Chapter 22 The Ultimate Tenderness—Madam, Don't Look…
As they were talking, the two stopped in their tracks.
“Immortal Lord, the place to rest is just ahead,” a young cultivator said from the steps, interrupting the two.
With outsiders present, even if Yao Jin desperately wanted to know the answer, he could only suppress it.
“They are the guiding cultivators,” Meng Ji explained, closing his umbrella. He took Yao Jin’s hand and stepped onto the stairs. “Be careful.”
To reach the inner room, one had to pass through a long corridor. The young man who was there to guide them led them forward at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Once you enter the corridor, the noise outside is shut out, and even the raindrops are blocked.
Silence fell over the world, and Yao Jin looked up in surprise.
Perhaps it was the obvious doubt in her eyes, or perhaps it was her outstanding appearance that drew everyone's attention to her.
The young man leading the way explained, "This is a barrier specially set up to ensure that the cultivators who are going to compete next can get a good rest. It's a small world separated from the main stage."
After saying that, the young man introduced himself, "Immortal Lord's wife, my name is Xu Zhao, and I am an outer disciple."
Xu Zhao was a very easygoing person. After saying just two sentences, he started talking non-stop. As he led the way, he asked, "Immortal Lord, why is it so noisy outside?"
“It’s Xuan Shuang.” Meng Ji glanced at him.
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhao suddenly realized and automatically filled in the blanks in his mind, "No wonder it's so lively outside, it turns out that the champion from the previous year has arrived."
"I wonder what they'll do this time..."
The words abruptly stopped as Xu Zhao suddenly remembered that the Immortal Lord was also participating in the competition. He thought to himself, "Thank goodness!" and quickly changed the subject, "But the last competition is the last competition. This year, with the Immortal Lord participating, it's hard to say who will be the first place winner."
Upon hearing this, Meng Ji neither answered yes nor no, but simply smiled.
Influenced by this, Xu Zhao decided to stop talking and focus on leading the way.
After all, less talk means fewer mistakes, and silence means no mistakes.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded in the sky, and a ray of Buddha's light shone into the sky from beneath the dark clouds.
Xu Zhao immediately recognized him and, in a moment of urgency, called out the Buddha's name to the other person, saying, "He is a Buddhist disciple."
The ground trembled a few times with the Buddha's light. Yao Jin naturally sensed such a commotion. She was surprised, but she could also guess what was going on from the way he addressed her. "Is it Xuan Shuang? What happened to him?"
Before leaving, she clearly saw Elder Mu and Xuan Shuang talking, and they didn't seem like they were about to start a big fight.
Yao Jin couldn't help but ask Xiao Daojun with his eyes.
The barrier was broken, and fine rain poured in, but Meng Ji was not surprised. "Today's competition has added a test of the magic stone."
This is a stone to verify whether it is a monster. Yao Jin searched through his distant memories and finally remembered that it was mentioned by Chu Fengliu at Yaowang Peak.
Yao Jin suddenly felt a little nervous. She had a premonition that what was happening outside would be very important to her future choices.
Meng Ji took out an umbrella from his bag and instructed Xu Zhao, "Keep an eye on the lady."
As the sect leader, he needs to go out and investigate.
Yao Jin immediately grabbed Meng Ji's sleeve, "I don't want someone else to hold an umbrella for me."
“There’s no one else here.” Meng Ji smiled upon hearing this. He released his grip, and the red parasol floated in the air, obscuring the sky and earth.
Yao Jin was caught off guard by this unexpected move and choked.
After adjusting her mindset, she changed her reason again, "I want to go out for some fresh air, I don't want to be here alone."
Meng Ji gently patted her hand, his expression somewhat complicated, "If Gongye's identity is recognized... it might be dangerous outside."
"With you here, how could there be any danger?" Yao Jin blurted out, then felt her face flush as she spoke. But then she finally remembered something she'd forgotten: "Xiao Yun!"
"By the way, Xiaoyun, she's just a mortal. It's so chaotic outside, I need to go find her."
