22 Conspiracies

A few days later, Chu Qing was still a little dazed when she woke up and heard the sound of sword energy cutting through the air coming from the training platform not far away.

Yin Li got up so early?

After calming myself down and getting ready, I got up and went over.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a shadow on the platform. Upon closer inspection, a lively young girl stood in the shadow, intently watching the person practicing in front of her.

Senior brother, you have such great courage! It seems your injuries haven't fully healed, yet you can already unleash such overwhelming power with your sword!

"Xueluo, how are you feeling?"

After soaking in the cold pool for a few days, the young man recovered quickly due to his good health. In just a few days, he regained consciousness and was able to walk normally. However, he could not use too much spiritual energy for the time being, let alone practice martial arts.

"Master, I feel much better. Thank you, Master."

Chu Qing nodded, and like Ling Xueluo, turned around to look at Yin Li in front of her, whose figure was dashing and sharp.

The boy was changing every day. He still had some naivety and immaturity when he was in Crescent Moon Town, but now he was becoming more and more mature.

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the person opposite, his handsome, slanted eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his wrist deftly flicked his wrist in a sword flourish. In the blink of an eye, he precisely sliced ​​through all the leaves that had been blown down by the wind.

The vast landscape unfolds before my eyes; I was a young man in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.

Chu Qing was somewhat dazed, as if she could truly see the spiritedness in those poems and songs.

"master"

After finishing a set of moves, Yin Li was covered in a light sweat, with fine droplets of water appearing on the tip of his nose. Although his face didn't show much expression, the surprise and eagerness in his eyes were impossible to hide.

"Yes, but the center of gravity is still unstable, and it's not fast enough!"

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Qing suddenly drew her blood and held it straight to his throat.

If they had moved even an inch forward, blood would have been spilled on the spot.

Yin Li's breath hitched, and she unconsciously swallowed, patiently listening to the other person's instruction.

"Watch closely." With that, she leaped forward, lightly waving her longsword. Her movements were as agile as a dragon, and there seemed to be the sound of wind and thunder in her movements. The sword shadows overlapped and were not clear, like a dream, but every move was full of domineering power.

Truly, it was as light as a drifting cloud, yet concealed a deadly intent!

Yin Li stared intently at the person before him. As expected of the Grand Elder of Green Mountain Peak, every move he made exuded an invincible majesty and ruthlessness.

After completing the set of movements, Chu Qing was extremely satisfied with her performance. She had always loved things that looked cool and stylish, like archery and martial arts...

Now, I've finally had my fill of it.

"If you can't do this, don't eat."

Back in the shade, her voice rang out coldly, devoid of any humanity.

My master is terrifying...

Ling Xueluo quietly shrank back, staring wide-eyed at Yin Li, as if the other party exuded an aura of—deathly silence.

I originally thought Master had become gentler, but now it seems, haha.

It's just an illusion, an illusion. She should go back and recover first.

···

On the other side, in a courtyard, Wuming exuded a sinister aura.

“Master, since we parted ways in Crescent Moon Town, I have never had the chance to get close to you again.” Ye Lang knelt at Wen Ruyu’s feet and said with his head bowed.

"However, what is certain is that the spirit pearl is indeed on him, not with Qinggechang."

Wen Ruyu, sitting down, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. After listening to Ye Lang's words, he softly hummed in agreement and then remained silent for a long time.

snort

Chu Qingge, it's been so long, you've really become "better".

"It's alright. This trip to the Third Secret Realm yielded far better results than with that spirit pearl." He sneered, then suddenly opened his eyes, the sharpness in them startling the people below.

"What has that kid been up to lately?"

Ye Lang paused, realizing he was asking about Yin Li's whereabouts, and replied, "It seems he's been cultivating, but lately—he's been going to the back mountain all the time."

"The back mountain?"

"Yes, Master. He was probably punished by Elder Qingge to pick something. He always came back with many injuries, his clothes stained with blood, and he was quite weak."

"Oh? He doesn't hate Chu Qingge?"

"This disciple does not know, but being tortured like this must have made him harbor resentment. This disciple also saw that Yin Li would sometimes go to chop wood, and each time he would stay for at least an hour and a half."

After a few more moments of silence, the person above suddenly smiled, his eyes filled with calculation, and slightly parted his lips: "I remember, she also had an apprentice, who seemed to be similar to you, both being medical cultivators."

"Yes," Ye Lang nodded, then showed the same smile as the person above him, and said, "Mo Yu and Yin Li are at odds. Back when he was in prison, the injuries on his body were inflicted by Mo Yu."

"We need to find a way to slow down Yin Li's recovery, or make him suffer more injuries. When the trial reopens, we must obtain the Mystic Ice Spirit Orb."

The sun outside the window suddenly hid behind the clouds, and the entire hall was shrouded in shadow, exuding a chill.

"Yes," Ye Lang replied, bowing his head, a hint of anticipation in his heart: "Yin Li, the show is about to begin."

When the afternoon came, the boy, who was still practicing on the platform, hurriedly ate some food and then got up and headed to the back mountain.

Over the course of several days, without disturbing the guardian beast, Yin Li gathered a lot of Sun Spring Grass and gave it all to Chu Qing.

