Actually, from being forced to kill Zhou Kun in self-defense, to orchestrating the death of Chang Chunzi, and then to striking down Changyunzi and Chang Zhenzi.
Throughout this journey, Qin Gengyun, originally a cautious and low-level cultivator, gradually experienced a change in mindset.
Just like on the wedding night, it was Qiu Zhihe who pushed him down first.
Lately, he has become more competent, seizing the initiative, and now often brings his wife to the point of surrender.
Men always continue to grow.
The first time he killed someone, Qin Gengyun vomited.
But now, during magical combat, his hands no longer shake, and his heart has become more ruthless.
He smashed half of the Corpse Controllerâs body into pulp and shattered six Spirit Corpses into pieces. Amidst the blood rain, he strolled calmly.
He had become a stranger even to himself, no longer daring to turn back.
This damn world always turns good people bad, timid people fierce.
But this is good; Iâll continue to be ruthless so that I can protect my wife for life.
Even should I truly become the agile-type meat shield imagined, able to withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment Peak, Golden Core, or even Nascent Soul, I would still protect Susu, Mo Xiaolan, Xiaoxue, and Si Minglan behind me.
Huh?
The blood trickling from his mouth interrupted Qin Gengyunâs reverie.
He spat a mouthful, realizing he wasnât tough enough yet, just took a few hits and already coughing up blood?
"Master!" Liu Su exclaimed upon seeing him bleeding.
"Qin Gengyun is injured! Qiu Zhihe, itâs enough; deliver Yin Qiaoqin to me!"
As Si Minglan was about to step forward, Qin Gengyun said:
"No need, it was agreed they are all mine!"
Qiu Zhihe was silent for a moment, then nodded. She clasped her hands behind her, nails nearly digging into the flesh, yet her exterior remained calm.
"Thank you, wife!"
Qin Gengyun smiled at Qiu Zhihe, meanwhile, the freed Yin Qiaoqin was stunned for a moment, then raised her head, letting out a beast-like growl.
"High-level Spirit Corpses have some intelligence; even without a Corpse Controller, they will fight autonomously."
Liu Su shouted loudly, "Master, be cautious!"
Qin Gengyun nodded, wondering if it was possible to restore Yin Qiaoqin back to a normal cultivator.
As he pondered, Yin Qiaoqin was already forming the Flying Cloud Seal again, Qin Gengyunâs figure flashed, arriving at Yin Qiaoqinâs side, reverting the Heaven-Reaching Staff to normal length, sweeping it towards her waist.
Yin Qiaoqin suddenly grasped the Heaven-Reaching Staff with both hands, side-eyed Qin Gengyun, her pupils blood red, skin deathly pale, letting out hoarse sounds.
"Once refined into a Spirit Corpse, they are no different from beasts, and cannot be called back."
Qiu Zhihe knew what he was thinking and reminded aloud.
As if to confirm her statement, Yin Qiaoqin, holding the iron staff, abruptly leaned forward and bit into Qin Gengyunâs neck!
But still couldnât break through defenses, with their proximity, Qin Gengyun sensed the location of her corpse core.
The Heaven-Reaching Staff suddenly shrunk, becoming as long and thick as a thrusting sword, and Qin Gengyun stabbed towards Yin Qiaoqinâs Spirit Field!
With a pop, the staff pierced out through Yin Qiaoqinâs abdomen.
Her movements halted instantly.
"Corpse core shattered," Si Minglan let out a sigh of relief, "Itâs over."
"The Spirit Corpse... has reverted!" cried Liu Su, seeing Yin Qiaoqinâs rigid body suddenly soften.
She fell onto Qin Gengyunâs body, and he instinctively caught her, lowering his head to look, instantly stunned.
On that expressionless face, two lines of tears were flowing.
Then, her deathly pale skin slowly regained the human shape, returning to the fair complexion of a woman.
Yin Qiaoqin lifted her hand, tightly gripping Qin Gengyunâs arm, her face had restored to tender and bright, tears continuously streaming from her eyes.
