67 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 67: Undercurrents Yan Jue stared at the mouse for a long time, unsure of how to react. Qi Xian Qing gazed at her earnestly. Yan Jue felt she should give Qi Xian Qing some face. So she opened her mouth and bit down on the mouse with grim determination. The night was quiet. Qi Xian Qing lounged idly against her pillow, a small wooden box flipping through her fingers. Yan Jue quickly recognized the object in Qi Xian Qing's hand. It was a Shadow Capture Box. With her eyes closed, Qi Xian Qing seemed to channel her mind into the box, perhaps reviewing something within. Her brows lifted in a gentle arc, and the deep black of her eyes shimmered with a subtle smile. Yan Jue's curiosity was piqued. What sort of photograph could make Qi Xian Qing so happy? Perhaps sensing the little fox's gaze, Qi Xian Qing slid two fingers lightly across the top of the box. A soft blue light flickered into existence. Yan Jue was taken aback, watching the scene before her unfold like a projected image from a movie projector. Upon the teal drapery, there appeared a photograph—an image captured by the Shadow Capture Box. It was actually of her! In the image, the girl wore a robe of azure hue, with narrow sleeves and leggings, a large sword strapped across her back. Her pale cheeks were flushed from the heat, and two sandbags were tied to her legs as she climbed a mountain. Qi Xian Qing's voice carried a hint of amusement: "So silly." Yan Jue's expression immediately soured. How rude. The next photograph was at Little Apricot Village. Yan Jue, transformed into a little girl, sat unwillingly beside a boy, frowning in displeasure. Then there was a photo from Fengxian Town... Qi Xian Qing flipped through the pictures languidly, one by one. Yan Jue realized Qi Xian Qing seemed to particularly enjoy taking photos. It wasn't only during their missions together; Qi Xian Qing also took many pictures during her own tasks. The scene suddenly shifted. It was a litter of black kittens. In a cave, six scrawny kittens with bright green eyes looked at Qi Xian Qing, appearing rather cute. Qi Xian Qing silently stared at the photograph, lost in thought. Yan Jue was puzzled. Why did Qi Xian Qing suddenly seem subdued? Qi Xian Qing patted the little fox's head. "The other day in Jiangnan, I dealt with a troublesome demon cat in a mansion." Jiangnan? Yan Jue suddenly recalled that the last time she went to Kongshan with Du Ming to gather lingzhi, Qi Xian Qing had gone to Jiangnan on a mission. "I regret the decision I made regarding its fate." Qi Xian Qing continued, "There are many ways to handle demon beasts, and killing them isn't always the best option." Yan Jue was slightly taken aback and looked up at her. Qi Xian Qing spoke softly, "But within the Five Dragons Gate..." She stopped there, unsure of the best way to treat demon beasts. Her family had been killed by a pair of tiger demons, and the torment she endured in that tiger den during her childhood was unforgettable—haunting her dreams to this day. Qi Xian Qing embarked on the path of cultivation not only because she had the exceptional potential of a divine spiritual body, but also to avenge her family. But as she grew older, she discovered that things weren’t so simple. Suddenly, a warm, moist sensation spread across her palm. Qi Xian Qing startled and looked back to find the little fox baby quietly nestled beside her, diligently licking her hand, its amber phoenix eyes half-closed. Qi Xian Qing chuckled. "Thank you, little fox baby." The little fox paused for a moment, pretending not to notice, and continued gnawing on the mouse in its mouth. Qi Xian Qing lay on her side, resting her chin on her hand, watching it, not knowing if she was talking to it or muttering to herself, "It's a pity that during this Five Dragons Summit, I'll be incredibly busy." For disciples like Qi Xian Qing, the Five Dragon Summit was far from a leisurely event. Given that disciples from other sects were coming to observe and learn, Qi Xian Qing, as a core disciple and the face of the Five Dragons Gate, had her hands full with reception duties. Yan Jue had heard from Du Ming that due to a shortage of judges, the most outstanding internal disciples might be selected as judges for the summit's contests. Being the senior disciple, Qi Xian Qing enjoyed much honor, but she also lost many opportunities. Yan Jue thought of this and felt some sympathy for Qi Xian Qing, focusing intently on her mouse until she discovered something and