Love & Redemption
Chapter 102: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 9 Change (9)

Chapter 102: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 9 Change (9)

The third watch.

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Linglong had returned. Alongside her, barely clinging to life, was Du Minxing, as well as Duanping and Duanzheng, two disciples from the Shaoyang Sect.

Everyone gathered in the main hall, the expression on each face exceedingly grave. Duanzheng stood in the center of the hall, recounting the events encountered along the way.

"The sect leader’s wife, worried after the sect leader didn’t return from Fuyu Island after a long time, and having heard that something had happened on the island, dispatched us two disciples to help. On Gao Mountain, we ran into Minxing and Sister Linglong. Minxing had been gravely injured by someone unknown, and Sister Linglong was also... not quite right. After searching around Gao Mountain without finding anyone else, we dared not delay our travel and thus hurried over here."

Chu Lei’s brows knit in deep concern, half-kneeling before a girl in red. Her face was expressionless, immobile, seemingly like a wooden dummy — it was Linglong, missing for so long! Xuanji was holding her hand and calling out to her repeatedly, yet she didn’t respond at all, save for the occasional blink; she might as well have been made of stone.

"Daddy... Linglong, she?" Having finished checking her pulse, Xuanji couldn’t help but urgently ask.

Chu Lei fell into silent contemplation, waving his hand in front of Linglong’s eyes and murmuring softly, "Linglong, can you hear daddy’s voice?"

Still, she did not move, her face rigid.

Xuanji couldn’t help the tears that threatened to fall, gripping her hand desperately, unsure of what to do. Chu Lei sighed and shook his head. Valley Master Rong then came over, felt Linglong’s head, and exclaimed in mild shock, "What a powerful technique!"

Chu Lei asked anxiously, "Valley Master, do you know what’s going on?"

Valley Master Rong nodded, about to explain, when suddenly three people rushed in from outside — it was Yu Sifeng and the others. Zhong Minyan and Ruo Yu had just changed out of their Fuyu Island disciples’ clothes and hastily washed the blood off their faces. Without regard for their disheveled appearance, they had come straight over.

At first glance, Zhong Minyan saw Linglong seated in the chair wearing red, and his heart trembled. He hurried over, "Linglong! Where have you been all these days?" He called out to her several times, but she didn’t react at all, not even a flicker of her eyelashes.

He was mystified and looked towards Xuanji, who had been holding back tears for quite some time, and finally she couldn’t hold back any longer and began to cry, murmuring, "Linglong, she... I don’t know what’s wrong with her... She won’t move or speak..."

Zhong Minyan’s shock was profound. He could only wave his hands incessantly in front of Linglong and urge, "Linglong! Don’t scare people! What’s happened to you?!"

Chu Lei spoke with a heavy voice, "Min Yan, quiet! Listen to Valley Master Rong!"

He abruptly stopped talking and stared desperately at the elderly man. Suddenly, he remembered Brother Ouyang’s wretched state in the dungeon, and he involuntarily felt a measure of fear and aversion towards him.

Valley Master Rong didn’t notice the young disciple’s perturbation and continued, "This technique is called the Soul Capturing Technique, an extremely profound type of spell, generally used by witchcraft practitioners for cursing or assassination. You know, humans have three souls and seven spirits, which enable speech and action, and possess the seven emotions and six desires. But if two souls and six spirits are extracted, leaving only one soul and one spirit, the person will not die but will be unable to speak, senseless, almost as good as dead."

The listeners were all horrified. Zhong Minyan asked urgently, "Then... is there a way to save her?!"

Valley Master Rong pondered and said, "There is a way, but finding someone who can perform such advanced witchcraft is not easy. If we could retrieve the child’s two souls and six spirits and use the same method to return them to her body, she would naturally recover... Although we don’t know who did this or for what purpose, those capable of such a spell are very few. The person who cast it certainly won’t be the one to save her, so..."

This statement made even Chu Lei falter, swaying slightly, and Yu Sifeng hurriedly supported him. Zhong Minyan stared blankly at Linglong; she appeared unchanged, with dark eyes, and crimson lips, but there was not a trace of life in her. Those eyes would never glare at him fiercely again, and those beautiful lips would never again utter words that moved his heart.

