Ye Lan was brought to Yun Qinghe's tomb by Qing Xuanzi. Upon seeing the name carved on the bluestone monument, she immediately spat out another mouthful of blood.
"Yun Qinghe, oh Yun Qinghe, how could you just die like this? See this ear of mine? This is the one you sliced off with the Dragon Catching Dagger. I was already prepared to lop off half of your ear this time, but why the hell did you have to die!"
Just as Qing Xuanzi was about to kick the tombstone of Yun Qinghe, he heard Ye Lan's extremely weak voice exclaim, "Stop! Senior, don't you know the principle of respecting the dead? No matter how much enmity you had with Master Yun, he has already departed to the west."
"Departed to the west? Well said, 'departed to the west.' If death meant all hatred was wiped clean, then where would all these endless cycles of revenge come from in this world?"
Qing Xuanzi roared with knitted brows, then burst into wild laughter, appearing utterly deranged.
"If Senior can let go, then you are a true hero of this world, and possess the integrity a sect leader should have!"
"Little girl, are you mocking me?"
Ye Lan slowly stood up, her white robes fluttering like dust, and amidst the gaze of everyone, she walked slowly to Yun Qinghe's tombstone. A smile of determination on her face, she spread her arms, her frail and thin body shielding the tomb, standing resolute as a sword!
"What do you want to do?"
"If Senior is determined to desecrate the grave, then please step over my corpse first."
Ye Lan's voice was indifferent, as if she hadn't given it a second thought, as sharp as cutting ice.
"Very well! I didn't expect you, a mere girl, to be so stubborn. Then I, Qing Xuanzi, can only kill you with a single palm strike!"
"Wait," Ye Lan suddenly raised her right hand and stopped him, then said indifferently, "Since Senior is determined to have me die, why not make a bet with me?"
When the disciples heard Ye Lan still being defiant, they couldn't help but sneer.
Qing Xuanzi also sneered, "A bet? What leverage do you have now? Speak and let me hear it!"
"Leverage? I suspect Senior wants to excavate the grave not merely for desecration, but more for the Six Unique Skills of Qinghe, isn't that right?"
Ye Lan was merely guessing, she was gambling, and her luck was good. Qing Xuanzi's expression suddenly changed, and even his voice grew softer.
"Little girl, what did you say?"
"I know where the Six Unique Skills of Qinghe are hidden. Do you think this leverage is enough?" Ye Lan observed his expression, seeming to see a sliver of hope in his eyes.
Qing Xuanzi snorted, "Little girl, I will find that secret manual sooner or later. What need is there for me to make a bet with you?"
"Is that so? That place is exceedingly difficult to find. If you're not afraid of spending ten years, eight years laboring fruitlessly, then you are welcome to kill me."
Ye Lan had to grasp this straw and delay for as long as possible.
"Hmph, little girl, why don't you tell me what bet you want to make with me?" Qing Xuanzi gritted his teeth, pondered for a moment, and finally agreed.
"It's very simple. If I can survive three of your palm strikes, you must promise me that you will never again covet Master Yun's tomb. If I am killed by you, you can only blame me for my own weakness. I cannot manage matters after my death. Whatever you wish to do, please feel free."
Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanzi frowned and then burst into laughter, "Well played, little girl, you've devised a perfect plan! Do you think I'm that easily fooled? If I kill you, who will I go to for the whereabouts of the Six Unique Skills of Qinghe? If I keep you alive, I can never avenge myself. No matter how I look at it, I lose. No, no, this must be changed."
"Hmm? It seems Senior has a point. Then how about this: if I'm not killed by you, I'll tell you where the secret manual is. But this time, you must abandon revenge. This condition should be acceptable, right?"
In truth, Ye Lan knew nothing about the location of the Six Unique Skills of Qinghe. She had merely fabricated a lie to deceive this fellow.
"Alright, then take my three palm strikes!"
Although Qing Xuanzi was angry, a cunning glint flashed in his eyes. Gambling, oaths, and the like held no constraints for him. As long as he didn't kill the opponent, it was fine. As for revenge, once she revealed the location of the secret manual, this bet would no longer need to be honored.
This was precisely the shameless calculation in his mind.
At this moment, Ye Lan took two steps forward and said, her breath like orchid fragrance, "Senior, please deliver your palm."
Qing Xuanzi flipped his wrist, and his vital energy surged with his internal breath. Sixty percent of his strength was instantly gathered in his palm, and he pushed it forward! The surge of energy was like the wind, the palm strike like lightning, immediately blowing up Ye Lan's flowing hair!
*Crack!*
A terrifying crisp sound, as if Ye Lan's collarbone had snapped, erupted. She was sent flying backward four or five meters, crashing violently against the tombstone, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained her white robe.
"Hmph, overestimating yourself. With no foundation in internal martial arts, how many more hits do you think you can take!"
Qing Xuanzi retracted his palm and stood with his hands behind his back. The disciples showed no pity, continuing to jeer.
Ye Lan lay on the ground for a good few minutes, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood before shakily rising to her feet again.
Everything she saw was a chaotic and hazy scene. Everyone's bodies seemed like trees battered by the wind. She shook her head, seemingly aggravating her injuries, and nearly fainted from the pain again.
"Hey, little girl, can you do it? I'm a reasonable person. Perhaps if you tell me the whereabouts of the Six Unique Skills of Qinghe now, this bet can be called off, and you won't have to suffer this pointless pain."
Qing Xuanzi's face was filled with disdain. He had been certain that after such a severe blow, the girl would surely be fearful.
To his surprise, Ye Lan walked step by step towards him and uttered tremblingly, "Se-Senior, the second palm."
"You, you truly aren't afraid of death!"
"It's not that I'm not afraid. Some things are more important than my life. Besides, is Senior truly going to kill me?"
As Ye Lan spoke, the corners of her mouth actually curved upwards slightly. She had seen through his intentions completely.
"Fine, since you are so eager to suffer physical pain, I shall grant your wish!"
Qing Xuanzi was truly angered this time. With a breath and exhalation, he flipped his right hand upwards, giving Ye Lan no time to prepare. He struck her abdomen with a palm!
This palm strike utilized seventy percent of his strength, making it even more potent. Moreover, it landed on her soft underbelly. Ye Lan immediately spat out another mouthful of blood, her clothes soaked in bloody foam. She, like a falling petal, was again sent crashing against the tombstone. After a long while, she could no longer move, as if completely knocked unconscious by this palm.
"Hmph, asking for trouble. If she doesn't die, she'll lose a layer of skin."
"Master, if you kill her, the secret manual~"
"Do I need you to speak?"