Chapter 247 Though Dead, Still Alive (Gray Line) Additional cakes, delicious? ...
Meanwhile, Wei Changzai had already arrived in Qingqiu by flying on his sword.
This was his first time visiting the Fox Clan, but the scene was not as bustling as he had imagined. Qingqiu City looked much quieter and more orderly.
Guards stood in formation at the city gate, systematically checking those entering the city. Banners fluttered atop the city walls, and fox masks hung high. Outside the city, there were many taverns for people to rest, where fox people dressed in brightly colored clothes moved about.
He mingled among the visitors and, seeing the thoroughness of the inspection ahead, pondered for a moment before turning and heading towards the winery.
The fox clan has always been fond of beauty, and they especially like young cultivators who are well-covered up. Seeing him dressed like this, and with his outstanding appearance, they immediately stepped forward with a flower pot and smiled.
"Fellow Daoist, please take a rest. With such a long queue, we probably won't be able to enter the city until tonight. Why don't you try some of Qingqiu's delicacies and wine first?"
Wei Changzai nodded in return, his expression cool but not arrogant. He replied, "I don't drink alcohol, just bring some dishes."
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I can tell you can't hold your liquor. Here's the menu, order what you like?"
Wei Changzai took it from his hand, then said without changing his expression, "I've been to Qingqiu many times before, and I always entered the city directly. Why is the inspection so thorough this time?"
The shopkeeper continued to look at him, his eyes slightly lowered: "How would we know such things? Fellow Daoist is human, so it's best not to ask too many questions. Just eat and drink well."
Wei Changzai was not surprised. After ordering a few dishes, he also asked for a pot of tea. He stopped talking to the shopkeeper and just ate quietly, occasionally glancing outside, looking as if he was oblivious to everything around him.
When traveling, both he and Lin Feiran are more accustomed to relying on their own eyes to find information.
For example, there are only three wineries here, but each one has set up new tables and chairs in front of its door for guests to rest, which shows that there were few guests before, and the martial law in Qingqiu is only a recent event.
There were also guards scouting below the city. They seemed very strict, but they didn't use any array formations or magical artifacts to check people. They just tested their cultivation level and let them in. It was obviously not for prevention, but because something had already happened, and this was just a pointless screening.
They do not intend to allow high-level cultivators into the city.
Furthermore, although there were many people guarding the city, most of them had frost on their hats, indicating that they had been there for at least a whole day and night, and there was still no sign of them changing shifts.
The lack of replacements means there's a void within the organization, and most of the fox clan guards have likely been transferred away.
Wei Changzai slowly looked through it, knowing that something big must have happened in the past two days. This kind of scene might be related to the Fox Clan royal family.
He paused slightly, ate a few bites hastily, then put down the money, got up, and left.
He had contacted Qiu Tong on his way here, but had not received a reply.
The two had a falling out when they were in the Abyss. He thought Qiu Tong was still angry, but now he thought that something might have happened to the fox clan, which was why she hadn't responded.
These are turbulent times, and he needs to find her as soon as possible, not to take her back to Daohe Palace, but to tell her everything and then have her hide away as soon as possible, preferably without showing herself until he convinces his master.
When Wei Changzai joined the group, his graceful and upright posture immediately attracted a lot of attention.
Someone was whispering behind him, but he had excellent hearing and heard it clearly.
"These are obviously disciples from human sects. What are they doing in Qingqiu?"
"Could it be that she's here to see the Ninth Princess? I heard that she returned from her cultivation in the human realm and obtained an unparalleled spiritual sword. It seems that she was wearing a similar blue robe when she returned that day."
"But wasn't she in seclusion? She hasn't seen any visitors these past two days."
Wei Changzai paused slightly and looked back a little. When Qiu Tong and Lin Feiran were chatting while burning incense, there was no indication that she was about to go into seclusion.
Suddenly, his eyelids twitched, and he remembered that when he was in the Avici Hell, his master had asked him three times when he would return and whether he would be with Qiu Tong.
Asking repeatedly means that doubts have arisen in one's mind.
At the time, he was preoccupied with Lin Feiran and Ruxian's affairs, so he didn't have the energy to think about it much. Now it seems that his master had already suspected something.
Wei Changzai looked again at the strange things in Qingqiu City, his heart sinking slightly. After a moment, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation, drew his long sword, and embarked on his return journey.
The north wind whistled past his ears. He took out the jade tablet, and the magic seal in his palm spun. A familiar voice came from the other side.
"Junior brother, why did you suddenly decide to reminisce with your senior brother?"
