Chapter 88

The autumn leaves on the ground were lifted by the wind, spun in a swirl, and drifted lightly away. Ruan Mingzhu had lain on Lingsu Peak for a long while. These past days, she had been in a daze, drenched in sweat, fainting from pain only to wake again, repeating the cycle. She had endured until today, when she finally found a thread of vitality.

She sat up. No one was around, and it was quite quiet. The flame that had burned within her seemed to have calmed considerably. She examined herself and found that it seemed to have merged with her dantian, indistinguishable from it. What was going on?

She tried using her spiritual power again and was astonished to discover that she had crossed a minor realm in one go, landing at the threshold from the late Golden Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage without even realizing it.

A small flame that ignited at her fingertip was no longer simple crimson but a deep, layered red.

"Since you're awake, go back."

A voice made her involuntarily shudder. Ruan Mingzhu turned her head and saw that Elder Liu had appeared behind her at some point, walking without a sound, like a ghost drifting in broad daylight.

"Elder Liu... Liu," Ruan Mingzhu said, her voice hoarse, like two pieces of dried bark rubbing together. Even she herself was startled. After a dry cough or two, she touched her cracked lips. "Am I... still alive?"

"You can see me. Or else, am I dead?" The woman opposite said expressionlessly.

"Oh." She paid no heed to Elder Liu's sarcasm. The joy on her face grew more pronounced. Happily struggling to get out of bed, she walked out the door in a half-paralyzed posture, supporting herself against the wall. She had just crossed the threshold when she shrank back, as if remembering something extremely important.

Liu Xunqin watched in bewilderment as Ruan Mingzhu fumbled about on herself and then produced a storage ring that had been scorched half black. Since the ring was damaged, the contents within would surely be affected. And then the girl found, within the ring, a tale booklet whose cover had been blackened by smoke and fire, its face unrecognizable.

Ruan Mingzhu opened it, and the contents inside were all intact. She let out a great sigh of relief. A few steps later, she hobbled over with difficulty, left the booklet on the table, and turned her head. "Aunt Master, read it when you have time."

Hmm, the great cause that Aunt Master Yue had entrusted her with had advanced another step.

After spreading these tacky tale booklets throughout most of the Taichu Sect, the only place she hadn't reached was Lingsu Peak. If it weren't for a real emergency, Ruan Mingzhu normally couldn't come up here, so she had never been able to set foot in this place.

After Ruan Mingzhu left, Liu Xunqin poked at the pages with one finger, and black ash fell with a rustle. She vaguely saw the two elegant characters "Zhi Yu" written on it.

*

On Huangzhong Peak, it was bustling as usual, but now it was a bit more lively.

Ruan Mingzhu walked a few more steps, stretching limbs that had nearly lain idle to waste, and felt much more agile. She wasn't one to sit idle. She intended to boast of her achievements to Aunt Master Yue.

But when she flew up to Huangzhong Peak, she discovered that Yun Shuchen was also there. The two elders looked at her in unison.

"Still alive?" Aunt Master Yue sized her up and laughed. "That appearance of yours is really hard to compliment. Your hair is all singed together like hemp rope. Don't come over here, and don't lean near your Aunt Master Yun. She's always loved cleanliness, and I'm afraid it might cost lives."

Yun Shuchen was drinking tea, and upon hearing this, she shot Yue Changge a glare.

Ruan Mingzhu was taken aback. Yue Changge, being quite considerate, even condensed a water mirror in the air. Seeing her own haggard appearance, as if she had been begging along the streets for half a month, she wilted a bit and stood still. "Aunt Master Yue, I delivered your book."

"Lingsu Peak?"

"Mm!"

"Good child. Go ahead and read." Yue Changge was quite satisfied. A volume of the "Tale of the Flying Moon Heroes" landed in Ruan Mingzhu's hands. Ruan Mingzhu, quite familiar with it, flipped to the last page and saw those infuriating large characters "Continued in the next installment."

"No way!" Ruan Mingzhu said. "Aunt Master, you're too dishonest. You're going to string me along again. Can't you give me the later volumes all at once?"

