Xu Ziqing was startled by the voice, but the other three vines had already coiled around the remaining cultivators and begun greedily drinking their flesh and blood. He turned his head, then relaxed a little.
The newcomer wore white robes embroidered with silver thread and regarded him with a half-smile. Although he had spoken mockingly, he showed no intention of interfering.
Xu Ziqing smiled faintly. “So it’s Brother Nan Zheng. You gave me quite a fright.”
Nan Zhengya approached at an unhurried pace and said softly, “It seems I must reassess you. I wonder where you found such an ancient vine. Its power is not bad. But its table manners are rather ugly. You ought to train it a little.”
Xu Ziqing smiled. “I came upon Rongjin by chance, and it has accompanied me for many years.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, it has rarely eaten its fill since following me. When an opportunity comes for it to feast, I cannot bear to restrain it.”
Besides, the situation had been dangerous just now. He had been concerned with preventing his enemies from escaping. How could he have spared any thought for the vine’s eating habits?
Nan Zhengya raised an eyebrow without replying. Instead he watched Rongjin. One vine had pierced a cultivator at late Essence Transformation, and its leaves and buds glowed like red jade, filled with rich blood and resembling crimson amber.
After examining it for a while, he spoke leisurely. “You tell me so much. Aren’t you afraid I’ll find someone to report you? Then others will covet your abilities. They will invent charges, declare you some monstrous evil demon, hunt you down, steal your demon vine, and destroy your soul.”
Threats came from his mouth as casually as remarks about eating or drinking, with no hesitation or restraint.
Xu Ziqing laughed. “If Brother Nan Zheng genuinely thought that way, you would never have spoken so much to me. Though I lack talent, I can tell that you bear me no malice. Why should I guard against you so excessively and make you look down on me? If I angered you by treating you that way, until you decided to make your teasing threats real, I’d have only myself to blame.”
From their very first meeting, he had felt an inexplicable closeness to this man, which was why he had been inclined to trust him at once. Although he did not know its origin, there must be some cause and effect between them. Besides, Nan Zhengya’s words were often mocking, but careful attention revealed advice hidden within them. If Xu Ziqing ignored the tone and listened to the meaning, he would not misunderstand.
Nan Zhengya curved his lips slightly. “You have a way with words.”
Xu Ziqing laughed. “I’m only speaking from the heart.”
After exchanging a few more words, the atmosphere between them grew easier, even if they could hardly be called intimate friends.
By then Rongjin had completely drained the vital essence of all four late Essence Transformation experts. At last, the blood nourishment it had accumulated over these past days began to produce a remarkable transformation.
The four vines abruptly swelled. Their tips split open, the outer surfaces peeling apart to either side. The splits raced downward toward the roots until each vine had divided cleanly into two.
In the blink of an eye, four vines became eight, every one plump, lustrous, and shining.
Nan Zhengya’s eyes gleamed with interest. “What is this thing called?”
Xu Ziqing answered, “It’s called the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine. It’s difficult to subdue. I originally obtained only a seed and nurtured it until it recognized me as master.”
Nan Zhengya sighed. “Such an unusual species is not easily acquired. Your aura is altogether too mild; having this to balance you may not be a bad thing.”
Xu Ziqing thought briefly and nodded. “Brother Nan Zheng’s cultivation is far above mine. If you say so, there must be some truth to it.”
Nan Zhengya glanced at him and chuckled. “I’m clearly only at Essence Transformation myself. How can you say I’m ‘far above’ you?”
Xu Ziqing smiled and shook his head. “As you say, Brother Nan Zheng.” He did not argue.
He could sense the strength of this recent acquaintance, and it was indeed only slightly above his own. Yet vaguely, he felt there was something peculiar about him that Xu Ziqing’s present cultivation could not penetrate.
He also had a premonition that as his cultivation deepened, the mysterious connection between them would eventually become clear.
Whatever the truth, he felt it would bring benefit rather than harm.
Rongjin had split again, gaining four new branches and greatly increasing its strength. As the vines lashed about, they were still not particularly thick, but they had begun to display something of the splendor of an ancient ferocious creature.
Were Xu Ziqing to release it among a savage-beast herd now, it would be like loosing a tiger among sheep. It could feast without end.
Rongjin shook the dried skins and bones from its tendrils, then instantly withdrew them and wrapped itself haphazardly all over Xu Ziqing. But when he attempted to communicate with it through his spiritual sense, he found that its intelligence had changed very little and was still much like that of a young child.
He sighed, realizing that the older and more formidable a creature was, the harder it might be for it to transform and develop truly mature intelligence.
Nan Zhengya seemed to like the vine immensely. He extended a finger, intending to touch it.
But Rongjin was fierce by nature and had always been affectionate only toward Xu Ziqing. How could it allow this stranger to touch it? The moment Nan Zhengya’s finger drew near, a leaf bud lunged out to cripple it.
Nan Zhengya chuckled softly. Before the bud could bite him, a thread of flame sprang from his fingertip.
The flame forced the demon vine to recoil in alarm, as though it had encountered a terribly dangerous enemy.
Nan Zhengya smiled. “Fire overcomes Wood. Fierce as you are, ordinary flames might not do you any harm. Unfortunately, your abilities are still insufficient to withstand mine.”
Rongjin seemed confused, yet also appeared to understand a little. It immediately pressed against Xu Ziqing’s cheek and rubbed affectionately, looking thoroughly aggrieved.
