!"
Jiang Linyu suddenly stepped out from the crowd and stopped Qiu Yunli from continuing the execution.
Qiu Yunli frowned slightly, looked at Jiang Linyu with displeasure, and asked, "What is it?"
Jiang Linyu bowed to Qiu Yunli and said, "This disciple has some things he would like to say to Senior Brother Shi. I wonder if the Sect Master would be so kind as to make an exception?"
Qiu Yunli said impatiently, "Hurry up, don't delay the execution."
Jiang Linyu replied, "Yes."
He strode up to Shi Anxu and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "How does it feel to be slandered? It's a pity you didn't drag Mu Qingzhou down with you."
Shi Anxu truly couldn't understand why Jiang Linyu was treating them this way. He asked, "Why...why are you framing us?"
Jiang Linyu suddenly burst into wild laughter, "Hahahaha, didn't Mu Qingzhou tell you that?"
Shi Anxu frowned, looking at Jiang Linyu warily. "What? He didn't tell me?"
Jiang Linyu's smile faded. "Since he didn't tell you, I'll be a good person and not say anything more."
After saying this, Jiang Linyu said no more and turned to leave.
It seems he just wanted to make himself known to Shi Anxu, to provoke her, and to make sure Shi Anxu had a hard time before she died.
Jiang Linyu walked back to Qiu Yunli and respectfully said, "Sect Master, I have finished speaking. You may continue the execution."
Qiu Yunli didn't speak, but continued chanting the incantation. Thunder rumbled in the clouds, and lightning flashed.
Soon, a bolt of lightning as thick as a thumb struck down.
Shi Anxu's face was contorted with bulging veins, his lip, which he was biting, had been bitten until it bled, and his whole body was trembling.
He had already endured two bolts of heavenly lightning, and his body had reached its limit. If another bolt of heavenly lightning struck, he would be struck and his soul would be scattered.
Shi Anxu felt that this was the end for him. He had no strength left to say anything, so he could only close his eyes and wait for death to come.
Qiu Yunli had already given Shi Anxu one last chance, so he didn't stop the execution and immediately started to draw down a bolt of heavenly lightning.
The third bolt of lightning was thicker than the first two, suggesting that Qiu Yunli knew Shi Anxu could only withstand three bolts of lightning at most and was preparing for a quick victory.
Just as the lightning was about to strike Shi Anxu, Mu Qingzhou suddenly appeared and blocked the lightning for Shi Anxu, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Shi Anxu waited for a long time, but the pain did not come. Instead, a few drops of warm liquid dripped onto her face.
He immediately opened his eyes and saw Mu Qingzhou standing in front of him.
He looked at Mu Qingzhou in surprise, "Junior Brother, what brings you here?!"
Mu Qingzhou replied, "How could I not come when my senior brother is in trouble?"
Without waiting for Shi Anxu's reply, he summoned Qingyuan and used all his strength to strike the iron chains binding Shi Anxu.
The iron chain snapped, and Mu Qingzhou, supporting Shi Anxu, vanished from the spot.
Mu Qingzhou did not take Shi Anxu back to Qinnian Peak; the Qingyun Sect members could no longer return.
He brought Shi Anxu to Mu Xize's courtyard in the human world. As soon as he landed, he could no longer suppress the metallic taste in his throat and spat it out. He couldn't hold on any longer and knelt down with Shi Anxu.
Seeing Mu Qingzhou's current state, Shi Anxu knew that Mu Qingzhou had forcibly come out of seclusion to save him, and his heart ached with pain.
He suddenly realized that he actually liked Mu Qingzhou, and in an instant, all those strange feelings he had before became clear.
But it seems a little too late to realize now; Mu Qingzhou already has someone she likes.
He helped Mu Qingzhou sit down on the spot, letting Mu Qingzhou lean against him.
"How could you be so foolish? Your senior brother is dead, so what? Why did you have to make yourself like this?"
Through this incident, Mu Qingzhou suddenly realized that it wasn't right to keep his feelings from Shi Anxu. He said, "If my senior brother dies, I won't be able to live either, so please don't say such things anymore."
Shi Anxu asked in confusion, "Why?"
Mu Qingzhou's eyes suddenly softened, and she replied, "Because I love Senior Brother."
Shi Anxu froze on the spot. Thinking about how he had previously given Mu Qingzhou advice, he laughed self-deprecatingly.
He slowly leaned down and gently kissed Mu Qingzhou's lips.
Mu Qingzhou's pupils dilated. He had expected his senior brother to immediately distance himself from him, but unexpectedly...
A few seconds later, he reacted, reached out and held Shi Anxu's head to deepen the kiss.
Mu Xize and Wen Xingyun rushed out and saw the two of them kissing on the ground.
Mu Qingzhou only released Shi Anxu after kissing her until she was breathless. Shi Anxu stood there panting, her face flushed.
Upon seeing Mu Xize and Wen Xingyun standing behind Mu Qingzhou, her face turned bright red, and she hid in Mu Qingzhou's arms.
Mu Qingzhou thought Shi Anxu was shy from the kiss, so he smiled and hugged Shi Anxu in his arms, patting his back gently like he was coaxing a child.
Wen Xingyun had already covered her mouth and gone off to grieve alone. Mu Xize couldn't bear to watch any longer and coughed twice.
Mu Qingzhou then noticed that Mu Xize and Wen Xingyun were already standing behind him. He reluctantly let go of Shi Anxu, and the two of them helped each other to their feet.
Mu Xize then noticed that the two men were covered in injuries. He quickly ushered them into the house, saying, "Come in quickly, let me take a look at your injuries."
Shi Anxu and Mu Qingzhou reluctantly moved to Mu Xize's room and lay down on the couch together.
Mu Xize first took the pulse of Mu Qingzhou, whose injuries seemed more serious, and asked with concern, "What happened? How did you both get so injured?"
Shi Anxu told Mu Xize everything that had happened recently.
After explaining everything, Mu Xize finished taking Mu Qingzhou's pulse.
Mu Xize's expression was not good. Shi Anxu couldn't tell whether his expression was bad because of what she had said or because Mu Qingzhou was badly injured.
Before, he didn't understand his own feelings and thought Mu Qingzhou's behavior was not worth it. Now that he understands his own feelings, he just thinks Mu Qingzhou is incredibly stupid.
He asked worriedly, "Master's wife, how is junior brother's injury?"
Mu Xize said with a solemn expression, "He forced himself to leave his seclusion during the critical period of his seclusion. Fortunately, he did not suffer a qi deviation because his obsession was too strong. However, because he shielded you from the heavenly lightning and expended his spiritual energy to bring you here, his spiritual energy is now disordered and his cultivation has regressed. If he does not adjust it in time, his cultivation will stop here."
Shi Anxu continued, "Is there any way to help him get back on track?"
Mu Xize sighed and said, "We need to use the ice lotus from the top of Mount No Return to channel his spiritual power."
Upon hearing this, Shi Anxu was about to get up and go find ice lotus for Mu Qingzhou.
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