Chapter 450 Protagonist, Spiritual Affinity
Drip… drip…
Splash, splash…
A spring shower descended, carrying the lingering cold of early spring, drenching the mountain forest on a secluded peak of the Xuan Xing Sect. However, it lasted only for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before dissipating, leaving behind muddy puddles in the mountains.
Fleeting clouds drifted, and a flying sword, approaching from afar, slowly landed in the graveyard at the summit of the mountain.
Fengyu Die greeted the old Daoist priest who was also guarding the tomb. She then followed a forest path to a south-facing garden.
After returning from Donghuang, Fu Xuan Shangxian and Yue Xuanming of the Xing Tian Division had simply set aside a plot of land next to the Hundred Lotus Sect to erect tombstones and bury the disciples who had fallen in the Donghuang incident.
Taking this opportunity, Fengyu Die had entrusted the Xing Tian Division to help her move Grand Void True Person’s tomb from Jade Void Mountain to Xuan Xing Sect.
After all, both the relocation of the tomb and the luxurious cemetery location were “borrowed” from the Xing Tian Division’s budget; she hadn’t spent a single spirit stone.
A few days ago, a Xuan Xing Sect disciple had informed her that the tomb was ready.
So, today, finding herself with nothing to do, she decided to visit her Master’s new home and see what it was like.
Fengyu Die carried two jugs of roasted wine and wandered around the garden for a while. Finally, she asked a disciple there, who then led her towards the southeastern corner of the garden.
“Grand Void True Person’s eternal residence is here. Junior now takes my leave.”
“Oh, alright!”
Fengyu Die watched the leading disciple depart, then turned to look at the Three-Bay House before her, which was about half her height. She was astonished.
She used to think gravestones were just small mounds of earth with a piece of green onion stuck in them.
However, the “gravestone” before her was a miniature Three-Bay House, complete with small tables, chairs, a little bamboo basket, bedding, a bed, and feather pillows. Everything was there.
Fengyu Die pouted slightly and muttered to herself:
“It’s quite suitable for Xiao Tian to live here…”
After observing for a while, she took out three sticks of incense, lit them, and stuck them into a small incense burner specifically for lighting incense. She clapped her hands together, lowered her head, and closed her eyes:
*Pa pa*—
“Master, I’ve come to see you!”
“… …”
Naturally, her only response was the spring breeze blowing from the sky and the birdsong around her.
“Master, I’ve experienced so many things! After I last saw you, I went to the Central Domain, then to Hantian Kingdom in the Northern Region. I met someone named Gu Mingxin and even rode the waves with disciples from Donghuang’s Xing Tian Division. We returned to the Western Regions while being pursued by demonic cultivators. I met Yun Jiujiu…”
Her golden eyes trembled slightly as she recounted her heroic deeds of the past few years to the tombstone before her. However, she stopped abruptly when she mentioned the name Ye Anping.
After a moment of silence, Fengyu Die pouted slightly, frowned, and said:
“Master, do you remember when you used to tell me that babies were brought by cranes?”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“I tried! I kissed Junior Sister Pei in front of a crane, and the crane ignored me! Master, you lied to me! And you lied to me for so many years!!”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“So, I’m not burning ghost money this time, hmph! These two jugs of roasted wine will be my offering.”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“What? I’m already at the late Foundation Establishment stage! I’m not afraid of you anymore! Besides, you’re buried in the ground, you can’t spank me anymore! I’m not giving you any, and scolding me won’t work! Who told you to lie to your obedient disciple…”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
Fengyu Die mumbled until here, sighed slightly, rested her face on her knees, and asked:
“Master, you lied to me about the crane delivering babies, did you lie to me about anything else? Like… all men are scumbags? Actually, there are good men in this world…”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“Master, say something! Like the one I told you last time… Young Master Ye? I’m gradually finding him quite good. Although I’m devoted to Junior Sister Pei, she’s about to marry Young Master Ye and hasn’t agreed to marry me or let me marry her yet.”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“Sigh… I don’t mind if Junior Sister Pei is monogamous, but she seems to mind a lot. After all, gold will always shine… I think Junior Sister Pei will understand my good qualities someday! But… but… recently I feel that Young Master Ye… is actually… quite good too… Hehe…”
Taixu Zi: “… …”
“I haven’t told you about Xiao Tian. It used to always say that Young Master Ye and I were a good match. I’ve thought a lot about it too. Young Master Ye has saved me several times, and I feel safe whenever I’m around him. His roasted chicken is also especially delicious… Hehe…”
However, just as Fengyu Die reached this point and recalled Ye Anping, who was roasting chicken for her ten days ago…
“Mr. Qi said that he will surely die when he reaches Nascent Soul Formation. He is dying soon. When he dies, Junior Sister Pei will be yours, won’t she?”
