Chapter Fifty-Two: The Lord of Qingzhou City

It seemed the man had not anticipated any of this. Upon regaining consciousness and seeing the four people surrounding him, he was suddenly gripped by terror. Yet he was so utterly drained of strength that he could not move at all...

Sensing that those before him were tending to his injuries, the man finally relaxed somewhat. He saw crystal-clear droplets illuminated by the firelight falling onto his body, and the refreshing sensation seeped straight into his heart, making him feel as if he were ascending to the heavens...

Yue Qi took a deep breath. The water-based healing was finished, and the man’s mental state had improved visibly. His previously sunken cheekbones appeared fuller, and the light shining in his eyes made it clear he was not someone at death’s door.

It was only a basic second-tier water spell—not enough to bring the dead back to life. But the man’s injuries were not especially severe; rather, his body was critically weakened from prolonged dehydration and starvation, enough to threaten his life...

“Th-thank you...” The man suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse from so long without water, sounding almost like a soul-calling demon from the depths of hell.

Yue Qi nodded, signaling him to rest for now, then exchanged a glance with Hong Ye.

Hong Ye understood. She took some dry rations and water from her pack, crushed the food, and mixed it all with water. Someone who hadn’t eaten in so long could not gorge themselves at once. Clearly experienced, Hong Ye had the man slowly swallow the soaked food.

Indeed, no spell could replace the effect of real sustenance. After eating, the man's face became even more flushed with life. No one would have believed he had just been pulled back from the edge of death...

“It’s all thanks to you...” The man’s strength returned enough for him to sit up and edge closer to the fire, as if desperate for its warmth...

“It’s nothing,” Bai Lian said. “Still, your luck is remarkable—surviving all this time among zombies without being discovered.”

Bai Lian’s sudden speech startled the man. Even in the dim light of the tunnel he could see how beautiful she was, and, more importantly, he realized he had never seen any of them in Qingzhou City...

“It’s... I suppose it’s luck,” the flash of amazement in his eyes quickly faded, and he mocked himself.

“But...” He glanced at them again, saying, “You don’t seem to be from Qingzhou. I’ve never seen you here before...” His gaze lingered on Bai Lian.

Yue Qi and Bai Lian exchanged a look. Clearly, this man knew quite a bit—just one glance and he’d discerned they were outsiders. “You’re right. We’re from the nearby Yue Family Manor. My name is Yue Qi.”

“Yue Family Manor? The big estate under the Qinghe Sword Sect?” The man was surprised, then smiled. “No need to hide it from me. Especially you, young man—I was awake when you cast your spell. If I’m not mistaken, you’re a disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect. Moreover...” He paused, “Moreover, there are no women as beautiful as her in either Qingzhou City or the Yue Family Manor. If I’m right, you’re both disciples of the Qinghe Sword Sect?”

“You could say that,” Bai Lian nodded coldly. “It seems you know quite a lot. Tell us—who are you, and why did you collapse in Liu Feng’s courtyard?” In front of outsiders, Bai Lian resumed her usual stern demeanor.

“Liu Feng’s courtyard? Ha, so you know about that—they must have told you.” He laughed again, glancing at Li Qinglan and Hong Ye.

“That’s none of your concern. Just tell me who you are!” Bai Lian realized he was trying to change the subject and cut him off sharply.

“Who am I? Young man, you used to work for the Liu family, didn’t you? Do you remember me?” he asked, looking at the pensive Li Qinglan.

“Me? Are you from the Liu family? That can’t be right—I might not know every Liu, but I’ve seen them all, and you...” Li Qinglan thought hard. “You do seem a bit familiar, but I can’t quite recall...”

“Qi, come here a moment...” Bai Lian frowned, took Yue Qi’s hand, and led him aside as if she had something to say.

“What is it, Lian’er? Can’t you say it here?” Yue Qi asked in a low voice as they stepped into the corner.

“Don’t you think there’s something strange about him?” Bai Lian said seriously.

“Strange? Maybe, but I can’t quite put my finger on it...” Yue Qi murmured.

“Don’t you feel he’s deliberately hiding something? And...” Bai Lian glanced back at the man. “And every move he makes has an air of nobility. He may look like a beggar now, but his bearing is undiminished! I’ve only seen that kind of presence in my master!”

“Your master? You mean he used to be a master on par with the sect leader?” Yue Qi frowned. The notion that the person they’d rescued by chance was a peak cultivator was absurd.

