Chapter 48 Firefly Ning Chengshan: "Fine, you've been pretending all along!"...
Zhou Fuling's current identity is "Ling Fu," so isn't she a native of Yun Ning in the second part?
Ning Bai and Ning Hong both know her very well.
It's Ning Bai's furnace!
All eyes were on Zhou Fuling.
Zhou Fuling caught a glimpse of the person who had helped her with the arrow earlier, who was also looking at her from horseback, his aloof demeanor familiar.
Master Miao introduced, "That's right. This is my personal disciple, Ling Fu, one of your Second Division members. Minister Liang also taught her the Yun Ning Technique."
Everyone's expression changed.
Qinghu Yue's mouth was open in the shape of a duck egg.
However, a sudden gust of wind struck Zhou Fuling.
It was Ning Chengshan!
Ning Chengshan formed his five fingers into a claw and attacked her with a palm strike. The others didn't even have time to react and all gasped in surprise.
Ning Chengshan's trip was precisely to swiftly uncover Zhou Fuling's true nature.
Zhou Fuling was startled and took a step back.
Qinghu Yue exclaimed in surprise, "She, she's... she's rising!"
Qinghu Yue's words were incoherent because Zhou Fuling's power was suddenly unleashed, and her cultivation level had just risen to the third rank.
Everyone realized that she had been suppressing Xiu earlier.
Ning Chengshan was surprised when his hand touched Zhou Fuling's shoulder.
Zhou Fuling possessed the Yun Ning internal energy, which, like Ning Chengshan's, was pure and of the same origin, but extremely unstable—a common occurrence among young cultivators. This was indeed the Yun Ning technique.
As Zhou Fuling exerted her strength, sweat poured down her forehead.
Yun Ning's internal energy cultivation—she did indeed practice it in the underground chamber. The internal energy she was using at this moment was the one she learned in the underground chamber, the sixth-second technique of the Kun hexagram, which states, "Straight, square, and great; even without practice, there is no disadvantage."
This ancestral technique and the Yun Ning technique passed down today share the same origin. Zhou Fuling is not familiar with it, and by chance, it bears a striking resemblance to the current technique. As for external martial arts, Zhou Fuling can only imitate the superficial aspects; she still needs to comprehend the moves.
What should we do if Ning Chengshan continues to probe?
Fortunately, Ning Chengshan was just testing the waters.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Ning Chengshan then grabbed Zhou Fuling's belt, only to find a token lying on her waist. It was the Ling family token that Zhou Fuling had obtained from Ling Fu. Upon inspection, it was indeed the second token.
Ning Chengshan sneered: "Fine, you are indeed a member of the Ling family. But you've been pretending all along!"
Zhou Fuling: "Yes."
Ning Chengshan: "What are your intentions in coming to my second part before participating in the competition?"
Ning Bai stood to the side, his gaze sharp as knives, as if he wanted to tear Zhou Fuling to pieces, but he remained silent.
Zhou Fuling: "I've come to visit the Minister."
Ning Chengshan's expression suddenly changed, and she said kindly, "Good child, I underestimated you before because of your character. I apologize to you. You are a member of the second part, and it is time for you to return to your roots. After the competition, it would be much better for you to be under my command than to stay in the fourth part."
She sent another name card to Zhou Fuling.
"This letter is a way for me to help you once in return. But after you have fulfilled your loyalty to the Miao Mountain Lord this time, you must return and submit to me. I will then forgive and forget your past actions."
Zhou Fuling tore up the name card and threw it on the ground, saying, "No need."
The two were already destined for a decisive battle, and now they belong to opposing camps, so there's no need for them to hold back.
Ning Chengshan's eyes were gloomy.
Ning Bai's voice trembled with anger as he pointed his riding crop at her: "You, you... fine, Ling Fu, I misjudged you!"
Ning Chengshan: "No rush, think it over slowly. Congratulations on gaining another disciple for the Fourth Division. See you at Cloud Candle Tower." She then said to the others, "Let's go."
After realizing that there was no way to squeeze anyone into the fourth part, the second person stopped arguing and left.
As Ning Hong left, she glared hatefully at Zhou Fuling, her chest heaving.
She prided herself on her intelligence and rarely fell into traps. But seeing Zhou Fuling looking travel-worn and disheveled, with only a third-rank cultivation level, she glanced down at her own belt. On her left was a golden arrow, and on her right was a jade from Tianshan Mountain, both extremely rare and sought-after items.
