“...” Zongzheng Huangyue’s eyelid twitched as she instinctively gathered spiritual energy in her right hand, ready to strike, but she paused when she looked to her left.
Her Master had returned.
The spiritual energy in her hand dissipated.
Wen Li sat down calmly, glancing at Yan Yurong, who was still listening to the music in a trance. Not wanting to disturb him, she grabbed the fourth and fifth disciples and began to sneak away quietly.
The three of them shared a wordless understanding, skulking away with hunched backs like suspicious characters. Yet, their expressions remained calm and composed, as if they hadn’t done anything wrong.
Above the clouds...
Huo Yuntian of the Fire Lotus Sect frowned as he watched Linghu Ci. “What’s going on? Xin Feiliu just left in such a hurry, looking like she was out for blood.”
Yang Yankuan glanced down and, without a word, began heading toward the Tingyin Pavilion.
“Hey! We haven't finished talking! Where are you going?” Huo Yuntian reached out.
Linghu Ci’s expression was indifferent. “Let him go if he wants. You stay here and keep me company.”
“Keep you company? Like hell I will! You’ve always been like this! Back then, you’d never tell me anything straight, always speaking in riddles and making me walk in circles like a ghost-hit wall! You kept me in the dark then, and I'm done with it! Get lost!” Huo Yuntian cursed as he transformed into a streak of fire, chasing after Yang Yankuan.
Seeing this, Linghu Ci sighed helplessly. He looked toward the Tingyin Pavilion, his expression darkening as he stared at the Xianle Grand Ceremony below. Who could have possibly found the opening to take Xin Jiuxian away?
Fine, go then. If you won't listen to advice, then go. If you want to be a punching bag for a furious Xin Feiliu, be my guest. You’ll be lucky if she doesn't beat you to death. At least I can stay here and enjoy the peace while I clean up the mess.
“Hmph.” Linghu Ci stood with his arms crossed, listening to the Grand Elder play his tunes.
...
At the Tingyin Pavilion.
Xin Feiliu’s face was as dark as ink. She raised her hand, withdrawing all the spiritual energy she had sent out to scan the area. Not just in the forbidden ground of the back mountains—there wasn't a trace of Xin Jiuxian’s aura anywhere within the Tingyin Pavilion.
Where could she have gone? Who had the ability to break into the Tingyin Pavilion, bypass the forbidden ground's restrictions, and kidnap her?
Yang Yankuan flew in from a distance. “What happened?”
Xin Feiliu turned and flew off without answering.
Yang Yankuan followed, and soon the old man Huo Yuntian also came rushing over.
“Feiliu, what’s going on? Was your Tingyin Pavilion robbed?” This time, he wasn't being malicious; he was genuinely concerned. However, his slightly upbeat tone made it sound otherwise. Xin Feiliu didn't even look back as she flew; she simply flicked her wrist and sent a sword beam flying behind her.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”
“Why are you hitting me?!”
Xin Feiliu flew to the barrier in front of the Tingyin Pavilion’s highest peak and spoke urgently. “Master, I have an important matter to report.”
The trailing Yang Yankuan and Huo Yuntian cupped their fists in respect. “Granduncle.”
The majestic mountain was verdant and tall, piercing through the clouds so that its peak was invisible. Ten thousand meters away, where there seemed to be nothing but empty air, a massive lethal barrier rippled slightly. A deep, ancient voice drifted out.
“I know what you wish to say. Leave it be.”
Hearing this, Xin Feiliu frowned. “Master, Jiuxian is gone.”
How could she not care if Xin Jiuxian was missing?
A breeze brushed past the peaks within the barrier, carrying a faint, subtle sigh.
“I know. You may leave. She is fine.”
Xin Feiliu looked up sharply, her expression a mix of subtle confusion and, a second later, a spark of hatred. “Master, could it be... those people?”
A final sentence drifted from within the barrier. “No matter who it is, you must not interfere.”
