Chapter 38: Arrangements

Lei Yan was, strictly speaking, a member of the Medicine Sect, yet he felt no sense of belonging to it. Had it not been for the need to break the Heart-Bewitching Spell that the Flower Fairy had cast upon Leng Lao’er and his companions, he would never have waded into the murky waters of the Medicine Sect’s treasure hunt. Thinking of the spell they were under, Lei Yan decided it was best for them to leave.

At Lei Yan’s command, the twenty or so bandits moved with surprising alacrity. Leng Lao’er, in particular, took the map and the silk pouch Lei Yan handed him, turned, and issued a sharp command to his men: "Move out!"

"Wait." Lei Yan suddenly stopped them. He pulled Leng Lao’er aside and whispered a few words into his ear. As he listened, Leng Lao’er’s shock grew, and his expression shifted dramatically. "Lei Ba, is what you say true?"

"Beyond a shadow of a doubt," Lei Yan replied solemnly. "I will resolve this matter as quickly as possible. Also, wait for me a moment." With that, Lei Yan turned and walked toward the room where Qing Ling was staying. Ever since he had intercepted the message-bearing paper crane last night, he had made up his mind to send everyone away.

"If things are truly as Lei Ba says, does that mean we’ve all been controlled? Impossible. If we were controlled, how could we be so clear-headed? Could it be... could Lei Ba just be testing me? If that is the case, it is truly disheartening. I, Leng Lao’er, have lived as a man of Longba and will die as its ghost. Why would I care who leads it? Besides... Longba is no longer the Longba it once was." Hesitation flickered in Leng Lao’er’s eyes as he stared darkly at Lei Yan’s retreating back.

"Lao’er, what did Lei Ba say to you?" Lu Kai, noticing Leng Lao’er’s grim expression after their conversation, felt a vague sense of unease and immediately asked.

"Yes, what did he tell you?" Zhao Liu joined in.

Caught in a internal struggle, Leng Lao’er didn't seem to hear them. He kept his head bowed, his expression growing increasingly fierce.

Lei Yan’s footsteps faltered slightly. His supernatural perception picked up on the change in Leng Lao’er, and he shook his head helplessly. He had only told them about the spell to provide them with an explanation, never expecting such a reaction. He immediately used telepathy to shout at Leng Lao’er: "Fool!"

Leng Lao’er jolted and looked toward Lei Yan, who had stopped in his tracks. Lei Yan’s voice continued to echo in his ear: "Lao’er, you truly disappoint me. The Heart-Bewitching Spell is powerful, but it naturally breaks upon the caster’s death. Why do you think I only told you? Think about it carefully. I hope Longba is not destroyed by my hand, nor by yours."

After hearing these final words, Leng Lao’er had the distinct impression—or perhaps it was a feeling—that Lei Yan was going to risk his life, and he was doing so for the sake of these twenty-odd bandits. The result of this desperate gamble might well be a one-way trip. Recalling his earlier doubts, a flash of embarrassment crossed Leng Lao’er’s face. If his loyalty to Lei Yan had previously been born only of duty to Longba, this exchange had sparked a subtle, fundamental change in his perspective.

Observing the shifting expressions on Leng Lao’er’s face, Lu Kai was deeply puzzled. "Has he gone mad?" Just then, noticing Leng Lao’er’s lips moving, Lu Kai strained to listen.

"Lei Ba, I will not let you down. We will wait for your return," Leng Lao’er whispered. Although the voice was faint, he believed Lei Yan could hear him.

Lei Yan had indeed heard him. He nodded and continued toward the small house. Lu Kai, standing nearby, had also caught the words.

"What does that mean? What did Lei Ba tell him?" Lu Kai couldn't make sense of it and cursed, "Damn it, Lei Ba isn't being straightforward. We’re all that’s left of the brothers, and he still hides things from us." Frustrated, he pulled the wine gourd from his waist and took a long, hard gulp.

