Chapter 536 Agu, Rou Xin
The closer they got to the Tian Mo Sect, the more potent the killing aura of the world became, with black clouds piling up and pressing down directly onto the mountain peaks. Even the goose-feather snow falling from the clouds was now stained with an eerie black-red hue.
A raven circled above the mountain peak, as if searching for its dinner, occasionally letting out a “caw.”
Clang—
A sword shrieked through the sky.
Before the raven could react, it was vaporized into meat chunks by a pitch-black spirit sword shot up from the forest below.
Ye Anping, wearing a bamboo hat, stood leaning against a dead tree. He used his remote observation spell to watch the scattered bird meat in the sky, then nodded towards Feng Yu Die, who was controlling her spirit sword, before turning to look at Xiao Tian floating beside him:
“Xiao Tian, is there any more?”
Xiao Tian placed two fingers on her forehead and scanned the mountain forest within a radius of five hundred li with her spiritual sense, then nodded with certainty:
“None left! That was the last one…”
Ye Anping didn’t doubt her and felt a slight sense of relief.
Although he often teased Xiao Tian for being a useless little spirit artifact, she could be quite useful at times.
Seven days had passed since they left Pei Lianxue’s Immortal Ship.
For the past seven days, Ye Anping, accompanied by Feng Yu Die and Gu Mingxin, had been rushing towards the Tian Mo Sect on their flying swords, day and night, hoping to rendezvous with Mo Chi Ling’s Cui Xin Palace as soon as possible.
However, even with such haste, they had only covered less than five thousand li in seven days.
Considering the speed of three Nascent Soul cultivators, this was quite slow.
The main reason for this slowness was the ravens that Feng Yu Die had just eliminated.
The Tian Mo Sect used ravens as their eyes.
Being seen by them was no different from being stared at by a Void Realm cultivator.
Ye Anping did not want to be targeted by another Void Realm cultivator, as he feared it would make Xuan Ji, the Grand Hero, jealous.
Therefore, throughout the journey, he, Feng Yu Die, and Gu Mingxin had been extremely cautious. Xiao Tian and Xue E also took turns helping to scout their surroundings. Once they spotted a raven, they would be informed and then either eliminate it before being discovered or take a detour to avoid it.
Feng Yu Die retrieved her spirit sword and walked back:
“Young Master Ye, it’s done.”
“Yes, let’s rest in the mountain cave first. Xiao Tian, continue scouting ahead.”
“Okay!”
Watching Xiao Tian transform into a streak of golden light and fly towards the sky, Ye Anping looked at Feng Yu Die, then reached out and helped her adjust her bamboo hat, which was keeping the snow out, and led her back to the grotto they were using for rest.
The grotto had been dug out using earth-elemental talismans and was hidden beneath vines. Fearing discovery by the ravens, they hadn’t lit a fire for illumination before, relying solely on Xiao Tian’s forehead light. Now, it was pitch black inside, making it almost impossible to see.
However, now that they were certain there were no ravens, Ye Anping condensed his spiritual energy into points of light, illuminating the cave.
Gu Mingxin was currently meditating in the center of the cave, calmly circulating her cultivation method. Hearing footsteps, she slowly opened her eyes and asked with a smile:
“Ye Anping, you’re back?”
“…Mm.”
Ye Anping looked at her, feeling a bit strange.
Previously, on Xuan Xing Sect’s Immortal Ship, while he was with his Junior Sister and Yunluo, Gu Mingxin had stayed in her assigned room, cultivating.
And during the seven days of travel, Gu Mingxin had been silent and withdrawn, not even having the energy to argue with Feng Yu Die. She felt like a completely different person to Ye Anping.
While it was good…
But seeing her, who used to bicker non-stop with Feng Yu Die, suddenly become quiet, Ye Anping felt a little unaccustomed.
Ye Anping remained silent for a moment, then set up a campfire in the cave and roasted some skewered chicken. He also asked:
“A’gu, you’ve been quite quiet these past few days.”
“Mm…” Gu Mingxin drew out her words, revealing a mocking smile, and retorted, “Are you holding back, wanting me to dual cultivate with you?”
Ye Anping was taken aback: “…Forget I asked.”
“I’m just considerate of you, Ye Anping,” Gu Mingxin tilted her head back, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve been exploited by a dragon and your silly junior sister for six days and six nights. If I were to add to that, wouldn’t your vital essence be depleted… I would be heartbroken if that happened.”
Ye Anping glanced at her, and an equation immediately formed in his mind.
—Junior Sister + Yunluo + A’gu = Junior Sister + Yunluo
Gu Mingxin tapped Ye Anping’s shoulder, drawing circles, then leaned her head directly onto his shoulder and said with a laugh:
“Ye Anping… I only have you in this world now. Don’t lie to me. You promised me you would give me a home and help me kill He Buqun.”
Ye Anping was startled by her words and looked at her face sideways.
He noticed that in her usually arrogant and condescending eyes, there was now a trace of unease.
Ye Anping was silent for a moment, then asked:
“Were you stimulated?”
“What could stimulate me? That idiotic idiot over there?”
Upon hearing this, Feng Yu Die, who was tidying her storage bag nearby, shot her a cold glance, protesting with a resentful look. However, remembering Ye Anping’s words on the road to get along as best as possible, she decided not to respond.
At this moment, however, Xue E poked her head out from the center of Feng Yu Die’s forehead and spread her hands in exasperation, saying:
“Ye Anping, didn’t you ask her to prepare He Qingjiao’s grave that day?”
“Mm…”
Xue E stroked Gu Mingxin’s head in comfort, then explained:
“He Qingjiao’s spirit sword had the words ‘Ming Xin’ on it. After seeing it, Ming Xin stayed there alone, lost in thought for a long time.”