Xu Ziqing smiled at it. “Don’t be sad. We’ll be staying on the Savage Beast Plains for quite some time. Eat all you like. One day I’ll bring you back to compete with Brother Nan Zheng’s flames.”
This time Rongjin understood and immediately grew cheerful.
Nan Zhengya snorted. “Very well. Since I like your disposition, I’ll indulge you. Whenever you want a contest, I’ll accept.”
Xu Ziqing laughed too. “Then I’ll thank Brother Nan Zheng on Rongjin’s behalf.”
Nan Zhengya’s temperament was somewhat unpredictable. Sometimes he acted with complete directness, while at other times he seemed to take winding paths no one could follow. Having spoken to Rongjin for a while, he suddenly fell silent. With a flick of his finger, he released a blazing fire.
The flames moved swiftly and reached the four dried bodies in an instant, swallowing them and leaping high into the air.
The fire was extraordinarily strong and powerful. From what Xu Ziqing could tell, it was not one of the familiar forms of Samadhi True Fire, yet its abilities seemed even greater.
Although the bones were as hard as tempered steel and would normally have been difficult to melt, they rapidly rotted and burned beneath these flames. Before long, nothing remained but ashes scattered by the strong winds of the plains.
Nan Zhengya had acted abruptly, but he had done Xu Ziqing a great favor.
With not even the slightest trace of the bodies remaining, who could truly convict him if the matter came to light? The dead could no longer testify, and not a shred of physical evidence remained.
Xu Ziqing felt grateful and was about to thank him.
But before the words left his mouth, he saw Nan Zhengya look in another direction. Almost at the same instant, Xu Ziqing sensed an exceedingly familiar aura.
About a hundred li away, his spiritual sense revealed a white-robed sword cultivator traveling upon sword intent and cleaving through the wind.
It was his senior brother, whom he had not seen for half a year!
Xu Ziqing’s heart stirred. During these months he had devoted himself to cultivation and pressed his longing deep inside. Only now did he realize how powerfully he had missed him. Joy appeared unbidden on his face. “Senior Brother is here.”
Nan Zhengya saw this, and something subtle passed over his expression.
With Yun Lie’s cultivation, he moved extraordinarily quickly. Though a hundred li distant a moment earlier, he was before them within a few breaths. The sword intent vanished, leaving only the cold and immovable sword cultivator standing there, surrounded by boundless killing intent.
Xu Ziqing stepped forward with a smile. “Senior Brother, you encountered trouble as well, didn’t you?”
He had been anxious earlier. Now he examined Yun Lie closely, almost without realizing it. Only when he confirmed that his senior brother was unharmed did he finally feel at ease.
Yun Lie’s expression remained unchanged. He looked over Xu Ziqing. “You’ve made considerable progress.”
Xu Ziqing smiled. “Thank you for the praise, Senior Brother. I’m still far behind you.”
Having confirmed each other’s safety, the martial brothers forgot their surroundings for a moment.
Yun Lie was never careless. Naturally he had already noticed Nan Zhengya, but sensing nothing amiss, he had not reacted. Having looked at Xu Ziqing, he now turned his gaze toward the stranger.
Xu Ziqing remembered his new acquaintance and wanted to introduce him. Turning toward Nan Zhengya, his eyes bright with happiness, he said, “Brother Nan Zheng, this is Yun Lie, my eldest senior brother under the same master.”
Nan Zhengya glanced at Yun Lie. A strange look flashed through his eyes, unnoticed by Xu Ziqing. Then he nodded to the sword cultivator. “I am Nan Zhengya.”
His manner was not at all bad.
Seeing him greet Yun Lie this way, Xu Ziqing’s smile grew gentler. He introduced him in turn. “Senior Brother, this is Brother Nan Zheng, whom I met here. We seem to get along rather well.”
Yun Lie nodded slightly and said nothing further.
Nan Zhengya suddenly smiled. “You martial brothers haven’t seen each other for some time. I shouldn’t disturb your reunion. I’ll take my leave. Brother Xu, Perfected Yun, if we meet again, I’ll catch up with you then.”
With that, he departed as swiftly and lightly as he had arrived.
The man came and went like the wind, leaving few traces. Xu Ziqing watched him recede and felt an unexpected twinge of regret at their parting.
But when he turned back to his senior brother, that feeling faded.
After a moment’s thought, Xu Ziqing asked with a smile, “Senior Brother, what are your plans now?”
He naturally understood that his senior brother had come because he was concerned for his safety. But the danger had passed, and Xu Ziqing did not know whether Yun Lie intended to stay or leave.
Yun Lie considered briefly. “There should be no further trouble. I’ll observe how your cultivation is progressing.”
Hearing that they need not separate again immediately, Xu Ziqing’s smile grew softer. “Yes, Senior Brother.”
Within Ultimate Bliss Residence, a delicate-looking man who had been indulging in pleasure abruptly stood up, his expression changing drastically.
He moved swiftly, entering the depths of his cave abode in moments.
Inside a secret chamber, dozens of soul lamps were arranged in two rows, their small flames flickering and casting dim light.
There had originally been only eleven or twelve lamps in the left row. Eight of them were now extinguished. Of the twenty or thirty on the right, four near the front had gone dark as well.
The delicate man’s eyes immediately filled with vicious anger.
“How could more than half my most capable subordinates have died!”