His words were tinged with a smile, but his question was not unfounded.
Wei Changzai did not answer, but went straight to the point and asked, "Senior brother, where is Master now?"
Ji Changying asked, puzzled, "He's in the mountains. Do you need to find him?"
Wei Changzai remained silent for a moment, his voice almost dissipating in the swift wind: "Senior brother, I have a question for you. It concerns Manman, and I hope you can answer truthfully."
Did you see Qiu Tong inside the door?
Ji Changying stood under the eaves, holding a plate of pastries in her hands. She paused slightly upon hearing this and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about Junior Sister Qiutong?"
"..."
Wei Changzai was very familiar with him, and seeing his roundabout way of speaking, she knew that her guess was correct: Qiu Tong was in Daohe Palace at this moment.
"I know your answer. I'm on my way back. I hope you'll take good care of me, senior brother."
Ji Changying was unaware of the true meaning behind it, but when he heard him mention Lin Feiran, he couldn't help but take it seriously.
He glanced at the cakes on the plate, his eyes darkening slightly. After a few moments, he pushed open the door and walked toward the girl in the hall who was quietly chanting "Sword, come!"
"Junior Sister Qiutong."
Qiu Tong looked up and saw Ji Changying walk in. She was so excited that she exclaimed, "Senior Brother, what brings you here?!"
"Shh." Ji Changying put a finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet, before bending down and half-squatting beside her.
He looked at the restrictions on her body and sighed slightly: "I heard your voice outside the door earlier, but I didn't know what had happened between you and Master, so I wanted to find a moment to check on the situation."
Are you alright? Are you injured?
Qiu Tong sat on the futon and nodded dejectedly: "Fortunately, the chief didn't beat me; he just locked me up here."
Puzzled, Ji Changying put down her food plate, handed her a piece, and asked softly, "Why is this? Why are you bothered by this for no reason?"
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Qiu Tong's spiritual power was restricted, and she was already starving. She took the cake with difficulty and ate it whole, which made her feel a little better.
"I don't know why, it just inexplicably became like this."
"Eat slowly." Ji Changying tilted her head and looked at it, then handed her another piece. "Didn't Master say anything to you?"
Qiu Tong was even more indignant: "Why would he care about my questions? He just talked to himself for a while and then you called him away. I don't know anything!"
She swallowed the second piece, looked at Ji Changying, and said with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, "Senior Brother, I don't know what I did wrong to deserve being imprisoned here. I know you're in trouble, so I won't trouble you to help me..."
But could you please pass on a message to my older sister and tell her that I'm here?
Ji Changying did not refuse and nodded, but a hint of apology still appeared in her eyes: "I'm sorry, I can't disobey my master's orders. He is keeping you here, and I can't interfere or take you out. But I can deliver a letter to your sister."
Qiu Tong's eyes lit up, and she thanked him repeatedly. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and she couldn't help but sniff, her eyes welling up with tears: "It's a good thing that Senior Brother was willing to 'meddle,' otherwise I really would have starved to death here!"
Ji Changying said, "Master is in seclusion and doesn't like to eat, so naturally he wouldn't think that you need to eat. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll bring it to you later."
Qiu Tong couldn't help but say, "Senior brother, no wonder everyone likes you... No need to trouble yourself, I'll eat whatever you bring."
Ji Changying smiled slightly, his small mole below his lips lifting slightly. His voice was gentle and refined. He nodded, "Okay, my skills are still quite good."
With someone offering help, Qiu Tong felt much more at ease. Leaning against the long pillar, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "By the way, Senior Brother, could you please take out a fragrant pill from my mustard seed pouch?"
Ji Changying naturally did not refuse. He followed Qiu Tong's instructions on the hand seal, opened the mustard seed bag, and handed the incense pill to her.
"Is this a tonic?" he asked casually.
Qiu Tong hid the incense pills on her person and continued eating cakes to fill her stomach: "No, these are incense pills for making messages."
Ji Changying understood. While picking up the fallen debris, he asked, "With your sister?"
"I didn't have the Fragrance Pill with her, this is with Lin Fei..." Qiu Tong immediately fell silent, pretending to cough as if she was choking, trying to cover up what she had just said.
Ji Changying paused slightly, glanced at her sideways, and looked at her with a strange expression.
He certainly hadn't missed that name, but he hadn't expected that Lin Feiran would have dealings with Qiu Tong.
It seems she really no longer cares about Wei Changzai.
