138: Chapter 138 Ye Chen and Feng Jiuge

Spirit Realm, Western Desolation.

After the great battle three years ago, the Bull Demon King's Catacombs still stood there, but one person was missing from within.

Ye Chen had escaped.

Speaking of which, it was also a matter of coincidence and Opportunity.

That day, the Bull Demon King received news that there were unusual movements on the Southern Border again; several teams of Demon Cultivators under the Myriad Tribulations Demon Lord had crossed the line, seemingly scouting for something.

The Bull Demon King was already fuming with rage over the matter of Mysterious Truth Master—or rather, that old fogey who called himself Tianming—so he immediately gathered his troops and set out on a campaign himself.

Although there were many of the Yao Race left behind in the Catacombs, without that giant demon presiding over them, they ultimately became much more lax.

Having been hung up for all those days, Ye Chen hadn't learned anything else, but he had figured out the daily routines of the Yao Race in the Catacombs perfectly.

He kept track of which hour the guards were most lax, which hour they would drink a few bowls of low-quality demon wine during shift changes, and which hour those minor demons would gather to gamble; he remembered it all.

Late that night, at the hour when the guards were most lax, Ye Chen quietly broke the iron chains.

It was also a stroke of luck; the iron chains had been steamed by the heat of the oil vats for all those days and were no longer as sturdy as they once were.

The sound of him landing was extremely soft, so soft that the drowsy minor demon didn't notice at all.

Ye Chen was in no hurry to run.

He first crept over to his unconscious companion and checked for a breath.

He was already cold.

He remained silent for a moment, laid him down, straightened his body, and then vanished into the night without looking back.

...

Ye Chen ran three thousand miles in one breath before he dared to stop and catch his breath.

He leaned against an ancient tree, gasping for air, the wounds all over his body hurting so much that he hissed in pain.

But in his heart, there was an indescribable sense of relief.

Alive.

Still alive.

He hid in the mountain forests, lying low by day and moving by night, heading all the way south.

After traveling like this for over half a month, Ye Chen found a hidden ancient cave in the deep mountains, intending to rest there for a few days to nurse his wounds.

However, upon entering this ancient cave, he saw that there was a person inside.

That person was dressed in white, sitting cross-legged, and one could tell at a glance that his cultivation was not weak.

Ye Chen was startled and instinctively moved to retreat.

But at that moment, the person opened his eyes and looked at him.

Their eyes met.

Both were momentarily stunned.

Ye Chen was stunned because this person had an indescribable temperament that felt somewhat familiar to him.

After a moment of silence, the person spoke first: "Who are you?"

Ye Chen cupped his fists: "I am Ye Chen. I was being pursued by the Yao Race and entered this place by mistake. If I have disturbed you, I hope you will forgive me."

The person nodded: "It is no matter. This Immortal Cave is not mine either; I am also just passing through and resting here."

Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him.

The person seemed to notice his gaze and slightly raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment before saying: "May I ask Your Excellency's name? I feel... I feel that you look somewhat familiar."

Hearing this, a strange look flashed in the person's eyes, and he then said: "I am Feng Jiuge."

Feng Jiuge.

Ye Chen repeated the name in his mind a few times, finding it somewhat familiar.

He couldn't help but ask again: "Where is Brother Feng from? Who is your master?"

Feng Jiuge glanced at him with a meaningful look, and after a moment, he said calmly: "I am from the Eastern Continent, the Qingyun Sect."

From the Eastern Continent?

Ye Chen was stunned, and then his eyes lit up: "You are actually from the Eastern Continent? What a coincidence, I am also from the Eastern Continent!"

Feng Jiuge raised his eyebrows slightly, appearing somewhat surprised.

Ye Chen hurriedly said: "I am from the Azure Wave Sect of the Eastern Continent. To my shame, I have been away from the Sect for far too long; now that I want to return, I can hardly recognize the way."

Hearing this, Feng Jiuge said: "Azure Wave Sect... I recall that your Sect Master's Daoist title is Youhun?"

Ye Chen nodded repeatedly: "Exactly! Does Brother Feng know my Sect Master?"

Feng Jiuge shook his head: "I wouldn't say I know him, I've just heard of him."

"There are many Sects in the Eastern Continent; while the Azure Wave Sect isn't top-tier, it is somewhat famous."

"I occasionally hear your Sect Master's name."

Ye Chen felt strangely proud upon hearing this.

Though he couldn't say where this pride came from.

Feng Jiuge looked at him and added: "You just said you wanted to return to the Azure Wave Sect?"

Ye Chen nodded, his expression becoming complicated: "To be honest, my memory is like it's behind a fog, all blurry."

"I only remember that I come from the Azure Wave Sect, so I want to go back and ask Sect Master Youhun who I really am."

Hearing this, Feng Jiuge said: "In that case, why don't we travel together?"

Ye Chen looked up at him.

Feng Jiuge' expression was indifferent: "I haven't been back to the Eastern Continent in a long time either, so it's a good time to go back and see. If we travel together, we can look out for each other on the way."

Ye Chen was taken aback for a moment, then overjoyed: "That would be wonderful!"

Feng Jiuge waved his hand and didn't say more.

But in his heart, he was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

Azure Wave Sect.

The moment those three words reached his ears, he took note.

This person said he was from the Azure Wave Sect.

