Qi Father and Qi Mother stared blankly at the figure before them. His back was not particularly broad, yet it stood as steady as a mountain.
Was that...
Their son?
Before they could think further, Qi Dao, still standing where he was, suddenly toppled backward. Peerless vanished from his hand in an instant.
That sword strike had not only drawn upon the energy of heaven and earth; it had drained every last bit of Qi Dao's Soul Power.
"A Dao!"
Qi Father and Qi Mother went pale with shock.
Qi Mother let go of Qi Father and rushed over.
Qi Father tried to rise, but the movement pulled at the savage wound on his body. He sucked in a sharp breath and barely managed to stand, only to stagger, unable even to keep his balance.
Qi Mother reached Qi Dao and found him utterly unconscious. Fine lines covered his body, dense as cracks in porcelain.
The sight of her son like this made her heart ache.
She had no idea how her son had unleashed that terrifying sword strike, but the price had clearly been immense.
Fortunately, her son was still breathing, and his heart was still beating, though both were terribly faint.
Qi Mother carefully lifted Qi Dao into her arms and said anxiously to Qi Father, "A Dao's condition is dire. We need to find the nearest city and get a healing Soul Master to treat him."
Qi Father endured the pain of his wounds. The sight of Qi Dao unconscious in Qi Mother's arms filled him with worry too, but as a seasoned veteran, he knew this was no time to panic.
He took a map from his robes, glanced at it, and his expression darkened.
The nearest city was still over two hundred li away!
And Qi Dao's condition clearly could not wait.
But Qi Father had no better option. "Into the carriage first!" he said grimly.
Luckily, the carriage had escaped the battle unscathed. Otherwise, they could have cried out to heaven and earth, and neither would have answered.
Qi Mother wasted no words. The moment Qi Father spoke, she carried Qi Dao into the carriage.
Then she said to Qi Father, "Give me the map. Stay inside and watch over A Dao. I'll drive!"
"All right!"
The couple quickly divided the work.
"Hyah!"
The carriage sped off in a cloud of dust, leaving three mangled corpses behind, with no one to spare them a glance.
Qi Mother drove the carriage as fast as it could go, but reaching the nearest city anytime soon was nothing more than a fool's dream.
Worry steadily crept across her face.
Half an hour later, a sprawling caravan appeared at the far edge of her vision.
As the carriage drew closer, Qi Mother could make out the whole procession.
It appeared to be a merchant caravan transporting goods.
Several flags rose above it.
Each bore an intricate pattern, with the character Ye written in the center.
Qi Mother slowed instinctively at the sight of the caravan.
A thought suddenly sprang to mind.
A caravan this large was bound to have Soul Masters traveling with it. Perhaps one of them was a healer.
Delighted by the possibility, she immediately told Qi Father.
"Ah Rou, go ask them," Qi Father said with sudden hope. "A Dao's condition is getting worse. We can't delay any longer. Even if he's healed later, he may be left with lasting damage."
Qi Father was wounded himself and could barely walk.
"All right!" Qi Mother nodded, then stopped the carriage, went around the caravan, and blocked its path.
Leading the caravan was a middle-aged woman with a spirited bearing. She rode a white horse, and when she saw Qi Mother in the road, she ordered the procession to halt.
Looking down at Qi Mother from horseback, the woman asked coolly, "Who are you, and why are you blocking our way?"
Qi Mother hurried to explain. "Madam, I don't mean to hold you up. My husband, our child, and I were attacked by a Fallen Soul Master not long ago. We survived by luck, but my husband and child were badly wounded and urgently need treatment."
"I wanted to ask whether your caravan has a healing Soul Master. We can pay for their help."
"You encountered a Fallen Soul Master?" The middle-aged woman frowned slightly.
She did not answer Qi Mother at once. "Our caravan does have a healing Soul Master. In fact, I'd say few people in the entire Heaven Dou Empire know more about healing than she does."
Qi Mother suspected the claim was exaggerated, but her face still lit up.
Having a healing Soul Master was enough. At the very least, she could stabilize Qi Father's and Qi Dao's injuries.
But the middle-aged woman went on.
"The person I'm speaking of owns this caravan, however. I'll need to ask whether she's willing to help."
"Sorry for the trouble," Qi Mother said quickly.
The middle-aged woman nodded and dismounted, then walked toward the most luxurious carriage at the center of the caravan.
Before long, she reached it and called out respectfully.
"Madam, there's something you should know!"
A rather cool voice came from inside the carriage.
"What happened?"
The middle-aged woman promptly relayed Qi Mother's request.
A moment later, the cool voice spoke again.
"Since our paths crossed, perhaps it was meant to be. Have her bring her husband and son over."
A faint smile appeared on the middle-aged woman's face. "You are kind, Madam."
Soon, she returned and passed the lady's answer on to Qi Mother.
Qi Mother thanked her repeatedly, then hurried back to her carriage. She drove it slowly alongside the caravan and carried the unconscious Qi Dao, with Qi Father accompanying her, to the luxurious carriage at its center.
Several people stood near the carriage, their gazes sharp. If Qi Mother or her family showed the slightest sign of ill intent, they looked ready to strike at once.
"Madam, they're here!"
"Good."
As soon as the word fell, an elegant lady stepped out of the luxurious carriage. She wore a fitted silver-white gown.
Her gaze swept over the family of three before settling on the unconscious Qi Dao. A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
"How did this child come by these injuries?"
"They don't look as though they were caused by a Fallen Soul Master."
Qi Mother sighed. "We failed him as parents. When the Fallen Soul Master attacked, A Dao stepped forward and forced himself to use a Soul Skill that placed an enormous strain on his body. That's how he ended up like this."
"I see," the elegant lady said.
"To step forward in a moment of danger... You two have a fine son."
Qi Mother looked at the unconscious Qi Dao, and a smile touched her face.
"A Dao has always been our pride!"
The elegant lady wasted no more time. "Lay the child flat on the ground."
Qi Mother immediately did as she was told.
Then the elegant lady held out both hands.
In an instant, a purple begonia appeared in her hands, and a profusion of purple petals swirled around her.
(For the characters' appearances and Martial Souls, refer to the animated series; many readers may not clearly remember their descriptions in the original novel.)
Six Soul Rings rose and circled beneath her feet.
Two yellow, two purple, two black!
Qi Father's and Qi Mother's pupils contracted in shock.
A Soul Emperor!
Before you continue