Make up
Qu Qian stormed out of Jinxian Courtyard and headed straight for Xianju Palace. After injuring and knocking away several guards, Fu Buci appeared, sword in hand, and questioned him with extreme displeasure: "What are you trying to do? Do you want to die in Qingyun Immortal Palace?"
"The Alliance Leader knows perfectly well what he did last night!" Qu Qian smiled, sword in hand, his gaze fixed coldly on Fu Buci.
The guards beside him exchanged glances. Fu Buci realized something, frowned, and ordered, "Come in and speak."
The human, the demon, and Chaodu all entered the Immortal Abode Palace.
Fu Buci asked first, "What exactly happened? Did something happen to Xiao Wang?"
Qu Qian clapped his hands and said sarcastically, "The Alliance Leader's acting is really good! It was clearly the Alliance Leader who sent people to steal the child last night, but now he's pretending to be innocent. I wonder if any expert in the cultivation world can penetrate the layers of formations on this box without anyone noticing? Could you let me meet him and broaden my horizons?"
Fu Buci's brows furrowed even more deeply: "Xiao Wang is lost?"
Qu Qian chuckled: "Why pretend to be confused, Alliance Leader! Wasn't it you who sent people to steal it? Isn't the Alliance Leader hoping that Xiao Wang will disappear so that you can turn around and control my demon race?"
Fu Buci's eyes flickered. He did have this plan, but he didn't plan it so soon.
He sneered, "Even if I had that intention, I wouldn't have let him disappear in Qingyun Immortal Palace. Are you afraid you won't suspect me?"
Qu Qian clapped again and praised, "The Alliance Leader is indeed a smart man. By becoming the prime suspect, he has actually cleared his own name. That's brilliant! I must learn from the Alliance Leader how to do things the other way around."
Fu Buci laughed angrily: "Since you say I did it, do you have any evidence?"
Qu Qian smiled and said, "That's why the Alliance Leader is so clever, and his subordinates are also remarkable, as they didn't leave a single trace."
“Because I didn’t do it! But you…” Fu Buci narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down, “You are the one who is suspected of crying wolf.”
Qu Qian raised an eyebrow: "Oh? So, Alliance Leader, unable to win an argument with me, you're resorting to blaming me? What good will that do me?!"
Fu Buci paced around him, carefully observing the changes in his expression: "Pretend to lose the child first, then hide it, and take it out again when you want to threaten me later. Isn't this your original plan?"
"How could that be?" Qu Qian denied, but looked away. This was indeed his original plan, but he was not the one who did it last night.
“You’re feeling guilty,” Fu Buci pointed out his weakness.
Qu Qian: "...Alright, to be honest, I did have that plan, but I really didn't do it last night. I was planning to hide him away after I left Qingyun Immortal Palace."
The two exchanged glances, and Fu Buci sneered, "Looks like it's really lost?"
Qu Qian: "It seems so... Who else stole it? What do we do next?"
Fu Buci replied without hesitation, "Find them, no matter what, we must find them. You contact the demon race to search, and I'll contact the cultivation world."
Qu Qian nodded and suggested, "We can send people to search the nearby mountains and lakes first, as the snake clan likes to go to these places."
Fu Buci: "I don't need you to remind me. Just do your own thing. But I'm afraid I can't give you what I promised to the demon race yesterday."
Qu Qian said irritably, "We should be grateful that the Alliance Leader didn't make our demon race pay any more. However, there are probably very few people in the world who can take away the living creature in this box silently. Alliance Leader, do you know anyone in the cultivation world who has this ability?"
A name suddenly flashed through Fu Buci's mind.
Ying confused.
Or rather, Xi Su.
This person is extremely skilled in concealment; perhaps he has such an ability. Could it be him? What is his purpose? Could it be that he hasn't left the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace these past few days, or perhaps he was even present when he had his secret meeting with the Dragon Clan envoy last night?
"The Alliance Leader doesn't seem to be in a good mood. Who did you think of? It seems this person doesn't have a good relationship with the Alliance Leader?" Qu Qian asked sarcastically.
