What a coincidence?
The Longbrow Real Person’s heart surged with wild joy. He had never imagined the two array patterns would truly come together.
The Dragon Bodhisattva was equally overjoyed. He said, “You two are not only my fellow countrymen but also my lucky stars. With this complete Saint’s array pattern, the Yin-Yang Sect cannot lay a finger on me.”
“Hmph, Yin-Yang Sect, just you wait. One day, when I become an unparalleled expert, I shall make you pay.”
“It is not safe for you to stay here either. Come with me!”
With that, the Dragon Bodhisattva moved to activate the array pattern.
“Senior, leave such a minor task to this poor Daoist!” the Longbrow Real Person said with a hearty laugh.
“You?” The Dragon Bodhisattva’s gaze held some doubt, as if to say, can you manage it?
Ye Qiu quickly explained, “Senior may not know this, but the Daoist obtained a wondrous tome in the cultivation world. It records all the teleportation coordinates of the realm, a total of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, all committed to memory by the Daoist.”
“Is that so?” The Dragon Bodhisattva immediately asked the Longbrow Real Person, “Do you know the coordinates for the Azure Cloud Sword Sect?”
The Longbrow Real Person nodded. “I do.”
“Excellent.” The Dragon Bodhisattva handed the array pattern directly to the Longbrow Real Person. He said, “Activate it at once. We shall head to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
The Longbrow Real Person promptly activated the array pattern. At once, a brilliant white light emerged, and he then adjusted the coordinates slightly.
The Dragon Bodhisattva stepped into the array pattern. Seeing Ye Qiu rooted to the spot, he said, “Foolish boy, what are you standing there for? Hurry in. I shall show you the sights of the greatest sect in the Eastern Wastes.”
“Thank you, Senior.” Ye Qiu feigned delight and swiftly stepped into the array pattern, positioning himself behind the Dragon Bodhisattva.
The Longbrow Real Person turned back to Ye Qiu. “Little rascal, are you ready?”
Ye Qiu nodded. “Ready.”
The Longbrow Real Person said, “Then let us be off. Here we go.”
Boom!
At that instant, Ye Qiu suddenly drew the God-Striking Whip and lashed it with all his might across the Dragon Bodhisattva’s back.
The Dragon Bodhisattva was only one major realm above Ye Qiu, and after Ye Qiu’s earlier performance, he had dropped all defences. Thus, Ye Qiu’s sudden strike caught him completely off guard.
Crack!
The Dragon Bodhisattva took the whip to his back and crashed through the window, hurtling outwards.
Seizing the moment, the Longbrow Real Person bellowed towards the outside, “The Dragon Bodhisattva is here. Do not let him escape!”
In the void.
Su Monyan stood atop the wooden boat with the three Nascent Soul Realm powerhouses, watching intently. At the shout, the three experts struck simultaneously.
Clang!
The middle-aged man drew the long sword from his back and slashed towards the Dragon Bodhisattva.
In the moment of peril, the Dragon Bodhisattva shifted sideways with haste, evading the sword qi. Unexpectedly, the other elder darted in from the side and kicked the Dragon Bodhisattva squarely in the ribs with thunderous speed.
Thud!
The Dragon Bodhisattva took the kick and spat blood at once, his body sent soaring uncontrollably into the sky.
The crone thrust her right hand forth with ferocity, her five fingers like heavenly claws, clamping onto the Dragon Bodhisattva’s throat in an instant. She gripped him like an eagle seizing a chick.
Then, the crone swung her left hand and delivered two resounding slaps to the Dragon Bodhisattva’s face.
“Run now, why don’t you? Got the guts to try again?”
The Dragon Bodhisattva was left dazed and seeing stars from the slaps, half his teeth knocked loose.
His appearance was utterly wretched.
Ignoring the crone, the Dragon Bodhisattva twisted his head with effort towards the inn and roared in unwillingness, “Why!”
He still could not fathom why Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person had betrayed him so abruptly.
Ye Qiu stood by the window, smiling as he said, “Dragon Bodhisattva, we cannot afford to offend the Yin-Yang Sect. You are on your own!”
The Longbrow Real Person chimed in, “Dragon Bodhisattva, for all the heinous deeds you have committed, everyone has the right to slay you.”
The Dragon Bodhisattva trembled with rage. “You bastards, you have doomed me.”
Pfft!
Before the Dragon Bodhisattva could finish, he spewed a torrent of blood and fainted on the spot.
The crone acted swiftly, placing several seals upon the Dragon Bodhisattva’s body before tossing the unconscious man onto the wooden boat.
Next, her gaze fell upon Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person. She said, “You two discovered the Dragon Bodhisattva. Speak, what reward do you desire?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Senior is too kind! Capturing the Dragon Bodhisattva relied entirely on you seniors. This junior dares not claim credit, so no reward is needed.”
The crone chuckled. “I did not expect you to have such a silver tongue, boy. Young as you are, your cultivation is passable enough. Why not come with this old one to the Yin-Yang Sect?”
At this, Su Monyan and the other two Nascent Soul experts exchanged surprised glances. They thought, is Granny intending to take this lad as a disciple?
What luck for the boy!
Unexpectedly, Ye Qiu refused.
Ye Qiu first bowed to the crone, then said, “Many thanks for your kind offer, Senior. However, this junior has a friend whose time is short. I wish to accompany her on her final journey. Should the opportunity arise in the future, this junior shall certainly visit the Yin-Yang Sect to pay respects to you.”
“Ah, like that!” The crone seemed somewhat disappointed.
Ye Qiu continued, “Our encounter with the Dragon Bodhisattva was pure chance. This junior has heard he slew many Yin-Yang Sect disciples. He is a grave offender. Please, Senior, see that he faces no mercy.”
“Rest assured. I shall bring him back to the sect for the Sixth Elder to handle.” Here, the crone eyed Ye Qiu appraisingly and asked, “Boy, what is your name?”
“This junior is Bai Yujing,” Ye Qiu said without hesitation.
“Little Bai, regardless, your aid in capturing the Dragon Bodhisattva was invaluable. When you have time, you must come to the Yin-Yang Sect headquarters to find me. This old one has no disciples yet.”
With that, the crone waved her palm, and a black shadow shot swiftly towards Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu tensed, thinking the crone meant to strike him. But the shadow halted before him, bearing no killing intent.
Only then did Ye Qiu see it was a token.
The token was fist-sized, with black edges and a yin-yang fish carved in the centre, bearing the small characters “Yin Hua” upon the fish.
What did this mean?
Ye Qiu felt puzzled.
The crone explained, “This is this old one’s personal token, forged by the Sixth Elder from the mystic iron of the Eastern Sea. Holding it allows free passage across Yin-Yang Sect territory. Even the city lord of Sifang City must bow in greeting upon seeing it.”
“Little Bai, for your help in capturing the Dragon Bodhisattva, I gift you this token.”
“Bring it to the Yin-Yang Sect headquarters in future, and none shall bar your way.”
Ye Qiu had not anticipated such a windfall. He hastily accepted the token and said gratefully, “Many thanks, Senior.”
The crone turned to Su Monyan. “Eighteenth Holy Son, let us return.”
“Very well,” Su Monyan nodded.
Before departing.
The crone said to Ye Qiu once more, “Little Bai, I am Yin Hua Granny. Remember to come to the Yin-Yang Sect soon to find me.”
Soon, the wind-riding boat cleaved through the air and vanished between heaven and earth.