“No...” Bai Lian shook her head. “It’s not the presence of a master cultivator, but more the demeanor of someone used to a position of authority. Plus, haven’t you noticed how familiar he is with Qingzhou City? He immediately spotted us as outsiders!”

“Hmm? Now that you mention it... If he’s so familiar with the city and has held power for years, could he be the city lord himself?” Yue Qi pondered.

“That’s what I think too...” Bai Lian replied, though she was puzzled. “But if he really is someone important, why did he end up here?”

“We’ll have to ask him. Come on, Lian’er, let’s see what else we can learn!” Yue Qi shook his head and took Bai Lian’s hand, returning to the others.

The man was quite talkative. In the few minutes Yue Qi and Bai Lian were gone, he had already struck up an enthusiastic conversation with Hong Ye and Li Qinglan. Upon Yue Qi’s return, the two women fell silent, waiting to see what he would do.

“Hong Ye, do you remember the name of Qingzhou City’s lord?” Yue Qi asked suddenly.

“The city lord? I think his surname is Li—Li Yuan, if I recall. I’ve never met him, but he’s said to have a good reputation in Qingzhou...” Hong Ye replied.

“Li Yuan... the city lord... That’s it!” Li Qinglan’s eyes widened in alarm as she stared at the man. “You’re Li Yuan?! Qingzhou’s city lord?!”

“So you figured it out...” Li Yuan shook his head, glancing apologetically at Yue Qi. “I didn’t mean to hide it, but I was afraid you might be acting under someone’s orders... Still, you’re quite sharp, young man, to guess my identity with so little to go on.”

“Well...” Yue Qi scratched his head awkwardly. In truth, he hadn't been the one to deduce it, but pride kept him from admitting as much. “Since you’re the city lord, why are you here? I heard you had a concubine who was Liu Feng’s sister, but surely you wouldn’t come here just to save Liu Feng?”

“So you really aren’t sent by Wang Chao?” Li Yuan frowned.

“Sent by Wang Chao? What does this have to do with him? Wait...” Yue Qi looked at Li Yuan. “Did Wang Chao put you here?”

“That’s exactly it,” Li Yuan replied with a bitter smile. “I barely escaped with my life. So many people turned into zombies—even cultivators like you were not exempt...” He looked at Yue Qi. “But in times like these, it’s not zombies that are most dangerous, but humans.”

“You mean Wang Chao betrayed you and left you here to die?” Bai Lian stepped forward.

“You’re right,” Li Yuan said, shaking his head. “I misjudged him. When disaster struck and chaos erupted in Qingzhou, Wang Chao and his brother Wang Jian happened to be visiting the city lord’s mansion. A few of my men hadn’t mutated, so we were trapped together, surrounded by zombies, with no way out.”

“But then, suddenly, Wang Chao and Wang Jian turned on us, killed all my men, and captured me...” Li Yuan recalled. “My men were dead—their bodies thrown out to feed the zombies. Wang Chao and Wang Jian used the opportunity to escape the mansion, taking me with them...”

“And then?” Yue Qi was absorbed in the tale.

“Afterward, they kept me under house arrest. I learned Wang Chao had gathered the survivors and established a camp within the city. I must admit, Wang Chao is a formidable leader; in a short time, he cleared out most of the zombies—except those holed up in some houses...” Li Yuan said.

“They kept you prisoner? But why? That makes no sense!” Bai Lian pressed.

“You wouldn’t know...” Ordinary people addressed cultivators as ‘immortals.’ Clearly, Li Yuan regarded Bai Lian as a cultivator like Yue Qi. “As the city lord, I know every detail of Qingzhou’s layout. That’s why the Wang brothers wanted me to reveal everything to them—they needed my knowledge. The city’s map is hidden in the city lord’s mansion; without my help, they couldn’t get it!”

“So you refused, and in a fit of anger, they threw you here?” Yue Qi said, half amused.

“That’s it...” Li Yuan replied, somewhat embarrassed.

“When did they do this?” Bai Lian seemed particularly intent on this detail.

“Five or six days ago, I think. Before that, though I was under house arrest, Brother Liang treated me decently. Then, for some reason, they suddenly tossed me here. I was lucky to have hidden a bit of food and water—otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived...” Li Yuan said self-deprecatingly.

“Five or six days ago...” Bai Lian murmured. If her guess was right, it was around that time Yue Qi had killed Wang Jian!

Have you ever seen such a pitiful author? Dropping in the rankings and losing collections—I can hardly keep playing. So, please, spare a recommendation or add me to your favorites!