C9 His Savior

Zhao Qinger's condition was dire. Though Ye Chen had managed to push her out of the way, she hadn't been struck directly by the Sect Master's magic sword.

Still, her wound continued to bleed, and she had long since lost consciousness.

After some thought, Ye Chen decided to first apply a white medicinal powder to stem the bleeding. He then procured a century-old ginseng from the Pill Refining Pavilion's cabinet.

He needed to duplicate two doses using a clay pot before hurriedly administering it to Zhao Qinger.

Thankfully, the potent century-old ginseng lived up to its reputation, and Zhao Qinger's pulse soon stabilized.

With that crisis managed, Ye Chen turned his attention to the specific injuries around her waist. To his alarm, he found black threads near the wound, spreading outward and threatening to corrupt the surrounding tissue.

Ye Chen was once again astounded by the Sect Master's power; a Foundation Stage expert could inflict such grave injuries even from a distance.

Without timely intervention, it was clear that Qinger's life hung in the balance.

Being well-versed in pharmacology, Ye Chen knew that the only remedy for Qinger now was the Nine Floral Powder. His master had recently given him the formula, but regrettably, he had yet to begin its preparation.

The following day, Ye Chen continued his routine of hauling firewood at the valley's entrance. He noticed Liu Ao and another waiting for him. Relieved to see each other unharmed, they all exhaled in unison.

"Where were you last night? I searched everywhere for you," Ye Chen inquired.

"The Great Elder didn't allow us to join the fight. He took us to the back mountain instead. Then the Sect Master himself intervened, scattering those intruders' souls. They're still prostrating themselves in penance," they explained.

Ye Chen was taken aback. That explained the commotion the previous night; the survivors were begging for mercy.

Hsu Qi then confidently produced five Spiritual Pills. Ye Chen initially hesitated, but upon learning they were a reward from the Sect Master, he accepted them with gratitude.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, half a month had passed. The seven major sects had been thoroughly intimidated by the ordeal.

A continuous flow of supplies was sent over, clearly intended as an apology.

The Void Returning Sect had undergone a complete transformation, inside and out. Although the seven major sects had taken a severe hit, they managed to preserve their legacy. Avoiding total annihilation was no small feat.

Thanks to the aid of several Spiritual Pills, Hsu Qi successfully advanced to the Second Level of Qi Refining, marking him as a rare talent within the Void Returning Sect.

Liu Ao also made rapid progress. However, Ye Chen found himself at a standstill, his entire focus on perfecting the Nine Ascending Powder.

After relentless trials spanning over ten days, Ye Chen's efforts finally paid off. He hurriedly administered the Nine Ascending Powder to Qinger.

Despite Ye Chen's medicinal support, Qinger's condition continued to deteriorate.

Thankfully, the timely ingestion of the Nine Ascending Powder halted the spread of the dark lines near her wounds.

Yet, a single dose of the Nine Ascending Powder wasn't enough to eradicate the black substance completely. Fortunately, Ye Chen had mastered the powder's refinement process, and after another half month and five doses, Qinger began to show signs of improvement.

"Who are you? And where is this place?"

Qinger's eyes, filled with alarm, swept over her surroundings, leaving Ye Chen at a loss for words. He had devoted so much care over these days, only to be met with such a gaze upon her awakening.

With no other choice, Ye Chen recounted the events that transpired during her unconsciousness. Learning about the Void Returning Taoist's arrival and his solo victory over seven sects plunged Qinger into despair.

It was too late for regrets; she was determined to return to the Soaring Flying Sect. She made several attempts to leave but lacked the strength to do so.

"No, sister, you've only just started to heal. If you leave the mountain now, the Void Returning Sect's disciples will surely capture you."

"Alas, so be it. How long will I need to recover?"

Qinger exhaled a sigh, sensing no malice from the young man before her, and inquired about her recovery time.

"You're looking at about half a year. Besides replenishing your blood and qi, the black lines near your wounds were left by the Sect Master. We must ensure they are thoroughly cleansed."

