Chapter 372: Junior Sister, The Three-Person Trip
It was a rare clear day in the Northern Region. The dawn light sprinkled into the Commander’s Mansion’s back garden, where three Snow-clothed Guards in white stood before a snow pavilion, awaiting their commander’s arrival.
Inside the snow pavilion, Xiao Yunluo, clad in the Xuan Xing Sect’s purple sect uniform and a white beast fur coat, gazed at the vast clouds in the western sky, her mind seemingly drifting to the Hundred Lotus Sect.
“Anping should have finished forming his core by now…”
The memory of Ye Anping’s gentle smile, shifting before her face on that night at the Hundred Lotus Sect, made Xiao Yunluo unconsciously wriggle her toes inside her shoes.
But she quickly cast aside such romantic thoughts.
Ye Anping had told her that looking at “Tales of the Immortal Palace” was not beneficial for her cultivation. Thus, for the two years, eight months, and seventeen days she had been separated from Ye Anping, she had endured.
When she returned to the Western Regions and saw Ye Anping, she would make him praise her:
“Anping! I listened to you. For nearly three years, I haven’t looked at ‘Tales of the Immortal Palace’ once.”
Then, Ye Anping would surely praise her for being strong and reward her…
Compared to looking alone, looking at “Tales of the Immortal Palace” with Ye Anping was much, much, much, much more comfortable!
However, speaking of which…
“I wonder what kind of person Xiyue is? Lian Xue said Anping has been thinking about her since he was very young… What kind of girl could Anping keep thinking about?”
Xiao Yunluo propped her chin on her hand, took a sip of tea, and murmured softly.
As she murmured, the light clang of armor sounded from outside the garden gate.
Xiao Yunluo turned her head and saw a tall woman in white armor. She immediately guessed it was the Snow-clothed Guard commander of Tianfeng Immortal City.
Xu Mulan, accompanied by several Snow-clothed Guards, walked forward. Upon seeing Xiao Yunluo’s short stature, she paused for a moment but still bowed respectfully:
“Young Master Xiao, you have traveled a long distance. Forgive us for not extending a proper welcome. I am Xu Mulan, the commander of the Snow-clothed Guard in Tianfeng Immortal City.”
“Commander Xu, there’s no need for such formality.”
Xiao Yunluo rose and returned a cupped-hand salute, gesturing for her to sit in the pavilion:
“Let’s forgo pleasantries. When my junior sister and I were traveling, we encountered a mother and daughter in Yulu Town to the north who had run afoul of a demonic cultivator. So, I brought them along to inform you of the situation.”
Before they arrived, Xu Mulan had just heard a guess from Ye Anping. At the time, she felt it was unlikely, but now this incident had occurred.
After hesitating for a moment, she asked directly:
“May I ask, Young Master Xiao, were those two infected with a蠱虫 (gu worm)?”
“Hmm?” Xiao Yunluo tilted her head, surprised that she already knew what had happened. “I haven’t said anything yet; how did you know, Commander?”
Xu Mulan hesitated for a moment and replied:
“A friend of mine, after reviewing the case files, inferred that it was the work of a demonic sect’s Gu Cultivator. I didn’t really believe it before, but then…”
She nodded, lost in thought. She had reread the file she gave to Young Master Ye multiple times but couldn’t find any clues.
Yet, Young Master Ye, in just one night, and with only fragmented clues, had deduced that it was the work of a Gu Cultivator and even described a clear method of operation.
After a pause, Xu Mulan asked again:
“And were the mother and daughter in such a state that the mother was infected with a 蠱 (gu) and then voluntarily handed her daughter over to that villain?”
Xiao Yunluo was also puzzled. She hadn’t said anything, yet this person had directly stated what she was about to say.
It seemed this Snow-clothed Guard commander was quite capable.
“Since you already know, I won’t elaborate. The situation in Yulu Town is as you said. As the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect, if I encounter a demonic cultivator, I will certainly help you catch them. Besides that, I have a matter I’d like your cooperation on.”
Young Master Ye’s intuition is truly accurate… Xu Mulan thought to herself and nodded, gesturing:
“… Young Master Xiao, please speak.”