Hearing Lu Kai’s grumbling, Leng Lao’er looked up and thought to himself, "Lu Kai seems no different than usual." He then recalled Lei Yan’s words: *Once the Heart-Bewitching Spell is cast, the victim cannot disobey the caster's commands, and there will be no outward signs.* He sighed inwardly at the power of cultivators. A moment later, he said, "Lu Kai, Lei Ba just told me to reorganize Longba."

Lu Kai, still drinking, spat out a mouthful of wine in surprise. "Good! Damn it, I’ve been waiting for this chance for a long time. I’ve been about to burst these past few days!"

The other bandits reacted with excitement, and even Zhao Liu began to flex his muscles. For this group of outlaws, a life of escape or tranquility was something they were poorly suited for.

While the bandits grew energized, Lei Yan had already entered Qing Ling’s room. She was sitting before a bronze mirror, brushing her beautiful hair. Perhaps unused to doing so in front of Lei Yan, her movements were slightly awkward, and she kept glancing at him. The Flower Sprite sat cross-legged on the bed, pouting, clearly annoyed at being ignored.

Lei Yan stood beside Qing Ling, hesitating for a long moment before saying, "Ling’er, it’s been a long time since you’ve gone back to see your Uncle-Master, hasn’t it?"

"It has. I wonder how he is doing," Qing Ling sighed.

"How about this: you go back with Leng Lao’er and the others to visit him. I will follow shortly," Lei Yan suggested.

A look of joy crossed Qing Ling’s face, but then, struck by a thought, she shivered. Her comb fell to the ground as her expression changed. "Are you trying to drive me away, Brother Lei?"

"What are you saying?" Lei Yan stepped forward and embraced her from behind. "I just have some business that will delay me. You go ahead with Leng Lao’er and his men, and I will catch up."

"No, I want to stay with you." A sense of inexplicable dread filled Qing Ling, and her resolve hardened.

Lei Yan loosened his hold and said softly, "Ling’er, this trip is merely to find some antidotes for Leng Lao’er and the others, so it may take some time. Besides, I’m afraid of your Uncle-Master’s nagging. You know how he was when you left with me—he swore that if you lost even a single hair, he wouldn't let me off. Also..." His expression grew grave, and after a brief pause, he continued, "About us... I want you to tell him first."

"About us? What about us?" Qing Ling asked, though she knew the answer. Her face flushed, and her heart began to hammer against her ribs. *Brother Lei is impossible! How am I supposed to say that?*

Oblivious to her internal turmoil, Lei Yan added, "You are my woman; surely that is something he should know." He then seemed to reconsider. "Actually, never mind. That is something I should say myself. I just need you to put in a good word for me, or he might fly into a rage and cut me down."

Qing Ling gave a soft, affirmative sound and lowered her head.

Lei Yan smiled and produced a jade slip from his storage artifact, which he had crafted the previous night using spirit stones. It contained several practical spells. He handed it to her. "Ling’er, these are some simple techniques. Use this time to learn them." Seeing her accept the slip, he laughed, "Get ready and head back with Leng Lao’er."

"Little Lan, I’m leaving Ling’er in your care," Lei Yan said, turning to the Flower Sprite.

The sprite snorted and turned her head away.

Lei Yan chuckled, pulled a bottle from his storage, and shook a golden pill in front of her. "I prepared this golden pill for Little Lan, but it seems she doesn't like it. I suppose I’ll have to keep it." He made a show of putting it away.

"Pill! Daddy, is that for me?" The Flower Sprite’s eyes widened; she had completely forgotten her anger. She snatched the pill from his hand, a gleam in her eyes. "If I refine this pill and combine it with my cultivation, I can form my own internal core!"

"Of course it’s for you," Lei Yan waved his hand. "Take it, take it."

The sprite grabbed the pill and kissed Lei Yan. "Daddy is the best!" She had long forgotten her grievances and popped the pill into her mouth, crunching it like candy.

