Immortalis

Meat Well II

"Take him away now."

Deep within Zhaoming Prison.

This was a place perpetually devoid of sunlight, where almost all who entered were destined never to leave alive. Consequently, even the air was saturated with a nauseating metallic scent of blood.

As the prisoner on the torture rack, now barely recognizable as human, slumped his head once more in exhaustion, Shen Qingshi didn't bother reviving him with salt water this time, merely instructing guards to drag him away.

"He likely has nothing more to offer."

Despite repeated interrogations, the only substantial information they'd extracted from Tian Ting remained singular:

The Longevity Heart Sutra was inside the Meat Well.

Cao Zhao sat behind her, watching flesh tear and blood splatter under the lash while casually sipping tea. "Qingshi, do you think this man has gone completely mad?"

Since being imprisoned in Zhaoming, they'd subjected Tian Ting to every torture imaginable. Eventually, not a patch of unbroken skin remained on his body, yet he persisted in laughing.

"I've long foreseen all this... Enduring this leads to Underground Heaven."

These were Tian Ting's final words on the rack today.

Cao Zhao chuckled. "He truly won't survive another two days... So it seems his Death Hex calculation was accurate."

Rising, Cao Zhao approached and wrapped an arm around Shen Qingshi's slender shoulders. "Qingshi, your contributions in eradicating Longevity Palace were monumental. When we audience with the Emperor, you'll accompany me."

"The Emperor wishes to see me?"

"The Emperor should have summoned you long ago."

Cao Zhao tightened his grip slightly. Understanding the implicit command, Shen Qingshi bowed her head in compliance. "Will that Taoist be attending as well?"

"Naturally."

Knowing her concerns, Cao Zhao smiled reassuringly. "But rest easy—he must dissipate his cultivation before the audience. Once he takes the palace medication, not even Great Luo Immortals could muster an ounce of inner strength... He cannot harm you."

Shen Qingshi shook her head. "My concern lies with the Emperor."

Only upon returning to Zhaoming Division had she learned that half a month prior, while she was still in Longevity Palace with Yang Wujian, Guanri had already approached the Division.

He'd boldly claimed to possess methods for refining Cicada Molt, asserting that with imperial resources to excavate Longevity Palace and recover the Longevity Heart Sutra, he could enable the Emperor to cultivate the fourth layer—achieving immortality and eternal reign.

Under normal circumstances, anyone daring such boasts in Zhaoming Division would be dragged to the prison and skinned alive. But coincidentally, during Guanri's earlier disruption at White Rainbow Tower, not only was Shen Xin present, but numerous imperial spies embedded in the martial world had witnessed him.

Guanri's unorthodox martial prowess proved unforgettable, so he was promptly escorted to Bi'an Department's secret archives. Cao Zhao monopolized authority over this matter, leaving the other three major families grinding their teeth in frustration, ultimately venting their rage on Longevity Palace.

Beheadings, finger severing, bone gouging.

Had most Longevity Palace members not chosen suicide, these tortures would have been inflicted on the living rather than corpses.

Cao Zhao later recounted the events in meticulous detail—how they died, how the bodies were disposed—speaking for a full half-hour as if testing her reactions.

Throughout, Shen Qingshi remained silent, finally commenting only: "Pity we never located the Longevity Heart Sutra."

Cao Zhao was pleased with her response, unaware that her strategic return to Zhaoming Division was precisely to investigate who had sent that secret letter in her name.She could not let those people from Longevity Palace die in vain, and she must also give Yang Wujian an explanation.

Naturally, she couldn’t let Cao Zhao detect any clues, so she had no choice but to feign the same cold indifference as before. Even at night, she dared not let her guard down, keeping a stone in her mouth lest she cry out Yang Wujian’s name in a nightmare.

He… should still be alive, right?

Zhou Huai had followed them all the way and even saved them from Sun Eryuan’s hands. Although he ultimately failed to stop the Zhaoming Division, Shen Qingshi understood clearly that given Cao Zhao’s capabilities, even if Zhou Huai tried to stop him, it would be futile if Cao Zhao intended to capture her and Yang Wujian.

In the martial world, Shen Qingshi had no one else to rely on, so she could only hope that once they left, Zhou Huai would descend the well to rescue Yang Wujian.

After all, both Dong Qisheng and Zhang Buwei had said that this Meat Well had not been fully excavated. Compared to falling directly into Cao Zhao’s hands, pushing him into the vertical well might still offer him a slim chance of survival.

