Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Killing Elder Du

”Ye Qingchen, be careful!”

Qin Yue exerted all her strength, her longsword surging with unstoppable momentum as it thrust straight toward Elder Du’s back!

At that moment, she was filled with deep regret. The tables had turned so suddenly, making her ecstatic. In her excitement, she had completely forgotten to guard against Elder Du’s sneak attack on Ye Qingchen! Now that she had reacted, she attempted a full-force rescue, but she was still a moment too late!

Faced with Elder Du’s sudden attack, Ye Qingchen stood his ground, not moving a muscle, as if he were frozen in shock.

A look of boundless triumph appeared on Elder Du’s aged face. His change of target was incredibly swift. Someone of Ye Qingchen’s ant-like Realm had no chance to react. Almost instantly, Elder Du’s longsword was less than an inch from Ye Qingchen’s chest. In the next moment, it pierced the thick beast hide.

RIP!

The sound of the beast hide tearing rang out!

”Die!” A ferocious smile spread across Elder Du’s face. I’m ecstatic! Ye Qingchen is as good as dead! The remaining Qin Yue is no threat. This battle will turn my defeat into victory!

However, in that very instant, a smile appeared on Ye Qingchen’s face.

When he saw that smile, Elder Du instinctively felt a surge of extreme danger, and his heart seized with panic. Years of combat experience made him sense the aura of death!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Elder Du prepared to leap away. Though his reaction was quick, it was still a fraction too late.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Four willow branches shot up from the ground, tightly binding Elder Du’s arms and legs, rendering him completely immobile.

Just as Elder Du was bound, Qin Yue’s longsword struck from behind.

SHLICK!

Unable to dodge, Elder Du was run through the heart. Blood splattered everywhere.

”This... impossible...”

Elder Du looked down at the blood-stained blade piercing his chest, then slowly lifted his gaze to Ye Qingchen, whose beast-hide armor he had just torn. His own longsword was a mere millimeter from piercing Ye Qingchen’s skin.

But that single millimeter was an insurmountable chasm; he simply couldn’t cross it.

”Kid, you knew I’d attack you, so you deliberately laid a trap with your Martial Soul to lure me in!” Elder Du’s breathing became ragged, his old face contorted with fury and resentment. To think a dignified Fourth-Level Martial Master was tricked by a wet-behind-the-ears brat! What an ignominious way to die!

”Only realizing it now? A pity, but it’s too late. Rest in peace,” Ye Qingchen said, reaching out and flicking the tip of the blade Elder Du was holding.

Like the last straw that broke the camel’s back, Elder Du and his longsword collapsed to the ground with a THUD!

Elder Du was dead, his eyes wide with disbelief, unable to rest in peace.

Qin Yue pulled her longsword from Elder Du’s body, sheathed it, and hurried over to Ye Qingchen, her pretty face etched with concern. ”Are you all right?”

Ye Qingchen pointed at the beast hide that had been torn in two by Elder Du’s sword. ”I’m fine, but it looks like I’m out of clothes again. I suppose I’ll have to borrow another set of your women’s clothes to get by!”

Seeing that Ye Qingchen could still joke, Qin Yue finally relaxed and broke into a smile. ”One set? How would that be enough? Don’t you worry. I’ll prepare ten or so sets of women’s clothes and have them delivered to the Ye Residence. We’ll let everyone in your family know about your... particular taste!”

The corner of Ye Qingchen’s mouth twitched. ”Is this how you treat your savior?” If Qin Yue really sends women’s clothes to the Ye Residence, my heroic reputation will be ruined!

Qin Yue rolled her eyes at him. ”You’re my savior? I’m the one who just saved you, thank you very much! If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be you thanking me!”

Ye Qingchen rolled his eyes right back. ”If I hadn’t returned, you’d be long dead. How could you possibly have killed Elder Du? Forget it. As a man, I can’t be bothered to bicker with a woman! But speaking of which, when it comes to the spoils from killing Elder Du, I want half!”

Ye Qingchen eyed Elder Du’s body and licked his lips. This was a Martial Master, after all! And a Martial Master from the Rising Sun Pavilion, no less! The things he’s carrying must be valuable. Even half would be an absolute windfall!

Hearing his words, Qin Yue, who had been joking just a moment before, suddenly grew somber. She glanced at Elder Du’s corpse, walked over, and plucked a ring from his finger, tossing it to Ye Qingchen.

”This is Elder Du’s Storage Ring. It’s yours,” she said, her voice soft. ”As for his body... is it all right if I take it?”

Ye Qingchen caught the Storage Ring, stunned. Qin Yue would rather give up her share of the spoils in the ring just for Elder Du’s corpse? Is a dead body really that valuable? Or does she hate him so much that she wants to desecrate his corpse to vent her anger?

But Ye Qingchen soon realized he had been mistaken.

Qin Yue took an axe from her own Storage Ring, chopped down a few large trees, and stacked them into a simple pyre. Then, she carefully lifted Elder Du’s body and placed it on top. Finally, she bowed respectfully to the body four times before tossing a fire starter onto the wood.

The pyre began to CRACKLE and POP as it caught fire, and roaring flames soon engulfed Elder Du’s body.

Staring at the burning corpse through the flickering flames, Qin Yue wore a melancholic expression. She sighed deeply, tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes. ”Elder Du... he used to be very good to me. He just lost his way and walked a path of no return. I so wish everything could go back to how it was. But alas, there’s no going back. The debt for what happened to him must be repaid. Ye Qingchen, thank you for quietly being here with me. Let’s go.”

Turning, she wiped away her tears and offered Ye Qingchen a smile. ”Your relative is still waiting for you to save her.”

”Right!” Ye Qingchen nodded heavily, his thoughts turning to Xiao Xiao, who was being tormented by her Martial Soul as if she were on fire. The Ironwood Soul Flower was now in his possession, and the one-month deadline was fast approaching. He was desperate to return to the Ye Residence. Xiao Xiao, hang in there! I’m coming!

Accompanied by Qin Yue, Ye Qingchen left Qingyun Mountain at the fastest possible speed.

「Ye Residence.」

In the Supreme Elder’s secret alchemy chamber.

Xiao Xiao wore a pure white dress, which made her already delicate features seem even more ethereal. At that moment, she was sitting blankly on the bed, her clear eyes gazing into the distance as if lost in thought. Young Master, where are you?

The Supreme Elder, who was busy nearby with various bottles and jars, shook his head and chuckled. ”What’s the matter, little girl? Missing that boy again?”

Hearing this, a blush crept up Xiao Xiao’s pretty face. She shook her head. ”Supreme Elder, I’m just worried about the Young Master’s safety! My life is worthless. If I had been clear-headed at the time, I would never have let the Young Master go to Qingyun Mountain alone and risk his life for me!”

She knew full well how treacherous Qingyun Mountain was. Furthermore, Ye Qingchen’s own father, Ye Changqing, had died there searching for the very same Ironwood Soul Flower. Ye Qingchen’s Cultivation was far weaker than his father’s had been, so his journey was almost certainly a suicide mission.

At this thought, Xiao Xiao was overwhelmed with guilt and regret. As her emotions churned, a red mist began to cloud her once-clear eyes.

Seeing the red mist in Xiao Xiao’s eyes, the Supreme Elder’s expression changed dramatically.

This is bad! The Holy Soul is about to lose control completely!