Chapter Forty-Nine: Entrustment

"Dragon's Head Rising!" Long Yun softly uttered two words, as if he were casting a fatal spell.

As soon as he spoke, the sword's momentum changed abruptly; the horizontal slash sank a few inches, his wrist flicked, and the sword energy shot sharply upward—even though it was just a gentle stroke.

But as the signature sword technique of Divine Dragon Island, how could it be an ordinary move? Back when Long Yun was at the Gathering Yuan level, he had already managed to repel a formidable opponent at the Bone Transformation stage with a single strike.

Now, with his cultivation elevated to the Bone Transformation realm, the power of this move soared even higher!

As his sword thrust out, golden sword energy howled through the air, resembling a colossal dragon raising its proud head, and the innate pressure emanating from its origin unfurled with overwhelming force.

The two masters from Jade Sword Sect felt the crushing pressure bearing down on them; yet as it approached, a sharp intent locked onto their spiritual senses, leaving them nowhere to escape.

There was no way to avoid it!

Glancing at each other, both saw a trace of unfathomable terror reflected in their eyes. Gritting their teeth, they each swung their swords, hoping to withstand Long Yun’s strike.

But it was all in vain. Long Yun had already resolved to finish the battle swiftly, risking damage to his meridians to unleash "Dragon's Head Rising"!

Golden light spread outward, and soon, visible streams of brilliance enveloped and swallowed their figures, erasing even the sword energy they had unleashed without a trace.

With the move executed, Long Yun gasped heavily, his complexion pale as a sheet. Though he had reached the Bone Transformation realm, he had not yet replaced his bones with spiritual ones.

Yet his true energy had refined his entire skeleton, so after this technique, it was merely exhaustion of his energy and stabbing pain in his meridians—without the damage to his essence that he had suffered previously.

As the golden radiance faded, and all returned to stillness, two more miserable corpses lay upon the ground.

All three Jade Sword Sect masters of the Transcendent realm had fallen in this battle. In his rage, Long Yun showed no mercy, his heart burning with anger.

Since the Grand Elder was determined to kill him, he would now have to strike back.

True energy flowing, Long Yun slowly sat down, striving to recover his qi.

Although the commotion had been great, disputes between cultivators were not uncommon in the small city; the citizens had long grown accustomed to such incidents.

Moreover, battles between cultivators could easily drag civilians into danger, so none came to witness, giving Long Yun a chance to catch his breath.

Only after half a stick of incense’s time did Long Yun awaken from his meditation, having restored more than half of his qi.

To one side, Chu Xuan had not yet awakened. Seeing the tear-stained, childish face, Long Yun’s heart ached. He opened his palm, sword energy shot forth, and the three corpses on the ground quickly dissipated under the decomposition of his true energy.

Long Yun then walked to the bodies of Old Chu and his wife, and placed them together.

He gently picked up Chu Xuan, infused his qi into the boy’s body, and brought him to consciousness.

“Brother…” Chu Xuan seemed about to speak, but before he finished, tears streamed down his face.

Long Yun held him close, tears welling in his own eyes, his voice choked: “Xuan’er, I’m sorry. If not for me, Old Chu and his wife wouldn’t have…”

At this moment, Long Yun was full of regret; had he not involved himself in Old Chu’s family, perhaps Old Chu would not have died, and Chu Xuan would not have lost his parents at such a tender age.

It was a family once harmonious, now utterly destroyed because of his intervention.

Looking at Chu Xuan’s pale little face, Long Yun’s heart twisted in pain—it was he who had indirectly caused the child’s parents’ deaths.

Chu Xuan reached out and gently patted Long Yun’s shoulder twice, ceasing his crying before Long Yun could comfort him. He said, “Brother, will you help me bury my parents?”

Long Yun gazed at Chu Xuan in disbelief and saw that his eyes had regained calm. His lips moved, but words failed him.

