Bang!
After Immortal Longbrow floored Lin Da-niao with one punch, he immediately pounced, pinning Lin Da-niao to the ground.
“This old Taoist isn’t even dead yet and you’re already wailing like it’s my funeral. What are you plotting?”
With those words, he swung another fist.
“This old Taoist comes from a righteous sect. When did I ever say I’d take hundreds of wives and concubines? Why are you slandering my reputation?”
Bang!
Another punch landed.
“You even told me to go in peace. You really want me dead that badly?”
Bang!
Another punch.
“You little toothpick, looks like your skin’s been itching for a beating.” Immortal Longbrow’s fists fell like rain, thudding endlessly against Lin Da-niao’s body.
Lin Da-niao, ridden and pummeled without any chance to fight back, hugged his head and howled miserably.
Everyone who saw this couldn’t help but laugh.
Only after a good long while, once Immortal Longbrow finally tired himself out, did he climb off Lin Da-niao.
To everyone’s surprise, Lin Da-niao weakly said, “Second Brother, feel better now? If not, you can hit me twice more.”
Immortal Longbrow gave a cold humph. “Masochist.”
With that, he walked over to Ye Qiu and bragged with a wide grin, “Little brat, this poor Taoist has broken through to mid Grotto-Heaven stage. Impressive, right?”
“Your breakthrough speed still isn’t as fast as mine. Impressive my foot,” Ye Qiu teased with a laugh.
Immortal Longbrow turned to Mo Tianji. “Junior Brother, isn’t your Senior Brother impressive?”
“Very impressive!” Mo Tianji smiled.
“That’s why I like you, kid. Always honest, always tells the truth.” Immortal Longbrow’s tone shifted, his eyebrows dancing with delight. “Keep that honest spirit alive. Don’t be like certain people who only know how to mock others.”
As he spoke, he shot Ye Qiu a sideways glance, lifted his chin, gave a proud snort through his nose, and looked utterly smug.
Ye Qiu raised a fist and shook it threateningly.
Immortal Longbrow jumped in fright, quickly scurried over to the Qingyun Sword Sect disciples, and announced loudly, “Brothers and sisters, come, let’s keep drinking and playing finger-guessing games!”
Soon the area rang with cheerful laughter once more.
Ye Qiu turned to Yun Xi and said, “Look at him. He’s only just reached mid Grotto-Heaven and his tail’s already pointing at the sky. If he ever becomes a Saint one day, who knows how insufferably cocky this old thing will get?”
Yun Xi laughed. “The Taoist priest is actually quite amusing. He’s like a mischievous old child.”
Ye Qiu nodded. “The old fellow does have a bit of that old-child vibe, but calling him an old mischievous child isn’t quite accurate.”
“Then what should we call him?” Yun Xi asked.
Ye Qiu smiled faintly. “Shameless old bastard!”
Yun Xi giggled delicately, then said, “You’re terrible, talking about your own friend like that.”
“Spend enough time with him and you’ll realise my description is spot-on.” Ye Qiu watched Immortal Longbrow happily drinking and playing games with the Qingyun disciples, a smile appearing on his own face. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the old thing this happy.”
“I really hope he can stay this happy forever.”
“We went through life-and-death crises together several times back in the mortal world and always came out fine. Honestly, seeing his cultivation rise makes me genuinely glad. After all, in this cultivation world the weak are prey to the strong. The stronger you are, the better your chances of surviving.”
Yun Xi gently squeezed Ye Qiu’s hand and said softly, “Why not reconsider and come with me to Qingyun Sword Sect?”
“Once we’re there, I’ll look after you both. You won’t face so many dangers.”
Ye Qiu replied gratefully, “Xi-er, thank you for the offer. I still want to make my own way for now. If one day I really can’t keep going, I’ll come find you at Qingyun Sword Sect.”
That was what he said, but his heart thought differently.
“Silly girl, do you think I don’t want to go to Qingyun Sword Sect? I’m afraid your father would chop me into pieces!”
Yun Xi’s father was a Saint-level expert. If he truly decided to kill Ye Qiu, with Ye Qiu’s current cultivation there would be no resistance possible. He would vanish without a trace.
Yes, right now he had enemies everywhere and wandering the cultivation world was full of danger, but if he went to Qingyun Sword Sect and entered their territory, he would either become meat on Yun Xi’s father’s chopping block, or become Yun Xi’s “plaything”.
In both cases, he would be at someone else’s mercy.
The only difference was that her father might take his life, while Yun Xi would take his… kidneys!
“I’ll wait for you at Qingyun Sword Sect until the end of time,” Yun Xi said.
Just then, Immortal Longbrow came over.
“Little brat, there’s something I want to ask you.” He continued, “I’m already immune to all poisons. Why did eating that demon beast inner core still poison me?”
Before Ye Qiu could answer, Yun Xi spoke up. “Priest, your immunity only works against ordinary poisons.”
“A demon beast inner core contains the entire lifetime essence of that beast. The Thousand-Li Scarlet you faced was at Grotto-Heaven level, far stronger than you, so you couldn’t withstand its toxicity.”
Immortal Longbrow had an epiphany. “So that’s how it is. Many thanks for the explanation, fairy.”
Yun Xi smiled gently. “No need to be polite, Priest. You and Ye-lang are brothers through life and death, so naturally you are my friend too. Thank you for always looking after him. If you ever visit Qingyun Sword Sect, I’ll definitely gift you several treasures.”
Immortal Longbrow loved face, and hearing this, his smile became so wide his mouth nearly split. “The fairy is not only beautiful but speaks beautifully too. Little brat, you should learn from her.”
He turned back to Yun Xi. “Fairy, rest assured. This poor Taoist will keep an eye on the little brat and make sure he doesn’t go chasing flowers and willows.”
“If he ever dares wrong you, this poor Taoist will be the first to chop… no, I mean, I’ll watch him so closely he’ll never get the chance to wrong you.”
Yun Xi covered her mouth and laughed. “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Priest.”
“No need for thanks. Just remember your promise today. When this poor Taoist visits Qingyun Sword Sect in the future, I hope the fairy will send me a few more treasures.” He laughed heartily. “This poor Taoist is a vulgar man with no other hobbies, only a love for treasures.”
Yun Xi agreed at once. “No problem at all.”
“Second Brother, did you have to hit so hard? You nearly blinded me,” Lin Da-niao complained as he walked over, sporting two black eyes like a panda.
“If this old Taoist hadn’t held back, you’d be dead already. Damn it, I wasn’t even dead and you started mourning me. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil,” Immortal Longbrow snapped irritably.
Ye Qiu chuckled and asked, “I heard earlier that Wei Wuji and the others attacked you because Da-niao obtained a heavenly book related to the secrets of Immortality Mountain. Is that true?”
Lin Da-niao nodded. “It’s true.”
“Where’s the heavenly book?” Ye Qiu said. “Take it out and let me see.”
Lin Da-niao immediately pulled a set of white bones from his spatial ring and tossed them in front of Ye Qiu.
“What’s this supposed to mean?” Ye Qiu frowned.
Lin Da-niao pointed at the bones. “Big Brother, this is the heavenly book!”
