The Way Home

Time rewound back three days ago. Long Qiqi had just tricked Li Shiyin and was about to escape when she bumped into a man after turning around.

She looked up and was shocked to see that it was Qin Ran. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

Instead of answering, Qin Ran asked back, "Where are you going?"

"I...," Long Qiqi quickly regained her composure. She scratched her head and smiled, "Just taking a look around."

"I'm asking where you were planning to go after escaping from here," Qin Ran didn't want to beat around the bush and asked directly.

"Hmm?" Long Qiqi thought seriously for a while before replying, "The world is so big, I can go anywhere - to experience the human world, find a small sect to learn cultivation, or occupy a mountain top to become a mountain king. Anything is possible."

"Although you've transformed into a human, you're not truly a human after all," Qin Ran shook his head. "The mortal world is dangerous, with immortals and powerful experts in hiding. As a demon, how long do you think you can survive among humans?"

Long Qiqi dismissed his concerns. "The world is vast and boundless. I'll just live as an ordinary person, do honest work, and focus on survival and self-cultivation. Why would I be so unlucky?"

"Live honestly?" Qin Ran laughed. Wasn't the reason they captured Long Qiqi because she was preying on young boys and girls? If Li Shiyin hadn't been there, Qin Ran would have taken action and Long Qiqi would have been long dead without a trace.

He said, "You call eating humans being honest? "

Long Qiqi struggled to explain, "That was when I first took human form after escaping from the Hengduan Mountains. I got too cocky and wasn't being careful enough. I'll pay more attention next time."

"Even if you don't eat humans anymore in the future...," Qin Ran stared at Long Qiqi, "Do you think no one will recognize you?" With the demonic energy you give off, you stand out to cultivators like a firefly in the dark night!"

"I'll conceal my demonic energy very quickly...," Long Qiqi replied.

"Within that time frame, you would have died ten thousand times over," Qin Ran stated.

Long Qiqi was silent for a while before looking up at Qin Ran and asking, "Then what exactly is the implication behind all that you just said?"

"Since you've turned into a human, you'll inevitably have to live among humans. Why not come with us?" Qin Ran suggested.

"Come with you?" Long Qiqi frowned.

"As someone from an orthodox sect, an alchemist of high status and abundant resources, there is no better place for you given your situation," Qin Ran elaborated.

Long Qiqi was very tempted but knowing Qin Ran, she didn't believe an old fox like him would be so kindhearted to make such a losing deal. So she asked again, "Then what's the catch?"

"As you know, I'm an alchemist interested in anything that can be used as ingredient for pills. I'm very intrigued by your viper venom infused with gloomy energy. I'd like to study the fusion," Qin Ran revealed his motive. "It goes well with your original snake venom."

"So you want to lock me up for my venom without all the extra talk?" Long Qiqi still doubted him.

"I'm someone who wishes for peace...," Qin Ran smiled gently. "I don't want any killing or vengeance on Dan Peak. With so few people, I also hope for more liveliness and excitement. Lastly, I'd like to ask for a tiny favor from you..."

Long Qiqi didn't believe for one second that Qin Ran wished for peace. That left only the last reason. She hugged her petite body nervously and exclaimed, "You don't want me to bear your child, do you?!"

"I'm no uncultured brute!" Qin Ran gave her a slap on the head. Where did such a young child learn this stuff from!

"So...," after hearing Long Qiqi's story, Li Shiyin turned to ask Qin Ran who was beside her, "This was also part of your plan?"

After taking some pills to help their injuries, they brought the transformed Long Qiqi with them towards Sword Forging Town.

"Even if we hadn't run into Zhao Yaqing on that day, I would still have made preparations in case we encountered high level cultivators... At least with preparations, we had a chance to escape alive if we did run into trouble. So I made some arrangements accordingly," Qin Ran explained.

