Zongzhu Shen
Asakawa had the same premonition and was pondering how to guard against and take advantage of him when another person flew out of the crowd and landed in front of the small table.
The man was originally dressed in simple cloth clothes and had an ordinary appearance, but his appearance and figure suddenly changed after he landed.
"This person is so beautiful..."
"This is...this is the Fairy of Gentle Flowers!"
"The Soft Flower Fairy?! It really is the Soft Flower Fairy!"
"Why would Fairy Rouhua be here?!"
Fu Buci also wanted to ask.
He stared at the water mirror, gritting his teeth, and said, "I clearly told her to stay behind at Qingyun Immortal Palace, how did she end up here?! What is she trying to do?!"
He looked around, but unfortunately this time, he had nothing left to throw.
You Zang and Ning Changkang both remained silent.
Fu Buci stood up and swept all the vases and ornaments on the table behind him onto the floor.
"She betrayed me too! They all betrayed me!!!"
...
After Su Rourui returned to her original form, she solemnly knelt down before another Chaodu.
A hush fell over the crowd, then a low, excited whisper broke out:
Why is the Fairy of Gentle Flowers kneeling?
"And why didn't she kneel to Xi Su, but instead knelt to someone else? Who exactly is that other person?"
"The person who can sit next to Xi Su must be someone of extraordinary status!"
Both Chao Du and Su Rou Rui looked at the other Chao Du, and the confused and shocked gazes of the crowd also fell on the other Chao Du. The other Chao Du awkwardly waved his hands repeatedly, indicating to Su Rou Rui not to apologize to her in front of so many people, especially for vying for favor... Looking back now, it was too embarrassing.
Su Rourui nodded slightly and said, "I am willing to resign from my position as one of the Six Immortal Attendants and give up all the empty titles. I only hope to join the Immortal Hidden Sect and learn swordsmanship!"
Asahi did not answer, but looked at the other Asahi. The other Asahi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I agree."
When she uttered those three words, she didn't feel the pain of being forced to let her enemy succeed; instead, she felt a sense of relief, as if she had let go.
He let go of the unbearable past of Qingyun Immortal Palace, let go of the hatred for his former rivals who vied for his favor, and let go of the resentment he felt for his foolish and incompetent self back then.
Since Su Rourui sincerely admitted her mistake and was willing to make amends, she agreed to give her a chance. Hatred was too exhausting. Compared to hatred and stagnation in the past, she now wanted to travel light and move quickly to make up for the scenery she had missed and the roads she had taken that she had missed.
Su Rourui came to the table and signed her name, writing the words "Su Ci".
The other one chuckled softly and said sincerely, "I hope we can all have a fresh start."
Su Ci was somewhat surprised, then nodded earnestly: "Thank you..."
"Wait—!"
With a long shout, a group of people carrying heavy swords fell from the airship and rushed straight towards Su Ci.
The leader reached out to pull Su Ci away, but drew his longsword to separate the two and said coldly, "This Miss Su is already a disciple of our Immortal Hidden Sect. What do you want to do?"
The richly dressed man glanced at Xi Su, gritted his teeth, and tried to draw his heavy sword but forcibly restrained himself. His hand creaked as he gripped the hilt. In the end, he could only look at Su Ci through Chao Du's sword and said hatefully, "Rou Rui, are you crazy?!"
Su Ci took the plum blossom pastry and plum blossom wine that Chao Du handed her, smiled and shook her head: "I just want to fulfill a dream of my childhood self."
"What dreams did you have when you were a child?!" Su Shechuan, the head of the Su family, said angrily. "Can't the Su family and the alliance leader help you fulfill your dreams?! Can this mysterious Immortal Hidden Sect and Xi Su help you?!"
Su Ci smiled and said, "Of course I can. I've already confirmed it. Besides, I've told you all about my dream, but none of you cared or took it seriously." Her smile carried a hint of self-deprecation and bitterness.
