Chapter 107: The Price of Secrets and the Promise of Family

Ye Xingchen gazed at the three puddles of crimson blood on the ground.

He had never intended to kill them all, wishing only to uncover the cave’s secrets and learn more about the mysterious organization that sought the so-called ancient alchemical artifacts.

To his astonishment, these three unfortunate souls had not only triggered the prohibitions left by a deceased cultivator but had also, at some unknown point, been secretly targeted by that enigmatic organization.

“Man dies for wealth, just as birds perish for food,” he murmured with a light sigh.

The increasingly potent scent of blood permeating the cave inexplicably transported him back to his previous life on Earth, evoking unpleasant memories of the foul air tainted with burning plastic during his working days.

Ye Xingchen had already formed an initial assessment of the spiritual energy emanating from the cave.

To delve deeper, the most straightforward approach would be to examine the two cultivators’ skeletons and the pair of Eight Trigram formations beneath his feet.

Given his cultivation, he harbored no concern that the deceased cultivators’ prohibitions would pose any threat to him.

However, he was no grave robber; he believed that the departed deserved their eternal rest.

He recalled his master from his previous life, who had attained nirvana.

Every Qingming Festival, he would bring a jar of peach blossom wine, a vintage his master had missed in life, and drink alone before the grave, reminiscing about bygone days.

Should anyone dare to covet the treasures and cultivation techniques his master had left behind, and desecrate his remains, Ye Xingchen would be the first to object, pulverizing their bones to dust!

Shaking his head, Ye Xingchen strove to alleviate the inexplicable sorrow in his heart.

Time, since antiquity, had proven itself the most merciless force.

One might endure countless hardships and finally discover the beauty they sought, yet there would always be a moment that could not be held back.

Perhaps… only by comprehending the laws of time could one transcend such an inexorable fate.

Ye Xingchen meticulously surveyed the cave’s interior.

Beyond the obvious signs of struggle and the two Eight Trigram formations, there was nothing particularly remarkable.

Oh, he nearly forgot: the ancient alchemical artifacts mentioned by the three black-clad figures.

Firearms.

He focused intently on the pile of firearms, his divine sense meticulously sweeping over every component.

These weapons bore an uncanny resemblance to the standard models found on Earth, yet a closer inspection revealed subtle distinctions.

Some, ravaged by the relentless march of time, had rusted beyond repair, while others were etched with unfamiliar magical runes, clearly indicating special modifications.

Gazing at these weapons, which seemed to defy the boundaries of space and time, Ye Xingchen found himself lost in contemplation.

Why had these two cultivators amassed such an arsenal during their lives?

Were they, like him, searching for spatiotemporal coordinates to return home? Or did they harbor other intentions?

Indeed, the greater the hope, the deeper the despair.

With the three black-clad figures exploding into oblivion, the trail of clues abruptly vanished.

Initially, he had speculated that a cultivator might have been in secluded cultivation here.

If they had been an old acquaintance from the same time-space, perhaps they could have shared drinks and lamented their separation.

Now, however, it seemed only to add more layers of mystery.

Ye Xingchen gazed intently at the cave’s layout, recalling the earlier Qimen Dunjia formation.

The Yi Wood resided in the four cardinal directions, its two states signifying a place of decay, while the Ding Fire occupied a position of decline, akin to a flickering candle in the wind.

Their combination precisely indicated a conjunction of yin energy and decay.

Considering the overall arrangement with the Zhifu Tianchong Star and Dumen, this place had clearly once harbored astonishing power, yet now only an aura of decline remained.

Alas… time had ultimately rendered everything obsolete.

With the clues exhausted, Su Liyue gently removed the Ultraman masks from the faces of the two cultivators.

Ye Xingchen, cooperating seamlessly, stored them away in his spatial dimension.

He carefully carried Su Liyue back to Mu Wanqing, gently setting her down.

Perhaps from the habit ingrained over sixteen years of living as a girl, Su Liyue instinctively patted the hem of her academy uniform skirt.

“Let’s go, Qingqing,” Su Liyue said.

“There’s nothing left to see here; we might as well search for herbs elsewhere.”

Mu Wanqing’s gaze flickered between the two of them, finally settling on Ye Xingchen’s calm, unperturbed eyes.

“Yueyue, those three black-clad figures… they…” Mu Wanqing trailed off, the horrifying screams still echoing in her ears.

Su Liyue discerned a complex tapestry of emotions in her best friend’s eyes: fear, hesitation, and a faint, almost imperceptible unease.

For a girl of her age, confronting death with composure remained a formidable challenge.

“Xingchen had originally intended to extract some clues,” Su Liyue explained, her voice unconsciously softening.

“But regrettably, before they could even speak, they were… purged by the mysterious organization behind them.”

“Purged?” Mu Wanqing’s pupils contracted slightly.

Ye Xingchen nodded.

“While we don’t know their true background or how much information they possess, you might have already exposed yourself just now.”

“It would be safer for you to stay with Yueyue and me from now on, lest those individuals come looking for trouble.”

During her close encounter with the three black-clad figures moments ago, she had genuinely felt an oppressive aura far exceeding that of any academy student.

Was this the true power of external cultivators?

The mere thought of being targeted by those even more formidable mysterious entities sent shivers down her spine.

“Don’t be scared, Qingqing~” Su Liyue said, observing her best friend’s anxious expression.

Unable to resist, she reached out and playfully pinched her cute little cheek.

“Xingchen will protect us!”

“How about this: after graduation, I’ll marry Xingchen, and you marry me.

Then we, as best friends, will be one big family, and all our problems will be solved, won’t they?”

“What do you mean, you marry Xingchen, and I marry you?!” Mu Wanqing exclaimed, her face instantly flushing crimson.

‘Wouldn’t that mean both she and her best friend would be given to Ye Xingchen?’

Even Qizai, standing nearby, suddenly displayed a knowing expression, as if understanding the juicy drama unfolding.

“Well… what if both of us marry Xingchen?” Su Liyue suggested with a mischievous grin.

“I’ll take the lesser position; you can be the first wife, and I’ll be the second~”

‘After all, Ye Xingchen was essentially herself, so the order didn’t matter.’

‘What truly mattered was that this way, her best friend would always be by her side, ensuring her safety and providing a constant companion, preventing loneliness in the future.’

‘It didn’t sound so bad, did it?’

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