The moment He Heng saw Yan Qing’an, he instinctively called out, “Master… Master?”
The next second, a forced smile appeared on Yan Qing’an’s face. He walked over to He Heng, secretly pulling his arm, and apologized to Wan Gu Dan Sheng:
“I’m sorry for not disciplining my unruly disciple well, causing him to trouble you.”
He Heng: “…”
What is going on?
Why does it seem like he just escaped from a mental institution?
After saying that, Yan Qing’an pulled He Heng to the corridor of the house.
Upon waking up, he heard that He Heng went to the Yuntai Mountain for the sect’s grand competition and immediately rode his sword to catch up.
After all, He Heng was his own disciple. Now that those demonic creatures were roaming everywhere in the mortal realm, what if He Heng caused trouble again?
When Yan Qing’an arrived, he saw He Heng following the old Taoist into the academy. He intended to take He Heng away right after his demonstration, but he didn’t expect He Heng to blurt out, “A man’s influence affects my sword speed.” leaving him dumbfounded.
Over the past two years, every morning, he diligently imparted knowledge of Dao and righteousness. Not to say that he was an excellent teacher, but at least he was dedicated to his teachings.
And then he just comes out with, “A man’s influence affects my sword speed.”?
When Yan Qing’an came to his senses, He Heng had already been taken away by Wan Gu Dan Sheng, and he thought this was bad.
Don’t let the two of them end up fighting.
Yan Qing’an wanted to go in and take He Heng away, but he was blocked by the disciples of the Clear One Sect. He had no choice but to wait until the two finished their competition before entering.
Feeling a bit anxious after searching for a long time, Yan Qing’an looked up and questioned He Heng:
“Why did you come to participate in the sect competition on Yuntai Mountain? And why did you break the sect prohibition left by the Sect Leader?”
He Heng had come prepared to hand over the medicinal herbs and scriptures to Yan Qing’an, but upon hearing what Yan Qing’an said, he too was momentarily stunned.
He had come to find a method for Yan Qing’an to repair his meridians, and now, with Yan Qing’an’s current predicament, He Heng felt as if he was being treated as if he had just escaped from a mental institution. He wasn’t without temper, and at that moment, he felt a bit frustrated.
Moreover, how was he going to explain the fact that he was looking for medicine for him?
Was he suddenly turning over a new leaf and showing kindness when he used to be a scoundrel who only did bad things?
He couldn’t possibly claim he had a split personality, could he?
After much thought, he couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation.
In the first instance of tasting the bitterness of being unable to speak despite having a point, He Heng suddenly developed a bit of a temper. A person with a temper naturally wouldn’t speak very kindly.
The next moment, He Heng immediately shoved the medicinal herbs and scriptures into Yan Qing’an’s arms, turned his face away, and said with a pout, “Wasn’t I expelled from the sect? So, why shouldn’t it be my freedom?”
As Yan Qing’an felt something suddenly thrust into his arms, he was initially startled. A quick glance made him realize it was the unique book on meridian repair and the medicinal herbs from Wan Gu Dan Sheng. Following that, Yan Qing’an also noticed the wound on He Heng’s left arm.
Although the wound wasn’t deep, it was bleeding, and it looked quite painful, probably from the recent fight.
In that moment, only one thought remained in Yan Qing’an’s mind: Did He Heng purposefully come to Yuntai Mountain to participate in the sect competition to find a way to repair his internal energy?
If so, why would he do that?
And why wouldn’t he communicate properly?
With these thoughts in mind, Yan Qing’an raised his head and saw He Heng, hands in pockets, head turned away, with an annoyed expression. Thinking back to He Heng’s previous words and the current situation, Yan Qing’an couldn’t help but feel his anger rising.
Is this the disciple he taught?
Why does he have to be so infuriating instead of communicating properly?
In the heat of the moment, Yan Qing’an blurted out, “You’re right, I can’t control you.”
“Get out.”
He Heng’s response to an argument was quite swift.
