121 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 121: Secret Realm Adventure Qi Xianqing glanced at the Black Ball nestled in Yan Jue's arms, promptly lost in thought. It was clear that the Black Ball regarded Yan Jue as its mother. Stroking the Black Ball's soft fur, Yan Jue looked up awkwardly at Qi Xianqing and asked, "Do you know what this might be, Senior Sister?" Qi Xianqing: "..." She approached and bent down to look at the Black Ball. Even though its eyes were closed, it remained a bit wary. Upon sensing Qi Xianqing's presence, it trembled and burrowed deeper into Yan Jue's embrace. Qi Xianqing reached out, intending to hold it. The Black Ball opened its wide mouth, released a timid yet cautionary whimper, and burrowed into Yan Jue's chest. Qi Xianqing: "..." She gritted her teeth, forcing a smile, and softly asked, "Why are you afraid of me?" Yan Jue: "..." Yan Jue hesitated before replying, "Maybe because you're intimidating?" Qi Xianqing retracted her smile, leaned forward, and ignoring the Black Ball's reluctant grumbles, placed a light kiss on Yan Jue's lips. Caught off guard, Yan Jue froze momentarily. After asserting her possessiveness with such a bold gesture, Qi Xianqing looked down to observe the Black Ball, then turned and exited the room. Bingtaoyuan was a courtyard, complete with a bedroom, a kitchen, and other essentials. Qi Xianqing walked into the kitchen area, with Yan Jue carrying the Black Ball following closely. Although there wasn't much in Qi Xianqing's storage bag, basic ingredients were available. She conveniently found some milk cakes, melted them down, and soon the rich aroma of milk wafted through the entire room. Qi Xianqing handed the milk to the Black Ball to see if it would eat. The Black Ball turned its head away, refusing to eat. Suddenly, Qi Xianqing recalled something, "Remember the day we found a bottle of Spirit Feed Pills in the treasure bag? Perhaps that's its food." A moment of enlightenment struck Yan Jue as she retrieved a Spirit Feed Pill, placing it in front of the Black Ball. The Black Ball sniffed it with its nose, then extended its tiny pink tongue, wrapping the pill up and swallowing it. After consuming the Spirit Feed Pill, the previously restless Black Ball finally calmed down, snuggling into Yan Jue's arms and falling asleep. Yan Jue returned it to her storage bag. "But what do we do when the Spirit Feed Pills run out?" she mused. Spirit Feed Pills were rare and highly sought-after medicines for feeding spiritual beasts. They were considered precious because both spiritual and divine beasts could consume them, which was a rarity. Yan Jue still couldn't determine whether the Black Ball was a divine beast or a spiritual beast, but if this Black Egg had been nurtured by the Demon Sovereign and he had provided special feed, Yan Jue felt that the Black Ball's identity was significant and yet to be confirmed. Given the rarity of Spirit Feed Pills, purchasing them might arouse suspicion regarding their intended use. The gourd of Spirit Feed Pills from the Demon Sovereign would only last ten days. Rubbing her temples, Yan Jue began to worry. "Don't worry," Qi Xianqing assured, "I can try to concoct a few, but I'm not an expert at alchemy, so I can't guarantee their quality." Yan Jue's eyes brightened, and she smiled sweetly, "Senior Sister is so kind." Qi Xianqing pulled her into an embrace, pressing a soft kiss onto her face, "So, about the clues you gathered today, have any thoughts?" With flushed cheeks, Yan Jue pushed her away, "I'm not telling you." They weren't on the same team, after all, and revealing her thoughts wouldn't be fair to her teammates. Besides, Yan Jue believed that with Qi Xianqing's capabilities, she wouldn't need her insights. Suddenly, Yan Jue got excited, looking up at her, "Let's see who can gather all three colored beans first this time." "Just what I was hoping for," Qi Xianqing smiled lazily, her lips curving, "If you lose, you'll have to promise me one thing." Yan Jue paused, "What thing?" Qi Xianqing smiled enigmatically, "I'll tell you once you lose." Yan Jue chuckled, "You seem confident." "And if you lose," Yan Jue added after a moment, "you'll have to promise me something." Qi Xianqing tilted her head, smiling silently, "Oh?" Yan Jue declared, "This time, I definitely won't lose to you!" --- Soon it was the next day. With the leisure competition and the secret realm team competition taking turns, the team competition hadn't started on the day after clue distribution. The first event of the leisure competition was a culinary