The Light of the Righteous Path 8

Lin Qi didn't have many friends when he was in school. He often talked to the small animals he met by the roadside and fed them a little food, but he never dared to pet them.

He was afraid that if he petted them, he wouldn't be able to resist taking them home. Having always lived alone, he wouldn't be able to take good care of them, so he was perfectly content just looking at them from a distance.

Looking at the Water Qilin whose large eyes were brimming with tears, Lin Qi couldn't bear the thought of it becoming completely bald. He whispered, "Actually, my allergies aren't that severe."

Du Chengying smiled slightly. He had long seen through Lin Qi's fondness for the Water Qilin. In his previous life, Lin Qi would often stare blankly at the Water Qilin with that kind of longing and wistful gaze. Lin Qi probably also wished to have a spirit beast of his own, or perhaps, the Water Qilin was meant to belong to Lin Qi all along.

Back then, when he was on his last breath, it was Lin Qi who dragged him from the lake to the shore and found the Water Qilin to save his life. It was clearly Lin Qi who had found the Water Qilin first, yet the Water Qilin had acknowledged him as its master instead.

The Water Qilin could connect with yin and yang, so after Du Chengying was reborn, the Water Qilin immediately came out of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion and found him.

Given a second chance, Du Chengying wanted to make up for Lin Qi's regrets. So what if his aptitude was mediocre? He wanted to make everyone look up to Lin Qi with endless envy and worship.

When Lin Qi said he had some fur allergy, he was actually just trying to yield the Water Qilin to him again. His senior martial brother always considered others so much, yet often forgot about himself.

"Then accept it," Du Chengying said indifferently.

Having escaped the crisis of baldness, the Water Qilin immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Striking while the iron was hot, it let out a soft 'meow', lowered its head toward Lin Qi, and offered up its single horn.

Lin Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Why was a perfectly fine Water Qilin imitating a cat's meow?

Gazing at the crystal-clear horn in front of him, Lin Qi still hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Senior Martial Brother, I actually think the Water Qilin is more compatible with you."

The Water Qilin thought to itself that Lin Qi was actually right. It and its master were a match made in heaven, and its master, who had experienced life and death, was the perfect candidate to govern yin and yang. However, since Du Chengying told it to 'acknowledge' Lin Qi as its master, it would just do it. After all, its soul and its master's soul were already bound together.

"I actually think you and it are the most suitable match," Du Chengying said in a calm and certain tone. "You are both very pale."

Lin Qi: "..." What kind of reason is that?

Water Qilin: "..." It would be black when it reached adulthood! Pure black! Its horn would be gold! Pure gold!

Under Du Chengying's insistence, Lin Qi had no choice but to reach out and gently touch the Water Qilin's single horn. The Water Qilin let out a whimper and rubbed its horn against Lin Qi's soft palm.

Du Chengying's arrow-like gaze shot toward the Water Qilin, and it instantly stiffened. It almost forgot that its master had forbidden it from putting on too much of an act.

"Get on," Du Chengying said, his gaze looking toward the undulating mountains. "Let's go over and take a look."

The Water Qilin squatted down obediently. Ignoring its soft meows, its strong and muscular back was hidden beneath its fluffy, snow-white fur, looking quite majestic.

Lin Qi was eager to try. He moved his palm down and carefully rubbed the top of the Water Qilin's head.

!!!

So soft! So fluffy!

It feels so good to touch!

Lin Qi screamed with excitement in his heart, unable to control the slight flush on his cheeks. The bright light igniting in his eyes made even Du Chengying feel a trace of jealousy toward the Water Qilin.

When would Lin Qi be able to look at him with such a fond gaze?

"Get on and try it," Du Chengying said in a low voice. Lin Qi was already inextricably addicted to the soft fur, allowing Du Chengying to support his dazed self as he climbed onto the Water Qilin's back. The moment he sat on the Water Qilin, Lin Qi wished he could just sprawl out entirely and bury his whole body into the Water Qilin's fur.

How could it be so comfortable? Compared to the Water Qilin's back, the soft bed in his cave dwelling was nothing. It was warm and fluffy, like the physical manifestation of sunlight, making one unable to resist wanting to get close, to gently rub one's cheeks against its fur, and take a deep sniff.

Lin Qi restrained his overly excited impulses and gently stroked the Water Qilin twice.

As the Water Qilin straightened its legs, his line of sight was suddenly elevated. Lin Qi grabbed the Water Qilin's fur and let out an exclamation. Realizing he had unconsciously applied force, he immediately asked, "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

Flattered by the unexpected attention, the Water Qilin shook its head. Before it could let out a meow to indicate it was fine, its master's cold voice reached its ears.

"This beast has thick skin and flesh, Junior Martial Brother need not worry."

Water Qilin: ...

Lin Qi frowned slightly. "The Water Qilin is a spirit beast, how can you call it that?"

Water Qilin: Well said!

Du Chengying gently patted the Water Qilin's restless rump and said slowly, "Junior Martial Brother is right. Why doesn't Junior Martial Brother give it a name?"

