The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 248: The Sweat-Drenched Guang Yuankui

Was it a feint? Did they pretend to withdraw to reduce losses, only to launch a surprise attack later?

Prince Qi did not know. The sudden retreat of the cavalry at the foot of the mountain caught him completely off guard. Without intelligence on the situation below, staying on the mountain was the only wise choice.

The weather after the heavy rain was exceptionally clear. The night sky was cloudless for thousands of miles, a vast canvas filled with a myriad of stars. A full moon hung high, dispelling the darkness between heaven and earth.

Great Qu Mountain, The Locust Tree

On the mountainside, a dense forest hid a particularly large locust tree. It stood out prominently, its massive canopy visible even from the foot of the mountain.

Hidden within the dense leaves was a person. Guang Yuankui stood on a thick branch, gazing toward the distant Mountain God Temple.

“Strange,” he muttered, looking at the small jade sword in his hand. “How has that fellow Yu Li’s aura disappeared?”

The soul blood Yu Li had left in the Message Flying Sword had suddenly dissipated.

This gave Guang Yuankui a huge fright. Soul blood didn’t just vanish. Either Yu Li was dead, or he had intentionally severed the connection.

The first possibility seemed unlikely. Yu Li was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and a Second-Grade Talisman Master. Unless a Golden Core expert intervened, Yu Li should have been able to escape any threat.

“That fellow wouldn’t have run away midway, would he?”

Guang Yuankui’s eyes darted around. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Participating in mortal power struggles was a taboo; maybe Yu Li got cold feet.

But to run without a word? That didn’t sit right.

“Fellow Daoist, tonight’s moon is very round. Why not enjoy it together?”

A voice spoke from below him.

Guang Yuankui’s heart skipped a beat. He looked down sharply.

Standing on a lower branch, less than five zhang away, was a man in white robes. He had appeared silently, like a ghost.

Guang Yuankui narrowed his eyes, sizing up the uninvited guest.

‘The moon is very round’? What a crude opening line. This person has no literary cultivation.

He forced a chuckle and cupped his hands.

“Fellow Daoist has such refined taste! I was just thinking the same.”

Li Meng smiled slightly but said nothing, simply looking up at the moon.

Guang Yuankui’s expression shifted. The newcomer radiated no killing intent, but his presence was heavy. Since they weren’t friends, they had to be enemies.

“This is my first time here as well,” Guang Yuankui said smoothly. “If I have disturbed Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. I shall take my leave now!”

“Fellow Daoist, why be in such a hurry?” Li Meng looked at him with a half-smile. “There are some matters on which I still need Fellow Daoist to enlighten this poor Daoist.”

Poor Daoist?

Guang Yuankui noted the white Daoist robes. A sect cultivator.

“Apologies, I have important matters to attend to. I cannot keep you company!”

He didn’t wait for a response. Guang Yuankui soared upward, bursting through the canopy and riding the wind into the night sky.

Li Meng watched him go, narrowing his eyes. He didn’t chase.

This person was strong—only a step away from Grand Perfection Foundation Establishment. But unlike the rat-faced Yu Li, his aura was clean. He hadn’t stained his hands with innocent blood in this conflict.

That was the only reason Li Meng let him live.

High Above the Clouds

Thousands of meters in the air, a streak of sword light tore through the night.

Guang Yuankui stood on his flying sword, his face drenched in cold sweat. He wiped his forehead, glancing back toward Great Qu Mountain with lingering fear.

“Fellow… Fellow Daoist Yu… could he be dead?”

Although he phrased it as a question, he knew the answer. Yu Li was dead. Killed by that man in white.

“Strange,” he muttered, shivering in the wind. “He’s only at early Foundation Establishment. Why was the pressure he gave me so immense?”

It made no sense. Logically, he should have been the one suppressing the newcomer. Yet, his instincts had screamed at him to run.

“Never mind. I’m leaving the State of Zhao first!”

He served Prince Yan for treasures, not loyalty. No treasure was worth dying for.

Guang Yuankui formed a hand seal, accelerating his sword until he was nothing but a streak of light on the horizon.

Mountain God Temple

BOOM!

A sudden clap of thunder shattered the peace. The clear, starry sky was instantly swallowed by rolling dark clouds.

“It’s raining again,” Prince Qi murmured, standing at the temple doors.

He extended a hand, catching the cold drops falling from the eaves. The weather tonight was as unpredictable as his fate.

A soldier hurried over, his armor clanking. He dropped to one knee.

“Your Highness! The attacking cavalry has retreated over thirty li and is currently returning the way they came.”

Prince Qi’s expression shifted. A faint smile touched his lips.

He didn’t know what had happened down there, but it seemed Heaven was helping him.

“We also discovered some corpses on the forest road,” the soldier continued. “Their equipment… seems to come from the Ministry of War.”

Prince Qi frowned. The Ministry of War?

“Could the attacking unit have had an internal conflict?”

That was the only explanation. Why else would they leave bodies and retreat?

“Have the identities of the corpses been investigated?”

“Nowhere to investigate. They carried no identification.”

Prince Qi nodded thoughtfully. Dead soldiers raised by Prince Yan. Nameless tools to be discarded after use.

“We wait,” Prince Qi ordered. “At first light, we move.”