Chapter 41: Pure-Heart Precipice Since time immemorial, Buddhist and demon could never tolerate the other. Incited by this encroaching Buddhist energy, the remnants of demonic energy instantly boiled up, but before it could condense into a malicious beast, it was softened into grey smoke by this gentle zen. The graceful smoke, rising in spirals, carried some valiant force, but was not as dark and cruel as demonic energy.
"Yes, there is malicious energy, but it was not corrupted by demonic energy. This spiritual sword most likely was not destroyed by this little girl, but… but…"
Hearing these words leave her mouth, the cultivator from Ci Guang Temple suddenly stared, eyes wide. She was going to vent some anger for her Shifu, but for some reason, when the time came, she had not spoken according to Ming Cang"s orders.
She had suddenly changed her tone, and Ming Cang"s expression was unpleasant to see. He hummed near-imperceptibly, oppressive aura like Mount Tai pressing down on the female cultivator"s body.
"So you mean to say, the Luan Feng sword really did disperse by itself?" The unconcealed threat shone through his eyes.
The female cultivator looked at Ming Cang, then looked at Ning Guang, then finally gritted her teeth and said, "The spirit of the Luan Feng sword did not disperse by itself, but this little girl was not the main culprit. The malicious energy on her body is a bit heavy, but she would still have no way to disturb a sword spirit and make Luan Feng disperse. It was demonic energy left behind when the ancient witch fell.
It had hibernated in the Luan Feng sword all along and came back to life with the sword spirit. Before, our young friend Sui Ying could not help it recover because her cultivation was still shallow, and today, circ.u.mstances aligned. Stimulated by this little girl"s malicious energy, it erupted."
This female cultivator did not know that Ning Guang was the reincarnation of the ancient witch. The words she spoke were purely to absolve Ning Guang.
Di Jiufeng did not quite understand why the person who previously tore down their rafters would help cover for Ning Guang, but she was still thankful to escape this calamity. She let out a held breath, stretched-taut back slowly relaxing, but before she could be happy for too long, Ming Cang"s voice sounded out.
"You are not wrong, this little girl truly is not the main culprit, but at so young an age, she could already incite demonic energy to erupt. If we leave her with no supervision, maybe she will step onto the crooked path. In my opinion, she ought to be sent to the Pure-Heart Precipice and only let out after her malicious energy is cleansed. Or else, one day in the future, the destruction of the cultivation world will be on our negligence!"
Compa.s.sionate eyes swept over the crowd. Ming Cang"s words held awe-inspiring righteousness.
Ji Liuran did not want Ning Guang to be shut away, but she was caught by her daddy before she could speak. Ji Xian grabbed her and barked in a low voice, "Don"t cause trouble, our Ji Family cannot bear the sin of pardoning evil demons and allowing the destruction of the cultivation world," forcibly restraining his daughter.
Ji Xian did not object, and no one else dared open their mouths. No wanted to become the evil demon"s accomplice, nor wanted to make Han Hai Pavilion their enemy.
Those that were silent were silent, those that agreed agreed, and the situation that had finally began to turn around tilted back towards Ming Cang.
Seeing this situation, Di Jiufeng hated herself for being too weak, but this was not anything unexpected, didn"t she predict this long ago? With Han Hai Pavilion"s strength, they could eliminate them with a flick of the hand.
Di Jiufeng had long guessed the situation before them. It was even something that was set to happen in the main plotline. The Pure-Heart Precipice was no danger to Ning Guang. In fact, it could even help her advance her demonic cultivation, she should not be worried about letting her enter.
But, thinking of Ning Guang being shut inside as punishment, Di Jiufeng found it hard to bear.
Though the demonic path was difficult to cultivate, it did not require the Pure-Heart Precipice. Her Ning Guang had not done anything wrong, why should she be the sacrifice to these people"s power struggle? Di Jiufeng hated to part with Ning Guang. Her long sleeves drooping, she silently summoned Shen City, wanting to take her and leave.
Because the colored gla.s.s heart was on Ning Guang, she sensed Di Jiufeng"s movement right away.
