73. The Clumsy Gong Yiling
“Have you investigated everything?”
Before Wen Qiyin, a man in a black mask knelt on one knee, ready to report his findings.
“Reporting to the Saintess, I have investigated Yanlie City. Everything is as you said.”
“Several factions were clashing in the city. I’ve identified the Heartflame Empire’s royal family, the Myriad Demons Palace, the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, and another group worthy of note.”
Wen Qiyin raised an eyebrow. “Worthy of note?”
“A woman the royals call ‘Immortal Master,’ and her three female disciples.” The man said, “To the public, she’s known as a descendant of the old sect, but she hasn’t given her name.”
“These groups caused a disturbance in the palace. I couldn’t find out the details, but in the end, Shangguan Long abdicated, passing the throne to a young girl. The Immortal Master and her disciples then left.”
“It’s worth mentioning…”
Wen Qiyin thought the investigation was over, but the man revealed a startling piece of information.
“The Immortal Master’s disciples… have the same names as the new students who recently joined Ruohuai Daoist Mountain.”
“What did you say?” Wen Qiyin was taken aback, but she quickly understood.
Of course.
The Young Palace Master of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace had explicitly mentioned it.
They had been hunting the Immortal Master and her disciples. It was only natural for them to follow them to Qian Yue Academy.
As for this group of “immortals”…
Wen Qiyin glanced at the secret letter on her desk, which detailed a major incident—the main hall had been invaded, and the Mother Bug’s essence was almost completely stolen.
Come to think of it, it was because of these disciples that the Divine King’s Court’s plans had been repeatedly thwarted, forcing her to make some risky decisions.
If these disciples were indeed the Immortal Master’s, then some things could be explained.
Based on her intuition alone, Wen Qiyin had already figured something out.
—What if the incident at the main hall was also related to the Immortal Master’s disciples?
After a moment of thought, she said to the man, “Go to Ruohuai Daoist Mountain and investigate the origins of those new girls. Report back to me.”
“Yes!”
The man took his leave.
Wen Qiyin looked at the letter again and muttered to herself.
—The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Although the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace was a formidable force and wouldn’t be easily fooled…
As a temporary partner, they were the most reliable.
If the one who had been sabotaging her plans was indeed the Immortal Master’s disciple…
She quickly wrote something on a piece of paper, then stood up and walked to the window. She summoned a white pigeon, attached the note to its leg, and sent it on its way.
The note read: Regarding the previous matter, I wish to discuss it again with Old Yin.
Perhaps…
The Nine-Tailed Min could be given.
—
—
The next morning, Miss Gong tossed the item she had conveniently “found” to Yan Chuyue.
“Look, isn’t this what you wanted?”
“What I wanted?” Yan Chuyue looked at her, puzzled, and muttered to herself—How did you know I also wanted a gift? After helping you for so long, I haven’t even received a proper ‘thank you,’ let alone a gift.
Miss Yan was feeling quite disgruntled.
But seeing the “gift,” she felt a little better. “Hmph, at least you have a conscience.”
Gong Yiling was bewildered—Didn’t you want the Nine-Tailed Min? What does this have to do with my conscience?
Then, Yan Chuyue, with a satisfied expression, opened the box and almost dropped it on Gong Yiling’s head.
Fortunately, having been unafraid of bugs since childhood, even occasionally using them to scare her mother, Yan Chuyue didn’t actually throw it. It was just that the reality was a far cry from her expectations—yes, it was all Gong Yiling’s fault! If she hadn’t given her such expectations, she wouldn’t be so disappointed.
“Lü Youyuan! Can’t you be more specific!?” Miss Yan looked up and glared at her.
If she hadn’t been careful, if her hand had slipped…
This precious Nine-Tailed Min was fragile. One drop, and it would be half-dead.
“What? I thought you knew what I was talking about.” Gong Yiling scratched her head, still puzzled. “Didn’t you tell them you wanted this?”
“I went over there today and saw something. I didn’t expect to find a box buried there, with this inside, and a note attached—”
As she spoke, the straightforward Gong Yiling finally realized something was amiss.
Or rather, Yan Chuyue’s expression, and the atmosphere, were a bit… strange.
“I’m sorry!” She said bluntly, apologizing.
Yan Chuyue was taken aback. “What are you sorry for?”
“Uh…” Gong Yiling didn’t actually think she had done anything wrong, but Yan Chuyue seemed angry.
When her sister was angry, she would just stare at her silently, without saying a word, without pouting, without any obvious signs of anger.
But she was angry.
“I don’t know.” Gong Yiling scratched her head. “Maybe… because I didn’t tell you what it was beforehand and scared you?”
“No.” Yan Chuyue smiled helplessly.
Forget it.
Even the most intelligent girl had her dense moments. Gong Yiling’s reaction was in line with her understanding of a perfect protagonist.
A story needed a protagonist who was a bit clueless about emotions to be interesting. If both were too good at it, it would be too mushy.
“Then why were you…”
“Alright.” Yan Chuyue placed the box on the table and waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not angry. I was just surprised that they actually sent the Nine-Tailed Min after I mentioned it.”
Gong Yiling, seeing her current state, couldn’t help but ask again, “Really… not angry?”
“Really!” Yan Chuyue extended her hand. “Forget about that. The note, let me see it.”
