127 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

## Chapter 127: Drinking (Deep Dive Extra) Zhang Men looked at Qi Xianqing. That usually calm face now rarely showed a trace of panic and disbelief, as if a heart's demon was first being unbound, leaving only confusion. A sliver of moonlight seeped through from outside, making everything around appear vague and indistinct. On the ground were the remnants of a broken pot and a pile of chaotic stones. If it weren't for the chance discovery by the little black ball of fluff, Zhang Men might have stayed asleep here for who knows how long. Mu Zhongzi furrowed his brows slightly, as if in extreme pain: "I... I..." The cave suddenly plunged into an eerie silence. Mu Zhongzi muttered, "I was in seclusion when someone invaded my body, and then I was..." Zhang Men shook his head, seemingly unable to articulate, never expecting that he, a dignified sect leader, would fall to such a state. He had indeed been in seclusion, striving to break through the ninth realm. However, reaching the ninth realm brought with it calamities of wind and fire, among other great disasters. During seclusion, he became inevitably weakened to the extreme, allowing someone to seize his body using a vial of ghostly water. His soul had been forcibly expelled from his body and, in his severely weakened state, hastily hid within the Wulong Secret Realm. Since the Wulong Secret Realm was originally his own property, with much of the terrain designed by him, finding a place to hide inside was somewhat easier. Closing his eyes, the memories of what happened during his seclusion slowly surfaced in Zhang Men’s mind. The individual who took over his body clearly had ill intentions. Who knew what they might do with his body? Qi Xianqing gazed at the faintly visible ghost of Zhang Men in the dark, frowning lightly. Yan Jue was right as expected. If the presence here was indeed the soul of the Wulong Zhangmen, it signified that the current Wulong Zhangmen had truly been possessed. No wonder, at the time at the Fortress of All Things, when the teacher used the soul-seeking banner to locate Zhang Men’s soul, there was no indication of his soul being scattered. Rather, it showed that Zhang Men's soul resided within Wulong Gate. This misled the teacher into believing that Zhang Men hadn't been possessed. Zhang Men opened his eyes again, looking at Qi Xianqing with a hint of embarrassment. The originally imposing and majestic eighth realm expert now bore no oppressive aura, given his current state as a spirit. Mu Zhongzi's footless soul drifted aimlessly; a single punch from any layperson could easily scatter it. Even the newly born little black fluff could swallow him whole in one go. Well, that is, if Yan Jue didn’t firmly hold onto the little black fluff. Zhang Men hesitated and asked, “How is it inside Wulong Gate, Xianqing?” If the person harboring ill intentions had taken control while his soul was adrift and unaware, Wulong Gate might have already been compromised. Thinking of this, Zhang Men’s face became slightly pallid. Qi Xianqing lowered her gaze and respectfully replied, “To reply to Zhang Men Shishu, Wulong Gate is currently doing well, with a group competition ongoing.” They would not have met Zhang Men here if the secret realm hadn't been activated for the competition. Though Wulong Gate appeared peaceful on the surface, Qi Xianqing knew that the seemingly calm situation often harbored something brewing beneath. Zhang Men then turned towards Yan Jue. “And who might this be…” Yan Jue: “…” Seeing Zhang Men's gaze shift over, Yan Jue reluctantly said, “A disciple of Wulong Gate, Yan Jue.” Zhang Men glanced at her once and looked no further. After all, the person he trusted most here was Qi Xianqing. He had never seen this little disciple standing behind Qi Xianqing before, so she must merely be one of Qi Xianqing’s followers, worth little attention. Just as Zhang Men was about to speak, a melodious bell chimed from the distant sky. “Ding... Ding... Ding...” Every opening of the Wulong Secret Realm only lasted three hours, and now it was almost time for it to close. Yan Jue pulled Qi Xianqing hurriedly, “Shijie, let’s go. We’ll come back to see Zhang Men Shishu next time.” The once majestic Zhang Men Mu Zhongzi, who had commanded such authority in the sect, now looked like