Chapter 12

Blood stained the grass red.

The heavy stench of blood permeated the entire forest, filling the air with a pungent odor.

"Ha..."

"Ha..."

Luo Qingchen gasped for breath, both hands still clenched tightly around the dagger buried in the other's heart, as if afraid the man might come back to life.

Only after a long while

did he slowly, tremblingly loosen his fingers.

His hands were covered in blood.

The pain from his wound made his entire arm tremble uncontrollably, and his blood-smeared face twisted in agony.

Only then did waves of lingering fear wash over him.

If he had not used the blood in his second Blood Bar to replenish himself so quickly, the one lying on the ground now would have been him.

Life and death had been separated by a single instant.

This time, he had won.

But what about next time?

Looking at the corpse on the ground, he felt neither joy nor pride. There was only the relief and shuddering terror of having survived a catastrophe and returned from the gates of hell.

The cruelty of this world filled him with fear.

But he knew he had no other choice. He could only grit his teeth and keep moving forward.

"Howl—"

A wolf's howl suddenly came from the woods not far away.

He did not dare delay. He immediately gripped the dagger again with his uninjured hand and began to draw blood.

When he had faced Zhang Dashan in a fight to the death earlier, he had tried to draw blood.

But there had been no reaction whatsoever.

From this, he concluded that this blood-drawing ability apparently could not draw blood from the living. It could only be used on the dead.

At that moment, the blood in Zhang Dashan's body began to flow rapidly into his own.

The blood in his second reserve Blood Bar quickly rose from a pitiful 10% to 20%.

He stopped at once.

Zhang Dashan had already lost a great deal of blood. If Luo Qingchen drew too much now, something would definitely look wrong with the corpse.

If Tian Feng discovered it, that would be trouble.

So he had to be cautious.

He began searching Zhang Dashan's body.

The man was already dead, so naturally he had no further use for the things on him.

Zhang Dashan did not have much on him, only a few pieces of broken silver and a cultivation manual.

He looked at the manual and saw several large characters written on it: Bone-Strengthening Mountain-Opening Fist.

"Looks like a fist technique for cultivating the Bone Strengthening Realm..."

That way, he would no longer need to ask Tian Feng for a Bone Strengthening Realm cultivation technique.

After putting away the broken silver, the cultivation manual, and the still-sharp dagger, he carefully inspected the traces of battle around them. Only then did he drag Zhang Dashan's corpse toward the cave on the hillside.

It was already past the third watch. Dawn would come soon.

Deep in the cave, Tian Feng was still in seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation. He knew nothing of what had happened outside.

Of course, he did not care either.

Luo Qingchen sat down at the cave entrance, bandaged his wound, closed his eyes, and rested briefly.

The night gradually receded, and a faint glow quietly appeared on the horizon.

When the first ray of dawn leaped over the green mountains and spilled into the forest, a bird flew from a dark nest in the cliff face and landed on a large tree outside the cave. It hopped about and chirped endlessly, enjoying the rare sunlight and tranquility.

At that moment, Tian Feng emerged from the depths of the cave.

When he saw the figure sitting outside, quietly bathing in the morning sunlight, he asked, "Dashan, have you prepared the corpse?"

Luo Qingchen rose from the ground, turned around, lowered his head, and said respectfully, "Master, the corpse is ready. But Senior Brother is no longer here."

Tian Feng halted, staring at him in astonishment.

That face, usually calm and placid as still water, now shifted slightly with surprise, shock, and confusion.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Tian Feng walked over and immediately saw the corpse lying on the ground nearby.

Zhang Dashan's eyes were wide open, unwilling to rest even in death.

The blood at the wound in his chest had already congealed. The shoe on his left foot was soaked through with blood, its entire gray surface turned crimson.

Tian Feng raised his head and looked at the youth before him again.

Luo Qingchen kept his head lowered and explained calmly, "Senior Brother wanted to kill me last night, so I killed him."

He knew that to the man before him, fights among Blood Medicine were unimportant. Even the outcome was unimportant.

Who would care about a struggle between ants?

He only needed to answer truthfully.

Of course, that was on the premise that he had completed the task.

He had completed it. The corpse on the ground was very fresh.

Tian Feng stared at him for a while before saying, "But he had already broken through to the Bone Strengthening Realm."

