99 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

## Chapter 99: Probing Zhu He's temperament is really quite child-like. This time, she didn't wear a top, only a light green dudou. Though Yan Jue was a modern person and didn't feel it was inappropriate, Qi Xian Qing saw Zhu He entering Yan Jue's room half-dressed and found it very serious. Even knowing that the little wild boar was Yan Jue's spiritual pet and couldn't possibly have any unusual thoughts about Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing couldn't help feeling uneasy. Zhu He noticed Qi Xian Qing and squinted her brow in a smirk, letting out a couple of hummed notes before rushing over. Qi Xian Qing took the robe from her hand, saying, "Come, I'll teach you how to wear this." Zhu He nodded obediently. Qi Xian Qing held the outer robe, draping it over her and gently wrapping the sash around her, tying it slowly. "Tie the bottom first, then the top. Got it?" Qi Xian Qing wasn't sure why she felt so strongly about it—teaching Zhu He to dress, she did it with exceptional patience. She figured it was better for herself to teach her rather than Yan Jue. Yan Jue watched Qi Xian Qing and Zhu He stand together in silence. The way Qi Xian Qing spoke to Zhu He sounded particularly gentle. Yan Jue had no idea why, but her heart suddenly felt a thud, as if her world had just collapsed. She actually taught her to dress. How is she not shy? Could it be that Qi Xian Qing likes the little wild boar? Yan Jue blushed brightly, clenching her hands at her sides, her heart beating wildly, as she turned away. She didn't know why, but she was very angry. After dressing, Zhu He cheerfully said, "Then I'll go to sleep first." Qi Xian Qing replied, "Go ahead, we have to head out later." Zhu He nodded, taking little steps away. Qi Xian Qing then turned to find Yan Jue standing alone at the window, staring at the night outside. The bag she held was wrinkled from her grip, a tuft of hair rebelliously sticking up, visually expressing a mix of anger and frustration. Qi Xian Qing was momentarily surprised, then as if realizing something, her eyes gleamed briefly. Yan Jue was dazedly watching the serene river below when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Qi Xian Qing walked over, smiling, "Let's go out for a stroll." Yan Jue murmured an acknowledgment, tied the bag around her waist, and stepped out. Qi Xian Qing followed her, gently closing the door. As a celestial being from the Five Dragon Mountain for so long, Qi Xian Qing could maintain her purity even in such a luxurious inn. Yan Jue took a couple of steps forward, then turned back to ask, somewhat uncertainly, "What do you think about Zhu He?" Qi Xian Qing brought her hand to her lips, contemplating, "Zhu He is very well-behaved. With her excellent lineage, her potential for growth is infinite." Yan Jue: "......" More irritated! Qi Xian Qing discreetly smiled, looking at Yan Jue's flushed earlobes. --- The All-Win Fortress collected creatures from across the world, with a wide variety of goods at its market, vastly different from the modest street stalls of the Monster Pavilion, where each vendor had a fixed shop. Yan Jue wandered through the market, inevitably bedazzled. She was especially mindful of rare materials. Having reached the demon core stage, her body was now completely prepared for refining a demon core. In this world, the demon race refines demon cores one major stage ahead of the human race. Humans reach the golden core stage after the fifth stage, Enkindling Realm, while demons reach the demon core stage after completing the fourth stage, bone refining. Like the human race refining golden cores, demons need to search for natural treasures beforehand. By using these treasures to refine an external core, consuming it allows the medicine to fuse with one's Sea of Qi, gradually forming a demon core. Precisely because of this, demon cores vary in quality. Some monsters reach the demon core stage merely to break through, hastily gathering natural treasures, leading to a core of naturally low grade. Take, for instance, the chubby snake monster's demon core from the Sea of Mermaids last time—its core was refined by devouring many mermaids and didn't undergo proper demon core refining, so its quality wasn't good, offering less augmentation to Qi Xian Qing's cultivation than the Red Lotus Karmic Fire from the Su Yang Immortal Mansion. The superior demon cores require the most precious natural treasures. ... Yan Jue felt a bit like she was visiting the Monster Pavilion while shopping at the All-Win Fortress. Only now, she had Qi Xian Qing by her side. The two came to a shop. The host enthusiastically introduced his wares, "The natural treasures here are rare and unique, very useful for refining golden or demon cores." Yan Jue glanced over twice, unexpectedly meeting Qi Xian Qing's gaze, "......" Yan Jue quickly moved her gaze. "Sister, you're already at the fifth stage, soon to reach the sixth stage's golden core realm. These treasures might be quite useful to you..." Facing such a plethora of natural treasures, Yan Jue had no idea how to choose. Qi Xian Qing glanced at her, slowly crouched down, and picked up a stone from the stall. "This is Sea Blue Stone, with excellent quality. Roughly one in a hundred has one this good." The shopkeeper immediately praised her insight. Yan Jue