A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

At the summit of Jade Teapot Peak, the others woke up and went their separate ways.

Cao Yan went to the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm to continue recovering. Xiao Chen first visited the Ye family, and after a long stay, he headed to the Paradise Realm as well. Gu Li went into closed-door cultivation alongside Cao Yan, while Tang Ru made time for a trip to the Guanyun Pavilion.

When Tang Ru laid eyes on Xi Yunhuai this time, an inexplicable sense of familiarity came over him. He discussed several matters with Qian Qiusui, then left to cultivate as well. He was the only one among his brothers who had yet to reach the Combined Body Realm, and the disparity stung.

Li Guanqi went looking for Meng Jiangchu again, only to find him deep in conversation with Lu Kangnian and Gu Lie.

Gu Lie turned and glanced at Li Guanqi. Gu Lie’s expression was complicated. He pressed his lips together, and at last seemed to reach a decision. “Fine. This old man has nobody and nothing to his name anyway. If you want me to stay, then I’ll stay!”

Li Guanqi nearly choked. After all, Gu Lie was a late Mahayana Realm expert, a tier-seven alchemist, and a tier-eight martial artist. Furthermore, he was well on his way to becoming an artifact blacksmith too.

Off to the side, Lu Kangnian grinned from ear to ear. This was one hell of a deal.

Li Guanqi hurried forward and bowed deeply. “Junior Li Guanqi greets Senior Gu.”

Gu Lie waved him off with a smile. “You little rascal...”

Li Guanqi smiled and turned to Meng Jiangchu. “Father-in-law, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

After saying his farewells, Meng Jiangchu followed Li Guanqi to Jade Teapot Peak. The austerity of Li Guanqi’s cultivation quarters gave him pause. He pursed his lips, hitched up the hem of his robe, and sat down on a stone bench. “Alright, brat. What is it this time?”

Li Guanqi looked at Meng Jiangchu with a serious expression. “Father-in-law, have you ever heard of a Xuan clan in the Divine Treasure Territory?”

Meng Jiangchu frowned, pondering the question deeply. He mulled it over for a long time, but he couldn’t recall any prominent clans or sects in the Divine Treasure Territory that bore the surname Xuan.

He shook his head, frowning. “Nothing comes to mind. I don’t know of any powerful Xuan clan. Quite a few smaller clans and factions carry the name, though.”

Li Guanqi frowned, and Meng Jiangchu asked, “What’s this about? Why are you asking?”

Li Guanqi paused, collecting his thoughts. “When I went after the Heavenly Intelligence Map, I encountered a man named Xuan Lin. He had Qilin blood and possessed powerful fire-element vital force. We fought, and he told me he belonged to the Xuan clan of the Divine Treasure Territory. I’m wondering if his clan might know something about the Qilin soul.”

Meng Jiangchu glanced at the fire mark flickering on and off between Li Guanqi’s brows and quietly sighed to himself. Li Guanqi had already broken through to the mid Combined Body Realm. His rate of advancement was virtually unheard of.

But the matter of Sha would not be settled overnight.

The greatest obstacle in Li Guanqi’s path was still his incomplete divine soul. Unless it was mended, his present realm was likely as far as he could go. As for the late Combined Body Realm beyond it, Li Guanqi would hardly dare attempt the breakthrough lightly. Once his cultivation reached that point, the pull on his qi circulation could easily throw everything into disorder.

They’d been searching for the Qilin soul and the Seven-Colored Glass Flower for some time now, yet not a single lead had surfaced.

Meng Jiangchu spoke firmly. “Alright, I’ll have someone investigate Xuan Lin immediately. Don’t worry too much. As long as the fire mark doesn’t shatter, you won’t be in any real danger.”

Li Guanqi shook his head with a bitter smile. Without that fire mark, the earlier battles would have been far less grueling. Fortunately, he had planned ahead. He had Gu Li fetch Cao Yan and the others from their homes and bring the Gu family’s lightning pool domain as well. He had also left a clone in the Lightning Pool to focus on spirit comprehension, with Peng Luo’s clone helping guide his qi circulation. These preparations allowed him to break through at the critical moment, and the resulting surge in power kept everyone on his side alive.

Buzz!

Meng Wanshu stepped out in a water-blue dress and looked at Li Guanqi calmly. “I’m coming with you.”

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded. Meng Jiangchu rolled his eyes. “If you two are heading back, go see your mother. She’s been worried sick with you two running all over the place.”

Meng Wanshu’s eyes flickered with emotion. A faint smile touched her lips, and she nodded softly.

Li Guanqi nodded with a smile. “Of course. This time we’ll stay home for a good while.”

Meng Jiangchu rose to his feet and regarded Li Guanqi with mixed emotions. He walked over, rested a hand on Li Guanqi’s shoulder, and said solemnly, “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’ve already become someone no other young person in the Six Territories can measure up to. We’re family, so don’t hesitate to ask me for help.”

He continued, “Oh, and when are the two of you getting married?”

Li Guanqi had been genuinely moved, but that last question sent him into a coughing fit. “Soon. I’ll make it happen soon.”

Meng Wanshu’s cheeks flushed red all the way to her ears. She shot Meng Jiangchu a reproachful look and then soared into the sky.

Meng Jiangchu smacked his lips. “Why are you glaring at me?! Your old man just wants grandchildren. Is that so wrong?!”

Li Guanqi paused for a moment. “Wanshu and I will head out now, then.”

Meng Jiangchu waved him off and stomped away in a huff without so much as a parting smile.

Li Guanqi scratched his head sheepishly, then turned and caught up with Meng Wanshu.

Meng Wanshu walked with her hands behind her back, her delicate face tilted toward the sun. Her eyes were shut, a gentle smile gracing her lips, as though savoring this moment alone together.

“Is that person important to you?” she asked softly.

Li Guanqi was caught off guard. After a moment, he answered gently, “She is.”

Meng Wanshu didn’t seem jealous, only curious. “Can you tell me about her?”

Li Guanqi shook his head.

“Why not?”

Li Guanqi gazed into the distance. “I don’t want to turn someone else’s sacrifice and devotion into a story for others. Whether they’re moved by it or fail to understand, they’re still only outsiders hearing about it secondhand. Ning Xiu... I only feel that I owe her. Nothing more.”

That last line was meant for Meng Wanshu’s ears alone.

Meng Wanshu didn’t push the subject. “It isn’t how she feels or what you think of her that I care about. I’m simply curious about what kind of person she was.”

Li Guanqi looked into Meng Wanshu’s eyes. “Just a foolish girl. That’s all.”

Meng Wanshu let the matter rest. She had only wanted to know what Ning Xiu had been through. His answer told her enough, and she asked no more.