Chapter 75: You Must Rescue Sister Cui!

The next day, a large black vessel bearing the flag of the Qingyu Immortal Sect descended slowly from the clouds.

Soon after, several figures emerged from the ship’s hull.

“Comrade Xuan You!”

Sect Master Cao Zhengyang and others greeted them with broad smiles.

Immortal Xuan You bowed in thanks: “We are deeply indebted to Taiqingmen for your overwhelming aid—Qingyu Immortal Sect will never forget this.”

“No need for formalities—please, come inside!” Cao Zhengyang invited.

Just as Immortal Xuan You and her entourage prepared to enter, another howl echoed from the clouds above.

Then, a massive crimson warship roared as it plummeted downward, its hull draped with banners of the Cangyan Dao Palace.

Seeing this, Cao Zhengyang’s eyes narrowed sharply…

…………

“Cui Sister, this is your third time visiting Xiao Ling Peak, isn’t it? I remember the first time you came to catch that peeping tom, the second was during the Artifact Exchange Fair when you came by as usual—never thought this third time would be to personally thank my brother and me.”

On the green stone steps, Yan Xiaohu walked with Cui Yingying, smiling warmly.

Cui Yingying looked embarrassed: “Yes, it feels like just yesterday. This time, I almost didn’t make it back.”

Seeing the lingering fear in Cui Yingying’s eyes, Yan Xiaohu hesitated, then couldn’t help asking: “By the way, I’ve always been curious—what exactly happened back then?”

Cui Yingying shook her head with a bitter smile: “Let’s not talk about it—it’s over. Aren’t you going to take me to find Zhou Qing? I heard he’s been targeted in two assassination attempts.”

Seeing this, Yan Xiaohu wisely dropped the subject and pointed ahead: “He’s probably there right now—come with me!”

Soon, Cui Yingying saw dark clouds gathering over the distant mountain peak, with bolts of lightning crashing down intermittently.

“What is this?” Cui Yingying asked, puzzled, turning to Yan Xiaohu.

Yan Xiaohu suddenly turned away, wiped his eyes, then forced a weak smile: “Nothing—just my little brother getting struck by lightning.”

“Getting struck by lightning and you call it ‘nothing’?” Cui Yingying exclaimed in shock.

Yan Xiaohu said nothing more, simply walking forward. Cui Yingying hurried to follow.

Soon, they saw a figure repeatedly struck by terrifying lightning, screaming in agony, then falling to the ground smoking black.

After a violent cough, he wiped blood from his lips, his eyes blazing with excitement.

“Again!”

Then he surged upward once more!

Watching this heart-stopping scene, Cui Yingying opened her mouth to ask—when Yan Xiaohu, eyes red, spoke slowly: “Ever since we received your Qingyu Immortal Sect’s plea for help, my brother and I didn’t waste a moment—we set out immediately.”

“You probably already know what happened after: my fourth brother recognized Shi Zhen, shattered the enemy’s entire plan, then encountered Yin Xiao, a Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of his realm, who nearly beat him to death.”

“Everyone knows Yin Xiao pursued you—and he believed my innocent little brother was the one who spied on you bathing. You can imagine the scene.”

Hearing this, Cui Yingying’s face filled with guilt and self-reproach.

Yan Xiaohu let out a heavy sigh, voice thick with tears: “When we found him, he was beaten so badly even his mother wouldn’t recognize him—shaking all over, eyes wide with terror, yet still gripping my hand with his last strength, whispering: ‘Save the Qingyu Immortal Sect. Save Sister Cui.’”

“W-why?” Women are emotional—Cui Yingying’s mind instantly conjured a tragic image.

Yan Xiaohu said: “Because Taiqingmen has always been close to Qingyu Immortal Sect. When you were in peril, how could we stand by? We had to give everything.”

“Thank you!” Cui Yingying was deeply moved by Yan Xiaohu’s words.

Yan Xiaohu stole a glance at the emotionally stirred Cui Yingying and continued: “To save my little brother, I gave up every precious thing I’d saved over the years—only then did I pull him back from death’s edge.”

“His life was saved, but his psychological wounds? Those don’t heal so easily. A sudden sound sends him curling into a corner, trembling, eyes filled with terror, muttering over and over: ‘Don’t hit me, don’t hit me…’”

“At night, he’s often jolted awake by nightmares. Do you know? One morning, when I went out to urinate and opened the door, I found him huddled against the wall—dew soaked his hair, eyelashes, his whole body. Who knows how long he’d been there?”

“That’s when I realized how little safety he felt—perhaps only knowing his brother was just beyond the courtyard wall let him sleep peacefully.”

Yan Xiaohu’s shoulders shook violently as he turned away again, wiping his eyes.

His voice trembled; he blew his nose loudly, the sound echoing through the silent space, then instinctively wiped the wet snot onto his shoe’s edge.

Cui Yingying had already burst into tears, unable to hold back.

Seeing this, Yan Xiaohu pressed on: “But even after my fourth brother was reduced to this, they still wouldn’t let him go—a deputy director of the Spirit Field Bureau, who’d been hiding for years, risked exposure just to kill him.”

“Because my fourth brother ruined their plan and saved every Qingyu Immortal Sect member trapped.”

“Only because our elders arrived in time did my little brother escape death. That night, watching him shake uncontrollably, I asked him if he regretted it—do you know what he said?”

“What did he say?” Cui Yingying’s eyes brimmed with tears, streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed.

Yan Xiaohu said: “He said he didn’t regret it. If given another chance, he’d make the same choice—trading his own life for the chance of over a hundred Qingyu Immortal Sect members surviving. It was worth it.”

Hearing this, Cui Yingying looked again at the figure falling through the lightning—her heart swelled with emotion beyond words.

What had she done to deserve such sacrifice from Zhou Qing? How foolish she’d been to ever doubt him.

How could a man of such noble character possibly have a habit of spying on others bathing?

Yan Xiaohu said: “Then, the next day, he was attacked again—half his blood drained out. Even our Sect Master and multiple Peak Masters rushed to save him—he barely survived.”

“Since then, my little brother has developed a habit of self-harm.”

Cui Yingying’s body jolted.

“Yes—self-harm. Only then does he feel a twisted sense of relief, only then does he feel he’s still alive. We all know—he’s doing this because his mental pressure is unbearable.”

“Sometimes I think—if only I hadn’t taken him out that day. I’d rather be the one self-harming now. Fourth Brother, I’m sorry to you!”

Yan Xiaohu suddenly crouched down, pounding his round head with his fists in anguish.

Cui Yingying watched the figure charging again into the lightning—her vision already blurred with tears.

A once-normal person, reduced to this.

“If I’d known, I’d have preferred to lead my sisters in a suicide blast back then. I’d planned to repay you—but now, these small things feel worthless. Wait just a moment!”

Cui Yingying wiped her tears and turned to leave.

Yan Xiaohu hurried after her: “Sister Cui, slow down—I saw Immortal Xuan You on Shen Yue Peak. Let me take you there…”

…………

(End of Chapter)