With a shift of his thoughts, [Heart-cleaving Glaze] erupted.
The shadows in his mindscape were swept clear by a single sword stroke, and the sky became clear once more. It was as though a boulder pressing against his chest had been lifted away. The tangible sensation of his body returning to his control made him flex his fingers.
Then a spray of hot blood splashed onto his face. The woman before him gave a low grunt, and his body suddenly felt weightless as she carried him several yards in a single leap, away from the battlefield.
Pei Ye stared blankly at Qiongqi, receding behind them. "Why... aren't we fighting anymore?"
Ming Qitian turned her head. The fierce battle had loosened a few strands of hair over her forehead. She tilted her head slightly, her voice still as cool and clear as water, just as it had been that night.
"Didn't you say in the Sword Talisman that you wanted me to come save you?"
Chapter 63: Homecoming
Pei Ye had no words to describe the astonishment he felt at that moment.
At first, he was somewhat at a loss for words.
That was what I said, but of course you didn't come just to save me. You came to destroy the divine seed and resolve this whole affair-everyone was counting on you, Ming Qitian, to turn back the raging tide.
How could you take it so literally?
But in the next instant, a surge of emotion plucked at his heartstrings. He opened his mouth, yet no sound emerged.
Only much later, when he had time to look back on this moment, did he understand that the feeling of being struck came from that sudden rise from the periphery to the very center.
Ever since entering the Firewood-Cang Mountains, "Pei Ye" had been someone shuffled about at others' hands.
His strength was meager and his standing lowly. He had only entered everyone's notice because he carried the divine seed.
Everyone had come to know him through the divine seed, and their attitude toward the seed determined their attitude toward him.
Jing Ziwang, Qiongqi, Xing Zhi-even Zhu Gaoyang's decision to take him out of the valley-had all been because the divine seed had unexpectedly ended up inside him.
If they could destroy the divine seed, they would kill him; if he could carry the divine seed away, they would escort him.
Pei Ye had never thought there was anything wrong with that.
The divine seed had fallen to him, and he had no one to blame. It was perfectly natural that others did not care much about him. The calamity the divine seed might bring was what most needed their attention.
Even Black Chi's foremost goal was to slay this Immortal Lord.
Even Pei Ye himself had begun thinking that way. His heart burned with anxiety over the enemy's growing strength, and he had been bewildered and anxious when Ming Qitian passed up so many chances to attack-completely forgetting that it was his own body.
Pei Ye had always done his utmost to cooperate with them, but the effort he could contribute was truly negligible, and often went ignored.
Until now.
For the first time, someone had rushed from far away without pausing for a moment, fighting with all her might not to destroy this divine seed, but with his safety-Pei Ye's safety-as her sole objective.
That was why she had held back so many sword strokes, abandoning those chances to severely wound the divine seed. That was why she had focused solely on removing those shadows, even at the cost of taking a claw strike from Qiongqi.
At last, from that oppressive realm of horrors, she had rescued intact a fragile boy who had been parasitized by a divine seed and possessed by a divine will, a boy who could no longer see any hope of survival.
Although it had stemmed from a misunderstanding-you asked me to save you, so I came to save you-could his life, Pei Ye's life, really matter more than destroying the divine seed?
But Pei Ye had not yet worked all this out. His emotions had reacted instinctively first, leaving him unsure what to say.
"Where's Zhu Gaoyang?" Ming Qitian asked.
"He... unfortunately..."
"Mm."
"Actually, you should go back and kill him." Coming back to himself, Pei Ye struggled for a moment before speaking. "His strength is growing at a terrifying rate. By tomorrow, there might be no one left who can stop him."
"That's no longer possible," Ming Qitian said. "I would have had to kill him from the outset."
Pei Ye fell silent for a moment, then glanced at her blood-soaked back. "Are you badly hurt?"
"It's not too bad."
Just as Pei Ye was about to speak again, the sound of beating wings suddenly came from behind. He looked back-Qiongqi had actually followed them!
Now Qiongqi had absorbed all that power, while Ming Qitian was wounded. With one growing stronger as the other weakened, he had once again fixed his greedy gaze on her.
Ming Qitian seemed to have noticed already. Without looking back, she continued bounding from branch to branch.
But she was still a little slower, and Qiongqi gradually drew closer.
"Is it... because you're carrying me?" Pei Ye glanced behind them, then turned back to ask.
"You're not heavy."
"Oh."
Seeing that she was not much inclined to talk, Pei Ye was about to ask, "What do we do if he catches up?" so they could work out a plan, when someone suddenly came running toward them from ahead.
It was Xing Zhi.
The moment Qiongqi appeared, her entire group had left immediately. Why had she now come back alone?
Had she seen Ming Qitian's sword light?
Xing Zhi held a jade talisman high overhead, shouting as she ran, "Come here, quickly!"
