Ye Qiu took the Sect Master’s Token, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He never expected to take charge of Dragon Gate in this manner.
Back in Yangcheng, before the battle between Nine Thousand Years and Wei Lenan, the Great Elder of the Witch God Sect, Nine Thousand Years had also handed the Sect Master’s Token to Ye Qiu, though Ye Qiu later returned it.
Unexpectedly, after only a few months of knowing each other, they were now separated forever.
Ye Qiu understood that Nine Thousand Years entrusted him with the Sect Master’s Token not only out of trust but also in the hope that he would lead Dragon Gate’s disciples to expand their territory.
“Nine Thousand Years, rest assured, I will not let you down. I will carry forward your aspirations, leading Dragon Gate’s disciples to crush the Witch God Sect, sweep through the Divine Land, and unite all underground forces.”
Ye Qiu put away the Sect Master’s Token and asked Qinglong, “You mentioned earlier that Nine Thousand Years went alone to the Witch God Sect’s headquarters to verify something?”
“Yes,” Qinglong nodded.
Ye Qiu asked further, “Do you know what it was that Nine Thousand Years wanted to verify?”
Qinglong shook his head, saying, “I don’t know, but it was clear that this matter was extremely important to him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken such a risk to infiltrate the Witch God Sect’s headquarters alone.”
Ye Qiu frowned slightly.
What exactly was Nine Thousand Years trying to verify?
Ye Qiu continued, “Before Nine Thousand Years left, apart from leaving the Sect Master’s Token, did he leave anything else or say anything?”
Qinglong replied, “Besides instructing me to give you the Sect Master’s Token, he also left an iron box with Qilin, asking Qilin to pass it to you.”
“By the way, how is Qilin?”
Tang Fei said, “Qilin is injured and unconscious, in the tent next door.”
“I’ll go see him,” Qinglong said, struggling to stand, only to realise his lower body wouldn’t move. His expression faltered, and he asked Ye Qiu gravely, “Am I crippled?”
Ye Qiu’s eyes widened, “Nonsense! With me here, you won’t be crippled.”
“But I can’t even stand now. What am I if not a cripple?” Qinglong looked at Ye Qiu, saying, “Be honest with me, will I never stand again?”
Ye Qiu told Qinglong, “Your lumbar spine and sacrum are injured, causing damage to the sciatic nerve. I’ve already treated you, but you won’t be able to stand for three days.”
“After three days, you’ll be able to move freely, but for six months, you must avoid exertion.”
“With six months of rest, your body will recover fully.”
“Trust my medical skills.”
Qinglong’s face darkened as he said, “So, I can’t avenge Nine Thousand Years. I really wanted to personally slaughter those Witch God Sect bastards.”
Ye Qiu advised, “Qinglong, Dragon Gate has suffered heavy losses this time. You and Qilin can’t afford any more trouble. Listen to me, focus on recovering. As for Nine Thousand Years’ vengeance, leave it to me. I promise the Witch God Sect will pay in blood.”
“Yes,” Qinglong nodded firmly.
“Rest for now, I’ll check on Qilin,” Ye Qiu patted Qinglong’s shoulder, then instructed the medic standing nearby, “My brother just woke up and is still weak. Please look after him.”
“Of course,” the medic nodded.
Ye Qiu and Tang Fei left the tent and entered the one next door.
Upon entering, Ye Qiu saw Qilin.
Qilin lay on a stretcher, eyes closed, face pale, with a young medic tending to him.
Ye Qiu stepped forward, grasping Qilin’s pulse while examining his injuries.
Seizing the moment, Tang Fei asked the young medic, “How’s Qilin doing?”
The medic stood at attention, saluted Tang Fei, and said, “Reporting, sir, the patient’s condition is strange.”
Tang Fei frowned, “Strange how? Explain.”
“Yes, sir,” the medic replied, “I conducted a full examination. Apart from a few broken ribs, he only has minor external injuries. By all accounts, he should have woken up by now.”
“As for why he remains unconscious, I can’t find the cause.”
“Useless!” Tang Fei scolded the medic, “You can’t even figure out why he’s unconscious. What good are you?”
The medic bowed his head in shame.
“Don’t blame him, he’s done well,” Ye Qiu said, noting that Qilin’s external injuries had been treated, apart from three broken ribs. He added, “The main reason for Qilin’s coma is that he’s been poisoned by a gu.”
Gu poison!
The young medic’s eyes widened in fear.
Ye Qiu released Qilin’s pulse and used the Heaven-Mending Hand. A series of cracking sounds followed.
In no time, Ye Qiu had realigned Qilin’s three broken ribs. He then drew two talismans to fully heal Qilin’s injuries.
After finishing, Ye Qiu said to Tang Fei, “Give me the dagger.”
Tang Fei handed over the dagger.
Ye Qiu took it and made a small cut on Qilin’s right index finger, letting blood flow out.
Next, he held Qilin’s pulse, channelling a wisp of innate energy into him.
At the same time, Ye Qiu activated his Heavenly Eye.
As his vision pierced Qilin’s blood vessels, he saw a tiny gu worm darting through, evading the innate energy.
Ye Qiu urged the innate energy to pursue the gu worm. In less than ten seconds, the worm crawled out from the cut on Qilin’s finger.
The gu worm was minuscule, one-tenth the size of a sesame seed, resembling an ant with wings on its back.
As it emerged from Qilin’s finger, its wings fluttered, attempting to escape.
But Ye Qiu was faster.
Swish!
The dagger flew, slicing the gu worm apart.
Ye Qiu drew a blood-stopping talisman to seal the cut on Qilin’s finger, then slapped Qilin’s back.
“Ugh—”
Qilin spat out a mouthful of blood and opened his eyes.
“Ye Qiu?”
Seeing Ye Qiu, Qilin’s eyes lit up. He grabbed Ye Qiu’s hand, urgently saying, “Go save Qinglong, he can’t hold on…”
“No need to worry about Qinglong, he’s fine,” Ye Qiu sent a surge of inner energy into Qilin, calming him.
Tears streamed down Qilin’s face as he said, “Ye Qiu, Nine Thousand Years is gone…”
Before Qilin could finish, Ye Qiu said, “Qinglong already told me.”
“I heard from Qinglong that before Nine Thousand Years left, he gave you an iron box. Where is it?”
Qilin said, “During the retreat, we were ambushed by the Witch God Sect. I was worried the box would fall into their hands, so I buried it somewhere.”
“Buried?” Ye Qiu’s expression shifted.
Qilin said, “Don’t worry, I marked the spot. I’ll take you there now…”
Whoosh—
The tent flap was suddenly pushed open.
Yang Qi rushed in from outside, saying to Ye Qiu, “Su Xiaoxiao is awake, she wants to see you!”
