Chapter 0: 12. You Are Not Her
“Spare my life!”
For a moment, Feng Guangjian struggled frantically in terror, screaming, “Head shopkeeper, Taiping Tower absolutely forbids violence! How can you allow this person to forcibly take me away!”
Hearing this, the old shopkeeper looked at Qin Gou with a questioning gaze.
Although Liang Tiantian was inexplicably on their side at this moment, if Feng Guangjian were allowed to be easily abducted like this, it would indeed be contrary to Taiping Tower’s principles and a considerable blow to its reputation.
Qin Gou was also quite surprised. He had originally intended to summon Liang Tiantian first, then guide him carefully, and find a way to make him stand against Feng Guangjian and the others. He hadn’t expected… how could Liang Tiantian be so cooperative today?!
“Stop.”
A steady voice rang out.
Wang Qisi, surrounded by several cultivators, appeared before the crowd.
“Fellow Daoist, my disciples have been very rude. I will apologize to you on his behalf.” Wang Qisi stepped before Liang Tiantian and offered a cupped fists salute.
“Are you the legendary Xuan Master?” Liang Tiantian examined him from head to toe, his eyes filled with suspicion.
“Indeed.” Wang Qisi sighed inwardly.
“I heard that you were once an external incarnation of that existence, but your appearance is not quite what this young master imagined.” Liang Tiantian stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Wang Qisi merely nodded slightly, not responding further. In fact, even she couldn’t figure out how her biological father got involved with the legendary Master of Arc-Moon Mountain.
“This young master is naturally willing to give Xuan Master face, but…” Liang Tiantian glanced at Feng Guangjian and said with a cold smile, “How this farce should end, this young master would like to hear Xuan Master’s opinion.”
After hearing this, Wang Qisi first understood the general situation from Feng Guangjian. Then she looked at the cultivators who had come on hearing the news and said, “Since this seat has decided to preach in Taiping Tower, I must abide by your sect’s rules. If any fellow Daoists wish to stay, please pay sufficient spirit stones to Taiping Tower. Otherwise, although it is regrettable, please return. And I, Wang Xuan, will not take a single spirit stone by force.”
Wang Qisi’s tone was somewhat impolite. She had originally hoped that fewer people would be deceived, and the sooner they left, the better. She even wished that her enemy Feng Guangjian would suffer greatly under Liang Tiantian’s hands, but unfortunately, the whereabouts of her mother were still in their hands, which was why she had to step forward to defuse the situation.
“Xuan Master is indeed a reasonable person.” Liang Tiantian’s lips curved slightly. “If that’s the case, have you all heard?”
For a moment, although many cultivators were indignant, seeing that Xuan Master had already spoken and pressured by Liang Tiantian’s fearsome might accumulated in Fengnan City over the years, some people immediately chose to pay the spirit stones. As for the others who were unable to cope with Taiping Tower’s high fees, they could only leave.
Not long after, Taiping Tower, which was originally crowded and noisy, had more than half of its cultivators leave. The entire main hall suddenly became several times larger.
“Let him go.”
Seeing this, Liang Tiantian waved his hand, ordering his subordinates to release Feng Guangjian’s restraints. He sighed, “With such little ability, you dare to cause trouble in Taiping Tower? This rascal has good luck. He met this young master, who is kind-hearted and has a good temper. If he had encountered the madman Li Fuqing from a few days ago…” As he spoke, Liang Tiantian couldn’t help but gasp in lingering fear, and his face, which had already recovered, still ached faintly.
Could there be someone here even crazier and more arrogant than Liang Tiantian, who would sacrifice him alive at the slightest disagreement?
Feng Guangjian, with his disheveled hair and ashen face, couldn’t help but deeply suspect whether the decision to come to Fengnan City to deceive people was wrong from the very beginning.
At this moment, Wang Qisi sat on a long bench nearby, looking at the remaining cultivators with a calm expression. “From now on, fellow Daoists can come to me one by one to receive the teachings of the Dao-Peeking Eyes.”
A faint shade of jade green lingered in her eyes, concealing her inner grief. This scene had already been performed thousands of times under the coercion of Feng Guangjian and the others.
“I have been in a predicament for seven years. Please teach me, Xuan Master!” A cultivator immediately stepped forward to ask for guidance.
Qin Gou also stood by, carefully observing the entire process of Wang Qisi bestowing the “Dao-Peeking Eyes” on others, wanting to see how much true skill this impostor Wang Xuan possessed compared to himself, the honest and upright Celestial Master.
…
“Isn’t this a coincidence?”
Liang Tiantian, who was heading straight for the back house of Taiping Tower, smiled and waved at Mu Tangchun, who was coming towards him.
“Fellow Daoist Liang? How can you…”
“Don’t worry, this young master will never go back on his word regarding what he promised Madam Mu. I was indeed too reckless before.” Liang Tiantian spread his hands and laughed loudly, “Besides, didn’t Madam Mu actively summon me using Spirit Power Transmission today?”
The one who actually used Spirit Power Transmission was Qin Gou, but Mu Tangchun was already aware of this.
“Thank you for your righteous assistance in the previous matter, Fellow Daoist Liang.” Mu Tangchun lightly nodded her head, modestly and courteously.
“It’s a trivial matter, nothing to mention.” Liang Tiantian waved his hand dismissively, then suddenly changed the subject, “By the way, ‘It must be that a Celestial Immortal was drunk and stirred the white clouds into pieces.’ On that day at Hantan Palace, have you, Madam Mu, completed this beautiful poem now?”
What is that? Mu Tangchun was completely bewildered. Qin Gou and Liang Tiantian had gone to Hantan Palace together that day… Did Father have such elegant taste?
But on the surface, Mu Tangchun went along with the flow, saying regretfully, “Poetry is naturally formed, how can it be so easy?”
“Is that so?” Upon hearing this, Liang Tiantian became somewhat disheartened. “As expected.”
“I’ve disappointed you, Fellow Daoist Liang.”
“No.”
Liang Tiantian chuckled and said, “At that time, ‘Madam Mu’ clearly said that this poem was heard from somewhere else. How is it that today, when this young master casually tricked you, you admitted it was your own creation?”
Mu Tangchun said without hesitation, “That was a humble remark at the time. I didn’t expect it to be misunderstood by Fellow Daoist Liang.”
“Is that so?”
Liang Tiantian smiled faintly and shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s not the case! This young master has long been suspicious.”
“What do you mean, Fellow Daoist Liang?” Mu Tangchun’s expression was confused and puzzled.
“After that trip to Hantan Palace, this young master recalled meticulously. You and I have known each other for many days, but in our interactions, I have never experienced the charm of that particular day!”
Liang Tiantian looked directly at Mu Tangchun, his gaze deep and very certain. “The fairy who spent that day with me was not you! Even now, after chatting with Madam Mu for less than the duration of one incense stick burning, this young master deeply appreciates her beauty. Madam Mu is not even half as good.”