They seemed to be from completely different worlds.
Ning Hong relaxed and smiled before leaving, "Miss Ling, see you again at the Cloud Candle Tower. I look forward to seeing your performance with your third-grade cultivation."
“By the way, Young Master Ning, give me back my servant,” Zhou Fuling said.
"good."
The second part is over.
Ling Fu, as a servant, was also left behind, obediently staying behind Zhou Fuling, not daring to speak.
Ling Fu escaped, but she was almost unconscious.
Oh my god, what's going on?!
How did this person end up using her identity to participate in the competition?
What is that?
The Yunning Grand Competition!!
The Yunning Grand Competition, which will elect the sect leader of the Yunning Sect and the ruler of the Southern Continent!
She used to be an outsider and wasn't even qualified to watch, so how come this person is using their status to participate in the competition?!
Master Miao seemed to tacitly agree with this, and did not correct it, but he gestured to Ling Fu with his eyes that he would talk to her later.
Ling Fu followed the people from Part 4 in silence, not daring to utter a single word. She pinched herself, as if she were still dreaming.
Zhou Fuling walked into the crowd of the fourth part, and everyone was looking at her.
She nodded to Minister Liang and several important officials of the Fourth Division, but stopped in front of a horse.
"Alright, we'll find Xiao Fu later. They want to catch up." Seeing this, Master Miao chased everyone away.
The man on horseback seemed not to have expected her to come straight over; his hand holding the reins suddenly froze, and he slightly raised his eyes.
As he looked up, the curtains fell, revealing his features.
The two looked at each other, both holding their breath.
The person before her was dressed in a green robe and wore deerskin gloves. Her appearance had been personally altered, and she possessed an ethereal air.
Who else could it be but Xu Qingning, who fell into the hands of the first part because of her?
Xu Qingning's cool profile was illuminated by the fireflies, and he stared at her for a long time without saying a word.
The fireflies in her eyes seemed to be dancing, as if she had many things she wanted to say to her.
Zhou Fuling also found it strange. The last time they were together, she was the one who captivated him, and the two were at each other's throats.
She felt a strong aversion and disgust towards Xu Qingning, and he didn't give her a kind look either, always saying harsh things.
But at this moment, a burning, irritating feeling suddenly welled up in her chest, which she tried hard to suppress.
Suddenly, the image of Xu Qingning jumping in front of the Rain Master in the separated cave flashed through his mind.
Minister Liang: "Let's get going!"
There was another moment of silence between the two, before Xu Qingning spoke first: "You don't have a horse, so get on mine."
...
There was a shower before Zhou Fuling went underground.
Just then, the rain dissipated, leaving only fireflies drifting all around, and the wind and waves whispering softly, like the calm before a storm. The fiery red sunset climbed over the dark mountain edges.
The two of them continued on horseback.
Zhou Fuling sat in front of Xu Qingning, his hand holding the reins, which reminded Zhou Fuling of the ten years they had spent wandering. At first, the two of them had no mounts at all. Later, they obtained a mortal horse improved by the Immortal Alliance by selling goods, and they rode on the road in the same way.
Xu Qingning's long-dormant gaze regained its sparkle at that moment, and he smiled at her. It was rare to see him like this before.
Whether they were both thinking of this experience at the same time or not, the two sat on their horses in silence.
The two of them were also a little surprised, since after Zhou Fuling's identity was exposed, the two of them had been at each other's throats and had never been this close before.
Zhou Fuling turned around, and Xu Qingning just opened her eyes, her face pale, and it was impossible to tell what she had been through.
"You escaped?"
“Yes,” Xu Qingning said in a low voice. “That Rain Master thought himself to be very resourceful, but in reality, he made many mistakes in his formation. I found his mistakes and escaped when his enemies came looking for him.”
It turns out that Xu Qingning was captured by the Rain Master and locked inside the Immortal Imprisonment Mirror, suffering the pain of being silent and without light.
But aside from when he was weak and hallucinating, he was also thinking of countermeasures, figuring out how to escape from the Rain Master quietly.
As the young master of Dongzhou who had encountered countless calamities in the past, this matter was not difficult for Xu Qingning; he only needed to wait for a foolproof opportunity to carry it out.
After another day of suffering in the Immortal Imprisonment Mirror, the Rain Master broke in, intending to torture Xu Qingning to obtain clues about the fourth part.
