The Nightmare Heart-Devouring Array broke, and the scene dispersed...
Song Qing Shi opened his eyes to find himself lying in Yue Wu Huan's arms. Numerous Blood King Vines had tightly entwined both of them, locking them so closely together that they couldn't separate.
Lifting his head to survey his surroundings, he found himself teleported to a stone cavern by the array. Scattered all around were others who had suffered a similar fate, their faces reflecting either terror or anguish. Some were screaming intermittently, trapped in unshakable nightmares. Not far away, a middle-aged cultivator, gravely wounded, clung tightly to a young girl, about eight years old, seemingly in an attempt to protect her.
Yue Wu Huan also woke up. He gently withdrew the Blood King Vines that had entangled them, freed himself, and got to his feet. His wounds had vanished, and he looked to be in fairly good condition.
Concerned about Yue Wu Huan's mental state, Song Qing Shi took some medication from his mustard seed pouch and double-checked, "Are you alright? Do you feel unwell anywhere? Do you need a Calming Pill?"
Yue Wu Huan shook his head. Physical pain didn't trouble him much, so what he had experienced in the swamp was more of nausea rather than a mental breakdown.
He felt somewhat puzzled; if this truly was his nightmare, the stinking swamp seemed a bit underwhelming.
Without another word, Song Qing Shi popped a Calming Pill into Yue Wu Huan's mouth, then took one himself. Using his spiritual energy to activate the medication, he barely managed to suppress his recent panic.
An Long suddenly extended his hand and snatched the entire bottle of Calming Pills, pouring them all into his mouth.
Stunned for a moment, Song Qing Shi finally reacted and advised, "Are you treating these like candies? It's not good for your health."
An Long tossed the empty bottle back to him. After a moment to catch his breath, his ghastly complexion improved slightly.
Song Qing Shi finally realized An Long wasn't pleased. But since An Long hadn't bitten anyone, it probably wasn't aimed at him. Perhaps he was nauseated by the swamp in his nightmare? Recalling their cooperative defense within the array, he respectfully bowed: "Once again, thank you."
Controlling his emotions through Lock of Affection, An Long suppressed the craziness and agitation inside him, revealing a ferocious smile. "Between you and me, thanks are unnecessary."
He couldn't afford to make a mistake...
Song Qing Shi suddenly noticed that An Long's eyes had turned red in the dim light? Concerned, he was about to inquire when he saw An Long slightly lower his head; when he looked up again, his eyes had reverted to their normal color. He suggested, "Should we dismantle this malicious array?"
Destroying arrays was his forte.
"Hold on." Song Qing Shi tiptoed and pulled An Long's head closer, forcing him to open his eyes wide. After scrutinizing him for quite a while and finding no issues, he wondered if he had been mistaken.
Yue Wu Huan suggested, "Master, should we start by rescuing these people?"
"Yes," Song Qing Shi immediately abandoned An Long and began checking each cultivator lying on the ground. They were all still immersed in their nightmares, their consciousness severely damaged. For the worst cases, their consciousness had begun to fragment. If they weren't rescued promptly, they would wake up either insane or in a vegetative state.
He used gold needles to channel his spiritual energy into their minds, stabilizing their chaotic consciousness and preventing further deterioration.
Yue Wu Huan used his vines to probe around, locating the array's focal points on the walls of the stone cavern, identifying where to break the array.
An Long let out an inaudible whistle, and thousands of bizarre Gu bugs emerged from nowhere. Carrying potent venom, they corroded and tore at the stone walls containing the array's focal points. The focal points retaliated, exterminating the Gu bugs. However, the corpses of the bugs transformed into a corrosive liquid, accelerating the corrosion. More bugs followed, climbing over the bodies of their fallen comrades, finally destroying the focal point.
After forcefully dismantling the ancient array, everyone was abruptly awakened from their nightmares.
Fearing that the awakening individuals might scream in hysteria, An Long administered a sleeping bug to each, allowing them to slip back into slumber.