contest. Wulong Square was crowded from early on. In the center of the square stood long tables, each laden with mouthwatering delicacies. On the far left were exquisite pastries procured from the mountains: dark red sugared cakes glistening with oil, intricately shaped floral cakes, steaming multilayered cakes, and meat pies... In the middle were meat dishes and cold platters: aromatic, steaming roast chicken, crispy roast goose... The far right held vegetable dishes: spicy cucumbers, tofu pudding... Each dish was a gastronomic masterpiece, sure to make one's mouth water. Judges in Taoist robes stood around the square. In front of each long table sat a contestant. At a glance, most participants appeared to be robust men, but there were several strong, sturdy women as well. Especially at one table on the edge of the square, a tall woman in a yellow Taoist robe stood, muscles visible on her arms, confidently ready to win. The atmosphere was lively. Hardly anyone noticed the slender young girl sitting among them, staring intently at the food laid before her. Finally, a man noticed her, laughing, "Young lady, this is a food-eating contest, not just for tasting. We're competing to see who can eat the most!" Zhu He recalled Yan Jue's words, looked up at him, and nodded. Her sister had now been taken as an apprentice by Elder Yun Zhen. This meant that although her sister still lived in Shuiyun Sect, she was now a disciple of Zhenhuo Sect. Thus, Zhu He kept one thing in mind: if someone asked which sect she belonged to, she would say Zhenhuo Sect. Seeing the delicate girl with slender arms, the man chuckled, "Eat quickly, because Uncle won't wait for you." Wulong Square, viewing platform. Elders were already seated, and though the leisure competition wasn't as interesting as the individual contests, elders and sect leaders with some free time enjoyed watching. Sect leaders from all major peaks were present. Yanyue smiled, "Yun Zhen, since your Zhenhuo Sect has no participants this time, I'm afraid the victory will fall to our Shuiyun Sect." "Yanyue, mind your words," Yun Zhen drawled, lounging on the viewing platform. "I'm just here for the fun." Xing Ye Dao Ren chuckled, "Everyone knows Shuiyun Sect put forward the formidable Liang Yi this time; who here could out-eat Liang Yi?" Yanyue covered her mouth with a laugh, "Although we may not match Zhenhuo Sect in the individual contests, we'll definitely outdo you in this leisure competition." Yun Zhen continued to lazily munch on seeds, ignoring her taunts. Showing a heart of resignation. The leisure contest was a regular part of the Wulong Summit. Initially, she had been competitive, wanting to vie with Yanyue, but over time she had come to terms with it. After all, her Zhenhuo Sect was full of capable fighters but had few competitive eaters, so they shouldn't compete with Yanyue in such a contest. Before Yanyue could finish speaking, the melodious sound of a bell echoed. In that instant, all the contestants in Wulong Square began eating. Upon hearing the bell, Zhu He instinctively moved to the nearest table, immediately devouring several plates of osmanthus cakes. Living with her sister meant she usually only ate spiritual Candlefruit. Although Candlefruit was tasty, it couldn't compare to these delicacies. Zhu He ate faster and faster. Yet even in such a moment, she maintained an elegance in eating, as her sister instructed. While the burly men beside her ate with abandon, grease dripping everywhere, Zhu He gracefully tore the roast chicken into manageable portions before savoring it. Her eyes crinkled in delight as she thought, "These are truly delicious." On the viewing platform, Yanyue gradually noticed something unusual. Seated beside Liang Yi was a girl who, despite dining with refinement, exhibited an unexpectedly rapid eating speed. In the blink of an eye, she had moved from the leftmost side of the table to its far right! Yanyue queried, "Wait, who is that girl? She's never appeared in past competitions." Yawning, Yun Zhen felt a sense of departure. Regarding such inconsequential contests, she had never cared much. For this culinary competition, Zhenhuo Sect merely sent Jiang Ji to make up the numbers. The Sect had grown used to defeat. Time flowed on, and soon it was midday. While the men beside her struggled with their remaining vegetable dishes, Zhu He had already consumed all the food before her. "Crunch—" Zhu He even nibbled at the table. The once robust wooden table, considered indestructible, vanished into the girl's belly within moments, leaving her