Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 449 435: The Ominous Sign Between Pei Yuhang and His Disciples

Pei Yuhang looked up to see two colossal elders sitting cross-legged upon the Cloud Sea, playing a game of Go. One of them, an elder with white hair but a youthful face, picked up a black stone. As the piece landed on the board amidst the clouds, it sent mists billowing dozens of feet into the air, causing the Spirit Wheel to shudder.

'These Divine Techniques and Skills are truly marvelous,'

Pei Yuhang clicked his tongue in amazement.

Seeing his own sect's genius Sword Immortal so captivated by the old-timers from the Celestial Secret Pavilion, Chen Xiuxian, who was standing beside him, felt a little annoyed. He promptly uncorked the wine gourd at his waist, tilted his head back, and took a swig of the fine liquor. A smile then played on his wine-stained lips:

"Peng Sword Immortal, the only thing those little old men from the Celestial Secret Pavilion are good for is these flashy Blinding Techniques."

"When it comes to slaying demons, upholding justice, and pursuing the Dao for eternal life—you still have to look to us, the Xuanyuan Dao Sect!"

"Elder Chen, how dare you speak ill of my Celestial Secret Pavilion right under my nose?"

The white-browed elder on the east side of the board slammed his hand down, his expression turning sour. His nostrils flared, and his two white eyebrows shot up like startled silver dragons.

"Hmph, Pang Yu, you old calculator. The punk who I beat until he cried at the Dao Inquiry Assembly is now trying to act all high and mighty, hahaha! You should count yourself lucky that I didn't immediately regale my Dao Sect's outstanding junior with your embarrassing stories the moment I saw you!"

Chen Xiuxian roared with laughter.

'You bastard, you ended up telling him anyway!'

"Chen Xiuxian—!!"

"..."

Pei Yuhang watched the two elders bicker and couldn't help but smile wryly.

He could tell that although the two elders were trading insults, they weren't genuinely angry. It was just the banter of old friends.

"Uncouth! Barbaric!"

Pang Yu flicked his sleeves and rose to his feet.

The world around them began to shrink.

No, it wasn't that the world was shrinking, but that the Spirit Wheel was returning to its normal size.

The people from the Celestial Secret Pavilion had dispelled their Qiankun Mustard Seed technique.

Pang Yu and the other Elder from the Celestial Secret Pavilion landed softly on the deck.

Thoroughly infuriated by Chen Xiuxian, Pang Yu let out a heavy "HUMPH!" the moment he was back on the ship. With a sharp flick of his wide sleeves, he strode to the railing and turned his back on everyone, clearly unwilling to say another word.

Seeing this, the other Elder from the Celestial Secret Pavilion could only shake his head helplessly, his salt-and-pepper eyebrows drooping slightly. He didn't know what to say.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, allow me to discuss the matter of the Dragon Corpse handover with you."

"Of course. Who knew Fellow Daoist Pang's Dao Heart was so fragile? Just bringing up a fun story from the past gets him so worked up, hahaha!"

After landing another verbal jab, Chen Xiuxian was hastily pulled away by the Celestial Secret Pavilion Elder.

Pei Yuhang was a little chagrined. 'How did I not realize at first that Elder Chen had such a sharp tongue?'

'No...'

'When he asked if Jiu was a 'close' friend or just an acquaintance, I should have known he was a lecherous old coot.'

After the two of them left, Pei Yuhang also prepared to leave.

Jiu had been very weak lately, seemingly unable to leave his bed. Fortunately, she was quite fastidious about cleanliness and insisted on washing her own sheets and bedding every day. Though, whenever she did, her pretty face would turn bright red, and she'd look a little strange, almost as if she'd suffered an internal injury.

Pei Yuhang felt a little worried and was about to go back and check on her.

Just as he lifted his foot to leave, Pang Yu's hoarse voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Peng Sword Immortal, the Red Dust Line on you is rather chaotic."

"I know it's a bit of a mood killer for me to say so, but... this is not a good sign."

Pei Yuhang's expression hardened. He turned to look at Pang Yu, his brow furrowed and a chill creeping into his eyes.

'How could I not know whether my own Red Dust Line is in disarray?'

'I can handle these matters myself. What I dislike more is others using Divination Techniques to pry into my private affairs.'

Seeing his reaction, Pang Yu quickly raised his hands and waved them placatingly, the wrinkles on his face bunching into a soothing smile. "Peng Sword Immortal, please do not be angry."

"I have not used any Divination Technique to spy on you. It's just that when one cultivates the Celestial Secret Pavilion's Secret Techniques to a high level, one develops a kind of..."

He paused, then tapped his temple with a withered finger. "An instinctual premonition.

I can take one look at you and, though I don't know the specifics, I can sense the general outline. As for who the beauty by your side is, I truly know nothing. I have no intention of intruding upon your privacy."

Only after hearing this did Pei Yuhang's expression soften slightly.

"So that's how it is. It seems I have misunderstood you, Elder."

Despite saying this, Pei Yuhang still prepared to leave.

'Even with his explanation, a Divine Calculator who can peer into people's hearts is bound to make one feel uneasy. No wonder the Celestial Secret Pavilion has such a poor reputation in the Cultivation Realm, despite its important function.'

"Wait!"

Pang Yu suddenly raised his voice, his gaunt frame leaning forward slightly.

"Peng Sword Immortal, there is one more thing..."

He hesitated, a rare solemnity appearing on his face. "The master-disciple line on you... shows faint signs of fracturing... When you return, you must pay more attention to your disciple. Otherwise—URGH!"

Pang Yu's face suddenly became ashen. Veins bulged on his temples as his body trembled violently. With a choked sound, he spewed a large mouthful of blood, which splattered on the ground like starkly red plum blossoms.

Clutching his chest, he mumbled in terror through blood-stained lips, "What being is this... what kind of being..."

"Elder, are you all right?"

Pei Yuhang looked at Pang Yu's pained expression and reached out to support him.

But unexpectedly, the old man dodged his hand as if avoiding the plague.

"Peng Sword Immortal, it was I who overstepped... I will say no more. You must not press me for answers either..."

Pang Yu took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, but his face remained frighteningly pale, as if he had just recovered from a grave illness.

Without further explanation to Pei Yuhang, he walked away quickly.

Pei Yuhang watched Pang Yu's retreating figure, his own expression turning grave.

Having studied some rudimentary Divination Techniques himself, Pei Yuhang knew that Pang Yu had just suffered a backlash!

A single backlash like that could cost at least ten years of one's lifespan. A more severe one could even damage one's Dao Foundation and fortune, afflicting them with bad luck. No wonder he was shunning him now.

'So... what in the world did he see on me that trying to reveal it caused such a severe backlash?'

"The master-disciple line shows signs of fracturing..."

Pei Yuhang muttered, his eyes growing more unsettled the more he thought about it.

'Could it be... Pang Yu saw some clue related to my disciples?'

'And it was precisely because of a great calamity surrounding my disciples that he triggered that backlash.'

'But that shouldn't be... Both Yueqiu and Xiaoxiao share a very deep bond with me.'

'Could something cause them to turn evil?'

Pei Yuhang gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, a rare, icy killing intent flashing in his usually calm eyes.

"No matter who it is... no one can threaten Yueqiu and Xiaoxiao!"

No one!