Chapter 95 - The Harem Rescue Project

Xiao Lanle feigned sleep, lying on the bed with one eye slightly open, secretly watching Lin Qianshuang hurriedly close the dual-cultivation book and slip it back into the bookshelf behind a tome on cultivation techniques. She couldn't help but cover her mouth to suppress a giggle. After tidying up the scattered books on the floor, Lin Qianshuang turned towards the seemingly asleep person on the bed. Despite her calm demeanor, she still harbored some wariness towards Xiao Lanle. She didn't want Xiao Lanle to discover her true identity in Heavenly Pivot City, as it would only lead to unnecessary complications. She approached the bed and cast a sleep spell over Xiao Lanle's forehead to ensure she wouldn't awaken. Only then did she pick up the Heavenly Pivot Command Seal. "Received. I will head to Heavenly Pivot City immediately." Upon receiving a response, the command seal transformed into a streak of red light, darting out the window across the open night sky before vanishing. Lin Qianshuang stored the Icestone Zither in her jade slip and took out the silver mask representing her identity as Explainer, covering her face. Although the bounty from the demonic realm for information about her had long been revoked, the residents of Heavenly Pivot City knew her as a demonic cultivator. If the people from the Penglai Immortal Sect realized her alternate identity, she would be forced to leave the sect, unable to stay by Xiao Lanle's side to clear the obstacles on her path. This would be detrimental to her system tasks. Stay strong, the second target task is about to be accomplished. Lin Qianshuang took a deep breath to calm her mind and body. Her gaze paused on the Chinese knot dangling from the identity jade pendant of Heavenly Pivot City. Holding the jade pendant, a fleeting thought emerged about how Liang Jingxuan inexplicably discovered she too was a transmigrator. Perhaps it had something to do with this Chinese knot. Yet, she couldn't recall revealing any suspicious clues. Feeling the urge to slap her forehead, she admonished herself for being foolish, forgetting the original male protagonist was also a transmigrator. The wooden window shook several times as the person inside transformed into a cloud of dark purple mist and vanished. Outside, the trunk of the white magnolia trembled, causing several branches of flowers to sway and fall to the ground. Xiao Lanle opened her eyes in bed, the luminous blue glow of the Jiao Pearl hovering above her. Her eyes, usually as clear as a spring, turned slightly dark with a hint of gloom. Why did Senior Sister receive a secret order from Heavenly Pivot City? Could she have also made a deal with the city's lord in secret? Mu Weiyin never engaged in a losing trade. One could only imagine the price Senior Sister paid. But why would she negotiate with the city lord, and for what purpose...? Xiao Lanle was filled with confusion. The more she thought, the more anxious she became. She got up abruptly, dressed, and summoned her Plain Inquiry Sword, deciding to follow them to Heavenly Pivot City. --- In the mist-laden pavilion in the middle of the lake, sat a child-like figure as pure and delicate as jade. She perched on the pavilion railing, her short, lotus-like white legs swinging back and forth over the shimmering water. Holding a star divination compass, she stared intently at the densely packed stars in the night sky. Under the influence of her powerful contemplative force, the lake surface swirled with eddies, and the spiritual ripples converged into various illusions of worldly phenomena. Lin Qianshuang arrived by the lakeside led by a maidservant and witnessed Mu Weiyin as she glimpsed destiny. The cultivation of the Heavenly Pivot City Lord in the original text was already profoundly mysterious, just one step away from ascending to a divine domain. The intense aura emanating from Mu Weiyin caused all creatures to dare not approach lightly; even the mockingbird intending to perch on the pavilion corner fluttered away in panic. Lin Qianshuang paused and waited quietly for Mu Weiyin to emerge from her meditation. As the spiritual imprint on Mu Weiyin's forehead gradually dimmed, her eyes blinked a few times. She pressed a hand to her chest and coughed slightly, feeling discomfort. Recently, she and Xiao Lanle had both been attempting dual cultivation practices, yet