145 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 145: The Red Veil Qi Xianqing was well aware that if she were to confront the White Ape head-on, while there was a chance of victory, it might lead to both sides being gravely injured. Yan Jue had advised her on this matter a long time ago. Thus, Qi Xianqing had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with the White Ape. Before leaving the mountain, her master spoke to her about the Head Sect Uncle, mentioning that he was willing to provide protection for her and Yan Jue. He even suggested taking along the Head Sect Uncle's spirit as a valuable trump card. The White Ape was acting so arrogantly in their presence purely because it underestimated their cultivated skills. However, what the White Ape didn't realize was what she had brought along. Mu Zhongzi was summoned by Qi Xianqing, appearing dazed and hovering in mid-air on a leaf of the Pratyeka-buddha Tree. This was the first time Mu Zhongzi was summoned as a battle spirit, and he was momentarily at a loss. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose before him. Mu Zhongzi then saw a muscular White Ape lunging towards him, its iron-like fists nearly dispersing his spirit. Qi Xianqing left behind the words, "Head Sect Uncle, I'll leave it to you," and swiftly departed. Mu Zhongzi's face darkened as he quickly grasped the situation. This was Mu Zhongzi's first battle since leaving the Secret Realm of the Five Dragons. Even during his time as Head of the Sect, he rarely engaged in combat. Such a position of authority and status did not often require fighting. Heads of Sects were revered figures, and it had been a long time since he last fought. The White Ape's mighty punch was narrowly avoided by the Sect's head, only for another blow to come in an instant. Although the White Ape was merely a spiritual beast, it could sense a lurking danger from this spirit before it. Thus, it struck with even greater ferocity than usual. Mu Zhongzi flew up suddenly, his face stern, and he intoned, "Body like gold, illuminating myself." This was the Golden Body immortal technique, something that could be cultivated by those at the seventh stage of the Five Dragons Sect. Once activated, the Golden Body technique would immediately envelop the surroundings of both spirit and flesh, rendering them incredibly hardened, impervious to swords and spears. In that instant, the once ebony spirit illuminated with a golden radiance. When the White Ape's fist crashed down, Mu Zhongzi didn't dodge, and it was like punching a stone, causing the White Ape's organs to shake with pain. Blood poured from its fingertips. From a distant tree, Qi Xianqing silently observed with intensity. Reaching the seventh realm was a huge threshold for human cultivators; advancing past such a level was akin to ascending to the heavens. This made every battle involving seventh-realm masters invaluable learning opportunities after reaching the sixth realm. Qi Xianqing stood at a position that was safe enough from being detected by the White Ape, yet gave her a full view of the unfolding events. She believed that Mu Zhongzi, capable of becoming the Head, could not possibly lose to a mere White Ape. Despite the bloodshed from its hand, the White Ape showed no concern for its injury. It flashed through the air like a storm, swiftly descending with yet another strike. In terms of speed, Mu Zhongzi's spirit couldn't compare to such a spiritual beast, and Yan Jue was anxious for him. Mu Zhongzi clasped his hands, commanding, "Slow!" Golden light welled up between his palms, and suddenly the White Ape's speed began to slow. Yan Jue was somewhat surprised. What was once a swift technique gradually turned into a distinguished slow-motion sequence under Mu Zhongzi’s spell. With two fingers joined, Mu Zhongzi began to slowly inscribe talismans in the air. As both a master of the Qidun Sect and the Head of the Five Dragons, Mu Zhongzi's mastery over spell arts had clearly reached perfection. The inscriptions formed into glowing golden arcs in the sky. Immortal Technique: Grass Script Sword Art! The golden script glowed brightly in the air, shooting toward the White Ape like sharp swords, slicing blood trails across its body. Mu Zhongzi’s hands suddenly raised, drawing more talismans with focused precision. Wherever his inscriptions formed in the air, an imposing celestial sword