“Human life has an end, and I have wasted far too long… I have also waited far too long as a child.” Su Ci sighed softly, his gaze becoming increasingly resolute. “Father, my mind is made up, please do not stop me.”
Su Shechuan's voice trembled with anger: "Fine! Very well! You've really grown wings! Sect Master Xi, Sword Immortal Xi! I have a question: Is her cultivation considered to have a weak foundation?!"
Asakawa said matter-of-factly, "Yes, of course it counts. Since you don't let her learn swordsmanship, her foundation in swordsmanship is naturally weak."
Su Ci looked at Chao Du and chuckled, "I'll have to trouble the sect leader to take care of things from now on."
Chao Du sheathed his sword and waved his hand generously: "It's alright, it's alright, please have a seat first. Welcome to the Immortal Hidden Sect."
Su Shechuan was so angry that his face turned black and he trembled all over, but even though he brought a group of people with him, he didn't dare to fight Xi Su.
As he was stuck in this stalemate, suddenly, another group of people landed on the airship and walked in front of him.
"...Sect Leader Shen?" Su Shechuan asked in surprise, then remembered something, suppressed his smile and stepped back, making room for the Shen family, looking like he was waiting to see a good show.
Chao Du sized up this Sect Master Shen. The other party was quite strong, but his expression was a bit off. Combined with Su Shechuan's attitude, he was probably here to cause trouble.
"May I ask what brings Sect Leader Shen here?" Chao Du asked politely.
Another Chaodu gently tugged at Chaodu's sleeve, reminding him, "He is Shen Jincu's father, Shen Chenshan."
"Shen Jincu?" Chao Du blinked, quickly recalling, "Is he the one I saw at the Immortal Alliance that night?"
The other one nodded.
Chen Chenshan's face was grim: "It is my fault for failing to properly educate my daughter. She is a good-for-nothing. A few days ago, she offended Sect Master Xi in the Immortal Alliance."
Judging from his expression, Chao Du sensed that this matter was not so simple.
Sure enough, Chenchen Mountain then looked grief-stricken and said in a hateful voice, "But shouldn't the sect leader have prevented my daughter from falling into demonic possession?!"
A commotion immediately erupted around them, and the crowd took a few steps back, whispering amongst themselves:
"Xi Su has corrupted people to the point of demonic possession?!"
"This is terrifying! I told you long ago that people with such unknown backgrounds are not to be trusted!"
"But I don't think she's that kind of person?"
Behind the water mirror, You Cang coldly looked at Fu Buci: "I remember that when Xi Su took Chao Du away that night, Miss Chen had not yet fallen into demonic possession."
Fu Buci raised the corners of his mouth: "Oh, perhaps you remembered it wrong."
Youzang remained silent for a long time, then slowly shook his head: "Perhaps I made the wrong choice back then."
After speaking, she put down her tea, stood up, and left the room.
Outside Zanmei City.
Chao Du and another Chao Du exchanged a glance and asked in surprise, "Me, I caused Shen Jincu to become possessed? Did Shen Jincu say that? I don't remember doing that."
Chenchenshan said in grief and indignation, "Jincu is dead! How can the Immortal Alliance tolerate demonic cultivators? As soon as my daughter fell into demonic ways, she was immediately executed by the Immortal Alliance! I didn't even get to see her one last time!" Chenchenshan's voice trembled, his eyes were bloodshot, and he hadn't rested in a long time. There were many new white hairs at his temples.
"Sect Leader Xi, you must give me an explanation today!" Chen Chenshan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking ready to draw it at any moment.
Chao Du admired his courage: daring to draw his sword against someone with the title of sword immortal, he probably didn't plan to leave alive today.
Chao Du sighed softly, "Sect Leader Shen, I am not the one who caused your daughter to fall into demonic possession, but I am willing to help you find out the truth and find the real culprit."
"Not you? Then who could it be? This is within the Immortal Alliance!" Chen Chenshan sneered hoarsely. "Besides you, an outsider of unknown origin, who else would have the means to drive someone to demonic possession?!"