Yet Feng Jiuge had been in the Sect for many years and had never seen this person.

Although there were many Sect Disciples and it was impossible for him to know everyone.

But on second thought, it had been quite a few years since he had left the Sect.

This Ye Chen might have joined the Sect after he left.

But then again, how could there be so many coincidences in this world?

He was resting in this hidden ancient cave and just happened to encounter someone claiming to be from the Azure Wave Sect?

Feng Jiuge' mind raced through several thoughts.

He did not reveal his own true origins.

Regardless, since Ye Chen said he was returning to the Azure Wave Sect, they would travel together.

If he truly was a Azure Wave Sect Disciple, then naturally there would be no issue.

But if Ye Chen was a fake Azure Wave Sect Disciple, he would kill him on the way.

There was no harm in being more vigilant.

Both Feng Jiuge and Ye Chen were men of action; they left as soon as they spoke.

But upon leaving the ancient cave, they discovered that things were not so simple.

This deep mountain was not just any ordinary wilderness.

It was a Secret Realm.

Both had found their way in by Opportunity, and now to get out, they had to find the hidden exit.

This search lasted for a year.

During that year, the two traversed through the Secret Realm, crossing mountains and ridges, wading through waters and forests.

They encountered many dangers during this time, but both were at the Void Refining stage of cultivation, so by joining forces, they faced no major obstacles.

A year later, the two finally stepped out of the Secret Realm, identified their direction, and headed towards the Eastern Continent.

The journey home was long.

After traveling for a few days, Ye Chen discovered that Brother Feng had a habit.

Encountering the Yao Race, kill.

Encountering Demon Cultivators, kill.

Encountering Evil Cultivators, kill.

Encountering Righteous Path Cultivators, still kill.

Of course, if he met ten people, he would only kill nine.

There was one person he wouldn't kill; Ye Chen, puzzled, asked why.

Feng Jiuge replied, "This person does not deserve to die."

Ye Chen: "..."

Another day, the two were walking along a mountain path when they ran head-on into a group of Demon Soldiers.

The leader was a Yao Cultivator at the Spirit Transformation Realm, followed by seven or eight minor demons.

Feng Jiuge didn't stop, his sleeve fluttering slightly.

A sword light swept past silently.

The group of Demon Soldiers didn't even have time to let out a groan before they all fell to the ground.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched.

He looked at the corpses of the Demon Soldiers, then at Feng Jiuge' calm, unruffled face; he held back repeatedly but finally couldn't help himself:

"Brother Feng, killing them just like that without a word... isn't it a bit much?"

Feng Jiuge paused and looked back at him.

Ye Chen braced himself and said: "I mean, among the Yao Race, there might be good demons."

"Killing every single one we see, isn't it..."

Feng Jiuge interrupted him: "Brother Ye, rest assured."

"I have a Divine Ability that allows me to see the Karmic Obstruction of others."

"The bloody aura on these Yao Race members reaches the heavens, and their Karmic Obstruction is profound; there is no error in killing them."

Ye Chen opened his mouth.

Feng Jiuge added: "I will not kill the wrong person, nor will I kill the wrong demon. You can rest easy."

Ye Chen swallowed hard.

He suddenly really wanted to ask: "What about me?"

"Do I have Karmic Obstruction on me?"

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down.

What if he said yes?

What if he said my Karmic Obstruction was profound?

How awkward would that be.

Ye Chen gave a forced laugh: "That's good then, that's good."

Feng Jiuge glanced at him, said nothing more, and continued on their way.

Ye Chen followed behind, his heart in turmoil.

The following days were like this.

Walk for a while, kill for a while.

Encountering minor demons, kill.

Encountering great demons, kill.

Occasionally, when they encountered those with too high a cultivation, such as a Yao Cultivator at the Mahayana Realm, they could only flee.

They fled in a sorry state, looking bedraggled and exhausted.

But after escaping, Feng Jiuge remained unfazed; whenever he encountered a demon, he would still kill it.

Sometimes Ye Chen really wanted to ask him: "Brother Feng, is it really okay for you to have such a heavy killing intent?"

But he didn't dare ask.

Because he discovered that the Yao Race members Feng Jiuge killed indeed didn't look like good sorts, just as he had said.

Some were shrouded in resentment, some were followed by vengeful spirits, and some were simply eating people right in front of them.

Even if Ye Chen felt the slaughter was too heavy, he couldn't say a word against it.

Three years later.

Eastern Continent, Azure Wave Sect.

The mountain gate remained the same.

The familiar mountains, the familiar waters, and every familiar plant and tree.

Ye Chen stood before the mountain gate, staring blankly.

As he watched, tears began to fall.

This journey had been far from easy.

Being captured by the Bull Demon King, hung in the Catacombs with an oil vat underneath, and suffering torture every day.

Having finally escaped, he then encountered Feng Jiuge.

Meeting Feng Jiuge was one thing, but it just so happened that this Brother Feng was a madman with a heavy killing intent.

On the three-year journey home, he killed all the way, and Ye Chen fled along with him all the way.

Fleeing the pursuit of Mahayana Realm Yao Race members, escaping the encirclement of old demons at the Integration Stage, and surviving countless life-threatening situations.

Ye Chen wiped away his tears, with only one thought in his mind.

If he had known, he would have come back alone.

Heaven knows how much he had suffered on this journey.