Cultivation Technique

Because he knew little about Qingshan Town, Bi Changsheng halted the sword he had been about to swing when he heard that voice, deciding to see what was going on first.

Strangely, the eerie creature that had feared neither life nor death had originally intended to charge Bi Changsheng again. Yet upon hearing that voice, it too stopped, frozen where it stood.

A young man of around twenty hurried in through Steward Zhang's front gate.

"Qiongyin, it's me!"

The moment he entered, the young man ran to the illusory eerie creature and spoke anxiously.

It was as though the creature had been provoked by his words. The pale red resentment around its body swiftly contracted, turning it into the form of a young girl about the same age as the young man.

"Brother Kangle, why are you here?"

Seeing the young man, the creature—now restored to a girl's appearance—spoke to him with deep affection.

"Ru Qiongyin? How can it be you?"

The moment Steward Zhang saw the girl's face, what little color had returned to his complexion immediately drained away again, leaving him even paler.

"I was worried about you!"

The young man stepped forward, grasped the girl's hand, and answered her just as affectionately.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

Bi Changsheng, standing nearby, could not make heads or tails of it and asked aloud.

Only after hearing Bi Changsheng's question did the young man release the girl's hand and bow to him.

"My name is Wen Kangle. Thank you, Young Hero, for showing mercy just now."

"Would Young Hero be interested in hearing me tell a story?"

"I'm all ears."

Knowing that Wen Kangle's story surely concerned the two of them—and might even reveal how the girl had become an eerie creature—Bi Changsheng replied with interest.

It turned out that Wen Kangle and Ru Qiongyin had been childhood sweethearts who grew up together in Qingshan Town. Wen Kangle had lost both parents while young and struggled to raise himself. Ru Qiongyin had also lost her mother early, while her father was a gambler through and through.

Their similar family circumstances had made them close since childhood, and they had supported one another all the way. As they grew, love naturally blossomed between them. Everyone around them believed they would eventually be joined in a joyous union—and the two of them believed so as well.

Then, half a year ago, Steward Zhang happened to see Ru Qiongyin and took a liking to her. After buying off her gambling father, he forcibly took Ru Qiongyin's body and even wanted to take her as a concubine. After all of Steward Zhang's torment, the young couple had nearly resigned themselves to fate.

But Madam Zhang was a domineering woman. When she learned of this, not only did she refuse to allow it, she demanded that Steward Zhang kill Ru Qiongyin. Steward Zhang was a man henpecked by his wife, and under Madam Zhang's forceful demands, the two ultimately arranged for the household guards to murder Ru Qiongyin and bury her carelessly in the back hills of Qingshan Town.

Who would have thought that the burial site held a rare Eye of Yin Energy?

Because of all she had suffered, Ru Qiongyin had been filled with fierce obsession and resentment at the time of her death. After absorbing the yin energy within the Eye of Yin Energy, she transformed into an eerie creature.

Even more coincidentally, after becoming an eerie creature, Ru Qiongyin encountered a cultivator who had passed away in meditation inside a cave in the back hills of Qingshan Town. Though that cultivator possessed no valuable treasures, a single cultivation technique had remained perfectly preserved.

It was precisely because she had inadvertently comprehended that technique that Ru Qiongyin, sustained by her obsession, regained her sanity half a month ago.

The first thing Ru Qiongyin did after regaining her sanity was return to find Wen Kangle. Then the two began their plan for revenge against Ru Qiongyin's father and the Zhang couple.

"I beg Young Hero to let me kill that beast and avenge my hatred. Once my vengeance is complete, I will completely lose my sanity. When that time comes, I ask Young Hero to slay me after I have lost myself entirely, so that I do not bring harm to others."

"I am willing to offer Young Hero the cultivation technique from that cultivator as payment."

After Wen Kangle finished telling their story, the girl formed from the eerie creature dropped to her knees and pleaded with Bi Changsheng.

"Young Hero, please grant Qiongyin her wish."

Wen Kangle also fell to his knees, painfully begging Bi Changsheng.

Although Ru Qiongyin had regained her sanity for now, it was only because her obsession ran deep, coupled with her accidental cultivation of that Cultivation Technique. She had, after all, become an eerie creature. As time passed, she would ultimately revert completely into that mindless creature.

"Qiongyin, it was all that shrew's idea! I truly like you—you can't do this to me!"

Upon hearing Ru Qiongyin's words, the pale-faced Steward Zhang hurriedly said.

"Young Hero, do not listen to their slander and help a tyrant commit evil!"

"Young Hero, help me kill them all! I'll give you money—lots of money!"

But when he saw that Ru Qiongyin remained unmoved and instead stared at him with eyes brimming with hatred, Steward Zhang turned to Bi Changsheng.

"I only came for these two Daoist priests. Your grudges have nothing to do with me."