Chao Du countered, "So, why was I, an outsider of unknown origin, in the Immortal Alliance that night, and why was I offended by your daughter? Does Sect Master Shen know the true situation that night?"
Chen Chenshan sneered, "I also want to ask, as a sword immortal, why don't you cherish your reputation and instead become the alliance leader's lover! Or is it that your title of sword immortal was bestowed upon you by the alliance leader?!"
The crowd's gaze towards Chao Du instantly changed, turning to either disdain or contempt.
"She's actually the alliance leader's new lover?"
"The alliance leader is so generous, even giving away the title of Sword Immortal!"
"I knew it! Where did this random person come from, suddenly becoming a sword immortal? If it was a gift from the alliance leader, then it makes sense."
"Wait a minute, if she's the Alliance Leader's new lover, why would Fairy Rouhua become her disciple?"
"Ah, that's a good question. Could it be an order from the Alliance Leader? To promote her new sect?"
As Chao Du listened, he laughed in anger: "Hahahaha, Fu Buci gave me the title of Sword Immortal? He can't even get it himself, and he's giving it to me?"
Chen Chenshan waved his hand: "Surround this area first, Xi Su! You must explain yourself today!"
Then Chenchenshan turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd: "Fellow Daoists, I, Chenchenshan, have never asked anyone for help in my life! Today, I beg you all to help me capture Xisu and help me get justice for my daughter!"
Many people responded excitedly:
"Okay! I'll definitely help you with this today!"
"Xi Su, your evil deeds will surely lead to your downfall! She only offended you, how could you cause her to become possessed by demons and take her life?!"
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to be a sword immortal!"
"Wait, Xi Su just said it wasn't her..."
"Are you stupid? Would she admit it in front of so many people? What Sect Leader Shen said makes perfect sense, so it must be her!"
As the crowd drew ever closer, Chao Du sighed helplessly, "Sect Leader Shen hasn't presented any evidence, yet so many people believe him."
Upon hearing this, Chenchenshan pointed his sword at Chaodu and said, "Some members of the Immortal Alliance can testify for me. Do you have any evidence to prove it wasn't you?"
"You want me to prove I didn't do something? That's a bit difficult." Chao Du smiled faintly, drawing his Thousand-Pound Sword an inch from its sheath. The fierce sword energy instantly swept outwards, shattering the swords and weapons of everyone near the small table!
"Wow, that's amazing..."
"My sword!!!"
"Such skill, truly worthy of a sword immortal..."
"Wait a minute, didn't you just say she wasn't a sword immortal?"
The people who surrounded her were momentarily stunned and dared not move forward, but they also did not retreat.
"What are you afraid of! If she dares to shatter the sword, does she dare to kill us?"
"Yes! Make her give Sect Leader Shen an explanation!"
"Give Miss Chen justice!"
"Explain! Explain!"
Chen Chenshan glanced at the broken sword in his hand and said coldly, "Hand over your sword! Come with us to the Immortal Alliance and accept their interrogation! If you are innocent, the Immortal Alliance will give you justice, and I will apologize to you in front of all the fellow Daoists!"
Asakawa lazily stood up: "Alright, it seems we'll only be hiring three people this time. By the way, does anyone want to leave? You can leave anytime now."
Upon hearing this, Su Shechuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately tried to pull Su Ci away. However, Su Ci hid behind Chao Du and firmly said, "Although I don't know who the real culprit is, it's definitely not you. I'm not leaving!"
Chao Du drew the Thousand-Jin Sword another inch and smiled at Su Shechuan: "Sect Leader Su, did you hear that? Please return!"
Su Shechuan's face turned pale, and he said angrily, "What kind of sleeping potion did you use on my daughter?!"
Chao Du ignored him and turned to look at the other two new disciples: "What about you?"
Liang Yue looked at Chao Du with her clear eyes and said without hesitation, "I believe in the sect leader's character, I believe in my own judgment, and I believe even more in the judgment of the twelve divine swords on the ninth floor of the Immortal Tower."
