CHAPTER 6 It’s better if he and Qin Yan went separate ways as soon as possible.

He remained silent for a long time until Qin Yan found his behaviour strange. He turned to look at Fu Changling only to see him lower his head, deep in thought. Qin Yan pursed his lips as if he wanted to search for a particular topic and asked on his own accord, “Found something?”

Fu Changling canted his head to the side and smiled. “Found that you're quite good looking..”

Qin Yan wasn’t as embarrassed as Fu Changling expected upon hearing these words. He expressionlessly turned back to look at Shangguan Yuan, who was busying himself, and calmly spoke, “You are afraid of me.”

Fu Changling froze on his spot and Qin Yan expressionlessly continued, “Why?”

Why?

Those were scars from battles over many years.

Back in that year, Fu Changling found his entire clan annihilated. He was lucky enough to be alive, but after his escape, he had been living the life of being hunted.

It was Qin Yan who hunted him the most often. For almost a decade, Qin Yan pursued him. With each day, through the rigors of living in the wilderness starving and cold, in any place and any where when he heard the name ‘Qin Yan’, he would rise to his feet and regardless of how much fatigue he was in, he would pack his belongings and run like his life was at stake.

Afterwards he turned stronger, time and time again he escaped the grasps of death and became known as the most powerful Huayang-Jun in the Immortal Realm. It was only then and there he had the courage to face Qin Yan.

But now, Qin Yan was in his core formation stage and Fu Changling was in his foundation establishment stage. Perverts like these sword cultivators loved to surpass their limits to begin with. Back in that year, when Qin Yan and his cultivation was on the same level, Fu Changling might not even have won against him, so what more of presently?

He knew that Qin Yan of the present could have turned into a Demonic Lord at any time, while he was just a pitiful and helpless cultivator in his foundation establishment stage. Qin Yan could beat him to death simply with his bare fists alone, so how could he muster the courage to not be afraid?

But he would never say these words. Quickly, he said, “Nonsense! This is called ‘admiring’! After all, taking into account your fame and popularity in Yunze, you are my role model. It’s just that I’ve suddenly encountered the Zhenren often being spoken of in the legends, so I’m a little unused to it.”

Only then Fu Changling recalled that this was the first time they met in this life. He might have known Qin Yan’s name but Qin Yan didn’t know him. He lightly coughed and spoke in a faked distant tone, “That and uh… My name is Fu Changling. You are Qin Yan, am I right?”

Qin Yan nodded his head and Fu Changling satisfyingly said, “It really is Brother Qin! Fellow Cultivator Qin has indeed lived up to his name as the first disciple of Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng; to succeed the true talents of the Immortal Sword Palace Lord Jiang and stand out from crowds of people! What a truly unforgettable first sight!”

Qin Yan remained silent for a very long time before he finally said, “It’s better if you go back to writing.”

“Writing can never clearly express the admiration I feel for you!”

“There is no need to express. Just writing is enough.”

“Never! Let me say a few more sentences!”

Qin Yan didn’t continue it. He was completely expressionless, not believing a single word.

Fu Changling, too, thought that he had exaggerated it. He lightly coughed and changed the subject in an attempt to fish for information. “Did you come to the Shangguan Estate this time for a task?”

Before Qin Yan could answer, he heard Shangguan Yuan happily shout, “We’ve arrived!”

As the both of them raised their heads, they saw, in their front, a massive door painted in motley vermillion. The massive door was made of wood and there were stone lions on each of its sides with a lotus lantern atop their heads. The lotus lanterns’ light and the vermillion red door reflected one another to give off an eerie sense of abandonment.

Shangguan Yuan swept his clothes aside and knelt before he began to bow towards the massive door and said in a panicky voice, “O’ forefather, Yuehua has returned. Quickly come to your grandson’s rescue!”

“Yuehua has returned?”

Past the massive door came the voice of a very old crippled man. Fu Changling sensed something was wrong upon hearing this voice. Qin Yan obviously felt the same and swiftly placed a hand on his sword.