However, Yu Shi's actions made him many enemies. Xu Qingning had just made up a couple of excuses based on his past experiences when he got into a fight with the Han clan rogue cultivators who came to seek revenge.
The rogue cultivators of the Han tribe were all family members and friends of those killed by the Rain Master in the past. Originally, they were no match for the Rain Master, but Xu Qingning secretly guided them, and they escaped with him amidst the chaos. The rogue cultivators followed him north, where they encountered people from the Fourth Division, and Xu Qingning thus reunited with the Miao Mountain Lord.
Having just met, before the Miao Mountain Master could even tell Zhou Fuling about this, he encountered Liang Bucheng, the Miao Mountain Master's Daoist companion who was searching for a disciple.
Xu Qingning learned from Miao Shanzhu that Zhou Fuling had acquired the new identity of "Lingfu". Seeing that she was being harassed from afar, Xu Qingning understood that it was inconvenient for her to intervene, so she immediately stepped in to save her.
"What happened to you again?" Xu Qingning asked in a low voice after finishing speaking.
His gaze remained fixed on Zhou Fuling's profile.
These past few days, he has been frequently experiencing hallucinations in the Immortal Prison Mirror, and he even dreams of his past time with Zhou Fuling from time to time.
Of course, Xu Qingning wouldn't tell Zhou Fuling about this.
Now that they've met again, Zhou Fuling has lost much of the murderous intent she had before they parted. Xu Qingning felt a strange pang of sorrow welling up in his heart. Zhou Fuling seemed like an old friend he hadn't seen for ten years, and he couldn't help but look at her a few more times.
However, as soon as Zhou Fuling turned her head, he looked away and kept his eyes straight ahead.
Zhou Fuling also smelled the fragrance of osmanthus from the snow-capped mountains emanating from Xu Qingning's green robe. After these past few days of constant danger, smelling this fragrance again made her feel a sense of relief as her tense nerves relaxed.
Zhou Fuling recounted her encounter with Ling Fu, the third part of the conflict, and how she was captured by Ning Bai after impersonating someone else.
However, she was careful not to go into details about what she had seen and heard in the secret realm.
Xu Qingning listened intently the whole way, her expression so serious that she didn't want to miss a single word.
Upon hearing that Zhou Fuling was in danger, he pursed his lips. When he heard about Ning Bai's lewd behavior and Ning Hong's murderous acts, Xu Qingning's eyes filled with disgust. He said that Ning Bai was "greedy, lewd, and violent" and that Ning Hong was "a viper with a heart of stone."
Zhou Fuling also agreed with this.
The two talked for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn. Then another shower started, and the dirt road became increasingly chaotic.
The fourth group halted their northward advance and sent scouts ahead. Meanwhile, those at the rear rested and rode back into the group.
Many eyes fell on Zhou Fuling. Xu Qingning knew that she did not want to see anyone, so she reined in her horse and came to the back, handed Zhou Fuling a green robe, and then looked away slightly.
Zhou Fuling was taken aback. She noticed that the green robe was the style she used to like to wear, with a hood and a shawl that reached her feet, which could cover her figure.
She gripped the green robe tightly with her fingers and put it on. Both of them were dressed in green, blending into the crowd and making them difficult to spot.
Then they heard light footsteps. It was Ling Fu running over with two water pouches.
Xu Qingning's gaze fell on Ling Fu's face. She didn't recognize her, but recalling what Zhou Fuling had said, she guessed that she was the real "Ling Fu" and said "Thank you".
Unexpectedly, after delivering the water pouch, Ling Fu didn't leave. Suddenly, she asked Zhou Fuling, "Who is he to you?"
Xu Qingning was stunned for a moment, and her fingers immediately went numb.
Zhou Fuling remained silent for several breaths.
Xu Qingning remained silent, her lips gradually turning pale.
But Zhou Fuling said, "My senior brother."
Xu Qingning suddenly turned around and looked at her.
"That's also a disciple of Master Miao, how come I've never seen her before?" Ling Fu was now extremely curious about Zhou Fuling's background, looking around anxiously, trying to find out something useful.
Zhou Fuling didn't answer, but sneered. Ling Fu knew when to stop and didn't want to provoke her, so she made her escape.
But when he saw Xu Qingning staring intently at her, Zhou Fuling turned her head away, and he realized that the atmosphere had become a little awkward.
