The Demonic Sect

The next day, at the Demonic Sect.

Early in the morning, Ning Qi went to pay a visit to Dragon Mountain Daoist.

"Little Nine, what is it?"

For some inexplicable reason, Dragon Mountain Daoist's heart tightened. Ning Qi rarely chose to come at this hour.

"It's about Eighth Senior Brother," Ning Qi said softly.

He slowly recounted what had happened the night before, including Qin Yun's various strange behaviors and his own suspicions.

He had originally wanted to seek out Dragon Mountain Daoist that very night, but on second thought, immediately confronting Qin Yun might have been somewhat awkward.

So he waited until the next day.

The more Dragon Mountain Daoist heard, the graver his expression became.

"He actually crept to your residence in the night? No, we must go take a look now. I originally thought Little Eight's Obsession had only just begun to take root, but I never expected his Heart Demon to have already grown so deep. He may even have been influenced by some external force."

Ning Qi was startled as well.

The two immediately employed their movement techniques and rushed toward Qin Yun's residence.

Yet they happened to run into Song Cheng, who came scrambling out of Qin Yun's residence in a panic. The moment he saw Dragon Mountain Daoist, he hurriedly shouted:

"Master, something's wrong!"

"I came by this morning intending to chat with Eighth Junior Brother, but found that he had vanished without a trace. I found two letters on his table."

Dragon Mountain Daoist's spirits jolted.

He accepted the letters Song Cheng handed over.

One of them was plainly addressed:

To My Esteemed Master.

Dragon Mountain Daoist swiftly opened it and scanned through it at a glance. No one knew what Qin Yun had written inside, but Dragon Mountain Daoist's expression kept changing, and he could not help but sigh.

Ning Qi watched from the side.

Then Song Cheng handed him the other letter.

"Little Nine, there's another letter for you."

Ning Qi froze.

He took the letter. Written on it were the words: To Little Nine.

He opened it.

The paper bore countless hasty scratches and revisions, revealing the chaotic state of mind of the person who had written it.

In the end, only a few brief lines remained.

"Little Nine, I know you enjoy reading. Over the past few years, I collected a batch of books that are in my room. If you do not mind, take them."

Ning Qi's gaze was complicated.

It was as though he could see that bright young man from several years ago, when Ning Qi had first come to True Martial Mountain, spiritedly declaring that the Martial Nine Sons had finally gathered in full.

Just from the letter addressed to him, he could roughly guess what was written in the letter in Dragon Mountain Daoist's hand.

Most likely...

Eighth Senior Brother would not be coming back.

He could sense the conflict and complexity within Qin Yun's heart. Perhaps even Qin Yun himself could no longer control the evil thoughts in his heart, and so he had chosen to leave.

At this moment.

The other True Disciples also hurried over upon hearing the news.

"Master, what exactly happened to Little Eight?"

Luo Wentian voiced the question in everyone's heart.

Dragon Mountain Daoist lowered the letter and remained silent, offering no explanation.

At last, he slowly said:

"Wentian, pay closer attention to the Sect's affairs during this time. Your master will go down the mountain for a while."

As he spoke, he stroked Ning Qi's head once more, then went straight down the mountain without even packing his things.

Everyone sensed that something was wrong and could not help feeling uneasy.

"Little Nine, do you know the reason?"

Gazes turned toward Ning Qi one after another.

After pondering for a moment, Ning Qi said, "Perhaps it has something to do with Eighth Senior Brother's Heart Demon."

He did not explain too clearly, but everyone had already guessed part of the truth. Their expressions dimmed as they looked in the direction Dragon Mountain Daoist had departed, hoping only that all would go well.

Within the Seeking Dao Institute.

Ning Qi let out a long breath.

Before him lay a pile of precious books.

Some were medical classics, some were Miscellaneous Studies, but most were martial arts manuals. Several were Inner Strength cultivation techniques of no low grade, none of which could be found in the Scripture Pavilion.

"It seems Eighth Senior Brother truly encountered a fortuitous opportunity. Could he have obtained some kind of inheritance?"

Ning Qi guessed.

Honestly, these books were quite useful to him.

Then he sighed somewhat.

Although Eighth Senior Brother had developed a Heart Demon because of him, he had never harmed him over the years. He had even treated him rather well.

"It is simply his nature. Perhaps sometimes even he cannot control himself. The Yazi Stance is merely a Stake Skill martial art; it should not have caused this. All that can be said is that when Eighth Senior Brother chose this Stake Skill back then, it may have been ordained by fate. Yet perhaps the root of this Heart Demon was already planted when I first learned Stake Skill."

