Chapter 23 The Beginning and End of Fate Was Unintentional 2 More Eyes Are Watching You…

After a moment of silence, Xiao Jingze remained expressionless: "Unfortunately, it was taken away by the Imperial Advisor while you were unconscious."

Mingying looked at him suspiciously: "Why did the Imperial Advisor take away our marriage certificate?"

"Perhaps she was unhappy when she learned that we were going to burn the marriage certificate. When Elder Ming and Elder Xiao made their engagement, the Imperial Preceptor was also present to witness it."

Mingying carefully observed his expression. Xiao Jingze's lips curled slightly as he let her look. Mingying reluctantly withdrew the Heavenly Fire: "Then when are you going to ask her to give it back?"

Xiao Jingze picked up his teacup: "There have been many affairs in the palace these past few days, and I haven't been able to get in touch with anyone. Let's wait a few more days."

Mingyan suddenly asked, "When is the wedding date on the marriage certificate?"

Mingying didn't know either, and turned to look at Xiao Jingze.

Xiao Jingze thought of the marriage certificate lying quietly in the Sumeru Ring: "It will be at the end of April next year."

Mingying nodded thoughtfully. Next year... will she still be alive?

Xiao Jingze keenly sensed something: "Will there be any problems next year?"

Mingying had been lying in bed for many days, and the flesh on her cheeks had thinned considerably. She was now huddled in her large outer robe, her chin pointed, making her face appear even smaller. She smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's just that the Immortal Venerable is not quite what I imagined."

The statues in the same temple as the immortals are different. It is probably because the appearance of the statues is always influenced by the sculptor. The sculptor thought the immortals were kind and approachable, so the statues have a kind and benevolent appearance.

Xiao Jingze's eyes darkened, his smile not reaching his eyes: "Aren't all those who can cultivate to a certain level the same? The world always admires the strong."

Mingyan wholeheartedly agreed: "You're just too weak. Heavenly Fire is practically useless to you."

The topic was successfully steered, and Mingying helplessly shrugged: "I've been a mortal for a long time, what do you expect me to do with heavenly fire?"

Even though the Immortal Fengshui possessed heavenly fire, he could only create a world where he reigned supreme underground... and ultimately spent the rest of his life in a water prison.

Mingying lowered her eyes: "I think I'm fine as I am now... cough cough cough..."

She clutched her chest to calm herself, then smiled at the two of them and said, "Don't be nervous, I'm really fine now."

Mingyan rolled her eyes and pushed the teacup in front of her: "Yes, yes, you're a coward."

Mingying smiled and took the tea from her: "Mingyan, you're the idiot."

Mingyan bristled: "What did you say?!"

Mingying said earnestly, "Mingyan, thank you."

Mingyan's expression froze, and goosebumps rose on her skin. She rubbed her arms and leaned back, saying, "Did you lose your mind after going out for a while?"

Mingying picked up her teacup again and said solemnly to Xiao Jingze, "Young Master Xiao, thank you as well."

Xiao Jingze raised his chin calmly: "No need for formalities."

Mingying's eyes crinkled as she stared at the tea, a sudden thought striking her: "Do you have any academy missions these days? Why don't we go out and have some fun!"

Mingyan really wanted to pry open her skull to see what was inside. She had only been gone for a few days and was already lying down when she came back, still thinking about causing trouble everywhere: "What the hell! The spiritual veins of Yunchuan have also run into trouble. Haven't you noticed that many cultivators have returned?"

Mingying blinked: "I saw three cultivators when I woke up—but why is that? Can damage to one part of a spiritual vein affect other parts?"

Xiao Jingze, propping his forehead up, replied lazily, "Of course there will be an impact, but the spiritual veins in various places are gradually declining. This is really strange, and many people are beginning to suspect that this is a punishment from Heaven."

Mingying didn't quite grasp the reality, but she remained skeptical of the Heavenly Punishment: "I now think that the matter of the spiritual veins might have been done by the Immortal Venerable. Her cultivation level is no different from that of the Heavenly Venerable."

"The difference between the Immortal Venerable and Heaven is that the Heavenly Dao is an emotionless and formless thing. Except for the moment that the Imperial Preceptor can glimpse it through his prophecy, it is elusive and invincible."

"Is that so? I don't believe it."

Xiao Jingze curled his lips into a smile: "I don't believe it either."

Mingyan snorted: "The prophecy says you're a savior goddess, but nobody seems to believe it."

