Chapter 517 — Playing the Male Lead for Once

Not many people came, yet their presence was greatly encouraging. Even Zhang Xiaohua could feel that today’s morale far surpassed yesterday’s. Smiling inwardly, he continued acting as the medicine boy, hiding inside the carriage with his eyes closed and saying nothing—while inwardly sensing the Dao of Heaven and contemplating the incantations.

The concealment formula from Guiding the Spirit that masked one’s cultivation had reached its final, crucial stage. If he could break through, he was fully confident he could deceive even the sharp eyes of the senior experts of the Incense Spreading Sect. If he failed to achieve it before reaching Dianchi Lake, he might have to think of some other solution.

In the days that followed, the Heavenly Dragon Divine Sect—suspected by Lady Kong Que—never sent anyone to attack again. Along the road, disciples of the Incense Spreading Sect from various regions escorted the convoy carefully: receiving it ahead of time and sending it off afterward, ensuring its safety beyond their jurisdictions. Some highly skilled disciples were even personally selected by Kong Que to join the escort.

With more escorts around, Zhang Xiaohua left the carriage even less often. Occasionally, Steward Yang would stop by to check on him, but he rarely said much. From the fading worry on Steward Yang’s face, one could tell the convoy was growing safer by the day.

However, one matter puzzled Zhang Xiaohua greatly: during the last battle, Lady Kong Que had been severely injured. Her internal force had been exhausted, and her meridians damaged; her arm and back had suffered heavy saber wounds, struck by blade aura. This not only caused heavy blood loss but also injured the meridians in those areas, preventing them from healing for a long time. Ordinarily, she should have sought a quiet place to focus on recovery. Yet whenever Zhang Xiaohua’s spiritual sense swept over her carriage, he saw her pale cheeks and weakened condition. She persisted in traveling onward, only taking out medicinal pills from her robe when she truly could no longer endure.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua wanted to give her his bottle of “Jade Restoration Pills”. But then he remembered he had already told Steward Yang that he had handed them to Valley Master Nie at the beginning. Producing them now would only bring trouble upon himself. Flattery wasn’t done like that, after all.

Thus, with Kong Que’s injuries still far from healed, they traveled on for nearly another month.

By this time, it was already late October. Yet the weather here bore none of the feeling of autumn found in the north—no autumn winds, no falling leaves. Instead, there was greenery everywhere, life flourishing in abundance. Moreover, the landscape was no longer dominated by towering mountains, but by clusters of low, pale stone formations, like piles of white rock stacked together—resembling the stone forests he had seen before. Of course, this was a true stone forest; the earlier ones had been nothing more than a few “stone trees”.

Changes in climate and scenery might stir ordinary people to reflection and sentiment. But to Zhang Xiaohua, they held a deeper meaning. Unwittingly, they allowed him to draw parallels and gain insight into the Dao of Heaven from another angle. Thus, he immersed his spiritual sense even further into his surroundings, hoping for new enlightenment. And the Dao within his heart seemed to shift subtly—gaining a faint trace of vitality.

That day, the convoy continued on its journey. The sun shone brilliantly overhead, yet the heat did not feel oppressive. A smile hung at the corner of Zhang Xiaohua’s lips — just yesterday, he had finally broken through the bottleneck of the incantation. He had fully comprehended the obscure formula and could now conceal his Immortal Dao cultivation — even his divine sense — at will, leaving not the slightest trace.

While Zhang Xiaohua was practicing the formula, his heart suddenly stirred. Extending his divine sense forward, he saw that several li ahead, four or five snow-white steeds were galloping toward them like the wind. The riders were women dressed similarly to Kong Que, their faces veiled. Needless to say, they must be the fellow disciples she had mentioned.

Sure enough, as the horses drew near, the leading woman suddenly leapt up to stand upon her saddle and projected her voice with inner force: “Senior Sister Kong, are you well?”

Her voice carried from afar, loud enough to make everyone’s ears ache. Zhang Xiaohua curled his lips, thinking to himself, This woman clearly has a forthright temperament. They’re almost here anyway — won’t she see for herself in a moment? And couldn’t she learn from Lady Kong and lower her voice just a little?

Hearing her junior sister’s call, Kong Que immediately emerged from the carriage and stood at its front. Her strength had yet to recover, and she could not project her voice in reply, so she merely raised her hand in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, the women cheered. They didn’t even bother staying on their horses — they leapt off and sped toward the carriage like arrows loosed from bows, reaching Kong Que’s side in moments.

The leading female disciple spoke again, loudly: “Senior Sister Kong, how are your injuries? You couldn’t even answer just now!”

Kong Que smiled. “Junior Sister Chen Chen, you’re still as rash and impetuous as ever. Master sent you out this time to temper your temperament — yet it seems the results are rather slight.”

Chen Chen laughed. “One’s nature is harder to change than rivers and mountains — Master surely knows that. I’ve been like this since childhood; how could I possibly change? Never mind me — how are your injuries, really?”

Kong Que had not intended to go into detail. But seeing her junior sister press the matter — and the other girls all staring at her — she had no choice but to recount everything from beginning to end.

