Chapter 28: She’s Going to Steal Her Love Away!

“Immortal Ruins? Yuanqing’s Cave Abode?”

Yuan Yi’s expression was grave as he sensed something suspicious.

“Indeed,” Bu Donghou nodded. “When Jiancheng returned, he heard rumors circulating among the people, so he brought the news back first. What do you all think?”

Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi didn’t answer. It was Immortal Venerable Daoling, seated opposite him, who spoke first: “Whether this matter is true or false, since it mentions Yuanqing, our Fuyun Sect should send someone to investigate. Otherwise, other sects will laugh at us.”

The events of three hundred years ago were a stain on Fuyun Sect, a fact all present understood implicitly.

“Immortal Venerable speaks reason,” said Bu Donghou, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. “So, who among you is willing to go?”

The various Peak Lords glanced at each other. Immortal Venerable Daoling’s gaze slanted toward Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi. Seeing the latter’s absentmindedness, Daoling recommended to Bu Donghou, “In my view, the most suitable person present for this task is Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi.”

Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi frowned and shot him a cold look. “What is the meaning of this?”

Immortal Venerable Daoling wore a gentle smile, looking amiable. “Immortal Venerable Yuanqing was your younger sister. Her cave abode has appeared, so naturally, only you are suited to go.”

Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi had intended to retort, but Immortal Venerable Daoling didn’t give him the chance. Still smiling, he said, “In any case, Tianzhu Peak has little to occupy it right now. It’s just to take a look. If the rumors prove false, the Acting Peak Lord need not even intervene.”

Bu Donghou nodded. “I think that’s acceptable. No matter what, Immortal Venerable Yuanqing was still a member of Fuyun Sect. Her belongings should rightfully be recovered and kept by the sect. This matter is settled. Yuan Yi, take Jiancheng and You Ying with you to Mount Yuliang and have a look.”

Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi was left speechless and could only agree.

Immortal Venerable Daoling, seeing that Yuan Yi wouldn’t lose his temper, found it boring and changed the subject. “That earlier matter regarding Zhuangan Village, which the Sect Master specifically had Jiancheng investigate—have there been any clues?”

Bu Donghou replied, “Jiancheng brought back a Corpse Puppet. According to a clue provided by a disciple of Tianzhu Peak, the Village Chief of Zhuangan Village and the villager Pang Da were killed by the Corpse Puppet.”

“A Corpse Puppet?” Immortal Venerable Daoling raised an objection. “Did they find out who was controlling it?”

“It was the Village Chief of Zhuangan Village himself.”

Bu Donghou revealed the conclusion Ling Jiancheng had brought back. “That man was refining a Corpse Puppet in his courtyard. Unfortunately, that night was the full moon, with Yin Qi at its peak. For some unknown reason, the Corpse Puppet lost control, went berserk, and killed the Village Chief and Pang Da, who were present in the courtyard at the time.”

Immortal Venerable Daoling mused thoughtfully, “I see.”

After the meeting adjourned, the people filed out of the Sect Affairs Hall one after another.

Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi was at the very back. Immortal Venerable Daoling deliberately slowed his pace until Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi approached.

Yuan Yi acted as if he didn’t see him, about to pass him by, when a strand of Voice Transmission was sent directly to his ear.

“Since Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi wants to initiate this game of chess, This Seat will naturally see it through to the end.”

Yuan Yi didn’t even glance sideways and walked past him.

~

Ling Jiancheng had just returned to the sect when he immediately received a new assignment.

Hearing it was to investigate the Immortal Ruins together with Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi, Ling Jiancheng accepted gladly. He immediately packed his gear, called You Ying along, and went to the Mountain Gate to wait for Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi.

They waited for about an hour. Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi hadn’t arrived. You Ying asked, “Why hasn’t the Immortal Venerable come yet?”

Ling Jiancheng pondered. “After all, our destination is the cave abode where Immortal Venerable Yuanqing once lived. Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi might be worried that seeing old things will remind him of her, and thus needs more time to prepare.”

You Ying responded with an “Oh,” thinking it made sense.

They waited another half hour. Noon had passed, and the sun was no longer so harsh, yet Immortal Venerable Yuan Yi still hadn’t shown his face.

