Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 214 - Fatality Blade Art

As dawn broke, Bi Gongyu appeared. Upon his entrance, he respectfully bowed to Liu Wuxie and said, “Chief, I offer you my greetings!”

“There’s no need for formalities. Please, take a seat!” Liu Wuxie extended an invitation for Bi Gongyu to sit. He harbored a sense of gratitude towards Bi Gongyu, who had stood up against Shao Dongli’s group the previous day. This intervention had bought Liu Wuxie enough time to arrive, a gesture that had etched itself in his memory.

Bi Gongyu was somewhat reticent. In a mere few years, Liu Wuxie’s rapid ascension to the position of Chief Alchemist at the Treasure Pill Pavilion had surpassed his wildest expectations.

“Pavilion Master, what are your plans for the future?” Liu Wuxie broached the topic. His departure from the Great Yan Dynasty was on the horizon, and he intended to lend a helping hand to those who had shown him kindness rather than leave any loose ends.

“I don’t have many plans. I’m aging and content in Azure Billow City,” Bi Gongyu admitted. His words were steeped in sincerity. He was aware that his position as pavilion master would be lost within a year without Liu Wuxie’s presence, and he might even be reassigned to a remote location to serve as a regular alchemist.

“Would you like to become a four-star alchemist and succeed me as the chief alchemist in the Treasure Pill Pavilion?” Liu Wuxie posed the question. Bi Gongyu, in comparison to Master Mao, was still in his prime, being in his forties. However, he had reached a plateau in his progress and could not advance further.

“You’re planning to leave?” Bi Gongyu picked up on the subtle hint in Liu Wuxie’s words. Liu Wuxie had only been the chief alchemist for a year, but his words suggested a departure was in the near future.

It was common knowledge that Liu Wuxie’s talent was unparalleled, and the Great Yan Dynasty simply couldn’t retain him. “I plan to leave in no more than half a year. If you’re interested, I can guide you to become a four-star alchemist,” Liu Wuxie offered. The title of Chief Alchemist, unattainable for most, held little significance for him.

“Master, please accept my respects!” Bi Gongyu knelt and bowed deeply. His greatest aspiration was to become a four-star alchemist, and he knew that every alchemist held a position of high esteem.

“Rise. I will guide you, but we do not share a master-disciple relationship. Your future accomplishments will depend entirely on your efforts. Here is an alchemy manual. With it, you should be able to become a four-star alchemist within a month at most. In five days, accompany me and hand over Azure Billow City’s Treasure Pill Pavilion to Master Mao,” Liu Wuxie instructed. He had already prepared and documented some of his alchemical insights for Bi Gongyu to study.

Liu Wuxie’s approach to guiding Bi Gongyu was similar to his guidance for Deacon Lan; he provided direction, but their future achievements were up to them.

“Thank you. Even if you do not recognize me as your disciple, I have already accepted you as my master in my heart,” Bi Gongyu responded, kneeling to accept the manual. He treated it like a precious treasure, carefully storing it away.

Liu Wuxie didn’t press the matter, as Bi Gongyu’s sentiment was enough. After providing some instructions, Bi Gongyu departed in a state of excitement. He still had to make arrangements and transfer the Treasure Pill Pavilion to Master Mao. At that point, the headquarters would send a new alchemist to take over Master Mao’s current position.

In the ensuing two days, Liu Wuxie dedicated himself to the study of the Fatality Blade Art. He had managed to reach the initial stage of the first form but struggled to attain lesser mastery, despite his best efforts. The second form proved even more challenging; he could only imitate the form, failing to capture its essence.

His attempts to execute the second form lacked the intended lethality, likely due to his insufficient cultivation level. This blade technique required one to have reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but Liu Wuxie was only in the Spirit Cleansing Realm. The fact that he could execute the first form was already a commendable achievement.

“Young Master, the Master is requesting your presence!” A servant, bowing respectfully and wearing a smile, greeted Liu Wuxie outside the courtyard. Liu Wuxie’s display of strength a few days prior had earned him the admiration of many, with some even regarding him as a god.

When they turned the corner, a white figure was walking in their direction, and they nearly bumped into each other. The white figure was Xu Lingxue, who was also heading to the main hall. The two nodded as a form of greeting.

Since their return to the clan, the two hadn’t interacted much, which was typical. “Did Father summon you as well?” Xu Lingxue inquired as they walked side by side, her gaze studying Liu Wuxie.

“Yeah!” Liu Wuxie replied, and they fell into silence again. No one spoke this time as they entered the main hall.

“I offer my respects to Father!” Xu Lingxue announced.

“I offer my respects to my Father-in-law!” Liu Wuxie echoed.

Together, they bowed in greeting to Xu Yilin, whose complexion had improved after a few days of rest. After attending to the clan’s affairs, Xu Yilin took some time to meet with them.

“There’s a spring festival in the city’s east today, and I have reserved seats at the Emerald Fragrance Pavilion. The two of you only know how to cultivate and stay home the entire time. The weather is nice today, and you two should go out. There is no need to return in a hurry at night.” Xu Yilin walked over and patted Liu Wuxie’s shoulder. He even gave Liu Wuxie a signal to grasp this opportunity.