appeared, and with a soft command, the immense sword, brimming with an awe-inspiring aura, descended forcefully. Before the White Ape could even scream, its body was swiftly cleaved into two. Silence fell upon the scene as Mu Zhongzi glanced toward Qi Xianqing, then retreated back into the Pratyeka-buddha Tree’s leaf. Duan Luxi, observing from afar, could only make out a tiny figure emerging from the leaf before disappearing again. Duan Luxi was puzzled, asking, "Yan Jue, what was that?" Qi Xianqing approached the Pratyeka-buddha leaf, bending down to pick it up. "It was a battle spirit." Duan Luxi responded, "Oh, a battle spirit." Duan Luxi had never seen a battle spirit before, merely having heard of them as a form of ghost. Some cultivators, unwilling to die when their life force ran out, would have their living souls depart the body posthumously. But such living souls, without the aid of tribute and worship, would gradually lose energy. Thus, these souls often formed contracts with humans to continue existing. In return for tribute, the ghost would serve as the person’s battle spirit. Such entities were generally rare because, primarily, the artifacts required to store souls were scarce, as was the tribute essential to sustain the spirit. Duan Luxi had initially found it strange but considering Qi Xianqing's status as a prime disciple of the Zhenhuo Sect, perhaps it was no surprise. Qi Xianqing carefully tucked the Pratyeka-buddha leaf into her sleeve and turned to look for Yan Jue. She saw that the girl's clothes were tattered beyond recognition as she staggered down from the tree, her chest stained with a blot of shocking blood. Qi Xianqing furrowed her brows slightly, approaching Yan Jue and asked, "How are you holding up?" Yan Jue replied, "It's nothing, just a scratch." In the life of a cultivator, injuries were commonplace. Although Yan Jue felt the sharp pain with every breath, she thought she needed to find a spot to recuperate. Supporting her by the arm, Qi Xianqing glanced at Meng Hang and the White Ape's rigid corpses sprawled on the ground nearby. With a swift leap, Duan Luxi quickly reached the black Country Essence Grass. The grass still stood silently swaying in the breeze. Observing it, Duan Luxi couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. The world of cultivation was harsh and unforgiving. Just this one stalk of Country Essence Grass had already caused such casualties. Countless people in this world have likely lost their lives vying for rare celestial artifacts and treasures. Being sensitive and empathetic, Duan Luxi lingered momentarily in the presence of the Country Essence Grass, reflecting before drawing a dagger from her waist and shearing it gently. Then, she tucked it into her pocket. - Yan Jue’s chest had been struck hard by the giant tiger, leaving her with a severe wound and substantial blood loss. Supported by Qi Xianqing as they moved on, Yan Jue’s mind drifted to the Demonic God Technique. She had received the Nine-Tailed Fox's legacy in the Nine Void Secret Realm. The Demonic God Technique was specially designed for the Nine-Tailed Fox's cultivation. Every form of nature was a path to cultivation. Yan Jue approached a large tree, a bold idea suddenly flashing through her mind. Stepping forward, she initiated the Demonic God Technique in her lower dantian. With her eyes closed, she could distinctly sense the spiritual power within the tree. Gradually, this spiritual power began to flow out from the top of the tree, slowly merging into her Qi Sea. Her previously weakened body seemed suddenly filled with an invigorating force. Duan Luxi noticed Yan Jue's gradually reddening complexion, and her mouth gaped in astonishment. Beside her, Qi Xianqing's eyes narrowed slightly. Yan Jue was equally amazed by her own ability as she approached a purple flower she recognized— the Lingyun Flower, a celestial treasure. Heavenly treasures contained abundant spiritual energy, and Yan Jue, sitting cross-legged in front of the blossom, completed just a small cycle of the Demonic God Technique in her dantian before feeling it was replenished with fresh spiritual energy. Remarkably, the blood flow from her chest had ceased. Upon leaving the mountains, Qi Xianqing wasted no time, immediately heading with Yan Jue to the nearby major town of the southern Jiangnan region. Qingjiang. Yan Jue had taken a blow to the chest from the