Chapter 49

Chapter 48. Even if it goes wrong, don't blame. (3)

"There you are."

Yunam approached Qingming with a slightly anxious look on his face.

"Great Uncle."

"Great Uncle."

Zhaogel and Qingming hurriedly bowed their heads.

"Alright."

Yunam nodded lightly in acknowledgment and then fixed his gaze on Qingming.

"Qingming."

"Yes, Great Uncle."

"It seems you need to visit the main mountain once."

"…What?"

The main mountain?

Mount Hua?

Qingming's face trembled.

'No, is going to Mount Hua something that can be said so easily?'

He's talking about going to a crazy mountain where even birds fall while climbing as if it's a simple errand. Where's your conscience?

"The main mountain?"

"Yes."

Qingming turned his head with a sullen expression.

Zhaogel cleanly ignored Qingming's gaze.

"Wait, there are many strong and energetic senior brothers, why me…?"

"Aren't you the youngest?"

"You're the youngest, so your legs are weak, and your lightness of body is poor."

"You do the least work."

"…."

Ah.

I never thought that my aversion to work, which led to me being assigned to clean the front yard, would come back to haunt me like this. They say that all things have their ups and downs.

"Ugh."

Qingming sighed deeply.

Now, I have to do errands for kids. How did Mei Hua Sword Master Qingming end up like this?

"So, what is this errand?"

"You just need to deliver a letter to the Sect Leader or the Zaijing Pavilion."

"A letter?"

What letter?

I wanted to ask more, but it's not proper to question Great Uncle about every detail. It's painful to have to show respect to this greenhorn, but what can I do? The situation is what it is.

"Yes, Great Uncle, I'll go."

"Alright. Normally, I would have left it for someone to deliver upon their return, but this is quite urgent, so it's difficult to handle that way. I hope you understand."

Ugh.

His personality isn't good either.

If it were Qingming, he would have shut up the third-generation disciple who was grumbling right away.

Yunam took out a letter from his robe and handed it to Qingming.

"Here it is."

"Yes."

And Yunam, fearing that Qingming might be curious, kindly explained what the letter was about.

"It's a letter from the Galaxy Merchant Guild, so it must be handled with care."

"Really? The Galaxy Merchant Guild?"

Zhaogel said softly.

"That Mr. Huang's merchant guild is the Galaxy Merchant Guild."

"Eh?"

Qingming stared at the letter. Yunam, not noticing anything unusual in Qingming's gaze, continued his explanation.

"It's an urgent letter that flew to the Sect Leader. Fortunately, I was in Huayin and could receive it. If someone were to bring it to Mount Hua, it would take at least two days, so you should go quickly and deliver it to the Sect Leader."

"Yes, I understand."

"Since it's urgent, don't delay and leave immediately."

"Yes!"

Qingming put the letter in his robe and dashed towards Mount Hua. Watching Qingming go, Zhaogel instinctively reached out his hand.

"Hey… Hey!"

Then he muttered with a worried look.

"Shouldn't I have given this to him?"

"Hmm? What did you say?"

"Ah, nothing. Great Uncle."

Zhaogel quickly brushed it off. But his eyes didn't leave Qingming's retreating back.

'Something feels off.'

A bad feeling is never wrong.

* * *

"Hmm."

Qingming, who had climbed halfway up Mount Hua, took out the letter from his robe.

"Hmm."

So, this is the letter from Mr. Huang of the Galaxy Merchant Guild?

No, since Mr. Huang is said to be in and out of bed, it must be a letter from his subordinates.

"Ah… Really."

Qingming sighed with regret.

"Reading someone else's letter isn't the way of a Taoist, but isn't it also against the way that this letter ended up in my hands? Everything is determined by the Tao. Wanting to open a letter that came into my hands is a natural thing, isn't it? Isn't that right, Senior Brother?"

- Don't talk nonsense, you tiger-striped guy!

"…Anyway, I don't get along with Senior Brother."

It's been like that since the old days.

But that doesn't mean I shouldn't read this.

I've heard that if the business is left as it is, it will become a mess, and things would go more smoothly if Mr. Huang were to step in. But in such a situation, an urgent letter comes from the Galaxy Merchant Guild?

That means something has happened to Mr. Huang.

If I didn't know, it would be one thing, but can I ignore it now that I know? Even if someone else were in my place, they might hesitate, but they would likely do the same.

Qingming carefully examined the letter. The words "For the Sect Leader of Mount Hua" (大華山長門人親傳) on the front caught his eye.

So, it means no one but the Sect Leader of Mount Hua should open it.

"It's fine. It's fine. Honestly, if you knew I was here and the Sect Leader was here, you would have given it to me, not the Sect Leader."

If others had heard this, they would have foamed at the mouth, but fortunately or unfortunately, no one was around Qingming at the moment.

"Let's see."

The letter was sealed with wax. No matter how he opened it, there would be a trace.

