Chapter 85
The reunion with Rong Que... to be honest, Sheng Ningyu felt it was too much of a coincidence.
After parting ways with Yan Wurong that day, Sheng Ningyu lost all interest in exploring further. She took Xie Qianjing with her, and after wandering around, they returned to the inn they had visited before.
So I decided to stay here.
Sheng Ningyu's appearance was concealed, and her clothes were very ordinary. Now, she was not only different from the rumored aloof and elegant Sword Master, but she also showed no trace of the "unconventional and flamboyant" junior disciple of the Sword Pavilion that people used to talk about.
Xie Qianjing smiled slightly and naturally took her hand. Sheng Ningyu paused, but ultimately did not pull away.
Perhaps, demons truly do not feel pain?
Seeing the two return, the waiter couldn't help but feel a little smug.
The boy, barely out of school, wore his heart on his sleeve. He greeted Sheng Ningyu and the other girl with beaming eyes, "You're back, sir? Please come in!"
The shopkeeper, who was not far away, was knowledgeable and experienced. Even though Sheng Ningyu and her companion were dressed plainly and had ordinary appearances, their demeanor always exuded a certain extraordinary quality. He secretly cursed in his heart.
What if cultivators in this ever-sleeping city of mountains and seas encounter one or two powerful figures with bad tempers?
Fearing that the arrogant waiter might cause trouble, the innkeeper quickly stepped forward and tapped the waiter on the head: "You talk too much!" After scolding him, he quickly turned back and said, "Sir, please be magnanimous and don't bother with this ignorant brat. Are you two looking for a room?"
The waiter held his head, mumbled "Master" in a wronged tone, and dared not utter another word.
It seems that for this little guy, nothing is as important as "cultivating immortality" or "sword master" as a sharp rap on the head from his shopkeeper master.
Sheng Ningyu saw through the trick at a glance. She found it amusing, but couldn't help feeling a little nostalgic. She nodded slightly to the shopkeeper and then said to the waiter who was being protected by him, "The place you recommended is really lively. My junior uncle and I wandered around for half a day and still couldn't get enough of it."
"But I'm tired now. After going around and looking around, your inn is still the most comfortable."
Her expression was sincere, and she had a smile on her face; there was no pretense whatsoever.
The waiter was slapped on the back by the shopkeeper again, and he lurched forward, meeting Sheng Ningyu's gaze.
Seeing that she was genuinely impressed, the waiter felt a little shy. He led the two upstairs and gave them a very detailed introduction, describing the layout of the restaurant and the inn connected to it. Finally, he scratched his head at the door of the room, blushing, and said, "You flatter me, sir. This morning, cough, I was a little too excited and said a bit too much."
but……
The waiter wondered to himself, "Do these two, uncle and nephew, really want to share a room?"
Even if the room is big enough and has separate rooms in the middle, it's still not good if word gets out, right?
The waiter's supposedly furtive glances, of course, did not escape Sheng Ningyu's notice, but she only found it amusing and did not care at all.
She wasn't the type to care about such things; her earlier emotional outburst was merely a way of testing Xie Qianjing's reaction.
Although he has inexplicably met Yan Wurong, someone he shouldn't have met, and has been vaguely involved in her grudges with Shanhai Never Sleeps City, he has unexpectedly gained something from Xie Qianjing's reaction.
Sheng Ningyu tossed the melons and fruits given to her by the waiter up and down, then suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke casually.
"Xie Qianjing, so you knew Sect Leader Yan before?"
Xie Qianjing focused on wiping Sheng Ningyu's wooden sword, then conjured a white line in the air to draw an array. Upon hearing this, his hands continued working: "I've heard a little about it."
Sheng Ningyu pressed further, "When?"
Xie Qian didn't even raise the camera: "I knew about her relationship with Lord Qi from the very beginning."
Is that so?
Sheng Ningyu raised her eyebrows slightly.
The orange, tossed into the air, paused for a second before suddenly striking Xie Qianjing's back with incredible speed, like a short sword being drawn from its sheath. However, Xie Qianjing didn't even raise his head; instead, he stretched out his wide sleeves, which danced in the air, stirring up a cloud of mist.
He caught the tangerine and placed it steadily on the table.
His movements were fluid and graceful, without the slightest hesitation.
Sheng Ningyu showed no sign of frustration at the failed sneak attack. She looked at Xie Qianjing with bright eyes and abruptly changed the subject: "Although I can't taste it, I just smelled it, and this orange must be extremely sour. You should try it."
