Chapter 51 - Unmarked Burial Site
As night deepened, Yin Xu stirred from his slumber, attuned to the steady rhythm of a strong heartbeat beside him, cocooned in warmth.
Since their encounter near an unmarked graveyard, Yin Xu clandestinely probed for its whereabouts. Each night, he awaited Teng Yu's deep sleep before seeking a spot for his cultivation.
After more than ten days of such regimen, the progress was evident; his Devilish Exercise neared a breakthrough to the third layer. With the pivotal moment looming, Yin Xu was determined not to miss it.
Gently shifting, he retrieved a small vial from beneath his pillow, releasing a subtle fragrance upon uncapping it.
This incense induced a brief four-hour slumber without adverse effects, ensuring the sleeper remained oblivious upon awakening.
With the antidote concealed on his tongue, Yin Xu painstakingly disengaged from Teng Yu's embrace after a hundred silent counts, draping the blanket over him.
The chill of the night compelled Yin Xu to don a cloak as he stealthily departed.
As he left the chamber, Teng Yu's eyes flickered open, swiftly descending from the bed. He masked his face with a damp cloth, regulating his breath.
To avert suspicion, he refrained from fully closing his eyes, adjusting the rhythm and depth of his breaths.
Opening the window while shielding his nose, Teng Yu allowed the lingering scent to dissipate. Its mild potency ensured a swift return to normalcy.
Retrieving black attire, he slipped out the door in pursuit. Upon his departure, the surrounding Dark Guards stirred, halted only by Teng Yu's command.
Uncertain of Yin Xu's vigilance, Teng Yu's deductions assured him of the necessity for caution; greater numbers increased the risk of detection.
He must ascertain Yin Xu's nocturnal activities.
Initially unaware of the drugging, Teng Yu experienced improved sleep quality without discomfort upon awakening.
At first, he attributed this to shared rest but contemplated accommodating Yin Xu in his quarters upon reaching the capital to alleviate his nighttime unease.
As days passed with consistent results, Teng Yu suspected Yin Xu's cautious nature rather than innate suspicion.
Eventually succumbing to sleep, a feat previously impossible, Teng Yu found himself unable to resist slumber as before.
With only themselves and the Dark Guards present, Teng Yu reasoned that Yin Xu was the sole culprit.
Tonight demanded heightened vigilance; Yin Xu's movement alerted Teng Yu to a faint aroma, initially unnoticed due to Yin Xu's own scent.
Maintaining the facade of sleep, Teng Yu waited until Yin Xu departed before taking action.
Drawing several deep breaths of frigid air, Teng Yu felt invigorated.
Fortunately, the snow on the ground hadn't melted. When Teng Yu lost sight of his target, he relied on footprints to track Yin Xu, ensuring he always trailed at a distance.
He harbored great confidence in his Qing Gong technique. Maintaining a safe distance assured that Yin Xu remained oblivious to his presence.
As they pursued Yin Xu beyond the city limits, Teng Yu's curiosity intensified. Why was this individual wandering outside the city in the dead of night, forsaking sleep?
Initially, Teng Yu presumed Yin Xu possessed a clandestine mentor with exceptional martial prowess, unknown to others. Perhaps he clandestinely received tutelage from this master every night.
Han Qing's discreet inquiries with Wu Sheng supported Teng Yu's conjecture, as even Wu Sheng was unaware of his young master's unique abilities.
Teng Yu trailed Yin Xu deeper into the wilderness until finally witnessing his halt within a wooded area.
Although Teng Yu had only heard of unmarked graveyards, he had never encountered one. Yet, upon nearing, a putrid stench assaulted his senses. Having trained alongside the Dark Guard's death warriors, Third Prince was acquainted with such odors.
Vultures circled overhead, a sight potent enough to unnerve the faint-hearted.
Concealed behind a towering tree, Teng Yu observed Yin Xu from afar. Despite keen eyesight, only vague movements of his quarry were discernible.
Yin Xu ascended a massive tree, assuming a cross-legged position on a robust branch. With hands forming intricate seals, he summoned chilling gusts, setting leaves aflutter and yellowed foliage drifting downward.
Extracting his refined soul flag, Yin Xu surveyed his amassed collection. Over time, his Thousand Soul Flag had ensnared nearly ten thousand souls. Regrettably, these were ordinary mortal spirits, possessing negligible power.
Unseen to the naked eye, these deceased spirits hovered mid-air. Yin Xu intoned an incantation, whirling the thousand soul flag at great speed, drawing the souls within.
“Ah…” Echoes of resentment echoed in Yin Xu's consciousness. Many interred in the grave met a futile end, departing with lingering grievances or animosity.
This suited Yin Xu's purposes precisely. Devoid of strength in life, souls lacking unresolved grievances dissipated entirely.
Moreover, benign souls lacked destructive potential, rendering them useless for reclamation.
Unable to perceive souls, Teng Yu found Yin Xu's actions profoundly uncanny, akin to… a nocturnal cultivating fiend!
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