Mingying glanced at Xiao Jingze: "Hmm, maybe some people will believe it."

Xiao Jingze pretended not to see it: "Ever since the spiritual vein was damaged, many people have remembered you."

"Just because of that prophecy?"

"Because of that prophecy, the matter of the Heavenly Fire has spread. If you weren't unable to cultivate, there would probably be even more eyes watching you."

Mingying tugged at her hair, about to say something, when she noticed a wisp of hair at the back of her neck that wasn't tied up. She reached down and grabbed another clump of hair. She looked down and touched the back of her neck, her expression somewhat blank.

Xiao Jingze cleared his throat and stood up: "I have other important matters to attend to. Since Miss Ming is alright, I will take my leave now."

He took a few steps toward the window, and Mingying tugged at his belt, turning her head with a smile: "Does Prince Xiao never use the main entrance?"

Xiao Jingze smiled and said, "Is this how Miss Ming always keeps her guests?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, then stood there in a stalemate. Ming Yan crossed her arms and watched coldly. Sure enough, Ming Ying was like a poison. Anyone who spent too much time with her would be assimilated by her. Even Xiao Jingze had been corrupted by her.

Unhurried footsteps came from the doorway. The three of them looked at the person who came in at the same time. Aunt Ming walked over with a smile: "Miss Ming, Miss Jin has come to see you. She is accompanied by someone who is said to be your friend... What are you doing?"

Mingying quickly let go of her hand and smiled at her, "Thank you, Aunt Ming. I understand. I'll go to the main room now."

She turned her head again: "This friend must be Young Master Feng. Young Master Xiao, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Come with me."

——

Feng Yi took a sip of tea and exclaimed, "This is my first time in Yunchuan. The scenery here is beautiful, the people are kind, and the tea is excellent. No wonder cultivators and mortals alike yearn for this place."

Shen Ci smiled slightly. Ming Ying lifted her skirt and walked briskly from the courtyard, followed by two figures. Aunt Ming had restyled her hair, and she looked quite presentable.

She stepped into the room and looked curiously at the young man on her right. The young man was wearing a dark blue brocade robe with dark patterns, a gold belt with white jade inlaid on it, and a feather fan in his hand. He had a smile on his face and was dashing and debonair. If you didn't look closely, you would think he was a handsome man. This person was none other than the eldest daughter of the Jin family, Jin Zhufeng.

Jin Zhufeng stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled, "Seeing is believing. Sister Ming is truly a divine being."

Her gaze swept past Xiao Jingze, then fell upon Ming Yan as she approached, her smile deepening: "This is also Sister Ming. She is indeed radiant and elegant, incomparable to ordinary people. I have no regrets in this life for having met the two beauties of the Ming family today."

Mingyan took it as mere polite talk and sat down without saying a word. Mingying smiled and said, "Miss Jin is also very handsome and elegant. Meeting you today, I finally understand what a business prodigy is."

Shen Ci rubbed his temples. These two were going to keep praising him endlessly: "Alright, alright, sit down. When will this constant flattery end? Miss Jin heard a few days ago that you were in a deep sleep and personally delivered a thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum."

She pushed the brocade box on the table forward and said to Jin Zhufeng, "I will remember Miss Jin's kindness. The entire Ming family is very grateful. Fortunately, Manman woke up safely. Let's leave such a precious item to those who need it more."

Jin Zhufeng stopped refusing and let Feng Yi accept the brocade box. Feng Yi was winking at the three of them, but only Miss Ming smiled at him. The other two ignored him. When he heard Miss Jin's order, he straightened his expression and put the Ganoderma lucidum into his storage pouch.

Jin Zhufeng loved looking at beautiful women; it was pleasing to the eye and put her in a great mood. Since they would all be family from now on, she shook her feather fan and smiled at Mingying, saying, "Mingying, you should call me aunt."

……What?

Mingying blinked; how could she not know that she had a cousin surnamed Jin?

Xiao Jingze's face darkened. Jin Zhufeng pointed at him and said, "According to seniority, this is my cousin. Since Sister Ming is engaged to him, she can also call me aunt."

Looking at Xiao Jingze's expression, Mingying wanted to laugh, but it wasn't appropriate, so she suppressed her laughter and whispered, "Auntie."

