Chapter 58
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Chapter 58
In matters of profound uncertainty, solely relying on reckless bravery will most easily lead to a fate of death without a burial place.
Tu Xuixin was reluctant to let his two young disciples face these dangers alone, so he stepped forward to elucidate the critical points, urging Master Ancestor to engage in deep discussions with the leaders of the major sects.
They had already uncovered that disasters such as the Eye Serpent Plague were closely tied to the Southern Abyss, hinting that turmoil was brewing from that direction.
This secret was tightly guarded, not even disclosed when envoys from Zhi Bai Guan arrived with lavish gifts seeking assistance.
Who could have foreseen the sudden emergence of a secretive cult, not only incubating some bizarre silver egg but also amassing over ten thousand followers—a group whose name they had never even heard of!
Hao Chengzi wasted no time and promptly began drafting a letter, collaborating with the powerful figures of Zhi Bai Guan to address the issue.
The six major sects quietly mobilized their networks, gathering various clues related to the matter.
Kan Jixuan had initially come to enjoy some soup and plant a few plum trees; she never expected to stumble upon such a significant affair. The master of Moonfire Valley introduced her to the dispersing immortals of various sects. Though everyone appeared surprised, with such a pressing matter at hand, there was no time for internal strife, and their attitudes remained amicable.
As the Master of Soul Cliff, Kan Jixuan was well-versed in the deceptions lurking in the shadows, and she was pleased to offer some guidance.
With the forces of good and evil working in unison, they spent nearly half a year investigating the three teachings and nine schools, from the northern frontiers to the southern rivers. The deeper they delved, the more alarming the revelations became.
Indeed, there existed such a clandestine cult, known as the Wuxuan Sect, infiltrating all strata of society—from monks and Daoist disciples to common women. In recent years, with the spread of the Eye Serpent Plague, it had rapidly expanded across the north and south, deceiving countless citizens.
Unlike the arduous path of seeking enlightenment, this cult promised aid through simple prayer, leading many impoverished families to regard it as a true savior.
Whether it was children suffering from incurable fevers, families ruined by gambling, or men facing the prospect of dying without heirs, joining this cult and offering prayers seemed to bring some measure of relief.
According to covert intelligence, the Wuxuan Sect had likely been established for less than thirty years, yet it had flourished with alarming speed.
With the situation escalating to this point, neither the righteous nor the wicked could afford to remain passive.
The roots of this menace had to be eradicated!
Since ancient times, the line between good and evil has been clear; there was no place for such a shadowy, web-like threat!
For over half a year, Gong Wu and Ji Yang remained in Moonfire Valley, cultivating their Dao and awaiting the opportunity to break through to Opening Sun.
To be more precise, Gong Wu was confined to Moonfire Valley, forbidden from venturing beyond the safe zone.
Her senior brother had reverted to his old routine, attending morning lessons and evening practices daily while keeping a close eye on her to ensure she didn’t wander off.
Her reputation had grown far too conspicuous.
With great fame comes great scrutiny; after these events, Moonfire Valley swiftly rose from a minor sect to the foremost Immortal Sect, becoming a matter of grave concern for Master Ancestor.
But given the crisis of the Eye Serpent Plague and the rampant chaos, he, along with several Palace Lords, shouldered the responsibility, working alongside Daoist monks and Buddhist practitioners to address the turmoil in the mortal realm.
As Moonfire Valley gained prominence, Gong Wu’s name became the subject of numerous legends.
She was said to be invulnerable, impervious to weapons, and even immortal—rumors even suggested she was a reincarnated phoenix.
Moreover, she wielded a spiritual item, the frost crane umbrella, which, like her senior brother’s qilin fan, was a unique treasure of Heavenly Grade origin—its origins shrouded in mystery.
Furthermore, whispers circulated that she might possess a Ziwei fate or the roots of a pixiu, potentially destined to bring calamity to those around her in the future!
The rumors grew increasingly sinister, with tales of the frost crane umbrella being forged from immortal bones spreading vividly, though it was unclear whether these stories were meant to mock or elevate her.
Before the Yuan Xian Immortal Assembly, many from the Monster Realm and Demon Realm had plotted to abduct her for elixirs or blood. Now, as the rumors intensified, the elders of Moonfire Valley grew increasingly uneasy about leaving her unattended.
Cheng Ji, her Master, personally crafted a tracking chain that manifested as two moles on Gong Wu’s left wrist, ensuring he would be alerted immediately if anything amiss occurred.
Tu Xuixin and Hua Tingxiao reinforced the barriers throughout the valley, making it impossible for any wild creatures to intrude.
Gong Wu now even had her senior sisters accompany her during baths and changes of clothes. She found the situation both amusing and heartwarming, allowing her to calm her mind and focus on her Dao, remaining steadfast even as the world outside grew tumultuous.
Her days became simple and pure: practicing swordplay with her senior sister in the morning, attending teachings at the altar at noon, and meditating with her junior sister in the evenings.
Ji Yang lived neither too close nor too far from her, and they occasionally shared meals, though their conversations were sparse.
For a fleeting moment, as she reminisced about her past infatuation with him, it felt like catching a glimpse of a butterfly fluttering its wings—a fleeting illusion.
Had she ever truly liked him?
Was it his unique care for her that she cherished, or his striking appearance, or perhaps the shared solitude and hardships they had endured since childhood?
Gong Wu set down her bamboo chopsticks and gazed at Ji Yang’s long, slightly drooping eyelashes. A mix of amusement and disappointment washed over her, and she simply shook her head.
Perhaps it was just a moment of folly.
Ji Yang, who had been sipping soup, noticed her gaze and slowly turned to meet her eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
“It’s nothing important,” Gong Wu replied with a soft smile. “I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, she rose and departed, vanishing from sight in an instant.
