Chapter 118: Returning to Qingxi Town, Seeing Ling'er Again

“Returning to Qingxi Town?” Upon hearing the old healer’s words, Lu Zhe paused momentarily, then asked with some confusion, “Return where? For what purpose?”

“To recover from your injuries, of course,” the old healer replied matter-of-factly.

Lu Zhe frowned slightly and asked again, puzzled, “Why go all the way back to Qingxi Town to recover?”

“The environment there is quite pleasant, with clear mountains and pure waters—it’s an ideal place to heal in peace,” the old healer said calmly.

Hearing this, Lu Zhe couldn’t help but laugh wryly. “I’m hardly injured enough to abandon my cultivation and go back. Isn’t that just giving up halfway and wasting all my previous efforts?”

The old healer smiled and waved his hand in denial, then said meaningfully, “Remember this, Zhe’er: no matter what you do, never go to extremes. Otherwise, it’s easy to backfire. You must learn to balance work and rest; only then can you gradually grow stronger.”

“But if Shangguan Yijing trains hard while I’m resting, I’m afraid I’ll be defeated by her when I return in three years,” Lu Zhe said uneasily, scratching his head.

The old healer smiled gently, looking at Lu Zhe as if regarding a naive child. “You haven’t seen her, so how do you know she’s training hard while you rest? Perhaps she’s resting as well. Even if she is training relentlessly, I can assure you that after three years, she will be utterly defeated by you.”

“But—” Lu Zhe was about to say more, but the old healer interrupted him with a somewhat displeased tone: “Just listen to your master.”

Seeing the worried expression on Lu Zhe’s face, the old healer smiled bitterly and said, “My foolish disciple, I am your master and would never harm you. You are young and spirited, and having that stubbornness is good, but don’t overdo it. Some things I tell you now you won’t understand. When you grow older and have seen more of the world, everything will become clear naturally.”

Though reluctant, Lu Zhe could only nod in agreement.

Suddenly, the old healer seemed to recall something. He lightly poked Lu Zhe’s arm with his elbow and said in a teasing tone, “If I’m not mistaken, don’t you have a girlfriend in Qingxi Town?”

Lu Zhe’s face flushed a deep crimson, burning like fire. Looking at the old healer’s mischievous grin, he lowered his head shyly, murmuring softly, “N-no, that’s not true.”

The old healer chuckled and teased, “Oh really? Then why are you blushing so much?”

Lu Zhe scratched his head awkwardly and smiled sheepishly.

The old healer gave Lu Zhe a playful tap on the back of his head, then glanced up at the sky. “Alright, it’s getting late. We should set off. It’s the hour of Shen now; the sun is in the west, and Qingxi Town lies to the southwest.” He pointed with his hand toward the southwest and then turned back. “Let’s fly in that direction.”

Lu Zhe nodded but suddenly remembered something. “Master, the journey is long. Your profound strength might not be affected by the expenditure of spiritual energy, but I’m different. With my current elixir, I can only sustain the ‘Black Flying Wings’ for about two hours at most. Qingxi Town is over a thousand miles away, and I can only fly a few dozen miles a day. Besides, with my internal injuries, it would take more than a month just to fly back. How would I have time to recover?”

The old healer nodded in agreement and then pondered for a moment. “Since you have internal injuries, it’s inconvenient for you to take the ‘Healing Spirit Pill.’ How about this: I’ll ride on Little Black and carry both of us back.”

“Hmm? Little Black? Who’s that?” Lu Zhe asked curiously.

The old healer smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out soon enough.” He then reached into his jade ring, and after a flash of light, a delicate and exquisite white flute appeared in his hand.

The flute was exceptionally beautiful, its body resembling jade bamboo, crystal clear, with eight small holes arranged in a row. A red tassel hung from the end, adding to its elegance.

The old healer brought the flute to his lips and began to play. Instantly, a melodious and enchanting tune flowed forth, echoing through the endless mountains. The flute’s sound blended with the birdsong from the forest, weaving through the mist-shrouded peaks. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and stirred the fog, creating a scene of ethereal beauty that seemed like a paradise on earth. The flute’s lingering notes added a poignant charm to this otherworldly landscape.

Suddenly, from deep within the mountains, a piercing cry like a phoenix’s call rang out, its resonance reverberating through the rugged peaks.

“It’s coming,” the old healer murmured with a slight smile, withdrawing the flute and standing quietly at the cliff’s edge, eyes fixed on the rolling mountain range.

Again, a sharp cry echoed through the valleys, this time accompanied by fierce winds that seemed to tear at the skin.

A violent gust swept through, instantly scattering the mist and revealing the jagged mountain peaks.

Suddenly, a massive black silhouette appeared among the hills ahead of Lu Zhe, rapidly approaching his position.