It's clearly a prank, yet he can say it with such conviction.
Xie Qianjing finally raised his head, glanced at Sheng Ningyu, and smiled helplessly. He slightly shook the sword in his hand, the shimmering light shimmering in the sunlight: "Sword Master's actions are truly repaying kindness with enmity."
“How can this be repaying kindness with enmity?” Sheng Ningyu leaned back in the rocking chair, her eyes wide with a smile like a cat that had just stolen some cream. “I was just testing whether you were paying attention to what I was saying.”
Xie Qianjing lowered his head again, his expression unreadable, but his voice was soft: "The matter between Sect Master Yan and the Lord of the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City is known throughout the world. I know a little about it, so what's so suspicious about it?"
Sheng Ningyu blinked, her tone still tinged with surprise: "Logically speaking, this is indeed not something to be confused about... but you are Xie Qianjing."
Xie Qianjing said, "Why can't 'Xie Qianjing' do it?"
Sheng Ningyu paused, then leaned forward with interest, her eyes sparkling with curiosity: "What, even the little immortal Bodhi is interested in these worldly gossips?"
Xie Qianjing paused in wiping his sword.
He looked up again.
The sunlight in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City is always so bright and thick. When it shines into the room, it is like floating light and thick water, covering everything in its path with a hazy veil.
Sheng Ningyu was right there, looking at him with her eyes crinkled.
She was always restless; when she had nothing to play with, she nestled into the rocking chair behind her. Her movements caused the chair to sway, and the tassels on her head swayed with them. The warm, silvery light reflected from the hairpins intertwined with the cold, sharp light of Xie Qianjing's sword in the air, merging into a dazzling brilliance that dared not be looked at directly.
So dazzling, so captivating, just like always.
Even concealing her face was useless.
Xie Qianjing thought to herself, "She keeps smiling at others."
Whether it was Yan Wurong, who had a grudge against her sect, or the waiter she met by chance.
She was always so good at pleasing people that everyone was willing to talk to her and befriend her.
Her sword is like that, and so is her path.
Xie Qianjing sighed softly, handed the sword back, and said calmly, "Yan Wurong was not wrong about what she said today."
A seemingly random sentence caught Sheng Ningyu completely off guard. She paused for a moment before taking the sword that was floating in mid-air.
"What did you say?"
Xie Qianjing looked at Sheng Ningyu, paused for a second, and slightly raised the corners of his lips into a gentle smile. Sunlight fell on his face, outlining a layer of faint golden gauze, making him appear ethereal and otherworldly.
Although she smiled so beautifully, Xie Qianjing's words were exceptionally sharp, like a raging torrent that could drown a person in pain.
He said calmly, "Sheng Jiuzhong, I am no longer the Bodhi Immortal Lord."
In an instant, the room fell silent.
Sheng Ningyu's eyelashes trembled. She pretended not to feel the surging demonic energy around the person opposite her, lowered her head, and repeatedly traced the wooden sword formation that Xie Qianjing had just carved with her fingertips.
“I know, you are now the ruler of the Demon Realm, the famous Demon Lord.” Sheng Ningyu tried her best to maintain a relaxed demeanor. “Or do you also want me to call you ‘Your Excellency’ like those other people?”
As soon as Sheng Ningyu finished speaking, the wooden sword in her hand was suddenly grabbed.
Her words came to an abrupt end.
Sheng Ningyu stared blankly at the scene before her.
Xie Qianjing stood before her. Outside the window, the ever-shining sunlight of the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City was as dazzling as a waterfall. What should have been a warm and gentle light had transformed into a cold and surging torrent, penetrating the window frame and gathering behind Xie Qianjing's upright back like a vast expanse of puppet silk. Each strand was distinct yet intertwined, almost forming a thick barrier.
Before the barrier, Xie Qianjing's face was clearly distinguished by the sunlight and demonic energy.
From beginning to end, he remained hidden in this thick, unfathomable shadow.
There was not a trace of gentleness.
He said, "Neither of us needs to deceive ourselves anymore."
In an instant, blood mist and demonic energy surged around Xie Qianjing, and he suddenly gripped the wooden sword and brought it down on his own body.
Sheng Ningyu understood the reverse force, but there was no need for any contact; merely getting close was enough for the sword to emit a tremendous hum in an instant.
This wooden sword was carved and repaired by Xie Qianjing himself, but at this moment it is expressing a strong rejection and resistance to its former creator.
Xie Qianjing couldn't get the wooden sword any closer to him; clearly, the sword's owner was doing everything in his power to stop him.
