Chapter 21 Harmony Ning Sect Master: "Fu Ling, I didn't know it was you before..."
In the valley, only the sound of the stream remains.
"..." Zhou Fuling and Ning Tingyue looked at each other.
Until Ning Tingyue broke the silence.
"...It's you."
His voice trembled slightly.
“It’s you.”
Zhou Fuling wore a snow-white dress with a blue shawl draped over it, her hair adorned with a wooden hairpin. She was bright and gentle, just like the obedient junior sister who used to stand beside Xu Qingning.
However, Ning Tingyue stared at her, fear evident in his eyes.
Zhou Fuling said softly, "I didn't know before that you were my father."
"..."
“It was my father’s relatives who left a mark on Xu Qingning’s soul piercing. That’s how I recognized you. I wanted to come find you that day. But after thinking about it, I decided to wait for a more suitable time.”
She smiled innocently, "It's good as it is now."
Ning Tingyue opened her mouth, but her face remained sullen, and she didn't answer a single word.
Zhou Fuling frowned in confusion: "But... why did you leave me?"
“One day, I woke up and you were all gone. And a lot of… strangers came,” Zhou Fuling said. “Getting rid of them wasn’t easy.”
Ning Tingyue knew she was going to ask about this, and stiffly forced a smile.
How did she end up in the Immortal Sect?!
They've even come to the Immortal Sect?!
She...it's Zhou Fuling?!
He whispered, "Back then, the formation in Zi Shi Ravine reversed, and all the key points of the formation were destroyed... We can no longer come in, child."
Zhou Fuling didn't speak again. The two looked at each other again. A gentle breeze blew, and Zhou Fuling jumped down from the tree.
Ning Tingyue smiled in relief.
Only he knew that the tension in his mind remained high.
Zhou Fuling was looking him over without saying a word, and it was unclear whether she believed him or not.
After a long pause, Zhou Fuling laughed first: "Since Father says so, then I believe him. I hope I don't find out that Father is lying to me."
"..."
"I have come today with another matter that I hope Father will handle," Zhou Fuling said with her hands behind her back. "Remove the soul thorn from Xu Qingning's sea of consciousness."
Ning Tingyue was holding his breath, extremely nervous, but when he heard Zhou Fuling say that, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
For this matter... there is still room for maneuver.
He was terrified, terrified...
Ning Tingyue was afraid that Zhou Fuling would discover what happened at Tianjue Gorge, but now, judging from her expression, it seemed that she was unaware.
“Now that I know Zhou Fuling is you, I will take care of it myself.” He said gently, “I will tell my wife, and the matter will be resolved.”
Zhou Fuling also smiled brightly.
She thought for a moment, "Then Father, please don't let Ning Chaoxue and Xu Qingning be betrothed anymore. I've taken a liking to him. They're all your family, you'll treat them equally, won't you?"
Ning Tingyue's lips trembled slightly. "Yes. When I return, I will cancel the marriage agreement."
He seemed to think for a long time, then tentatively whispered, "However, since you're considering Xu Qingning, why not consider Zou Li and Zou Qin from the Zou family? Zou Li has a bad temper, but his cultivation is quite pure, and he's easy to control. Zou Qin is young and not a direct descendant, but he's also known as the Dragon of the Middle Immortals. Compared to Xu Qingning, his spiritual root is pure and unbroken. Wouldn't it be better to use the two of them for cultivation?"
Zhou Fuling: "No rush. Right now, I want Xu Qingning."
Her eyes were filled with stubbornness, and Ning Tingyue dared not say anything more.
...Well, the person in front of me and Xu Qingning have a history from their youth, and it's still an old grudge.
Previously, I always felt that the appearance of Zhou Fuling, a person close to Xu Qingning, was quite strange. An orphan girl, she found Xu Qingning in the wild and wandered with him for seven years. Even if Xu Qingning was intelligent, this was still unusual.
Looking back now, everything seems to have a traceable origin.
He lowered his head secretly.
While confronting Zhou Fuling, he concealed a jade tablet in his sleeve. He contemplated and activated it, just as a high-level cultivator would use his divine sense to make a thought.
He was also relieved that Zhou Fuling seemed not to understand what this thing was.
[At midnight, the guards at the stream returned; let us discuss this quickly. "Wu" refers to Zhou Fuling.]
After a brief silence, the other party quickly replied, their message brimming with spiritual energy: [Zhou Fuling? Are you kidding me?]
[I didn't. We should kill her together.] Ning Tingyue frowned.
He's not stupid; he doesn't intend to take direct action against Zhou Fuling himself.
