The disheveled old man closed his eyes. "If you can't find the Reincarnated Holy Child, you know the consequences."
The Witch‑Venerable bowed, carrying Butcher's lower half as he retreated from the sanctuary. As he left, chewing noises echoed from within, as if something inside was devouring Witch King Jangco's corpse.
A twitch flickered at the corner of the Witch‑Venerable's eye, and a sharp pain shot through his waist. He had crudely grafted himself onto Jangco's lower half, forcing the connection with magic, but their flesh was not truly fused—bones, tendons, meridians, qi and blood, and vital essence all remained unjoined.
He would need secret medicines to truly bind the two bodies, turning Jangco's flesh into his own.
Ever since he acquired Butcher's lower half, he thought his life’s achievements would finally advance again. But Butcher hadn't died—instead, he’d come knocking. And because the Grand Venerable’s body was withered, he dared not risk it all against Butcher, so the Witch‑Venerable was forced to abandon Butcher's lower half.
Though Witch King Jangco’s abilities were decent, they were not as strong as the Witch‑Venerable’s original body. To restore his former cultivation, who knew how long it would take.
Enduring the pain, the Witch‑Venerable carried Butcher’s lower half down the mountain, meeting Quinn, Butcher, and Grandpa Blind halfway up.
The Witch‑Venerable set down Butcher’s lower half and bowed. "Heavenly Khan."
Butcher glanced at his recovered lower half, then at the Witch‑Venerable’s new waist, and shook his head. "Why go to such trouble? You’ve warmed and nourished my flesh for over two centuries. My body survived—I really ought to thank you."
A twitch flickered twice more at the corner of the Witch‑Venerable’s eye.
Quinn produced the gleaming golden lower half. "Witch‑Venerable, here’s your body back. I have no use for it."
The muscles in the Witch‑Venerable’s face twitched; his voice was hoarse. "I don’t need it anymore."
"Might as well use it to forge a treasure."
Quinn offered kindly, "I see your body’s not properly attached yet. I’m skilled in medicine—if you trust me, I can help you join it right."
"Trying to seize the chance to harm me?"
The Witch‑Venerable snorted coldly and turned away, taking his new lower half with him.
Quinn shook his head and sighed. "A healer’s heart is like a parent’s. I only wanted to practice on his body before helping Grandpa Butcher..."
Butcher laughed. "I trust your medical skills. Of course, if we could go back and find Apothecary to do it himself, that’d be even better—but the journey to the Great Ruins takes too long."
Suddenly, he raised his voice. "Old codger, are you still alive?" His shout rang across the mountain.
From the Loulan Golden Palace sanctuary came a shrill, ancient voice. "Rest assured, as long as Heavenblade hasn’t died, I won’t die either!"