Luo Qingchen lowered his head and said, "This disciple has also broken through."

Tian Feng's brow twitched faintly. He stared at him for a long time before saying indifferently, "I had underestimated you."

He did not ask any more questions. The expression on his face had returned to its original indifference. He lifted his feet and walked down the hillside, ordering, "Take the hide, bring the corpse, and follow me back to the sect."

"Yes!"

Luo Qingchen answered, immediately collected the hide, hoisted the corpse onto his back, and followed behind him.

At last, he was going back to the sect.

I hope the Ten-Soul Banner and my sister's soul can hold on.

The two descended the hillside, one ahead and one behind.

After passing through the forest and walking roughly another two li, they began climbing another slope.

The trees began to grow thicker and denser.

Looking up, Luo Qingchen saw more hills ahead, like layers of rolling waves, one slope stacked upon another, stretching beyond the limits of sight.

The sunlight above them had vanished from view.

Not until evening, when the two climbed another hillside thick with ancient trees, did a majestic mountain suddenly appear before them.

The mountain was shrouded in black mist, towering into the clouds. Its outline was hazy, its full form and peak impossible to see. It resembled a colossal beast that held up the heavens, hidden within the black fog, sinister and terrifying.

This must be Demon Controlling Peak, where the Demon Controlling Sect is located, right?

Looking at the massive black shadow before him, Luo Qingchen thought to himself.

When he followed Tian Feng down the hillside and entered the forest below, the world before his eyes suddenly changed.

The entire scene abruptly became dim and eerie.

It was as though they had gone from day to night, or from a colorful world into a world of darkness.

The enormous tree trunks had turned black. Even the branches and leaves above, as well as the soil beneath their feet, had become black. Thick, ancient vines lay like black giant pythons hidden beneath the deep fallen leaves, exposing their broad, jet-black foliage. Even the shrubs growing nearby and the flowers blooming beneath the trees were entirely black.

An ancient, decayed, damp, fishy stench filled the air.

After walking for a short while, they came upon a dilapidated wooden bridge blanketed in black vines.

Beneath the bridge flowed a river.

The water in the river was black as well. Yet it was not stagnant water, but flowed slowly onward.

A small wooden hut stood at the bridgehead.

When Luo Qingchen and Tian Feng emerged from the woods, the hut's wooden door opened with a creak.

A short old man with a head full of white hair stepped out of the hut and looked toward them.

Tian Feng, whose expression was always indifferent, immediately strode forward. A respectful smile appeared on his face as he clasped his hands in salute. "Uncle Wang, this disciple is Tian Feng. Behind me is the Blood Medicine I brought back, along with a corpse."

As he spoke, he took a black wooden token from his robes and handed it over.

The white-haired old man took the token, glanced at it, and handed it back. In a somewhat hoarse voice, he said, "This old man knows you, but your Blood Medicine still needs to be inspected."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of red jade.

Tian Feng smiled. "Naturally."

He then immediately turned to Luo Qingchen and said, "Come here and let Uncle Wang inspect you."

Luo Qingchen walked forward, lowered his head, and wore a thoroughly respectful expression.

The white-haired old man placed the red jade in his hand against Luo Qingchen's chest and rubbed it gently several times. Then he placed it against Luo Qingchen's glabella and asked Tian Feng, "Has this Blood Medicine had a fever or cough in the past three days?"

Tian Feng shook his head.

The white-haired old man stared at the red jade for a while longer before putting it away. "Demonic Beasts have been rampant lately. Many mortals have been possessed. Are you certain of this Blood Medicine's origins?"

Tian Feng said, "He is from Clear Water Town. There is no problem with his background. This junior has taken him back to the cave to cultivate for over half a month now."

Hearing this, the white-haired old man nodded and asked no further questions. He leaned closer and carefully examined the corpse on Luo Qingchen's back, then waved his hand. "Go in. Tell him the rules inside beforehand. If he causes trouble, you will be implicated as well."

"Yes, this junior understands."

Tian Feng respectfully agreed and led Luo Qingchen onto the wooden bridge.

Only then did Luo Qingchen see clearly that on the right side of the bridgehead opposite them stood a black stone stele, engraved with three scarlet characters: Medicine Man Town.

After crossing the bridge, noisy human voices suddenly drifted from ahead.

