Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 727 - 725: Qing Ling Becomes an Apprentice

Chapter 727: Chapter 725: Qing Ling Becomes an Apprentice

WHOOSH!

As soon as Elder Hai finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve. His body, like a shooting star, plunged downward, tearing the air apart and vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Luo Feng looked at the Consolidation Pill in his hand, his brow furrowed, his gaze shifting to Yingkui beside him.

Yingkui withdrew her gaze and said to Luo Feng, "Don’t overthink it; Elder Hai means you no harm. I know why he gave this Consolidation Pill to you."

"Why?"

Yet Yingkui didn’t elaborate, a chilling voice emanating from beneath her armor, "Seeing as you withstood one of my attacks, the test is passed. However, Yi Tian’s father, the Azure Cloud Marquis, is a True Yuan Realm expert. Underestimate him at your peril. With only a day left, consume this Consolidation Pill as soon as possible. The outcome of this duel is more than just your life or death; you absolutely cannot afford to lose."

Nodding, Luo Feng put away the Consolidation Pill.

"The Azure Cloud Marquis shouldn’t dare act recklessly in the Imperial City, but it’s best to be cautious. If anything unexpected happens, you can use this Spirit Mirror to contact me anytime."

WHOOSH!

With a wave of Yingkui’s hand, a dark light shot toward Luo Feng. He caught it; it was a Spirit Mirror, shimmering with a black radiance.

"I must report back now, so I’ll take my leave," Yingkui said, preparing to depart.

"Yingkui, wait."

In a flash, Luo Feng appeared beside Yingkui and instinctively sheathed the Rage Flame Knife.

CLICK...

A faint, unusual sound came from the scabbard.

Ignoring the peculiar sound from the scabbard, Luo Feng cupped his hands respectfully. "Yingkui, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Yingkui stopped and looked at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng said, "About the little girl from earlier, she..."

"I have no interest in your romantic exploits." Thinking Luo Feng was worried about the earlier embarrassing incident getting out, Yingkui glanced at him dismissively. "Rest assured, I’m not one to gossip. I’ll consider what happened as if it never occurred."

With that, Yingkui pushed Luo Feng back with a slender, fair palm, then shot downwards.

With a bitter smile, Luo Feng called to Yingkui’s retreating figure, "She’s like you, a member of the Demon Eye Clan!"

As his words landed, Yingkui, who had been moving rapidly, suddenly stiffened. Then, she instantly reappeared before Luo Feng. Seeing that Luo Feng showed no sign of deception, Yingkui demanded, "Take me to her!"

Yingkui’s voice, normally devoid of any emotion, now held a slight tremor.

Luo Feng nodded and, using Sky Cloud Step, rushed downwards.

Back at the inn, Qing Ling was still fast asleep, her small hands clutching the blanket tightly. Her adorable little face held a sweet smile, as if she were having a pleasant dream.

Yingkui said nothing and walked straight to the bedside.

She removed her helmet, and a cascade of black hair tumbled down, revealing a strikingly beautiful face with a hint of allure.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yingkui stared at Qing Ling unblinkingly, her pupils suddenly contracting. The hidden cross-shaped blood pattern deep within them suddenly blazed brightly.

"Yingkui..." Luo Feng began, his heart pounding as he recalled the terrifying power of that cross-shaped blood pattern. Just as he was about to step forward, Yingkui gestured for him to stop.

"Don’t speak. I won’t harm her."

Seeing Yingkui’s serious expression, Luo Feng halted and stood aside.

The light from the cross-shaped blood pattern grew increasingly intense. A moment later, Qing Ling, who had been sound asleep, suddenly opened her eyes, but they were devoid of any light.

Luo Feng watched Qing Ling’s eyes, raising an eyebrow as tiny blood-red marks gradually emerged from the depths of her clear, translucent pupils, slowly forming a pattern.

At that moment, a strange light flashed in Yingkui’s eyes, and the cross-shaped blood pattern in her pupils vanished. She reached out and gently closed Qing Ling’s eyes.

