Chapter 55: Master, This Time We

“How are you?” Mo Xingjian first checked Zhou Qing’s injuries, confirmed they weren’t serious, and let out a quiet sigh.

He reached out to examine Yan Xiao Hu’s condition, but Yan Xiao Hu subtly dodged away, his face flushed with shame.

“Master, my brother and I did our best—this time, we didn’t bring shame to you or to our Taiqingmen. We’re not cowards!”

Yan Xiao Hu’s voice was fervent, then erupted into a violent cough; he wiped blood from his lips and looked at Mo Xingjian.

Mo Xingjian was deeply moved, gently patting both their shoulders.

“Well done. But you seem fine?” Mo Xingjian said.

Yan Xiao Hu glanced at the large hand on his shoulder and instantly paled.

Damn it, I guarded against everything, yet still couldn’t avoid it.

“I—I just recovered and swallowed all the pills you gave me earlier...”

“Lie still. I’ll call the Sect Master—see if we can get you something good this time.”

Before Yan Xiao Hu could finish, Mo Xingjian suddenly lowered his voice.

Seeing their master wink and gesture wildly, the two instantly understood, flopping dramatically onto the ground and groaning loudly.

Mo Xingjian immediately kicked Yan Xiao Hu: “Keep it down—you’re overdoing it.”

Soon, Cao Zhengyang walked over.

The two scrambled to rise, but Cao Zhengyang hurriedly said: “Don’t get up. Rest well. We already know what happened—you did excellently. Top credit goes to you, especially Zhou Qing!”

“We’d gladly die for the sect!” they both shouted in unison.

Cao Zhengyang nodded approvingly, waved his hand, and two vials of pills appeared in his grasp; he handed one to each of them.

“First, heal yourselves. We’re heading to Qingniu Ridge to see what tricks they’ve set up to dare attack our Taiqingmen people!”

At these words, Cao Zhengyang’s eyes blazed with unprecedented murderous intent.

“Don’t delay—return to Taiqingmen immediately. The rest is our responsibility!” Cao Zhengyang ordered the group as he rose.

The disciples bowed: “We obey the Sect Master’s decree!”

Then Cao Zhengyang loaded the unconscious captives onto a space vessel and headed straight for Qingniu Ridge.

The disciples, supporting one another, began their journey back to the sect.

At that moment, Zhou Qing frowned slightly, staring at the retreating space vessel in deep thought—because Gao Xian, the elder of Jin Yang Peak, had also come.

…………

Lu Yaoyao awoke during a brief rest in Yanlong City. What annoyed Li Daoxuan was that her first question wasn’t whether her senior brother was injured, but whether Zhou Qing was well.

“He’s running around fine—this morning he was even chasing chickens!” Li Daoxuan said, exasperated.

But Lu Yaoyao remained uneasy and insisted on visiting Zhou Qing—only seeing him with her own eyes would calm her.

Just then, Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu knocked on the door; upon learning Lu Yaoyao had awakened, they hurried over.

“Senior Brother Zhou—”

Seeing Zhou Qing holding a brooding hen, Lu Yaoyao cried out happily.

Zhou Qing nodded with a smile, then sat down beside Yan Xiao Hu.

“You took too many risks this time—I told you to leave!” Zhou Qing said.

Lu Yaoyao beamed with joy.

“How could I ever abandon you, Senior Brother Zhou? You helped me fulfill a dream—a long-standing regret in my heart. Now I feel clear-minded and utterly light.”

Zhou Qing was puzzled. Of course, his confusion went beyond this—when facing Yin Xiao’s interception, she’d said she wouldn’t let him abandon her again.

When did I ever abandon her?

I have no idea what’s going on in that little head of hers.

“You mean the dream of returning to save someone?” Zhou Qing asked with a smile.

Lu Yaoyao didn’t answer, only gazed at him with a radiant smile.

【Heart Insight Points +9】

The next instant, the label above her head—【So Awesome】—changed visibly before their eyes to 【Truly Responsible】.

Seeing how Lu Yaoyao now viewed him, Zhou Qing felt slightly embarrassed.

He quietly checked his personal panel.

【Name: Zhou Qing】

【Age: 19】

【Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment Late Stage】

【Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Xuanyi Jue】

【Talent Skill: One Insight Per Day,

Heart Insight Vision—LV2 (180/200),

Reduced Presence—LV3 (3/100)】

【Skill Fragments: 0/3 (Unobtainable)】

Everything else remained unchanged, but his talent skill, Heart Insight Vision, was just 20 points away from leveling to LV3—allowing him to bind more people.

This filled him with anticipation—especially regarding Gao Xian, the peak master of Jin Yang Peak. What was his true identity?

【Heart Insight Points +5】

As Zhou Qing chatted warmly with Lu Yaoyao, Li Daoxuan, frowning beside them, said: “Enough. Little sister just woke up—she’s still weak. You two should take your leave.”

Zhou Qing found his sour expression amusing.

He was already adding new points so quickly.

He noticed Li Daoxuan’s recent note—once 【Remarkably Impressive Lothario】—had changed to 【Still Impossible to Like】.

Zhou Qing stood up and took his leave.

“Hey, I haven’t even said a word yet!” Yan Xiao Hu protested.

Zhou Qing quickly pulled him out.

That afternoon, everyone finally returned to Taiqingmen.

Two days later, the Sect Master and others returned—Gao Xian of Jin Yang Peak and Tong Min of Yu Qing Peak had both been injured.

“Master, what happened?”

Seeing Mo Xingjian return shortly after, they hurried to ask him.

Mo Xingjian’s expression was grim: “We exchanged blows, then each side withdrew.”

“Was it the Cangyan Dao Palace?” Yan Xiao Hu asked urgently.

Mo Xingjian nodded, then shook his head.

“There was indeed a killing array waiting for you at Qingniu Ridge. Fortunately, Brother Daoxuan was clever—he only trapped those chasing Shi Zhen, not killed them, giving you time to regroup.”

“At Qingniu Ridge, we clashed—but they were all disguised, their techniques unfamiliar. We couldn’t confirm if they were from Cangyan Dao Palace, yet we all felt it was them.”

“Besides them, another faction was involved—and they retreated too fast for us to identify them.”

Hearing Mo Xingjian’s words, the two fell silent.

Mo Xingjian said: “For now, outwardly, everyone remains cordial. It’s not yet time to tear the table apart. Even Cangyan Dao Palace and the other two houses have sent disciples to search for the missing.”

“In short—stay wary. Never trust those four houses again. No one knows what face hides behind that mask.”

Mo Xingjian warned them.

They nodded vigorously, understanding.

Zhou Qing still couldn’t help asking: “But weren’t Yin Xiao and the others captured?”

Mo Xingjian replied: “They were captured—but Cangyan Dao Palace issued a statement: Yin Xiao, Xue Yi, and others were deceived by someone. They stole the sect’s sacred artifact and attacked our Taiqingmen people. They’ve been stripped of their disciple status.”

“Even their Sect Master, Sikong Yan, in front of all of us, executed them on the spot—reducing them to soul dust—to show sincerity!”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu both drew a sharp breath.

So brutal?

The leader was a Nascent Soul cultivator, just like Li Daoxuan—and they killed him outright?

(End of Chapter)