White Ape, and while she had managed to stop the bleeding using the Demonic God Technique deep within the mountains, she needed a place to properly meditate and heal. Without retracing their steps back to the Zuo family, they decided to head straight south to Qingjiang after descending the mountain. Qingjiang City was as lively as ever. Just recently, Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing had visited once before, with street vendors evoking a bustling atmosphere. The trio had just walked a little down the busy street when they saw a woman in white gracefully approaching them. Her outfit—a pleated skirt dyed like the reflecting moon—complemented her hair, elegantly styled into a flying sage bun. Her complexion resembled delicate snow, and her eyes exuded a gentle warmth. She had been standing by the river, under a paper umbrella. Upon spotting Qi Xianqing and her companions, her eyes lit up as she walked directly toward them. "Xianqing." Qi Xianqing nodded in acknowledgment. "Jinrou, it's been a while." Duan Luxi watched in fascination, letting out a soft exclaim of awe, enchanted by her beauty. This wasn't an ordinary kind of beauty. It was a beauty untouched by the Five Dragon Gate—a beauty unique to the women of Jiangnan. With a soft smile, Su Jinrou's gaze on Qi Xianqing was as gentle and inclusive as if it could embrace everything. "Xianqing, what brings you to my place again?" Qi Xianqing explained, "I had some duties and happened to pass by." Su Jinrou's eyes fell upon Yan Jue behind Qi Xianqing. "What happened to Friend Yan?" Duan Luxi stood by, quietly observing, once again unable to hold back a soft “wow” in her heart. Such a beauty knows Yan Jue! Yan Jue responded, "While on a mission, suffered a minor injury. We were just looking for an inn to take a break." Su Jinrou stepped forward, gently supporting Yan Jue by the arm. "To be frank, I possess some healing knowledge. Allow me to assist in treating your injuries?" Yan Jue was slightly taken aback. "Thank you, but I wouldn't want to impose." Qi Xianqing saw Su Jinrou's willingness to help and didn't refuse. "Thank you." Yan Jue glanced at Qi Xianqing, who gave her a slight nod. "Thank you," Yan Jue repeated. Su Jinrou, being a native of Jiangnan Qingjiang, was quite familiar with the area. She quickly helped find them a guesthouse and booked the best room available. Following behind her, Qi Xianqing remarked with a soft smile, "It's rather luxurious to have the chief disciple of Echoing Sound Faction assist with booking a room." Su Jinrou replied, "It's a small matter, not worth mentioning." Su Jinrou paid little additional attention to Qi Xianqing, instead focusing on helping Yan Jue settle onto the bed. She then summoned her ancient zither, which gently rested upon its stand. Clad in her white robes, Su Jinrou sat down, and with a slight pluck of the strings, a serene, flowing melody poured forth. Qi Xianqing sat by the bed, quietly watching Yan Jue use her internal energy to heal her wounds. Su Jinrou played "Heart's Melody," a clear tune known to aid in healing, enhancing the effects significantly. Moreover, as the chief disciple of Echoing Sound Faction, Su Jinrou's music was in a league of its own compared to ordinary melodies. Yan Jue understood what was required of her. As soon as Su Jinrou's tune began playing, Yan Jue maintained her meditative posture, slowly channeling her energy, loosening the congested blood in her chest. Su Jinrou focused all her attention on Yan Jue, her music resonant and forceful, bringing forth a gentle warmth within Yan Jue's body. This was the wondrous specialty of Echoing Sound Faction's mastery of music. With the accompaniment of Su Jinrou's melody, Yan Jue's internal energy transformation accelerated, the movement of her true energy became effortlessly fluid, akin to surging waves. As Su Jinrou played the final note, Yan Jue opened her eyes slowly, exhaling a long, deep breath. Whether it was an illusion or not, everything before her seemed suddenly clearer. Once Yan Jue finished channeling her energy, she and Qi Xianqing left the guesthouse, strolling slowly along the bustling streets of Jiangnan. Jiangnan was among the wealthiest regions under the heavens, and the street's vibrancy couldn't be matched by the Five Dragons Sect's remote southwest. After receiving treatment, Yan Jue's weariness vanished completely. With high