This Thigh Was Worth Clinging To

This Thigh Was Worth Clinging To

Whether cultivating immortality or simply being a person, having a firm resolve was crucial.

Ambition, faith, principles of conduct—things that seemed vague and intangible were, in fact, immensely important.

Chen Ye had read plenty of stories in his previous life. Once a righteous person showed favoritism, he was doomed. Once a heartless villain developed a conscience, he was doomed too... Ultimately, it was the consequence of wavering convictions.

Just like Chen Ye's master, Mo Ci. He wasn't evil enough to be a true villain, yet even as a good person he couldn't resist petty gains. In the end, he had met this fate.

Chen Ye wouldn't repeat his mistakes. Since he had decided to help these vengeful spirits, he couldn't dwell on the power of this demonic treasure.

Because he had guarded the righteous path and kept his heart true, he could now face Su Chunyi's puzzled gaze with a clear conscience, unafraid of any questions.

Su Chunyi didn't actually suspect Chen Ye.

Ever since their conversation, she had trusted his character. Years of hard cultivation had forged a sword heart that simple lies couldn't deceive. Everything Chen Ye had said before had come from the heart, and that was why he had earned her trust.

She was simply curious about what Chen Ye had done to subdue that demon.

Monk Ku'e was a Tongxuan Realm cultivator, and the demonic sect's possession ritual must have been prepared with plenty of contingencies.

When she had left, Chen Ye had only been in the Qiling Realm. There was a gap of three great realms between them—how had Monk Ku'e lost?

Neither Chen Ye nor Su Chunyi minded the desolate wilderness or the corpses scattered nearby. They sat down on the ground and began to talk.

"I'd meant to warn Miss Su that something might be amiss with this corpse pit, but you left in such a hurry..."

Chen Ye began explaining what had happened. His very first sentence made Su Chunyi feel awkward. Thinking back, Chen Ye really had seemed about to say something, but she had been focused on pursuing the demon and flown off on her sword without paying attention.

If she'd stayed calm at the time, she could have spotted the demon's backup plan sooner and spared Chen Ye the danger.

She lacked experience. Merely cultivating in the mountains, it seemed, was not enough.

Chen Ye unfurled the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, releasing Monk Ku'e's battered soul along with the other vengeful spirits.

In an instant, the surrounding air turned gloomy with ghostly energy, and wails rose without end.

Yet the vengeful spirits were firmly bound by the Ten Thousand Soul Banner. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't break free.

Monk Ku'e was now at death's door, no longer as arrogant as before. But when he saw Chen Ye and Su Chunyi, he still ground his teeth and snarled, "Vile, shameless wretches! Your Qinghe Sword Sect has joined forces with the crooked path too? What kind of righteous sect are you?"

Su Chunyi glanced at Monk Ku'e, then asked, "Has your Kaikou Chan lost its power?"

Monk Ku'e immediately shouted, "You insolent brat! How dare you mock me? If you've got the guts, give me a quick death!"

Chen Ye laughed and said to Monk Ku'e, "Master, you're far too attached to worldly things. If someone in this world slanders you, cheats you, insults you, laughs at you, looks down on you, scorns you, hates you, or deceives you, don't let anger take hold. Just endure him, yield to him, let him be, avoid him, bear with him, respect him, and pay him no mind. Wait a few years, and then just see what becomes of him."

Su Chunyi's clear eyes turned to Chen Ye, surprise in her gaze. "Those words carry the spirit of stillness and non-action. You truly are a man of great talent, sir."

Monk Ku'e was also shaken by Chen Ye's words. Though bitterly resentful, he knew his Kaikou Chan had been broken fair and square. This young man was the true silver-tongued lotus. If he ever mastered Kaikou Chan, his golden body would be invincible.

Unable to gain the upper hand with words and with his soul utterly weakened, Monk Ku'e could only fall silent.

Chen Ye brought out the vengeful spirits from the Ten Thousand Soul Banner to bear witness, and soon explained everything clearly. From setting up the formation, to breaking the Evil Buddha, to laying a trap and capturing Monk Ku'e in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, everything had happened just as he said. With the vengeful spirits to corroborate his story, there were naturally no holes in it.

As Su Chunyi listened to the vengeful spirits recount the demon's crimes, fierce Sword Qi gradually gathered around her.

The disciples of the Qinghe Sword Sect were especially zealous in their hatred of evil. She truly wanted to cut Monk Ku'e down right then and there, leaving his soul scattered to the winds.

Monk Ku'e knew he was doomed, but he sneered. "What a foolish brat. The Qinghe Sword Sect's swordsmanship may be excellent, but you can't even tell truth from falsehood."

Chen Ye raised an eyebrow. Was the demon trying to drive a wedge between them?

But he didn't interrupt. Stopping him from speaking now would only make Chen Ye look guilty and needlessly arouse Su Chunyi's suspicion.

He had thought Su Chunyi would become curious and question the demon closely.

Instead, she paid Monk Ku'e no mind at all. Turning to Chen Ye, she asked, "Since you captured this demon, sir, his fate is for you to decide."

"Huh?"

Chen Ye had prepared several arguments. No matter what the demon said, he was confident he could prove his innocence. Who would have thought Su Chunyi wouldn't even ask?

