Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilderness Chapter 110: The Truth Cannot Be Faked

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Yu Ye returned to the stone house aboveground.

The four traveling merchants and the young couple still lay unconscious on the floor.

He took out several pills and placed one in each of the six people’s mouths, then used his true qi to send the medicine into their stomachs. After clapping his hands, he pushed open the door and walked outside.

Beyond the door lay a forest clearing, shrouded in deep darkness.

Oldest Qi and Qi Chun were still waiting outside. The moment they saw someone emerge from the house, they hurried over to investigate. They were instantly startled, then charged at him with their fists swinging.

Yu Ye did not dodge. A streak of azure light flashed across his body.

“Bang! Bang!”

The instant their fists came within reach, his protective force shattered their wrists. Before either of them could retreat, he raised a foot and kicked. Several crisp cracks rang out, and the two men were sent flying. They crashed to the ground with both legs broken, shrieking in agony.

Yu Ye could not be bothered to spare them another glance. He turned back into the house, seized one person in each hand, and carried them through the woods. Activating his Lightness Art, he leapt more than thirty feet above the ground at a time, moving like the wind and flashing like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, he had delivered all six people back to the riverside.

A short while later, he returned to the forest.

Oldest Qi and Qi Chun were still howling on the ground.

Yu Ye stood quietly to one side with his arms folded, listening leisurely to their screams and studying their miserable condition.

He remembered that when they had first boarded the boat, everything had gone smoothly. Yet when it rained yesterday, Qi Chun had howled like a beast in heat, his wild behavior revealing an unmistakable air of smugness and savagery. Oldest Qi had acted as though he had seen nothing, not even fearing that his behavior might frighten the passengers.

How could such an abnormal state of affairs escape Yu Ye’s notice?

After they reached the wild ferry at the river bend, every movement made by the “father and son” as they lit the fire and cooked had remained under the watch of Yu Ye’s divine sense. When the thick smoke of Soul-Severing Powder overcame everyone, he had fallen to the ground as well. He had refrained from acting rashly only because he wanted to uncover the truth.

The result had greatly surprised him. Behind the two boatmen stood an expert at the Qi Refining stage. Once he learned the truth, his shock and fury far surpassed Meng Qingqing’s.

Refining pills from the vital blood of living people to prolong one’s life—was that not precisely what Bai Zhi’s master, Aunt Hong, had done? Bai Zhi had once spoken of it evasively, and Jiao Ying had secretly warned him as well, but he had never taken the matter seriously. Who could have imagined that such a sinister method truly existed in the world?

Had Bu Yi not climbed the mountain at that moment, he might have ended up suffering the same fate as Meng Qingqing.

Why had the Daoist path of the Great Marsh declined? Was it merely because spiritual energy had become scarce?

Not entirely. It was because a group of Daoists who had no hope of advancing in cultivation refused to seek opportunities and instead became obsessed with crooked and wicked methods. In the end, they harmed others and themselves, while corrupting the cultivation traditions of the Great Marsh.

As for human selfishness, there was nothing particularly strange about it. Who was not selfish? But selfishness could never serve as an excuse for slaughtering the innocent.

Since Yu Ye had encountered such a matter, he would never stand idly by. The Binding Formula of the Heaven-Ban Art had shown its edge that night, and it had succeeded with astonishing ease. Its power was clearly extraordinary. Whatever retribution befell that old man, he had brought it entirely upon himself.

Yu Ye was still lost in thought when his expression suddenly changed.

The door opened, and a woman emerged.

It was Meng Qingqing, but there was no trace of her former ladylike demeanor. Her face was cold as frost, and with a long sword in hand and murderous intent blazing from her eyes, she strode straight toward Oldest Qi and Qi Chun, who lay on the ground.

The two men sensed that something was wrong and tried to beg for mercy.

But sword light flashed. Qi Chun’s legs were severed cleanly at the same time, and he immediately let out a shriek of pain. Then both his arms went flying. Oldest Qi’s four limbs were severed one after another as well. The two men screamed in succession like trapped beasts, unleashing their final howls before death.

Yu Ye stood several yards away, silently watching Meng Qingqing.

