Chapter Seventeen: Captured (Part Three)

A look of disbelief filled Soul Sparrow’s eyes, brimming with naked, unabashed jealousy. As he seemed to regain his senses, his tongue licked the blood lingering at the corner of his mouth, and with blood still stuck between his teeth, he bared them in a sinister grin. His interest in Bai Qi was growing ever deeper; he was determined to seize Bai Qi’s fortune at any cost. From their first encounter until now, though they had only clashed twice, Soul Sparrow’s own experience and shrewd, venomous eyes told him that this youth could “easily” obliterate his “puppet avatar,” leaving not a trace, and even injure his true body. Such “strength” was far beyond what a mere Yellow Rank cultivator could possess. Aside from Liang Sui’s order to obtain the Guangling Resting Zither, after Bai Qi’s ambush in the depths of Green Mountain and his unexpected fainting, Soul Sparrow had witnessed the azure currents flowing from Bai Qi’s side—he was sure that if he could obtain Bai Qi’s secret and escape to cultivate in hiding for a few years, he would surely become a figure who could shake the world. Lost in such fantasies, Soul Sparrow completely ignored his own injuries; though not severe, they would still take several days to heal.

Above, Kun and Liang Sui fought fiercely in the sky, evenly matched and unwilling to yield. Both knew that if they really went all out, mutual destruction would be the least of it. Though locked in battle, each kept a watchful eye on the struggle between Bai Qi and Soul Sparrow below. Suspended in the air, they tacitly paused, each occupied with their own thoughts.

Liang Sui, too, found himself peculiarly interested in Bai Qi. His subordinate, Soul Sparrow, was a sixth-layer Profound Rank cultivator, while that youth, under the sweep of Liang Sui’s spiritual sense, registered only as Yellow Rank. Yet, upon closer scrutiny, Bai Qi felt different from any ordinary Yellow Rank cultivator—there was something beyond that level, though still shy of Profound Rank.

Noticing Liang Sui’s puzzlement, Kun turned to gaze down at Bai Qi, simultaneously sending out his spiritual sense to scan the area for any further hidden assailants. Kun cared deeply for Bai Qi’s safety. Seeing Soul Sparrow suffer another setback, Kun felt a measure of comfort, but dared not let his guard down.

Once more, that look of disbelief and burning jealousy filled Soul Sparrow’s eyes. Regaining his senses, he licked the blood from his lips and grinned coldly, his interest in Bai Qi’s fortune only deepening, his resolve to seize it growing ever more desperate.

At that moment, as the duel above paused, both men looked down. Liang Sui seemed lost in thought. Though the pause was brief, his mind rapidly sorted through memories, seeking any connection to a “strange one” like Bai Qi.

“Oh? I never would have guessed. A genius among Yellow Rank cultivators—at the eleventh level, known as the ‘Earth Qi’ realm. In all the mighty Tang Empire, there are but few like you.” After a long moment of recollection, Liang Sui finally remembered, his words thick with admiration. He turned to Kun, smiling slyly, “Heh, Kun, who would have thought you’d run into such a prodigy? Truly fortunate. How about this: you can leave today, but leave him behind, let me train him. Perhaps, one day, he’ll become a great figure of Liang Prefecture. Wouldn’t that be a joy?”

“Bah! You cur, who do you think you are, to be so generous? Someone like you, it’s a miracle you’re still alive. Anything that passes through your hands, you’d gnaw the bones to dust.” Kun spat with contempt. He was fiercely protective of Bai Qi; though not bound by blood, he regarded Bai Qi as his own descendant and would never stand by and watch him fall into another’s hands.

With no more words, the two in the sky resumed their battle, while below, the action above set things in motion.

The entire pier was eerily deserted that night. After the earlier fight, it had grown strangely quiet—perhaps some observed in secret, others simply hid away.

Kun pondered to himself: Had I known sooner, I would have taken his daughter as a hostage. Who’d have thought that damned third seal would be discovered so quickly—seems I was right about that treasure. What a pity...

If there was any hope of escape tonight, it lay in restraining Liang Sui. Ten breaths! Ten breaths would be enough.

