Chapter 338 ·A Fate Worse Than Death
Chapter 338: A Fate Worse Than Death
After losing his arm, the black-clad man’s eyes widened. Blood splattered across his face, and he finally saw the face of his opponent.
It was a young and handsome face, appearing only eighteen or nineteen years old. His expression was cold and stern, and the killing intent in his eyes pierced straight into the black-clad man’s heart, filling him with fear.
The black-clad man immediately moved, leaping across the river to create a distance of several dozen zhang from Li Qingqiu.
He looked at Li Qingqiu in disbelief. He had not seen Li Qingqiu’s movements at all—everything had happened too quickly. He hadn’t even sensed how Li Qingqiu had appeared behind him.
“Who are you?”
the black-clad man asked in a low voice. The black runes on his face pulsed violently, just like his heart.
Li Qingqiu did not answer. He raised his right hand and flicked three needles toward the disciple lying on the ground.
Seeing this, the black-clad man immediately tried to turn and flee. But the moment his right foot shifted, Li Qingqiu appeared behind him out of thin air and smashed his elbow down onto his back.
This strike felt like a massive mountain crashing down. His internal organs nearly shattered. His eyes rolled back, and his consciousness fell into a brief void as he was slammed into the ground, causing it to collapse.
……
Li Han had been born into a farmer’s family. Because his body had been cold since birth, he was named “Han.” Originally, he did not bear the surname Li—his family disliked him, and his siblings bullied him. After fleeing the village, he changed his surname to Li.
During his wandering days, he heard stories of the Clear Sky Sect—of Li Qingqiu upholding justice and saving the world. He was deeply inspired and, summoning his courage, went to Clear Sky Mountain, hoping to join the sect.
Unexpectedly, fate favored someone who had always considered himself unfortunate. He passed the entrance examination and became a registered disciple. At the time, the examining Immortal Master had said that he lacked a sense of responsibility; otherwise, he could have directly become an outer disciple. That deeply hurt him.
He did not understand why he needed to take responsibility for helping strangers.
Later, while he was doing labor, someone found him and transferred him to the Tempering Hall for cultivation. By then, he already knew how important hall disciples were. Overwhelming joy enveloped him.
In the Tempering Hall, he obtained cultivation resources. Most of his time could be spent cultivating, and occasionally he would help with hall duties. It was a leisurely life beyond anything he had ever dreamed of.
After cultivating Vital Energy, he revealed a special talent—his Vital Energy could easily freeze.
His aptitude quickly spread throughout the Tempering Hall. Hall Master Xue Jin personally summoned him, leaving him both shocked and honored.
From Xue Jin, he learned something unbelievable: he had been chosen for the Tempering Hall by the Sect Master himself. Even before he had cultivated ice-attribute Vital Energy, the Sect Master had already taken a liking to him and given him an opportunity.
Xue Jin had also said that the Sect Master was always able to discover talents and would treat them fairly, urging him to always remember the Sect Master’s kindness.
Li Han had joined the Clear Sky Sect because of Li Qingqiu’s story, and now he had received his care—how could he not be moved?
From that day on, he made repaying the Sect Master his lifelong goal. He cultivated diligently and even participated in the third Grand Dao Tournament. Unfortunately, his performance had not been outstanding.
Every time he saw Hu Yan, he felt envious. He knew that if his talent were just a bit greater, the Sect Master would not merely take care of him, but personally teach him.
Within the Clear Sky Sect, his talent was not enough to make him stand out. But once he entered the martial world and encountered cultivators from other small sects, he realized just how high his talent truly was. From then on, he enjoyed venturing into the secular world, occasionally gaining opportunities.
Until yesterday, he was attacked by a mysterious cultivator. The man even tried to extract information about the Sect Master from him—an insult he could not tolerate.
He refused to yield, enduring all kinds of torture without uttering a word.
Whenever he felt close to breaking, he would recall the words of that senior brother during the entrance examination—that he lacked responsibility.
He had to prove that he had responsibility!
Back then, he had only been too young and ignorant. It wasn’t that he lacked kindness—he simply wanted to survive first before helping others.
But this time, he chose not to protect himself, but to protect the Sect Master.
To die for the Sect Master—he considered it an honor.
As his consciousness drifted, he pondered one question: would his death make the Sect Master feel regret?
After all these years, would the Sect Master still remember him?
If his death could make the Sect Master remember him, then his sacrifice would not be in vain.
From childhood to adulthood, his parents had not loved him, and his siblings had bullied him. When he left the village, he lingered outside for two days, yet no one came to look for him. Only then did he truly leave.
Li Qingqiu was the first person who had treated him well—and did not ask for repayment, nor even his gratitude.
After studying within the Clear Sky Sect, Li Han had come to understand many principles. To him, the most important thing in life was to repay kindness.
He suddenly thought of Hu Yan again. During the Grand Dao Tournament, Hu Yan had been so spirited, dazzling and radiant.
He wondered what it felt like to be the Sect Master’s disciple.
Once more, envy rose within him.
Bang! Bang! Bang…
In his hazy consciousness, Li Han vaguely heard sounds. At the same time, he felt sensation returning to his body. His eyelids began to tremble.
