Chapter 84: Shedding the Mortal Form

Wu Yue climbed out from something resembling a biological pod. He did not feel the weakness of someone newly awakened; instead, his body brimmed with strength, though that strength was not particularly great.

There were two pieces of news—one good, one bad. The good news was that he was wholly uninjured; the vital acupoints and all his meridians had been restored to their original state. The bad news: he possessed not a trace of spiritual energy, as if he were an ordinary man. As for his soul, Wu Yue could sense nothing unusual—it was as if he had never cultivated, nor suffered any grave injury.

He was inside a small wooden cabin. A few pieces of furniture were scattered about, somewhat crude and plain. The presence of the high-tech biological pod made the scene seem all the more bizarre.

He had no idea how long he had slept. Wu Yue felt as if an age had passed. Through the window, he could see a red crabapple tree, its blossoms cold yet splendid.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

"Ah, young man, you're finally awake! You slept for over a year, you know." The voice was stiff and strange, yet Wu Yue found it vaguely familiar. A man strode in. Though dressed in Daoist robes, he had blond hair and blue eyes—a most incongruous sight.

"And you are?" Wu Yue frowned, searching his memory for a clue.

"I'm Pingyuan. Don't tell me you've lost your memory?" the man asked, a note of suspicion in his voice.

Wu Yue suddenly recalled—Pingyuan, the odd Pingyuan, the Black Curtain City. He glanced at the biological pod. "You saved me?"

Pingyuan gave an awkward chuckle. "I did my part, but most of the credit goes to Master Yu and Hong."

"And who? Oh, where's Hongxiu?" Wu Yue remembered his cold companion. "How is her Crimson Blood Curse?"

"Hongxiu is well. Once she knew you were safe, she left." Wu Yue did not notice the flicker of admiration in Pingyuan’s eyes as he said this.

Wu Yue nodded, asking nothing more. After all, their meeting was by chance; at most, they had shared hardship together.

"So, what's happened to me?" Wu Yue asked. He felt more joy than concern about his condition.

"That's not something I can explain clearly. You’d better let Master Yu tell you. I just provided some nutrient solution."

"Very well. Then tell me—what happened that day?" Wu Yue pressed.

At this, Pingyuan's eyes lit up. He raised a thumb in admiration. "The Mute from the Evil Crow Forest is dead—Cloud Raider Stronghold now has only ten lords instead of eleven. But congratulations are in order: you’ve made a powerful enemy of Cloud Raider Stronghold."

"Afterward, you were gravely wounded. Master Yu rescued you—and, well, me as well."

"And you? Weren’t you the esteemed guest of the Fierce Tiger Gang? Why—"

Pingyuan’s face twisted with fury. "I was! I always keep my promises—once I take payment, I heal the patient. But I discovered the couple's infertility was due to the Fierce Tiger Gang’s own leader!"

"And then?"

"You have to understand, I’m a man of principles. I refuse to treat the hideously ugly. Do you know what that brute looks like?" Pingyuan ranted for quite a while, describing the man at length.

"In the end, they tried to silence me. As if no one knows what he looks like! Then, by chance, Master Yu saved me as well. Now that wretched brute is spreading rumors, saying I failed on purpose because I couldn’t heal him. Am I that sort of person? Worse, people actually believe him! My shining reputation is ruined!"

Wu Yue looked at Pingyuan with sympathy. "Honestly, reputation doesn’t matter much for you. High prices, high standards, low service—in this environment, it’s a wonder you ever had a good name."

Pingyuan rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say! You’re famous now. Ask anyone on the street—who doesn’t know Wu Yue? In Black Curtain City, you slew Jadechild, then the Mute, and wiped out nearly a hundred cultivators in one go. Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"Jadechild is dead too?" Wu Yue ignored the rest; true strength never needs fame.

"He should be. No word of him for months. His followers are far less trouble—no one’s even declared vengeance on you." Pingyuan made a face, reassuring Wu Yue.

Wu Yue frowned, sensing something amiss.

The Taishan Hall!

"Have you seen my little house?" Wu Yue asked urgently.

"What little house?" Pingyuan puzzled.

"A small black house, rather rough-looking. It should have been with me."

"I think I remember—Hongxiu put it away somewhere. Let me think—"

A dim great hall, flickering lamplight. A man sat cross-legged in a corner, his hair already streaked with gray.

"Jadechild, are you still there?" A distant voice called out.

The man’s eyes snapped open—it was Jadechild. He stared in astonishment. Was that a human voice? Excitement, shock, wild delight coursed through him.

Ever since that little wretch locked him away, he’d lost track of time—perhaps just months, perhaps countless years. No people, no voices, no spiritual energy. He wanted to meditate, to comprehend the Dao, to cultivate—but there was no opportunity. It was as if this place blocked not only spiritual energy but the very laws of heaven and earth.

Long ago, he had decided: so what if it was the Nine-Orifice Lotus Heart, so what if it was the Innate Purple Qi Technique? He’d hand them over, even swear not to seek revenge. He could do a good deed, couldn’t he? But no one ever replied.

It seemed he had been utterly forgotten, remembered by no one. Yet today, just now, he thought he heard Wu Yue’s voice again! Shock, rage, madness erupted within him.

"Jadechild, are you still alive?" Wu Yue gazed at the Taishan Hall—a black, unremarkable object, rough as a child’s toy, completely at odds with its grand name. Wu Yue knew it was because his own cultivation was now so weak. Back in Chang’an, when first summoned, it had seemed so majestic.

"Jadechild is inside?" Pingyuan’s eyes widened. He had only heard rumors—few survived that great battle. Only those with divine sight, and too bored to do anything else, like Hou Baiyu, watched from afar; the rest either died or were crippled. After all, it was the convergence of a power about to transcend the mortal realm, ten thousand vengeful souls, and Linya’s desperate counterattack. A truly spectacular scene.

Wu Yue nodded, looking at the Taishan Hall on the table. He seemed to sense a faint connection with it. Unfortunately, he was now just an ordinary man, powerless to control it.

Jadechild heard it again. He was certain this was no illusion.

"The boy can’t wait any longer. I must stay calm. If he’s asking me, he must be unsure about the situation inside. He wants the Nine-Orifice Lotus Heart to repair his vital acupoints, and the Innate Purple Qi Technique to control his spiritual power—a quick way to recover! I’m ninety percent certain: either he or someone close to him is gravely injured and needs the Lotus Heart to recover, and the Purple Qi Technique as well!"

"Well, I simply won’t answer. Let’s see if he doesn’t try to let me out. I can endure, but the patient might not..." Jadechild suppressed his excitement, his face twisted into a cold sneer.

"You little brat. Once I get out, I’ll grind your bones to dust..." Jadechild thought, all the while gathering what little spiritual energy he had left, preparing for his chance.

Wu Yue sighed. The Taishan Hall was mysterious and unfathomable; he knew only a little about it.

"Perhaps he truly is dead," Wu Yue said, but he felt no regret. He no longer needed the Nine-Orifice Lotus Heart, and he bore no real grudge against Jadechild. He had thought to ask him, perhaps even let him go.

His stomach growled loudly. Pingyuan laughed, "Hungry, are you? Come, let’s eat. For a cultivator to feel hunger—well, that’s a blessing in disguise."

A long time passed. Jadechild realized nothing was happening, though he had been gathering his energy for so long.

"Damn it! Let me out, you wretch!"