Xu Qingning really wanted to ask Zhou Fuling what she meant by what she just said.
Just one sentence.
It's exhilarating.
Zhou Fuling also wanted to ask Xu Qingning a few questions about what he had done in the cave, but after thinking for a long time, she didn't know what to say and felt uncomfortable. So neither of them spoke.
As they passed a mountain ravine, Xu Qingning reined in his horse, but Zhou Fuling, lost in thought, bumped backward.
Xu Qingning quickly supported her waist, but her head hit her chin hard.
Both of them let out a soft "ouch".
Looking back, Xu Qingning's chin was slightly red, and her eyes seemed to glow with a mystical light under the candlelight.
He seemed to want to raise his hand to rub his chin, but for some reason, he withdrew his hand halfway and instead pursed his lips to maintain a proper sitting posture.
Zhou Fuling also felt strange, as if insects and ants were crawling strangely through her mind. She gritted her teeth and stopped thinking about it.
Along the way, they only looked at the trees and flowers, afraid that someone might be lying in ambush without others noticing.
[Villain's favorability +3%]
[Congratulations, host! Following the separation of the underground cave, the villain's favorability has reached -20%]
Little did they know, Xu Qingning had already gone mad.
It should be noted that the ten days that Xu Qingning and Zhou Fuling were separated were almost unprecedented.
He had thought he and Zhou Fuling were enemies, but over the past ten days, he kept hearing notifications about their favorability.
Why does it not rise when they're together, but rise when they're apart? Is she thinking of him too?
Xu Qingning was convinced that Zhou Fuling deeply hated him, and that hatred was hard to change. However, in the past few days, he couldn't help but feel emotionally turbulent and wanted to see Zhou Fuling to ask her about it.
But once they arrived, they couldn't get a single question out of them.
The blood-red sun gradually rose, and the two moved forward with the sunrise and rested when the wind subsided.
Zhou Fuling dismounted, and Xu Qingning stepped forward to greet her. The two clasped hands together and then withdrew them at the same time.
Xu Qingning lowered his eyes, and Zhou Fuling looked at him.
During the rest period, Master Miao came over and quietly handed Zhou Fuling a cultivation manual.
"What's this?"
Master Miao said in a low voice, "Take a look. In a little while, Minister Liang will probably come to test your abilities as well."
Zhou Fuling: "He doesn't know?"
Miao Mountain Master: "His temperament...it's best not to know."
Zhou Fuling had also heard about Liang Bucheng's straightforward nature.
Zhou Fuling: "If he finds out later, won't he be so angry that he won't want to be your Daoist partner anymore?"
"He dares."
After Master Miao left, Zhou Fuling opened the cultivation manual, which was the basic cultivation method of Yun Ning's disciples. It was similar to the cultivation method engraved in the underground chamber, but not quite the same.
Xu Qingning glanced at the technique discreetly, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but held back.
This technique is similar to the basic method used by disciples of the Eastern Continent. Both are fundamental methods used by beginner disciples and require three to five years to learn. Master Miao gave it to Zhou Fuling so that she could practice it to a basic level within one or two hours.
Xu Qingning pursed his lips tightly... He knew that Zhou Fuling was highly skilled, but this approach was a bit too presumptuous, and the effect was probably not good.
They set off again, with Zhou Fuling sitting behind him, her brows furrowed and her lips moving silently as she memorized and comprehended the cultivation technique.
Since it was a technique he had taught, Xu Qingning couldn't look at it directly, so she only asked Zhou Fuling, "How is it?"
Zhou Fuling fell silent and did not answer.
"Child, child!" At this moment, Minister Liang arrived with his subordinates and disciples, including Qinghu Yue and others.
Just now, Minister Liang had been busy healing Qing Huyue and didn't have time to talk to Zhou Fuling. An hour and a half later, Qing Huyue's complexion improved considerably, and Minister Liang finally had time to come over.
Liang Bu Cheng inquired in detail about Zhou Fu Ling's origins, and Zhou Fu Ling answered each question as agreed.
"Come on," said Minister Liang, raising his hand. "Hit me."
Given the conflict between Minister Liang and the people of the Second Division, it is likely that the Fourth Division will face difficulties at the Yun Ning Grand Competition.
I just want to find out her background and then give her a crash course to improve her skills. If there are any mistakes, I will correct them in time. I will try to catch up with her as long as possible.
