Chapter 145: Scourge
“This so-called Forbidden Spell, help me get a copy for Quan Xinghai too.”
“Didn’t you say his was a fragmented scroll? I want to use the complete version,” Feng Shi said in a flat tone, so much so that it could even be called tranquil and even-tempered.
But Qingqing still picked up the chilling intent in his words and couldn’t help but shiver.
[The shop does have it, however…]
It hesitated slightly.
[However, the Forbidden Spell also has an effect on the caster themselves. Furthermore, if it is discovered by others, it might be detrimental to your goal of becoming the Number One Sword in the world.]
Feng Shi fell silent.
Just as Qingqing thought he was brewing up some massive evil scheme, Feng Shi suddenly spoke, asking an unrelated question.
“Let me ask you, did he also cast this Forbidden Spell on Quan Xinghe?”
Qingqing followed his line of sight.
Over there, a deathly pale Quan Xinghe was leaning on Ruan Ping. It was as if he had suddenly been struck by a severe illness, the spiritual energy surrounding him nearly dried up completely. Ruan Ping was pulling him to meditate and regulate his breathing on the spot.
In the very next moment after Feng Shi finished his sentence, he saw the long thread connecting the Quan brothers.
It was several times thicker than the ones on Elder Lin and the others.
Qingqing was amazed by Feng Shi’s keen observation skills and meticulous thoughts, and explained.
[That’s right. Quan Xinghai has never liked this younger brother. The age gap between them is too large, and Quan Xinghe’s talent is simply too good, naturally incurring his jealousy.]
The emotions in Feng Shi’s eyes were unreadable. After a long while, he said, “Then cut the connection between them first.”
Qingqing hesitated for a moment and said cautiously.
[Host, the root of this matter is still Quan Xinghai. If he doesn’t die, he can restore the Forbidden Spell at any time…]
Feng Shi thought to himself: That’s true.
In that case, Quan Xinghai really was a damned scourge.
Seeing that the second layer of the barrier was about to break, Feng Shi looked at the smug and triumphant Quan Xinghai beside him, and a plan suddenly formed in his mind.
Less than half a quarter of an hour later, the second layer of the barrier shattered.
Only the final layer remained.
Elder Lin and the others were already deathly pale, their bodies hollowed out. They couldn’t help but call for a stop: “Can’t we rest for a bit! I say, are you two made of iron?”
Feng Shi withdrew his hand, his complexion as normal as ever.
Quan Xinghai’s face also bore a smile.
The two of them flew down, elegant as banished immortals, looking as though they hadn’t been affected in the slightest.
Comparing oneself to others was enough to anger one to death. Seeing them like this, Elder Lin spat out another mouthful of blood.
“Damn it, why is spiritual power depleting so fast today?”
“Who knows? Ugh, forget it, forget it, stop talking. We still need to save enough strength to seize the spiritual sword.”
The three complained as they quickly sat down to meditate.
It was very obvious that none of them had noticed Quan Xinghai’s little trick.
“Young friend Liu.” Quan Xinghai landed and turned around, bowing to Feng Shi with words full of false flattery. “Young friend Liu is truly gifted, to be able to endure for so long.”
His face carried a nearly naked fascination, and the eyes looking at Feng Shi flashed with a bizarre excitement, as if he wanted to dissect him and study him in the next instant.
Feng Shi pretended not to notice his ulterior motives and responded perfunctorily, “Not at all, not at all, Elder Quan is the truly amazing one. I am nothing but a minor lackey; how would I dare to compare myself to the stars?”
Quan Xinghai revealed a smile. He opened his mouth, clearly wanting to say something more, but Feng Shi ignored him, pretending not to see, and turned to look for Shen Songhe.
Quan Xinghe’s condition was very poor. It seemed this Quan Xinghai truly despised him; he was ruthless when absorbing spiritual energy, nearly draining him dry.
Feng Shi stuffed a few more high-grade spiritual pills into him. Seeing the youth’s condition improve, he said with some exasperation, “You dense fool, your brother has been absorbing your spiritual energy this whole time, and you never noticed?”
“Yet you still treated him with such wholehearted devotion.”
Quan Xinghe, who had just finished refining the last pill, tightly furrowed his brows upon hearing this, somewhat angered. “What nonsense are you spewing?!”
“That is my brother!”
Quan Xinghe stood up, his fists clenched tight. He was clearly suppressing his rage.