Searching his mustard seed pouch, Song Qing Shi found that he had run out of Calming Pills. Casting a resentful glance at the culprit who had devoured them all—yet not daring to reprimand him—he then turned to Yue Wu Huan. After rummaging around, he found some makeshift Tranquility Powder. He mixed it in clean water and administered it to everyone. Then he instructed An Long to dismantle the bug array on the shore and call for representatives from various sects to come and retrieve their people.
Suddenly, Yue Wu Huan spoke up, "Master, you should take a look at this."
Song Qing Shi walked over and discovered that after clearing away the vines and moss on the stone wall, several sword marks were revealed. The marks were shallow on the surface but extended into unfathomable depths within the stone.
Each stroke carried immense hatred, piercingly deep, evoking an air of cutting down all the people under heaven.
This was the swordsmanship of Sword Sage Mo Yuan—his sorrow, his fury, his madness…
Captivated, Yue Wu Huan seemed almost entranced by these sword intentions.
Not being proficient in swordsmanship and having little interest in it, Song Qing Shi looked around and unexpectedly found a decaying wooden box on the ground. The moment he picked it up, it crumbled, revealing a stunning red gemstone and a tattered piece of thin paper.
Song Qing Shi was thrilled. The gemstone was known as Phoenix Blood, one of the most visually appealing and valuable gemstones in the Immortal Realm. Wearing it nourished one's Dantian and aided in cultivation. This was a top-grade specimen, worth at least a hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones. He had coveted it for a long time, wanting to buy it for Yue Wu Huan but couldn't afford it. Now, with Medicine King Valley prospering under Yue Wu Huan's management, he had the funds but didn't dare to make the purchase recklessly.
The thin paper disintegrated into ashes before he could unfold it.
All he caught were two words: "No Solution."
The scribbled handwriting seemed somewhat similar to his own.
A coincidence, perhaps?
Eager to present the Phoenix Blood as a treasure to Yue Wu Huan, Song Qing Shi found him still engrossed in the sword intentions. Unwilling to interrupt, he pocketed the gemstone, intending to surprise him later.
Yue Wu Huan spent a long time contemplating and finally snapped out of his absorption in the sword intentions. He said hoarsely, "Over the years, I've read many books about Sword Sage Mo Yuan. However, none document his appearance or origins, and there are no records of his demise. After the demon-suppressing battle eight thousand years ago, it's as if he vanished into thin air."
Reflecting on the literature he had read, Song Qing Shi was stunned to realize that this was indeed the case.
Gently tracing the sword marks on the wall, Yue Wu Huan continued with a bitter smile, "I had suspected, and now, seeing these sword intentions, I'm even more convinced. Sword Sage Mo Yuan has gone mad. This Nightmare Devouring Array intensified his insanity, pushing him to complete breakdown..."
The era of Sword Sage Mo Yuan was far removed, having little relevance to the people of today.
Song Qing Shi was somewhat puzzled as to why Yue Wu Huan was so concerned about it.
"It's nothing," noticing his master's confusion, Yue Wu Huan lightened up, "I'm just curious about the ultimate fate of a Sword Sage who originated from the mortal world, and wanted to investigate it thoroughly."
Song Qing Shi breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll look into it for you."
"No need," An Long interjected, having returned unnoticed. With a disdainful tone, he continued, "The Wan Gu Sect has records on this. After the Demon-Suppression War, Sword Sage Mo Yuan succumbed to demonic tendencies, murdering people and decimating cities. Eventually, Buddhist masters and various sects combined forces to put him down. That's the end of his story."
Yue Wu Huan was taken aback, at a loss for words.
Song Qing Shi, perplexed, asked, "Wasn't Sword Sage Mo Yuan a righteous man? The ancient texts I read were full of his chivalrous deeds."
An Long elaborated, "The cause of his descent into madness is unknown and has been suppressed for some reason. In the Wan Gu Sect, this information is highly classified, accessible only to the sect leader. It merely states that several Nascent Soul elders from various sects were lost in the effort, and only when a Divided Spirit-level powerhouse stepped in was he finally annihilated. The matter has been forbidden to be spoken of ever since."