a pitiful old man. Drifting in mid-air, he looked blankly at the two departing figures, then glanced around the darkened cave. Mu Zhongzi hadn’t felt fear in a long time. Gazing at the pitch-black cave surroundings, Zhang Men unconsciously shouted, “Xianqing, when will you return?” Qi Xianqing: “In two days.” Zhang Men’s soul drifted forward a couple inches: “Then make sure you come, okay...” Yan Jue: “…” --- Yan Jue asked, “Does Shijie truly trust that spirit?” The two had just exited the secret realm and returned to Bingtouyuan. Qi Xianqing changed into a simple white robe, sitting on the bed, thoughtfully pondering over Yan Jue's words. The spirit of the man they encountered in the secret realm claimed to be Zhang Men; could it truly be him? Qi Xianqing maintained her usual vigilance, and even if Yan Jue didn’t mention it, she would have considered this point herself. Although the spirit lacked any offensive abilities and was not worth mentioning, Yan Jue deeply disliked Zhang Men. Even if it was indeed the real Mu Zhongzi they saw in the cave, Yan Jue still couldn't bring herself to like him. Yan Jue knew Zhang Men favored Chu Fu because Chu Fu’s family was among the cultivator clans. During the celestial-demon war a millennium ago, Chu's family was completely annihilated, and Zhang Men had a complicated mix of pity and expectation for Chu Fu. When Chu Fu first joined Wulong Gate, he quickly became a Water Cloud Sect outer disciple, marking him as a new talent who could stand alongside Qi Xianqing. Besides his own unique wind spiritual roots, Zhang Men’s favoritism played a part. Zhang Men always hoped to bring Chu Fu and his beloved first disciple Qi Xianqing together in matrimony. In the original script, Zhang Men was essentially the main ‘shipper’ for Qi Xianqing and Chu Fu. With gentle resignation, Qi Xianqing glanced at Yan Jue and softly said, “Although that's the case, we should still find a way to bring Zhang Men Shishu’s soul out first, and let the teacher evaluate it before deciding anything.” Yan Jue acknowledged that she was right but still sat on the bed, puffed up with frustration, and remained silent. Qi Xianqing hugged Yan Jue from behind, resting her head against Yan Jue’s neck, and gently asked, “What’s wrong, A-Jue?” The fragrant essence of Qi Xianqing's celestial body, mingled with the faint plum scent of a recent bath, wafted around them. Yan Jue didn’t want to hide her feelings from Qi Xianqing, candidly stating, “I just don’t like that old geezer.” Qi Xianqing: “…” Normally, Yan Jue wouldn’t speak this way, but because Qi Xianqing treated her so well and always indulged her, Yan Jue dared to be a little villain in her presence. Qi Xianqing looked at Yan Jue, hesitantly inquiring, “Should I be more distant with him?” Yan Jue: “…” Yan Jue spoke as she did, but she didn’t truly want Qi Xianqing to be cold with Zhang Men. After all, Yan Jue knew Qi Xianqing had grown up on Wulong Mountain and that Zhang Men was her most revered figure. Yan Jue snorted lightly, responding sulkily, “Do what you want.” Qi Xianqing nuzzled against Yan Jue’s shoulder. “Then let’s leave him be for a few days. Besides, we aren’t sure if he really is Zhang Men.” A hint of a smile finally slipped from Yan Jue’s lips as she observed how considerate Qi Xianqing was toward her. Feeling mischievous, Yan Jue felt an urge to test Qi Xianqing’s boundaries: “You shouldn’t hold him in such high regard.” Raising her eyebrows, Qi Xianqing easily agreed, “If A-Jue doesn’t like him, I naturally won’t treat him with respect.” Yan Jue lay in Qi Xianqing’s arms, laughing heartily. She was merely speaking in jest, but Qi Xianqing’s reaction genuinely pleased her. Qi Xianqing playfully pinched Yan Jue’s cheek and suddenly asked, “A-Jue, did you forget something?” Yan Jue was startled. “Huh?” Qi Xianqing reminded her, “Since our teams allied, whatever clues you have should be shared with me.” “You must have discovered the next clue up on that pine branch today.” “Didn’t you?” The rewards for this team competition were indeed quite generous. Claiming one of the top three spots came with prizes. The first prize was the Exiting Smoke Pipe artifact. The second was a high-level formation plate. The third consisted of three thousand superior-grade spirit stones. Not to mention the more significant wager. Yan Jue had