Chapter 34: Not Much Left

Hou Mingyuan turned his head and said to Qin Bocheng, “If that black thing really starts moving, we’ll ride our swords up into the sky. As long as we don’t go beyond the protective barrier, there shouldn’t be any restriction on flying at high altitude.”

Qin Bocheng cast him a disdainful look and said loudly, “Did you forget? None of us here are ordinary people. Even if we can’t use high-level spells, everyone knows how to cast a fireball, right? How can you think of running before even trying to fight?”

“That’s right! So many of us have died, and not a single one thought of attacking. We all remember we’re cultivators, yet we’ve been thinking like mortals the entire time. Isn’t that strange?” someone exclaimed, as if waking from a dream.

“Something must be affecting us, right?”

“It must be! Otherwise, how could so many people forget to use their spells?”

……

Once they realized what was happening, the smarter ones in the crowd spoke up. A cultivator dressed in gray approached and cupped his hands in respect. “May I ask, Senior, when you said you thought of fleeing before fighting, is it because some danger is about to occur here?”

Qin Bocheng didn’t answer, because those people who had turned black and twisted had already started moving. In the distance, trees that had stood perfectly still now lashed their branches about like wild beasts.

The blackened people stepped easily into the protection circle, completely unaffected, and lunged at the crowd. At first, there was chaos, but soon someone organized an attack. No matter what kind of spell was used, however, the moment it left the caster’s body—about a meter away—it vanished as if swallowed by something unseen. The crowd panicked even more. Their attacks only worked at a meter’s distance, but that meant the black figures could also attack within a meter! And no one knew if their own attacks were effective, while the black ones’ certainly seemed dangerous—who knew what would happen if a claw struck?

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Qin Bocheng and his companions retreated. Yun Duo pulled a whip from her storage bag and gripped it. “If we can’t let them get close, can’t we attack from a distance? These monsters only know how to claw.”

No sooner had she spoken than several others began using whips and spears as well.

Qin Bocheng and Hou Mingyuan also readied their long weapons. Soon, the black monsters had surrounded them. Hou Mingyuan was just about to thrust his spear when Qin Bocheng shouted at him, and suddenly he felt his collar seized, pulling him up into the sky. If he hadn’t heard Qin Bocheng’s shout, he might have struck back by reflex.

Only when they landed on the flying ship did Hou Mingyuan realize that he wasn’t the only one Qin Bocheng had hauled into the air; the young girl Yun Duo, who had been with them, was there too.

Hou Mingyuan pouted. “I didn’t even get to show what I can do. Why drag me up here? Weren’t you the one saying it’s bad to run before fighting?”

Qin Bocheng pursed his lips. “Why don’t you look down? If I hadn’t pulled you up fast enough, you’d be a lump of charcoal right now.”

Hou Mingyuan peered over the rail in confusion. In that brief time, the battle below had all but ended. Only a handful of people remained flying on their swords or standing on the ship—altogether, no more than you could count on your fingers. Everyone else had become black, monstrous figures. The ones who’d just been transformed were as still as statues; only those changed before the red mist were moving, actively hunting for signs of life.

Hou Mingyuan was stunned. “How did it end so quickly? Didn’t anyone resist?”

Yun Duo finally let out a deep breath. “It was terrifying! You couldn’t put up any resistance. Even holding a spear, as long as it touched those monsters—even if you were far away—you’d be turned into a monster too. If it weren’t for Master Qin’s quick reaction, pulling us up, I can’t imagine what would have happened…” As she spoke, she bowed deeply to Qin Bocheng in gratitude.

Qin Bocheng deserved her respect, and so he accepted her bow without moving aside, so as not to leave her with a shadow in her heart.

Hearing Yun Duo’s account, Hou Mingyuan realized he’d barely escaped with his life. He turned and bowed to Qin Bocheng as well. When Qin moved to help him up, Hou Mingyuan quickly said, “Brother Bocheng, you’ve saved me too many times—you absolutely deserve this bow. From now on, whatever you need, I’ll go through fire and water for you, without hesitation.”

Qin Bocheng laughed, “Brother Mingyuan, you’re so serious all of a sudden that you’re making me embarrassed! We’re on the same team—helping each other is only natural.”

“Heh heh!” Hou Mingyuan chuckled dumbly, getting up with Qin Bocheng’s help. “I was just influenced by the young lady. My thanks are genuine, though. If I wasn’t afraid you’d call me clingy, I’d have knelt down and kowtowed to you right now.”

Qin Bocheng raised a brow. “You’d really be willing to kneel and kowtow to me? I’ve never had anyone do that for me in my life! Brother Mingyuan, why don’t you set a precedent and let me see what it’s like?”

With that, Qin Bocheng’s joking banter completely shattered any solemn atmosphere.

Hou Mingyuan pushed his head away and grumbled, “I was just saying! Did you really take me seriously? I—”

“Ah!”

He was about to say more when a sharp scream interrupted him. Looking up, he saw that where there had recently been several people still flying on their swords, now only three remained, faces flushed and ears red, barely keeping their swords steady as if drunk. The rest had fallen, quickly converting into monsters below.

Hou Mingyuan nudged Qin Bocheng. “There are only three left—should we try to save them?”

Qin Bocheng glanced at him, then at Yun Duo, who stood off to the side as if invisible. He walked to the edge of the ship and shouted, “Five thousand top-grade spirit stones for a one-hour antidote mask! Equivalent value in goods is acceptable. If you want one, come trade!” He wasn’t the charitable type—if you wanted something that could save your life, you had to pay for it. Though he carried many valuable things, those were meant for building his sect. His personal supply was limited, and he was always in need of more.

The three flying cultivators must have known him; they looked at each other, then gritted their teeth and flew over. The antidote mask only covered the face—no one could be sure if it was effective. But seeing how relaxed the others on the ship were, it had to be worth a try.

Five thousand top-grade spirit stones for a mask that lasted only an hour was exorbitant, but in a seller’s market—especially when lives were at stake—there was no choice.

The three handed over their stones without complaint and hastily donned the masks. As soon as they put them on, their regret vanished—they felt as though they’d struck a bargain. The mask enveloped their whole bodies, and even the “poisonous mist” that had already seeped into their skin was slowly being drawn out. The three, who moments before had been flushed and weak, immediately felt invigorated.