Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 233 Resurrection (10,000 words, 410 pages)

White banners fluttered in front of the Xiao residence, and Xiao Ming's memorial tablet was placed in the center of the mourning hall.

The King of Chu personally escorted the coffin, his face filled with sorrow.

The court officials lined up to offer sacrifices, many with tears in their eyes.

“This…” Xiao Ming’s voice choked.

Inside the inner courtyard, Xiao Ming's eldest son, the one who had advised his father not to resign from his official post before his death, was kneeling before the coffin, weeping bitterly.

"Father! Your son was wrong! Your son shouldn't have let you die with such resentment!"

The daughter-in-law hugged her two children, tears soaking her clothes: "Father-in-law, your most beloved grandchildren are still waiting for you to teach them calligraphy and martial arts..."

The usually calm and composed nephew was now pounding his chest in frustration: "Uncle! I shouldn't have done this! If I had known, I would have risked my official post to let you retire and enjoy your old age!"

His close friend from the court was also present. He was heartbroken and recounted his memories of the old general to Xiao's children.

The two men, one a scholar and the other a warrior, started a family together and built a career, then watched their children being born.

Xiao Ming was so happy back then.

As they talked, everyone started to cry.

Watching all this, Song Yan remained silent.

He had seen too much hypocrisy in the world, but the grief reflected in the mirror at this moment was so real that he could not question it.

only……

General Xiao's early life was spectacular, but his later years were desolate and lonely. Yet, he gained true understanding and respect after his death.

It’s weird.

Xiao Ming's body trembled violently. He stretched out his withered hand, as if to touch his illusory family, but stopped in mid-air.

"They...they..."

The old man in the straw raincoat calmly looked at Xiao Ming: "Did you see clearly?"

Xiao Ming nodded blankly: "I saw it clearly."

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Xiao Ming remained silent, murmuring softly, "I want to go back..."

"Perhaps they have realized their mistake."

"That's how people are; they only realize their regrets when they lose something, and perhaps they've already repented by then."

Xiao Ming suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to the old man in the straw raincoat: "Please give me back my lifespan! Let me go back!"

Song Yan gasped.

Reversing life and death is something even cultivators would find difficult to achieve, right?
But to his even greater surprise, the old man in the straw raincoat chuckled and readily nodded, "Alright."

"Senior!" Song Yan couldn't help but exclaim, "Is...is this in accordance with the laws of nature?"

The old man in the straw raincoat turned to Song Yan, his gaze beneath the bamboo hat almost tangible: "Little boy, the ways of heaven are unpredictable. Xiao Ming's life was not meant to end. I am merely correcting a mistake."

He paused, then said, "Besides, Xiao Ming can't just wake up for no reason in the eyes of ordinary people. You'll have to go to the Xiao residence with him."

"This……"

Song Yan was slightly taken aback. After a moment of thought, he wondered why this senior wanted him to participate in this matter.

But he dared not refuse and quickly agreed: "This junior obeys."

Having received the immortal's consent, Xiao Ming was so excited that he couldn't speak, and could only keep bowing to the old man in the straw raincoat and Song Yan.

Xiao He asked the old man in the straw raincoat curiously, "Grandpa, after General Xiao goes back, will he remember all that he saw after he died?"

The old man in the straw raincoat smiled meaningfully: "Whether he remembers or not is entirely up to him."

Song Yan looked at Xiao Ming, and the old general's eyes had regained their sparkle of life.

The old man in the straw raincoat took out a vibrant green leaf from his pocket and gently placed it in Xiao Ming's palm, saying, "Hold it under your tongue, walk into the mourning hall, and let it lie inside your body."

"Then you can be 'brought back to life'."

……

Within Yingjing.

As dusk settled, white banners fluttered in front of the Xiao residence.

The funeral for the General Who Protects the Nation will last for a month, and only half of it has passed.

Song Yan stood before the steps in a white robe, his robes fluttering even without wind.