In a mere instant, the shrill cries abruptly ceased. Two rolling heads now lay on the ground, while the heavy stench of blood spread through the surrounding air.

Meng Qingqing continued swinging her sword, hacking until the corpses had been chopped into pieces.

Yu Ye turned his back and secretly let out a long breath.

He had killed countless people, but never with such ruthless brutality.

And the one capable of such savagery was a woman—a petite woman who liked strolling in the rain beneath an oil-paper umbrella.

It was not difficult to imagine what fate had befallen the old man in the stone chamber. Perhaps it had been even more惨able.

A moment later, a great fire rose within the forest.

Yu Ye paid no further attention to Meng Qingqing. He moved off to one side, found a stone to sit on, and took out a jade ring.

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The Storage Ring had belonged to the old man. It contained various medicinal pills, cultivation manuals and texts on alchemy, an exquisite alchemy furnace, a considerable amount of gold, silver, and jewels, as well as scattered personal belongings. Yet there was not a single spirit stone inside, revealing just how impoverished the ring’s owner had been.

Yu Ye examined everything within the ring. He placed the alchemy furnace and a text titled The Art of Earthly Elixirs into his iron storage bracelet, then held a spirit stone in his hand and closed his eyes to rest.

The fire burned for more than an hour before giving off a muffled explosion. The stone house, concealed beneath vines and foliage, had been burned to ashes, leaving a pit where it had stood. The remains of Oldest Qi and Qi Chun had vanished completely.

Gradually, the sky began to brighten. Another day was about to arrive.

Yet crying could be heard within the forest.

“Wah…”

The sobs were so sorrowful that they stirred the heart.

Yu Ye rose and looked over.

The fire had already gone out, while Meng Qingqing stood beside the ruins with both hands covering her face. Her thin shoulders trembled faintly.

She had killed her enemies and taken her revenge, so why was she crying?

With a trace of bewilderment, Yu Ye approached.

Meng Qingqing continued to weep, her grief unceasing.

Yu Ye wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but he did not know how to begin.

Suddenly, Meng Qingqing raised her head and looked at him. Her reddened eyes were filled with helplessness and entreaty. She shifted her feet and extended one hand, clearly seeking comfort—or perhaps something to hold on to.

Unable to help himself, Yu Ye took two steps backward and said in astonishment, “Fellow Daoist, could the poison of the Soul-Severing Powder still be affecting you?”

Meng Qingqing abruptly stopped and turned at the waist. Her sobs now carried a trace of resentment.

“Wah… You’ve had your fill of watching me make a fool of myself. Go ahead and laugh at me!”

Yu Ye spread his hands, speechless.

The Meng Qingqing he knew was forthright, intelligent, and beautiful. Yet today she had become weak and helpless. And the woman who had killed people, dismembered them, and destroyed their corpses—could she truly be the same person?

Nevertheless, Meng Qingqing soon returned to her normal state.

After a moment, she slowly turned around. Although the swelling around her eyes had not faded, there were no longer any tear marks on her face. She asked coldly, “You were also struck by the Soul-Severing Powder. Why are you unharmed?”

Yu Ye scratched his head, looking somewhat helpless.

“What if I told you that no poison can affect me? Would you believe me?”

“No!”

“Then I must simply have been exposed to too little of the poison and happened to awaken by chance.”

“Is that really true?”

“It is. I could not be lying.”

“Today’s events must not be mentioned to anyone.”

“Of course.”

Meng Qingqing stared at Yu Ye with an unreadable expression.

Yu Ye handed her a ring and said, “You may deal with the old man’s belongings.”

He glanced at the sky, then turned and hurried back the way they had come.

Behind him came a sigh.

“Alas, how am I ever to repay the debt I owe you…”

In this human world, there were too many affections that could never be repaid, and too many debts for which no one could seek restitution. They could only be kept in the heart, slowly fading as the years passed.

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The six passengers had awakened, but they were gathered beside the river in a state of bewilderment. The four merchants had lost their gold and silver, and all wore mournful expressions, so grief-stricken that they could not even cry. When they saw Yu Ye and Meng Qingqing return, they hurriedly asked what had happened.