There was another moment of silence, then the other side added: "[Transmit my location. We are both ranked first on the Immortal Masters List of our respective sects; we should join forces to kill her. She is currently unaware of our presence, making this the perfect opportunity to strike. If we miss this chance, the consequences will be dire.]"
Ning Tingyue knew that what the man said made sense. Looking at the distant Qingxiu Mountain and the demon-subduing array under the continuous clouds and mist, he sneered in his heart and suddenly had a plan.
[Qingxiu Mountain. Come quickly.]
Ning Tingyue then slowly put down the jade slip and continued to look at Zhou Fuling:
"Fuling, it's been so many years since we've seen each other. Come back to Yun Ning Sect with me."
"I'm not going."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going back to Tongnan Road. Wait for Xu Qingning to find me. I don't want to go anywhere else except Tianji Gate for the time being."
Zhou Fuling stared intently at Ning Tingyue.
Ning Tingyue: "..."
An hour ago, he was still thinking about how to raze Tongnan Road, capture Zhou Fuling, and blackmail Xu Qingning.
Given the current situation in the three continents, Yun Ning must unite with Tian Ji.
But now, Ning Tingyue's thought has vanished.
He only asked one question: "Is Xu Qingning going to send you to the mortal realm?"
"Yes. Yu Miao Mountain?"
"The person who gave it to you..."
"I killed them just to see you," Zhou Fuling said calmly, as if she had only been buying groceries and not killing anyone.
Ning Tingyue: "So, you plan to fake being injured and escape so that Xu Qingning will find out?"
Zhou Fuling nodded.
Ning Tingyue smiled at Zhou Fuling: "Then your father will send you there so we can catch up, shall we?"
Ning Tingyue noticed her frown and knew what she was worried about. "Father will find a safe place to drop you off on the road. Xu Qingning won't run into us."
Zhou Fuling's expression relaxed: "Good. Father really understands me."
"Let's go." Ning Tingyue handed Zhou Fuling a cloak with both hands. After Zhou Fuling put it on, the father and daughter held hands and walked towards the Vermilion Bird Chariot.
What a loving and harmonious father and daughter.
...
The Vermilion Bird lay on the ground, hidden among the trees. Ning Tingyue's disciples, upon hearing the commotion and looking up, all stared in astonishment.
Zhou Fuling wore a white veil over her face and a light, flowing dress. Although her face was obscured, it was clear that she was a charming young girl, but also a person of low character.
Weren't they going to capture Zhou Fuling? What's going on here?
The disciples vaguely felt that this was Zhou Fuling, but dared not confirm it.
What surprised them even more was Ning Tingyue's attitude, which completely made them abandon this guess.
Ning Tingyue has always been a cold-hearted person. He showed no kindness to his own daughter, Ning Chaoxue, and only allowed Ning Chenghan to raise her. As for another woman, He Yin (whose confidante knew was his own daughter)... Ning Tingyue was ruthless towards her, even though it was unclear what had happened between them.
But when facing the girl in front of him, Ning Tingyue showed a smile. The smile was so warm and gentle. He bent his back slightly and helped the girl into the Vermilion Bird carriage with a gentle and even respectful attitude.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Who is this?!
Could it be... Zou Lanci's illegitimate daughter from the Immortal Realm?!
It can't be that bad. Even Sect Leader Ning Tingyue wasn't this respectful and kind to Young Master Zou Li.
The Yun Ning Sect members were completely bewildered, but seeing Ning Tingyue's attitude, they dared not slight the people in the carriage.
...
"Fuling, Fuling... Hey, what a nice name! Come on, let's eat these."
Smoke rose from the warm stove as Zhou Fuling sat in the carriage covered with a thick fox fur blanket. On a small table, golden cups held honey-fried cherries, crabapple cakes, chestnut cakes, and golden jade soup.
Ning Tingyue smiled at her: "I remember, these are all the foods you liked to eat when you were little."
Zhou Fuling nodded; she actually wasn't very interested in food.
Her dark eyes shot out a cold light, fixed on Ning Tingyue's face, and then she lowered her head somewhat perfunctorily, putting the pastries into her mouth one bite at a time, eating them slowly.
Ning Tingyue: "I didn't know it was you before. It's like the flood washed away the Dragon King's temple. We're family members who don't recognize each other. After you and Xu Qingning become partners, then the Ning and Xu families will truly be one family!"
"I don't want the surname Ning yet," Zhou Fuling said calmly.
"...Then why do you now have the surname Zhou?" Ning Tingyue asked, staring at her.