Meng Ji finally couldn't resist Yao Jin's persistent pursuit. After a moment's thought, he took her back with him. Xu Zhao, on the other hand, stayed behind, watching the two of them from behind, and grinned with his big teeth.
They remained silent the entire way.
On the way back, Yao Jin was filled with trepidation, wondering what the scenery was like on Fuyao Cliff.
This sense of tension spread silently.
Meng Ji saw this and, as they walked, spoke to her, explaining the rules of the competition in detail.
These were things that had never been mentioned in school. Yao Jin used to love hearing them, especially in his competitive spirit, but now he had little interest in responding to them.
Upon seeing this, Meng Ji pursed his lips slightly.
Suddenly, he stopped.
Yao Jin stopped with him. "What's wrong?"
Meng Ji lowered his eyes, his expression indifferent as he lifted the knot on the back of her neck. "What is this?"
Yao Jin glanced down at the newly acquired, beautiful bead, and her nervousness immediately dissipated. She proudly held up the bead, "Isn't it beautiful? This is a spirit-repelling bead, given to me by Chu Fengliu..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp pain shot through his neck. It was the kind of pain that only comes when the stitches are stretched to their limit. It wasn't very strong, but it was hard to ignore.
She gasped softly and covered her neck.
Meng Ji, however, glanced at the broken spirit-repelling bead casually and continued walking, muttering, "So ugly."
This was a direct challenge to Yao Jin's taste, and she followed up, dissatisfied, saying, "What's ugly about it? I think it's beautiful."
"How about we compare umbrellas?"
Yao Jin's thoughts were immediately diverted, but she was still somewhat unconvinced, "They each have their own beauty, I like them both."
She stretched out her hand, demanding the Spirit-Avoiding Pearl, "Give the pearl back to me."
But as far as the eye could see, the Spirit-Avoiding Pearl was nowhere to be found. "Where's the pearl? Where's the Spirit-Avoiding Pearl?"
"Throw it away." Meng Ji calmly rubbed his hands together, and the light rain washed away the powder remaining on his fingertips.
"You're going to die? You actually threw it away?" Yao Jin immediately panicked. "That wasn't mine! Besides, I need it!"
"I'll give him an even better one another day." Meng Ji's expression grew increasingly indifferent. As he spoke, he stopped. "We've arrived."
Returning to Fuyou Cliff.
Yao Jin then understood what the young Daoist had meant in the corridor.
The sky and earth were dark, and the sun and moon could not be distinguished.
The surrounding rainwater carried a fishy smell, and the ground was a muddy mess, the mud a dark, hot black, making it impossible to discern the original yellow soil color.
The atmosphere was dark and unsettling, evident in the displeased expressions of those around them.
At least Xiaoyun is like that.
Xiaoyun saw Madam from afar and ran over with her short legs, "Madam..."
The road was quite long, and after running there, Xiaoyun was panting heavily. "Immortal Lord, Madam..."
Meng Ji hummed in agreement, but Yao Jin pulled her aside and scolded, "Why didn't you follow me earlier?"
Xiao Yun thought to herself, "Since the Immortal Lord is holding an umbrella for Madam, I, as a qualified servant, should naturally be sensible." But she stuck out her tongue and lied without changing her expression, "I was so caught up in the excitement that I forgot to keep up with Madam."
After Xiaoyun finished speaking, she tightened her small face and tugged at the lady's sleeve, "Madam, this place is so scary. I feel my heart tightening and I'm very panicked."
"But seeing you, Madam, makes me feel a little better."
Yao Jin was amused by the clever little rascal. She patted Xiao Yun's head reassuringly, then carefully sensed the energy here, but felt something was off. "Little Daoist, is the spiritual energy here...?"
“The spiritual vein is closed.” As a cultivator, Meng Ji had naturally noticed it long ago. He looked calmly at the arena and said, “Gongye has been discovered.”
They were talking about Gongye, but Yao Jin's heart sank instantly.