When they heard her story, all were greatly alarmed. They knew Kong Que’s level of cultivation well. Among the inner disciples, she was considered outstanding — that was precisely why she had been assigned to Mochou City. Yet even she had suffered defeat and nearly lost her life. Had they encountered such enemies instead, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

At that moment, a petite and exquisitely built female disciple who had been listening quietly at the side spoke in a low voice: “Senior Sister Kong, what you described at the end sounds like a legendary illusion formation. I’ve heard that the ‘Three Talismans Formation’ controlled by the Heaven’s Way Alliance’s ‘Auspicious Three Treasures’ has such an effect. And since the Auspicious Three Treasures were slain by Qin Shiyue of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, those three small flags fell into the sect’s hands. But if the Three Talents Flag Formation had truly been deployed by the Heavenly Dragon Sect, the one trapped should have been you, Senior Sister — not Liang Cangxu and the others, should it?”

Kong Que nodded. “Junior Sister Xia Qing speaks rightly. That was my thought at the time as well. Yet if it truly was an illusion formation, I too should have fallen into it. Why, then, was I able to see the real scene outside the formation?”

Xia Qing smiled. “Then perhaps Senior Sister never entered the formation to begin with.”

Kong Que shook her head and once more described the perilous situation in detail. This time, the junior sisters fell silent. Indeed — Kong Que had been standing right among the three of them. If the others had fallen into an illusion formation, there was no way she could have remained outside it.

Kong Que gave a light laugh. “Forget it. As long as the danger has passed, that is enough. We should report these matters to Master and let her deliberate. She and the elders are widely experienced — they should be able to find some clue.”

Then she added, “In any case, thank you, Junior Sisters, for taking the time to come and receive me. I am deeply grateful.”

Chen Chen waved her hand dismissively. “Senior Sister Kong is too polite. Our respective missions have already been completed, and our convoys are nearing Dianchi Lake. Even if the Heavenly Dragon Sect were bold, they would hardly dare stir up trouble right under the nose of our Incense Spreading Sect. Let those caravans proceed slowly on their own. On the other hand, you are seriously injured and still not fully recovered — if we didn’t come to assist you, where else would we go? Oh, right — Senior Sister, I’ve never heard of any Heavenly King of the Heavenly Dragon Sect who is proficient in saber aura.”

Kong Que shook her head again. “I tested Liang Cangxu several times, but he guarded his words carefully — neither admitting nor denying anything, merely following my tone. I cannot be certain. Perhaps they are young experts secretly nurtured by the Heavenly Dragon Sect.”

Chen Chen scratched her head. “Such brain-taxing matters are better left to Master and the elders. We need only wield our swords and slay demons.”

At this point, Xia Qing took a jade bottle from her sleeve and said: “Senior Sister’s medicinal pills must have long since been used up. These are Jade Restoration Pills I carry with me. Please take them.”

Kong Que did not stand on ceremony. She reached out to accept it and said: “This saber aura truly is formidable — it can even damage the meridians. Though our Incense Spreading Sect’s Jade Restoration Pills have marvelous healing effects, they are still inadequate against the fiery force contained within the saber aura. They can only maintain the condition. I’ve long since exhausted my own supply — which is partly why I asked you all to come.”

Hearing this, the junior sisters each took out their own medicinal pills. Kong Que selected a few and tucked them into her robe, smiling. “With you here, I can finally set my mind at ease. Even if that Liang Cangxu returns, we sisters will cut him down together.”

“Exactly, Senior Sister! The Heavenly Dragon Sect was far too despicable — using one person as bait while the other two lay in ambush. Ganging up on fewer opponents — utterly shameless!”

“Sigh, in the jianghu, what methods aren’t used? This was merely a simple ambush. What you don’t know is that during this trip to Mochou City, something rather interesting happened…”

She then recounted how Valley Master Nie of Spring Rebirth Valley had staged a martial marriage contest to draw attention away from his opponents, thereby protecting Nie Qianyu — and how Zhang Xiaohua had escorted her for a thousand li, along with the rest of the story. The female disciples, who had never truly experienced the storms of the martial world, listened as if hearing a tale. When she finished, they stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded. After quite a while, one finally ventured: “Senior Sister Kong… you aren’t telling us a story, are you? A mere fifteen-year-old child could show such righteousness? And that old Nie — how could he come up with such a rotten scheme…”

Kong Que laughed. “Of course it’s true. Even if I tried, I couldn’t invent something like that. And this Ren Xiaoyao is right here in our convoy.”

“What? He’s here?” Chen Chen could no longer contain herself. “Quick — let us see him!”

Xia Qing, however, was more thoughtful. “If that’s the case, why isn’t Ren Xiaoyao staying in Spring Rebirth Valley as their future son-in-law? What is he doing with our Incense Spreading Sect?”

Hearing this, Kong Que inwardly cursed her own slip. Matters like this did not conform to the sect’s rules, and they concerned the affairs of the Pill Expansion Hall — something she and her sisters, though inner disciples, were not meant to interfere with. Steward Yang had told her precisely because he wished her to keep it secret. Yet in her joy at seeing her sisters again, she had spoken everything without restraint… This… didn’t quite accord with the codes of the jianghu!

Chen Chen, of course, had no idea of her thoughts and continued urging her on, while the others clapped eagerly in agreement. Seeing this, Kong Que could only sigh helplessly. “You may meet him, but you must swear — this matter is for your knowledge alone. You must not tell anyone else. Not even your Master.”

The group fell silent, stunned, exchanging uncertain glances.