Chapter 6: Are Your Paws Tired from Holding Them Up?

The Qingsha Beast had a rather unremarkable appearance—wherever it lay, it looked just like a pile of rocks formed into an ornamental hill. Its entire body was covered in earth-gray scales, and with its bloated, awkward shape, it was easily mistaken for a lifeless object, or dismissed as a mere lowly beast.

In truth, however, a sixth-rank Qingsha Beast possessed intelligence equal to that of a grown adult.

It could even peer into the hearts of others.

So, when Wen Jinge saw that the Qingsha Beast had taken the envelope containing her carefully drawn plans, she was thunderstruck.

How could this foolish creature think the letter was the most important thing?

What vexed her more was the thought that, if it had simply taken the letter, it could just come back and ask her for another. Why stare so longingly at these lifeless objects? Was there anything more important than one's own life?

“Oh? How interesting, how very interesting.” The Qingsha Beast, massive as it was, felt Qiao Yu’s collision as inconsequential as a mosquito striking an iron plate—utterly unfelt.

What piqued its curiosity, however, was that Qiao Yu seemed to possess another precious item.

Puzzled, it seized Qiao Yu in one paw, then stretched out a sharp claw to hook the vine chain around his neck. “This jade isn’t much to look at! Why is it this one?”

Qiao Yu dangled in its grasp, legs kicking in the air, his face reddening from lack of breath.

“You! Give it back! I can’t give it to you! It’s very important to me! Cough, cough! Important!”

“More important than your life?” The Qingsha Beast tossed him to the ground, tearing off the jade with a flick. “True, that’s what they all say, and they always cling to it so desperately. Yet in the end, what becomes of them? Yes, I take their lives.”

A harsh, sinister laugh escaped it. “Child, if it’s so important, maybe I should take your life as well?”

Despair washed over Qiao Yu; his thoughts stalled, and he realized that this time, he might truly die.

“Have you given up already?” the Qingsha Beast mocked, grabbing the jade and envelope before striding toward the cave behind it. “I thought you were some sort of extraordinary child—turns out you’re nothing special!”

“Give it back!” Qiao Yu struggled to his feet, every movement slow and labored, step by step, as though he were dragging himself through mud. Yet he held a fierce conviction that he would not fall.

He knew—he could not give up. His master was still waiting for him to complete his task!

Yes, only after he succeeded would his master treat him better, and only then could he continue living in peace on Wanzhang Peak.

The Qingsha Beast paused at the cave entrance, regarding Qiao Yu as if watching a clown perform a silent, farcical play.

A voice echoed in the void: “Aren’t you going to help?”

“What’s the rush? He’s the protagonist—how could he die so easily?”

“What if he does die?”

“Then he dies!” came the indifferent response.

The voice was silent for a while. “You seem anxious.”

No reply. “Nonexistent” had learned to keep quiet.

“Give it back! Give it back!” Qiao Yu’s small fists pounded against the Qingsha Beast’s body, but he only bounced off, while the beast remained unmoved.

He tried again and again, dozens of times, refusing to give up. At last, a flicker of emotion crossed the Qingsha Beast’s face. “Even if I return it, can you walk now?”

Qiao Yu froze, gazing toward the outer mountains, mind clouded. “Yes. Even if I have to crawl, I’ll crawl there.”

“Heh, I almost pity you,” the Qingsha Beast scoffed before turning into the cave. “Go on, keep crawling outside. The entire Xuan Yun Sect is full of hypocrites—what future do you have protecting them? Better to die and be done with it!”

“No! I won’t let you insult my sect!” Eyes bloodshot, Qiao Yu thought: his master only treated him poorly because he hadn’t proven his worth yet, but his senior brother had always cared for him. On that desolate Wanzhang Peak, he’d tasted the finest meals in the world.

Such kindnesses were enough to remember, enough to see this task through, enough to repay with time.

“Help me!”

A voice responded, faint and uncertain: “Hmm?”

“Nonexistent” thought it was hallucinating. In truth, it was. For Wen Jinge had already stepped out.

She had suppressed her cultivation with medicine in advance; now, though she was still herself, she was not herself. At least, in Qiao Yu’s eyes, this stranger who appeared in the woods was not his master, but an elderly man.

The man was slightly hunched, supporting himself with a crooked staff, shuffling along like someone advanced in years.

Wrapped entirely in a black robe, his face was hidden, but his gait was steady and his movements swift—clearly a cultivator.

The Xuan Yun Sect was vast. Besides the seven peaks where the peak lords and their personal disciples resided, there were other mountains between the seven peaks and the outer ranges, home to elders and ordinary disciples.

Qiao Yu knew he was still a great distance from the outer mountains, so the man who appeared here was likely a member of the sect.

Overcome with emotion, he wanted to call out and warn the man that a demon beast lurked in the nearby cave, but his throat could produce no sound.

A strangled, hoarse gasp escaped his lips.

Seeing his state, Wen Jinge almost reflexively uttered a word of disgust, but then recalled she was no longer “Wen Jinge.” Her tone remained stern, but there was an odd warmth in it. “Are you done crying?”

Qiao Yu’s eyes widened, flustered.

“Can you stand?”

Qiao Yu tried, but he had no strength left; his injuries were severe, he’d lost much blood, and his body ached to numbness.

“Waiting to die, are you?” The man mocked, then tossed a knife at Qiao Yu’s side. “Do you know how to end your own life?”

Qiao Yu stared in shock, bewildered by this man’s identity and purpose.

“Can’t even do that? Didn’t you say you’d crawl back if you had to? All empty words!” the man sneered, then stood beside him for a while, eyeing his threadbare clothes, worn for more than half a year. “Which peak do you belong to? Not ashamed to wear rags like that… Wen Jinge—hmm, said she took in a disciple today. Could it really be you?”

Qiao Yu’s gaze flickered, then dropped to the foot pressing on his chest.

Could this man be his master’s enemy?

Would he, having survived the beast, now fall to his master’s foe?

“Weren’t you supposed to be a natural sword prodigy? Yet you have no spiritual energy at all—far inferior to your master or grandmaster. Hey, kid, did you tamper with the spiritual stone?”

Suddenly, a rustling sound.

Qiao Yu’s eyes flew open. With great effort, he managed to lift his hand and pointed behind the man.

But it was too late.

The Qingsha Beast stood right behind the man, twice his height. Noticing Qiao Yu’s gesture, it even raised a paw in a taunt. Just as it was about to strike, it heard the man speak:

“You’ve managed to reach the sixth rank and not be discovered by the Xuan Yun Sect. That’s no small feat.”

The man turned to face the Qingsha Beast. Though his form was dwarfed by the beast, Qiao Yu, watching his back, felt that this man possessed the power to change heaven and earth. A rush of warmth surged in Qiao Yu’s lower abdomen, bringing renewed vigor.

The Qingsha Beast’s lantern-yellow eyes froze in confusion. There was something oddly familiar about this man’s aura.

The man let out a cold laugh. “Are your arms tired from holding them up?”