Fu Buci snapped out of his daze and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "This has nothing to do with you. Go back and remember to keep the news under wraps. If this gets out of hand, it won't look good for anyone."
After the demon envoy left, Fu Buci said bitterly, "Yinghuo, Xisu... they're like persistent ghosts!" They haunted him like a nightmare.
Asahi returned to Qinse Palace in a good mood, while the other Asahi was still asleep, after all, he had suffered such a serious injury yesterday.
Chao Du went to the side hall to cultivate. At noon, he went to check if the other Chao Du had woken up, only to find that Fu Buci was also there.
He also affectionately put his arm around the other girl's shoulder and fed her medicine spoonful by spoonful, gently instructing her, "These medicines are bitter, but they will help you get better quickly. Don't be childish and refuse to take the bitter medicine."
After feeding her the medicine, he personally pinched a candied fruit and handed it to the other girl, Chao Du, looking at her with a gentle smile: "My Du'er is the best."
Asawari: "...Chijun, have we arrived in another world again?"
Thousand-Pound Sword: "...I'm not sure, it could also be a ghost."
Chao Du left the room, flew to the rooftop, felt the intense midday sun, and went back inside. There she saw another Chao Du clinging to Fu Buci's arm, acting coquettishly, her face full of sweet happiness.
Although she didn't look as well as before, after all, she had been seriously injured yesterday, but she was in much better spirits than before, and her eyes were bright and sparkling, reflecting Fu Buci's gentle smile.
Asawari: "Okay, it's confirmed that it's still this world."
"I bought some new clothes yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to wear them to show you yet," the other Asakawa said, rubbing against his arm and sighing.
Fu Buci gently twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, caressing it intimately, and comforted her, saying, "No rush, let's talk about it after you've recovered. We have a long future ahead of us. But there's something you must tell me: who hurt you like this? I'll avenge you."
"Is this really true?" Another Asakawa looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Fu Buci nodded: "It's true."
"Then..." The other Chao Du cautiously observed his expression, lowered his voice, and asked hesitantly, "Actually, you don't need to take revenge, but in the future, can the accounts under your name at Feng Yu Lou be used only by me?"
Fu Buci was stunned at first, then realized something, his expression was awkward for a moment, and then he pretended to be surprised: "Originally, only you could use it, who else could use it?"
Another Asakawa: "?!"
Asawa: "..." Guess why he was embarrassed just now? He was lying to you!
But the other Chaodu couldn't hear the cry in Chaodu's heart. She first hugged Fu Buci with surprise and joy: "I knew it! That account was opened specifically for me back then. How could you let those bitches use it!"
Fu Buci: "...That's right."
Asakawa: Look at him! Look at him! He turned his head away guiltily, avoiding eye contact!
The other Chaodu still didn't hear the inner cry of Chaodu, nor did she notice Fu Buci's guilty conscience. She said angrily, "Damn Fengyu Tower, how much money have they swindled from us over the years!"
Fu Buci also said angrily, "I thought all those expenses for Fengyu Tower were for clothes you bought, but I didn't expect someone to be impersonating you! Alright, leave the Fengyu Tower matter to me. I will investigate every single account over the years and make them pay what they owe!"
Another woman looked at him with longing, her eyes filled with sweet tenderness: "Bu Ci, they all say you've changed over the years."
Fu Buci sneered: "Who said that? Cut out their tongues."
The other one smiled and nestled in his arms: "Actually, I felt the same way, but it's good that you've changed back now."
Fu Buci: "...It's my fault that you feel something has changed."
"Then do you want to cut off my tongue?" another Asakawa asked with a smile.
Fu Buci kissed the corner of her lips, his voice slightly hoarse: "Then I can't bear to."
Chao Du left silently and went back to the rooftop to sunbathe.
After Fu Buci left, Chao Du, feeling warm and cozy from the sun, went inside and heard another version of herself exclaim with delight, "You've finally arrived! Where have you been since last night? Why are you only coming now?"
Asakawa: "...Sunbathing." So she didn't even realize she'd been there.