previously made a bet with Qi Xianqing that whoever took the top spot had to fulfill one request from the other. Qi Xianqing had a sharp mind and could certainly capitalize on it for an advantage. Yan Jue was willing to share the clue with Qi Xianqing but was determined not to let Qi Xianqing’s team claim the green bean at the final checkpoint first. After pondering for a while, Yan Jue then drew a bamboo slip from her sleeve and handed it to Qi Xianqing. Qi Xianqing held the bamboo slip to her ear, giving it a gentle shake, her brows slightly furrowing: “There's something inside.” Taking out her immortal sword Zhu Ying, Qi Xianqing sliced the bamboo tube open with a swift motion. Inside, as expected, the bamboo was hollow, and cutting it open revealed its contents. A piece of paper. Yan Jue exclaimed in annoyance, “More paper? Do the Wulong Gate elders really love paper that much?” Unfurled from the bamboo, the paper was covered in intricate patterns, seemingly hinting at something. Yet, upon closer inspection, the patterns made no sense at all, appearing chaotic and devoid of any logic, leaving one baffled about the intended message. Yan Jue couldn’t help but complain, “Is this even supposed to be comprehensible?” Qi Xianqing studied the paper for a long while. “Maybe it’s a map.” Yan Jue was slightly taken aback. Qi Xianqing rubbed the paper thoughtfully for a moment and then handed it back to Yan Jue. “We have plenty of time; gathering clues doesn’t need to be rushed.” to let it affect her control. Having reached such a high level in her cultivation, Yan Jue was quite adept at managing her demonic aura. Qi Xianqing’s suggestion was clear, and she wanted Yan Jue to check with her teammates first. “This clue was initially discovered by Yan-shimei, so you might want to consult your teammates first. If that doesn't yield results, then come to me.” The team competition didn't have a fixed end time, so they weren’t in a rush. Watching Qi Xianqing smile, Yan Jue felt like she had a strong ally on her side. She was relieved to have gotten the clue before Qi Xianqing's team did. Otherwise, they might have resolved it first. Yan Jue slipped the paper into her sleeve and asked, “What does shijie plan to do about Zhang Men’s soul in the secret realm?” Despite not liking Zhang Men, she couldn’t ignore his soul. Especially since she truly loved everything about Wulong Gate, despite its many complicated aspects. Now with Zhang Men’s body possessed by Mo Zun, the uncertainty of his intentions posed a real danger. Discovering Zhang Men’s soul in the secret realm was an unexpected boon. With it, they had the means to easily expose Mo Zun’s machinations. Qi Xianqing smiled and said, “Come closer, and I’ll tell you.” Yan Jue hesitated slightly before leaning in to listen. --- After leaving Bingtouyuan, Yan Jue returned to Shuiyun Sect. As she arrived at the dormitory, Little Phoenix was perched on a wooden stake in its egg-sitting posture, eyes closed as if dozing. Next to it, Little Wild Boar played with a golden feather, basking in the day’s fine sunlight; it had reverted to its true form, clutching the feather in its maw, tossing it upwards playfully, with little tusks visible as it gaped its mouth. Yan Jue chuckled, “Why did you pull someone’s feather off?” Little Wild Boar, feather in mouth, waddled over to her, its tiny watermelon vine-like tail wagging incessantly, oinking enthusiastically. It was its own feather that had shed. Yan Jue gathered up the Little Phoenix and returned to Bingtouyuan. Upon entering the courtyard, Qi Xianqing emerged from inside. Little Phoenix opened its eyes, gazing at Qi Xianqing, emitting a soft “ah——”. Being a celestial body, Qi Xianqing naturally attracted beasts and demonic races with the innate fragrance of her blood. Though a divine beast, the Phoenix too was fond of Qi Xianqing’s scent. Thus, its reception of Qi Xianqing was warmer than towards others. Carrying the Phoenix, Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue proceeded to a secluded valley within Xingwu Peak. Qi Xianqing gently placed the Phoenix on the ground, whereupon it looked up at her. Qi Xianqing knelt with respect, uttering, “We seek to borrow your secret realm for a bit.” The Phoenix genuinely appreciated Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue. Once living in