froze. A savory aroma unexpectedly wafted from the woven straw mouse... Yan Jue quickly looked down, finding several beef balls hidden inside the mouse woven from grass. Ahhhhh. The little fox, already starving, began devouring the beef balls with gusto. Perhaps Qi Xian Qing had brought them back from the south—they were indeed fragrant and still warm. In the dim light, Qi Xian Qing frowned slightly, absently stroking the soft fur of the little fox. Yan Jue was unaware that Qi Xian Qing's mind was entirely elsewhere. This Five Dragons Summit left her no time to teach Yan Jue martial arts. What if Yan Jue sought guidance from their master, Yun Zhen? - The night quickly arrived for the Five Dragons Banquet three days later. As night fell, the entire Five Dragons Mountain was enshrouded in a lively atmosphere. After all, the Five Dragons Summit was held every three years and was always a spectacular event. Not only did disciples from the six great sects gather at Five Dragons Mountain to exchange and learn, but many renowned figures from the cultivation world also attended. Traditionally, a banquet was held on the eve of the Five Dragons Summit. The banquet took place on the Sword Dance Plain at Five Dragons Mountain. Afterward, everyone was accommodated in the guesthouse by the Sword Dance Plain to rest. The places for gatherings in the Five Dragons Gate were mostly two. One was the Five Dragons Plaza, but since it was open-air, it was usually only used for in-house disciples' meetings. The Sword Dance Plain was specifically designed for grand events, crafted years ago by the renowned artisan Lu Xuezhi, capable of accommodating thousands. Its exquisite and ornate exterior and complete facilities were reserved for special occasions. Although Yan Jue had drawn lots that day, she had no desire to attend such a banquet. Tonight was the day she died in the original story. She didn't feel like celebrating. In the still of night, the murmur of the stream could be faintly heard outside the cabin. Yan Jue sat on her bed, chin in hand, her gaze vacant. Bai Ying saw Yan Jue's demeanor and was puzzled again: "The Sword Dance Plain is bustling tonight. Why doesn't the master join?" Yan Jue replied, "I'm not interested in crowds." Suddenly recalling something, Yan Jue instructed Bai Ying, "Keep watch outside, see if any suspicious characters approach." Bai Ying was taken aback. "Suspicious... characters?" Yan Jue said, "Just let me know if anyone tries to come near this house." Bai Ying replied, "Yes." It then transformed into a wisp of green smoke and drifted out. Yan Jue pondered deeply, staring at her palm. If the Demon Lord wanted to lure her out, it would likely be through enchantment. In this world, it took enchantment to make someone follow without reason. Yet the Demon Lord shouldn't know she was a fox demon, rendering such charms ineffective on her. Aside from that, Yan Jue couldn't fathom how the Demon Lord would attempt his scheme. If she didn't go out, wouldn't their plan fail? No, it couldn't be that simple. Yan Jue furrowed her brow. "Knock... knock... knock..." Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Yan Jue's blood ran cold, her body instinctively tensing. She used her mind to ask Bai Ying, "Who's outside?" Bai Ying's gentle voice replied, "It's the master’s neighbor." Yan Jue frowned, walked to the door, and opened it to find Du Ming standing there. Yan Jue tugged at the corner of her lips and asked, "What brings you here?" Du Ming appeared ecstatic. "Yan shimei, shall we attend the banquet together? The disciples from the Six Great Sects are here at the Sword Dance Plain. It's lively!" Yan Jue regarded Du Ming deeply. Sadly, her eyes, which could sense demons, gave no indication of high-level disguises. For compared to demons, the methods of deception by dark cultivators were manifold and sophisticated. Du Ming asked, "Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?" He took out a small bronze mirror from his storage pouch, checking diligently. "I've heard there are many handsome guys at the Sword Dance Plain tonight. It would be embarrassing if there was something on my face." Yan Jue thought, "..." The tone... it did resemble Du Ming's. Because neither the Demon Lord nor the male lead could emulate Du Ming perfectly, without deep familiarity. Yan Jue sighed, "With so many people at the Sword Dance Plain, I’m not going." Du Ming was momentarily surprised, "Really? Don't you know the Five Dragons Summit isn't just about dueling? Meeting excellent disciples