IVYSCP - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
"What is this?"
Shen Qi glanced at the thing in Nie Wenxiao's hand. It was pitch-black, impossible to tell its original form.
Bringing any sort of trash as a gift. What was Nie Wenxiao thinking? Did she look like someone suited for this charred thing?
Nie Wenxiao was silent for a moment, then carefully placed the object on the table. "The Nine-Tribulation Lotus."
The words had just left her lips when a gust of wind swept through. The pitch-black thing instantly crumbled into a pile of dust.
Shen Qi: "..."
Shen Qi looked up at Nie Wenxiao, and only after a long pause did she let out a cold laugh. "Sect Leader Nie has quite the sense of humor. My Nine-Tribulation Lotus is clearly a supreme treasure. What do you mean by handing me a pile of dirt?"
Nie Wenxiao sighed and guiltily swept away the Nine-Tribulation Lotus that had already dispersed its spirit and turned to ash on the table.
"This matter is my fault. Afterward, Pavilion Master Shen may enter the Piaomiao Sect's Treasure Pavilion..."
Before she could finish, Shen Qi raised a brow, a smile playing at her lips as she leaned closer. "Sect Leader Nie need not say more. The Immortal Venerable used the Nine-Tribulation Lotus, didn't she. Given the Immortal Venerable's character, she will naturally provide compensation. But how do we settle the matter of Sect Leader Nie deceiving me? Yesterday I made myself clear—if the Nine-Tribulation Lotus doesn't return perfectly intact, I'll take you, the Piaomiao Sect Leader, as compensation."
Nie Wenxiao was long accustomed to her saying such things. She shook her head lightly and refilled her tea. "Just tell me, what do you actually want."
Shen Qi smiled brightly, swaying the round fan in her hand. "I'm being serious. Why don't you believe me?"
Nie Wenxiao gave a polite smile, gone in an instant.
Shen Qi took a sip of tea, a glint flashing through her eyes. She transmitted her voice: "If Shangtianqiong ever intends to make trouble for Linglong Pavilion in the future, I hope Piaomiao Sect can extend a helping hand."
Nie Wenxiao lifted her gaze to look at her and nodded.
Though Shangtianqiong had been the one to bully and oppress others first, in the present Immortal Realm, the only one that openly showed it was at odds with Shangtianqiong was probably Piaomiao Sect.
Shen Qi tapped her fingers lightly on the fan handle, her foxlike eyes narrowing into a smile as she leaned back in her seat, looking thoroughly delighted and satisfied.
Just then, a Piaomiao Sect cultivator arrived at the door. She bowed respectfully to the two inside, then rose to report: "Sect Leader, Senior Ah Xi and Senior Pei Si have arrived."
Shen Qi shook her head in disappointment at once. "I had wanted to sit with Sect Leader Nie a while longer, but alas, the Sect Leader is busy. I shall take my leave first."
Nie Wenxiao rose to see her out.
As Shen Qi exited, she inclined her head slightly in greeting toward the two outside the door. The two returned the gesture in unison.
Nie Wenxiao invited the two inside.
"Sect Leader Nie, did Pavilion Master Shen give you any trouble?" Ling Qingyue asked directly.
Sect Leader Nie glanced at the person beside her. "Not at all."
"Good." Ling Qingyue smiled and tilted her chin toward Pei Yin. "The Immortal Venerable said she will compensate for the Nine-Tribulation Lotus."
Pei Yin nodded gently, and in the blink of an eye, she shed her disguise.
Nie Wenxiao thought to herself without a shift in expression, It seems the Immortal Venerable has revealed her identity.
"To what do I owe the honor of the Immortal Venerable's visit?"
Ling Qingyue did not beat around the bush with her. "I want to meet Xiao Yue—ah, the Hidden Moon Lord. I need Sect Leader Nie's help to make the connection."
During yesterday's tribulation, although those Soul Formation cultivators had guessed the Immortal Venerable's identity from her voice transmission, word of it had not yet spread among the Seventy-Two Sects.
