Artifact Chapter 62: Let’s Go

Chapter 62: Let’s Go

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Lù Míng stepped forward, flipping the unconscious person over. As he examined the charred face, his expression changed in surprise. “Hè Qingqiu!”

233 nodded and surveyed the surroundings for a moment before speaking. “It seems like a giant beast attacked him. There are deep collision marks on many of the fallen trees around here.”

Lù Míng looked at the wounds on Hè Qingqiu’s body and spoke. “Indeed, his back has claw marks, and there are burn marks on his body. It seems it was a fire-type spirit beast.”

233 glanced at the unconscious Hè Qingqiu, its expression conflicted. “Master, do you want to save him?”

Lù Míng’s gaze remained calm. “Since Heaven has brought him to me, I should save him. A cultivator should always follow the will of Heaven.”

233 sighed. “Master, you’ve become even more like a true cultivator since we first met.”

Lù Míng shot it a look. “Open the space for me.”

Though reluctantly, 233 opened the space and pulled both Lù Míng and Hè Qingqiu into it. To prevent Hè Qingqiu from waking up midway, Lù Míng waved his hand and sealed his spiritual senses, ensuring he remained deeply unconscious. After thinking for a moment, Lù Míng took out a healing spirit medicine from his spatial ring and fed it to Hè Qingqiu, then infused him with spiritual energy. Once done, he withdrew from the space, bringing Hè Qingqiu with him.

After unsealing the spell on his senses, Lù Míng gently patted Hè Qingqiu’s cheek and spoke softly, “Wake up.”

Hè Qingqiu groaned in his sleep, his eyes fluttered open slowly. The confusion of waking up was evident in his gaze, but as soon as he saw Lù Míng, his pupils constricted in shock. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, “You saved me…”

Lù Míng glanced at him indifferently before standing up and turning to leave. Hè Qingqiu quickly gritted his teeth and forced his weak body up, walking briskly to grab Lù Míng’s sleeve, speaking in a low voice, “Thank you.”

Lù Míng paused, nodded slightly, but said nothing. Hè Qingqiu held onto his sleeve, not willing to let go. Lù Míng frowned in confusion and looked at him, asking, “Is there something else?”

Hè Qingqiu, feeling a strange heaviness in his heart at the coldness in Lù Míng’s gaze, lowered his head, his voice soft. “I’ve left the Kunlai Sect.”

Lù Míng was surprised. Hadn’t Hè Qingqiu worked so hard to get into the Kunlai Sect? Why would he leave now? Lù Míng recalled the last time he had met Hè Qingqiu, where he had been beaten by a group of fellow disciples, and guessed that Hè Qingqiu must have been forced to leave because he couldn’t fit in anymore.

Hè Qingqiu saw Lù Míng’s expression remain indifferent, and knowing that Lù Míng wasn’t going to press him for more details, he suppressed the bitterness in his heart and continued, “After my father passed away, the Hè family lost its backbone. Various families that had long held grudges against us teamed up to attack the Hè family. Now, the Hè mansion is in decline, and I need to go back. Will you… come with me?”

Lù Míng’s gaze flickered with a hint of sarcasm as he smiled faintly and said softly, “Why should I go back?”

Hè Qingqiu clenched his fists, his voice tinged with restraint. “I know I don’t deserve to ask you to return, and I owe much to you and your mother. I am willing to offer my life in repayment. If the Hè family continues to decline like this, it will inevitably fall apart. The only person who can lead the Hè family to rise again is you.”

Lù Míng’s tone remained indifferent. “What does the Hè family have to do with me? Since the day I left the Hè mansion, I severed all ties with them. There’s no need to bring it up again.”

The light in Hè Qingqiu’s eyes gradually dimmed. He let his arm drop weakly, his gaze toward Lù Míng filled with a mix of pleading and regret. But he knew that Lù Míng’s decisions were never easily changed. Asking him to return now seemed intrusive. Still, the only hope for the Hè family’s revival lay in this person before him. Even if it meant death, he would drag him back.

When Hè Qingqiu finally released Lù Míng’s sleeve, Lù Míng took out a storage device and flew into the sky, heading toward the direction of Hongliu Ridge. Hè Qingqiu, seeing this, had no choice but to push his already-weakened body with all his might, using spiritual energy to keep up, trailing behind Lù Míng by about ten meters.

233, perched on Lù Míng’s shoulder, sighed. “Master, this kid is still following you.”

Lù Míng gave Hè Qingqiu a fleeting glance and replied, “Let him follow if he wants.”

Watching Hè Qingqiu pushing himself so hard, 233 couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity. “Had they known it would come to this, would they have acted differently? Those two—mother and son—once wanted to kill you, yet now they’re asking for your help.”

Lù Míng remained silent, his thoughts elsewhere. More than a decade ago, when he escaped the Hè family with Jǐng Mò and Fú Shū, they were blocked midway by Hè Yuánqí. At that time, he was caught off guard and knocked unconscious by Jǐng Mò. When he awoke, Jǐng Mò told him that He Yuánqí had gone out of control and fled, and that Lù Míng had lost his sight. Looking back, he realized how easily he had been deceived. He believed the vague explanation without hesitation, despite the many doubts. At the time, the situation had been so urgent that he never questioned the strange events. It seemed that during that time, the true identity of Jǐng Mò had been hidden by the demon powers of Sāng Wusheng, which led to Hè Yuánqí’s death. Fearing exposure, Sāng Wusheng had knocked him out. In hindsight, his sudden blindness seemed closely tied to Sāng Wusheng. The pain of realizing how naive he had been after all these years was unbearable. It was a deception that had lasted for over a decade, leaving him with both sorrow and resentment.