Chao Du raised an eyebrow slightly: This person is really good at talking. Actually, he is the one she wants to leave the most, but unfortunately he refuses to leave.
Finally, it was Sui Xi's turn. She had been looking around hesitantly, but after hearing Liang Yue's words, she said firmly, "I also trust the judgment of the twelve divine swords, and I'm really grateful that you're willing to give me this opportunity. I want to trust you... It really wasn't you who did it, was it?"
Chao Du laughed and said, "Of course not, I guarantee it, I swear on my Thousand-Pound Sword, it wasn't me."
"You swear by your sword? You've tarnished the name of the Sword Immortal!" Chen Chenshan roared angrily, pointing at Chao Du's nose. "You either go to the Immortal Alliance for interrogation, or you'll pay for my daughter's life right here!"
"Enough—!"
Another Chaodu slowly stood up, coldly looking at Chenchenshan: "Sect Master Shen wants to know the truth about that night, so I'll tell you!"
Chao Du frowned: "No need. Doing so will expose your identity. I can take you out first. They won't dare to chase you to Gray Wasteland. There will be opportunities to clear things up later."
"Did you hear that?! She's trying to escape with her people!"
"Stop her!"
Hey you in the back! Can I borrow your sword?
"Calm down, there's a real possibility it's not her!"
The other Chao Du seemed oblivious to the commotion. She placed her hand on her mask, looked at Chao Du, and smiled, "I can't stand them trying to smear you. You've protected me so many times, I want to protect you this time too! Sect Leader Shen, do you still recognize me?"
Another person removed their mask.
"Those are demonic markings on her face!"
"She's possessed by a demon!!!"
"But why doesn't she have any demonic energy on her?"
"Quickly call the Immortal Alliance! There really is a demonic cultivator here!!!"
"I am from the Immortal Alliance! Everyone, stand back!"
Some people in the crowd moved forward while others retreated, but Chen Chenshan stood there in astonishment: "You, you are the Alliance Leader's wife, Chao Du?!"
Everyone else was stunned when they heard this:
"Huh? She's the Alliance Leader's wife?!"
"What exactly is going on? Why is the Alliance Leader's wife next to Xi Su?"
"They didn't actually fight?"
"The Alliance Leader's wife has actually fallen into demonic possession?!"
"It doesn't look like it at all! There's not a trace of demonic energy in it."
Another Chao Du nodded: "That's right. That night, Shen Jinzu didn't clash with her, but with me. No, it can't be called a clash. I just happened to see Fu Buci and Shen Jinzu having a secret meeting. That's when I realized that Fu Buci had long wanted to replace her with someone else as the Alliance Leader's wife. Our years of relationship were like a joke... In my despair, my Dao heart collapsed and I fell into demonic possession. It was Xi Su who rescued me."
Silence fell over the crowd.
Chen Chenshan was stunned for a moment, then immediately asked, "What about my daughter? Why did she become possessed by a demon?!"
Another Chao Du shook his head: "I don't know. After I fell into demonic possession, Xi Su immediately took me away from the Immortal Alliance to save me. Neither Xi Su nor I laid a hand on Shen Jinzu."
"No, impossible! Then who else would target Shen Jinzu?!" Chen Chenshan was on the verge of collapse.
Chao Du suddenly asked, "Sect Leader Shen, who told you that I was the one who caused Shen Jinzu to fall into demonic possession?"
Chenchen Mountain murmured, "The sick chess player... He lied to me?"
Another Chao Du's face turned pale: "The sick chess player Ning Changkang, he is Fu Buci's strategist. Could it be that Fu Buci is the culprit? Wasn't it enough that he made me fall into demonic possession, he also wanted to make Shen Jinzu fall into demonic possession to frame you?!"
No one dared to answer, except for Chao Du who sighed, "It's hard to say. In any case, Sect Leader Shen, please investigate further and give your daughter the real justice."
Chao Du raised his hand and released a white jade crane. The crane flapped its wings and its body suddenly grew several times larger. Chao Du, along with another Chao Du, leaped onto the crane's back, and the other three new disciples of the Immortal Hidden Sect also jumped on.
