Uncanny Immortal 36p2

Chapter 36 p2

The city of Xinye was covered by a barrier, and cultivators could not fly on their swords. Xie Qingzheng ran back and forth, not finding it troublesome at all.

Sometimes, as she ran, she would subconsciously use the Tianshu Sect’s [Myriad Manifestations Steps], moving like a phantom, weaving through the crowd, her speed so fast that it was impossible to see clearly.

She ran back and forth six times. On the seventh trip back to the inn, she saw that her master had changed out of her usual white robe with red patterns and was wearing a light crimson thin shirt. Her snow-white cheeks, against the light red, looked even more cold and beautiful.

Xie Qingzheng’s heart beat a little faster. She quickly asked, “Master, are you going out too?”

Mo Jiangxue glanced at the small mountain of snacks on the table and said with a half-smile, “Aren’t you inseparable from me?”

“Ah?” Xie Qingzheng’s ears burned. “N-n-no…”

“You have to come back to see me every so often?”

“That’s to bring back things to honor you, old man!”

Mo Jiangxue raised an eyebrow slightly and asked coolly, “Old man? Am I very old?”

This was a respectful term for the elderly and the noble. Cultivators who had reached the Golden Core stage did not age, and it was sometimes impossible to judge their age by their appearance. Juniors, to be endearing, would call the elders of the sect this. She never thought her master would pick on this to tease her.

Xie Qingzheng quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum. “No, no, Master, you’re not old at all…”

Mo Jiangxue then asked curiously, “Why do you blush so easily?”

“B-because my skin hasn’t been cultivated to be as thick as yours, old man…”

Thick.

She naturally didn’t dare to say such an audacious thing completely, so she only half-said it.

Mo Jiangxue knew her meaning, smiled faintly, and didn’t continue to tease her. She put on a black veiled hat that covered her from head to toe, wrapped her weapons in a white cloth, and explained seriously, “Manor Lord Yun Yi’s death is strange. I want to go out and gather some information.”

Xie Qingzheng nodded. “I see…” She then asked, “Why not just ask the people of Tianquan Manor directly?”

Mo Jiangxue said, “Think for yourself.”

Xie Qingzheng thought for a moment and said, “I guess, if Manor Lord Yun’s death was not natural, and if the people of Tianquan Manor wanted our Xuanji Sect to intervene, they would definitely have told the Sect Master. When the Sect Master sent the message, she would also have entrusted you to help investigate… Otherwise, most likely, they don’t want outsiders to interfere…”

Mo Jiangxue hummed in acknowledgment and said, “Since you understand, then let’s go.”

The master and disciple went out together.

Xie Qingzheng went out to wander, and besides looking for delicious food, she also had the intention of gathering information.

To break the curse on Mo Jiangxue, there were only two paths before her: one was to find the person who had cast the curse, and the other was to combine the Soul-Gathering Lamp.

Xie Qingzheng thought to herself: It would be best if we can find the caster of the curse through the clue of Wen Heng from the Tianshu Sect. But if we can gather the seven great spirit weapons and combine them into the Soul-Gathering Lamp, that is also an option.

Even if she would offend the major sects in the future, she couldn’t care less.

At that time, she would go and apologize. Whether they wanted her to kill herself or atone for her sins, as long as she could save her master’s life, it would be fine.

The Tianxuan Sword was already in their hands. The Tianquan Saber had always been held by the successive Manor Lords of the manor.

Now that Manor Lord Yun Yi had suddenly passed away, she wondered who the successor of the manor would be, and in whose hands the Tianquan Saber would fall.

In the streets and alleys, wherever there were many people, Xie Qingzheng would go.

Before, when she was searching for the people of Wen Family Village, she had done the same. This time, in the bustling city of Xinye, Xie Qingzheng was still wandering around like a headless fly.

Mo Jiangxue stopped her and said, “Go to a teahouse or a tavern.”

She was puzzled and asked, “Why?”

Mo Jiangxue said coolly, “There are many people there, and they are gossipy.”

From the inn in the south of the city, they walked to the north of the city, turned a street, and saw a teahouse in front of them. It was crowded with rogue cultivators in various clothes. She vaguely heard some words like “successor Manor Lord,” “Manor Lord’s wife,” and “Tianquan Saber.”

