145 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 145: The Messenger Foretelling fate and divulging the secrets of Heaven come with consequences far greater than they appear on the surface. On the surface, the consequences might seem as mild as deafness or muteness, but in reality, even divine consciousness is affected. Regular cultivators can extend their divine consciousness to detect the faintest sounds unless intentionally blocked. However, despite her cultivation level, even the nearby sounds eluded her perception, and many artifacts for transmitting sounds via divine consciousness were rendered useless. This inexplicable barrier was something no outsider could truly comprehend. After Fu Zhi's heavenly eyes were taken away, she went many years without sight. She could extend her consciousness to hear whispers within a hundred zhang, yet she couldn't perceive the shape of objects right next to her. The celestial mechanisms' pool was something she personally constructed. While other disciples would be ejected due to the conflict of their souls after a short time, Fu Zhi miraculously regained her vision for over two years. It's already been four years since then. Carefully descending the mountain path of Fu Liu Feng, Fu Zhi couldn't help but sigh as she pondered. Indeed, Yu Ming-Jun would never show her a pleasant face. Ever since her true identity as a mere imposter was revealed four years ago, her honorary master had been simmering with anger. Yet she restrained herself due to Fu Zhi's status as a celestial emissary. Fu Zhi could vividly imagine the petite female cultivator who mocked her with cold sarcasm while making tea just moments ago. Thinking this, she couldn't help but smile. Seeing that Yu Ming was not profoundly affected by it, she felt slightly relieved. Unable to discern direction, Fu Zhi never learned to fly her sword. The mountain path was long, and she stumbled awkwardly like an infant, cautiously tapping her bamboo staff on the long stairs to ensure her next step. There were even a couple of times where she almost tumbled down the path. It wasn't until the gust of air from a descending sword ruffled her clothes that she realized a strange young woman had arrived. "Are you the celestial emissary?" The voice of a girl in her voice-changing period rang sharply at her side, startling Fu Zhi. Her foot twisted, and she nearly slipped on the moss-covered step, but the girl fortunately caught her wrist in time. Fu Zhi pressed her lips together and lowly thanked the girl, subtly freeing herself from her grip. "This place isn't close to the main peak; walking will take significant time. The seniors of my sect might be waiting," the girl politely suggested. "If it's inconvenient for you, perhaps I could give you a lift?" Trapped in the isolation of darkness, Fu Zhi's other senses were heightened. She could feel the spring sun warming her face, a gentle breeze brushing against the fine hairs on her skin, and the rhythmic tapping of the girl's fingers against her sword's hilt... Additionally, she heard a familiar hint in the unfamiliar voice. Fu Zhi stepped back slightly, offering a somewhat formal smile. "There's no need to trouble yourself. My primary purpose here is to visit Senior Yu Ming. Whether I'm present or not makes little difference to their discussions." The woman in the cyan robe had a frail build and seemed somewhat nervous as she tightly gripped the bamboo staff she used for navigation. Fu Zhi's delicate features likened her to a pure lotus, her enchanting phoenix eyes overshadowed by a cloudy film, adding to her fragile allure—making her seem as delicate and pitiable as a white blossom. Tsk. Xu Youqing clicked her tongue internally. She knew the blind woman's hearing was exceedingly sharp, and given her identity and seniority, provoking her was unwise. Still, Xu Youqing couldn't muster a friendly demeanor around someone from the Celestial Watchmen. Luckily, Fu Zhi's blindness spared her from seeing the petite girl's frosty expression. Xu Youqing had been involuntarily caught up in the Yun City chaos four years ago, thankfully emerging unscathed due to her senior brothers' and sisters' protection, but others weren't as fortunate. As a child, she looked up to her senior sister Long Ruiqing. The elder sister always brought back mundane but delightful snacks and trinkets from the mortal world for