Content fidelity note: This chapter depicts sexual violence against an adult. The English preserves the events and consequences but summarizes certain graphic assault details and offender dialogue present in the Chinese original.
The gaunt householder felt even more regretful, but no longer dared say a word, for fear of bringing disaster upon his family.
He gently pulled his wife aside and left the sitting room to the visitors.
The Niu brothers grew ever more talkative with Xu Ziqing. They tried addressing Yun Lie too, but his frost-cold bearing seemed almost unapproachable. They suppressed their predatory desires for now, planning to coax both men back to the stronghold, let their superiors exploit them first, and then sexually abuse the pair themselves.
The thought of overpowering the two martial brothers made both men swallow greedily.
Xu Ziqing maintained the conversation, though he rarely felt so disgusted.
Did those two truly think everyone else was blind to their intentions?
In fact, the Niu brothers had indeed mistaken their guests for inexperienced young cultivators.
In the great world, it was common for Foundation Establishment disciples of small sects to travel in search of experience. Many had been brought to their current level with pills supplied at the expense of their entire sect. Unlike disciples tempered through myriad trials in great sects, their bodies were often still untainted, and most had little experience of the wider world.
Such young disciples could often be won over with a few flattering words. The Niu brothers had deceived many over the years, which was why they were repeatedly sent out on assignments.
They had originally come to town to collect tribute, but after encountering two outstanding young cultivators, they decided to lure them back to their stronghold.
For now, compliments poured from their mouths, their judgment clouded by desire.
Yun Lie had always detested wicked cultivators. Had he not needed these two men to lead them to their lair, he would have slain them with a single stroke already.
Xu Ziqing knew his senior brother’s temperament. His present restraint was purely for the convenience of the task ahead.
After about an hour, the Niu brothers seemed satisfied that their persuasion had succeeded. They invited the two visitors to their nearby mountain residence to drink tea and discuss the Dao.
Xu Ziqing felt relieved. After feigning a little hesitation, he accepted.
The Niu brothers led the way, and the martial brothers followed.
The gaunt householder watched anxiously from behind, wanting to say something but fearing the consequences.
Remembering his kindness, Xu Ziqing looked back and gave him a faint smile.
The householder’s eyes widened. Then, as though he suddenly understood, he relaxed.
All he could do now was hope these two immortal masters succeeded.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie followed the Niu brothers into the desert.
As soon as they reached its edge, the brothers took a square stone slab from a storage bag.
Niu Shengyu smiled. “Our residence is on a barren mountain in the desert. It’s hardly luxurious, but it is quiet. Far better than some noisy, crowded place.”
Xu Ziqing affected understanding. “I see.” Then he looked at the slab in Niu Shengque’s hand with apparent curiosity.
Niu Shengque explained, “This is a pathfinding disk. The desert is nothing but yellow sand, so we specially refined this treasure to guide us directly to the mountain.”
Xu Ziqing praised them again. “You two are truly capable.”
The Niu brothers believed they had impressed him and grew quite pleased.
Niu Shengque muttered an incantation, pointed at the disk, and caused a trace of black light to appear upon the slab.
Xu Ziqing sensed something and glanced at Yun Lie.
Yun Lie nodded slightly and sent a voice transmission. “I’ve memorized the incantation.”
Only then did Xu Ziqing feel at ease.
Having completed their preparations, the Niu brothers summoned flying swords beneath their feet. “Please follow us.”
Yun Lie summoned a spiritual sword of his own. Xu Ziqing knew how to ride a sword but had little practice, so he allowed his senior brother to take his hand and pull him aboard. Seeing this only made the Niu brothers less suspicious.
Three flying swords soon cut through the air. The sunlight overhead was scorching, but a cultivator needed only to circulate true essence to dispel the heat.
The Niu brothers traveled quickly, eager to bring their guests to the mountain’s rulers.
Yun Lie kept pace, neither too close nor too far away, revealing none of his real ability.
After a little over two hours, the two guides began to tire and descended toward a little oasis.
Xu Ziqing thought, Just as expected. Cultivation obtained by stealing others’ essence gives them an unstable foundation.
He was correct. Demonic cultivators like the Niu brothers indulged themselves and seldom undertook serious cultivation. Their Foundation Establishment was like a heap of loose sand, easily scattered. Compared with those who had tempered themselves through genuine hardship, they were much weaker.
Xu Ziqing felt a little more confident about eliminating the den.
The oasis was only several zhang across, with a spring containing a faint trace of spiritual energy.
The Niu brothers knew the spot well. They sat down to drink and recover.
Xu Ziqing’s gaze revealed a hint of comprehension.
For an oasis so small to survive in the desert, and for its spring to contain spiritual energy, it must be one of the replenishment stations deliberately arranged by the stronghold.
He understood this, but pretended ignorance and sat down to meditate.
After drinking, the Niu brothers seemed worried their guests might grow impatient. “We should arrive in another two hours or so. There’s no need to worry.”
Xu Ziqing smiled faintly, then sighed. “In that case, it’s time to act.”
The Niu brothers looked confused. Abruptly, a streak of sword light flashed toward them.
Their pupils contracted. Both leaped several feet backward, barely avoiding the attack.
Niu Shengyu shouted angrily, “Fellow Daoist Yun! What is the meaning of this?”
Xu Ziqing’s smile vanished, his face growing stern. “Eliminating evil and defending the Dao.”