The white crane spread its wings and took flight, and no one dared to stop it.
Only after the white crane flew away did someone come to their senses and ask:
"Wait a minute, the Alliance Leader's wife has fallen into demonic possession, are we just going to let her go like this?"
"Who cares about that now..."
"And who can stop Xi Su? She was able to take the Alliance Leader's wife away from the Immortal Alliance right in front of the Alliance Leader. In other words, the Alliance Leader is no match for her, and so many people in the Immortal Alliance are no match for her!"
"That was terrifying. She really didn't mean to kill us." Someone said, still shaken.
Some people kept nodding: "She may indeed have a good temper, just as she says."
"So what exactly is her relationship with the Alliance Leader's wife? Why is she helping the Alliance Leader's wife?"
"I don't know, but they look so alike, maybe they're sisters?"
…………
Behind the water mirror, Fu Buci's smile vanished, and he raised his eyes to look at Ning Changkang with a gloomy expression.
Ning Changkang's smile vanished, and he said, "Alliance Leader, I know what you're planning, but if you kill me and make me take the blame, you'll have very few of your Six Immortal Attendants left. You Cang left just now, and he probably won't be coming back."
Fu Buci smiled sinisterly and said, "Then do you have any better ideas now?"
Ning Changkang coughed for a moment and said weakly, "If Sect Leader Shen wants an explanation, then give him an explanation. For example, have Shi Zhuan find a real demonic cultivator. It's all because this demonic cultivator wants to sow discord between us and Xi Su and Sect Leader Shen."
Fu Buci's expression softened slightly: "Indeed, this demonic cultivator is clever. I'll go find Shi Zhuan now."
After Fu Buci left, Ning Changkang spat at the door that Fu Buci hadn't closed, and then coughed for a long time because he couldn't catch his breath.
...
On the white jade crane, another woman, Chao Du, rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she looked at the surrounding mountains and rivers, clearly in a good mood.
Chao Du sat lazily beside her and sighed with a smile, "Now look what's happened, everyone knows you've fallen into demonic possession and that you've broken up with Fu Buci."
Another Chao Du calmly nodded: "So what if I'm a demon? So what if we break up? They won't dare chase me into Gray Wasteland Ridge anyway, and I don't plan to be the Alliance Leader's wife anymore. Besides, I can finally help you this once!"
Chao Du turned his head to look at her, as if he were seeing a diseased tree that was once on the verge of withering, but now it has sprouted new branches and leaves and is growing vigorously towards the sun. Perhaps in the future it will grow into a towering tree.
Another person said, "If only I had been able to let go of this a few years earlier... Oh well, let's move on!"
She pointed ahead and exclaimed happily, "Look, how vast the world is ahead!"
Behind her, Su Rourui stared at her back in a daze: She had changed so much, from the sorrow and bitterness of the past to the carefree and cheerful one now, she was practically reborn.
I admire you so much, I'm so envious. Will I ever have that day?
Su Rourui suddenly stood up, walked to the other Chao Du, and solemnly knelt down, her forehead touching the ground.
"I have done many things that have wronged you, and I am truly sorry. I used any means necessary to win your favor for the sake of my family and myself, and now I realize how wrong I was. I am willing to spend the rest of my life making up for those mistakes. Please give me another chance!"
Another person reached out and helped her up: "As long as you're willing to change, let bygones be bygones. I was pretty foolish back then too. Now, we can start over. It's great that we can start over."
As the other Chaodu spoke, he looked up at Chaodu. Su Ci, hearing the second half of the sentence, also looked at Chaodu and replied with a smile, "Yes, thanks to this person."
Asawa, suddenly met with the two's earnest and grateful gazes, thought, "?"
Then she smiled and said, "Okay, I did contribute a little, but I only brought about the opportunity. The change was something you created yourselves. Even if I had never been here, or even if I had left later, you could still make changes if you wanted to."