!
—The voice of Grand Void True Person echoed in her mind.
Fengyu Die was so startled that she jumped up, but quickly regained her composure. She quickly took out her spirit sword from her storage bag, adopted a sword stance, and became vigilant of everything around her.
“Who?! Who’s there?!”
However, there was no response, nor any sign of life.
“Stop playing these tricks! My Master has already ascended, how could he still speak to me? Come out!!”
“… …”
Fengyu Die bit her lip, scanned the surroundings, and softly called out:
“Xiao Tian.”
But after calling out the name, she remembered that Xiao Tian had been staying at Ye Anping’s place these days. She took a deep breath and swung her spirit sword to the side.
*Whoosh*—
Recalling the voice that sounded like her Master’s words, Fengyu Die frowned, shook her head, and said:
“My Master would never say such a thing! Who is playing pranks here! This isn’t funny at all! Come out!!”
“… …”
“I see you, come out! If you don’t come out, I’ll really attack you! I’ll count to three!!”
“… …”
“Three!! Two!!… One!!!”
Just then, the sound of rustling footsteps came from behind her.
Fengyu Die’s eyes narrowed, and she swung her sword towards her back.
*Swish*—
But upon seeing that it was the Xuan Xing Sect disciple who had led her here before, she quickly stopped her sword.
The disciple guarding the tomb was also pale with fright, his eyes fixed on the spirit sword hovering at his neck. He didn’t dare to breathe until Fengyu Die retracted her sword, and then he asked:
“Senior, what happened?”
“…Someone was pretending to be a ghost.”
The disciple hesitated for a moment, scanned his surroundings, and weakly replied:
“But, Fairy, you are the only one visiting the tomb today. There is no one else here.”
“I heard it, someone was impersonating my Master.”
Seeing Fengyu Die’s certainty, the guarding disciple pondered for a moment and then asked:
“Senior, could it be… you have developed an inner demon?”
“Inner demon?”
“Yes, my Master used to say that. Inner demons are born from the阴 (yin), and this so-called yin also has the meaning of the underworld. In the past, many people, when sweeping graves, would accidentally hear the voices of their deceased loved ones. Most of them were seductive words from ghosts and spirits, and for cultivators like us who can perceive spirits upon entering the immortal path, this is not uncommon. There is also a saying that spiritual energy is transformed from the souls of the deceased…”
Fengyu Die squinted slightly, not quite understanding:
“What do you mean?”
“Alas… Senior, I am only a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator and only know a little. But… looking at your expression, are you perhaps struggling with something or hesitating about something? When your mind is chaotic, inner demons have an opportunity to take advantage…”
Fengyu Die vigilantly recalled his words. She seemed to be struggling with Ye Anping and Junior Sister Pei’s matter…
“Yes.”
“Then it’s most likely an inner demon. Senior, you should quickly go find an elder. Cultivation also requires the cultivation of one’s heart…”
Fengyu Die looked at the unfamiliar Xuan Xing Sect disciple before her, lowered her gaze, and recalled that sentence again.
—Mr. Qi said that he will surely die when he reaches Nascent Soul Formation…
At that moment, a drop of rain fell from the sky and landed on her head.
*Drip*—
The rain clouds that had just dispersed had inexplicably covered the mountain peak again.
Fengyu Die looked up.
*Rumble*—
A spring thunderclap echoed for a hundred li, making her heart tremble.
*Thump thump*…
Fengyu Die furrowed her brows slightly, then put her spirit sword back into her storage bag. She nodded to the Xuan Xing Sect disciple before her and clasped her hands in a salute:
“Apologies.”
Before the other person could finish speaking, Fengyu Die summoned her flying sword, stepped onto it, and rapidly flew towards Tianyun Peak.
With a crackle, spring thunder sounded again.
A torrential downpour suddenly began.
Fengyu Die flew rapidly through the rain, and soon her entire body was soaked. She gritted her teeth, suppressing the unease in her heart.
But she knew that as long as she found Young Master Ye, this unease would quickly dissipate, just like it always did…
“Young Master Ye…”
Her flying sword carved a furrow across the sky through the dark clouds. After flying for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Fengyu Die finally landed in front of the Three-Bay House where Xiao Yunluo and Ye Anping lived.
The heavy rain drummed on the bluestone ground in front of the courtyard gate, creating ripples.
