[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female-":3,"chapter-my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-205":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Master's Elder Brother Just Took on a Female Disciple",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265738,4423,"Chapter 205: Do You Remember the Question I Asked You Before You Left?","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-205",205,"\u003Cp>The next moment, golden flames enveloped Zhou Qing’s body, faintly revealing ancient runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the runes flickered, Lin Jin, who was controlling the nine-headed serpent, suddenly shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nameless fear surged from his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that instant, he felt overwhelming regret, his attacks gradually slowing, a desire to surrender rising within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nine-headed serpent grew limp, its once ferocious assaults now weak and listless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happening?” Lin Jin gasped in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the feeling grew stronger, until he seemed to relive the moments when he first joined the sect, his master scolding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he had revered his master, never daring to resist, never wanting to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, that familiar sensation returned to his heart, slowly shattering his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin’s face turned pale—he spun around, but it was already too late to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A broken sword shot forward, wielding piercing sword qi, piercing straight through his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The searing pain made him spit out a mouthful of blood, his face turning ghastly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiii!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Po Shang Feng had wounded his opponent, Zhou Qing surged upward, two golden feathers exploding from his wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like twin bolts of golden lightning, they struck Du Kui with pinpoint accuracy, reducing him to critical condition under the Emperor’s Might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was experience he had gained through countless head explosions from the Corpse Wax Crow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the formation, Yan Xiaohu gripped his great knife, face frantic, pounding the barrier: “Let me in, Fourth Brother, let me in—I’m your senior, not useless…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, the barrier rippled—Yan Xiaohu, caught off guard, crashed face-first into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scrambled up, face instantly changing—he was surrounded by emerald toxic mist, the acrid stench nearly choking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he pulled out a flood of antidote pills from his storage ring and swallowed them all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Senior, Du Kui’s yours!” Zhou Qing shot past him like a whirlwind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Du Kui severely wounded, he’d leave him to Third Senior to hold off—he’d focus entirely on Lin Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xiaohu glared at Du Kui: “I’ll break your legs and make you kneel before Sister Luo Xue and beg for forgiveness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the words fell, a slash of blade qi cut through the air, charging forward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lin Jin stared at the majestic Jin Chida before him, feeling an invisible pressure crash against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially those eyes—like twin blazing suns—sent a chill through his heart, his expression turning grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sensation, which had nearly shattered his will, was terrifying—he must be cautious, cautious, and even more cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin dared not slacken—he immediately activated his unique core technique, trying to rapidly heal the gruesome wound in his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. No matter how skilled you are, the chasm between Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation is not something you can easily cross.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, he panicked—blood kept pouring from his wound, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Poison?” That was his first thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately focused his spirit sense, examining the wound closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his shock, he found not a trace of poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a master of poison-based realms—he had always detected and neutralized toxins the moment they were applied, like the ones Du Kui had given him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn Taiqingmen—why are all of you like this?” Lin Jin cursed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly swallowed a flood of secret antidote pills—but they had zero effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve poisoned me!” Lin Jin roared, eyes blazing at Zhou Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing snorted, flapped his wings, and closed the distance instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what if you’re Soul Transformation? Once pierced by Po Shang Feng, you’ll bleed half your blood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with a wound this large—I need you to drain your spiritual power faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin saw a flash of golden light—he instantly condensed a layer of ink-green spiritual shield before him, while the nine-headed serpent coiled in from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next second, that eerie sensation returned—he trembled inwardly, and in that brief hesitation, Zhou Qing surged forward like a raging flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a loud boom, the violent collision sent Lin Jin recoiling backward involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two collided violently, the shockwave forced Lin Jin backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newly formed shield shuddered violently, cracks spreading across its surface as if about to shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His throat turned sweet, blood gushing from his abdomen like a fountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrified, he immediately activated his body technique and retreated swiftly, trying to create distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the surrounding venomous snakes surged toward Zhou Qing like a black tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a vivid blue image of a Su Ni materialized abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a