---
Qi Yuan stood among the bodies, his gaze cold as he faced the remaining members of the Chen family. His voice cut through the air.
"If you are not part of the Chen family, leave now if you want to live... or else."
The hired cultivators, once loyal to the Chen family, exchanged uneasy glances. Prioritizing their survival, they silently dispersed, fleeing in streaks of light.
Chen Honghao clenched his fists, his face pale with rage. He glanced at the few surviving Chen family disciples, determination burning in his eyes. Without a word, he surged forward, ready to fight Qi Yuan to the death.
The twelve Poison Dragon Swords hovered beside Qi Yuan, glinting ominously. With a mere thought, eight of them shot out. Before Chen Honghao could react, his defensive magic weapon shattered, and in the next instant, his head flew from his shoulders.
Chen Honghao was dead.
Yan Ruyan, observing from the sidelines, unleashed a series of ice spells, swiftly eliminating the remaining Chen family disciples.
Qi Yuan gave her an approving nod before turning his attention back to Chen Wang, whose soul still struggled within the grasp of the Ghost Vine Talisman. Dealing with him took little effort; soon, Qi Yuan had collected all the magical tools and storage bags from the fallen enemies.
If things continued this way, Qi Yuan thought, he'd soon become the wealthiest cultivator in Tiannan.
Xin Ruyin emerged from the thick mist, approaching Qi Yuan hesitantly.
"I'm sorry, senior," she said softly. "I never expected Xia Bing to turn against you."
Qi Yuan's expression remained calm. "People are unpredictable. This isn't your fault, Miss Xin. Don't dwell on it."
Relieved, Xin Ruyin nodded. "Since everything's settled, let's head inside and freshen up."
"Not yet," Qi Yuan replied. "I'm heading to the Chen family estate at Jackdaw Mountain first. If you don't root out the source, trouble will return in time."
He summoned his Dragon Spirit Shuttle and gestured for Yan Ruyan to join him. Together, they soared toward Jackdaw Mountain.
Half a day later, Qi Yuan showed no mercy. Any Chen family member with cultivation was killed; those too young had their meridians destroyed to prevent their rise in the future. If the Chen family managed to rebuild in a hundred years, he'd welcome their challenge — but doubted they'd have the courage.
With no opposition left, Qi Yuan looted the Chen family's treasury. By the time he returned, he and Yan Ruyan were burdened with storage bags filled to the brim.
Qi Yuan grinned as he offloaded some of the bags. "Ruyan, I'm carrying too much. Here, take a few more."
Yan Ruyan stared at him, speechless.
So much for being treated like a lady.
Once news spread, cultivators flocked to the Chen family estate, only to find a blood-soaked ruin. The earliest arrivals scavenged what they could; those who came later found nothing but empty halls and silence.
From that day forward, Qi Yuan's name became known throughout Jinma City. People whispered of him as the "Bloody Demon Zhang."
---
*Back at the Nameless Hill*
Qi Yuan, Yan Ruyan, and Xin Ruyin gathered to assess their spoils.
The spirit stones alone numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Talismans filled seven or eight storage bags. Over fifty top-tier magical weapons, and more than a hundred mid- and low-level ones, lay piled together.
Medicinal herbs were abundant, though those over five hundred years old were scarce — just seven or eight. Most seemed to have been exchanged for resources to aid in forming the Golden Elixir.
Among the treasures, Qi Yuan found two precious elixirs in Chen Wang's storage bag: Snow Spirit Water and Sky Fire Liquid. However, their quantity was too limited for a reliable breakthrough. He'd need to gather additional rare herbs to increase his chances of success.
---
**That Night**
After bathing, Qi Yuan quietly left the hill and flew toward Jinma City. His destination was Qi Yunxiao's residence.
He had prepared three bottles of Wangchen Pills, intending to force Qi Yunxiao to drink them. The pills would erase his memories of heartbreak and despair.
Upon arriving, Qi Yuan found Qi Yunxiao sitting alone, clutching a wine jar. His face was flushed, and his eyes clouded — clearly drowning in sorrow.
"Heartbreak," Qi Yuan muttered.
Without hesitation, he knocked Qi Yunxiao unconscious and pried his mouth open. One by one, the Wangchen Pills dissolved into his stomach. To ensure their effect, Qi Yuan used his magic to hasten the absorption.
---
**At Dawn**
The old teahouse keeper arrived, deeply concerned for Qi Yunxiao's deteriorating state. Upon entering, he wrinkled his nose at the strong scent of alcohol.
"Young master," the old man called softly, "Wake up... please wake up."
Qi Yunxiao stirred, his eyes opening slowly. He blinked in confusion at the unfamiliar face before him.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The old man's expression froze. "Master... it's me, your loyal servant. Don't you remember?"
Qi Yunxiao rubbed his temples, frustration on his face. "I can't remember anything."
The old man's heart sank. He picked up the empty wine jar, sniffing it carefully.
"Dream wine," he whispered. "Master... where did you get this? Too much of it erases memories."
"Dream wine?" Qi Yunxiao repeated, lost in thought.
The old man sighed deeply. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. His young master had been tormented by love for too long, and this memory loss might be the fresh start he needed.
Determined, the old man grabbed Qi Yunxiao's wrist.
"Master, you decided to leave Yuanwu Kingdom last night. I've packed everything. We must leave immediately."
Qi Yunxiao gazed at him blankly but nodded in agreement.
Two days later, an old man and a young boy quietly left Jinma City with their belongings, vanishing into the unknown.
---
**Back at the Nameless Hill**
Xiaomei returned, excited to learn that Qi Yuan had come to their rescue. Eager to share the news, he went into the city to find Qi Yunxiao — only to discover the teahouse had closed.
When he returned and told Xin Ruyin what happened, she silently walked outside and stared at the endless blue sky.
"So you've let go," she whispered. "Then I will, too."
"Take care, Brother Qi."
(End of Chapter)