Monk Ku'e hadn't expected Su Chunyi to be so decisive either. He hurriedly cried, "You ignorant brat! He can break my Cursed Spirit Child, and he can refine my Ten Thousand Soul Banner. He's one of the demonic path too! Think carefully. If you associate with this little demon, the Qinghe Sword Sect's good name will be ruined by your hand!"

As expected, the demon hadn't said anything Chen Ye hadn't anticipated.

Just as Chen Ye was about to explain, Su Chunyi smiled faintly at him. "You needn't pay him any mind, sir. I trust you."

Chen Ye felt touched, and a little awkward. He really had kept a lot hidden, and he hadn't expected Su Chunyi to trust him so completely.

When Monk Ku'e saw that his attempt to sow discord had failed, he kept shouting, "You're utterly foolish! You'll bring ruin upon the Qinghe Sword Sect!"

Chen Ye shook his head and pulled the demon back into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, leaving him to the torment of the vengeful spirits.

Things grew much quieter. Only then did Chen Ye say to Su Chunyi, "Thank you for trusting me, Miss Su. But I really do know a few demonic arts. After all, I'm just a Rogue Cultivator from a minor path, and there isn't much to be picky about. I learn whatever I come across. But I swear to heaven that I've never done anything to harm the innocent."

Even if she trusted him, Chen Ye still had to explain himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't deserve that trust.

Su Chunyi's smile remained unchanged, as if she hadn't given it much thought. Instead, she shifted the subject. "You avenged so many innocent people today, sir. But what do you intend to do with the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Cursed Spirit Child?"

Chen Ye didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "I'm only a Rogue Cultivator, so I don't know the rules. Miss Su, you come from a renowned sect, so there must be a proper procedure. Why not enlighten me?"

Su Chunyi sighed. "The Ten Thousand Soul Banner is a demonic treasure made to harm people. The vengeful spirits inside are vicious, and most have lost their minds. By the rules, all we can do is destroy it. I can let these spirits pass without pain. That's the only thing I can do for them."

Chen Ye's heart tightened. The Ten Thousand Soul Banner was a fine treasure. It would be a real shame to destroy it.

But Su Chunyi added, "However, this treasure was yours to begin with, sir, so I can't overstep and decide its fate. But if you're willing to hand the Ten Thousand Soul Banner over to me for destruction, I'm willing to trade you this for it."

Su Chunyi took a finely crafted long case from her storage pouch and offered it to Chen Ye with both hands.

Chen Ye took it and found it surprisingly heavy. Though it was made of wood, it weighed even more than solid iron.

Su Chunyi explained, "This is the sword case I used when I was young. Its power is no weaker than the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, so it should make up for your loss."

"The one you used when you were young? But this sword case is so big..."

Chen Ye looked it over. It was nearly taller than he was. How could Su Chunyi have used it when she was little?

Su Chunyi's face turned faintly red. She lowered her voice. "I was young and ignorant back then. I just thought my master's sword case was beautiful, so I kept pestering him for one. He gave me one. At the time... I only thought it looked pretty."

Thinking of Su Chunyi as a little girl, hopping around that Sword Immortal and pointing at the case to say, "Master, I want this one," Chen Ye couldn't help laughing. Miss Su looked so cool and aloof, yet who would have guessed she'd once been so adorable?

Even so, Chen Ye returned the sword case and said to Su Chunyi, "This gift is far too precious, Miss Su. I can't accept it. As for the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Cursed Spirit Child, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Su Chunyi took the sword case back in confusion and asked, "What is it, sir?"

Chen Ye took out the amber that contained the Cursed Spirit Child, along with a handwritten copy of a manual, and offered them both with his hands.

"Miss Su, this child's soul is shattered, but he's still alive. This is a secret art of the soul I found in an ancient text. It can't repair the child's soul directly, but I believe that if the technique is improved, it may yet save a life."

Su Chunyi accepted the amber and the manual. After flipping through it, she could tell it was an exceedingly profound art. She hadn't expected Chen Ye not only to refuse her gift but to offer her something even more valuable.

"This is just as precious. And if you believe it could work, sir, why not try it yourself?"

Su Chunyi knew how precious secret arts were in the cultivation world. Chen Ye was only a Rogue Cultivator, yet he had willingly handed this one over. It was truly strange.

Chen Ye explained, "I have some ideas, but I could study it for ten years and still get nowhere. The Cursed Spirit Child needs to be fed human flesh and blood. I can't keep killing people for ten years just to preserve this child's life. But the Qinghe Sword Sect has many experts. With this secret art, they should be able to find a way to save him in a short time. Saving a life is always a great deed."

Warmth welled up in Su Chunyi's heart. He truly hadn't let her trust in him go to waste.

He was willing to give away such a precious secret art for the sake of a child he didn't even know. He was indeed the benefactor her master had foretold.

Su Chunyi immediately agreed. "All right, I promise. I'll send this secret art back to the sect at once and ask my master to save the child. If it truly can be used to save him, I'll copy it out and give you a copy too."

Chen Ye smiled with satisfaction.

He'd finally secured his place with the Qinghe Sword Sect.

Mo Ci had only three years left, and Chen Ye truly had no confidence he could figure out how to repair a soul. But with the Qinghe Sword Sect's help, the chances of success would be much greater.

By then, perhaps his master's soul could still be saved.