Ma Yuan, a disciple of the Tongtian Sect under the Kunlun Mountains, suddenly discovered that consuming human hearts could greatly accelerate his cultivation!
From then on, Ma Yuan developed a liking for eating human hearts. He knew he had violated a major taboo of Kunlun. To avoid Tongtian discovering his transgressions, he avoided him every day and refused to see him!
News of a human in the human race, a thief of hearts, quickly spread among the Kunlun disciples!
Duobao's face turned grim upon hearing of this. He couldn't believe that such a thing would happen near Kunlun. It was a blatant slap in the face to Kunlun!
Duobao was furious and personally descended the mountain to investigate. However, during the time Duobao was away, the heart-thief seemed to have vanished, never to appear again!
As a disciple of Tongtian, Ma Yuan naturally knew about Duobao's descent. He dared not act presumptuously in front of his senior brother Duobao. Therefore, during Duobao's absence, Ma Yuan endured the unbearable craving for hearts and remained on Kunlun Mountain!
Duobao had expected to quickly apprehend the culprit with his own intervention. To his surprise, the heart-thief did not appear for several days, leaving Duobao with a sense of powerlessness!
After staying in the mountains for a few more days without any further incidents of heart-theft, Duobao assumed the culprit had left and returned to Kunlun Mountain!
Upon his return to Kunlun, Duobao happened to encounter Qichen cleaning the mountain gate. Seeing this, Duobao hurried up the mountain to greet him!
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Qichen, seeing it was Duobao, chuckled, "Duobao! Are you back from the mountains? Where did you go?"
Hearing Qichen's question, Duobao sighed, "Senior Brother, during the time you were punished, someone in the human race had their heart stolen near Kunlun. I suspect it was the work of a demon, and I went down the mountain to investigate but found nothing!"
Qichen frowned upon seeing Duobao's dejected expression. "Could such a thing happen near our Kunlun?"
"Yes, if it hadn't truly happened, I wouldn't have believed it. Where did this wicked creature come from to be so audacious!"
Duobao suddenly remembered that Qichen usually started cleaning the mountain gate early. He was somewhat puzzled why Qichen was still here at this time and asked,
"By the way, Senior Brother, you're usually on Sanqing Peak by now. Why are you just starting today? Do you need my help?"
Qichen smiled slightly, "Help you? Aren't you afraid the First Master will find trouble with you?"
Duobao chuckled, "We'll be quiet and not let the First Master know!"
Qichen knew that Duobao thought he had only just started, and with his cultivation sealed, he believed Duobao wouldn't be able to finish cleaning. He assumed Duobao was speaking nonsense out of a desire to help him. After all, if Taishang wished, no event on Kunlun could escape his attention. Perhaps their conversation was being overheard by Taishang!
"No need. I woke up late today. I've been cleaning from the various peaks, and only the mountain gate remains to be done!"
Duobao realized he had been overthinking and bid farewell to Qichen:
"Senior Brother, Duobao will return to the peak. You take your time!"
Qichen nodded, "Mm-hmm, go ahead!"
Upon learning that Duobao had returned, Ma Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. The past few days had been unbearable. If Duobao hadn't returned, Ma Yuan would have resorted to his crimes despite the risks!
Shortly after Duobao's departure, Qichen finished cleaning the mountain gate. Just as he was about to leave, he saw someone approaching from a distance!
Ma Yuan was completely engrossed in the deliciousness of human hearts and did not notice Qichen watching him!
As the person drew closer, Qichen realized he resembled his junior brother, who was originally a wild horse and had been accepted as a disciple by their master after a fortunate encounter. He seemed to be called Ma Yuan, right?
Tomorrow's update.