Chapter 32: 032 Part 1

For unowned land, occupying it is fine; heaven and earth bear witness, and that land is given to you. But for land with an owner, even if the owner neglects it for a time, and you manage it for a hundred years, when the owner returns to reclaim it, you must return it. Of course, one could also forcibly seize it, but the Spirit Heart Sect had always detested such actions by the aristocratic families. Moreover, a drifting, rootless sect didn’t have the ability to do so.

If they could learn from Chongyuan Sect who the master of Cangwu City was, that would be ideal. Initially, they had thought this place was a dead zone and, to avoid calamity, had resolved to rebuild the sect here. Now, discovering that Cangwu City wasn’t as it appeared on the surface, Qi Wugua wanted even more to settle down. She had brought Ying Shen’gao wandering everywhere, but many sect members were still hiding somewhere, awaiting her good news.

Su Xuanjing’s smile deepened upon hearing Qi Wugua’s words. Exchanging a glance with Wei Mingyi and seeing her nod, Su Xuanjing had a clear idea. She asked, “May I ask which area Fellow Daoist has your eye on?”

Qi Wugua didn’t hide it. “First-Line Peak in the southwest corner.” The earth qi there moved subtly, and the fiery qi was intensely blazing. For ordinary Daoists, it wasn’t suitable for cultivation. But their Spirit Heart Sect was a sect quite adept at artifact refining, and they favored such places that easily spurred earthfire.

Su Xuanjing nodded and smiled. “After establishing your sect, will Fellow Daoist need to connect a Spirit Vein to the mountain gate?” Her tone was even and calm, as if chatting about everyday family matters.

Qi Wugua’s mind stirred. She gazed intently at Su Xuanjing and said frankly, “If there’s a Spirit Vein, that would naturally be best. But the Spirit Heart Sect has migrated everywhere. We don’t have much savings on us, and I’m afraid we can’t afford the Pill Jade upfront.”

Su Xuanjing replied, “No need to rush. Take your time.”

Ying Shen’gao listened with a bewildered expression, her face full of confusion. They had clearly come to buy medicine—how did the conversation turn to establishing a sect? But Qi Wugua was intelligent. From Su Xuanjing’s several questions, she guessed that Chongyuan Sect was very likely the master of this place. Firstly, the Chongyuan Sect Leader had the strength for it. Secondly, the spiritual energy in Chongyuan Sect was abundant, even purer than that in Cangwu City. After the aristocratic family forces withdrew, it was only natural for the master-disciple lineage to occupy a “dead zone”—or perhaps it was even them who created the “dead zone,” causing the Heavenly Dao Alliance to retreat.

Qi Wugua’s thoughts roiled, but she didn’t probe further. Some things were best understood tacitly, not needing to be spelled out too clearly. Delight appeared on her face as she linked the matter of the Greater Restoration Pill with the reconstruction of the sect.

Wei Mingyi was interested in the background of Qi Wugua and her apprentice, but once the conversation extended to haggling over prices, she immediately yawned and quietly slipped away. She could handle making exorbitant demands, but serious business negotiations, especially those mixed with personal favors, were too difficult for her.

In the courtyard, Wei Mingyi didn’t see Wu Chongyun.

Recently, Wu Chongyun hadn’t suffered another attack, and Wei Mingyi felt much more at ease about her. She followed the mountain path through the forest, finally arriving at a streamside. Lonely, jagged peaks rose abruptly on both banks. A waterfall cut through the green mountain hues, cascading down and splashing up a mist of jade droplets. Beside a peak stood a small pavilion, from which the sound of a zither drifted out, harmonizing with the clear wind and the sound of water striking the rocks.

Wei Mingyi had no artistic talent whatsoever. Listening to the zither music, the most she could say was, “It’s like hearing celestial music, briefly refreshing the ears.” She wondered why Shizun had the sudden mood to play the zither and even came to such a secluded corner. Wei Mingyi mused to herself and stepped towards the pavilion. But just as she moved, the zither music in her ears suddenly became impassioned, radiating an aura of deadly severity and killing intent. The music swelled and surged. Behind Wei Mingyi, the originally clear, tranquil stream water suddenly stirred, formidably surging up and crashing down upon her head.

