Guu Hongxiu looked at the unmoving Wen Qingye before her. The Black Iron Mask obscured his face, leaving only his eyes visible. Those eyes held a captivating light, and combined with his mountain-like silhouette, Guu Hongxiu found herself lost in a daze.
"Red Venerable, look! That monster is leaving! It’s leaving!" Wan’Er suddenly exclaimed in excitement.
Hearing Wan’Er, Guu Hongxiu couldn’t help but look in the direction she was pointing. She saw the Flying Corpse had halted, its eyes fixed on them, completely still, as if seeing them off.
Meanwhile, they continued to drift away, and the Flying Corpse was indeed getting farther and farther from them.
"That Flying Corpse... could it be scared?" Guu Hongxiu muttered to herself.
Wen Qingye gave a faint smile, walked over, and said, "You guessed right. That Flying Corpse was most likely scared. Scared that experts would surround and destroy it."
Guu Hongxiu glanced at Wen Qingye and nodded. "Are your injuries alright?"
Wen Qingye shook his head. "You two should get ready. This White Jade Sword, from the looks of it, is about to dissipate. Let’s go down now."
After so much time, Guu Hongxiu’s Thousand-mile White Jade Sword was running on fumes. Both women nodded.
Wen Qingye gradually reduced his input of Primordial Qi. The light from the White Jade Sword dimmed greatly, and it slowly began to descend.
The three of them finally landed in a wide-open area. It was now approaching dusk. The distant sky was painted with the rosy hues of sunset, a magnificent scene of clouds, sky, and earth blending into one breathtaking view.
Wen Qingye’s expenditure had also been immense. The pain in his meridians over the past few double-hours had been excruciating. As for the wound on his chest, thanks to his powerful constitution, he wasn’t too concerned about it.
He then slowly sat down by a tree.
Guu Hongxiu and Wan’Er also sat down nearby. Wan’Er said, her voice still trembling with fear, "Thank goodness that monster gave up in the end. Otherwise, we would have been dead for sure."
Guu Hongxiu nodded, then looked at Wen Qingye. Now that things had calmed down, she couldn’t help but be astonished as she recalled the recent events. She knew full well the drain of the Thousand-mile White Jade Sword. It was precisely because she knew this that she felt there was something strange about the masked man before her, that he could actually endure it.
Looking at the silent Wen Qingye, Guu Hongxiu pressed her lips together. ’He must be in a lot of pain right now.’
Wan’Er noticed Guu Hongxiu’s gaze and also found herself feeling that Wen Qingye was strange.
’Just who is he?’
The same question arose in both of their minds.
Wen Qingye chuckled. "What, I’m wearing a mask, and you two can still see my face clearly?"
Guu Hongxiu shook her head. "No, I was just thinking... that map, how can I obtain it?"
"Obtain it? Simple," Wen Qingye said slowly.
Guu Hongxiu quickly asked, "What’s the way?"
Wen Qingye said seriously, "I need you to protect someone, and report all news of her to me at any time."
"Zhang Xiaoyun?" Guu Hongxiu frowned.
"Correct."
"What is your relationship with her?" Guu Hongxiu’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at Wen Qingye.
Wen Qingye didn’t answer her question. Instead, he took out a yellowed map and said, "As long as you agree, this map of the Azure Dragon Scale is yours."
Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Guu Hongxiu bit her lip but didn’t agree immediately. "I need to know your relationship with her. She is a future pillar of my Taiyi Pavilion. I can’t just easily tell you her every move. What if you have ill intentions toward her..."
Wan’Er, at her side, found this strange. Guu Hongxiu had gone to great lengths and spent an unknown amount of time searching for clues to this map. Why was she hesitating now?
Wen Qingye pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth and said, "I am her family."
"Family?" Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Guu Hongxiu broke into a smile. "Alright, I agree. Not only will I send you news of her on time, but I will also protect her. You can rest assured."
Seeing that she had agreed, Wen Qingye handed her the map. Then, he took out a Jade Scroll and a white Jade Pendant, saying, "This Communication Jade Scroll can only be used three times. Just remember to use it to send me information. As for this Jade Pendant, I hope you can personally deliver it into her hands."
When he took out the Jade Pendant, his face instantly turned deathly pale, whiter than paper, but since he was wearing a mask, neither Guu Hongxiu nor Wan’Er could see it.