The master and disciple looked at each other through their veils, walked in, and found a secluded spot on the second floor to sit down.

The tea server brought a plate of pumpkin seeds and broad beans and asked what kind of tea they wanted.

Mo Jiangxue said nothing.

Xie Qingzheng had brewed tea for her master on Ethereal Peak in the past and casually said the one her master often drank, “Guzhu Zisun.”

At that time, it was drizzling, and a large crowd of people had squeezed into the teahouse to take shelter from the rain.

Before long, the teahouse was full.

One of the black-robed rogue cultivators began to chat, “The funeral at Tianquan Manor isn’t for another two days, but there’s already no place to stay in the city.”

A white-robed male cultivator laughed. “All the weapons in the world come from Tianquan Manor! And Tianquan Manor has a long-standing relationship with the Tianshu Sect, the Xuanji Sect, Yuheng Palace, and the Kaiyang Sect. These major sects will all send people to offer their condolences. Who in the cultivation world, whether they know them or not, whether they have a relationship or not, wouldn’t want to join in the excitement? If one can make friends with one or two famous sect cultivators, that would be a great opportunity!”

An elderly rogue cultivator in the seat looked on with cold eyes, snorted, and was rather disdainful. “Sycophants!”

This was a bit of a damper. The teahouse was silent for a moment.

Some chuckled, some agreed, some watched the show with a blank expression, and some had “you’re so noble, you’re so amazing” written all over their faces.

After a moment of silence, someone else started a topic of conversation. “I heard that the ‘Cloud Melody, Flowing Frost’ of the Xuanji Sect has already entered the city. If I could catch a glimpse of her face, I would die happy!”

Hearing others talk about Cloud Melody, Flowing Frost, Xie Qingzheng looked at the person in the black gauze beside her.

Mo Jiangxue was impassive and took a sip of tea.

The black-robed rogue cultivator said, “A year ago, Tianquan Manor held a Sword Discussion Assembly and invited all the major masters of the cultivation world to challenge them. Lady Yunshao had just left Penglai at that time and was unknown. At the Sword Discussion Assembly, she defeated ninety-seven masters in a row, won first place, and became famous throughout the world. Manor Lord Yun Yi gave her the personally forged ‘Shenshang Sword’ and ‘Yanyu Xiao’ as a congratulatory gift. Now that Manor Lord Yun has passed away from illness, it is only right that she comes to offer her condolences.”

So that was the story…

Now the Shenshang Sword and the Yanyu Xiao were with Xie Qingzheng.

Xie Qingzheng touched the personal sword and xiao at her waist and felt a little sad.

That Manor Lord Yun Yi, although she had not had the chance to meet her, she had also heard of her fame when she was studying the history of the various sects on Weiming Peak.

She had heard that she was a gentlemanly figure.

Back then, when she had become a disciple and had chosen her personal sword and magical artifact, she had also said that if she had the chance, she would thank the Manor Lord in person.

What a pity… what a pity…

Suddenly, she heard someone behind her lower their voice and say to their companion, “I heard that Manor Lord Yun’s illness came on strangely…”

This piqued everyone’s curiosity.

Xie Qingzheng also pricked up her ears and listened intently.

A white-haired rogue cultivator quickly asked, “What? Is there more to Manor Lord Yun’s death?”

Another fat man said in a low voice, “I’ve also heard that Manor Lord Yun is a famous master of the age. I’ve never heard that he had any old illness. How could he just pass away from illness? And…”

Someone else asked, “And what? Don’t keep us in suspense!”

The fat man slowly took a sip of tea and then said, “And, as soon as Manor Lord Yun died, the Manor Lord’s wife also disappeared.”

Someone said, “Could it be that she died for love? I heard that their husband and wife were very devoted to each other.”

The fat man said, “Not only did the Manor Lord’s wife disappear, but the Tianquan Saber that Manor Lord Yun held also disappeared with her! Don’t you think it’s strange?”

“Ah?” This news was unexpected.

At this time, a tall, thin rogue cultivator said, “I remember some old things. Perhaps Manor Lord Yun and the Manor Lord’s wife’s relationship was not as good as the legends say…”

Everyone said, “What do you mean by that?”

