**Chapter 453: Senior Brother, You’re Not as Simple as You Seem**
In the center of the river, mist surged, and white clouds rolled.
Sparks of electricity crackled and spread along the river’s surface, but they dissipated in moments, along with the ink-black clouds in the sky.
The wind calmed, the waves subsided, and then river fish began to emerge from the depths, their white bellies upturned, basking in the setting sun.
Lei Wanjun glanced at the surging Qinshui Dragon that leaped out of the water, then waved his sleeve.
“Go back to your nest!”
The Qinshui Dragon’s fierce vertical pupils instantly softened into the obedient demeanor of a dutiful wife. It nodded slightly before diving back into the river and swimming upstream, its tail wagging.
Elder Cao of the Taibai Sect, who was hovering in mid-air with his flying sword using the Imperial Flight spell, slowly landed his feet on his sword. He looked up at the suddenly appearing Lei Wanjun. After examining his attire, he understood Lei Wanjun’s identity.
However, at the same time, a question arose:
— Why would the Great Elder of the Xuan Xing Sect be here?
While this was the place where the Xuan Xing Sect raised Qinshui Dragons, it was hardly necessary for a Deity Transformation Stage Great Elder to guard it. That would be an excessive use of talent.
Ultimately, having the assistance of a Deity Transformation Stage cultivator from a prestigious immortal family was a stroke of immense good fortune.
Elder Cao glanced around and, seeing that Zu Lingzhi was on her flying sword and unharmed, quickly flew his sword over. He tucked his whisk back under his arm, bowed, and clasped his fists.
“Many thanks for your assistance, Senior Lei.”
“Hmph…”
Lei Wanjun snorted like an ox, looking up at Cao Yan’er with an unperturbed expression, though his mind was racing.
— Why is it an elder from the Taibai Sect? If she finds out I’m here to breed Qinshui Dragons, where will I hide my face?
— And how did another demonic cultivator cross the border into the Western Regions? She looks like an elder from a demonic sect. If the Sect Master finds out about this…
Lei Wanjun’s emotions were a tangled mess. However, he maintained the imposing aura of a Deity Transformation Stage cultivator, deliberately emphasizing,
“I am here on the orders of Dan Yue Shang Xian to patrol the borders of the Western Regions and prevent demonic cultivators from infiltrating. I happened to pass by.”
This was a clear misdirection! So, he wasn’t actually on patrol… Elder Cao silently nodded. “Mhm.”
“What was that Nascent Soul demonic cultivator just now?”
The Western Regions border is under your watch, and you’re asking me? … Elder Cao respectfully bowed.
“That demonic cultivator must have come because of the matter involving the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect. It seems the news of the Hundred Lotus Sect’s Spring Aspect has spread to the Eastern Domain.”
?
Lei Wanjun was utterly bewildered by this statement.
Previously, regarding the incident in Donghuang, the Sect Master had ordered him to escort Ye Anping and Xiao Yunluo back safely from Donghuang. However, he was intercepted by the Demon Race when he entered the Central Domain.
By the time he found a way to bypass the demon territory and reach Donghuang, it had already fallen into the hands of the Ghost Spirit Sect. Later, he learned that Ye Anping and the others had taken a detour through Jianmen Pass in the Southern Domain and returned to the Western Regions.
Thinking that he had failed the task assigned by Si Xuanji, he knew returning to the Xuan Xing Sect would only lead to expulsion.
Coincidentally, it was the breeding season for Qinshui Dragons, so he didn’t return directly. Instead, he came here to continue caring for the Qinshui Dragons, planning to return after Si Xuanji’s anger had subsided, as a form of penance.
What further trouble had arisen now…
Lei Wanjun paused, his gaze dropping to the small boat below. He saw Ye Anping holding a pot of fish soup, standing with Pei Lianxue, and looking in his direction. He gasped and immediately floated down.
“You two, why are you here? And fishing here?! Don’t you know what kind of place this is?”
Ye Anping handed the fish soup for his junior sister to hold and cupped his fists.
“Greetings, Elder Lei. My junior sister and I are out traveling. I heard from Young Master Xiao earlier that you were here…”
“Cough, cough!!”
Rumble—
A thunderous roar echoed through the heavens.
Lei Wanjun coughed urgently to interrupt, fearing that Ye Anping might reveal what he was doing there. After all, family shame was not to be aired publicly. He gave Ye Anping a look, signaling him to be mindful of the outsider’s presence.
Ye Anping nodded in understanding and continued.
“Your disciple was merely passing on a message for Young Master Xiao…”
“Young Miss Xiao? What message?”
Ye Anping glanced at Cao Yan’er beside him, beckoned Lei Wanjun closer, and whispered.
“She said if you don’t return to the Xuan Xing Sect soon, the Sect Master will come herself…”
Lei Wanjun’s face instantly turned pale.
