Chapter 83 – A Step Too Late, Let’s Undo It Now

Shen Xuanli retrieved the formation disk, and Lu Linyuan also sheathed the longsword that had been pressed against Xie Jibai’s neck. He exchanged a glance with Wen Jinshu and quickly left together with Shen Xuanli and Ye Qingning.

The two of them were well aware that the Luoyun Sect wasn’t far from here, and if the old fogeys guarding the Ye family used some sort of divine ability to rush over, it wouldn’t take long. This place was absolutely not safe to linger in.

What’s more, Ye Qingning was injured. Even though she had stepped into the path of a body cultivator, it would still be difficult for her to fight again. Let alone the fact that the old monsters of the top ten noble families all had their own tricks—they weren’t easy opponents. The most urgent task now was to return to the sect and undo the curse.

“Ye Qingning, stop right there! If you have the guts, don’t run!” Ye Hanyue stomped her foot and tried to chase after her. By her estimation, her master, her parents, and the Ye family elders should be arriving soon.

It was all her fault—just now, overcome with rage, she had impulsively warned Ye Qingning. She had ruined it with her own stupidity!!!

Regret consumed Ye Hanyue. Dragging her weakened body, she had only taken one step forward when an invisible force pushed her back several steps.

Startled, she realized that even though they had already retreated, Shen Xuanli’s pressure alone could still force her back. His strength was still this terrifying.

In her previous life, she had once harbored feelings for Shen Xuanli too.

But he was too cold. Even though she was his junior martial sister, he had always treated her with indifference, slowly extinguishing her passion.

Until she met Xie Jibai and saw how he always wore a gentle, affectionate expression in front of Ye Qingning. That drove her mad with jealousy. Again and again, she found herself thinking of Xie Jibai’s tender gaze, and her liking for Shen Xuanli completely vanished.

But what she hadn’t expected was that someone as cold and emotionless as Shen Xuanli would actually accompany Ye Qingning to the Western Continent’s black market—when Ye Qingning was still only an inner sect disciple and not even his junior martial sister!

Ye Hanyue gritted her teeth, watching helplessly as their figures disappeared from view, so furious she nearly coughed up blood.

She was just about to turn to Xie Jibai and cry out her grievances when a powerful pressure suddenly descended from the sky, as heavy as a mountain, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

A figure appeared high in the heavens and landed in front of Ye Hanyue and Xie Jibai in the blink of an eye.

The newcomer had a head full of silver hair, and his dark robe was adorned with only a few silver threads. Though his attire was simple, he carried a naturally commanding presence that couldn’t be ignored.

When Ye Hanyue saw who it was, she quickly stepped forward and grabbed the elder’s sleeve, eyes red as she choked out, “Master, your disciple is useless—I was tricked into coming here by my younger sister and she even took my heart blood. Master, you must stand up for me!”

Ye Hanyue cried her heart out, looking for all the world like she had suffered some unimaginable grievance.

Zhou Hanshi didn’t say anything in response. He simply reached out to take her pulse and check her condition, then turned his gaze toward Xie Jibai.

“Jibai, you tell me—what exactly happened?”

Xie Jibai looked distracted. Zhou Hanshi called him again, and only then did he respond: “The Ye family planted a Parent-Child Curse of Calamity in them. To undo it, one must take the heart blood of the one carrying the parent curse. The others didn’t know about this.”

Though Zhou Hanshi wasn’t skilled in curses, he was still familiar with the Parent-Child Curse of Calamity. From their words, he could roughly piece together the situation.

His gaze turned to Ye Hanyue, and his tone carried a note of sternness. “Since this curse was planted by the Ye family, and that girl is also the Ye family’s adopted daughter, I have no reason to interfere.”

“I’ve always taught you all that when you’re out in the world, be cautious and act wisely. The path of cultivation is full of hardships. Relying on others will never be as good as relying on yourself.”

“These matters—you’ll have to resolve them on your own. As long as you’re not dead, don’t bother sending messages to me.”

“Yes, Master,” Xie Jibai answered. When Zhou Hanshi said they were returning to the sect, he mounted his sword and followed him without hesitation.