Then, the ripples in the barrier vanished, and the Supreme Elder’s Divine Sense withdrew.
Seeing this, Xin Feiliu’s frame trembled, and the panic in her eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by clenched fists. She felt a wave of resentment and regret—regret that she hadn't hidden Xin Jiuxian better.
Yang Yankuan and Huo Yuntian had heard everything. Both realized something and frowned, though they said nothing.
Huo Yuntian stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the sky. His dark red robes seemed particularly somber under the orange sunset.
“Tell me, what’s the point of reaching a level where everyone in the Southern Province looks up to us?”
The sage-like Yang Yankuan stroked his beard. “It's useful. At least we aren't scurrying like rats while being hunted by old monsters like we did when we were young.”
Now, they were the ones who hunted others.
“...You.” Huo Yuntian was choked up by his words, and the originally sentimental atmosphere instantly turned awkward. “Hmph.” He simply turned his head away with his hands behind his back.
He didn't dare cross Xin Feiliu at a time like this.
Suddenly, Xin Feiliu moved, scaring the two old men into jumping back.
“Whoa! Calm down! We didn't do it! Don't hit me!”
“Hit Huo Yuntian! He's the toughest!”
It wasn't that they were truly afraid, but although Xin Feiliu was the Second Elder of the Tingyin Pavilion, she specialized in the highly aggressive Dao of the Sword. The scene of her splitting Mount Wan'e with a single strike during a previous Qingyun Gathering was still worshiped by every generation of participating disciples.
They couldn't withstand a sword strike from her in her rage. Well, honestly, they were just scared.
Xin Feiliu didn't care about these two idiots and teleported away immediately.
“Hey, where did she go?” Yang Yankuan coughed lightly and lowered his hands from where he had been guarding his head.
“She wouldn't be going to settle scores with those people, would she? No way! Quick, quick, stop her!” Huo Yuntian also dispersed his protective shield.
The two of them headache-inducingly continued their pursuit.
If anyone were to talk about fiery tempers, they would usually think of Huo Yuntian in his dragon-fruit-colored robes. But among this group, if Huo Yuntian got angry, there was a chance he'd cool down if you said something nice or apologized.
But Xin Feiliu? Her temper only cooled after she had lopped your head off.
...
Wen Li took Zongzheng Huangyue and Hua Cishu to a different inn to rest.
Wen Li sat down and began panting as soon as she entered. She had run too fast just now, consuming most of her spiritual energy. Hua Cishu went to pour water, while Zongzheng Huangyue shut the door and set up arrays and Spirit-Erasing Talismans.
“Master, have some water.”
Hua Cishu, whose hair had been dyed black again by Wen Li and braided with small bells, obediently handed over the water.
Wen Li took it and downed it in one go.
After confirming everything was secure, Zongzheng Huangyue walked over.
“Master, did you...” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “Did you go treasure hunting?”
Well, yes. Going to someone's house and searching through their locked treasure pavilion for treasure—is there a problem with that?
Wen Li had been keeping her Divine Sense on high alert the whole way back and was parched. She gulped down more water and handed the cup back to Hua Cishu.
“Another one.”
“Okay.” Hua Cishu’s small body scurried to pour more water.
“Something like that,” Wen Li said with a wave of her hand. She patted her storage bag, and an ancient zither glowing with white light appeared. “Here, it’s this. I had to wait quite a while to find it.”
Hua Cishu walked over and handed the water to Wen Li. Though it wasn't the first time he’d seen a zither in Xianle City, his amber eyes lit up upon seeing it up close.
“Wow, is Master going to become a music cultivator? This zither is so beautiful. I can tell it was Master's choice.” He couldn't help but reach out, wanting to touch the strings.
The next second...
A streak of cold light shot out from the strings.
It directly blasted away Hua Cishu’s hand before he could touch it, the attack filled with a bone-chilling killing intent.
Rate on N.U.
