22 Hidden Valley, Resentment Curse

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I was busy with college stuff...

Has it been half a year already?

(ﾉ≧ڡ≦) teehee

In all seriousness, I am really sorry for the wait.

Also, I would like to clarify a few things that I saw when I was coming back.

1. Nine Sun Sword SECT, not Clan. Although I may have accidently used the term 'Clan' in the past, I want to affirm that it is a sect. To those unfamiliar, Clans are composed of blood-related descendants of a Clan's Ancestor while Sects recruit talented disciples of any background. Keep in mind that both NSSS and Tang Sect are Sects and not Clans.

2. This was NOT drafted as a harem. I'm new to fan-fic so I don't quite understand what the appeal of it is? Like is it a thing of horniness or do you genuinely like that many characters in the series? I usually struggle to find female characters in a TJSS novel moving, much less so many of them. Let me know your thoughts. If you can make a case for a certain female, then I could look into it but idk...

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

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[ Heaven Dou Empire, Hidden Misty Valley ]

Travelling through a dense mist were two blurred figures. Not only were there outlines somewhat concealed, but their voices as well.

Still, the steady yet uncertain voice of Xin Qing could be heard. "Little Yu'er, are you sure we are not lost?" It was not a tone of blame but more of a peculiar expression.

The cute and small voice of a girl protested in response. "Bah! Yu'er is not lost, you're lost! Only those of our clan can get through this mist. We are almost there." One could see the shadow of a head raising proudly within the mist.

Within a few minutes, their voices and figures became much clearer as they finally passed through the mist. Stopping, Xin Qing admired the once-hidden view of a beautiful valley.

There were two towering mountain ranges which stood adjacent to each other, closing in on a wide river which separated them. Xin Qing frowned at another look. Strangely, one mountain was normal while the other was a familiar pitch black. The rivers were crimson red.

Growing up since birth in the village, Yu'er had seemed completely used to it, as she dragged Xin Qing along towards the normal side of the mountain. At the base of the mountain laid many dilapidated houses, although they were very large.

Xin Qing was surprised as Yu'er had often praised her clan during their travel, making it hard to associate a glorious family with such impoverished conditions. Still, he was not one to judge, as he followed Yu'er into one of the larger houses.

Opening the wooden door, Yu'er dashed inside, shouting, "Grandpa! Grandpa! I'm back!"

In one of the rooms was an old man, rocking peacefully on a chair. He was vaguely handsome and had a dignified appearance despite his old age. Seeing the pink-haired little girl run towards him, he smiled amiably and picked her up. "Little Yu'er, you have returned."

Seeing the jewel in her hand, he sighed and spoke reassuringly, "Do not worry, Grandpa did not expect anyone to buy that cursed gem. You did well, Yu'er."

Quickly shaking her head, she pulled on her grandfather's sleeve as she said, "No, Grandpa! I found someone to treat you!"

A flicker could be seen in the elder's wise eyes. At that time, Xin Qing had appeared in the doorway. The elder frowned seeing Xin Qing's youthful appearance, which did not give him much hope. The expectation in his eyes dwindled tremendously.

Waving impassibly to Xin Qing, he said, "Young man, I can see little Yu'er likes you, however I am afraid that this curse is not so simple. If it were your elder, perhaps, however..." He shook his head silently, not blaming Xin Qing but rather accepting his fate.

Xin Qing wore a serious expression as he examined the elder's body. "Indeed, it is worse than I thought. However, that is because your curse... did not originate from the gem. Am I right?"

Mo Yu'er opened her mouth in shock before looking to her grandfather.

The elder's eyes widened for a second, before he closed them with a knowing smile. "To see the truth at a glance. It seems that I have underestimated you, young man. What is your name?"

Xin Qing was not pretentious and sincerely introduced himself. "I am Xin Qing, currently a student at Shrek Academy. It was there that I met Little Yu'er, who was trying to exchange the gem for a service to your clan."

Nodding gently at his introduction, the old man introduced himself as well. "I am Mo Canglei, head of Mo Clan. Indeed, my illness is not from the crystal itself but from a curse of bloodline. Hence, it is incurable."

Xin Qing saw the little girl's shoulder slump in an instant. Surely, the old man's words carried much weight to her. Xin Qing himself was deep in thought, as well.

If the old man's words were true, then even Xin Qing would have no way to solve it immediately. However, if it was the fully awakened Nine Truth Yang Sword...

"It would be possible." Xin Qing had accidently spoken this part aloud, gaining the attention of the Mo pair.

Seeing both the distrustful gaze of Mo Canglei as well as the eager eyes of Little Yu'er, Xin Qing quickly explained.

Showing no look of surprise, Mo Canglei sat down in a nearby wooden chair. "I see, so you would be able to cure me if you were stronger, hmm." His tone was light, causing Xin Qing to be unsure about whether he really believed him.

But even if the elder had not, Mo Yu'er quickly took to his words. As she grabbed and pleaded with Xin Qing, Mo Canglei's eyes flashed with a strange light.

Before Xin Qing could speak, Mo Canglei hushed the little girl before sending her out of the room to speak with him alone.

After she left, there was a brief silence between them before Mo Canglei began speaking. At first, Xin Qing was unsure of what he was hearing, but knew in the next few words that it was the story of the Mo Clan.

Descended from celestial beings, likely fallen ones at that, Mo Clan was diametrically opposed to another force, the Luo Clan who descended from similar beings, from the very beginning of time. Over time, each generation had felt this blood feud more than the last until a few generations ago, when both clans had finally aimed at mutually destruction, not able to live under the same sky.

The land these endless wars were fought on became drenched with the blood of both clans. Unknown to Mo Clan, this was exactly what the Luo Clan aimed for. Using a secret technique from their own ancestors, the Luo Clan elites used the mixed blood as sacrifice to enact a curse, one that would eradicate the Mo Clan.

Mo Clan, realizing these intentions late, had managed to stop the ceremony but not before they were weakened irreversibly by it. On the other hand, the elites of the Luo Clan were all killed by their own ritual when it was forcibly interrupted, leaving only lower-level Luo Clan members.

The Mo Clan was able to clean up the remaining dregs, while barely surviving themselves. After that, their Clan numbers dwindled significantly with each generation to where they were now, with roughly a hundred clan members remaining.

In addition, they were chained to this land, unable to leave.

While it might appear unclear to others, Xin Qing understood the meaning of this last sentence. "Yu'er is not a Mo Clan member?"