brilliant blue suanni phantom materialized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning flickered around it as it roared to the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then torrents of thunder crashed down like divine punishment, annihilating the charging snakes into charred husks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the stench of burnt flesh filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You overstep!” Lin Jin’s eyes turned bloodshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never been so humiliated in decades—especially by an opponent who was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slammed his finger to his third eye—suddenly, a suffocating aura erupted from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding space trembled violently, like a battered drum resonating with a mournful hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in the void, Lin Jin’s hundred-zhang Primordial Spirit rapidly coalesced, wreathed in ink-green mist, gazing down at the Jin Chida with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the peak of a life-or-death battle, a Soul Transformation’s Primordial Spirit gains enhanced power and offensive strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on!” Lin Jin’s Primordial Spirit raised a blade of ink-green energy, slashing toward Zhou Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing, calm, immediately channeled the stored spiritual energy and blood qi from the golden petals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, his aura surged again, golden flames blazing fiercely as he charged straight into the giant blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, Zhou Qing will slaughter a god for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two launched into their final clash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Yan Xiaohu, now at Nascent Soul Mid-stage, fought fiercely—but Du Kui was a Nascent Soul Peak cultivator who had glimpsed a realm’s essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even wounded by Zhou Qing, he still matched Yan Xiaohu blow for blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly—soon, Lin Jin’s Primordial Spirit began to grow faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was caused by excessive blood loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhou Qing’s face lit up—he intensified his assault, golden flames exploding outward several zhang, his momentum soaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin Wu and suanni phantoms emerged together, coordinating their attack as they charged toward Lin Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin felt a surge of panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His spiritual sense was growing hazy, his vision blurring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined the poison on that broken sword was so potent—it prevented healing and continuously corroded his spiritual power and vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, that sensation that made him want to kneel—like a ghost—haunted his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every attack was disrupted by it, his strength crippled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the green mountains remain, firewood will never run out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boy, you’ll pay for this! I’ll return today’s insult a hundredfold!” Lin Jin spat a hollow threat, already planning his retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he stayed any longer, he’d die here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And being in foreign lands, he barely knew the geography of the Eastern Region—now poisoned, if someone else took advantage, he’d be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having decided, Lin Jin shifted his spirit—his Primordial Spirit instantly reformed into his body, turning to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try to run? Not so easy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strike while the iron is hot—a Soul Transformation who wanted him dead? Zhou Qing would never let him escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he got away, future troubles would be endless—especially since he’d seen Zhou Qing’s Emperor’s Radiance Scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing flapped his wings with maximum speed and gave chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cang Lei Sword Art, Fourth Form: Execution!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunder dragon roared to the heavens, tearing black fissures through space wherever it passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lin Jin bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood—his speed surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with excessive blood loss, his mind grew dizzy—the thunder dragon slammed into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin screamed as his body plummeted like a severed kite—just as Zhou Qing neared, he surged upward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing followed close behind, raining golden Jin Wu flames wrapped in lightning arcs in a relentless barrage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Lin Jin’s desperate flight, Yan Xiaohu’s eyes gleamed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Du Kui, see? Your ally ran—still not surrendering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Kui’s face was as white as paper, utterly bloodless, eyes filled with despair and resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his years of planning—turned to dust?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this moment, bitterness and confusion filled his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand—how had Zhou Qing, merely a Nascent Soul Late-stage cultivator, turned the tables? He’d been poisoned, trapped in a perfect formation, and backed by a Soul Transformation—how had it come to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than a stick of incense later, a violent wind tore through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Zhou Qing, in the form of the Jin Chida, returned—clutching a blood-drenched corpse in his massive talons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire corpse hung limply, blood continuously dripping from its limbs; as Zhou Qing sharply whipped his claw, the body was slammed hard onto the ground with a thud, kicking up a large cloud of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s body rapidly shrank, flickering with light, transforming back into his true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was panting heavily, beads of sweat streaming down his cheeks, his spiritual power nearly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staggering, he clutched two supreme-grade spirit stones in his palms; the Yin-Yang Scripture spun at breakneck speed to restore his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the formation, Yan Xiao Hu and Du