Chapter 20: Despair Under the Dark Night

Rumble—

The sound of thunder echoed through the torrential rainy night like a Heavenly God’s angry roar, plunging the Taikun Mountain Range into a state of oppression.

In the woods, Yang Jueding and Li Qingqiu pressed forward against the heavy rain. When they reached a level patch of ground, Yang Jueding turned his head to look at Li Qingqiu.

“Braving such heavy rain will surely affect our physical condition. Besides, the journey to the Seven Peaks Alliance is far; it will be hard to arrive without several days’ time. Why don’t we rest for a night and go to a town tomorrow to borrow two horses for the road?”

Yang Jueding felt that Li Qingqiu had lost his mind, thinking that accompanying him through the rain for a while would help him clear his head.

Li Qingqiu spoke, “It’s fine, we don’t need to be in too much of a hurry. We just need to catch up with the group from the Seven Peaks Alliance that escaped. They’re dragging many wounded; they shouldn’t have gone very far.”

“I see. I really thought you were going to charge directly into the Seven Peaks Alliance.”

Yang Jueding breathed a sigh of relief; he had almost wanted to say ‘I thought you were crazy.’

The two of them going to the Seven Peaks Alliance would absolutely be seeking death.

But if it was hunting down a group of injured Martial Artists, that was as easy as reaching into a pocket and grabbing something.

“In that case, let’s pick up the pace!”

Yang Jueding perked up and began to quicken his steps. Li Qingqiu did not stop him, as this suited his intentions perfectly.

In the dim mountain forest, Yang Jueding used Qinggong while Li Qingqiu utilized the Gale Technique. The two of them flitted through the trees like specters; at a glance, it seemed as if their feet never touched the ground.

The night grew deeper, and the relentless rain began to ease, as if the heavens had almost finished venting their fury.

On a mountain road between the peaks, hundreds of sturdy horses were slowly advancing. Injured Martial Artists lay across many of the horses’ backs, while over a hundred more Martial Artists led the horses forward at a crawl.

Yue Zhenchuan walked at the very front, rainwater streaming down his cheeks. His gaze was cold, yet his heart was filled with lingering fear.

There was still a wound on his neck that had nearly slit his throat.

Jiang Zhaoxia’s demon-like figure was indelible in his mind, as was that young girl who had almost slain him with a single sword strike.

The Qingxiao Sect actually hid two such terrifying youths, and with the addition of Li Sifeng, Yue Zhenchuan truly could not wrap his head around it.

Forget the Seven Peaks Alliance, even in the overlord Schools he had visited, he had never seen such Prodigy Geniuses.

This grudge had already been formed, and it was impossible for the Seven Peaks Alliance to resolve it. He had to bring the news back and bring the full power of the alliance to annihilate the Qingxiao Sect. Otherwise, in ten years—no, perhaps in five years—the Seven Peaks Alliance would face a cataclysmic disaster.

The more Yue Zhenchuan thought, the more afraid he became. He even suspected that demons and monsters were hidden within the Qingxiao Sect. The news of Lin Xunfeng seeking immortals had long since spread, and many Martial Forest heroes had mocked Lin Xunfeng for losing his mind, himself included. But thinking about it now, had Lin Xunfeng encountered something that gave birth to the idea of seeking immortals?

The rain had stopped, but Yue Zhenchuan’s mood remained overcast for a long time.

“Heroes ahead, please wait!”

A thick, resonant voice came from behind, startling the Qiyue Alliance Disciples into turning around one after another, fearing that people from the Qingxiao Sect had come to kill them.

Yue Zhenchuan was also startled. He turned to look and saw two figures in straw raincoats quickly approaching. Under the night sky, their vision was dim, and they could only barely determine that the figures were human.

Even though there were only two of them, the Qiyue Alliance Disciples, having experienced that fierce battle during the day, couldn’t help but be terrified. Not daring to lower their guard, they drew their respective weapons and stood ready.

They were dragging the wounded, and they themselves were injured; they certainly couldn’t outrun anyone. Once they started running, it would be easy to be picked off one by one.

