Chapter 31 Restraining the Dog to Light the Fire
Three days later.
Seeing that Zhang Xiaofan hadn't returned for a long time, Lu Xueqi became anxious and sought out Zeng Shushu and Lin Jingyu to discuss the matter.
"Xueqi, don't worry. Xiaofan's cultivation is so high, and he has the power of the Heavenly Book. He'll be fine," Zeng Shushu comforted her.
Lin Jingyu frowned and said dismissively, "I've been feeling uneasy these past few days. Something must have happened to Xiao Fan, otherwise why hasn't he returned after three days?"
“Me too. Ever since he left, I’ve felt very uneasy,” Lu Xueqi said with a worried expression.
Lin Jingyu sighed: "I have sent disciples to Fox Hill to gather information, but after a few days, there was no news. Later, the bodies of those disciples were dumped at the gate of Qingyun Sect. Moreover, they were bleeding from all seven orifices, their faces were ferocious, and they died extremely horribly. It can be seen that Tianli Divine Sect is much more powerful than Ghost King Sect back then."
Zeng Shushu said indignantly, "The Tianli Divine Sect has indeed become stronger and stronger in recent years. It's hard to say who helped Qin Wuyan. Not only did he not die, but he also revived the Demonic Sect. The matter of the soul loss syndrome in Heyang and Yudu a few years ago has not been investigated to this day. I suspect that he was the one who did it."
Lin Jingyu also said, "The matter of the Soul Loss Syndrome is indeed strange. However, six years ago, Qin Wuyan's apprentice was captured by that Soul Eater. I thought that the little girl's soul had been sucked away, which was a great pity. Because I have never seen anyone survive the Soul Eater. But that day, I saw that the girl was perfectly fine. The Soul Eater has really never appeared again since then. I think we should really go and ask Qin Wuyan for clarification."
Zeng Shushu said, “Ask him? Why do you still expect him to talk to you properly? You know what kind of person he is. Nine out of ten words he says are probably lies. How can you expect to get any clear answers from him? If you ask me, Jingyu, you've been practicing the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Technique for many years. Why don't you take this opportunity to try and see if you can take down Fox Ridge Mountain directly?”
Lin Jingyu shook his head and said, "No, I've only mastered two levels of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Technique. You've all seen Qin Wuyan's strength; he's not to be underestimated. Besides, I have an agreement with Qin Wuyan: if he doesn't offend me, I won't offend him. This time, Xiao Fan took the initiative to come to us. If we take this opportunity to attack Fox Ridge Mountain, we won't be in the right."
"In the right?" Zeng Shushu laughed in anger. "You want to be in the right with Qin Wuyan? Probably in your next life!"
"I have a way to make Qin Wuyan release Zhang Xiaofan obediently!"
A woman's voice came from the doorway. The three of them looked over and their faces showed surprise.
Lu Xueqi, Lin Jingyu, and Zeng Shushu all stood up from their seats, and then Yan Hong walked in with a smile.
Zeng Shushu stepped forward and asked first, "Sister-in-law! Why are you here? Didn't my cousin say you were sick and couldn't come?"
“Shushu Zeng, that’s not very kind of you to say that. I’ve recovered from my illness and I’m back again. Is that not allowed?” Yan Hong replied with displeasure.
Zeng Shushu immediately replied, "Sure, sure, actually..."
"Senior Sister Yan, you just said you had a way to save Xiao Fan?"
Before Zeng Shushu could finish speaking, Lu Xueqi interrupted him and asked anxiously.
Yan Hong said, "Of course! Thirteen years ago, I sent a disciple from the valley to lie in wait in the Tianli Divine Sect. She has been lying in wait ever since and has provided me with a lot of information."
"If that's the case, then tell me quickly." Lu Xueqi was extremely anxious.
"You only need to capture one person."
"Who?" Lu Xueqi, Lin Jingyu, and Zeng Shushu asked in unison, eagerly awaiting her reply.
Yan Hong smiled and said, "Mu Yao is Qin Wuyan's apprentice."
