Chapter 59: Death!
The woman's body flickered, and in a flash, she appeared before Zhao Dong, like a sprite in the night.
She scrutinized his face, raising her eyebrows slightly as an unusual light gleamed in her beautiful eyes. "A Cultivator? Truly unbelievable! Well then, today I shall save your life!" the woman said, bringing her fingers together. A glowing white light, like flowing moonlight, materialized at her fingertips before she pointed it at Zhao Dong's brow.
The white light instantly entered his body, and Zhao Dong trembled almost imperceptibly. The severed meridians throughout his body began to reconnect and grow anew. His lifeless organs were enveloped in the strange white light, slowly regaining their vitality.
An unknown amount of time passed before Zhao Dong's heart began to beat forcefully once again—stronger and more robust than before. Moreover, his healed meridians were now more than twice their original thickness, with Spiritual Energy surging through them. An indescribable aura of Nirvana Rebirth began to emanate from him.
The strange light in the white-clad woman's eyes intensified as she murmured to herself, "Your body is truly extraordinary. A constitution like this is one in a million. Why would it appear in the East Sea? Let me investigate!"
With that, the woman drew a pattern imbued with the mysteries of heaven and earth in the void. She then closed her eyes, hovering her hands over Zhao Dong's chest. The next second, she snapped her eyes open, her expression one of utter astonishment.
This is... a restriction? Could it be... you're really from one of the great clans of that place? But how is that possible...
Just then, Zhao Dong shivered. He grabbed the woman's hand and, with his eyes still closed, unconsciously muttered, "Thirsty... thirsty... water..."
The white-clad woman's delicate brows bristled. She had never had physical contact with any man before. Now, with Zhao Dong holding her hand, her heart was in turmoil, and she hastily tried to shake him off. However, like a drowning man clutching a stray piece of straw, Zhao Dong held on and refused to let go.
"Insolent boy! How dare you take liberties with me!"
A flash of indignation appeared in her beautiful eyes, but as she looked at Zhao Dong, she probed him with her Divine Sense. Only then did she realize that he was acting unconsciously, completely unaware of what he was doing.
The woman sighed helplessly. "Forget it. I'll spare you."
With a light tap of her finger on Zhao Dong's chest, he released her hand. She turned to leave, but after only two steps, Zhao Dong called out hoarsely from behind her, "Don't go... don't go..."
The woman turned back. Her phoenix-like eyes rested on Zhao Dong for a moment before she hesitated, then walked back to him and whispered softly, "What do you want?"
Zhao Dong didn't answer. The white-clad woman crouched down, looked at him, and asked with a frown, "Are you conscious at all?"
"Yes..."
"Then say something."
"Thirsty..."
Zhao Dong's hands suddenly flailed about. Caught off guard, the woman felt his hand touch a certain part of her body and then grasp it firmly. She trembled as if struck by lightning, instantly breaking free and flashing two meters away, her normally cold and beautiful face blushing crimson.
Murder flashed in her eyes. "You scoundrel! Do you think I won't kill you?"
Ye Qingxuan's mind was in turmoil. Did this man just grope me? If he weren't an unconscious, injured man, she could have killed him with a single touch!
"Fine. I'll spare your life since it wasn't intentional!"
Clenching her teeth, Ye Qingxuan shot Zhao Dong a glare. She suppressed the rage in her heart and sat down cross-legged beside him.
The moon shone brightly amidst the sparse stars as a gentle evening breeze blew by. Beside a river in the city, Zhao Dong slept soundly that night...
「The Han Family Villa, Late at Night.」
Han Qingtian stood up abruptly as he listened to Ah Kuan's report, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. "What did you say? Wei Wu was killed by Zhao Dong?"
Ah Kuan replied, "Yes, Patriarch! Wei Wu, a second-grade grandmaster, was indeed killed by Zhao Dong. But it seems Zhao Dong used some sort of Forbidden Technique and is now on the brink of death himself."
"Can we find out where Zhao Dong is now?"
Ah Kuan shook his head. "We can't. According to witnesses, Zhao Dong instructed Lin Qingyun to take care of his parents. His own condition is terrible, with half of his meridians severed. He isn't expected to survive the night."
Han Qingtian was silent for a long time before letting out a slow sigh. "Heaven is jealous of talent! If such a prodigy were allowed to grow, he would have become a major figure one day, and my Han Family could have soared with him. But... alas!"
Han Qingtian felt a pang of regret. He had originally planned to match his granddaughter, Han Chuxue, with Zhao Dong, but now it seemed that dream was hopeless.
「Thousands of miles away, in a courtyard of the Xiao Family estate in the Provincial City.」
Xiao Hongtian shot to his feet and smashed the stone table before him with a single palm strike, exclaiming in shock and anger, "Wei Wu is dead? Are you sure?"