But what's the point?
Xie Qianjing let out a short laugh. He raised his eyes, as if coaxing a naive child: "Sheng Ningyu, look."
"Just like this sword, cultivators and demons are not as simple as you think. Even though the demons and cultivators have achieved a temporary peace due to the puppet barrier, what will happen afterward?"
People with different principles cannot work together.
"Moreover, as you have also noticed, in the City of Never Sleeping, I was even unable to control the demonic energy around me." Xie Qianjing loosened his grip on the sword slightly, stood aside, and said calmly, "I know you have doubts in your heart, but I'm sorry, I cannot tell you about these past events now."
Seeing that he finally stopped trying to slash at her with the wooden sword, Sheng Ningyu breathed a sigh of relief and stretched out her slightly numb fingers, hidden under the wide sleeves of her robe.
Sheng Ningyu said, "I also have something I cannot tell you. Xie Qianjing, if you do not wish to say, I may not ask."
"Playing dumb?" Xie Qianjing smiled faintly. "That's not your style, Sheng Ningyu."
"Ninefold, the facts are as you see them."
Xie Qianjing lowered his eyes, concealing the madness surging within them. "Yan Wurong's warning to you was absolutely correct. This is often the fate of those who cultivate demonic arts: losing control of themselves and becoming mindless monsters who only know how to kill."
This is indeed a problem that lies between the two of them.
Sheng Ningyu pondered for a few seconds, racking her brains to recall the knowledge she had gained from Qingyi Academy and her senior brother. After a moment, her eyes lit up: "No! Xie Qianjing, there is another way!"
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Qianjing suddenly turned his head.
As he moved, sunlight streamed in completely, scattering in large, unrestrained patches.
It fell on the ground swept by her robes, on the wooden bracelet that fell on her sleeve, on the rocking chair she leaned against, on the strands of hair that fell over her shoulders, on the corners of her eyes that curved upwards, and on the tips of her eyebrows that were raised.
The sunlight fell on every part of her body, and also into his eyes.
It was as if with just a slight arch of her eyebrows or a lean of her body, she could instantly bring spring to the world and make it shine day and night.
Xie Qianjing curled his lips into a smile, revealing an expression that could not be mistaken for a genuine smile.
He said softly, "It's difficult."
Sheng Ningyu was stunned, almost thinking she had misheard: "What did you say?"
Xie Qianjing chuckled, raised his hand to his brow, which made the demonic energy around him lessen slightly, and then suddenly leaned forward.
Sheng Ningyu leaned back instinctively, her left armrest supported by Xie Qianjing. He leaned down, and in an instant, their breaths mingled, melting together like dissolving ice and snow.
Xie Qianjing seemed to be gazing at her, but his gaze was somewhat empty. He seemed to be trying to see something through the sunlight, and after a while, he raised his hand again, and through the non-existent barrier, he vaguely outlined her face along the halo of light.
“Sheng Ningyu, I’ve tried many times.”
Before Sheng Ningyu could react, Xie Qianjing spoke softly in her ear, each word sounding like a complaint or a sigh.
"Slaying inner demons is too difficult."
What should have been a very serious statement sounded almost like a childish pout when he said it like that.
Sheng Ningyu was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing what was going on.
What kind of monster is Xie Qianjing's inner demon that even made him say "difficult"?
Sheng Ningyu racked her brains but couldn't come to a conclusion. She already knew that Xie Qianjing had a knot in his heart and didn't want to touch it again. As she thought about it, her gaze was drawn to Xie Qianjing again.
He picked up the tangerine that Sheng Ningyu had thrown at him and tossed it up and down like she did.
As Sheng Ningyu watched, she suddenly burst out laughing.
"I was wrong just now."
Sheng Ningyu gripped the hilt of the wooden sword in her hand, her eyebrows curving upwards. "Both of us have experienced great calamities and survived by sheer luck, so naturally there is nothing we cannot do."
Even the Demon Lord can toss oranges up and down for fun, so what's so strange about a young immortal lord listening to tales of the mortal world?
Xie Qianjing remained standing there, the interplay of light and shadow on his face shifting like sharp blades. He listened quietly to Sheng Ningyu's words without uttering a word.
The room fell silent again.
The dust motes hung in the air, slowly drifting down in the light.
Sheng Ningyu stared at Xie Qianjing, momentarily at a loss for words.
Despite her past joking and cursing, which often caused trouble, and the fact that she had been called "slick-tongued" by the people of Qingyi Academy, she didn't know how to speak at this moment.