At this moment, You Ying suddenly nudged Ling Jiancheng’s shoulder. “Senior Brother, look down the mountain.”

Ling Jiancheng looked where You Ying was pointing, toward the foot of the mountain, and saw two Fuyun Sect disciples pacing back and forth at the bottom of the long staircase.

They looked like they wanted to climb the mountain but didn’t dare. They had started forward several times and given up just as often, still unable to make up their minds.

Ling Jiancheng frowned. “They look somewhat familiar.”

“They’re Inner Disciples of Tianzhu Peak,” You Ying identified them after a careful look. “One of them seems to be Luo Qi, the Direct Disciple of Elder Zhu Qiu.”

Ling Jiancheng was puzzled. “Aren’t they out training? Why are they back?”

“Let’s go take a look.”

~

Luo Qi and Lin Chao had circled around and around at the foot of Fuyun Sect’s mountain.

Lin Chao looked troubled and urged Luo Qi, “Senior Brother Luo, why don’t we just go back?”

Waiting endlessly at the bottom of the mountain wasn’t solving anything.

Luo Qi hesitated. “If we go back like this, our Master will probably beat us to death.”

In Fuyun Sect’s ten-thousand-year history, there had never been a precedent of disciples who, having descended the mountain to train, ran back less than a month later simply because they feared the dangers of the outside world.

Luo Qi wanted to return but didn’t dare. Yet he also didn’t dare go back down the mountain. Thinking of their experiences over the past few days, he still trembled with fear.

Just then, two people descended from the mountain.

Startled, Luo Qi feared being recognized. He hurriedly turned his back, grabbed Lin Chao’s sleeve, and prepared to head down the mountain.

Unexpectedly, a voice from behind called out, “Junior Brother Luo?”

“…” Caught red-handed, Luo Qi’s face shifted between pale and red. Turning back awkwardly, he stammered, “I-I missed the sect, so I came back to take a look.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chao jabbed him, making him realize that Ling Jiancheng and You Ying hadn’t even asked a question.

Luo Qi was even more flustered, his scalp tingling.

The Eldest Senior Brother of the Sect’s knife-sharp gaze scraped over him, and You Ying beside him also wore a look of scrutiny. Panicked, Luo Qi blurted, “We’re just taking a look and then leaving, we’re heading down the mountain right now!”

As he spoke, he tugged sharply at Lin Chao, who had no choice but to follow.

“Junior Brothers, we happen to be going down the mountain as well. Why don’t we go together?” Ling Jiancheng took the initiative, calling out to Luo Qi. “I heard an Immortal’s Cave Abode has appeared at Mount Yuliang. Are you two interested?”

Luo Qi’s steps halted. He turned his head and exchanged a glance with Lin Chao, his voice cracking with excitement: “Yes!”

~

The little fox was gone.

This crafty little thing, full of tricks, had left a substitute little fox woven from grass and ran off by itself.

Yan Zhao casually tossed the straw-woven fox aside and jumped down from the tree.

A moment later, she walked back to the tree and picked up the fallen substitute fox.

“…”

No matter how she looked at it, it was ugly.

Especially those two mung bean eyes, which seemed rather unintelligent.

Forget it. Yan Zhao thought.

This was the first time the little fox had given her something.

She threw the straw-woven fox into her Universe Pouch and prepared to go find her little fox. Before she could leave the grove, she ran head-on into two people.

A man and a woman. Yan Zhao had seen the man on the street during the day.

He didn’t look like a bad person, but Yan Zhao didn’t want to interact with anyone.

She shifted her step to leave, but as she moved, the two people before her moved with her. The azure-robed young master, in particular, coincidentally blocked the direction Yan Zhao had chosen. If Yan Zhao advanced another step, she would bump right into him.

“…”

Yan Zhao was silent. Glancing at the sky, she realized they had come prepared.

She didn’t speak, but the two people before her were discreetly observing her.

Bai Jin’s eyes sparkled. Earlier today, when she looked down from the teahouse window, she had noticed Yan Zhao immediately. If it had been some other girl harassed by a scoundrel, she would have been too lazy to meddle.

From afar, she already thought this young lady was beautiful. Up close, she was even more stunning.

Their clan produced beauties regardless of gender; Bai Jin thought she was accustomed to peerless looks. She never expected that this young lady before her would open her eyes anew.

Tushan Yu had lost his composure during the day for no apparent reason, showing an anxious expression she had never seen before. Bai Jin had been puzzled at the time. Now, seeing Yan Zhao, she suddenly understood.

Most likely, her cousin’s heart had been stirred by springtime feelings, and he had taken a liking to this human woman.

Otherwise, why would he skip cultivating at the station at night and come out to see this young lady?

However, opposite Yan Zhao, Tushan Yu slowly furrowed his brows, a hint of confusion appearing on his face.

Because the familiar aura he had sensed from Yan Zhao earlier had vanished.

Yan Zhao waited a moment, but the two people in front of her didn’t speak. She took another half-step to the side.

Startled by her movement, Tushan Yu hurriedly followed, blocking Yan Zhao’s path.

Cousin was wearing an expression she’d never seen before!

Bai Jin watched the excitement from the side, helping Tushan Yu block Yan Zhao.

“Young lady,” Tushan Yu began, “are you human, or a Demon?”

Yan Zhao: “…”

Bai Jin was dumbfounded and blinked.

She turned her head to look at her cousin, her eyes gradually revealing shock.

She thought to herself: Oh heavens, cousin, are you out of your mind?!

Who hits on a girl like that?! A girl definitely won’t respond to you if you talk like that!

Seeing Yan Zhao’s wooden expression, Bai Jin flustered and hurriedly tried to patch things up for Tushan Yu: “Ah, Miss, don’t misunderstand! My cousin means no harm, he’s just… not very good at talking to people!”

“…”

Yan Zhao tilted her head.

“Guh!” Bai Jin was struck by Yan Zhao’s beauty.

Accustomed to seeing graceful, charming, and alluring women, it was instead a girl like Yan Zhao—seemingly a little slow, but with clean and pure eyes—who was truly captivating.

She was like a blank sheet of paper, a clear spring, a field of pure snow.

Bai Jin screamed internally. If her cousin said another wrong word, she was going to steal this love away for herself!

Tushan Yu, thinking of something, reached into his robes. A moment later, his hand opened, revealing a top-quality Demon Core resting in his palm.

Yan Zhao’s eyes lit up.

Then, she heard the azure-robed man say, “Miss, if you answer my question, I will give you this Demon Core.”

Bai Jin was once again shocked by Tushan Yu’s operation.

Giving a gift is one thing, but he was insisting she answer his question first.

Bai Jin mentally ranted furiously: Men are truly clueless about romance, all blockheads!

Yan Zhao, who had been standing there without any reaction, finally spoke.

“Ask.”

Tushan Yu repeated his earlier question. “Are you human, or a Demon?”

Bai Jin clutched her head in exasperation, not understanding why Tushan Yu was so hung up on this question.

What did being a human or a Demon matter anyway?

There wasn’t some antiquated rule in their clan forbidding love between Demons and humans!

Yan Zhao answered, “Human.”

Hearing this, Tushan Yu seemed somewhat disappointed, though he didn’t let the emotion show on his face.

Beside him, Bai Jin’s heart pounded fiercely again.

So obedient!

The fact that her cousin, with his clumsy tongue, could even maintain a conversation was all thanks to this young lady’s patience. What a nice personality this little girl has, Bai Jin thought.

Tushan Yu didn’t give up and spoke again. “Are you… acquainted with a Fox Clan woman?”

Yan Zhao’s eyes remained fixed on the Demon Core in his hand, but she didn’t speak.

Tushan Yu understood and offered the Demon Core in his hand.

Yan Zhao took the Demon Core and breathed a puff of air on it. The bead didn’t fog up, and its luster was clear and translucent—truly a fine core.

Much better than the one she had swallowed today.

Yan Zhao put the Demon Core away, but when she spoke, she said, “That was a second question.”

Tushan Yu’s mouth twitched. Understanding her meaning, he quickly fished out another Demon Core.

This one was even better than the last.

Yan Zhao unabashedly pocketed the Demon Core before finally gracing him with her words.

“No.”

Tushan Yu: “…”