Lin Qi was at a loss for words again.

Names were something spiritual; once a name was given, one would truly invest their feelings into it.

Lin Qi hesitated for a moment and said, "It's better if you name it, Senior Martial Brother."

"Is 'beast' not good?" Du Chengying said carelessly.

Lin Qi: "..."

Water Qilin: ...It's fine, it was used to it. It would no longer feel sad over such trivial matters; at the very least, it managed to keep its coat of fur.

Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion encompassed the Nine Provinces and held the Four Seas. Inside it, one would often feel a sense of being lost, but as the Water Qilin carried the two of them, running and traversing before the mountains and rivers, that kind of magnificent beauty of heaven and earth truly surfaced before Lin Qi's eyes.

Day and night eclipsed the sun and moon, winter and summer shared the frost and snow.

Such a wondrous spectacle was truly rare in the world.

The strong wind was blocked from his breath by a pair of invisible hands, playfully threading through his long hair and robes. His dark hair danced wildly, while the snow-white Water Qilin ran with reckless abandon like a king among the mountains. Spirit Butterflies followed like shadows along the Qi of the Yellow Springs spewed from the Water Qilin's mouth, and the mountains, rivers, and earth were reflected in his eyes.

Immersed in this transcendent freedom, Lin Qi almost forgot he was in a pocket world; he was deeply overwhelmed by the pure and magnificent beauty.

It was too wonderful.

Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion was truly worthy of being the Yuelu Sect's mountain-guarding treasure.

The Water Qilin leaped toward the mountain peak. With its front hooves stepping on the ground, it raised its head and let out a roar. The mountains and rivers shook in unison, invisible wind and rain swirled, and the Spirit Butterflies scattered and danced alongside the snow-white fur. Lin Qi gripped the Water Qilin's back, a shiver running through his entire body. The pent-up frustration in his heart was swept clean, and he felt a sense of rebirth, as if he had received a baptism from the yin and yang of heaven and earth.

If there were a mirror in front of him right now, he would discover that his face was glowing with vitality and his eyes shone with a sharp light—signs of a great increase in cultivation.

After letting out that involuntary roar, the Water Qilin sheepishly closed its mouth and carefully looked back to gauge Du Chengying's reaction.

Its master had transcended life and death. Other than it, who could distinguish yin and yang, as long as he wished, he could make it so that no one else could sense his presence. And so, he could recklessly gaze at the smiling person with eyes full of deep love and tenderness. Sitting behind him with restraint, he didn't cross the boundary by even half a step; like sunlight, he merely surrounded his beloved, giving him radiance, and giving him freedom.

Its master... truly loved this person on its back so much.

Lin Qi lowered his head, meeting the Water Qilin's clear eyes, and gently rubbed its head. "Can I call you Wuxia?"

Wuxia? The Water Qilin liked it the moment it heard it. It happily grunted twice from its nose. Its cry actually sounded more like a cow's, but as soon as it grunted, it met Du Chengying's icy gaze. It immediately shuddered and, trying to make amends, let out two 'meows'.

Lin Qi couldn't help but widen his smile and rubbed it two more times. "Why are you imitating a cat's meow?"

Water Qilin: "Meow meow meow." It didn't care. Since its master told it to meow like this, then it had meowed like this since birth.

"Let's go out," Du Chengying spoke up. "We've stayed long enough."

Inside the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion, yin and yang were at the same pole. Staying too long would also cause harm to a mortal like Lin Qi.

......

Baoshu Zhenren and Master Yuan Yu, along with several of their direct disciples, were guarding outside the exit of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion. Baoshu had dropped the manic demeanor he displayed in front of Du Chengying; with a cold expression, he twirled an incense stick in his hand.

Disciples continuously rolled out of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion in sorry states. They were literally rolling out; some had battered and bleeding heads, while quite a few had broken arms and legs.

Yuan Yu watched Baoshu's eldest disciple, Ge Langqing, distributing medicine to the injured disciples. She thought to herself that the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion's temper was really getting worse and worse; those who went in wouldn't be able to come out without being tormented half to death.

Even Du Chengying, upon whom they had placed great hopes, had suffered considerable injuries before coming out after going inside.

Just when would the person prophesied to resolve the calamity of ten thousand ages finally appear?

Yuan Yu thought of the recent divination hexagram indicating that the calamity was not far off, and a faint melancholy couldn't help but tinge her beautiful, radiant face.

It had been a while since anyone came out of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion. Baoshu twirled the incense stick and said indifferently, "Is everyone accounted for?"

Ge Langqing replied, "Answering Master, we are still missing one."

"Oh?" Long, pale fingers twirled the pale green incense. Baoshu looked back, his gloomy eyes sweeping over the crowd, his gaze flickering slightly.

Yuan Yu also took a look. She had been keeping an eye on the exiting disciples, and her photographic memory caused a name to instantly spring to mind— "Lin Qi!"

Baoshu Zhenren's expression was unfathomable as his gaze shifted back toward the exit of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion.