isolation, suppressed beneath the altar, it had been unrealistic for it to escape home on its own. Fortunately, these two provided it with a home, and food to eat. With sudden determination, Little Phoenix opened its eyes, gold light flowing from them, and a circular secret realm entrance appeared on the cliff face before them—a manifestation of its innate mystic realm, an ambulant enclave of myriad marvels, impressed upon suitable media when found. Qi Xianqing, giving Phoenix another respectful bow, entered with Yan Jue. The Myriad Mysteries Secret Realm still brimmed with dreamlike splendor under an expanse of soft lavender sky dotted with stars above. They entered a forest where each tree towered into the sky, their lush foliage tinged with faint darkness. Yan Jue was somewhat amazed, realizing that they had traversed such a black forest before, yet she barely recalled it. She and Qi Xianqing had only ventured into this secret realm once, but this woman remembered every detail encountered then. Qi Xianqing reached up, plucking a leaf. “This is a Prajna Leaf.” These dark, inky leaves were akin to those previously used to store the souls of Qi Xianqing’s parents, albeit of evidently higher quality. Qi Xianqing placed the leaves into her sleeve. “These can be used to store Zhang Men’s soul.” The natural allure of the Myriad Mysteries Secret Realm proved superior to that of the Wulong Secret Realm, showcasing its exquisite vistas. Yan Jue climbed a tree, picking some fruits, lingering with a reluctant farewell afterward. --- Soon enough, the next day arrived. In the latter half of the Wulong Summit, few entertainment matches were scheduled, only four in total. Today's featured contest was the most talked-about event throughout Wulong Gate—the Wine Tasting Competition. Scheduled for the afternoon, the Wulong Plaza was already packed well before the start. Arranged upon long tables were rare, legendary wines, usually locked away and unseen. Qi Lu Bai... Sang Luo... Nine Xia Sorrow... The rules for this wine tasting carried a ruthless twist. The competition wasn't about speed but rather volume and potency of consumption, with contestants replacing each emptied jug with a new one brought by disciples. The score was tallied by the number of emptied jugs, with stronger alcohol evidently scoring higher. The observation platform was overflowing, the spectators’ uproar rising in waves. The wine tasting had always been a staple of Wulong Mountain’s summit, the subject of much fervor. But attendance was never this high in previous years. This year’s draw was someone special competing. Qi Xianqing wore a pale blue gown, serenely seated at a long table, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly air, untouched by the mundane clamor surrounding her. Recalling Yun Zhen’s request felt almost absurd to Qi Xianqing. Perhaps due to all the junior disciples of the Zhenhuo Sect being lightweight drinkers, Yun Zhen had none to offer for the event and conscripted her for numbers’ sake. However, being a person dedicated to seriousness, Qi Xianqing, having accepted the call, intended to give her all, so as not to disappoint her teacher, even if it was to make up numbers with no high expectations from Yun Zhen. Her gaze swept over the wines arrayed before her. The rich aroma was overwhelming, but she maintained her composure despite an undercurrent of unease. Wine was not her pleasure, and finding the scent much too heady was only natural. On the observation platform, Yuean could no longer offer Yun Zhen a kind expression. She assumed this Wulong Summit would once again see Zhenhuo Sect lose shamefully. Unexpectedly, they'd already won three straight matches. A win today would mean sweeping the competition. How unjust! Taking the top two ranks in the individual contests wasn't enough? Yuean turned with spite toward Yun Zhen: “Yun Zhen, you put in Xianqing for this match, huh?” Yun Zhen casually replied, “Just filling the numbers. Xianqing’s alcohol tolerance is quite low.” She had never drunk with Qi Xianqing and didn't know how much she could handle, but assumed, just based on her being a girl, that it couldn’t possibly be much. Even if she were just passable, other sect contestants would certainly outdrink her. At least she wasn’t lying. In competitions like these, it was best to maintain a level mind. Aside