“Don’t be afraid, Yuan’er.” There was a loud grating sound as the massive vermillion door opened. It appeared to have not been opened for a very long time. Dust filled the air and Shangguan Hong’s voice appeared to be just within arm’s reach, filled with philanthropy, “I would not abandon you people without care.”

“Thank you, forefather, thank you!”

Shangguan Yuan began to repetitively hit his head on the ground as if in an utmost state of gratitude. The dust fluttered to the ground and it was at that moment, a skinny, near wilted hand shot out from that room and ruthlessly plunged its fingers into Shangguan Yuan’s scalp! Shangguan Yuan let out a pained cry and following quickly, as if his body was stuck fast to that hand, it slowly raised his head high into the air.

Shangguan Yuan engaged into a frantic struggle as he tried to stop Shangguan Hong’s actions, but the spiritual energy flowing out of his body and into Shangguan Hong was completely out of his control. He could not even touch Shangguan Hong and so there was no meaning in struggling.

“But if you wanted my help...” Fu Changling and Qin Yan looked at the old man inside of the room. The latter raised his head to reveal a sinister and eerie smile on his face. “There is a price to be paid.”

Fu Changling and Qin Yan said nothing. They quietly looked forward.

Behind the massive vermillion door was a great cavernous living hall. There were strange incantations on its grounds painted with fresh blood as they spread across the entire room.

At the end of the room there was a wall with a young girl pinned against it by long nails. She had near identical looks with Shangguan Yuemin yet she was wearing an aurum dress with an exposed waist unique to foreign tribes in the western regions. A long nail on her beautiful face was forcing her to look towards her left, her left leg was raised and her toes were tipped. A hand was spread to her left and her other hand was over her head. They, too, were reaching towards the left. The long nails were piercing on her head, neck, and every joint of her limbs. Fresh blood had soaked through her dress, flowing down from her body into the patterns of the array.

Next to her body were blood-red handprints mixed with rampant scars as if they were left behind after desperate attempts of struggling from pain. Those scars and handprints filled the entire room, mixing with hastily written letters that said “Help me”, giving the entire room an extremely purgatory look.

Shangguan Hong was in the center of this room. He was like an animal, sprawling on the ground on all fours with one extending hand reaching halfway across the room, its fingers on Shangguan Yuan’s scalp.

He was feeding on Shangguan Yuan’s spiritual energy, and the technique he was using…

Fu Changling’s fan, which was previously tapping on his shoulder, slowed down—this was a skill from the Avici that he hated the most all those years back.

Only, the Avici’s version of this skill was far more superior. They didn’t need spiritual roots to absorb spiritual energy, but absorbing spiritual energy would amplify its strength. And Shangguan Hong’s skill appeared to be an embryonic form of the Avici’s. There was a severe limit of how much spiritual energy it could absorb.

Regardless of, Fu Changling felt a headache coming upon encountering something that came from the Avici.

He couldn’t resist himself from slapping a hand to his face and vented out loud, “This is too ugly.”

“I think he’s not a core formation cultivator,” Qin Yan objectively judged.

Fu Changling raised his head and out came a sigh. “Obviously. He is simply a nascent soul cultivator who happened to be tremendously ugly. It’s a pity that this nascent soul is a fraud; the way of Dao would never accept such a form of a nascent soul; the heavenly tribulations would not be willing to strike upon him. So now, he’s nothing but ugly. How pitiful, how regrettable, how sigh worthy!”

“Both of you.” Shangguan Hong turned towards them and squinted his eyes. “Are you sick of being alive?”

“Senior Shangguan.” Fu Changling forced a sincere look on him upon hearing those words. “Both of us are still youths who could not shut their mouths. Don’t you mind it too much. Now it’s almost the time when the rats are foraging. It is late. Let’s not behave in this matter. We will take our leave today and perhaps visit another day?”