She hurried to the red wooden gate, knocked, and shouted:
“Young Master Ye!! Young Master Ye!!”
*Bang bang bang*—
*Bang bang*—
After waiting for a moment, the door opened.
Xiao Yunluo, with a pair of dragon horns on her head, revealed her face from the crack in the door, looking resentful. Seeing the Second Fool standing at the door like a drowned rat, she was slightly stunned and asked:
“Second Fool, what are you doing? It’s raining so heavily…”
“Senior Sister Xiao… where is Young Master Ye?”
“Anping left with Liang Xue this morning to go to the Southern Region…” Xiao Yunluo said calmly, taking out a bag of roasted chicken from her storage bag and handing it over. “Here, Anping marinated some for you before he left. Take them.”
“Ah?! Young Master Ye left?!”
“Yes, he said there was no need for me and you to go with him this time. There won’t be much fighting, and my dragon horns are inconvenient to reveal in front of the Taibai Sect Master.”
“…Why didn’t he tell me?”
“If Anping didn’t tell you, it means he doesn’t need our help. Don’t worry, besides, Liang Xue is with him. When has he ever missed anything?”
Fengyu Die bit her lip slightly, slowly put the roasted chicken handed over by Xiao Yunluo into her storage bag, and turned to walk back towards her own courtyard.
Seeing her dejected expression, Xiao Yunluo didn’t say much. Just as she was about to close the door, Fengyu Die suddenly turned around and ran back:
“Senior Sister Xiao!”
“…What now?!”
“Did Young Master Ye say whether you and I could follow him?”
“He didn’t say we couldn’t, just that it was unnecessary. Anping told us to cultivate well in Xuan Xing Sect and prepare for Nascent Soul Formation. He’ll be back after he’s dealt with matters at the Taibai Sect…”
Fengyu Die hesitated for a moment, frowned, and suggested:
“Then in that case… let’s follow him?! What if Young Master Ye encounters something he didn’t expect? We…”
“…Anping told me to cultivate well.”
“Then if Senior Sister Xiao isn’t going, I’ll go alone! I’ll go back and pack. Senior Sister Xiao, can you help me tell the elders…”
Fengyu Die, as if rushing to get clothes from home, turned and ran towards her room before finishing her sentence, intending to pack her luggage.
Seeing her haste, Xiao Yunluo hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and chased after her, grabbing Fengyu Die by the shoulder:
“Second Fool!!”
“What is it?!”
“I… I’ll go too! I’ll pack, and I’ll leave a letter for Mr. Qi. We’ll meet at the mountain gate.”
“Oh… okay!!”
… …
————
*Rumble*—
Spring thunder rumbled, and the rain poured down.
About four hundred li southwest of the Xuan Xing Sect, in a town built around a mountain, two figures in straw capes, one tall and one short, landed side-by-side on the street via sword.
Inside a restaurant by the street, the sounds of toasting and drinking were continuous.
“Have you heard about the young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect? Something about spring aspect spiritual energy… I inquired, and it seems he has already reached Core Formation at such a young age…”
“That’s right! They say he’s also very handsome, and even the empress of Hantian Kingdom is infatuated with him. But I suspect it’s an exaggeration. Speaking of handsome appearance, am I as handsome as him?! Haha—”
Drunkards and rogue cultivators, half-tipsy, gathered and bragged, drawing boos from the surrounding patrons.
At this moment, two figures, one tall and one short, stepped over the threshold of the restaurant.
The slightly taller youth leading the way slightly raised his hood, his deep purple eyes sweeping over the drunkard who had just claimed to be more handsome than “Ye Anping.” Seeing that he was a cultivator at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, he smiled and added:
“Young Master Ye of the Hundred Lotus Sect is naturally much more handsome than you.”
Upon hearing this, the man turned his head with disdain, winked at the youth, trying to merge the double vision caused by alcohol, and retorted loudly, spitting:
“Oh? Who are you, brat!! Do you mean to say you’ve seen that Ye…”
Only at this point did he realize that both the youth and the woman behind him were cultivators at the late Core Formation stage. His face turned deathly pale, and he immediately bowed deeply, cupped his fists, and performed a grand salute:
“Greetings… greetings to you both, seniors.”
The youth seemed unconcerned. He raised his hand, untied the cord around his neck, removed his bamboo hat, and cupped his hands in front of the more than twenty rogue cultivators in the hall:
“As it is raining, I have brought my cultivation partner here to shelter from the rain. If ‘Ye Mouren’ has disturbed your enjoyment, please forgive me.”
… …