There might have been conflict between Liu Wuxie and Xu Lingxue throughout the years, but there wasn’t any feud between them. As long as they interacted well, it was a matter of time before they could resolve their conflict.

“Father, I still need to accompany Mother,” Xu Lingxue said. It wasn’t easy for her to return, and she wished to spend more time with her mother.

“I have other arrangements for your mother. Go on; there should be a balance between work and rest. You have to relax appropriately.” Xu Yilin dismissed their objections and ushered them out of the Xu Clan, insisting they spend the day together.

Unable to defy Xu Yilin’s arrangement, Liu Wuxie and Xu Lingxue headed towards the city’s east. The annual spring festival was in full swing, drawing a large crowd from Azure Billow City.

Walking almost shoulder to shoulder, they initially maintained a certain distance. However, as they continued, their shoulders began to brush against each other.

Each time Xu Lingxue bumped into Liu Wuxie, she would lower her head with a hint of bashfulness.

A faint, refreshing fragrance wafted from Xu Lingxue, which Liu Wuxie didn’t mind. His heart had been stirred ever since Xu Lingxue had stood up for him against Qin Shi. However, due to past events, Liu Wuxie found himself unable to ask if Xu Lingxue was merely obeying her parents’ orders or if she had begun to accept him. He remained uncertain.

This uncertainty was particularly pronounced after hearing Xu Lingxue’s final words. Since Liu Wuxie had protected the Xu Clan, she would now protect him in his time of trouble. From that moment on, Liu Wuxie vowed to protect her for the rest of his life.

The streets were alive with people, snacks for sale, and various entertainment performances. This lively atmosphere quickly caught Xu Lingxue’s attention, and she found herself intrigued by everything around her.

When they passed a jewelry store, Xu Lingxue paused to browse the selection. After all, like all women, she was drawn to beautiful things, especially jewelry. As a human, it was natural for her to be attracted to worldly desires.

“Lady, this jade hairpin complements your beauty perfectly and costs only five gold coins,” a vendor pitched.

Xu Lingxue’s beauty and unique temperament shone through, regardless of the jewelry she adorned. Any accessories she wore merely served as embellishments to her natural allure.

Upon hearing that a simple piece of jade cost five gold coins, Xu Lingxue promptly set it back down. It was clear she was fond of it, but not because she couldn’t afford it; she simply didn’t believe it was worth the price. She stood up and continued on her way.

“Wrap it up for me. I’ll take it!” Liu Wuxie took out five gold coins and placed them on the stall before picking up the wrapped hairpin. He quickly followed Xu Lingxue and saw a crowd ahead, enjoying the acrobatics performance. This made Liu Wuxie and Xu Lingxue feel relaxed as they watched together.

Having spent most of her life within the confines of the Xu Clan and her courtyard at the Imperial Academy, Xu Lingxue was naturally curious about the outside world.

“Here, this is for you!” Liu Wuxie gave the wrapped hairpin to Xu Lingxue, who raised her head with a hint of surprise.

“Why are you giving me things?” Xu Lingxue asked, curious about his intentions.

“It’s a token of my gratitude for you blocking the blade for me back then!” Liu Wuxie explained. If Xu Lingxue had not blocked Yuan Jun’s blade, he would have lost his life. In essence, he owed his life to Xu Lingxue.

“Good! I’ll accept your gift!” Xu Lingxue responded with a playful smile, accepting and storing the hairpin. This gesture significantly eased the tension between them.

On the stage, a monkey was performing various unusual tricks under the crack of a whip, including somersaults and even a human-like bow. This instantly drew laughter from the crowd.

This atmosphere made Liu Wuxie feel relaxed. At times, he needed a balance between cultivating and rest because nothing could be accomplished overnight, and Liu Wuxie already knew the principle long ago.

If he returned to the clan, there was nothing he could do besides cultivating.

Suddenly, Liu Wuxie’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a black figure blending into the crowd, discreetly moving towards them. The figure exuded a familiar aura, and a faint murderous intent was directed at him. Without his Ghost Eye practice, he would have been oblivious to this threat.

“Let’s move!” Liu Wuxie abruptly grabbed Xu Lingxue’s hand, pulling her away from the crowd.

He had spotted assassins from the Assassin Pavilion who had tracked him to Azure Billow City. Engaging them in a crowded area would limit his mobility, and if they blended into the crowd to launch a surprise attack, it would be difficult for him to evade.

Once they turned a corner and found themselves in a less populated area, Xu Lingxue forcefully pulled her hand back. “What’s the meaning of this?!” she demanded, assuming that Liu Wuxie was taking liberties. Just as she was beginning to accept him, his actions had sparked her anger. She glared at Liu Wuxie, awaiting his explanation.

“We’re being followed by assassins!” Liu Wuxie declared, his senses on high alert. He activated his Ghost Eye ability, scanning their surroundings through the walls.

“Assassins?” Xu Lingxue’s expression turned serious as she noted the gravity in Liu Wuxie’s eyes. He only wore such a look when faced with formidable opponents.

“He’s after me. You should leave first.” The assassins were significantly more powerful than the ones he had encountered before.