Rumble—!
A bolt of lightning flashed across the clear sky, illuminating the river surface.
Ye Anping then took out the jade pendant Si Xuanji had given him and presented it, adding with a cupped fist, “Don’t worry about me, I will handle my own affairs.”
Looking at the jade pendant in Ye Anping’s hand and hearing his words, Lei Wanjun, though wanting to ask about the demonic cultivator and the dragon baiting, no longer pursued it.
“I understand. While you two are traveling, always be vigilant.”
Lei Wanjun maintained his imposing demeanor as a Deity Transformation cultivator, nodded in response, and then transformed into a beam of white light, rushing westward, stirring the clothes of those present.
Ye Anping maintained his smiling expression, waved, and watched Lei Wanjun disappear into the horizon. He then turned to Cao Yan’er, cupped his fists again.
“Greetings, Elder of the Taibai Sect. I am Ye Anping, and this is my junior sister and cultivation partner, Pei Lianxue.”
Looking at Ye Anping’s smiling face, Cao Yan’er felt an indescribable sense of dissonance. She considered the situation and found it truly bizarre.
A Nascent Soul elder from the Hehuan Sect with seven Core Formation demonic cultivators came here, only to be encountered by her and Zu Lingzhi. While they were at an impasse, the Qinshui Dragon, which usually dwelled in the deep river, conveniently leaped out, and then the Great Elder of the Xuan Xing Sect happened to pass by…
She had prepared herself for a two or three-day battle with that Nascent Soul demonic cultivator, but…
“Young Master Ye is too kind. I am also an elder of an immortal family. Seeing an immortal cultivator being attacked by demonic cultivators, how could I stand by and do nothing?”
“Your noble heart is truly admirable, Senior. I respect you.”
As they exchanged polite pleasantries, Zu Lingzhi landed her flying sword on the boat, causing it to bob slightly. She sheathed her spirit sword, tossed it into her storage bag, crossed her arms, and looked up at Ye Anping and Pei Lianxue.
“When I said I was leaving, why did you two make no move? Did you freeze in fear? You almost got me swallowed by that Qinshui Dragon, hmph~”
Ye Anping smiled, replying calmly.
“Yes, we were stunned.”
Those four words ended the topic. Zu Lingzhi stared at Ye Anping’s smiling face, inexplicably feeling a surge of anger, wanting to scold him but not knowing how.
“If I hadn’t arrived, you two would have died at the hands of those demonic cultivators.”
“Yes, Sister Daoist Priest, you are correct.”
“Dao… Who did you just call a priestess?!” Zu Lingzhi’s blood pressure spiked. The twin buns behind her head puffed up like rabbit ears in anger. “You’re so arrogant, do you know who I am? Talking to me like that?!”
Ye Anping maintained his smile and looked back at Elder Cao.
“Um… Senior, who is this Daoist Priestess?”
“The Chief Disciple of the Taibai Sect, Zu Ling’er.”
“Oh~ Greetings, Daoist Priestess Zu.”
“… …”
Zu Lingzhi furrowed her brows, her heart filled with frustration. She immediately summoned her spirit sword and lunged at Ye Anping, intending to put him in his place.
Whoosh—
A silver light flashed.
Elder Cao, seeing that Zu Lingzhi wasn’t using her full strength, didn’t intervene. She thought she would use Zu Lingzhi to test the mettle of this Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect.
However, she hadn’t tested the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect’s mettle, but she had tested that of the quiet and shy girl beside him…
Clang—
—She was not to be underestimated!
Sparks exploded in front of Ye Anping’s neck. Pei Lianxue, her expressionless face unchanged, raised her right hand, gripping the hilt of her spirit sword in a reverse grip, and steadily blocked Zu Lingzhi’s sword tip just inches from her senior brother’s throat.
In the next moment, Zu Lingzhi’s pupils contracted slightly. Although Pei Lianxue hadn’t moved at all, she hastily pulled back, clutching her neck with her left hand.
Her movements were so exaggerated, it looked as if she was desperately trying to staunch bleeding.
Even though to Elder Cao, it just looked like the girl had blocked Zu Lingzhi’s sword, seeing Zu Lingzhi’s reaction, she could tell that in Zu Lingzhi’s eyes, she had already been decapitated by the girl.
After all, Zu Lingzhi was the Chief Disciple of the Taibai Sect. If she could be made to hallucinate to such an extent, the sword art of this girl must be extraordinary.
Ye Anping looked at Zu Lingzhi, whose face was red from holding her breath, and quickly reminded her to breathe.
“Hey? Daoist Priestess Zu, what are you doing…”
“Ah…”
Zu Lingzhi stared as if she had returned from another world. She slowly looked up at the now harmless-looking orange-eyed girl and swallowed hard.
“Hiding behind a girl and leeching off her, aren’t you ashamed?”
