Chapter 54: The Brother Who Never Abandons, Never Gives Up

About an hour later, a howling sound came again from behind.

The four immediately shielded Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao in the center, tense and on guard.

“Mount Taiqingmen, Hundred Battle Peak—identify yourselves below!” A rough male voice echoed through the night.

Hearing the familiar voice, the four True Disciples finally exhaled in relief and shouted joyfully: “Senior Brother Feng! Disciples of Jin Yang Peak here!”

……

[Heart Insight Points +9]

[Heart Insight Points +9]

Zhou Qing felt constant murmurs around him, accompanied by continuous system alerts.

When he drowsily opened his eyes, he realized people everywhere were whispering.

Over a hundred Foundation Establishment True Disciples were here, and not far off, he saw Li Daoxuan and others gathered, faces grim, discussing something.

On the other side, over a dozen people were bound tightly, mouths stuffed with cloth, lying unconscious together.

One of them was drenched in blood, one arm long gone—no one but Yin Xiao could it be.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing smiled.

Everything had finally settled—for now.

“Senior Brother Zhou, you’re awake?” One of the True Disciples hurried over upon seeing Zhou Qing open his eyes.

Hearing the noise, Yan Xiaohu rushed over, concerned: “Little Brother Four, you alright? Any discomfort?”

Seeing Yan Xiaohu’s note above his head change from [Better Than a Dog, Little Brother] to [Relentless Little Brother], Zhou Qing forced a smile.

“Senior Brother Three, nothing else, just my whole body aches.”

Yan Xiaohu chuckled: “Of course it hurts—how many bones are broken? You don’t even know yourself. You two are crazy, daring to clash head-on with a fully cultivated Jin Dan? You’re asking for death.”

Zhou Qing chuckled, then winced as a fit of coughing seized him.

Yan Xiaohu gently patted his back.

“Where’s Senior Sister Lu?” Zhou Qing suddenly remembered and asked urgently.

Yan Xiaohu pointed to a nearby tent: “She’s fine. She’ll wake up soon. Oh, and this—”

Yan Xiaohu waved to a nearby True Disciple, who hurried over leading a hen.

“Senior Sister Lu tied it to Senior Sister Shi Zhen and hid them both in a pit, covering them with branches—quite clever. We searched everywhere before finding them. And Senior Sister Shi Zhen is safe too,” Yan Xiaohu said.

At that moment, Li Daoxuan also approached, his expression toward Zhou Qing complex.

His headnote, once [Keen-Nosed Lothario], had changed to [Unexpectedly Impressive Lothario].

Brother, I risked my life this time—why can’t you ever shake off that [Lothario] label?

“Rest up—we’re evacuating soon!” Li Daoxuan still scowled, then turned and walked away.

Yan Xiaohu snorted: “Ignore him—he’s like that. But he’s right. We must leave immediately. We’ve contacted the sect—they’re rushing here as fast as they can.”

Zhou Qing nodded, then noticed Yan Xiaohu was also covered in wounds.

“Senior Brother Three, your—”

“Oh, nothing. Know what this is? Merit! Also, some of this blood is fake—I smeared it on purpose. When the sect arrives and sees us covered in blood, they’ll feel both pity and admiration.”

“That’ll make reimbursement easier. Maybe even get us some decent elixirs,” Yan Xiaohu said proudly.

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but smile bitterly—you really seize every opportunity.

Yan Xiaohu continued: “Oh, and our Master came too. He’s always complained that you and I bring him shame—but now, we’ve finally given him face. Don’t change your clothes. Your internal injuries… heal slowly. You know what I mean.”

“Got it, got it, got it!” Zhou Qing nodded rapidly.

[Heart Insight Points +9]

At that moment, the system alert sounded again.

Soon after, Shi Zhen was carried over, pale-faced.

Her headnote had changed—from [Zhou’s Brother with Worsening Sleepwalking] to [Zhou’s Brother Who Never Abandons, Never Gives Up].

Zhou Qing immediately turned to look at Li Daoxuan’s back.

See? That’s what you call vision.

You old lothario, I never peeked at you bathing.

“Senior Brother Zhou, thank you!” Shi Zhen pushed away her supporters and bowed deeply to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing struggled to rise and reached out to help, but pain made him grimace.

Yan Xiaohu stood beside him, grinning foolishly.

Zhou Qing hurriedly said: “Senior Sister Shi, please rise—we don’t need such formalities between us.”

Shi Zhen slowly stood, staring at Zhou Qing, drenched in blood, her guilt deepening.

In the darkness, if Zhou Qing hadn’t spotted her first with his sharp eyes, she would’ve fled the other way.

Then collapsed from exhaustion, captured by the Cangyan Dao Palace, who would’ve used her token to send a message—dooming the entire Taiqingmen search team.

In short, Zhou Qing saved them all.

Especially facing a fully cultivated Jin Dan, he held his ground as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, buying her and Lu Yaoyao time to escape.

Such a person, wrongly labeled a peeping tom—how could anyone think that?

When she returns, she’ll find medicine to cure his sleepwalking, helping him break free from this affliction once and for all.

“Then I won’t be polite—I won’t thank you in words, but I’ll remember this forever,” Shi Zhen said.

Zhou Qing smiled: “Just treat me to a meal at Yushan Hall when we get back.”

Shi Zhen nodded eagerly: “Agreed.”

“And me!” Yan Xiaohu raised his hand at the mention of Yushan Hall.

Seeing the food enthusiast, Shi Zhen and Zhou Qing exchanged glances and burst out laughing together.

“Younger brothers, rest enough—evacuate now and link up with the sect as soon as possible!”

Soon after, Li Daoxuan gave the order. Everyone quickly packed and withdrew toward the perimeter.

As they retreated, other squads joined them.

Fortunately, aside from Yuqing Peak—where only Shi Zhen survived—all other squads had reached safety.

Three hours later, the space ahead twisted violently, then a space vessel bearing the Taiqingmen flag leapt forth.

The Taiqingmen Sect Master, Cao Zhengyang, arrived with six Peak Masters and three Supreme Elders.

“Master—”

When Shi Zhen saw Master Tong Min of Yuqing Peak, she finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Tong Min rushed over, gazing at Shi Zhen with pity, hands trembling, then gently embraced her.

“It’s alright, it’s alright—”

Shi Zhen choked: “It’s my fault—I couldn’t save Senior Sister Bai Xi, or the other junior brothers and sisters. They, they—”

“I know. I know it’s not your fault. Don’t worry—I’ll personally avenge them!”

Tong Min’s voice was icy, her face filled with unprecedented murderous intent.

Sect Master Cao Zhengyang, after brief greetings, hurried to check on Lu Yaoyao.

Master Mo Xingjian also swiftly scanned the crowd for Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu.

Seeing them weak, bloodied, he rushed over…

(End of Chapter)