Saying too harshly will inevitably reopen old wounds.
It was said too lightly, as if they didn't care about the pain he had experienced.
The two looked at each other across the floating dust, clearly without anything between them, yet it seemed as if they were separated by countless mountains and rivers.
Finally, Sheng Ningyu spoke first, slowly and solemnly, as if she had used up all her strength.
“Those people and those words have never bothered me in the slightest. Xie Qianjing, I don’t care about any of that.”
Sheng Ningyu didn't care whether Xie Qianjing was a demon or not, didn't care about his changed personality, and didn't care whether he truly wanted to kill her.
Throughout, all she cared about was whether Xie Qianjing was by her side.
She suppressed all her smiles and spoke frankly and openly.
Just like always, she hasn't changed at all from beginning to end.
Through the warm sunlight, Xie Qianjing looked at her, and after a moment, he smiled again.
"I'm very happy to hear that." He looked at Sheng Ningyu with a smile, as beautiful as a jade sculpture or snow doll.
But as soon as he uttered those words, the smile on Xie Qianjing's face slowly faded. He frowned slightly, as if sighing, as if puzzled, as if he himself did not understand what he was thinking.
But before he could figure it out, the words had already been spoken.
He seems to care, but what does he care about?
It was clear that he had already made a decision to keep her firmly by his side, and not let her see her again, whether she was an old friend or a member of his sect.
But why did he retreat when he arrived at this city that never sleeps amidst mountains and seas?
The demons shouldn't be like this.
Before Sheng Ningyu could react, Xie Qianjing lowered his eyes and said, "I have to go out for a while. If you want to go out, you don't need to wait for me."
The last note faded away lightly, and the figure almost instantly melted into the air.
Without giving Sheng Ningyu another chance to stop him, Xie Qianjing left completely, leaving only a faint fragrance in the room.
It still has the same fragrance that Sister Yan used to create.
Sheng Ningyu sniffed, her originally stern expression gradually softening, and then suddenly she smiled.
She thought, "So that's how it is."
So this is what Xie Qianjing cared about.
He had previously feigned such gentleness and harmlessness, as if he could tolerate everything. But before she knew it, Sheng Ningyu almost had a delusion that the person in front of her was not the Lord of the Demon Realm at all, but still the proper and well-mannered little immortal lord of the past.
Now that Xie Qianjing has taken the initiative to expose everything and openly revealed his demonic side, Sheng Ningyu not only did not feel any reluctance, but also felt a sense of relief.
He said he was no longer the gentle and polite little immortal lord he used to be. Was she still the bright and beautiful swordswoman that everyone talked about?
Time has passed, and things have changed.
Many emotions from years past have faded in retrospect. Those friendships that we thought would last forever, those grand pronouncements of the past, have all become unrecognizable through the gradual, persistent erosion of time.
Feng Xiaosheng, Feng Qingli, Ning Jiaojiao... many people have changed.
However, fate is fickle. After many twists and turns, even before she remembered the Bodhi Immortal Lord who had once moved the Bright Moon Sword Venerable, Sheng Ningyu had already fallen in love with Xie Qianjing again.
The radiant Moon Sword Master is a perfect match for the immaculate Bodhi Immortal Lord.
Sheng Ningyu, who has lost all her spiritual essence and whose memories are shattered, and Xie Qianjing, who has a bad reputation and is burdened with mysteries, are also a perfect match.
Having figured all this out, Sheng Ningyu relaxed again. She was almost eager to share her conclusions, but for the next seven days, she did not see Xie Qianjing again.
The good news is that during these seven days, Sheng Ningyu wandered the streets and alleys, and while having fun, she actually managed to find out some information.
First, there's the magical origin of the name "Mountain and Sea City That Never Sleeps".
It is said that the formation was modified by Qi Baiya, and the main formation is located in the city lord's mansion. It is said that it utilizes the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this place, so Sheng Ningyu's feeling was correct; there was indeed a thin layer of spiritual energy in the air.
Secondly, there was news about the Bluebird and the One-Leaf Flower.
It is said that after the Thousand Mountains Trial, the disciples of Qingniao Yiyehua stayed at home and the entire sect was under martial law. They did not go to Qingyi Academy again, but instead sent people to the City Lord's Mansion, seemingly to discuss something.
The rest of the messages were varied and contradictory, some saying that the Star Devouring Realm would also open, others talking about gossip and anecdotes. But of all these, what Sheng Ningyu cared about most was Qi Baiya's health.