Ji Yang remained seated, a strange, burning sensation flickering in his heart.
He frowned slightly, his eyes lingering on her half-finished bowl of soup.
Love, hate, desire, sorrow, joy, anger, fear—when the seven marks are completely severed, one ascends to immortality.
His capacity for love and desire had been sealed away long ago during the ritual of cutting the red thread, leaving nothing behind before the statue of the matchmaker.
Whenever those emotions burned and ached within him, Ji Yang knew exactly what it signified.
As a Daoist of the Path of Emotionless, he should not harbor such thoughts about her.
Ji Yang’s profile was partially obscured by the shadows of bamboo, and even his gaze seemed to dissolve into the darkness.
A sudden pang of regret, like scalding tea, churned in his throat and chest.
He found it difficult to articulate.
In ten days, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival. Master Ancestor, Old Lady Kan, and several Masters had yet to return, as they were reportedly engaged in secret discussions with cultivators from the east.
In the valley, only Yan Fangji maintained order, managing affairs with relative ease until two distinguished guests arrived with invitations, visiting one after the other.
Over the past six months, after the threshold had been broken three or four times, the old craftsman had replaced it with a bronze door. The guards at the valley entrance had significantly sharpened their discernment, now able to recognize many powerful figures by name.
—Four or five years ago, only farmers and woodcutters came here seeking treatment, and even visitors from Zhi Bai Guan were considered esteemed guests; now the place truly radiated grandeur!
Two invitations arrived, one after the other, with no more than fifteen minutes between them, leaving the guard drenched in sweat as he rushed back and forth.
“Palace Lord! Palace Lord! Distinguished guests are here!”
As the first invitation was handed over, before Yan Fangji could finish reading it with a furrowed brow, the guard hurried in again with another letter.
“Palace Lord! Another distinguished guest! Again!!”
Yan Fangji felt a headache brewing, nervously stroking his beard and accidentally pulling out two strands.
After signaling the guard to step back, he scrutinized the invitations once more before summoning Gong Wu.
When Gong Wu was called, she assumed it was because Yan Fangji had prepared winter melon rib soup again, so she approached with a smile to pay her respects.
Upon entering, she noticed that even Yan Gege was absent, leaving only the two of them in the main hall.
“Sit,” Yan Fangji said, his expression troubled as he glanced down at the invitation in his hand. He paced back and forth several times before handing one of the letters to her.
“This letter is from the Hu Clan of Rainbow Ridge, who are coming to propose marriage, accompanied by the master of the Satin Red Workshop.”
Gong Wu paused for a moment, thinking she had misheard.
“Who?”
She felt it was some absurd joke, and her hand froze when she touched the name Hu Fengyu.
Yan Fangji had treated her like a daughter for a long time, but now his face showed even more concern.
“Child, you are indeed at the age for marriage… but marrying into Rainbow Ridge or marrying a demon, I really have my doubts.”
Fearing he was interfering too much, he quickly added, “Of course, if you have feelings for that Hu Clan member, and if the Sect sees him to be a decent person, we would not stand in your way.”
Gong Wu stood there frozen, truthfully saying, “Actually, I don’t have even a bit of affection.”
“Just think about it. That fox is fiercely loyal to his wife and hasn’t thought of taking another for over nine hundred years; why would he suddenly propose?”
When she spoke, she felt as if that fox was playing a trick on her, and she seriously said, “I am nearly twenty years old, enough to be his countless times great-granddaughter. How could we possibly be a match?”
Yan Fangji felt troubled and sighed, “This matter is indeed foolish, and the marriage proposal is simply not suitable. I will write a letter to refuse.”
Gong Wu sighed in relief, lowering her head in response, but another invitation was handed to her.
Gong Wu tried to put on a smile. “This time… it should have nothing to do with marriage, right?”
Old Yan sighed, “Earlier, a disciple from Liu Jia Palace joked that your palace should be named Peach Blossom Palace.”
He sat beside her, speaking sincerely, “I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse, but I hope they come with good intentions.”
Gong Wu truly could not think of who she had offended, so she opened the invitation and found it was a letter from Great Wuxiang Temple.
The letter was brief, stating that the Wuxuan Sect acted in a sinister manner, and recently there were reports of human blood sacrifices; the southwest region needed to be especially cautious.
After reading it, she looked at her father and said, “It seems to have nothing to do with me?”
“Official letters often say such things.” Yan Fangji waved his hand, using his spiritual energy to reveal the hidden text: “Look closer.”
It was from Qing Zhen, the monk, who wanted to visit her with his little nephew.
Gong Wu nearly forgot what Qing Zhen looked like; she only remembered that he had a good appetite and was of high seniority.
As she read the last paragraph, her smile froze.
“At the Yuan Xian Immortal Assembly, my nephew had a brief encounter with Miss Gong, and since then, he has been lovesick and requests to meet her.”
Yan Fangji watched his daughter with concern, saying, “Why is that little monk thinking about worldly affairs instead of focusing on his meditation?”
Gong Wu looked wronged. “Who is his nephew? Have I met him??”
Yan Fangji was taken aback. “Huh? You don’t know him?”
“I don’t know him…”
Gong Wu squeezed the letter and paced around anxiously, returning to Yan Fangji’s side. “But I’m not exactly a beauty, am I? Am I really that good-looking without knowing it?”
Although Yan Fangji cherished his daughter, he spoke honestly, “No, you’re a rather charming and cute girl, but not to the point of being breathtakingly beautiful.”
“Really??” Gong Wu covered her face with her hands, caught between laughter and tears. “Who did I offend?!”