“You’ve delivered yourselves.” Shangguan Hong’s lips broke into a smile. “How could I let you off?”

“It seems like Senior Shangguan is very lonely.” Fu Changling sighed then turned to look at Qin Yan and earnestly said, “Fellow Cultivator Qin, how about you have some tea with Senior Shangguan while I take my leave?”

After he finished speaking, Fu Changling gave Qin Yan a push, then he turned around and fled.

Shangguan Hong’s hand immediately extended and reached out to grab at Fu Changling. Qin Yan’s sword, however, was faster. It went for Shangguan Hong and forced his hand to change directions. Fu Changling made use of this chance to break into a frantic run, leaving his shadow behind. Qin Yan furrowed his brows and after a moment of contemplation, he turned his focus back onto Shangguan Hong.

“Who taught you this skill?” he asked, voice cold and icy.

Shangguan Hong broke into boisterous laughter. “Ignorant little child, still paying attention to such matters even as you stare death in the face? Let us leave that discussion after you’ve survived it!”

Just as he finished talking, a countless number of hands burst out of Shangguan Hong’s body and reached for Qin Yan. At the same moment, the ground abruptly lit up and thousands of red rays of light as sharp as knives shot up from the ground. With a tip of his toes, Qin Yan leapt into the air, drawing his sword and headed for Shangguan Hong!

Both of their movements were very quick. Shangguan Hong’s hands filled every inch of space in the room. There was an eerie glow from his hands. As long as one touched those glows, their spiritual energy could immediately be absorbed. Rather than saying Qin Yan was having a battle with Shangguan Hong, it was more accurate to say that he was being forced up to the corner by him.

He laboriously maneuvered his movements towards the direction Fu Changling had fled. Fu Changling had been running frantically through the tunnel, sketching a transportation array as he ran.

Faster, a bit faster!

It’s almost done. As long as he finished it, he could leave this hellish place!

Right now, he no longer cared whether it was Qin Yan who annihilated the Shangguan Clan, nor did he care where Shangguan Hong had learned that skill. He was only a tiny, insignificant foundation establishment stage cultivator. Now, he only has one ultimate goal—and that was to leave this place as quickly as possible, preserving his own little life!

Quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker!

He watched the array floating in midair, drawing with his finger at lightning speed as he ran.

Watching as the array took form, he suddenly heard the gentle voice of a female calling out to him, “Young Master Fu.”

Fu Changling’s hand froze. He raised his head and saw Madam Shangguan. She was holding a lantern, and her entire person was enveloped by the black mist. Her eyes had turned blood-red with tears of a similar colour streaming down her eyes, giving off a gentle and beautiful yet rather twisted beauty.

As she looked at Fu Changling, she gently called out, “Young Master Fu, here you are.”

As she muttered the final words, the black mist surged over Fu Changling with a piercingly sharp cry. Fu Changling’s breath froze as he turned around and ran into Qin Yan’s direction, calling out pitifully, “Qin Yan!!! Help me!!”

Fu Changling was wildly casting spell seals as he ran. That black mist was a lot more ferocious compared to when they first met. Fu Changling’s spell seals could only hold it back briefly.

He could care less whether Qin Yan was a friend or a foe. He could only depend on this last hope as he ran towards Qin Yan.

“Qin Yan! Qin-ge! My Lord Qin!”

Fu Changling shouted as he fled towards Qin Yan. He saw, from afar, Qin Yan clashing with Shangguan Hong in battle. Although Qin Yan's movements were fast, he was only avoiding attacks and wasn't even given the chance to come into close contact with Shangguan Hong. Fu Changling had seen such a scene a countless number of times from the demonic cultivators in the Avici in his previous life. Back then, the cultivators of the Immortal Path of Yunze also faced a brick wall when they were dealing with these demonic cultivators.

He deeply questioned his own judgement for a moment. Perhaps at this moment of time, Qin Yan had nothing to do with the Avici. Perhaps back in that year, there was another reason as to why the Zhenxue Sword showed up in the abandoned manor of the Shangguan Clan.

