The moment she heard those words, Qin Wanwan’s first reaction was:
He’s alive?
Then she reacted for the second time— how dare he still be alive?!
She had nearly ruined herself for his sake, thinking that if he was dead, that would be that. Now he actually dared to be alive?!
Qin Wanwan felt no strange emotion in her clasped hands, only the urge to clench her fists and smash the coffin to bits, burying his foolish self on the spot.
Fortunately, under the guidance of Jian Xingzhi’s spiritual energy, the pain in her tendons and veins eased a little, bringing her some sense of clarity. She stood there with her sword in hand and whispered to Jian Xingzhi: “What are you doing in there?”
It stands to reason that with Jian Xingzhi’s straightforward personality, shouldn’t he be incredibly excited in such a chaotic situation?
However, to her surprise, Jian Xingzhi responded with rare rationality, “I managed to steal the White Dragon Jade. We need to find a chance to retreat quickly.”
Qin Wanwan’s heart ‘thumped’ loudly at the words, but she maintained a calm composure on her face. She looked at the people around her calmly and said affirmatively: “My Master must be dead. I can no longer feel his presence at all.”
Some masters and disciples have a special way of feeling each other’s connection. Looking at the coffin riddled with more than a dozen swords next to her, no one found it surprising.
The young man with a sword next to them saw them chatting and shouted: “You must have stolen the White Dragon Jade!”
“White Dragon Jade?” Qin Wanwan showed a fake look of surprise, “White Dragon Jade has already appeared?”
Her bewildered expression made everyone let down their guard. After all, Qin Wanwan appeared after the White Dragon Jade disappeared. Therefore, it was clear that it must be stolen by the few people here who were present at that time.
The five of them began to look at each other with suspicion again. Qin Wanwan felt that Jian Xingzhi had temporarily helped her stabilize her spiritual energy, so she raised her sword and directed her gaze at the only man holding a sword beside her: “Were you the one who killed my Master?”
The young man holding the sword remained silent. He had already realized that the spiritual energy around him had been completely drained by Qin Wanwan. Now, without any support, he didn’t dare to act arrogantly.
Qin Wanwan raised her sword and pointed it at him, “Today I still have important things to do. I need to bury my Master first. But I will return blood for blood, and tooth for tooth in our next meeting!”
Finished saying that, Qin Wanwan turned her head, lifted the coffin in great sorrow and signaled Xie Gutang: “Daoist Monarch Xie, let’s go.”
The crowd was taken aback, not expecting Qin Wanwan to leave so quickly. However, sensing the heavenly thunder condensing above, they soon understood that this girl was likely on the verge of forming her Nascent Soul. If she were to undergo the heavenly tribulation here, it could not only cause trouble for them but might even reduce them to ashes, annihilating them completely.
For a moment, everyone felt a mix of emotions. Generally, disciples from major sects who formed their Nascent Souls at such a young age were protected by their masters and surrounded by protective formations. However, for the loose cultivators, they have to survive the heavenly tribulation on their own. This was usually the fate of disciples raised by loose cultivators.
Now that her Master was dead, she had no one to guide her. It was uncertain whether this departure would bring her blessings or misfortune.
But now, finding the White Dragon Jade was the priority. Other matters were insignificant. The crowd stopped intervening and began to inspect each other instead.
“Master Shen and I were together the whole time.” Ning Buyan was the first to declare his innocence.
“I was entangled in a fight with Young Master Jun.” Liu Feixu also declared frankly.
Leaving the group of people investigating themselves, Qin Wanwan and Xie Gutang pretended to be calm while carrying the coffin as they walked their way outside.
A small ant quietly climbed onto Xie Gutang’s shoulder and whispered, “Daoist Monarch Xie.”
Xie Gutang recognized that it was Nan Feng. He softly hummed and transmitted his voice as he asked, “How is Daoist Monarch Jian?”
“Alive.”
Xie Gutang felt relieved hearing the answer.
Just then, the few people nearby who were still enquiring each other, suddenly realized something.
Jun Shu shouted loudly, “Wait!”
Qin Wanwan and Xie Gutang stopped in their tracks as Jun Shu questioned, “Xie Gutang, weren’t you supposed to be dead?!”
When Jun Shu asked this, everyone else realized it as well. Liu Feixu exclaimed in surprise, “That’s right, Xie Gutang, weren’t you dead?”
“Young Friend Xie?”
Ning Buyan opened his eyes in disbelief, “You…”
“This was merely part of my plan,” Xie Gutang said, setting down the coffin. He bowed to everyone, speaking earnestly and sincerely. “Daoist Monarch Jian and I are like brothers. His cultivation is limited, but then he caught the attention of the evil City Lord. At that time, I knew I couldn’t rescue him alone. I was afraid you all wouldn’t be willing to assist me in rescuing him, so I fabricated this lie.”
“But…” Liu Feixu asked in bewilderment, “Why did you need to pretend to be dead?”
“Because I still needed to rescue Miss Qin, I couldn’t join you veterans in saving him. I feared that if I didn’t go, you would think it was a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den and hesitate to act.”
[T/N: Dragon’s lair or tiger’s den (龙潭虎穴) literally meaning a dangerous place.]