She lowered her head, gaze tangling on Di Jiufeng"s body, voice gentle and sweet like the world"s most tempting wine. "Shifu, we will not escape. It is only the Pure-Heart Precipice, I can handle it. I know you have Shen City, and you can take me away. But after that? You will live under Han Hai Pavilion"s pursuit for the rest of your life. I do not want it to be like that, I want you to live a life more free than anyone else."
Pulling Di Jiufeng behind her, Ning Guang straightened her back and walked out.
She gave all her gentleness to Di Jiufeng. As for every other living being, she walked over, ice cold like the dead of winter, a storm of bone-piercing snowflakes with every step.
Ning Guang would to go to the Pure-Heart Precipice of her own volition. After she was taken away, Di Jiufeng was also driven out of Han Hai Pavilion. As soon as she stepped out of the gate, she sensed a few life signs chasing her. Needless to say, Han Hai Pavilion found her an annoyance and wanted to a.s.sa.s.sinate her.
Pretending she did not know, she walked straight towards the remote outskirts of town.
Di Jiufeng purposefully picked a forest and walked into its center. She poured her spiritual energy into her feet and walked through a track-erasing step array, silhouette disappearing in a flash. Seeing her disappear, Han Hai Pavilion"s elders did not hide any longer, hurrying to appear and scatter in all directions.
"Split up and chase, she was injured by the Sect Leader"s oppressive aura, she cannot go far!"
Saying this, they spread out in all directions, but before they had gone a whole meter, they fainted onto the ground, one after another.
"Humph, come on and chase!" When the elders had lost consciousness, Di Jiufeng exited Shen City. She had not fled, but had used the track-erasing step array to confuse them, and then hid in Shen City.
Han Hai Pavilion"s people bullied them too much. Though Di Jiufeng"s temperament was soft, she could not endure and swallow her tongue this time. Hearing that these people were about to split up and search, she used Shen City"s spatial powers to move and hide, then used the System"s lightning to knock them out one by one.
She had thought of this trick on the spot, but the effect was even better than she had expected.
But, controlling Shen City to move through the cracks in s.p.a.ce expended too much spiritual energy. A trifling four jumps had cleared out her dantian, and she was even dizzy for a brief moment.
Propping herself up on a tree trunk, she finally caught her breath after a long while. She was planning to strip all the treasures from the elders, then use lightning to make them lose their memory, when she heard the sound of a twig snapping from behind her.
"Who is it!"
To make this loud a noise, if this person was not an idiot, then they trusted in their backing. Di Jiufeng turned, on alert, spiritual energy slowly pouring into Shen City.
Hearing her shout, Qing Yu walked out from the bushes.
"No need to fear, it"s me." Slowly walking to Di Jiufeng"s side, he handed over the medicinal pills in his hand.
Seeing that it was Qing Yu, Di Jiufeng did not lower her guard. He was from Han Hai Pavilion after all. Though his expression was friendly and he did not have a hint of bloodl.u.s.t, she was still afraid to relax. Not taking the medicine bottle, she instead evaded. "They are only some small wounds, they will heal with some breath control. You…"
"You do not need to be on your guard against me, I will not harm you." Saying this, he made an oath. When the binding of the Heavenly Way fell on his body, Qing Yu stuffed the medicine bottle into her hands. "Though you do not remember, you did save me, how could I harm you? Jiufeng, Han Hai Pavilion"s Sect Leader is not some kind and merciful person. You were injured by him, you must be careful."
Though he did not say it outright, his tone and expression already showed it in full light.
Qing Yu made an oath to the Heavenly Way, so Di Jiufeng did not continue to suspect him.
Taking the medicinal pills and storing Shen City back in her dantian, Di Jiufeng leaned on the tree and said in a weak voice, "You mean to say, he would use secret techniques?"
Qing Yu shook his head, furrowed his brow, and said, "Not secret techniques, secret techniques are easy to discover. Ming Cang is very eccentric, as long as he intends to act, no one can live longer than half a month. For most, their nascent souls will shatter and their souls will disperse, without even a whole body left behind. I have not been in Han Hai Pavilion for long and my Shifu does not like to go out with others. Come to speak of it, I do not understand Han Hai Pavilion any more than a cleaning servant.