Jin Zhufeng was surprised that she called out so readily and responded with delight. Xiao Jingze's face darkened even more. Wasn't she just thinking about burning the marriage certificate not long ago? How come she is happy to recognize a relative she has no connection with?

Shen Ci hadn't expected this situation, but the scene of them calling each other "sister" and "aunt" was truly laughable.

Jin Zhufeng held Mingying's hand and looked at her with increasing delight: "Auntie, the Ming family probably wouldn't look down on those mundane things. I have some news here, consider it a gift for Auntie."

Everyone looked at her, and Jin Zhufeng didn't hide anything: "I wonder if any of you have heard of the Thousand-Seeking Pearl?"

Shen Ci's eyes flickered: "Does the Jin family have news of the Thousand-Seeking Pearl?"

“Indeed, the Jin family has obtained a new lead, and I have come here with the information.”

Xiao Jingze tapped his thumb ring: "The Jin family has been searching for the Thousand-Search Pearl for many years. A single clue is worth ten thousand taels of gold. When did Madam Jin become so generous?"

Jin Zhufeng shook his head and smiled, "Nephew, you are mistaken. The Goddess of the Ming Clan possesses the prophecy of the Imperial Preceptor, and the Jin Clan needs this item even more than the Ming Clan. I have no interest in the path of cultivation. I love these material things the most in my life. Moreover, the situation has changed now. If you can find the Thousand-Seeking Pearl, the Goddess will no longer be burdened by her mortal body, which would be a good thing."

In short, she saw potential in the goddess Ming and planned to invest in her.

Shen Ci understood. She lowered her eyes and pondered, "This news comes at just the right time. Everyone here is family, so Miss Jin, please rest assured."

Jin Zhufeng's smile became even more genuine. She shook the feather fan in her hand and said, "Legend has it that the Thousand-Seeking Pearl is the third eye of an ancient dragon. The dragon pearl can be used as medicine. Swallowing it can cleanse the turbid air and give mortals spiritual roots."

Mingying had never heard of this before. She raised her head and looked directly at Jin Zhufeng: "Miss Jin, if it is just a rumor, how can you know whether it is true or false?"

Jin Zhufeng smiled and said, "I really don't know."

Mingyan asked, "What are the characteristics of this object?"

Jin Zhufeng smiled and said, "No distinguishing features."

Seeing that the other person raised their eyebrows, she added, "The characteristic of the Thousand-Search Pearl is that it has no characteristics. No one knows what it really looks like. It has no fixed shape. Even if mortals see it, they will only think it is an ordinary object."

Mingying frowned: "Even if we saw it, how would we know it was the Thousand-Search Pearl? And where did Miss Jin get her information?"

"The latest news from the Jin family comes from Yishui Village. A young couple went missing on their wedding night. When villagers were drawing water from the well at dawn, they found a female corpse floating in the well, staring at them. It was the bride from the previous day."

No one spoke, and Jin Zhufeng continued, "The bride drowned, and the groom disappeared. Not long after, someone reported to the government that a male corpse in red was found in the fields. The body had been eaten by insects and ants and was unrecognizable. The coroner determined that the groom had died from poisoning."

Mingying pursed her lips: "What does this have to do with Qianxunzhu?"

"Listen, Ming-meimei, these strange occurrences are becoming increasingly frequent in the village. Kind and friendly neighbors have been found dead in their yards, both with multiple stab wounds, having bled to death. People at the market heard that they found gold ingots under a tree and were arguing over who owned the money. The villagers gathered and dug it up, and sure enough, there was a package buried there. But when they opened it, it was empty—just a scrap of cloth. And this scrap of cloth—"

Jin Zhufeng waved his folding fan: "It even has the name of the groom who died a few months ago embroidered on it! It turns out that it was bedding that the bride prepared for the wedding. The village chief knew that this matter might involve something extraordinary, so the government sent two cultivators to investigate. These two cultivators belonged to the Jin family, but they never returned. They were nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. There was only an unsent letter that was found in the inn a few days ago."

Mingying leaned closer to take a look. The letter was stained with blood, and contained only two sentences that appeared to have been hastily written:

Chen Shu has gone mad!

No, I have to kill him first!

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Author's Note: The communication plaque is used by the official website to send notifications; it's an official website without a comment section. The Azure Bird can be sent and received by disciples of the academy via email. High-level cultivators like the Grand Preceptor can create their own formation for communication, which is like making a phone call. Of course, something like a Celestial Venerable directly descending divinely is a network virus?