Wei Mingyi didn’t even have time to react before she was drenched from head to toe by the splashing stream water. She had no time to shake off the droplets running down her body and hurriedly roused her magical power to counter the battering stream water and the bleak zither music. After about two quarters of an hour, the zither music finally stopped. Wei Mingyi exhaled a breath of turbid air, shook out her Dharma garments to shed the water droplets all over her, and strode quickly into the pavilion. Still carrying the damp aura, she glared speechlessly at Wu Chongyun, who was putting away the zither, her eyes full of reproach.

“Slow reaction. Too poor,” Wu Chongyun critiqued. She brushed her hand over the zither, and the famous instrument once again transformed into the horsetail whisk, lying across her lap.

Wei Mingyi choked, unable to retort.

Chongyuan Sect was an absolutely safe place; how could she be on guard? It would be different outside. But before she could begin to make excuses, she suddenly realized a crucial issue. Her gaze lingered on Wu Chongyun for a moment before shifting to the side, to a familiar flying shuttle carelessly discarded on the ground.

Wei Mingyi: “?” Where did Shizun’s magical power come from?

She drew the flying shuttle into her palm and said in astonishment, “Shizun, how did you undo the binding yourself?”

Wu Chongyun cast a light, airy glance at Wei Mingyi.

After taking the Spirit-Restoring Pill, the Wither and Flourish poison had been temporarily suppressed. She could barely mobilize her Nascent Soul. But even a trace of its power was not something a Golden Core cultivator could suppress. She had been able to create illusions to deceive Wei Mingyi even while confined. Now, expelling the flying shuttle was naturally effortless.

Her gaze briefly lingered on Wei Mingyi for a moment before shifting away again.

She didn’t look at Wei Mingyi, but Wei Mingyi proactively walked into her field of vision, dangling the flying shuttle.

Wu Chongyun was annoyed by her shaking it. Leaning against the pavilion pillar, she stated lightly and casually, “You wouldn’t help me.”

Wei Mingyi drew a breath.

Was that the answer she wanted to hear?

She didn’t know how to use this magical tool and could only go find the Assistant Master. Saying nothing more, she tucked the flying shuttle into her sleeve and reached out to carry Wu Chongyun into the wheelchair parked to the side.

Wu Chongyun, seeing her expression, understood her intentions. One hand gripping the horsetail whisk, she pressed it against Wei Mingyi’s chest, displaying an air of resistance. “I don’t need it,” Wu Chongyun refused.

Wei Mingyi was unmoved. “That’s for the Assistant Master to say.” Her Shizun was at the Nascent Soul level. In the entire Chongyuan Sect, no one was her match. What if “Wither and Flourish” acted up again, and she was once more shrouded in that deathly aura and chose death? The horsetail whisk pressing against her was painful. Wei Mingyi had to free a hand to push it aside. But Wu Chongyun wouldn’t cooperate. As soon as it was moved away, she pressed it back again, now poking her chest, now bumping her shoulder hollow.

Wei Mingyi was helpless. Snatching the whisk from Wu Chongyun’s hand, she lifted her chin with it and said seriously, “Shizun, be obedient!”

Their gazes interlaced. In the end, it was Wu Chongyun who softened first. When Wei Mingyi came to lift her, she rested her chin on Wei Mingyi’s neck and snorted, “You’re so annoying.”

The warm breath brushed against the sensitive curve of her shoulder and neck, making Wei Mingyi involuntarily shudder all over. Her earlobes flushed crimson, dripping blood. Under Wu Chongyun’s toying, the blush spread uncontrollably, climbing up her entire face. She didn’t speak any further, mustering all her strength to lift Wu Chongyun and stride quickly to the wheelchair, stuffing her into it as if she were a hot potato.

On the path back, Wei Mingyi was unusually quiet.

Wu Chongyun was always immersed in her own world. Now, not hearing that noisy voice, she found herself unable to settle her mind instead. She turned back to look at Wei Mingyi several times. Occasionally, their gazes met, but she didn’t get the usual “What’s wrong?” Wu Chongyun lowered her lashes, wanting to say something, but her chaotic thoughts couldn’t find a thread to grasp. She simply closed her eyes and paid no more attention to the outside world.

Ignore her then, just ignore her.

