Chapter 62: Off to Yaoguang Ravine Part 1

If they weren’t still in the teahouse, surrounded by a packed crowd, and if she hadn’t received a proper upbringing since childhood, Guan Du felt like she would have jumped up and shouted like any other girl: Are you crazy?!

She widened her eyes and stared at Lu Mingyi, seeing that although the other woman wore a faint smile, she clearly wasn’t joking.

Guan Du took several deep breaths and drained the tea in her cup to calm herself down.

Seeing this, Lu Mingyi quickly refilled it for her.

Guan Du laughed angrily. “You’re serious? I go to Yaoguang Ravine? Me going there right now—what’s the difference from proposing marriage to Shen Mingzheng!”

Lu Mingyi knew this request sounded abrupt, but she patiently explained, “Guan Du, think about it. Leaving aside how much the Shen Family dotes on Shen Mingzheng—they’d never treat her like a family tool—just consider that she’s infected with the Spirit-Devouring Gu. With the Shen Family’s wealth and foundation, would they really need to rush into this overnight marriage recruitment to secure the ‘family’s future’?”

Guan Du wasn’t reckless either. After Lu Mingyi’s detailed analysis, she detected something fishy.

She asked, “Then you want me to go to Yaoguang Ravine because you’re worried about…”

Exactly what she was worried about, Guan Du swallowed back after seeing Lu Mingyi’s frank expression—no need to say the name.

But Lu Mingyi thought she was talking business. After waiting a moment with no follow-up, she said, “It’s not exactly worry. Actually, I need to find something in Yaoguang Ravine. I’ve been waiting for a reasonable chance to enter for a while now. I thought it’d take longer, but it came up today. So, this is me owing you a favor.”

So Lu Mingyi purely had legitimate business in Yaoguang Ravine.

Guan Du recalled how Lu Mingyi had deliberately avoided Shen Mingzheng before. Now that she was proactively asking to go, whatever she needed to find must be extremely important.

She pondered for a moment, exhaled, and said, “If it’s that important, how could I refuse you?”

With that, Guan Du glanced up at Lu Mingyi again, half-smiling and half-annoyed. “But afterward, you better think hard about how to repay me!

“Word’s already spreading on the streets about the Jiangxia Secret Realm incident. If I head to Yaoguang Ravine at this critical moment—even without mentioning proposals—others will assume I have designs on Shen Mingzheng!”

Imagine Guan Du, who normally loved nothing more than traveling mountains and rivers, sticking around Taiqing Sect for over a century, finally getting a chance to venture out—only to inexplicably gain a bunch of “romantic” rumors, all tied to the same person!

“No problem, no problem. Guan Second Miss, I’ll work like an ox and horse to repay you!” Lu Mingyi smiled and proactively poured her more tea.

It was easy to promise on the lips, but actually doing it left Guan Du fretting.

First off, to visit Yaoguang Ravine without using the proposal angle, she’d have to go with the excuse of “hearing my junior sister was ill and coming to visit.”

But a special visit like that required gifts, of course.

“I’ve always left family visits to my mother and eldest sister. I haven’t handled this sort of thing in the sect, so what should I get Shen Mingzheng? And gifts for the Shen Family Head and Madam Xia too?”

Once out of the teahouse, Guan Du started worrying about shopping.

“The Shen Family doesn’t lack valuables. Just get things they’ll like,” Lu Mingyi said casually, holding her umbrella. “Aunt Shen likes green plants, Summer Aunt prefers sweets, Shen Mingzheng…”

When it came to Shen Mingzheng, Lu Mingyi paused for a beat, cutting off her otherwise smooth words. After a moment, she continued, “For her, something flashy like decorative accessories works—jade ornaments, rouge, that sort of thing. Bright colors.”

Guan Du could only say, after hearing this, the rumors were spot on.

Even if Lu Mingyi and Shen Mingzheng weren’t close anymore, their past intimacy meant she knew her habits and preferences inside out—like second nature, without digging through memories.

After buying the gifts, the day was done. Lu Mingyi and Guan Du returned to the inn and decided to head to Yaoguang Ravine tomorrow.

Since Guan Du had agreed to this huge favor, Lu Mingyi wouldn’t let her pay for the gifts. But after buying a few items, Lu Mingyi realized her saved spirit stones were nearly depleted again.

Should’ve grabbed more stuff back in the southwest region, she thought.

As Lu Mingyi mulled over her money woes, Guan Du knocked on her door and came in. “I know you’ll probably be careful, but I should mention it anyway. After all… tomorrow we’re going to Yaoguang Ravine, where you grew up.”

“I’ll keep quiet as much as possible and play the part of a Guan Family servant—no unnecessary moves,” Lu Mingyi replied, knowing exactly what she meant.

She knew Shen Mingzheng well, and vice versa.

Back when they’d gone to the underground of Peach Blossom Source, Shen Mingzheng’s uncharacteristic insistence on tagging along was probably because their familiar banter had tipped her off to something odd.