He couldn’t bear the succession of misfortunes. First it was Brother Ouyang, and now it was Linglong. All he wanted was to scream at the top of his lungs, to run recklessly, to bury himself deep in the earth and never come out, so he would never feel pain again.

"I’ll go look!" Suddenly, a voice rang in his ear. Everyone hurriedly looked back, only to see Xuanji standing firmly, whispering, "I’ll find Linglong’s two souls and six spirits! I’ll find someone to save her! I will definitely bring her back!"

Nobody expected this normally indolent girl, who seemed somewhat dull, to have such tremendous courage. Chu Lei was somewhat moved, but he finally shook his head, "Xuanji, this is no joke. The world is vast; where will you even start looking?"

Xuanji bit her lip and said determinedly, "If we search slowly, we will surely find a way! No matter how many years it takes, I must save Linglong!"

Yu Sifeng nodded, "I’ll join you."

Xuanji looked at him gratefully, and he offered her a faint smile. That smile made her feel that, no matter the difficulty, with Sifeng by her side, they could overcome anything. He was like a god in whom she had absolute faith.

Zhong Minyan’s lips quivered slightly as he stood up and said, "I’ll go too. No matter how many years, even if I die, I must find them."

Chu Lei was about to speak when they heard someone groaning nearby; someone murmured, "Second Senior Brother... where is this...?"

It was Du Minxing, who had been seriously injured and unconscious until just now, he had woken up. Chu Lei quickly squatted down beside him and whispered, "Minxing, it’s me. Don’t move, your wounds have just been bandaged."

When Du Minxing was brought back by Duanping Duan Zheng, he looked almost like a bloodied man, covered in countless scars, all thin and fine as if inflicted by some delicate weapon.

He blinked his eyes and finally came to his senses. Suddenly, he grabbed Chu Lei’s hand urgently and said, "Master! At Gao Mountain... those demons... they kidnapped Min Jue... Sister Linglong has lost her soul!"

Chu Lei’s heart chilled, and he said solemnly, "Don’t panic, tell me slowly!"

Du Minxing was gasping for air, followed by violent coughing. Xuanji hurried to bring the tea to his lips, letting him drink a couple of sips, only to see his gaze tender and steadfast as he looked at her, seemingly entangled with some emotion. Although she was somewhat bewildered, her wrist shook involuntarily, spilling most of the tea on his chest.

After he managed to catch his breath, he spoke softly, "Master had sent Min Jue and me back to the Shaoyang Sect. When we were passing by Gao Mountain, we intended to look around for Sister Linglong, but unexpectedly... we encountered that group of demons, so formidable. I couldn’t defeat them and nearly lost my life. Then Sister Linglong... She suddenly appeared from somewhere. It seemed she recognized the leader of the demons. She loudly berated him, asking him to let Min Jue and me go. But... the man just sneered and said, ’It is time.’ Then he did something to Sister Linglong with a spell, and she suddenly became... like a wooden person. The man took Min Jue away and inflicted severe injuries on me, telling me to relay a message to you, Master... that the old grudges should be crossed out, and he will eventually flatten Shaoyang Sect... destroy the Sea Stabilizing Iron Chain..."

Everyone was somewhat baffled upon hearing this complicated story. When the man mentioned old grudges, could it be that he was one of Chu Lei’s enemies? However, Chu Lei, as the Sect Leader of Shaoyang, was known for his integrity and fairness, seldom making enemies. Who could be so ruthless in targeting the Shaoyang Sect? Regardless, the enemy, associated with those demons trying to destroy the Sea Stabilizing Iron Chain, would make it much easier to rescue Linglong and Chen Minjue now that their identity was known.

Xuanji suddenly looked at Valley Master Rong and said calmly, "Valley Master, you mentioned last time that the demons’ lair is on Buzhou Mountain, right?"

Valley Master Rong was suddenly startled. His words from that day were nearly whispered, and no one beside that demon should have heard them. If the Vice Palace Master had some unique method to eavesdrop, that was one thing, but now this young lady had also heard it, which was quite a shock.