"Your complexion is almost the same as yours, little girl."
Well, that's really bad.
Sheng Ningyu sat in a corner on the third floor. The interior of this restaurant was shaped like the Chinese character "回" (hui). From this seat, there was a railing on the third floor on the left that offered a view of the center of the hotel, and a window on the right that overlooked the street view.
The waiter did indeed reserve a good spot for her.
Sheng Ningyu leaned against the railing, looking down, and thought idly, if she were to fight Qi Baiya now, she wondered what her chances of winning would be.
First of all, although both of them have poor complexions, Qi Baiya is simply not as good-looking as her.
This is a victory.
As for the rest, with her sword at her side, she'll win two, three... and the battles will never end.
As Sheng Ningyu indulged in boundless daydreams, she extended her spiritual power to observe the restaurant.
She wasn't lying earlier; the inn was indeed very good. While not the most luxurious, it was certainly spacious, and in a good location, with its rooms and restaurant connected, making it lively and bustling with people coming and going.
"Have you heard? The sect leader of the Half-Site Sect has actually come to our Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City!"
"What?! Didn't they say that Half-Sect Sect had a grudge against our city lord and would never set foot here?!"
"Oh dear, the one you're talking about is the former 'who single-handedly built half the sect and then disappeared without a trace...' This person is definitely someone important. If so, they really should demand an explanation for what happened back then..."
When others started gossiping again, Sheng Ningyu let it go in one ear and out the other, only catching one key point.
Sister Ayan actually came to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City too?
Could it also be because of Senior Yan Wurong?
Sheng Ningyu rested her chin on her hand and gazed out the window.
"You mean, what if half the sect causes trouble..."
"What's there to be afraid of? We still have the protection of the Bluebird and the Leaf Flower. I heard they've already sent people to garrison the city lord's mansion."
"I see, I can finally relax."
"What are you so worried about! I have a friend who saw it with his own eyes. During the last trial where all the sects gathered, the sect leader of Qingniao Yiyehua was injured and is probably too busy taking care of himself now!"
"Hey, what's the big deal? Don't forget where our current city lord's wife comes from."
Everyone paused for a moment, then their eyes lit up instantly.
"Yes, yes! And Jian Ge too!"
"Indeed!" The mortals, unaware of the conflicts between sects, felt only envy and pride. "Our city lord's wife is the legendary junior sister of that Sword Master!"
"That's the Bright Moon Sword Master, an existence unmatched in heaven and earth!"
The tense atmosphere upstairs and downstairs eased, and everyone laughed and drank heartily again.
I'm so happy!
In the corner, Sheng Ningyu listened with great interest.
She has now reclaimed some of her spiritual bones and restored some of her cultivation. While she can't be said to have eyes that see in all directions and ears that hear in all directions, she can still easily absorb the words spoken in a small inn or restaurant.
As she listened, Sheng Ningyu's gaze drifted lazily over the ordinary people coming and going in the streets and alleys below.
Those who were chatting idly probably never imagined that the once-rumored Sword Master of Tomorrow's brilliance had been completely concealed, leaving only a serene and unassuming demeanor as he sat in this restaurant.
But Sister Ayan personally came to this Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City?
She had painstakingly crafted a wooden bracelet to conceal her identity, but she wondered if it had been restored.
Sheng Ningyu's purpose in coming to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City was truly for the legendary "Meng Po Guang" that topped the Thousand Mountains Trial. She wanted to give it to Xiang Bieyun, but she didn't expect that the other party would arrive in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City before her.
Was it for Senior Yan Wurong, or was there some other reason?
However, just as Sheng Ningyu was considering whether to go find Sister Ayan, another commotion broke out downstairs.
The commotion was initially as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and she paid it no heed. It wasn't until a rough wisp of spiritual energy suddenly rippled at the bottom of the first floor that Sheng Ningyu frowned almost imperceptibly.
He lightly touched the rim of the teacup with his fingertip, then pressed it down again.
"Never mind," Sheng Ningyu sighed, "my senior brother specifically instructed me to do this."
Now that her status is different, and given the complex situation in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City, it's not appropriate for her to meddle in other people's business.
"...You shabby shop, how dare you try to fool this immortal with such inferior wine?" The cultivator in the brocade robe spoke arrogantly, kicking over the bench next to him. The waiter, whether stunned or unable to react in time, did not dodge and took the blow head-on, staggering backward in pain.
"Immortal Master, please calm your anger, I will go and change it right away..."
