Qingyi Fears Nothing

Jiang Qingyi didn't know how she walked out of the Medical Hall.

She flew back to Linggan Peak like a walking corpse.

Jiang Qingyi's mind was filled with nothing but the fact that her master only had thirty years left to live.

She couldn't imagine what the world would be like without her master.

If this world had no master in it...

Then what meaning did this world even hold?

Before she knew it, Linggan Peak appeared before Jiang Qingyi's eyes.

"I can't be like this. I can't face Master with this expression—she'll be sad."

Jiang Qingyi patted her own face, took a deep breath, and forced a smile onto her lips, as if she knew nothing at all.

When Jiang Qingyi returned to the courtyard, she saw her master sitting in the yard.

The afternoon sunlight fell upon Xiao Mo's paper-pale face, and the young girl's heart felt as though it were being twisted by knives.

If she could, she would gladly take all of this suffering upon herself in her master's place.

"Master, why are you out in the yard? You need to rest properly."

Jiang Qingyi landed on Linggan Peak and ran toward her master.

Xiao Mo smiled. "Staying cooped up in the room all the time isn't good either—it's too stuffy. I needed to come out and get some air."

"Then this disciple will keep you company."

Jiang Qingyi rolled up her sleeves, poured her master a cup of tea, then walked behind her. Her small, fair hands gently kneaded Xiao Mo's shoulders.

"Qingyi, there's something I want to tell you, and I'd like to hear your thoughts."

Just as Jiang Qingyi was forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind, Xiao Mo spoke.

"Master, just say it directly. No matter what it is, Qingyi will agree to it." Jiang Qingyi's eyes curved into crescents as she spoke with a smile.

Xiao Mo patted Jiang Qingyi's little hand. "Your master wants to go out and take a walk. Would you like to come with me?"

"Go out for a walk?" Jiang Qingyi blinked, looking at her master in confusion.

"That's right." Xiao Mo nodded. "I want to leave the Dragon Spring Sword Sect and see more of this world. Qingyi, are you willing to accompany me?"

"Qingyi is willing!" Jiang Qingyi didn't hesitate for even a moment. "No matter where Master wants to go, Qingyi will always be by your side!"

"Good." Xiao Mo smiled and nodded. "Then pack up. We'll set out tomorrow."

"Mm! Qingyi will go pack right now!"

Jiang Qingyi hurriedly ran into the room and began gathering their luggage.

For Jiang Qingyi, she too wanted to travel the mountains and waters with her master, leaving the sect's affairs behind.

And besides—what if, while wandering through the mountains and rivers, they encountered some powerful cultivator who could heal her master's injuries?

Or what if they stumbled upon some stroke of fortune, and her master's wounds simply healed?

It wasn't impossible.

At the very least, it was far more hopeful than staying cooped up in the Dragon Spring Sword Sect!

Early the next morning, Xiao Mo and Jiang Qingyi left the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

They didn't say goodbye to a single person.

Xiao Mo herself didn't really know where to go. She simply led Jiang Qingyi northward.

They arrived at a town and bought a horse-drawn carriage.

Jiang Qingyi drove the carriage while Xiao Mo sat inside.

The two of them passed through town after town.

Sometimes they stayed at inns.

Sometimes they slept in caves.

Before they knew it, a month had passed.

The two of them didn't know exactly how far they had traveled, but at the very least, they had already left the borders of the Liang Kingdom.

The second month after leaving the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Just as the carriage was traveling along a small mountain road, a woman stood before them.

"Who are you?"

Jiang Qingyi stared at the woman before her.

The longsword Mystic Frost was already in Jiang Qingyi's hand.

"Qingyi, she is an old acquaintance of mine." From inside the carriage came Xiao Mo's voice.

Xiao Mo lifted the curtain and stepped out.

Jiang Qingyi quickly helped her master down from the carriage.

"Qingyi, go fetch some water," Xiao Mo said to Jiang Qingyi.

"But Master—"

Jiang Qingyi glanced at the cold woman.

She knew her master was trying to send her away.

But this person didn't seem to come with good intentions.

"It's fine." Xiao Mo patted Jiang Qingyi's hand. "Your master will be all right. Be good."

"..." Jiang Qingyi bit her lip, shot one last look at the woman, then took the waterskin and turned to leave.

"I'm curious. Why did you help me?"

Xiao Mo looked at Xia Chan and asked.

Two months ago, when Xia Chan first came to find Xiao Mo, he had been on the verge of killing her.

But during this time away, he had realized something was off.

If Xia Chan truly intended to tell Qingyi the "truth," she wouldn't have come to him.

There was no need for the extra step.

She could have gone straight to Qingyi.

So Xiao Mo had reached a conclusion.

Xia Chan had come to warn him in advance.

Her purpose was to let him take Jiang Qingyi and leave the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

"Because that winter, when I was about to starve to death, it was the Lady who saved me."

Xia Chan spoke slowly.

"Now the Xiao Royal Mansion has spared no cost or favors, hiring the Blood Butterfly Pavilion.

Originally, the Prince wanted to tell Jiang Qingyi her origins, make her hate you, ruin her Dao Heart, and let all your years of effort go to waste.

But since the Blood Butterfly Pavilion has taken over, there's no need for that.

The Prince asked me to relay to the Young Master: this is his final act of mercy as a father toward you."

"Heh heh heh... the Blood Butterfly Pavilion. They strike to kill, no end until death." Xiao Mo gave a faint smile. "Then let the Blood Butterfly Pavilion try. Cough, cough, cough. Cough, cough, cough."

Xiao Mo coughed violently.

"Pah!" He spat a mouthful of blood to the side, then pulled a medicine bottle from his robe, tipped out a pill, and swallowed it.

Xia Chan watched Xiao Mo's half-dead state, her brow furrowed. "This Innate Sword Bone was forcibly transplanted into you, Young Master. It has nothing to do with you. If you simply cultivated properly, your future would be boundless.

Yet now you're in this half-dead condition.

Young Master, do you think it was worth it?"

"What isn't mine will never be mine. I don't want it either. I only wish to come clean and leave clean, just like my mother."

Xiao Mo smiled at Xia Chan.

"Back then, my mother picked you up from the snow. Do you think it was worth it?"

Xia Chan: "..."

"You may go." Xiao Mo waved his hand. "My disciple is back."

Xia Chan turned to look. Jiang Qingyi was standing behind a tree, staring at her with deadly focus.

"The Lady was a good person. But good people don't always get good returns." Xia Chan turned and vanished into the woods.

After Xia Chan left, Jiang Qingyi hurried over. "Master, what did that person want with you?"

"She told me someone wants to kill us, and they've even hired the Blood Butterfly Pavilion." Xiao Mo patted Jiang Qingyi's head. "So, are you scared?"

Jiang Qingyi gripped her master's hand and shook her head firmly.

"As long as I'm with Master, Qingyi isn't afraid of anything."