“I am Yang Jueding. Have you heroes ever heard my name?”

Yang Jueding’s voice rang out again. After he announced his name, the Qiyue Alliance Disciples looked at each other and all relaxed.

The Dragon-Subduing Hero Yang Jueding was known by everyone in the Guzhou Prefecture Jianghu; there was no one who didn’t know of him.

Yue Zhenchuan also breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Yang Jueding. When Yang Jueding had visited the Seven Peaks Alliance in the past, he had witnessed Yang Jueding’s skills. Although Yang Jueding might not necessarily be better than him, his palm strength certainly lived up to the prestige of being in the top ten of the heavenly character ranking.

“So it’s Brother Yang! Please come over for a chat!”

Yue Zhenchuan shouted out, even waving his hand toward the two of them.

If they had Yang Jueding traveling with them, they would certainly be safer.

Yang Jueding seemed to recognize him and quickened his pace toward him. The Qiyue Alliance Disciples moved aside to make a path.

“Why so distressed? Did you get into a fight with the Qing Cult?”

After approaching, Yang Jueding took off his straw hat and asked with a teasing smile in his tone.

Yue Zhenchuan didn’t pay attention to the person behind him and replied helplessly, “I went out to take care of some business and ended up suffering a loss.”

Yang Jueding came before Yue Zhenchuan and scrutinized the injuries on his body, clicking his tongue in wonder, “An expert. Judging by the sword wounds, the sword techniques were very fast, aiming for your life at every turn.”

Yue Zhenchuan’s expression became unnatural. He huffed, “They were indeed an expert. I was careless today…”

“Are you the experts of the Seven Peaks Alliance?”

Li Qingqiu stepped around Yang Jueding’s side and looked at Yue Zhenchuan while asking.

Yue Zhenchuan didn’t see his face clearly and thought he was a junior of Yang Jueding’s, so he casually replied, “Yes, our Seven Peaks Alliance can be considered old acquaintances with this Dragon-Subduing Hero beside you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a sword light flashed. Yang Jueding didn’t have time to dodge and was splashed in the face with blood. His eyes widened, his expression one of shock.

Yue Zhenchuan’s eyes also widened as his hands instinctively clutched his throat, but the blood sprayed out uncontrollably; he couldn’t cover it at all.

“You…”

Yue Zhenchuan looked at Li Qingqiu in disbelief, his body staggering backward as he fell.

The nearby Qiyue Alliance Disciples’ expressions changed drastically. They instinctively wanted to speak, but Li Qingqiu turned and swung his sword, slitting another throat.

Not far away, Yue Zhenchuan’s apprentice, a young man, was taking the opportunity to rest. He was sitting on a rock, about to pull down his pants to check the wound on his thigh, when he suddenly saw his Master retreating and then collapsing to the ground with a thud, which left him stunned.

Just as he was about to ask what was happening, he saw the man in the straw raincoat beside Yang Jueding turn around and throw the sword in his hand directly at him.

Puchi—

The sword blade pierced through the young man’s forehead, dragging his entire body along and sliding for several yards. By the time he stopped, his life force was completely severed, and he died with his eyes wide open.

Li Qingqiu rushed over quickly, pulled the sword from his head, and charged toward the other Qiyue Alliance Disciples like a ghost.

Those Qiyue Alliance Disciples also reacted, turning one after another to face Li Qingqiu.

After a Breakthrough to the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer, Li Qingqiu could be said to have undergone a complete transformation. His senses had become sharper, his body more agile, and his reactions incredibly fast.

Every time he passed someone, he killed them. There were no wasted movements, only the constant sound of the sword blade slicing through flesh.

After a brief moment of shock, Yang Jueding hurriedly turned to look. Seeing the ground covered in corpses, he was frightened by Li Qingqiu.

So fast!

So ruthless!

He had long guessed that Li Qingqiu was strong, but he hadn’t expected him to be strong to such an extent; even Jiang Zhaoxia could not compare to him.