He squatted for a moment, lowered his eyes and smiled lightly. Even if Wei Changzai was not there, there was still another person in front of him. Why was he so happy?
"Were you trying to talk about Lin Feiran just now?"
He could have pretended not to have heard, but he wasn't going to.
If Qiu Tong were to ask for help, given Lin Feiran's personality, he might actually come, but that would be tantamount to walking into a trap. He would need to explain the pros and cons to Qiu Tong.
He bluntly stated, "My junior sister and I have a very close relationship, and I won't tell anyone else about this, so you don't need to worry."
If you wish to ask her for help, I will not stop you. However, she is currently embroiled in numerous troubles and imprisoned, so she may not have the time or resources to help you. It would be more appropriate for her to send a message to your sister.
Hearing that he was so considerate of Lin Feiran, Qiu Tong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her head and said, "I know she is currently in a lot of trouble and I won't let her come. Besides, she is injured and needs to rest properly."
Ji Changying paused, a few strands of hair swaying gently on her cheek.
He recalled the day Lin Feiran burned down the main hall of the esoteric sect and rode away on a dragon. The scene was so grand, with many forces pursuing him. Although he was not captured afterward, he must have been extremely exhausted.
He knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't help himself and looked up at her: "Are you badly injured?"
Qiu Tong realized she had spoken out of turn and shouldn't have mentioned Lin Feiran's injury. She chuckled awkwardly and said, "It's just a minor injury. Besides, the Demon Lord was there too, so she's already healed."
For some reason, Ji Changying was someone you could trust for no reason, someone you wanted to tell all your troubles to. To avoid saying anything more, Qiu Tong laughed twice and then ate the cakes one bite after another, saying nothing more than how delicious they were.
Ji Changying lowered her eyelashes slightly, her fingertips fiddling with the crumbs in the plate. Apart from the slight curve of her lips, her expression remained hidden.
"Really? It's good that she's alright."
...
As the rain fell in the city, Lin Feiran stood up straight, sheathed his sword, and scrutinized the cultivator before him.
He wore a jade-colored blue robe, with a few strands of black hair crookedly pinned to the right. His forehead, under his eyes, bridge of his nose, and the side of his lips were covered with cinnabar runes, but they still couldn't hide his handsome face. He was like a clear lake after the rain, not extremely beautiful, but with a unique freshness.
His gaze toward Lin Feiran was curious and direct; he even took two steps forward before looking at Ru Xian.
"Is this the person you were talking about, Lin Feiran?"
Ru Xian stood behind with his arms crossed, his eyebrows slightly raised. He was much more composed than Lin Feiran, and nodded, saying, "Who else could it be besides her?"
Lin Feiran was always polite. After confirming the person's identity, she raised her hand and said, "Junior Lin Feiran greets Senior Guyu."
Gu Yu's temperament was much more relaxed and approachable than Ru Xian's. His eyes lit up and he couldn't help but laugh: "Oh? You call me senior, so you call Ru Xian that too?"
Lin Feiran hadn't thought of that. She quickly glanced at Ru Xian and said, "This is a matter for each party to address separately."
Gu Yu was overjoyed, and Ru Xian couldn't help but chuckle. However, he still stepped forward and stood between the two of them. With a slight movement of his fingertips, the runes on Gu Yu's face flashed with a faint light, and he suddenly shut his mouth.
He said in a cold voice, "Such an amusing person, you think you can joke about him? Don't I often come to your Luoyu City to host banquets?"
After Gu Yu nodded repeatedly, the veil on his mouth was lifted. He stopped making jokes and instead looked at Ru Xian with a more curious gaze. He couldn't help but sigh that this person's appearance when she fell in love was different from others.
"If you want to come, how dare I do as I please? Come with me."
He turned around and spread his wide sleeves, and a water bridge was erected in mid-air. At the end of the bridge was a crystal-clear city, as if carved from crystal, radiating rainbow light everywhere, and extremely beautiful.
As the three stepped onto the bridge, servants formed from clear spring water appeared. They had no facial features, and water droplets rolled off their bodies. They waved their water sleeves and led the way, guiding them into the main hall.
The palace is surrounded by a pool, with carved beams and painted rafters. Although it is not as crystal clear as it appears from the outside, it is still very bright. All kinds of decorations are luxurious but not simple. Whether it is a table, cabinet, or light gauze carpet, the materials used are no less than those of a snow-covered pavilion.
"How is it?" Gu Yu said with a smile. "These are fine items I collected from various places. They're no worse than yours, are they?"
Ru Xian was somewhat satisfied: "The taste has improved a lot, it's acceptable."
