Chapter 42 Yao Hua Qing Lu
Inside the main hall, the Left Protector and the four branch hall masters were all present. Below the steps, Tang Yuan, Meng Guang, and Jiang Li knelt in neat rows, all pleading for Xie Qingqiu.
Only Wild Dog and Su Zhenzhen remained standing, but they both kept their heads down, not daring to look at Qin Wuyan. These two might not have many other abilities, but they were incredibly perceptive when it came to reading people's expressions. In the current situation, as long as they stood by Mu Yao's side, protected her, and opposed anyone who harmed her, they would definitely be on the right track.
As expected, Qin Wuyan didn't even look at Yegou and Su Zhenzhen. He glanced coldly at the three kneeling people and said in a cold voice, "You have followed me for so many years, you should know very well that I can tolerate incompetent people, but I will never allow traitors to remain in the sect."
"Qingqiu, you colluded with Fenxiang Valley, which is a capital offense according to the sect rules. Even if you kill Li Xun for me, so what? If all traitors use this method to save their lives afterward, how can I convince those disciples who are loyal to the Divine Sect?"
Tang Yuan, Meng Guang, and Jiang Li exchanged glances. They had already pleaded with Qin Wuyan until his lips were sore, but he still wouldn't listen. Now, it seemed he was determined to kill Xie Qingqiu.
Xie Qingqiu lowered her head and choked out, "Qingqiu knows she cannot escape death, but please, Sect Master, let my sister stay. She is weak and unable to continue cultivating. If she leaves the Divine Sect, she will have no way to protect herself. I beg you, Sect Master, to take her in."
Qin Wuyan shook his head and sighed, "Even if I were willing to keep her, do you think she would willingly stay by the side of her enemy? Even if she were, I wouldn't trust her. But I promise, after you die, I will give her enough money to live on. As for you..."
He slowly stood up and walked down the steps, the corner of his magnificent purple robe coming into her view.
Xie Qingqiu straightened up slightly and looked up at him.
That year, when she first saw him, it was also a scene of looking up at him like this.
At that time, in order to rescue her younger sister Qingwan, she had no choice but to join the Incense Valley. It is said that the people of the Southern Frontier are simple and honest, but there are good people and bad people in every place. When she was cornered in an alley by a group of thugs, she panicked. When they saw her resist, they became excited. In the struggle, her clothes were torn to shreds, and she huddled in a corner, trembling and crying.
At the most dangerous moment, Qin Wuyan appeared. After helping her kill those people, he took off his outer robe and covered her with it: "They're all dead, you can go now."
She hugged herself tightly, trembling, and stared at him with terrified eyes.
He was incredibly handsome, and his voice was also very pleasant. Although his tone was indifferent, it carried a reassuring gentleness.
However, at this moment, he stood before her, still with that handsome face, still in that magnificent purple robe, and still with that gentle yet indifferent voice.
But he said, "I will give you a painless way to die!"
A painless way to die...
Xie Qingqiu suddenly laughed; those words were already quite cruel to her…
Qin Wuyan handed her a bottle, his expression indifferent and devoid of any emotion: "This is the Yellow Millet Dream. You've also learned the art of Gu poison from me, so you should remember its effects."
The dream of wealth and glory will plunge a person into their most desired dream before death, and after fulfilling their wish, they will transform into a pool of pus and blood.
This is what is meant by living a life of debauchery and decadence.
She didn't know whether to thank him or hate him, for he was willing to let her fulfill her wish in her dream before she died.
She smiled slightly and slowly reached out to take it, but before her fingers could touch it, a white light flashed, and the bottle containing the poison was knocked to the ground and shattered with a "crack".
Two figures burst into the hall. Xie Qingwan knelt before Qin Wuyan, tears streaming down her face: "Sect Master, my sister was coerced by Yan Hong entirely because of me. She didn't intend to betray you! If you must kill someone, kill me. I'm willing to die in my sister's place!"
"Wan'er!" Xie Qingqiu scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting here? Get out of here now!"
"Sister!" Xie Qingwan cried even harder, "It's all because of me, I've dragged you down with me."
Mu Yao glanced at Xie Qingqiu, sighed, and finally said to Qin Wuyan, "Wuyan, I've heard about what happened. Please spare her life."
Qin Wuyan's attitude was firm: "Yao'er, you don't need to get involved in this matter."
Putting aside the fact that Xie Qingqiu lied to him, Qin Wuyan could not forgive her for joining forces with Fenxiang Valley to try to kill Mu Yao.
If it weren't for the fact that Xie Qingqiu had followed him for many years without making a mistake, he might have even killed Xie Qingwan.
"Wu Yan!" Mu Yao stepped forward: "I know that betraying the sect is a capital offense, but Sister Qingqiu has already admitted her mistake. She also killed Li Xun and rendered meritorious service to the Divine Sect. All we need to do is expel her from the Divine Sect. Why do you have to be so ruthless?"