area completely spotless. Stroking his beard, Xing Ye Dao Ren marveled, "That girl is like a wildfire, while others graze like sheep, she devours expansively—how remarkable." Quietly, the Five Dragons Sect master, Mu Zhongzi of Qi Dun Sect, focused his gaze on Zhu He without betraying much expression. Beside him, Elder Jin Gang Zong You Long leaned closer, whispering something to him. A supervising disciple approached Zhu He and asked her something softly. Zhu He lightly dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief and stood proudly. "I am from the Zhenhuo Sect!" Yun Zhen choked on his tea. Everyone: "..." --- The first day of the leisure competition concluded, and preparations for the upcoming team competition began. In the afternoon, warm sunlight spilled across the floor of the room. Seated at the desk, Yan Jue slowly spread out the secret letter in her hand. After two days of contemplation, Yan Jue finally formed her own theory about the letter. The clues provided by the Five Dragons Sect weren't meant to be straightforward; otherwise, each subsequent round would not effectively eliminate participants. She realized this when she noticed a small temple marked on the map. Seeing the line beneath the statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva in Du Ming’s room—'Namo Mahā-prajñā-pāramitā-manjuśri Bodhisattva'—had sparked a thought in Yan Jue: the phrase 'Namo' could be associated with the southern land. Thus, on this map, the only thing connected to the south was a small, inconspicuous temple located in the north. This entire secret realm was crafted by a formidable power, so marking a tiny temple in the north seemed too abrupt. However, Yan Jue was not one to boast about her discoveries. She understood that if she could deduce something, others could too. As to the phrase 'How many buds blossom in spring,' they'd have to investigate the temple to know for sure. The next day arrived quickly. Five Dragons Square was as crowded as the previous day. For many, the Five Dragons Summit's individual competition was merely a rite of passage reliant on innate talent, with hardly a chance for most to excel. But the team competition was entirely different. All the disciples of the Five Dragons Sect gathered at Five Dragons Square, eager and excited. A benevolent elder in a radiant purple-red robe gave a speech from the high platform at Five Dragons Square. Accompanied by a mellow chime, a dazzling light appeared in the square. The light shimmered a soft blue, initially too bright to look at directly. About the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea later, the intensity of the light faded. Before the crowd stood a curving entrance to a secret realm. "This is the Five Dragons Secret Realm, opened especially for this competition," the elder said, clapping his hands together with a smile. "You can now enter the secret realm and explore a new world." No sooner had he finished speaking than colorful glimmers arose in the sky, and the disciples in the square began summoning their magical tools. They surged towards the entrance to the secret realm like an unstoppable tide. --- Hills stretched on, layer upon overlapping layer. The moment Yan Jue entered the secret realm, she sheathed her sword, Liubing, and descended to the ground. Under the cerulean sky, flashes of multicolored light continued, and all but a few teams who had no intention to diligently search for beans—and, like Yan Jue's team, landed right after entering the realm—flew southward. Yan Jue looked up at the sky full of vibrant lights, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. Everyone was heading south, turning the treasure hunt into a race; it was quite a sight. From the moment they entered, Duan Lu Xi had been beckoned by Yan Jue to descend, dismounting in a leaf-covered forest with a puzzled expression. "Junior Sister Yan, how long will we be staying down here?" Unperturbed, Yan Jue leisurely climbed a tree and picked off a Hui Zhen fruit. Extending her right hand, she plucked another Bi Ling fruit. Despite the Five Dragons Secret Realm being less visually impressive compared to a real secret realm, Yan Jue intended to make good use of it. Hopping from branch to branch while discreetly checking the map hidden among the leaves, she collected fruits as she steadily made her way northward. Gradually, the figures of other teams vanished from sight. Watching from below, Li Jia felt anxious, "Senior Sister Yan, everyone else went that way. Are we sure this is the right path?" Even Huang Yi furrowed her brow, "Senior