Niu Shengque was quicker-witted than his older brother. He sneered. “Big Brother, we misjudged them! They aren’t beauties we’ve tricked into coming here. They’re here to send us to our graves! Eliminate evil and defend the Dao? These two brats think themselves worthy?”
Niu Shengyu grinned and produced a demonic cudgel. “So they’re here to destroy us? They’re beauties all the same. Once I’ve caught them, I’ll have my way with them in bed!”
Immediately the Niu brothers attacked from opposite sides, each wielding a cudgel. Their cudgels swept in rapid succession through the upper three and lower three lines of Xu Ziqing’s body.
Xu Ziqing grew alert, drew his steelwood sword, and met them with swordplay like a driving rain, his movements swift as the wind.
Yun Lie did not interfere. He merely stood aside and watched Xu Ziqing fight.
Even against two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Xu Ziqing appeared composed and capable.
The Niu brothers’ cudgel techniques were fierce, but the gap in cultivation was far too great. How could they threaten him?
Xu Ziqing did not wish to delay the destruction of the stronghold. He circulated his true essence, shook his arm, and unleashed several sword forms.
Two dull impacts sounded. Xu Ziqing passed between his enemies, and their bodies collapsed.
Both were dead.
For once Xu Ziqing felt no regret. Recalling how these men had behaved, he could only imagine how many victims they had harmed. They deserved no pity. Ending their crimes was the right thing to do.
He sheathed his steelwood sword, picked up the pathfinding disk, and brought it to Yun Lie.
Yun Lie recited the memorized incantation and pointed at the disk.
After a flash of light, a black line emerged, winding across its surface.
At the sight of the line, Yun Lie’s killing intent surged.
Xu Ziqing was surprised. He lowered his eyes, examined it, and recognized the problem.
The black line was made of accumulated, dried blood. How many people must have been killed to create such a dark trace?
Whoever refined this pathfinding disk deserved death.
Xu Ziqing drew a deep breath and calmed himself.
The object was vile, but they still needed it, so they could not discard it yet.
He studied the direction indicated by the line and said, “Senior Brother, let’s hurry.”
Yun Lie naturally agreed.
Xu Ziqing had Chonghua return to his full size and carry them onward.
They traveled some distance through an apparently empty desert, yet the black line kept changing direction.
The mountain was exceptionally well concealed. It seemed impossible to reach without following the disk.
These demonic cultivators were more calculating than they first appeared.
A little over two more hours passed before the shadow of a mountain appeared ahead.
Chonghua landed at once and was returned to the beast-control token.
Yun Lie said, “We’ll enter concealed. Except for the half-step Nascent Soul cultivator, every other evildoer is yours to eliminate.”
Xu Ziqing answered solemnly, “Yes, Senior Brother.”
With their plan settled, the two infiltrated the mountain.
It was indeed a barren mountain, though not entirely lifeless.
Jagged rocks and harsh soil lay exposed. Here and there, squat, hardy trees struggled on despite the lack of moisture, adding a little green to the landscape.
Cries of wild beasts rose within the mountain, but they sounded mournful and unwilling, as though the creatures had been confined and deprived of freedom.
Halfway up the slope, an ancient pine thrust outward. Its trunk had nearly withered, yet its crown still spread over the entrance to a cave residence, concealing it.
No one guarded the entrance. But as soon as they approached the cave, they could hear lewd speech and hoarse groans nearby.
Xu Ziqing frowned and glanced at Yun Lie.
Yun Lie’s expression remained unmoved, as though he found nothing surprising in what they heard.
Xu Ziqing shook his head and moved toward the noise.
Less than a zhang to the side was another doorway. The sounds came from within.
The side door was not even locked, and the sounds grew louder as he approached.
Xu Ziqing concealed his aura and advanced with extreme care.
But as soon as he stepped closer and peered through the doorway—
He stumbled back several steps in shock, coming up against Yun Lie’s chest.
Yun Lie warned him through a voice transmission. “Be careful.”
Xu Ziqing controlled himself and looked inside again.
Inside, three demonic cultivators had forced a mortal woman to kneel on the floor without clothing. She was strikingly beautiful, her skin as white as snow.
All three men were sexually assaulting her at once.
As the men handled her roughly, the woman’s expression remained utterly numb, her eyes devoid of spirit.
All three men were flushed and sweating, plainly taking pleasure in their brutality.
One of them sneered, “She’s only a mortal, but she does have some looks…”
Another made a cruel remark about her body, then laughed that she would die after their assault and could never be exploited again.
The third gloated that the woman had been a virgin, then disparaged female immortal cultivators as already exploited, calling anyone they captured mere leftovers.
Xu Ziqing saw the scene clearly and heard every word.
Fury blazed in his eyes.
These wicked men deserved to die!
Without hesitation, he flicked his hand and released three blood-red vines.
The vines shot through the air and pierced the three assailants’ hearts before they could react.
The leaf buds caught the blood before it could reach the floor.
The vines drained their blood and flesh until only skin-covered skeletons remained, then flung the remains aside.
Xu Ziqing felt no pity. These demonic cultivators were worse than beasts; leaving them nothing but skin was only fitting.
He hurried forward to help the woman.
She turned her head slightly. Seeing him, a faint spark seemed to return to her eyes. Before he could steady her, however, she closed them and collapsed.
Grief tightened Xu Ziqing’s chest. He reached toward her nose to check her breathing.
As he feared, she no longer breathed.
He closed his eyes for a moment, took a cultivator robe from his storage ring, and draped it over her.
Then he rose, resolution hardening in his eyes.
“…Senior Brother, let’s continue.”