Chapter 404 Old Loli Throws a Tantrum
In the span of several sun and moon cycles, a light rain fell upon the Twelve Peaks of the Xuan Xing Sect. The pattering of rain against the windows caused a touch of annoyance. Si Xuanji, clad in an immortal robe and barefoot, sat cross-legged on the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion on the Central Peak, surrounded by scrolls of bamboo slips, some ancient and cracked.
These bamboo slips were younger than her, gathered by former Sect Masters and Elders of the Xuan Xing Sect from across the Four Domains or unearthed from the tombs of ancient cultivators. Many contained bizarre, unreproducible methods for attaining immortality, or perhaps were merely exaggerated tales from cultivators in ancient times. One scroll in her hand claimed that eating the meat of a turtle that was 3,333 years old could extend one’s lifespan by a century.
After finishing a scroll, Si Xuanji used her finger to guide an ink brush floating beside her, recording a “one hundred” on Xuan paper. She then stretched and stood up, surveying the mess she had made of the room. “Alas…” she sighed, picking up the paper covered in numbers. She scanned it with her Yin-yang eyes and then added them all up: “One thousand and seventy-six years… even with the five hundred years from the Core Formation Stage, it’s only a little over sixteen hundred…”
Sixteen hundred years was the maximum lifespan she calculated for a Core Formation Stage cultivator, even with the use of various elixirs and wondrous methods. Whose lifespan she was calculating was self-evident. In other words, if Ye Anping remained in the Core Formation Stage, he could only accompany her for sixteen hundred years before they were separated by life and death. For a Void Return cultivator who could sleep for two to three years at a time, sixteen hundred years was hardly enough. If Ye Anping rashly attempted the Nascent Soul tribulation after reaching the late Core Formation Stage, that sixteen hundred years might shrink to a single digit.
The Heavenly Tribulation when Ye Anping achieved Core Formation was so perilous that even the Star Observation Chart indicated a high probability of him perishing. If she hadn’t intervened then, Ye Anping might have been lost. The Nascent Soul tribulation was hundreds of times more formidable than the Core Formation tribulation. In the past ten thousand years, even many individuals with exceptional Heavenly Spiritual Roots had died during their Nascent Soul formation. How could Ye Anping, with his mere dual spiritual roots, be sure to succeed?
“Alas…” Si Xuanji’s Yin-yang eyes slowly closed. Her small hands, hidden within her cloud sleeves, gently tugged at her collar. She closed her eyes and exhaled her dejected feelings through deep breaths. Ye Anping was the only person in the last thousand years who had evoked the emotion of “worry” in her. It wasn’t that she had never worried about others before; rather, through her “Star Observation Art,” she could glimpse the general fate of others long in advance.
Like Li Feng, or Grand Void True Person… Si Xuanji had seen their ends before they perished. She knew precisely how many years later they would die and where. At least, she had no secrets regarding anything within ten thousand li of the Western Regions. This also, however, made her feel helpless. Many years ago, Si Xuanji had desperately tried to alter the future predicted by the Star Observation Art, but she had never succeeded. She had gradually grown accustomed to it, even numb…
Until seven years ago, when a seemingly ordinary star point among the multitude suddenly deviated from its orbit, setting off a chain reaction that altered the trajectories of other stars. Almost everyone who encountered that “rebellious star” escaped the shackles of destiny. For the first time in millennia, Si Xuanji felt the thrill of opening a blind box. Every action Ye Anping took brought her surprise, but also a measure of unease. After all, stars eventually extinguished and shattered. Even a “rebellious star” was no exception.
Before, she had only felt a fleeting sense of novelty and curiosity towards the “rebellious star,” not caring about his life or death, much like watching an engaging play or reading a well-written book. But precisely because she could not foresee the “rebellious star’s” death, she now found herself increasingly worried, fearing that tomorrow or the day after, that black star might vanish from the celestial curtain forever. Si Xuanji felt she was being overly sentimental. She stretched her shoulders slightly, then, with bare feet, pushed open the door, intending to go to the Three-Bay House on Tianyun Peak.
Creak—
However, Qiu Shui Rou seemed to have been waiting for a long time at the top of the Scripture Pavilion’s stairs, dozing with her eyes narrowed. Hearing the door open, Qiu Shui Rou instantly woke up and turned to look at Si Xuanji, who had stepped out. “Little Master, you’re finally out. The rice cakes Young Master Ye brought you three days ago are about to go bad. I said if you didn’t come out today, I’d give them to Ah Ying…”
Ah Ying, perched on Qiu Shui Rou’s shoulder, looked at Si Xuanji and complained, “What a shame!! What a shame!!”
