Chapter 4: The Malevolent Wind

Chapter 4

As the two were speaking, a sudden commotion arose outside—voices of youths arguing and shouting, the clashing of drawn blades. Something had erupted into chaos.

Then Shen Yihan heard the sharp plucking of a qin string, the ethereal notes carrying a hint of panic and urgency.

This sound was all too familiar—it was the melody played by his disciple, Yan Zixu, accompanying the spirit qin Lingxi.

Without hesitation, the two ceased their conversation and rose.

Stepping outside, they saw a small square before the guesthouse where Helan Ting, who had been reserved and silent moments ago, now appeared with bloodshot eyes, his back slightly hunched. His expression was wild and unsteady. In his hand, he brandished a dagger. Not far from him, another youth lay fallen on the ground, surrounded by other disciples of the Miaoyin Sect, all wearing expressions of indignation.

Only Yan Zixu had not stepped forward; he cradled Lingxi and gently plucked the strings.

Shen Yihan immediately recognized the tune—“Zuo Wang,” an ancient melody used to calm the mind and dispel evil.

Yet Helan Ting showed no sign of calming. He stared at the fallen youth like a frightened cat, still hunched over, clutching the dagger tightly, murmuring, “Don’t come closer... don’t come closer! I won’t leave... I won’t leave...”

Shen Yihan asked, “What’s going on?”

At his appearance, the disciples visibly relaxed.

“Sect Master, this fellow has gone mad! Brother Liu was only kindly inviting him to come down the mountain with us to visit the town. He rejected it, then drew his dagger and pushed people around. Truly ungrateful!”

Hearing this, Shen Yihan began to piece together the situation.

Helan Ting had witnessed the massacre of his clan and was afflicted by the Soul Devouring Seed. If not for Yun Ran’s timely rescue, he would likely have met a grim fate.

It seemed his fellow disciples, seeing Helan Ting was about their age, had good intentions to invite him along but unknowingly provoked him. After all, the Soul Devouring Seed was a demonic technique, and it was no surprise it stirred his ferocity.

Yun Ran lightly swept the dust whisk he held in his arm. With a subtle gesture, Helan Ting’s clenched dagger dropped to the ground with a metallic clatter.

Shen Yihan first checked on the youth who had been knocked down. Seeing no injuries, he relaxed.

Turning, he watched Yun Ran form a hand seal and channel a crimson spiritual power into Helan Ting’s forehead.

Helan Ting’s legs weakened, his eyelids fluttered shut, and he collapsed softly.

Shen Yihan caught him swiftly and withheld Yun Ran from further action.

“The Soul Devouring Seed has turned violent,” Yun Ran said.

“I know,” Shen Yihan sighed, then looked at Yan Zixu. “I should have warned you earlier, Zixu.”

Yan Zixu, clutching Lingxi, looked puzzled. “Master, Yun Zhenren, what do you mean? The Soul Devouring Seed? Was Master Helan’s loss of control caused by that?”

Yun Ran lifted his gaze toward Yan Zixu, surprised.

Shen Yihan understood why. The Soul Devouring Seed was nearly impossible to remove by cunning means. The only remedy was violent removal by a cultivator several realms above the afflicted.

Moreover, it was extremely insidious—cultivators of the same realm often couldn’t detect its presence until the victim’s spirit intelligence was nearly destroyed after weeks.

Yan Zixu had only been in contact with Helan Ting briefly but discerned that Helan was not merely emotional but had lost his spiritual intelligence. He immediately responded with the “Zuo Wang” melody. Though his spiritual power was insufficient to take effect, his diagnosis was correct.

Shen Yihan felt a surge of pride and smiled. “I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my newly accepted disciple—a prodigy in music, highly sensitive to the Seven Emotions and spirit intelligence since childhood. That’s why he could see the problem.”

Yun Ran nodded approvingly. “Excellent.”

The other Miaoyin Sect disciples looked at their senior brother with admiration and respect—being praised by Yun Zhenren himself was something to boast about among peers in other sects for years to come.

Yan Zixu blushed deeply, shy by nature. Though he knew his master was generous with praise and unlike many stern elders in the cultivation world who withheld compliments fearing arrogance, hearing such high praise still made him feel embarrassed.

Shen Yihan’s teaching style was gentle and encouraging, never stingy in praising his disciples.

For instance, when Yan Zixu reached Foundation Establishment at seventeen, Shen Yihan said, “Seventeen years old at Foundation Establishment—comparable to my own age when I achieved it. Not bad.”

Later, when Brother Wang took fifty-seven years from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment due to inferior talent, Shen Yihan comforted him, “Don’t compare yourself to others, only to yourself. What if it took seventy years? You still have two or three hundred years of life left. When you reach Golden Core, it will be the same. You’ve done well.”

He spoke so convincingly it seemed Wang would definitely form a core despite his doubts.

Later still, when Brother Liu, who had secluded for a hundred years until his hair and beard turned white, emerged and announced his Foundation Establishment success, Shen Yihan patted him on the shoulder, “Nephew Liu, I always knew you wouldn’t remain at Qi Refinement forever. Diligence pays off. Now that you have reached Foundation Establishment, you have surpassed countless others. It’s a reward from Heaven. With two hundred more years to live, your future is bright!”

These words moved the old Liu nearly to tears before everyone.

Yan Zixu was left speechless.

Over the years, he had learned not to take his master’s praise at face value—at best, it was eighty percent genuine.

Now, he dared not be proud and lowered his head. “Zhenren, you flatter me. I was just lucky to notice something. But I don’t understand—what exactly is this Soul Devouring Seed on Lord Helan?”

