Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 689A – Zhou Li, Do You Acknowledge Your Guilt?

A sword-wielding immortal visited Wali Village. He stopped in front of the old Zhou Family’s household. Everyone thought that A’li had accomplished great deeds outside and now this old couple were being taken away to enjoy happiness in the twilight years of their lives.

“Tsk tsk, that Zhou Family girl, I knew from first sight that she had good fortune. Sure enough, my eyesight is sharp!”

“No wonder she couldn’t take a liking to that boy from outside the village. That Zhou girl is a phoenix born amongst chickens. She’s destined to fly far away.”

“That old Zhou couple will be able to enjoy happiness…in their old age, their granddaughter actually managed to stand out and show her potential. This might be the heavens compensating them.”

Countless people revealed eyes that shined with envy. They mumbled beneath their breath, wishing that they could go over and witness the elegant bearing of an immortal with their own eyes. Yet, they all felt dread and only dared to remain in their family homes.

These were immortals that could fly! If they weren’t careful and violated some taboo, it could easily end with someone dead.

Li Wei rode upon a three foot long sword, his hands held behind his back and his blue robes fluttering in the wind. A faintly ethereal aura wafted round him.

He looked down at the courtyard below and the three humble and lowly mortals within. He furrowed his eyebrows, an arrogant look in his eyes. “You are Zhou Li’s relatives?”

Old Zhou barely managed to keep his cool. He respectfully replied, “Reporting to the immortal, we are.”

Li Wei’s cold voice sounded out, “An accident has occurred to Zhou Li at the sect and we need a relative to come. Choose a person to follow me.”

The old man hurriedly said, “What happened to A’li?”

“Humph! These are matters of the immortal path; how could the likes of you ever understand? Stop wasting my time. I still need to go back and report!” Li Wei coldly said.

The old man grabbed onto the old granny’s shaking hand and took a deep breath. He turned to Qin Yu and said, “Young Qin, you go with the immortal.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Qin Yu slowly nodded.

Li Wei frowned. “Who is he? Can he represent your Zhou Family?”

Old Zhou said, “Immortal, Qin Yu is A’li’s fiancé and also the one she is closest with.”

Fiancé?

Li Wei’s complexion sank. His eyes swept over Qin Yu. That woman Zhou Li acted so arrogantly and yet she chose this country bumpkin? They perfectly suited each other!

Envy rose in his heart. But, he soon sneered coldly. News of this matter had already spread throughout the sect. Although it was rumored that Feng Yang didn’t succeed, who knew what the real situation was like?

A Golden Core cultivator couldn’t even deal with an amateur who had just stepped onto the path of cultivation? Tsk tsk, she had likely been eaten up already, and it was only because Feng Yang was negligent afterwards that he fell for her trap.

Li Wei thought about how he once approached her but was rejected, and a macabre expression crossed his face. Once this boy learned the truth his expression would truly be wonderful.

“Let’s go!”

Moving impatiently, Li Wei flicked his sleeves and lifted Qin Yu up behind him. He brought his hands together and formed some seals. Soon, the blue cloud sword howled into the distance.

“This cultivator has a Nascent Soul realm cultivation, but his aura is actually several times more vigorous than when I was at the Nascent Soul realm. Moreover, he also has many treasures on his body and the quality of this flying sword is extremely good, perfectly matching his cultivation technique. In combination, his strength can rise several times over…”

Qin Yu looked at Li Wei who was standing heroically against the wind with an elegant posture and his hands held behind his back. In his heart he secretly estimated this person’s strength. He didn’t have any interest in this sort of small cultivator, but was simply trying to estimate the strength of the cultivation sect that A’li had joined.

Although Li Wei hadn’t said anything, Qin Yu could sense the cold intent from his actions. It was likely that A’li had come across some incident.

It was because of this that Qin Yu agreed to stand in for Old Man Zhou and go on this trip. If there really was something wrong, perhaps there was a chance he could resolve it.

He hoped this matter wouldn’t be too troublesome.

Sensing Qin Yu’s silence, Li Wei’s lips curled up in a mocking sneer. This country bumpkin had likely never experienced anything like this; he was probably frightened out of his mind.

Perhaps I can go a little faster!

With a thought, he sent out more magic power. The blue cloud sword hummed and it surged with even more blue light. As it did, its speed rose by a great deal.

From this change, Qin Yu could understand what thoughts were in Li Wei’s head. He immediately revealed a ‘terrified’ expression and his face paled.

A Nascent Soul cultivator actually had such a pathetic and weak-minded personality. It seemed that while the cultivation level of this world was higher, due to the fact that it was far too easy to obtain strength, cultivators were lacking in mentality. If he were to fight cultivators of this world in the future, he could use this as an advantage against them.

