Chapter 353: The Appearance of Jianchi

Regarding Duan Fengyun's teasing, Yuwen Tuo did not refute it.

In truth, what Duan Fengyun said was not wrong; he and Ning Ke had indeed had such an affair before.

Under the rapid flight of Qiongqi, the two soon arrived above the Junzhu Mansion.

Yuwen Tuo patted Qiongqi's neck and said:

"Alright, you go back first!"

Immediately, Yuwen Tuo once again held Duan Fengyun and flew to the ground, while Qiongqi turned and flew away.

Upon hearing the sound of Yuwen Tuo returning, Ning Ke ran out alone, full of joy, and said:

"Tuo, you're back!"

Only after Ning Ke finished speaking did she notice that there was actually someone else beside Yuwen Tuo.

Ning Ke was very shocked, because for eighteen years, she had never seen Yuwen Tuo chatting and laughing with others like this.

Ning Ke understood Yuwen Tuo too well; he was a loner, had no friends at all, and would not have any friends.

Therefore, when Ning Ke saw Yuwen Tuo chatting and laughing with someone else, she was very shocked.

Duan Fengyun turned his head and greeted Ning Ke:

"Commandery Princess Ning Ke, long time no see!"

Hearing that this man still recognized her, Ning Ke thought for a long time in her mind, and finally recalled the identity of the person before her:

"You are Qin Shuang?"

Duan Fengyun smiled:

"I didn't expect Commandery Princess Ning Ke to still remember me; I am indeed Qin Shuang.

I didn't expect that eighteen years have passed since we last parted; the Commandery Princess and Brother Yuwen have both grown up.

I am old, old!"

After listening to Duan Fengyun's words, Ning Ke looked at Duan Fengyun with a vigilant expression.

Eighteen years ago, she had a very uncomfortable feeling the first time she saw Duan Fengyun, and it was still the same today, as if she and this Qin Shuang were naturally incompatible.

Yuwen Tuo looked at the subtle atmosphere and stood out to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright.

Ke, Brother Qin, let's go inside and sit."

Ning Ke was even more shocked after hearing Yuwen Tuo's words; she could hear the sincerity in Yuwen Tuo's words toward this Qin Shuang.

Yuwen Tuo did not have the slightest malice toward this Qin Shuang; what on earth was going on?

Before Ning Ke could think it through, Yuwen Tuo and Duan Fengyun had already walked into the room.

Seeing this, Ning Ke could not care about pondering and chased after the two into the room.

The three sat at the table, which was filled with dishes; Yuwen Tuo poured a cup for Duan Fengyun and himself, then asked:

"Brother Qin, where have you been all these years?"

Duan Fengyun thought for a moment and replied:

"After I left you a letter back then, I traveled everywhere to make friends with heroes of the world.

It wasn't until recently that I heard that the remnants of the Chen Kingdom were hidden in Fumo Mountain, so I went to Fumo Mountain, wanting to befriend them and discuss the great cause of opposing the Sui Dynasty together.

Brother Yuwen, do you know that the current emperor is licentious and extravagant? He killed his brother, defiled his sister-in-law, and exploited the people.

The current emperor is not worth you risking your life for him."

Yuwen Tuo looked at Ning Ke, then looked at Duan Fengyun and said:

"Brother Qin, I know everything you said.

But you also know my situation; my mother is in their hands, and for the sake of my mother's safety, I must endure.

They are the culprits who destroyed my Northern Zhou; of course, I will not spare them.

Once I rescue my mother, it will be their time to die.

Brother Qin, what are your plans next?"

Duan Fengyun continued to use the pretext of raising an army to revolt and said:

"I heard that the King of the West, Lv Chengzhi, is also doing the same thing as me. I am going to find him next and conspire for the great cause with him. I believe that by pooling our strength, we will definitely be able to overthrow the tyrannical Sui and give the people of the world a peaceful and prosperous life."