After a while, he struggled to open his eyes. The sound grew louder, like heavy hammers striking his heart, causing it to tremble. He couldn’t help recalling the torment of the previous night. Though he had endured it, even remembering it now made his soul shudder.
Instinctively, he looked toward the source of the sound. Across the river, he saw a figure stomping repeatedly.
What was that person doing?
He faintly heard bones breaking. Was that man torturing someone again?
Another unfortunate fellow disciple?
Li Han had to admit—he truly lacked responsibility. Faced with a fellow disciple in danger, he felt no urgency. The main reason was that he could do nothing.
As his vision cleared further, his pupils suddenly shrank, and his breathing became rapid.
It wasn’t that man!
He saw Li Qingqiu’s figure and recognized the robe—it was the attire of the Clear Sky Sect’s high ranks.
No… no high-ranking member wore such robes!
It was the Sect Master!
Li Han trembled with excitement. A surge of heat rushed from his chest to his head. He suspected he was mistaken, but after blinking repeatedly, he confirmed it.
He also saw the person beneath Li Qingqiu’s feet.
That man!
The Sect Master was trampling him!
At that moment, Li Han wanted to shout in excitement, but he had no strength. He had regained consciousness only because of Li Qingqiu’s Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation, and his injuries still needed time to heal.
Li Qingqiu paid no attention to Li Han’s gaze. His expression remained cold as he stepped on the black-clad man.
At this moment, the man’s chest had caved in, and his face was sunken—he looked as though he was on the verge of death.
The black-clad man let out faint gurgling sounds, seemingly trying to speak, but Li Qingqiu ignored him, continuing to crush and torment him.
Li Qingqiu deliberately refrained from killing him—he intended to leave him for Hu Yan.
Right now, he was intentionally torturing him, making him suffer even more than Li Han had.
Li Han was severely injured, and Li Qingqiu could not tell who he was. But regardless of identity, as long as he was a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, Li Qingqiu would avenge him.
Once the black-clad man completely lost consciousness, Li Qingqiu finally stopped. With a kick, he flipped him up and grabbed him with one hand, then turned and walked toward Li Han.
Watching Li Qingqiu approach while carrying the black-clad man, Li Han’s eyes were filled with admiration.
Since joining the sect, he had seen Li Qingqiu before—but only from afar. Each time he wanted to express his gratitude, Li Qingqiu had been surrounded by other disciples, leaving him no chance.
During the torture the previous night, he had imagined the Sect Master coming to save him—but that had only been a fantasy.
He had not resented the Sect Master, instead resigning himself to death.
Now, the Sect Master had truly come—and had made his tormentor suffer even worse. How could he not be overwhelmed?
Under his gaze, Li Qingqiu arrived before him, lifted him with his other hand, slung him over his shoulder, and leapt into the sky.
……
At noon.
Hu Yan hurried into the Lingxiao Courtyard. His gaze immediately fell upon the black-clad man lying before the long table. Seeing his appearance, killing intent burst from his eyes.
He stepped forward and raised his palm to strike—but halted midway.
He had been informed that the murderer of Duan Xiaojuan had been captured. He had rushed here immediately, wanting revenge.
But reason told him that the man had not targeted Duan Xiaojuan specifically, but the Clear Sky Sect as a whole. He could not kill him rashly—they needed to uncover his background first to prevent further casualties.
He slowly lowered his hand, took a deep breath, then turned to Li Qingqiu and asked, “Master, have you searched his soul?”
Li Qingqiu sat behind the table and replied, “I have. He is a rogue cultivator, sent by the Myriad Yin Sect.”
“The Myriad Yin Sect…”
Hu Yan’s gaze turned cold again, redirecting his hatred toward the Myriad Yin Sect.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and said, “The necessary information has been obtained. You may kill him.”
Hu Yan asked, “Master… was Xiaojuan’s soul taken by him?”
“He used a curse that disperses souls. Its purpose was to prevent his whereabouts from being exposed.”
As Li Qingqiu spoke, there was also hatred in his tone toward the black-clad man—he was both cruel and cautious.
Before finding him, Li Qingqiu had not sensed his aura at all. The only reason he found him was because he searched Yu Province at extreme speed, practically covering it entirely.
After hearing this, Hu Yan looked at the black-clad man again. His gaze became complex as he said softly:
“Master… can we send him to the Suppressing Evil Tower, so he suffers a fate worse than death?”
Duan Xiaojuan’s body had already been returned to the sect. Among her group, only one had died instantly—the rest had all been tortured, their deaths tragic. Hu Yan did not want the black-clad man to die so easily.
Li Qingqiu replied, “Very well. He will die whenever you wish. I will have He Jinshu handle his punishment.”
At the mention of He Jinshu, a flash of satisfaction appeared in Hu Yan’s eyes—he had heard of his methods.
Soon after, Li Qingqiu summoned Xiao Wuqing into the courtyard and ordered that the black-clad man be thrown into the lowest level of the Suppressing Evil Tower, instructing He Jinshu to deal with him.