As for the Azure Dragon Scale map, Wen Qingye had long since committed it to memory. He was unconcerned in his heart. ’The treasure location on this map is a deathtrap, surely set with an Ancient Strange Array. If the people from Taiyi Pavilion are willing to scout the path for me, I don’t mind one bit.’
Guu Hongxiu joyfully accepted the map, the Jade Scroll, and the Jade Pendant. She then smiled and said, "Thank you for saving us this time. I, Guu Hongxiu, am not one who doesn’t know how to repay a debt of gratitude. If you’re in trouble in the future, just mention my name."
"That’s right. If you hadn’t stepped in, we might have been in mortal danger," Wan’Er added with a nod.
Wen Qingye smiled and waved his hand dismissively.
’If I storm the Taiyi Pavilion one day, am I supposed to announce her name then?’
Suddenly, Wan’Er said, "Red Venerable, didn’t you say that coming out this time wasn’t just to get the Dragon Scale map? Don’t you have a mission to complete?"
As if remembering something, Guu Hongxiu said helplessly, "Forget it. I’m severely injured right now. There’s no way I can complete that mission."
"Is that so... What a pity for that Wen Qingye from the Celestial Profound Sect," Wan’Er said, her brows furrowing.
Hearing his own name, Wen Qingye asked, puzzled, "You were just talking about Wen Qingye of the Celestial Profound Sect? What about him?"
Guu Hongxiu nodded, a murderous glint appearing in her eyes. "That’s right. This Wen Qingye of the Celestial Profound Sect is a recently risen genius. Elder Lim Tian said that within a few years, he is certain to become a grave threat to our Taiyi Pavilion. Although rumor has it his meridians are shattered, my Taiyi Pavilion has still decided to kill him before he can fully mature. We received news that in half a month, Wen Qingye will appear in Canglan Country."
"You want to kill him that badly?" Wen Qingye said with a smile.
Guu Hongxiu nodded heavily. "This man killed so many people from my Taiyi Pavilion. I wish I could slay him with my own hands right now."
Wan’Er bit her lip and said slowly, "That’s right. I want to kill him too... although I’m also very grateful to him."
"And why is that?" Wen Qingye asked, confused.
Wan’Er said resentfully, "Zhu Yan, do you know him? My royal father betrothed me to him! I never even got to see what this Zhu Yan looked like before he died. Although I didn’t want to get married so early, I still think it’s a bit of a shame."
Wen Qingye was speechless.
He watched as the two women went from being overwhelmed with gratitude a moment ago to being filled with killing intent, leaving him at a loss for words.
Night gradually fell. The sky turned inky black, and the moonlight was like water.
The three of them sat in three separate spots and began to regulate their breathing.
Guu Hongxiu slowly opened her eyes and looked at Wen Qingye in the distance, her heart filled with questions. ’Who on earth is this person? Oh well, I’ll find out sooner or later. I can ask Zhang Xiaoyun, or the people from Feiyun Dock.’
At this thought, a faint smile touched Guu Hongxiu’s lips. She then immersed her Heart Spirit in meditation.
The night passed without a word. The three of them all opened their eyes.
Wen Qingye stood up, cupped his fists, and said, "Since that’s the case, the map is in your hands, and you won’t trouble the people of Feiyun Dock anymore. Then, let us meet again some day."
Guu Hongxiu nodded. "Naturally. I will now hurry back to the Taiyi Pavilion to recuperate."
"Hey! Even now, you’re not going to take off your mask? You’re not even going to tell us your name?" Wan’Er’s eyes widened as she looked at Wen Qingye.
Guu Hongxiu also stared at Wen Qingye without blinking, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
"If fate wills it, we will naturally meet again," Wen Qingye said with a smile.
After speaking, he moved lightly and walked into the distance.
Wan’Er grumbled, "What’s with him? Acting all mysterious right to the very end."
Guu Hongxiu gazed into the distance, seemingly not having heard Wan’Er’s complaint. Suddenly, she shouted, "My name is Guu Hongxiu! I’m on Demon-Vanquishing Peak in the Taiyi Pavilion! Remember that!"
Wen Qingye’s figure gradually vanished from their sight.
Wan’Er looked at the still-gazing Guu Hongxiu and asked, "Red Venerable, who do you think he is? What’s his status?"
Guu Hongxiu smiled. "I don’t know either. But I have a feeling I’ll find out who he is."
"Oh? Red Venerable, how do you know?"
"I’m not telling you."
....
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