Mei Yu, no longer threatened, no longer suppressed the resentment in her heart. She stared at Tian Can and said word by word:
“You are merely at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. What is there to be so proud of?”
“You look down on women so much, yet didn't you still crawl out from between a woman's legs?”
“You saw I was weak and easy to bully, so you took advantage of me at every turn. Yet when you run into a female cultivator with higher cultivation, you wimp out like a dog.”
“Tian Can, if you hadn't stalked me and tried to force yourself on me, I wouldn't have used you as bait.”
“You're lucky you didn't die in the mouths of those Bone-Corroding Spirit Wolves!”
Wang Kui had originally wanted to step in and mediate, but after hearing Mei Yu's words, he instantly shut his mouth. Looking at Tian Can again, he only felt the man deserved it.
Tian Can pointed at her, stuttering “You... you... you...” over and over. Finally, his blood boiled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before fainting.
Wang Kui cast a disgusted look at him. Reminding himself that this was his teammate and he had to bring him back—otherwise it would affect his ability to form teams in the future—he grabbed him and boarded his flying artifact.
“Since we've gathered all the spiritual plants for the mission, let's meet up in Songhuai City!”
With that, Wang Kui took his leave first. Wen Jingshu and Mei Yu did not linger either and followed suit.
To Wen Jingshu, the grudge between Mei Yu and Tian Can was merely a minor interlude along the way.
Whether Tian Can had indeed harbored designs on Mei Yu and she had turned the tables on him, or Mei Yu had known Tian Can's nature and deliberately set up this trap to frame him, the process did not matter to low-tier cultivators.
What mattered was that with even a slight misstep, Tian Can's path to immortality would be ruined, while Mei Yu had obtained two spirit beast cubs and escaped completely unscathed.
Once, the talisman cultivator Wen Jingshu had been one of them. But now, with her identity transformed, looking at the grievances of low-tier cultivators from a third-person perspective brought a different set of reflections to her heart.
Was this not also a form of Dao-comprehension?
Wen Jingshu traveled on her flying artifact for a day. Looking at Songhuai City from afar and beholding the endless plains, her mind could not help but broaden as well.
Though called a city, Songhuai City actually covered an area larger than an entire country in the mortal realm. Its continuous, unending city walls even enclosed half of a mountain range.
As for the Wang family, they were built against a steep cliff, facing the entire plain.
Seeing the Wang family from a distance, layers upon layers of a vast, misty sea of clouds filled the continuous mountain ranges and ravines like smoke and cotton. Most of the thousands of peaks were hidden deep within the cloudy waves, leaving only their jagged, verdant tops exposed, looking like an otherworldly secret realm floating in the void.
The main peak of the distant mountains rose majestically, with clusters of buildings spreading out in layers along the mountain's terrain. Gently sloping, extended eaves and heavy, grand halls were arranged one after another along the mountainside. At the highest point, a main hall stood atop the peak, possessing a magnificent presence.
Houses were scattered against the cliff, warm lights faintly glowing beneath the eaves. Blue bricks and black tiles were hidden amidst green trees and clouds, blending the heavy elegance of ancient architecture with the ethereal, spiritual feel of a fairyland.
As a gentle breeze swept across the cloudy waves, the mountain forests felt quiet and distant. Jade pavilions leaned against the mountains, with flying waterfalls and flowing clouds. Songhuai City at the foot of the mountain, bustling with the warmth of the mortal world, complemented the immortal residences built on the mountain peaks, outlining an exquisite scene.
It was no wonder the Songhuai Wang family was universally recognized among the Eight Great Families as a family of frankness and justice. Given the environment they lived in, it was impossible to breed narrow-minded people.
Wen Jingshu landed at the main gate of Songhuai City. Looking at the hundred-zhang-tall city gate, it appeared simple, but was actually carved with subtle patterns.
Entering Songhuai City did not require an entry fee, but one had to collect a Divine Sense Plate to verify their identity.
Wen Jingshu reverted to her appearance as Wen Jingshu beforehand, a ten-year-old female cultivator queuing all by herself.
Although she stood out quite a bit being all on her own, no one outside the gates of Songhuai City looked down on her, nor did anyone try to deceive her because of her young age.
A middle-aged female cultivator even saw her alone and asked kindly, “Little sister, have you been separated from your sect members?”
Wen Jingshu was taken aback by the woman's question.
Since forming a contract with Luo Yunting, she had been influenced by the contract and could more or less see through human nature.
For example, although Mei Yu put on a pitiful act as if she were a victim, Wen Jingshu could sense a trace of ruthlessness mixed within her weakness.
