"It's getting dark."
"There must be a lot of mosquitoes by the lake. I wonder if Jin Li is still waiting for me."
"Damn it, where exactly is July Lake?!"
Though the map was marked out, it was not truly detailed. It could not pinpoint specific buildings like back on Blue Star, nor could it even accurately chart smaller hills.
Qi Yuan had already arrived in the vicinity, but July Lake's exact location remained unknown.
Just then, several voices carried over.
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "People. Maybe I can go ask?"
At that moment, moonlight cascaded around the lakeshore.
The scent of blood filled the air.
Experts from two factions brandished weapons, swords drawn and bows bent in tense confrontation.
"Is this how you of the Moon Sovereign Clan treat your guests? We came all the way from Black Cloud City just wanting an audience with your Sacrificer, and even that is denied?" The speaker was a burly, one-eyed man wearing an eye patch, looking exceptionally fierce.
"When malicious guests come knocking, we have every right to refuse to see them!" retorted a man with vibrant green hair from the opposing side.
"It seems your Moon Sovereign Clan still hasn't realized the price of offending us!" The one-eyed man raised a broadsword, looking vicious and menacing.
"The Moon Sovereign Clan fears no threats," the green-haired man replied.
With weapons drawn and tempers flared, both sides traded insults, looking ready to come to blows at any second.
Right then, a voice called out, "Excuse me, everyone, hold on a moment. Do any of you know where July Lake—or rather, July Town—is?"
Qi Yuan appeared beside them. Wearing a mask, his voice sounded earnest.
When he finished, both sides, still mid-shouting match, turned to look at him with bizarre expressions.
"Where we're standing right now is the shore of July Lake," the one-eyed man said in a gruff voice.
Qi Yuan froze upon hearing that. "This is July Lake?"
Behind the two groups lay a "lake" roughly the size of a pond.
Aren't lakes supposed to be huge?
Isn't this way too small?
Where was Jin Li?
He scanned the area, but could not see Jin Li anywhere.
Did he come to the wrong place?
"Thank you for telling me." A bit dejected, Qi Yuan thanked the one-eyed man.
Where was Jin Li?
Where was July Town?
He prepared to leave and circle around the Ancient Qi Toon Tree.
Right then, however, the one-eyed man called out to stop him.
"Little brother, don't leave just yet. Come judge for us: who is in the right and who is in the wrong!" A sinister smile surfaced in the one-eyed man's eyes.
He suddenly felt like having some fun.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry. I still have to go to July Town to meet an old friend." Qi Yuan's spirits were low.
"I know where July Town is. As long as you judge who is right and who is wrong, I'll tell you," the one-eyed man said.
"You're right!" Qi Yuan replied without the slightest hesitation.
The one-eyed man shook his head upon hearing that. "That takes all the fun out of it."
At that, Qi Yuan had no choice but to force himself to calm down, staying put to play the role of a proper judge.
Seeing this, the green-haired man said to Qi Yuan, "Sir, you had best leave quickly. The people of the Hundred Cities Alliance are hunting down rogue martial artists. If you stay here, you'll be dragged into this."
The one-eyed man gave a playful smirk. "Why do you Moon Sovereign Clan folks love soiling others' good names so much? You claim I'm hunting down this friend here, but do you have any proof?"
"Does the Hundred Cities Alliance's foul reputation even need repeating?"
"In our Hundred Cities Alliance, fathers are kind, sons are filial, and the elderly are cared for. Where is this foul reputation? You Moon Sovereign Clan, on the other hand, don't even have basic manners. We requested an audience with your Sacrificer, yet you turn guests away at the door? Could it be that you wish to follow in the footsteps of Daluo Country?"
Qi Yuan stood to the side, completely bewildered as he listened.
He had no idea who was right and who was wrong.
Both sides seemed to make sense.
"Hmph! We Moon Sovereign Clan will never yield! If your Hundred Cities Alliance dares to come, I'll kill one if one comes, and a hundred if a hundred come!" the green-haired man declared indignantly.
Oho!
Kill a hundred people?
Qi Yuan knew who was right and who was wrong now.
Just then, the one-eyed man gave a chilling chuckle. "The three thousand members of the Daluo royal family were all slaughtered by our hands!"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan was completely shocked. There was someone even more ruthless here.
He was in a rush and feared further complications. "I've got it! They're right, you're wrong!"
He pointed at the Hundred Cities Alliance group, declaring them in the wrong.