inexplicably, whenever they exchanged spiritual energy, her spiritual veins felt blocked. Xiao Lanle alone seemed to benefit, absorbing much of her cultivation and lifespan, while her own body did not recover or grow as she had hoped. Suspecting Xiao Lanle as her destined person, Mu Weiyin sought answers today by tracing their karmic threads through meditation to question the Heavenly Dao. Yet the astral compass showed no sign of a conjugal line between them, only a reflective mirror of herself. This was the first time she had encountered such an odd divination—her destined mirror image was vacant, void of everything but her own reflection. She recalled the day when she possessed Xiao Lanle's corporeal form. Their souls aligned perfectly as if they were one entity from the beginning. Could this be the reason for their destined connection? Not far away stood a woman, elegantly poised by the willow-lined lakeside, peering through the swirling mist towards them. Mu Weiyin noticed Lin Qianshuang immediately. Tucking her thumb adorned with a ring under her robe, she tapped rhythmically on the crimson jade table. Her nearby guard signaled to the waiting maid outside the pavilion. Upon receiving the signal, the maid hastened to Lin Qianshuang, gesturing for her to step forward and stand before the city lord. Entering the pavilion, Lin Qianshuang noticed Mu Weiyin's slightly thin attire and respectfully looked away to maintain decorum. Bowing her head, she announced, “Deputy Hall Master Du Shuang of Yixiang Pavilion summoned this subordinate to Heavenly Pivot City. What may I assist the City Lord with?” Mu Weiyin appraised Lin Qianshuang, then mildly surprised, remarked, "Du Shuang mentioned a sudden obligation. The City Lord wondered who would replace her for the mission to the demonic realm. Turns out, it is you." A mission to the demonic realm? A sense of foreboding arose in Lin Qianshuang's heart. Could it be that she was to meet the demonic realm's lord… meaning she would encounter her master? She recalled the encounter with Han Shengyao in Yixiang Pavilion. Her wish had been to be forgotten by her entirely. Appearing before Han Shengyao again—should she be recognized—would render all her master's efforts in vain. Lin Qianshuang adjusted her facial expression subtly, sensing Mu Weiyin's scrutiny. With a wave of her sleeve, Mu Weiyin conjured a bamboo cylinder, containing Lin Qianshuang's profile under her Explainer persona. After examining it for a moment, she looked up with eyes deep as a spring and said, "As an Explainer, being a demonic cultivator who once trained in the demonic realm for half a year, you should be well acquainted with its state. The City Lord dispatches you to invite the Demon Emperor to the human realm to inspect the reinforcement of the Demon Sealing Tower. Recently, a fiend named Black Mountain Old Demon leads miscreants who escaped the Demon Locking Tower, wreaking havoc. Many of the elite from the Five Great Sects have perished. The City Lord alone fears being insufficient to restrain the fiends. If the Demon Emperor joins forces with the City Lord, we can re-seal these miscreants back into the Demon Locking Tower." Black Mountain Old Demon—is this a tale from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio? Lin Qianshuang found the demon's name amusing but quickly grew serious. The disciples of the Five Great Sects were the cream of the crop among cultivators. Where did this Black Mountain Old Demon gain such power, forcing the City Lord of Heavenly Pivot to personally intervene, and still require the Demon Emperor's assistance? This character didn't appear in her memories of the original plot—could it have been an oversight? After all, she skimmed through the novel, primarily dwelling on the romantic parts she liked, often skipping over the main storyline. Lin Qianshuang pondered this and replied to Mu Weiyin, "This subordinate will comply. When should I depart?" Mu Weiyin stepped closer to Lin Qianshuang, unexpectedly rising on tiptoe, lightly touching her forehead with her fingertip. As the demonic mark briefly flickered, she remarked coolly, “Explainer, the City Lord has dispatched the Chen brothers to accompany you. A carriage will arrive to take you. Before that, the City Lord wishes to attempt a dual cultivation with you. The stars are aligned and the spiritual energy abundant—do you feel up to it?”