Chapter 51: Master’s Benevolence and Disciple’s Filial Piety
Inside the Zhen Mansion dungeon.
Upon hearing the words of the stunningly beautiful woman, a torrent of profanities instantly erupted in Ding Songyan’s mind. They converged like a storm, sweeping through his thoughts:
"Damn it, 'Ding Qingyan' is Yan Changqing’s disciple?
"She is the so-called 'old friend' of Yan Changqing?
"No wonder my Path-Peering couldn't discern her true form. Taught by the same master, I simply couldn't break through her defenses! Especially since her master’s current state and strength might not even be on par with hers...
"Who exactly is she?"
As his thoughts surged uncontrollably, Ding Songyan noticed the look of terror on Yan Changqing’s face recede significantly, replaced by a forced, kindly smile.
"How did that copy of the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* fall into your hands?" Yan Changqing’s voice was as hoarse as sand scraping against iron.
Hearing this, Ding Songyan’s heart skipped a beat:
Is Master Yan at his wit's end? Is he trying to stall for time and find inspiration by rambling on about such nonsense?
Use your super-intelligence, quickly!
I admit now that we are both grasshoppers tied to the same string; if you die, I likely won't survive either!
The woman’s eyes shifted, and she said with a shallow, beaming smile:
"Those old fogies fear you, Master. While they covet your position, they worry about your sudden return, so they let this disciple do the legwork. Naturally, I handle all these trivial matters."
As she spoke, she walked toward Yan Changqing with a light, graceful gait, adding with a grin:
"Others come to save you, Master, only to scheme for the location of Kunlun or the Heavenly Emperor’s secret treasures. Only this disciple is different; I have only you in my heart, and I only want you to die."
Yan Changqing’s expression grew even uglier.
The woman stopped in front of Yan Changqing, tilted her head slightly, and said with a smile on her lips:
"Master, why are you afraid?
"You weren't like this when you severed my worldly ties back then."
Seeing that "Ding Qingyan" was ignoring him, Ding Songyan quietly shifted his feet, moving toward the open iron door.
Just then, the woman’s gaze flickered, sweeping over him.
Ding Songyan stopped instantly, unable to move against his will.
No, wait, does this still involve me?
Can't you two just chat properly?
The woman continued to look at Yan Changqing, who sat in the grand armchair, her eyes like flowing water:
"Back then, Master, you were so high-spirited. You said, 'Hanyi, Master is waiting for the day you surpass me.'"
Hanyi? Ding Songyan suddenly felt the name sounded familiar.
Suddenly, a sense of coolness descended into his Sea of Consciousness, manifesting the image of Yan Changqing above a golden, shimmering ocean.
The refined-looking Yan Changqing spoke quite rapidly to Ding Songyan:
"You should know who she is by now, right?
"She is my unfilial disciple, Ji Hanyi."
"Ji Hanyi, the demoness of the Absolute Saint Path?" Ding Songyan blurted out in shock.
A character from the martial arts storytelling books has actually appeared right beside me...
And the ones before were only tangentially related...
Yan Changqing nodded:
"She is cunning, ruthless, and has killed countless people. Once she disposes of me, she will certainly not spare you.
"You must assist me wholeheartedly and follow my arrangements if we are to have any chance of escaping alive.
"I will grant you Qi once more and help you suppress the Heavenly Heart Mark she left in your Sea of Consciousness so she cannot interfere with your thoughts."
The old man said all this in one breath, and Ding Songyan could clearly sense his urgency.
"Heavenly Heart Mark?" Ding Songyan asked subconsciously.
Something similar to the "seed" of Clear Mist?
Yan Changqing said solemnly:
"The fundamental art of the *Heavenly Heart Wisdom Sutra* is the 'Heaven-Altering Earth-Shifting Divine Art.' It has two core secrets. The world only knows the first half, but today I will tell you the complete version:
"Imprint the Heavenly Heart with one's own heart, and infuse the human heart with the Heavenly Heart!
"Once the Heavenly Heart is injected into your soul, the mark that naturally forms is the Heavenly Heart Mark. By utilizing this mark, Ji Hanyi can influence your thoughts and obscure your memories."
My guess was correct... And the reason that "Qi" is so powerful is because I have been injected with the "Heavenly Heart." With the "Heavenly Heart" sensing the heavens and earth, a single wisp of "Qi" can leverage the power of the world? Ding Songyan’s thoughts raced. He didn't ask further and said in a low voice:
"This junior is willing to assist you, Senior!"
What he feared more right now was not Yan Changqing, but Ji Hanyi.
All these days, the demoness Ji had been sleeping on the bed right next to his, separated only by a flimsy screen.
That was personal surveillance!
Ding Songyan finally realized why he had repeatedly had ideas and made discoveries, only to be "intercepted" with precision the moment he turned around—either forgetting everything entirely or subconsciously ignoring certain possibilities. It was because the person behind the scenes was sleeping in the same room.
He also understood one thing: why it was so easy for Xiaoqing to fall for the trap and forget the crucial details, while her second uncle remained completely oblivious:
"Xiaoqing was likely implanted with the Heavenly Heart Mark while she was in my room. The subsequent attack on the road was merely a cover: that way, even if Xiaoqing’s second uncle accidentally discovered her thinking was being influenced, he wouldn't suspect Ding Qingyan, because the incident appeared to have happened 'on the way' from Chengyu Lane to the Tianyang Guild Hall!" Ding Songyan’s thoughts swirled, and he gained some clarity.
Meanwhile, Yan Changqing seized the moment to grant Ding Songyan "Qi" again, condensing a Clear Mist "seed" within his Sea of Consciousness.