Upon hearing this, he immediately looked around and retorted, “Get out where?”
Yan Qing’an’s question caught He Heng off guard, and he suddenly realized that this wasn’t his own dwelling at Wang An Ju Residence. It was someone else’s territory, and it seemed… there might not be a valid reason for him to leave.
After hesitating for a while, he finally managed to say, “Fine, I’ll leave!”
However, after saying this, He Heng noticed that Yan Qing’an didn’t actually leave. Instead, he pursed his lips, stared at He Heng with big angry and sulky eyes.
This left He Heng somewhat puzzled.
First, he wanted him to leave, then he said he could stay, and now he said he would leave, but he didn’t actually leave. What was going on?
Strange and mysterious,
How can someone be so difficult to figure out?
In the midst of He Heng’s confusion, the two stood in place for a while. Finally, Yan Qing’an, still pouting like an annoyed pufferfish, walked over to He Heng. Irritated, he tore off a piece of cloth from his sleeve, grabbed He Heng’s injured left arm, and quickly bandaged it.
Honestly,
He doesn’t even know pain when he’s bleeding; he’s just infuriating!
Ever since He Heng started practicing inverted sword techniques, he felt that his disciple had undergone a significant change. The old “He Heng” who could barely hide his aggressive nature even in normal times, seemed to have transformed into someone else. Yan Qing’an couldn’t quite explain it, but the infuriating aspects were still very much present.
The moment after finishing bandaging He Heng’s wound, Yan Qing’an heard He Heng’s deep voice coming from above:
“You’re quite forceful; you almost strangled me.”
Yan Qing’an: “…”
Feeling exasperated, he immediately turned around to leave, but He Heng grabbed his arm. He Heng pulled his arm and, in a teasing tone, said,
“You’re just going to leave me alone like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll go do something naughty?”
Yan Qing’an: “…What naughty thing are you planning to do?”
Just then, a few junior disciples were drawn to the sound of the two arguing and sneaked over to peek through the door.
Yan Qing’an had just intended to stop He Heng from saying anything more, but before he could voice his advice, he heard He Heng solemnly declare:
“I know demonic practice, be careful. If you make me angry, I’ll turn everything within a ten-mile radius from raw to ripe…”
Before He Heng could finish his sentence, the surrounding junior disciples were already giggling with their hands over their mouths. In that moment, Yan Qing’an’s temples throbbed, afraid that He Heng would say something embarrassing in the next second. He immediately turned around and covered He Heng’s mouth,
“Let’s go home!”
In the recent period, Sect Leader Nie had successfully led most of the demon warriors to seal them off. However, a few managed to slip through the cracks. These elusive creatures were often cunning, adept at disguises, or possessed the ability to conceal themselves, making it challenging for the members of the Huayang Sword Sect to deal with them.
Sect Leader Nie, in collaboration with several other sects, initiated a widespread search for the escaped demons. They issued orders for each sect to report immediately upon receiving any information.
Sect Leader Nie believed that demons, at their core, were just monsters. No matter how well they hid, over time, they would inevitably reveal their ferocious and bloodthirsty nature. All they had to do was wait.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the demons to reveal themselves.
There were reports of mysterious disappearances of villagers in the Huainan inland area, specifically in the Red River Village. Additionally, small demons such as snake demons, fox demons, and various others, like rats, rabbits, lizards, and yellow mice, were frequently found with their hearts and lungs removed.
According to the assessments of the elders from various sects, it seemed that escaped demons were abducting villagers and extracting the inner cores of these small demons to enhance their own cultivation.
In recent days, with the exclusive guidance of Wan Gu Dan Sheng, Yan Qing’an had recovered quite a bit in terms of his cultivation. Therefore, he decided to send He Heng to investigate the truth behind the incidents in Red River Village.
Upon hearing that Yan Qing’an intended to deal with the demons alone, He Heng immediately expressed his displeasure,
“Master, going alone to deal with demons is the kind of scenario that usually ends with the master getting captured by monsters in novels, isn’t it?”
