100 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 100: Alliance Two days flew by in an instant. The upheavals that took place in Huaian City over the past ten-plus days had spread throughout the cultivation world, and even the disciples of Yucang Mountain, who were secluded in their mystical realm and missed the latest news, were aware. When they heard that Xiang Shiyan was taking on new disciples, and that the two new junior sisters were brought from the Zhu family of Huaian City during their month-long trip to the secret realm, their curiosity was piqued. Xiang Shiyan’s involvement in the turmoil was obvious, leading to speculation and gossip among the sect members about Zhuyun and Zhuyu. Unfortunately, since the twins' arrival at Yucang Mountain, they had been hidden away in the Mo Bamboo Peak by Xiang Shiyan. Only the thirty disciples from the Hunyuan realm expedition squad, who caught a fleeting glimpse of them that shocking day, and a few who usually had access to the Mo Bamboo Peak had ever seen them. Even the usually popular and gentle Hè Hèng was bombarded with questions from the female disciples, and if Qin Miao weren’t moping around indoors these past few days, he likely would've been surrounded, too. Zhuyun and Zhuyu’s identities as Elder Qiwei Gongning’s daughters also connected to a long-standing gossip among the sect's disciples over the years, sparking even more discussions among them. Consequently, Xiang Shiyan decided that the apprenticeship ceremony would only be held on Mo Bamboo Peak. However, this did not entirely prevent some disciples from peeking in, as many, under the guise of bringing congratulatory gifts at their master’s behest, came to satisfy their curiosity, only to be turned back by Xiang Shiyan. Normally, as one of the nine elders, the apprenticeship ceremony Xiang Shiyan held would need the presence of the sect leader and other elders as witnesses. However, given Zhuyun and Zhuyu’s connection to the turmoil in Huaian City, the elders might not look kindly upon them. Fearing that the sisters would feel burdened by this, Xiang Shiyan only invited the sect leader and Yuming to witness the ceremony. After all, she's long since fallen out with those old folks over the years, what’s one more instance? Unexpectedly, the morning of the ceremony, Zhuyun and Zhuyu woke up anxiously before dawn, with Xiang Shiyan nowhere to be seen. Her door remained tightly shut, unable to be opened despite their efforts. Among Xiang Shiyan’s four disciples, only Hè Hèng knew what had happened. The door to their master's room was shut, but a string of bells hung by the door. The sound they made when shaken was so faint it made one doubt if it could be heard inside. Yet, Hè Hèng remembered it well — while Xiang Shiyan's cultivation may have been hindered, she rarely delved into deep meditation, seemingly always on high alert for emergencies. Usually, if something were amiss, she could be contacted quickly. Except for one day a month. Every month, Xiang Shiyan took sleeping aids to sleep for an entire day. Hè Hèng once encountered this when she first arrived at the mountain, catching a whiff of the peculiar incense and the herbs on Xiang Shiyan’s desk. From a quick glance, she deduced the purpose of the herbs. Despite her possession of the "Herbal Sutra" and her years of studying medical alchemy, Xiang Shiyan had a low tolerance for various medicines. In fact, unless trained specifically, even strong physical cultivators like herself typically did not have a high tolerance for alchemical drugs; a bit of unrefined sedative could cause her to sleep an entire day. She warned Hè Hèng to ring the bells if there was an emergency. However, despite Hè Hèng having rung them many times, Xiang Shiyan remained unresponsive — likely not out of unawareness, but genuinely unable to meet anyone currently. Under the complex protective formations within Xiang Shiyan’s room, the intense cedar fragrance couldn’t be completely masked. Originally subtle, the scent now appeared sickly sweet due to its concentration, prompting Hè Hèng to rub her nose unconsciously. Her senses were so acute that merely standing by the door for a brief moment felt odd — it was a scent reminiscent of a female beast enticing a mate. Hè Hèng felt puzzled. She had rarely encountered the Jade Fox species, but during her lifetime, there were still four or five publicly active purebred Jade Foxes in the world, elusive and therefore only observed from a distance, gathering some knowledge about the species. Could it be that a Jade Fox's estrous cycle occurs more than once a year? Or