Chapter 53: Heart Demon (Part 1)
Qin Ying paid no attention to their astonishment and continued speaking of her own accord. “If you agree, by the time you are able to wield this flying sword, I will already be your master and can serve as your guardian.”
“That way, you will have no worries.”
“…”
“Take Senior Sister Qin Ying as my master? Become her disciple?”
The others exchanged glances.
Who was Qin Ying?
The most outstanding genius among the younger generation of the Eastern Abyss Sect, she had now established her Foundation and could hold her own; becoming a true disciple in the future was merely a matter of time.
Such a genius powerhouse with boundless prospects ahead wanted to take him as her disciple…
What kind of request was this?
For these outer disciples, this was purely a second reward.
In Li Qingfeng and Gu Qingqing’s eyes, the value of this even surpassed that flying sword.
“This…”
Song Yan was stunned. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I’m truly sorry, Senior Sister. This is a matter of great importance…”
“This disciple must first consult with an elder…”
For him, his former self, aside from Qin Xijun, had been nothing but an unwanted outer disciple, an insignificant ant.
No one had paid him any attention.
Now he had the opportunity to advance into the inner sect, and furthermore, there was even a prospective master who could guide his future cultivation…
Logically speaking, he had no reason to refuse.
However, this matter naturally required Granny Qin’s opinion.
“…”
Qin Ying’s brows furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased.
But she quickly relaxed and nodded.
“Very well. If another Foundation Establishment senior in the sect is willing to take you as a disciple, that would be the same.”
In the cultivation world, rogue cultivators were generally inferior to sect disciples in both cultivation and combat power.
The fundamental reason for this was that no one guided their cultivation.
Every wrong turn had to be walked through again and again; without anyone to point the way, one could only persist until hitting a wall.
Song Yan had actually felt this way when practicing the Qi Condensation Chapter in the outer sect before. Though he lacked a master’s guidance, the jade slips contained annotations from sect predecessors and senior disciples.
This had similarly saved him much hardship from bottlenecks and repeated cultivation attempts.
He never expected that before even entering the inner sect, he would already be claimed as a disciple by a Foundation Establishment genius powerhouse.
Once he descended Lianyou Peak, he would immediately inform Granny Qin.
The flying sword was temporarily stored in Song Yan’s Cosmos Bag.
“In the battle that day, this sword, relying on that demonic cultivator’s dark arts, displayed power approaching a superior-grade magical artifact. But now that the demonic cultivator is dead, it likely has only the strength of an ordinary mid-grade magical artifact,” Qin Ying reminded him.
However, Song Yan didn’t feel he was losing out. Mid-grade magical artifacts sold for high prices too; getting one for free was already cause for secret celebration.
As Qin Ying expected, Li Qingfeng chose a first-tier superior-grade spirit talisman.
Gu Qingqing had originally chosen that “beautiful and practical” mid-grade spirit stone, but after persuasion from the others, she additionally selected a bottle of spirit refining pills.
Qin Ying did not linger and departed once matters were concluded.
The three chatted idly for a while, and Gu Qingqing accompanied her two senior brothers down the mountain before Song Yan and Li Qingfeng each went their separate ways.
Gu Qingqing watched the retreating figures of her two senior brothers, feeling an inexplicable joy in her heart.
“Oh my, Qingqing dear, what are you smiling about?”
At that moment, a female cultivator came up from below the mountain, reeking of wine.
Upon seeing Gu Qingqing, she pulled her into an embrace.
“Uh… Senior Sister Yuwen, it’s nothing… I just met two very interesting senior brothers.”
“Oh?”
The drunken female cultivator leaned on Gu Qingqing, swaying as she walked, while Gu Qingqing supported her toward Lianyou Peak.
“Senior Sister Yuwen, stop indulging in spirit wine. If Senior Sister Qin Ying sees you… she’ll scold you again.”
“No… it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. Tell me, what’s so interesting about those two senior brothers?”
“Ouch, Senior Sister, you’re a bit heavy.”
“Hmm? Are you calling me fat?!”
“Those two senior brothers are both good people. They…”
…
Song Yan didn’t return to his cave dwelling immediately but headed straight for the Spirit Source Marsh Market.
The half-used talisman he had borrowed from Granny Qin thankfully hadn’t been needed. Otherwise, he’d have to work himself to the bone for Granny Qin and still never repay the three hundred-plus spirit stones…
Dong!
Song Yan forgot to knock and pushed the door open directly.
Qin Xijun seemed to have been startled awake from a nap, her eyes drowsy.
Seeing it was Song Yan, a nameless fury rose in her heart.
“You brat, you’re getting more and more insolent, daring to disturb my peaceful cultivation! You’re asking for a beating!”
“Hey, don’t!”
Song Yan quickly pleaded, “Granny, I’ve come to return your treasure…”
“…”
Qin Xijun’s mind hadn’t caught up yet. “What treasure?”
“Look, before I left, didn’t I borrow a half-used protective talisman from you…”
“Oh, I remember now.”
In reality, that thing was something Qin Xijun had bought purely for amusement. Perhaps subconsciously there were other factors, but in any case, she didn’t care at all about the fate of this talisman.
“So you’re saying it wasn’t used?”
Song Yan didn’t hear any joy in Granny Qin’s tone; it seemed she still wanted to use this talisman to bind him, a laborer worth three hundred spirit stones.
A merchant without cunning wasn’t a merchant…
“Heh heh, it wasn’t used.”
