Chapter 142 Back at the Sect, Everything's a Problem
While the two on one side were reluctant to part in the morning mist, the other two were dragged up by a knock on the door and returned to the foot of the sect's mountain before they could figure out what was going on.
"You mean your aunt gave you a talisman and told you to leave quickly before disappearing?" Shen Lixia shook her head.
Simmons nodded. "She seemed very anxious at the time, so I think it might be a dangerous situation. The two of you are only at the Golden Core stage now. You had a hard time dodging when you were dealing with Jiuyin. Since she said she was leaving, why not just leave everything to her?"
“I feel this time is unusual…” Shen Lixia frowned. Even though Si Changxi hid it very well along the way, she knew that the matter of the tribe must be her sore spot, otherwise why would she go to the trouble of searching in the Chaos Rift? The journey was relatively safe, thanks to her master aunt who shielded her from many storms and dealt with the many demonic beasts that appeared along the way.
Could it be related to the person they met in Xiaoshang Village? Since Si Changxi is a member of the tribe, and the stone tablet also says "two high priests"... Shen Lixia has always had an amazing intuition about some things, and rarely doubts their rationality. Just like she was certain that the Immortal Master Wangshu had a close relationship with Si Changxi, perhaps her haste this time was also related to the other party.
However, the puzzle is always incomplete. I've asked many people, and all I know is that the sect leader has a seemingly destined enemy, a ruthless evil cultivator who kills without blinking an eye. But I've never heard anyone mention that she has a cultivator as a relative. Especially since that cultivator's cultivation level is only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
If you calculate their ages, saying they are sisters doesn't seem quite right.
—Could she be the sect leader's long-lost daughter?
What on earth is she thinking? Shen Lixia raised her hand and slapped herself on the forehead, which made Qiao Yanshen turn his gaze and curiously reach out to place his hand on her forehead.
"What are you thinking about?" He gently traced the spot where she had slapped herself until it was red. "You seemed quite curious about your aunt before. Why don't you ask your master and the others later? They've been classmates and colleagues for so long, they probably know more than we do."
After a moment's thought, she changed her mind and said, "Now, let's go now, and report all these things to our masters' wives." The broken object was not an ordinary constellation, but the Azure Dragon constellation, one of the Four Symbols, which was no small matter.
"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" Simmons took out a talisman. Although she couldn't fly on a sword, she could use the talisman's teleportation array to return to the small town within the sect.
Shen Lixia smiled and said, "I'd like a white sugar sesame pie with sweet wine and egg, and Senior Sister, you can have pan-fried buns. Thank you for your help."
Simmons rolled her eyes and said, "You're quite self-aware, even ordering food. Come find me later, I don't know your magic, it'll get cold if you wait too long." Without lingering, she conjured a talisman and returned to the small town. The remaining two exchanged a glance, summoned their swords, and hurried towards Guyu Peak.
Upon reaching the foot of Guyu Peak, Shen Lixia took out paper and pen and found a place to write a letter. Having been away for several years at a time so often, she had grown accustomed to it and it no longer seemed strange, especially since their physical experience within the Chaotic Rift had only lasted a little over half a month. After sending a messenger to deliver the letter to Yan Xueya, the two spoke with the servants and apprentices of Guyu Peak, informing them of their purpose.
Upon hearing this, the boy opened the barrier for them. Outside, it was early spring, but inside the barrier, it was even more beautiful, filled with boundless spring sunshine, lush greenery, and wildflowers blooming across the fields. Fragrance flowed in the air, and one could hear the chirping of orioles and swallows.
"After the grand competition, we'll be in seclusion again, so we'll probably have to come here to train our bodies again, right?" Shen Lixia's spirits drooped at the sight of the layers of steps, recalling the hellish time she had endured before. "Senior Sister, you had several pounds of iron strapped to your legs back then..."
Qiao Yanshen shook his head, unlike her exaggerated expression, and said calmly, "He's not qualified for weight training."
“Yes, yes—but Senior Sister has already done very well!” Shen Lixia suddenly turned around and solemnly put her arm around Qiao Yanshen’s shoulder. “Even if it’s not good enough by your standards, I’ve remembered every bit of effort Senior Sister has put in. Senior Sister is the most amazing person I’ve ever met.” Her “amazing” certainly didn’t just refer to her strength; Qiao Yanshen’s seriousness in every aspect made her feel incredibly amazed.