After passing through another stretch of black forest, a bustling scene abruptly appeared before them.

There were people driving ox carts, hawking goods, streets, houses, teahouses, taverns, peddlers, and pedestrians strolling about. It was just like a lively little town!

Only then did Tian Feng say, "From today onward, you will stay here. Work honestly here and support yourself. Do not cause trouble. Every seven days, I will come down to collect blood. If you can endure for a year, I will take you up."

At first, Luo Qingchen did not understand what Tian Feng meant by "come down" and "take you up," until he saw the steep stone stairs at the very end of town, climbing upward beyond sight.

The bottom of those stairs connected to the town, while their upper end was obscured by black mist. They should lead up the mountain.

The Blood Medicine lived at the foot of the mountain, while the disciples lived on the mountain.

Luo Qingchen had heard Zhang Dashan say that even after breaking through to the Bone Strengthening Realm, one still retained the status of Blood Medicine. One merely became a stronger, more valuable, superior Blood Medicine.

Only after breaking through to the Blood Changing Realm could one completely shed the identity of Blood Medicine and truly become a disciple of the Demon Controlling Sect.

"Wait here for now. I will find you a job."

Tian Feng gave him a few more instructions, then grabbed the corpse and hide from Luo Qingchen's back and headed toward a stone house ahead.

Luo Qingchen remained where he was, observing his surroundings, when a surprised voice suddenly came from beside him. "A-Chen, why are you here too?"

Luo Qingchen turned his head and saw a young man selling vegetables from a roadside stall rise from the ground with delight written all over his face.

"Brother Shi?"

Luo Qingchen froze for a moment before recognizing him.

This short, sturdy young man was Zhao Shi, a native of Clear Water Town. He was an honest fellow who had once attended the private school with Luo Qingchen, and they had gotten along fairly well.

"A-Chen, it really is you!"

Zhao Shi came over excitedly and patted his shoulder. "When did you get here? My father, little sister, and I have been here for half a month, but I never saw you."

Just as Luo Qingchen was about to answer, Tian Feng called to him from nearby, "Come here."

"Brother Shi, we'll talk later."

Luo Qingchen quickly walked over to Tian Feng and respectfully lowered his head.

Tian Feng said, "Most of the Blood Medicine here have gone mining. But you are already a cultivator, so sending you to mine would be a waste. There happens to be a job suitable for you here. Go be a guard at the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion. You will receive two taels of silver, one Demon Stone, and a portion of cultivation herbs each month, with food and lodging included. Are you willing?"

Hundred Fragrance Pavilion? What kind of place was that?

Luo Qingchen was puzzled.

At that moment, the bald man in the stone house gave him an answer with a broad smile. "The Hundred Fragrance Pavilion is our local brothel. The girls inside are all first-rate. As a guard there, you usually just watch the place and keep people from making trouble. Besides, the girls inside are very obedient. If you like one, heh heh..."

He chuckled lewdly and said no more. He handed Luo Qingchen a wooden token. "Your name is on this. Just take it there, and someone will receive you."

Luo Qingchen accepted the wooden token and looked at it closely.

It bore not only his name, but another line of small characters: Tian Feng's Blood Medicine.

It had clearly just been carved.

"Go by yourself. I have other matters to attend to. Seven days from now, I will come down to find you."

After saying that, Tian Feng turned and left.

Luo Qingchen raised his head and looked once more at the stone stairs behind the town. After pausing for a moment, he took the wooden token and came before Zhao Shi. "Brother Shi, do you know where the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion is?"

"The Hundred Fragrance Pavilion?"

The moment Zhao Shi heard that name, his face changed.

"A-Chen, what are you going there for? That place... people have died there. Three people have died in a row already... They say there's a monster inside that eats people..."

Zhao Shi quickly lowered his voice.

Luo Qingchen's heart skipped a beat. "I'm going there to be a guard."

"What? A guard?"

Zhao Shi was even more startled. He hurriedly grabbed Luo Qingchen's arm, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Don't go! My little sister said that the three people who died were all guards there. Every one of them had their hearts ripped out!"

Luo Qingchen's expression shifted for a moment before he asked, "How does A-Yun know about that?"

Zhao Shi glanced around and lowered his voice. "Of course she knows. She's the most popular prostitute in there."