He offered the talisman with both hands, but Qin Xijun didn’t rush to take it.
She grabbed Song Yan’s ear, pinched his face, and eyed him suspiciously up and down.
“Did you boy get some kind of lucky romantic encounter or something? You’re so happy.”
“Is my happiness that obvious?”
Song Yan broke free from Qin Xijun’s hands, seeming to realize something.
“Oh no, it’s not romance, it’s a great opportunity, Granny Qin!”
Song Yan recounted everything in meticulous detail, and Qin Xijun’s brows furrowed more and more tightly.
“Opportunities like this are rare. If it’s really true, I can cultivate in peace. Once I reach the inner sect, someone will be able to guide my cultivation…”
Qin Xijun said nothing.
Though she had long since completely separated herself from that Qin Immortal Clan, now consumed by desire and straying from the path.
But the world was unpredictable. Sometimes fate worked this way, with lingering connections even when severed.
She wanted to tell the youth before her everything, to warn him to stay away from that Qin Ying, to stay away from the Qin family. However, what they said was not wrong at all. Having a senior carefully guide one on the path of cultivation was truly a rare opportunity.
Her own heart was bound by knots, and she had no heart to pursue the Dao.
For this child, this was the best choice. What standing and excuse did she have to prevent it?
Thinking this, she let go.
Each person had their own fate…
“…”
However, even though she said this…
When Qin Xijun saw Song Yan leaning smugly on the counter, she still felt a nameless fury rising, wanting nothing more than to punch him in the face.
“…”
“Well, this is indeed a joyous matter…”
She nodded calmly. Song Yan seemed to have never seen such a serious Granny Qin.
“But you must remember, as a cultivator, you must follow your heart in all things. If this master of yours asks you to do something you’re unwilling to do, you can freely refuse.”
“I still have some ability. If the time comes, flee here, and Granny will keep you safe.”
Qin Xijun pinched Song Yan’s cheek and smiled. “You can work as a handyman here then. I won’t let you starve.”
“What are you talking about, Granny Qin?”
Song Yan looked at Qin Xijun with a smile.
“I didn’t agree to her.”
“?”
“Granny Qin, tell me the truth.”
For some reason, looking into the youth’s eyes, Qin Xijun’s heart skipped a beat.
“What…”
“Are you… also a Foundation Establishment powerhouse?!”
“…”
“I…”
Qin Xijun stammered with “I… I…” for a long time before finally admitting it.
“Yes… Foundation Establishment. I wouldn’t call myself a powerhouse.”
Song Yan wore an expression of “as expected.”
During the Taohua Wharf incident, he had often observed the spiritual energy fluctuations of Qin Ying, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Recalling it now, the spiritual energy that Granny Qin had revealed when she “escorted” him out of the Worry-Free General Store was identical to Qin Ying’s.
It was even somewhat deeper.
“Then if one day I truly step into the inner sect, why don’t you take me as your disciple?”
“…”
“I… I don’t take disciples.”
Qin Xijun turned her face away, putting on the air of a transcendent expert.
“Ah, well then…”
Song Yan looked somewhat disappointed. “Then I’ll still have to find Senior Sister Qin. Otherwise, she won’t give me the flying sword.”
“Hey!”
Qin Xijun grew anxious. “There are countless brilliant disciples and senior elders in the inner sect. Why must you…”
“Oh, but this flying sword was bestowed by Senior Sister Qin after all.”
“You are my elder, and there’s even a saying about strengthening bonds through marriage.”
“But if I were to take someone else as my master, that would be truly despicable…”
“…”
Qin Xijun pondered. The boy actually made a valid point.
Song Yan glanced over from time to time, observing her expression.
“…”
Finally, she sighed. “Very well…”
“But let me say first, Granny here is just a woman. I can’t teach you much.”
“If you’re bullied in the future, I won’t have the power to protect you.”
Song Yan chuckled. “Ah, I know, I know.”
Over these years, he knew very well in his heart how Granny Qin had treated him.
He had long since come to regard her as family, as an elder.
If he could become her disciple, then in this world of cultivation, he would truly have “family.”
“You boy certainly set your sights high…”
“Reaching late-stage Qi Refining is one thing, but entering the inner sect still requires passing the Heart Tempering Trial. Not everyone can pass it.”
“If you have nothing to do, then scram and cultivate. If you’re not going to work for Granny, don’t hover in front of me. It makes me angry just looking at you.”
Granny was joking again.
This small shop—aside from himself, Song Yan had never seen anyone else walk in.
Where was there work to do?
After chatting with Qin Xijun for a while, Song Yan returned to Green Leaf Peak.
“…”
It was now fully daylight. He returned to his cave dwelling and washed up.
He sat cross-legged on the stone bed to meditate. After a moment, he cast aside stray thoughts and calmed his mind.
He took the flying sword from his Cosmos Bag.
Perhaps because the demonic cultivator was dead, the flying sword no longer carried the demonic flames that had once surged to the heavens. From blade to tip, it was entirely black as ink, like charcoal.
His fingertip lightly brushed over the dark surface of the blade, leaving no mark, yet he faintly heard chaotic sounds at the edge of his hearing—vague and indistinguishable.
He paid it no mind and simply held the sword upright.
On the side of the blade, above the dark surface, there were two even deeper ancient characters—seemingly the sword’s name.
“Heart…”
“…”
Song Yan’s brow arched. For some reason, a chill surged from the depths of his heart.
“Heart Demon.”