But, Jiufeng, you do not need to worry too much. You are at Middle-Stage Deity Transformation and are not too far from Ming Cang, if he did something to you in secret, you should be able to discover it."
Qing Yu was a yao and did not feel much like he belonged in the human realm. Even his Shifu he held at a distance, never exchanging a word most of the year.
Seeing the elders laying all over the ground, Qing Yu did not feel a bit of pity. He even took the initiative to gather a few qiankun pouches to pa.s.s to Di Jiufeng. "None of Han Hai Pavilion"s elders are clean, many of the treasures in their possession were stolen by force. You do not need to feel guilty taking them, just be careful in case they retaliate."
He thought, then created a few oddly-colored flowers and shook them onto the elders" bodies with a flick of the wrist.
Once the flower pieces entered their bodies, they burrowed into the forehead. The elders" faces trembled, faint smiles appearing on their lips.
"I changed their memories to make them think they successfully killed you. As for the qiankun pouches, they were destroyed in the battle. This is a secret technique of my yao clan, no one not from the yao realm should be able to detect it. You can relax. They think you died, and in the future, they will not send people to chase you."
Qing Yu helped her so much after knowing her for only a day, yet the supposed life debt he owed was not even real.
Di Jiufeng was not a heartless person. She was ashamed to receive this sort of repayment. "Qing Yu, you don"t need to do this. That day on Mingxia Mountain, I did not intend to save you, it was only a coincidence. You do not need to repay me, and you do not need to take risks for me, I…"
"Intentional or not means nothing, you saved me, that is the truth."
As a plant yao, born from the essence of the heavens and the earth, his sensitivity to the hearts of people was second to none. Since their first meeting, when Di Jiufeng had attempted to escape, Qing Yu had known that saving him was not her intent.
But what did it matter if it was unintentional? He could only have lived on because of Di Jiufeng. After searching for so long, every petal held her shadow, it could neither be washed clean nor scooped out.
"Jiufeng, do you know? Flower yao do not have genders. If I changed into a female form, would you be a bit closer to me?"
Di Jiufeng did not understand. She stared and asked, "You want to be my best friend? Then… you best stay a man." For some reason, a smile appeared at the corner of Di Jiufeng"s lip.
[T/N: 闺蜜 (gui1 mi2) refers specifically to a woman"s close female friend.]
Seeing this gentleness even softer than the spring breeze, Qing Yu suddenly understood. He smiled warmly and said, "Are you afraid she"ll be jealous? Your disciple, Ning Guang."
Seen through in an instant, Di Jiufeng panicked a bit, but she did not plan to deny it. Nodding, her smile was even more brilliant than the sun. "You saw it, I thought I hid it quite well."
Thinking of Ning Guang, a wisp of red cloud showed on Di Jiufeng"s pale face.
Stars twinkled in her bright eyes. For a split second, it was like Qing Yu had seen a slope covered in peach flowers, flowing with layers of ripples under the charming spring breeze like the North Sea. "You saw it, that is good as well, I will not need to trouble myself hiding it from you. Yes, I like Ning Guang, and she likes me, so how you are now is alright. You are a man, so Ning Guang will not be unhappy."
After a pause, Di Jiufeng suddenly thought of something, looking up at Qing Yu.
But she thought her request would trouble him, so the words lingered in her mouth for a long time, yet did not escape.
Her intentions were not difficult to guess, and Qing Yu understood with a quick thought. He did not let Di Jiufeng hesitate for too long, following the flow to say, "You can focus on healing, I will go check on Ning Guang for you. If something is the matter, I will let you know. This is my communication talisman, if you want to find me, feel free at any time."
He placed a little honeysuckle blossom on Di Jiufeng"s hand. After she departed, Qing Yu hurried back to the sect.
Come to speak of it, he really was a bit worried about Ning Guang. Han Hai Pavilion did not have many benevolent characters, and Ning Guang had destroyed the Luan Feng sword. Not to mention Ming Cang, