Chapter 20
Cui Xiaoxiao was unaware of Qin Lingxiao’s thoughts. When he asked if she wanted to return, she simply replied, “Of course I want to go back. Do you know where the divine statue of Zhi Jiuyin is?”
The seal on the statue was placed by her master Tang Youshu back then, but her master had never left any information about the statue. Since Qin Lingxiao had also traveled back, everything could be easily resolved if he could obtain the statue and they could reactivate it together.
However, Qin Lingxiao said, “That statue was originally found by Wei Jie. How would I know its whereabouts?”
Upon hearing this, Cui Xiaoxiao felt a pang of disappointment, thinking: Does this mean I have to wait until Wei Jie finds Zhi Jiuyin before I can return?
At that moment, someone came towards them, shouting in anguish, “It’s terrible! That demonic Wei Jie used some method to fill the valley with poisonous gas. The people who went down the cliff to chase after him have all been poisoned and fallen unconscious!”
Earlier, when Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie had been battling the Soul-Devouring Giant Serpent in the valley, the commotion had attracted the attention of the disciples from the four major sects on the mountain.
After Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie left the valley, some people channeled their inner energy to jump down the cliff. Unfortunately, the poisonous miasma from the Soul-Devouring Serpent’s venom had not dissipated, causing these people to be poisoned and collapse.
Those standing on the cliff saw this from afar and dared not descend, instead attributing the poisoning of their fellow disciples to that half-demonic Wei Jie.
Upon hearing the report, Cui Xiaoxiao instinctively wanted to explain and use the snake bile from her water pouch to detoxify those people.
However, as soon as she started speaking, that person glared at her and shouted, “It’s her! I saw her following that bastard Wei Jie and even helping him escape. Clearly, they’re in cahoots! Young Pavilion Master Qin, quickly apprehend this demoness before she flees!”
Seeing the disaster being pinned on her, Cui Xiaoxiao remained calm, as she had already devised an escape plan. She swiftly explained, “It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Hidden beneath the cliff is the Soul-Devouring Giant Serpent, and it was its poisonous miasma that incapacitated your fellow disciples… As for the lost spirit pills, I have retrieved them for you. Here, let me return them.”
As she spoke, she took out the cloth bag she had taken and tossed it to an elderly man in black robes, “Sir, please check, the spirit pills are all inside. Let this return the property to its rightful owner. Moreover, my encounter with the pill thief was merely by chance. I have no further involvement, so I shall take my leave…”
At that moment, a black figure resembling a soaring dragon leapt out from the crowd, extending its long arms in an attempt to snatch the bag of spirit pills from Cui Xiaoxiao’s hands.
Unfortunately, it was a step too late, as Cui Xiaoxiao had already thrown the bag to the people from the four sects.
It turned out that Wei Jie had noticed the cloth bag had somehow ended up in Cui Xiaoxiao’s possession. Seeing her return the spirit pills without consulting him first greatly displeased him.
Fueled by anger, Wei Jie’s expression grew increasingly cold. The tall man in a black robe, with his hair fluttering in the wind, shot a sidelong glance, his faint purple pupils flickering with an enchanting light. His thin lips beneath his high nose were slightly pursed, accentuating the alluring charm of his handsome jaw.
Cui Xiaoxiao felt somewhat guilty under his glare and averted her gaze.
However, upon reflection, those spirit pills were stolen goods, and she had merely returned them to their rightful owners. What was wrong with that? She defiantly glared back at Wei Jie.
Yet this handsome man was like the waters of West Lake – even his anger and resentment were intoxicating. Even with a cold, piercing gaze, his handsomeness was overwhelming. If one stared too long, they might lose self-control.
Truly a descendant of the Demonic Seductress, his eyes brimmed with a captivating charm that could bewitch the world.
Xiaoxiao found herself faltering, hastily averting her gaze and silently reciting the mind-clearing incantation taught by her master.
However, she was not the only one nearly mesmerized by the demonic allure. Many female disciples from the four sects with insufficient mental discipline gaped at Wei Jie, seemingly unable to divert their eyes. Even some men appeared dazed as they stared at him…
Before Cui Xiaoxiao could regain her composure from the spellbinding masculine charm, Wei Jie suddenly dropped his angry expression. Taking a few steps forward, he grabbed Cui Xiaoxiao’s hand and loudly proclaimed, “Master, I don’t blame you. You must have feared them and had no choice but to return the spirit pills. Don’t be afraid, your disciple will rescue you!”
After speaking, he surveyed the surrounding disciples and deliberately raised his voice, “This is my master, Wei Jie! Let’s see who dares bully her!”
Seeing his father’s killer from long ago reappear before his eyes, Qin Lingxiao was seething with hatred, his teeth practically aching. Until he heard Wei Jie call Cui Xiaoxiao “master”, he couldn’t believe it and glared back at her in disbelief.
She hadn’t mentioned taking Wei Jie as a disciple earlier! She must be insane to accept such a demonic person as her disciple!
Cui Xiaoxiao never expected Wei Jie to suddenly change tactics, clinging to her like a helpless infant and shamelessly calling her “master” in front of the four major sects.
For a moment, she was caught off guard by Wei Jie’s underhanded ploy.
At this point, the people from the other three major sects who had been fighting Wei Jie rushed over, exclaiming in disbelief, “This little girl is your master? Is there really a sect in this world that dares accept you, Wei Jie? Speak up and let us learn of this!”
Wei Jie glanced at Cui Xiaoxiao, resenting how she had silently stolen his spirit pills, and enunciated each word, “My master is the sect leader of the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect – Cui Xiaoxiao!”
Upon hearing this, the others were stunned before erupting into raucous laughter, “What kind of dog fart Talisman Sect is that? Never even heard of it! Isn’t that just a sect you established yourself, Wei Jie? And she’s your master? Just some little girl?”
Wave after wave of laughter filled the air, with many people laughing uncontrollably.
This was understandable, as two hundred years ago, Tang Youshu had not yet accepted Wei Jie as a disciple, let alone established the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect independently.
To randomly claim a sect’s existence was akin to a dog or cat erecting a grand banner!
Amidst the mocking laughter, Cui Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly, “Master, I have disgraced you, bringing shame even two hundred years into the past!”
That damn Wei Jie, revealing her sect at this moment was practically defaming the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect! Even if she vehemently denied it now, people would likely not believe her.
As the sect leader of the Talisman Sect, how could she allow others to ridicule her sect? After sighing, she resolved to display some divine abilities. She casually took out a water-summoning talisman and, with a snap of her fingers, summoned a torrential downpour over the heads of those doubled over in laughter.
This bizarre and sudden heavy rain immediately drenched the crowd, forcing them to cease their raucous laughter.
Such effortless control over summoning rain required a certain level of cultivation. Yet this young lady had accomplished it with ease. Could a Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect have truly emerged without anyone’s knowledge?
Before the founding of the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect by Tang Youshu, the art of talisman refinement was never considered a prestigious path, and there were no renowned figures in this field.
When Cui Xiaoxiao displayed her mastery of the Water Summoning Art, it was enough to intimidate the Four Great Sects from two hundred years ago.
“If you all have had your laugh, then listen to me,” Xiaoxiao snapped her fingers again, stopping the sudden “downpour.”
She spoke loudly, “My disciple has been unruly and committed a transgression. On his behalf, I apologize to you all. However, I have already returned the Golden Dan to him. I implore you great ones to be magnanimous and pardon him this one time. Or else, let me know how much silver you require, and I will make sure this child Wei Jie finds a way to compensate you all!”
In this situation, where she was clearly outnumbered, and now inexplicably bound to this demon, even if she claimed not to know him, no one would believe her.
Bearing in mind that he had saved her life in the valley, Cui Xiaoxiao hardened herself and tried to smooth things over for Wei Jie, persuading the Four Great Sects to back off. If everyone remained amicable, she could also make a graceful exit.
It would be best if this Wei fellow showed some sense and didn’t bite the hand that fed him!
Wei Jie, however, seemed rather oblivious. Dissatisfied with Cui Xiaoxiao’s submissive tone, he was about to speak when his newfound Shifu pinched him hard on the waist.
The small red mole at the corner of the young Shifu’s eye seemed ready to drip blood as she glared at Wei Jie, clearly warning, “If you dare say another word, I’ll feed you snake venom and send you to the heavens!”
Unfortunately, her charming appearance and wide, round eyes only added a touch of girlish cuteness to her intimidation.
Wei Jie glanced at her sideways, his arched brows furrowed as if contemplating some mischievous scheme, but he refrained from speaking further.
As for the elderly Xuan cultivator, he was an elder of the second-greatest sect after Lingyun Pavilion, the Demonic Wood Peak Qisect.
He never expected this so-called Talisman Sect Master to openly admit Wei Jie’s theft and unhesitatingly return the Golden Dan.
The old man clutched his wet beard, thinking that since she had confessed, further accusations would be pointless…However, how did this little girl summon rain? Without a change of clothes, what would they do?
Just as the Demonic Wood Peak Elder was about to compromise and hurry back to change and drink, Qin Lingxiao spoke in a gloomy tone, “If a thief is caught, returning the loot is expected. But if we don’t severely punish them, won’t people mistake us and think the Four Great Sects’ Dan Rooms are open to all?”
Hearing this, the other three sects immediately chimed in angrily, demanding severe punishment for Wei Jie and his master who enabled his misdeeds.
Cui Xiaoxiao realized that Qin Lingxiao was deliberately stirring trouble.
If it was just about taunting Wei Jie, Xiaoxiao could remain a spectator and not intervene in others’ affairs.
But now that Wei Jie represented the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect, Xiaoxiao couldn’t stand by and watch her sect’s reputation plummet into the cesspool of two centuries ago. She had to try and salvage it.
Clearing her throat, she quietly asked Wei Jie, “Why did you steal their Golden Dan when you had nothing better to do?”
Wei Jie lowered his long lashes and looked at her, seemingly amused that someone was defending him. He honestly answered, “They refined this batch of Golden Dan using my mother’s blood as an ingredient…”
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao instantly understood, for she had read about precious materials used in talisman refinement and pill concoction in her master’s secret manuals.
Wei Jie’s birth mother was a Femme Fatale. These beings could invert the minds of mortals and bewitch the human realm with their charm. Their youthful, ageless blood had the power to preserve one’s prime.
Throughout history, emperors secretly sent people to hunt Femme Fatales and obtain their blood to achieve longevity and preserve their youth.
For cultivators, if they could acquire a Femme Fatale’s blood to refine pills, the potency of the Golden Dan would be significantly enhanced.
Years ago, when the Four Great Sects besieged Elder Mountain and killed Wei Jinglin, it was said that the fleeing Femme Fatale appeared, weeping bitterly as she watched Wei Jinglin’s blood spill, her tears of grief staining the forest.
At that time, the Four Great Sects wished to capture the Femme Fatale alive and flay her for her precious skin and blood. Alas, she managed to escape.
However, the Femme Fatale’s tears of blood scattered in the forest were collected by the Four Great Sects’ people, who hastily began refining pills with it.
Such a precious ingredient naturally called for refining the once-in-a-decade Golden Dan. Little did they expect that before they could even start the furnace after the ten-year period, Wei Jie appeared and stole the Golden Dan clean.
After hearing Wei Jie’s explanation, Cui Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of guilt.
Her original plan was to return the loot to appease the Four Great Sects’ anger, then rebuke Wei Jie’s misconduct in the name of the master, expel him from the Talisman Sect in front of the four sects, and sever all ties with him cleanly.
As for any future misdeeds committed by Wei Jie, it would no longer concern her or the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect.
But she never expected that Wei Jie’s reason for stealing the Golden Dan was out of filial piety!
