Chapter 75

Xuan Yang did not avoid Dao Qing while speaking with Qixue because he had already formed murderous intent and had no intention of letting Dao Qing live.

He said no more. Spiritual energy from deep within the earth veins began to gather and surge in massive quantities, forming a colossal vortex like a hurricane. It howled toward the array beneath their feet. The array glowed with a sinister crimson light, instantly shifting from a prohibition array to a perilous killing array.

The spiritual energy condensed into millions of dharma swords as fine as silk threads—invisible to the naked eye and imperceptible even amid the overwhelming spiritual qi. They silently shot toward Dao Qing. In an instant, they could pierce through the person in the array densely, slicing their flesh and blood into a sky full of minced meat and bloody mist.

The only place these dharma swords avoided was Dao Qing’s chest, where Rabbit Tuan nestled. Of course, Xuan Yang would not harm him.

Dao Qing sensed the immense danger approaching. His gaze darkened slightly as he raised a hand to shield the Rabbit Tuan in his arms. Hard dragon scales emerged across his body as a defense. He was about to store Rabbit Tuan in his Sleeve Universe when Rabbit Tuan suddenly shifted to human form and hugged him.

He wrapped his arms around Dao Qing’s nape, practically hanging off Dao Qing’s body. He even kept pressing Dao Qing’s head downward, as if determined to shield Dao Qing’s vital points completely in his embrace.

Though Qixue was blind at the moment, he could discern Xuan Yang’s position by sound. He believed that if he stood between them, Xuan Yang could not strike at Dao Qing. He could protect Dao Qing with his own body.

Anxiously, he pleaded with Xuan Yang, “Daoist, please show mercy!”

Qixue felt that although Dao Qing was powerful, he could not contend with a divine spirit. If he did not protect Dao Qing, Dao Qing would surely die.

Though he himself had little power, since the Holy Monarch liked him, he surely would not kill him.

Indeed, the moment Xuan Yang saw Qixue shielding Dao Qing with his body, he swiftly suppressed his power. If he had not reined it in in time, Qixue would already have been riddled with holes by the spiritual energy.

Xuan Yang withdrew the killing move, which damaged his meridians. A trickle of blood overflowed from the corner of his lips, which he promptly wiped away with his hand.

Damage to his meridians meant nothing to Xuan Yang—it was merely an incarnation. He could create hundreds or thousands at any time. Yet when he saw Qixue desperately protecting Dao Qing, his heart truly shattered. The look he gave Qixue was filled with disappointment.

“A Xue, do you even know what you’re doing?”

The spiritual qi in the courtyard gradually calmed. Xuan Yang asked sadly, “It was he who put you in peril, trapping you in the Ancient Mirror for over a month, even leaving you blind.

“Shouldn’t he die for that? Why did you protect him with your own life? Have you considered that if I hadn’t stopped in time, you would already be…”

Qixue bit his lip, overwhelmed with guilt by Xuan Yang’s questions. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think that much at the time. It was just instinct.”

“Dao Qing has done me favors. Over this past month, he cared for me diligently and protected me well. I’m very grateful to him. My eyes have nothing to do with Dao Qing. I was temporarily blinded because I curiously stared straight at the heavenly thunder.

“I think even if Dao Qing was wrong, the merits and faults balance out. His crime doesn’t warrant death. He’s truly repented. I’m willing to forgive him. Please, Xuan Yang Daoist, spare his life and let him go.”

Xuan Yang fell silent for a moment before asking softly, “Does A Xue think I’m meddling too much? Even you are willing to forgive Dao Qing, yet I insist on punishing him. I suppose I am too fond of sticking my nose in others’ business.

“For this past month, I could not sleep at night. I guarded the Ancient Mirror day and night, fearing some accident might prevent your safe return. It turns out that was just me being overly sentimental.

“A Xue, tell me—are my worries, my longing, my feelings for you all a joke to you? If that’s truly how you feel, then take him and go. I won’t stop you.”

By the end, Xuan Yang’s tone was profoundly low. Though Qixue could not see his expression, he could hear the depth of his dejection and immediately panicked.

He hurriedly said, “No, that’s not it! I would never view you that way! You know how important you are to me. Even if I died, I wouldn’t deliberately hurt you…”

As he said the last few words, Dao Qing covered his mouth from behind, muffling his voice.

Dao Qing held Qixue in his arms, his tone icy to the extreme. “What act of pitifulness are you putting on? You set the prohibition array. You wanted to kill me. You nearly hurt Qixue. Yet you shift the blame onto him?”

“It seems Xie Shu hasn’t disciplined you in too long, turning you into such a insidious hypocrite. Since Xie Shu won’t step in, I’ll do it for him—teach you right from wrong, good from evil.”

Qixue grew even more panicked upon hearing this. He immediately pried off Dao Qing’s fingers. “Have you gone mad! Xuan Yang Daoist, don’t listen to his nonsense. I know you’re all doing this for my sake. I won’t be swayed by him. His brain must have addled. Please be magnanimous and don’t stoop to his level…”

Xuan Yang’s tone was indifferent. “A Xue, tell me—between us, who is more important to you: me or Dao Qing?”

“You, of course!” Qixue said without hesitation, though his voice soon softened as he timidly added, “But… Dao Qing is also quite important to me. I can’t just abandon him…”

As he spoke, he quietly pinched Dao Qing’s thigh hard and punched him a few times, signaling him to stay silent.