His face was covered by the Xuan'e Bailing mask, and his bamboo hat was lowered, revealing only his well-defined jawline.

"Who goes there?" The guard at the gate asked warily, gripping the hilt of his sword.

Song Yan remained silent, only gently raising his hand.

In an instant, the white lanterns hanging in front of the Xiao residence went out, only to be relit by a touch of golden light from his fingertip, now glowing a festive red.

The guards retreated in shock, and Song Yan stepped inside, his voice echoing throughout the Xiao mansion: "This humble Taoist priest, Tong Chuping, has come to resolve a karmic entanglement."

Inside the mourning hall, the Xiao family members were immersed in grief.

Suddenly, a Taoist priest in white robes floated in. The eldest son, Xiao Heng, suppressing his grief, stepped forward and said, "Master, my father has just passed away, so it is inconvenient to receive guests..."

With a wave of his Taoist robe sleeves, Song Yan caused the candlelight in the mourning hall to suddenly blaze brightly, making his figure appear both real and illusory.

"General Xiao's lifespan has not yet ended, and his life is not yet over. I, a humble Taoist, have come to save him, guided by divine intervention."

"Absurd!" Xiao Heng roared, "Where did this swindler come from? This is the residence of the Grand General of the State, and you are not allowed to swindle people here!"

The rest of the Xiao family also stepped forward, angrily denouncing Song Yan for pretending to be a ghost.

The official immediately summoned the Xiao family guards to expel the Taoist priest from the Xiao residence.

Before they could argue, Song Yan used his spiritual power to gently push everyone aside and walked to the coffin.

A wisp of spiritual light appeared at her fingertips, and profound runes appeared and disappeared within them. Suddenly, a strange fragrance filled the hall, and everyone felt as if they could faintly hear celestial music echoing in their ears.

"The three souls return to their places, and the seven spirits reunite."

Song Yan's voice suddenly became ethereal and distant.

"Xiao Ming, if you don't wake up now, when will you?"

A soft sound suddenly came from inside the coffin.

Everyone present was struck dumb, and Xiao Heng's wife collapsed to the ground.

The coffin lid slowly slid open, and an old but strong hand touched the edge.

"Father...Father?" Xiao Heng's voice trembled.

Xiao Ming sat up, his face as rosy as usual.

He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Song Yan, a knowing glint in his eyes: "Daoist Master."

Song Yan nodded slightly, and with a gentle lift of one hand, she helped Xiao Ming out of the coffin.

He then turned to the stunned Xiao family members: "General Xiao's worldly ties are not yet severed; he should enjoy family bliss."

The entire Xiao family was immediately in an uproar.

The servants and maids ran around spreading the word, preparing for the banquet. Even the head steward knelt in the hall, tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed to Song Yan.

"A celestial being..."

Xiao Ming's little granddaughter was the first to throw herself into her grandfather's arms, sobbing, "Grandpa, don't die anymore. I'll play chess with you every day from now on..."

The eldest son, Xiao Heng, knelt down and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Your son is unfilial!"

His forehead pressed against the blue brick, his shoulders trembling violently.

Xiao Ming sighed softly, helped his son up, and patted him on the shoulder.

A banquet was quickly set up in the hall. Song Yan was treated as an honored guest and sat next to Xiao Ming.

Xiao Heng raised his cup in a toast: "Master Tong, we will never forget your life-saving grace! May I ask where your immortal home is?"

"How can a wanderer speak of a fairyland?"

Strange, why ask this question?

Does he think that if I mention the name of Dongyuan Sect, Xiao Heng will know?

……

Soon, news of General Xiao Ming's resurrection reached the capital.

Inside the palace of Yingjing, King Youxiong of Chu smashed a jade cup heavily on the ground.

"Absurd! A dead man resurrected? Xiao Ming has clearly been dead for half a month!"

