Chapter 9

Sheng Ningyu's nerves tensed up instantly. Almost the instant the sound rang out, she turned around abruptly and drew her left hand to try and block with her sword.

This move is theoretically extremely beautiful, without the slightest hint of awkwardness. With just a tree branch, amidst the swirling light, a sword light resembling moonlight is faintly revealed!

Unfortunately, all he had in his hand was a withered tree branch.

Upon encountering that powerful force, the tree branch, as thick as an adult's wrist, instantly turned to dust and vanished into thin air.

This is the effect after some spiritual energy has been added.

Sheng Ningyu rotated her numb wrist.

Fortunately, the thing was forced back by her powerful swordplay and fled to another location.

A large group of people came in a grand procession. Sheng Ningyu looked closely and realized that they were the same people from the inn earlier.

That group of Chu family stewards and retainers, as well as the sword cultivators they selected.

Chu Le was still leading the group.

He slammed his hand down, his face contorted with resentment: "Damn it! That puppet got away!"

"Young master is a prodigy. I suppose that puppet barrier is aware of its own limitations and can only flee to avoid you."

"That's right! In the past, it was always the puppets chasing after people, never the other way around."

A puppet barrier? What kind of new and strange thing is that?

While listening to the mindless praise of Chu Le, Sheng Ningyu pondered in her heart, and subtly stepped in front of Xie Qianjing.

As she got closer, Sheng Ningyu realized that these people were not all of one group. Among them were five or six cultivators dressed in blue robes, who were staring with their eyes open, their faces showing a mixture of unspoken thoughts and hesitation.

"Linghuanwu, the medical and cultivation center of Yunwang Palace."

Yes!

The medical practitioners of Yunwang Palace have always liked wearing green!

Sheng Ningyu suddenly turned her head, then lowered her gaze and asked in a low voice, "You know them?"

"I don't know him." Xie Qianjing paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes. "It's just that the name 'Green Robe, Cloud Gazing, Fragrant and Charming, White Bones Grow and Skin, Even Yama is Hard to Reach' is too famous. It is said that the current Palace Master of Cloud Gazing Palace, Yuan Bushu, can regenerate blood and bones, and his wife, Xiang Bieyun, is a master of perfumery and medicine. After hearing this, I am also very fascinated."

Sheng Ningyu seemed to understand something.

In her hazy memory, she seemed to recall knowing someone who was extremely skilled at perfumery, but...

Times have changed.

My memories are all blurry.

Just like Yunwang Palace, it's now in Yuan Bushu's hands.

It's unclear whether the old man retired to a secluded place, or...

Sheng Ningyu dared not think too deeply, and turned her gaze to scan the people in front of her again. Finally, she bypassed the young girl and focused on the middleman.

It looks somewhat familiar.

Hmm, I wonder which young master of the Yuan family this is?

A stinging itch came from the wound on her right wrist. As Sheng Ningyu's mind raced, her gaze toward the few disciples in blue robes grew ever brighter.

Regardless, it's a good thing.

If she encounters someone from Yunwang Palace here, at least she won't have to go through the trouble of going to Linghuanwu, and she won't have to be careful to avoid that old man Yuan Daojun!

Upon seeing this, Xie Qianjing's eyes were still curved, as if a smile had not yet faded, but his expression was completely cold.

The voice of inner demons surrounded him, and a fierce aura arose.

Such a clean, sincere, and innocent young man.

The reason I liked you so much back then was because you were as pure and radiant as snow on a mountain peak or a lotus in water, untouched by any dust. You know, I've always liked you, don't you know that, Xie Qianjing!

"...Isn't that right, Young Master Yuan?"

Young Master Yuan was not old, and when he was suddenly called by the name of a retainer of the Chu family, his face turned red under the gaze of so many people, but he still spoke very politely: "Young Master Chu Le's swordsmanship is outstanding."

Upon receiving Young Master Yuan's praise, the pride of the Chu family members grew even stronger. Some of them, seeing that Young Master Yuan was young, teased, "Our young master's swordsmanship is naturally extraordinary; even Young Master Yuan was stunned. So, Young Master Yuan, would you consider abandoning your medical path and coming to our Chu family to learn swordsmanship?"

That's a very inappropriate statement.

You should know that although the Linghuan family is not as powerful as the Donghai clans, it is still a behemoth with a history of five hundred years. How can you easily joke about someone else's family heirloom?

Sheng Ningyu unconsciously frowned, then suddenly smiled as if she remembered something. Xie Qianjing noticed her expression, his brows furrowed even more, and his face grew even colder.

Even knowing that the other party had ill intentions, Young Master Yuan still stopped the accompanying medical cultivator and shook his head seriously: "No."

The Chu family retainer insisted on asking, "Is it alright? Are you afraid of your elder brother's punishment?"

“No.” Young Master Yuan shook his head and explained seriously, “It’s just that someone once told me that no sword cultivator is a good person.”

Chu Le, who had remained silent until now, couldn't hold back any longer. He kicked a useless retainer, stepped past the group of cultivators protecting him, and walked to the front: "Young Master Yuan, your words are a bit excessive. I'd also like to know who dares to speak so arrogantly. Could it be the Palace Master of Yunwang Palace? Then I'll have to go and ask him!"

Young Master Yuan shook his head: "It's not my brother, it's another relative."

Chu Le sneered, his tone even more disdainful: "Young Master Yuan's other cousins?"

The Chu family retainers standing nearby sneered, their faces practically screaming "You're making this up," which drew angry glares from the other medical cultivators.