"Haven't written them yet." Yue Changge propped her cheek on her hand and winked as she smiled at her.

"Aunt Master, you've been dragging these volumes for almost half a year!"

"That's because I've had other things to—" Yue Changge started, but Yun Shuchen interrupted her. She looked at Ruan Mingzhu and said softly, "You've been tired these days. Go back and clean up. Your senior sisters are still waiting for you to return to training early."

Aunt Master Yun always spoke gently, and in an instant, it blew through Ruan Mingzhu's bones like a spring breeze. She couldn't help but inwardly sigh at Senior Sister Qing's hardship. Extremely obediently and docilely, she said "Okay," then floated away.

Yun Shuchen stopped the conversation that might have run wild, secretly relieved. After hearing what Ruan Mingzhu had just said, she couldn't help but sigh lightly. "Even if you send it up, you know she has many matters on her medical peak. She won't read tale books."

"Whether she reads it or not, what does it matter?" Yue Changge hmmed. "I write tale books for my own amusement. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to write for so many years."

The woman across from Yun Shuchen smiled, still bearing the look of a heartless femme fatale. The writing was like the person—a wild, uninhibited torrent that poured out freely. But if one said that in all the romantic reading material she had produced over the past five hundred years, not a single word had come from true feeling, Yun Shuchen definitely wouldn't believe it.

Yun Shuchen knew she was an outsider, so she said no more. But looking within the situation, she was reminded of that little ancestor on Heyi Peak who never said much, training and reading all day.

At this hour, the little ancestor should be with her senior and junior sisters, too busy to bother with her. Today, Li Chaoyin also had no time to accompany her in a game of Go. That young mistress of the Penglai Pavilion had actually gone all the way to the Taichu Sect to find her, and the two were now busy settling family matters.

Yun Shuchen had guessed correctly. Qing Zhouxue was indeed training at the martial arts field.

Today, Senior Sister Ruan's spirited figure could finally be seen again. The other three were all watching her. Ruan Mingzhu held the sword hilt, and true fire spread along the edge. The longer she built up power, the more a scorching wave of flames swept forward when she struck again, faintly taking the shape of a young fire phoenix.

It wasn't just a flashy trick; Bai Su was forced back a step by the fiery wave and felt that Ruan Mingzhu's momentum had clearly strengthened a great deal. Lin Xunzhen said, "Not bad. Regardless, this increases our chances of victory a little more."

Had it been the Ruan Mingzhu of earlier, she would have stuck her tail up and been smug—but this time, she didn't compete in fierce bravado as she used to. She just muttered that it had been too difficult. Perhaps having been tormented severely by that phoenix fire, having been unable to live or die for a month, even her sharpest temper had been worn down a bit.

Qing Zhouxue had recently been still comprehending her sword technique. Yun Shuchen, when she had nothing to do, would come and torment her only disciple. Although Qing had not yet realized the third form, she had greatly improved in both cultivation and resilience.

The two of them, one ice and one fire, were both growing vigorously. In this practice where everyone was finally present, the thing Lin Xunzhen had worried about earlier finally happened.

In their usual formation of one advancing and one retreating, Ruan Mingzhu and Qing Zhouxue had already begun to affect each other. No matter how much they widened the distance, it was unavoidable. Moreover, as Lin Xunzhen had said, the arena of the Immortal Ascension Assembly was nowhere near as spacious as this practice field.

*

Qing Zhouxue returned from training, floating on the clouds. From far away, she heard faint sounds of argument drifting from Heyi Peak.

Heyi Peak? Master?

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her flying sword doubled its speed. Drawing closer, she saw that Yun Shuchen was not there. In the long pavilion stood two women, one older and one younger, seemingly locked in disagreement.

"Li Guancang," Li Chaoyin said wearily, rubbing her brow. She leaned against a corner of the stone table. "Go back."

"I won't."

The young woman opposite the Pavilion Master suddenly rose to her feet. She had a handsome face, distinct features, fair skin, and was plump and well-nourished, carrying a certain air of nobility.

