Chapter 50

Daoist partners?

Feng Qingli really didn't know.

Just as he was about to say something, the female cultivator standing next to Xie Qianjing stepped forward and blocked his view.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Sect Leader Feng, but I have already joined Yunwang Palace and I am afraid I will have to disappoint you."

She didn't agree with Xie Qianjing's words, but her actions clearly showed her intention to protect him.

The man in white, who had previously refused to back down, now stood comfortably behind her, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

Seeing this, Feng Qingli felt the veins on her forehead throbbing and her heart pounding with anger.

He simply couldn't stand it.

Even though he and Sheng Ningyu had spoken ill of each other to the point of never speaking to each other again, Feng Qingli still couldn't accept that someone who looked almost exactly like Sheng Ningyu would act so confidantly towards others.

The bright moon should hang high in the sky.

Feng Qingli can accept that Sheng Ningyu can love many people, but she cannot accept that she only loves one person.

Even a cultivator who resembles her is not allowed.

Feng Qingli knew that over the years, his undisguised hatred for Sheng Ningyu had become a bargaining chip for many people.

If this was also part of the plan of the people behind the scenes, then Feng Qingli admits that they have succeeded.

He will take the bait, but drag the schemer into the mire and sink with him.

Feng Qingli suddenly let out a laugh. He stared at the person in front of him and said, "So what if you've entered Yunwang Palace? People who promised to travel together parted ways halfway, and Daoist partners who formed spiritual contracts easily went back on their word. Are such things rare in the world? A scholar will die for one who understands him, and a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Who says that one must remain faithful to one person until the end?"

These words were so subtle that many disciples present gasped inwardly and couldn't help but exchange glances with their friends.

They're not saying this, but this Fellow Daoist Wang Jiu from Yunwang Palace is just too pitiful!

Just because of his face, which resembles that of the Sword Master, he was first stopped by the Chu family head outside the academy and became the subject of gossip. Now he has encountered the Feng Sect Leader.

If the story of Sword Master and Young Master Feng could be described as a twist of fate, a tale of love and hate, then the relationship with Sect Leader Feng was entirely a tragic one.

When the news of Sword Master's imprisonment in the Mitian Realm spread, Sect Leader Feng not only showed no sorrow, but also laughed and joked with others, saying in a light and teasing tone: "To be so easily subdued by the demon seed, I think the name Sword Master is somewhat unworthy of the title."

Once this statement was made public, it caused a great deal of discussion and commotion in the cultivation world.

It can be said that the initial criticism of the Bright Moon Sword Master came from Feng Qingli.

Sheng Ningyu didn't care about these things.

She shook her head slightly at Yuan Shu and Wei Wei who had rushed over, then looked at Feng Qingli, and suddenly the words her master Ning Guihai had said to someone in a casual conversation came to mind.

When talking about the disciples in the academy, it was inevitable to mention Sheng Ningyu, and when talking about Sheng Ningyu, one would mention Li Qingfeng, the little disciple of the Hehuan Sect beside her.

The name "Hehuan Sect" was inevitably the subject of jokes, but Guihai Sword Master simply smiled and shook his head, making a lighthearted conclusion.

The two of them are not on the same page; this is just a temporary situation, and it won't last.

It's unclear who leaked this conversation, but when Sheng Ningyu heard it, she assumed her master was getting old and blind. She rolled her eyes and thought, "Just you wait and see, they'll definitely be close friends for a long time. They'll scare you to death."

Now, when I think back to those heartfelt words, all I can do is laugh.

Sheng Ningyu remained calm, even showing a hint of satisfaction at having seen through things, which was evident in her eyes.

She wasn't angry with Feng Qingli, nor did she regret the sincerity she had shown him back then.

But now, she won't.

"Sect Leader Feng is joking." Sheng Ningyu's lips curled slightly, her expression becoming increasingly calm and indifferent. "The seasons change, the sun and moon rise and fall, and all things in the world undergo countless transformations. Yet the mountains and seas remain unchanged, and heaven and earth endure. There will always be fools whose hearts are undeterred by ice and snow, and who remain steadfast in their beliefs."

