Chapter Seventy-Six: Return

Bai Qiu’s blood-red eyes gradually returned to normal as his reason came back to him. When he opened his eyes, it was to see Yuanwu, the young monk, standing before him.

Bai Qiu was aware that he had just lost control. He promptly sheathed his azure sword and put away the talisman for contacting his sect. Stepping forward, he pressed his hands together in thanks.

“Master Yuanwu, if you hadn’t used your Buddhist arts to calm the fury in my heart, I might have acted rashly.”

Yuanwu folded his hands in a gesture of prayer. “Amitabha. Benefactor Bai, you must think thrice before acting. One must not lose oneself to anger.”

Bai Qiu nodded, then asked, “Master, what brings you here?”

Yuanwu replied, “I too possess a Jade Ruyi. Though I seldom speak, I have always kept watch. When I heard you two discussing your suspicions and then noticed that Benefactor Shi had vanished, I left Leiyin Monastery and began inquiring about him. Recently, I heard rumors that he disappeared near the southern outskirts of East Sea City, so I hurried here. By chance, I encountered you and Benefactor Sun. Have you found any trace of Benefactor Shi?”

Sun Fanbai shook his head. “Brother Bai has been searching the vicinity of the East Sea for over a month, but there’s been no sign of Brother Shi. Moreover, I just received word that Shi Qi was ambushed that day and likely had his cultivation sealed with Spirit-Sealing Nails.”

Yuanwu frowned. “Such villains! To even resort to Spirit-Sealing Nails.”

Bai Qiu ground his teeth. “Stellar Manor, I swear I’ll raze you to the ground one day!”

Sun Fanbai sighed and then said, “It’s getting late. Why don’t we return to East Sea City and discuss our next steps there? I have a residence just outside the city, we can stay there for now.”

Yuanwu nodded. “That would be best.”

Having only just regained his senses after his earlier rage, Bai Qiu suddenly felt an uncontrollable force surge in his chest. He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, turned to gaze at the distant horizon over the sea, and heaved a long sigh. “So be it. Let’s go back for now.”

The three of them soared into the air, soon arriving at a small manor outside East Sea City.

Once inside, Bai Qiu settled in the inner hall, sitting cross-legged to circulate his vital energy and heal his injuries.

Sun Fanbai and Yuanwu sat at a tea table in the outer hall. Sun Fanbai conjured true fire to boil water.

Yuanwu murmured, “It’s been months since we last parted ways. I’ve been secluded in Leiyin Monastery, cut off from worldly affairs. How have you been, Benefactor Sun?”

Sun Fanbai sighed and replied slowly, “So much has happened in just a few short months.”

He recounted to Yuanwu all that had transpired: his own return to the sect to report on Bo Yunxin, Shi Qi’s adventures on Mount Jiuhua, Shi Qi’s entanglements with Stellar Manor, their investigation together into the mysterious demonic beast of Little East Prefecture, Shi Qi’s ambush, and finally, how he and Bai Qiu attended the union conference of the Tianyuan Sect.

As Sun Fanbai spoke, he poured tea for Yuanwu.

Yuanwu sipped his tea and murmured, “I have been isolated in Leiyin Monastery, oblivious to the outside world. Who would have thought so much could change in so little time.”

“Alas...” Sun Fanbai took a sip and said, “Given the current situation, we don’t even know what’s become of Brother Shi. If...”

He glanced towards the inner chamber. “If Brother Shi has truly perished, I fear Brother Bai really would slaughter Stellar Manor.”

Yuanwu sighed. “Benefactor Bai is a man of deep loyalty.”

Sun Fanbai said, “Not to mention that Realman Egret, Shi Qi’s master, once gifted me a treasure, and the four of us have braved life and death together. That’s no small bond. After all that Shi Qi and Bai Qiu have been through with me, if Brother Shi really has died, and Bai Qiu wishes to raze the Manor, I’ll help him without hesitation.”

Yuanwu pondered for a moment and spoke slowly. “Though Leiyin Monastery is neither righteous, nor demonic, nor heretical, the Buddhist path teaches compassion. Yet if Bai Qiu truly attacks Stellar Manor, count me in.”

Sun Fanbai frowned. “Master, you...”

Yuanwu smiled. “My Buddhist attainments are not so lofty as to encompass the world. I can only save myself. What others say of the Buddhist path has little to do with me. If I know who is responsible for persecuting Benefactor Shi, and I do nothing in the name of some supposed greater good, I will surely regret it.”

“Gentlemen.”

At that moment, Bai Qiu’s voice came from within.

They turned to see Bai Qiu walking slowly out of the inner hall.

He said, “Old Sun, you walk the righteous path. Master Yuanwu, you are of the Buddhist order. Let me bear the stain of this bloody vengeance alone. I don’t wish to see either of you have to face punishment from your sects or the censure of the Twelve Prefectures.”

Just as Sun Fanbai and Yuanwu were about to declare their own stances, all three suddenly froze!

Bai Qiu’s eyes widened. He stammered, “You... you two...”

Yuanwu frowned. “I too sense a familiar voice. It’s the Jade Ruyi.”

Sun Fanbai looked up sharply. “You, Master Yuanwu, and I are all here. None of us have used our Jade Ruyi, so...”

Bai Qiu roared, “Is it Shi Qi?!”