spirits, she darted around the streets, making up for everything she and Qi Xianqing hadn't experienced on their previous visit. Nightfall quickly enveloped the scene. Yan Jue's initial excitement gave way to a deep sense of contentment. She held a butterfly-shaped sugar painting in one hand, while the other clasped Qi Xianqing's hand, walking and savoring the treat. Duan Luxi remained in the guesthouse, captivated by Su Jinrou's zither music from the outset, although it was unclear whether it was due to her beauty or something else. She persistently pleaded with Su Jinrou for another performance in the guesthouse. Such a request seemed absurd. As the chief disciple of Echoing Sound Faction, Su Jinrou surely had countless responsibilities, leaving little time for impromptu performances. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Su Jinrou agreed with a gentle smile. Yan Jue couldn't help but ask Qi Xianqing, "Do you think Su Jinrou might find her annoying?" Qi Xianqing replied, "Jinrou has a naturally good temperament. If she agreed, it's because she truly meant it." The night was deep, but the street lanterns glowed brightly, and the large windmills spun in the breeze. In a moment of clarity, Yan Jue realized it was New Year's time in the mortal world. Perhaps due to the distance between the Five Dragons Mountain and the human world, where cultivators were already stepping into the realm of immortals, New Year's was not celebrated on the mountain. In the distance, colorful decorations and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. A group of people, dressed in bright red, carrying a flower palanquin, were also present. Someone was having a wedding. Finishing the last of her sugar painting, Yan Jue was drawn to the spectacle and eagerly pulled Qi Xianqing along for a closer look. The crowd was thick, bustling shoulder to shoulder. Qi Xianqing, not typically fond of crowded places, lowered her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes while watching the youthful fervor in Yan Jue's expression. Yan Jue stood beside Qi Xianqing. "Senior Sister, look! They're getting married." The lively wedding procession had servants throwing coins from beside the palanquin. The gathered townsfolk scrambled to collect them, creating an enthusiastic yet chaotic scene. Yan Jue couldn't help but feel a pang of longing as she watched. Her own wedding night with Qi Xianqing was far too simple, prompting nostalgia in witnessing such celebration. Suddenly, something settled onto her head. Yan Jue blinked, instantly plunged into darkness. Instinctively, she reached to remove whatever it was, only for her hand to be stopped. Qi Xianqing whispered, "Wait a moment." Holding her hand, Qi Xianqing gently guided her along. "Be careful," Qi Xianqing advised as Yan Jue stumbled, feeling uneven ground beneath her feet, prompting her to grasp Qi Xianqing's hand for support. Despite feeling bewildered by the visual blackout, Yan Jue's trust in Qi Xianqing kept her steady. Qi Xianqing's grip remained firm as she led Yan Jue to a quiet spot. Yan Jue's keen sense of smell detected a hint of moisture, leaving her puzzled. She heard Qi Xianqing murmur something softly, seemingly chanting an incantation. The din from their surroundings faded swiftly until nothing remained except the gentle sound of water. It was then Yan Jue realized Qi Xianqing's intention, her heart racing with delight. Turning to face Qi Xianqing, Yan Jue leaned on her, her lips curling into a playful smile. "Go ahead, unveil it." Qi Xianqing's lips curved in response. Their wedding had been too hasty; Qi Xianqing had prepared this surprise for her, but had been too busy to present it until now. Amidst the darkness, Yan Jue's heartbeat inexplicably quickened. Suddenly, a glimmer of light pierced through as someone lifted her red veil. At that moment, everything before Yan Jue became exceptionally clear, and she realized they stood on a small boat. Directly before her was Qi Xianqing's refined face, her beautiful eyes sparkling like stars as they quietly gazed upon her. The water surrounding them was crystal clear, and countless lanterns adorned the riverbanks, casting a tranquil yet breathtaking tableau. Qi Xianqing bent down, softly kissing Yan Jue’s lips, her tone earnest. "My beloved." "From this day forward, we are of one body, sharing in fortune and adversity, together in life and death."