Chapter 91
Mountains and seas never sleep, the sun shines forever.
Sheng Ningyu lowered her eyes and wore a light pink disciple's robe with a bluebird and a leaf, without much decoration. She blended into the bustling crowd and silently stepped into the city lord's mansion with the flow of people.
The timing this time was so perfect it was almost deliberate.
To make up for the regret that Daoist Ning Jiao had not held a marriage ceremony, City Lord Qi Baiya will soon host an unprecedented grand event, inviting cultivators from all over the world to attend and witness this moment together.
What a wonderful phrase, "Inviting cultivators from all over the world to join us," it's practically as if the phrase "The City Lord's Mansion will lower the entry threshold" is written on the door.
Sheng Ningyu thought to herself, "This is blatant bait."
The news spread like wildfire, pushing the names of "Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City" and "Qi Baiya's Deep Affection" back into the spotlight. Immediately, various forces sprang into action, and cultivators flocked to the event, all eager to witness this belated celebration—whether it was a display of deep affection or a hidden undercurrent of conflict.
It will definitely be quite a lively event.
Sheng Ningyu let out a sigh of admiration, put down the letter that Qingniao Yiyehua had given her, and raised her eyebrows triumphantly at Xie Qianjing: "It seems my value hasn't diminished at all."
To get her to show herself, they first used old pottery figurines to lure her out of the inn, and now they are holding another grand event, inviting heroes from all over the world to attend.
Sheng Ningyu wouldn't believe there wasn't some cunning and scheming involved.
but……
"Ning Jiao's judgment has improved for once. So far, Qi Baiya's performance has been much more reliable than Chu Chang'an's. Although he probably had some ulterior motives, at least he knows how to protect her."
Although Qi Baiya's reason for wanting her to reappear under everyone's noses was probably to use the name of the former "Bright Moon Sword Master" to intimidate half the sect and prevent them from making any rash moves.
To withstand the overwhelming force of the Half-Body Sect and protect the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City, Qi Baiya needs the assistance of more powerful forces.
During the Thousand Mountains Trial, she saw very few people, and given her past entanglements with Ning Jiao, many people in the cultivation world had heard of them.
Whether she's after the spirit bone, the sword remains, or something else, as long as Sheng Ningyu appears, Qi Baiya has won.
It was truly a brilliant scheme.
However, so far, Qi Baiya has protected Ning Jiao very well, and has not pushed her into the limelight several times.
"I'll be back quickly this time, just to take a quick look, so you don't need to worry."
Sheng Ningyu chatted casually with Xie Qianjing while her hands kept moving. She folded the letter in her hand several times, but no matter what she did, she could never restore it to its original state of deep affection.
Just as she was getting annoyed, a hand took the letter from her.
"Is that so?"
Xie Qianjing handed another letter back to her: "Why don't you take a look at this one too?"
Upon seeing the dense ghostly aura emanating from the letter kite, Sheng Ningyu immediately sensed something was wrong. However, before she could think further, the letter kite seemed to possess a sense of self, emitting a wisp of ghostly aura and directly uttering Yan Ruchao's voice!
"Sheng Ningyu".
wrong.
Sheng Ningyu trembled the wings of the letter-and-paper kite, then looked up at Xie Qianjing with suspicion: "That's it?"
Xie Qian didn't even look up, continuing to focus on folding the letter: "Master Yan only told me to say this one sentence. He said that you wouldn't listen to anything else, so there's no need to waste any more words on you."
That was indeed the tone of her senior brother.
Xie Qianjing nodded slightly: "It's folded." He looked up at Sheng Ningyu, whose gaze was wary, and couldn't help but smile, a faint smile spreading across his face.
"Because I told my senior brother that if he really didn't say a word, I alone might not be able to control his unruly junior sister, and I would need his help."
Sheng Ningyu: "..."
She remained silent for a moment, then said to Xie Qianjing, "When did you become so close to my senior brother?"
She clearly remembered that when they first met at Gui Canglou, her senior brother had given Xie Qianjing a cold shoulder and showed her no goodwill whatsoever.
Xie Qianjing looked back innocently, "Perhaps as you look at me, Master Yan has come to find my face more pleasing to the eye."
Of course, Xie Qianjing also understood that this was impossible.
If he weren't the only one who could stay by Sheng Ningyu's side without any reservations, this aloof and eccentric host of the Gui Cang Lou Banquet wouldn't be willing to say much to him.