perhaps it's a trait of hybrids? Regardless, Hè Hèng backed away to ensure she wouldn’t be affected by the cedar scent. Using her sight-enhanced right eye, she barely discerned the flow of spiritual energy, confirming Xiang Shiyan’s safety, and then turned to leave. Hopefully, her master could endure the ordeal for today’s ceremony. With half worry and half reluctance, Hè Hèng knew she wasn’t the only one observing Xiang Shiyan; she wished her master didn’t have to expose herself under today’s circumstances. As the twins had breakfast in Mo Bamboo Peak’s private kitchen, Zhuyun hadn’t dared to eat anything cooked by Hè Hèng since she arrived. Her innate celestial root’s unique sensitivity to spiritual energy had detected something peculiar about Hè Hèng. Yet, everyone around her, including Xiang Shiyan, seemed oblivious, intensifying her unease. Hè Hèng wasn’t angry at Zhuyun’s untouched porridge. Zhuyun’s nerves were excessively sensitive, and although Hè Hèng wasn’t privy to her secrets, she could pardon her, for she had always had a soft spot for cute little girls. Zhuyun had gone without food for over a day, a fact known only to Zhuyu beside her, but her pallor betrayed her hunger. The already frail girl seemed even more wan. Qin Miao had never learned to cook, relying on haphazard meals before Hè Hèng’s arrival. It was evident Zhuyun and Zhuyu were unfamiliar with household chores, leaving only Hè Hèng to manage cooking duties. Zhuyun’s share always ended up eaten by Zhuyu, as the girl with the hair-trigger nerves feared dumping their meals might trigger something terrible. Though Zhuyu couldn’t fathom her sister’s baseless fears, she understood Zhuyun wasn’t one prone to unnecessary worry, hence endured two portions despite feeling uncomfortably full. Hè Hèng found the two junior sisters intriguing, watching one suffer from hunger and the other endure gastric plight. Though she enjoyed the playful interactions, she wouldn’t escape scolding if Xiang Shiyan ever found out. Not to mention, today was an important day, and she couldn’t let Zhuyun faint halfway through. Smiling with her head in her hands, Hè Hèng gently asked Zhuyu, “Could you clean the dishes today, junior sister?” With Qin Miao absent, sending Zhuyu away would leave her alone with Zhuyun. Zhuyun turned pale while Zhuyu’s expression turned grim in an instant. She narrowed her eyes, reading Hè Hèng’s demeanor for any trace of hostility. “What could you possibly say in my absence?” grumbled the protective sister. No matter how aggressive her stance, a feisty pup baring its teeth often just appeared adorable, inviting more mischief. Hè Hèng tapped the table with a finger. "Nothing much, just today’s your turn to do the dishes... Besides, it’s not uncommon for twins to have little secrets from each other!” Zhuyu raised an eyebrow, ready to retort when she felt Zhuyun's subtle pinch on her hand. The twins exchanged a glance, effortlessly understanding each other's intent. Zhuyu released a restrained breath, her tension easing, and smiled in turn. “Sister, don’t tease me. My elder sister is reserved; I’m used to worrying for her.” With a few swift motions, she cleared away all but Zhuyun's bowl of porridge from the table. The former noble lady thrived beyond her confining estate, adapting quickly to a self-reliant life. “I’ll be quick to return,” she promised. Hè Hèng nonchalantly poured herself tea. Her plain, introverted appearance seemed enhanced by Yucang Mountain’s nourishing environment, her features becoming ever more refined over the past six months. Her eyebrows, nose, and lips were all exquisite, yet her gentle, languid eyes softened her look, making her seem more approachable. Coupled with her sweet, gentle smile, her charm was undeniable. Despite her approachable appearance, Hè Hèng’s presence only exacerbated Zhuyun’s unease. The stark contrast between her serene demeanor and the oddity Zhuyun perceived felt even more unsettling. Literal celestial roots were extraordinarily rare, harmonizing with the spiritual energies of all elements, yet fundamentally distinct from the multicolored mixed roots. In Zhuyun’s gifted perception, everyone appears like glass containers filled with spiritual energy, their sizes and contents crystal clear to her spirit sensing ability. However, standing before her was an enigmatic "container" that unnerved Zhuyun, for in her spirit perception, Hè Hèng's "silhouette" didn’t even resemble a human form. Not to mention, Hè Hèng was reputedly an anomalous ice spirit root — according to Xiang Shiyan, she ought to be of the water, wood, and fire tri-root