Wei Mingyi’s heart was somewhat restless. Wu Chongyun was no longer in her arms, yet that ticklish sensation seemed permanently imprinted on her skin, slowly moving inch by inch. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, now thinking of Wu Chongyun’s injuries, now of her own cultivation, and also of many unresolved mysteries. She raised her hand and slapped her own head, as if that could scatter the stray thoughts.

As she lowered her hand, she discovered Wu Chongyun was sneaking a glance at her.

But when their eyes met, Wu Chongyun swiftly averted her gaze, the very picture of guilt.

Wei Mingyi: “…” Annoyed yet amused.

The silent atmosphere didn’t break until they were outside the Revival Furnace.

Mo Xuanxiao was biting her pipe stem while reciting the properties of medicinal herbs and pill recipes. Whenever she paused slightly, she would tap her head with the pipe stem, muttering to herself, “Mo Xuanxiao, wrong again.” She came back to her senses only upon hearing the rumbling of wheels and greeted Wu Chongyun and Wei Mingyi.

“Senior Sister Mo, is the Assistant Master here?” Wei Mingyi asked, simultaneously taking out the flying shuttle and handing it to Mo Xuanxiao. “Shizun took it out.”

Mo Xuanxiao knew the use of that flying shuttle. She quickly replied, “My teacher is in the middle of refining pills; it’ll take a good while.” After a pause, she added, “But my teacher mentioned before that the flying shuttle doesn’t need to be used anymore.” The reason it hadn’t been removed sooner was the thought that once Wu Chongyun recovered some cultivation, she could expel it herself.

Wu Chongyun straightened her back slightly and glanced at Wei Mingyi, her demeanor turning even more coolly aloof and noble.

“Really?” Wei Mingyi still held some doubt. “What if it acts up again?”

Mo Xuanxiao shrugged. “Even if it were kept inside, it could still be expelled. And in Chongyuan Sect, no one can restrain the Assistant Master.” Seeing Wei Mingyi’s expression turn unsightly, she quickly added, “Junior Sister, why not trust in my teacher’s medicine, and also trust the Assistant Master.”

Wei Mingyi lowered her eyes.

The former, barely.

As for the latter—

Was her Shizun trustworthy?

Not knowing the answer left one anxious; having an answer still left one anxious. But since things had come to this point, Wei Mingyi couldn’t very well demand Mo Xuanxiao make a hand seal and send the flying shuttle back into Wu Chongyun’s body. After a few brief pleasantries, leaving behind an “I won’t disturb Senior Sister’s studying,” Wei Mingyi pushed Wu Chongyun and headed back.

Halfway there, Wei Mingyi suddenly thought of something.

She could use her magical power as she pleased now. A lofty Nascent Soul True Lord, and she still needed her to push the wheelchair?

“Shizun, why don’t you get up and walk?” Wei Mingyi said.

Wu Chongyun closed her eyes in weariness, pretending not to hear.

“Nascent Soul Perfected Ones can soar through the heavens and tunnel through the earth, omnipotent, can’t they?” Wei Mingyi added.

As soon as these words were out, the world spun. A veil of mist seemed to obscure her vision. When her mind cleared and her sight returned, Wei Mingyi discovered she was already back in the small courtyard. Not far away, under the pear blossom tree, Wu Chongyun stood, leaning on the wheelchair.

Wei Mingyi called out, “Shizun?” She had only casually mentioned it; she hadn’t actually intended for Wu Chongyun to fly her back. Though it was just a short mountain path, Shizun’s Nascent Soul was still eroded by Wither and Flourish; she wasn’t fully healed. Wei Mingyi walked quickly forward, but as she approached Wu Chongyun, the snow-white whisk swept over, covering her face and halting her in her tracks. She rubbed her eyes. Wu Chongyun had already strode back into the house.

The cold, proud refusal, the firm, steady steps, the resolute back, and that damnable silence… Her Shizun was angry, wasn’t she? But what exactly was she angry about? Wei Mingyi truly couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

She plucked a few pear blossoms, tossed them into her mouth and chewed. Steadying her mind, she also returned to the house.

Wu Chongyun was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Hearing the footsteps, she cast a quick glance before retracting her gaze.

Wei Mingyi couldn’t be bothered to guess. She walked to the bedside, placed her hands behind her back and bent over, gazing at Wu Chongyun. She asked directly, “Is Shizun angry?”