Chapter 92 An Old Friend's Gift to You
The door slammed shut, and Xuanzhen's eyes widened in confusion. "What's wrong?" she asked.
His furtive behavior stemmed from his recent association with human cultivators, which made him somewhat guilty. However, upon seeing the joy on Ru Xian's face, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and failed to notice anything amiss.
“I feel like Your Excellency is going to eat…” Before Bi Qing could finish speaking, Xun Feifei, who could no longer bear it, covered her mouth.
He looked at the two of them, and after a moment of silence, he spoke: "It's been a long time since I've seen the Lord smile like this."
Bi Qing paused. She had only been paying attention to the two people's actions and had overlooked the Lord's expression. Who would laugh in front of someone while eating them? He wasn't crazy.
She swallowed the candy and calmed down considerably.
Even if demons have the instinct to hunt, they wouldn't actually eat people; she's really confused.
Biqing was kind and warm-hearted, but not incapable of love. However, she never associated those two words with Ruxian, as it was too absurd. Therefore, she subconsciously thought of something inappropriate.
Seeing that she had come to her senses, Xun Feifei let go.
Xuanzhen recalled the scene just now and suddenly felt nostalgic: "Back when I first became an envoy, the Lord touched my head too."
What an honor for a little dog!
Xun Feifei: "..."
He couldn't listen anymore, so he raised his hand to take off the silver mask, pushed the two people apart, and was about to push the door open when Lin Feiran opened the door from the inside.
She looked at the group, puzzled, and asked, "Why did you suddenly close the door?"
Before Biqing could speak, Xun Feifei interjected, "She wanted to test if the inn's door was sturdy."
After saying this, he walked into the house amidst the same puzzled looks on the three people's faces, and then bowed to Ru Xian.
It was already dark when he arrived. Although it was not yet the second day, he had a feeling that there were some things that should be said soon: “Lord, now all the cultivators who participated in the Flying Flower Gathering or were detained in the viewing platform have come out, but there are still a few people left in that secret realm.”
Ru Xian showed no displeasure at being disturbed. He gestured for Lin Feiran to close the door, then formed a hand seal and looked at Xun Feifei.
"Who hasn't come out yet?"
Xun Feifei said calmly, "The leaders of various sects and the heads of aristocratic families."
After saying this, at Ru Xian's prompting, he recounted the entire story of the viewing platform from beginning to end, down to the smallest detail. Lin Feiran listened attentively, and Bi Qing and Xuan Zhen were also quite engrossed.
While they were inside the viewing platform, their attention was completely drawn to the magical battle reflected in the mirror, so they did not notice the undercurrents around them.
Lin Feiran listened carefully, his gaze narrowing slightly: "You mean, later only one Holy Spirit remained in the observation platform, and he even fell into a deep sleep, ignoring everything, and many people escaped through the cracks, but those in charge or the head of the family never noticed? That's impossible."
Perhaps they turned a blind eye and tacitly approved of it?
Xun Feifei shook her head, poured herself a cup of warm tea and drank it. Her pale lips finally regained some color, but only for a moment.
"It doesn't look like tacit approval."
Previously, many important figures would observe the battle reflected in the mirror or offer a few words, but since the Holy Spirit fell asleep, such voices and glances have gradually faded; they simply watch.
Xuanzhen guessed, "Could it be that they think Feihua is boring, or they don't want to meddle and are too lazy to talk about it?"
Lin Feiran accepted the tea, thanked him, and then asked, "Could it be that they are also being suppressed by the Holy Spirit?"
“It’s not suppression.” Ru Xian finally spoke, looking at the candlelight on the table, his lips parted slightly, “Their consciousness has been pulled into the dream. If I’m not mistaken, the only Holy Spirit left behind should be the Ancestor of Healing.”
He also practices medicine, so he naturally understands it very well.
The path of medicine differs from other cultivation methods, emphasizing the harmony of Yin and Yang and the coexistence of the Five Elements. Therefore, the ancestor of medicine once created a healing technique called Zhuangzi's Dream of the Butterfly.