Feng Shi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you find it strange at all?”
“Just now, your spiritual power drained away suddenly, right?”
“Anyway, I’ve said my piece. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”
Although they hadn’t known each other for long, they had built up some camaraderie along the way. Additionally, it was out of respect for Ruan Ping; if it were anyone else, Feng Shi wouldn’t care whether they lived or died.
Quan Xinghe wasn’t entirely brainless. He did take Feng Shi’s words into consideration, and his hostility lessened significantly. But he still lowered his head, clenched his jaw tightly, and muttered, “No, impossible. My brother treats me the best; how could he do this to me? It definitely isn’t him, it definitely isn’t…”
He was a child born to his parents in their old age. Not long after his birth, his parents passed away from a plague. On their deathbeds, they entrusted him to his older brother, who was cultivating in an immortal sect.
His brother raised him and taught him the sect’s magical arts; how could he possibly harm him!
Quan Xinghe’s eyes grew slightly red.
Seeing this, the other three didn’t know what to say.
Feng Shi wouldn’t say such things without evidence, so Shen Songhe and Ruan Ping both believed him. Only Quan Xinghe refused to accept it.
Such a thing, regardless of who it happened to, would certainly feel world-shattering and incredibly absurd.
Feng Shi could understand. He sighed and thought: Forget it. At worst, I’ll just keep a close eye on things when the time comes. If something really happens, I’ll see if I can save his life.
Meanwhile, all of these conversations were isolated by a barrier Feng Shi had set up.
Not long after their conversation ended, Quan Xinghai walked toward them, swaying his folding fan. He first exchanged a few pretentious pleasantries with Feng Shi before turning to look at Quan Xinghe. His expression turned serious as he scolded, “Since you’ve seen me, what are you still doing dawdling around others? Come here!”
Quan Xinghe was still immersed in the words Feng Shi had said. Hearing his brother, he raised his reddened eyes and called out, “Brother…”
Quan Xinghai suppressed his impatience. Furrowing his brows slightly, he asked, “What is it?”
Quan Xinghe initially wanted to impulsively ask him directly if he truly didn’t do any of this.
But when he looked up and met his brother’s eyes, he suddenly and eerily calmed down for some unknown reason, swallowing his words. “N-Nothing.”
Quan Xinghai gave him a suspicious glance, then narrowed his brows and barked, “Get over here.”
Quan Xinghe clenched his fists. He subconsciously glanced at Ruan Ping beside him, but eventually pursed his lips and obediently walked over.
Quan Xinghe followed Quan Xinghai away, the distance between them growing wider and wider, until he finally returned to the group from the Yushui Immortal Sect.
Feng Shi glanced at the eagerly gazing Ruan Ping beside him and teased, “Alright, stop looking. If you stare any longer, you’ll turn into a gazing-husband stone.”
Ruan Ping withdrew his gaze, his small face turning red. For the first time, he retorted to Feng Shi, though his voice remained very quiet. “Senior Brother is so annoying!”
Feng Shi chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly.
By the time Elder Lin and the others were well-rested, almost two days had passed.
“Everyone, let’s begin.” Quan Xinghai stepped forward first, injecting spiritual power into the barrier.
Feng Shi followed closely behind.
Not long after starting, he felt the spiritual energy within his body begin to drain away once more. Opposite him, Elder Lin and the others had it much worse; blood was already spilling from their noses and mouths, but for the sake of the spiritual treasure, they gritted their teeth and refused to withdraw their hands.
Half a shichen later, a crack as thin as a spider’s web finally appeared on the barrier.
The expression on Quan Xinghai’s face changed. Immediately after, Feng Shi felt a large portion of his spiritual energy suddenly being siphoned away in an instant.
[Oh no, Host! He wants to drain you all dry!]
“Cut the crap and help!”
Blood trickled from the corner of Feng Shi’s lips. Just as his words fell, Qingqing had highly efficiently severed the connection between him and Quan Xinghai.
Over there, Quan Xinghai, who was the first to feel the change, instantly saw his face darken abruptly as he violently turned his head to glare at Feng Shi.
Feng Shi freed one hand to take out a pill and swallow it. He smiled at the man; his originally snow-white teeth were stained red with blood, making him look terrifying and gruesome.
Translator’s Note:
- Gazing-husband stone (望夫石): An idiom based on a legend where a wife waited so long for her husband’s return that she turned to stone.
Recommended Reads