Feng Qingli looked at her, her upturned peach blossom eyes narrowed, and she suddenly felt extremely bored.

However, he was just another mediocre person, strictly adhering to worldly conventions and filled with the righteous ideals in his mind.

Let alone his "Su Qingfeng", even drinking a cup of "Mantanghua" would probably make him weak in the knees, for fear that he would be bewitched by the intense fragrance of the flowers.

Feng Qingli lost interest and, as she turned away, made a contemptuous and arrogant judgment: "At such a young age, what kind of clichés have you learned at Yunwang Palace? You're so pedantic."

Upon hearing this, the people of Yunwang Palace couldn't hold back any longer.

Yuan Shuhe stepped forward first: "Manager Feng's words are probably too unfounded and biased."

Feng Qingli paused, then casually raised her eyes: "You're Yuan Bushu's younger brother?"

Yuan Shuhe replied earnestly, "Yes, my name is Yuan Shuhe."

Feng Qingli smiled listlessly, not even glancing at him: "I won't argue with you. Have your brother come and talk to me."

Yuan Shuhe possesses the stubbornness unique to the Yuan family, and with Yao Youling and Jin Xianyao, two little firecrackers, by his side, both of them are showing dissatisfaction at this moment.

However, some people are even faster than them.

"Sect Leader."

An elder from the Azure Bird and One Leaf Sect hesitated before stepping forward and transmitting his voice to Feng Qingli: "Sect Leader, Yunwang Palace has repeatedly spoken up for our disciples within Qingyi Academy, and our relationship is harmonious..."

Elder Qingniao Yiyehua thought, "This is still a euphemism."

If there weren't so few disciples of Qingniao Yiyehua here, and if there were more people, there would probably be disciples who would speak up for Wang Jiu of Yunwang Palace.

Feng Qingli raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced around casually. Sure enough, he saw that the disciples looked conflicted and hesitant. Several of them even changed their expressions when they saw him looking at them, as if they were about to make a decision.

Feng Qingli grew up in a different environment than others. He was used to seeing all kinds of people and had an extremely accurate grasp of other people's emotions and gazes.

For example, back then.

For example, right now.

“Master.” A disciple of Qingniao Yiyehua stepped forward and bowed deeply to Feng Qingli. “Yunwang Palace may be different from us in many ways, but after this period of time, I have come to realize that the disciples of Yunwang Palace are pure and kind-hearted, and are by no means the hypocritical people of the past.”

His cherry-colored robe fell to the ground, yet his features remained upright and dignified. Standing among the many disciples, he even exuded a sense of "gentlemanly harmony without uniformity."

Feng Qingli suddenly let out a soft laugh.

A harmonious relationship?

No.

They are insidious, cunning, and unscrupulous, like the passionate flowers by the Rainbow Pool, using every means to seduce their desired prey.

To feign such a righteous and noble demeanor, and to talk about "speaking out for justice," is probably more about attracting the attention of one person.

For one person.

Feng Qingli thought to himself, he was all too familiar with that look in his eyes.

They suppressed their resentment and jealousy, putting on an act of pure innocence, as if by doing so, they could truly be like those upright and righteous cultivators.

How could they be the same?

Being born into the Hehuan Sect is their original sin; no matter how their names are changed, they cannot erase the contempt and disdain in people's hearts.

Making such a gesture is nothing more than a poor imitation, merely making oneself a laughing stock and providing fodder for gossip among these righteous disciples.

It's truly... absurd and laughable.

Utterly boring.

Feng Qingli was too lazy to get entangled with them anymore, and there was no one left in this world for him to pretend with.

He casually walked past the disciple without even glancing at him.

Seeing that the disciple beside her glanced at her as if he was about to speak, Sheng Ningyu quickly stopped him and smiled at them.

"Alright, not everything in this world needs to be explained clearly." Sheng Ningyu smiled at Xie Qianjing beside her, squeezed his fingers, and expressed her approval for him promptly withdrawing the demonic energy in his hand.

