Chapter 680 Setting things up (3)
"I brought Wu Shen's friends.." Yang Qing said to the expert in a bid to reduce his tenseness.
His response seemed to have worked as the expert's qi movements seemed to ease up a little before he decided to follow Wu Shen out of the room they had been meeting at, leaving only the last figure who seemed hesitant on whether to get up or stay before he finally got up and followed up after the quasi palace realm expert.
Wu Shen reduced his speed once he was outside of the building.
"Branch Chief Yang Qing, welcome.." he said with a slightly embarrassed smile as he made his way to the entrance.
"Thank you.." Yang Qing said as he walked in with Ling Qi and Xin Zephyr in tow.
Behind Wu Shen came the quasi-palace stage expert. It was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. He had donned a black robe that matched his black mane-like hair and beard. He had an air of a valiant general about him.
However, whatever presence he had on him was reigned in at the presence of Yang Qing.
The last to come out was an elderly man with a willowy white beard and robes that matched the ones Wu Shen had on, which were pure white.
Based on his demeanor and the fact that he had the highest cultivation base apart from the quasi-palace stage expert, it wasn't hard for Yang Qing to guess his identity. It was likely the sect master of the Flowing Fist Sect, who Ling Qi said ended up getting beat up by Wu Shen.
Yang Qing could see evidence of that, as the elderly man had a complicated look when his gaze fell on Wu Shen. Yang Qing detected mild fear, envy, and respect in them with the latter being the strongest.
"No wonder he lost.." Yang Qing thought as he detected the massive change in Wu Shen. His fist intent had improved significantly from how it was when he last saw him. It was on the verge of a complete formation. Its embryonic form was already complete and needed just one last push for it to evolve.
"Brother Ling Qi, Sister Xin Zephyr.." Wu Shen said as he cupped his fists at them.
The duo cupped their fists in return and even though they tried to hide their grief, Wu Shen was able to pick up something from their forced smiles.
"Let's talk inside.." he said as he welcomed them to the room they had just come from.
It was a quaint room filled with all kinds of anti-scrying and noise-cancellation arrays.
Once they had all settled down, as a dutiful host, Wu Shen began the introductions.
"This is senior Li Tian, he is one of the chief escorts of the Wind Gliding Mercenaries and will be escorting us to the territory of the Diamond Body Sect.." Wu Shen said as he respectfully pointed to the black-robed man.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Branch Chief.." Li Tian respectfully said as he rose to cup his fists at Yang Qing.
"The pleasure is mine, how is head Yun Wei doing?" said Yang Qing.
"Leader Yun Wei is doing well.."
"That's good, you can tell him I remember his favor, and whenever he wants to collect, I would be more than happy to oblige.." said Yang Qing.
Li Tian's eyes sparkled with surprise and something else as Yang Qing said that.
"I will.." he said as he took his seat.
Wu Shen, the elderly person whom Yang Qing assumed to be the sect master, all looked at Li Tian with envy. Having someone from the Order owe you a favor was like having a life-saving trump card.
Xin Zephyr and Ling Qi couldn't help but feel envious too especially with their circumstances. If they had such a favor, maybe whatever befell them could have been avoided.
Pushing his envy aside, Wu Shen went on to introduce the elderly man next to him, with slight embarrassment in his tone.
"This is sect master Cheng Chao, the leader of our sect.."
The sect master got up in greeting as he said,
"Nice to meet you, Branch Chief Yang Qing, Elder Ling Qi, and Elder Xin Zephyr.."
"He is the sect master alright.." Yang Qing thought in admiration of the sect master's display.
Wu Shen couldn't hide his discomfort as he made the introduction, but the sect master was as natural and composed as he could be. One couldn't even imagine he had taken a beating from Wu Shen a few hours before with how at ease he was.
With introductions out of the way, Wu Shen who was slightly hesitant in asking finally asked,
"Is it just the two of you?"
His question was directed at the two grief-stricken elders seated behind Yang Qing.
"Yes, it's just us, brother Wu Shen.." Ling Qi said with a bitter smile.
The pupils of Wen Shu and Sect Master Cheng Chao trembled when they saw Ling Qi's expression and Xin Zephyr who looked to be struggling to keep her tumultuous emotions in check.
Yang Qing sighed as he stepped in to retell the tale as told to him by Ling Qi. By the end of the tale, Wu Shen and Sect Master Cheng Chao were completely shaken, more so the latter who looked like he was about to fall off his seat completely lacking in the demeanor of a sect master.
"I would have doomed my sect.." he said in disbelief with eyes wide open, tongue drying, and voice cracking.
"Wu Shen, if it wasn't for you..."he weakly added, not daring to complete his sentence, but his implication was clear.
Wu Shen didn't answer as he too was in shock, his mind no likely wandering in the same place as the sect master. It took a bit of time before he regained his senses.