The Spirit Corpse reverted to a Fairy.
She opened her mouth, struggling to make sound: "Heh... Heh..."
She held Qin Gengyunâs arm, placing it against her chest.
"Hey hey, whatâs up with this woman? Even at deathâs door, sheâs trying to take advantage?"
Liu Su was unhappy, Qiu Zhihe slightly furrowed her elegant brows, but she didnât act.
Yin Qiaoqin, with pale lips, used her last bit of strength to finally utter a single human word:
"Zheng..."
After that, her eyes dimmed gradually, hands fell.
Once admired Feiyun Sectâs Fairy, now eternally rests in the Northern Wilderness.
Qin Gengyun gently laid her body flat, withdrawing his right hand from her chest, holding a Jade Pendant.
The four women stepped forward.
"Master, was that woman placing your hand on her chest to give you this Jade Pendant?" This was the sour Liu Su.
"Ah ah ah! Didnât leave one for me!" This was the angry Hammer girl.
"Is your injury alright?" This was a concerned Si Minglan.
But she quickly backed off, letting Qiu Zhihe approach Qin Gengyun.
"I told you not to take it head-on, why didnât you listen?"
Qiu Zhiheâs voice was cold and annoyed.
Qin Gengyun grinned: "Wife, Iâm not tough enough now; when I become tougher, Iâll always shield you, alright?"
Qiu Zhihe was slightly stunned, not knowing what she thought of, her cheeks turned slightly red, and words of blame could not be uttered.
Si Minglan beside her also froze, surprisedly looking at Qin Gengyun, probably didnât expect heâd be flirting with Qiu Zhihe in front of her.
Whatâs this supposed to mean?
Not treating me as an outsider?
Liu Su spat: "Master is shameless! Saying this sort of thing in front of me is fine, but how could he say it in front of outsiders?"
Si Minglan: "..."
Qin Gengyun looked surprised: "What sort of thing?"
He really didnât mean that, just felt his meat shield wasnât tough enough yet.
"Whatâs the deal with this Jade Pendant?"
Si Minglan shifted the topic, looking at the Jade Pendant in Qin Gengyunâs hand.
Qin Gengyun opened his palm for everyone to see, Qiu Zhihe said: "Itâs just a regular Jade Pendant."
Liu Su said: "It also has mandarin ducks engraved, could it be Yin Qiaoqin and her partnerâs token of commitment?"
Qin Gengyun said: "Earlier, Fellow Daoist Yin said the word âZhengâ as she was about to die, could it be her partnerâs surname?"
Si Minglan suddenly said: "I recall, there were rumors in the past of Yin Qiaoqin having affections with a Junior Brother Zheng of Feiyun Sect."
Liu Su glanced at Yin Qiaoqinâs body, inadequately dressed, eyes wide, clearly dying unwillingly.
She sighed: "A pitiful person as she was trying to entrust Master to give this Jade Pendant to that Junior Brother Zheng, to let her lover know her whereabouts."
Qin Gengyun paused silently, suddenly lifting the Heaven-Reaching Staff and smashed a hole into the ground nearby.
Then he took off his robe, covering Yin Qiaoqinâs body, held her and placed her into the pit.
Qiu Zhihe waved her hand, nearby sand rose, and filled the pit.
Si Minglan also swung her hand, cutting down a tree, Spiritual Energy like a knife, quickly carved the tree into a grave marker, Spiritual Power engraved a line:
Feiyun Sect, Yin Qiaoqin.
The group stood in front of the simple grave, silently clasping their hands in salute.
"Cultivator magical combat killing is ordinary, only the strong prevail, yet Spirit Corpse Mountain destroys humanity, against heavenly principles, why do the so-called Righteous Sect tolerate it until now?"
Qin Gengyun was puzzled.
"Oh."
Liu Su suddenly recalled something.
"What did that Corpse Controller say before dying? Said we were rescue forces invited by Cloud Pattern Mountain?"
Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe exchanged a glance, their expressions changed.
"Not good!"