Eternal Saber

Chapter 589 - 10: Four Demons

Sword Pavilion.

"Uncle, something has happened."

Ye Xuan came to the closed door of the Sword Sect, knocked lightly, and spoke softly.

The Sword Sect master opened his eyes during meditation, hesitated not, and with a wave of his sleeve, the door slowly opened.

If it weren’t for something urgent, Ye Xuan, still in healing, would never disturb him.

After Ye Xuan walked in, he said in a deep voice, "Just got the news, Chen Tang was ambushed by Uncle Wang and True Monarch Lingyun in Lijiang Town, Jingzhou, unexpectedly the Demon Venerable of Xiling was present. True Monarch Lingyun died on the spot, Uncle Wang was seriously injured and was already taken back by Song Wu to the Northern Expedition Army."

"Chen Tang was equally seriously injured, taken away by the Demon Venerable, his whereabouts unknown."

The Sword Sect master showed a look of reminiscence, murmuring softly: "Demon Venerable Yu Qianqiu..."

Ye Xuan asked, "Uncle, why would the Demon Venerable take Chen Tang away?"

"The mind of the Demon Venerable is inscrutable, hard for others to fathom, perhaps it’s for the Emperor Wu."

The Sword Sect master said, "Before meeting the Emperor Wu, the Demon Venerable was undefeated in life. That battle with Emperor Wu was his lifelong regret. Knowing the Emperor lives, he will find ways to locate him."

Ye Xuan sighed softly, "This demon kills like cutting grass. Falling into his hands, Chen Tang is likely doomed."

Not to mention that the Sword Sect master hasn’t healed, even if he were uninjured, pursuing now would be too late.

"Hard to say."

The Sword Sect master shook his head: "The Demon Venerable indeed has killed many, but the Jianghu rumors about him are often exaggerated. He does have his principles."

"Actually, during the Battle of Xiajiang, the Demon Venerable was present."

Ye Xuan was startled, asking, "He was there too?"

The Sword Sect master nodded: "The Demon Venerable sees the Emperor Wu as his lifelong rival. Yet, at the Battle of Xiajiang, he didn’t add insult to injury, nor joined Dao Sect and Hidden Sect to kill the Emperor Wu."

"Otherwise, if he’d acted, Emperor Wu might not have returned alive to the Beiqian Capital City."

Ye Xuan was deep in thought.

The Sword Sect master said, "After taking Chen Tang, the Demon Venerable will likely try to extract Emperor Wu’s whereabouts. If Chen Tang can’t hold on, the Demon Venerable might kill him."

...

"I’ll speak, I’ll speak..."

Chen Tang murmured softly.

He didn’t know where he’d been taken, but holding on till now, he was truly spent. His chest wound was festering, emitting a rotten stench, his life force weak.

The hunger’s impact was far more tormenting than imagined.

Chen Tang barely opened his eyes, a slit revealing a vague, tall silhouette in front of him. He stutteringly said, "Give me... water, I’ll tell you everything."

The Demon Venerable gazed down at Chen Tang, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his azure eyes.

He’d tossed Chen Tang into a secret training chamber within the Huazizai Palace and then turned to leave.

Outside, two figures awaited by the palace.

The left figure was tall, donned in a black robe, skin pallid, eyes deep, seemingly able to see through hearts, resembling someone from the Divine Land.

This was the second-ranked disciple under the Demon Venerable, Yin Demon.

The right figure was stern, skin bronze, features well-defined, clad in black fitted attire, robustly built, muscles knotted, exuding a chilling aura.

This person was the third disciple under the Demon Venerable, Death Demon.

"Greetings, Master!"

Both disciples stepped forward, bowing in respect.

The Demon Venerable nodded slightly, asking, "Any news from the Celestial Demon?"

"Reporting, Master."

Yin Demon respectfully replied, "Eldest brother received your message and immediately went to Pingzhou for investigation. He has already gathered all of Chen Tang’s background information."

As he spoke, Yin Demon took out a small bamboo tube from his bosom, handing it over with both hands.

The Demon Venerable opened the bamboo tube, pulled out the letter inside, scanning it briefly.

"Pingzhou, Changze County, of hunter origin..."

Such information was quite ordinary.

But beginning the year Chen Tang turned seventeen, things abruptly changed.

The Demon Venerable repeatedly viewed the later information, his gaze fixing on a location mentioned in the letter.

Three Thousand Snow Ridges!

"I see."

The Demon Venerable understood, gently rubbing the letter into ashes, and took a teapot from the side, heading towards the training chamber.

Hearing the door, Chen Tang opened his eyes once more.

He saw the Demon Venerable placing a teapot in front of him.

Uncertain where the strength came from, Chen Tang shakily extended his hand, grabbed the teapot, and poured it down his throat vigorously.

Drinking a pot of water, Chen Tang quickly felt much better.

"Speak."

The Demon Venerable’s tone was indifferent.

Chen Tang coughed lightly, asking, "Is there any food? Let me have a bite, then I’ll recount in detail to you, sir."

The Demon Venerable’s face remained expressionless, silently staring at Chen Tang.

Chen Tang inwardly cursed but said, "Alright, in truth, Emperor Wu isn’t dead. He’s hidden deep in the East Sea, a most secluded place! It’s at the ocean’s bottom, like a giant abyss; walking along there, one sees a volcano crater where the Emperor hides..."

Chen Tang vividly described to the Demon Venerable the mysterious place the East Sea Giant Demon once showed him.

Many of its details were such that without having seen them personally, they would be difficult to fabricate.

Indeed, Chen Tang had long pondered how to respond to the Demon Venerable’s inquiries.

He couldn’t divulge Emperor Wu’s whereabouts.

But resisting indefinitely was also impossible, physically speaking, especially not knowing what further brutal measures awaited him.

Thus, he thought of that mysterious locale in the East Sea Abyss.

He had no idea what lay inside that volcano crater.

If he could trick the Demon Venerable into going there, perhaps he’d gain a brief reprieve.

If they encountered the East Sea Giant Demon, even with the Demon Venerable’s power, he might not have an easy time.

However, if he had spoken of this location immediately upon inquiry, the Demon Venerable, with his experience, would certainly not believe it.

Only when he was at his limit, nearly unable to hold on, would mentioning it lend some credibility.

Hearing Chen Tang’s answer, the murderous intent in the Demon Venerable’s eyes gradually receded.

The Demon Venerable suddenly said, "The Emperor Wu is in the Three Thousand Snow Ridges."

Chen Tang’s mind shook!

His body and mind had suffered greatly these days, his mind not entirely clear.

If the Demon Venerable could discern his identity as Emperor Wu’s heir, then investigating his origins, one would naturally associate him with the Three Thousand Snow Ridges.

Hearing the Demon Venerable’s words, Chen Tang suddenly realized.

Thoughts racing, he quickly sought a way to rectify matters, saying, "He was indeed at the Three Thousand Snow Ridges initially, but after I descended the mountain, Emperor Wu foresaw his exposure and changed location."

"Then, as the Profound Celestial Sect’s True Dragon pursued me, severely injured, I leapt into the East Sea, miraculously surviving because Emperor Wu secretly intervened from beneath the sea to save me."

This was spoken with half-truths.

Many had witnessed him being hunted by the Profound Celestial Sect, and the world thought him dead in the East Sea.

Unexpectedly, he later emerged alive.

The specifics were unknown to outsiders.

If Emperor Wu was hidden in the East Sea, this reason held plausibility.