Taking advantage of the conversation between Sect Leader Nie and Yan Qing’an, He Heng, disregarding the attempts of the junior disciples to stop him, barged in.
“No way, I’m going with you.”
Seeing who had entered, Sect Leader Nie was momentarily speechless and choked:
“…”
After a brief silence, he pointed at He Heng and looked at Yan Qing’an,
“If I remember correctly, he was the one who broke the seal and released the monsters, right?”
Yan Qing’an nodded somewhat awkwardly, unsure of how to explain He Heng’s recent unusual behavior to Sect Leader Nie.
At that moment, He Heng walked directly to Sect Leader Nie, taking two steps forward and said in a resolute tone:
“I have turned over a new leaf.”
“Old man… Oh, no! Senior Nie, just let me go. Look at how busy you Taoists are usually. Letting my master go alone, what if he gets captured by demons? If he gets captured, I’ll have to go save him… Ugh!”
Seeing Sect Leader Nie’s face growing darker, Yan Qing’an quickly covered He Heng’s mouth, pulling him closer to himself, fearing he might say something shocking again.
Observing the scene, He Heng removed Yan Qing’an’s hand with a dissatisfied look, giving Yan Qing’an a silent reproach for not allowing him to finish his statement.
The next moment, Sect Leader Nie said,
“Letting you go is not impossible.”
Hearing this, He Heng’s eyes lit up. Then, Sect Leader Nie continued,
“But I have a condition…”
“You must wear this.”
Saying so, he took out a peculiarly patterned bracelet from his pocket.
He Heng took the bracelet and examined it for a moment, but he couldn’t figure out its significance.
Sect Leader Nie: “This bracelet can suppress your demonic soul at critical moments. It can also seal your spiritual roots and cultivation. Only your master knows the techniques to control this bracelet.”
“Okay.”
He Heng readily agreed and promptly put the bracelet on his wrist.
Isn’t this like a tight hoop?
Why would they use such a cliché item?
In the end, He Heng and Yan Qing’an reached an agreement. The two decided to set out as soon as possible to avoid further harm to innocent villagers. That night, after packing their bags, they wielded their swords and headed to Red River Village.
To avoid alerting the demons, they didn’t inform anyone before leaving.
Flying swiftly on their swords, they reached the outskirts of Red River Village in just a couple of hours.
The first thing that caught their eyes was a desolate mountain emitting a heavy atmosphere akin to a graveyard. At the entrance of the mountain, a shaky and nearly falling road sign was planted, bearing crooked blood-red characters:
“Red River Village.”
Seeing this, He Heng and Yan Qing’an exchanged surprised glances. Immediately, they followed the winding path upward, prepared to investigate the situation.
As far as they knew, Red River Village derived its name from a winding freshwater river running through the village, with fertile and reddish-hued soil along its banks.
This region had always been known for its abundant food production. Surrounded by varying heights of small hills, these hills were rich in crops like bamboo shoots, various vegetables, and fruits. The locals often said, “Rely on the mountain for sustenance.”
However, what they witnessed sharply contrasted with the rumors. A strange silence permeated the mountainous forest, with an indescribable eeriness. Thick miasma and black mist filled the air amidst the withered and yellowed trees. If an ordinary person without cultivation walked through these mountains, they might faint before reaching far.
Moreover, as they ascended, the black mist thickened, and the miasma grew more intense.
At that moment, a soft “squeak” sound came from under He Heng’s foot, as if he had stepped on something pliable.
This sensation made him extremely uncomfortable, easily evoking thoughts of the soft bodies and limbs of humans.
Yan Qing’an clearly noticed the noise. He pulled He Heng’s hand, and the two of them lowered their heads to see a giant lizard demon lying in a pile of dry grass, its belly opened.
The lizard demon’s body was covered with densely packed, dark green and black tough scales. As rumored, its inner core and heart had been removed, and the remaining organs were all mixed together, presenting a gruesome and bloody sight.