Kui’s battle had long since reached a fever pitch; when Du Kui saw Zhou Qing return unharmed, his heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially upon seeing the corpse of Lin Jin lying on the ground, his pupils contracted sharply, his body froze in place, eyes filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A veteran Soul Transformation realm expert, killed so quickly by Zhou Qing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Soul Transformation! Even if he couldn’t win, escaping should have been more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But while he was stunned, Yan Xiao Hu’s razor-sharp blade wind crashed down; Du Kui, unable to react in time, instinctively twisted aside—then came a crack, and his right arm was severed clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed forth; Du Kui clenched his teeth, silent, staggering backward several steps before finally leaning on his sword with his left hand, kneeling on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at all this, Du Kui felt a surge of bitter sorrow, then suddenly burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The laughter was filled with despair and self-mockery, echoing across the empty battlefield, sounding especially desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jin, a Soul Transformation expert, had been slain by Zhou Qing—clearly, he would never have another chance to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he couldn’t kill Zhou Qing, he could never make up for his final pain, never achieve Soul Transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once believed victory was certain, even revealing that his master was a mole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his master was a mole of Cangyan Dao Palace, yet stayed silent, betrayed his sect, watched his beloved die, and even repaid his junior’s kindness with betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he was crippled, his heart shattered, his cultivation path utterly severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he suddenly felt a strange sense of release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the heavy boulder long pressing on his heart had finally fallen, a feeling of liberation rose within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He no longer had to fake smiles every day; the prolonged pain and inner turmoil had already drained him utterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I go with dignity?” Du Kui lifted his head, looking at Zhou Qing, voice hoarse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing looked at him, expression complex; after a long silence, he finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Kui’s eyes filled with gratitude; after hesitation, he said: “Do you remember the question I asked you before we left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing said nothing, only feeling a tightness in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taiqingmen is my home, Zhou younger brother—do you think I can ever go back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taiqingmen is my home too. No matter how far we go, we can always return, because there’s a group of lovely old folks waiting for us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was their conversation that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I still go back?” Du Kui’s voice trembled, as if asking Zhou Qing, as if questioning himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing remained silent, a flicker of inner struggle in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhou Qing’s reaction, Du Kui already knew the answer; a bitter, sorrowful smile appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really was shameless enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhou Qing looked at him and softly asked: “Do you regret it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Kui slowly shook his head, voice low: “No regret—just different paths chosen. Now that I’ve reached this point, I blame no one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his Nascent Soul slowly drifted out of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his state, Zhou Qing suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the Five Sects War, you slew countless enemies—you were Taiqingmen’s pride, the senior disciple of Jin Yang Peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will take you back—but I won’t let you be buried beside Sister Luo Xue, because you don’t deserve it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your cause of death—it was this man!” Zhou Qing pointed to the corpse of the Soul Transformation expert beneath his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just had bad luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Du Kui’s eyes widened in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected to be condemned by all, yet Zhou Qing had arranged such a dignified end for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xiao Hu, upon hearing this, immediately grew agitated, wanting to speak—but Zhou Qing raised a hand to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing looked at Du Kui, his expression calm: “This is because you once saved my life. From now on, we are even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Kui’s eyes welled with tears; suddenly, he knelt and bowed three silent, heavy bows toward Zhou Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he smiled happily: “Next life, I won’t cultivate. I’ll be a mortal—with a few good friends, playing chess, drinking wine, finding a true partner, walking hand in hand through the mortal world, watching the seasons change. Even if we return to dust after a hundred years, it’s better than this path of cultivation, full of scheming and pain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he finished, he slammed his hand against his own Nascent Soul; it cracked instantly, then slowly dissolved into specks of light, vanishing into the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, both men sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest in peace,” Zhou Qing chose to bow one final time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taiqingmen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Jin Yang Peak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing, clad in a plain robe, stood silently before Sister Luo Xue’s grave, eyes filled with sorrow, silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, light footsteps came from behind; Gao Xian’s eyes held traces of exhaustion and grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to Zhou Qing’s side, standing shoulder to shoulder, his gaze also fixed on Luo Xue’s tombstone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Gao Xian spoke softly: “Did he suffer when he died?