After finishing, Qi Yuan added, "Can you tell me where July Town is now?"
The one-eyed man froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Say that again? We're wrong?"
The seven martial artists behind him also looked at Qi Yuan with mockery and murderous intent in their eyes.
Qi Yuan asked, "Where is July Town?"
The one-eyed man laughed uproariously. "I've never even heard of any July Town!
"There's no July Town here whatsoever!"
The men behind him were all laughing.
Seeing this, the green-haired man warned again, "Leave quickly, sir. The Hundred Cities Alliance are not good people."
Qi Yuan turned a deaf ear. Standing quietly where he was, his eyes locked onto the one-eyed man. "Are you sure you were lying to me?"
"No need to confirm—I was lying to you, so what? Ungrateful wretch. A mere rogue cultivator daring to show his face out in the open is just courting death," the one-eyed man sneered.
Qi Yuan drew his sword, his expression turning exceedingly grim for the first time. "I hate it when people lie to me, especially about something this important!"
If he had been given a false address, it might have delayed him from meeting Jin Li even longer.
He already had so little time.
How could he not be furious?!
Sword in hand, he struck like thunder before everyone's astonished eyes.
"Deceiving me warrants death!"
His speed was blindingly fast. Not a single person present could react, nor could they even catch an afterimage before a neat cut appeared across each of their necks.
By the time the tip of Qi Yuan's sword pressed against the one-eyed man's neck, blood simultaneously sprayed from the necks of the eight men behind him in a spectacular shower, followed by the thudding sounds of bodies collapsing to the ground.
"Do you truly not know where July Town is?" Qi Yuan pushed his sword tip forward, pressing it into the one-eyed man's Adam's apple as blood began to trickle out.
The one-eyed man didn't dare say a word.
"Die!"
The sword pierced straight through his throat. Qi Yuan exuded a stifling baleful aura.
For some reason, the clothes on his body slowly shifted color at this moment, as if drenched in blood.
Slaying eight people with a single sword stroke, Qi Yuan looked as if he had merely swatted insects.
Seeing this, a look of profound shock flashed through the green-haired man's eyes, accompanied by deep wariness.
"Are you looking for someone, sir?" he asked tentatively.
"Yeah. I want to go to Moon Sovereign Country, to July Town. A friend of mine said she's waiting for me there." Qi Yuan's tone sounded dejected and disheartened.
This formed a striking contrast with how swiftly he had just slaughtered those people.
"But I can't find Moon Sovereign Country, and I can't find July Town. Clearly... it's right by the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, right beneath the Ancient Qi Toon Tree."
Sword in hand, Qi Yuan's gaze was cold. He wished he could cleave the Ancient Qi Toon Tree in two with a single slash.
Hearing this, the green-haired man took on a contemplative look.
"Among all the kingdoms and cities beside the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, it seems only our Moon Sovereign Clan matches what you describe. Perhaps your friend misremembered, or there is some other misunderstanding. Or perhaps it really is July Lake—beside July Lake, our Moon Sovereign Clan has a branch, not unlike a small town. Why don't you stay with our Moon Sovereign Clan? If you share the details of the person you're looking for, we can help you find them."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan cast a cold glance over the men. "You're not going to lie to me, are you?"
He raised a hand and wiped his fingers along the blade, cleaning off the blood.
Blood from the one-eyed man's neck had stained the sword after all.
A chill involuntarily ran through the green-haired man's heart.
"Naturally, we would not deceive you, sir. Though our Moon Sovereign Clan cannot guarantee we will certainly find your old friend!" the green-haired man said.
The reason he made this offer was because he recognized Qi Yuan's strength.
Currently besieged by the Hundred Cities Alliance, the Moon Sovereign Clan was struggling to hold out; gaining one more ally was better than none.
"Fine." Qi Yuan had no better ideas in mind.
Perhaps he could glean more useful information here with the Moon Sovereign Clan.
At this time, the green-haired man added, "Right now, our Moon Sovereign Clan is besieged by the Hundred Cities Alliance. If you stay here, sir, you might be dragged into it."
"Doesn't matter," Qi Yuan said.
He didn't care about any of that, so long as he could see Jin Li.
"May we ask for the details and appearance of the person you seek?" The green-haired man adopted an extremely humble attitude.
"Her name is Jin Li, the Empress of Southern Qian. Her appearance... I don't know, but she should be very beautiful. She's not very old; roughly when heavy snow covers the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, she will reach her eighteenth year and come of age."