This technique pulls a person into a dream, where the person becomes a butterfly, and the butterfly transforms into a person.
This was originally a good remedy to use the power of harmony to pull someone into a dream, and then repair their altar or cure insanity. Later, because this technique could control people's consciousness, the Patriarch of Medicine realized the great harm it caused and destroyed it, never to be passed on again.
Xun Feifei nodded: "Yes, I grew up in the human realm and have seen the portrait of the Ancestor of Medicine. It is indeed him."
Bi Qing was puzzled: "Why do this? If the Holy Spirits don't want important figures to interfere with the Flying Flower Society, they could just prevent them from entering the city in the first place. Why go through all this trouble? Unless..."
"Unless, these sect leaders and family heads are also one of the purposes of this Flying Flower Gathering." Lin Feiran couldn't help but ponder.
Whether this Flying Flowers Festival would be a trap, a lucky break, or a win-win situation, she couldn't decide for a moment.
What exactly do saints want to do?
Her master has not returned yet. Will she be able to glean any clues from him once he returns?
She had a premonition that if she could ask the question, most of her confusion would be resolved.
Lin Feiran suddenly remembered something, so he looked at Xun Feifei and Bi Qing: "By the way, I met you in the secret realm earlier. You had just come out of the observation platform and said that you heard the Holy Spirit speak, saying that there are parasites among great figures? Could this be related to that?"
Her question stirred up memories for the two of them. Xun Feifei nodded: "That's true. The situation was chaotic at the time, and I almost forgot."
Bi Qing sighed: "That's not surprising. I've heard the elders say that human cultivators have been fighting for every inch of land for many years, and there has been frequent infighting between many sects, to the point that there is a shortage of young talents now. Perhaps the Holy Spirit Elder couldn't stand it and decided to teach them a lesson."
This was one possibility, but Lin Feiran had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
Xun Feifei said, "The number of people has been counted and everyone is fine. However, there was a conflict with the human race after leaving the secret realm today, which has now been resolved."
Ru Shan lowered her eyes and took out several bottles of pills: "Even if you are unharmed, you must be injured. This journey has not been easy, so take these. As for the three of you, I can promise you that after you return, you can ask me for one thing, and I will grant your request."
The three were slightly taken aback, but there was no surprise in their eyes. They simply smiled and agreed, as if it were commonplace.
Xuanzhen immediately exclaimed, "Thank you, Your Excellency!"
After laughing, Bi Qing suddenly remembered something and asked, "Your Majesty, what about Lin Feiran? She contributed the most on this trip, so I think she should be credited with three nominations!"
Ru Xian raised an eyebrow slightly: "She has already received her payment in advance, but we can make another promise."
He turned to look at Lin Feiran: "Think it over first, and bring it up with them later. Don't wait until it's too late."
The group chatted about city affairs until the moon rose high in the sky, when they suddenly felt tired and exhausted, and then they dispersed.
This is Lin Feiran's room. Ru Xian walked to the door, called back Han Huo, and just as she took a step out, she heard her say, "Do you want to remove the meridian-sealing silver needles from your body?"
Ru Xian turned to look at her: "Of course we need to remove it, but removing the needle is not as complicated as administering acupuncture. We can just use spiritual power to draw it out; no help is needed."
Lin Feiran nodded, then turned back to the table and began to tidy up the scattered pieces of gold paper.
He couldn't help but ask, "What are you buying all this for?"
Lin Feiran looked up and said, "After my trip to the Flying Flower Gathering, I had some thoughts, so I wanted to make a journal to record them."
Gold-flecked paper is different from ordinary paper. It is drawn with gold-patterned magic arrays, making it impervious to water and fire, and the ink marks will not smudge. Gold-flecked paper is usually used to form alliances and contracts.