“The two of them, one the Manor Lord of Tianquan Manor, the other the daughter of the sect master of the Kaiyang sect, were engaged since they were children.”

“I’ve only heard that they were a loving husband and wife for many years, respecting each other like guests.”

“The two of them are a famous immortal couple.”

The tall, thin rogue cultivator shook his head. “It’s true that they were engaged since they were children, but I heard from a handyman at the manor that back then, after Manor Lord Yun succeeded to the position of head of the family, he had personally gone to their door to ask to break off the engagement.”

Everyone let out another “ah,” greatly surprised.

Someone, their appetite whetted, couldn’t help but ask, “Then how did the two of them get married later? And even become an immortal couple?”

The tall, thin rogue cultivator shook his head. “That I don’t know. Perhaps the elders of the two families at that time did not agree to break off the engagement.”

Everyone said:

“A marriage between two sects is a major matter. How can it be broken off just like that?”

“Perhaps after they got married, the two of them found that they were compatible and became an immortal couple!”

“Sigh, as soon as Manor Lord Yun died, how could the Manor Lord’s wife disappear? And the Tianquan Saber also disappeared? It’s really strange!”

The fat man chuckled. “Could it be that their husband and wife’s relationship had broken down, and the Manor Lord’s wife ran off with the sect’s treasured artifact and a pretty boy!”

Everyone spat at him, “You have no basis for that! Don’t talk nonsense!”

“It’s one thing to gossip elsewhere, but this is Tianquan Manor’s territory. Be careful what you say!”

“Be careful that Manor Lord Yun’s soul doesn’t come to possess you in the middle of the night!”

A scholar-like rogue cultivator recited a sour poem, “‘Good things in the world are not strong; colorful clouds are easily scattered, and glazed glass is brittle.’ It’s not impossible that their husband and wife’s relationship had really broken down…”

Someone else agreed, “That’s right. Tianquan Manor has always valued bloodline inheritance. Their husband and wife have been married for many years and haven’t had a single child. Don’t you think it’s strange? Now that Manor Lord Yun has passed away from illness, who knows who the next Manor Lord will be?”

Xie Qingzheng thought to herself: This group of people is really gossipy.

She only hoped to hear more news about the Tianquan Saber, but it all turned into the emotional life of Manor Lord Yun and the Manor Lord’s wife.

But then she thought of the gossip at the bookstall, such as the righteous sect cultivator and the demoness of the demonic cult, and the one who was fickle and was stabbed to death by his wife…

It seemed that people were always very interested in other people’s emotional lives…

How degenerate… A cultivator of the Dao should have a pure heart and few desires. How could they be so keen on spreading such gossip? This was a violation of the precept against loose talk…

Xie Qingzheng frowned slightly, tugged at Mo Jiangxue’s sleeve, and said, “Master, should we go? And look elsewhere?”

With that, she picked up her cup, intending to drink the tea in it.

Mo Jiangxue slowly took a sip of tea and transmitted her voice to Xie Qingzheng, “Manor Lord Yun is a woman.”

W-what?

“Cough, cough, cough…” Xie Qingzheng almost choked on a mouthful of tea. She coughed a few times before she recovered, her face full of disbelief. “Master, say that again?”

Mo Jiangxue took Xie Qingzheng’s hand and, in her palm, wrote, one stroke at a time, the four characters, “She is a woman.”

Her fingertips were cool, and the touch against her warm palm produced a slightly numb sensation.

But this inside information was like a bolt from the blue. Xie Qingzheng was stunned and had no time to dwell on the numb sensation.

After a long while, she lowered her voice to a whisper and asked, “But she… married a wife?”

Mo Jiangxue was as light as a cloud and as gentle as the wind and hummed in acknowledgment.

Xie Qingzheng was astonished. “Then… her wife is also a woman?”

Mo Jiangxue still just hummed.

Xie Qingzheng was stunned for a long while and then called out to the tea server, “More tea…”

She had suddenly also become degenerate and was also very curious about other people’s emotional lives.

There were three things she was curious about: one, why did Manor Lord Yun Yi have to dress as a man? Two, did Yun Yi really die of illness? And three, where were the Manor Lord’s wife and the Tianquan Saber?

Author’s Note:

Xie: It’s like a whole new world has opened up…