“Yes, it’s like this. My two junior sisters and I came to the Northern Region primarily to find someone. The Snow-clothed Guard should have a roster of cultivators within a hundred li radius, right? I would like to borrow it.”
Borrowing the cultivator roster?
This matter could be significant. What if Xiao Yunluo was looking for an enemy, and that enemy happened to be a minister of Hantian Kingdom or the young master of a great clan? She wouldn’t dare to help…
But after all, she was the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect, so she couldn’t directly refuse.
A trace of vigilance flashed in Xu Mulan’s eyes. She stated directly:
“The local cultivator roster is internal affairs of Hantian Kingdom. Although you are the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect, I cannot make such a decision on my own. I must first send a message to the court in Hanyue Immortal City and obtain permission from the Ministry of Affairs before it can be lent.”
“… That’s so troublesome?”
“Please forgive me, Young Master Xiao. This is, after all, the Northern Region, and you are a cultivator from the Western Regions… Even as the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect, you…”
Xu Mulan cupped her hands and offered an apology. She then added:
“However, while I cannot lend you the roster, I can offer my assistance. May I ask for the name of the person Young Master Xiao is looking for? Do you have a portrait or anything similar?”
“No portrait,” Xiao Yunluo shrugged slightly and said, “I only know it’s a girl named ‘Xiyue’.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Mulan froze instantly. Even the Snow-clothed Guards waiting nearby held their breath.
?
“Hiss—Err… May I ask which Xiyue?”
Xiao Yunluo replied with a smile, “The ‘Xi’ from ‘sunset,’ and the ‘Yue’ from my mother’s name.”
It shouldn’t be her sister, right?
What business would the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect have with her sister?
“… Young Master Xiao, what is your business with Xiyue?”
“Nothing special. My junior sister and I just want to have a casual chat with her.”
Xu Mulan hesitated. To be honest, she didn’t want to admit that her sister was named Xu Xiyue. But after all, most cultivators around Tianfeng Immortal City knew that Xu Xiyue was her sister.
Xiao Yunluo could easily find out by asking around later.
And if she found out on her own now, it would definitely make her think Xu Mulan was deliberately hiding something.
“Young Master Xiao, actually, I have a younger sister named Xu Xiyue.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yunluo’s tea-drinking action instantly stopped:
“Your sister’s name is… Xiyue?”
“Yes… May I ask, Young Master Xiao, do you have any particular reason for looking for ‘Xiyue’?”
Xiao Yunluo was silent for a moment, thinking there was nothing she couldn’t say, so she stated directly:
“Actually, my cultivation partner has been longing for a girl named ‘Xiyue’ for a long time. He only told me she was in Hantian Kingdom, but nothing else…”
So, this Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect had traveled thousands of miles to catch a vixen?
Xu Mulan was slightly surprised but also relieved.
It definitely couldn’t be her sister. How old was her sister? How could she be constantly on the mind of a cultivator from the Western Regions?
“Then it’s probably not my sister. It must be a case of same name, right? Xiyue isn’t a common name, but it’s not uniquely rare either.”
Xu Mulan took a sip of her tea.
“Besides, my sister is only twelve years old and has a dual spiritual root. How could she be on the mind of your cultivation partner, Young Master Xiao?”
“Twelve years old? Then it’s likely not her…” Xiao Yunluo felt a bit disappointed, but after thinking for a moment, she said, “Since I’m here anyway, can you let me see her?”
“There’s no problem with that. She’s at Youren Pavilion in Baiyue Town, a hundred li away.”
“Thank you. As for the demonic cultivator incident, we will also help investigate. If there are any developments, we will come to the Commander’s Mansion to inform you. We’ll take our leave now.”
Xiao Yunluo downed the tea in her cup, stood up, cupped her hands, and prepared to go find Pei Lianxue and Er Shazi.
Xu Mulan also rose to see her off and casually asked:
“By the way, I’m quite curious. The Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect actually has a cultivation partner? This should normally be announced to the three regions. Who is so fortunate to be able to marry into the Xuan Xing Sect?”