After a moment, Yingkui turned back to Luo Feng, her dark brows slightly furrowed. "Why is she with you?"

Luo Feng walked to the bedside and pulled the blanket back slightly, revealing a pair of small, delicate feet and the cold chains around them.

"She’s a slave..." Exhaling softly, Luo Feng recounted what had happened in Flame Rock Canyon.

Yingkui’s expression changed repeatedly as Luo Feng spoke. After a long while, she gently caressed Qing Ling’s tender cheek. A rare trace of tenderness appeared in her icy pupils as she slowly spoke, "Luo Feng, I owe you a favor. If you need anything in the future, I will not refuse."

Luo Feng hadn’t expected this matter to affect Yingkui so deeply. A favor from an expert who could rival a True Yuan Realm cultivator isn’t something just anyone can obtain, he rejoiced inwardly, then asked, "Yingkui, do you know her?"

Yingkui shook her head. "The strength of our Demon Eye Clan is also our calamity. Thousands of years ago, a leader of the Demon Eye Clan deludedly attempted to rule the Hundred Kingdoms Domain and enslave all its living beings. As a result, all the experts from the Hundred Kingdoms Domain joined forces to annihilate the Demon Eye Clan. That battle shook heaven and earth, shattering mountains and severing rivers, and dimming the sun and moon. At that time, the West Desert Demon Realm was still a land full of life. But after that battle, it was utterly destroyed, transforming into the barren wasteland it is today."

"After that fierce battle, the Demon Eye Clan was greatly weakened. Now, my clansmen number less than one hundred thousand. We can only eke out a meager existence in the desolate, uninhabited West Desert Demon Realm, under constant threat day and night from various demonic beasts. When I was fourteen and had just awakened, I was inadvertently pursued by members of the Demon Sect. Later, I met my master..."

At this point, Yingkui realized she had said too much and stopped. She was somewhat puzzled as to why she would bring up these memories, long sealed in the depths of her heart, in front of Luo Feng.

Taking a slow breath, Yingkui looked at Qing Ling’s small face, a rare smile appearing on hers. "It has been over ten years since I left the West Desert Demon Realm, and I haven’t seen any of my kin since. She... feels like family."

Luo Feng remained silent. This was the first time he had heard of this; he never imagined such a momentous event had occurred on the True Martial Continent.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Yingkui turned to look at Luo Feng and asked.

"Master..."

Just then, Qing Ling woke with a start. Seeing Yingkui by the bed, her expression changed. She sprang up, darted to Luo Feng’s side, and eyed Yingkui warily. "Master, who is she?"

Patting Qing Ling’s little head, Luo Feng smiled. "Don’t worry, she’s my friend, Yingkui. Like you, she’s from the Demon Eye Clan."

"Demon Eye Clan..." Qing Ling was taken aback, curiously sizing up Yingkui.

Luo Feng said to Yingkui, "I’d like to ask you to remove the chains on her feet and, additionally, to look after her for a while."

"Certainly." Yingkui stood up and nodded.

"Master, are you leaving Qing Ling?" Hearing this, Qing Ling’s delicate body trembled slightly. She looked up at Luo Feng. "Did Qing Ling do something wrong? I... I’ll never oversleep again, and I won’t..."

Tears welled in Qing Ling’s eyes, her face paled slightly, and in her little mind, she desperately tried to recall what she might have done wrong that day to make Luo Feng change his mind.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking?" Luo Feng tapped Qing Ling on the forehead, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said with a smile, "The day after tomorrow is my decisive battle with Yi Tian, and I won’t have time to look after you then. We’re only separating for a short time; we’ll have a chance to meet again. Besides, you can’t keep wearing these."

Luo Feng gestured towards Qing Ling’s ankle chains.

Hearing this, Qing Ling choked back a sob and lowered her gaze. "But Qing Ling doesn’t want to leave Master..."

"Don’t worry, Yingkui is very kind and will take good care of you," Luo Feng said with a smile.