Hearing this, Si Xuanji’s mind conjured an image of Ye Anping carrying roasted chicken, pacing back and forth before her Moon Spring Peak summer cave dwelling. Her mood brightened considerably. She vividly recalled Ye Anping’s innocent expression after they had spent two days and nights together. “Ah… but… but… I… I’m sorry, Miss Xuanji…”
Si Xuanji smiled and asked, “How many times has that brat looked for me in the past ten-plus days?”
“Uh… four times?” Qiu Shui Rou thought for a moment and answered truthfully, “The last time was six days ago.”
“Four times…” Si Xuanji pursed her lips and touched her chin, feeling that it was about time. She couldn’t let Ye Anping become too distant, nor too close. If she ignored him for too long, he might stop looking for her, and then who would feed her little tiger meat? Ever since her little tiger had a feast a few months ago, it hadn’t eaten anything.
“Shui Rou, give me an Inner disciple’s sect uniform. And go tell Mr. Qi to have Yunluo and that girl Pei help him with his affairs, and give them some trivial errand to run.”
Ah Ying scoffed, clicking its tongue. “Shameless!! Shameless!!”
“This is to have them read more immortal texts with Mr. Qi…” Si Xuanji walked to Qiu Shui Rou and extended her hand. Qiu Shui Rou quickly half-crouched, brought Ah Ying from her shoulder forward, and let Si Xuanji scratch its belly with her knuckles. Ah Ying tilted its head. “Itching unbearably? Itching un—gah—” Before it could finish its flick, Si Xuanji snatched it up, squeezing its head until it ballooned, and narrowed her eyes, muttering, “Believe it or not, I’ll tie your tongue in a knot…”
“…”
Qiu Shui Rou stood nearby, looking awkward. After some thought, she said, “Little Master… Young Master Ye has returned to the Hundred Lotus Sect, he’s not at the Xuan Xing Sect.”
Si Xuanji, who had been in good spirits, froze slightly and pouted, looking down. “Oh, then never mind. Bring me his rice cakes, I’m craving them… Where’s Yunluo?”
“Um… Young Master Xiao is with Young Master Ye.”
“Together?” Si Xuanji’s brow furrowed slightly, a bad feeling suddenly surfacing. As Qiu Shui Rou went to get the rice cakes, she quickly called out, “Wait, are you saying that Pei girl and Feng girl are also with them?”
“Yes, aren’t they always together?”
“…” Si Xuanji fell silent for a moment, then threw Ah Ying aside and quickly ran back to a window in the pavilion, her footsteps clattering on the wooden floor. She stood on her tiptoes and pushed the window open.
Snap—
Pattering—
The fine rain outside was blown towards her face by gusts of wind, but it was stopped by an invisible spiritual force just before it landed. Dark clouds obscured the sky, hiding the stars and moon. However, Si Xuanji lightly waved her cloud sleeve: “Go!” The dark clouds in the sky seemed to scatter in fright, pushed to one side by her, imprinting the stars and moon behind them into her dark and white Yin-yang eyes. Return to the Hundred Lotus Sect? When did the Hundred Lotus Sect move east of the Xuan Xing Sect?
Si Xuanji bit her lip. When she had been dangling her feet in the lake, playing with the fish, Ye Anping had said he was powerless to do anything, and she had also advised him not to act rashly out of sheer passion. Yet, they had still gone. Such disobedience!! Si Xuanji crossed her arms, her cheeks puffed up like a bun, and she rolled her eyes to look at the “Star of Fate” representing the Xing Tian Division. She couldn’t deduce events in the Central Domain in too much detail, but the celestial signs indicated that the Xing Tian Division was likely facing the Ghost Spirit Sect Master this time. She had crossed paths with that “Seven of the Ghost Tomb” a thousand years ago and had suffered a considerable loss at his hands; he was the second most troublesome demonic cultivator among the Six Demonic Sects.
Qiu Shui Rou caught up, seeing that Si Xuanji seemed quite angry. She was flustered and dared not speak. Si Xuanji closed her eyes, slowly rose on her tiptoes, and pulled the window shut. “Who approved their leave? Qi Baishi?”
“Ah… Elder Lei approved the permit.” Si Xuanji’s eye twitched slightly, and with a sweep of her sleeve, she knocked over a nearby chair. “If they don’t return this time, he’s no longer fit to be a Great Elder!!”
“Ah…” Qiu Shui Rou looked at Si Xuanji’s sudden outburst. Although confused, she didn’t dare say anything and only acknowledged the order. She then saw Si Xuanji turn and walk towards the door, stomping her feet. “Hmph! That stinky brat… I hope he dies there. He’s getting more and more audacious, even daring to lie to me!”
She paused for a moment, then followed and asked softly, “Ah… Little Master, what happened…”
Si Xuanji bit her lip upon hearing this, then stopped, turned her head, and said, “Have Lei Wanjun go to the Central Domain and bring them back.”