from the Six Great Sects, and sharing drinks with fellow disciples are the main attractions." Yan Jue replied, "Forget it, I'm not going." Just as she was about to step back inside, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching. The night was very quiet, the faint sound of water flowing and the chirping of insects audible from under the small bridge nearby. "Yan Shimei!" Yan Jue turned sharply to find herself unexpectedly meeting Duan Lu Xi's eyes. Duan Lu Xi, dressed in the standard teal robe of a Mumu Sect disciple, came running over breathlessly. "Yan Shimei, how could you stay in the dorm by yourself on such a lively night?" Another one? Now Yan Jue was bewildered. Surely the Demon Lord and the protagonist wouldn’t disguise themselves as her friends just to trick her into coming out, would they? The gall of these people... Duan Lu Xi continued, "Yan Shimei, it’s fortunate you're here, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to report back to the Sect Master." "The Sect Master? Why?" Yan Jue asked. Duan Lu Xi replied, "You've become quite famous recently. Ever since you single-handedly defeated Li Hao at the Five Dragons Plaza, even the Sect Master of Mumu has heard of your commendable deeds. He was just asking about you at the banquet." Duan Lu Xi went on, "According to the rules, it's mandatory for everyone to attend the Sword Dance Banquet. The Sect Master wants you to have a few drinks and chat." Yan Jue found herself at a loss for words. It seemed discretion was key, as she had just meant to teach an idiot a lesson at the Five Dragons Plaza, never expecting it to reach the Sect Master's ears. And she had never even met this Sect Master before... It's quite incredible. "Come on, tonight everyone's in high spirits. Go talk to the Sect Master. Who knows, maybe he'll take you as a disciple," Duan Lu Xi encouraged. Even among inner disciples, there's a slight difference in status depending on the standing of one’s master. To become a disciple of the Five Dragons Sect Master was a rare honor many sought. This left Yan Jue in a dilemma. It could only be blamed on the fact that she had shown up Li Hao at the Five Dragons Plaza. "Yan Shimei, I advise you to go. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful not to give the Sect Master some face," Duan Lu Xi insisted. Yan Jue thought for a moment and sighed. Fine. Besides, sitting alone in her room was making her anxious. She might as well go to the Sword Dance Plain. A crowded place might be safer than staying in her room alone. Besides, Qi Xian Qing would be there too. Yan Jue didn't know why, but she suddenly thought of Qi Xian Qing. After all, tonight was supposed to be the night she would be killed. - Equipping her storage pouch and fastening the North Sea Mystical Iron snugly around her neck, Yan Jue made her way to the Sword Dance Plain. The place buzzed with life and melody. The central pavilion of the Sword Dance Plain was packed. It was an open pavilion from which one could view the endless grasslands in the distance. Under a clear, deep sky full of stars, the grasslands stretched out before them. Amazingly, there were songstresses performing on the lawn. Yan Jue paused, entranced. The enchanting melodies strummed from the zither strings. She could even see faint rings of blue ripples in the sky. These were disciples from Echo Hall specializing in music, reaching such a mastery level that it produced phenomena. Where the music flowed, peach trees blossomed, scattering petals like a shower of stars. Du Ming quietly pointed out to her, "See that woman playing the zither over there? She's an Echo Hall disciple... And over there, the one at the very front..." Following Du Ming's gaze, Yan Jue saw the woman seated at the far left, wearing a pale green dress embroidered with soaring butterflies, hemmed in gold thread. Her black hair was meticulously pinned up, she looked ethereal like a divine figure. She walked with a subtle sway in her slender waist, evocative of the gentle allure typically unseen beyond Jiangnan. Seated, with a seven-stringed zither before her, her slender fingers gracefully plucked the strings. "Her name is Meng Jin Jia, Echo Hall’s chief disciple. Isn't she stunning? We small-town folk rarely see such Jiangnan charm,' Du Ming declared animatedly. Du Ming’s chatter eased Yan Jue's tension a bit, she nodded slightly. "Why do you look like someone owes you three thousand coins?" Du Ming gestured. "Over there is the Tian Gang Temple." Following her gaze, Yan Jue did