“Because the person I impersonated had the surname Zhou,” Zhou Fuling said. “When I approached Xu Qingning, someone wanted to save him first. I dealt with that person and took her identity. Her surname was Zhou, so I adopted that surname, but I chose my own given name. It’s taken from the imagery of ‘lotus silk wraps around the wrist, water chestnuts tug at the clothes,’ isn’t it beautiful?”
She spoke these words with a blank expression and her pupils were dark.
Ning Tingyue asked, "That Miss Zhou is also dead?"
"I don't know," Zhou Fuling said. "She fell off a cliff while she was escaping and was dragged away by the tiger demon."
Ning Tingyue's lips twitched.
But seeing Zhou Fuling sent a chill down his spine. Indeed, most people would be in grave danger if they faced the person in front of them.
Therefore, Xu Qingning is an exception among exceptions, both in her youth and now.
It seems that Xu Qingning's value... needs to be reassessed.
No, the person in front of us should die.
Ning Tingyue slowly raised her eyes.
But in the distance, the mountains were shrouded in mist, which gradually condensed like solidified jade juice, with specks of green appearing and disappearing, like green beads adorning floating jade.
The Demon-Subduing Realm descended from the sky.
We've arrived at Qingxiu Mountain.
Ning Tingyue sneered.
Today, he will make Zhou Fuling sink into this mountain.
...
Qingxiu Mountain.
On the cliff, a cultivator was adjusting the giant golden bow in his hand.
This person was none other than Zou Tianmo, the second elder of the Zou family. He was the Immortal Supervisor under the Immortal Sect, the cousin and confidant of Zou Lanci, the leader of the Immortal Sect, and held the rank of First Grade.
Among the direct disciples of the Zou family, he possessed an extraordinary talent for immortal hunting.
But at this moment, he was very confused.
Twelve hours ago, Zou Lanci gave the order to kill Zhou Fuling. Unexpectedly, Xu Qingning arranged for Zhou Fuling to be given to the people of Yuling Mountain.
Yu Ling Mountain is adept at concealment, and Zou Tianmo managed to lose track of him for a while.
Just now, not far from Qingxiu Mountain, he saw a shattered oxcart and a pool of blood on the ground—a gruesome sight. He was trying to figure out what had happened when his cousin, Zou Lanci, suddenly sent him a letter:
[Go to Qingxiu Mountain, join forces with Ning Tingyue, and kill Zhou Fuling.]
At that moment, Zou Tianmo almost thought he was seeing things.
...To join forces? Why would he need to join forces with Ning Tingyue? Or was it to kill Zhou Fuling?
You know, Ning Tingyue is a first-rank official, and he's almost a first-rank official too. 'Joining forces'? Is my cousin drunk?
His eyes widened to the size of copper bells, but the next message plunged Zou Tianmo into a long silence.
[She was from the valley below midnight. She emerged and hid beside Xu Qingning.]
[...] A cold wind blew, and for a moment, the green hills and paths were silent except for the sound of the wind.
Zou Tianmo focused his mind, and a continuous wave of fear suddenly erupted in his eyes.
[...Are we enough?] The arrogant exclamation just now turned into trembling hands.
She's been poisoned. Enough.
Zou Tianmo gazed silently at the canyon, and for a moment, he considered retreating. Ultimately, however, his resolve hardened.
He climbed up the cliff.
Amidst the sheer cliffs and towering peaks, Zou Tianmo affixed a divine talisman, thus setting up the most perfect invisibility technique.
He altered the formation with his divine sense, causing the Demon Extermination Realm to tremble; it was the most meticulously arranged formation.
As he drew his bow, a bright light shone from it, a light so intense it was almost blinding.
Zou Tianmo is known as "The Mad Arrow".
He is famous for defeating the strong with the weak. In several internal conflicts within the Zou family and the Immortal Sect, he has a record of killing a first-rank enemy with a second-rank enemy.
Not to mention now, he's a first-rank official.
He possessed outstanding combat skills and the strongest mentality. Zou Tianmo calmed down and re-analyzed the situation.
Indeed, they can win!
He is a first-rank cultivator, while Ning Tingyue is a high-level first-rank cultivator. In the Immortal Realm, if they join forces, Zou Lanci and Kuang Yunchu will be in deep trouble.
Regarding that person… Zou Tianmo held his bow, his eyes reflecting a chill.
Sending her to heaven was a remarkable achievement in Zou Tianmo's career, and even his cousin dared not underestimate him.
On the earthen path, a Vermilion Bird chariot slowly drove up and came into his view.
The carriage stopped.