"If I had known it would come to this, I should never have saved you fifteen years ago. If I hadn’t saved you, everything I cherished would still be here…"

In the days since returning to the Zhaoming Division, Yang Wujian’s voice had often echoed in her ears. Shen Qingshi had to frequently press a hand to her chest to suppress the sharp pain.

"Green Stone."

Just as she was about to take her leave, Cao Zhao suddenly called out to her: "On the day you meet the Son of Heaven, if His Majesty asks about certain matters, simply speak the truth. Aside from what you’ve seen and heard, do not utter an extra word."

"I understand."

"No, you do not fully understand."

Cao Zhao shook his head and looked at her calmly. "Regarding the Longevity Palace affair, the Son of Heaven has been investigating for many years. Over the years, the spies sent into the martial world were ostensibly placed within the Four Seas Alliance, but in reality, many brought back information about the Longevity Heart Sutra. He is well aware of many things. Now, summoning you is merely for verification. There is no need to do anything extra—the Son of Heaven will make his own judgment."

Only then did Shen Qingshi faintly grasp the implication in Cao Zhao’s words, and a chill ran through her heart.

Fifteen years ago, Guanri’s obsession with the Longevity Heart Sutra had thrown the martial world into turmoil and unrest.

And now, if the one pursuing immortality was the Son of Heaven…

The more Shen Qingshi thought about it, the more alarmed she became, but Cao Zhao clearly had no intention of doing what she feared.

"Watch, Green Stone."

He smiled, having achieved his desired outcome.

"Soon, only the Bi An division will remain in the Zhaoming Division."

During his recovery, Yang Wujian was tied to the bed by Zhou Huai for a full ten days.

The young master kept his word: once he untied him, he stuck to him like a shadow. If Yang Wujian refused to be tied back, Zhou Huai would simply resort to force.

After all that had happened, Zhou Huai could now consciously wield the unique skills of others. Yang Wujian, already weak and not as tall or robust as Zhou Huai, was no match for him. On two occasions, he was even knocked unconscious and woke up already tied back to the bed.

Yang Wujian simply couldn’t understand it.

It had only been a month since they last met—how had the young master’s martial skills become so unfathomable? Had he endured some hardships, attained Supreme Forgetfulness, and thus greatly enhanced his power?He finally couldn't resist asking Zhou Huai and learned that during those days waiting outside Longevity Palace, Zhou Huai had nothing to do and had to stay vigilant against the Zhaoming Division at all times. Thus, he practiced his sword day and night in the wilderness. Unexpectedly, now that he was alone, his mind was free from distractions during training. Over the course of more than half a month, Zhou Huai not only advanced to the next level in White Rainbow Swordplay but also mastered all the martial arts that Zhou Jinglei had forced him to learn since childhood.

Now, not only was Yang Wujian no match for him, but even if Cao Zhao were to come, Zhou Huai could likely trade blows with him on equal footing.

At this point, Yang Wujian finally realized that the young master was no longer the person he used to be. He simply stopped causing trouble, eating whatever Zhou Huai brought him and obediently allowing himself to be tied back at the appointed time. After ten days, he could walk on the ground again, and the pain in his body had finally subsided.

A few more days passed like this.

After the meal, as usual, Zhou Huai followed the doctor's instructions and sparred with him briefly before preparing to send Yang Wujian back to his room to rest. Yang Wujian, however, had long grown tired of staying in the thatched cottage and couldn't help but say, "Isn't this enough, young master? If I stay cooped up any longer, I'll fall ill. Why not take me out for a stroll? Under your watchful eye, I won't be able to run away anyway."

As his injuries improved significantly, Yang Wujian had calmed down considerably.

Although Longevity Palace was gone and his life seemed meaningless, he couldn't bear the thought of letting the Zhaoming Division off the hook.

If Guanri had truly allied with the Zhaoming Division, then he absolutely could not let them find the Longevity Heart Sutra.

Yang Wujian no longer appeared as desperate and suicidal as he had a few days earlier. Seeing this, Zhou Huai thought for a moment and finally agreed, supporting him as they left the house and slowly walked along a small stream outside.

"You're something else, young master. In just these few days, you've learned to chop firewood and catch fish on your own."

This was Yang Wujian's first time stepping outside in all these days.

He had only known that after Zhou Huai saved him, they had settled in an abandoned farmhouse near Aconite Kiln. But he never expected that the young master had chosen a residence nestled between mountains and water, with scenery that could even be described as elegant—truly an ideal place for seclusion.