indeed spot several muscular disciples. "The disciples from Qingfeng Valley are here too." The disciples from Qingfeng Valley donned robes similar to those of the Five Dragons Gate, with small swords strapped to their backs. However, Yan Jue noticed each disciple had a small bone flute hanging from their waist. It made sense; Qingfeng Valley was renowned for their expertise in summoning. The original story had depicted Qingfeng Valley disciples using bone flutes to secure victory during the War of Immortals and Demons. Yan Jue recognized the flutes as a type of common summoning artifact within the sect. Her gaze soon fell on another group. From the northwest, the disciples of the Beast Taming Pavilion wore cloaks and sat cross-legged, silently rugged from travel. Only the woman with black hair and blue eyes in their midst appeared graceful. Xue Shuang Xing. Sensing Yan Jue's gaze, Xue Shuang Xing looked up and paused slightly. Yan Jue offered her a friendly smile. Perhaps knowing that tonight was meant to be her death, Yan Jue felt an affection for these old acquaintances. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked, "Why isn't Luan Tai here?" Du Ming whispered, "You wouldn’t know, but relations between Luan Tai and the six great sects have soured recently." Intrigued, Yan Jue asked, "What happened?" While reading the novel, she had focused on the plot and paid little attention to the world-building details. "It's typical of them, relying on their phoenix lineage. They don’t want to associate with the six great sects," Du Ming explained. "They want to separate and become an independent sect—something akin to Nanlou." Only disciples with phoenix bloodline could enter Luan Tai, and it was known as the most exclusive sect among the six. The phoenix bloodline, like the dragon vein, was considered highly prestigious, so it wasn't surprising they were so proud. "So the Five Dragons Sect Master invited me here. Why isn’t he in sight?" Yan Jue wondered aloud. Du Ming pointed, "The Sect Master is over there." Yan Jue looked in the direction indicated, indeed spotting an elderly man with graying hair in a blue Taoist robe, amiably drinking amidst a cluster of disciples. "The Sect Master often goes into seclusion. When he emerges, he's very friendly with the disciples. Now, everyone is toasting him. Since he called you out, you should pay your respects. He's quite approachable," Du Ming continued. Yan Jue nodded. "Hmm." Yan Jue instinctively scanned the area. Qi Xian Qing wasn't in sight. Perhaps she was preoccupied with the Five Dragons Summit preparations, with duties to attend. Within the Five Dragons Gate, there were six unattainable positions. The Five Peak Chiefs. And the Sect Chief. These roles were the dream of many disciples, with the Sect Chief, who managed sect affairs, sitting above all the Five Peak Chiefs. Someone like Qi Xian Qing, who was both a Peak Chief of Zhenhuo Sect and a Sect Chief of Five Dragons Gate, was truly extraordinary. This was why she was rightfully recognized as the senior disciple of Five Dragons Gate. That Qi Xian Qing hadn't appeared yet, she might have been summoned for special instructions due to the summit. "Yan Jue," an aged voice suddenly called from above. Yan Jue, lost in thought, was startled by the call and looked up in surprise to see ten elders seated in the upper hall. These were the renowned figures from the Five Peaks, and the one who had called her wore the purplish-red robe of Kingang Sect. Yan Jue found his appearance vaguely familiar. The elder fixed his gaze on Yan Jue, his eyes sharp as lightning. "So this is Yan Jue, the Water Cloud Sect's outer disciple?" The hall was raucous, yet the elder's voice cut through straight to Yan Jue, demonstrating his profound internal energy. Yan Jue hesitated, then stood respectfully. "Yes, elder. This disciple is indeed Yan Jue." The elder continued, "You dared to assault a fellow disciple at the Five Dragons Plaza, causing him internal injuries and nearly rendering him unable to partake in the Five Dragons Summit." "You are quite bold." As his words fell, a sudden hush descended around them. Yan Jue hesitated before realizing what the elder was referring to. Indeed, what was meant to happen had arrived. Yan Jue's eyes landed on a young man seated beneath the elders. Li Hao was staring at her, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. It was said that Li Hao’s father was an elder, and as such, he was doted upon within Kingang Sect. So this elder was indeed Li Hao's father!