This must be the Young Pavilion Master she had mentioned.

Li Guancang pouted. "I insist on following along."

"This is Heyi Peak. Don't disturb others' rest." Li Chaoyin's voice gradually turned cold. "Go outside to discuss this."

"I won't." She plopped back down. "I came to see Elder Yun."

Amid the flowers and trees sheltering the courtyard, a woman's graceful figure appeared. Qing Zhouxue had just descended from her flying sword and went to meet her, then walked over together with her master.

Yun Shuchen's gaze first landed on Qing Zhouxue, then fell on the two people behind her. The Pavilion Master was clearly suffering a headache, while the Young Pavilion Master sat there like a stone pillar, unmoving, seemingly sulking.

"Young Pavilion Master has come." Yun Shuchen smiled. "You've grown taller and prettier. You have somewhat of an adult air about you now."

Hearing this, Li Guancang's expression improved slightly. "I'd like to speak with Elder Yun alone. Do you have time now?"

Li Chaoyin frowned, but Yun Shuchen agreed. "Mm. Come with me."

As she turned, she gave the Pavilion Master a look that said "It's fine." The Pavilion Master had originally planned to drag that rebellious disciple back, so she didn't move, but the hand holding her teacup tightened and loosened repeatedly.

Li Guancang walked over, and Qing Zhouxue naturally followed her master. She could vaguely sense Li Guancang sizing her up.

"Alright, she definitely can't hear us here."

Li Guancang hesitated, then looked at Qing Zhouxue and said, "Could you step aside for a moment?"

But Yun Shuchen said, "She is my disciple. She knows neither the Pavilion Master nor you, and she won't speak of it. You needn't worry."

The Young Pavilion Master seemed reassured and took a deep breath—

The next instant, she threw her arms around Yun Shuchen, her eyes reddening, and the imposing air she had forced up with her facade a moment ago all burst out along with her tears.

Qing Zhouxue furrowed her brow almost imperceptibly.

"Immortal Yun, what am I to do... That wicked woman! She dumped the Penglai Pavilion on me, saying it was some kind of trial, and then she left!"

"But didn't you leave too? Is there anyone managing the pavilion now?" Yun Shuchen pushed her away quickly, saying helplessly.

"I... hic," she swallowed with difficulty, her voice beginning to choke. "I handled matters myself for a few days, and when I left, I arranged for the left and right immortal attendants. It's no problem to hold things together for a few days. She scolded me again for being unreasonable and not attending to proper business. Ever since I was little, she's forced me to learn this and write that, never once asking if I was willing."

"You are the future heir. Of course she needs to nurture you. Otherwise, raise a flower vase to decorate the entrance?"

"Where does she treat me like a human being? Every time I go back, she only asks about my cultivation, my realm, how this or that study is going!" Li Guancang sobbed. "In all these years, not a single word of care... hic, a few days ago she promised to celebrate my birthday, but because she had matters outside, she couldn't make it back. In the end, she simply didn't care, right! Afterward, she always sends me some things to brush it off. What does she take me for?"

Then, the Young Pavilion Master, with a face full of tears and snot, cursed in a jumble and took out a pile of objects from her storage ring: coral inlaid with rubies, pearl necklaces of mermaid tears, high-grade spirit artifacts and treasures, a dazzling array of jewels that hurt Yun Shuchen's eyes.

Li Guancang looked at these things—each was priceless, but each seemed to be a memory of Li Chaoyin standing her up. The more she looked, the sadder she became. So she flicked her sleeve, smashing the red coral to pieces, then crouched down and wept. "Who cares about this! I don't want it!"

"Don't waste things."

Yun Shuchen sighed. This silly girl had just smashed who knew how many human cities.

A ruby rolled bumpily to Qing Zhouxue's feet. After examining it for a moment, she calmly picked it up. She was certain that the young woman before her truly didn't want it anymore, so she kept it. In this way, Qing Zhouxue felt she was one step closer to finishing paying for half of Heyi Peak.