her and other disciples; this habit continued even after her passing. Long Ruiqing cared for them in every aspect, from daily life to social interactions. She once secretly broke a sect rule to help Xu Youqing write to her family and even went down the mountain to deliver the letter, unperturbed even during the turbulent times when her grandfather was murdered in the unrest of Huaihai City. Although Yun City's chaos wasn't entirely the Celestial Watchmen's fault, their lack of management and delayed intervention during the incident was undeniable. The faction harbored resentment towards the Celestial Watchmen, and how could the disciples of Yu Cang Mountain be any friendlier? If not for the frightful event, Qian Danni might not have fallen ill and passed away after only a few months... The Celestial Watchmen held a high status in the cultivation world. Even the sect master of the Taixu Sect had to refer to Fu Zhi as a junior elder. Xu Youqing had assumed she'd be arrogant, considering the Grand Elder and Second Elder who sent away her fallen comrades four years ago had such imposing, ruthless visages. Hearing Fu Zhi refer to Elder Yu Ming as senior made her more at ease—it seemed at least she understood some manners. Xu Youqing arrogantly lifted her chin, crossed her arms, and critically eyed the somewhat nervous woman in cyan. "Please, Senior Fu, don't belittle yourself. Although you're not in charge, with all our sect's leaders and elders gathered, your absence would be impolite." Despite Fu Zhi's seniority, Xu Youqing dared to act brazenly, having gauged her soft nature swiftly. Confident in her backing as the sole daughter of the Xu Family head, she knew any repercussions would be minor and easily resolved with a simple apology. "I wonder how you knew of my identity." Xu Youqing pressed her lips and frowned. She certainly had no intentions of joining the crowd to observe the celestial emissary on the main peak. The mere thought of the Celestial Watchmen brought to mind those agonizing memories, followed by memories of the warmth in her arms and the adolescent girl's gentle, unchanged voice—suddenly aware of once waking from a brief nap to find her body turned icy cold and terrifying. Veering her sword away from Mo Bamboo Peak, she instinctively detoured towards Fu Liu Feng. While passing overhead, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of a cyan figure. The cautiously navigating woman with a bamboo staff was clearly not a disciple of Yu Cang Mountain, and the only ones likely visiting Fu Liu Feng now were the Celestial Watchmen. Yu Ming-Jun had directly or indirectly lost two personal disciples due to the Yun City demon chaos, and over the past few years, the Celestial Watchmen occasionally sent items in apology, often in Fu Zhi's name, with sincere regret. Reflecting on this, it seemed the discord between the Taixu Sect and the Celestial Watchmen partly stemmed from the Watchmen's attitude. Originally, she hadn't planned to interact with this troublesome figure, but seeing the woman leisurely walk as though the mountain belonged to her, Xu Youqing felt discontented. However, as she descended beside the woman, a flicker of regret crept in. The woman's eyes were clouded white, gaze unfocused. Xu Youqing immediately recognized her as the little elder Fu Zhi, the rumored character from the tales Xiang Shiyan mentioned. Indeed, a tough nut to crack. Moreover, Xu Youqing hesitated to admit that the blind woman's fragile appearance suddenly evoked a sense of compassion. She initially intended to throw a few barbs to discomfit her, yet seeing the woman's bewildered expression as she sought Xu Youqing out stirred an involuntary desire for sympathy. Reflecting on the numerous apologies from the Celestial Watchmen and now having their little elder visit, it seemed they were genuinely earnest, despite not being the primary culprits. Xu Youqing acknowledged her own bias, feeling accused by Fu Zhi's question. She replied awkwardly, "The flamboyant arrival of the little elder spread quickly; who wouldn't recognize you?" "..." The blind woman paused, not using the opportunity to lighten the atmosphere. Instead, she took a more distant stance. "Still, I shouldn't trouble you, little friend. Better if I walk over myself." She gave a slight nod and began moving down the path, prompting Xu Youqing to hastily stop her. The journey