Seeing that Sheng Ningyu still seemed only curious about this matter, he sighed helplessly: "Jiuzhong, remember how you felt when you heard the voice of the Pavilion Master Yan just now."
Xie Qianjing opened Sheng Ningyu's hand, placed the flower-shaped letter in her palm, and said softly, "If you get injured again this time, I will take you to Gui Cang Tower and use the recording stone to record the instructions of the Pavilion Master Yan to you, and play them for you day and night."
Just imagining that scene sent a chill down Sheng Ningyu's spine.
Xie Qianjing, who was clearly all smiles, appeared terrifying in her eyes at this moment.
The more Sheng Ningyu talked, the more she felt she was right. She leaned against the bed, looking lazy and unserious.
Despite saying she was "not doing anything good," Sheng Ningyu's expression was clearly one of extreme smugness, like a cat that had successfully overturned a vase and leaped to a high place where it was impossible to catch.
Xie Qianjing's expression was gentle, his eyes full of indulgence, and he chuckled softly as he listened.
"I know."
Of course he knew.
But he also knew that everyone said, "At that time, only Rong Que could take care of her."
She said she was already extremely obedient to him, but if Rong Que were here, wouldn't she be even happier? And more willing?
Xie Qianjing looked at Sheng Ningyu but did not ask the question aloud.
These thoughts had been lingering in his mind for a long time, but Xie Qianjing could not bring himself to ask them, whether as the former Bodhi Immortal Lord or the current leader of the Demon Realm.
The young man in white lowered his eyes slightly, his fingers twitched, and a few more red threads were twirled around his fingertips.
Initially, Xie Qianjing felt it was beneath him to be considered respectable and too petty. Later, however, he decided it was unnecessary to know.
It's unnecessary to know.
Sheng Ningyu was unaware of Xie Qianjing's thoughts. She was examining the letter in her hand: "The flower you folded is so beautiful." After saying that, Sheng Ningyu looked at it again, feeling that it looked very familiar, but she didn't dare to ask.
I always felt that it was somewhat like the "Bright Moon Heart" that she had mistakenly given to Chu Chang'an in the past.
Xie Qianjing, on the other hand, was quite frank: "It's the Xie family's Bodhi Lotus, I'm used to folding them." He paused, then met Sheng Ningyu's hesitant gaze, and couldn't help but smile.
"What's there to hide? It was originally something unique to the Xie family. Now that the Xie family has been destroyed, I would be happy if you could keep it in mind."
Before he finished speaking, he had already picked up the letter flower with a smile and gently pressed it between Sheng Ningyu's eyebrows. Before Sheng Ningyu could even notice, the Bodhi lotus that the letter had transformed into had turned into a stream of light and merged into her brow.
Sheng Ningyu raised her hand and summoned a jade mirror. She touched her smooth, flat forehead in the mirror and asked in confusion, "That's it?"
Xie Qianjing turned his head slightly, his long, ink-black hair flowing like the night, making his pale skin appear even more striking. He usually hid in the shadows, but now, with his head turned, his face appeared even more obscure and difficult to discern.
But when he spoke, his voice remained calm and soothing, resounding slowly and clearly throughout the room.
What else would you like?
Xie Qianjing spoke calmly, but the end of his voice, though tinged with a smile, seemed to have a hook. His tone remained unchanged, yet in this time and place, it inexplicably evoked a bewitching allure, subtly entangling people's hearts.
Sheng Ningyu looked at him and suddenly realized that Xie Qianjing at this moment did indeed have some of the characteristics of a demonic cultivator.
His dark hair fell down, like a solidified dark river of blood winding along his pale neck. He was shrouded in shadow, his eyes lowered, with only a half-smile visible at the corner of his lips.
"It's just a mark."
His voice remained calm and gentle, unhurried and unhurried. Yet, the chill lingering between the lines evoked the image of a beautiful ghost crawling out of an ancient tomb, speaking the most terrifying words in the gentlest tone.
Wisps of demonic energy flowed silently around him, not a deliberate display of power, but a chilling aura that had naturally developed over the years from being soaked in blood.
However, Sheng Ningyu remained calm and showed no fear in the face of these challenges.
She even had the leisure to think that her senior brother didn't need to make such a secret communication, nor did he need to worry so much about her safety.
Compared to others, Xie Qianjing doted on her immensely.
