Chapter 13

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Chapter 13

At the third watch of the night, the sky gradually brightened, yet the valley was brightly lit, with few people asleep.

Gong Wu leaned on her umbrella, then realized she had lost most of her spiritual energy. After resting for a while, she said: “Something has happened; I need to find Master Ancestor.”

“Are you alright?” Lin Qixue asked with concern: “Shall I find you some water?”

Only then did Gong Wu realize she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since entering the formations earlier that day, and her stomach was burning with hunger.

She waved her hand dismissively, indicating she had no time to spare, and after asking for directions, she hurried off to find Master Ancestor.

In Moonfire Valley, the Six Palaces were arranged hierarchically, with the lowest-ranking Mian De and Zhen Ling situated near the valley entrance, while Master Ancestor Hao Chengzi’s private courtyard was nestled in the deepest part of Liu Jia Palace, further to the north.

Whenever critical matters arose, the palace lords and elders would convene in Liu Jia Palace.

But today, several high-ranking individuals were unexpectedly scattered along the main path, easily found by walking straight ahead.

Gong Wu hastened her steps, clutching her umbrella, as Lin Qixue recounted the events of the past two days.

“Master Ancestor is truly far-sighted. Not only did he send you all to seek aid from Jin Yan Tuo, but he also dispatched two letters to the southern and northern authorities, requesting reinforcements.”

Gong Wu had yet to share the grim details of Jin Yan Tuo’s plight when she cast an uneasy glance at the unfamiliar Daoists passing by.

“The authorities sent practitioners from Zhi Bai Guan to assist, and they quickly devised an effective solution.”

“Just yesterday?”

“Yes, just yesterday.” Lin Qixue gazed at the deep green markings etched into the outer walls of the palace courtyards, marveling, “Who would have thought such a seemingly intractable illness could be controlled so swiftly once they intervened?”

“How is that possible…” Gong Wu murmured, “This disease is caused by outsiders draining people’s essence and blood, and we still haven’t identified the instigator.”

“Indeed, they said the same.” Lin Qixue tugged her sleeve, pointing to the sword lily mark at the base of the wall. “The talisman practitioners from Zhi Bai Guan divided the valley into twelve districts, each embedded with magical symbols and formations to sever external influences. That’s how they managed it.”

Only then did Gong Wu notice the disturbed soil near the wall, her voice tinged with disbelief. “So, the other villages afflicted by the epidemic are being treated the same way?”

“Zhi Bai Guan summoned their disciples to create hundreds of magical symbols for the villagers, instructing them to bury them at the four corners of their settlements.”

Lin Qixue paused, then added, “But they also warned that this method blocks secret communications. Once the plague subsides, the symbols can be quietly removed. For now, we’ll rely on messenger pigeons and butterflies.”

As she spoke, the faint scent of medicine drifted toward them.

Recognizing the familiar aroma, Gong Wu knew Master Ancestor was nearby and quickened her pace to pay her respects.

Ahead, the Wu Zhen Du-shaped ceremonial cauldron had been reignited, and the patients who had been on the brink of death were now recovering steadily.

Some disciples diligently brewed medicine under Master Ancestor’s guidance, while others assisted in needling and treating the afflicted.

Compared to just a few days earlier, when the garden was strewn with patients on makeshift mats, Moonfire Valley now felt far less crowded.

As Gong Wu approached, she noticed several palace lords gathered around Master Ancestor, and most of the nearby disciples were familiar faces.

Standing beside them was an immortal, her presence radiating grace and elegance.

The immortal’s arms were draped in a gossamer fabric adorned with gold-dusted lychee blossoms, her long ribbons floating effortlessly, her aura as luminous as that of Master Ancestor, who had also ascended to immortality.

Gong Wu had intended to relay the urgent matters in a few concise sentences, but the sight of the immortal left her momentarily speechless, a flicker of unease crossing her expression.

“You’ve returned?” Hao Chengzi greeted her with a smile, but his expression shifted when he noticed she was alone. “Where are the others?”

Gong Wu bowed hastily and recounted the upheaval at Jin Yan Tuo sect to the assembled group.

When she described how Zhijian had mistakenly destroyed the beeswax and sacrificed himself with his full strength, the room fell silent, faces etched with sorrow and regret.

As she continued, detailing how He Xi had laid an ambush and purged the sect’s members, Master Ancestor’s brows furrowed deeply, his silence heavy with concern.

“The three of them are still trapped in Jin Yan Tuo, their fate uncertain,” Gong Wu concluded.

Yan Fangji, the Palace Lord of Liu Jia, gripped his sword tightly, his voice seething with anger. “It seems this is all the doing of that scoundrel He!”

“Not only does he seek to kill Master and seize power, but he also intends to take my fellow disciples, Master Hua, as hostages to threaten Moonfire Valley!”

The others erupted in fury. “With Zhi Bai Guan’s people still here, should we not charge back and rescue them?”

“Yes, let’s charge back!”

“We are not afraid of their numbers; if necessary, we can drug them and turn the tables!”

Suddenly, a calm female voice interrupted.

“Wait.”

