Chapter 71
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Chapter 71: Title
“You should return to Sanqing.”
Hearing this, Yan Li abruptly raised her head. Her mind churned with chaotic thoughts before she finally defied her elder in a weak murmur, “I won’t go back.”
Xia Shi had anticipated Yan Li’s refusal but hadn’t expected such direct opposition.
“Because of Lu Ciyou?”
She’d noticed how Yan Li’s care for the young lady had long transcended mere gratitude. In unnoticed moments, Yan Li’s gaze softened with unmistakable tenderness when watching the noblewoman.
“…No.” Yan Li lowered her lashes, the lie bitter on her tongue.
Xia Shi gave a humorless laugh. “Then why?”
Silence stretched as Yan Li stared at the ground. After an eternity, she rasped, “My Master ordered me to guard you.”
“Guard me?” Xia Shi’s knuckles tapped the table. The hollow thuds shattered Yan Li’s fragile composure. “Without your Golden Core? Look around – we’re trapped in wolves’ territory where even a scratch could be fatal. Should I waste energy shielding you instead?”
The brutal words drained color from Yan Li’s face. No rebuttal remained.
She was worthless.
Her fingers clawed at her knees, manicured nails biting crescents into her palms. The pain anchored her.
“Return to Sanqing. Reforge your Golden Core – that’s your only path.” Xia Shi flicked spiritual power at Yan Li’s bleeding hands. “Release.”
Muscles unclenched. Yan Li met her gaze, resolve hardening. “I can’t.”
Xia Shi’s patience frayed. “If clinging to Lu Ciyou chains you here, I’ll exile you both.”
The barb struck true, yet Yan Li stood firm. Since when did Senior Sister Sect Leader’s model disciple grow such defiance?
“This isn’t about her.” Yan Li laid Broken Stream between them. “Fairy Lord Lingyang’s commission remains unfulfilled.”
“Commission?”
“In Qingyun City of the mortal realm – a place she guarded for decades. She tasked me to investigate her wife’s death and trace someone called Pei Jiu.”
Xia Shi’s attention sharpened. “Repeat that name.”
Pei Jiu? Why would Lingyang Jun pursue this? The disciple’s hesitation suggested she’d misheard, but the repetition came:
“Pei… Pei Jiu.”
“Pei Jiu.” Darkness pooled in Xia Shi’s gaze. This name had haunted the world for a millennium.
“Master Fan knows her?” Yan Li ventured.
“Too well.” Spiritual energy flared. The stone table disintegrated into dust. A cold wind scattered the debris – and Xia Shi’s fury.
That name festered in her heart, an inoperable thorn poisoning every moment.
“I’ll investigate Pei Jiu’s matter.” Xia Shi suppressed her turbulent emotions and glanced sideways at Lu Ciyou and Suiyin nearby. The pair had been watching them, but turned guiltily toward the cherry tree when met with her gaze.
“You and Lu Ciyou must return.”
“But—”
“Guard Sanqing Realm well.”
Yan Li froze, perplexed. “What do you mean, Master Fan?”
With the sect leader and elders present, what could she possibly do there?
Even after receiving the Senior Sister Sect Leader’s reply, Xia Shi’s unease lingered. Sending Yan Li back would ease her mind.
“The Thirteen Ghost Domains have likely mobilized fully. With Nine Realms’ disciples scattered everywhere, our defenses will weaken.” She avoided mentioning the Glazed Purification Brush – fewer people knowing meant better security.
Understanding dawned on Yan Li, her face hardening.
“Master Fan,” she murmured dejectedly, “my Golden Core’s gone. I’d be useless there.”
Xia Shi: “…”
_Did I tell you to go back and fight!?_
“Enough. I’ll send you both back to Sanqing.”
She strode toward the cherry tree, Yan Li trailing silently behind.
“Master Fan…”
The girl tried again.
A sharp sideways glance from Xia Shi silenced her.
Approaching the tree, Xia Shi called: “Lu Ciyou.”
Both figures beneath the blossoms whirled around in surprise.
Lu Ciyou pointed at herself, glancing between A Li and Xia Shi. “Me?”
Xia Shi tilted her head. “Here. Now.”
Yan Li obediently took position beside Lu Ciyou as Suiyin moved to Xia Shi’s side, forming two opposing pairs.
“What’s with the serious faces?” Lu Ciyou blinked before noticing A Li’s downcast expression. Her brows furrowed. “She hurt you?”
Yan Li shook her head without explanation, the picture of suppressed distress.
The young lady’s protective instincts flared. “Hey!” She rounded on Xia Shi. “What’d you say to her? Bullying someone half your age – where’s your elder’s dignity?”
_A four-century-old picking on a twenty-year-old!_
Xia Shi: “…”
Crimson robes shifted as Suiyin snapped, “When did she bully anyone? Stop inventing dramas!”
“Inventing? Look at her!” Lu Ciyou jabbed a finger toward A Li. “Perfectly fine earlier, now she’s miserable! What poison did you feed her?” She advanced aggressively.