Yuwen Tuo raised his wine cup and said:

"Good, a toast to you.

I hope you can fulfill this wish of yours and overthrow the tyrannical Sui."

Duan Fengyun raised his wine cup and said:

"I also wish for you to bring back your mother soon and then avenge your deep blood feud."

After the two exchanged drinks, Duan Fengyun proposed to leave.

Yuwen Tuo knew that Duan Fengyun had important things to do, so he did not stop Duan Fengyun; he said:

"Brother Qin, I know you have important things to do, so I won't keep you.

Take good care of yourself, and let's get drunk together next time."

Duan Fengyun nodded and said:

"You also take good care of yourself, and let's drink to our heart's content next time."

Watching Duan Fengyun's departing back, Ning Ke, who was on the side, finally could not help but say:

"Tuo, I feel that this Qin Shuang looks mysterious; could he have some ulterior motives?

I have never seen you treat anyone else like a brother."

Yuwen Tuo smiled:

"I trust him; he will not have any malice toward me."

This is a man's intuition; precisely because he harbors no malice toward me, I call him brother.

Since when did you actually start getting jealous of a man?"

In truth, Yuwen Tuo's favorable impression of Duan Fengyun came entirely from the Xuanyuan Sword; as the master of the Xuanyuan Sword, Yuwen Tuo was surprised to discover that the Xuanyuan Sword felt a wave of affinity for Duan Fengyun.

As the Xuanyuan Sword that his Northern Zhou imperial clan had always guarded, Yuwen Tuo naturally knew that the Xuanyuan Sword could distinguish right from wrong, so he believed that Duan Fengyun held no malice toward him.

After Duan Fengyun left, Yuwen Tuo spoke to Ning Ke about the fact that the Kunlun Mirror was already in his possession.

And with the Kunlun Mirror in hand, Yuwen Tuo needed to begin embarking on the path to seize the Nuwa Stone.

Ning Ke and Shuxiang led Yuwen Tuo to the Blood Spring, and with the help of the Blood Spring, Yuwen Tuo's evil Origin Soul began to be slowly extracted.

Seeing that the time was about right, Ning Ke and Shuxiang used Shift Heaven Change Day to transform the Blood Spring into the appearance of a Cave Abode, and the two of them also transformed themselves into a different appearance.

Only to see Yuwen Tuo—no, now he should be the staunch and upright Daoist Jianchi—open his eyes.

Jianchi looked at the Daoist-dressed Shuxiang and the Daoist-attendant-dressed Ning Ke before him, and asked in confusion:

"Where is this?

Who am I?

And who are you two?"

Ning Ke and Shuxiang exchanged a glance; they had succeeded.

They did not sense a shred of evil intent in Yuwen Tuo; all that remained was an aura of righteousness.

Ning Ke, dressed as a Daoist attendant, spoke the lines that she and Shuxiang had long since prepared:

"Senior Brother, you are my Senior Brother Jianchi.

Do you not remember me and Master?

I am your Junior Sister Jianshuang, and this is our Master, Taiyi Zhenren.

You were just practicing Master's Taiyi Zhumo Sword when you suffered a cultivation deviation, and it was Master and I who saved you."

Jianchi touched his head; he had no impression at all of what this Jianshuang before him was saying.

Yet he felt that this Jianshuang was very familiar, truly someone very close to him.

The kind-hearted Jianchi did not think too much about it, stood up, and bowed to Shuxiang and Ning Ke in gratitude:

"Many thanks to Master and Junior Sister for the grace of saving my life."

Shuxiang nodded and said:

"Foolish child, in order to subdue demons and eliminate devils, you practiced the Taiyi Zhumo Sword, which led to your cultivation deviation.

Fortunately, your Junior Sister and I discovered it in time and saved you. However, you have also gained a blessing in disguise, as you have actually mastered the Taiyi Zhumo Sword.