Despite the mocking gazes of the crowd, Young Master Yuan's sincere expression remained unchanged. He shook his head at Chu Le and said, "He's not a cousin, he's my father."

Chu Le: "..."

Chu family retainer: "..."

What a "relative"!

You didn't say that these "relatives" were actually this "close"!

Well, if Yuan Bushu said those words, then even if he were the master of Yunwang Palace, as long as Chu Le went back and complained to Chu Chang'an, and they argued a bit more, Chu Chang'an might actually go to Yunwang Palace to hold him accountable.

But if it's the former palace master, Yuan Daojun, who said these words, then it's a different story!

Throughout the entire cultivation world, everyone knows that Yuan Daojun, the patriarch of Yunwang Palace, has a straightforward and fiery temper. If you offend him, even millions of gold coins won't earn you a second glance from him.

Sheng Ningyu, who had witnessed the whole thing, laughed heartily and couldn't help but lean against Xie Qianjing.

The increasingly frenzied inner demonic voice came to an abrupt halt because of this.

Xie Qianjing's eyelashes trembled, and he looked down at her, the icy look in his eyes vanishing in an instant.

She has always liked it this way.

Just like a hundred years ago, whenever they got something fun or learned something interesting, they would run over and hang on him to share it with him.

Yes, but after the Xie family was destroyed, I found a new fiancé.

【Xie Qianjing, guess what? Will I also lean on his shoulder and joke with him like this, cling to his arm and act coquettishly, and hold him as we go see all those beautiful sights I've mentioned to you in the past?】

As you know, while I appreciate beautiful things, I'm also incredibly fickle.

Xie Qianjing ignored him.

He turned his head, and when he spoke, his lips almost brushed against Sheng Ningyu's earlobe.

Is it really that funny?

Sheng Ningyu nodded, suppressing a laugh, and was about to say something when someone called her name.

"The one wearing a veil."

When the room was mostly quiet, Sheng Ningyu's commotion was quite noticeable. Chu Le looked around the room and finally spotted the two people.

He gestured with his chin in their direction and said arrogantly, "Why are you taking this road too? Are you also going to Ghost Cang Tower?"

This question was utterly unreasonable, and even with Chu Le's face, it appeared somewhat foolish.

Sheng Ningyu glanced at him and said lazily, "How many spirit stones do you want?"

Chu Le crossed his arms and frowned upon hearing this, asking, "What do you mean?"

"You opened this road, you planted this tree; if you want to pass, you must leave money to save your life."

Sheng Ningyu tilted her head and, without anyone noticing, had already placed herself in front of Xie Qianjing. She asked lazily, "I wonder how much Young Master Chu wants? Let me make it clear beforehand: I am but a penniless wretch who has been expelled from my sect. If the price is too high, Young Master Chu might as well just take my life; that would be more convenient and direct."

Sheng Ningyu spoke without any mercy.

A slight, sarcastic smile crept across Xie Qianjing's lips, showing no surprise whatsoever.

She's always been like this; novelty comes and goes quickly.

Now, with all his attention focused on the medical practitioners in Linghuanwu, his curiosity about Chu Le had been exhausted, so he was too lazy to even bother with a perfunctory response.

The Chu family would never be short of money. Why would they even bother with "begging"?

This is utterly humiliating him!

Chu Le was so angry he almost fell over backward, his face turning bright red. He strode forward and yelled, "What nonsense are you spouting, you madman!"

Upon hearing this, the Chu family retainers around them all drew their swords.

Before Sheng Ningyu could react, the medical practitioners from Yunwang Palace couldn't sit still any longer. A flash of cyan appeared, and someone stepped in front of Sheng Ningyu.

It was the young master from Yunwang Palace who was in charge.

Dressed in a blue robe, he resembled a verdant bamboo in the mountains or a blue cloud in a painting. The wind carrying his robes as he passed by carried a faint fragrance of herbs, exuding an air of elegance and refinement.

Chu Le's steps forward were blocked. He couldn't see Sheng Ningyu's figure clearly, so he frowned and said impatiently, "What is Young Master Yuan doing? Are you going to meddle in other people's business again?"

Young Master Yuan performed a formal greeting to Chu Le, behaving with utmost seriousness and deference, yet his body did not yield an inch.

"Young Master Chu, when you're out and about, you must not bully others by relying on your power."

These direct words caused many people to gasp, and all eyes turned to the two people facing off.

A bird's clear song echoed through the forest, rippling the surface as if to dispel the pervasive chaos. At the same time, however, the faint light was chilled by the cold, taking on an eerie and unsettling quality.

The wind howls and cranes cry; a storm is brewing.

Whether it was the Chu family retainers, the sword cultivators who were taken away, or even the young girls from Yunwang Palace who were not yet old, everyone became extremely alert at that moment, keeping a close eye on the two people in the arena, and remaining vigilant.

The sword cultivators following behind the Chu family secretly groaned in despair.

Both men are young and impetuous, and of noble status. If they were to actually fight, would it be better for them to draw their swords or not?

There were fewer than a hundred people in the room, yet they could see all sorts of people and their thoughts were in turmoil.

That's all there is to it.

Xie Qianjing showed little interest, but when he turned his gaze away, it fell on the person in front of him who was staring intently at him, and he remained motionless for a long time.

Yes.

He suddenly realized.

Of all her preferences, she liked this refined and upright little fairy the most.

A note from the author:

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Sheng Ningyu: [? .jpg] I didn't! I was just watching the show!

Sheng Ningyu (in horror): Do you want his father to poison me, or his brother to nag me to death?!