“Since Jian Xingzhi is like a brother to you and was on the verge of losing his life, why did you choose to save Miss Qin instead of saving Jian Xingzhi?”
Jun Shu narrowed his eyes, still doubtful about Xie Gutang. But the latter only turned his head and glanced at Qin Wanwan, his eyes full of affection.
Qin Wanwan’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated from being gazed at with that look. She had never experienced this kind of unwavering love that lasts until death from a person’s eyes.
At that moment, she felt that the person in front of her was not Xie Gutang, but Jack from the Titanic.
“It is without any doubt,” Xie Gutang said seriously, “My feelings for Miss Qin run deeper than those for Daoist Monarch Jian.”
Everyone present was defeated by this impeccable logic.
After a long time, Liu Feixu murmured: “So, you fell in love with your brother’s disciple, and at the moment of his life and death, you threw him to us to save while you went to find the girl yourself?”
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone understood why Xie Gutang had tried to remain silent. This was clearly taking advantage of someone else’s misfortune!
Everyone glanced at Qin Wanwan’s face, then at Xie Gutang, and finally at the coffin beside them, instantly filled with contempt for Xie Gutang.
But out of caution, Shen Zhiming still spoke: “Regardless, you are not allowed to leave before the White Dragon Jade is found.”
“But I am about to go under tribulation for my Nascent Soul.”
Qin Wanwan frowned: “Are you sure you want me to stay here?”
“Then you may leave.”
Shen Zhiming declared in an icy voice: “Leave your Master’s coffin with Xie Gutang.”
“My Master has already died here, I refuse to leave him alone! I have already left him here alone to suffer once, I will never abandon him again!”
Qin Wanwan, filled with righteous indignation, stubbornly sat down on the spot: “If you want me to stay, I’ll stay here and form my Nascent Soul. If you want to fight, go ahead, do as you please!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a loud clap of thunder boomed above their heads. Everyone present realized that this was probably not ordinary thunder.
Everyone hesitated, watching Qin Wanwan sitting on the ground with a resolute attitude. After hesitating for a long time, Shen Zhiming pursed his lips and said, “Then you can take your Master’s body away and leave Xie Gutang behind.”
“Don’t even think about it!”
Qin Wanwan spoke decisively, “Daoist Monarch Xie has deep feelings for me; how can I leave him here alone? My Master is already dead.” With tears in her eyes, she stood up and held Xie Gutang’s hand, looking into his eyes. “I only have Xie Lang left. I’ll form my Nascent Soul here! Let’s all die together!”
[T/N: In Chinese, Lang (郎) typically means “young man” or “gentleman.” It can also be used affectionately to refer to a beloved, often implying a sense of intimacy or endearment.]
Hearing her call out “Xie Lang,” Jian Xingzhi felt a bit uncomfortable, thinking that the young girl was easily deceived. Xie Gutang, this old cow, even at his hundred years of age, still wants to deceive a little girl, bastard!
Qin Wanwan sat down on the spot, raised her hand and chanted: “I will start forming the Nascent Soul now!”
“Wait!”
Shen Zhiming shouted loudly, Liu Feixu coughed lightly and reminded: “Daoist Monarch Shen, this is not an ordinary heavenly tribulation, this girl is extraordinary.”
Shen Zhiming did not speak, after a moment of silence, he suddenly attacked!
The spiritual energy of the Tribulation stage swept towards Qin Wanwan, Xie Gutang immediately raised his sword and moved, colliding against Shen Zhiming’s sword.
Shen Zhiming had already lost more than half of his power in the last clash, but he was still someone from a higher realm. The collision between them caused Xie Gutang to feel a jolt in his chest. He pressed firmly against Shen Zhiming, his voice cold as he asked: “What is the meaning of this, Sect Master Shen?”
“Either she leaves or not, she’s on the verge of forming her Nascent Soul.”
Shen Zhiming replied in a freezing tone: “Then it’s better to kill her.”
Just as he finished speaking, Jun Shu’s jade flute and Liu Feixu’s butterfly rushed toward Xie Gutang together. The moment Xie Gutang blocked their joint attack, Shen Zhiming’s long sword lunged toward Qin Wanwan. Qin Wanwan swiftly grasped her sword, ready for him. Just as Shen Zhiming, dressed in white, swung his sword down at her sword, the coffin suddenly exploded open. A young man in wedding robes leaped out of the coffin, smoothly snatched the sword from Qin Wanwan’s hand and collided fiercely with Shen Zhiming.
The fierce wind made his wedding robes flutter. Jian Xingzhi commanded in a cold voice, “Nan Feng, protect your Master; Beicheng, summon the heavenly thunder and start your tribulation.”
After saying that, Jian Xingzhi casted a formation beneath Qin Wanwan. Without hesitation, Qin Wanwan replied, “Yes, Master.”
Xie Gutang dodged Liu Feixu’s long whip, wanting to say something. But when he thought of Jian Xingzhi’s towering sword in the secret realm holding the falling sky, he swallowed all his words back.
Qin Wanwan sat cross-legged on the ground and immediately began to summon the heavenly thunder. Soon, the sound of thunder rumbling in the sky was heard.