(Note: On the Wangyue Continent, women come of age at eighteen.)
The green-haired man silently committed these details to memory.
He asked, "Is that lady waiting for you in July Town, sir?"
"Yes," Qi Yuan said.
"Could you tell us your name, sir?" The green-haired man looked at Qi Yuan. "We can spread the word. If she learns you are looking for her, she might come here."
"Qi Yuan," he said.
"Very well!" The green-haired man memorized the name. "Why don't you return with us to our clan's settlement, sir?"
Qi Yuan glanced at July Lake, then looked toward the Ancient Qi Toon Tree. "No. I will wait here. If there is still no news in half a month, I will leave."
Having spoken, Qi Yuan slowly walked toward the lakeside.
Finding a bluestone, he sat down and gazed blankly at the emerald-green lake water, lost in thought.
The green-haired man exchanged glances with his fellow clansmen, then silently disposed of the corpses of the Hundred Cities Alliance martial artists on the ground.
They withdrew in silence.
Qi Yuan sat alone by the lake, cradling his sword as moonlight fell across his shoulders. He stared into the water, his thoughts a mystery.
...
"Slaying nine martial artists in one sword stroke, including a Sovereign-rank expert and eight King-ranks... he must be a Supreme Sovereign."
The young woman was dressed entirely in emerald green. She was Leng Yue, disciple of the Sacrificer of the Moon Sovereign Clan's July branch.
The Sacrificer had left to meet an old friend, leaving Leng Yue in charge of major affairs.
Standing on a pavilion balcony, she looked toward July Lake and saw the man sitting quietly by the water.
"Order our subordinates to search for the person he seeks. A Supreme Sovereign is worth winning over," Leng Yue instructed.
"Understood," the green-haired man answered, before stepping down.
Standing alone on the misty balcony, Leng Yue looked at the man's silhouette and couldn't help but sigh.
"If I remember correctly, the Bridal Gown Imperial Princess of the past waited here for the Heavenly God as well, didn't she?"
"A pity, what a pity."
"The Bridal Gown Imperial Princess never got to meet the Heavenly God, sleeping here forever and leaving behind only a new Bridal Gown Imperial Princess, while the mortal realm ushered in its darkest hour! The Hundred Cities Alliance, running dogs of evil demons—they deserve death!" A trace of murderous intent appeared on Leng Yue's youthful face.
When the morning sun first shone onto July Lake, a resting bird suddenly took fright and flew away from Qi Yuan's shoulder.
The green-haired man hurried over.
"Any news?" Qi Yuan's voice carried a hint of urgency.
"None," the green-haired man said. "Regarding the person you are searching for, sir, we have already notified the other branches of the Moon Sovereign Clan. If there is any word, we will inform you immediately!"
"Thank you." Qi Yuan was a little disappointed.
He felt rather aggrieved.
Why had his game interface vanished after he left Tianjue?
Because of that, he couldn't contact Jin Li.
Now, unable to reach him or see him, was Jin Li worried?
Or did she think he had broken his promise?
Qi Yuan rather hated being late, unless under exceptional circumstances.
He remained seated by the lake. The green-haired man stood for a while before taking his leave as well.
As the sun slowly rose, the lakeside grew lively.
Several young maidens carrying bamboo baskets arrived at the lake to wash clothes.
Catching sight of Qi Yuan, they stole shy and somewhat fearful glances at him.
On an open patch of ground by the lake, several children played, bustling with energy.
Qi Yuan sat there the entire time, motionless like a wooden post.
Not far away, a little boy kept peeking at Qi Yuan, hesitation on his face.
Finally, he stepped forward and boldly said, "Faceless Person, can I call you that?"
"You may." Qi Yuan cradled his sword, not turning his head.
The little boy patted his chest as if easing his own nervousness. "You were sitting so still, I thought you had died here."
Qi Yuan said nothing.
The little boy continued, "What are you doing here?"
He seemed curious about everything, and he was quite brave.
"Waiting for someone," Qi Yuan replied.
Hearing this, the little boy felt a bit sad. "When I was little, I also waited here every day for my daddy to come home. Sometimes I'd take a wooden stick to draw and doodle on the ground, and sometimes when it got late, I'd catch fireflies..."
"When you were little?" Qi Yuan's point of focus was peculiar.
"I'm eight now."
"You still remember things from when you were that little?"