"I only hope Master can bring Eighth Senior Brother back. Once my cultivation grows more profound in the future, I can try to remove his Heart Demon."

Shaking his head, Ning Qi did not dwell on it.

Even if he had gone to find Qin Yun last night, the outcome might not have been any different.

The key lay with Qin Yun himself.

If Qin Yun wanted to return, he would naturally return. If he did not wish to, he would always find an opportunity to leave the mountain—unless they locked him up like a prisoner.

He adjusted his emotions and gradually cast aside his Distractions.

Ning Qi entered a state of cultivation.

His comprehension of the Energy Conversion Method had reached its most crucial point, and this batch of martial arts books from Qin Yun was of great help to him.

Time drifted by leisurely.

Half a month later.

Dragon Mountain Daoist returned to the mountain alone.

All the disciples gathered at the Bright Martial Pavilion.

"Master, where is Eighth Junior Brother?"

Dragon Mountain Daoist slowly spoke, his voice somewhat dry.

"Qin Yun... joined the Demonic Sect."

His gaze was complicated.

In his letter, Qin Yun had recounted many, many things. Only then did Dragon Mountain Daoist learn what kind of state of mind his eighth disciple had been in all these years.

Not long after descending the mountain, he had already found Qin Yun's trail.

But Qin Yun refused to return to the mountain.

He even knelt beneath Dragon Mountain Daoist's palm, willing to die.

He felt he had failed Dragon Mountain Daoist and failed his fellow disciples.

That night, master and disciple stood motionless like statues.

In the end, Dragon Mountain Daoist wearily waved his hand and let Qin Yun leave.

Afterward, he heard that Qin Yun had seemingly caught the eye of a Heavenly Human expert within the Demonic Sect and joined it. By the time he rushed there in regret and exchanged blows with members of the Demonic Sect, he could only return to the mountain helplessly.

"The Demonic Sect?"

All the disciples found it hard to believe. That sunny youth from before had actually joined the Demonic Sect. The Demonic Sect was suspected to be connected to the Previous Dynasty, and its activities had grown increasingly frequent in recent years. Mixing with the Demonic Sect was no good thing.

"Master, you..."

Dragon Mountain Daoist waved his hand and said, "You may go. From this day forth, there is no Qin Yun in the True Martial Sect. None of you are to concern yourselves with this matter again. Your master is tired and needs rest."

The disciples silently took their leave.

Once outside the Bright Martial Pavilion, they all sighed. Fifth Disciple Jiang Baishan snorted coldly. "If I ever encounter that traitor one day, I will certainly demand an explanation and slap him hard across the face. Have Master's many years of nurturing grace been fed to the dogs?"

He strode away.

The others merely wore wry smiles.

Luo Wentian quietly said to Ning Qi, "Little Nine, this matter has nothing to do with you. Do not overthink it."

Ning Qi silently nodded.

He had never expected Eighth Senior Brother Qin Yun to ultimately join the Demonic Sect.

The course of the world did not bend to human will.

Even a Martial Saint invincible beneath heaven had matters beyond his power. Still, Ning Qi thought that if he had the chance in the future, he would lend Qin Yun a hand if he could.

Late at night.

Dragon Mountain Daoist quietly arrived at the Seeking Dao Institute.

He saw Ning Qi standing silently beneath the moon.

"Little Nine, what happened with Qin Yun was his own choice. That is simply his nature; it has nothing to do with you."

Ning Qi turned to look at Dragon Mountain Daoist. He could sense that his master seemed somewhat despondent; Qin Yun's matter had dealt the greatest blow to Dragon Mountain Daoist.

"Master, I've never blamed Eighth Senior Brother. If one day I can create a secret art that removes Heart Demons, then give it to Eighth Senior Brother."

Dragon Mountain Daoist's body stiffened, and something like relief flashed through his eyes.

Then he shook his head. "We'll speak of this another day."

"Little Nine, from now on, there's no need to tell even me how your cultivation is progressing. This is the Treasure Vault Key of the True Martial Sect. If you need anything, just go take it yourself."

Leaving behind the Treasure Vault Key, Dragon Mountain Daoist's figure drifted away.

When he had gone down the mountain this time to search for Qin Yun, Qin Yun had mentioned the True Martial Sect's Foundation—but how could Dragon Mountain Daoist not know what foundation the True Martial Sect possessed?

He knew.

His youngest Disciple's strength had likely already reached an exceedingly formidable realm.

The fewer people who knew, the better. Ideally, even he himself should not know.

Ning Qi merely let out a faint sigh.