from elders seated on the observation platform, the spectator seats below Wulong Plaza were also fully occupied. Yan Jue and Du Ming eventually squeezed their way forward after much effort, securing a spot somewhat nearer to the front, just enough to glimpse Qi Xianqing’s face. Du Ming, caught up in excitement, couldn't resist shouting, “Big Sister, go! Big Sister, go!” Yan Jue: “…” Unlike Du Ming, Yan Jue maintained her composure and didn’t shout, preferring to quietly stand in the crowd, seriously watching the person over there. Qi Xianqing, with her lithe shoulders and fair skin, her slightly drooping almond eyes, fixed her gaze on a wine cup. She was still the same as always. Equally dazzling. At that moment, the gentle chimes resonated. “Ding... Ding... Ding...” Instantly, a deafening cheer erupted. Competitors all began furiously drinking at once. Qi Xianqing sat at the table with an emotionless expression, sipping wine. Supporting her wrist with her other hand, wide sleeves draping down obscuring half her face, she possessed a natural grace that made even competitive drinking appear poised. Starting with the least alcoholic, Luo Fu Chun, then moving on to Qi Lu Bai… With Qi Xianqing's popularity soaring, the audience began to scream, the uproar growing louder and louder. “No way, the competitor from Zhenhuo Sect this year is Meng Hang Jun!!!” “Where's my wine cup? I want to toast with Meng Hang Jun—of course, with bridal wine.” Yan Jue watched all this unfold, unable to contain her laughter. As for Qi Xianqing, she might just be thinking about how to silence these noisy folks. Suddenly, Yan Jue was halted with a sense of realization. Something wasn’t right. The Beihai Xuan Iron around her neck was nowhere to be found! ... The longer Yuean watched Qi Xianqing, the more uneasy she felt, turning to ask Yun Zhen, “You said she was just for filling numbers! Why did you choose Xianqing for this?” Yun Zhen said casually, “Because Xianqing was the only one here with any noteworthy alcohol tolerance.” “You know as well as I do, the girls from Zhenhuo Sect are out after a single cup.” ... Yan Jue, having trained to such a degree, could effectively control her demonic energy. Though the Beihai Xuan Iron had inexplicably vanished, she wasn’t flustered by its absence. Amid the chaos, Yan Jue's sharp eyes quickly spotted the missing Beihai Xuan Iron under Qi Xianqing's table. The golden wire was comfortably coiled around the wine jar multiple times, lying lazily. Thankfully, it was small enough that despite its antics, no one seemed to have noticed it yet. Yan Jue thought, "..." Now she might understand a bit why her secrets, previously well-kept, seemed suddenly exposed. The culprit was indeed that unruly object! … The atmosphere in Wulong Plaza grew more and more enthusiastic. “Senior Sister! Drink faster!” a young shimei called out anxiously. “Senior Sister! Keep it up!” “Meng Hang Jun, pick up the pace!” With the crowd around her changing jugs one after another, even Qi Xianqing found herself unconsciously quickening her pace. With each shot of fierce liquor swallowed, her throat felt as though it was being scorched by flames. Watching Qi Xianqing’s drinking suddenly quicken, Yan Jue worried she might have fallen under the influence of the surrounding excitement. Yan Jue silently sent a message to Qi Xianqing: “Senior Sister, my artifact has ended up under your table. Please help bring it out later.” Immersed in the liquor's embrace, Qi Xianqing was caught off guard by Yan Jue's voice but still managed to allocate some attention to her. “Alright.” Seeing her movements growing ever quicker, Yan Jue frowned slightly: “Slow down, or you might run out of breath.” Qi Xianqing reassured, “It's fine.” Yan Jue insisted, “Just drink slower.” Standing several yards away amid the throng, Yan Jue couldn’t help but nag. “Senior Sister, it’s not a speed contest, take it easy…” “Too fast now…” “Will it kill you to drink slower? This isn’t about speed.” A flush of red crept onto Qi Xianqing’s cheeks as she found herself amused by Yan Jue's concern. Finally, she let the humor touch her eyes, her lips pulling back a smile she tried to suppress. “Alright, I’ll listen to my partner.” With that, Qi Xianqing composed herself, committing to a more measured pace as the festive clamor of Wulong Plaza surrounded them.