As he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a loud cry. The cry was accompanied by a formidable strength that pierced through his ears and into his soul.

“White-headed demon eagle!” Li Wei screamed out loud, almost losing his voice. After a brief panic he quickly drew out a jade talisman.

He poured magic power in and the mark within the jade talisman was activated. Light erupted in the air, condensing into the characters of ‘True Wood’.

“My status token is only of the Nascent Soul realm and its suppressive aura is not enough to force the white-headed demon eagle to retreat in fear. Moreover, this type of demonic life form only knows slaughter and bloodthirst, so it is likely to completely ignore the aura of the sect’s token…it’s over, it’s all over, how could I meet a terrifying being like a white-headed demon eagle here…”

Li Wei’s face paled and his eyes filled with fear.

This white-headed demon eagle didn’t seem to see the aura of the True Wood Sect’s token at all. Its eyes flashed with a blood red light and it screamed and hurtled towards them.

“The end of my life has come!”

Li Wei’s voice shook with despair.

At this time, the ‘scared’ Qin Yu suddenly looked up. His pitch black eyes were like an abyss as he stared at the white-headed demon eagle.

This demonized monster beast fiercely stiffened as if it had suffered a great fright. It flapped its giant wings and turned around, fleeing into the distance.

Li Wei stood in a dumbstruck daze. After a long time, he finally reacted.

I’m alive, I’m actually still alive.

Thank the heavens and earth!

He took a deep breath and put away the token in an intentionally calm manner. He wiped the cold sweat from his face and said, “You damned mindless beast, you are lucky that you fled fast enough otherwise I would have cut you down on the spot!”

He glanced at Qin Yu. When he saw the ‘awe’ and ‘worship’ in Qin Yu’s eyes, Li Wei relaxed a little and he became a little calmer.

He formed another hand seal with his fingers and the blue cloud sword sped away.

Following that, the rest of the trip proceeded smoothly. But the speed of a Nascent Soul cultivator was too slow. It took nearly half a day before they arrived at the lands of the True Wood Sect.

Several mountains appeared. They were verdant green and the air around them was flooded with vitality. With the characters ‘True Word’, it wasn’t hard to guess that this sect cultivated some sort of wood-attribute cultivation method.

Li Wei caught Qin Yu staring at the sect entrance. Of course, he also saw the look of ‘shock’ and ‘awe’ on his face. Now that his mission was completed, there was no longer any need to conceal his mocking tone. “The sect will hold a meeting tomorrow. You will be staying here for today!”

Li Wei tossed Qin Yu into a distant corner of the sect that appeared to be where the servants lived. Then, he swaggered away.

A servant leader that had been groveling to Li Wei before he left suddenly stared at Qin Yu. “You are Zhou Li’s fiancé? Hehe, that woman was stubborn enough!” He glanced at Qin Yu a few times, nothing but ill intentions in his eyes. Then, the servant leader waved his hand and said, “Take him away and treat him well.”

The sect meeting was tomorrow morning and this boy needed to enter the stage. Even though he was only there to make a brief appearance and his role was dispensable, it was better not to take any risks.

Once tomorrow passed and the matter was settled, those who still remembered this boy would slowly give him a welcome.

That young master Feng Yang had already passed down an order. No matter who came from the Zhou Family, they could forget about returning alive.

Tsk tsk, this young master might be a lecherous sack of waste, but he was sufficiently generous. Since such a great deal fell into his hands, he couldn’t give up on this opportunity.

Torture wasn’t allowed, but a little punishment was okay. This boy could forget about sleeping comfortably tonight. The more tired he was the less potential chaos he could cause tomorrow.

Thinking like this, the servant leader revealed a smug expression.

“Brat, you will be sleeping in the firewood room tonight. All of the logs beside you need to be chopped and stacked. Consider it the cost of your room!” A large bald man with big fists sneered as he spoke. He fiendishly grinned, his face looking like an elephant. “If you dare to be lazy, I will let you taste what despair is like!”

Qin Yu’s face paled with ‘panic’ and he repeatedly nodded.

With a loud crash, the door to the firewood room was shut and locked from the outside. When the sound of footsteps went far away, Qin Yu straightened himself. He wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked around the room.

Sect meeting? It seemed that A’li really had provoked some great trouble this time. Or, she had offended someone who needed to be given such great treatment.

Unfortunately, he had no idea what was going on. Even if he wanted to prepare ahead of time he couldn’t do that. He could only take things as they came tomorrow.

If things were within his ability, he would do his best to save her. But, if he couldn’t…to lose their son in their middle-age and to lose their only granddaughter in their late-age, this kind of blow would be far too cruel for the elderly couple.

Qin Yu let out a light breath. “I hope there will be a favorable turn.”