The jade talisman turned into blue-green liquid that swirled around her, then expanded into blue-green vapor. It continued breaking apart and growing, as though something compressed inside it was now being released.
A vast mass of profound qi gathered like clouds.
Seeing this familiar sight, Pei Ye was overcome with joy. He tugged at Ming Qitian's robe. "Get over there!"
Ming Qitian drifted into it, and all three vanished together, leaving only the profound qi slowly dispersing.
[Luminous Spirit Illuminates the World, Unbound by Dust]. Zhu Gaoyang had indeed possessed a Teleportation Talisman; he had simply given the talisman inscribed with that divine art to Xing Zhi.
That familiar sensation of lofty distance descended once more, but this time there was no limp, boneless body beside him. Pei Ye felt his body gently nudged, and his feet were already on solid ground.
Looking around, he saw Ming Qitian and Xing Zhi standing beside him. They were on a mountaintop.
It was the very mountain he had gazed at earlier.
Once they descended this mountain, Fenghuai lay just ahead.
When the three of them stepped into Fenghuai, the first faint light was only just appearing in the eastern sky.
Only then did Pei Ye realize that Ming Qitian had arrived long before the "before sunrise" she had promised.
Fenghuai was still the familiar, peaceful little town he knew, with its old city walls and smooth bluestone roads. Perhaps because of the earlier rain, a layer of green moss had grown over many of the chipped bricks in the walls.
The roosters had yet to crow three times, and everyone was still dreaming. The streets were utterly quiet.
Assuming the old man was not yet awake, Pei Ye first went to the County Office with Xing Zhi and Ming Qitian. Yet when he pushed open the gate, there was light inside, and candlelight cast an elderly silhouette against a window.
Pei Ye recognized Chang Zhiyuan at once and hurried over. As he pushed open the door, the old man heard him and propped himself up. Astonishment still filled his eyes, but his mouth had already unconsciously curved into a smile. In disbelief, he said, "Pei... Little Pei... you're all right?"
"I'm all right, Lord Chang," Pei Ye said with a smile.
This was one of the office rooms. Turning to look behind him, he saw that the County Office had been restored to a rough semblance of order, though the collapsed buildings had yet to be dealt with.
Lights still moved to and fro in the rear courtyard. Pei Ye assumed Jing Ziwang's death was what kept them so busy.
"Lady Xing is back too, and this is... Miss Ming... Ming. Both of them are hurt. We need to call a physician."
"Ah, yes."
"There's no need. I'm versed in medicine," Xing Zhi said.
"That's good too. Lady Xing should be far more skilled." Having spent the night without sleep, the old man was plainly somewhat muddleheaded. "Well, it's too cramped here... come sit in the rear courtyard first. Sit down first."
"I won't, Lord Chang," Pei Ye said. "I need to go home and check on things."
"Are you worried about the elder at home?"
"Yes... and a cat."
"I've already invited Brother Yue to the County Office to look after him-the cat too."
"Ah! They're here at the County Office now?"
"Yes. Brother Yue sleeps a great deal. He's staying in the rear courtyard."
"Really, thank you for the trouble, Lord Chang. My gratitude... my gratitude..."
"Reaches your very innards." Chang Zhiyuan smiled and took his arm. "No need for unnecessary words. You're Fenghuai's hero."
The three followed Chang Zhiyuan into the rear courtyard. Pei Ye immediately spotted the sleek little black bundle sprawled on the stone table.
He hurried over and picked the kitten up. The kitten raised a pair of drowsy eyes.
Pei Ye held the kitten up before his face and carefully examined those green eyes-not an idiot!
"Little Chi!" he cried in delight.
"Mm."
Chapter 64: Growth
Pei Ye understood at once: Little Chi had transferred their soul into this body.
"How are you... now?"
"Not very well. I'm exhausted." The black cat sounded listless, displeasure at being disturbed showing in those drooping eyes.
"Oh." Feeling rather apologetic, Pei Ye put the cat back down and gave a gentle pat. "Then keep resting."
The black cat gave him a weary, disdainful glance, buried their head between their forelegs, and closed their eyes.
Ming Qitian, Xing Zhi, and Chang Zhiyuan came over just then and sat around the stone table.
The black cat jolted and rolled upright.
Everyone glanced at the cat.
The cat stared straight at Ming Qitian, tilted their head slightly, then walked over with small, quiet, elegant steps. Sitting down before her, the cat gently swished their sleek tail, their green eyes clear and beautiful.
Ming Qitian extended a finger and gently scratched the cat's chin.
"Meow~~"
Pei Ye: "?"
Then the cat sprang lightly onto Ming Qitian's arm. Looking somewhat surprised, she glanced up at Pei Ye, then settled the cat onto her lap and stroked them gently.
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