Yuan Yu furrowed her brows and asked the injured disciples, "Did any of you run into Lin Qi inside the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion?"

The disciples shook their heads one after another.

The Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion was too large. As soon as they entered, they were relentlessly pursued and battered by fierce beasts. They barely had enough time to flee for their lives, let alone pay attention to anything else. Only a rare few had managed to cross paths inside, and shortly after meeting, they were beaten so badly they couldn't endure it any longer and tore their talismans to get out.

Lin Qi's aptitude was mediocre... Having not come out after so long, it was likely that his fate boded ill rather than well. Yuan Yu's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. With a 'shing', she drew her sword and was about to charge into the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion.

Baoshu Zhenren raised his sleeve to block her. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "What are you doing?"

"Looking for someone," Yuan Yu said tersely.

Baoshu Zhenren also slightly furrowed his brows. "He's just trash, what are you looking for him for? Once you enter the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion, your life and death are up to fate."

"Baoshu, I know what you're thinking. With so many disciples watching, I won't argue with you, but you'd better not stop me either." Master Yuan Yu's temperament was as radiant and flamboyant as her appearance; she unceremoniously pointed the tip of her sword at Baoshu.

Baoshu narrowed his eyes at her, his tone deepening slightly. "You know what I'm thinking? Absurd."

Yuan Yu had been tolerating Baoshu for a long time. Baoshu had a gloomy temperament to begin with, but ever since Du Chengying went up the mountain, he had become even more erratic and moody, acting almost as if he were about to experience qi deviation.

"Baoshu," Yuan Yu's voice turned cold, "it seems the camaraderie between fellow sect members is worthless in your eyes."

"Since you know what I'm thinking, naturally you know whether or not I value your so-called camaraderie," Baoshu Zhenren said bitingly.

The injured disciples and several senior disciples all awkwardly held their breath in concentration. Ge Langqing stood up. Having stayed by Baoshu Zhenren's side the longest, he stepped forward and said, "Martial Aunt Yuan Yu, please don't act impulsively. The incense in my master's hand is still burning, which means that junior martial brother has not met with any mishaps."

Yuan Yu's gaze shifted to the pale green incense in Baoshu's hand, but Baoshu coldly snuffed out the incense. "Want to spar? I'll oblige you."

Ge Langqing also had a headache. "Master... please say a few words less."

Baoshu said coldly, "You want to dictate my actions?"

Ge Langqing's face instantly revealed a look of helplessness.

Yuan Yu simply couldn't understand this person. "Baoshu, you..."

A light sound of wind interrupted what Yuan Yu was about to say. A clear, resonant, and icy qi swept out from the exit of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion. Not only Yuan Yu, but everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to it.

Was it snowing?

Pieces of crystal-clear snow-white fluttered and spun out from the bizarre and dazzling exit.

Yuan Yu's eyes abruptly widened.

These were Spirit Butterflies!

There were fully hundreds of Spirit Butterflies!

They fluttered out like snowflakes flashing with specks of light, brimming with powerful vitality, completely unlike the listless one she had brought back before. Yuan Yu couldn't help but lower her sword.

Baoshu Zhenren's expression slightly changed. His eyes stared fixedly at the exit of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion before he suddenly said in a deep voice, "Fall back!"

Before Yuan Yu even had time to react, she was grabbed by the arm by Baoshu and pulled back tens of meters.

An even more powerful and limpid force swept over them, carrying a terrifying sense of oppression that made Yuan Yu lose all thought of confronting Baoshu. Pressing one hand to her chest, she furrowed her brows and said, "What is this?!"

The crystal-clear Spirit Butterflies danced at the exit, as if waiting to welcome someone's appearance. Baoshu watched the exit intently, the palm gripping Yuan Yu's arm inadvertently tightening. Yuan Yu, too, seemed drawn by that invisible force, unconsciously holding her breath.

Amidst extreme silence and stagnation.

A roar that cleansed all things echoed out. Everyone present was jolted. The hearts of the few injured disciples trembled as they exhaled bloody qi, unexpectedly feeling much more comfortable all over.

Both Baoshu and Yuan Yu were so tense that their limbs trembled slightly.

A mass of snow-white suddenly dashed out from the exit and landed in front of the crowd. Before everyone could even get a clear look, the exit of the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion instantly shattered. Countless crystal-clear fragments reflecting mountains and rivers fluttered and sparkled behind the blue-clothed person. Spirit Butterflies passed through the fragments and nimbly alighted all around him. The blue-clothed person sat astride a tall spirit beast and gave a slight nod, "Martial Uncles."

It was Lin Qi... Yuan Yu's palm went numb. With a 'clang', the sword that never left her hand unexpectedly fell to the ground.

Stared at by the dumbfounded crowd, the tips of Lin Qi's ears couldn't help but turn red. Was this the treatment of a 'protagonist'? It was quite embarrassing, and he couldn't help but want to lower his head.

However, a warm force propped up his chin, and a gentle yet firm voice rang in his ear, "Raise your head—and look down upon them."