Every time he returned to his room, he would have a few more scratches on his arms or a few holes in his clothes, but he always managed to cover them up before he saw Chu Qing.

"Master, Sunflower Grass."

A faint smell of blood reached Chu Qing's nose, and she couldn't help but frown, feeling somewhat annoyed.

Did he even properly treat himself?

“You’re going to Mo Yu’s place—” She started to say, but then seemed to remember something and changed the subject, saying, “Never mind, come with me.”

In another small courtyard, Mo Yu was tending to his beloved herbs, which were spoils he had collected when he was cleaning the front yard. He was focused on pulling weeds when he suddenly heard a knocking sound coming from the base of the wall in the distance.

Mo Yu: !

Could it be that a thief has broken in?

He rushed over, and as luck would have it, he had set up a back door there before.

Pushing it open, they discovered an unexpected guest—Ye Lang.

He suddenly became alert, frowned, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Under the cover of night, Ye Lang's gentle smile turned somewhat sinister. He said, "I've heard that Junior Brother Yin Li has been getting injured recently, but—why hasn't he come to the pharmacy to look for medicine?"

Mo Yu: ? What an awkward start to the conversation.

What did he say? Of course, it was, "We don't believe you didn't use the medicine. Just a few days ago, Master told me not to go to the pharmacy casually, and to get all the herbs from her."

"Senior Brother Ye, I don't know about this either."

"Junior brother, don't worry. Our masters are on good terms, but my master was a little worried, so he asked me to come here today and also to bring you some medicine."

Mo Yu, with an awkward smile: ······

Befriend him? You might fool a fool, but you won't fool him!

Although he and Yin Li disliked each other, and he had even hit Yin Li before, it was all based on his master's attitude. Now, well—

Mo Yu looked at the other party warily, gave a dry twitch of the corner of her mouth, and said with a smile, "Oh, I see. Well, thank you Elder Wen. Master will surely be pleased as well."

You're welcome.

After speaking, Ye Lang left through the back door, leaving Mo Yu standing alone in the courtyard, bewildered.

Who is this person? Using connections to get in. Let him see what's in the medicine packet.

Upon opening the package, I smelled only ordinary tonics. Didn't Ye Lang and Yin Li have a conflict before? They even seemed to have fought in Crescent Moon Town. How could this be—

However, I really can't figure it out, so I plan to go to my master and report it to him one by one.

As soon as Mo Yu turned around, she heard a sound coming from the doorway.

"Mo Yu, are you there?"

"Master, please come in."

As soon as the door opened, they saw the face they least wanted to see—the very person they had just been talking about, Yin Li.

What is he doing here?

She secretly pursed her lips, but after all, she had come with her master.

"Mo Yu, prepare some medicinal herbs to replenish his spiritual energy for him."

"Oh, yes, Master."

He went back into the house and grabbed a few herbs, then suddenly remembered something. He quickly went to Chu Qing's side and took out the medicine packet he had just taken: "Master, Senior Brother Ye Lang came by earlier and said—"

"What?" Chu Qing frowned, a bad feeling welling up in her heart.

What kind of trouble are Wen Ruyu and his apprentice up to this time?

“He said—” Mo Yu glanced at Yin Li, who remained silent behind her as if it were a private matter, hesitated for a long time, and then told him everything that had just happened in front of him.

He wasn't doing this for Yin Li's sake; it was clearly for his master's.

"I understand. You go back and rest. Leave this to me."

Sure enough, Wen Ruyu was restless as soon as she returned.

Chu Qing reluctantly put the medicine packet into her bosom, casually tossed the medicine prepared by Mo Yu to Yin Li, and then left.

As she walked, she glanced at the herbs inside; a quick scan revealed they were all fairly standard tonics.

wrong!

Upon closer inspection, she discovered a Sunflower inside.

The foam was a bit broken, and if you didn't look closely, it would be hard to notice the problem. As for the Sun Spring Grass, they didn't want Yin Li's spiritual vein to have an easy time either.

Hmph, this is not Ye Lang's purpose; it must be Wen Ruyu trying to test him.

If she throws away the medicine bag or ignores it altogether, he will definitely come to "demand an explanation," after all, the two are still allies on the surface.

Back in the courtyard, just as he was about to step inside, he saw Yin Li following him.

Chu Qing: ? What's he doing here?

"You—go back."

"Master," Yin Li called softly, "you haven't seen your disciple's results today."

How could anyone possibly reach her level of skill in just one day?

Out of consideration for her disciple's pride, she nodded slightly and said, "Only when the secret realm reopens will you truly shine."

"Nariquan——"

"Go back, I have things to do."

She interrupted him coldly, her mind preoccupied with Wen Ruyu's possible next move. She didn't even bother to pay attention to Yin Li's expression. She turned around and walked straight into the house, leaving him standing outside alone.

Yin Li lowered her eyes, realizing that she must not have done well enough to anger her master.

There are also Ye Lang and Wen Ruyu.

His hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched tightly. The boy's eyes were deep, and he seemed to be thinking about something. He chuckled softly before leaving.

[Author's Note]

I've corrected some typos... Things have suddenly gotten really hectic next week, I'm at a loss, but I'll definitely update! Just not as frequently, I need to keep the word count down, so please save up and read later! Love you all!