Chapter 13: Master’s Words, I Accept Them

“Sir, all the warriors in Qinghe County have already swallowed the Scatter Spirit Tea. Once they fall completely unconscious, their blood energy can be extracted by the soldiers.”

“No rush. Take your men outside and keep watch over Yang Le. As soon as he swallows the Bloody Blood Pill, immediately bring him to my room. That pill is the real key.”

“Understood, sir. But why don’t you handle it yourself?”

“The great pill is about to be refined. Naturally, I must prepare for my breakthrough. Then I can directly absorb Yang Le’s bloodline essence. Sixth rank is within reach!”

Glancing at Li Bing, Changsun Ji wasted no time.

He returned to his room early to prepare for the sixth-rank breakthrough. Once Yang Le reached the seventh rank, he could directly absorb the essence of his flesh and blood.

The righteous path to sixth rank.

“Hmph, who would have thought that helping the magistrate of Cizhou Prefecture catch an escaped blonde girl would lead to such an encounter? It seems my martial path is truly on the rise!”

Thinking that in just one night he would become a sixth-rank Blood Nourishing Realm cultivator, the usually steady Changsun Ji allowed himself a moment of lightheartedness.

“Congratulations, sir, on this fortunate encounter!”

Li Bing behind Changsun Ji immediately clasped his fists, his eyes full of admiration.

Then, Changsun Ji and Li Bing split their tasks.

One entered the room to prepare the breakthrough materials.

The other hid with ten peak ninth-rank soldiers outside Yang Le’s room, waiting for him to swallow the Bloody Blood Pill!

...

“Master, you mustn’t take this pill.”

After Changsun Ji left, Yang Le placed the Bloody Blood Pill on the table, packed his belongings, and prepared to draw his sword and leave the county government.

Li Qier, hidden in a corner, appeared behind Yang Le again.

“It’s not good. If you take it, your path in martial arts will be nearly over.”

She looked at him with utmost sincerity.

“I know Master wouldn’t believe me, but what I say is true.”

Li Qier shook her head. “It’s not a Body Tempering Pill used by human cultivators. Great Qian no longer has any pills for human cultivators…”

Having said that, Li Qier’s gaze swept over the Bloody Blood Pill in Yang Le’s hand.

There was a trace of helplessness in her eyes, but the next moment, upon seeing the sword in Yang Le’s hand, that helplessness vanished instantly.

She already knew how to escape the demonic methods of Great Qian, and the sword in front of her Master was the key to unlocking that method.

“You know this item?”

Yang Le was surprised that Li Qier was familiar with the origin and use of the Bloody Blood Pill, even more so than the item description.

After all, without the item description, Yang Le himself wouldn’t have known what the pill was.

This aroused his curiosity about Li Qier’s background.

“Someone in my family taught me related knowledge, so I remembered it.”

Facing Yang Le’s inquiry, Li Qier answered truthfully.

“Oh, I see.”

Yang Le nodded, then placed the Bloody Blood Pill into his bag. “The Way of the Sword needs no external aid. I neither need nor want this thing.”

...

“Master, don’t you want to ask about my background?”

Yang Le’s calm reply, tinged with a hint of a lecture, surprised Li Qier greatly.

When Yang Le first held the Bloody Blood Pill, Li Qier hesitated whether to reveal its nature.

Her hesitation had simple reasons.

First, the Bloody Blood Pill and the Body Tempering Pill were not very different.

Both were dark red, about the size of a grain of rice, almost indistinguishable in appearance.

If one had to find a subtle difference, the Bloody Blood Pill was more vividly red.

The only real difference was that one was a pill used by demon cultivators, the other by humans.

Both demons and humans could use either.

Human cultivators could forcibly break through their cultivation limits by taking the Bloody Blood Pill; demons treasured it as a great pill. If it matched their cultivation methods, its effect was even better.

Similarly, demons forced to ingest the Body Tempering Pill would forcibly elevate their pill rank, making it a consumable for human cultivators to boost their cultivation.

In essence, both were blood energy strengthening pills. Li Qier feared that if she revealed this, Yang Le wouldn’t believe her.

Second, besides pure-blood demons, hardly anyone—even among demons—knew about the Bloody Blood Pill.

Li Qier also feared that if she mentioned it, Yang Le would pry further.

However, she did not expect that after her vague explanation, Yang Le would not question her again.

“Why are you by my side?”

Yang Le smiled, “Just answer that.”

“To learn the sword. I have no intent to harm Master.”

This time, Li Qier had no hesitation.

“That’s enough.”

“At least for now, you’re not afraid I’ll die from the Bloody Blood Pill and have taken the initiative to warn me. That kindness is enough; why should I dig deeper?”

Having said that, Yang Le looked away from Li Qier, hoisted his bag, and drew his sword with a smile. “When I promised to teach you swordsmanship, I never said I’d ask about your background. Humans, ghosts, demons—I teach them all.”

“Demon…”

Li Qier shuddered upon hearing this. “A demon…”

Her expression changed instantly. After scrutinizing Yang Le for a long time, she finally shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Yang Le, however, paid no mind to Li Qier behind him. His eyes were fixed on the door.

“Demons and humans are much the same. To me, those who kill me aren’t necessarily demons, and those who treat me kindly aren’t necessarily humans.”

With that, Yang Le drew his sword.

The ones who had harmed him were these so-called “humans”—the solemn soldiers of Great Qian.

These “humans” intended to use him as a cultivation pill.

...

Sometimes, distinctions need not be so clear.

Kill what harms you, spare those with goodwill...

“As soon as this door opens, I will break through the county government and leave Qinghe County. Will you follow or not?”

Yang Le’s sword was fully drawn; though chipped, it still gleamed coldly.

He gave Li Qier two choices. “Whatever you choose, I won’t blame you.”

With that, Yang Le gave her three breaths to decide.

In theory, he could single-handedly fight through Changsun Ji and his men. His promise to Li Qier needn’t be so serious.

In chaotic times, ruthless pragmatism is the truth.

But the sword in his hand and his principles would not allow him to act otherwise.

Somewhere deep in his heart, Yang Le understood that if he were to betray trust and act treacherously...

His path in swordsmanship would go nowhere.

“Master won’t abandon me; why shouldn’t I follow?”

Without hesitation, Li Qier stepped forward with Yang Le.

“That decisive? There are many martial cultivators in the crowd. Why choose me then?”

Yang Le hadn’t expected such decisiveness. He asked the only question lingering in his heart.

“To learn the sword.”

In a single thought, Li Qier’s youthful face gave a more detailed explanation.

“Good. From today on, I am your Master. I accept that title.”

Yang Le wiped a smudge off Li Qier’s face with the hem of his robe, accepting her word.

Yes, a young lady should be kept clean.

Recognizing Li Qier was simple.

To Yang Le, in chaotic times, it’s not a bad thing to have more bonds as a lone wanderer.

A life full of scheming, self-interest, and selfishness is truly dull.

Yang Le did not cultivate a heartless sword.

“This Master is quite good…”

Having his face wiped by Yang Le, Li Qier felt a little awkward.

But the next moment,

She smiled.

Yes, this Master...

Is quite good.