Lost in his thoughts, Lù Míng ignored the struggling figure behind him. After flying for about two hours, he turned around and was surprised to find Hè Qingqiu still trailing him, maintaining a distance of four to five meters.

Despite his severe injuries, Hè Qingqiu had pushed himself to keep up. His body was exhausted, his spiritual energy almost depleted, and he was now relying solely on sheer willpower. His face had grown increasingly pale, and his breathing was shallow. He had lost the muscular physique he once had in Kunlai, and his once sturdy robes now hung loosely around his frail frame. Lù Míng couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. Despite all his injuries, Hè Qingqiu was holding up longer than expected.

Just then, 233 suddenly popped up, hopping back onto Lù Míng’s shoulder. “Master, I checked the records earlier. The Hè family’s treasury contains something called Xuèxī Cāo. It’s a rare and unique spiritual herb that can neutralize all poisons. Hè Yuánqí treasured it like a gem. He kept it hidden in the treasury, unwilling to use it, waiting to consume it after seizing your body to achieve invulnerability to all toxins.”

Lù Míng’s interest was piqued. “Is this true?”

233 confidently replied, “Trust me, Master. Only the head of the Hè family can access the treasury. If you agree to return and take control, then the treasury, including Xuèxī Cāo, will be yours. This way, you can easily get your hands on it.”

Lù Míng’s expression darkened. “If Xuèxī Cāo truly has such power, then a trip to the Hè mansion seems inevitable. Fú Shū was poisoned by Xǔ Chóuyān and later corrupted by Sāng Wusheng’s demonic energy. The residual toxins in her body caused her mental deterioration. If we can find Xuèxī Cāo and give it to her, it might just cure her.”

233 nodded. “The Divine Farmer’s Cauldron still hasn’t appeared, but there are two options: one is to separate the soul from the body and find a suitable vessel to reenter. The other is to find this unique Xuèxī Cāo. The first method is hard, and knowing your character, you likely won’t resort to unnecessary killings. Therefore, Xuèxī Cāo seems to be the only way to save Fú Shū.”

Lù Míng felt a surge of hope. If he could obtain Xuèxī Cāo and save Fú Shū, then returning to the Hè mansion wouldn’t be so bad after all. He stopped and turned to Hè Qingqiu, who was still trailing behind. He asked coldly, “How much longer are you going to follow me?”

He Qingqiu’s lips turned blue, his face pale, and he struggled to prop himself up as he said, “I’ll follow you until you agree.”

Lu Ming gave a faint smile and said, “I will go back with you, but I must take the position of the He family’s head.”

He Qingqiu hadn’t expected Lu Ming to agree so quickly. His eyes lit up with surprise as he said, “Of course…”

Before he could finish speaking, He Qingqiu suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed toward the ground.

Lu Ming acted swiftly, throwing a spiritual storage device onto He Qingqiu’s body just in time to catch him as he fell. He quickly sealed his senses, then tossed him into a spatial pocket.

Lu Ming let out a soft sigh as he flew through the air. He muttered helplessly, “Although He Qingqiu has made mistakes, he truly has the He family’s best interests at heart. The He family is his home. Even if he suffers outside, he has a place to return to. Yet, the world is so vast, and I still haven’t found a place for myself…”

233, hearing the sadness and loneliness in Lu Ming’s voice, felt a pang of sympathy for his master. After thinking for a while, it could only blame that damned Sang Wusheng, who had deceived the master so terribly. One day, it would make sure to get revenge for its master.

※※※

Lu Ming traveled day and night, and five days later, he arrived at the He family estate.

The He family estate still looked the same as when Lu Ming had left, its grand and solemn gates exuding an air of reverence. The entire estate was surrounded by a mist, making it seem unchanged. Who would have thought that after more than ten years, he would set foot on this place again?

Lu Ming released He Qingqiu from the spatial pocket, removed the seal on his spiritual senses, and He Qingqiu slowly woke up.

He blinked, confused, looking around. He climbed to his feet, his eyes gradually clearing. “We’re here?”

Lu Ming nodded and said, “Let’s go.”

He Qingqiu hadn’t been home for several years, and the joy and excitement in his eyes were impossible to hide. He quickly ran ahead and knocked on the door, calling loudly, “Is anyone there?”

Inside the door, there was a sudden clamor, and after a moment, a voice growled fiercely from within, “Who the hell is it?!”

He Qingqiu froze for a moment, took two steps back, and gave Lu Ming a helpless glance before saying, “It’s He Qingqiu, I’m back with my older brother. Open the door quickly.”

The person inside clearly didn’t believe him. He sneered and said, “Stop talking nonsense. The eldest young master and second young master are currently in Kunlai practicing celestial techniques, and they’re dozens of days away from here… Ah!”

Suddenly, the door was knocked open with a massive force. The person inside was caught off guard and was sent flying several meters away, landing hard and crying out in pain.

He Qingqiu stood there dumbfounded, staring at Lu Ming, who was calmly putting away his magic tool. He couldn’t find his words.

Lu Ming, with a blank expression, stepped inside the He family estate and said indifferently, “Let’s go in.”

He Qingqiu hurriedly followed, secretly marveling at how simple and direct his older brother’s actions were.

 

 

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.