Thus, whether Mei Yu was crying out to her for help or confronting Tian Can, Wen Jingshu had never blindly trusted that Mei Yu was completely innocent.
But this middle-aged female cultivator in front of her was genuinely worried about her.
Was it because she looked too harmless?
“Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist. I am fine.”
Hearing this, the middle-aged female cultivator felt relieved and specially advised her that she could go to the Regulatory Pavilion of Songhuai City if she ran into any trouble.
Inside Songhuai City, cultivators were strictly forbidden from using their power to bully others or engaging in internal strife. If anyone was mistreated, they could file a complaint at the Regulatory Pavilion.
After all, with the Wang family, one of the Eight Great Families, presiding here, it was only normal for Songhuai City to be strictly governed.
After thanking the female cultivator once more, Wen Jingshu was kindly questioned by several other elderly cultivators one after another.
This was the first time Wen Jingshu had ever met so many good people. Faced with their kindness, she could not help but feel a bit amused yet helpless.
Blame it on her having struggled at the bottom for too long; she had seen too many hypocrites and genuine villains. Suddenly encountering so many simple, kind-hearted people made her feel rather unaccustomed.
Seeing Wen Jingshu's bewildered look, a young cultivator ahead of her smiled and said, “Little friend, this must be your first time in Songhuai City. Songhuai City is a rare peaceful territory in the cultivation world. The Wang family has an upright reputation, so their regulation of Songhuai City is naturally exceptionally fair.”
“Troublesome cultivators have either been killed or driven away by the Wang family. Those who remain are all peaceful-minded cultivators. Over time, the atmosphere of Songhuai City has become just like that of the Wang family.”
Wen Jingshu understood upon hearing this. An upright family naturally produced upright people.
Back then, when she had to choose between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Qingyun Sect, she had chosen the Qingyun Sect precisely because she favored its sect's atmosphere.
She had also had some interactions with the Wang family, and those cultivators indeed lived up to the reputation the outside world gave them.
Although there were many people entering the city, there was no sign of impatience or queue-jumping. When it was her turn, Wen Jingshu infused her divine sense to record her identity. Just as she finished, the male cultivator standing nearby immediately stood up, bowed to her, and said:
“Guest Elder Wen is a distinguished guest of our Wang family. Those holding a Guest Elder token do not need to register again.”
Everyone's divine sense aura was unique. No matter how many disguises Wen Jingshu wore, her aura could not lie.
Wen Jingshu gave a calm response and walked into Songhuai City.
Leaving the people behind her to whisper among themselves:
“A Guest Elder? This little girl is actually a Guest Elder of the Wang family? Oh my goodness, she's a big shot.”
“I thought she was just some lost child. She's actually a Wang family Guest Elder? Doesn't that mean her cultivation is higher than mine? To think I was actually worried about whether she would run into danger!”
“Her temperament is right there for all to see. At a glance, you can tell she's a young lady raised with great strength and background. She doesn't need our concern at all.”
“People really are different from birth! I probably won't ever become a Guest Elder of the Wang family in my entire life!”
The male guard did not scold them upon hearing their words, but said with a smile, “As long as a cultivator has helped our Wang family, regardless of their background, age, or gender, they can become an honored guest of our Wang family. This fellow daoist need not be so pessimistic.”
Hearing this, the man felt even more despair.
What rank was he? If it was something even the Wang family couldn't resolve, how could he possibly be of help?
Wen Jingshu did not know that her mere entry into the city had caused a minor stir. Walking along the bustling streets, she could not help but feel dazzled.
The overall style of Songhuai City was simple, elegant, and steady. Beneath her feet were mostly blue-gray stone slabs. The buildings were primarily wood-colored, with roofs paved with blue-gray tiles and walls painted white. The slopes of the roofs of the buildings on both sides of the street were gentle.
The ridges of the roofs were simple and clean, with the four corners gently curving upward like a goshawk folding its wings, ready to take flight—magnificent yet elegant.
They actually bore some resemblance to some of the Wang family's architecture.
The houses were mainly built with log frames, their magnificence hidden in their structure rather than intricate carvings. The buildings here had extremely high ceilings and covered vast areas with plenty of open space, making the streets look wide and grand.
The passing cultivators all looked relaxed, content, peaceful, and self-sufficient. The sounds of street vendors calling out filled the air. As she walked, Wen Jingshu's state of mind gradually calmed down.
Songhuai City was truly an excellent place to refine one's character and enter secluded cultivation!
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