Chu Xuan struggled out of Long Yun’s embrace, determinedly walked toward his parents’ bodies, his frail figure radiating unwavering resolve.

“Father taught me from childhood: when someone shows you kindness, repay them tenfold. Even if it costs your life, never betray those who have helped you!” His voice trembled as he spoke.

“Now, Father is using his life to teach me his final lesson. Brother, I do not blame you. If Father had not acted as he did, he would have lived in regret forever. Please help me bury them!”

Chu Xuan knelt before his parents, respectfully bowing three times. Long Yun knelt beside him.

“Uncle Chu, it was my fault. I brought trouble upon your family—please forgive me. Rest assured, I will help Xuan’er find a good home and ensure he suffers no injustice!” With that, Long Yun bowed three times as well.

With Long Yun’s help, Chu Xuan buried his parents, lit several sticks of pine incense, and finished the rites.

After they were done, it was nearly noon. Neither had eaten since morning; Long Yun could endure, but Chu Xuan’s frail constitution made his perseverance remarkable.

“Xuan’er, I’ll take you to eat something, then find you a good home. Though I am a cultivator, I cannot guarantee your safety, nor can I take you with me,” Long Yun said gently, stroking Chu Xuan’s head.

Chu Xuan’s eyes reddened once more. “Brother, my parents are gone. You’re all I have left. Are you going to abandon me too?”

Long Yun bent down and lifted him up, affectionately saying, “How could I ever abandon you, Xuan’er? But what I do now is dangerous, with little chance of survival. You must live well for now. When I’m done, I’ll come for you, and we’ll roam the world together—would you like that?”

Chu Xuan, always sensible, nodded obediently though he was reluctant to part with Long Yun.

After yesterday’s bloody battle, the town returned to calm. The deaths of Old Chu’s family, caught up in the cultivators’ conflict, had already become widely known.

Long Yun took Chu Xuan to a secluded corner of an inn, ordered a few simple dishes, and began to eat.

Both were weighed down by grief, and ate without appetite, but managed to fill their stomachs.

“Benefactor, may I ask if there are any vegetarian dishes here? This humble monk has journeyed far and requests a little food.” Three gray-robed monks entered the inn, the eldest pressed his palms together, addressing the innkeeper.

The monk appeared to be in his forties, but what surprised Long Yun was that he could not sense any qi from the man.

The two young monks beside him, barely twenty, were clearly at the Transcendent realm, and judging by their respectful demeanor, Long Yun doubted the elder lacked cultivation.

“It seems they must be from the Zen Sect. Such young Transcendent-level cultivators could only be raised by a great sect like that. This old monk must have reached the Innate realm,” Long Yun speculated.

The innkeeper, a shrewd character, had seen many monks visit the town over the years. Those who appeared gentle often proved terrifying when they acted, far beyond what ordinary folk could imagine.

So upon hearing the old monk’s request, he hurried over, found a vacant table for the three, instructed the staff to prepare vegetarian dishes, and withdrew.

“Master, this town has stood for hundreds of years. Even when beasts roam, they have never harmed it. How did you know it would be devoured by monsters?” one young monk whispered to his teacher.

The master chanted a Buddhist verse, sighed softly, and said, “A terrifying presence in the mountains may soon emerge. Over the years, many sects have slaughtered in Yandang Mountain seeking the Bone-Replacement Spirit Beast. Among the monsters are deep-cultivated kings; I suspect a sect has provoked a powerful beast king.”

“But Master, though beast kings are formidable, they are outnumbered. With righteous experts everywhere, even if it appears, it will not escape destruction!” the young monk replied.

“Fool!” The master’s tone suddenly turned sharp. “Remember, heaven cherishes life. Beast creatures are lives too. Humans have no right to take theirs!”

Yet as the old monk finished speaking, the entire restaurant began to tremble violently!

His expression changed, and he exclaimed, “This is bad—they’re coming!”