FFSC_14

Unexpectedly, Murong Zhou suddenly appeared, putting Bai Yue and the others on high alert. In the next second, his actions took them completely by surprise.

With a glance in their direction and an expressionless face, Murong Zhou spoke, "The elders of the Tingyu Sect and the head of the Liu family showed me disrespect, their deaths were deserved. The rest of you may disperse."

The other Tingyu Sect disciples who had arrived one after another heard these words, each one turning pale with terror.

Chu Fengling scanned the surroundings and noticed Xie Feng’s junior brother hiding at the back of the crowd, staring fixedly at the upper prefecture Immortal with a gaze that held both fear and concealed anger. Xie Feng was nowhere to be seen nearby, and Chu Fengling understood—all she could offer was a sigh of regret.

Offending an upper prefecture Immortal meant that even with their nearly thousand-year foundation in the Dongzhou Prefecture, the Tingyu Sect could be reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.

Bai Yue’s gaze swept past the calm Chen Moqing, her feelings rather complicated.

She wondered what deal this Fellow Daoist Jiang had struck with the upper prefecture Immortal that could make the latter take responsibility for the killings on their behalf. From now on, the Tingyu Sect would be as good as nonexistent, and their parent sect would not trouble the Qianxuan Pavilion either.

Chen Moqing unhurriedly stroked the soft fur of the snowy little beast, remaining silent and composed.

Cang Shun lazily lay across the back of his hand, his half-closed demon pupils fixed on Murong Zhou’s figure. Murong Zhou briefly met his gaze, then turned without a word and flew out of the secret realm, never looking back.

The remaining Tingyu Sect disciples scattered, leaving only Chen Moqing and his companions at the entrance to the secret realm.

He raised his hand, and a talisman drifted out, landing before Liu Piao.

Liu Piao’s pupils trembled violently.

A third-grade Spirit Protection Talisman!

Aunt Zhou has already regained her strength. With this talisman, she can break through to the Golden Core stage, becoming the second most powerful expert in Qingzhu City after Manager Bai! And with that sword intent in hand, the position of head of the Liu family is already within her grasp!

Yet, Liu Piao did not reach out to take it.

"Brother Jiang, in the past, you saved my life, and I barely repaid it with a century-old spirit bamboo segment. Then you gifted me the concealment talisman, and I lent you the Liu family's heirloom treasure. Adding it all up, I am still the one who has received far more from you."

Chen Moqing said, "We had an agreement. You lent me the sword intent, I help you become the head of the Liu family. Naturally, I must honor that agreement."

Liu Piao's heart stirred, and suddenly she understood—cultivators value karma above all else. Brother Jiang's actions were precisely to settle all the karma between him and the Liu family.

With karma now fulfilled, from now on, the skies are high and the waters wide. She and this Brother Jiang will likely never meet again.

Liu Piao smiled and accepted the Spirit Protection Talisman, carefully storing it in her robe. She then made a deep bow, "In that case, I wish Brother Jiang a path to the Great Path that leads straight to the blue sky!"

She glanced at the snowy-white little beast in his arms and added, "I also wish the mighty and heroic Lord Mi an early transformation into human form, becoming a majestic and awe-inspiring great demon!"

Cang Shun: "?"

Watching the young demon beast suddenly stand bolt upright, Liu Piao turned and ran for it.

Cang Shun: "......"

The snowy-white little beast looked up in a huff, using its claws to tug at the hem of Chen Moqing's robe.

Chen Moqing calmly lowered his hand, his palm enveloping that furry little head, and gave it a gentle rub.

The snowy-white little beast stayed quiet, letting him stroke it a few more times. Its anger somewhat subsided, and it settled down, fluffy and relaxed.

Bai Yue walked over with a smile, "Leaving so soon? How bittersweet."

Chen Moqing slightly raised his right hand, revealing a fourth-grade talisman formula floating in his palm, "We've been well taken care of by Manager Bai during this time. This is a token of gratitude."

Bai Yue immediately waved her hand, "No, this gift is too heavy. No matter what you say, I won't accept it."

"You've been a great help to my Qianxuan Pavilion these past days, and there's today's life-saving grace on top of that. I don't even know how to account for it all."

Chen Moqing's palm returned to rest on the head of the snowy-white little beast, which was tugging at his sleeve, "In that case, consider this talisman formula a congratulatory gift, an early celebration for your disciple's future Nascent Soul formation."

Ning Lili stared blankly at the talisman formula floating before her, "For me?"

Bai Yue, "Hey... What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and thank Senior Jiang!"

Ning Lili immediately put on a beaming smile, clasped her hands repeatedly, and smoothly spouted a stream of auspicious phrases like 'May wealth and treasures come your way', 'May the immortals shine upon you', and 'May spirit stones flow in abundance, the more you earn, the more you have'.