Sheng Ningyu lowered her gaze and looked down into the first floor.
The waiter who had spoken with her and given her fruit just a few days ago was no longer as arrogant as before. He was enduring the pain and bowing repeatedly, his face pale.
"Change?" The burly man in the center of the shop sneered, and spiritual energy rippled from his body once more.
His gaze shifted, past the waiter, across the counter, and landed on the trembling little girl hiding behind him. He grinned.
"Is that your sister? Tell her to come out! She's the one who spilled wine all over me!" the burly cultivator yelled. "Have her pour me some wine to apologize, and we'll call it even!"
The waiter trembled, speechless. It was the manager who rushed over, repeatedly bowing and saying, "Please forgive us, sir! We were ignorant and have come to apologize..."
A perfect example of a troublemaking villain.
In the storybook, it wouldn't last past the third page.
Sheng Ningyu withdrew her gaze, thinking that the cultivators in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City couldn't be so poor; just from her exploration just now, there was a lot of spiritual energy surging.
She doesn't need to lift a finger; someone else will take care of it.
Sure enough, some of the people who had been chatting earlier exchanged glances and were about to make a move when they heard an arrogant voice.
"Hmph, do you even know who the person in front of you is?"
The burly monk arrogantly raised his chin, his voice echoing throughout the hall.
"I am a disciple of the Bright Moon Sword Master! To have my favor is a blessing you could never attain in several lifetimes!"
The sound echoed throughout the shop, and even the ordinary customers could hear it clearly.
Someone in the corner whispered in confusion: "Sword Master Mingyue? Wasn't it said that she had already..."
Shh! Quiet!
The four words "Bright Moon Sword Master" struck like a heavy hammer, causing the cultivators who were planning to make a move to back down.
They exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with surprise and uncertainty.
One of the cultivators cleared his throat and said, "You mentioned the Bright Moon Sword Master, do you have any evidence?"
The burly cultivator laughed and immediately produced a ceramic figurine: "It bears the inscription of the Bright Moon Sword Master. Can you prove it?"
The porcelain-white pottery figurines are old and unremarkable in appearance, and can be seen everywhere on the street.
Before he finished speaking, the burly monk suddenly flipped the clay figurine over!
Behind the clay figurine, something was clearly written, but even faster than that was the sudden, overwhelming sword intent!
The expression on Sheng Ningyu's face completely faded.
Others couldn't see it clearly, but she saw it perfectly.
A large "pride" character.
This was something she had given to her junior sister, Ning Jiaojiao, in the past.
The cultivator who had asked the question turned pale, sat down completely, and dared not utter another word.
The previous claims of being "protected" were spread on the orders of City Lord Qi Baiya in order to stabilize the morale of the city.
As for whether it's true or false...
Putting aside everything else, the relationship between their own city lord's wife and the Bright Moon Sword Master is unknown to mortals, but how could they, as cultivators, not know it?
This is yet another case of a husband being stolen! The sect leader of the Half-Site Sect still harbors deep resentment to this day, and the Sword Master, who has been buried under a coffin for sixty years, can he possibly be without a trace of resentment in his heart?
In comparison, he was just an unknown waiter... so be it.
After exchanging glances, the cultivators all withdrew their spiritual power and remained on the sidelines.
The shopkeeper couldn't persuade him and was pushed away with a slap. The waiter watched helplessly as the burly cultivator stood before him, completely losing the courage to resist.
He looked up in despair and happened to see the guest leaning against the railing in the corner of the second floor.
He remembered that about nine days ago, this elegant female guest had chatted with him and mentioned a few old stories about the Bright Moon Sword Master. At that time, he even dared to show his displeasure because he took advantage of her good temper.
But now that I think about it, how could he possibly afford to offend these cultivators?
Perhaps, he should have died on that very day.
In a daze, a tiny thought arose in the waiter's mind.
"If... if the Sword Master that Grandpa mentioned were really here..."
wrong.
The person before me is a disciple of the Sword Master.
The waiter didn't lower his hand that was blocking his sister's way, but the light in his eyes had been completely extinguished.
Meanwhile, Sheng Ningyu upstairs was already laughing in anger.
Tao Ou is one thing, but why do all the people present tacitly agree that Sheng Ningyu has taken in such an arrogant and domineering "disciple"?
But this will work too.
"Senior Brother," Sheng Ningyu thought, "I'm just 'cleaning up the house,' it's definitely not 'meddling,' nor is it 'acting on impulse,' right?"
And... and the waiter even gave me oranges, so there's a cause and effect here!