“Kill him!”

An older Qiyue Alliance Disciple, with a hideous expression, raised his saber and shouted. After speaking, he charged straight at Li Qingqiu.

The other Qiyue Alliance Disciples rushed forward as well, which caused more and more horses to become startled. The sound of neighing rang out continuously, and some horses even began to bolt. Some of the wounded were thrown from their horses and trampled to death by hooves.

For a moment, this mountain area fell into chaos.

This group of Qiyue Alliance Disciples were all carrying injuries. Forget fighting with wounded bodies; even in their peak state, they wouldn’t have been a match for Li Qingqiu.

Because of this, the battle became a one-sided massacre. As Yang Jueding watched Li Qingqiu go on a killing spree, his spine also went cold.

Such heavy Killing Intent!

Although Yang Jueding traveled the Jianghu, he cared more about the strength of martial arts and reputation than actual slaughter. This was why he could become a great hero. At this moment, Li Qingqiu made him feel very uncomfortable.

He tried hard to convince himself that the Seven Peaks Alliance had started the trouble, and that the Seven Peaks Alliance was not a righteous sect, having committed many evil deeds in the Jianghu.

When he went up to the Seven Peaks Alliance years ago, it was under the name of sparring, but in reality, he wanted to suppress them. Unfortunately, he didn’t get his way and could only pretend that he wanted to make friends.

However, no matter how he comforted himself, watching Li Qingqiu like a tiger among a flock of sheep, he couldn’t help but wonder: if he had to face an angry Li Qingqiu, how many moves could he block?

When more than half of the Qiyue Alliance Disciples had died, the remaining Disciples finally couldn’t take it and began to flee. Li Qingqiu, however, did not intend to let them go and hunted them down one by one.

These Qiyue Alliance Disciples were injured and had been traveling; they were already exhausted. They hadn’t run far before being slain by Li Qingqiu.

A stick of incense’s time later.

Li Qingqiu approached Yang Jueding with his sword. He raised his head, and under the straw hat, his face, stained with blood, was revealed.

“Only one person left. He can’t run far. After I kill him, I’ll go to the Seven Peaks Alliance. You stay behind. Without these people to bring news back, the Seven Peaks Alliance won’t make a comeback. Tomorrow, take the Disciples and clean up the corpses on the mountain to avoid breeding a plague.”

Li Qingqiu spoke. After finishing, he turned and walked in the direction where the last Qiyue Alliance Disciple had fled.

After taking just two steps, Li Qingqiu seemed to remember something. He looked back at Yang Jueding and said, “One more favor: search all these corpses to see if there’s anything valuable and bring it all back to the mountain. Also, you must not reveal a single thing about tonight’s events to the Disciples, including my Junior Brother and Junior Sister. Don’t tell them what I’m doing either; just say I’m patrolling the mountain.”

With those words, Li Qingqiu turned and left with his sword.

The night was vast. Yang Jueding looked at Li Qingqiu’s back and opened his mouth, but he couldn’t say a single word.

After witnessing Li Qingqiu’s terrifying strength, he felt that even if Li Qingqiu failed his trip to the Seven Peaks Alliance, he would be able to retreat safely.

He stood there, watching Li Qingqiu disappear over the top of the ridge. Only then did he snap out of it. He turned to look at the corpses covering the ground, and his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

He suddenly felt that the task Li Qingqiu had assigned him was no easier than the slaughter.

On the other side, three miles away.

The last Qiyue Alliance Disciple was fleeing across a hillside. Because he was too agitated, his foot was tripped by a stone along the way, and he rolled straight down the slope, stumbling and bumping all the way.

By the time he finally stopped, he felt pain all over his body, as if his bones were about to fall apart.

While gasping in pain, he struggled to climb up. As soon as he raised his head, his eyes widened, and despair flooded his face.

Following his gaze, Li Qingqiu, clad in a straw raincoat on the hill, was looking down at him with sword in hand. The dark clouds in the night sky had just dispersed, and the bright moon hung high above Li Qingqiu’s head.