"Mu Yao? We don't even know who she is, how are we supposed to capture her? Besides, she's just a disciple. Qin Wuyan's master once used a Gu poison to control him, so how good can he be to his own disciple?"
Zeng Shushu felt that Yan Hong's idea was very naive.
Yan Hong glanced at him disdainfully, her tone arrogant: "You don't know, Qin Wuyan dotes on this little apprentice. According to the people I sent, Qin Wuyan is very obedient to her, teaching her all kinds of magic and poison-making methods. He has basically passed on all his knowledge to her. He even protects her every step of the way."
"Who is his disciple? Why is Qin Wuyan treating him so well?" Zeng Shushu found it unbelievable.
Lu Xueqi lowered her head and pondered for a while, then frowned slightly and said, "The disciple you mentioned, could it be the girl who appeared in our restaurant three days ago and looks like Biyao?"
Yan Hong looked slightly surprised, and after thinking for a while, she continued, "Although I wasn't there that day, I heard from those who were there that the girl should be Qin Wuyan's disciple."
Zeng Shushu suddenly slammed his hand on the table, as if struck by a sudden thought, and exclaimed, "Hey, do you guys think this girl might be Biyao? Is she her reincarnation, and Qin Wuyan found her?"
Upon hearing this, the other three were all taken aback. Lin Jingyu was the first to shake his head, saying, "No. A person's soul waits at least a hundred years in the underworld for reincarnation. Besides, didn't the master of Tianyin Temple already say that year? Biyao used the Love Curse..."
He paused, his face showing reluctance, but he still said, "She has no chance of reincarnation at all."
For three lifetimes and seven reincarnations, he will be forever condemned to Yama, the King of Hell.
This is the price one must pay for the curse of infatuation.
Even though they had been enemies, Lin Jingyu, Zeng Shushu, and Lu Xueqi still felt a surge of respect when they thought of the girl under the Zhuxian Sword.
Zeng Shushu said, "Since it can't be Biyao, how much could Qin Wuyan care about this disciple? My grandfather treated him so well back then, and he still killed my grandfather. Now, she's just a disciple, how could she threaten him?"
Yan Hong rolled her eyes at him: "Believe it or not! However, I can provide information to help you capture Mu Yao from the Tianli Divine Sect and have Qin Wuyan exchange her for Zhang Xiaofan, but I have one condition..."
Lin Jingyu was about to speak when Lu Xueqi spoke first, coldly replying, "No need! I won't go and catch her."
She knew that regardless of whether the woman was Biyao or not, if she hurt her, not only would Qin Wuyan not let it go, but Zhang Xiaofan would be the first to blame her.
Yan Hong was annoyed that she would refuse, and said, "So you're not going to save Zhang Xiaofan?"
"We definitely need to save them, but I don't agree with your method."
Lin Jingyu understood what Lu Xueqi meant. Moreover, he had witnessed how worried Qin Wuyan was about his little apprentice six years ago, and he was also well aware of the deep-seated grudge between Yan Hong, Li Xun, and Qin Wuyan. If he helped Yan Hong capture Mu Yao this time, Qin Wuyan would definitely not let it go.
He recalled Qin Wuyan's words to Li Xun six years ago: if Fenxiang Valley dared to offend Qin Wuyan again, he would make Fenxiang Valley disappear from the world.
Li Xun knew this, but Yan Hong certainly didn't. Although they were married, their relationship had always been strained. They only maintained a facade of harmony in front of outsiders to save face for their sect.
Lu Xueqi's face remained cold and frosty as she said, "I have my own plans to save Xiao Fan, so I won't trouble you, Senior Sister! Thank you for the information you provided today, Senior Sister Yan." With that, she walked out the door without looking back.
"Hey...you..."
Yan Hong watched her leave with a mixture of anxiety and anger, snorted coldly, turned back to look at Lin Jingyu and Zeng Shushu, and was about to say something when Lin Jingyu understood and replied, "Since Senior Sister has said so, there are many affairs in Qingyun Sect, and I have to go back to deal with them, so I will not keep you company any longer!" With that, she also quickly walked out of the room.