Vicious tongue, and still so arrogant…
I wonder how the Feng Yu Die in the game could bring herself to do it…
Ye Anping was about to ignore her, but Pei Lianxue, for some reason, couldn’t help but chime in.
“I wish Senior Brother would leech off me…”
“?”
Zu Lingzhi’s blood pressure soared. Now she was truly speechless.
Ye Anping turned to look at his junior sister and tapped her forehead, smiling.
“Daoist Priestess Zu, my junior sister has always been straightforward. Please don’t bicker with her.”
“… …”
Elder Cao found it amusing that Zu Lingzhi had been outmatched, but, maintaining her position, she interjected.
“Alright, Ling’er. You and Young Master Ye are at the same cultivation level. Drawing your sword rashly was impolite.”
“Hey? Elder Cao, why are you siding with him? Even if my great-grandfather asked us to invite him to the Taibai Sect as a guest, there’s no need to be completely subservient to him! Why are you scolding me?”
Ye Anping blinked, then sighed.
“Daoist Priestess Zu, you probably don’t have many friends, do you?”
“?! You!!”
Elder Cao ignored her and smiled.
“However, as Ling’er said, I do wish to invite Young Master Ye to the Taibai Sect for a visit. Would Young Master Ye be willing?”
“Of course. Your disciple and junior sister are currently traveling and were wondering where to go next. Since we’ve met, it must be fate. Coincidentally, I’ve made a pot of fish soup. Would you care to try some?”
“Since Young Master Ye has invited me, I gratefully accept.”
“Please, Senior!”
Ye Anping extended his hand in invitation and then led Elder Cao under the boat’s canopy. They sat down, placed the fish soup on the small table in the center, took out a wine pot and cups from his storage bag, and finally placed the severed hand of Gu Mingxin on the corner of the table, gently patting it.
“Behave yourself.”
Elder Cao looked at the hand, her expression freezing for a moment. But she didn’t ask, only thinking that this young man was perhaps more complex than she had imagined. She smiled and beckoned to Zu Lingzhi, who was still stunned outside the canopy.
“Young girl Zu, learn from this. This is how you properly assert your dominance.”
“Heh heh… It’s not really an assertion of dominance, Senior. You worry too much. Come, try this fish soup. I caught it this afternoon; it’s very fresh.”
Ye Anping reached out and lifted the lid of the pot, releasing a rich aroma. Pei Lianxue quickly took out her own bowl and chopsticks, her eyes expectant as she poked her chopsticks towards the fish’s belly.
On the river, the wind was calm, and a small boat drifted with the current towards a waning moon that had just emerged above the horizon…
… …
————
The waning moon rose in the east.
In the immortal city of Nanke, located to the west of the Southern Domain, the streets were brightly lit, and pedestrians were bustling.
Feng Yu Die, dressed in a white skirt, led Xiao Yunluo, whose head was wrapped like a beehive, walking along the street, listening and observing.
“It seems demonic cultivators have infiltrated the Southern Domain recently. Some cultivators found traces of Gu bugs in the Jade Forest.”
“Donghuang Immortal City has been breached. The demonic cultivators are likely poised to cross Jianmen Pass. What did the city guards say about this matter?”
“The City Lord has begun an investigation, but there seems to be no progress…”
“The Southern Domain has the Taibai Sect and the Wu Nian Sect. What is there to fear? Would demonic cultivators dare to enter the Southern Domain?”
Feng Yu Die listened to the chatter of the passersby and pursed her lips slightly, murmuring.
“I haven’t heard any news about Young Master Ye and Junior Sister Pei.”
She then turned to Xiao Yunluo and asked, “Senior Sister Xiao, do you have any connections? Where can we go to inquire for news?”
Xiao Yunluo looked around, adjusted her veil.
“This is the Southern Domain! How would I know… I think we should have listened to Anping and stayed at the Xuan Xing Sect to cultivate properly. He didn’t ask us to come here. We don’t even know which path they took…”
“But I’m worried…”
“Anping is usually cautious. He probably wouldn’t reveal his whereabouts on the road unless he intended to. We’re only a thousand li away from the Taibai Sect and haven’t met them. So either they’ve already reached the Taibai Sect, or they’re behind us.”
Feng Yu Die blinked and replied meekly.
“Senior Sister Xiao, isn’t that like saying nothing at all?”
“… …”
“Senior Sister Xiao, do you have any more roasted chicken?”
“It’s all gone! Anping marinated some for you before we left, and you ate it all on the way.”
“Oh…”
Xiao Yunluo glanced at Feng Yu Die, then pointed to a restaurant not far ahead.
“We’ll rest in this immortal city tonight. You can ask the innkeeper for information later. If all else fails, we’ll go to the Taibai Sect and wait for them there.”
“Mhm… Alright.”
… …