“Father, please calm down.” Prince Shi Ying pressed his father’s arm and said in a low voice, “I have ordered people to investigate thoroughly. It is said that a celestial being named Tong Chuping came to the Xiao family that day. His abilities are extraordinary.”

The King of Chu looked at a young man dressed as a cultivator beside Shi Ying: "Immortal Master Qin, is there really a magic method in this world that can bring people back to life?" His eyes were also filled with a longing for immortality.

Qin Yicao, dressed in a purple robe, possessed an ethereal and otherworldly air.

He shook his head: "The idea of ​​mortals being brought back to life is against the laws of nature and is absolutely impossible."

"Could this be a play staged by the Xiao family?" King Chu narrowed his eyes. "That old scoundrel is faking his death to deceive the king?"

“This…” Young Master Shiying dared not make a definitive statement.

Qin Yicao continued, "The coffin has been kept for three days; there is no way it can survive."

"Master Qin, what exactly is going on?"

This Xuan Yuan Sect's Yingjing retainer appears to be an otherworldly being, but in reality, there's a hint of gloom in his eyes and brows.

He was also extremely surprised to hear about Xiao Ming's resurrection.

He had visited the Xiao family several times since his death, so Xiao Ming must be dead without a doubt.

How could someone be alive when the sword hasn't been found yet? How did they survive?

He really couldn't understand it either.

Perhaps it's the art of corpse puppetry...

Qin Yicao pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down and allow me to go and take a look. If it is indeed the work of a demon, I will not let him off lightly."

He lowered his eyes to conceal the greed within them.

Others might not be able to tell, but Qin Yicao knew it perfectly well.

Xiao Ming's sword came from who-knows-where; it was by no means an ordinary weapon.

Its power far surpasses that of ordinary magical artifacts; perhaps... it is a spiritual artifact!
It should be noted that in a place like the Chu Kingdom, even cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage might not be able to possess a spiritual weapon.

Such a precious treasure is actually in the hands of an ordinary person.

What a waste! What a waste!

But if a cultivator like myself were to attack a mortal, and the matter were to be exposed, even the Xuan Yuan Sect might not be able to protect me.

Good thing...

The King of Chu was an extremely suspicious man who was always worried that the Grand General of the State would become too powerful and overshadow the King, and that he would instigate his generals to rebel in the future.

Qin Yicao also fueled the flames, using Gongzi Shiying to put pressure on the Xiao family.

However, after Xiao Ming passed away, he still couldn't find the sword in the Xiao family.

Even after pressing Xiao Heng for answers, they couldn't get any clear information out of him.

I have already stepped one foot into the Foundation Establishment Realm. If I can obtain this treasure before breaking through, my future path will surely be much smoother.

Therefore, he was determined to get that sword!

Qin Yicao's biggest worry now is that the so-called "Immortal Master Tong" is also after this sword, making all his previous efforts futile.

Prince Shi Ying stood up and said, "Your subject is willing to go with the Imperial Preceptor."

……

The Xiao residence was brightly lit, and people were drinking and making merry.

The banquet was in full swing when the steward rushed in with a flustered report: "Master, Young Master Shiying and the Imperial Preceptor Qin Shangxian have arrived!"

The room fell silent.

Everyone's expression tightened, and Xiao Ming frowned slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

Xiao Ming paused in his grip on the glass and looked at Song Yan.

With a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth beneath his mask, Song Yan said softly, "It's alright, this humble Taoist was just about to meet this Imperial Preceptor."

The small border kingdom of Xianchao has long since perished.

The term "national advisor" no longer exists, but perhaps it has been passed down from generation to generation without anyone pointing it out.

The so-called "national advisor" of today is nothing more than a worshipper in Yingjing, the capital of Chu.

The worshippers in Yingjing should be cultivators from the Xuan Yuan Sect.

Song Yan naturally had no good feelings towards Emperor Xuan Yuanzong.