Ye Hanyue, on the other hand, stood there dumbfounded. She had thought Zhou Hanshi would avenge her and go after Ye Qingning. But he actually turned around and returned to the sect with Xie Jibai!

What did he mean by “as long as you’re not dead, don’t send me messages”? What kind of master had Ye Qingning worshipped in her past life?! How could he just ignore his own disciple!

From how things played out, Zhou Hanshi had clearly arrived before the Ye family.

But when Ye Qingning left, she had only worried about whether the old fogeys of the Ye family would catch up—because she already knew Zhou Hanshi wouldn’t interfere for Ye Hanyue’s sake.

Zhou Hanshi was a master healer, and he wasn’t unkind to his disciples—he just had a different teaching philosophy. He raised his disciples by letting them fend for themselves.

Previously, he had told Ye Qingning: “On the path of cultivation, rely on yourself. I won’t help you with anything. If you cause trouble, don’t come looking for me.”

This wasn’t just empty talk. When Xie Jibai had nearly died in a demonic abyss, Zhou Hanshi had only said, “If he had the ability to go in, he should have the ability to come back.”

In the end, it had been Ye Qingning who carried Xie Jibai back to complete her mission.

Because of this, Ye Qingning was certain that Zhou Hanshi wouldn’t intervene. If Ye Hanyue wanted to get her heart blood back, she’d have to rely on those old geezers from the Ye family.

Western Continent Transfer Point

The moment the four figures disappeared into the teleportation array, a powerful pressure descended, and several figures quickly came down from the skies, exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.

Among them was the current head of the Ye family, Ye Xin. The others were undoubtedly Ye family elders. Following close behind them, sobbing and tearful, was Ye Hanyue, who had finally caught up.

“Father! Elders! You must get justice for me! I treated her like my real sister, but she ganged up on me, stole my heart blood, and humiliated me! She clearly doesn’t respect you or the Ye family!”

Ye Hanyue cried pitifully, and Ye Xin, furious from arriving too late and missing his chance to catch them, grew even angrier upon seeing her so miserable. His expression darkened instantly.

If that wretched girl didn’t still have some use, he would’ve killed her already! How dare she bully his daughter!

“That ungrateful brat! How dare she humiliate my daughter like this—she must have a death wish! Let’s go—to Eastern Continent, Penglai!”

Before Dawn – Penglai Sect

Before daybreak, the four of them returned to Penglai Sect.

On the way back, Lu Linyuan noticed how pale Ye Qingning looked. Ignoring propriety between men and women, he reached out to check her injuries, only for her to gently shake her head in refusal.

First, she was a body cultivator—it wasn’t a big deal. Second, she knew how rumors spread.

She didn’t want her name showing up in idle gossip one day, or worse, being written into some popular romance tale by a lovestruck senior sister inspired by a passing conversation.

So, as long as she could keep her distance, she would. She preferred to enjoy the gossip, not become the subject of it.

Nine Li Peak

If Shen Xuanli hadn’t messaged Pei Yin along the way to let them know Ye Qingning had already obtained the heart blood, the Cursed Saint might have finished his wine and left.

He couldn’t possibly wait around indefinitely just because the heart blood hadn’t been collected yet.

Neither Xuanyangzi, Tianjizi, nor the second elder had expected that before the night’s wine was finished, Ye Qingning would have already completed the task.

Look at her—whose newly admitted little disciple could be so impressive?

“Ye girl, you’re back! Come, let this old man check your injuries!” Xuanyangzi was both overjoyed and worried. He rushed up first, grabbing her wrist to take her pulse.

Since she had taken the heart blood, yet the curse hadn’t been lifted, he didn’t need to guess—the injury must be on her!

“Elder, I’m fine. I only got a little hurt while extracting the heart blood. I’m a body cultivator, so it’s nothing serious.”

Ye Qingning was terrified the old man would take her pulse and discover her heart meridian was damaged. She just wanted to quietly use the Resting Spirit Stone to heal without worrying anyone.

Afraid the elder would insist, she quickly took out the small porcelain bottle and looked at the faceless Daoist. “This contains the heart blood I collected. Senior, may I ask—when can the curse be undone?”

The faceless Daoist accepted the bottle, opened it, and confirmed that it indeed contained heart blood. His expression turned solemn.

“Now.”