Eight thousand years had passed. Those Divided Spirit elders involved in the incident either ascended or perished.
The truth has been lost in the sands of time.
...
Song Qing Shi thought of the top-grade Phoenix Blood gemstone he had just acquired. Known for his fairness and transparency about war spoils, he discreetly pulled An Long aside and whispered, "I recall you're not fond of such things. Later, I'll collect the remnants of the water spirit beast and refine them into top-grade Spirit Beast Pills for you, along with some Tian Zi herbs. If that's not enough, we can make up for it with spirit stones, alright?"
An Long's expression darkened momentarily, "I don't remember you being fond of such trinkets either."
Song Qing Shi chuckled awkwardly, "It's a gift for someone."
An Long knew well enough who the intended recipient was. With eyes gently closed, he muttered, "Hmm."
Jealousy was thriving, murderous intent was rapidly spreading, and hallucinations in his mind were becoming more severe.
All he could do was not look, not listen, and not think.
Don't make a mistake…
...
After receiving treatment plans from Song Qing Shi, representatives from the various sects paid their consultation fees and took their own disciples away. A few remaining independent cultivators were kindly escorted by monks from the Buddhist sect. The young disciples of the Chi Long Sect joyously embraced their returned seniors, their tears and laughter blending into gratitude—completely unbecoming of cultivators but touching nonetheless.
The head of the Chi Long Sect was the middle-aged cultivator who had been hugging the child. Despite his grievous injuries sustained from the water spirit beast, he managed to protect his disciples. Clearly, he was an exemplary cultivator and a mentor one is lucky to find.
Song Qing Shi cast a discreet glance at his most cherished disciple, hoping that this touching master-disciple relationship might resonate with him...
Unfortunately, Yue Wu Huan didn't even spare a glance at the sentimental scene, focusing solely on collecting the remnants of the water spirit beast.
Song Qing Shi felt a little defeated…
Claiming a thirst for alcohol, An Long quickly left the group as soon as they reached shore.
Accustomed to An Long's odd temperament, Song Qing Shi didn't take it to heart. Noticing the severe injuries of the Chi Long Sect's leader and admiring his character, he offered to stay and treat him. He also took the opportunity to ask for advice on how a master can earn the love and respect of his disciples. Learning of his decision, the disciples of the Chi Long Sect were overjoyed, wishing they could carry him back on a palanquin if they could.
Seeing Song Qing Shi pleased, Yue Wu Huan also decided to stay and lend a hand.
...
As the night deepened, the depths of the dense forest were filled with the sounds of cawing crows.
An Long sat alone in the darkness, clutching his head in agony. His eyes were so red they almost seemed to bleed. His face was covered in black scales, and black mist swirled around the poisonous tattoos on his arms. His limbs mutated and then reverted, as if constantly struggling against some inner restraint.
A sinister voice he thought had long since vanished returned to his mind, incessantly speaking. Each word felt like a knife, stabbing cruelly into his heart. He didn't want to listen, but couldn't stop himself.
"Do you think he will like you if you wag your tail and try to please him in every way?"
"Do you think acquiring power and becoming his shield will make him like you?"
"Do you think that by risking it all and rising to a high position, he will finally like you?"
"Do you think that by being consistently accommodating and baring your soul, he will finally love you?"
"That night, when he knocked on your door, did you think he had come to realize your foolish dreams? How laughable you were, obscuring the truth by sacrificing your informants—you're a disgrace to look at."
"You struggle in your illusions, using your Illusion Gu to beg for unattainable dreams. But have those illusions ever provided the ending you want? No matter what you do, no matter how desperately you try, he will never love you."
"You, a grotesque worm that crawled out of the mud, donning a human skin, speaking human words, acting the part, and presuming to inch closer to the moon—do you dare? Are you worthy?"
"Wake up. Abandon your human soul."
"Wake up. Pillaging, greed, ruthlessness, and killing—that's your true nature."
"..."
"Shut up! Shut up!" An Long slammed his head against a rock, wishing he could shatter his skull and release the torment within. "Get out of my head!"
He cannot make a mistake...
Cannot make a mistake...
He can't...