Chapter 96 — Old Sentiments

Qin Wujiu's gaze shifted, passing over Fa Cheng and the other three one by one. With his discerning eye, he could naturally tell that all four were outstanding talents; judging by true cultivation alone, he feared he would gain no advantage against any of them.

It was only that the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect had always cultivated by unorthodox means, with no end of strange techniques—or one might say crooked paths. At this moment Qin Wujiu controlled that vast swarm of Dead Marsh Giant Ants, and with countless venomous creatures upon his person besides, he felt no fear at all. His expression remained as calm as ever; if anything, judging by the scene, he still held a decided upper hand.

Zeng Shuyan had always been quick-witted, yet even he could not help but feel a splitting headache now, staring at wave upon wave of hideous Dead Marsh Giant Ants as the stench of blood assailed his nostrils. Lowering his voice to the three beside him, he said, "What do we do now—flee or fight?"

Li Xun frowned but said nothing. In truth, by his usual temperament, he would never have been willing to retreat at this moment. It was only that in the fierce battle just past against the Dead Marsh Giant Ants, though he alone had slain over a hundred of them, the terrifying force of those endless, countless monsters surging forward all at once had left him shaken to the core.

Fa Cheng pondered in silence. Suddenly Lin Jinghong spoke: "I say we can fight. I reckon these Dead Marsh Giant Ants are not reared by anyone, but are being controlled by this demonic sect villain through some sorcery. So long as we tie him down, we can win in a single battle."

Fa Cheng nodded. "What Junior Brother Lin says makes sense. You two—"

Zeng Shuyan considered for a moment. "Junior Brother Lin is right. And besides, for the four of us to flee in disarray before a single man—that would be far too shameful."

As the eyes of the three turned toward Li Xun, he—the most outstanding talent the Burning Cloud Valley had produced in recent years, and always proud—would have gone straight at Qin Wujiu from the first had the man not summoned countless giant ants from who knew where. Now, faced with the gazes of the other three, how could he bear to lose face? He said decisively, "We fight!"

Fa Cheng nodded at once, then said in a low voice, "We will split into two groups presently. Senior Brother Li and Senior Brother Zeng, I must trouble you to hold off these giant ants at the side for a time, while Junior Brother Lin and I attack Qin Wujiu together. How does that sound?"

The three nodded together.

While they conferred there, Qin Wujiu, standing at the outer edge, was also racing through thoughts. He had just driven the giant ants to surround Li Xun, but Li Xun's cultivation was higher than he had expected—with his own strength alone, the man had killed nearly a hundred of those thick-skinned, hard-boned, highly venomous giant ants. And the other three in the field looked to be of no low cultivation either, especially that Fa Cheng of the Brahma Sound Temple, whose fame had grown great these past years.

Setting all else aside, just look at the Prajna Heart Circle before him—faintly imbued with the mighty power of Buddhist demon-subduing, it actually made the Dead Marsh Giant Ants instinctively draw away from that golden ring of light even without his command. Such cultivation was truly no small matter.

He was just vexing himself over how to deal with these four when suddenly a whistling cry rose ahead. A flash of golden light, and the Prajna Heart Circle withdrew—the four had actually lunged at him together, while the giant ants nearby fell into a commotion.

Qin Wujiu was not alarmed but pleased. With a great laugh, he turned his left hand over, and a small black iron flute appeared. He did not raise it to his lips, but instead swept it straight through the air; his left fingers tapped several of the holes on the flute, and at once a deep, eerie sound rang out in midair.

To human ears it was nothing much, but the countless Dead Marsh Giant Ants below ground seemed suddenly to receive some command. In an instant they were all in a frenzy, baring fangs and brandishing claws as they rushed the four righteous cultivators.

Li Xun and Zeng Shuyan had long expected this. They stepped forward together and activated their artifacts; where the treasure light flashed, a dozen or so giant ants that had charged first were sent flying at once. Yet their own arms ached numbly from the recoil. Li Xun, having crossed blades with these giant ants already, was not surprised; but Zeng Shuyan could not help changing color, thinking to himself how truly formidable these beasts were.

The two summoned their divine might, and in moments had blocked countless giant ants to one side. Lin Jinghong and Fa Cheng transformed into streaks of light and charged up like lightning. The Slaying Dragon Sword became a towering azure radiance that forced the darkness of the surrounding forest back several zhang, and came cleaving down straight at Qin Wujiu's head.

So mighty was this sword that even Qin Wujiu frowned, thinking to himself that these righteous fellows were indeed no easy opponents. Yet his expression showed no sign of panic. His left hand still danced the Demon-Controlling Flute, sending out its strange wailing notes to command the countless Dead Marsh Giant Ants to swarm in, while in his right hand appeared a dagger that shed radiance on all sides, barely holding off Lin Jinghong's strike.

Fa Cheng, watching from behind, knitted his brows. He recognized this dagger as the wondrous treasure of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect wielded by the Poison God himself in the Battle of Azure Cloud ten years ago. In a low voice he said, "'Severed Longing'?"

Qin Wujiu started at the words, and a flicker of admiration passed through his eyes. Holding his ground against Lin Jinghong, he said, "Master Fa Cheng's insight is indeed extraordinary. It is precisely the Severed Longing Divine Dagger!"

Fa Cheng flashed to Lin Jinghong's side, though he did not hurry to strike. He said mildly, "A pity that with such a divine weapon and such talent as yours, you have strayed onto the wrong path. Why not turn back and seek the shore?"

Qin Wujiu laughed aloud. His left hand danced the flute; his right hand's dagger shimmered with clear radiance. Suddenly he took five paces in a row, his bearing elegant, and chanted: "Fair face far, longing bitter, / how many feelings, hard to bestow. / Ten years of yearning, a century's crossing, / without severing longing, I cannot bear to look back!"

His ever-calm face now suddenly showed a faint purple aura, which shone in mutual brilliance with the clear light of the Severed Longing Divine Dagger before him. In an instant the clear light blazed forth, gradually pressing down the azure glow of the Slaying Dragon Sword. At the same time, a rare look of arrogance appeared on his face, and he declared in a ringing voice, "The Master sees me as sunk in the demonic path, yet I laugh at the Master's own infatuation. Of the ten thousand paths in this world, each has its own principle—must your shore alone be the shore, and my shore be the sea?"

Fa Cheng smiled faintly, paying his words no mind, and was about to move to aid Lin Jinghong when suddenly, from within the clear light before Qin Wujiu, Lin Jinghong's voice came, firm beyond all doubt: "Heaven gave birth to ten thousand paths, and they are all one body. The heart of righteous Dao lies precisely in the hearts of the world's people. You are demon, I am righteous—therefore I shall vanquish demons and subdue evil!"

With a clear cry, the Slaying Dragon Sword gave a mighty dragon roar, its azure radiance blazing as it surged skyward, bursting out from within that expanse of clear light. In an instant sword qi crisscrossed like falling rain, sweeping toward Qin Wujiu from all sides.