Ru Xian leaned against the door frame, looked down at her, then raised her hand, threw the heavy goods into her arms, and slightly raised her chin.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Whether it's a ruler or scissors, just say the word and it will take shape."
"Woof!"
The chubby thing drew an arc in the air and landed steadily in Lin Feiran's arms. It was a little uncomfortable for some reason. She looked down and saw that the chubby thing was holding a golden plum blossom in its palm. It was about the length of a palm, with a slender branch and thin, resilient petals, slightly golden-red, like the one on the snow-capped peak that had been dyed by the bright sun.
She looked up, puzzled.
"It's not easy to find peace of mind, and it's even harder to achieve true freedom. Consider this a congratulatory gift for your breakthrough."
When the Flying Flower Festival ended and he brought Lin Feiran back, the plum blossom in her hand was completely bare, but she held it tightly and refused to let go. At that moment, he thought that perhaps Lin Feiran loved plum blossoms.
She actually received a congratulatory gift for advancing to the realm?
No matter which sect it is, it is a cause for celebration when a disciple breaks through to the Mind-Questioning Realm. It means that the disciple has truly embarked on the path of cultivation. Therefore, many sects will send a congratulatory gift on the day a disciple breaks through, such as a jade pendant or a sword manual.
It was a form of protection, a form of recognition, and a form of expectation.
It reappeared a moment later.
He leaned back slightly, revealing only half of his body. His snow-white hair hung loose in the air, and a red mark flew across his eyes, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful allure in the darkness.
"By the way, on the day the Pilgrimage Valley opens, the Human Emperor and the feudal lords from all directions will come here to worship, and perhaps that Holy Palace Lady will be there as well."
After saying this, he disappeared again.
Lin Feiran had actually seen the Holy Palace Consort several times, but each time she had her face covered by a curtain. Apart from the royal family in the palace, almost no one had seen her true face. Even the court officials who recorded things in their books only wrote the two characters "Holy Palace" and never her real name.
I had previously learned from Mingyue that my mother and she had some connection.
But are they enemies or friends?
My doubts grew, and I wanted to write to Mingyue to ask her some questions, but since the Spring City was not open yet, I could not send a message, so I could only suppress my doubts for the time being.
Lin Feiran sat down at the table, folded the shredded gold paper together, and was about to cut it into the size of a book page when the idiot very consciously transformed into a paper cutter.
She couldn't help but smile and tapped its fox head: "You won't have to do any work."
Lin Feiran has always been a thorough person. She had already bought all the necessary tools, including a paper cutter and a measuring tape. After saying those words, she started working on it.
The burly man lay on the table watching her, his emerald green eyes seemingly drawn to her, unblinking.
The person before me had gentle eyes and a serious expression. His shoulders and neck were no longer hunched over as when we first met, but stood up straight, like a slightly withered poplar tree that had finally straightened its body, unafraid of swaying.
She always purses her lips slightly when doing things, and her calm face has no smile, but it doesn't make people feel indifferent. Instead, it gives people a sense of slowness and leisure.
It moved closer to Lin Feiran's hand, rested its fox head on her arm, squinted its eyes, and watched as the pieces of gold paper were cut off one by one, and then watched as she picked up her pen and redraw the magic circle on the paper.
The movements before his eyes gradually became distorted, and the idiot fell asleep, having a dream of a beautiful woman.
...
The next day, the important figures who were left behind were still nowhere to be found, and even the four priests from before had disappeared. However, the various sects did not panic. They quickly gathered together and found the disciples who had won the Flying Flower Gathering.
All participants knew that there would only be ten plum blossoms in the end, meaning only ten people could truly win all twelve plum blossoms. The rest would be selected according to the list of names.
As Lin Feiran and his two companions walked down the street, looking at the crowds gathered everywhere, Bi Qing sighed and remarked, "Yesterday they were all lifeless, barely clinging to life, but today they're all full of energy. It's truly amazing."
Xuanzhen, with a small wooden table balanced on her head, shook her head and waved her hands: "Because we survived. As long as we survive today, tomorrow will be a new day."