Qin Wuyan sighed inwardly. Her kind and soft-hearted nature was still the same. He asked in return, "She wanted to kill you, and you're still pleading for her?"
Mu Yao said, "I'm not pleading for her. I hope you will handle this according to the sect rules. Article 38 of the Divine Sect does say that those who betray the sect will die, but Article 101 also says that those who commit crimes can atone for their sins with good deeds, and their merits and demerits can offset each other. Sister Qingqiu has been helping you manage the sect's affairs for so many years. This time she made a big mistake because she was thinking of family ties and was coerced by others. Although I have resentment in my heart, I do not want her to die."
Seeing this, Meng Guang quickly chimed in, "Sect Master, I remember you told us in Liluo City that whoever kills Li Xun will become the next Right Protector. Now, Li Xun was killed by the Right Protector. We value hard work over merit, so I beg you, Sect Master, to spare Qingqiu's life!"
Qin Wuyan sneered, "Do you really think I'm a fool? Can't you see that it was you few who gave her the chance to kill Li Xun?"
Meng Guang lowered his head and still said, "Absolutely not!"
Wild Dog and Jiang Li echoed, "Sect Master, it was because we were no match for Zhang Xiaofan and the others that we missed the opportunity to kill Li Xun. We absolutely did not give up any credit."
"That's enough!"
Qin Wuyan sighed and said to Xie Qingqiu, "Qingqiu, since so many people have pleaded for you, I will spare your life for now. But I must cripple your cultivation and expel you and Qingwan from the sect. Do you have any complaints?"
Xie Qingqiu's eyes were filled with tears: "I am already extremely grateful that the sect leader is willing to spare me, and I dare not harbor any resentment."
With Xie Qingqiu's matter finally resolved, Qin Wuyan also reshuffled the leaders of the various factions within the Tianli Divine Sect. Tang Yuan remained the Left Protector, while Meng Guang was promoted to Right Protector. The Xuanwu Hall, responsible for punishments within the sect, saw the upright and honest Jiang Li transferred from the Liehuo Hall to become its leader. Su Zhenzhen remained the leader of the Baihu Hall, and Ye Gou continued to lead the Lieshan Hall. The position of leader of the Liehuo Hall would be filled by the champion of the next Heavenly Fox Assembly.
With the reshuffling of personnel within the sect, many more tasks arose, and Qin Wuyan was busy from dawn till dusk every day for almost two months. Strangely enough, Mu Yao was also much busier than before, either cultivating in the Falling Star Hall or refining incense and medicine in the Crimson Butterfly Valley, and the two of them hardly had any time together.
That day, Qin Wuyan finally had some free time, so he went directly to Peach Blossom Garden to see Mu Yao, but she wasn't there. After asking around, he learned that she was in Crimson Butterfly Valley.
Crimson Butterfly Valley is a residence specifically for the disciples of the Divine Sect to treat injuries and recuperate. Several doctors from the Divine Sect also cultivate herbs here to hone their medical skills. The place is not very large to begin with, but for the past month or so, the Vice Sect Master of the Divine Sect, who resides here, has ruthlessly occupied a courtyard specifically for making incense for himself.
As soon as Qin Wuyan entered the courtyard where Mu Yao was, he smelled a strong fragrance. He picked up several incense sticks that Mu Yao had placed on the table and examined them carefully. They were clearly the scent of Sihe incense. He was shocked and asked, "Why did you make this incense?"
Mu Yao was surprised that he would come here, and that he would come in with such a fierce look. She immediately said irritably, "What's wrong with this incense? Why are you making such a fuss?"
Qin Wuyan frowned and said, "This is Sihexiang, you can't not recognize it, can you?"
Four Grains Incense is a renowned incense. For those practicing Taoist arts, it can greatly enhance their cultivation in a short period. Long-term use can also have a calming and therapeutic effect. However, this incense has a significant drawback: it contains a large amount of musk, making it unsuitable for women to use. Prolonged use may lead to infertility.
Mu Yao blinked and laughed, "You really think this is Sihexiang?"
Qin Wuyan held the incense to his nose and smelled it again. He found that the fragrance was indeed very similar to the Four Grains Incense at first glance, but it was much fresher and more lingering. After smelling it, he couldn't help but relax his brows, and his mood improved considerably.
Mu Yao smiled and said, "How about it? Did you mistake me for someone else?"
Qin Wuyan nodded slightly, somewhat embarrassed. He was usually calm, but he easily lost his composure when it came to matters related to Mu Yao, and he couldn't help but worry about her. Now, after smelling it carefully, he confirmed that it was indeed not the Four Grains Incense.
"What kind of incense did you make?" He carefully examined it and found that it was neither as light and elegant as the incense of meditation, nor as cold and somber as the incense of tranquility. He couldn't tell what it was for a moment.
