Chapter 34: Retempering the Body on the Return Journey

After interrogating the two Qi-Refining stage cultivators, Qin Anyu and Qin Lingxue walked briskly toward Mojuan City.

Walking beside Qin Anyu, Qin Lingxue turned her head to glance at him from time to time, her eyes filled with an unreadable expression. It felt as if she were meeting her older brother for the first time; beneath his honest and simple exterior, there lay a soul she found entirely unfamiliar.

After being watched one too many times, Qin Anyu turned his head and asked, "Instead of watching the road, why do you keep looking at me?"

"Big Brother, how did you manage to capture two Qi-Refining stage cultivators alive? And one of them, Liu Hu, was at the middle stage!"

"It was pitch black. I just projected enough presence to intimidate them, then struck fast to knock them unconscious."

"It’s that simple?"

"It’s just that simple."

"Big Brother, why didn't you kill them?"

"They weren't involved in the operation against Father and Mother."

"But they will seek revenge in the future."

"If I can capture them alive, I can certainly kill them. They’ve already revealed some information about the Putian Sect; they won't dare mention being captured. They will likely claim they never saw us and were merely injured in a sneak attack."

"Big Brother, I never imagined their goal was to unify the Lingqiao Plane. In that case, the Song State is in danger."

"That has nothing to do with us, as long as they don't provoke us."

"Big Brother, when are we going to the Dali Kingdom?"

"With our current strength, we won't be able to achieve anything there. It's better to improve our cultivation first."

"But Father and Mother could be in danger at any moment."

"Since they went to such great lengths and suffered such casualties to take them, it means they won't kill them easily."

"Big Brother, we’ve both left the sect. Advancing to the Qi-Refining stage now feels like a distant dream, and there’s little hope of saving Father and Mother."

"Little sister, don't be so pessimistic. The Qi-Refining stage is simple, and the Foundation Establishment stage is also simple. Just follow me."

"..."

The two hurried along. By the time they returned to Mojuan City, the sky was just beginning to pale. With the streets filling with pedestrians and breakfast stalls opening, they ate before returning to the inn, where they slept until well past noon.

After reviewing everything, Qin Anyu felt that staying here was no longer meaningful. Aside from the magnet he had ordered, all other matters were settled. It would be better to take Qin Lingxue to the foot of Deathly Cliff to re-temper her nine stages of Qi-nourishing, then wait for the magnet to arrive to complete the tenth stage.

***

Hearing Qin Anyu suggest returning to Tanzhou Prefecture first, Qin Lingxue was puzzled. "Big Brother, it’s not as if we lack silver now. Why not wait a few days to collect the magnet before leaving?"

"I’ve found a better place for you to cultivate. As for the magnet, I can come back for it myself."

"The round trip takes six days; wouldn't that be a waste?"

"It won't take me six days. For you, six days is a long time."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lingxue stopped trying to persuade him. After finishing lunch, they left Mojuan City and headed toward Tanzhou Prefecture. Just like when they left the Wuyuan Sect, Qin Lingxue rode a horse while Qin Anyu ran on foot, carrying his crude sword.

Watching the back of her brother as he ran stubbornly to her front-left, Qin Lingxue’s mind was filled with thoughts. "Has Big Brother always cultivated in such a brutal manner? Compared to the second brother and me, his training is far more arduous."

"The Linxia Sect likely lacks proper cultivation techniques, which is why he has to use this savage method."

"Is his formidable combat power related to this training style?"

"To be able to capture two Qi-Refining stage cultivators—even the second brother is no match for him, and I doubt any elder in the Wuyuan Sect could do what he did. Is this really the result of such training?"

"Hm... why does his stride look so steady? The distance of every step is identical, and every placement is so firm and solid..."

One running with long strides, the other observing from horseback, they entered Liuguang County. As dusk approached, with over two hundred miles of mountainous terrain ahead, Qin Anyu decided to rest there for the night.

Qin Lingxue led her horse beside Qin Anyu, constantly scanning their surroundings. "Big Brother, do you think we can find any clues here?"

"We have already gathered everything we could. The people operating in the open within the province and the prefecture have been identified. As for those hiding deeper, we would need to capture Zhou Wuqi, but that is no longer necessary."

"He is a late-stage Qi-Refining cultivator."

Qin Anyu patted her shoulder. "You will soon learn that a late-stage Qi-Refining cultivator is nothing before you. Let’s not dwell on that; let’s find food and lodging."

Qin Lingxue was bewildered by the first part of his statement. "Will I really be that powerful?"

However, upon hearing the mention of food, her stomach let out a rebellious growl, and her attention was entirely captured. The street was filled with rich aromas, teasing her appetite.

"Big Brother, this Liuguang County is very lively. With this volume of people and shops, it’s no worse than Mojuan City or the prefecture capital."

"Liuguang County is only about a hundred miles from Mojuan City, and prices are cheaper here. Many people stay the night here to save on expenses."

***

Following their usual routine, the two first found an inn to stable the horse before heading out to find food. To their surprise, lodging was not easy to find; they asked at five consecutive inns, all of which were full.

When they reached the sixth, the innkeeper said the standard rooms were booked, leaving only a small courtyard, though it cost fifty taels of silver for a night. Qin Anyu asked to be shown the place.

When his parents were alive, he had focused solely on cultivation and never concerned himself with money. Now, silver was merely a number to him, provided it met his requirements for safety and comfort. To his surprise, the layout and facilities of the courtyard far exceeded his expectations. It had six rooms, each with a unique design.

According to the attendant who led them there, a Qi-Refining stage senior had once lived in this courtyard for over a year, and the room layouts had been modified at his expense.

Qin Anyu immediately asked the name of that cultivator. The attendant shook his head. "I haven't been here long; only the innkeeper would know."

After confirming they would take the courtyard, Qin Anyu asked the innkeeper the cultivator's name. The innkeeper shook his head. "How could a commoner like me know the name of such an exalted personage? When he arrived three years ago, he ordered us to address him as Master Zhou."

*Master Zhou?*

A flash of inspiration struck Qin Anyu. He took paper and a brush from the innkeeper’s desk and began to sketch. As he drew, he confirmed the details with the innkeeper. Finally, he confirmed that this "Master Zhou" was indeed Zhou Wuqi—the organizer who had abducted Qin Ju and Dai Linglong.

"So, the Putian Sect had already infiltrated the Song State, but because of the state's crackdown, they had to operate in the shadows. The incident with Dai Linglong and Qin Ju was merely a temporary task for them."

After taking Qin Lingxue to eat all the snacks she enjoyed and having a hearty dinner, the two returned to the courtyard.

"Little sister, your nine stages need to be re-tempered. Let’s start with the flesh and bone tempering tonight, what do you say?"

"Big Brother, I feel my nine stages are already perfectly tempered. Why do we need to do it again?"

"You'll understand once you experience it. Trust me, it’s the right thing to do."

"Alright then... Wow, Big Brother, why are there thirty-seven medicinal herbs? Shouldn't there only be twenty-four? Just the fact that these herbs are at least fifty years old must create a completely different effect."

"..."