was taken aback, standing behind Qi Xian Qing, silently memorizing what she pointed out. Qi Xian Qing then picked up an icy blue plant. Even without snow, a layer of frost had settled on the plant. Qi Xian Qing said, "This is Snow Ginseng Grass, incredibly rare, and excellent for refining elixirs." Yan Jue committed it to memory. The quality of the market items varied considerably, and if not an expert, one could easily be fooled. But Qi Xian Qing, well-versed and knowledgeable, was clearly not one to be deceived. Qi Xian Qing then picked up a crystal of ice, saying, "This might look ordinary, but it's a rare Profound Ice Crystal, originating from the frigid lands below the Kunlun Mountains. If used to refine elixirs, it aids in understanding the ice path." Qi Xian Qing's muttering was something Yan Jue was well accustomed to. However, as Yan Jue stood there watching for a moment, a frown slowly formed. Isn't Qi Xian Qing's elemental root associated with thunder and fire, attributed to extreme purity and yang? Why, then, were all the treasures she favored associated with cold and water elements... Yan Jue suddenly became cautious, "I... don't want! No money! Just look for yourself, Sister." Qi Xian Qing: "......" --- After leaving the market, the two continued walking forward and unintentionally arrived at the city gate. A faded notice hung on the gate, which Yan Jue spotted from afar, catching sight of a few prominent words. A hefty reward for capturing demons. Yan Jue was quite sensitive to such information and took a moment to read through it. It turned out that around the All-Win Fortress, among many towns, was a small town called Qinglian Town. A wealthy household in the town had been experiencing the loss of many valuable items recently. The head of the household suspected demonic involvement and solicited for practitioners' assistance in capturing the culprit. Qi Xian Qing read the word 'demon' and subtly frowned, instinctively casting a glance at Yan Jue. Yan Jue's focus landed on the reward below. Reward: One thousand top-grade spiritual stones. Truly fitting for a wealthy household, the offer was generous. With nothing better to do, handling this matter seemed worthwhile. "We have quite some time before Master arrives," Yan Jue said, promptly tearing the announcement off, looking up with bright eyes, "Let's go." ... The day was still young. Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue then headed out of the city and within no time, arrived at Qinglian Town. The further they went, the closer they came to the Jiangnan region. Qinglian Town had small bridges and flowing streams with numerous little boats drifting along, showing a unique Southern charm. Just before the town gates, Qi Xian Qing suddenly stopped, turning her gaze toward a direction. Yan Jue was briefly puzzled, then followed her gaze, spotting a carriage moving into the city gate. A breeze lifted the curtain of the carriage gently. Yan Jue's eyes darted, as she instantly recognized the person seated inside the carriage. The person's face was handsome, yet they wore ordinary blue clothing, holding a fan and fanning the air idly. Wasn't it the very same Master Li they'd seen earlier at the Spring Full Tower? Did he reside in Qinglian Town? Earlier at the Spring Full Tower, this Master Li dressed lavishly. Yan Jue furrowed her brow, pondering why he changed into worn-out garb upon returning home? ... Holding the notice, Qi Xian Qing looked for the wealthy household upon arriving in Qinglian Town. The merchant, surnamed Chen, was a Buddhist believer by nature, appearing kind and benevolent. Once he learned of their purpose, he respectfully welcomed them in. "I go by the name Chen, having moved to Qinglian Town earlier this year, making a living through small trades," old Master Chen lamented, "But for reasons unknown, ever since half a year ago, my family's valuables began getting stolen repeatedly." "I originally had thousands of taels of silver in my vault, but a few days ago I found only a few hundred left." Yan Jue listened attentively to the wealthy merchant, realizing this man indeed placed great importance on wealth, possessing so much silver yet not employing a steward. Yan Jue glanced around the surroundings. The Chen household is well-guarded. Old Master Chen explained, "I initially suspected it was a thief and hired many guards to keep watch. Yet, every month, the silver in my storage continues to vanish, even though none of the guards have ever seen anyone enter the storeroom." "So I'm inclined to believe our home is plagued by a demon." Yan Jue, after hearing Old Master Chen's account, nodded in agreement. Given Qinglian Town's proximity to All-Win Fortress—a place known for its inclusivity—it's not uncommon for nearby towns to have issues with demons. The occurrences at the Chen residence were indeed puzzling. It was possible that a demon was responsible, and considering the theft involved only silver, it indicated that the demon was not particularly powerful. Now that Yan Jue had some experience in cultivating as a practitioner, dealing with demons on behalf of common folk had become second nature to her. Qi Xian Qing, seated calmly, listened and then asked, "Could you take us to the storeroom?" The moment she spoke, Yan Jue noticed a trace of reluctance in Old Master Chen's demeanor. Since earlier, Yan Jue could tell