Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Boom!

Explosions rumbled outward. Meng Wanshu had broken through to the late Illusory Refinement Realm at just nineteen, making her an elite of her generation.

Li Guanqi was slightly older and had broken through to the mid Illusory Refinement Realm. Their cultivation levels were stable; neither had forced a breakthrough. The yin and yang energies in Meng Wanshu’s body had stabilized too.

Li Guanqi had three heavenly flames and a Lightning Saint Spirit Root, giving him a pure yang physique. He also had powerful dragon blood in his veins. Too much yang poison had been accumulating in his body, though he hadn’t reached his limit. Had he not resolved this hidden issue, he might one day have suffered as Meng Wanshu did.

Both had benefited greatly, though Meng Wanshu had gained more. She’d completely removed the root of the ice poison in her body, restoring her internal balance of yin and yang without affecting her ice abilities at all.

She stood behind Li Guanqi, blushing, having changed into fresh clothes. Her previous set was no longer wearable, but she’d tucked it away carefully, as it was proof that she’d become his woman.

After the breakthrough, Meng Wanshu’s aura grew slightly colder and loftier. Yet there was a new softness in her eyes, and a faint blush tinged her fair skin.

Li Changqing glared at Li Guanqi, his expression dark.

Li Guanqi shrugged nonchalantly and even kissed Meng Wanshu right in front of him, as if to say,“What are you gonna do about it?”

Li Changqing sighed in exasperation. He felt like he’d fed his best cabbage to a pig,[1], but he had to admit that Li Guanqi risking his life to enter the storm proved his love and determination. Besides, reaching the mid Illusory Refinement Realm at just twenty years old made Li Guanqi a prodigy, even by the standards of cultivators across all six territories.Li Changqing said nothing. He turned and boarded the cloud boat. Even Xiao Chen, naive as he was, understood what had happened. He stared at the couple, trapped in a daze. Ye Feng felt terrible for him but didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth, then swallowed his words. It was... cruel.

Xiao Chen hung his head in sorrow. “As long as… she’s safe.”

Even he didn’t realize his voice had gone hoarse. Everyone pitied him. Li Guanqi watched Xiao Chen as he left and didn’t know what to say either. He even felt a little guilty. Meng Wanshu gently squeezed Li Guanqi’s hand and gave him a look that said not to worry.

They boarded the cloud boat with the remaining cultivators and flew deeper into the void. A fire-red barrier surrounded the boat, blocking out the view outside.

Xiao Chen sat at the stern, drinking wine alone. Ye Feng sat down next to him without a word. He opened a wine jar, clinked it against Xiao Chen’s, then tipped his head back and chugged.

Xiao Chen merely glanced at him. He was expressionless, but clearly depressed. Ye Feng, being Li Guanqi’s close friend, had nothing to say that could comfort him.

Footsteps approached. Meng Wanshu appeared behind them and shot Ye Feng a glance, signaling him to leave.

Confused, Ye Feng stood up and left to look for Li Guanqi. Seeing him, Ye Feng clicked his tongue. “Boss... I have nothing to say about this. Even I can’t stand to watch. Your method of saving her was too cruel.”

Li Guanqi grabbed the wine jar from him and took a swig. “What choice did I have? The ice poison was aggressive, and she couldn’t suppress it. I have a Lightning Spirit Root, Nine Heavens’ dragon blood in my veins, and three heavenly flames. There was no other way.”

Ye Feng pondered. Perhaps there was truly no alternative. He sat down cross-legged and mused, “Xiao Chen is really talented. Yet, I suspect his life hasn’t been easy.”

He glanced at Li Guanqi and muttered, “If I were in his place, I would’ve tried to cut your dick off. But the calmer he acts, the more I think there’s something off.”

Li Guanqi didn’t reply. He agreed that what he’d done was cruel. But he quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind. What other choice did I have? Let her die?

“Do you think Sister-in-law can comfort him?”

Just as Li Guanqi was about to speak, Li Changqing’s voice reached his ears. “Come see me.”

He stood up and took another swig. “Alright, I’ve got to go learn a lesson.”

He left in search of Li Changqing. The moment Li Changqing saw him, he threw a punch without warning.

Bam!

Li Guanqi raised his arms to block, but he was still blasted backward into the wall. He felt like his skeleton had fallen apart. He gritted his teeth. Li Changqing had controlled his strength, though. That punch was just a small lesson.

Li Guanqi grinned. “Was that enough to vent your anger?”

He jogged over to Li Changqing with an ingratiating smile. He pulled some good wine from his storage ring—bottles he’d saved for a long time—and pressed them into Li Changqing’s hands. He massaged the old man’s shoulders and back, saying, “Look at you. You haven’t healed from your injuries yet. Being angry will only aggravate them.”

Li Changqing almost lost his cool. “What are your plans, brat? When are you going to marry her?”

Li Guanqi patted his chest. “Whenever Uncle Meng says I can! I’m not the kind of guy to run from responsibility.”

Li Changqing’s temper flared again. “Hmph! I don’t think you’d dare. You’d better come back with us.”

At the stern, Xiao Chen and Meng Wanshu stood side by side. Neither spoke. In the end, Meng Wanshu broke the tense silence. No one knew what they talked about, but Xiao Chen burst into tears. Eventually, though, he broke into a wide grin.

Xiao Chen suddenly barged into the room where Li Changqing and Li Guanqi were, pointing at Li Guanqi gleefully. “Hahahaha! I’m going to be the godfather of your kids!”

Li Guanqi and Li Changqing were stunned, wondering what was wrong with him.

“Hahaha! I’ve recognized Wanshu as my godsister! In the future, Li Guanqi, you’ll have to call me Big Brother! Do you hear me?”

He rambled about the chaotic social hierarchy, clearly beside himself with joy. Seeing his smug face, Li Guanqi’s and Li Changqing’s mouths twitched.

1. To feed one’s best cabbage to a pig = to give a girl with top-tier qualities to a man of poor standards ☜