Seeing this, Zeng Shushu quickly replied, "There are many things to attend to in Yudu City, and I need to go back to deal with them. Sister-in-law, please give my regards to my brother. I'll take my leave now." With that, he fled as if he were escaping.
"You...you all...humph!!" Yan Hong stomped her feet in anger when she saw that these people were not cooperating at all and her plan had failed!
Fox Hill, Peach Blossom Garden.
"Lavender, Atractylodes lancea, Angelica dahurica, Lysimachia christinae, licorice, bay leaf, cinnamon, Eupatorium fortunei, borneol, lily of the valley, grapefruit peel, dried cinnamon, peach... I have it all! But why does it feel like something's missing?"
Mu Yao rested her chin on her hand, looking at the pile of spices on the table with a puzzled expression.
"Sigh! Aunt Bai went back to Xiaochi Town on business, otherwise she would definitely know that something is still missing." Mu Yao frowned and continued to mutter to herself, "Oh dear... what is it that's still missing? I feel like the effect isn't quite right..."
She was slumped over the table, tapping her fingers on it with a worried expression, when suddenly someone burst in. He said hurriedly, "Vice Sect Master, the Wild Hall Master has been captured by a woman. She demands that you come to see her, or she will kill him!"
"What?!" Mu Yao immediately stood up and shouted, "Who dares to be so bold as to touch my subordinates?!"
"I don't know either. That woman is highly skilled in magic. She captured the wild hall master, injured several brothers, and specifically asked the vice sect master to come see her. She also said that the sect master must not find out, otherwise she would kill the wild hall master with one sword." The man replied in a trembling voice.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yao's anger intensified, and she said angrily, "Where is it? Take me there quickly, and remember, don't tell my master yet."
"Yes, Vice Sect Master, your subordinate obeys!" After saying that, he hurriedly led Mu Yao out.
Arriving at the foot of Fox Ridge Mountain, Lu Xueqi held the Heavenly Sword, its gleaming blade pressed against Wild Dog's neck. Wild Dog saw Mu Yao and hurriedly said, "Vice Sect Master, don't worry about me! Don't fall for this man's trick!"
Mu Yao glanced at Lu Xueqi, frowned, and shouted, "Who are you? I have no grudge against you, why are you arresting my people?"
Lu Xueqi took a step closer, leading the stray dog, and said coldly, "I captured him just so I could see you!"
"See me? We're complete strangers, what do you want with me?" Mu Yao asked, puzzled.
“We met that day at Zuiyao Pavilion. I was the bride who got married that day,” Lu Xueqi said calmly.
Mu Yao stared at her for a while, recalling that day. She hadn't actually noticed what the bride looked like, but the woman seemed very familiar. She said, "Are you here to settle scores with me for ruining your wedding that day?"
"No, I came here today to ask you to help me save someone," Lu Xueqi said, her voice pleading.
Mu Yao said, "Then release the stray dogs first!"
"No, you must promise me you'll help me save him before I'll let him go!" Lu Xueqi's tone was firm and left no room for negotiation.
Mu Yao said, "Alright, then tell me, who do you want me to save?"
"Zhang Xiaofan is the one who mistook you for Biyao that day. He came to Fox Hill looking for you three days ago, didn't you see him?"
Mu Yao asked in surprise, "Zhang Xiaofan? What does he want with me? I've never seen him before."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi became even more anxious: "I'm sure he's here with you. He came to Fox Ridge Mountain not long after you left that day and hasn't gone back. Perhaps he was captured by Qin Wuyan and is being held somewhere."
Seeing her tense and anxious expression, and remembering the person named Biyao, Mu Yao's tone softened:
"Alright! I promise you, if your groom is indeed here with us, I will find a chance to save him. But on the condition that you release the wild dogs now, and tell me who this Biyao is, and what her relationship is with you and my master?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi lowered her grip on the Tianya Sword, and the wild dog immediately ran to Mu Yao's side.