Dao Qing’s expression was frosty. He silently held Qixue tighter without speaking.

After a long while, Xuan Yang let out a soft chuckle. “Alright, A Xue. You’re not well, and I don’t want to trouble you. I can let him go, but you must stay. Are you willing?”

Qixue replied, “Of course I am.”

Though he desperately wanted to see His Majesty, with the Holy Monarch asking him to stay, he could not bear to sadden him further. The priority was to soothe the Holy Monarch first.

Xuan Yang gave Dao Qing a calm glance, but his eyes were like a stagnant pool of dead water, as if looking at a corpse. “Hand A Xue over to me. You, leave.”

Dao Qing did not move. Qixue pushed him and whispered, “Stop fooling around. Go. I’ll find you later.”

“I can’t leave you alone with him,” Dao Qing said, gripping his hand tightly.

“What are you worried about? I’ve known the Daoist for a long time. He’s like a father and brother to me. He won’t harm me.” Qixue grabbed Dao Qing’s hand and quickly kissed his knuckles by way of comfort. “Go now. I don’t want you two fighting.”

In the end, Dao Qing yielded to Qixue’s words and left Xuan Yang’s courtyard.

As he passed Xuan Yang, their eyes met. In that instant, the gazes they directed at each other surged with undercurrents of killing intent, shattering their facades of composure and indifference.

Thud.

The doors closed. Only Qixue and Xuan Yang remained in the courtyard.

Xuan Yang took Qixue’s hand and led him a couple of steps. Seeing Qixue’s hesitant gait, as if afraid of tripping, he simply scooped Qixue up into a princess carry and took him to the bedroom, placing him on the bed.

“Holy Monarch…”

Qixue sat up straight, about to apologize to Xuan Yang, but Xuan Yang gently shushed him and caressed his cheek. “Don’t speak yet. Let me take a good look at you.”

He had been as ruthless as could be in clashing with Dao Qing, but with Qixue, he was equally gentle. Even his touches were feather-light, as if handling a fragile treasure, unwilling to use even a bit more force.

Qixue obediently sat still, letting Xuan Yang touch him. He felt those slightly cool fingers brush his brows, eyes, ears, and hair—meticulously going over every strand, as if missing even one would pain him terribly.

After a long while, Xuan Yang’s voice carried a relaxed hint of laughter. “I thought you’d suffered greatly in the Bronze Mirror and lost a lot of weight. How come you’ve gained a little instead?”

Qixue’s face flushed red. He stammered, “This past month, I hardly walked at all. I stayed in my original form nestled in Dao Qing’s arms, treating him like a mount. And I have a pregnancy, so gaining weight was inevitable…”

“A little plumpness suits you. You were too slender before. Now you’re even cuter.”

Xuan Yang smiled and tapped his nose, sitting beside Qixue and drawing him into his arms to lean against him. “Come, let’s not talk about those unpleasant things. Tell me about what happened after you entered the Bronze Mirror. I heard this Ancient Mirror can traverse time—is that true? Did you go back to the past?”

Qixue comfortably pillowed his head on Xuan Yang’s chest, clingily wrapping his arms around his waist. Seeing that Xuan Yang was not pursuing the earlier matter, he secretly sighed in relief and said sweetly, “It’s true. We went back over a hundred years—to a frozen lake…”

He recounted the experiences of the past month to Xuan Yang but omitted the part about dual cultivation with Dao Qing to heal, lest Xuan Yang grow jealous and want to kill Dao Qing even more.

Xuan Yang listened attentively, occasionally asking a question or two. “So you met the true Zheng Yuan Zhenren? What kind of person is he?”

Qixue said happily, “I think he’s like a kind, amiable grandfather next door. He made me watermelon ice and had his little cat play with me. I like him.”

Xuan Yang sighed. “You’re perfect in every way, except your heart is too soft. A little kindness from someone, and you easily like them. That’s your flaw.”

Qixue murmured, “I know the Holy Monarch worries for me and wants me to be more ruthless, but I really can’t…”

“Even without harming anyone, I can complete the mission. Ji Yuheng already likes me a lot. He swore to me—he’ll only love me and never fall for Xie Shu.”

“Men’s oaths are the most worthless things,” Xuan Yang said. “Don’t take them seriously.”

“But…”

Qixue thought for a moment and decided to swallow his next words. He trusted Yun Qi, but he could not expect the Holy Monarch to feel the same. Why upset him needlessly?

So he changed tack. “I’ll work even harder to complete the mission you gave me. Right, how are His Majesty and the others? I think I should hurry back to the Imperial Palace to continue my duties.”

Xuan Yang replied, “That’s what I wanted to tell you. You don’t need to return to the palace. I’ll send you back to Dali Mountain. You needn’t involve yourself further—I’ll handle the rest.”

Qixue was stunned, finding it far too abrupt. “But I feel like there’s still so much I haven’t done. I’m carrying His Majesty’s child—at least let me give birth before…”

“I’m sorry, A Xue. Actually, I lied to you.”

Xuan Yang’s voice was very soft. “It was a false pregnancy. You didn’t truly conceive Helan Ji’s child.”

“Even if you had really gotten pregnant with Helan Ji’s child, it would be useless now… Helan Ji is gravely ill. He’ll be dead in at most half a month. Ji Yuheng is already acting as regent and will soon become Great Yong’s new sovereign.”