Nie Wenxiao thought of what Shen Qi had just said. Even though many were already certain Piaomiao Sect had the Immortal Venerable as a backer, she knew in her heart that the Sect Grand Formation was her agreement with the Immortal Venerable. Other than that, the Immortal Venerable had not promised Piaomiao Sect anything.
Yet the Immortal Venerable seemed exceedingly devoted to her Dao Companion.
An idea formed in Nie Wenxiao's mind. She clasped her hands and probed, "This is not difficult. But if you wish to meet the Hidden Moon Lord, what identity does Immortal Friend Ah Xi intend to use when meeting her?"
Ling Qingyue glanced at Pei Yin, who smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly.
"What identity does Sect Leader Nie think is appropriate?" Ling Qingyue countered.
Seeing that the Immortal Venerable had not expressed any objection, Nie Wenxiao spoke her mind: "How about Guest Elder of Piaomiao Sect?"
Ling Qingyue let out a soft "mm" and nodded in satisfaction. "That will do."
So she had become an Elder after all.
Then she raised a brow at Pei Yin. "And what about the Immortal Venerable?"
Nie Wenxiao did not dare speak out of turn and quietly lifted her teacup.
Pei Yin pursed her lips in a soft laugh. "What does the Guest Elder think?"
"The Immortal Venerable once said, 'Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.'" Right in front of Nie Wenxiao, Ling Qingyue reached over and stroked Pei Yin's hand. "The Immortal Venerable wouldn't mind being this Guest Elder's Dao Companion, would she?"
Nie Wenxiao choked, then continued to keep her eyes fixed straight ahead, minding her own business.
Pei Yin said coolly, "I could ask for nothing more."
Ling Qingyue still was not quite used to seeing her use such an indifferent expression to say things that made a person want to rub their ears. Still, it pleased her to hear.
Ling Qingyue patted her hand lightly, humming at her with satisfaction.
Nie Wenxiao noticed that these two seemed even more lovey-dovey than before. They used to at least avoid people a little, but now they didn't care whether anyone was around.
But this was for the better. Ah Xi had become Piaomiao Sect's Guest Elder. If anything happened to Piaomiao Sect in the future, she would certainly not stand by and do nothing. The Immortal Venerable's deep and unwavering devotion to her Dao Companion would give Piaomiao Sect an additional source of support.
With Nie Wenxiao, the Piaomiao Sect Leader, facilitating, meeting the Hidden Moon Lord went very smoothly.
But when Ling Qingyue and Pei Yin arrived at the Yue family's guest residence, they found Cui Heng already there, meticulously polishing her sword off to the side. She showed no sign of any intention to leave.
Yue Shouming was draped in a heavy cloak, a hand warmer clasped in her hands. Even so, her lips were faintly pale.
Ling Qingyue frowned, so slightly it was barely perceptible. The territory of Piaomiao Sect was not cold. How terrible was Yue Shouming's condition that she feared the cold this much?
"Family Head, they are here," the person beside Yue Shouming whispered in reminder.
Ling Qingyue looked over and met that person's gaze. The woman's eyes were very dark, her emotions deeply concealed.
For a split second, Ling Qingyue felt a sense of déjà vu, a strange familiarity with those eyes.
Before she could carefully think over where she might have seen them, the woman had already lowered her gaze and evaded her stare.
Yue Shouming smiled and saluted the two, then said softly to the person beside her, "Aunt Su, bring Xianxian over."
"Yes."
Su Lan answered and passed by Ling Qingyue, brushing shoulders with her.
"Please, have a seat, both of you." Yue Shouming lifted her hand in a slight gesture.
After they sat down face to face, Ling Qingyue studied the close friend she had not seen in a hundred years at close range. Her appearance had not changed much, but not a trace of her former self remained.
"Regarding the divination Elder Ah Xi requested that day, I am afraid I cannot do it. Xiao Heng is Senior Sister Lou's beloved disciple, and Senior Sister Lou has shown great kindness to the Yue family. How could the Yue family use the Heavenly Divination Art to scrutinize the affairs of master and disciple? Xiao Heng's behavior is willful. I will speak to Senior Sister Lou about this and have her discipline Xiao Heng more strictly. Naturally, the Yue family's promise to perform the Heavenly Divination Art three times for Piaomiao Sect still stands."