Kun shouted down to Bai Qi, “Bai’er, come to me!” At the sudden call, Bai Qi reacted instantly, relying on sheer physical strength to dash forward.

As he called to Bai Qi, Kun straightened, hair bristling in anger, eyes fierce and focused, chanting an obscure incantation under his breath. His fingers intertwined rapidly through a series of complex knots. In the blink of an eye, two pale yellow shields of spiritual energy formed—one hurtled toward Liang Sui, the other toward Bai Qi.

“Damn!” Liang Sui yelled as the barrier sped toward him. He knew this was a sealing technique, not one to fight against; to attack it would only prolong the seal, and worst of all, the backlash was severe, draining the caster’s life force. If he resisted, he would only help the caster by absorbing nearly a third of the life force consumed, with higher-level casters being able to absorb even more.

Liang Sui could only watch helplessly as the barrier expanded, enveloping him and sealing his movements. He roared, “Soul Sparrow, stop that boy, don’t let him get away!”

At the command, Soul Sparrow acted at once, ignoring his wounds. Though he hated to let Bai Qi slip through his fingers, he could not watch his prey escape. Without a word, he gathered his spiritual energy and gave chase. In a few breaths, he was less than two steps behind Bai Qi, his palm crackling with black spiritual energy, sharp as a spear, stabbing viciously at Bai Qi’s back.

At that instant, Bai Qi’s scalp tingled, cold sweat coursing through him like electricity. With a twist of his right hand and a flicker of intent, he tossed out a cherished embryonic pill he had kept for years. A hiss and a braying screech, like a donkey’s wail, echoed outward. Turning, Bai Qi saw Soul Sparrow writhing on the ground, half his body covered in the pill’s residue, swarming like countless insects, eating away at his flesh.

Those pills were a haphazard collection of herbs Bai Qi had once gathered in the deep Green Mountains, a mix of poisonous, hallucinogenic, and otherwise mismatched ingredients he had used to practice alchemy. Had Kun not protected him, those failed concoctions would have long since blown Bai Qi to bits.

But tonight, Soul Sparrow tasted the full force of them. Watching his torment, Bai Qi felt little sympathy.

Meanwhile, the barrier closed around Bai Qi. Kun, manipulating his fingers with a surge of spiritual power, shot Bai Qi away like a glass marble, fast as lightning.

Bai Qi thought he would be whisked back to Kun’s side, but instead found himself flung away. As he shot off, Kun merely glanced at him, lips moving as if to say, “Child, take care!” Inside the barrier, Bai Qi pounded against the walls, soundless, tears blurring his sight as he knelt within, flying into the distance.

All this transpired in the span of three or four heartbeats. Kun could maintain the seal for only ten breaths. Watching Bai Qi vanish, he glanced coldly at the half-dead Soul Sparrow, then turned to see the barrier around Liang Sui dissipating. With a deep breath, he seemed to have completed a solemn task.

“Kun! You old fool, risking your life to save that boy, leaving yourself trapped here. Enjoy what comes next!” Liang Sui spat, then turned to Soul Sparrow, “Useless wretch, you couldn’t even hold onto one person—what’s the point of keeping you?” Liang Sui raised his hand, spiritual energy gathering to finish off Soul Sparrow, but midway through, he paused, then swept out a current of red energy toward Soul Sparrow instead. The red energy, like a gaping maw, absorbed the poison eating at Soul Sparrow’s exposed flesh, simultaneously staunching the blood and halting the corrosion.

“Old man, let’s go. I’ll deal with you, bit by bit.” Liang Sui pressed his fingers together, sealing the joints of Kun’s body as if striking pressure points.

With one hand controlling Kun and the other dragging Soul Sparrow, he soared toward the City Lord’s Manor. Liang Sui had brought no subordinates this time, preferring secrecy. The treasure on his daughter was too important, and he trusted no one else with such a secret. As for Soul Sparrow, though mediocre in strength, his loyalty far surpassed the others—though, of course, the human heart is never to be wholly trusted.