"I willfully disrupted the teleportation array. The location we fell to was also pre-planned with Long Qiqi. If anyone tried to destroy the array, that would be one of the contingency plans," Qin Ran elaborated.

"One of the contingency plans?!" Li Shiyin and Long Qiqi exclaimed together.

Qin Ran just smiled mysteriously without another word.

The group of three continued slowly towards Sword Forging Town - old, weak, sick and disabled. Both Qin Ran and Li Shiyin were injured so they were the sick and disabled. Long Qiqi had the form of a young girl but the heart of an old demon so she was the old and weak.

Cultivators flying by frequently could be seen overhead, still searching for the legendary sword. Some even stopped to question the group of three but no one paid them much attention as they were just a harmless band of three rather than a suspicious couple.

"They are all looking for that sword...," Qin Ran sighed. "The phenomena when that sword appeared was clearly visible from this side. Cultivators are still human. The more powerful they become, the more greedy they are. Without proper arrangements, I would have died very quickly."

Li Shiyin looked up at the cultivators flying by as bursts of curses could be heard from above. She remained silent at her master's words. This was the immortal cultivation world after all. Her master was right.

After walking for about two li, the band of old, weak, sick and disabled finally reached Yue Lai Inn after an hour.

Qin Ran's face was ghastly pale. He limped into the inn and weakly told the owner, "We'd like to check out."

Seeing the miserable state of the master and disciple pair, the owner couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

"A peerless divine sword just appeared from Li Ben Mountain earlier today after transcending tribulation. It was a once in a lifetime sight. I brought them along to join in the excitement and broaden their horizons. Who knew those sword grabbers were aggressive towards everyone there. We got beaten up for no reason at all," Qin Ran shook his head with lament.

"What a ruthless world... To think that Master Xu's sword forging ended up with him being assaulted instead... *sigh*...," Qin Ran sighed regretfully.

The owner leaned over the counter to take a look at Long Qiqi. He could discern her true identity as a demon but did not care. Taking out the ledger, he mocked, "Watching excitement? Hmpf..."

It was apparent that he saw through them - just some nobodies trying to seize an opportunity, only to fail miserably instead.

Qin Ran pathetically forced out a laugh.

Standing at the side, Li Shiyin secretly rolled her eyes. Her master sure put on quite a show.

After checking out, a spiritual horse was brought over for their ride back up the mountain. Master and disciple quickly packed up what little they had, for appearance's sake more than anything. It was not like they had planned to return given the situation. Then they departed from the inn on the spiritual horse, heading straight north into North Chu instead.

Right outside Sword Forging Town, Qin Ran noticed scouts lurking nearby. The closer they got to the North Chu border, the more scouts there were. By the time they neared the border, a cavalry unit was in hot pursuit behind them.

It was the same Xuanqin cavalry involved in the earlier standoff against Li Shiwen. Even the commanding general remained unchanged.

"Faster!" Qin Ran urged Li Shiyin.

It wasn't that he feared the mortal troops. He just didn't wish to kill so many people.

"Halt!" The trailing cavalry ordered them to stop.

Master and disciple picked up their speed. Soon arrows were shot at their direction.

The spiritual horses were no ordinary breeds. With Qin Ran's polished riding skills, there was no struggle for them to outpace the cavalry. They effortlessly crossed over into North Chu territory.

Only to be greeted by yet another heavily armored cavalry unit from the North Chu side as they looked ahead past the border. It was an impressive scene of deterrence, seemingly waiting for the Xuanqin cavalry.

And leading the unit was none other than Li Shiwen.

Seeing Qin Ran and Li Shiyin cross over, he rode over to Li Shiyin's side. After examining her blood-stained appearance, his face darkened. He threw an icy glare at Qin Ran before positioning himself at the border to face the incoming Xuanqin cavalry alone.

The Xuanqin cavalry ultimately did not dare to trespass. They halted as their general walked out to exchange silent gazes with Li Shiwen, before shouting over at Qin Ran, "The antidote!"