After taking a sip of tea, Chu Qinghe isolated the group of people with a surge of true energy and said calmly, "We'll see! Anyway, according to Bai Xiaosheng, it's still early. After celebrating Dongfang's birthday today, we can travel around and make our way to the Southern Shaolin Temple."
……
Sunset.
Bright Summit.
The back mountain.
Guangmingtan (Bright Pool).
Right next to the mountain wall, the rushing water bursts out from between the rocks and cascades down the cliff, forming a waterfall.
At this moment, on the Bright Pool, Dongfang Bubai sat cross-legged on a huge rock. As he sat there, his blood-red true energy exuded a strange and beautiful aura under the setting sun.
In the dim sunlight, the elegant long dress that looked solemn during the day seemed to have gained a touch of charm.
Combined with Dongfang Bubai's stunningly beautiful face, it's impossible not to be mesmerized by the sight.
However, at this moment, as if sensing something, Dongfang Bubai frowned slightly, his eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened, and his body, dragged by the true energy, changed from sitting cross-legged to standing with his hands behind his back.
A few breaths later, under Dongfang Bubai's watchful gaze, five figures swiftly swept from the edge of the distant cliff to the Bright Pool.
When his gaze fell on the five people, a cold glint filled Dongfang Bubai's eyes. He found that he could not sense any fluctuations from these five people.
Then, as his true energy condensed, Dongfang Bubai paused slightly when his gaze fell on the folding fan held by the person in the middle of the five.
The coldness that had just gathered in Dongfang Bubai's eyes vanished completely, like ice and snow.
Instead, a hint of surprise lingered in their eyes.
As he circulated his true energy, Dongfang Bubai instantly traversed dozens of feet and appeared in front of the group.
Upon seeing Dongfang Bubai appear as if teleported there, Qu Feiyan, Xiao Zhao, and Lin Shiyin all greeted her as "Sister Dongfang."
The jellyfish Yin Ji, standing to the side, also smiled and said, "Elder sister."
"Um?"
When they heard the way Jellyfish Yin Ji addressed Dongfang Bubai, Qu Feiyan and the other two women couldn't help but glance at Jellyfish Yin Ji with slight surprise.
Dongfang Bubai, however, paid no attention to the three women's astonishment.
Jellyfish Yin Ji also looked at Dongfang Bubai without blushing or skipping a beat.
When his gaze fell on Chu Qinghe, Dongfang Bubai asked slowly, "Why did you suddenly come here?"
In response to Dongfang Bubai's question, Chu Qinghe chuckled and said, "I've come to celebrate your birthday."
As he spoke, Chu Qinghe casually put the offspring and mother worms of the Devouring Essence Glass Gu, which had just crawled back into his hand, into his system backpack, and then took off his disguise mask.
Upon seeing this, the other women also removed their masks, revealing their true faces.
Upon hearing Chu Qinghe's words, Dongfang Bubai couldn't help but pause slightly in surprise.
But after regaining his senses and understanding why Chu Qinghe and the others had suddenly arrived, Dongfang Bubai felt a slight jolt in his heart.
Consequently, when Dongfang Bubai looked at Chu Qinghe, his gaze softened considerably.
A moment later, after the group arrived at the pavilion built on the open ground beside the Bright Pool, Dongfang Bubai said in a low voice, "It's just a birthday celebration, why make a special trip?"
Chu Qinghe said, "It's fine if it's just a side trip."
"By the way?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Dongfang Bubai's eyes: "Did you have other business to attend to this trip?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qinghe did not hide anything and recounted the recent events to Dongfang Bubai in detail.
When Dongfang Bubai understood the Azure Dragon Society's next plan and the timing of their attack on the Southern Shaolin Temple, his expression changed slightly.
They were clearly taken aback by the scheme orchestrated by the Azure Dragon Society.
"This Azure Dragon Society has quite the appetite."
However, after digesting what Chu Qinghe had said, Dongfang Bubai seemed to have thought of something, and a look of understanding appeared on his face.
"No wonder things have gone unexpectedly smoothly during this period."
As he spoke, Dongfang Bubai said, "Previously, many forces around the Ming Cult had joined the Eastern Depot and Zhu Wushi. Even after they learned that the Ming Cult had merged into the Sun Moon Cult, they refused to pay the taxes they owed. However, recently, those forces that had pledged allegiance to Zhu Wushi suddenly paid their taxes."
"I thought it was because you treated Zhu Wushi that Zhu Wushi took the initiative to give the order. Now it seems that it was Bai Xiaosheng who was plotting behind the scenes."
Upon learning about Dongfang Bubai's situation, Chu Qinghe let out a soft exclamation and then asked, "You previously said that most of the forces around the Ming Cult have pledged allegiance to Zhu Wushi and the Eastern Depot, and that Zhu Wushi's forces have paid their taxes. What about the people from the Eastern Depot?"
Although he didn't know why Chu Qinghe would suddenly ask this question, Dongfang Bubai still answered truthfully: "After the forces under Zhu Wushi paid their taxes, the forces that had sided with the Eastern Depot also paid their taxes."
"Moreover, in the middle of last month, some first-rate forces that were originally quite powerful actually took the initiative to express their willingness to befriend my Sun Moon Divine Sect."
"Um?"
Upon hearing Dongfang Bubai's words, Chu Qinghe keenly sensed that something was amiss.
"A top-tier power is actually taking the initiative to befriend you?"
As he muttered to himself, Chu Qinghe's mind raced.
Seeing Chu Qinghe's pensive expression, Dongfang Bubai, Shuimu Yinji, and the other women did not disturb him, quietly waiting for Chu Qinghe to ponder.
Immediately afterward, after Chu Qinghe asked Dongfang Bubai a few more questions, Chu Qinghe suddenly chuckled.
"Ha! This Bai Xiaosheng is quite shrewd, he's got such a clever plan, he actually got a favor for free."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com