"I mixed it myself, and it doesn't have a name yet."
"You mixed this yourself?" Qin Wuyan asked in surprise. "Why did you mix this fragrance?"
He's been very busy these days. As long as he knows she's doing well, he hasn't inquired much about her life. He'd only heard that she often stayed in Red Butterfly Valley, but he never expected her to be making incense.
Mu Yao sighed and shook her head, utterly disappointed. This person was indeed so busy that he had no idea what day it was.
She frowned and asked, "You really don't know what day tomorrow is?"
tomorrow? ? ?
Qin Wuyan was stunned. Today is the sixth day of the seventh lunar month, and tomorrow is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month!
Wait, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month?!
Qixi Festival?
Qin Wuyan suddenly realized that he seemed to have made an unforgivable mistake...
You really can't blame Qin Wuyan. He has absolutely no experience with relationships, and Qixi Festival was completely foreign to him in the past.
Over the years, he had gotten used to interacting with her as her teacher and student, at most spending Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and the like with her. Qixi Festival? He never thought he would have to celebrate such a festival one day.
But he didn't remember, while Mu Yao clearly did.
However, it was only because Su Zhenzhen reminded her that Mu Yao realized that Qixi Festival was not only a festival for women to pray for skill, but also a day for most ordinary men and women to date and fall in love.
"Sigh!" Mu Yao sighed helplessly, turned around, and continued to work with the spices in her hands.
Qin Wuyan thought she was angry, so he quickly said, "Yao'er, I..." He tried to explain, but found himself unable to do so.
After all, I genuinely hadn't remembered that day.
"It's done! Here you go!" Mu Yao suddenly turned around again, holding a light purple purse in her hand. The colorful tassels swayed slightly, and a refreshing fragrance wafted from the purse, ethereal and lingering, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland, light and relaxed.
"For me?" Qin Wuyan asked in surprise.
“Yes! Even though you forgot, I remember.” She looked at him and smiled. “I originally wanted to give it to you tomorrow, but I was afraid you would be busy tomorrow. Since you just happened to see it today, I’ll give it to you now.”
Over the years, he would always give her gifts of all sizes on her birthday, such as swords, magical artifacts, hairpins, and clothes. But after thinking for a long time, she realized that Qin Wuyan had never celebrated his birthday, and she had never given him anything.
Mu Yao still remembered that when Xie Qingqiu was still in the Divine Sect, she had given Qin Wuyan a set of clothes, which he had worn several times. Well, although Qin Wuyan had asked her to make those clothes, she still felt uneasy about it. She had to give him something in return, something so that he would always carry it with him and always think of her!
She had no idea what size Qin Wuyan was, whether it was a belt or clothes. After thinking it over, she decided that a purse, an accessory that could hold things, was the most suitable. Since Qin Wuyan rarely rested when he was busy, she wanted to personally prepare a calming and invigorating incense for him.
"This is the fragrance I just blended; I've been researching it for a long time. It can refresh the mind and is good for the body. As for the name, I've already thought of it: Yao Hua Qing Lu Fragrance. I also added a few special floral scents to it..."
She enthusiastically introduced her achievements to him, but Qin Wuyan was so moved that he was somewhat lost in thought, his eyes slightly red, and suddenly he hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry, Yao'er..."
He had actually forgotten, or rather, he hadn't even considered that this day had any special meaning. But she remembered, and had thoughtfully prepared a gift for him.
"Silly boy!" Mu Yao reached out and gently tapped his forehead. "I'm not blaming you. Actually, I didn't know either. It was Sister Zhenzhen who told me."
She held the purse out to him. "Do you like it?"
Qin Wuyan nodded, "How could I not like something you gave me?" He carefully took the purse, cherished it dearly, and placed it against his heart. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "This is the first gift I have ever received, and it is also my most precious gift."
Upon hearing this, Mu Yao was quite shocked: "Has no one ever given you a gift before?"
Qin Wuyan laughed and said, "Even if I did give them, it was only to ask me for favors. How is that any different from doing business? It can't compare to what you gave me."
Hearing this, Mu Yao was even happier. But then she realized he had really forgotten about Qixi Festival, and she felt she couldn't let him off so easily.
A sly glint appeared in her bright eyes: "How do you know I didn't give you the gift to ask you for a favor?"
"Oh?" Qin Wuyan's eyes were full of tenderness as he smiled, "What is it that you went to such lengths to give me a gift in exchange?"
"Hmm..." Mu Yao thought for a moment and said, "I want to eat the osmanthus cake you made yourself."
"It's that simple?" Qin Wuyan was somewhat incredulous.
"Of course, it's not just this. There are others, but I can't think of any right now, so I'll leave them for later. Once I think of one, you have to agree to it."
"Okay, okay, I promise." Qin Wuyan smiled and kissed her cheek. Actually, even if she didn't give him a gift, he would always go along with her wishes.
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