“I didn’t! I was just curious what it meant?”
“Sigh…” Xue E said with an old mother’s smile, shaking her head. “Ye Anping, Ming Xin has been alone since she was young, with no one who cared about her. Back then, you said that He Qingjiao had protected her since childhood, and then…”
“Xue E, be quiet!!”
“Mm…”
Xue E felt there was no need to say more and promptly closed her mouth.
Ye Anping was silent for a moment, then roughly understood and asked:
“So, you’re belatedly feeling unsettled about killing your childhood benefactor?”
“No~” Gu Mingxin pouted and replied.
“…”
Seeing her like this, Ye Anping decided not to pursue the topic.
He had previously considered recruiting He Qingjiao, not only because He Qingjiao was a considerable combat force, but also because he wanted to find a companion for Gu Mingxin.
Gu Mingxin was different from his Junior Sister, Xiao Yunluo, and Feng Yu Die.
She was a demonic cultivator, and having grown up in the Tian Mo Sect, her personality was inherently a bit eccentric.
After the matters at Tian Mo Sect were resolved, even if he took Gu Mingxin to the Hundred Lotus Sect, and even if he could accept her, the disciples of the Hundred Lotus Sect and his Junior Sister might not necessarily accept her.
His Junior Sister had countless adoring fans in the Hundred Lotus Sect;
Xiao Yunluo had the elders of the Xuan Xing Sect and Grand Hero Xuan Ji;
Yun Yiyi had Jiujiu and Yun Xi;
Li Longling had the Chi Long Mansion left by her father;
Feng Yu Die had Ancestor Ling Zhi, who respected and admired her, Elder Qin and Mr. Qi, who were willing to take care of her, and Yun Tianchong, who wanted to make amends to Grand Void True Person;
However, Gu Mingxin, even if she went to the Hundred Lotus Sect, would still be alone, no different from her life in the Tian Mo Sect.
Ye Anping surmised that He Qingjiao’s death had probably made her realize this.
This was why she had been so reticent lately?
“A’gu, I said I would give you a home, and I will.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t believe you… Hehe~~ Also, you have to help me kill He Buqun.”
“Mm…”
Xue E, standing beside them, pursed her lips and watched them affectionately.
However, the next moment, a golden lightbulb suddenly shot in from the cave entrance, shouting anxiously:
“Anping!! Anping!!”
Hearing Xiao Tian’s urgent voice, Ye Anping, Feng Yu Die, and Gu Mingxin all became alert and looked towards her.
Ye Anping asked, “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“About a hundred and twenty li north, seven or eight Snow-clothed Guards are surrounded by over twenty demonic cultivators. I checked the storage bag of one of those demonic cultivators, and it seems to be someone from Cui Xin Palace.”
Ye Anping frowned slightly and pondered the situation, a little surprised.
The Snow-clothed Guards were from the Hantian Kingdom. Their appearance here meant that Sun Juehu was likely nearby as well.
This was faster than he had anticipated.
However, it wasn’t a major problem…
The priority now was to eliminate Yu Yan. After that, Xuan Ji and Sun Juehu would almost certainly have to fight, but that was a matter for later. Sun Juehu was not foolish; before Yu Yan’s death, she would not make a move against Si Xuanji, otherwise, she would die in the Eastern Domain herself.
“It’s not a big deal for Mo Chi Ling’s people to intercept the Snow-clothed Guards. Cui Xin Palace is on the side of the Immortal Families, but in reality, their goals are simply aligned. I imagine they were driven to desperation…”
Ye Anping explained, then rested his chin, weighing the pros and cons.
Although they were from the Hantian Kingdom, they were still Immortal Cultivators. Under normal circumstances, if he could save them, he would definitely do so.
But this area was already the heartland of the Tian Mo Sect. If Gu Mingxin were to be spotted by the ravens of the Tian Mo Sect, it would be disastrous.
“We won’t get involved in this mess…”
Xiao Tian hesitated for a moment and said hesitantly:
“But Anping, I saw Xu Mulan there…”
Ye Anping’s eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this name.
“Xu Mulan is there?”
“Yes, I saw her injured. If this continues, she’ll die at the hands of those demonic cultivators.”
Xue E and Gu Mingxin didn’t recognize this name, but seeing Ye Anping’s expression change, they couldn’t help but ask:
“Who is Xu Mulan?”
Ye Anping did not answer her. After a brief moment of thought, he stood up directly.
“Yu Die.”
“Yes.” Feng Yu Die immediately stood up. “Should I go with you to help?”
“No, you and A’gu stay here. Xiao Tian will go with me.” Ye Anping said decisively, “It doesn’t matter if I’m seen by the ravens, but you and Gu Mingxin absolutely cannot be exposed. Xue E, help me keep watch around here.”
“Okay!”
Feng Yu Die pouted slightly and slowly sat back down:
“Oh, alright!”
Ye Anping looked at the three of them, had Xiao Tian sit on his shoulder, then put on his bamboo hat again, turned around, and walked out of the cave once more.
After his footsteps completely disappeared, Gu Mingxin glanced at Feng Yu Die and asked:
“Is Xu Mulan also his Dao Companion?”
Feng Yu Die looked back and replied after a moment of silence:
“Young Master Ye used to constantly mention a girl named ‘Xiyue’. Xu Mulan is Xiyue’s older sister.”
“I see, Xiyue…”
Xue E looked at the two of them as they exchanged glances and shook her head helplessly, saying:
“Ming Xin, and… Yu Die, don’t quarrel or fight, alright?! I’ll go outside and watch. I’ll come in and tell you if there’s any commotion! Don’t fight!! Remember this!”
… …