Lin Feiran looked around, secretly surprised: This is only passable?
The two are truly good friends.
Stepping into such a warm and fragrant place, the sense of urgency of being chased decreased dramatically, and Lin Feiran even had the illusion of being out for leisure and relaxation.
She couldn't help but get distracted. If she were to travel the human world with Ru Xian in the future, and he was accompanying her, there was no way she would lack food, clothing, shelter, or transportation, and there was no reason for him to pay for it. Should she start saving money?
How much should I save...?
Lin Feiran, who had just turned nineteen, suddenly felt a heavy responsibility.
The three sat down. While Ru Xian and Gu Yu were catching up, she was rapidly calculating on the side. She was excellent at mathematics and thought things through. Mental calculation was not difficult for her. However, as the numbers she came up with became larger and larger, she lost her focus for the first time during the conversation and was somewhat stunned.
"...Miss Lin, Miss Lin?"
Lin Feiran then came to her senses and looked over. Seeing Gu Yu's concerned gaze, she subconsciously glanced at Ru Xian, who was looking at her thoughtfully. She couldn't help but blush slightly and said shyly.
"I'm sorry, senior, I was a little distracted just now and didn't hear what you said clearly."
Gu Yu smiled nonchalantly, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I heard Ru Xian mention before that Miss Lin loves to eat fine food, so I rushed to make this overnight. Please try it and don't be shy, enjoy it to your heart's content!"
A servant named Qingquan stepped forward and placed plates of pastries on the table. The pastries on the plates were rich in color and had a clear aroma; just by looking at them, one could tell that they tasted excellent.
Lin Feiran naturally did not refuse. After thanking them repeatedly, she immediately took out three pieces and took a bite under the gazes of the two men.
It has no taste.
It's not that it's completely tasteless, but it's as bland as water.
Unconvinced, she ate all three pieces before finally convincing herself that the cakes were probably just water.
"How is it?" Gu Yu asked expectantly.
Seeing the other party's enthusiasm and sincerity, Lin Feiran didn't want to be too direct. She licked her lips and nodded, saying, "It's refreshing and moisturizing, with a sweet aftertaste."
After all, that's just how water is.
Ru Xian knew her very well and couldn't help but smile. Gu Yu felt much more at ease and sighed.
"As long as it tastes good. Neither Ru Xian nor I have a sense of taste, so we can't tell if it tastes good or bad. As long as it looks pretty, we can eat anything. But you're different. You can't make something that's hard to swallow."
If you like, these are all yours!
He enthusiastically pushed all the porcelain plates in front of Lin Feiran.
"Okay, thank you, senior."
Lin Feiran didn't feel embarrassed. Although it didn't taste very good, it was indeed a pastry. Since the person made it with sincerity, why should she refuse?
As she ate her cakes and was about to speak, Ru Xian spoke first: "This time I came to find you not only to visit you, but also to ask you to find a place."
Gu Yu understood: "You sent me a message before you came. This place, 'the ends of the earth,' is not a real place, so I cannot divine it out of thin air. Miss Lin is closely related to this place, so we need your help."
Lin Feiran immediately replied, "Of course, I'll do whatever you ask me to do, Senior."
Gu Yu smiled and said, "You don't need to do anything difficult. Just write a word on my palm, and I can use it to divine the future."
Lin Feiran asked, "Which word?"
"Anything is fine, as long as it's the first word that comes to mind right now."
Lin Feiran paused, and a word did indeed appear in her mind, but it was a word that had nothing to do with her current situation. She was a little helpless. After glancing at Ru Xian, she subtly drew the strokes on his palm.
Gu Yu's fingertips twitched slightly, and after realizing what the character was, she couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, I'll divine for you then."
He withdrew his hand, clasped his hands together in front of him, and suddenly the sky outside the hall was shrouded in clouds and mist, and the surroundings darkened instantly. Clusters of pale white flames appeared above his ten fingers, and the runes on his face and body shimmered with a faint light. Then he closed his eyes.
His eyelids were also decorated with vermilion runes, and as the lines swirled and intertwined, they resembled a pair of painted pupils.
Lin Feiran sat quietly to the side, not daring to make a sound to disturb her, while Ru Xian sat down next to her, without saying a word, just looking at her, holding her wrist with one hand and rubbing it, while the other hand moved across her palm.
What did you just write?
Her right hand was brushed by him, like a cool jade touch, moist and itchy. Lin Feiran thought of that word, her face turned slightly red. She clenched her right hand, pinched his two fingers, shook her head and remained silent, feeling quite ashamed.