Xie Qianjing is still the best.

Despite being a demon lord, he was able to control his temper. Even though he had just been bullied, he still considered the situation and did not take action directly.

In contrast, Feng Qingli had a rather bad temper.

“In the three thousand worlds, the paths to enlightenment are different. What you say is correct, and what Sect Leader Feng says is also correct. It’s just that we are not on the same path.”

We're just not on the same page.

The seasons change unpredictably in the training grounds. Just then, a spring breeze blew by, seemingly carrying the voices of old friends.

The two of them are not on the same page; this is just a temporary situation, and it won't last.

The spring breeze is gentle, yet it is icy cold.

Feng Qingli paused, then suddenly turned around, unleashing an extremely terrifying aura that terrified the disciples beside her, causing them to collapse. An elder from the Azure Bird One Leaf Sect rushed over, shouting, "Sect Leader, wait!"

"Sect Leader Feng has come all this way, is it just to show off in front of these young disciples?"

A surge of spiritual energy completely separated Feng Qingli from the disciples of the academy.

Feng Xiaosheng appeared with the elders and stewards. The crowd automatically split into two groups. Yuan Bushu said coldly, "First, you pushed my disciple off the spirit boat, and now you speak so rudely. Does Sect Leader Feng intend to make an enemy of my Yunwang Palace?"

These words were quite serious. Not only the surrounding disciples, but even Elder Ruan Shu of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion looked at Yuan Bushu with surprise.

The former master of Yunwang Palace was austere and cold by nature, as serene as a pine tree, and most peaceful in temperament.

Not to mention arguing, no one has ever seen him raise his voice to anyone. Who has ever seen him speak so harshly and sternly?

But upon further reflection, everyone felt it was normal.

After all, people are talking about them, which sect leader can stand it?

Yuan Bushu stepped forward, holding a Lingzhi inkstone pen. With each step, his clothes fluttered, and behind him grew countless towering trees outlined by the inkstone.

Everyone held their breath in suspense, and the elder of the Azure Bird One Leaf Flower turned around shakily.

"Sect Leader!"

The atmosphere was solemn and heavy, but Sheng Ningyu remained calm as ever.

Xie Qianjing turned his head and said gently, "Aren't you worried?"

Sheng Ningyu tilted her head back and winked at him: "We won't fight."

Sure enough, just as Yuan Bushu walked up to Feng Qingli, Feng Qingli, who was standing crookedly, casually tossed out a sentence.

"Oh, it was my mistake. I apologize to Yunwang Palace."

Please forgive me for pausing in my steps.

Pian Feng Qingli wasn't finished yet. He turned to Yuan Bushu and said jokingly, "A gentleman seeks harmony without uniformity, and he can correct his mistakes. Palace Master Yuan is a well-known calm and prudent gentleman in the cultivation world. You wouldn't hold such a small mistake against him, would you?"

Yuan Bushu said, "Since you know you're wrong, please be careful with your words in the future, Sect Leader Feng."

"I know, I know. If there's a next time, the former palace master can just kill me with one sword."

Despite making such a serious promise, Feng Qingli maintained a nonchalant attitude on his face.

I absolutely hate people like that.

He didn't give Feng Qingli another glance and quickly distanced himself from him. Feng Qingli didn't care. He followed the many elders of the academy, staggering, into the main hall for the meeting.

Feng Qingli was always capricious, but in the blink of an eye, he lost his madness and, with a flicker of his eyes, became the most beautiful and passionate flower by the Rainbow Pool once again.

"Just now? Ha, I was just curious because I saw that everyone else was competing, but the female disciple wasn't participating."

Just then, a cold laugh came from above.

The elder who was talking to Feng Qingli paused and subconsciously looked forward, only to see that Feng Shaojun had walked up to someone at some point, his face as cold as frost.

She said to Feng Qingli, "This disciple wasn't present because she was injured." "Doesn't Sect Leader Feng know how she was injured?"

hiss.

These two...

Many elders exchanged glances and then fell silent.

After all, there are many rumors about Feng Qingli's identity in the cultivation world.