Fortunately, she wasn't from the same sect as him; otherwise, if she had been raised by Xie Qianjing, she might have truly become a notorious "troublemaker" in the cultivation world.
While inexplicably contemplating another possibility in her mind, Sheng Ningyu took out a candied fruit from her Star River Pouch and popped it into her mouth, mumbling, "It's nothing, but don't you also have a sword mark between your eyebrows?"
A light tap on the head made Sheng Ningyu hiss involuntarily, and she raised her hand to cover the spot where she had been hit. A gentle voice, tinged with helplessness, fell from above.
"Don't speak nonsense."
Sheng Ningyu looked up and saw Xie Qianjing pursing his lips slightly, with a helpless expression in his eyes.
He sat down next to her. Compared to Sheng Ningyu's crooked and unruly manner, Xie Qianjing was upright and proper to the point of being conservative.
As for the ghostly and demonic energy from before, it has completely dissipated.
Sheng Ningyu couldn't help but think that those who like to gossip should really come and see this.
What talk of "righteous cultivators"? Compared to Xie Qianjing, who looks more like a demon!
Xie Qianjing, unaware that the thoughts of those around him had wandered off to other places, simply spoke gently to Sheng Ningyu, explaining the situation: "...Rumors are circulating about both spiritual bones and sword remains. Whether it's Qi Baiya and his wife, or someone else involved, since the person behind it is using every means to lure you into this scheme, I think there must be some hidden secrets in that city lord's mansion. They're leaving a mark on you so that we won't get separated."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Ningyu couldn't help but touch her brow again.
"Ninefold." Xie Qianjing patted her back, his brows furrowing slightly, his usually aloof face revealing a hint of fragile vulnerability.
He said softly, "Don't act impulsively when things happen."
Xie Qianjing knew he couldn't stop her, neither by her open words nor by her current unspoken thoughts.
Even so, even though he knew it was futile, he still had the habit of saying that one more sentence.
Sheng Ningyu couldn't stand Xie Qianjing's gaze the most, so she finally sat up straight and obediently replied, "Don't worry, don't worry, this time... I only want to find some memories. If I really see the spirit bone, I will never act rashly. I will definitely call you to come with me."
Xie Qianjing raised an eyebrow, a slight chuckle escaped his throat, but he shook his head noncommittally.
...
Compared to the urgency of the last Thousand Mountains Trial, this time, Sheng Ningyu had more time to appreciate the mansion.
Although it's called a "mansion," it's not much different from a sect or martial arts school.
Just as its name "Mountain and Sea City That Never Sleeps" suggests, the city lord's mansion, as its central residence, boasts expansive and ever-changing scenery, seemingly boundless. Upon entering through the main gate, golden waterfalls cascade down on both sides, shimmering and dazzling.
At the very center, there is an even more peculiar sight.
A long staircase came into view. This staircase was three miles wide, and its length was immeasurable, disappearing straight into the depths of the clouds. Looking up, one could only see the gleaming stones of the staircase rising straight up to the clouds, as if stepping over this staircase would lead to the heavens.
Sheng Ningyu mingled in the procession of Qingniao Yiyehua, listening to the guests on both sides constantly praising her.
"These steps... these steps, stepping on them, seem to have a calming and vision-clearing effect!"
Compared to the guest's bewildered surprise, another round-faced guest was much more knowledgeable: "Haha, this is probably modeled after the 'Three Thousand Steps' of the Sword Pavilion, right? Lord Qi really puts a lot of thought into his wife!"
Before the other person could reply, another exclamation came from nearby: "Oh no! What's that on my face?"
"Snow?! Why is it suddenly snowing?!"
"It's the 'Four Seasons Scenery' of Qingyi Academy!"
An exclamation arose from the crowd: "Lord Qi, what a grand gesture! You have managed to recreate such a profound formation all by yourself!"
"It seems the City Lord's old ailment has healed? Wasn't he still... during the Thousand Mountains Trial?"
"He really is Lord Qi!"
"He truly went to great lengths to make his wife smile!"
Amidst the clamor of discussion, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer flickered across Sheng Ningyu's lips.
Although this "Four Seasons Scenery" is not as profound as the original array of the academy that can generate the birth and death of all things, it can divide the four seasons so clearly that it is enough to make most people present feel wary.
The wind and snow surged before that invisible boundary, yet could not cross it even half a step, as if the entire world was obediently submitting in the palm of the one who set up the formation.
Deeply in love?