“Ah? Cen… Central Domain?” Hearing this, Qiu Shui Rou also realized that Ye Anping and the others had likely lied, saying they were returning to the Hundred Lotus Sect but heading towards Donghuang City instead. She hurriedly lowered her head and agreed. She then summoned her Flying Sword and leaped out the window, rushing towards Lei Ming Peak amid the renewed light rain.
Watching Qiu Shui Rou depart, Si Xuanji lowered her gaze, closed the window for her, and sighed again. “Alas…” Si Xuanji now only hoped that Ye Anping would, as usual, give her a pleasant surprise and return safely, without missing limbs or suffering inner demons. But no matter what… the little tiger would have to go hungry for another half a year…
…
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and a cold wind blew. In Jade Pass City, located in an adjacent area, four cultivators wearing bamboo hats and bearing the waist tokens of Xuan Xing Sect disciples traversed the street under the gaze of countless beast-faced, human-bodied Demon Race members. After the Demon Emperor had conquered Tianan City, these immortal cities, originally belonging to the Imperial Sect, were occupied by the Demon Race. However, perhaps due to the scarcity of their numbers, the Demon Emperor did not exterminate the human cultivators but allowed them to live as before within the Central Domain.
Nevertheless, while they were allowed to live, they were not living well. Any conflict between the Demon Race and human cultivators invariably put the human cultivators at a disadvantage. But human adaptability was unparalleled by any other creature. Ye Anping raised his hand to adjust his bamboo hat, stopping with Pei Lianxue and the others before a luxuriously decorated restaurant. The words “Jade Sand Pavilion” on the sign were the same as they had been years ago. It was no longer a pawnshop but had been converted into a restaurant. It seemed that even with the Demon Race occupying the Central Domain, the “black market” had not disappeared.
Years ago, when she and her Junior Sister and Feng Yu Die had come here, they had bought Xiao Yunluo’s sword from this Jade Sand Pavilion and had also encountered the Immortal Thief “Su Wan’er” here. Years later, returning to this desert immortal city, Ye Anping couldn’t help but feel a sense of emotion. Xiao Yunluo, standing behind him, also felt a wave of emotion. She and her mother had encountered the Immortal Thief here, her spiritual sword had been stolen, and then Ye Anping had bought it back at a high price as he passed by.
Xiao Yunluo was hesitant and suggested, “Are we staying here to lodge? This street is full of the Demon Race, and besides…”
“Where in the Central Domain isn’t full of the Demon Race now?” Ye Anping smiled and glanced at her. “Besides, this area for a hundred li is all desert. Unlike when the Xing Tian Division was in charge, those deserts are now filled with rogue cultivators. They don’t rob the Demon Race, but they rob any human cultivator they encounter.”
“That’s true…” Ye Anping shrugged, not saying much more. He strode through the threshold, leading the three of them to the counter. “Shopkeeper, three rooms.”
Three rooms… Xiao Yunluo frowned slightly at the number. She could guess with her toes that it would likely be one room for Second, one for her, and one for Ye Anping and Pei Lianxue. They had been traveling for days, and she was tired, and Ye Anping wasn’t even rewarding her. Really…
The shopkeeper, busily clattering with an abacus, his expression softened upon hearing that the guests were human cultivators. Dealing with them was much easier than dealing with the Demon Race. He looked at the ledger and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, but this establishment only has two empty rooms left, and they’re not large, fitting at most two people. Would one of you four elders be willing to make do in the back utility room? I can have someone clean it up. Or perhaps two people per room?”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment. It wasn’t impossible; he could have Feng Yu Die or himself sleep in the utility room, and Pei Lianxue could share with Xiao Yunluo. However, just as he was about to nod, Xiao Yunluo interrupted him. “Two rooms are fine!”
? Ye Anping, Pei Lianxue, and even Feng Yu Die, who was blankly observing the Demon Race patrons on the first floor, all looked at her. Xiao Yunluo pursed her lips and explained softly, “Second takes one room, and Lian Xue, you and I can share a room.”
Feng Yu Die tilted her head slightly in confusion, then her eyes twinkled, and she said with a smile, “Isn’t it crowded for the three of you? Why don’t Junior Sister Pei and I share a room?”
Xiao Yunluo hesitated for a moment, but Ye Anping’s voice coincided with hers: “That’s acceptable…”
“No.” Ye Anping pinched the bridge of his nose, then reached under Xiao Yunluo’s bamboo hat, grabbed her face, and reprimanded her, “We’re outside, control yourself.”
Xiao Yunluo slowly lowered her head. “Oh…”
“What?”
“Alas…” Ye Anping sighed, exasperated, and tossed out a small bag of spirit stones. “Boss, please clear out the back utility room for us.”
“Right away!” Although the shopkeeper couldn’t see their faces, he could tell from their voices. He added softly, “Actually, the utility room is soundproof.”
“…” The shopkeeper knew he had said too much and chuckled happily, then came out, spreading his hands to lead the way. “Four honored guests, this way…”
