Chapter 769: Three Birth Sword Ray
Ye Mo, unconcerned about the Blue Condor, landed beside the man. He soon discovered a damaged booklet in one of the man’s pockets. It was broken, yet surprisingly sturdy. Ye Mo attempted to rip it, but failed.
He opened the booklet and found it contained a sword technique, though unnamed and incomplete; only the first half remained. A cursory examination revealed it to be a powerful technique. Despite its incompleteness, this posed no problem for Ye Mo. As a cultivator of the Three Birth Chant, he could reconstruct the missing sections, potentially surpassing the original.
The technique comprised three levels. The first involved generating a sword ray, its length determined by the user's strength and attributes. These rays could be formed from inner qi, killing chi, and sword chi; their projection from the sword constituted the first level. Ye Mo noted that later stages allowed for manipulation of the ray's size, enabling it to be either boundless or minuscule enough to penetrate any opening, eliminating the need for a sword altogether.
Ye Mo sighed; had this man reached the second stage, he might have been in danger. He closed the booklet, avoiding further study lest it hinder his own reconstruction. He felt confident in creating a superior version using the Three Birth Chant. Naming the unnamed technique, he called it the Three Birth Sword Ray.
He stored the technique in his ring, then incinerated the man before returning to Shi Feng Village.
Ji Mei continued her flight. Fortunately, the effects of the Purple Snow Seed persisted, allowing her rapid recovery from her injuries. She knew she must escape. The man's killing of Ye Mo would surely precede her own demise. She was grateful for Ye Mo’s unexpected arrival, lamenting that she hadn’t killed him in town; otherwise, she would be dead.
Abruptly, Ji Mei halted, bewildered. Even assuming Ye Mo was headed to Gan Tong City, his sudden appearance in Shi Feng Village was inexplicable. Even the fastest horse couldn't have covered the distance so swiftly.
She dismissed further investigation; he was surely dead. Yet, the Blue Condor's call sent a shiver through her. She cursed – he had killed Ye Mo and caught up to her.
Looking up, she saw the Condor unoccupied. Relieved, she whistled. The man had forcibly controlled the bird; she, however, could communicate with it.
The Blue Condor cried again, circling before landing beside her. She mounted it and fled.
Safe at last, she mused: the Condor wouldn't have come without reason. Its presence implied the strong man's whereabouts – he should be on the Condor, surely he wouldn't let it escape.
A thought, unbelievable even to herself, struck her: had Ye Mo killed that Taiyi master? Impossible. Even as a Great Heaven realm cultivator – an exceptional feat at his age – killing a Taiyi master was inconceivable.
Yet, no other explanation seemed plausible. She considered recalling the Condor to investigate, but prioritized her own life, ultimately fleeing toward Xin Jia Mountain.
Upon returning to Luo Yin's home, Ye Mo found Shi Tie absent. His spirit sense located him at the village exit, conversing with Sister Li. Ye Mo dismissed the need to summon him; Luo Yin hadn’t instructed him to watch over Shi Tie.
He placed Luo Yin's jade coffin at her door, saying, "You asked me to return you home. I've avenged you halfway, but Jie Xun remains. If I encounter her, I will kill her too."
He noticed Luo Yin's expression seemed more relaxed within the coffin. Was he mistaken? Before he could investigate further, Shi Tie returned, causing him to hastily retrieve the coffin.
"Did you truly know my sister?" Shi Tie asked calmly.
Ye Mo nodded, keeping the coffin concealed. "I never heard Shi Jingqin mention you, so—"
Shi Tie's eyes reddened. "But you seem to know her. Then why didn’t she return? Is she alright?"
Ye Mo murmured, "She's in a good place now, don't worry. Tell me, why didn't your sister mention you?"
Shi Tie led Ye Mo inside. "When I was two, my father died. Mother cared for my sister and me. Life was hard. When I was three, a famine struck; Mother took me, leaving my sister behind at fourteen. Before she died, she said she owed my sister the most. She knew my sister wouldn't survive. She cried each time she mentioned it. I later realized she chose me over my sister. I felt sorry for her, so years after Mother died, I returned to see if she was still here."
Ye Mo sighed at Luo Yin's tragic past.
Shi Tie continued, "Upon my return, I learned that four days after we left, a kind nun arrived, bringing money and food, saving the villagers. She lived in our house, caring for my sister for four years. Then she took my sister and vanished. Two years ago, I returned and have been waiting for her."
"Why did everyone avoid me when I asked about your sister?" Ye Mo inquired.
Shi Tie clenched his fists. "A year ago, someone came asking about her. Someone said she never returned, and he killed him, calling him a liar. I understand he sought trouble with my sister, but I was picking herbs and avoided it. He left suddenly."
Ye Mo suspected Jie Xun had sent that person.
"What are your plans?" Ye Mo knew Luo Yin wouldn't return, making Shi Tie's vigil futile.
Shi Tie bit his lip. "I'll stay, waiting for her. I'll train in martial arts to help her. I know someone's trying to harm her; I must help."