Chapter 19: Serendipitous Encounter in the Secret Realm
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Ye Qinghan watched Dongfang Jue's figure slowly enter the secret realm. All he wanted to say was: Master, do not worry!
Qinghan has already taken care of one Holy Maiden, Li Shiyao. Now I'm off to handle this Princess Dongfang Jue for you!
Since danger lurks within the secret realm, heh, what kind of danger isn't dangerous?
The presence of Lingxian Hall's First Disciple is her greatest threat!
When the time comes, just have Cheng Liang rescue her. Worst case, beat her half to death and hand her over to Cheng Liang?
In Ye Qinghan's eyes, Dongfang Jue posed less threat than that clumsy Holy Maiden. As long as she wasn't here to snatch her master away, everything was negotiable!
"Qinghan, your master is somewhat uneasy. Perhaps I should accompany you after all."
"Master, there's no need to worry. Your disciple will take care to stay safe."
[It's not that I fear you'll be in danger, disciple. I fear that if you go in, they'll all be in danger!]
Heh heh, Master truly sees through everything!
At the very least, Ye Qinghan had no intention of letting Shangguan Rou walk out of there alive!
As for Dongfang Jue, Qinghan swore she'd beat the crap out of her—if she could keep it in!
But poor little Shiyao? Ye Qinghan had no intention of tormenting her. After all, this poor soul was destined to be nothing more than a plaything for that Cheng Liang. Life wouldn't be easy for her!
Thinking about it, Ye Qinghan felt she was far too kind!
But Ye Qinghan's actions weren't impulsive; they were calculated.
Declining his master's offer, Ye Qinghan resolutely stepped into the secret realm.
Master, altering my fate was already defying heaven itself. Dongfang Jue, you think you can ride my coattails? What kind of person are you?
Who isn't a princess?
I, Ye Qinghan, also carry royal blood—does that make me proud?
Have I ever boasted?
You'd better go back to being Cheng Liang's toy!
The secret realm differed from Ye Qinghan's expectations. She'd imagined pitch-black, damp caves, but instead found a dense forest.
Still, it remained pitch-black and damp. Even the scattered starlight above the canopy likely served as an illusion conjured within the secret realm.
Though Ye Qinghan felt terrifyingly powerful, he dared not be overconfident. After all, this was a secret realm left by immortals. Even someone as strong as Ye Qinghan could only proceed with extreme caution.
Soon, the experience-granting grunts appeared. Accompanied by the foul stench of death, a vast horde of skeleton soldiers charged forth from the depths of the forest.
They seemed to be the transformed corpses of cultivators who had perished within this secret realm. Ye Qinghan noticed that the skeleton soldiers were all draped in strips of cloth, weathered and decayed.
If they were transformed by immortal arts, they probably wouldn't be wearing clothes, right?
Just as he reached for his sword sheath, Ye Qinghan heard a high-pitched voice. Even a fool could tell—the little pest was here!
Who would've thought that even in this secret realm, she'd still have to babysit!
"My sister is frail! Shiyu will protect you! You worthless grunts! Don't you dare hurt my sister!"
Ye Qinghan couldn't help but chuckle. Watching the tiny figure standing before her, barely taller than herself, she felt nothing but amusement.
"Sis, you're just in time! Let's team up and take care of this bunch of disgusting people!"
Ye Qinghan didn't hold many preconceptions about Li Shiyu. Though a bit dim-witted, she clearly had no malicious intent!
Ye Qinghan had originally intended to instantly eliminate the skeleton soldiers, but since Li Shiyu had arrived, he decided to see how much she knew about this secret realm.
The two engaged in a fierce battle—though not particularly intense. The skeleton soldiers outnumbered them, but they were mostly grunts. Even when Ye Qinghan fought half-heartedly, a single swing of her sword could mow down a whole group…
Li Shiyao gave Ye Qinghan a slight surprise. Though a bit dim-witted, she actually possessed some real skill!
Golden streams of light danced through the killing formation, only slightly less dazzling than Ye Qinghan's display on the other side.
The ever-helpful Shiyu occasionally rushed over to assist Ye Qinghan, though to Ye Qinghan, it felt like a provocation…
The skeleton soldiers, merely at the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Cultivation, couldn't hold back these two killing gods even in large numbers. They were quickly slaughtered into an endangered species.
"Sis, you're amazing! No wonder the Elder warned me to be careful around you—turns out you're this formidable!"
Ye Qinghan crossed her arms, rolling her eyes inwardly. Well then, why didn't you just listen to the Elder?
"You too. Quite surprising."
Li Shiyu seemed to have not heard a word, busily pulling a steamed bun from her backpack and offering it to Ye Qinghan…
Li Shiyao stared with her clear, bright eyes, her gaze brimming with expectation and kindness.
Ye Qinghan was speechless. Even if this Li Shiyao got her into Lingxian Hall, she'd probably struggle to catch the Master's eye. More likely, she'd be clinging to me every single day!
With a head like that, even if cured, she'd still be drooling!
"Don't give me that look. It's not cute, really…"
"Is that so? The elders all say Shiyu is adorable. Men love her type."
"The elders are lying to you, just trying to cheer you up."
Shi Yao gave a faint nod, then inched the hand holding the steamed bun closer—it was practically about to smack right into Ye Qinghan's face!
……
This guy wasn't even listening to a word she said!
Ye Qinghan took the bun, then immediately tossed it aside. It wasn't about hunger—they were in a secret realm now. What if this little fool had some hidden agenda?
Ye Qinghan didn't care about the rare treasures within the secret realm. The crucial point was that she didn't want to disappoint her master.
So even though she doubted this little fool was capable of poisoning her, better safe than sorry.
"Sis, you eat so fast. Is it tasty?"
"Mm, delicious. The meat is tender and flavorful. Sister likes it very much."
Ye Qinghan glanced at the half-eaten meat bun in Shi Yao's hand and replied casually before shifting her gaze to the mechanism before them.
They had now reached a cave, and the mechanism before them was likely the second trial.
"But Shiyu gave Sister a vegetarian filling… Even though Sister is so kind to Shiyu, she really couldn't bear to part with the meat bun…"
You little cheapskate!
"Sister didn't eat it either, saving it for later…"
Li Shiyu thought about it. Her sister had a point! That Su Cheng was a real jerk, and her sister must often go hungry!
After much internal struggle, Li Shiyu finally pulled out another bun and handed it to Ye Qinghan…
"One is enough for you, Sister. Keep yours for yourself."
Ye Qinghan didn't even bother to glance at it, his gaze fixed on the magical array mechanism before him. The mechanism was indeed intricate, but it wasn't entirely unsolvable.
It was just… she needed a quiet environment…
Upon hearing Ye Qinghan decline, Li Shiyao's small hand clutching the bun immediately retracted, as if afraid Ye Qinghan might change her mind…
"Sis, what do you think?"
"No problem. Just don't speak for now."
"Can this formation actually sense Shiyu speaking? How amazing is that?"
"It can't. This is a barrier formation. It seems to have a trigger-based countermeasure mechanism too. Anyway, don't speak for now. Let Sister study it."
"It's so amazing. Maybe Shiyu can help Sister."
"No need. Just stand over there."
"But Shiyu wants to help you!"
"……"
Ye Qinghan felt Ling Shuang's sword intent guiding her—it was the very essence of slaughter! She wanted to kill this brain-dead saintess right now!
But the thought that this brat would soon become Cheng Liang's plaything made her hold back.
"Good girl. Shiyu, just wait here for your sister. I'll have this formation dealt with in no time."
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