Shen Yihan said, “Coincidentally, I was to visit Master Yun and you on Qingxiao Peak to meet Sect Leader Chu. Your Uncle Chang left without a word, so you’ll follow me and find out soon enough.”

Without delay, they set off for Qingxiao Peak.

The Kunwu Sword Sect’s leader was Chu Yuzhou, senior to Yun Ran though not from the same master. He was the inheritor of the “Qingxiao Sword,” one of the seventeen sword masters.

Unlike typical sword cultivators who focused solely on the sword and ignored social skills, Chu was smooth and adept at navigating relationships. Since youth, he had a good reputation and many connections in the cultivation world.

When the time came to appoint the sect leader, the other peak sword masters unanimously supported him to take on the burdensome role.

Chu Yuzhou had already heard the news of Yun Ran’s return and had arranged tea and refreshments for him. Seeing Shen Yihan accompany him was no surprise.

“Sect Master Shen, yesterday the disciples from the Reception Peak came to inform me of your arrival. I had intended to personally invite you here to Qingxiao Peak for a chat, but with the upcoming great sect competition and the attendant affairs, I was unable to leave. I hope you will forgive me.”

Chu’s words were polished and overly courteous. Shen Yihan, unsurprised, smiled warmly.

“Sect Leader Chu, you are too kind. Your sect has many disciples, and sword cultivators value contests and exchanges. Besides, this competition involves peak sword masters and saint selection—it is naturally important. Being busy is understandable. I came only to observe. I would hate to interrupt your duties. My visit is merely a courtesy and not bothersome.”

Chu Yuzhou looked touched.

“Sect Master Shen remains the same as ever—graceful and reasonable.” He then glanced at Yun Ran. “Brother Yun, you came straight to see Shen Sect Master on your return?”

Yun Ran nodded. “Before leaving the South Sea, he sent me a message via jade slip.”

“You two have such a good relationship—that’s rare indeed.” Chu ordered his disciples to seat them, then adopted a serious tone. “Enough small talk. Brother Yun, your letter mentioned the calamity that befell the Helan clan in Yingzhou. Is it true? What exactly happened?”

He then looked at Helan Ting, unconscious and supported by Yan Zixu, his brow furrowed. “This is... the Soul Devouring Seed? Could this boy be from the Helan family...?”

“Yes, he is the son of the Helan clan head,” Yun Ran confirmed.

He recounted how they encountered Helan Ting in Yunzhou, fleeing pursuers, how they rescued and healed him, and how they learned of the clan’s massacre.

Chu Yuzhou frowned. “This is hard to believe. The Helan clan has stood for thousands of years, with a venerable late clan head of profound cultivation and virtue, and many Nascent Soul cultivators among its members. How could they be so thoroughly wiped out? Perhaps the boy’s memories are flawed?”

Shen Yihan replied, “Even if his memories are mistaken, Yun Ran’s encounter with the pursuers is not false. Those chasing him are powerful, and his injuries are severe. This matter likely is no baseless rumor.”

Chu Yuzhou rose and paced thoughtfully. “If the Helan clan did suffer such a tragedy, and the perpetrators acted so cruelly, it is truly outrageous. Kunwu Sword Sect cannot stand idly by. However, this requires careful investigation. I will transmit the news to the orthodox sects. Once all are informed, we can devise a plan and then verify the facts in Yingzhou.”

This was a fitting and proper approach.

Yet Shen Yihan knew well that the Helan clan, drifting on the sea without a fixed location, was only precisely located by direct descendants who alone knew the secret. Without their guidance, even the highest-ranking feng shui masters could only look on helplessly.

This explained why the Helan clan, despite their arrogant and ruthless behavior and many enemies, had remained untouchable for millennia.

Investigating the Helan clan massacre was a matter for the great orthodox sects, not a minor sect like Miaoyin. Shen Yihan remained silent on the matter.

After agreeing on a plan with Chu Yuzhou, Yun Ran and the two brothers at once set up a formation atop Qingxiao Peak to purge the Soul Devouring Seed from Helan Ting’s spirit sea.

The more spiritualists assisting, the more thorough the removal, so Shen Yihan joined in.

Helan Ting sat cross-legged at the formation’s center, his five chakras open to the sky.

The spiritual power of Yun Ran, Chu Yuzhou, and Shen Yihan converged into a triangle, flowing from Helan Ting’s Baihui point into his body.

For Nascent Soul cultivators and above, their refined spiritual power was tangible, akin to an extension of their senses, like limbs. Different cultivation methods and spiritual attributes meant that while the formation was the safest and most thorough method to remove the seed, it was difficult for the casters.

Their spiritual power had to merge precisely and carefully navigate the immature meridians of a young cultivator like Helan Ting.

It was normal to feel alien and uncomfortable during the process; those more sensitive might suffer more.

Yet Shen Yihan felt no discomfort at all.

Having known Yun Ran for years, often healing and expanding each other’s meridians, their spiritual powers were well familiar. Their contact caused no unease. He even sensed Yun Ran subtly enveloping his power to avoid direct contact with Chu Yuzhou’s spiritual force.

In contrast, Chu Yuzhou’s face paled. After withdrawing his spiritual power, he staggered back a step.

Seeing this, Qingxiao disciples hurried to support him, worried. “Sect Leader, are you all right?”

Chu waved them off, closed his eyes to meditate briefly, then opened them with a helpless smile. “Brother Yun’s sword intent is fierce, and so is his spiritual power. It burns and scorches. My cultivation is insufficient, so I felt unwell. I apologize to Sect Master Shen.”