Chapter 76: Sword Light Like a Long Rainbow

Night fell, the bonfire burned brightly.

It illuminated the faces of several men.

The remaining captains took turns guarding key points, their gazes sharp as torches, missing not the faintest movement.

“Could they really fight?”

Wang Meng rubbed his hands nervously: “Probably not. Would the sect leader of Qingfeng Mountain, stuffed full of food, really turn against General Chen over just one disciple?”

“He’s the disciple most likely to succeed as sect leader.”

Liu Daqian corrected him: “Half of Qingfeng Mountain’s reputation as a righteous sect over the past century was earned by his sword. He’s a true sword hero.”

“Could such a man truly be an evil dragon in disguise?”

Wang Meng clicked his tongue, then whispered: “Even if he is an evil dragon, wouldn’t that count as turning from evil to good?”

“Hss!” Liu Daqian kicked him.

General Chen is here to slay demons, and this brat is praising the demon? Are you trying to rebel?

“But he has many concubines, and is often kidnapped. Given his fame as a hero, could he have angered the Dragon Demon of Yangchun River, who took his concubines while he was away, just to humiliate him?” Another captain leaned closer.

“Regardless, hand him over, bring him back to the Demon Suppression Bureau for interrogation, and everything will be clear.”

Liu Daqian glared helplessly at his two colleagues: “If they refuse to hand him over, once General Chen decides to kill, Qingfeng Mountain will become Bloodfeng Mountain.”

“I was terrified before we came, but now it seems we’ve struck a lucky deal.”

Wang Meng chuckled: “From Deputy General Hong’s tone, the old sect leader is just hesitating for another two days. We’re lucky—we’ve got two Jade Fluid realm experts with us. Nothing serious will happen!”

Hearing this, all of them turned their gazes toward the young man standing quietly nearby.

Shen Yi listened to the conversation, his deep eyes quietly fixed on the dense forest.

Could they really not fight?

Then why is she so anxious?

Hand over that sword hero, and the Demon Suppression Bureau will withdraw from the mountain.

Qingfeng Mountain remains the top sword sect of Qingzhou—what’s there to be anxious about?

Time passed swiftly.

Several captains rose to relieve their shifts; those returning ate a little, then retired into their tents.

Dai Bing returned from the dense forest, her sword in hand.

She seemed to have no appetite.

She sat by the bonfire, her peripheral vision catching Shen Yi’s figure leaning against a tree, arms crossed—suddenly she spoke: “You haven’t slept all night. Did Hong Lei order you to watch me?”

Shen Yi stepped forward without answering.

Dai Bing’s lips curled in self-derision: “You fear letting one escape? Do you really want to kill innocent people? No—not just innocent, but a group of sword heroes who uphold justice and slay demons?”

Watching the young man walk farther away,

she suddenly grew agitated, clutching the three cloud patterns on her sleeve: “I’ve served the Demon Suppression Bureau for twenty years—and still I earn your distrust? Why can’t you just trust me once!”

Shen Yi glanced slightly toward her: “I trust you.”

“….”

Dai Bing’s breath grew erratic, her mind drifting—then she heard the next line.

“Then I’m a fool.”

Shen Yi turned and stepped into the damp forest.

This woman’s thoughts were almost written on her face. Anyone—even Chen Ji—could see them.

Shen Yi never made judgments before knowing the truth.

The only thing he knew for certain was:

After hearing so many rumors, not a single one had offered a reasonable explanation for how a sword hero’s concubine crawled into a government office, gave birth to an evil dragon, and was devoured down to the last bone fragment.

Even a common captain could make up a reason—but the sword hero refused.

He simply stayed on the mountain, hiding behind Qingfeng Mountain’s protection, continuing to defy the Demon Suppression Bureau.

He’d rather die than wear a green hat.

Oh, almost forgot.

Besides that, Shen Yi knew one more thing.

He fell silent, lips pressed tight, hand pressing against his chest.

That familiar aura—faint, yet never gone—whether the sword hero was a dragon demon or not, there was definitely a dragon demon on Qingfeng Mountain.

He could truly sense it.

He didn’t know if this awareness was one-sided—or if the other could sense him too.

Just this discovery made the trip worthwhile.

…

Days passed in the turn of sun and moon. Three days slipped by.

The captains returned from the forest with rabbits and pheasants—but no Qingfeng disciples.

Hundreds of disciples remained utterly still; the Furious Sword Elder atop the high cliff stood like a withered tree, not a single silver strand trembling—as if his sole purpose was to guard Swordwatch Gorge and preserve the sect’s honor.

Wang Meng grilled chicken on a stone slab.

He first offered a piece to Shen Yi, then another to Dai Bing.

These two Jade Fluid realm experts were their lifeline—how could they afford to go hungry?

“….”

Shen Yi chewed the bland, slightly fishy meat, and suddenly thought of Lin Baiwei.

No wonder she could enjoy everything so happily.

If I ate like this for half a year, I might even learn her cooking.

Beside him,

Dai Bing swallowed the chicken without expression, one hand resting on her scabbard.

As if trying to cram every possible nutrient into her stomach.

This familiar scene

made Shen Yi glance at her sleeve.

The rest didn’t matter—but twenty years of hard service was truly a waste.

When the stone slab was removed, the grease slowly congealed, the bonfire dimming.

Several captains rose as usual to patrol the forest.

Then suddenly, Shen Yi’s voice rang out:

“I’ll patrol tonight. All of you rest.”

Hearing this, Wang Meng and the others froze, then laughed bitterly: “Shen my lord , you’re too kind—we’ve served for decades and never seen anything like this.”

After days together, they knew Shen Yi never made empty promises.

They chorused their thanks and all slipped into their tents.

Dai Bing gripped her sword tighter, watching the young man slowly rise nearby—his pale face flickering in the dim firelight.

She didn’t understand how he’d guessed, despite her best efforts to hide it.

But for a moment, her heart softened: “You rest too. I’ll take the night watch.”

He was handsome, gifted, brilliant, and so young—except for his sharp tongue, he had no flaws.

To die uselessly at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain would be a pity.

After he’d plainly said he didn’t trust her, her words were nearly an admission.

Under Dai Bing’s gaze,

Shen Yi brushed dust from his sleeves and said softly: “Hurry up. I’m in a rush.”

Even the Demon Suppression Bureau couldn’t frighten this woman—he had no patience for more words.

“….”

His words faded.

The woman slowly closed her eyes. Of course… she still hated him.

She drew her sword.

But the sharp ring of steel came from the opposite forest.

Brilliant golden light condensed into a single point, then surged into a soaring dragon, overwhelming in power!

A man in an official’s robe had piercing eyes and a cold expression, holding a three-foot blade.

His Jade Fluid realm power erupted without restraint—trees as thick as a man’s embrace shattered and fell under the mere ripple of his sword aura!

This sword strike—centuries of cultivation!

Before the surging sword aura,

Shen Yi’s hair stirred slightly, his posture straight, his black robe rustling.

Only his dark eyes slowly filled with golden light.

…

(Tomorrow night at eleven, five chapters—readers who’ve saved this, consider giving it a shot.)

(End of Chapter)