he's a miserly sort, protective over his wealth to the extent that he wouldn't let anyone get near his storeroom. Qi Xian Qing's face remained neutral as she spoke evenly, "Without risking valuables, how else can one hope to catch the demon?" Old Master Chen's expression soured like he'd swallowed something sour before he grudgingly stood up, "Please follow me." The two followed him to the room where silver was stored. Upon opening the door, they found the inside immaculate, with only a faint aroma of coins in the air. Qi Xian Qing approached the large chest housing the silver, half-kneeling as she reached to feel the floor. A demon's aura is difficult to conceal; if indeed a demon had been stealing the silver, traces of its aura would be left even on the ground it had walked on. Thus, demons in this world are relatively easy to identify. Qi Xian Qing always found it curious why Yan Jue, though also a demon, carried no trace of demonic aura. Yan Jue stood by, attentively observing, while Qi Xian Qing closed her eyes to sense the surrounding spiritual energy. Sure enough, she detected a faint, fishy demonic aura exuding from the floor. Worried, Old Master Chen asked, "Celestial, have you found anything?" Qi Xian Qing rose to her feet, smiling faintly, "Rest assured, Master Chen. My junior sister and I will stand guard here tonight." --- Night fell swiftly. Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue sat in the storeroom early, waiting. The evening was silent, only tainted by the subtle scent of coins. Qi Xian Qing wore a frosty white pleated skirt and a wide-brimmed conical hat, the soft veil draping down, reminiscent of the fisherman's wife image from the book Yan Jue had seen in the All-Win Fortress, only her silhouette was more slender and refined. As they waited and waited, Yan Jue yawned several times with no sign of the demon. Yan Jue spoke up, "Isn't Master done with her business by now? What if she returns to find us absent?" Qi Xian Qing shook her head, "The friend she visits is quite difficult, and it will take a night or more to obtain what she desires." "That's why she booked five days at the All-Win Fortress." The explanation piqued Yan Jue's curiosity about this person who could compel Yun Zhen—a formidable eighth realm adept—to exercise such patience. "Do you know who it is?" Yan Jue asked, uncertain yet curious. Qi Xian Qing, not one for gossip, simply shook her head, unfamiliar with Yun Zhen's social circle. "Do you really want to know?" she asked. Yan Jue hesitated before admitting, "…Maybe?" Suddenly, a hand pressed lightly on her shoulder, causing Yan Jue to tense up instinctively. Qi Xian Qing reached out, gently ruffling her hair, her tone playful, "If you're that curious, I'll keep an ear out for you next time." Yan Jue brushed Qi Xian Qing's hand away, stepping back with a slight flush, "I don't want to know that badly!" Qi Xian Qing said nothing else. They continued waiting for some time, but the demon never appeared. As Yan Jue continued puzzling over this situation, wondering if the demon had decided not to show, Qi Xian Qing mused, "This demon, though not strong, likely possesses some spiritual awareness." Yan Jue squinted at her, "And what does that mean?" Qi Xian Qing supported her chin with a hand, "Though the conical hat conceals our presence, if the demon is cautious enough to extend its spirit sense, it can still detect us." Yan Jue paused, "So what do we do?" Qi Xian Qing gestured to Yan Jue's bag, "Don't you have an umbrella in your bag? It completely conceals aura." "Why not open it, and we'll hide together inside." Acknowledging her suggestion, Yan Jue hurriedly retrieved a verdant oil-paper umbrella named "Cloud Vane Umbrella" from her bag. As she opened it, the intricate patterns on the canopy caught a gentle sheen under the moonlight. Qi Xian Qing lifted her skirts and stepped inside. Both found themselves cocooned beneath the umbrella. ... Only then, as she and Qi Xian Qing huddled beneath the umbrella, did Yan Jue sense something amiss. The space under the Cloud Vane Umbrella was rather limited. Qi Xian Qing was so close that the sweet fragrance of her celestial body tickled Yan Jue's nose, like little hooks teasing her senses. Yan Jue clenched her fists, suddenly aware of her drying throat, and swallowed involuntarily. Qi Xian Qing's allure was undeniable. Her perfectly honed sword aura was enough to make Yan Jue shiver. Qi Xian Qing gazed down at her, then reached out, wrapped an arm around Yan Jue's slender waist, gently pulling her closer. As Qi Xian Qing lifted her gaze, glancing toward the window, she softly remarked, "The space is tight, Junior Sister, come closer." Yan Jue internally retorted, you know it's cramped. Qi Xian Qing's breath fluttered against her ear, deliberately or not, leaving Yan Jue feeling her ear grow wet and itchy. Eventually, Yan Jue raised her hands to press against Qi Xian Qing's shoulders, her pale face a vivid shade of crimson. Although she'd always known she wasn't straight, Yan Jue never felt anything for a straight girl. But with Qi Xian Qing... Could Qi Xian Qing actually not be straight either, intentionally teasing her this way? How could that be possible? It should be perfectly normal for two women to be in close proximity. Qi Xian Qing observed Yan Jue's reddened face, curious, "Junior Sister, why are you blushing?"