Ning Tingyue got off the carriage, helped up a girl in white, and seemed to say something to her, as if he needed to deal with the roadblocks ahead, before leaving.
The girl stood there with her hands clasped together and her face veiled. A gentle breeze caressed her, making her appear somewhat frail.
Zou Tianmo's gaze was tinged with the coldness of the sky, but when he saw the girl, his eyes trembled for a moment, but he quickly and calmly drew his bow.
Zou Tianmo is a first-rank official, unlike his nephew or Ning Chaoxue who rose to their positions through elixirs or fortuitous encounters.
He was truly honed through numerous hard-fought battles. He played a crucial role in both the "Qing Emperor's Sacred Coup" and the "Great Disaster at Zishijian" two hundred years ago.
People generally say he is Zou Lanci's dog, and he acts cruelly and without reason, but they sometimes overlook Zou Tianmo's terrifying abilities.
The girl in the valley stood on the stone steps, her figure as slender as a willow in the breeze, showing no trace of her former self.
Zou Tianmo stared at her, watching her cautiously observe her surroundings before stepping onto the mountain path.
The mountain stream murmured softly. She stood beside the stone bridge, seemingly observing the roadside flowers, as if unaware of the surrounding incantations.
Zou Tianmo drew the arrow.
He participated in large-scale events such as the Rebellion of the Three Zou and the Battle of Tianjue Gorge.
We should accept the challenge.
He was a natural archer, completely still.
The arrowhead, though originally radiant with sunlight, had its light obscured by the talisman.
A wisp of white smoke suddenly rose from the opposite mountain.
Zou Tianmo recognized that this was Ning Tingyue's signal.
Zou Tianmo draws his bow.
But then, with a "whoosh,"...
A long arrow, accompanied by a plume of smoke, pierced through the clouds and split rocks, striking the girl's face with deadly force.
At the same time, several sword shadows pierced from above, their light flashing across the fields and sweeping across the sky!
Flames fell!
Zou Tianmo opened his eyes.
That's outrageous—this is Ning Tingyue's ultimate move, "Divine Fire Sword Technique"!
Zou Tianmo had seen this sword technique before.
There was once a saying, "The Divine Fire Sword Technique astounds the four continents, the Jade Edge cuts through the heavens and commands the eight extremes." This describes Ning Tingyue's Divine Fire True Technique, which is infinitely powerful; and his Killing Passion Sword Technique, which can shake the eight extremes.
Back then, during the infamous chaos of the Yun Ning Sect, Ning Tingyue used this technique to kill his mentor, Elder Poison, shocking the entire Immortal Realm.
He used it only after testing it out a short time back then; now, he used it directly.
Over the past century, Ning Tingyue has also made considerable progress.
At that moment, golden light surged towards the Dipper Palace; flames, like rainbows, pierced through the green valley. Under the chilling killing intent and the overwhelming flames, the valley seemed to have been plunged into purgatory—
Zou Tianmo kept a close eye on the movements below.
Quiet. A profound silence hung in the air, illuminated by the firelight.
He was the most meticulous soldier, observing carefully, and finally sighed.
Under the attack, that person will have no chance of escape.
……pity.
A strange sense of desolation suddenly arose in Zou Tianmo's heart.
He drew his bow again and observed the area below the mountain.
boom!
As the divine fire fell, the golden arrow sparked again, and Qingxiu Mountain let out a devastating roar!
Like a giant hand splitting open the canyon, countless rocks and springs burst forth with a thunderous roar!
"Um, were you trying to kill me just now?"
However, a clear female voice suddenly came from behind him.
...
[Young Master Xu, Miss Fuling's journey to Tongnan Road has taken an unexpected turn, and everyone involved has gone missing. To avoid delaying our mission, I am writing to inform you immediately!]
On the other side, along the long road of green mountains, the Changming Sword was drawn, and the disciples of Yun Ning Sect fell to the ground.
Xu Qingning's sword pierced through the barrier of the Vermilion Bird Chariot.
He lifted the curtain and helped He Yin out.
He Yin was covered in blood, her lips pale, and she grabbed him, saying, "Young Master, Ning Tingyue has gone, gone to Qingxiu Mountain in the south... He knows about Fu Ling, he's looking for Fu Ling..."
Xu Qingning was taken aback:
"...Ning Tingyue also went to Qingxiu Mountain?"
"Young Master, please hurry and save Fuling! If it's too late, it will be too late..." He Yin said, tears streaming down her face, overwhelmed with grief.
She simply couldn't imagine... how badly Fuling would suffer if she fell into Ning Tingyue's hands!
"Young Master, you must go quickly!"
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