Another one smiled and said, "I've noticed you quite like the sun and moon. You bask in the sun during the day and the moon at night? Is that helpful for cultivation?"
Asawari: "...That's right." What else could I say?
"Then when I recover, I will cultivate like this too." Another Chao Du lay on the bed, looking at the top of the bed curtains, smiling happily. "You know, I am so happy right now. Even if it's fake, even if it's like drinking poison to quench thirst, I am so happy."
Asawari: "...You know everything."
Another person nodded: "Yes, I know, but since he's still willing to lie to me, I'm willing to pretend I don't know either."
Asakawa: "..." Headache.
Another person, Chao Du, said happily, "And don't you feel it? He seems to have really changed recently. If he really changes back, then all these years of waiting will have been worth it! But... I know I've disappointed you."
She looked at Chaodu and said earnestly, "Give up on me, leave this place, you deserve a wider world."
Chao Du looked at her, and her eyes were filled with unease, anxiety, and guilt.
“I feel that I am not worth you spending so much time helping me,” another Chao Du said, her eyes lowered and her smile bitter. “I could never master your swordsmanship, nor could I ever reach your level of cultivation. You should also understand that the difference between us is already too great.”
Asawa walked towards her and said, "I'm not trying to make you like me."
The other Asakawa was stunned. Asakawa sat down next to her, took her hand, and said gently, "I just don't want you to live such a painful life. I hope you can be truly happy and joyful, without having to deceive yourself or pretend."
The other one, Asakawa, moved his lips slightly but couldn't speak, though tears welled up in his eyes.
Asakawa wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips and said, "You don't need to feel any pressure. I have enough patience to help myself. I'll do it a thousand times over, I won't be in a hurry, and I won't regret it. I just want you to be truly happy."
Another Asakawa suddenly hugged her. Asakawa hugged her back, patted her back gently, and whispered, "You can try more things. If you're really not satisfied, then continue. When you feel at peace, then change your path. I'll always be here. Don't be afraid, don't rush. But I suggest that after you recover, you continue practicing swordsmanship every day, even if it's just to strengthen your body. Health is so important, and maybe as you practice, you'll discover a new path."
“Yes!” The other Asawa hugged Asawa tightly. “I’ll continue once I’m healed. This time, I won’t give up the sword. Thank you.”
Asaka patted her head and smiled, "There's no need for formalities between us. You should get some rest."
Another Asawata: "Hmm!"
…………
"That idiot Si Ruxian actually told her that there were other people using it under her name."
Fu Buci's face darkened, and he summoned a guard, "Go tell Si Ruxian to sort out the accounts, and from now on, only Chao Du can use those accounts."
Guard: "Yes! And those who have the Emerald Feather Token..."
Fu Buci rolled her eyes at him: "Is that even a question? Just open another account."
bodyguard: "...Yes!"
…………
Over the next few days, Chaodu cultivated daily, accumulating spiritual power.
While the other woman was recuperating in Chaodu, Fu Buci would often visit her and try to cheer her up, and their relationship seemed to be getting better and better.
Fu Buci has been very busy lately. He has to appease more than just his wife. However, when some of his "understanding ladies" stopped being so perceptive, failed to see their place, and even started having ridiculous fantasies, he became too lazy to appease them anymore and simply sent someone to deal with them. After all, he had an important matter to attend to recently—the cultivation world was about to hold the once-in-a-decade New Sword Trial Competition to select new talents for the cultivation world.
This is the first one he has organized since becoming the leader of the Immortal Alliance, and also the first one since the great war between the immortals, demons, and monsters that severely damaged the cultivation world ten years ago. If it can be successfully held and talents can be selected, it can solve the problem of the shortage of people that has been giving him a headache, and it can also demonstrate the strength of the cultivation world and deter the three demons and monsters that are eager to make trouble. It is of great importance.
But the restless demon envoys indicated that the demon race also wanted to participate this time.
There had never been such a precedent before. After several rounds of discussions with the Six Immortal Attendants and the elders of the Immortal Alliance, Fu Buci decided to agree to the demon race's request.
