Chapter 143: Jade Peony
The stone gate revealed a vast ruin, supported by several stone pillars carved with various auspicious beasts. Some pillars were broken, lying on the ground.
Between the pillars, piles of colorful ores were stacked.
And in the center of the ruins was a stone coffin, its lid slightly ajar.
Mingyan’s expression changed. He sensed the source of the wind. It was coming from the coffin.
This wasn’t what had made him and Huang Feiyan feel sick.
Over a dozen corpses lay scattered throughout the ruins, none of them whole, all dismembered, their parts scattered. It would be impossible to piece together a single complete body.
Huang Feiyan looked around but saw no one else. Her face paled. They had clearly heard someone calling for help, had even spoken to them through the stone gate. But now, there was no one here.
She looked at the coffin, a chill running down her spine, and said urgently, “Mingyan, let’s leave! Something is wrong here!”
Just as she spoke, Mingyan felt a cold sensation on his neck. His nerves tensed, and he instantly summoned the Netherworld Dragon Tendon Bow, blocking his neck. A harsh, metallic screech echoed, and he felt a wetness on his neck. He quickly retreated, touching his neck. His skin was broken, but it wasn’t a serious wound.
He looked around, surprised. He hadn’t seen or sensed anything, yet he had been attacked.
Without his support, the stone gate slammed shut, shaking the mine.
Huang Feiyan rushed to his side. She hadn’t seen anything, but he had been attacked. “Let’s leave. Something is very wrong!”
He nodded, put away his bow, and turned around to see a strange woman in a veiled hat standing behind them, silent as a ghost.
Huang Feiyan was startled and immediately summoned her feathered sword, pointing it at the stranger. She couldn’t sense her cultivation level, which meant she was likely stronger than her.
“Don’t be so hasty. I’m not a ghost.” The stranger’s voice was gentle, and she smiled. “And leaving that coffin open isn’t a good idea. It’s fine if you leave the mine, but if anyone else comes in, they’ll likely be killed by that ghost.”
Mingyan frowned. The stranger wore a cherry-white gradient dress, the top cherry red, fading to white at the waist.
That dress hem… Mingyan frowned. “Have you been following us? I sensed someone behind us earlier. Was that you?”
The stranger smiled faintly. “I’ve been observing you since you left Zhong Jing City.”
Huang Feiyan’s brow furrowed. “Who are you? Why are you following us?”
The stranger’s veil concealed her face, revealing only her fair forehead and a pair of strange, cherry-colored eyes. She smiled. “I’m just curious about your friend here. As for me, I’m just a nobody.”
“You’ve already reached the Divine Gate Realm, haven’t you?” Mingyan looked at her, frowning. He couldn’t sense her cultivation, but she was definitely stronger than him. He could feel an immense aura from her.
“Peak of the Divine Gate Realm,” she smiled.
Peak of the Divine Gate Realm? Huang Feiyan and Mingyan were on high alert. They were only at the Qi Sea Realm. Although they could both fight across realms, they could both sense that this stranger was not to be trifled with.
“There’s no need to be so wary.” The stranger’s voice was filled with a hint of helplessness. “I’m really just curious about Young Master Ming.”
“You know my name?”
“Of course I do. Your name is quite famous.” The stranger approached, and Huang Feiyan, wary, pointed her sword at her. “Who are you?”
“Jade Peony. Have you heard of that name?” The stranger, seeing her still so wary, found it amusing. “Don’t point your sword at me. You’re no match for me.”
Huang Feiyan was at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm, while Jade Peony was at the peak of the Divine Gate Realm, a whole major realm above her.
Mingyan sent a mental message to Huang Feiyan. “Put down your sword. She means us no harm.”
Huang Feiyan, hearing this, finally sheathed her sword, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Jade Peony.
Jade Peony’s beautiful eyes looked at Mingyan, her smile widening. “I suggest we close that coffin. It’s fine for the three of us, but if anyone else comes here in the future, they’ll likely be killed.”
“You should know that these miners died because they ‘offended’ something, right? They likely found this ruin, got greedy, and opened the coffin, looking for burial offerings, which led to their demise.”
“The being in the coffin must have mistaken you for their companions, which is why it attacked you.” Jade Peony smiled. “But since Miss Huang doesn’t seem to trust me… how about this? Mingyan can lift the stone gate, and I’ll close the coffin.”
“Why are you helping us?”
“I’m not helping you. I’m just worried that others might come here and be attacked.” Jade Peony walked to the stone gate and looked at Mingyan, smiling. “Let’s do it.”
Mingyan hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the stone gate, lifted it with all his might, and held it up. Jade Peony, without hesitation, entered, went to the coffin, closed it, then collected the pile of colorful ores and walked out.
Nothing happened. The ghost that had attacked Mingyan hadn’t attacked Jade Peony.
Seeing her emerge, Mingyan released the stone gate, and it slammed shut again.
Jade Peony took out the ores from her Qi Sea and smiled. “These are yours, right?”
Huang Feiyan, seeing this, although she didn’t know the stranger’s true identity, knew she had helped them. She apologized. “I apologize for my rudeness earlier.”
“It’s fine… It’s good to be friends.” Jade Peony shook her head gently, not minding. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Mingyan, and she smiled. “Young Master Ming, why are you looking at me like that?”
Mingyan frowned. “I’m trying to figure out who you are.”
Jade Peony’s smile was demure, her veil concealing most of her face. But her cherry-colored eyes were unique, carrying a special charm. “Bei Ming Kun is my defeated foe. That should tell you, right?”
“The number one of the Demon Clan?!” Huang Feiyan’s brow shot up. She looked at Jade Peony, a chill running down her spine. This number one of the Demon Clan was already at the peak of the Divine Gate Realm?! No wonder Bei Ming Kun could only be second. She was on par with Gu Hanshuang of the Southern Continent.
Mingyan’s mouth fell open, also surprised. “I didn’t expect… to meet you like this.”
Jade Peony chuckled. “Let’s leave this place and go back to Zhong Jing City. I’m not your enemy, Young Master Ming. On the contrary, I want to be your friend.”
T/n:
Her name is Yu Mudan: Literary is Jade Peony