In reality, facing Ji Hanyi’s words, Yan Changqing revealed a bitter smile:
"I went through the same thing, Master. It is not just you.
"Hanyi, Master has actually been thinking of you all these years. Even when I was on Kunlun Mountain, I was thinking about what to bring back for you."
Ji Hanyi raised an eyebrow, her smile unchanging:
"Master, you should be reciting your last words, not useless talk like that."
Yan Changqing shook his head:
"Over the years, through the storytelling of the Zhen Mansion disciples, I have kept track of your situation. I know you were defeated by Feng Yining, leaving a flaw in your heart, and that you lost all hope of reaching the Heavenly Human Realm.
"Now that Feng Yining has died in seclusion, you have no chance to mend your foundation. If you do not walk the path of the Heavenly Heart—which has extremely high requirements for the state of one's heart—and instead turn to other methods, you will only obtain the Taotie inheritance and the Heavenly Emperor’s teachings, which are not compatible. Both are difficult to attain."
Ji Hanyi did not strike; she stood there with a faint smile, as if wanting to hear what her master could possibly say at the end.
Yan Changqing said with a sincere expression:
"I did indeed find the vanished Kunlun Mountain back then and entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace. You should be able to confirm this from the copy of the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* I transcribed.
"I also found part of the remains of Dijiang in the Heavenly Emperor’s palace. Dijiang, or Chaos, was the first and most ancient Heavenly Emperor. His divine nature encompasses everything and is sufficient for you to switch paths.
"Once you consume it, the power brought by the remains will instantly merge with your own realm, having no negative impact on your strength. It can also encompass the various arts of the *Heavenly Heart Wisdom Sutra*. With your accumulation, you will surely enter the Heavenly Human Realm in two years at most, or one year at least."
Dijiang, Chaos? Master Yan, you really do have treasures... No wonder Zhen Qianfan was tempted; doesn't this perfectly meet his needs? Even though Ding Songyan was trembling with fear, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
As expected of Master Yan, who has entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace—he even brought out part of the Heavenly Emperor’s remains!
However, I don't know how much of this old swindler's words are true... Facing Ji Hanyi, if it weren't a real bait, this demoness probably wouldn't swallow it. The possibility of the old swindler lying is low; at most, he is concealing something in the key details...
Also, how did Zhen Qianfan know back then that Yan Changqing had the remains of Chaos? Yan Changqing couldn't have told him... Or was he simply tempted by the Heavenly Emperor’s secret treasures?
As Ding Songyan felt a sense of longing, the smile on Ji Hanyi’s face faded slightly, her eyes like water, seemingly rippling.
Yan Changqing continued:
"I have hidden that part of Dijiang’s remains and other treasures brought from the Heavenly Emperor’s palace in a secret location. Hanyi, if you save Master, I will take you to retrieve them. Not only will the Dijiang remains be yours, but you will also have a share of the other treasures."
Ji Hanyi suddenly smiled like a flower, making the underground chamber seem to be bathed in radiance.
Her gaze swept over Ding Songyan, and she said to Yan Changqing with a smile:
"Master, the fact that my heart has a flaw and I can no longer make a breakthrough is a secret of this disciple. Even if the people of the Five Saints Sect have their suspicions, they cannot be certain. The reason this news spread is because I spread it myself and fueled the flames, fearing that you, Master, would not dare to return to the sect after your realm fell or you were severely injured.
"You also know that the sect has always sent various people to secretly watch over masters like Zhen Qianfan who have attached themselves to us. They only observe and do not make contact. Qin Nansheng is one such person, and others are the same.
"Two years ago, Qin Nansheng sent word that Zhen Mansion disciples often learned storytelling, and I found it very strange. Nine months ago, Jia Yushu brought back that *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*, and I immediately guessed what had happened. I guessed that you, Master, were using the storytelling to learn about the world and the changes in the martial arts scene. I couldn't let those old fogies know about that.
"So, I let that rumor spread even wider in Ning Province to see if I could trick some useful information out of you when I met you again. You truly did not disappoint my expectations..."
Before Ji Hanyi finished speaking, the Yan Changqing in Ding Songyan’s mind roared:
"Strike!
"Then carry me and escape the Zhen Mansion!"
The Clear Mist "seed" in Ding Songyan’s Sea of Consciousness shone brightly, completely suppressing all other distracting thoughts.
Taking this opportunity, Ding Songyan split half of the "Qi" from the Clear Mist "seed" and transferred it to his palm.
Once again, he felt another body belonging to himself in the void, feeling the flow and changes of the world’s energy.
He didn't understand before, but now he realized:
This is the Heavenly Heart!
Ding Songyan grasped the changes in the world’s energy and struck a palm toward the demoness Ji Hanyi from the side and rear.
Countless currents of air gathered before his palm, instantly forming a violent, ready-to-burst whirlwind.
In just an instant, he saw Ji Hanyi’s plain, fresh face before him, her intoxicating smile, and a fair, soft palm.
That palm was also gathering a violent whirlwind.
The next moment, the two palms collided.
Bang!
The whirlwind exploded, instantly growing from small to large, surging rapidly upward.
This dragon-like gale swept up the oil lamp, swept up Yan Changqing and the grand armchair, punched through the ceiling of the underground chamber, and shook the entire small building.
Amidst the storm, the wooden building quickly fell apart, flying into the air piece by piece.
Ding Songyan and Ji Hanyi, who were at the eye of the storm, remained unaffected; the former took a step back, while the latter stood as still as a mountain.
On the highest watchtower, Tao Wenshu drew his sword with a "clink."
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