“Hmph hmph~ He and I are mutually in love.” Xiao Yunluo rubbed her nose, feeling quite proud at the moment, and laughed, “But it’s also his good fortune; a mere Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect can marry me!”
“The Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect? My hearing is poor; I haven’t heard of the Hundred Lotus Sect…”
“It’s just a small sect. His name is Ye Anping.”
?
Xu Mulan’s footsteps faltered. She widened her eyes and looked at her:
“… Who?”
“Ye Anping. The ‘Ye’ from leaf, and the ‘Anping’ from ‘safe and sound’.” Xiao Yunluo was completely bewildered. Seeing her aura change, she asked, “Wh-what’s wrong?”
“… Nothing.”
Xu Mulan pursed her lips. A sentence her sister had said to her earlier suddenly came to mind:
“Sister, they say a bystander sees clearly, while a participant is blinded…”
In that instant, many doubts seemed to have answers.
Why would Ye Anping, a Core Formation cultivator, insist on living in that remote village of Baiyue Town.
Why did he give her sister such a great opportunity.
And in the end, he had fallen for her precious sister?!
But… why?
Even if wine is fragrant, it doesn’t need a deep alley, but even if her sister is fragrant, she shouldn’t be fragrant all the way to the Western Regions!
Xu Mulan saw Xiao Yunluo off from the Commander’s Mansion. After watching her leave, she rubbed her nose. She pondered for a while but found that the more she thought, the more confused she became.
She had been single for so many years. Finally, she met someone who seemed decent, but he was so much younger than her, already had the Mansion Lord of Chi Long Mansion by his side, and on top of that, he had taken a liking to her sister…
“Commander, what should we do about the demonic cultivators? The two people Young Master Xiao brought earlier are still in the back hall…”
“Ah…”
Xu Mulan snapped back to reality upon hearing the voice of the Snow-clothed Guard behind her. She really wanted to rush to Baiyue Town immediately and ask Ye Anping about this matter in person, but the demonic cultivator issue was also pressing.
After all, the Young Master of the Xuan Xing Sect would be going there soon…
She took a deep breath, turned, and headed towards the main hall, saying:
“It seems that what Mansion Lord Li said earlier was not a false alarm. Many demonic cultivators have indeed infiltrated the Northern Region. Find a Snow-clothed Guard who is fast with a flying sword, give her my token, and have her rush to Hanyue Immortal City as soon as possible to report this matter to the Grand Tutor and His Majesty.”
“… Yes!”
… …
—
On the street, pedestrians bustled to and fro, and tea aroma wafted from the roadside tea stalls.
Pei Lianxue sat at a round table, holding a cup of warm tea. With her serene orange eyes, she scanned the bustling scene of Tianfeng Immortal City, but her expression was somewhat troubled.
That night, when Er Shazi brought back the mother and daughter, she had diagnosed the mother with the Heart-Devouring Gu.
After the two of them woke up, she had asked them some questions. Their answers, however, gave her a strange sense of familiarity.
According to the mother, before she was infected with the “Heart-Devouring Gu,” she hadn’t eaten anything particularly unusual. It was nothing more than attending a neighbor’s wedding banquet.
This single statement led Pei Lianxue to immediately guess that she had likely encountered a demonic cultivator at the banquet and was unknowingly infected with the Heart-Devouring Gu.
How similar it was…
This triggered Pei Lianxue’s memory. When her senior brother took her to Wu Xi Town, she had also encountered “Wu You” at a wedding banquet and was unknowingly infected with the Heart-Devouring Gu.
On the way to Tianfeng Immortal City, Pei Lianxue had thought a lot, but she couldn’t come up with a comprehensive plan like her senior brother…
“Senior brother is not here, what should I do…”
Pei Lianxue sighed in frustration and took a sip of her tea.
Feng Yu Die, sitting beside her, heard her lament and quickly put down the roasted chicken in her hand. She grinned and said:
“Junior Sister Pei, it’s okay! Young Master Ye is not here, but I am! I will protect you!”
Pei Lianxue glanced at Feng Yu Die, whose mouth was oily, and blinked indifferently:
“Go eat your roasted chicken.”
