Stellar Transformation-Chapter 54 - 8 Alone (Part 1)

At this moment, outside the courtyard, the sound of footsteps rose abruptly, and along with the sound of a strong wind, a blue-robed elder appeared in the courtyard with a group of men. Upon seeing the scene in the courtyard, the elder’s face changed, and Qin Yu merely lifted his head slightly and gave the blue-robed elder a cold glance. The blue-robed elder, seeing Qin Yu’s face, immediately knelt down and said, "I greet the Third Prince, I have arrived late."

"Arrived late?" Qin Yu repeated in a low voice, his heart filled with anger.

If they had arrived just a little earlier, perhaps Grandpa Lian would not have died, yet these people were late. Moreover, Qin Yu had once seen the blue-robed elder by his father’s side, and knew him to be one of his father’s trusted confidants.

"Take the things here back to the Prince Mansion. As for Grandpa Lian, I will take him back myself," Qin Yu said, his voice icy and devoid of emotion.

Qin Yu donned the Xuantie Arm Guards and Xuantie Leg Guards, then held Lian Yan in his embrace. With a long cry from Qin Yu, the Black Hawk turned into a streak of black light and swooped down. With a flash, Qin Yu was on the hawk’s back.

"Little Black, back to the Prince Mansion," Qin Yu said softly.

It seemed the Black Hawk could feel the sorrow in Qin Yu’s heart; it did not frolic as it used to but instead flapped its wings forcefully, heading to the Yan Capital City Prince Mansion at top speed.

The blue-robed elder, watching Qin Yu disappear into the sky on the back of the Black Hawk, frowned slightly before turning to his subordinates and ordering, "Quick, lift the Sword-toothed Tiger and hurry to the Prince Mansion at once." The blue-robed elder then pocketed the second block of the Tongtian Map for himself.

"Lian Yan is dead, but that Yi Qingyu is dead too, so it’s not too bad. However, the Prince had deep feelings for Lian Yan..." The blue-robed elder furrowed his brows, clearly sensing that the situation was somewhat grim.

...

Inside the Yan Capital City Prince Mansion.

Under an ancient tree, Qin De and Xu Yuan sat facing each other, playing Go in silence.

"Prince, you’ve lost again," Xu Yuan said gently as he placed a white piece, smiling.

Qin De looked at it for a while then shook his head with a smile, "Xu Yuan, your skill at Go has become more and more refined, even I cannot beat you now." Xu Yuan glanced at Qin De and shook his head, "It is not that Xu Yuan’s Go skills have improved, rather, the Prince is unsettled today."

Qin De let out a sigh, "Indeed, my heart is restless today, unable to calm down. I’m always worried about Uncle Lian’s matter. Logically, with Uncle Lian’s strength, plus the two Late-stage Innate Experts, resolving this matter should not be a problem," he said.

"Rest assured, Prince, Senior Lian’s strength is immense, there are not many on Xiang Guang’s side who could harm Senior Lian," Xu Yuan said with a smile.

Suddenly, Qin De stood up and looked up into the sky.

The Black Hawk was diving down rapidly, heading straight for Qin De’s location, with Qin Yu sitting cross-legged on its back. Qin De immediately smiled; he was waiting for Qin Yu to return, and with all the Stone Burning Iron that Qin Yu had left for him, it was a huge fortune, naturally, he wanted to reward Qin Yu.

However... Qin De’s smile froze because he saw another person in Qin Yu’s embrace.

"Bang!" Qin Yu leaped down from the back of the Black Hawk and landed on the ground.

Holding Lian Yan, Qin Yu stood motionless as he looked straight at Qin De. Qin De’s face turned pale at the sight of Lian Yan in Qin Yu’s embrace, and he struggled to control himself as he stepped forward, Lian Yan’s pale face with a faint smile appearing before his eyes.

"Father, Grandpa Lian is dead," said Qin Yu, his calm voice nevertheless brimming with profound sorrow.

"How could this be, Uncle Lian had a spiritual artifact?" Qin De’s eyes instantly moistened, and after a moment, he suddenly asked Qin Yu, "Yu’er, tell me, is there someone named Yi Qingyu on Xiang Guang’s side?"

Qin Yu shook his head, "I don’t know, I’m unaware of the identities of those people."

Qin De saw the holes in Lian Yan’s body and sighed, "These are wounds from embroidery needles, and the only one on Xiang Guang’s side capable of using embroidery needles and injuring Uncle Lian is Yi Qingyu. Uncle Lian has finally been liberated."

Having experienced much in his life, Qin De could naturally discern Lian Yan’s troubles.

"The man who killed Grandpa Lian has already been slain by his own blade," Qin Yu stated bluntly; he had felt the momentum of Lian Yan’s fierce battle while atop Black Hawk, and upon his descent, he had witnessed Lian Yan killing his adversary and then laughing heartily towards the heavens.

Taking a deep breath, Qin De nodded slightly, "Uncle Lian has been liberated, Yu’er, you don’t need to be too sad. Instead, you should feel happy for your grandpa."

But Qin Yu didn’t say a word, simply looking at Lian Yan in his arms. After a moment, the servants from the Prince Mansion took Lian Yan’s body away. Qin Yu watched as Lian Yan’s body was carried off, remaining silent for a long while before speaking lightly, "Father, I’m not in a good mood, I will go rest now. Don’t let anyone disturb me."

After speaking, Qin Yu turned and walked toward his own private courtyard.

Inside the courtyard.

Qin Yu sat quietly on the stone bench, gazing at the willow tree before him; the swaying branches evoked memories from his childhood, when he and Lian Yan used to play there.

"Huh!"

Qin Yu’s figure moved; he began to dance through the courtyard, executing the thirty-six movements from the first block of the "Tongtian Map" entirely from memory, without much thought, simply repeating the motions at high speed.

Thirty-six spiraling columns of nature’s spiritual energy, as thick as arms, intertwined like armor wrapping around Qin Yu, before seeping into him.

Tears silently fell from Qin Yu’s eyes.

His speed grew even faster, not practicing but venting, and as the movements accelerated, his entire being turned into a gust of wind moving throughout the courtyard.

As the nature’s spiritual energy grew denser, the faster Qin Yu’s movements, resulting in a faint silver light that began to emanate from the thirty-six spiritual energy columns. When these silver-imbued columns merged into his body, all his muscles violently trembled.

"Ah—"

An excruciating, heart-wrenching pain surged from within, causing Qin Yu to abruptly stop. His facial muscles quivered, tears filled his eyes, and with no attempt to restrain himself, he looked up to the sky and howled, the sound echoing continuously. It was hard to tell if the wails were from the physical agony or from the pain in his soul, but he kept howling until he was out of breath, and then Qin Yu inhaled raggedly.

"Yu’er..." Qin De’s voice came from outside.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yu tried to calm himself and said, "Father, please give me some time to be alone, and don’t let anyone disturb me during this period, will you?" Outside the courtyard there was silence for a while, then the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.