Firstly, they cannot show weakness, otherwise the demon race will become even more arrogant, and it may even trigger a new war. Secondly, this is a rare opportunity to test the strength of the new talents on both sides, which will have a significant impact on the cooperation between the two sides for the next ten years. Thirdly, for the Demon Lord and the Ghost King, this almost means that the cultivation world and the demon race have temporarily cooperated and formed an alliance, and the cultivation world should be able to maintain stability for a period of time... right?
During an internal discussion within the Immortal Alliance, You Zang said, "The preliminary location for this year's New Sword Trial Competition is set at the border between the cultivation world and the demon race. However, the exact location still needs to be discussed with the demon race. The competition rules and events also need to be revised. The previous event of finding and subduing demons will definitely have to be removed. In addition, a demon race envoy suggested that the age limit for participants should also be redefined. The previous age limit of two hundred years for participants is too low for the demon race, because the demon race has a transformation period. Two hundred years is not even enough time for many demons to transform."
An elder from the Immortal Alliance said, "What they said makes sense, but in this way, the upper age limit for the demon race participants will be much higher than ours. However, some demons transform quickly, and they have more time to cultivate. Isn't this unfair to our disciples?"
Ning Changkang agreed with this point: "Within the demon race, there are also great differences between various demons, so setting a specific age limit is a problem. If the demon race decides for itself, they will definitely favor their own demons and try every means to set a high age limit. Also, the part about finding and subduing demons doesn't necessarily have to be deleted. We can change the format, for example, by having each side send twenty people to play hide-and-seek in the mountains. Whoever finds and defeats the most of the other side wins."
Fu Buci listened impatiently: "Just list the main points, and let the Immortal Alliance and the Demon Clan discuss the specific details one by one." He only hoped that more talented people would emerge. Ten years ago, the cultivation world suffered a great loss of vitality. Although he was the leader of the Immortal Alliance, he had too few people he could use.
Not only are there few capable people, but these people are also extremely useless and incompetent. For example, recently, they couldn't even find two snakes with extremely low cultivation levels!
During this period, Mount Wenxuan, where the Immortal Alliance is located, was brightly lit day and night, with the lights at night being even brighter than the stars in the night sky.
Chao Du noticed this, and Su Rou Rui often shared relevant information with her. Chao Du asked the other Chao Du, "Why don't you get involved too?"
Another person, Chao Du, said awkwardly, "He hasn't let me get involved in these things for many years, saying he's afraid I'll get tired. I'm also afraid I won't do a good job and will cause him trouble, but if you want me to give it a try, then I'll give it a try."
Asakawa encouraged him, "Give it a try. With me here, there won't be any major problems."
“Alright! Then I’ll discuss it with him when he comes tonight.” The other Chao Du made up his mind, then suddenly remembered something, turned around and picked up a jade box from the table. When he opened it, the inside was sparkling with pearls, gleaming with gold and jade, and full of dazzling treasures.
"Look! These are the gifts he gave me last night. He picked out each one himself, saying I should use them to match my new dress." Another woman, Chao Du, stroked the various hairpins in the box and chuckled, her eyes crinkling with a gentle, happy smile. "It's like a dream. I've waited so many years, and finally he's changed his mind. Oh, and he even personally taught me the Memory Sword Technique recently. This is the first time in so many years!"
Asakawa nodded and smiled, "That's good."
As she said, it was like a dream, except that dreams always end. Fu Buci hadn't really changed; he just wanted to use the New Sword Trial Tournament as an opportunity to maintain and promote his good reputation.
He personally fed Chaodu medicine a few days ago, and the whole cultivation world knew about it the next day. He sent Chaodu this box of jewelry last night, and by this morning alone, Chaodu had already heard several people in the Immortal Palace talking about it. These news spread faster than if they had legs. Now, both humans and demons are praising the Alliance Leader for his deep affection and loyalty over the years, and for his unwavering devotion to the Alliance Leader's wife.
However, some people become so engrossed in their dreams that they are unwilling to wake up, and even forget that it is a dream.
Since dreams always end, why rush to shatter them? Besides, some things can't be rushed.