Guan Du nodded but still seemed uneasy. “Also, try to avoid using spiritual power as much as you can. You know Shen Mingzheng has your Gu Li— it might recognize its master…”

“I will. But don’t worry too much; I’ve tested it. Unless I directly grasp Gu Li, it still recognizes Shen Mingzheng as its master.”

“How long do we expect to stay in Yaoguang Ravine?”

“…Hard to say, but like our time in Lin’an City—let’s plan for three days first.”

“Got it.”

After settling their plans, Guan Du left Lu Mingyi’s room.

She still had plenty of questions, but none she could voice.

From big things like switching to Pill-Sword Dual Cultivation and suppressing her spiritual power to claim someone else’s spirit sword, to small ones like buying shops with the other’s favorite foods from Jiangxia to Lin’an…

These actions were hard not to be curious about.

Especially since they all revolved around Lu Mingyi.

But given how much Lu Mingyi shunned Shen Mingzheng, Guan Du figured it was best not to bring up the bean skin shop herself.

Whew… Hope tomorrow goes smoothly, she thought, shaking her head as she returned to her room to rest.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingyi lay in bed, wide awake.

Tomorrow, they were going to Yaoguang Ravine.

Truth be told, Yaoguang Ravine and Lin’an could both be called her “hometown.”

From age five, when she’d been brought back to the Shen Family, until fifteen, when she joined Taiqing Sect, her childhood had unfolded amid Lin’an’s watery landscapes. Later in the sect, half her time was there, but the rest lingered in memories of Jiangnan’s misty rains.

Lu Mingyi suspected the Shen Family also held a Five-Colored Stone. But Shen Pianchen was meticulous; she wouldn’t keep a family treasure outside Yaoguang Ravine. So what exactly had her parents escorted a hundred years ago?

The Five-Colored Stone bewitched the mind, resisting ordinary powers.

At least, the black box her mother Lu Zhanyan and Jing Yu had given her clearly couldn’t contain it.

Most crucially, unlike the Xiao Family, the Shen Family hadn’t relocated. Shen Pianchen, unlike Xiao Yuxie, had shouldered the Shen Family for four centuries, peaking under her watch—she couldn’t be ignorant of such a treasure.

Lu Mingyi didn’t think she was wrong. And since word of Peach Blossom Source had reached Lin’an, it meant Jiang Liuzhao had wrapped up things in Tianfu and would likely arrive in Lin’an soon.

Between Taiqing Sect and Lin’an, beyond the Demon Sect’s rush for a new Five-Colored Stone, another key reason was Jiang Liuzhao’s parting words that day.

She didn’t want Lu Mingyi touching another Five-Colored Stone.

Yet Lu Mingyi hadn’t been affected by the Ink Wave Stone—why say those things?

Surely not some nonsense about keeping her carefree and untroubled in this life?

Lu Mingyi’s gaze darkened. Finding no answers, she sat up cross-legged and began cultivating with Quiet Heart.

After all, tomorrow was Yaoguang Ravine, and Shen Pianchen and Xia Huan weren’t easily fooled.

The night passed quickly. The next day, the multi-day rain finally paused briefly, though the gloomy sky and gathering storm clouds heralded more to come.

Guan Du yawned and knocked on Lu Mingyi’s door. Out stepped a woman her height with an ordinary face.

“Huh? Who are…” Guan Du blinked, looked her up and down, then exclaimed in surprise, “Your Disguise Technique is this good?!”

“Of course,” Lu Mingyi smiled smugly.

Her Disguise Technique was flawless on its own merits.

Past exposures came from too many other factors, and since she hadn’t trained in deep-cover infiltration, total concealment wasn’t her forte.

But today, she’d learn from mistakes: she’d even padded her height by an inch, and she’d stay silent unless absolutely necessary.

Yaoguang Ravine lay south of Lin’an City, spanning thousands of acres. Named for the natural waterfall within and its buildings roofed in fine glazed tiles that shimmered like starlight under the moon, even at night.

Lu Mingyi and Guan Du flew on artifacts and soon spotted the glittering complex from afar—undoubtedly, they’d reached Yaoguang Ravine.

“Greetings. Northwest Guan Clan Second Miss, Guan Du, here to visit.”

Upon landing, Lu Mingyi—disguised as a family servant—presented the Guan Family’s jade token and reported to the Shen Family gatekeeper.

The servant checked the token, sent a message talisman inward for approval, then handed Guan Du a bright red jade token. “Miss Guan, this is your temporary pass for Yaoguang Ravine. You may enter now. The Family Head and others are in the Reception Hall.”

From her recent intel in Lin’an, Lu Mingyi knew that after the Demon Sect’s assault a century ago, the Shen Family had massively upgraded Yaoguang Ravine’s defenses: barriers from one layer to three, disciple intake slashed to only named aristocratic families.

Entry required identity posts; otherwise, no admittance.

Guan Du nodded, took the token, and swaggered into Yaoguang Ravine’s barrier with Lu Mingyi in tow.

“Did you message Aunt Shen ahead?” Lu Mingyi scanned the familiar scenery and asked via spiritual transmission.

“Nope, I don’t have the Shen Family Head’s contact,” Guan Du replied bluntly.