Having wandered for many years, he was deeply moved.
Lin Feiran, carrying the banner, couldn't help but say, "Your insights into matters of life and death have always been unique."
Xuan Zhen put his hands on his hips and quickened his pace. He imitated Ru Shan's manner, raised his chin, and looked at the two of them: "You have good taste."
Lin Feiran smiled without saying a word, but Bi Qing burst out laughing: "You acted so well! If the Lord needs a stand-in, you'll definitely be the one!"
Of the three, one was carrying a table on his head, one was carrying a long banner, and one was holding a fox. They attracted a lot of attention just by walking by, let alone talking and laughing like that.
Some people looked at Lin Feiran and felt that she looked familiar, but couldn't remember her for a moment. Others recognized her directly, but did not make a fuss. They just followed her silently, wanting to see what she was going to do.
The three men chatted and laughed as they walked straight to the city gate. They set down a wooden table and erected a long banner, looking just like traveling fortune tellers.
Those who didn't understand gathered around, not comprehending the meaning of the inscription, while those who did understand rushed forward, their eyes bright, filled with surprise and joy: "Wenran! What brings you here!"
Lin Feiran looked up and saw that it was an acquaintance, so he nodded and said, "As you can see, I have come here to deliver the mud letter."
The person who approached was Shen Qi. He was wearing a jade-colored scholar's robe, with an old brown writing brush at his waist and two pendants hanging from his skirt. His deer-like eyes shone like stars.
He had seen the long banner and was somewhat incredulous, yet he also felt that this was something she would do.
"You're going to find spirit herbs for the people entering the city?"
Lin Feiran did not answer directly. She looked at Shen Qi and asked in return, "What brings Fellow Daoist Shen here?"
Shen Qi's expression was somewhat unnatural: "I originally came here to write mud tablets for the people here because I was concerned about their affairs and wanted to do my best. But after the Flying Flower Gathering, their expressions are not the same as before. When they see me, they are even somewhat wary and resentful..."
Bi Qing noticed the dust on the corner of his clean white robe and said knowingly, "So you were beaten out?"
Shen Qi immediately blushed with embarrassment: "This fellow Daoist truly has discerning eyes, seeing through my predicament at a glance."
Bi Qing laughed heartily, patted Chen Qi on the shoulder, and said with deep sympathy, "Don't be embarrassed. When you're in this world, how can you not get kicked? If you get kicked down, just get up."
She was extremely unruly in her childhood, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a little devil. When the clan elders got angry, they would take action against her, though they wouldn't kick her, but it was close enough.
After speaking, she walked to the alley entrance, glanced at the people lying among them, took a deep breath, put her hands on her hips, and shouted in a loud voice, "Anyone who wants the spiritual herbs from the valley can register here! Anyone who dares to kick me, I'll kick them back!"
Shen Qi stared in disbelief, then suddenly turned to Lin Feiran: "This will bring everyone here."
Lin Feiran remained calm and opened the bound booklet in his hand: "Then call them all here. This booklet can still hold them all."
She had just turned to the third page and hadn't even put pen to paper when a woman walked up to the table, looking hesitant: "Little Immortal Master, if I write it down here, will I be able to get the spirit herb?"
Just as Shen Qi was about to speak, Lin Feiran said softly, "No, I don't know the situation in the valley. We might only be able to get one or two plants."
The woman seemed surprised by her answer, paused for a moment, then lowered her head resignedly: "...Well, at least it's something to look forward to. Little Immortal, please write this down for me, I want a tasteless herb."
Lin Feiran lowered his eyes, wrote the three characters "Wuweicao" (meaning "tasteless grass") neatly on the paper, and then turned the booklet in front of the woman.
"If you've made up your mind, sign your name on this paper, and add the words 'No Regrets' after your signature." She took out a copper coin, tossed it into the air, and the coin landed on the table with a clatter, standing firmly in the center.