"Delicious, delicious," she mumbled.

*Is she not afraid of the pill exploding?* Lei Yan wondered to himself. Seeing that the energy was contained, he felt relieved.

Lei Yan stood up. "Ling’er, get ready. I’ll be waiting outside." He turned and left the room.

Outside, he saw Niu Ben practicing his Wind-Driving Sword Art with a tree branch. The movements were graceful, dancing with the wind.

Lei Yan felt a stir in his heart; he faintly perceived four distinct, subtle lights shifting within Niu Ben’s swordplay. They were so faint that he wouldn't have noticed them had he not reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Three thousand avenues to the Dao; is it true that one can become an immortal by grasping just one?" Lei Yan marveled. He could sense that Niu Ben was experiencing an epiphany. To have someone who hadn't even reached the Xiantian stage—no, someone who had only just stepped into it—grasping the Dao left Lei Yan truly astonished by Niu Ben’s talent.

Niu Ben was lost in a delicate state of mind. He could sense the wind offering him subtle feedback. It was a marvelous feeling—the sword art mirrored the wind: the gentle breeze, the scorching fire-wind, the rustling autumn breeze, and the biting cold wind. As his sword moved, these sensations grew more intense.

Just then, some villagers noticed Niu Ben and began to gather around.

"Bad," Lei Yan thought. This was a rare opportunity for enlightenment. If the villagers disturbed him, he might never find this state again. Lei Yan immediately walked over and dispersed the crowd.

*Snap.*

As the villagers moved away, the branch in Niu Ben’s hand snapped from the sheer force of his movement. He was jolted back to reality. He swung the broken branch a few more times, but the feeling was gone. A look of deep disappointment clouded his eyes as he looked at the broken wood.

"Perhaps this is fate," Lei Yan mused. He patted Niu Ben on the shoulder. "Don’t be discouraged. At the very least, this allowed you to break through the Houtian stage."

"Thank you." Niu Ben managed a smile, though it was strained. He knew the internal changes better than anyone, which was exactly why he felt such disappointment.

"Niu Ben, Leng Lao’er and the others are leaving. Why don’t you go with them?" Lei Yan changed the subject.

Niu Ben considered this. "I had intended to follow you since you defeated me, but you seem to have important business... Very well, I shall go out and forge my own path."

"Very well," Lei Yan nodded. He took three medicinal pills from his storage and handed them over. "Keep these. When you find yourself at the peak of the Xiantian stage and unable to break through, take one. If it fails, take another. If all three fail, then there is nothing more I can do."

"Thank you." Niu Ben did not refuse. He accepted the pills and bid Lei Yan farewell.

Not long after, Leng Lao’er and the others departed Wu Village with Qing Ling, the Flower Sprite, and Ding Wei. Before leaving, Qing Ling dashed into Lei Yan’s arms, kissed him, and ran off without looking back.

"Medicine Sect," Lei Yan muttered as he watched them leave. With a flash, he vanished from the village.

It had only been a night since the Red Leaf Valley sent out its message, and already one sect had arrived at Changchun Valley: the Willow Flame Sect. Relying on their familiarity with the Medicine Sect, they were already heading toward the treasure. Other sects were not far behind, and scattered rogue cultivators were looking to join the fray as well.

Lei Yan, traveling at high speed, suddenly stopped. He noticed a dozen people ahead whose attire was strikingly similar to his own—blood-red robes—the only difference being the crescent moons embroidered on their chests. But it wasn't their clothes that caught his attention; it was their behavior.

The dozen men were kneeling in a circle, their upper bodies bowed toward the ground as if worshipping something. But there was no object of worship; they were kneeling on a patch of plain, flat earth.

"Strange. What are they doing?" Lei Yan wondered. Had they been ordinary people, he would have passed them by, but these were cultivators—Foundation Establishment cultivators at that.