"It's only been two or three years. I still remember what my daddy looks like even now. I even made a special wood carving of him so I'll remember his face for the rest of my life." The little boy happily pulled out a wooden carving that depicted a man. "My father was a woodcarver, and I'm definitely going to become a great woodcarver too!"
Hope brimmed in the boy's eyes.
Just then, a grubby child ran over. "A'qiao, do you want some tanghulu?"
The child opened his dirty hand to reveal three dull, dusty candied haws.
"Xiao Ping, where did you get these?" A'qiao took one.
"I found them." The grubby child noticed Qi Yuan. "Weird Uncle, do you want one?"
He held out his hand, looking at Qi Yuan curiously.
Seeing this, A'qiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "He's a grown-up, he won't eat your tanghulu! Besides, it's so dirty!"
At that moment, a shout carried over: "A'qiao! Xiao Ping! Come back, time to eat!"
"Weird Uncle, we're leaving!"
With that, the two boys ran off like the wind.
Silence returned to the lakeside, leaving only Qi Yuan sitting dazed in place.
On the second day, the little boy named A'qiao came over again. After chatting with Qi Yuan for a while, he ran off.
A'qiao said that in the future, he would carve a statue for Qi Yuan too, using the very best materials.
That was because Qi Yuan had taught him a few carving tricks.
On the third day, Qi Yuan distinctly felt that the shores of July Lake had grown far quieter. The women of the Moon Sovereign Clan didn't come to wash clothes, nor did the children come to play.
The green-haired man came to see Qi Yuan once. He said the Hundred Cities Alliance might attack before long.
They were still searching for Jin Li.
At night, Qi Yuan sat alone by the lake.
Suddenly, he stood up. "I can't just keep waiting like this."
He decided to circle around the Ancient Qi Toon Tree.
What if he ran into her?
Unfortunately, he also understood that the probability was very low.
It required the alignment of time, space, and person.
Missing any one of them meant they might never meet.
Rising to his feet, he flew toward the Ancient Qi Toon Tree.
Its massive trunk loomed like a mountain.
When he had flown roughly two-thirds of the way around, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks.
He witnessed a terrifying scene.
Ahead, the colossal Ancient Qi Toon Tree's trunk reached into the heavens, its branches trailing downward like fishing lines dropped from the sky.
Yet... hanging densely from those branches were human corpses, one after another.
A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand?
A hundred thousand? Several hundred thousand?
Packed so densely that as far as the eye could see, they were impossible to count.
Dangling beneath the emerald branches of the Ancient Qi Toon Tree were innumerable corpses.
Bleached bones caught within tattered cloth garments; withered corpses reeking of dead snakes; fresh bodies whose eyes still bore serene, smiling expressions...
Qi Yuan fell silent.
Never in his life had he seen so many human corpses.
He flew forward, unaware of how much time had passed.
Whenever he looked up, all he saw were dense arrays of dangling feet and countless corpses.
Just how many people were there?
What had they done wrong to be hung up here?
Silent, Qi Yuan continued flying around the trunk of the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, his powerful martial intent reaching outward to search.
Alas, he did not sense any woman resembling Jin Li.
All he saw were corpses hanging beneath the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, one after another!
This was a living purgatory!
The world was not nearly as wonderful as Jin Li had described!
"Why can't I find her?!"
Qi Yuan was beside himself with anxiety.
He had nearly completed a full circuit around the trunk of the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, yet had found nothing.
He was terrified—terrified that he truly might never see Jin Li.
Suddenly, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks once more.
His pupils shrank slightly. He saw two familiar corpses.
One was the woman who had cradled an infant outside Kunwu City.
She hung beneath the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, her expression just as numb and callous as when Qi Yuan had first seen her.
The other was the young child she had once clutched tightly in her embrace.
People he had encountered not long ago were now hanging beneath the densely packed branches of the Ancient Qi Toon Tree.
For some reason, an unbidden rage surged within Qi Yuan's heart.
He drew his sword, desperately wanting to sever the Ancient Qi Toon Tree with a single slash.
Just then, a melodious female voice drifted over: "Qi Yuan..."
Qi Yuan whipped around. Standing under the melted moonlight was a young woman in an ethereal, flowing gown.
A flash of disappointment crossed Qi Yuan's eyes. "Who are you?"
He had never seen Jin Li in person, but at a single glance, he knew this was not her.
"Moon Sovereign Clan, one of the Twelve Sacrificers: July."
Chapter 74