If he used a normal method, that is.

But for Qingming, it wasn't difficult.

"Good job sealing it."

Rip.

A thin thread of qi from Qingming's fingertips precisely cut the boundary between the paper and the wax. The envelope remained intact as if it had never been sealed with wax.

Qingming opened the envelope and took out the letter, unfolding it without hesitation to start reading.

"Let's see…"

Qingming crossed his legs and began reading the letter.

Qingming's face suddenly contorted.

Almost crumpling the letter, Qingming carefully folded it and pushed it back into the envelope with a slightly trembling hand.

Then he took a deep breath.

"Phew!"

After several deep breaths, his heart finally calmed down, but Qingming's body still trembled slightly.

"This is… damn it, it's the Devil Flower (魔華)?"

Devil Flower (魔花).

The flower of the devil.

Qingming gritted his teeth.

"There's no way ordinary doctors can treat the Devil Flower!"

Because it's a symptom caused by martial arts.

On the surface, it looks like severe poisoning, so the focus of treatment would naturally be on that.

But the Devil Flower is a symptom that appears when someone is affected by a specific martial art of the Devil Sect.

The reason Qingming can't calm down is very simple.

'The Devil Sect bastards!'

The Devil Sect bastards, who were thought to be almost eradicated, are causing trouble in the heart of the Central Plains.

'No, no!'

Qingming slapped his cheeks with both hands, making a loud sound.

"I killed a thousand of them. I didn't kill all the Devil Sect bastards."

It's only natural that remnants of the Devil Sect remain in this era.

Didn't some of them even make it to Mount Hua after the massacre, even after killing the Thousand Demons?

Some of them must have survived there, and some must have remained in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, so it's natural that their lineage continues.

The problem is that they're not just alive but are plotting something in the Central Plains.

Qingming's eyes blazed with anger.

"But, why are these bastards targeting Mount Hua?"

Why are they always causing trouble for Mount Hua?

There are so many people in the Central Plains, so why are they picking on Mr. Huang and causing this mess?

"Ah. My head hurts!"

Qingming sighed deeply.

'This isn't good.'

I need to go and see for myself.

Just reading the content of the letter isn't enough to confirm it's the Devil Flower. I need to see it with my own eyes.

Moreover…

"Reward! A huge reward!"

The last line of the letter made Qingming's eyes widen.

If what Zhaogel said is true, the Galaxy Merchant Guild must be a wealthy merchant guild. If they're offering a "huge reward," how much are they willing to pay?

"I can't let this slip!"

Qingming's heart raced.

It's been nearly a hundred years, so there aren't many people who know about the Devil Flower.

If the Central Plains and the Devil Sect hadn't been at war for a hundred years, there might be someone who could recognize the symptoms of a specific martial art, but those who could have recognized it were all killed by the Thousand Demons and the Devil Sect on the peak of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

But the world is unpredictable.

'There might be someone who survived a hundred years ago and knows about the Devil Flower.'

And if they're still alive, they might be senior members of their sects. They might be too old to be Sect Leaders, but if one of the Sect Leaders who received this letter shows it to get information…

"It would be a complete waste! No, I can't let that happen!"

Qingming's eyes blazed with determination.

How dare some arrogant bastard target Qingming's prey… No! Patient? This is about money… No, it's a matter of principle, and Qingming must resolve this!

Yes, that's right!

"I'm busy!"

Qingming held the letter and touched the seal. He slightly activated the Three Purities' True Fire to melt the wax and reseal it. Then he immediately started running towards the peak of Mount Hua at an incredible speed.

"I'll deliver it first!"

That way, even if the matter is resolved, they'll still be able to assess the situation.

"I'll take it no matter what!"

Just wait there.

To the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Xianzong, personally.

Sect Leader. The long winter is passing, and spring is coming, with new buds sprouting. By the time this letter reaches you, the spring plum blossoms on Mount Hua should be in full bloom.

I can vividly recall the scenery of Mount Hua when I visited with my father in the past. I have always wanted to visit again, but the situation doesn't allow it, which is a great regret.

Although I have been in seclusion, I feel ashamed to write such a letter, but I am writing to you because my father's condition is worsening day by day.

As you know, my father has been unwell since last year and has been bedridden. Considering his age, it's understandable, but recently, instead of the usual symptoms of old age, other symptoms have started to appear.

My father is now almost unconscious and unable to move. His body is turning red, his forehead is dark, and his vital signs are erratic.

We have invited famous doctors from the Central Plains to examine my father, but none of them have been able to make a proper diagnosis.

In desperation, I am sending letters to those with whom we have a connection, hoping to find a clue to his illness. If you have any information about my father's condition, please contact us in any way possible.

If you can provide information that could improve my father's condition, the Galaxy Merchant Guild promises a substantial reward.

I look forward to your response.

Respectfully, Huang Zongyi, Deputy Head of the Galaxy Merchant Guild.