NOVEL NEXT Chapter 115: Return
Half a month later.
Qi Yu was presently in the courtyard, staring blankly at the blooming roses before her. The rich fragrance constantly tickled her nose, yet it did nothing to improve her melancholic mood.
She had been imprisoned in this small courtyard for almost a month now.
Every day, someone would bring her cultivation resources, but she was restricted here, unable to move freely. Her only solace was Lu Yanxiu, who would come every day to keep her company and relieve her boredom.
She was like a caged canary, waiting for her master's favor. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, Cai Yufeng had not appeared, seemingly preoccupied with matters of war.
This situation felt like a death row prisoner whose execution had been delayed.
The agony of this wait tortured her greatly.
Her eyes, usually so lively, were now dull, and even her cultivation was neglected.
"Senior sister."
At this moment, Lu Yanxiu entered the courtyard again.
Lu Yanxiu had none of her usual lively energy. She had come to keep Qi Yu company and lift her spirits.
Lu Yanxiu tacitly avoided mentioning Cai Yufeng and instead talked about the recent situation: "Recently, Baiyan City battles have already advanced towards Changle Village."
"So soon?"
Qi Yu blankly gazed at the sky, watching a bird jump freely on the treetop, and spoke dreamily.
"Mm." Lu Yanxiu bit her lip, forcing a smile. "Actually, the speed is due to a strange person appearing."
"A strange person?"
"Yes, Crane Taoist! Of course, the Demon Sect calls him Crane Old Demon!" Lu Yanxiu looked at Qi Yu's expression, unable to contain the sorrow in her heart, but she forced herself to continue: "This person is extremely powerful, seemingly cultivating a technique related to the Spirit Crane, with swift movement techniques. He comes and goes without a trace, and ordinary True Spirit elders and deacons are no match for him."
"Moreover, he specifically targets the Demon Sect's True Spirit realm cultivators. In just half a month, more than ten Demon Sect True Spirit realm cultivators have fallen by his hand."
"He is indeed a formidable person."
Qi Yu, hearing this, seemed not to take in much of it, her gaze following the bird on the treetop, watching it fly freely as if her heart were leaping with it.
Finally, the bird leapt from the tree, flapping its wings and flying towards the distance.
Qi Yu waited until the bird disappeared into the horizon before reluctantly withdrawing her gaze.
"Yan Xiu, if I had a pair of wings, I would fly, fly so high and so far, to a place where no one could see me, how wonderful that would be."
Qi Yu softly spoke a few words, then raised her head again, gazing into the sky, her eyes filled with longing for the small bird.
Lu Yanxiu felt her nose tingle, tears falling uncontrollably.
At this moment, both knew that when Cai Yufeng returned, it would be Qi Yu's true judgment day.
Even Qi Yu's master could only shake his head and sigh.
But now, who could change this situation?
**************
Deep in the forest.
Lin Yuan looked at the fallen Demon Sect True Spirit, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
"With this identity, I've killed too many Demon Sect True Spirit realm cultivators. If I cause more noise, those like Ji Bing the true disciple might not be able to resist personally setting an ambush."
Beneath the mask, Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
Including these three early-stage True Spirits, he had nearly twenty True Spirit kills now.
Almost a whole lineage of martial academies True Spirit and all slain within a mere twenty days by him.
Silently releasing his aura, Lin Yuan continuously probed the surroundings.
When Jiuzhang had devoured all these True Spirits, he vanished from the spot.
After sunset, Lin Yuan found a large tree, climbed to the treetop, casually burned a tree hole, and slipped inside.
"Close to twenty True Spirits, still far from deducing the second layer of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor Scripture."
Sitting cross-legged in the tree hole, Lin Yuan silently observed the progress within Jiuzhang space.
Heavenly Dragon Emperor Scripture's tier was too high; even with so many True Spirit's True Spirits, it was still lacking.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan's hand brushed across his face, taking off the mask for the first time in half a month.
"Then I will hide for a while, avoid the limelight for now." Lin Yuan pondered.
Being out for so long, his pills had long been depleted. Fortunately, intercepting True Spirit realm cultivators brought a decent amount of pills, and after consumption, though not as effective as his self-refined top-grade pills, they were barely enough.
Under the Heavenly Dragon Emperor Scripture's support, the speed of condensing orifices had become faster, nearly reaching the level of condensing four orifices every three days.
At present, his body had already reached a terrifying 146 orifices.
"However, Xi Yuanrong once said the Fire Crow Sect's Heavenly Light Cloud Raising Scripture limits orifice condensation to 120 orifices. I need to find a way to hide this, or it will cause trouble when noticed."
After planning everything, Lin Yuan quietly retracted his aura and rested peacefully.
The next morning.
Lin Yuan casually found a river and jumped into the water, washing away the dust of recent days.
After changing robes, Lin Yuan felt refreshed, his feet moving swiftly towards Baiyan City.
"It's been days without news, I wonder if Master is worried." As wind rushed past his ears, Lin Yuan sped along the mountain path, "And Second Senior Brother, I'm sure my reappearance will earn me a good thrashing from him."
With a slight smile, Lin Yuan moved quickly.
Meanwhile, in Baiyan City, Vice Dean Ning's study.
"Vice Dean Ning, Long-brow Taoist is about to lead the Cloud Hidden lineage in the western expedition," a trusted voice reported in low tones.
"Understood, you may leave."
Ning Guisheng nodded.
Once the door closed completely, his eyes gleamed fiercely.
"Ahaha, hahaha, hahahahaha."
He stood up, laughing wildly.
"Long-brow, oh Long-brow! After hiding for so long, you're finally moving?" Ning Guisheng's laughter subsided, coldly speaking.
In the dim study, his eyes alone shone fiercely: "What a pity, Lin Yuan died at the hands of the Demon Sect's people. Can't personally twist his head to mourn my son."
"Well then, a disciple's debt, the master must repay." Ning Guisheng suddenly took down a brass-colored sword from the weapon rack on his desk, "Long-brow, we had no great enmity, but you obstructed me, angered Jin the true disciple, and left me no choice but to die!"
Simultaneously, a letter silently fell onto Jin Shengzhe's desk.
Jin Shengzhe picked up the letter, squinted, pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Just this one person won't amount to anything."
"Arrange two more, ensure this person dies with no grave to rest in."
The trusted aide quickly nodded, bowed, and withdrew.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan's figure had arrived at Baiyan City gate. Gazing at the familiar gate, a sense of closeness welled up within Lin Yuan.
"I wonder if junior sister has slimmed or gained weight! If the parts that should be gained slimmed, I'll have to hit hard!"
With this thought, Lin Yuan's heart burned warmly.