Sister Yan, is it because you won the spot of Tan Hua in the individual competition that you're not seriously competing in the team event?" Du Ming quickly interjected, "Stop it, both of you. Yan Jue certainly has a plan." In Du Ming's eyes, Yan Jue was like a deity, not to be trifled with by others. Perched on a tree, Yan Jue slowly closed the map, "We're heading north." Du Ming reassured her, "No worries, trust in Old Yan." Yan Jue: "..." The pressure suddenly surged. Guided by her careful map reading, Yan Jue led the team to a northern temple. The temple was constructed in a barren location, hidden amidst dense vegetation. Pines carpeted the landscape, with winding paths leading to secluded places. Yan Jue forcefully pushed open the temple gate, raising clouds of dust that made her cough. The temple's interior was dimly lit, with only a single beam of sunlight piercing through a broken roof, tracing a straight line. The light fell upon a handless Buddha statue, fashioned from gold, kindly gazing at the temple entrance. A Buddha without hands. Yan Jue's pupils contracted, and in the courtyard, a tree bore countless red beans. Li Jia's eyes widened in excitement, and she rushed forward, "Are those red beans what we're looking for?" Yan Jue immediately signaled for silence, and Li Jia covered her mouth. "Something’s not right," Yan Jue whispered. "These red beans are ordinary, but the clue given by the sect clearly states the red beans are actually spiritual stones, that’s what we need to find." The four others frowned, "So what do we do?" The phrase "In the southern land, red beans sprout in spring," seemed to Yan Jue to hint not only at a treasure clue but also to convey an emotional message to participants. Standing under the red bean tree, Yan Jue looked up into the canopy. Sunlight cascaded from the sky, causing her to squint slightly. Among the branches laden with red beans, she glimpsed... Something seemed to be etched beneath the eaves. Only from this perspective, looking up through the red beans, could she see it! Before Huang Yi and Li Jia could react, they saw Yan Jue nimbly leap onto the roof beam. Dangling from the beam, Yan Jue retrieved a block of wood. On the wood was a depiction of a Buddha hand poised in a lotus gesture. Returning the wood to its place, Yan Jue commanded, "Dig!" In a moment of realization, everyone drew their magical tools and began fervently digging beneath the red bean tree. Though not fully understanding Yan Jue's reasoning, Huang Yi and Li Jia had an idea flashing through their minds. Senior Sister Yan was remarkable! Fearing discovery and subsequent competition, everyone worked at a rapid pace. Perhaps an illusion, but it seemed the sunlight here was more intense than elsewhere! The soil beneath the red bean tree was iron-hard, the sun intensely hot. Yan Jue found herself sweating profusely, her arms aching with exhaustion. Unbeknownst to her, they'd already dug two feet deep until they heard a sudden clang. Du Ming suddenly shuddered and whispered, "I've found something!" Without concern for dirt, Yan Jue jumped into the pit and retrieved a bronze severed hand. Upon entering the temple, Yan Jue had noted the handless ancient Buddha statue. Now, this severed hand perfectly matched the left hand missing from that statue. Nevertheless, before Yan Jue could celebrate, footsteps sounded nearby. "Senior Sister, are the red beans really here?" Yan Jue: "..." Astonishment flooded through the group of five. Desperation rammed Jayde's mind—this wasn't good! She hugged the severed hand tightly to her chest and darted up to the roof beam. No sooner had she hidden when several slender figures entered the temple. Qi Xianqing, dressed in a pale blue pleated skirt, strolled leisurely at the rear of the group. Zhou Leng was puzzled by Qi Xianqing's actions. Everyone had received the clues the previous day and initially thought to follow the crowd south into the pine forest. However, the senior sister had insisted they come to the north. Everyone trusted their senior sister unquestioningly; if she said so, so it would be. Qi Xianqing had been full of confidence from the start. Yet now, as they approached the temple, she insisted they wait outside for a while before entering. Curious, Zhou Leng voiced his thoughts to Qi Xianqing, "Why wait?" With a smile, Qi Xianqing replied, "If physical work has to be done, it's best to wait for others to finish it." Perched on the beam, sweaty and exasperated, Yan Jue seethed, "Damn! This wicked woman!" She resolved to keep the Buddha's hand to herself today!