Zhou Huai smiled bitterly. "I watched you and Miss Shen do these things before and learned by following along... The silver I took from my father was all spent on your treatment. Without money, I couldn't just starve to death, could I?"

"Wait..."

These days, Yang Wujian's mind had been filled with thoughts of Longevity Palace and the Zhaoming Division. Only now, hearing Zhou Huai's words, did it dawn on him: with White Rainbow Tower gone, the medicine the young master had used on him couldn't possibly have been sent by Medicine King Mountain. It must have been bought with his own silver.

He opened his mouth, his voice dry. "You're not talking about the silver Zhou Jinglei left in the token for you to retrieve, are you..."

Zhou Huai looked at him as if it were obvious. "Of course. After we went to get it together last time, I saved it. Who knew medical treatment would be so expensive?"

To think he actually admitted it. Yang Wujian recalled the piles of gleaming silver they had dug up that day and nearly spat blood on the spot. "What kind of quack did you hire?! The silver your father left you was enough to buy a house in the capital, and you spent it all on me?"

"Compared to a house, your life is naturally more important."Zhou Huai showed no remorse whatsoever: "Your wanted posters were plastered everywhere before. What if some lowlife showed up and tried to turn you in? Besides, the dead can't be brought back to life, but money can always be earned again. It's not like I don't know how to make money."

"..."

These few words left Yang Wujian speechless.

He suddenly recalled what Gu Yun had said earlier—that those without firm resolve cannot master martial arts, let alone achieve anything great. He had originally assumed that after their parting in Yongyi, Zhou Huai had been drowning his sorrows in some tavern somewhere. But now it seemed he had underestimated the young master.

Yang Wujian couldn't help but laugh. "Young Master, speaking of which, have you sold White Rainbow Tower?"

Zhou Huai shrugged. "So many people died there—it's become infamous throughout the land as a cursed place. Even if I wanted to sell it, who would dare buy it? Let it sit for now. If no one wants it, I'll return after settling these matters and study the mechanisms my father left behind. If someone does make an offer, I'll sell it. With money in hand, there'll always be places to spend it."

Yang Wujian stared at him blankly, then after a long pause asked softly, "Young Master, I've been meaning to ask—after I deceived you for so long, do you still not hate me?"

"Hate?"

Zhou Huai smiled ruefully. "After I stabbed you with that sword in Yongyi, I came to understand. I had two fathers who deceived me for over twenty years combined. What good would hating them do me? Didn't you say we should judge people by the choices they make for us? At White Rainbow Tower, weren't you and Miss Shen the only ones who stood by me? Moreover, Miss Shen risked her life to bring back my father's body, and you protected me from Cao Zhao even while hanging by a thread. These debts of gratitude—I, Zhou Huai, will never forget them in this lifetime."

"Young Master, you're truly open-minded..."

Yang Wujian sighed, thinking to himself that Gu Yun was right—in these matters, he might not even measure up to Zhou Huai.

During his recovery, Yang Wujian repeatedly recalled every day he had spent with Shen Qingshi, searching for clues, but ultimately found nothing.

Just as Zhou Huai had said, Shen Qingshi had no opportunity to send messages out. And if everything she showed him was an act—if even the emotions in her eyes were fake—then Yang Wujian felt he might never be able to trust anyone again.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Who would have thought that even now, he was still making excuses for Shen Qingshi.

Zhou Huai seemed to see through his thoughts. "Miss Shen has been taken by Cao Zhao now, and White-faced Guest is on their side too. Rather than dwelling on this, you should think about what our next move should be."

To seek immortality, one needed both the Cicada Molt and Tian Ting.

If Shen Qingshi was the person closest to the Cicada Molt, then her current situation...

Yang Wujian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stop worrying about Shen Qingshi. "Cao Zhao didn't kill Dong Qisheng that day. He must believe that this fake Dong Qisheng is Tian Ting, but in truth, the real Tian Ting hasn't been found yet—the 'it' that Dong Qisheng mentioned..."

He gestured for Zhou Huai to take out that bottle. Fortunately, it had been on him when he fell into the well, and now the things inside had long ceased making any movement, as if they had all died.

"Carrying this will lead us to the real Tian Ting and reveal the location of the Longevity Heart Sutra beneath the Meat Well."Yang Wujian pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "The imperial court is searching for the Longevity Heart Sutra, and so is the martial world. Do you think if we go to the Four Seas Alliance now, they would treat us as enemies or friends?"