Yang Qing's attention was on Li Tian who had a deep frown as his gaze fell on Wu Shen. On feeling Yang Qing's undisguised attention on him, he hurriedly looked up to find Yang Qing looking at him with eyes that made it seem like they could see right through the thoughts he was having.
His body instantly froze from the stare, with a sudden wetness appearing on his back. He inadvertently gulped before he averted his gaze, his thoughts only known to himself.
Sometime after the deafening silence was broken by Wu Shen, who got up with a solemn expression as he said,
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"If you don't mind it, Brother Ling, Sister Xin, would you like to join the Flowing Fist as our elders?"
The duo were dazed for a moment before Ling Qi absentmindedly asked,
"Are you sure?"
"I am. We would be lucky to have a top-tier alchemist and top-
tier swordswoman join us, especially ones that I can trust. It would be our blessing to have you.." said Wu Shen with a warm smile.
Sect Master Cheng Chao looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back when his gaze fell on both Wu Shen and Yang Qing.
"If you don't mind, then I would be glad too... What about you, Zephyr?" asked Ling Qi.
"Wherever you go, I go.." she softly said before she added,
"I would be honored to join you, though I am not sure I will ever be the swordswoman I once was.."
"Who knows... the future isn't set in stone, it always has a way of surprising you... You may not be the swordswoman you used to be, but that's okay, life is the sum of our experiences.. you might yet turn into another type that suits what you have experienced.." Wu Shen softly said.
"Well said.." Yang Qing said as he stood up.
"I wish you safe travels on your journey ahead. My work here is done.."added Yang Qing as his gaze fell on Ling Qi and Xin Zephyr.
"Might as well help you all the way.." Yang Qing muttered as he stretched his hands.
His hair transformed into a mix of green blue and white as an ethereal and majestic radiance was released from his hands.
Spring of resplendence
Three droplets that were a mix of green, blue, and with a celestial white glow were instantly produced from his stretched-out hand, carrying with them a dense life aura that made every plant in the area leap in joy as the bamboo immediately started overgrowing just from the remnant aura that was leaking from the droplets.
Li Tian's pupils trembled as he sensed the dense life aura permeating every inch of the area breathing life essence into anything and everything it touched. He felt a gentle embrace wash over him, washing away every strain in his body, spreading to his spirit. He felt an overwhelming profoundness within that warm energy.
In all his life, this was the first time he had ever felt this much life essence. It was like a kingdom-sized forest had been birthed in a wasteland in but a moment, which in essence was proving to be true as the bamboo and the other vegetation had already grown past the height of the courtyard walls filled with vibrancy and strength.
Sect Master Cheng Chao couldn't help but groan in pleasure as he felt the aches he had suffered in the fight against Wu Shen, get healed. Wu Shen experienced the same sensation too.
When the three droplets were formed, Yang Qing gently waved his hand and the three droplets disappeared into the bodies of Wu Shen, Ling Qi, and Xin Zephyr.
Before they could register what had happened, a huge pulse of vital energy immediately exploded from within their bodies and they could feel the hollowness that they had felt after their treatment, get filled up rapidly.
After just a few minutes they were brimming with life. Everything within them from their body to their souls felt renewed, refreshed, and strengthened, Wu Shen could even feel the membrane leading to the peak stage of the core formation realm was paper thin, just a thought and he would breakthrough, but the biggest surprise to him and Ling Qi and Xin Zephyr was regaining their ability to manipulate and absorb qi. Something they had been told would take 3 years before they could regain their abilities.
They were all gobsmacked, especially when they remembered the founder of the Ocean Crucible Refining Pavilion saying they could hasten the process with an ascendant-grade treasure, yet Yang Qing had done it in an instant, without a treasure at that.
Earlier Yang Qing felt that his abilities had leaped, especially in regards to healing, even before his breakthrough, he knew he could resolve their situation thanks to his art and physique, he just chose not to, but with how things were, he decided to do it as a farewell. With this, he would not have anything hanging over his conscience.
"Take care of yourselves and take the lessons you gained from this to heart.." Yang Qing said to the trio as he disappeared from the room.
He could already feel the presence of three figures approaching the courtyard. One of them was a quasi-palace stage expert, and the other two were at the peak stage of the core formation realm. From such a lineup, he could already guess their identities. As much as he was a vain person, he wasn't much for too much fanfare and he still had to go investigate the whereabouts of the Xin clan members and see if there were any survivors.
Without wasting time, he used a phantom void gliding step, and in a few seconds, he had already reached Ellie, leaving the shocked Ling Qi, Xin Zephyr, Wu Shen, Cheng Chao, and Li Tao, who were too shocked even to notice he had left.
When they came to, they cupped their fists in gratitude even though Yang Qing wasn't there to receive it.
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