Chapter Twenty-Seven: Departure

Without the fire talismans, Shen Chang'an had no other options.

Though his alloy staff was crafted with modern techniques, he dared not guarantee that it would be effective against such an evil, monstrous creature. It seemed, as expected, he could only rely on the divine sword.

"Come."

The Withered Wood Sword appeared in his hand at his call. Shen Chang'an moved with lightning speed, giving chase. Mindful of Yu Qingxian's previous experience, he wisely refrained from using sword energy.

Yu Qingxian, however, was a step ahead. Clad in her Bright Light Armor, she moved with incredible agility, closing the distance to the Taisui’s back in a few bounds.

Hum!

With a sound like a dragon’s roar, Yu Qingxian’s blade flashed, striking down directly at the Taisui. Yet, the creature’s body merely shifted, splitting open a massive fissure that allowed the blade to pass through without causing the slightest harm.

As Yu Qingxian pursued, it planted its feet firmly, spun around, and unleashed a punch with explosive force. Caught in the moment after her strike, with her momentum spent and her guard down, she could not dodge in time and was sent flying backward by the blow.

Shen Chang'an seized the opportunity to strike, his wooden sword whirling as he lunged forward. He had seen Yu Qingxian’s attack fail, but he hoped to catch the Taisui off guard with a ruthless surprise attack.

However, the Taisui’s body shifted according to its will, and Shen Chang'an’s strike missed entirely. The creature’s previously expressionless face twisted into a sneer of mockery.

Just then, the Withered Wood Sword suddenly twisted, extending several roots that lashed out to entangle the Taisui’s shifting form. The cycle of decay and growth surged through the blade, and a pure, surging power erupted from its tip.

Shen Chang'an was stunned. This sword... it was devouring the Taisui’s essence!

"Since both are plants, can it simply consume the other?"

The Withered Wood Sword ignored his musings. Sword energy erupted from its edge, wrapping around the Taisui, which was now frozen in place and unable to move. With a sudden tightening, the creature was reduced to nothingness in an instant.

It all happened so fast that the others had barely processed what had occurred before the Taisui vanished.

"Wait, Daoist, can your sword eat monsters?" Li Qingqing, following behind, stood frozen in shock as she watched the Withered Wood Sword drain the Taisui dry.

Shen Chang'an scratched his head. "How would I know? This sword won't even tell me its name."

Yu Qingxian glanced at the wooden sword and remarked, "As long as the Taisui is eliminated, the method does not matter."

Li Qingqing sighed. "I was hoping to use the Taisui to refine elixirs. Now it’s all gone."

Shen Chang'an shrugged helplessly. "If this wooden sword couldn't consume it, I wouldn't have been able to contain it anyway. The result is the same; you wouldn't have gotten your hands on it either."

Though he explained it this way, Li Qingqing still looked quite regretful.

Yu Qingxian breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your assistance, Daoist Shen. Otherwise, the Taisui would have escaped today."

Because the creature had slaughtered many residents, Yu Qingxian had felt deeply guilty. Now that it was dead, her heart felt much lighter.

Shen Chang'an shook his head with a smile. "That is too formal. Miss Yu and I are quite fated. Being able to join forces to vanquish evil today is a fine thing; no thanks are needed."

Yu Qingxian nodded, though her gratitude remained undiminished.

Just then, a white carrier pigeon flew through the sky, flapping its wings before landing on Li Qingqing’s wrist. She took the bird, retrieved a small cylinder from its leg, and pulled out a note. After one glance, she looked stunned and handed the slip to Shen Chang'an.

Shen Chang'an read it, paused for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"What a girl, Zheng Xin. I underestimated her."

As it turned out, although Zheng Xin had initially been deceived by the White Lotus Society, her suspicions were soon aroused. In the end, the followers of the White Lotus Society were evil by nature; they could never truly mimic the demeanor of righteous practitioners. If Zheng Xin had been a novice, she might not have noticed, but she had met Shen Chang'an and Wang Yue and knew exactly how true righteous individuals behaved. Furthermore, the habits of the two men were too similar to those of her own uncles, which immediately made her suspicious.

Once she had doubts, it became easy to see through them. Zheng Xin soon realized the two were harboring ill intent, but because they were quite powerful, she merely stalled them without acting directly. When she finally found an opportunity, she drugged them, bound them, and hung them upside down in a wasteland.

By the time the White Lotus Society discovered something was wrong and found the two men, three days had already passed. Zheng Xin herself had slipped away, off to wander the world.

After reading this, Shen Chang'an was left both amused and bewildered. Since Zheng Xin was gone, Li Qingqing was no longer of any use.

He turned his gaze toward her. Li Qingqing looked fearful and quietly took a step back.

Shen Chang'an sighed and waved his hand. "Get out of here. Consider this the last time I spare you, Daoist."

Li Qingqing was stunned, then looked at him with joy. "Daoist, are you serious?"

Shen Chang'an shook his head and scoffed. "Enough, don't waste time. Do you think I can't see through your little tricks? If you hadn't recovered some of your internal energy, you wouldn't have handed that note to me."

Li Qingqing gave a cheeky smile and stuck out her tongue. "The Daoist really understands me. Very well, I’m off."

With that, she stepped as if on a light breeze, her figure vanishing into thin air in an instant.

"Tch, she has endless ways to save her own skin."

Having recovered a fraction of her power, she had enough to activate all sorts of life-saving items. As a saintess of the White Lotus Society, she was never lacking in such things.

With Li Qingqing gone, Shen Chang'an prepared to bid Yu Qingxian farewell. But before he could speak, she asked, "Daoist, would you accompany me on a trip?"

"Where to?" Shen Chang'an asked instinctively.

"Black Wind Mountain."