A sharp whistle pierced the air again, causing Lu Zhe’s ears to ache slightly. From behind the clouds above, something descended swiftly, arriving just thirty feet above his head within moments.

Looking up, Lu Zhe saw a gigantic black bird.

The bird spread its vast wings and flapped downward, using the strong wind to hover in place.

“A fifth-rank Beast King, a Heavenly Wing Black Bird?!” Lu Zhe exclaimed in astonishment.

The Heavenly Wing Black Bird is a mid-level fifth-rank Beast King, known for its enormous size, remarkable speed, and endurance. It is called the ‘Black Lightning’ among flying Beast Kings. Mature individuals stand about six and a half feet tall, more than nine feet long, with a wingspan of about three feet; including the wings, the total width can reach nearly twenty-four feet. This bird is gentle among flying Beast Kings, boasting exceptional endurance that allows it to fly tens of thousands of miles without tiring. It rarely attacks humans proactively, mainly preying on one- or two-rank crawling Beast Kings. It nests high in towering trees and can be trained for human use.

“Ah, Little Black, long time no see—you’ve gotten fatter again,” the old healer said with a smile, looking up at the large black bird circling overhead. He then pointed at it and said to Lu Zhe, “This is the Little Black I mentioned earlier.”

Lu Zhe swallowed hard, both astonished and admiring. “Master, you actually tamed a ‘Heavenly Wing Black Bird.’ That’s incredible.”

The old healer chuckled. “You know, I seem to have a special connection with this creature. Once, during my cultivation journey, I accidentally found it near death. Feeling pity, I saved it. Later, it repaid my kindness and willingly followed me.”

“Oh,” Lu Zhe nodded in sudden understanding.

“All right, it’s getting late. We should set off,” the old healer said, waving his hand. He pushed off the ground with his right foot and gracefully took to the air, mounting the bird’s back.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhe imitated the old healer, swinging himself up onto the bird’s back.

Running his hand over Little Black’s glossy feathers, Lu Zhe looked quite intrigued.

“Hold on tight. We’re taking off now. Don’t fall off midway,” the old healer suddenly warned.

Then, pointing southwest, he commanded loudly, “Let’s go, Little Black!”

At the command, Little Black shook its wings and soared into the sky. After confirming the direction, it sped off like a bolt of black lightning toward the southwest.

True to its nickname, the ‘Black Lightning’ was unbelievably fast. Lu Zhe, seated on its back, was battered by the fierce wind, barely able to breathe. His eyes were stung by the gusts, forcing him to squint shut. Only his ears could catch the roaring wind around him. Had he not clung tightly to the broad feathers, he might have been blown off long ago.

“I’m going to die,” was the sole thought circling in his mind.

One hour later…

Suddenly, Lu Zhe felt the skin-tearing winds begin to abate, and he could slowly open his eyes. When he finally managed to open them fully, the sight before him stirred his heart.

A city deeply familiar to him appeared—a city he could not mistake: the Omega Empire!

Little Black gently fluttered its wings as the old healer guided it to hover over Qingxi Town.

“Let’s get down,” the old healer said softly, turning around.

Lu Zhe nodded, and together they dismounted from Little Black.

Once on the ground, the old healer called out to Little Black, which responded with several sharp whistles before shaking its wings and vanishing into the horizon.

Smoothing his robe and adjusting his collar, the old healer brushed back his white hair, tousled by the fierce wind. He patted Lu Zhe’s shoulder and said, “Alright, it’s time to visit that fat bastard’s house.”

Lu Zhe smiled silently.

Strolling through the bustling main street with the old healer, Lu Zhe’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he took in the familiar sights, scarcely changed after so long. They followed the familiar blue-brick road, turning a few corners and crossing several streets until they arrived before an imposing and luxurious mansion.

The Xue Residence!

Just as before, though a year had passed, the grand gates remained unchanged, stirring memories of the past within Lu Zhe.

“Who goes there?” a guard suddenly shouted, pulling Lu Zhe back to reality.

The old healer stepped forward. “I am Yi Simiao. Kindly inform your master that his friend has come to visit.”

“Such formality is unnecessary,” a familiar voice called from within the stately gates.

From the mansion emerged You Lao Liu, striding out heartily.

Seeing the handsome man in white, You Lao Liu laughed heartily. “I sensed your aura from afar—didn’t expect it really was you.”

The old healer smiled and patted the man’s ample belly teasingly. “Gained another round?”

“Two rounds,” You Lao Liu replied, holding up two fingers.

Both burst into laughter, shoulders brushing as they walked inside together.

As they entered, a familiar figure caught Lu Zhe’s eye—the beautiful, graceful silhouette, the smiling face, the caring presence who had shared moonlit nights with him. How could he ever forget her?

“You’re back.”

“Yes, I’m back, Ling’er.”