Chen Moqing, "Your master treats you very well."

"Of course! Master likes me the most!" Ning Lili's lips curved into a wide grin, the braid behind her bouncing playfully.

Chen Moqing smiled faintly. Cang Shun happened to look up just then, catching that faint smile at the corner of his lips, yet he furrowed his brow slightly.

[If you want to become a disciple, you can also call me your master.]

A slow, unhurried voice sounded by his ear. Chen Moqing lifted his hand without a word.

The snowy-white little beast quickly covered its ears and ducked its head warily.

“......”

Chen Moqing lightly tugged the soft tail, and amidst the widening demonic pupils of a certain Demon Emperor, tugged it once more.

The young cultivator in black robes, holding the softly mewling little fluffball, ascended into the clouds, his clear voice drifting down, "Mountains high and waters long; if fate allows, we shall meet again."

Bai Yue watched that figure until it vanished from sight, thinking to herself that the next time the name 'Jiang Yu' was heard, it would surely shake all the Nine Thousand Prefectures.

A flying eagle swept past the mountain forest, soaring into the vast sky.

Liu Piao walked out of the secret realm entrance alone and saw Aunt Zhou approaching, silent worry in her eyes.

"Did everything go smoothly?"

"Aunt Zhou, let's go," Liu Piao smiled, "It's time to bring mother back to the Lin family."

"Master."

Bai Yue's sleeve was gently tugged. She turned to see Ning Lili standing still.

"I... I will definitely cultivate diligently..."

The young girl's hand covered her eyes, then slowly wiped at the corners. Her words became halting and choked.

"I want all of Dongzhou Prefecture... all the Nine Thousand Prefectures to know my name! I want them all to know that you are my master, Ning Lili!"

Bai Yue, "Ah..."

"Don't wipe your snot on your master's clothes."

"......"

The entrance to the secret realm gradually faded away. The wind rustled the forest leaves, and the mountains stood in silence.

A deep rift tore open in the sky. A figure traversed the void and arrived, his long, emerald-green hair flowing wildly, his features handsome, standing atop a coffin shrouded in sinister black energy.

Holding a compass in one hand, he looked down upon the undulating mountain forests and let out a low chuckle, "The destinies of several people altered by a single individual? Interesting. Another Child of Fortune has been born."

"What mighty expert is here?" Another person swiftly approached from afar, not concealing his peak Golden Core aura in the slightest, "Greetings, Senior. This junior is from the Dongzhou Prefecture—"

"Annoying."

The green-haired man didn't even spare a glance, nor was any movement seen—in the blink of an eye, that peak Golden Core cultivator exploded into a bloody mist, perishing on the spot.

The compass needle spun wildly, as if disturbed by something, unable to settle on a direction.

"Jiang Yu... what a false name. A fish crossing the river, still dreaming of transforming into a flood dragon?"

The green-haired man slowly smiled, affectionately patting the coffin beneath him. His robes billowed as he tore through the void and departed.

...

Tianshu Sect.

Murong Zhou knelt for a long time below the steps. The floor tiles, paved with immortal jade, were clear enough to reflect his eyes.

"That secret realm is an inheritance left by a Soul Formation cultivator. This disciple is incompetent and failed to obtain the inheritance."

"However, I have already ascertained Jiang Yu's origins. He was once a disciple of a talisman sect in the middle prefecture and was expelled from the sect several years ago, becoming a rogue cultivator."

"Moreover, I discovered that the master of that secret realm left behind another clue to a secret realm. It is—"

As dusk approached, Murong Zhou returned alone to his residence and closed the door.

He sat quietly by the bed. The reflection in the window appeared normal, only upon extremely close inspection could one notice that the eyes, though open, were completely devoid of vitality, as if he were a marionette on strings.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, knocking sounded outside the door. Murong Zhou's head moved, slowly lifting upward, his eyes now no different from an ordinary person's.

"Who is it?"

A hearty voice rang out from outside the door, "Junior Brother, open up! It's your Senior Brother Xiao!"

...

The mountains stand tall and majestic, the great river stretches wide. A bamboo raft drifts with the river's flow. The young man's white robes flutter like drifting clouds, his dark hair tied up. He sits quietly, fishing on the river.

A plump, snow-white little beast lies by the edge of the bamboo raft, its head slightly peeking out, staring at the plump, carefree fish swimming leisurely in the river.

It then turns its head, silently gazing at Chen Moqing, who is fishing.

"Meow."

[Surely no one fishes for an hour and still catches nothing?]

Chen Moqing remained utterly unperturbed, "Peace of mind naturally brings rewards. The Demon Emperor's heart is restless, and instead, you've disturbed my fish."

Cang Shun slapped a paw at the water's surface.

