Chapter 135: Separated by Life and Death

Having already gauged the young man’s intentions, Zhou Qing originally believed his words would be enough to drive off the youth in black. Yet he had overlooked one crucial element—the presence of Lin Yunxi behind him.

Had Lin Yunxi not been there, if Zhou Qing and the young man had met alone, his warning would certainly have sent the youth fleeing. In the young man’s mind, Zhou Qing’s cultivation was unfathomable; he was surely no match for him.

But now, with Lin Yunxi by Zhou Qing’s side, things were different. She appeared exceedingly frail, and moments ago, the young man had seen Zhou Qing carrying her on his back—a clear sign of the care and concern Zhou Qing held for her.

Moreover, this was not seven years ago. Seven years prior, the youth had just escaped his seal and was terribly weakened, but now he had regained much of his strength. Though he still harbored fear of Zhou Qing, it was no longer as deep as it once was.

Zhou Qing’s last words had provoked him, and so a plan formed in the young man’s heart: he would kill the woman Zhou Qing cared for, vent his anger, then flee to Demon Mountain. Should Zhou Qing pursue him, he would not be afraid—he did not believe Zhou Qing would dare to trespass into Demon Mountain.

With his mind made up, the youth in black slipped to the side of the summit, a twisted smile playing at his lips as he watched Zhou Qing.

Seeing the youth step aside and give way, Zhou Qing assumed, as in years past, that he had bluffed his adversary into submission. He turned back to Lin Yunxi, extending his right hand to her.

The exchange between Zhou Qing and the youth had initially bewildered Lin Yunxi, but as Zhou Qing delivered his final threat, she began to grasp the gravity of the situation. She remained quietly behind him, watching with steady eyes.

Now, seeing Zhou Qing turn and offer his hand, she gave him a gentle smile, placed her own hand in his palm, and let him lead her up the mountain.

They had only taken a few steps once atop the summit when the youth in black acted. He raised his hand and, from a distance, struck at Lin Yunxi. Instantly, a black mist condensed into a great palm that shot toward her.

No sooner had he launched this ambush than the youth turned and bolted down the mountain. In his mind, his cultivation was inferior to Zhou Qing’s, so his best chance was to attack the weaker woman and flee before Zhou Qing could retaliate.

Yet his silent, sudden attack did not go unnoticed—Zhou Qing caught the movement in the corner of his eye. He had believed the youth cowed, but never imagined he would strike at the last moment.

The black mist palm was blindingly fast. By the time Zhou Qing realized, it was already upon Lin Yunxi. In that critical instant, Zhou Qing shoved her aside, taking the brunt of the blow himself.

The force of the strange palm was tremendous. Zhou Qing felt his body grow weightless as he was flung several yards, landing beneath an ancient tree at the edge of the summit, where he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The blow was as powerful as the explosion of the blue pearl cast by the carp spirit in the Water-Avoiding Palace.

“Zhou Qing!” Lin Yunxi cried out softly as she ran to him, helping him upright beneath the tree and gently wiping the blood from his lips.

Under the old tree, Lin Yunxi supported Zhou Qing, tears streaming down her face. Meanwhile, the black-clad youth, racing down the slope, stopped in his tracks.

He had expected Zhou Qing to pursue him after the ambush, but after running for some time, he realized Zhou Qing had not given chase.

The youth knew his strength was no match for Zhou Qing, so he had not even lingered to see the outcome of his attack. But whether or not the woman had been hurt, Zhou Qing’s failure to pursue raised doubts in his heart.

Zhou Qing’s earlier threats still echoed in his ears, and this uncharacteristic inaction did not befit a man of such power.

Driven by curiosity, the youth turned back, moving like a wraith up the mountainside until he reached the summit’s edge once more.

There, he saw Zhou Qing slumped weakly against the old tree, while Lin Yunxi pressed a pill to his lips.

The sight stunned the youth. In his eyes, Zhou Qing’s cultivation was profound enough to summon thunder from the heavens with a mere gesture, yet now he could not even withstand a single blow.

Given the scene before him, the youth did not doubt for a moment that Zhou Qing had taken the full force of his attack.

Zhou Qing was far weaker than he had imagined. If not for the tribulation-warding robe he wore, Zhou Qing would have been more than just gravely wounded.

A wild laugh broke from the youth’s lips as he took in the situation.

Struck by the youth’s blow, Zhou Qing felt as if his body had nearly come apart. Now, seeing his own wretched state exposed before his enemy, despair filled his heart.

“Weren’t you the one who could summon otherworldly thunder with a wave of your hand? How is it that you’re so feeble now, unable even to withstand a single blow from me?” the youth taunted, his voice sharp.

Zhou Qing merely gazed blankly at him, making no reply, which only seemed to amuse the youth further. He saw not only exhaustion but also the unmistakable shadow of despair on Zhou Qing’s face.

It seemed he had overestimated Zhou Qing. Thinking back to the thunder that had failed to strike by the wild lake all those years ago, the youth now realized it must have been either an illusion or some special trick.

“I once thought you were a true master of the Dao, but now I see I gave you too much credit. Still, you’re not without wit, little priest—but as for you…”

The youth stepped closer, his expression turning cold and his words laced with killing intent. “Today, you will not escape death.”

With murder in his eyes, he smiled cruelly and prepared to finish Zhou Qing off—only to see Lin Yunxi suddenly embrace Zhou Qing tightly, shielding him with her own body.

He clicked his tongue, pausing in his advance, and gazed at the pair locked in each other’s arms.

“So this is what they call love,” he remarked with a strange fascination. “I don’t understand it, but I do know that lovers are happiest when they can live and die together. Therefore, I’ve decided to kill only one of you—let death part you, and suffering be your fate!”

He burst into laughter, his voice echoing coldly across the mountaintop.