Feng Qingli knew this, of course.

When the female disciple from Yunwang Palace appeared, he took it as yet another humiliation from those people.

Over the years, Feng Qingli has seen far too many "Sheng Ningyus".

They either imitated her flamboyant and unconventional style, or her mannerisms, and some even tried to imitate her sword-wielding posture.

But none of their imitations were accurate.

Feng Qingli indulged them, and sometimes when he was in the mood, he didn't mind staying a few more days, since their ultimate goal was to kill him anyway.

The only thing she truly resembled about him was her complete lack of pity for him.

However, on that day, upon seeing the disciple of Yunwang Palace, Feng Qingli could not suppress the tyranny and almost terrifying stubbornness rising in his heart.

The almost fully formed inner demon spoke to him in the affected voice of his youth: "Leave her."

Leave her behind?

How could he stay?

He couldn't stay.

A gentle breeze can never hold onto the bright moon.

So, to the astonishment of the Nine Heavens Pavilion disciples, Feng Qingli pushed Sheng Ningyu off the flying boat.

Later, it was said that the Phoenix Clan elders rescued him, and Yunwang Palace even stepped forward to criticize them.

Feng Qingli didn't care about these things.

Just as he said, it was only because that disciple was lucky to survive. His feelings for her vanished the moment he pushed her down. Even if they met again, Feng Qingli was certain that he would not have any feelings.

But this time, it's different.

The disciple remained in the Phoenix Clan's territory.

Although Feng Xiaosheng said that it was because of the appearance of the demon seed that things were complicated, so he left all the disciples in the clan to take care of them, Feng Qingli still felt that something was wrong.

So he came in person, but on the way, he received even worse news.

Inside the main hall, everyone was discussing the Demon Seed. Feng Qingli listened listlessly. Just as one of the elders from the Chu family was speaking passionately, he suddenly burst out laughing.

"I heard that the Chu family has found the reincarnation of the Sword Master?"

It was as if the sound in the main hall had been suddenly silenced; for a moment, everyone's voice stopped.

Feng Xiaosheng, standing in the center, raised his eyes with a deep voice. At the very back of the group, Feng Qingli, dragging his crimson robe, crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, casually lifting his eyelids. "Since that's the case, why bother with all this trouble? Why not just have your patriarch take his reincarnated Sword Master and eliminate all the demonic seeds? Surely, once this is done, the Sword Pavilion will be all the more famous, and everyone will worship the newly emerged Sword Master."

Upon hearing this, all the elders instinctively looked towards the elders of the Sword Pavilion.

but……

The elder of Jiuxiao Pavilion asked with some confusion, "Is Elder Yang not here?"

Feng Xiaosheng and Yuan Bushu exchanged a glance and said calmly, "Elder Yang is afraid of causing further trouble, so he stayed by the training ground."

...

"My uncle won't see me at all!!!"

Young Master Chu Le has been feeling frustrated for several days.

He was pampered from a young age, and even Chu Jiye, as the head of the family, indulged him greatly, not to mention others.

This was the first time he had ever experienced the feeling of being extremely anxious.

Chu Le asked worriedly, "Uncle, could you really have mistaken me for someone else?"

Sheng Ningyu was very easygoing: "That's because he's stupid."

Chu Le asked cautiously, "...Sword Master, don't you plan to acknowledge my uncle as your father?"

Sheng Ningyu: "Let's wait a while."

Chu Le was overjoyed and asked excitedly, "When?"

Sheng Ningyu casually said, "Wait until my body recovers for a while before beating someone when it hurts the most."

Of course, the first priority is to retrieve the spirit bone, gather sufficient evidence, and incidentally expose the matter of the demon seed to the world.

The Trial of a Thousand Mountains is a good opportunity.

Chu Le: "..."

Xie Qianjing watched everything with a smile. When Chu Le asked him in a low voice, he smiled and said, "Me? I'll listen to her."

Her voice was as gentle as a pear blossom falling from a tree.

Chu Le sighed repeatedly, and finally, after thinking it over, he said to Xie Qianjing with a sorrowful expression, "You are still the best."

