Having offended the Zhenwu Sect, one could no longer stay around Xixian City.
But one could not just flee in haste either. The period ahead was sure to be fraught with alarm and danger, and hurrying on the road would be tantamount to a death sentence.
Fortunately, Qing Yu had made preparations in advance. Ten miles from Xixian City, in a secluded forest, there was a hidden base—a natural cave in the mountains that had been converted into a secret stronghold, now ready to be utilized.
Upon reaching the base, Qing Yu handed over the critically injured Qingzhou, who was on the brink of death, to his subordinates and said tersely, "Don’t let him die," before going off to heal in seclusion.
Although an antidote for the potent poison ingested by Qingzhou had been administered on the road, and ergency asures had been taken, such life-threatening injuries were not easily reversible. Thus, Qing Yu’s command to his n was "Don’t let him die," not "Heal him."
Healing him would require a great deal of ti and energy, as well as a skilled doctor. The best doctor in the Azure Dragon Association at present was Qing Yu himself, but with his own injuries to attend to, he had no ti to tend to Qingzhou.
Simply keeping him from dying was easier. Aside from elixirs that could forcibly prolong life but with significant side effects, the Azure Dragon Association had recently acquired a secret technique from a list of targeted Japanese individuals—a Japanese Ninja’s secret art known as the "Death Enduring Technique."
This technique, as its na implies, was used to forcibly suppress life-threatening injuries. Even if death was imminent, it could keep one alive for a short period, provided no further harm occurred. However, once the ti limit was reached, the suppressed injuries would explode with increased severity, and the difficulty of treatnt would multiply geotrically. Typically, this "Death Enduring Technique" was used to manage critical, life-threatening injuries rather than minor ones. Thus, almost everyone who resorted to this technique would die under the force of their aggravated injuries—there were no exceptions.
Hence, the "Death Enduring Technique" was jokingly referred to by so Japanese as the "Waiting for Death Technique."
Having acquired the "Death Enduring Technique," Qing Yu had conducted an in-depth analysis and carried out multiple experints. He had modified it with his dical skills to apply it to others. If managed well, Qingzhou would not die at least until Qing Yu had concluded his closed-door healing.
...
Qingling erged from her room, looking haggard, only to see a figure who had been waiting outside for the entire night.
"Elder Xuan Wen."
"How is Qingxu’s injury?" Xuan Wen asked hastily upon seeing Qingling. His deanor betrayed an urgency that seed out of place for a detached Taoist.
After all, Qingxu was the most distinguished disciple of his generation within the Zhenwu Sect. No one else even ca close to him. It was almost certain that Qingxu would be appointed the next Sect Leader of the Zhenwu Sect. Not to ntion Xuan Wen’s concern for the sect, the burden of failing to assist in ti and potentially losing the next Sect Leader was sothing Xuan Wen could not bear.
Despite both belonging to the sa generation of the "Xuan" lineage, Xuan Wen was, after all, not a disciple of ordinary origins. Spending his life capped at the Divine Origin Realm, he held a status far inferior to that of others like Xuanfeng.
"The treatnt was tily, and his injuries have stabilized."
"That’s good, that’s very good..." Xuan Wen muttered repeatedly with relief.
They were indeed fortunate this ti, as disciples from the rarely visited Su Nu Peak had accompanied them. Otherwise, it was doubtful whether Qingxu’s life could have been saved.
"I will go rest now."
Exhaustion was evident on Qingling’s face. Her companions from the night’s battle were now reduced to Qingxu, gravely injured and bedridden, and one other junior brother. The rest were either killed by the ruthless assassins of the Azure Dragon Association or taken captive.
Thinking of her kidnapped Senior Brother Qingzhou, Qingling’s expression grew even darker. With her many years of dical experience, she could tell that Qingzhou was on the verge of death. Without top-notch dical treatnt and elixirs, his survival was unlikely.
Would the Azure Dragon Association expend such efforts and resources on Qingzhou? Although Qingling did not want to think about it, her rational mind told her the answer was negative.
With frustration in her heart and having spent the night treating Qingxu, Qingling stumbled, nearly toppling to the ground.
"Elder Qingling, are you all right?" Xuan Wen asked with concern.
"It’s nothing; I just need so rest." Saying this, Qingling walked unsteadily towards another room.
"Senior Brother Qingzhou and that annoying ghost Chen Qinglin are gone... now it’s just left..."
...
In the rural stronghold.
Qing Yu slowly drew his breath into his Dantian, exhaling a turbid breath. After healing overnight, his injuries were mostly recovered. After all, it was not he who was suppressed and defeated in the fight. Qingxu had not managed to inflict any real harm on Qing Yu, and the injuries he bore were due to the exertion of True Qi, which had been an old issue. As soone who had beco well-versed in dicine through personal ailnts, Qing Yu was experienced in treating such injuries. The rest were minor wounds that would heal over ti.
"The last ti I was this injured was probably during the ambush on Lin Tengyuan. Heh, Qingxu is indeed extraordinary."
Reflecting on the opponent’s Four Symbols Cycle—a flawless technique—he wondered whether it was a skill originally possessed by the Zhenwu Sect or if Qingxu had devised it himself. Whether inherent or self-conceived, to master the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills in the Innate Realm demonstrated that Qingxu possessed superior talent and insight. And yet, such a person only ranked fourth on the Dragon and Phoenix List, with three others above him.
"I wonder what sort of brilliance the top three young talents on the Dragon and Phoenix List have. It certainly piques one’s curiosity."
"What a pity that I’ve greatly offended the Zhenwu Sect this ti. For the foreseeable future, I’ll have to lay low in Northern Zhou to avoid their wrath, and I won’t have the chance to witness the prowess of those top three."
Isn’t it so? He had nearly killed the Sect Leader’s foremost disciple, and the Zhenwu Sect was bound to go mad. For a long ti, or rather from now on, whenever mbers of the Zhenwu Sect uttered "Gong Ziyu," they would grit their teeth in hatred, wishing they could flay him alive.
"However, their desire for revenge against Gong Ziyu—what does that have to do with , Qing Yu?"
"Let it be, better to play it safe. This identity isn’t exactly a top secret, and if Pharmacist Six Gates faces any complications, the Zhenwu Sect won’t hesitate to skin alive. It’s safer to retreat to Northern Zhou."
With these thoughts, Qing Yu stood up and left the secret chamber.
Outside, a Black-clothed Man was already waiting.
"Dragon Chief, Qingzhou has been awakened," reported the Black-clothed Man respectfully.
"Let’s see what surprise this ddleso disciple of the Zhenwu Sect may provide with." His voice, low and eerie as if spoken in unison by several people, was a layered echo, yet clear to the ear, imbued with an authoritative vigor.
Qing Yu swept his robes aside and took the lead toward the cave where the prisoner was detained.
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