They rushed to retrieve their Jade Ruyi from their storage items. All three glowed with a brilliant light.

They channeled their vital energy into the talismans, and several bold words appeared on each one:

“Shi Qi: Little Bai, Old Sun, Master, I’m back!”

Bai Qiu, elated, said, “It’s Shi Qi! It really is him! Old Sun, Master Yuanwu, I’m not mistaken, am I?”

Yuanwu nodded. “Benefactor Bai is not mistaken. It is indeed a message from Benefactor Shi.”

Bai Qiu, trembling with excitement, began making gestures over his Jade Ruyi. After a moment, he asked, “What... what should I say?”

Sun Fanbai sighed, then slowly wrote on his Jade Ruyi, “Brother Shi, I am here at a manor west of East Sea City with Brother Bai and Master Yuanwu. Brother Bai has searched for you for over a month and found not a trace. We were just about to gather men to raze Stellar Manor. Master Yuanwu and I would have joined as well. Had your message come half a day later, Stellar Manor might already have been erased from the Twelve Prefectures.”

At that moment, Shi Qi was standing atop the Hundred-Mile Sword, speeding towards East Sea City.

Half a day earlier, the Hundred-Mile Sword had awakened from its dormant state. Shi Qi had immediately set out for the East Sea, flying at full speed.

Upon reaching the edge of the East Sea, he sensed that the Jade Ruyi had reconnected. Entering it with his consciousness, he saw Bai Qiu’s message and realized that the three must already know what had happened to him. He quickly sent word of his return.

Reading Sun Fanbai’s message, Shi Qi was overwhelmed. He had not expected that, in the few short months since they’d met, the three would care for him so deeply.

Shi Qi had been lonely since childhood, and after being brought to the island by Realman Egret, had always been alone, without brothers or companions.

The first friend he made after leaving the island was Bai Qiu, and the first group of friends were Sun Fanbai and Yuanwu. They had barely met, yet already survived life and death together. Their friendship, though young, had grown roots.

Since his misfortune, Shi Qi had been consumed by guilt towards Su Xiaomu and hatred for Stellar Manor, forgetting that he still had loyal friends in the Twelve Prefectures—companions willing to entrust their backs to him.

With this realization, his desire to return only grew. He circulated his vital energy, urging the Hundred-Mile Sword forward with a thunderous sound as he raced towards East Sea City.

At the same time, he wrote in the Jade Ruyi: “My sudden disappearance has caused deep shame. I made you all worry. I will explain everything in detail when I return in an hour.”

Seeing Shi Qi’s message, the three could hardly contain their joy.

“One more hour—just one more hour and that rascal will be back! Hahaha!” Bai Qiu laughed heartily, his pain seemingly vanishing.

Yuanwu folded his hands. “Amitabha. Benefactor Shi’s fate was not to end here. He returns a king—how auspicious!”

Sun Fanbai smiled faintly. “Looks like Brother Bai won’t need to lead the charge for vengeance against Stellar Manor. The aggrieved has returned. We’ll just play the part of his henchmen.”

The three chatted excitedly, waiting as the hour passed in a flash.

Bai Qiu, Sun Fanbai, and Yuanwu climbed to the cliff above the sea outside East Sea City, gazing towards the distant horizon.

The night sky was dotted with stars, a crescent moon hanging bright above, its light silver and pure upon the sea, casting ripples of white across the waves and illuminating the faces of the three.

Suddenly, a rushing sound from afar. They looked up to see a streak of white light shooting across the sky, darting from the horizon.

With a “whoosh,” a youth in white robes appeared beside them. His hair was tied up in a topknot, his face youthful and fair, yet bearing traces of hardship.

Who could it be but Shi Qi?

Seeing his friends waiting for him by the sea, Shi Qi smiled lightly and said, “I’m back.”

Bai Qiu strode forward and punched Shi Qi’s shoulder, roaring, “You brat! Trying to scare us to death? Why didn’t you contact your brothers sooner if you were alright?”

Shi Qi returned the blow to Bai Qiu’s chest with a wry smile. “It’s a long story!”

Bai Qiu, struck in the chest, suddenly felt his earlier wound flare with pain. He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Shi Qi frowned. “What happened to you?”

Sun Fanbai stepped up. “Brother Shi, Brother Bai spent over a month searching for you along the East Sea. A few days ago, he even ventured beyond the borders, where he encountered a thousand-year sea wolf and was injured in the fight.”

Shi Qi felt a surge of warmth, though he said, “Tsk! Showing off your lack of skill in the deep sea? Next time you’ll lose your life!”

Bai Qiu shot back, “Cough, cough, still better than you! Beaten so badly and missing for months—I feel embarrassed for you!”

The two paused, then burst out laughing together, gripping each other’s hands tightly.

After a moment, Shi Qi let go, stepped over to Sun Fanbai and Yuanwu, and clasped his hands in salute.

“Brother Sun, Master Yuanwu—Shi Qi has returned. Thank you all for your concern!”

Sun Fanbai waved it off in silence.

Yuanwu folded his hands slowly. “Amitabha. Benefactor Shi, Heaven protects the virtuous. You return stronger than before, as though blessed by great fortune.”

Shi Qi sighed with a bitter smile. “It’s a long story. Let me explain everything in detail once we’re back.”