Volume Two: Blood Stains the Bodhi Chapter Nineteen: The Ominous Sign

After Captain Zhao left the government office, his mind was filled with a mix of emotions.

He kept pondering who the Great Demon Lord really was—someone capable of training Chen Buqun, such a formidable individual, must surely be a peerless expert.

If so powerful, he should be about the same age as the county magistrate.

That meant he was a formidable elder.

Yes, by all logical deduction, that was the only conclusion.

Captain Zhao had always considered himself a prodigy, naturally gifted and self-taught, believing he needed no master.

But after meeting Chen Buqun, he began to realize how wrong he had been.

Lost in thought, Captain Zhao made his way to the Kelao Tavern.

The Azure Sky Pavilion was a secret underground chamber beneath the tavern—a true sanctuary where immortals cultivated their arts.

Upon arriving, Zhao found the immortals engaged in their spiritual practices, making it inappropriate to disturb them.

So he waited in the reception room, though faint sounds of intimate pleasure, like that of a man and woman, occasionally drifted to his ears.

This puzzled Zhao, but he dismissed it, assuming tavern guests were indulging in passionate affairs, and the beds in the rooms were simply ill-suited.

After a long wait, Captain Zhao finally met the Supreme Immortal, his face flushed and sweat pouring down his brow.

“General Zhao, sorry to have kept you waiting…” the Supreme Immortal said, slightly breathless as if from strenuous exertion.

“Greetings, Celestial Master! I’ve only just arrived. I’m here because the county has a small medical clinic where a wild monk has been slandering the immortals. Lord Zheng has tasked me with resolving this matter,” Zhao said respectfully.

Yet, before the Supreme Immortal, Zhao appeared somewhat restrained.

“Oh? What does Lord Zheng mean exactly?” the Supreme Immortal inquired lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Well, Lord Zheng said this is a critical moment, and no mistakes can be made. He wants to handle it using underworld methods,” Zhao answered seriously.

“Haha… A mere small clinic is hardly worth the trouble of mobilizing forces…”

“That’s true… I’m just worried…” Zhao hesitated.

“Who dares be so bold? Celestial Master, leave it to me,” came a voice as a bald, burly man stepped out from inside.

He wore no shirt, only a white towel wrapped around his waist, sweat glistening over his body. A sword hilt protruded from his mouth, as if he had swallowed the entire blade.

Yet, he spoke fluently—a remarkable feat.

The Supreme Immortal called him the Sword-Swallowing King.

Captain Zhao was startled upon his first glimpse of the Sword-Swallowing King.

Later, he learned that the man was practicing a technique that involved swallowing the sword to enhance the connection between his heart and the blade, with the sword piercing through his vital energy channels to keep them unobstructed.

Though it sounded mystical, the Sword-Swallowing King was a genuine thirty-layer top martial artist.

“Sword-Swallowing King, don’t stir up trouble… Let the subordinates handle small matters,” the Supreme Immortal shook his head with a gentle smile.

“I’ve been itching to move lately. Let me stretch my legs, and I might even bring back some holy maidens… heh heh,” the King said loudly but with evident respect for the Supreme Immortal.

“Very well… but remember to keep it clean…” the Supreme Immortal sighed lightly.

“With the Sword-Swallowing King stepping in, that’s excellent… Lord Zheng’s men have already gone… I fear…” Zhao hurriedly complimented.

“No worries, I’m just tagging along… You go ahead; leave some for me to enjoy… especially the women,” the King said with a lecherous grin.

Captain Zhao felt uneasy—if things continued like this, She Qianqian would be in great danger.

But at this point, he was just a lowly captain; there was nothing more he could say. If anyone was to blame, it was She Qianqian herself for not heeding his warnings.

Leaving the Kelao Tavern, Zhao ordered several subordinates to investigate the Great Demon Lord and the origins of the wild monk who had suddenly appeared at the clinic.

Of course, he could never have guessed they were actually the same person.

...

As the sun set, She Qianqian was sorting herbs, but her mind inexplicably wandered to that scoundrel monk, Xiao Yan.

At present, Xiao Yan’s whereabouts were unknown; he had vanished. Before leaving, he had asked, “Where is the nearest brothel to the clinic?”

“Bastard! He truly is a wild monk!” She Qianqian clenched her silver teeth in anger.

She didn’t understand why she was so upset over a complete stranger.

Li Bai was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, glancing hesitantly toward She Qianqian inside the clinic. After a moment’s resolve, he finally entered slowly.

