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039 - Facing the Aftermath
🕑 Added 2024-07-20 16:50:14 +0000 UTCThe pillar of scalding light that rose toward the sky suddenly changed. The white light competing against the sun shifted to different colours as if two entities within were battling for dominion. Qin Yun remained silent as he watched those sights; they filled him with a sense of wonder as well as dread. He knew that light could erase their very existence if it were to engulf them.
On the other hand, Yun Jingfei was agitated. She struggled within Qin Yun’s arms, wishing to rush to Feng Xia’s aid. Still, Qin Yun wouldn’t let her throw away her life in such a meaningless way. Besides, those flashing colours were proof of Feng Xia’s struggle. He wouldn’t let her attempt be in vain.
While Qin Yun didn't know the mechanisms of how Feng Xia's powers worked, he knew only those could contend against what lay dormant within the black crystal. He only hoped that she would be strong enough to see it through to the end.
After what seemed like an excruciatingly long wait, the white light began to recede, and all that remained was a sea of colours dancing in the atmosphere. Qin Yun couldn't help but smile. Once he figured the worst had passed, he let go of his wife.
"Feng Xia!" Yun Jingfei cried as worry filled her voice. She didn't even concern herself for her safety before she plunged to the bottom of the hole where the multicoloured light originated. Qin Yun couldn't help but wonder how his wife had grown so attached in such a short time frame. It seemed Feng Xia was much more special than he once gave her credit for.
Once all the light was gone, Qin Yun peered down the hole, only to see Yun Jingfei embrace an unconscious Feng Xia. It seemed the little bird had expended too much energy battling that white light. Qin Yun wasn't concerned as this appeared to be the same as what happened only a few days prior. Still, he wondered if overusing this power would leave some lasting impact on her.
To the two girls' side was the black crystal he remembered, yet its shape had changed substantially. Gone were the rugged edges he couldn't flatten no matter how hard he struck with his hammer. It became exactly how he envisioned it. A black sword more beautiful than he had ever seen. Still, Qin Yun felt no trace of power from the blade, only a slight sense of indestructibility.
As for the foreign energy that dwelled within, Qin Yun couldn't feel its existence anymore, as if it had been expunged by the coloured light. Qin Yun couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this discovery; this little bird seemed much more valuable than he first thought.
Wishing to observe his creation, Qin Yun also jumped into the hole, yet he seemed to have stepped onto something as he landed. Below his feet was a transparent orb, the size of an apple, slightly buried under the charred dirt. Once he dug it out, Qin Yun couldn't help but be stunned.
The foreign energy that disappeared was now trapped within. In fact, Qin Yun could feel a slight suction force aimed toward his black box. With anticipation in his heart, he decided to validate his theory.
He removed one of the crystal legs he had used in one of his experiments, the same one he had injected some of his Innate Qi into. The orb glowed as the energy within rotated, creating a vortex. The suction force grew stronger.
While he knew now wasn't the time to experiment, Qin Yun simply couldn't help himself. If his deductions turned out to be accurate, this would be a massive step forward for his cultivation.
Qin Yun slowly brought the orb closer to the crystal leg. He could clearly see the foreign energy within the leg become agitated, as if it possessed consciousness and had been reunited with a long-lost relative.
Qin Yun could feel the two objects attract each other as if they were two different poles of magnets. He had to use an extraordinary amount of strength to simply keep the two apart. Slowly, he let the two grow closer, yet it wasn't until they finally touched that something incredible happened.
The foreign energy battling his Innate Qi within suddenly charged toward the orb. The sphere's glow grew stronger, engulfing everything within its core. Qin Yun could feel it pulse within his hand and grow slightly warmer. Before his very eyes, Qin Yun saw the orb grow in size as it absorbed all that energy, from the size of an apple to a mango.
While the difference was negligible, Qin Yun couldn't help but ponder the implications. This orb was the answer to all his woes, as it could eliminate that foreign energy while leaving all the pure Innate Qi behind. Yet, Qin Yun felt slightly reluctant to use it. While all the crystal body parts he had in his black box were inert, this orb was clearly alive. Qin Yun couldn't help but liken this orb to an egg. He wondered what would emerge from it if he were to feed it all the energy he possessed. Would it become one of those bugs or something much more?
Qin Yun looked at Feng Xia with a complicated expression. While he had been the one to convince his wife to take her in, he couldn't help but feel that someone had orchestrated this whole scenario. Ever since he met her, things fell into place much too easily.
First, she had to appear in the only courtyard that could preserve her life, which was also his. Then, she possessed the means to thwart the calamity his curiosity had caused, in the process, creating the very object he was in dire need of. While Qin Yun didn't believe in fate, he also couldn't liken those events to mere coincidences. It was much easier to accept that someone was messing with him.
Qin Yun looked at the sky with narrowed eyes, watching the dark thunderclouds slowly disperse. Once again, he tried to pierce the veil, wishing to see what lay beyond, yet his efforts were futile. He was still much too weak to reach the answers he sought.