Thinking about it this way, Sheng Ningyu instantly became happy again.
Just as the burly cultivator chuckled and drew his sword, intending to pry open the woman's clothes, a faint light swept down from the second floor.
It wasn't a dazzling sword rainbow, nor did it possess any spiritual power; it was merely a beam of sword light.
But this sword light was also extraordinary.
It intertwines with the glow of the city that never sleeps, condensing to the extreme, moving faster than the limits of vision, and so cold it cuts through the air.
The burly cultivator's hand froze in mid-air, a section of his sleeve neatly sliced off. He turned his head blankly, the cut smooth as a mirror. A thin line of blood slowly appeared on his shoulder, not deep, but within seconds, it caused his entire arm to shatter like a dried-up twig!
"Aa ...
In the ensuing silence, the screams of the burly monk echoed throughout the restaurant.
Everyone stared in disbelief as the wisp of light gracefully turned back, transforming into a wooden longsword that landed in a fair hand on the third floor.
Her fingers were long and slender, and her wrists were delicate, but what was more striking than these were the crisscrossing scars on her wrists.
The depths varied, making it terrifying.
Everyone present was suddenly struck by a realization, including the cultivators.
They think more than the average person.
How could so many of these apply to the same person?
But the owner of these scars didn't seem to care at all. Her arm was still on the railing, her head propped up, and in the deathly silence, she lazily opened her mouth.
"Brother, that's not how you use a sword."
The voice was clear and crisp, but the tone was extremely languid, as if the fact that she had just severed someone's arm with a mere gust of sword wind devoid of spiritual power was nothing more than picking flowers and leaves, not worth mentioning.
Such an unfathomable swordsman...
A few thoughts vaguely popped into the cultivators' minds, but they didn't have time to think about them.
Because at this very moment, everyone's mind is filled with one thing.
Or perhaps, the sword strike just now.
How to describe it? There were no fancy moves, not even the sword's edge was revealed; that move could only be described as "fast".
But everyone who witnessed it knows that the word "fast" is far from enough to describe the breathtaking beauty seen there.
Wherever the sword wind passed, all bowed their heads in submission.
At this moment, one of the cultivators finally reacted, his lips trembling, and the words he uttered were almost incoherent: "She...could she be...?"
"There's more."
Sheng Ningyu left the window, walked to the third-floor railing, glanced around, then leaped down and landed next to the burly cultivator.
She crouched down, wrapped the clay figurine in a handkerchief, picked it up, and examined it closely.
The clay figurines were already fragile, and after being grazed by such a fast sword wind, cracks were inevitable.
Just like the human heart.
Sheng Ningyu lowered her eyes to look at the blood-stained white porcelain in her palm, her tone still calm, each word like ice beads falling onto a jade plate.
"How come I didn't know when I took you in..." Sheng Ningyu paused, looked the blood-covered cultivator up and down, her expression unwavering, and even smiled slightly, but her tone contained an imperceptible coldness.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was astonished.
"Sword Master!" a cultivator shrieked, his voice trembling and completely distorted, "You are the Bright Moon Sword Master?!"
It's the Bright Moon Sword Master, Sheng Ningyu! It's her! It must be her!
She's here!
The burly cultivator below was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale. He coughed up blood, completely speechless.
Sheng Ningyu had no intention of getting entangled with him.
With a flick of her wrist, the longsword vanished, as if the momentary display of its sharpness had been nothing more than an illusion.
"Thank you for your care these past few days." Sheng Ningyu looked at the dazed waiter below, carefully choosing her tone, and said, "I'll take the person with me, but I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to clean up this mess..."
"Sword Master! Thank you so much for saving my life, Sword Master!"
The waiter finally came to his senses, and he suddenly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Stop, stop, stop. I don't want your life, and I don't want any afterlife with you." Sheng Ningyu said in a strange tone, "I've already made a promise for the next life with someone, and I only made that promise with him."
The waiter exclaimed "Ah!" and stammered, "Then... I have nothing to give you..."
He was just a lowly waiter; what else could he offer besides his life?
Sheng Ningyu smiled nonchalantly: "You mean compensation? You already paid it."
She produced a tangerine from somewhere, tossing it up and down with a carefree and nonchalant air, quite unlike the legendary, pure and aloof Mingyue.
"Thank you for the oranges, they're so sweet, I love them. Go and take your family to rest."
Sheng Ningyu casually offered a few words of comfort, and without her having to lift a finger, the person lying on the ground had already been dragged aside by the cultivators in the restaurant.