Zhou Fuling pursed her lips and raised her palm in the starting stance of Yun Ning Palm Technique.
One must be calm, quiet, and still.
Zhou Fuling struck Liang Bucheng's palm with her palm.
Bang!
Seeing her skill was pure and even, and her movements were upright, Liang Bucheng couldn't help but smile, and the small beads on his beard swayed with her movements.
"good!"
When Liang Bucheng praised her, he retaliated by using a guiding technique, his hands swirling out two gusts of cold wind, his arms circling inwards, aiming directly at Zhou Fuling's face.
Zhou Fuling retreated and fought back fiercely, using Yun Ning techniques to block the wind spell with incantations on one hand and the oncoming pressure on the other.
Liang Bucheng's face grew increasingly grim, and he became more and more anxious and ruthless with each attempt.
Before long, Zhou Fuling was struck hard in the palm and staggered backward. Miao Shanzhu and Xu Qingning helped her up.
Liang Bucheng's expression was inscrutable. He pointed at Zhou Fuling and stared at Miao Shanzhu, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
After a moment, he said, "Is this what you taught? ...A complete mess, a total disaster!"
Liang Bucheng was so angry that his face turned red.
Qinghu Yue and the others also pursed their lips and dared not speak.
It was only because Zhou Fuling's actions just now could indeed be described as "chaotic".
Apart from the first move, which was perfectly executed, the rest of the moves were just basic shapes, full of flaws, and performed like a sixth-rank disciple.
Liang Bucheng was so angry that his beard bristled, and he finally saw through Zhou Fuling's "origins".
This is his elder sister's outer disciple. Her other skills and internal strength might be at the third rank, but her external skills are at most the fifth rank! Now she's using this to make up the numbers in the Yun Ning Grand Competition.
At that point, outsiders will only think it was Liang Bucheng who taught him! The reputation of the fourth part will be completely ruined!!
But considering that Zhou Fuling was only there to make up the numbers and might face huge risks during the competition, Liang Bucheng couldn't say anything and could only try to take back the harsh words he had just blurted out.
"Oh dear... 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one should strive unceasingly!' Xiao Fu, your internal strength is good, but your external skills are practiced too rigidly. You need to practice more." Minister Liang then quietly asked, "How long have you been practicing your basic techniques?"
Zhou Fuling: "One year."
Liang Bu Cheng was somewhat disappointed. To achieve this much in a year with the foundation of other techniques was a sign of insufficient natural talent.
Judging from his training methods, his practice was not solid; he completely disregarded his foundation and practiced haphazardly. This indicates a poor character and is not the kind of disciple that Minister Liang would prefer.
"Brother, what kind of look is that?! Hurry up and give Xiao Fu some pointers!" Master Miao said displeased.
Liang Bucheng sighed, "Alright, Huyue, you give Xiaofu some pointers."
In his opinion, Qinghu Yue's guidance to Ling Fu was sufficient. Miao Shanzhu was dissatisfied but insisted that Liang Bucheng personally provide guidance. Liang Bucheng sighed and agreed: "Alright, alright."
Before long, Qinghu Yue delivered the golden book to Zhou Fuling.
"These are all correction techniques written by Master for Junior Sister. I hope Junior Sister will study them diligently."
On the surface, Qinghu Yue was serious, but in her heart she wanted to laugh and feel sad at the same time. She wanted to laugh because her master had just been completely dumbfounded, staring at the golden book, not knowing where to start writing, and her expression was amusing.
"Ling Fu's Yun Ning technique is almost entirely flawed; it would take at least two years to correct all of them." As Liang Bu Cheng wrote, he kept puffing out his beard and glaring, "This child is hopeless, hopeless."
Qinghu Yue felt sad because she had still held onto some hope of avenging her senior sister in the Yun Ning Grand Competition, but now that her master's wife's disciple, Zhou Fuling, was traveling with her, she had to divide her attention to protect and take care of her, and there were many unthinkable things that could happen.
Zhou Fuling accepted the golden book and thanked Qinghu Yue.
Qinghu Yue: "Take care, Junior Sister Ling."
Sitting on the back of Xu Qingning's horse, Zhou Fuling quietly clenched her fist.
She pursed her lips tightly; she had seen the expressions on everyone's faces just now.
Zhou Fuling also felt a bit resentful.
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