"...Wait, leave?!" The other Asakawa was stunned, then asked excitedly, "You're leaving?!"
Asaka quickly reassured her, "Don't get excited. The time hasn't been set yet. It's just a possibility in the future, and it might stay for a long time." Or maybe there's only a short time left. In any case, let her be prepared.
Chao Du and Su Ci remained silent, Sui Xi looked bewildered, only Liang Yue curiously pressed, "The sect leader is leaving? Where is the sect leader going?"
Chao Du smiled, feigning mystery: "Go where I need to go. Alright, we're almost at the Immortal Hidden Sect. I'll show you around in a bit, and you can each choose a building you like to stay in."
Sui Xi exclaimed in surprise: "One person, one floor?"
Another person nodded: "Anyway, there are so many buildings that we can't live in them all. We can stay in any building and change buildings every day."
Sui Xi: "...! I used to share a room with two or three disciples. Only when I became an inner disciple could I have a room by myself, and only when I became an elder could I live on a floor by myself."
Liang Yue laughed and said, "The Immortal Hidden Sect is truly generous. When I was recuperating in the mountains, I lived in a thatched hut for ten years. Now I can finally move around more often."
Another Asakawa smiled at his bright, innocent eyes. Asakawa coughed lightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a long, blue thing rushing out of the lake not far away and heading straight for the white jade crane.
Su Ci exclaimed in surprise: "That's... a dragon?! There's actually a dragon in Gray Wasteland?!"
Another person named Chao Du, who had asked the same question before, calmly replied, "Nothing in Gray Wasteland is rare. Don't worry, we know him."
Sui Xi watched the dragon approaching with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Liang Yue stared intently at the dragon, her smile widening as she said, "This Gray Wasteland is truly a place where dragons and tigers dwell. It's incredibly interesting."
Blue Dragon rushed to the white jade crane, nearly knocking it over in his excitement. He then transformed into human form and landed on the crane's back. Looking at Chao Du with reddened eyes, he exclaimed excitedly, "You're finally back!!!"
Asaka repeatedly comforted him, "You're back, you're back... I was only gone for less than a day to take care of some business. You're quite fast, you're back in less than seven days, without a break at all?"
Long Youlan nodded, looking at Chaodu with a resentful expression: "I went and came back quickly, but when I came back I couldn't get into that umbrella. I couldn't break it no matter how hard I tried. There was no movement inside after trying for a long time, so I had to go back to the lake first. I thought I was going to wait at the bottom of the lake until I died of old age."
Chao Du: "I was wrong, I was wrong. Once we reach the mountaintop, I will immediately break the seal and rescue your prince."
Liang Yue's smile deepened.
Long Youlan snorted: "Fine, I forgive you. By the way, thank you. The little monsters by the lake told me that you didn't hurt them and that you would protect them... I was so excited when I heard about His Highness that day that I only remembered that they hadn't been settled yet when I was halfway there. But it would take too much time to come back. Besides, I told them before that if I'm not around or if I lose a fight and get killed, they can just leave."
He smiled happily, revealing his little tiger teeth: "I didn't expect you to be such a reliable person."
Chao Du patted him on the shoulder: "It's good that you know I'm reliable. Alright, we're here. Chao Du, why don't you show them around and introduce them to our sect?"
The other one nodded: "Leave it to me."
After everyone jumped off the crane, Chaodu put the crane away and glanced at the still bright sky: "When the fireworks light up the sky at dusk, come to the lakeside pavilion to meet and have a meal together. I will give each of you a real initiation gift."
Long Youlan asked in surprise, "A gift? You're so generous!"
Chao Du smiled at him and said, "Sorry, you're the only one who doesn't have one. Would you like to join our Immortal Hidden Sect? You can join if you do."
"Huh? I'm a demon, isn't it inappropriate for me to join a human sect?" Long Youlan shook her head in refusal, then added urgently, "Let's save His Highness first! Everything can be discussed after that!"
"Okay, come with me." Chao Du led him to an empty small building by the lake.
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