Shen Zhiming’s face changed drastically. He ignored Jian Xingzhi and rushed toward Qin Wanwan with his sword.
However, Jian Xingzhi’s movements were faster. Instead of defending, he took an offensive stance and launched a direct strike at Shen Zhiming!
Shen Zhiming had no choice but to block the strike. With that single movement, the situation immediately shifted.
Jian Xingzhi’s sword had a very limited range of movement, and it was aimed directly at Shen Zhiming’s face. Because of this restricted movement, it was incredibly fast, like a torrential rain mixed with a violent, strong wind, covering his whole body and striking relentlessly, not giving him any chance to breathe.
What was even more terrifying was the profound understanding of the Dao within Jian Xingzhi’s sword intent, creating an invisible pressure for any sword cultivator. Although the two were separated by two major realms, Shen Zhiming found himself forced to retreat two steps under the onslaught of this tempestuous sword aura!
In that very moment, a thunderous roar echoed from above, and a massive bolt of lightning, as thick as a dragon, struck down. The bolt of thunder instantly shattered the rock ceiling above their heads and rushed straight toward Qin Wanwan!
The sudden thunder forced everyone to instinctively dodge. However, Jian Xingzhi pointed his long sword above, using his weapon to draw in the heavenly thunder. The crackling energy surged over his body. He wielded the sword like a whip and fiercely struck it toward Shen Zhiming!
Shen Zhiming braced himself with his spiritual energy as the second bolt of lightning struck down. He shouted at Jun Shu: “Jun Shu, run!”
At that moment, Jian Xingzhi again drew in the lightning with his sword and this time, aimed it directly at Jun Shu!
Shen Zhiming had already decided to escape, but seeing this scene, he rushed in front of Jun Shu to block the attack. The thunderbolt and his spiritual energy collided violently, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Jian Xingzhi was also covered in blood by this time, with lightning swirling around him. He felt as if his tendons and blood vessels seemed to be about to explode. In a desperate attempt, he activated the Chunsheng Heart Method and glanced at Qin Wanwan and the others nearby. Without saying a word, he raised his hand and sent out his flying sword to draw the third bolt of lightning into the blade. His sword then transformed into thousands of blades, exploding like fireworks in the sky and rushed towards everyone around.
The young man with a sword were utterly powerless to resist and were killed on the spot. Liu Feixu, Ning Buyan and the others, without a word, immediately fled. Shen Zhiming was pulled along by Jun Shu as they hurriedly made their escape into the distance.
Amidst the dense array of lightsabers, Jian Xingzhi’s wedding robes, stained with blood, fluttered violently, as if his red clothes were set ablaze.
“My disciple,” Jian Xingzhi’s voice drifted along the wind coldly, “Don’t you dare to disturb her.”
“Get away from me!”
The flying sword seemed to sense Jian Xingzhi’s anger and chased Shen Zhiming and the others relentlessly.
After they left, Jian Xingzhi turned his head and glanced at Xie Gutang who was injured not far away: “Go and rest.”
Finished saying, he turned around and walked into the thunder.
Xie Gutang called out anxiously: “Senior…”
But before he could finish speaking, Jian Xingzhi had already stepped into the midst of the thunder.
The massive bolt of lightning, as thick as a dragon, continued to strike Qin Wanwan. Jian Xingzhi arrived in front of her and sat down cross-legged.
In the midst of excruciating pain, Qin Wanwan struggled to open her eyes and saw the calm-faced young man amidst the white light.
A sense of aggravation suddenly rose in her heart: “Master, it’s so painful.”
“The path of cultivation has always been painful.”
Jian Xingzhi reached out and held her hand. Just like the last time when they formed their Golden Core together, the two began to circulate their spiritual energy around each other.
Qin Wanwan had already undergone body refinement, while Jian Xingzhi was only starting it now in this situation. They transformed the bolts of thunder into spiritual energy and washed through their bodies. Although the pain had been nearly unbearable for Qin Wanwan, for some reason, after Jian Xingzhi arrived, she felt the pain has lessened significantly, making it much more tolerable.
Jian Xingzhi remained calm, but Qin Wanwan was trembling in pain. After a long while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Master, doesn’t it hurt for you?”
“It does.”
Jian Xingzhi replied with an unfazed face, “But my master told me that if it hurts, just endure it, even if it’s unbearable, you must bear it. Once you get used to it, it won’t feel like much.”
“What if I can’t bear it?”
Qin Wanwan wanted to cry, hoping to find some comfort from Jian Xingzhi. Jian Xingzhi paused for a moment and opened his eyes before saying: “What if you can’t endure it? Besides hitting you, I have no other way to help. Do you think you still can’t bear it?”
Qin Wanwan: “…”
“I can.”
Qin Wanwan replied with unshed tears.
She shouldn’t have hoped for any consolation from him. Sorry, she realized it was her mistake.
[Mini Theater]
Jian Xingzhi: “Today was very lively, many guests attended. I wore the groom’s robes and practiced martial arts with Qin Wanwan face to face. In conclusion, I got married today, oh yeah!”
Thank you for the update!