Chapter 208 - 188: Lu Zhao Takes Action, Lin Qingshan’s Account
Chapter 208: Chapter 188: Lu Zhao Takes Action, Lin Qingshan’s Account
As the biting Gang Wind howled across the Golden Feather Bird’s broad wings, Lu Zhao stood at its head, his calm gaze fixed on the vast mountain range to the north.
Lin Qingshan sat in the middle of the bird’s back, clutching the little girl, Wan’Er, tightly. His face was still pale, but the terror of having survived a disaster had begun to subside in his eyes. Wan’Er’s small body was curled up in his arms, her big eyes filled with a mixture of bewilderment and lingering fear.
However, this brief moment of peace didn’t last long. Lu Zhao’s powerful Divine Sense, like an invisible spiderweb, had already detected several faint auras trailing behind them.
His brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t turn around, but a cold glint quietly gathered at his fingertip.
At that moment, Le Mingyu was tailing them with several other Cultivators from the Le Family. He was torn between his fear of Lu Zhao’s power and his anxiety over the potential consequences of failing his mission.
Seeing the distance between them closing, Le Mingyu was just about to order a halt when his pupils suddenly constricted.
A faint blue star of cold light tore through the air without warning, hurtling straight for his face with bone-chilling killing intent! Its speed was far beyond his ability to react.
"Damn it!" Le Mingyu was scared out of his wits. At this life-or-death moment, he instinctively summoned his last resort: a Tier One High-Grade defensive magic tool, a Bronze Shield engraved with a turtle and snake pattern. The shield grew as it met the wind, instantly transforming into a solid barrier of green light in front of him.
CLANG!
The Ice Cone slammed into the Bronze Shield, producing a deafening sound like the Clashing of Gold and Iron! The violent Ice Cold Spiritual Power collided fiercely with the tenacious Earth Element Defense Spiritual Light, erupting in a visible shockwave of icy blue energy.
Le Mingyu felt an irresistible force slam into his chest, as if he’d been hit head-on by a stampeding elephant. A sweet, coppery taste filled his throat, and he barely managed to swallow the blood that threatened to erupt. To his absolute horror, his treasured Bronze Shield, which had saved his life on multiple occasions, was now covered in a web of cracks.
CRACK... CRACKLE...
The grating sound of shattering was like the whisper of death. After holding for only a single moment, the Bronze Shield exploded into countless fragments before Le Mingyu’s despairing eyes. The violent impact, carrying the sharp aftershock of the fragments, swept toward him like a thousand ice blades.
He was on the brink of death. But Le Mingyu was, after all, a Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer with a wealth of combat experience. In the instant his magical artifact shattered, he endured the violent backlash from the destruction of his spiritually-linked tool and the terrifying force that felt like it would rearrange his internal organs. He used the momentum to throw himself backward and to the side, his movements as pathetic as a leaf caught in a gale.
SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK...
Even though he reacted quickly enough to avoid the brunt of the impact, several shards from the Ice Cone and fragments of his artifact still embedded themselves viciously in his left shoulder, right arm, and thigh. Blood instantly stained his brocade robes.
The worst wound was on his left shoulder, a gash deep enough to reveal bone from which blood gushed freely. Cold Qi invaded the wound, nearly freezing the surrounding flesh solid. He tumbled downward like a broken sack, his face as pale as wax paper, his aura instantly weakening to an extreme low.
"Elder Mingyu!"
"Elder!"
The few Le Family Cultivators with him finally reacted, crying out in alarm as they rushed forward to clumsily catch the falling Le Mingyu. When they saw his wretched state, they all gasped. He was bathed in blood, his clothes in tatters. His left shoulder was a bloody hole that exposed the bone, wreathed in Cold Qi. His right arm and thigh were also mangled, with embedded fragments glinting with a faint blue light.
His aura was in disarray, a trickle of fresh blood hung from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were unfocused. He had clearly suffered a devastating blow.
"Go... hurry..." Le Mingyu struggled to open his eyes, his voice hoarse and faint, filled with boundless terror and lingering fear. "That senior... showed mercy... It was just a warning... If we don’t know what’s good for us... we... won’t... make it back... alive..." Each word seemed to drain all his strength. As he finished, he began to cough violently, and more blood spilled from his lips.
Hearing this, the other Le Family Cultivators’ faces went deathly pale. Not daring to hesitate for another second, they hastily supported the heavily injured Le Mingyu and fled in a panic toward Celestial Mirror Lake, not once looking back, terrified of provoking another casual strike from that horrifying existence.
On the back of the Golden Feather Bird, Lu Zhao withdrew his gaze from the sky behind them, his expression as tranquil as an old well. Just as Le Mingyu had said, he had indeed only meted out a small punishment, not even using a tenth of his true strength.
’Otherwise, a mere Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator is no different from an ant in my presence. I could crush him with a turn of my hand.’
The Golden Feather Bird flew north for roughly another fifty miles before a relatively open, sparsely wooded valley appeared below.
With a mere thought from Lu Zhao, the Golden Feather Bird let out a clear cry, folded its wings, and dove like an arrow loosed from a bow. It landed steadily on a flat patch of grass, kicking up a faint ring of dust.