"Just like this coin, the outcome is either to have it or not. If you can't get it, don't hold a grudge."
The woman pondered for a long time before finally writing down her name, and then, with trembling hands, wrote "No Regrets."
After she left, Shen Qi asked, "Is this booklet meant to be used as a clay tablet?"
“No, this is my own journal, containing the records of all those I’ve helped. I’m here now not for them, but for myself.” She picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and turned to the next page.
"I wanted to help people, so this is all I wanted to do, nothing more."
Shen Qi's gaze suddenly became complicated. He looked at Lin Feiran with a hint of admonition: "Even if you write 'No Regrets,' they will still resent you if there are no spiritual herbs available."
Lin Feiran continued writing: "Then blame me. As long as I have a clear conscience about what happened here, that's enough."
I have a clear conscience.
The teachings of sages are always easy to recite, but difficult to put into practice.
Shen Qi looked at her, a ripple of emotion stirring within him. He seemed to be thinking of something, then turned back to look at the many dark alleys and the many people around him, and lowered his eyes.
Just then, an old woman came along. Lin Feiran spoke in the same unhurried manner, but the old woman was much more determined. However, she was illiterate, so Shen Qi immediately stepped forward, took the ink brush, and said in a hoarse voice.
“I will do it, I will write it for you.”
As the sun shone brightly and layers of clouds filled the sky, people kept coming to the table, and gradually, a long queue formed.
A group of children watched from the sidelines, and then, imitating the adults, they took turns tugging at each other's clothes and wandering around the market playing.
Midway through the commotion, the lead child tripped and was about to fall flat on his face when someone nearby caught him, saving him from serious injury.
Everyone looked up and saw a smiling older brother with a gentle voice. He had his hair casually tied in a bun, a straw hat hanging from his waist, and his voice was extremely gentle.
"Be careful, it would be bad if you bump your head."
“Okay…” The children stared in disbelief, nodding blankly.
The newcomer was none other than Ji Changying. He smiled, tapped their noses, and seemed to have a nostalgic look in his eyes.
Children are so cute.
However, the cutest child he had ever met was none other than Lin Feiran.
He moved forward silently, his eyes smiling, seemingly heading towards the group, but suddenly turned left midway and entered a dark alley.
He walked to the alley entrance, looked at the person standing under the eaves, and then patted him on the shoulder.
"Junior brother, what are you doing here? I heard that the top ten disciples are all preparing to enter Sword Mountain. Aren't you going?"
Wei Changzai did not answer.
Ji Changying was not angry. She just looked out of the alley and sighed, "Even if my junior sister changes her appearance, she still won't be mistaken for someone else."
Wei Chang then withdrew his gaze, and Qing Ling's eyes fell on the person in front of her.
"It seems that when we entered the city, my senior brother had already recognized her, but he still pretended to be innocent."
Ji Changying smiled, but didn't seem to care at all: "Oh dear, even my junior brother recognizes him, how can I, as his senior brother, fall behind?"
Wei Chang had not intended to say much, but upon hearing these words, a sudden displeasure arose in his heart, and a sharp glint appeared in his dark eyes.
"After entering the city, has Senior Brother stayed in the so-called observation platform? When the cultivators in the observation platform were released earlier, I don't think I saw Senior Brother in the crowd."
Ji Changying was somewhat puzzled: "Why would Junior Brother ask such a question? Master is also inside the observation platform. Do you think I could escape? Besides, my cultivation has already surpassed the Questioning Heart Realm. How could I participate in the Flying Flower Gathering? I'm not... Aunt Xunfang."
Wei Changzai remained calm and showed no sign of surprise: "What's wrong with her?"
Ji Changying turned to look at the group and said calmly, "When I found my disciples in the city yesterday, I unfortunately discovered that several of them had died, and I also saw my uncle's corpse. Such a swift sword strike, I wonder who did it... Perhaps you have heard about it, junior brother?"
The implication was that the suspicion was related to him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
