Chapter 6 Part 2

“I shouldn’t have been merciful from the start. This type of Demon Beast is easiest to kill—just stab your sword into its pregnant belly, and it dies instantly…”

—Mu Cheng!!!

That damned liar, spouting nonsense!!!

If I die, I’ll become a vengeful ghost and haunt him—no… We have a Beast Taming Contract. If I die, he’ll die with me. Haha.

But would he die easier than me?

Maybe even cleaner and more dignified?!

Lian Yunzhi surged with deep fury again! Right, how did the Beast Taming Contract torment a Demon Beast? He wanted to do it now, right now…

[…Master?]

A faint, familiar, puzzled voice suddenly echoed from deep in his mind.

Lian Yunzhi forgot about tormenting Mu Cheng. With his last shred of strength, just before losing consciousness, he bellowed the command:

[Come find me! Now! Or I’ll skin you alive—]

.

Mu Cheng had never known his heart could race so fast.

When it happened, he had already set up the Spirit Gathering Array and Mysterious Trace Array. He stood before Lian Yunzhi’s wardrobe, choosing clothes to wear the next day.

A “humanoid Demon Beast” could have two of his master’s old clothes for changing without seeming excessive.

—That was the rule Mu Cheng set for himself.

But he hesitated between the slightly smaller but more fragrant one on the left, or the larger, better-fitting one on the right that lacked wearing traces.

As Mu Cheng hesitated and picked up the left one, his heart suddenly throbbed in pain, then pounded wildly!

He realized instantly—the master of the Beast Taming Contract was in trouble.

He called for Lian Yunzhi, then Master. He tried sensing the Beast Taming Contract to contact Lian Yunzhi… but felt nothing. Perhaps because he was a rootless waste.

Then he swiftly searched the entire Cave Mansion. He took all the Spirit Stones on him, wrapped a cloth as a face mask, found a Jade Pendant proving Lian Yunzhi’s identity to clutch in hand, preparing to seek help from the Lian Family.

But then, it felt like a thunderbolt struck his mind, and he heard faint breathing from another.

[…Master?]

Mu Cheng tentatively called out.

[Come find me! Now! Or I’ll skin you alive—]

.

Mu Cheng immediately abandoned the idea of going to the Lian Family.

Too dangerous, too slow. And he knew the Lian Family had Mu Family spies.

Most importantly, Lian Yunzhi’s location had abruptly and clearly appeared in his mind.

Mu Cheng repacked his luggage into a bundle on his back, then dashed down Spirit Mountain.

As he ran, he planned the route ahead.

He was a mortal, but he could borrow spiritual power, so he could disguise himself as Qi Refining Layer 2 and ride the Qi Refining Bird.

But he couldn’t disguise his face.

Mu Cheng’s face was too distinctive, and the Qi Refining Bird’s owner wouldn’t let a hooded, masked stranger board his Flying Demon Beast.

Mu Cheng devised a solution in a single breath.

He stopped, scanned around, then stood by the nearby river.

He drew his Dagger, lowered his head, and reflected in the river water as he slashed his face.

Crisscrossing cuts instantly turned his face a bloody mess. Mu Cheng washed off the blood with river water, then applied Ointment.

The bleeding stopped quickly, wounds healing rapidly.

Only hideous, ugly scars remained firmly etched on his face.

Mu Cheng glanced at his reflection, confirming no one could recognize him from this face, then rose and raced to the Relay Station.

.

Mu Cheng smoothly boarded the Qi Refining Bird and arrived at the Xiao Yun Mountain Secret Realm.

With the precise location and near-map-like guidance from the Beast Taming Contract, Mu Cheng encountered no major trouble. Even when chased by two Low-Tier Demon Beasts midway, he quickly dealt with or shook them off using past experience and preparations.

In the third hour after receiving the command.

Mu Cheng finally reached the tree hollow entrance above Lian Yunzhi.

Mu Cheng wasn’t a cultivator. Even borrowing spiritual power from Spirit Stones to fake Qi Refining Layer 2, his body was still mortal.

The tree hollow was bottomless; jumping meant certain death.

Fortunately, he brought two Daggers, and the hollow was narrow and deep, like a well.

He gripped a Dagger in each hand, stabbing into the wall, pulling out, alternating downward.

He climbed down step by step.

…

After an unknown time, his shoes were worn through, soles and palms a bloody mess.

“Mm—”

Close, so close.

He could almost hear Lian Yunzhi’s breathing.

“Mu Cheng…”

Lian Yunzhi had woken and seen him.

Calling his name.

Mu Cheng’s heart inexplicably warmed.

Yes, cultivators had sharp senses. Even in pitch black, Lian Yunzhi could see him several zhang above.

[Come here!]

The voice in Mu Cheng’s mind commanded.

The compulsion in those words was faint; Lian Yunzhi wasn’t adept at using the Beast Taming Contract yet.

But Mu Cheng still halted involuntarily. Instead of descending slowly step by step, he turned and jumped down!

Bang!

As expected, he slightly twisted his ankle.

Mu Cheng furrowed his brow but paid it no mind, limping as little as possible toward Lian Yunzhi.

It was very dark, the only light the faint glow from the Night-Luminous Pearl embedded in Lian Yunzhi’s Treasure Sword.

But that dim light let Mu Cheng see his master clearly.

He saw Lian Yunzhi’s filthy figure, the blood staining his calf, the scratches on his hands, the worn holes at his clothing’s joints.

He saw Lian Yunzhi’s odd state: dazed expression, eyes watery like holding tears, lips parted slightly as if struggling to breathe, yet flushed a vivid red.

He saw Lian Yunzhi’s once-snowy clean skin covered in dust, while the exposed, unsoiled pale flesh glowed with a strange, alarming flush.

Mu Cheng’s heart suddenly pounded inexplicably.

He even tilted his head, hiding his ugly, scar-crossed face in shadow.

Then he approached, knelt on one knee, and gently lifted Lian Yunzhi from the ground—the gentlest he’d ever been. He first fed him a sip of water, then a Pill.

Lian Yunzhi closed his eyes, seeming to regain some strength. He raised his hand.

Mu Cheng thought he wanted to speak or pet his head, so he lowered his head, offering his ear and cheek.

What he got instead wasn’t words or a caress.

—But a limp yet full-force slap!

…

The Beast Taming Contract was too terrifying.

It could perhaps control one’s soul.

Mu Cheng thought bitterly.

For his hand betrayed his heart, gently catching Lian Yunzhi’s powerless falling palm.

His mouth uttered words he never meant to say.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

He heard his own voice, soft and hoarse, echo in the darkness.

“…I took too long to get here.”