The next second, a smile bloomed on Shen Lixia's face again. She withdrew her hand, instead raising her index finger and saying confidently, "We've found that you haven't settled your reward for the last mission. Your assistant is kindly reminding you to collect your reward in time... A peach ice cream, made by hand!"
Seeing her like this, Qiao Yanshen couldn't help but laugh and say, "Okay." She reached out and hugged the boy, then kissed her cheek.
"This hasn't been settled yet," he said, then rubbed her cheek again. "It's not overdue, right?"
Sometimes she didn't quite understand what Shen Lixia was saying, but she could still connect with it and found it quite amusing. A rising warmth emanated from her palms; even though some time had passed, the slightest intimate gesture still made the person before her blush, their ears turning red instantly. It seemed that no matter how many days passed, Shen Lixia would still love her the same, love her forever.
Every day was new to her. The boy's love was like an inexhaustible flame, never extinguished, never dimming for a moment.
The brief incident eased their anxiety considerably, and they flew to the front of the Cangling Palace on their swords.
At the palace gate, a student in blue robes was slowly sweeping away the dust with a broom. The string of new leaves in her hair was still there, but a new pendant adorned one ear, shimmering with a bluish-green light.
"Senior Sister Tang!" Shen Lixia called out, jumping off her sword and quickly walking towards her. She had missed her dearly after not seeing her for a while.
Tang Huairou, who hadn't seen her for several years, was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Junior sisters are back?" She put the broom aside, looked the two of them over carefully, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no one was missing an arm or a leg.
Then, as Qiao Yanshen walked over, he reached out and put his arms around both of them, giving them a gentle hug.
“You guys always stay away for a long time,” Tang Huairou said with a smile. “Although this is common, I still can’t help but miss you.”
She pushed open the palace door, and the three of them walked in together. As they walked, Tang Huairou said, "The competition is just around the corner, and many people are participating for the first time. They are all extremely busy. Sometimes I really feel a bit lonely, but luckily we had that meal together, and I can't help but laugh when I think about it."
"Where are Junior Sister Lu and the others?" Shen Lixia asked curiously. She figured Wu Zhuyue and Lu Changqing were inseparable, like they were tied together. If she asked Lu Changqing about her situation, she could probably find out most of what Wu Zhuyue was doing.
Upon hearing this, Tang Huairou sighed and said, "Junior Sister Lu seemed to have suffered a blow when she returned from the last mission, and went into seclusion on her own. It seems she felt guilty for not being able to protect others... She looked very ashamed."
She seemed unwilling to say more, and instead asked, "Are you here to see your master?"
Qiao Yanshen nodded, "Is Aunt Ruan here? Senior Sister, you might as well stay and listen in as well; it's something very important."
Tang Huairou brewed tea and served them snacks, then went to a room in the hall to call Ruan Luoying. When the familiar figure reappeared before them, following behind the young man, Shen Lixia almost choked on her tea, feeling a cloying sweetness on her lips.
On one of Aunt Ruan's ears, a long earring swayed gently, its pale green color like a tender bud just beginning to sprout, giving people a gentle and warm feeling of spring, which corresponded to Tang Huairou's pale eyes.
Noticing her subtle expression, Ruan Luoying didn't explain further, but just smiled and said, "Why did you come to me first when you got back? Xueya was very worried about you while you were away. I told her she didn't believe the sect leader could protect you, and she denied it, saying she was just afraid of something going wrong."
As she spoke, she glanced behind the two of them and asked in confusion, "By the way, didn't the sect leader come with you?"
“That’s exactly what we’ve been talking about.” Qiao Yanshen frowned and held out the broken talisman in his hand after it had only been used once. “She had just returned to the human realm from the Chaos Rift not long ago. This morning, she gave us this talisman and then disappeared.”
Recalling Simmons's words, she added, "She said it was an emergency and she had to leave immediately—as if something very dangerous was lurking nearby, and she was very pale."
Ruan Luoying's expression changed slightly, as if she remembered something, and she whispered, "It can't be again—never mind, it must be that person. She's shown up again..."
"Sword Master Liuhua?" Shen Lixia had heard these rumors before and couldn't help but frown. "Wouldn't that put the sect leader in great danger?"
"This is between them. We don't know what level that person has reached now... If they aren't as gifted as the Sect Master, then they must be relying on demonic cultivation techniques." Ruan Luoying bit her lower lip, her brows unusually furrowed with worry. "What if the Sect Master hasn't returned in a couple of days—"
"Go find her; I'll take care of the sect's affairs."