Yue Shouming's words were perfectly measured, navigating between both sides with ease—very much the demeanor of a Family Head.
Yet it stung Ling Qingyue's eyes to watch. In the past, Yue Shouming could not stand such things and never liked maneuvering around others.
Pei Yin sensed her change in mood and reached over to hold her hand.
Ling Qingyue closed her eyes and forced down the bitterness. She glanced at Cui Heng, who was still polishing her sword over there, and smiled. "The Hidden Moon Lord certainly takes good care of her."
Yue Shouming smiled but said nothing.
Ling Qingyue sensed that she still seemed somewhat cold and wanted to use spiritual energy to make the hand warmer hotter. But just as she lifted her hand, Cui Heng's sword was already at her throat.
The blade pressed against a pale golden barrier as Pei Yin raised her eyes coldly.
The surge of spiritual energy whipped up a breeze that blew strands of Yue Shouming's long hair by her ears into disarray. The cloak slipped from her shoulders. Her expression registered mild surprise, as though she did not quite understand what had just happened in that instant.
Ling Qingyue met Cui Heng's wary gaze, raised a brow, and let her spiritual energy fall upon the hand warmer.
Feeling the sudden warmth in her palm, Yue Shouming's smile deepened between her brows. "Xiao Heng, they bear no ill will."
Cui Heng withdrew her sword and let out a cold, ambiguous laugh as she looked at Ling Qingyue. "Is that so?"
Ling Qingyue rubbed a spark of spiritual energy between her fingertips, then flicked it provocatively in front of Cui Heng. The spiritual energy exploded before the other's eyes like a firework.
Cui Heng jolted backward in alarm, only to realize it was a petty trick. Her face instantly darkened as she stared hard at Ling Qingyue, a hint of probing inquiry entering her eyes.
Ling Qingyue laughed. "I'm not like a certain person, striking out at others without any reason."
Looking at her, Cui Heng suddenly asked, "May I ask from whom Elder Ah Xi received her teaching?"
Ling Qingyue raised a brow at the question. "Curious? Kneel and kowtow to me three times as a formal discipleship rite, and I'll tell you."
But in truth, even if Cui Heng actually knelt to acknowledge her as master, Ling Qingyue would not accept her. She would rather accept Xue Zizai.
Cui Heng's expression changed instantly. "You are out of line!"
The words had not yet fully faded when an oppressive pressure fell upon Cui Heng, forcing her to bend at the waist and knees. She clenched her teeth and braced herself, looking toward the woman who had remained silent this entire time, her expression icy.
Pei Yin tapped her fingertip lightly on the table's surface. With each tap, the pressure grew a degree heavier.
"Out of line? She is the Guest Elder of Piaomiao Sect. Even if you are the Sword Venerable's disciple, you should treat her with courtesy. How dare you call her out of line." Pei Yin seized the pretext to vent. She knew Ling Qingyue was angry with Cui Heng, angry with Shangtianqiong as it was now—so she would help her let out a bit of that anger.
Pei Yin said coldly, "Is this how Shangtianqiong teaches its cultivators?"
Yue Shouming could not see, but she could feel the shifts in the surrounding aura. Her brows furrowed with worry and anxiety. "You two! Xiao Heng merely spoke out of turn for a moment. She doesn't know any better. I will talk to her about it afterward."
Cui Heng struggled fiercely to keep her back straight, her gaze dark and gloomy as she stared at the two of them. "Even if I commit a crime deserving of heaven's punishment, I am still a member of Shangtianqiong. It is not your place to tell me what to do!"
Ling Qingyue held back, and held back again. She truly wanted to reveal her identity and say to Cui Heng, Do I have the right to discipline you then?
"Immortal Venerable."
A voice transmission pierced through the Sect Grand Formation. In that instant, everyone within Piaomiao Sect's boundaries felt a jolt.
She had come too.
The Shangtianqiong Sect Leader, Lou Wudu.
Comments
Post a Comment