“Oh dear… Junior Sister Pei, don’t think too much about it. It’s just a demonic cultivator. How many demonic cultivators have died at our hands? There’s no need to worry so much~~”
“Senior brother said we should never underestimate demonic cultivators at any time.”
Pei Lianxue knitted her brows, flicked Feng Yu Die on the forehead, and then slumped onto the table somewhat helplessly:
“If senior brother were here, what would he do?”
Feng Yu Die blinked and whispered:
“Oh dear, Young Master Ye’s words… he’s probably already chasing after us.”
“Senior brother only knows we’re in the Northern Region. The Northern Region is so vast, how could he possibly catch up? And we haven’t found Xiyue yet… Woohoo, so frustrating… Woohoo—”
Feng Yu Die pursed her lips and said:
“Junior Sister Pei, would you like some roasted chicken? You won’t be frustrated if you eat some roasted chicken.”
“No!”
Pei Lianxue lay on the table, turned her head, and after a moment of hesitation, asked:
“Er Shazi, do you remember Wu Xi Town?”
Feng Yu Die quickly nodded and replied with a smile:
“Of course, I remember! That’s where Junior Sister Pei and I first met! I also remember ordering roasted chicken that day, and Junior Sister Pei and Young Master Ye were eating braised pork next to us…”
Feng Yu Die’s eyes were full of nostalgia.
That was her first love! Her first awakening of young love!
The moment she saw Pei Lianxue…
“Not that.”
Pei Lianxue immediately interrupted her daydreaming.
“Do you remember the demonic cultivator named ‘Wu You’?”
“I remember! That Grand Tutor of the Gu Sect, right? I was practicing sword in the bamboo forest, and he suddenly ran over. Just as I was on the verge of death, Junior Sister Pei swiftly rushed out and buried that demonic cultivator! You saved me too~ Heh heh… So cool! Junior Sister Pei was only at Qi Refining Completion back then, but she resolved a Core Formation cultivator in one go…”
Pei Lianxue felt like giving her a wooden clapper, and she could open a storytelling stall on the street. She sighed, dispirited, and said:
“Why so much talking… I feel that the demonic cultivator we encountered this time is quite similar to that ‘Wu You’.”
“Very similar… Then isn’t that better? We could kill him at Qi Refining Stage, and now we’re both at Core Formation…”
Pei Lianxue finally understood that she had clearly chosen the wrong person to talk to, so she stopped:
“Alas—Forget I said anything. Go eat your roasted chicken. If it’s not enough, ask the boss to get you another one.”
“Oh… Then, Junior Sister Pei, do you want some?”
To shut Feng Yu Die up, Pei Lianxue thought for a moment and then nodded:
“… Give me a chicken leg.”
Feng Yu Die became even more exasperated:
“Okay~~ Junior Sister Pei, with this chicken leg, you should eat the skin first, then…”
“Shut up!”
“… Oh, I just wanted to say… it’s tastier to eat the skin first.”
“…”
After the two had eaten some roasted chicken for a while, Xiao Yunluo also came out of the Commander’s Mansion.
She walked straight into the tea stall. Seeing Pei Lianxue slumped at the table with a worried expression, she quickly walked over with a smile:
“Lianxue, why are you so unhappy? I’ve got some good news.”
“What good news?”
“I found someone named ‘Xiyue.’ She’s the younger sister of the local Snow-clothed Guard commander. However, she’s only twelve this year, so she probably isn’t the one we’re looking for.”
“Twelve years old?” Pei Lianxue furrowed her brows and quickly sat up straight. “Where?”
“A hundred li to the east, at Youren Pavilion in Baiyue Town. Do you want to go?”
“Yes!” Pei Lianxue stood up. “Boss, the bill!”
Feng Yu Die’s eyes lit up. Looking at the chicken leg in Pei Lianxue’s hand, she quickly said:
“I’ll pay, I’ll pay. Boss, please pack five more roasted chicken legs for me.”
… …
————
Ps: This is a transitional chapter. The pacing has been a bit slow in recent chapters. I’ve slightly adjusted the outline, and it will be better in the next chapter.