Lu Xueqi walked up to Mu Yao and said gently, "I have already released him. But I can't explain the relationship between Bi Yao, Xiao Fan, and your master in a short time. If you go to save Xiao Fan, perhaps he will tell you."
Mu Yao felt she had been tricked and angrily said, "I don't believe it! You righteous people are all hypocrites! Zhang Xiaofan must have offended my master for me to capture him. Anyone who is an enemy of my master is an enemy of me. Why should I save him? Wild dog, let's go!"
Having said that, she was about to turn and leave. Since the stray dog had been rescued, there was no need for her to argue with this person anymore. But Lu Xueqi flew forward and blocked their way.
"Don't you want to know why Xiao Fan mistook you for Bi Yao that day? Do you really think he was drunk and made a mistake?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Yao's curiosity about Bi Yao rekindled, and she said, "Then tell me! If you tell me, I'll consider rescuing him."
Lu Xueqi said in a deep voice, "I only know that Biyao was once Zhang Xiaofan's benefactor, and Qin Wuyan also had feelings for Biyao. But I didn't experience the specific details myself, so I can't tell you."
Mu Yao only noticed the words "admiration" and didn't care about anything else: "What did you say? My master likes that Bi Yao?"
Lu Xueqi nodded. As a woman, she immediately grasped the key point from Mu Yao's eyes and words: this girl most likely liked Qin Wuyan.
So she continued, "Your master once liked Biyao, and she died saving Zhang Xiaofan. Therefore, Qin Wuyan hates him to the bone and is very likely to have imprisoned Xiaofan."
Her voice was pleading: "Miss Mu, I'm begging you, please let Xiao Fan go?"
Mu Yao still had doubts because Qin Wuyan had told her personally that he didn't like Bi Yao.
But what the woman in front of her said seemed to be true. After thinking for a while, she asked again, "What evidence do you have to be so sure that my master likes that Biyao?"
Lu Xueqi replied, "I heard that Qin Wuyan once proposed marriage to the Ghost King Sect. However, Miss Biyao rejected him."
It was the same old cliché again, and Mu Yao found it laughable: "I already knew about this. My master said that he didn't actually want to marry her; he just wanted to form an alliance with the Ghost King Sect!"
Lu Xueqi smiled slightly: "But do you know that your master once destroyed all his cultivation and almost lost his life in order to revive Biyao?"
Mu Yao was genuinely unaware of this, and she couldn't help but be taken aback. "Are you telling the truth? When did this happen?"
"Just twelve years ago, in order to revive Biyao, he risked his life to infiltrate Fenxiang Valley, but his cultivation was destroyed."
Twelve years ago? Mu Yao thought for a moment. She was only three years old then and didn't even know Qin Wuyan. She was half-believing and half-doubting, but then she thought that she probably wouldn't get anything out of Qin Wuyan. Perhaps if she found Zhang Xiaofan, she could learn more about Biyao.
So she said, "Alright, I promise you, I'll go check if Zhang Xiaofan is at Fox Hill. But you must leave here immediately and don't come back. If you dare to touch my subordinates again, I won't be lenient with you."
Although she was young, she had held a high position in the Shenzong sect over the years and always acted in a domineering manner. Therefore, when she spoke these words, she was also full of arrogance and haughtiness.
Looking at her like this, Lu Xueqi felt for a moment that the person in front of her was indeed Biyao.
"Thank you! As long as you saved Xiao Fan, I, Lu Xueqi, will never forget your kindness and will never make things difficult for Fox Mountain again," Lu Xueqi said with slight gratitude.
Mu Yao said impatiently, "Alright, alright, no need for these empty pleasantries. You should leave now. If my master finds out, I'll have to save another person." With that, she turned and left.
Lu Xueqi watched her departing figure, smiled slightly, and thought to herself that this person was indeed exactly like Biyao, even sharing the same sharp tongue but kind heart. No wonder Zhang Xiaofan mistook her for Biyao the moment he saw her. She sighed and left Fox Ridge Mountain.
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