Scripture of Days Past

Chu Qiguang reached out and helped Yang Ling to his feet, then said in a reassuring voice, ”Don’t be afraid, Instructor Yang. You’ve always been very helpful to me, so I have no intention of hurting you.”

As he spoke, he brushed some dust off Yang Ling’s shoulder and chest. However, even this harmless gesture made Yang Ling tense up in fear, thinking that Chu Qiguang intended to kill him.

In Yang Ling’s eyes, there was no way that Chu Qiguang would spare him.

Not only is he an unfathomably powerful martial artist, but he’s also managed to stay on Jade Face Mountain for half a year without being exposed, Yang Ling thought. During this time, he’s befriended many trainees, lecturers, and instructors, and he’s even taken on the mountain’s procurement assignments.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he’ll definitely be given an official position in the Demon Vanquishing Department in the future. I don’t know what his objectives are, but he’s clearly plotting something big. Now that I’ve found out that he’s a fiend, he’ll surely make me take this secret to the grave!

The more Yang Ling considered his current situation, the more his heart sank. All he could do was put up a facade of composure as he tried to think of a way out of this predicament.

”Thank heavens you were here to defend the archive building. Otherwise, the consequences could have been catastrophic,” he said, feigning relief. ”I wish I had seen how you took care of that living corpse, but it was so dark that I couldn’t see anything.”

”Really? You didn’t see anything? Then how about I refresh your memory?” Chu Qiguang asked with a smile, and he began to transform into his feline form once again.

Yang Ling hurriedly lowered his head and replied in a trembling voice, ”Now that you mention it, you did look a little strange during the battle, but I’m sure it was just the demonic tainting playing tricks on my eyes.”

”Yes, that must’ve been it,” Chu Qiguang agreed with a smile and a nod.

Yang Ling was stunned by his response.

Does he actually believe me? Is he planning to spare me? No, that can’t be it. He must be trying to placate me and lull me into a false sense of security before killing me when I least expect it!

In the next instant, Yang Ling felt Chu Qiguang seize his right arm with tremendous force, restricting all the major tendons in his body before dragging him forward.

”I have something to show you, Instructor Yang,” Chu Qiguang said.

”Wh... What is it?”

”Something that will give you a new lease on life,” Chu Qiguang replied with a smile.

”What does that mean?” Yang Ling asked, becoming increasingly convinced that Chu Qiguang was about to make his move.

He must be planning to take me somewhere secluded before killing me!

However, with Chu Qiguang maintaining a death grip on his right arm, Yang Ling couldn’t struggle or resist. He could only plead frantically, ”I promise I won’t tell anyone what I saw here today! No one will ever hear a word of this from me!”

”What’s there for you to hide?” Chu Qiguang asked. ”I’ve always carried myself with honor and dignity, and I don’t have any dark secrets. Even if the head instructor were here right now, I would tell him the same thing.”

Despite Yang Ling’s frantic pleas, Chu Qiguang continued dragging him toward the entrance of the second floor. There, Qiao Zhi joined them and handed him a small medicinal vial that Zhang Jitian had brought.

This vial contained a mixture of blood from different animals, including chickens, ducks, fish, pigs, cows, goats, cats, dogs, and rats...

Chu Qiguang had instructed Qiao Zhi to prepare this vial of mixed blood for this exact scenario. As long as one type of blood took effect, he would be able to use the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique on Yang Ling.

He force-fed Yang Ling the vial of blood, then began administering a series of strikes all over his body.

Before long, Yang Ling felt his skin begin to itch, and a layer of fish scales appeared across his body.

He stared at himself in astonishment as Chu Qiguang declared, ”Congratulations! You’re also a fiend now.”

”What have you done to me?!” Yang Ling exclaimed in shock and horror.

In the blink of an eye, he had become one of the creatures he had regarded as sworn enemies his entire life. The revelation came as such a brutal shock that he felt as if he were about to lose his mind.

”There’s no need to be afraid,” Chu Qiguang said gently as he laid a hand on Yang Ling’s shoulder. ”Don’t you feel your newfound power? So what if you’ve become a fiend? Countless people would be willing to accept far worse in exchange for the power that you’ve just gained.”

As he spoke, Chu Qiguang began striking Yang Ling’s body once again, and the fish scales withdrew into his skin as he returned to his human form.

As he returned to his human form, Yang Ling also regained his composure. Sure enough, he could sense a clear improvement in his physical constitution.

The Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique had awakened the fiendish power hidden deep within his bloodline, but as instead of joy, all he felt was horror.

”I have now bestowed this fiendish power upon you,” Chu Qiguang continued.

”What do you want from me, Chu Qiguang?” Yang Ling asked in defeated.

Instead of answering his question, Chu Qiguang smiled and said, ”From now on, I get to decide whether you’re a human or a fiend. However, rest assured that I never sacrifice those around me. In fact, you’ll come to realize that everyone around me benefits from their association with me. For example, you’ve just made a major contribution to the Demon Vanquishing Department, and you have me to thank for that.”

”What are you talking about?” Yang Ling asked in confusion.

”You just defeated the traitor, Yi Shuang, the fox fiend, and the living corpse, thereby saving the archive building. Is that not a major contribution?” Chu Qiguang asked.

”It was y—”

”No, it was you,” Chu Qiguang firmly reiterated, cutting Yang Ling off mid-sentence. ”I only gave you a little help.”