Qing Ling glanced at Yingkui beside them and asked, "Then how long until Master comes to get Qing Ling?"

"Well..." Luo Feng scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He hadn’t considered that question yet.

At this moment, Yingkui, who had been silent, stepped forward. With a wave of her hand, a pitch-black Yuan Qi shield enveloped Qing Ling. She said to Luo Feng, "The decisive battle is the day after tomorrow. You should focus on your cultivation. We’re leaving."

"Alright." Luo Feng glanced at Qing Ling and nodded.

WHOOSH!

As soon as she finished speaking, Yingkui activated her Yuan Qi, took Qing Ling, and vanished into the night in moments.

Pale moonlight spilled down, and the slowly flowing water shimmered, adding a deeper stillness to the night in Azure Sky City.

WHOOSH!

The sound of rushing wind accompanied Yingkui as she landed on the rooftop of a tall building and retracted the Yuan Qi shield.

Gazing towards the inn, Qing Ling bit her red lip, rubbed her eyes, and murmured, "Master..."

Yingkui glanced at Qing Ling, her tone cold. "If you want to go back, I can send you."

"Really?" Hearing this, Qing Ling’s eyes lit up, her clear voice filled with irrepressible excitement.

Yingkui nodded. "However, before you go back, I have two questions for you," she said.

"What questions?"

Yingkui looked at Qing Ling and asked, "You like Luo Feng a lot?"

Qing Ling’s clear, translucent eyes quivered slightly. A faint smile appeared on her pretty, pure face as she nodded vigorously. "Master is the best person in the world," she affirmed.

"Then what would you do if he were in danger?" Her eyes narrowing slightly, Yingkui pressed on.

"I... I would protect him." Qing Ling’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly, her small fists clenched tightly.

Gazing at the determination on Qing Ling’s face, Yingkui raised her hand.

CRACK!

A streak of black lightning spun rapidly, instantly appearing before Qing Ling’s forehead. Yingkui said coldly, "If Luo Feng’s enemy were me, what would you do?"

"I..." Gazing at the pulsing black lightning, Qing Ling froze, completely at a loss.

With a wave of Yingkui’s hand, the black lightning vanished. She looked at Qing Ling and said, "His battle with Yi Tian is the day after tomorrow; his fate is uncertain. That’s why he entrusted you to me. With your strength, you couldn’t even defeat a first-level Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist. What makes you think you can protect him? Besides, you are of the Demon Eye Clan. If this were known, it would only bring him endless trouble. Ultimately, you would only be a burden to him."

"I... I’m not..." Qing Ling stammered. Yingkui’s words struck her ears, each like a clap of thunder. Only then did she understand how much Luo Feng had shouldered by saving her. Crystal clear tears streamed down like pearls from a broken string.

"Please... please teach me. How to become as strong as you," Qing Ling suddenly pleaded a moment later, lifting her delicate little face, her gaze fixed on Yingkui.

Yingkui’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Training with me is very arduous," she said. "It’s even life-threatening. You should think this through carefully..."

"I will defeat anyone who threatens Master." Taking a light breath, Qing Ling’s eyes showed firm resolve.

"Good." Seeing Qing Ling’s resolute expression, Yingkui smiled faintly. Her toes tapped lightly in the air, and in an instant, her figure landed on Qing Ling’s shoulder.

CREAK!

Yingkui, in her Han Tie armor weighing nearly five tons, landed on Qing Ling, causing the girl’s small frame to sink several inches.

"Go... to that mountaintop." Yingkui’s gaze swept over, pointing to a distant, thousand-meter-high mountain peak. "Within a quarter of an hour," she said faintly.

"Yes!" Qing Ling’s small face flushed red. She took a deep breath, tapped her toes, and her figure sprinted rapidly through the darkness.

Watching Qing Ling, Yingkui’s dark brows furrowed slightly. She suddenly sighed and murmured to herself, "That pattern... It must be that one. To think it would appear again after several thousand years..."