Versatile Sword Cultivator

Chapter 203 – Return to the Sword Sect

"Young Master, where is he?"

Liang Baiye's face was filled with anxiety. His hatred for Lin Jichen was so intense that he didn't even notice the accusatory tone in his voice towards Li Xinghun.

It wasn't until he saw the destroyed teleportation array and the icy expression on Li Xinghun's face that he realized something was terribly wrong.

Li Xinghun's gaze was as cold as death itself as he looked at him.

"Are you blaming me for letting him escape?"

Liang Baiye's body trembled like a leaf in the wind. He fell to his knees, pleading, "Young Master, I didn't mean it like that. It's all because that kid is too cunning."

Li Xinghun's eyes were filled with murderous intent. "A mere Foundation Establishment Realm kid managed to escape right under your nose. Impressive. You truly are a great asset to our Ten Thousand Demon Sect."

Liang Baiye looked up, but before he could explain, Li Xinghun struck his head with a palm.

Liang Baiye let out a scream, but before he could struggle, Li Xinghun used his demonic powers to extract his soul.

Liang Baiye's Golden Elixir flew out of his body, and his soul begged for mercy.

"Young Master, I've always been loyal to you. I even betrayed the Mysterious Medical Sect to join you. You can't do this to me."

Li Xinghun ignored him, crushing his soul and Golden Elixir into nothingness, completely erasing him from existence.

Seeing how ruthless Li Xinghun was to his own subordinates, the surrounding people fled as far as they could. The entire city was soon deserted.

Li Xinghun looked at the destroyed teleportation array, as if speaking to the departed Lin Jichen.

"I'll remember you. Next time, you won't be so lucky!"

***

At this moment, Lin Jichen had already appeared in the main city of Yongning Province, Shengqing City.

With him was Fang Qingzhu.

The two of them felt a mix of relief and urgency, having narrowly escaped with their lives.

"We're finally safe," Fang Qingzhu said with a smile to Lin Jichen.

Lin Jichen returned the smile and sighed, "Yes, surviving such a disaster must mean good fortune ahead."

Li Xinghun would never dare to appear in the main city of Yongning Province.

After all, he was a demonic cultivator. If he dared to come so openly, the royal family of Yongning Province would immediately hunt him down.

But to be safe, they needed to return to their sects as soon as possible.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, to avoid any further tricks from the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, we should quickly return to our respective sects."

Fang Qingzhu nodded, "You're right. I also need to report the matter of Liang Baiye to my sect in detail."

"Then let's part ways here, Fellow Daoist Fang," Lin Jichen said, taking his leave.

Fang Qingzhu suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Were they really parting ways now?

She didn't like this feeling.

"Wait, Lin... Jichen."

Fang Qingzhu called out, addressing him by his full name.

"What is it, Fellow Daoist Fang?" Lin Jichen asked, puzzled.

Fang Qingzhu, feeling a bit down, said, "Can you stop calling me that from now on?"

Lin Jichen realized what she meant and chuckled awkwardly, "Alright, I'll call you Qingzhu from now on. How's that?"

"Mm," Fang Qingzhu's mood brightened, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Lin Jichen, will we meet again in the future?" Fang Qingzhu asked, her eyes filled with hope.

Lin Jichen smiled freely and replied confidently, "Of course. We share a bond and have faced life and death together. We'll have plenty of opportunities to meet. You can come to the Tianyan Sword Sect to find me, or when I have time, I'll visit you at the Mysterious Medical Sect."

Fang Qingzhu's spirits lifted immediately.

"Then it's a promise!"

"A promise!"

With those words, Lin Jichen disappeared into the teleportation array.

Fang Qingzhu suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart. She muttered to herself, "I hope we can meet again soon."

With a sense of reluctance, she also left the place.

Lin Jichen returned from Shengqing City to Fengqu City, the main city of Mu Xian Province.

After several days away, Lin Jichen was exhausted.

The days in Thunder Marsh had left him particularly weary, not physically, but mentally drained.

He had narrowly won several battles and escaped death at the hands of Li Xinghun. Lin Jichen felt completely spent.

He didn't even take a look around Fengqu City, directly teleporting back to the Tianyan Sword Sect.

Returning to Sword Palace Mountain, Lin Jichen felt incredibly fortunate. This trip to Thunder Marsh had made him miss the Sword Sect immensely, especially his master.

"Master, I'm back!"

Lin Jichen walked into Sword Palace, finding no one there. He then familiarly made his way to Leng Feiyan's bedchamber, calling out from outside.

Before long, Leng Feiyan emerged from her bedchamber, her face filled with joy.

"Disciple, you're back?"

But when Leng Feiyan saw Lin Jichen's disheveled appearance, a trace of heartache appeared in her eyes.

"Yes, mission accomplished. Master, look."

Lin Jichen threw out the corpse of the Thunder Dragon.

Leng Feiyan looked at the Thunder Dragon. She didn't need to think to know that Lin Jichen's journey had been fraught with difficulties.

"How did you kill this Thunder Dragon?" Leng Feiyan asked curiously.

She assumed Lin Jichen must have found many helpers to kill it together.

Although she no longer sheltered Lin Jichen, she hadn't sent him to Thunder Marsh alone.

Leng Feiyan didn't want Lin Jichen to become dependent on her, preventing him from truly growing.

But Lin Jichen said, "I didn't kill this Thunder Dragon. I picked it up."

"Picked it up?" Leng Feiyan was stunned.

Lin Jichen chuckled, "To be precise, I stole it."

Leng Feiyan's curiosity grew, "Come inside and tell me all about your experiences in Thunder Marsh."

"Sure thing." Lin Jichen swaggered into Leng Feiyan's private bedchamber.

He was so familiar with this place, more so than his own quarters.

And the familiar fragrance...

Once inside, Lin Jichen recounted everything he had experienced in Thunder Marsh.

When she heard that Lin Jichen had encountered threats from the Ten Thousand Demon Sect right at the start, Leng Feiyan slapped the table, turning the exquisite purple sandalwood Eight Immortals Table into dust.

"The Ten Thousand Demon Sect, the demonic sects have become increasingly rampant lately. It seems they need a thorough cleaning!"

Leng Feiyan's face was as cold as frost, her voice as icy as shattered jade, chilling to the bone.

Lin Jichen continued his story, mentioning how he encountered and killed the Kai Ming Beast.

Leng Feiyan couldn't help but interrupt.

"Disciple, did you go to Thunder Marsh alone?"

Lin Jichen nodded, "Yes, Master told me not to become dependent, so I went alone. Oh, I also brought my pet Iron-Eating Beast."

Thud!

Leng Feiyan knocked Lin Jichen on the head, her anger rising.

"Foolish disciple, when did I ever tell you to go to Thunder Marsh alone!"

"But Master, you said..." Lin Jichen held his head, feeling wronged.

"I told you to find a way to get the Thunder Spirit Heart from Thunder Marsh, not to go alone. You're only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. It's too dangerous to go alone! You could have asked others to go with you. There are so many experts in the sect. Why didn't you think of that?" Leng Feiyan said in a tone of exasperation.

Lin Jichen suddenly understood and smiled bitterly, "So that's what you meant. I thought you wanted me to go alone."

"How could I bear to send you to your death?" Leng Feiyan's phoenix eyes glared, her voice filled with frustration.