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing slowly shook his head, voice calm yet carrying a faint, indiscernible complexity: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Xian nodded slightly, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes: “Thank you, Zhou Qing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing blinked, a hint of confusion in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Xian took a deep breath and said slowly: “Du Kui left behind an image stone in his room—it holds all the truth. He said if he didn’t return, or if you killed him, it was his own fault, and he hoped I wouldn’t blame you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing clenched his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for giving him dignity,” Gao Xian sighed. “At least the boy can rest among the other disciples in the cemetery for those who fell in the Five Sects War.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s eyes flickered with inner conflict: “Master Bo, actually, I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing hesitated, unsure what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Xian seemed to sense his thoughts; he patted Zhou Qing’s shoulder and said earnestly: “Don’t carry any psychological burden. The Dao is indifferent; all beings merely struggle within its uncaring flow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None of you are wrong—the fault may lie only in fate’s design. Everyone makes their own choices; no one knows where the next step will lead. And precisely because of that, we remain drawn to and curious about the path ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing pondered deeply; his heavy heart gradually eased, then he turned and bowed silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned to Xiao Ling Peak, Yan Xiao Hu had already told Mo Xingjian the full story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xingjian, seeing Zhou Qing return dispirited, looked at him with deep concern and hurried forward gently: “Are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing slowly shook his head, forcing a weak smile: “I’m fine, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xingjian sighed deeply, eyes filled with pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Five Sects War began, this child had endured far too much cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the path of cultivation has always been thorny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every trial, every scar, is a mark of your growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this long immortal path, you will face countless choices and struggles. We old folks—we walked the same stumbling path once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one else can help you through these. Only you can cross them yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five days later, Zhou Qing seemed to have finally come to terms with everything; he returned to normal, bid farewell to his master, and set out once more toward Lingyun Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven days later, the two arrived again on the main road of Lingyun Prefecture; gazing at the distant, hazy outline of Beimang Mine, Zhou Qing suddenly stopped, a strange glint flashing in his eyes—as if something had occurred to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yan Xiao Hu immediately halted his flying dagger, his body tensing, eyes scanning the surroundings with caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two incidents they’d encountered on this round-trip had turned him into a nervous wreck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing turned his gaze to Yan Xiao Hu and said seriously: “Third Senior Brother, how about we go deeper into the mine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xiao Hu’s face paled; he shook his head frantically: “No, no—what if His Highness Xuan Yuan Shuo gets seriously injured in there again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the previous incident, Yan Xiao Hu now had deep psychological trauma toward any large hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing said: “Aren’t you curious why two Zhan Ling experts suddenly started fighting? Was it for something? Or some secret?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xiao Hu’s eyes lit up—but quickly dimmed again; he looked nervous, lowering his voice: “Better not. The less you know, the better. No need to invite more trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhou Qing remained unmoved, his expression serious: “The mark in my mental sea is still there—I can’t just have incurred Lao Feng’s karmic debt for nothing. Some things aren’t just about uncovering the truth—they’re about giving myself closure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to be hunted down someday by a demonic clan with Peng blood, clueless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go take a look!” Zhou Qing said, immediately commanding his sword toward Beimang Mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xiao Hu called out several times; seeing Zhou Qing wouldn’t turn back, he reluctantly followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heaven protect us—hope nothing goes wrong this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the two reappeared inside Mine Shaft No. 9.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the familiar scene, Yan Xiao Hu gripped his great blade, eyes scanning the surroundings warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone here? If you are, make a sound,” Yan Xiao Hu whispered into the mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squeak—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a sound truly echoed from deep within the mine; Yan Xiao Hu’s face turned deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then several enormous rats leapt down from the ceiling and darted swiftly deeper into the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it!” Seeing this, Yan Xiao Hu clutched his pounding chest and cursed aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing also grew a bit nervous from his words and couldn’t help reassuring him: “Don’t worry, it’s fine—no matter how bad our luck is, we won’t run into another one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he said so, Zhou Qing still looked grave, gazing at the rusted iron frame beside him and the dark, endless mine tunnel ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For safety’s sake, he decided to verify it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mine Tunnel: This is an abandoned ordinary mine tunnel. Once, it yielded the priceless Chaos Xuan Metal; now, deep within the tunnel, a mortally wounded Demon Emperor left behind a tremendous opportunity before departing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3296,"2026-06-19T20:13:54.632Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f936f8266ad2fd34a6836ab10950dd8a1f092084a01354b1aa9cf71f8bbb054c","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-206","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-204",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--cover.jpg"]