Her statement made even Chu Lei turn to him, evidently hearing for the first time that the demon horde’s lair was on Buzhou Mountain.

"You..." He found himself at a loss for words.

Xuanji asked, "Is it true?"

Valley Master Rong stared at her for a long while before slowly nodding, "Indeed... I heard it as well. As for what’s really there, one can only know by going."

Xuanji said, "I am going to Buzhou Mountain to bring back the souls of Second Senior Brother and Sister Linglong!"

Zhong Minyan and the others responded one after another, each rubbing their hands together eagerly, wishing they could fly to Buzhou Mountain right away and smash the demon’s lair to pieces.

Chu Lei frowned and said, "Recklessness! With your abilities, how could you possibly defeat a demon? Do not forget the Island Master Dongfang was severely injured under the demon’s sword! If you children go, it will only be a senseless death!"

There was reason in his words, and thinking of the still seriously injured Island Master Dongfang unable to move in bed, the previous bravado seemed to have disappeared. Going would mean certain death, but if they didn’t go, what would become of Linglong and Chen Minjue?

Chu Lei continued, "This matter requires careful consideration; we must not be rash! Right now, defending Shaoyang Sect and preventing the demons from running rampant is the top priority. Nobody is allowed to go to Buzhou Mountain!"

Xuanji looked at him steadily, speaking softly, "In Father’s heart, do the lives of your daughter and disciple truly weigh less than the honor of Shaoyang?"

Chu Lei exploded with anger, raising his hand to slap her. Yet, seeing her fearless gaze, shining with determination, he found himself unable to bring the slap down. He slowly lowered his hand and said in a deep voice, "It is not about honor! It’s a matter of life and death! Do you want Shaoyang Sect to end up like Xuanyuan Sect, annihilated? When the lives of hundreds are weighed against the lives of two, which is more important? Can’t you understand?"

Xuanji replied softly, "I do not understand. You all knew about the issue with the Sea Stabilizing Iron Chain but never spoke of it. When something happened, you covered it up and vented your anger on others... I don’t know how formidable the imprisoned demon is, nor do I understand why we must desperately guard the Sea Stabilizing Iron Chain. What I do know is that their aim is to destroy the chain, not to annihilate us."

Chu Lei, unable to withstand it any longer, turned an ashen color, and slapped the nearby mahogany candle stand with a palm. The candle stand immediately shattered into pieces, scattering across the floor.

"There is much you do not understand!" he said sharply, "You don’t understand that if the demon is released, countless lives will be lost! Nor do you comprehend that the Five Great Sects are united in spirit, and what it is that we are truly protecting! You understand nothing and yet argue with me here. Xuanji! You disappoint me greatly!"

With those words, the room fell into a deathly silence. Everyone looked at Xuanji, hoping she would concede, say a few soft words, and resolve this embarrassing situation. However, she merely smiled faintly and said lightly, "If a demon kills, then we’ll just have to kill it. If it hasn’t done any wrong, why kill it? I am not willing to exchange Linglong and Second Senior Brother’s lives for those uncertainties. Regardless, I must save them."

"You..." Chu Lei wished he could kick her out and never see her again.

Valley Master Rong hurried over to smooth things over, "Alright, Brother Chu, calm your anger, and you young lady, say less! This is a serious matter, not a time for children to act out. You’ve seen for yourself the methods of those demons; we can’t abandon the whole Shaoyang Sect over a fit of pique. Besides, the current mission of you young disciples is the Flower Pinning Conference, not this. Before that, no one should cause trouble. It’s late at night; everyone should go and rest. Let your Big Senior Brother recover properly."

Xuanji knew she had spoken too much, and as she reached the door, she turned back and said softly, "Father, I don’t want to give up on the entire Shaoyang Sect. I just hope... that everyone can be together, as happy as before. So... I won’t give up on Linglong, and I will certainly not give up on Shaoyang Sect."

Chu Lei’s face turned ashen, and he felt unbearably weary. He waved his hand, said nothing, and slumped down into his seat. (To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, support the author, support genuine reading!)