Chapter 19-Part 4

Qi Zhi was too busy holding onto Teng Yuyi to notice the attack from behind. Jue Sheng was too far away to intervene in time, and just as Huo Qiu’s palm was about to hit Qi Zhi, an arm suddenly shot out from the side, grabbing Huo Qiu’s wrist.

Huo Qiu felt the pain and realized that this person had considerable skill. He was about to retaliate when he looked up and saw it was Lin Chengyou.

“Your Highness—”

Lin Chengyou’s eyes were cold.

“He’s from Qingyun Temple. If he’s made a mistake, I’ll discipline him. Who are you to act recklessly in front of me?”

Startled, Huo Qiu quickly withdrew, but Lin Chengyou’s expression darkened as he attacked Huo Qiu’s chest with a force like a blade.

Huo Qiu barely managed to leap back, narrowly avoiding the blow thanks to his own strong internal energy.

After exchanging just one move, they separated.

Teng Yuyi watched in shock, her heart pounding, afraid that Huo Qiu might suffer a loss.

She glared at Lin Chengyou and said, “Huo Qiu, there’s no need to get entangled with him. We’re leaving.”

But Qi Zhi still wouldn’t let go.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at Teng Yuyi.

“Young master, please trust me this once. I’m begging you, don’t leave. If you stay a little longer, I promise I’ll find a way.”

Lin Chengyou, expressionless, said, “Let go of the young master and come over here.”

But Qi Zhi stubbornly refused to release his grip.

At that moment, a strange noise came from ahead.

Lin Chengyou’s patience ran out, and he turned to walk forward, shouting sternly, “If you don’t know what’s good for you, go back and serve half a year in confinement!”

Jue Sheng stomped his foot in frustration.

“Qi Zhi, senior brother is angry. Let the young master go. If she doesn’t want to stay, why force her?”

Teng Yuyi tried to pry Qi Zhi’s fingers off, but Qi Zhi, tears streaming, shook his head.

E Ji, trembling with fear, led Lin Chengyou to the front, while Qi Zhi, using all his strength, dragged Teng Yuyi forward.

Teng Yuyi, suspicious and uneasy, let herself be dragged a few steps, then signaled to Huo Qiu behind her.

After dealing with these two young Taoists a few times, she knew they were kind-hearted.

Qi Zhi, in particular, was especially steady. His sudden loss of composure must have a reason.

So she switched from threats to coaxing.

“What exactly are you trying to do? If you can’t say it out loud, just whisper it to me.”

Qi Zhi just shook his head, pulling Teng Yuyi along to catch up with Lin Chengyou and the others.

E Ji led the group to the depths of the garden and stopped in front of a small, secluded Buddha hall.

Qi Zhi, estimating that Teng Yuyi wouldn’t run off for the time being, finally let go and hid in the shadows, seemingly busy with something.

Teng Yuyi grew more suspicious and called out, “Taoist Qi Zhi?”

Qi Zhi responded dully from the other side, “I’m fine, Young Master. Just wait a little longer.”

E Ji timidly pushed open the door to the hall where a golden boy was enshrined and said to Lin Chengyou, “The entrance to the cellar is inside, just behind the offering table. The craftsmen found a giant stone there when they were digging.”

Lin Chengyou surveyed the area, then walked up the steps, tied his robe around his waist, and said to Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi, “This place is thick with evil energy. Follow me inside. As usual, one of you guards the Kan position, the other the Xun position. When you hear my signal, throw out the Golden Net.”

(T/N: In the context of Taoism, particularly in practices related to geomancy, divination, or ritual magic, “Kan” and “Xun” are two of the eight trigrams (Bagua) in the I Ching (Book of Changes) system, which are used to represent different natural forces and directions.Kan is one of the eight trigrams, represented by ☵ (a solid line between two broken lines). It symbolizes water, danger, and depth. In terms of direction, Kan corresponds to the north. Xun is another trigram, represented by ☴ (a broken line on top of two solid lines). It symbolizes wind, wood, and gentle penetration or influence. The Xun position corresponds to the southeast direction.)

Jue Sheng immediately complied, but Qi Zhi trembled as he said, “Senior brother, I can’t do it anymore. My little finger is broken. I can’t form seals or hold a sword. Someone else will have to take my place.”

Lin Chengyou and Jue Sheng were both shocked, and Teng Yuyi was also taken aback.

When Qi Zhi grabbed her earlier, all ten fingers seemed fine—how could one be broken now?

Lin Chengyou dragged Qi Zhi out from the shadows.

Qi Zhi tightly clutched his right hand, his face twisted in pain.

Lin Chengyou lifted his arm and saw that his right little finger was indeed bent. His expression changed, and without a word, he took out a bottle of medicine and had Qi Zhi take some.

Inspecting the injury, he asked, “How did this happen? When did it break?”

“I accidentally crushed it while fighting the demon inside the building. Senior brother, saving lives is more important right now. I can’t protect the formation like this; you’ll have to find someone else who can use the magic tools.”

Lin Chengyou suddenly understood and glanced at Teng Yuyi, then deliberately asked Qi Zhi, “You make it sound so easy. Where am I supposed to find someone who knows how to use magic tools on such short notice?”

Qi Zhi turned and pointed to Teng Yuyi, urgently saying, “Young master knows how to use magic tools, and hers is no ordinary tool.”

Teng Yuyi had already guessed what was going on, but she was too shocked to believe it at first.

Lin Chengyou snorted.

“Young master’s tool? Isn’t it just the Jade Sword? It’s currently under the Sha Ling Huan spell, which makes it useless.”

Qi Zhi quickly added, “As long as you lift the Sha Ling Huan spell, senior brother, it will be fine. Don’t you remember? Last time, that tree demon was almost a full-fledged demon, and the young master was able to cut off one of its claws with the Jade Sword. That shows how powerful the sword is, and it recognizes its master—only the young master can wield it!”

Lin Chengyou, unable to hold back his anger, shouted, “What did she promise you in return? You’d rather break your own finger and force me to lift her spell?”

Everyone was stunned, and Jue Sheng looked at Qi Zhi’s injured hand in disbelief. “Qi Zhi? Did you break your finger on purpose?”

Qi Zhi’s face was pale as he hurriedly changed the subject.

“Senior brother, time is of the essence. If we delay any longer, we might not be able to save Juan Erli.”

Teng Yuyi quickly moved to Qi Zhi’s side.

No wonder Qi Zhi had said he would definitely lift her spell tonight—she had thought he was just speaking casually.

Who knew he would go this far?

She grabbed Qi Zhi’s arm and examined it closely, gasping in shock.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Qi Zhi bit his lip.

“Young master, thank you for saving my life. Senior brother, the only way to protect the formation now is to have young master help.”

Lin Chengyou’s face darkened as he said, “Are you assuming I wouldn’t lift her spell? Do you realize how foolish you’re being?”

Qi Zhi was sweating profusely, clearly in great pain.