Meng Qingqing revealed that she was a disciple of the Daoist sect and claimed that Oldest Qi and Qi Chun had attempted to rob and murder them. After their crimes were exposed, the two men had fled during the night. She and her younger brother had pursued them but failed to catch them, leaving them no choice but to return by the same route.

Yu Ye, who had become her junior fellow disciple, meanwhile, picked up his bamboo hat, leapt directly onto the boat, and found the gold and silver that had been hidden away.

Amid their joy and relief, everyone expressed their gratitude.

Meng Qingqing was quite modest and refused to accept their words of praise. Instead, she silently picked up her umbrella, tore it to shreds, and threw it into the water.

Without a boatman, their journey still had to continue.

All four merchants knew how to handle a boat, so they quickly got to work. Yu Ye and the young couple did not remain idle either, each taking a branch and paddling from the bow. Working together, they guided the boat away from the wild ferry, out of the river bend, and onward with the current.

The sky had cleared, and the morning sun was just rising. A refreshing breeze swept over the river, and laughter rang constantly from the wooden boat.

Only Meng Qingqing sat beneath the canopy with her eyes closed. Though the scenery on both banks shifted endlessly, she remained unable to forget the fright and humiliation of the previous night.

By afternoon, the group arrived at Gaoliang Town.

After the boat moored at the dock, Yu Ye and Meng Qingqing bade farewell and departed. The abandoned boat was left for the four merchants and the young couple to deal with. The six passengers had gained an unexpected stroke of good fortune, and they saw their two companions off with warm farewells.

Yu Ye wore a broad smile. Meng Qingqing did not even turn her head.

Gaoliang Town resembled Nanqi Town. Water surrounded it on all sides, trees cast their shade over the streets, and flagstone roads wound between old houses. Everything carried the distinctive charm of a waterside town.

Meng Qingqing, who favored delicate and graceful beauty, kept her eyes fixed ahead and went straight to the inn.

The Ever-Peace Inn.

Yu Ye asked the innkeeper for two guest rooms. Meng Qingqing also requested a wooden tub and hot water. He did not feel it appropriate to ask questions, so he simply paid for everything and made the arrangements. Only then did he return to his own room and collapse stiffly onto the bed.

Meng Qingqing regarded him as a younger brother. After all, he was young and weak in cultivation. Along the journey, he had looked after her food, clothing, daily needs, and safety. Even when killing her enemies to avenge her, he had considered her dignity. A proper elder brother could hardly have done more.

Yet he had received no thanks for his trouble. Ever since they left the wild ferry, she had suddenly become strange, making her impossible to understand.

Women were truly troublesome.

He lay in a daze for an hour as night deepened.

Yu Ye only wanted to remain there, allowing his thoughts to scatter and his spirit to drift—to Starfield Valley, Spirit Flooddragon Valley, the Cliffside Cave, North Mang Village…

In his haze, he heard someone complaining.

“Cultivation is like climbing a mountain. Once you have climbed a hundred yards, you are still only halfway there. Until you reach the summit, you will accomplish nothing throughout your life. Yu Ye of Yu Family Village, your ambitions remain unfulfilled, and your wishes unrealized…”

Yu Ye muttered unhappily, “It is rare for me to get a moment of rest. Can you let me have some peace?”

Jiao Ying ignored him and continued speaking to herself.

“Your Heaven-Ban Binding Art is truly quite good. With that divine ability, you are more than capable of dealing with any Qi Refining expert!”

“Mm.”

“As for The Nine Escapes of Heaven and Earth, I have been studying it for several days. I want to gather the strengths of every escape technique into a single Dragon Escape. What do you think?”

“Wait until you have comprehended it thoroughly before asking me.”

“Yu Ye, would you like to see me?”

“Are you ugly?”

“Hmph. I am so ugly that I could frighten a person to death. If you want to know just how hideous I am, get up and cultivate with me at once, or I shall never speak to you again…”

Yu Ye jolted awake and sat up, asking urgently, “Jiao Ying, when will I be able to see you?”

“The day you form your Golden Core and give birth to your Nascent Soul will be the day I reveal myself.”

“Golden Core and Nascent Soul? Heavens…”

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