“Qianqian... I…” Li Bai lowered his head, stepping inside cautiously.

“Hero Li Bai, please call me She Dabiao,” She Qianqian said calmly, slightly frowning and turning her head.

“Thank you for saving me. I don’t expect your forgiveness,” Li Bai paused, looking at the young woman who now stood tall and graceful. Guilt weighed on him as he continued, “What happened to your mother—I will never forgive myself for that. It’s only caused you suffering… You’ve grown up, and your father hasn’t been able to give you anything…”

“I have no father,” She Qianqian said softly, her voice steady as she continued handling the herbs.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hero Li Bai is a hero to the world. How could you apologize to anyone?” She Qianqian stopped her movements and suddenly fixed her gaze on him.

“Qianqian…”

Silence filled the clinic; no one spoke.

Li Bai sighed and began to walk toward the door.

“Wait…”

The young woman’s voice called from behind him.

Li Bai halted.

“If you had to choose again, would you still want to be a great hero?” She Qianqian asked after a moment’s silence.

“I…” Li Bai replied without much hesitation, “When lives are at stake, if you have the power to save, it becomes a responsibility…”

“But my mother’s life wasn’t a life? Why didn’t you save her?” The girl suddenly stood, slamming the table forcefully.

“To save one is to save the world… Do you understand that?” Li Bai turned away, lowering his head, unwilling to meet her eyes.

“Before she died, my mother told me—you are her world…” Her eyes welled with tears, brows furrowed, a trace of sorrow in her gaze. “You saved your world, but what about my mother?”

“Qianqian…” Li Bai slowly lifted his head and stepped forward.

“Get lost! Li Bai! Get out of here! Go find your world!” She Qianqian glared fiercely.

Li Bai frowned and tried to speak, but no words came out.

“Go! Now!” Furious, She Qianqian grabbed a herb and threw it at him.

The herb struck Li Bai’s forehead with a soft smack; blood slowly trickled down.

He said nothing, only nodded slightly to She Qianqian and lowered his head as he walked out.

...

Meanwhile, the Sword-Swallowing King, Li Liqing, with his large belly, was heading toward the small clinic.

Along the way, he leered at passing women, following those with some charm.

He bore none of the demeanor of a true master.

“Little sister, want to have some chicken with me tonight?” The King, sword still clenched in his mouth, leered as he approached.

The woman paled and hurried away.

Captain Zhao watched dumbfounded, never imagining the immortals to be such folk.

The Sword-Swallowing King was relentless.

Whenever a woman entered a deserted alley, he quickened his pace to follow.

When he emerged, he carried a large black bag, which he tossed to Captain Zhao.

“This holy maiden is coming back with me; tonight she’ll cultivate immortality with me!”

“Oh…” Captain Zhao was no fool and began to sense the truth.

Yet, out of respect for the county magistrate, he chose to believe these women were truly taken to cultivate immortality with the immortals, trying not to imagine anything sordid.

“Heh heh, Brother Zhao, look what I’ve found!” The King chuckled as he looked ahead.

Captain Zhao followed his gaze and was instantly struck—a beautiful young woman dressed as a gallant swordsman appeared.

Her peerless beauty gradually revealed itself. Her eyes drifted lightly, but what captivated most was the aura of a swordswoman. Such a woman fulfilled a man’s deepest desire for conquest; few men could resist her formidable presence.

In this chaotic ancient martial world, women warriors were rare, let alone one as stunning as this.

“Heh heh… I like this girl… I must take her to cultivate immortality tonight… heh heh…” The Sword-Swallowing King licked his lips lecherously.

“King, this one… judging by her attire and accessories, she’s from the Chen family… not someone to mess with… We should focus on the real task first,” Captain Zhao hesitated, stepping forward to advise.

“What Chen family? The Green Scarf faction acts fearlessly!” The King sneered and shook his head, moving toward the young woman.

“The Northern Chen family… Not sure if the King has heard of the great hero Chen Bufan…”

“Chen Bufan?” The King repeated the name, his expression growing serious.

“Yes, today we’re here to deal with the wild monk at the small clinic—that’s the real matter…”

“Hmph, to be honest, I didn’t take that wild monk at the clinic seriously…” The King sneered. “Finally able to get out today; of course, I want to pick some pretty holy maidens. The ones you’ve brought recently just won’t do…”

“But…” Captain Zhao frowned.

“Stop whining. Chen Bufan may be tough, but no one knows him well,” the King smiled faintly and followed the young woman into the alley.