The other one, Chao Du, happily put away the box and carefully placed it away, then said, "Then I'll go prepare for tonight's dinner."
Chao Du: "A dinner party?"
Another one, Chao Du, laughed and said, "Yes, it'll be easier for him to talk if there's something delicious to eat. Besides, he hasn't tasted my cooking in a long time. This time, I'm going to make some of his favorite dishes to win over his stomach and his heart!"
…………
As the moon peeked out from behind the Jade Palace, a small table was set up in the main hall of the Qinse Palace, with six dishes and two soups on it, all made by another Chaodu himself, and all of which were Fu Buci's favorites.
She had been busy with this for most of the day. Although she was tired, she kept a smile on her face, hoping that Fu Buci would like the dishes, praise her cooking skills, and love her even more because of it.
After finishing her meal, Chaodu changed into a dress she had bought from Fengyulou. It was a light blue long dress with sleeves like butterfly wings, gentle yet playful, exquisite yet not overly ornate, making her look like a begonia under the moon.
She also wore her hair in a single bun, with the gold hairpin he had just given her adorning it.
While waiting for Fu Buci to arrive, another Chao Du sat at one side of the table, resting his chin on his hand and gazing at the dishes with a gentle and happy expression, as if he had already glimpsed a moment of blissful time with his lover.
However, the candles in the palace grew shorter and shorter, and the moon in the sky had fully revealed its bright face, but the lover she was waiting for had not yet arrived.
"He's been coming every night lately, why hasn't he come tonight?" Another woman, Chao Du, stared blankly at the dishes, muttering to herself, "Is he particularly busy today? Probably, he couldn't have gone to see those sluts again, could he?"
Chao Du, who was cultivating nearby, closed her eyes and sighed softly. Look, she didn't even need to expose the dream. As soon as Fu Buci acted slightly off, she would quickly recall the realities outside the dream that had caused her so much pain.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Another Asakawa, his expression growing increasingly pained, seemed to recall something. "What is he doing? Who is he seeing? Why hasn't he come yet?!"
Suddenly, she looked up sharply at Chaodu, a hint of madness in her eyes: "I'm going to find him! I can't just wait here like this. I want to see with my own eyes what he's doing, which slut he's seeing! If he's really doing something important, then I'll go with him, just like many years ago. He shouldn't refuse, right?"
Chao Du hesitated, "This..." What if Fu Buci saw her again, just like last time... Could she accept it?
"Please!" Another Asakawa suddenly stood up, ran to her side, grabbed her sleeve and pleaded, "Help me! Some things don't cease to exist just because I don't know them. In that case, I might as well know them clearly!"
Seeing that she was determined to go, Asahi reluctantly agreed.
The two travelers set off, leaving Qinse Palace, and first arrived at the dimly lit Xianju Palace. The guards told them that the Alliance Leader had not yet returned and should still be in the Immortal Alliance.
"Still in the Immortal Alliance...? That's good." The other Chao Du felt a little relieved and left the Immortal Abode Palace.
Once she had walked a little further away, when no one was around, she whispered to Chao Du, "Actually, those guards weren't sure where he was either, and there's even a possibility that they were lying to me. This has happened before... Could you take me to the Immortal Alliance to take a look? If he's really busy with important matters at the Immortal Alliance, I'll be completely relieved."
Chao Du sighed helplessly. Seeing her restless state, he felt sorry for her and agreed to her request.
The two then rode the Golden Jade Lovebirds to the Immortal Alliance.
At the summit of Mount Xuan, bright lights illuminated the magnificent gates of the Immortal Alliance. Another Chao Du presented a specially made Cloud Token to the Immortal Alliance guards to prove his identity and inquired whether Fu Buci was within the Immortal Alliance.
The guards at the entrance of the Immortal Alliance exchanged quick glances, and one of them replied, "The Alliance Leader hasn't left the Immortal Alliance yet, but..."
Another Asakawa: "But what?"
Another guard next to the first one nudged him with his elbow and answered for him, "It's nothing, it's nothing!"
Chao Du felt something was amiss.
Another person, Chao Du, also sensed something was wrong and pressed, "What happened?!"
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