If that was the truth…

His heartbeat stopped, and he instinctively shouted before he could hesitate a second more, “Cut his golden core out!”

Qin Yan abruptly raised his head to watch as Fu Changling tossed a spell seal over to him. That spell seal looked a little hastily done but Qin Yan's eyes widened at the sight of it.

The spell seal hit Shangguan Hong and he staggered for a while. Although Qin Yan was deeply pondering, his movements never slowed down. As soon as Shangguan Hong showed an opening, a long sword pierced his lower abdomen in a blinding glare, piercing through his golden core.

And then Qin Yan twisted his sword. Shangguan Hong's terrible shriek filled the room. It was at this time that Fu Changling was standing one step away. He leapt into the air and lunged himself at him.

Qin Yan reached out to grab him and pulled Fu Changling behind himself, his sword lashed out again with a semicircle turn of his body and paused horizontally in front of the black mist.

“There is an owner to every debt.” Qin Yan's sword held the black mist back, his voice calm. “Shangguan Hong's life is yours to take. Matters that happened between the both of you have nothing to do with us.”

Qin Yan's words made reasonable sense, but the black mist had obviously lost its senses. It howled and surged at him. Fu Changling found it strange; theoretically, Shangguang Hong's death should have appeased the wraith, but why was it still so frenzied even after they've killed Shangguan Hong? Could it be that Shangguan Hong was never its enemy?

As for Qin Yan, realizing that his persuasion hadn't worked, pushed his long sword forwards. A Taiji diagram spun into vision and spread apart, pitting itself against the force of the wraith.

Fu Changling was currently being protected by him. As he painted the final stroke onto the transportation array, its patterns began to lighten up from the ground. The thick, black mist rolled against Qin Yan’s sword with an all-mighty force, clashing in combat with the blazing blue glares of his sword. Fu Changling turned around and gave Qin Yan a look.

His heart shivered as he mustered all the courage he had to control his emotions.

These sorts of emotions had visited him many times. And with each visit they paid, he managed to control them. This time wasn’t an exception.

He would live.

Fu Changling made his final verdict as he looked at Qin Yan and the wraith one last time. As long as he left, then Qin Yan had no burden to bear. Even if he couldn’t kill the wraith, he would have no difficulty escaping.

He could look for his father after he split up with Qin Yan. This way, he could be considered to be safe.

After all, he didn’t know whether Qin Yan was his enemy nor his friend. Even if all Qin Yan had done now made it reasonable to think that he was on his side, Fu Changling had never forgotten how Qin Yan allied himself with the Avici in his previous life. He could never fully trust Qin Yan. As for the Shangguan Clan, everything they’ve done today made it painfully obvious that the Avici were involved. Additionally, Qin Yan’s actions that persistently targeted him made him unable to remain with Qin Yan any longer.

If Qin Yan was a good person who came to protect him, then it made no difference whether he was with Qin Yan or not. After all, he was capable of protecting himself.

But if Qin Yan was an evil person who came for his life or for some other reason, then it's better if he and Qin Yan went separate ways earlier.

Fu Changling made the mental decision in his head. He hadn't hesitated and stepped into the array as Qin Yan and Shangguan Yuehua engaged in battle.

The moment he fell into the transportation array, he heard a shattering howl that gave him goosebumps, “Fu Changling!”

Author’s Notes:

Qin Yan: Why do you like to call me ‘ge’?

Fu Changling: Because I am just a didi[18]. Wait until I’ve reached my ascension stage and let’s see what I’ll call you after that.

Today I told my friend that I realized until now, I seemed to have written a kept man[19] gong. Other than being skilled in sweet talks and hugging the big thigh, he is freaking useless.

My friend said: It’s not ‘seems to’, it's the truth. Aren’t you just writing the story of a —iron blooded shou x kept man gong?

Me:.... No, that’s not true. Changling is very strong!