Chapter 5: I Will Definitely Save You!
The old man looked at Ye Xiao’s shocked and puzzled expression and couldn’t help but smile as he spoke, “What’s the matter? Does it seem strange to you?”
“You awakened your bloodline because of the reversal of your ancestral technique, yet now you want to change your cultivation method?”
Ye Xiao hesitated and nodded slightly; indeed, that was what he thought.
The old man chuckled and replied, “Actually, the Ye family’s ancestral technique isn’t of a high grade. Its main purpose is simply to activate the bloodline!”
“As long as someone can trigger the automatic reversal of the technique, they can awaken the power of the Ye family’s bloodline!”
He then pointed to the Blood Meridian manual in Ye Xiao’s hands and continued, “This Blood Meridian was created through the efforts of several generations of the Ye family. It is a cultivation method meant solely for those who have awakened their bloodline.”
Ye Xiao suddenly understood.
“All right, take a look yourself. Rest early tonight. At dawn tomorrow, you will set off for the Yin-Yang Academy.”
The old man turned, hands clasped behind his back, twirling his tobacco pipe as he walked toward the door.
“Senior!”
Just as the old man was about to step outside, Ye Xiao called out again.
The old man stopped and turned to look but said nothing.
Ye Xiao fell silent for a moment before asking, “Senior, I believe you must possess great strength. Why didn’t you intervene when the Ye family was wiped out?”
The old man remained silent for a long while.
“I told you, I’m just a sword guardian! As long as no one can wield this sword, I will not act.”
With that, the old man left, leaving Ye Xiao somewhat bewildered.
After steadying his thoughts, Ye Xiao realized now was not the time to dwell on these matters. Since the old man had saved him and his sister, he should stop pondering other things.
He opened the Blood Meridian and began to study it carefully.
But the more he read, the more alarmed he became!
“Absorbing the vital essence and blood energy to form new meridians? Only by successfully constructing thirty-six blood meridians can one completely unleash the power of the Ye family’s bloodline?!”
Ye Xiao frowned. This Blood Meridian seemed somewhat unorthodox—almost like a forbidden art!
Fortunately, although it stated that absorbing human essence was most effective, it could also absorb the essence of demon beasts.
Now that the Demon Race was sealed in the Northern Wilderness, only demon beasts remained across the continent.
Luckily, these demon beasts were numerous and varied in strength, making the task less daunting.
With this thought, Ye Xiao let out a slight breath of relief.
He rose and opened the door, stepping into the adjacent room.
Upon entering, he saw a large bronze coffin resting there, two red candles flickering beside it.
Ye Xiao trembled as he approached and looked inside. Sure enough, Ye Yanran lay peacefully within.
“Yanran!”
Ye Xiao called softly, extending a trembling hand to stroke his sister’s pale, bloodless face.
“Don’t worry! Brother will save you! I promise!”
...
The next morning, Ye Xiao slung the broken sword over his back and bid farewell to the old man before setting off alone.
Because the broken sword was sealed, he could no longer return it to his dantian and had to carry it this way. Still, although it had lost its formidable power, it remained extremely sharp and served well as a weapon.
After traveling nearly half a day, he arrived at a crossroads where a teahouse stood.
“Waiter, bring me a pot of tea.”
Ye Xiao found a seat and took out the simple map the old man had given him to examine.
“Sir, your tea is here!”
Soon, the waiter brought over a pot of tea, placed it on the table, and was about to leave when his eyes caught sight of Ye Xiao’s map.
“Oh? Are you also heading to that Yin-Yang Academy?”
The waiter’s words startled Ye Xiao. He looked at him, frowning slightly. “How do you know?”
The waiter scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. Seeing no other customers around, he sat down on the stool next to Ye Xiao.
Pouring a cup of tea for Ye Xiao, he said, “You look like a cultivator. I’m just an ordinary person, so I don’t know much about the Yin-Yang Academy.”
“But many people resting here these days have talked about it, and their maps look much like yours. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop—sorry about that.”
Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow, surprised by this.
The old man had only told him to go to the Yin-Yang Academy without elaboration. Seeing that the waiter might know something, he decided to inquire.
“I see. Would you mind sharing what you’ve heard?”
Ye Xiao smiled and asked.
The waiter only kept scratching his head, showing no intention of speaking.
Ye Xiao frowned but soon had an idea. Smiling, he pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it before the waiter.
The waiter’s eyes lit up at the sight of the silver. Glancing furtively toward the shopkeeper, who was busy with accounts and not paying attention, he quickly pocketed the silver.
“Heh heh, sir, you’re too kind,” the waiter chuckled, then whispered, “Here’s what I heard...”
Half an hour later, Ye Xiao got up and left the teahouse, his face marked with a trace of solemnity.
After he left, the waiter walked over to the shopkeeper with a grin.
The shopkeeper was still counting money and didn’t look up, only saying calmly, “Did you tell him everything?”
The waiter nodded. “Yes, everything. Brother, this should be the last one, right?”
The shopkeeper finally closed the ledger and looked at him.
“Almost. The academy’s task is complete. Now, it’s a matter of how many will succeed.”
“Great! Finally, we can leave this miserable place!”
The waiter laughed happily. “Brother, we’ve been here for a whole month. My mouth is about to fall off. Now I can go back and drink!”
The shopkeeper shook his head with a smile.
“You never calm down, do you?”
“Heh heh, brother, you know me. I can’t change.”
The shopkeeper sighed. “Go pack up. The gentleman sent word that he’s waiting for us in Willow Leaf City.”
“All right! I’ll get right on it!”
The waiter turned to leave but was suddenly called back by the shopkeeper.
“Hm? Brother, is there something else?”
The shopkeeper said nothing, just stared quietly.
“Well, if you have something to say, just say it. You’re staring at me like that—it’s making me nervous!”
The waiter said anxiously.
The shopkeeper nodded. “Then I’ll be direct.”
With the waiter’s shocked and speechless expression, the shopkeeper said calmly, “Give me the silver that man gave you.”
...