She certainly didn't deny that Qi Baiya might indeed have some genuine feelings, but his actions at this moment were probably more of a warning shot.
What exactly is Qi Baiya up to?
As Sheng Ningyu pondered this in her heart, she took a step back.
Just then, someone brushed past her and whispered, "Your Excellency, it's not too late to leave now."
Sheng Ningyu's heart stirred, but she looked over without showing any emotion.
Beside him, an ordinary woman had appeared without his noticing.
She was dressed in a simple brown dress, with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair. She looked ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the flowing fabric of her dress was faintly embroidered with patterns of mountains and rivers.
From afar, they resemble green mountains shrouded in mist; up close, they appear like ink marks on water. As you move, the continuous landscape of mountains and rivers appears and disappears among the folds of your clothes, forming a world of its own.
Half of the Yan Sect Master.
Yes, it was her older sister, Ah Yan.
Sheng Ningyu silently transmitted her voice: "Are you alright?"
On that day, the bluebird and the flower brushed past each other, and she had already given away the herbs.
Sect Leader Yan seemed to sigh: "I'm fine."
Sheng Ningyu nodded slightly and said no more. As she took a step, she heard another voice enter her ears.
"The situation here is complex and volatile. Are you truly determined to stay?"
Given Sect Master Yan's current status, this statement is indeed a bit much.
But she always kept it in her heart.
Perhaps it was because of this familiar place, or perhaps it was because Sheng Ningyu kept the words she had forgotten and sent the Meng Po light, but Xiang Bieyun still couldn't hold back.
Sheng Ningyu's expression remained unchanged: "An old friend is here."
The Yan Sect Leader transmitted his voice from afar: "Therefore, we should not keep him here."
I don't know what this "故" means.
But sensing the deep concern hidden in those few words, Sheng Ningyu silently curved her lips into a smile.
She stood on the steps, slowed her pace for a moment, and looked up at the sky.
Spiritual energy flows, and the mountains and seas never sleep.
Perhaps because of the addition of the "Four Seasons Scenery" layer, the higher she went, the more subtle the disharmony became.
Because her identity could not be revealed, Xiang Bieyun could only see the figure getting further and further away, and only a light, fleeting word fell into her ear.
"Clean house."
She has unfinished business.
The Yan Sect Master sighed silently.
The last thing she wanted to see in this place was Sheng Ningyu.
...
Even before the ceremony began, the scene was already dazzling with lights and colors.
These three thousand steps were not as mysterious as the Sword Pavilion. Sheng Ningyu took a few steps and arrived at the place.
Golden curtains on the left and right sides hung down from the dome, moving without wind, rippling with layers of soft light, making the eternal sunlight even more dreamlike.
The air was filled with the aroma of wine, and the white stone pavement shimmered with the faint glow of runes, all of which highlighted the grandeur of the city lord's mansion.
That's a really big deal.
Sheng Ningyu stood meekly in the line of disciples of Qingniao Yiyehua, her gaze subtly sweeping across the entire scene.
Unexpectedly, she saw the Chu family's group, led by Feng Qingxing, who still had the same taciturn and aloof demeanor, while the Chu family youth beside him... was Chu Le.
Sheng Ningyu was slightly taken aback.
The boy before me was completely different from the arrogant, domineering, and naive Chu family scion I remembered.
The frivolous arrogance of the past faded from his brow, replaced by a quiet desolation. Like clouds floating in the sky, he finally condensed into rain, each drop falling heavily to the ground, soaking into the warmth and coldness of human life.
Sometimes, maturity is not the accumulation of years, but a sudden, heavy blow that shatters all past innocence and forces one to grow up overnight.
Those arrogant and naive eyes now seemed veiled in a thin mist, occasionally revealing a quietness beyond their years.
The Chu family is now in dire straits, with the previous patriarch dead and past patriarchs having framed other clans and plotted treacherous acts.
And all of this is inseparable from her.
She killed his beloved uncle, and there was a reason for it; and Chu Le's intense hatred for her was also for a reason.
Sheng Ningyu closed her eyes.
However, as the years passed, she had seen many such things before, and in the blink of an eye, she put the matter aside and began to observe the people on the field.
This is a rare and grand occasion.
Aside from the unexpected incident involving the Chu family, there were other people nearby who were also attracting attention. However, they only dared to secretly observe and were afraid to show their displeasure, lest they anger the other party.
"They are from the Phoenix Clan of Moon Chasing City." The other sect members whispered to their disciples, "Do not provoke them!"