Pointing at the old Daoist and his disciple, Bi Changsheng spoke to them. Though he had spoken the truth, the meaning beneath his words was plain enough.

"Thank you, Young Hero."

Hearing Bi Changsheng's answer, Ru Qiongyin immediately thanked him with delight.

Then Ru Qiongyin rose and rushed at Steward Zhang, grabbing his throat and lifting him off the ground.

"D-Don't kill me."

"Help... help..."

With his throat gripped, Steward Zhang struggled to beg for aid. Yet no one present paid him any heed. Even the old Daoist he had hired looked upon Steward Zhang with contempt after hearing Ru Qiongyin's story.

Crack!

With a crisp snap, Ru Qiongyin twisted Steward Zhang's neck cleanly apart.

After Steward Zhang died, his body rapidly shriveled like those before him. This was because Ru Qiongyin had absorbed him through her innate ability as an eerie creature.

The moment her great vengeance was avenged, countless pale-red wisps surged out of Ru Qiongyin's body, seeking to devour the last vestiges of her consciousness.

"Young Hero, kill me."

As her mind was about to vanish completely, Ru Qiongyin told Bi Changsheng to seize the chance and strike.

"Goodbye, Brother Kangle."

At last, she turned around and gazed deeply at Wen Kangle. She fought with all her strength to preserve her consciousness a little longer. Even one more breath would buy Bi Changsheng more time to act—and let her look at her beloved one last time.

"Qiongyin!"

Watching Ru Qiongyin being swiftly devoured by resentment, Wen Kangle wept bitterly as he cried out his beloved's name.

Meanwhile, Bi Changsheng stood quietly where he was, in no hurry to make a move.

Once the resentment had completely consumed Ru Qiongyin's consciousness, it returned to its original bizarre form. Its aura rapidly grew stronger, reaching a level equivalent to the Early Qi and Blood Realm within a few breaths.

At that moment, Bi Changsheng swung the longsword in his hand, sending a Blood Qi Sword Qi over three meters long slashing toward the bizarre creature.

During this time, Bi Changsheng's Cultivation Level had improved considerably again. He had already reached the realm of Qi and Blood Dragon, and with his ordinary strength alone, he could contend against ordinary mid-stage True Qi Realm martial artists.

So even a casual strike from him was not something this bizarre creature could withstand.

Before the bizarre creature that had completely devoured Ru Qiongyin's consciousness could make any move, Bi Changsheng's Blood Qi Sword Qi cleaved it apart outright.

The reason Bi Changsheng had not taken the opportunity to strike earlier was that he did not wish to harm a young girl who had already suffered so much. He only wished to kill a bizarre creature that would bring disaster to one region in the future.

"Thank you, Young Hero, for fulfilling Qiongyin's wish. I will now take you to the cave Qiongyin discovered, where a cultivator met his end."

"For the sake of caution, Qiongyin did not bring that Cultivation Technique out before, but left it where it was."

Immersed in grief, Wen Kangle recalled Ru Qiongyin's earlier promise. Now that Ru Qiongyin was gone, it was only natural that he would fulfill that promise in his beloved's place.

Bi Changsheng naturally had no reason to refuse a Cultivation Technique delivered right to his doorstep.

After telling the old Daoist that he had matters he wished to consult him about, and arranging to meet him early the next morning at the teahouse beside the inn where Bi Changsheng was staying, he followed Wen Kangle toward the back mountain of Qingshan Town.

Bi Changsheng was not one for many words, while Wen Kangle was steeped in grief, so they remained silent all the way.

Two quarters of an hour later, led by Wen Kangle, the two arrived at the entrance of a cave completely concealed by vines and weeds.

"Young Hero, this is the cave Qiongyin discovered. The cultivator who met his end is at the bottom of the cave. Qiongyin left the Cultivation Technique where it originally was, on that cultivator's remains. You will see it once you enter."

"I will not be going in, lest the sight stir up painful memories."

Having reached the cave entrance, Wen Kangle began to bid Bi Changsheng farewell.

"Alright, thank you."

"The departed are gone, but those of us still living should cherish our lives."

Seeing the deadness in Wen Kangle's eyes, Bi Changsheng spoke to him earnestly.

"Thank you, Young Hero. Farewell!"

Forcing a smile at Bi Changsheng, Wen Kangle took his leave.

Wen Kangle did not return to Qingshan Town after turning away. Instead, he followed the mountain path all the way toward the summit.

As he walked, Wen Kangle recalled the happy times he and Ru Qiongyin had shared from childhood to adulthood. Scene after scene surfaced in his mind, and the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted.

In the end, Wen Kangle arrived before a cliff. Looking ahead, Ru Qiongyin's figure appeared in his mind, as though she were waiting for him just ahead.

Without hesitation, Wen Kangle leaped forward.

"Qiongyin, this time, I will never let go of you again!"