Ru Xian didn't force her; he just looked at her thoughtfully, holding her hand without pulling it away.
A moment later, he made two more strokes, raised an eyebrow at her: Cake, delicious?
Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment, then nodded. After all, the cakes were just tasteless, not that they were bad.
Ru Xian looked at her with a smile, his hand still playing with her palm. He lowered his eyelashes and wrote stroke by stroke: Let's stay here for now. When I recover, we will leave Yuluo City. You alone cannot defeat the Secret Sect.
Lin Feiran looked at her palm and suddenly realized something. She looked up at him, her brows furrowed, and wrote in his palm: You said before that your body would recover after a night's rest. Is your spiritual meridian still stiff and stagnant?
After hastily finishing writing, she didn't wait for Ru Xian's reply. Instead, she lifted his sleeve, revealing several pale gray spiritual veins beneath his fair skin, beneath the embroidered golden lotus ring.
He had previously stated that this was because consuming the spiritual herb from the Northern Plains allowed the turbulent spiritual energy to condense, hence the grayish appearance of his meridians.
After three days of refining, it should be completely healed, so why is it like this?
She said softly, "It's still not better after one night, isn't it?"
Lin Feiran recalled what Qiu Tong had said earlier: she wasn't sure when Ru Xian had died suddenly, only that it was during her travels.
If we follow the timeline in the book, the fox clan's turmoil has now been resolved, and we've reached the end of the book, just in time to begin our journey through the human world...
But now, whether it's her or Qiu Tong, their endings have taken different paths. Will Ru Xian's fate be the same as in the original book?
Her mind was in turmoil, but Ru Xian pressed down on her hand. His usually proud and aloof brows relaxed, carrying a sense of composure and reassurance. He did not answer, but wrote word by word in Lin Feiran's palm.
"My constitution is special, and the effects of any medicine are unpredictable. At least after using this spiritual herb, my spiritual meridians have temporarily stabilized, and the chaos of my spiritual power has become mild, so I am no longer in danger of losing my life."
I'll try to counteract the effects of the medication in the next few days; let's stay here for now.
Don't worry, just do what you want to do. I promised I would help you.
He wrote very slowly, and the pauses in his writing were not as bold and vigorous as he usually was. Lin Feiran watched quietly, her emotions churning.
Even the initial pact with her was merely to send her into the Sacred Valley to find the Cloud Soul Rain Spirit Grass.
But now, has everything gone astray? She is doing what she wants to do; she wants to find out the truth about her mother's murder and avenge her. What about Ru Xian?
He didn't have to accompany him to Rainfall City; he could have stayed peacefully in Demon Capital.
Lin Feiran placed her fingers together in his palm, rising and falling several times, but she couldn't write a single word. Finally, she closed her eyes slightly and wrote a few words.
"So, what do you want to do?"
His eyes curved like snowflakes, his hands resting on the wooden floor, slowly pressing down to make a soft creaking sound. He moved closer to Lin Feiran, but did nothing, only gently touching his forehead to hers.
He spoke through telepathy: "Before, I wanted to live; now I want to stay with you forever. These are not contradictory. I am much older than you. If I were to make you worry about me instead, wouldn't that make me seem useless?"
Lin Feiran did not respond to that question. She remained silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought, until Gu Yu was about to finish her performance, at which point she finally spoke.
"Like a hailstone, I will become stronger, stronger than you."
She was so strong that she didn't need his extra care, nor did he need to put aside his own affairs to protect her.
He brought her to Rainfall City not just to find the location of "The Ends of the Earth." If she were capable of fighting the Secret Sect today, they wouldn't have come here to hide, and he wouldn't have needed to rush to recover.
Ru Xian straightened up to look at her and said softly, "It definitely will."
As the two looked at each other, the surroundings returned to brightness. The faint light on Gu Yu's face gradually faded, the runes returned to vermilion, and his eyes slowly closed. Then, he opened his eyes.
"I see, now I know where the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea are."
"But before that, please come with me to a place."
Ru Xian looked at him meaningfully: "I didn't expect you to be able to speak in riddles. Where are you going?"
Gu Yu stood up with a smile, led the two to the window, and pointed to the rainbow light in the distance, where a towering tree grew.
He said, “Before you came, someone asked me to act as a go-between and invite you over. Now that they have arrived, it is time for me to fulfill my promise.”
"Miss Lin, would you like to come with me?"
Author's Note: Ru Xian's identity will be revealed in this volume. [Heart emoji]
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