from each peak to the main peak required even the fit Qi Refining disciples to jog for an hour. With Fu Zhi taking three to four taps of her staff for each step, who knew how long it would take. Furthermore, should she inadvertently stumble into the protective arrays, she might be trapped until the Celestial Watchmen departed. The youth stubbornly grasped Fu Zhi's forearm: "Little elder shouldn't refuse. If you get lost later, others might say we of Yu Cang Mountain lack hospitality." Startled by Xu Youqing's firm grip, Fu Zhi fell silent. Feigning illness was never her desire; had she known the parting would be so prolonged, she might have let Xu Youqing go in Yun City. Fu Zhi acted according to fate. Though not entirely upright, she didn't regret her choices. Yet, for those who suffered emotionally due to her actions... she couldn't remain unaffected. Recalling her final two months at Yu Cang Mountain, resting idly in bed, Xu Youqing's consistent presence to accompany her, even staying at Fu Liu Feng in her last days, lingered in her memory. Sometimes, pretending sleep, she'd soon hear suppressed sobs, with Xu Youqing grasping her hand tightly as if she might vanish if let go. After some contemplation, the woman forcefully shook off Xu Youqing's grip, her voice turning cold, "Do not take advantage of my kindness, young one. You're far from qualified to oversee me as a mere mid-foundation junior." The young girl’s eyes widened in disbelief; how could someone change their attitude so quickly, like flipping a switch? Xu Youqing suspected she'd asked too many questions and had ended up angering Fu Zhi. Refusing to warm up to such aloofness, she sulkily turned her face away. What kind of celestial emissary is this, treating kindness with disdain... The more Xu Youqing thought about it, the angrier she got. Though her cultivation and rank were beneath Fu Zhi's, she refused to concede defeat and snorted, "The Celestial Watchmen's little elder really has quite the attitude, not only being rude by not showing up but also mocking those who show concern." "What a sharp tongue," Fu Zhi frowned, her face losing its formerly gentle and weak demeanor, now taking on a serious, cold expression. Though outwardly indifferent, Fu Zhi was truly conflicted internally, finally gritting her teeth and saying, "If you dare speak out of turn again, I might just have to teach you a lesson on behalf of your mentors." She formed a hand seal intending to intimidate Xu Youqing, yet before her arm fully extended, someone grasped it. "Our honored guest is here, and I've had quite the trouble finding you," a steely voice sounded close by. "Have you had some misunderstanding with my disciple?" Huai Ye appeared so silently and suddenly that even Xu Youqing hadn't noticed her emerge from behind. The senior sister of Yu Cang Mountain’s main peak had gripped the elusive guest's elbow, forcing Fu Zhi to relent before even properly preparing her stance. Her grip was vice-like, and Fu Zhi felt as though in the darkness, this woman's slightest exertion could shatter her arm bones... likely no illusion. Fu Zhi obediently released the spiritual power in her hand, gently retracting her arm as Huai Ye's unyielding strength restrained her. Sensing she couldn't break free, the woman's brow furrowed deeper. "What is the meaning of this?" Staring intently into the vacant eyes for a moment, Huai Ye slowly released her. "Word was out that the little elder had disappeared, and your few nephews and nieces were quite worried. Who knew you'd come here..." She glanced at the distant peak of Fu Liu Feng and the small courtyard atop it, her features furrowing slightly. "I shall escort you back." "Then I'll be in your care," Fu Zhi said. As Huai Ye's grip loosened, Fu Zhi retracted her hand, the fabric of her sleeve swishing through the air. Xu Youqing, feeling displeased, shot an unhappy glance toward Fu Zhi and respectfully bid farewell to Huai Ye. "Senior Sister, I’ll take my leave first as I’m just a mere Foundation Establishment disciple." Never backing down in terms of words. Even hearing Xu Youqing’s sarcastic undertone, Fu Zhi couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. This mouth of hers will get her into trouble sooner or later, yet what stance did she have to discipline her? Fortunately, it appeared that Huai Ye was indeed sent under mentor's orders to find