type. Yet, she seemed ethereal like water, entirely distinct from Xiang Shiyan's icy nature, with her spiritual energy so pure and hard to detect any other elemental attributes. This meant that the ice, wood, and fire elemental powers exhibited by Hè Hèng were all fabricated, a deception she created by altering the forms and properties of the five elements. Such a sophisticated technique was one only cultivators at the Mahayana stage and above could employ. The mysterious being cradled its chin in its hand, sipping tea leisurely. "A Celestial Root, a favored blessing from the heavens, signifies top-tier heavenly aptitude, unparalleled by ordinary cultivators. After only a few days of interaction, I've gleaned some understanding of your peculiar nature, junior sister." With that, it stood, towering over Zhuyun who sat obediently, smiling with eyes curved like crescent moons. "You'd like to tell Xiang Shiyan about me once she surfaces, wouldn’t you? I advise against it, as it benefits none of us—not you, not me, nor her. If you keep your actions in check, we can continue coexisting peacefully for quite some time." Hè Hèng made a shushing gesture, tucking Zhuyun’s hair gently behind her ear. The sudden cold touch of her fingers on her earlobe made Zhuyun startle. "Hush, there are some matters one should never burden adults with." Her words sounded like child's play, but Zhuyun understood otherwise. An inexplicable intuition told the young girl that perhaps Xiang Shiyan was not a match for this anomaly before her, causing an involuntary stiffness in her stance. Unexpectedly to Hè Hèng, the frail and sickly junior sister quickly regained her composure, seizing Hè Hèng’s wrist. "The unknown is indeed fearsome, yet your words have exposed your weakness," Zhuyun stated. Her looks may have inherited the gentle, graceful demeanor of her mother, but the smile she now bore was starkly predatory, contrasting with the meek persona she usually assumed in Xiang Shiyan’s presence. "If you didn't fear her discovering you at all, why threaten me quietly? I may not grasp your true power, but it seems you have countless ways to manipulate our master, who has yet to transcend the Mahayana stage. And still, you ask for silence, suggesting that exposure is more significant than you'd care to admit." Zhuyun, having been witness to many a power struggle among adults, naturally couldn't be underestimated as an ordinary child. Her response genuinely intrigued Hè Hèng, who chuckled in genuine interest, "Such wisdom from my junior sister. Perhaps you might assist me in the future?" Xiang Shiyan's excursion to Huaian City apparently didn't leave her particularly content. From the melding of their consciousnesses, Hè Hèng discerned Xiang Shiyan’s recent solitude to be mired in brooding complexity. Combined with recent rumors linking changes in Huaian City to Qiwei Gongning... Having pieced together much of the event’s framework, and aware of Xiang Shiyan’s palpable disdain and sorrow each time the Zhu family was mentioned, Hè Hèng remained puzzled as to why the twins retained that surname. Now she had her answer. "What is it you seek?" Zhuyun asked, her hand trembling slightly as she accepted the tea passed to her. A cold gleam crossed Hè Hèng’s eyes. "It's naturally aligned with our master’s wish: a serene world where malevolence finds no refuge." Though she voiced a killing intent, its edge didn’t seem aimed at Xiang Shiyan or Yucang Mountain, which simultaneously comforted and perplexed Zhuyun. She dearly wished her hard-won peaceful sanctuary to remain intact. Pondering for a moment, Zhuyun asked hesitantly, "But for now, what can I offer...?" “No worries,” the girl-like creature refilled her tea, “betting on you carries no harm.” “In that case then…” “In that case, why don’t you finish this porridge first?” Hè Hèng pushed the bowl in front of her, smiling with a sisterly demeanor. “We wouldn’t want you fainting during the apprenticeship ceremony.” Author’s Note: Thank you to all the dear readers who voted for me or nurtured me with nutrient solution between April 30, 2022 01:43 and May 1, 2022 22:54~ Thank you to the lovely ones who threw grenades: Fish Mo, Storm Looming 1; Thank you to the ones who planted landmines: Abu, Yuan Dacui, Messiah, Tea Kitten Su Ning 1; Thank you for the nutrient solution from the lovely ones: Seal Cat 295 bottles; Lingwu Jiu’er 27 bottles; Hotpot Egg 24 bottles; Bai Yi, Learning Makes Me Happy 20 bottles; Yuan Dacui, Abu, tsunami, Minai 10 bottles; Messiah 5 bottles; I am incredibly grateful for your support, and I will continue to work hard!