Chapter 43: Return to the Capital

Slap! Slap!

Qin Lang pounded his chest with great force, his expression resolute as he vowed, “Brother Wang, I swear on my life that every word I’ve spoken is true. If there’s a single lie, you can punish me as you see fit.”

He would have liked to lie, but there was no way he could in this matter. If those above discovered he’d spoken falsely, it would cost him his head. Besides, as a member of the human race and a citizen of the Grand Xia Immortal Dynasty, how could he possibly watch three hundred thousand immortal soldiers be turned into demons, bringing disaster upon the land?

Wang Kai said nothing. He fell silent, lost in thought. If what Qin Lang said was true, he would have to report it at once—this was no trivial matter.

After a long silence, Wang Kai looked at the group. “Bring Liu Qingyao back as soon as possible. Remember, be extremely cautious—whatever you do, don’t let her be rescued.”

“Yes, sir!”

Bang!

With his orders given, Wang Kai’s figure vanished, and the spirit-shadow stone on the ground shattered instantly.

Picking up the broken stone, Liu Man crushed it effortlessly to dust in his hand. He turned to the others, his voice calm. “Go pack your things. It’s time for us to leave.”

“Yes, sir!”

The two exchanged glances, clasped their fists in salute, and turned to depart.

Left alone, Liu Man gazed up at the sky, his face grave. Liu Qingyao was indeed in their custody, but if the demon clan also knew she’d been captured, they would surely send powerful forces to rescue her. Their task was to deliver her, alive and unharmed, back to the capital…

Soon, Qin Lang and the others finished their preparations and brought Liu Qingyao out.

Staring silently at the girl before him, Qin Lang’s curiosity got the better of him. “Brother Hua, what does a charm demon really look like?”

“I’m not quite sure myself. I’ve never seen her true face,” Hua Manlou replied with a gentle shake of the head.

He did know Liu Qingyao was a charm demon, but as for what such a demon actually looked like, he had never seen it. Even when they captured her the night before, she hadn’t revealed her true form.

Hearing this, Qin Lang was a bit disappointed. It seemed he would never have the chance to see her original appearance. He glanced at Liu Qingyao and shook his head, clearly let down.

Liu Qingyao, her brows furrowed, felt a growing unease. For some reason, she had the distinct sense that this man wanted to devour her…

Once everyone had gathered, Liu Man spoke calmly. “Let me assign the tasks. Mo Mo, you’ll take Liu Qingyao and lead her in sword flight. Manlou, you’ll take Qin Lang. Zimo, you’ll be on alert with me—we must stay vigilant for any unexpected developments.”

Traveling on foot was out of the question; the demon clan would catch up sooner or later. They had to leave before their enemies reacted. If a large force of demon experts arrived, they would be finished.

“Yes, sir!”

…

Three days later, at night, beside a clear-flowing river, Qin Lang washed his face in the cool water and filled his water skin. Hua Manlou, having washed his own face, looked at him. “Brother Qin, how does it feel to be an immortal cultivator? Isn’t it wonderful?”

Qin Lang shook his head with a wry smile. “Brother Hua, don’t tease me. I can’t even fly on a sword—there’s nothing wonderful about it.”

Hua Manlou smiled and shook his head. “Don’t be impatient. Right now, your cultivation is still too shallow for sword flight. Once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you’ll be able to fly. Of course, that might take you a few years of cultivation.”

Foundation Establishment? That meant he could fly on a sword once he reached that stage! Qin Lang’s heart leapt with excitement at the thought. But then he hesitated—he had only just become a cultivator. If he suddenly started flying on a sword, he would surely expose his true strength.

Liu Man, glancing at Qin Lang, grew curious. “By the way, Brother Qin, why does your aura feel so strange and unfathomable? There’s something mysterious about you.”

“Is there?” Qin Lang tensed, feigning innocent confusion. Was he about to be found out? But then he reassured himself—how could his cultivation, backed by the mighty Five Elements Immortal Arts, be detected by others?

“Brother Qin, maybe you don’t notice it yourself, but your aura feels odd to me—like that of a mysterious expert,” Hua Manlou said, resolute.

Whether the others believed it or not, he was certain: something about Qin Lang’s aura was unusual. Especially his rate of cultivation—it was monstrous. Three days ago, he had just entered the first level of Body Refining. Now, with the blink of an eye, he was already at the second level, nearly breaking through to the third. To achieve such progress in less than three days—Qin Lang’s cultivation speed was downright demonic!

Qin Lang let out a helpless laugh. “Brother Hua, you really do like to joke. If I were an expert, I wouldn’t be so cautious, nor would I worry about being hunted by the demon clan.”

With that, Qin Lang and Hua Manlou made their way toward a nearby cave.

The group settled down to rest, engaging in idle conversation. They had traveled a long way and needed recuperation before continuing their journey.

As they chatted, Wang Zimo suddenly frowned, his expression shifting dramatically. “Something’s wrong, there’s something in the air—”

Before he could finish, he collapsed to the ground.

“Thousand-Mile Soul Mist—”

Before anyone could seal their senses, they too fell to the ground, one after another.

As he lost consciousness, Liu Man was filled with unwillingness and frustration. How could this happen?

Thud! Thud!

Once everyone had collapsed, a group of ten men in black entered the cave, dragging Hua Manlou behind them and tossing him to the ground.

Their leader surveyed the scene with a cold gaze, then fixed his eyes on Qin Lang, striding over to him. Producing an emerald-green pill, he forced it down Qin Lang’s throat.

As the medicine took effect, Qin Lang groggily opened his eyes, but he still felt disoriented and heavy-headed. Realizing there were strangers before him, he was so startled he tried to flee, but hadn’t gone far before the ten men in black surrounded him.

“Gentlemen, let’s talk this out. If you’re here to rob me, I’ll gladly hand over everything I have in exchange for my life!”

“Gentlemen, at least say something! Do you want my money or my life? Give me an answer, please!”

“Young master.”

Just as he pleaded desperately, the black-clad men suddenly dropped to one knee, their expressions filled with deep respect, as if honoring a revered figure.

“What…?” Qin Lang froze, staring blankly at them.

What was happening?! These men weren’t here to rob or kill him.

This…