her. She simply nodded to Xu Youqing before firmly pulling Fu Zhi up onto her spirit sword. The two landed outside the assembly hall on the main peak. Fu Zhi felt her legs weaken to jelly; in over twenty years, she had never realized how blissful it felt to stand firmly on the ground. Suspecting Huai Ye was teasing her on purpose, she noted the woman’s inattentive handling of her instability. Not being able to see made her especially sensitive to bumps, and now her complexion had turned ghastly. As she stepped off the spirit sword, her footing was unsteady, and Huai Ye failed to catch her, causing her to fall forward. Fu Zhi’s heart sank. If she were to fall flat on her face in front of Yu Cang Mountain, it would be a major embarrassment, and Mu Hua would certainly make her pay dearly. She instinctively protected her face, yet the expected impact never came. "Are you alright, honored guest?" A lively male voice sounded in her ear, accompanied by a hand steadying her shoulder, whispering softly, "No need to rush, the elders haven't taken their seats yet." The warmth from his breath tickled Fu Zhi’s ear, causing her to instinctively pinch her earlobe, feeling a slight warmth there. Her heart suddenly raced unexpectedly, a peculiar emotion rising slowly from within her, "I’m fine, but... could you let go of me?" Embarrassment colored her cheeks at the thought of falling into a man’s arms before so many people. The man's hand remained on her shoulder as half of her body leaned into him, absorbing the masculine— Then, abruptly, another hand pulled her from the stranger’s embrace. The man seemed reluctant to let go, even causing Fu Zhi some pain with his grip. The world snapped into focus, Fu Zhi's mind momentarily stalled as she processed what had just happened. Staring in a daze at her left wrist, still held by others, she felt the pulling pain but had no time to mind it. A cool hand guided her behind its owner, as if shielding her from a threat. The woman quickly released her, protectively pushing Fu Zhi farther back. Fu Zhi then sensed yet another hand pulling her backward. Xiang Shiyan took hold of both her hands, forcing the blind woman's focus to center on her. With a quiet exhalation, she scolded, "Where did you run off to? You can’t even navigate our own grounds, let alone wander about others' domains!" "Mhm," Fu Zhi hummed twice dismissively, before turning her head towards the person who pulled her from the stranger's hold. Her quick-witted mind suddenly stumbled as she dully touched her cheek and ear with the back of her hand. No longer warm, she felt her pulse behind her ear, as if bewitched suddenly by an uncalled-for emotion that quickly vanished again. She heard a familiar voice ice-coldly reprimand someone: "Negligence in escorting, disrespecting our guest—you two should quickly apologize to the little elder." After four years apart, Xiang Shiyan's voice remained unchanged. Fu Zhi recognized her as soon as she spoke, realizing the young man being ordered to apologize was someone she also knew. Huai Ye candidly apologized, "It was my oversight; I nearly caused our honored guest to fall. I seek your forgiveness, elder." The other one hesitated a moment, seemingly conflicted but conceding to his mentor's order. After an internal struggle, he lowly said, "Qin Miao also apologizes for my improper conduct; I hope elder you can forgive my lapse." An observer might think Qin Miao had just been helping Fu Zhi, and it seemed Xiang Shiyan was too harsh on a junior. But in Fu Zhi's view, the young man seemed overly familiar under the guise of goodwill and had made unnecessary contact. The arm-around was indecent enough. Even if Qin Miao had no time to observe propriety in his haste, he should have let go when Fu Zhi steadied herself. But it wasn't until Xiang Shiyan forcibly extricated her that Qin Miao reluctantly released his hold from around her waist. The woman in the cyan robe frowned slightly, discomfort and unease trickling in. Was that strange sensation just now merely panic from slipping? Author’s Note: Thank you to the angel who cast a kingly vote or watered the nutrition potion from 2022-08-07 01:01:15 to 2022-08-08 10:41:38~ Thank you to the angel who watered the nutrition potion: Yan Qing 1 bottle; Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard! This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)