It seems there's nothing more for her to do.
Sheng Ningyu turned around and was about to leave through the back window, but was stopped again.
"May I ask, are you truly the Sword Master of Bright Moon?"
Sheng Ningyu glanced at the group of people and said decisively, "I am not."
The monk was stunned for a moment, then inwardly cried out in despair.
But what could she do? The city lord insisted on seeing her.
Recalling the words the city lord's wife had privately instructed him, the cultivator gritted his teeth and said, "If you are not, and you harm people in the city, you will need to come with me."
He was gambling that Sword Master was indeed as rumored and would never lay a hand on ordinary people.
Sheng Ningyu countered, "What if I were?"
The cultivator said in a trembling voice, "The city lord said that the Sword Master has done a great service to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City, and there is nowhere he cannot go."
Where did this "hmm" come from?
Sheng Ningyu waved her hand, trying to bypass her: "Alright, then I'll just pretend I am."
The monk stepped to the right, still refusing to back down: "But your appearance is completely different from the rumors..."
The legendary Sword Master was said to be aloof and cold, with bones as solid as ice and soul as pure as the moon. Wherever her gaze fell, no filth dared to appear before her, lest it be desecrated.
But this person in front of me... seems to have an even more unconventional personality?
Unlike the Sword Master's imposing presence under the bright moon, he seemed more like a young boy.
Moreover, compared to the legendary, unparalleled beauty of the Bright Moon Sword Master, the person before him was far too ordinary.
Sheng Ningyu knew, of course. She touched her face and said, "If we don't look alike at all, why were you so sure I was the Sword Master just now?"
The monk remained silent.
I see.
Sheng Ningyu finally understood. She stood still and changed the subject with great interest: "How do you want me to prove it?"
The cultivators said in unison, "Please come to the City Lord's Mansion for a chat, sir!"
So that's what the plan was.
Sheng Ningyu chuckled softly.
She has her own way of leaving, but it's a bit troublesome.
and……
Sheng Ningyu's gaze fell on the still trembling waiter and his sister, and then she glanced at the still shaken shopkeeper.
She is free to come and go as she pleases, and could simply leave, but these two siblings are likely to face another storm.
This situation was clearly set up by someone in the city lord's mansion. The methods were crude, but the advantage lay in their understanding of her.
Was it Ning Jiao's or Qi Baiya's doing?
Or perhaps both.
That's all.
Sheng Ningyu thought that it was just a bit of trouble for her, but for the inn, it was a completely undeserved disaster.
However, just as she was about to agree, a gentle, smiling voice suddenly appeared.
It penetrated all the noise and clearly reached her ears.
“I can verify her identity.”
At the entrance of the inn, a snow-white figure stood there, her eyes covered by a white silk cloth. Tall and elegant, she had been standing there for an unknown amount of time.
Rongque.
Why isn't he fulfilling his duties as acting head of the Sword Pavilion, nor is he playing music at the Nine Heavens Pavilion? What is he doing here in this Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City?!
Caught off guard and with nowhere to dodge, Sheng Ningyu could only watch helplessly as the man slowly approached, his robes fluttering and white silk trailing behind him, like a fairy maiden rising up, concealing the dust and dew of the mortal world.
The cultivators all recognized him and bowed respectfully, saying, "Immortal Rong... Immortal Rong."
With Sheng Ningyu present, it was naturally inappropriate to use titles like "Acting Pavilion Master" anymore.
However, this time, Rong Que, who was known as the "First Young Master," was unusually willful and rude.
He ignored everyone and showed no hesitation. With a clear goal in mind, he overcame numerous obstacles and walked step by step to Sheng Ningyu.
Rong Que's expression was complex, a mixture of joy and longing.
But there is one thing: all these emotions, when combined, form a gentleness that is impossible to mistake.
Sheng Ningyu looked at Rong Que and spoke before he could, in a desperate attempt, "Immortal Master, are you sure your junior sister looks like me?"
For seven consecutive days, she made herself look uglier each day. How did Rong Que recognize her?
Rong Que sighed, raised his hand, and wiped away a bit of blood from the end of Sheng Ningyu's hair.
"Junior sister has forgotten again. I never rely on my eyes to recognize people."
He smiled gently, tapped Sheng Ningyu's earlobe, and said in an almost indulgent tone, "In my 'eyes,' Junior Sister hasn't changed at all."
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Author's Note: My previous writing was easily misunderstood, so I've revised it again. [Sunglasses]
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