"Yes, Young Master. Wei Wu was killed by that Zhao Dong!"
"Impossible! Zhao Dong is merely at the sixth or seventh layer of Inner Strength, while Wei Wu is a Grandmaster-realm expert. Wei Wu could have killed Zhao Dong with one hand. How could he have died?"
"It is said that Zhao Dong used some kind of Forbidden Technique. His strength skyrocketed afterward, but the technique is apparently extremely dangerous. He was already severely injured, and using that on top of his injuries... Well, according to those present, Zhao Dong has reached the end of his life."
Xiao Hongtian, who had been terrified, burst into manic laughter upon hearing this. "So that's how it is! That Zhao Dong was asking for death. He was strong enough to kill Wei Wu, but what good did it do him? It was a dead end either way!"
His subordinate immediately chimed in, "Exactly, Young Master. Zhao Dong can't be compared to you. At your young age, you are already an expert at the eighth layer of Inner Strength. It's truly astonishing!"
Xiao Hongtian snorted. "If my master hadn't forced me into seclusion, I could have killed that Zhao Dong with a wave of my hand! But it's good that he's dead. It's one less thing to worry about. As for Lin Qingyun... heh, I have ten thousand ways to get her back!"
In the dead of night, Xiao Hongtian's cold laughter echoed through the courtyard...
「The next morning, in East Sea City.」
On a riverbank at the city's outskirts, Zhao Dong groggily opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the azure sky, and a cold voice sounded beside him.
"You're awake?"
Startled, Zhao Dong turned to look. He was taken aback to see Ye Qingxuan and hurriedly sat up. "Miss, you are..."
Ye Qingxuan stood up at the same time, let out a yawn, and spoke to him with indifference. "Who I am doesn't matter. You're not dead, and you're awake. That's good enough. I'm leaving."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to depart. Seeing that he hadn't woken up all night, she had simply stayed to keep watch over him.
Seeing her leave, Zhao Dong quickly called out, "Miss!"
Ye Qingxuan frowned. "What is it now?"
"Did you save me?"
"Yes."
"I want to know your name."
"Ye Qingxuan."
"My name is Zhao Dong."
Ye Qingxuan paused, turning to give Zhao Dong a deep look before leaving without a backward glance. Her body transformed into a streak of white light and rode the wind, vanishing in an instant. Zhao Dong's pupils constricted as he couldn't help but exclaim, "A Cultivator?!"
He had read about such arts in the Mystic Sky Technique. This was the Wind Control Skill. It allowed one to fly three meters above the ground for a considerable distance, but only a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage possessed such power.
The Cultivation system was divided into Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul, with the ranks beyond that being considered true titans. No, just reaching the Golden Core Stage made one a rarity among Cultivators, one in ten thousand.
Zhao Dong was stunned. To think he had actually met such a terrifying figure. Most critically, the woman was about his age, yet her power was immense.
His worldview was shattered in an instant. It's true what they say: comparisons will be the death of you!
He then felt the changes within his body and was shocked. All his injuries had vanished, and his severed meridians were fully repaired. He circulated his Spiritual Energy and unleashed a palm strike into the air. Immediately, ripples spread across the lake's surface, sending up a spray of water.
Zhao Dong gasped, his face alight with excitement.
I... I've reached the fifth layer of Qi Refinement? Another breakthrough? At the fifth layer, I can take on a first-grade grandmaster! I might not win, but at least I'll have a fighting chance! I can't believe this brush with death actually led to another breakthrough!
Clenching his fists, Zhao Dong vowed word by word, "Xiao Hongtian, you've tried to kill me time and time again. One day, I will kill you with my own hands!"
He felt his pockets, but his phone was gone. He was still in the suburbs where hailing a cab was difficult. With no other choice, Zhao Dong started walking home...
「Across the city.」
Outside the alley leading to Zhao Dong's home, Lin Qingyun's car had been parked all night. Zhao Dong had left her behind the previous evening, and unable to rest, she had driven here to keep watch.
Zhao Dong, are you really not coming back? Are you really dead? I'm so sorry, this is all my fault.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. It was already ten in the morning, and the last sliver of hope in her heart had shattered.
Zhao Dong... is truly dead.
Lin Qingyun staggered out of her car and walked towards Zhao Dong's house.
Since he died because of me, I have to give his parents an explanation. I've made up my mind. After I make arrangements for his parents, I'll return to the Provincial City immediately.
She was tired, despairing, and utterly heartbroken.
Perhaps... I really shouldn't have defied my family's decision. In the end, I'm just a pawn.
Arriving at the courtyard gate, Lin Qingyun hesitated for a moment but still entered.