Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Chapter 004: Dai Qisi Enters Bright Peak

“Yes, you may not know, but my brother once received a great favor from the Ming Cult.
So, whenever any Ming Cult disciples suffer injuries or illness and come to him for treatment, he charges them nothing.”

Hu Qingyang explained with a cheerful smile.

“This time, Cult Leader Yang rushed his training of the Ming Cult’s supreme technique, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, and almost suffered Qi deviation.
Thankfully, his life is safe, and with some rest, he’ll recover.
My brother asked me to come here to pick this Tianshan Snow Lotus for Cult Leader Yang to help nourish his body.”

Ling Yihan nodded.

“I know this.
Isn’t your brother famous in the martial world as ‘Unwilling to Save the Dying’?
He doesn’t treat anyone from other sects, especially the disciples of the Six Major Sects, except those from the Ming Cult.”

“Unwilling to save the dying? That’s impossible!
My brother has always been a compassionate healer who has never turned away a patient…”

Hu Qingyang said, puzzled.

Hearing this, Ling Yihan suddenly recalled that in the original story, Hu Qingniu grew to despise the Six Major Sects because his sister, Hu Qingyang, was deceived by Xianyu Tong, the leader of the Huashan Sect.
She lost her purity to him, only to be abandoned, leading her to ultimately commit suicide, taking two lives in one.
This incident embittered Hu Qingniu, making him refuse to treat anyone from the Six Major Sects.

Thinking of this, and looking at the innocent and lovely young girl before him, Ling Yihan felt a stir in his heart.
Though he didn’t want to interfere, allowing Xianyu Tong to get away with it again would mean he had come to this world for nothing.

“Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken.”

Ling Yihan didn’t wish to discuss the matter further and changed the topic.

“I can accompany you to Bright Peak, but I don’t know anyone from the Ming Cult, so they probably won’t let me into the main sanctuary.”

Hu Qingyang smiled sweetly.

“Brother Ling, I have a close relationship with the cult leader’s wife, and Cult Leader Yang listens to her most of all, so there’s no need to worry.”

Ling Yihan smirked inwardly.

Too bad the cult leader’s wife put a huge green hat on Yang Dingtian’s head.
I wonder if he knows about it by now?

And so, Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang each rode a camel, leading another one as they set off toward Bright Peak.

Along the way, they encountered many traveling merchants and also faced attacks from bandits, though all of them met their end under Ling Yihan’s hand.

“Brother Ling, although they were bandits, they’re just trying to make a living.
There’s no need to kill them all.
Just driving them away would’ve sufficed.”

Watching Ling Yihan’s ruthless methods, Hu Qingyang couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Ling Yihan replied indifferently,

“In these chaotic times, it’s survival of the fittest.
If I don’t kill them, they’ll come to kill me.
It’s much easier to end them than to leave them alive to seek revenge later.”

Hu Qingyang sighed helplessly, shaking her head.

After seven days of travel, they finally arrived at Bright Peak.
Thanks to Hu Qingyang’s introduction, Ling Yihan was only checked for weapons and allowed into the Ming Cult’s main sanctuary.
In truth, the reason he agreed to accompany Hu Qingyang to Bright Peak was to obtain the mental technique of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

Ding! Main quest triggered: Become a disciple of Ming Cult Leader Yang Dingtian and obtain the mental technique of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.
Rewards will be granted upon task completion!

At that moment, the system’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

“What? I have to become Yang Dingtian’s disciple?
With my current martial skills, even if I can’t surpass him, I’m certainly not far behind.
Why should I lower myself to this short-lived fool?”

Ling Yihan was displeased.

“And there’s no mention of the reward.
If it turns out to be something worthless, wouldn’t that be a huge loss?”

“Rest assured.
The task reward will definitely satisfy you.
Please don’t doubt me!” the system replied earnestly.

Ling Yihan sighed.

“Fine.
Why should I argue with a man who’s about to die?
Becoming his disciple it is.
Strength in martial arts is all that matters.”

Hu Qingniu was currently in Yang Dingtian’s quarters, treating his injuries.
Hu Qingyang brought the Tianshan Snow Lotus along to assist with the healing.

Since the Ming Cult members viewed Ling Yihan as an outsider, he was arranged to stay in a guest room and was not allowed to accompany Hu Qingyang during the treatment.

After treating Yang Dingtian’s injuries, Hu Qingniu returned to Butterfly Valley, but Lady Yang persuaded Hu Qingyang to stay with her.
Naturally, Ling Yihan also remained at Bright Peak.

Two days later, Bright Peak was adorned with decorations, and disciples gathered in celebration.
Not only was Hu Qingyang present, but even Ling Yihan, as a guest, was invited to the festivities.

Yang Dingtian and his wife sat in the main seats of the hall, followed by the Left and Right Envoys of Light, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao;
the Three Guardian Kings—Bai Mei Ying Wang, the White-Browed Eagle King; Jin Mao Shi Wang, the Golden Lion King; and Qing Yi Fu Wang, the Green-Winged Bat King;
the Five Wanderers; the Five Element Flags; and other members of the cult.

Ling Yihan curiously asked Hu Qingyang, who was sitting beside him,

“What’s the occasion today?
Why is the entire Ming Cult gathered here?”

Hu Qingyang smiled at him.

“I heard Lady Yang mention it.
Today, the Persian main sect has sent a few envoys to bring a follower who wishes to join the Central Plains Ming Cult.”

“Persian envoys?” Ling Yihan thought to himself.
“Could it be that Dai Qisi is coming?”

Sure enough, not long after, three Persians entered, carrying a written message from the Persian cult leader, and greeted Yang Dingtian.

One of the Persians spoke respectfully to Yang Dingtian.

“Cult Leader Yang, our sect has a Pure Kindness Envoy who was originally from the Central Plains.
Having lived in Persia for many years, he joined our Ming Cult, married a Persian woman, and had a daughter.
Sadly, he passed away a year ago.
Before his death, he requested that his daughter return to the Central Plains.
Our cult leader respects his wishes, so we have brought her to Bright Peak, hoping Cult Leader Yang will accept her.”

Yang Dingtian nodded immediately and smiled.

“Since it’s the cult leader’s request, how could I refuse?
Where is this Pure Kindness Envoy’s daughter?
Please bring her in.”

At his words, the Persian envoy gestured, and a young girl stepped into the hall.

The girl appeared to be about eighteen years old.
Her hair and eyes were black, like those of people from the Central Plains, but her nose was higher, her eye sockets deeper, and her skin remarkably fair, like freshly fallen snow.

Ling Yihan recognized her immediately—it was Dai Qisi.

She was stunningly beautiful, radiant and enchanting.
As she entered the hall, it was as if the entire place lit up.
Not only Yang Dingtian and his wife, but the Left and Right Envoys, the Three Guardian Kings, the Five Wanderers, the Five Element Flag-bearers, and every other member of the cult were all captivated by her beauty.

“Dai Qisi, at your service.
Greetings to Cult Leader Yang and Lady Yang.”

Dai Qisi greeted Yang Dingtian and his wife with a respectful bow.