As a result, they crashed into a transparent wall.
Yan Li pulled Lu Ciyou back, glancing at Xia Shi who was casting a spell.
“Xia Shi!” Lu Ciyou slammed the transparent wall, “What are you doing!? Let me out!”
She seemed to sense something was off, channeling spiritual power to break free.
“If you send me away today, I’ll tie you up and dump you on Suiyin’s bed tomorrow!”
Suiyin: “……”
Xia Shi: “……”
Ridiculous.
Pale golden spiritual energy flowed into the formation under their feet, whirling pink-white cherry blossoms around them.
The teleportation formation wasn’t complicated, but spanning the thousand-mile distance to Sanqing required immense spiritual power.
Xia Shi began struggling. She ignored Lu Ciyou’s yelling, closing her eyes to gather energy from her Dantian and meridians.
Her power had been thinly spread suppressing cold poison in her meridians – concentrating it now—
Warmth suddenly flooded her wrist. Familiar spiritual energy poured in, refilling her depleted Dantian.
She opened her eyes to see Suiyin’s amused gaze, following the slender hand connected to hers.
The formation neared completion. As Xia Shi drew energy from Suiyin to activate it, a spear shot toward the formation.
Xia Shi swiftly redirected her power, dual swords meeting the oncoming black-gold spear.
The teleportation halted, the golden formation fading.
Lu Ciyou shielded A Li while hurling Soaring Dragon. The black-gold spear spun midair before returning to its owner.
“Oh, it’s you.” Lu Qingyu emerged from the cherry blossom grove, catching her spear. “Sensed spiritual fluctuations and came to check. Everyone unharmed?”
Xia Shi glared coldly. “Shouldn’t you be at Four Seasons Hall, Young Master Yu?”
A frosty glint flashed in Young Master Yu’s eyes. “The Leader grew concerned when Elder Wuwei didn’t arrive.” Her lips curved. “We’d never neglect honored Canghai guests.”
“After you.”
The group exchanged silent looks before following Young Master Yu to Four Seasons Hall.
Canghai disciples inside still drilled with swords, identical to yesterday’s scene.
Jiang Feng lounged nearby, surrounded by attendants. Young Master Yu approached, eyeing him disdainfully.
Jiang Feng scrambled up, shoving away a companion. Spotting Xia Shi’s group, he forced a smile. “Elder Wuwei! We’ve been expecting you.”
Xia Shi nodded curtly. “Explain the forbidden area situation mentioned yesterday.”
“Of course.” Jiang Feng launched into rehearsed words: “Recently, a City Lord from Thirteen Ghost Domains invaded Canghai’s forbidden area. Though severely wounded by former Leader Jiang Liu, he remains hidden there. The seal’s in place, but our disciples lack strength to…”
He paused mid-sentence, glancing at Xia Shi with obvious implication.
He wanted these people to enter the forbidden area and capture the possibly nonexistent City Lord.
Xia Shi scoffed inwardly but kept her expression neutral. "As the Leader stated, that’s the Forbidden Area of Canghai. Even if we wanted to help, wouldn’t it violate protocol?"
"Not at all!" Jiang Feng’s smile widened at their willingness. He lifted his chin, adopting his Leader’s authoritative energy. "Protocols are human-made. As the current Leader, my word stands."
Xia Shi feigned hesitation, turning to consult her companions. "Your thoughts?"
Lu Ciyou and Yan Li exchanged uncertain looks, unfamiliar with the situation. Neither rushed to answer.
This suited Xia Shi perfectly. If her group appeared too calm, it might raise suspicion.
She locked eyes with Suiyin. Following their prearranged plan, Suiyin hesitated dramatically before deferring with a respectful bow. "This disciple follows Master’s decision."
Lu Ciyou and Yan Li noted the brief eye contact between them – fleeting yet loaded with meaning.
Both promptly bowed in unison, addressing Xia Shi with elder-respect. "We follow your lead."
"Elder Wuwei?" Jiang Feng pressed, watching Young Master Yu’s reactions from the corner of his eye.
Xia Shi delayed agreement. "The Realm of Canghai and Sanqing Realm maintain friendly relations. Since the Leader requests my aid here in Canghai, I’ll assist. But the Thirteen Ghost Domains’ City Lord remains formidable even wounded. Preparations are necessary."
She needed to evacuate Yan Li and Lu Ciyou first, then locate that Huashang girl for the counterfeit Glazed Purification Brush.
"Shall we proceed tomorrow, Elder Wuwei?" Jiang Feng’s plastic smile masked gritted teeth. The Ghost Lord’s deadline loomed.
"Agreed."
Sufficient for now.
As Xia Shi turned to leave Four Seasons Hall, Young Master Yu interjected: "Forgot to mention – Si Hai City’s sealed with barriers against teleportation formations. No escapes permitted."
His pointed words hung heavy.
Xia Shi’s smile chilled. "Noted."