"Sigh, my father and the others attacked the Void Returning Sect only because they followed my advice. Now, with such a significant loss, they're too ashamed to return." Zhao Qinger found it hard to come to terms with the outcome.

"Sister, you're a good person. Why do you associate with those bandits?"

Ye Chen couldn't contain his question. He felt torn; after all, Zhao Qinger had saved his life twice, distinguishing her from the members of the Soaring Flying Sect.

"What are you implying? Have you always thought of us as bandits?"

Zhao Qinger was taken aback by Ye Chen's words.

If the Soaring Flying Sect had acted dishonorably, that would be one thing, but they were the leaders of the righteous path. How could they be lumped together with vile bandits?

"But that's what everyone says."

"Hmph, that's because the biggest bandit leader is the Void Returning Taoist himself, and the entire Void Returning Sect is no better."

Zhao Qinger understood the misconception. The 'they' Ye Chen referred to must be the disciples of the Void Returning Sect. Influenced by their surroundings, it was inevitable they'd be misunderstood.

"No, sister, our village was extremely poor before, barely surviving. But life has improved dramatically since the Void Returning Sect arrived."

Ye Chen countered with his own experiences, which he knew to be true.

"That's because your village had a Spirit Boy, and not just one, but several..."

Zhao Qinger sighed, struggling to explain to Ye Chen that appearances can be deceiving.

"Listen, think about it. The Void Returning Sect may own some assets in the mountains, but how could that possibly cover the vast expenses of the entire sect?"

"They also have to support the Spirit Boy villages. Your Ye Family Village may not worry about sustenance, but at the cost of other villages being harshly exploited."

As the Young Master of the Soaring Flying Sect, Zhao Qinger was well aware of the conditions in the surrounding villages. Apart from the Ye Family Village and a few others that had provided disciples, most of the Northern Chu region was under the oppressive thumb of the Void Returning Sect.

"When I was around your age, my father, concerned for my safety, arranged for me to live in a village with a few playmates. We spent our days playing freely, without a care in the world."

"But one by one, they vanished. It was only later that I learned their families had sold them to gather money for the Flying Tiger Gang."

Zhao Qinger had been holding these words in her heart for a long time, and now, as she finally voiced them, there was no sense of relief—only a deep, endless sorrow on her face.

"Even though the Flying Tiger Gang wasn't considered a righteous sect, they never resorted to such dealings before that scoundrel from the Void Returning Sect showed up."

"All the so-called plundering by the seven great sects ultimately ended up in the hands of the Void Returning Sect!"

Ye Chen was taken aback by her words. No one had ever shared these things with him.

From Ye Family Village until now, he had been living in an idealized world fabricated by the Void Returning Sect, unaware of the many underlying truths.

"The seven great sects have a reputation to uphold in Northern Chu. If they want to endure, they know better than to overfish the pond."

"They never crossed that line, but now, everything has changed because of the Void Returning villain."

After speaking, Zhao Qinger felt a mix of amusement and sorrow. What was the point in discussing such matters with a child who hadn't yet seen the darker side of life? She managed a smile and said,

"Kid, you're a disciple of the Void Returning Sect, and you've saved my life. I owe you a debt of gratitude."

"Tell me, what is it that you desire? I'll do my best to fulfill your wish."

"I want to learn martial arts!" blurted out Ye Chen without hesitation.

"Ah?"

Now it was Zhao Qinger who was taken aback. "You're a Cultivator; why would you want to learn the martial arts of mere mortals?"

"Yes, I'm serious about learning martial arts," Ye Chen insisted. The death of Immortal Zhang had left a profound impact on him, leading him to believe that while disciples may focus on spellcasting, they shouldn't neglect their physical strength.

Perhaps his recent readings on pharmacology had influenced him, but Ye Chen was beginning to see the value in harnessing the strength of his physical body, not just his magical and spiritual powers.

"Alright, since you've saved my life, I'll teach you the martial arts of the Soaring Flying Sect."

Zhao Qinger didn't fully grasp Ye Chen's intentions, but since he had already laid out the terms, she naturally had nothing more to add.