The water rippled violently. A fat fish leapt high out of the water and landed straight onto the bamboo raft, flopping about everywhere, splashing water in all directions.

[How about that?]

Chen Moqing was still composed, "External interference doesn't count."

Cang Shun slapped the fish again.

That fish fell back into the river, swam around dizzily for a few circles, then bit onto Chen Moqing's baitless fishing line.

"......"

Under Cang Shun's intense gaze, Chen Moqing lifted the bamboo fishing rod, catching the first fish of the day.

Cang Shun was satisfied. Slightly raising its chin, it strode over to Chen Moqing with unhurried steps, plopped down on the hem of his robe, and pressed close against him.

[This one won't taste good fried. Use it to make fish soup.]

After saying this, the Demon Emperor stretched its head out again, staring at a school of slender, elongated fish in the river.

Chen Moqing suddenly smiled faintly, "A fish is on the hook."

Cang Shun lowered its head, only to find the fishing rod empty. Chen Moqing had already reeled it in, and the bamboo raft was drifting toward the shore.

The snowy-white little beast turned its head again, fixing its gaze on that school of fish growing ever more distant—only to be scooped up by a pair of slender hands.

And so, the little fluffball stopped staring at the fish. Its gaze drifted rather casually over those fair, well-proportioned hands, then just as casually lifted to examine the young human beside it.

A slender figure, robes draping over a narrow waist, looking a touch looser than before.

Cang Shun thought: A bit thin.

Should eat more fish.

Its tail swept leisurely through the air, and several fish plopped and splashed out of the river, landing in the bamboo creel.

The bamboo raft drifted with the current to the riverbank. Chen Moqing lifted the bamboo creel with one hand and scooped up the fluffy, snowy-white little beast with the other.

Heavier again.

Wordlessly, he glanced at the little fluffball currently clinging to his sleeve.

Eat fewer dried fish snacks.

Beside the river stood a tavern. Chen Moqing handed the bamboo creel filled with fresh fish to the shopkeeper, requested a private room, and ordered a few side dishes.

Cultivators emphasize distancing themselves from the mortal world, yet his storage pouch had recently been stocked with quite a few copper coins and bits of silver, to buy snacks for a certain Demon Emperor who seemed oblivious to the concept of inedia.

Soon, a table of steaming hot fish dishes was carried into the private room. The tavern, located by the river, excelled at preparing fresh fish. The spread was uniformly tender and fresh, except for one dish: thinly sliced white meat generously sprinkled with chili peppers and garlic paste.

"Wrong Red Platter, honored guest, please enjoy it while it's hot!"

The waiter announced the dish name, closed the door, and left. The snowy-white little beast, which had been wandering near the fish soup, quickly poked its head out, sniffed the familiar spicy aroma, thought of the bowl of chili oil wontons from outside the city before, and swiftly retreated again.

Chen Moqing picked up his chopsticks. The sliced white meat was so thin it was almost translucent, glistening with bright red chili oil and dipped in snow-white garlic paste.

In his youth, every month's end, after finishing the day's studies, his teacher would shake out a dozen thin copper coins, sending him to the familiar butcher's shop to collect the reserved slices of pig's head meat, then buy three liang of the cheapest turbid wine.

The pig's head meat was sliced thin and wide, heavily seasoned. The white meat floated amidst the chili oil. His teacher said this was the famous 'Wrong Red Platter' from the city's Qianjin Restaurant, and paired with Auntie Liu's finest Sanchun wine, not even the emperor would trade it.

"When I pass the imperial exams, Teacher will have endless Wrong Red Platters to eat, and endless Sanchun wine to drink!"

"Look at your petty ambitions. Your teacher wants Osmanthus Brew from Zuixiang Workshop!"

Later, he learned that the Qianjin Restaurant's Wrong Red Platter didn't use the cheapest pig's head meat at all, and Osmanthus Brew, the most fragrant aged wine from Zuixiang Workshop, only cost two liang of silver.

Back then, the down-and-out scholar had accepted his ceremonial gift as a disciple—just ten copper coins.

Suddenly, a fuzzy little head poked over. Taking advantage of his distraction, it swiftly snatched the white meat, dripping with chili oil, from his chopsticks and swallowed it in one gulp.

"......"

Chen Moqing watched helplessly as the little white sugar cake before him turned into a pinkish-red sugar cake.

It sat motionless on the table in a daze.

He brought over a teacup, filled it to the brim with tea, and pushed it over with two fingers, "How was it?"

The next second, the snowy-white little beast exploded into a large dandelion puff, panting heavily, and quickly shook its pinkish-red fluff.

[N-not... a big deal]

It said very coolly.

Plop—it buried its head into the teacup.

Chen Moqing: "......."

–

TL: Muji

Previous | TOC | Next