Of course, apart from a few academy disciples who dared to nod to Feng Jiutian behind Feng Pianpian, the rest of the people did not dare to make any rash moves.
Therefore, the Phoenix Clan, led by Feng Pianpian, occupied a corner by themselves. They did not communicate with others and sat down alone after handing over their gifts to the steward.
Why are there phoenixes here?
Sheng Ningyu frowned. What was Feng Xiaohong up to behind her back?
Just then, suddenly, celestial music soared high.
The ceremony began.
Suddenly, the grand central staircase began to rotate, and in an instant, the sky seemed to turn upside down, with brilliant sunlight cascading down like a waterfall, scattering around the guests.
Someone curiously reached out and touched it, then shuddered and widened their eyes: "It's hot!"
It was as if the sunlight had truly been plucked from the sky!
Everyone was amazed. Just then, countless spiritual plant seeds sprouted from the soil at the edge of the curtain, blooming, withering, and being reborn again, completing the cycle of a hundred flowers in an instant.
The stewards congratulated each other, saying, "All things cycle and begin anew; congratulations to the city lord and his wife on the enduring love between them."
Stepping through the brocade-like blossoms, it was none other than Qi Baiya and his wife.
A huge mirage of mountains and seas appeared in the sky, with towering peaks, soaring roc, and cranes calling out amidst the swirling clouds and mist, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd and gradually pushing the atmosphere to its climax.
Just as everything was in full swing and cheers were deafening, a giant water mirror slowly unfolded in the air as light shimmered across the scene.
Floating on this mirror-like surface were lifelike humanoid puppets. Their skin was smooth and lustrous, their clothes fluttered, their eyebrows and eyes were lively, and even the strands of their hair swayed slightly in the flowing light. Their appearance and mannerisms were exactly the same as those of a human!
Such exquisite puppetry skills drew nods of admiration from many guests.
"Such craftsmanship must have taken a lot of effort from Lord Qi..."
"As expected of the city that never sleeps amidst mountains and sea! Seeing such a beautiful scene is an unforgettable experience!"
A sudden change has occurred!
In the blink of an eye, all the puppets turned into crude and crooked clay figurines!
At the same time, the ethereal music that had been playing suddenly became distorted, emitting a jarring noise. The face of the clay "hero" abruptly twisted, and he roughly pushed away the "beauty" who had snuggled up to him, turning to face another clay figure, this one with a noble appearance and an innocent smile.
The abandoned "beauty" clay figurine, clutching a small clay figurine, trembled helplessly on the stage before being swallowed by the shadows.
This is clearly a drama of abandoning one's wife and children!
In an instant, the entire room erupted in uproar.
A female cultivator covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise, "This... how... how did the story suddenly change?"
The elderly man sitting next to me paused mid-air, stroking his beard, and whispered a reprimand: "Don't say another word!"
On the high platform, Qi Baiya, who was raising his glass in a banquet, froze with a smile.
He could roughly guess who had tampered with the equipment, but in his mind, even if someone from the Half-Side Sect could break through the city lord's mansion's multiple layers of protection and sneak into the arena, it shouldn't be at this time.
Even so, Qi Baiya did not look down at the audience immediately, but instead looked at his wife beside him.
Ning Jiao remained nestled against him, her intimate posture unchanged, and even maintained that innocent, naive smile on her face, as if the upheaval that could overturn the entire celebration was nothing more than a rather uninteresting magic trick to her.
"What's going on?" She pointed her slender finger at the crude and crooked clay figures in the water curtain, complaining to Qi Baiya with a hint of coquettishness. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the suddenly silent square. "How did my beautiful puppets turn into these ugly things?"
To the elderly people who knew the inside story, this was an obvious provocation!
Before he finished speaking, gasps could be heard from the audience.
The steward of the city lord's mansion, having received a signal, was about to speak up to smooth things over when a voice, neither too loud nor too soft, took over the conversation.
The voice was equally rough, much like the clay figurines in the water mirror today, and carried a hint of nonchalant mockery in its tone:
"Yes, what a beautiful puppet..."
The voice paused slightly, then turned chilling.
Sheng Ningyu sighed softly.
They've arrived.
-----------------------
Author's note: [Sunglasses] are here!
In fact, Mingyue's purpose was very, very simple. She was telling the truth, but no one could guess her deepest thoughts except for Xie Xiaohua.
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