He Heng found the sight nauseating. He thought that if this creature were uploaded to any modern video platform, it would likely need to be censored.
Thinking of this, he said to Yan Qing’an,
“Master, could this be the demon we’re looking for?”
Having said that, he crouched down, preparing to examine the creature closely.
The lizard demon was about the size of a fully grown man.
Its size made it look more like a crocodile than a lizard. However, the scales on the back of its limbs appeared somewhat uneven.
Seeing this, He Heng flipped the lizard demon over.
In the next instant, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Under the dark and tough claws, there were faint flesh-colored patterns, appearing somewhat like…
Human skin.
At that moment, a cautious voice from Yan Qing’an interrupted,
“Wait a minute!”
He Heng looked up at him, “What is it?”
“Do you hear that?” Yan Qing’an pointed to a rapidly moving black shadow in the thicket of withered trees, his brows furrowed.
“There’s something there.”
Immediately, the sound of rustling leaves echoed in the forest. The black shadow swiftly moved, seemingly about to escape their field of vision. Yan Qing’an decisively stepped onto his sword.
“Chase it!”
Hearing this, He Heng also stepped onto his sword, following closely behind Yan Qing’an.
As they chased the mysterious figure, it became apparent that it wasn’t an ordinary demon. Its speed was astonishing, matching the pace of their sword flight. For a moment, the two couldn’t close the distance.
When they reached halfway up the mountain, the creature darted into a stone cave. Yan Qing’an immediately pursued it, flying inside.
However, just as He Heng was about to follow, a thick fog suddenly rose at the cave entrance, as if someone had thrown a smoke bomb, completely disorienting him.
“Cough, cough,” He Heng coughed a few times in the smoke, then shouted into the cave, “Master!”
He Heng sensed trouble. Yan Qing’an hadn’t responded much, and if he allowed him to face the demon alone at this moment, Yan Qing’an might be at a disadvantage.
Realizing this, He Heng immediately made a decision, dispersing the thick fog. As he prepared to step into the cave, he heard a somewhat panicked voice from inside,
“Don’t… don’t come in!”
Seeing this, He Heng stood at the entrance, bewildered.
Why wouldn’t Yan Qing’an let him in? Could something be happening inside?
However, upon closer consideration, He Heng realized that his master’s words might not be entirely straightforward. Sometimes, the meaning could be interpreted in the opposite way.
For example, when Yan Qing’an said, “Then I’ll leave” last time, he clearly didn’t want to leave and was merely pretending to be reluctant.
Learning from the previous lesson, He Heng understood that sometimes he needed to interpret Yan Qing’an’s words in reverse.
If he said to leave, it meant he should stay.
If he said not to come in, it meant he should enter quickly.
This time, he wouldn’t be fooled.
With this in mind, He Heng took a step forward, kicking off the loose stones on the mountain wall. His figure soared through the air and into the cave.
Upon entering the depths of the cave and seeing Yan Qing’an’s transformation,
“Mas…ter?”
He Heng stood frozen in place, even dropping his sword with a loud “clang!”.
In that moment, he witnessed two large white ears emerging from Yan Qing’an’s pitch-black head. Simultaneously, Yan Qing’an appeared bewildered, attempting to hide the large tail that had unexpectedly appeared.
In the split second when their eyes met, a faint blush rapidly spread from He Heng’s neck to his ears. Without delay, Yan Qing’an hastily tucked away the tail, which, no matter where he placed it, peeked out, revealing a furry, pointed tip.
He Heng, just by observing from a distance, felt an irresistible urge. Seeing Yan Qing’an’s ears and tail, he didn’t find anything strange. He didn’t even think to ask if Yan Qing’an was under the influence of the monster’s spell or what should be done to turn Yan Qing’an’s tail back.
At that moment, only one thought remained in He Heng’s mind:
‘Master’s ears are so big, they must be very comfortable to squeeze, right?’
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