She squinted at the arena, only to find it a chaotic mess. The demon-testing stone had shattered into countless fragments, and could only be discerned through faint writing.
Beside the rubble, a group of cultivators were engaged in battle, each holding a sword.
Leading the group of cultivators was Xu Jinan.
He seemed to have aged considerably, with several wrinkles on his forehead resembling withered trees, but his eyes were incredibly sharp, unlike his slightly plump and kind appearance.
A bone-chilling aura rushed towards him, and Yao Jin swayed from exhaustion. He then heard a booming, murderous aura beside him: "Dare to shatter my immortal stone? Immortals and demons are irreconcilable enemies."
As if in response to Xu Jinan's words, the cultivators surrounding him immediately drew their swords.
Countless sword intents converged into a ray of aurora, piercing through the dense dark clouds in the sky.
Opposite Xu Jinan was Xuan Shuang, who was kneeling on the ground, heavily injured.
Xuan Shuang clutched his chest, his lips and robes stained with blood. He wanted to say that he hadn't destroyed the Demon-Testing Stone, but due to the tense situation, he had to protect Gongye first. "I didn't want to participate in this competition. Why are you forcing me?"
For a Buddhist practitioner to be angered, something unknown must have happened.
Upon hearing this, Xu Jinan's eyes turned cold, and his palm transformed into a blade as he launched another attack. "Your wife is a demon, yet you dare to swagger into the Immortal Sect. I see that you have become increasingly arrogant since you were expelled from the Buddhist sect."
Clearly, Xu Jinan is confusing cause and effect.
Xuan Shuang met Gongye before being expelled from the Buddhist sect, rather than meeting Gongye after being expelled from the sect.
But in any case, people only look at the results.
The person standing next to Xuan Shuang now is indeed a demon, and a pregnant one at that.
The cultivators surrounding Xu Jinan immediately spoke up, their voices booming, "Subdue the demon! Subdue the demon!"
"Slay that pregnant demon!"
"If a demon is pregnant, the child will surely be another demon! We must kill her and stop the birth of a demon!"
Yao Jin found it laughable; even seasoned hunters would spare their prey if it was pregnant.
But these monks, who represent justice, use the excuse of fighting demons to even harm unborn children.
Yao Jin suddenly burst out laughing, a hint of inexplicable hatred flashing in his eyes.
Unseen black energy emanated from her palm, absorbing the killing intent and slowly growing stronger.
Suddenly, a pair of hands covered Yao Jin's eyes. "Madam, don't look."
The black figures paused for a moment, seemingly unwilling yet hesitant.
Then the voice rang out again—"You may have nightmares tonight."
Yao Jin felt a warmth in her heart, but then gently scolded him as a fool.
She was blind, but her five senses remained. She could clearly perceive the strong, sticky smell of blood coming from the tip of her nose.
The surroundings seemed to have become a sealed box, and all the sounds reached my ears: the sound of swords cutting through flesh, and the cries of pain from wounded cultivators.
Even more heavy objects slammed into the ground, making a loud bang.
Yao Jin guessed that it must have been a round head, otherwise where would something have fallen to the ground on the battlefield?
But it could also be the arm?
Xiao Yun, who was standing to the side, was not so lucky. She only glanced at the stage from afar before she was so disgusted that she kept gagging. She then hid in the barrier set up by the Immortal Lord.
Once inside the barrier, all five senses vanished, and all the dismembered limbs and fragments before Xiaoyun's eyes disappeared, yet she remained in shock for a long time.
Xiaoyun hid behind the lady and looked at the immortal, only to find that the immortal had a strange sense of contradiction.
That hand, so gentle, shielded the lady from the cruel pressure from the outside world.
Yet his expression showed neither sorrow nor joy, but rather a detached indifference that transcended worldly affairs.
But weren't some of those dead Taoist priests disciples of the Immortal Lord?
Xiaoyun felt a chill run through her body, and her young heart was deeply hurt. But just then, the Immortal Lord whispered gently in his wife's ear.
"Madam, please don't look, or you might have nightmares at night."
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