Come, use this Zhumo Sword of mine to see how your cultivation is now."

Jianchi took the Zhumo Sword that Shuxiang gave him, and the moment he held the Zhumo Sword, a Sword Art with immense offensive power surfaced in his mind.

This Zhumo Sword was a Dao sword that Shuxiang had searched for a long time to find; now that Jianchi certainly could no longer use the Xuanyuan Sword, Shuxiang had prepared this Dao sword for Jianchi.

And the Sword Art in Jianchi's mind was entirely the sword moves he had studied on his own since he was a child; this was the sword technique most suitable for him.

Jianchi brandished the Zhumo Sword, his whole person like a towering giant sword, filled with a righteous aura that made people afraid to even approach.

Although Jianchi was filled with a righteous aura, without the Xuanyuan Sword, the Divine Fire Clone, and the like, his strength would be greatly discounted.

Originally someone who could be considered invincible in the Human Realm, he could now only be considered a first-class expert.

Looking at the flawlessly disguised Jianchi, Shuxiang and Ning Ke smiled at each other, as if the Nuwa Stone were already beckoning to them.

There was no time to lose; they had to let Jianchi set off as soon as possible.

Shuxiang spoke up:

"Foolish child, I have recently sensed demonic energy permeating the direction of Yuehe City; you should take this Zhumo Sword, go forth to slay demons and eliminate devils, and return peace to this world."

Hearing that his Master wanted him to go slay demons and eliminate devils, the righteous Jianchi nodded and said:

"Very well, Master, I shall set off for Yuehe City right now."

Ning Ke took out the map she had already prepared for Jianchi, and after placing it in Jianchi's hands, she said:

"Senior Brother, this is the map to Yuehe City.

You must be careful and stay safe."

Jianchi nodded and said:

"Junior Sister, you and Master may rest assured, I will be fine.

Take good care of Master at home; I am off."

Jianchi strapped the Zhumo Sword to his back and strode out the gate; looking at the four large characters 'Qiongchang Cave Abode' behind him, Jianchi smiled slightly:

"The eldest disciple under Master Taiyi Zhenren of the Qiongchang Cave Abode on Qiyun Mountain, Jianchi.

Not bad, not bad."

After giving himself a resounding slogan, Jianchi flew away on his sword.

After Jianchi had gone far away, the Qiongchang Cave Abode transformed back into the Blood Spring.

Ning Ke and Shuxiang, having restored their original appearances, walked out of the Blood Spring cave.

Watching Jianchi's departing figure, Ning Ke said worriedly:

"I only hope that General Yuwen's journey goes smoothly." Shuxiang spoke to comfort her:

"Mistress, General Yuwen will be fine.

He is completely different from before now; who would know that he is Yuwen Tuo?

Moreover, General Yuwen has always been mysterious, and no one has ever seen his face.

So Mistress, you may rest assured; I believe it won't be long before General Yuwen returns with the Nuwa Stone.

Mistress, keep this Origin Spirit Pearl safe; it is the key to whether General Yuwen can return, so you must keep it well.

This is General Yuwen's evil Origin Soul; if you are bored, you can chat with him."

Shuxiang placed the Origin Spirit Pearl into Ning Ke's hand, and Ning Ke gripped the Origin Spirit Pearl tightly.

Yuwen Tuo's life was now in her hands, and she had to be careful and cautious.

At this moment, the evil-thought Origin Soul crawled out and said to Ning Ke:

"What is there to fear? I, Yuwen Tuo, am invincible under heaven; who in the world could be my opponent?"

Looking at the incessantly chattering evil-thought Origin Soul, Ning Ke put the Origin Spirit Pearl back into her bosom with a look of disgust.

Meanwhile, the departed Duan Fengyun had already arrived back at Yuehe City.

He knew that Chen Jingchou, Taba Yu'er, and the righteous Incarnation of his good brother, Jianchi, would soon gather here, so he had to hurry home.

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