Lu Zhao was the first to leap off the bird’s back, followed carefully by Lin Qingshan, who was still holding Wan’Er. The moment his feet touched solid ground, Lin Qingshan was eager to start explaining.
But Lu Zhao didn’t even look at him. His gaze fell directly on the little girl timidly hiding behind Lin Qingshan, only half of her small face visible.
The severe look on his face instantly softened, like melting ice and snow. He crouched down, trying his best to make his voice sound gentle and friendly. "Don’t be afraid, little one. What’s your name? What is Wang Hui to you?"
Wan’Er seemed startled by the sudden question. She gripped the corner of Lin Qingshan’s robes tightly, buried her head even deeper, her long eyelashes trembling. Her lips were pressed together, and she didn’t dare say a word. She only used her clear, terrified eyes to peek at this powerful yet seemingly gentle "uncle" before her.
Seeing this, a bitter smile appeared on Lin Qingshan’s face. He quickly said to Lu Zhao, "Senior, Wan’Er is young and has just been through a terrifying ordeal. She’s a bit shy with strangers. How about I explain?"
Lu Zhao looked at Wan’Er’s frightened-fawn expression and realized he had been too hasty and had scared the child. He nodded, stood up, and gestured for Lin Qingshan to continue.
"Senior, you guessed correctly." Lin Qingshan took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Wan’Er is indeed the daughter of my sister-in-law, Wang Hui."
"My name is Lin Qingshan. Wan’Er’s father, Mu Qingquan, Sister-in-law Wang Hui, and I all came from the Zhou Family Marketplace in Changfeng County, in the Chen Country."
"Eight years ago, the three of us met in the Marketplace. Brother Mu and I hit it off immediately and became sworn brothers. Sister-in-law Wang Hui was forthright and sincere. The three of us were kindred spirits, all proud and ambitious. We saw Foundation Establishment as the first great barrier on our cultivation path and swore we would overcome it."
He paused, a flicker of reminiscence and emotion in his eyes. "Since you know my sister-in-law, Senior, you must also know that in a place like the Zhou Family Marketplace, reaching Foundation Establishment is nothing but a pipe dream."
"Naturally, the three of us were unwilling to waste our lives away in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Originally, we planned to head to the Bixia Marketplace to try our luck. But just as we were preparing to leave, a merchant caravan arrived at the Marketplace. They claimed to be traveling from the Yani Country, crossing the Chen Country to reach Xuan Yang Immortal City in the Yue Country, and they were recruiting Wanderers as guards."
Lin Qingshan’s voice held a sigh of fate. "Senior, you must understand. Xuan Yang Immortal City... In the hearts of Wanderers like us, it’s a legendary Holy Land, a place where opportunities are everywhere and one can hope to achieve the Great Dao!"
"Although we had our doubts about the caravan, the allure of Xuan Yang Immortal City was just too great. In the end, the three of us gritted our teeth and decided to follow them, gambling on our futures."
"The journey was long and arduous, crossing mountains, rivers, and several counties. It took us more than two full years." Lin Qingshan’s tone grew heavy. "The path was fraught with countless dangers—Demon Beasts, Tribulation Cultivators, harsh environments... We suffered immensely and nearly lost our lives on several occasions."
"It was through these life-and-death experiences that feelings began to blossom between Brother Mu and my sister-in-law. Not long after arriving at Xuan Yang Immortal City, they became Dao Companions, and later, they had Wan’Er."
He looked at Wan’Er, who was nestled against his leg, his eyes filled with tenderness. Then he turned back to Lu Zhao, a bitter, self-mocking smile on his face. "As for me... after those two years of hardship, I finally saw myself clearly. I, Lin Qingshan, am not someone with a firm Dao Heart, nor am I brave and diligent."
"In fact... deep down, I’m lazy and crave comfort. The Immortal City was wonderful, but the cost of living was suffocating. After more than a year, I couldn’t support myself anymore. My pockets were empty, my cultivation had stagnated, and I started to think about leaving."
Lin Qingshan’s eyes grew distant, his voice dropping low. "It was then that, by some strange impulse... I saw the Le Family’s notice about recruiting a live-in son-in-law. I don’t know what came over me, but I actually thought marrying into the Le Family might not be so bad. Even though I’d lose my freedom and dignity and become their subordinate, at least I wouldn’t have to worry about Cultivation Resources anymore. I wouldn’t have to wander about, and I’d have a stable place to live..."
He snapped his head up, a muscle in his cheek twitching. His smile was more painful to look at than a grimace of tears. "Senior, tell me... am I pathetic? Giving up my dignity as a man for a little bit of comfort!"
Lu Zhao remained expressionless, simply listening in silence. His eyes were deep, betraying no hint of his feelings.
Lin Qingshan took another deep breath, suppressed his roiling emotions, and continued. "At first, life was stifling. My status was low, and I had to constantly curry favor, but I was prepared for that, so I could bear it."
"But later..." Intense humiliation and anger erupted in his eyes, and his voice rose. "I found out! My so-called ’wife,’ Le Lingrong... she had several other men on the side! I went to confront her, and do you know what she said?"