Sheng Ningyu quietly pricked up her ears to listen to their conversation.

Thinking of the Chu family...

Sheng Ningyu was somewhat worried about Xie Qianjing's emotions.

Chu Le, however, was unaware of all this, and was lost in his own worries.

To be fair, in Chu Le's mind, his uncle was no less handsome than Xie Qianjing, and in terms of cultivation techniques, Xie Qianjing was a member of the demon race, looked down upon by the world.

But there is only one point.

Chu Le sighed, "Uncle would never be so gentle... No wonder the Sword Master chose you in the end."

Sheng Ningyu: "..."

She was somewhat reluctant to know what image she had in this child's mind.

Xie Qianjing smiled and realized for the first time that although the Chu family lad in front of him was dull and stupid, he still had some redeeming qualities.

Sheng Ningyu coughed lightly, adopted the air of an elder, and said in a profound and unfathomable manner, "There are too many disputes and grudges in the previous generation, it is not as simple as you see it."

Chu Le nodded as if he understood, but then Xie Qianjing chuckled softly.

"Fine." He shook his head slightly. "Whatever you say."

Sheng Ningyu: "..."

The more you try to explain, the worse it gets.

As Chu Le was called up to the trial platform, Sheng Ningyu breathed a long sigh of relief.

"If this continues, you'll probably be in big trouble once my identity is exposed."

Xie Qianjing glanced at her: "Aren't you worried?"

What are you worried about?

"You yourself." Xie Qianjing paused, his gaze turning to the trial platform.

The two stood side by side, but his tone was very soft, like a snowflake brushing against the tip of his nose.

"I am a member of the demon race. If others find out about this, you will face a lot of criticism."

Sheng Ningyu: "You are my friend, and that won't change whether you're human, ghost, demon, or monster." She paused, then turned her head solemnly and added, "Before you kill me."

Spring is in full bloom, and a gentle breeze blows across the sky.

Pear blossoms fall in a flurry, I wonder who planted them. Of all the seasons, only the pear blossoms and the moonlight remain eternally spring-like.

Xie Qianjing smiled.

He opened his lips as if to say something, but then heard gasps from the crowd on stage.

Chu Le looked anxious, while the person opposite him was excited.

"That's so insidious!" Jin Xianyao exclaimed in amazement. "It was clearly a test of accuracy in spiritual power, but that person actually used spiritual power to pretend to attack the guy surnamed Chu, just to distract him!"

Not only did they feel this way, but the disciples below were also somewhat excited, each with an excited expression.

Chu Le was getting a little anxious.

This competition was about using spiritual power to shoot at the pear blossoms falling from the trees. It was clearly stipulated that he was not allowed to attack his companions, but just now, when he sensed the spiritual power, he still subconsciously dodged.

This dodge threw me into disarray.

Yang Xiuzhu sat in a wheelchair not far away, quietly watching the competition.

As an elder of the Sword Pavilion, he could tell at a glance that the two disciples were actually of similar strength.

At this point, it's a contest of who can remain calmer.

Yang Xiuzhu didn't enter the hall because he didn't want to hear about the "reincarnation of the Sword Master," but he didn't expect to run into the Chu family's son again.

Clearly, this Chu family scion was far inferior to his uncle.

The disciple of Qingniao Yiyehua turned around and gave him a defiant look: "Fellow Daoist Chu, shall we continue?"

Continuing might lead to an even worse defeat.

However, Chu Le was easily provoked. Gritting her teeth, she blurted out, "The pear blossom rain hasn't stopped! Let's continue!"

The disciple of Qingniao Yiyehua whistled and said in a cheeky tone, "There are a total of 111 pear blossoms in the rain. Now you have 48, I have 54, and there are only 9 left. Young master, the more you fall short, the uglier it will look."

It was nothing more than some gossip among the disciples.

Yang Xiuzhu didn't think any of this was anything special, but she also didn't think it was worth remembering.

All the noise is but a gentle spring breeze, lingering in your ears before vanishing in an instant.

Just like the human world.