While Qin Yun was pondering, Yun Jingfei could finally breathe a sigh of relief as she ascertained Feng Xia's well-being. Still, she glared at Qin Yun, to which he could only respond with a wry smile.
“How is she?” he asked, unconcerned. He already knew she was out of danger.
“She’s resting,” Yun Jingfei replied, still irate from his uncaring attitude. “Her breathing is stable. She should wake up soon.”
“That's good," Qin Yun said as he removed her mask to wipe the dirt that marred her cheek. "We should get out of here and let her rest in a better place."
Qin Yun then took Feng Xia’s slender body in his arms. While he knew she was just a young girl, he hadn’t expected her to be so light. He felt impressed that such a small girl had the courage to plunge into such a dangerous situation without regard for her life. Whether or not she knew she would be alright, not many could have done what she did.
“What just happened?” Yun Jingfei finally asked after calming down. The events had happened much too fast for her to process it all.
“I made a mistake,” Qin Yun sighed. “While I knew the energy found within those creatures was foreign to this world, I didn’t expect the world to offer such an intense reaction. It almost seemed like an allergic reaction to a foreign pathogen.”
Yun Jingfei looked at the sky fearfully. While she had experienced heaven's might before, she had done so from afar. Nothing could have prepared her to withstand the brunt of its oppression as she just did. All the arrogance she once felt due to her talent evaporated as she knew she would have become dust under even a single lightning bolt.
“How’s your arm?” Yun Jingfei asked as she noticed the blackened skin that covered most of his hand.
“It’s fine,” he said after a moment of silence.
Yun Jingfei knew this was a lie, yet she didn't say anything more. She knew Qin Yun didn't wish to worry her, but it was clear that this lightning couldn't be brushed aside so easily. Even now, she could occasionally see the charred flesh twitch and even see small arcs of lightning dance on its exterior. She knew he couldn't rid himself of the aftereffects so easily, yet there was nothing she could do.
Qin Yun could still feel lightning scorch his flesh as pain shot through his nerves. Yet, his expression remained impassive. What good would showing his pain to the world accomplish?
Surprisingly, as the remains of heavenly lightning destroyed his muscles and bones, Qin Yun could feel them regenerate and become even stronger. Better yet, this energy seemed even more potent than his own Innate Qi. Qin Yun wondered if this was a reward or a punishment. Heaven's intentions were indecipherable, as always. Still, Qin Yun wouldn't let go of this gift, even if it brought him much pain.
With a single leap, Qin Yun emerged from the deep hole, only to be stunned by what he heard in the distance. While he knew that such a phenomenon would attract unwanted attention, he didn’t expect it to be so grand.
The sounds of footsteps rumbled in the air, and the ground shook slightly as if an army was marching in unison toward their courtyard. As they were located on a hill, Qin Yun could clearly see over a hundred individuals in golden armour take position down below, blockading his residence.
Qin Yun's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed these unwanted intruders. Their armours clearly depicted their identities, yet he couldn't believe how fast they reacted. It hadn't even been ten minutes since the oppression receded, and they were already banging at his doors.
Qin Yun knew precisely what their intentions were, as they were much too predictable. Once again, people believed heaven's emergence led to a treasure. While they would be proven right, Qin Yun had no intentions of letting himself be robbed. Furthermore, he didn't believe they had the means to take anything from him.
"Take her," Qin Yun said as he gave Feng Xia's unconscious body to Yun Jingfei. "There's a switch under the bed in the main house. Take the door that opens, hide in there and lock it behind you. Do not come out unless I tell you to."
"What about you?" Yun Jingfei asked as she saw the commotion below. While she wished to argue, she knew they were out of time, and she couldn't hope to provide much help against this army.
“I’ll be fine, but we can’t let them see Feng Xia. She’s much too important. Now, go!”
However, just as he said those words, Qin Yun could feel a slight prickle on his skin. He knew this sensation too well, as this was the feeling of a divine sense washing over him. He could feel this entity trying to discover all his secrets. Fortunately, unless they touched him directly, they couldn't uncover what went on inside his body.
However, the unknown divine sense soon lingered on the black sword in his hand. While he could have hidden it within his black box, doing so would have been akin to suicide. It was much better to show its existence than to pretend nothing of the sort existed; these people weren't reasonable to begin with.
Fortunately, the sword distracted the divine sense long enough for Yun Jingfei to leave unscathed. While there was a chance they were discovered, Qin Yun much preferred being the only one in danger. As he prepared himself for the eventual confrontation, a loud voice laced with Qi towered over the cacophony present in Jin City.
“Come out and hand it over, or face the consequences!” the voice said.
If not for Qin Yun's sturdiness, his eardrums would have burst from the pressure of this voice. He could feel his body shake slightly as he endured the waves of Qi assaulting him from its mere presence alone. Qin Yun was outmatched in every way, as the owner of that voice was someone comparable in strength to his own father. This was a Nascent Soul expert, yet Qin Yun refused to bend the knee. He still had hope to escape this situation.