The immortal who had been standing beside Master Ancestor finally spoke. Her voice, imbued with an immortal aura, was clear and steady, resonating like the sound of gold and jade.

“First, the terrain of Jin Yan Tuo is treacherous, easy to defend but hard to attack. We need to discuss the rescue with the people from Zhi Bai Guan thoroughly.”

“Second…” She stepped forward and regarded Gong Wu with a deep gaze, surveying her from top to bottom.

“You are Master Tu’s third disciple?”

“She is your junior sister,” Cheng Ji introduced. “This is your senior sister, Ding Qingyi, who ascended to Immortal Ascension before you; this is Gong Wu, whom I mentioned to you yesterday.”

When Gong Wu looked at her, despite the sense of distance, she could still tell that Ding Qingyi had a kind face.

Even without a smile or any warm gestures, those who had achieved Ascension to Immortality bore a certain nobility and grace in their features, distinctly different from ordinary people.

Ding Qingyi watched her quietly for a moment before continuing.

“Are you alright?”

Before coming over, Gong Wu had checked her clothing for damage.

She quickly shook her head, saying she only had a few minor injuries.

“Jin Yan Tuo has suffered heavy casualties and a complete upheaval, but keeping the four of them alive is likely a crucial bargaining chip,” Cheng Ji said. “Gong Wu, you should return with your senior sister to rest. We will discuss how to rescue them further among ourselves.”

Ding Qingyi nodded and took her leave.

As she walked away, many of the teachers who had not yet achieved enlightenment gazed deeply at her, their eyes filled with envy and admiration.

As Gong Wu was leaving, Lin Qixue handed her a bag of sugar grass cakes. After saying goodbye, she felt dizzy from hunger and didn’t even notice the immortal senior sister walking beside her as she quickly ate the cakes on the go.

Ding Qingyi walked alongside her, her immortal ribbons floating without wind, each step elegant and composed.

“I am here to report back temporarily, passing through the valley to take a look.”

“I must return to report to the deity after dawn, so I cannot stay for several days.”

Gong Wu felt a bit embarrassed about eating, so she offered a sugar cake, unsure if Ding Qingyi would take it.

The little girl displayed a youthful innocence in front of the beautiful fairy, who appeared to be in her twenties.

Ding Qingyi hesitated for a moment, smiled, and accepted it, taking a bite. However, after chewing for a bit, her expression slowly changed.

It seemed like she had been pondering something deeply, yet she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Little Wu, your senior brother went to the village with the people from Zhi Bai Guan to bury the symbols and rescue others. He may not return until noon tomorrow.”

“I have never met him and don’t know what he looks like.”

“He is very handsome,” Gong Wu recalled. “He has pointed ears with a mole on one.”

Ding Qingyi absentmindedly responded with a soft “mm,” as though she had undergone a great internal struggle before whispering quietly, “Be careful of Master.”

Gong Wu, still focused on her grass cake, didn’t immediately register the four words passing by her ears until she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She stared blankly at her senior sister, her eyes slightly red, not quite understanding the warning at that moment.

It was their first meeting, their first time together; how could—

“Why?”

Ding Qingyi sighed, “I can’t explain.”

“Does Master treat you badly?”

“No.”

“Will he betray Moonfire Valley?”

“No.”

Gong Wu recalled the incident of Burning Flowers and the Cauldron, defending her Master’s innocence.

She spoke openly about the blue smoke rising from the cauldron that day, emphasizing that the figure depicted had a mole, while her Master did not.

The little girl usually spoke softly, but when she mentioned Tu Xuixin today, her urgency made her voice rise.

Ding Qingyi furrowed her brows as she listened, nodding slightly without further explanation.

However, Gong Wu’s desire to grow closer to her completely faded away, as if her heart had been pricked.

They walked back to Tianhua Palace in silence.

Just as they were about to part, Ding Qingyi spoke again.

“If He Zhao Li is scheming, why would the cauldron show him?”

“It could never be Master!” Gong Wu exclaimed angrily. “It’s that scoundrel brother of his who might not be dead at all!”

“How can you be sure his brother isn’t dead?” Ding Qingyi countered. “I saw with my own eyes that he died completely, even his Golden Core vanished.”

At this, her senior sister seemed a bit flustered.

“You… you’re about to cry.”

She fumbled to help wipe Gong Wu’s eyes and sighed, “I’m just reminding you.”

Gong Wu stubbornly lowered her head, refusing to look at her or let her touch her.

Ding Qingyi’s expression grew complex, and she sighed again.

“There’s one more thing I didn’t mention before.”

“You’re not going to die, right?”

Gong Wu suddenly looked up, clarity shining in her eyes.

“Your sleeves are torn, yet your skin has no marks.”

“There are dark bloodstains on your robe’s collar and edges, your spiritual energy is chaotic, and there is a smell of blood near your ear.”

Her words drew out Gong Wu’s reaction, leading Ding Qingyi to remember something else, her expression turning worried.

“It’s a pity I can’t stay here longer.”

“At this point, Little Wu, I advise you and your Subei senior brother to take leave from the valley and visit the Rebirth Temple.”

She saw things clearly, her gaze filled with compassion.

“Leave the rescue to the Masters.”

“You should at least figure out your own background.”