Yang Xiuzhu didn't understand why Sect Leader Feng had reacted so strongly to the female disciple of Yunwang Palace, nor did he understand why the dignified head of the Chu Clan of the East Sea would believe in reincarnation.

Even though the rumor came from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Yang Xiuzhu did not believe it.

Once someone is dead, they are dead.

When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out.

He will die, as will the kings and generals of the mortal world, and the great masters of righteous sects will also depart from their physical bodies.

Everything in this world eventually turns to dust and vanishes; even the bright moon will eventually fall, it's just a matter of sooner or later.

Yang Xiuzhu doesn't believe in reincarnation, or even if reincarnation were to actually occur, he believes it wouldn't be the same person anymore.

As winter fades and spring arrives, can the flower that blooms again on the desolate land be the same one that has existed for millions of years?

"Chu Le".

Amidst the myriad spring breezes, amidst countless specks of dust, amidst the clamor of cheering, anxious, or simply watching the spectacle, a voice shattered everything.

"Stay calm, you will win."

【Yang Xiuzhu, stay calm, you will win.】

Yang Xiuzhu slightly widened her eyes.

Thousands of past moments suddenly rushed towards him at this moment.

For a moment, Yang Xiuzhu felt that he was no longer Elder Yang, who had turned the tide on the high platform of the Sword Pavilion, but still the young man who had entered the Sword Pavilion but was secretly mocked for his leg ailment and deemed unfit to be a disciple of the Sword Venerable.

"A cripple dares to dream of becoming a sword cultivator? And he even dares to become a disciple of the Sword Master?"

At that moment, the boy collapsed onto the dueling platform, his clothes torn by the sword energy, looking utterly disheveled.

It's not that his swordsmanship is bad, but that his Daoist heart is unstable.

Sheng Ningyu said the same thing to him back then, but Yang Xiuzhu's eyes were blank.

But senior sister...

"But I'm really going to lose, what should I do?!"

The disciple on the stage was restless and anxious, his eyes fixed on one spot as if it were his last straw.

And those words resurfaced in Yang Xiuzhu's mind, hidden in the shadows.

His tone was righteous and awe-inspiring, his expression was full of worry, yet the words that came out were completely unorthodox.

This senior sister, who was considered exceptionally talented by others, leaned close to his ear. She neither offered any encouraging words like "You will definitely win" nor comforted him by saying, "It's already quite impressive that someone with a leg disability like you has achieved this much."

On the contrary, she brought up the matter without any hesitation.

[Lost? Ha! Just pretend your leg hurts then, and I'll immediately report them to Master and the elders for bullying the younger generation!]

She raised her eyebrows, her expression lively and carefree, as if in her eyes, this pain that others sighed or laughed at was as ordinary as rain and mist, nothing special.

Just like his legs that are not good for walking, he is merely a breeze with a different scent rising from the mountain, or a bird flying across mountains and seas. He has some special characteristics, but they cannot be hidden.

In her eyes, Yang Xiuzhu felt that she was finally equal to the masses.

When the Sword Master and the elders learned of this, Sheng Ningyu was scolded again, and Yang Xiuzhu was also comforted along with him. He said "it's nothing" expressionlessly, but no one believed him.

No one knows that he...

I absolutely love this feeling.

"Lost?"

Sheng Ningyu leaned close to Chu Le's ear and whispered to him, "Ha, that's perfect! You immediately pretend that you were injured by the spiritual power of the Qingniao Yiye Hua Sect Leader and are therefore feeling unwell. I'll report it to the Young Master right away!"

Plans are in place!

Seeing that Chu Le had calmed down and was going back on stage, Sheng Ningyu suddenly felt that something was wrong.

It seems quiet behind me?

Where are Yuan Shuhe, Jin Xianyao, and the others?

Sheng Ningyu subconsciously looked to her side, and Xie Qianjing's eyes flickered.

Sheng Ningyu was startled, and slowly raised her eyes. Beneath the weeping willows and falling blossoms.

Wearing blue and white clothes, with black and white yin-yang eight trigrams embroidered on them.