A deep, cold voice answered her. The group turned their gazes and saw a woman in a long, frosty white robe step into the hall, her hair still carrying the chill of the wind and snow.
Yan Xueya sat down beside Shen Lixia and the others, and continued, "Something strange has been happening in the sect lately. The sect's protective formation is acting strangely, and I'm afraid that Liu Hua Sword Lord is about to make a move. She is at least at the Refinement Void Realm, and may have already reached it. All cultivators in the world should be on edge. We cannot be absent at this time. Chang Yi herself should know this, which is why she hasn't returned. Something must have happened."
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, her brows furrowed deeply, and her expression suddenly turned cold.
"Furthermore, there may be spies among the students or the monks who teach."
Spy?
Upon hearing this word, Shen Lixia felt a sudden, inexplicable panic. She became extremely suspicious, as if every rustle of wind or movement around her could arouse her doubt.
But she didn't even consider whether it was someone she knew, and skipped over that possibility entirely.
Shen Lixia quietly reached out and took Qiao Yanshen's little finger in hers. Seemingly sensing her unease, Qiao Yanshen twisted his wrist, taking her hand in his and gently stroking it. The young man's gentle voice echoed in her mind again: "Let's be careful too. Don't be afraid."
Ruan Luoying was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I understand. I'll go find her later. You all... take care."
She placed her hand on Yan Xueya's shoulder, her usually gentle yet calm eyes now sparkling. She took a deep breath before withdrawing her hand and whispered again, "Take care."
Afterwards, Ruan Luoying got up and returned to her room. Tang Huairou noticed she seemed a little strange and uneasy, and called out worriedly, "Master..."
She nodded to the other three, apologized, and then quickly followed. Yan Xueya remained silent. In that brief moment of silence, Qiao Yanshen couldn't help but tighten his grip on the boy's warm hand, sensing an impending storm.
Yan Xueya raised her cup and drank the tea as if it were wine, then smiled and said, "You don't need to worry." Her eyes were full of melancholy as she gently shook her head.
“The five of us once formed a very special pact. If any one of us is in a different state, the other four can sense it… This pact is linked to the soul, and over time, it will cause the souls of those who formed the pact to become connected.” Yan Xueya’s voice gradually softened. “If someone encounters an accident, a small part of her soul will remain and merge into the souls of the others.”
Like a special whale fall.
Therefore, they could also sense that Si Changxi's aura was different, and they could follow this clue to find her.
"If you feel uneasy, then work harder. As I said before, even if the sky falls, your masters and wives will be there to hold it up. Don't worry too much, or it will affect your Dao heart." Yan Xueya quickly regained her normal tone and glanced at Chen Lixia. "Especially you, be more peaceful in the days leading up to the competition. Remember, there are always people more powerful than you."
Shen Lixia nodded obediently: "Okay."
Seeing that they were safe and sound, Yan Xueya's heart, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, finally settled down.
The woman waved her hand and smiled, "You must still have people to look for, so I won't bother you any longer. Come to Maoyue Valley for dinner tonight—and let me repeat, don't worry too much, we can handle these things."
He then got up and left Cangling Palace first.
She had just left when Tang Huairou returned. She didn't seem as worried as before; she simply rubbed her temples and sat back down in her chair.
Shen Lixia then remembered the question she hadn't finished asking earlier and asked, "Senior Sister Tang, how is Junior Sister Wu doing lately?"
Mentioning Wu Zhuyue, Tang Huairou's expression turned strange, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. After a long pause, she frowned slightly and finally spoke: "Junior Sister Wu..."
Qiao Yanshen noticed something was off in her tone: "What's wrong with her?"
Tang Huairou sighed.
"Her Dao heart was unstable, and she developed inner demons. Her cultivation was mostly destroyed by Master Yi... She is currently in confinement."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Teacher Yi's approach might seem a bit cruel, but it's actually the best choice... because as mentioned before, Wu's cultivation level has advanced instead of regressed due to her inner demons, meaning her cultivation during this period has been superficial. If this continues, her foundation will become crooked and she'll be ruined. She may seem unrestrained at times, but she actually cares quite a bit about Xiao Wu.
The "more cruel thing" that Si mentioned refers to this. This person is very cunning. He thinks that if the task of crippling cultivation is left to Teacher Yi, Wu will resent them and won't be so reluctant to leave the sect.
I've had menstrual cramps these past couple of days and haven't been feeling well... I also missed a day with my condom, sorry.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com