One's perspective is determined by one's position; from their point of view, perhaps there is nothing in the world of cultivation in the Chu Kingdom that does not belong to them.

Just as the Chu royal family believed.

Before long, Qin Yicao and Wang Zishiying stepped into the Xiao residence, and their eyes were quickly drawn to this "Master Tong".

Song Yan was quite surprised.

This Qin Yi Cao Qin Gongfeng seems to be the same Daoist who organized the barter association that we met by chance at Jiangxian Pass.

From this perspective, one can indeed sense the immense strength of the Xuan Yuan Sect.

A cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining was merely a minor official in charge of external affairs.

Although it was the imperial capital, his status as a courtier was genuine.

Prince Shi Ying calmly cupped his hands and said, "General Xiao's resurrection is a great blessing for the Chu Kingdom. My father specially ordered us to come and offer our congratulations."

Xiao Ming calmly returned the greeting: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Distinguished guests are naturally given the seat of honor.

During the meal, Qin Yicao looked at Song Yan and asked, "Is this the Taoist Master Tong who performed the magic of bringing the dead back to life? May I ask which school or sect he belongs to?"

Song Yan gently shook his head: "Without a sect or school, a free spirit, just a rogue cultivator."

Qin Yicao felt relieved, but his expression also carried a hint of disdain.

Although he couldn't discern Song Yan's cultivation level, a rogue cultivator so young couldn't possibly be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Perhaps he has cultivated some kind of hidden cultivation method.

Pretend to be a ghost.

However, this General Xiao, who had been brought back from the dead, appeared natural and full of life, and did not resemble a corpse puppet.

Could it be some kind of secret technique that allows one to regain their vitality in a final moment?

While harboring ulterior motives, Qin Yicao patted Song Yan's shoulder familiarly and said, "Fellow Daoist's techniques are wondrous; I'll have to learn from you sometime."

Song Yan nodded calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the strange dust left on him by the other party.

This made Qin Yicao feel even more contemptuous.

After several rounds of drinks, Prince Shiying smiled at Xiao Heng and said, "You may not know, but when my father heard that Lord Xiao had been resurrected, he was overjoyed and wept."

"However, if this 'resurrection' story were to spread, I'm afraid people would dig up all their ancestral graves to beg this immortal master to come out of seclusion, hahahahaha..."

Young Master Shi Ying's words were loaded with meaning, and the Xiao family members fell silent in fear.

Song Yan smiled faintly: "General, your lifespan has not yet ended. I am merely following the will of Heaven and correcting the 'errors'."

Upon hearing this, both Gongzi Shiying and Qin Yicao's expressions changed.

Both harbored their own thoughts, fearing that their actions would be exposed by this so-called immortal master.

Unexpectedly, Song Yan changed the subject: "Now that my karma with General Xiao is settled, I do not wish to disturb you any longer. Farewell."

After saying this, he left his seat.

Xiao Ming wanted to get up to see him off, but then he heard Song Yan's voice wavering: "General Xiao, please wait."

"It's not easy to come back from the dead, so take good care of yourself and rest well."

Xiao Ming hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not stop him, and bowed from afar.

Qin Yicao stared at Song Yan's back, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

After he left the Xiao residence, Young Master Shiying and Qin Yicao also apologized and got up to leave their seats.

"National Division."

Outside the Xiao residence, Young Master Shiying asked respectfully, "This person..."

Qin Yicao waved his hand: "He's just a Qi Refining cultivator, but I don't know what kind of demonic secret technique he used to bring Xiao Ming back to life."

He walked straight out of Yingjing, saying, "I'll go and meet him."

In reality, Qin Yicao was far from being as calm as he appeared. He was extremely anxious and his movements became faster and faster.

Two wind-borne talismans were unleashed, chasing after the direction Song Yan had gone.

He cursed inwardly.

"That spirit sword has vanished without a trace; it must have fallen into this person's hands!"

(End of this chapter)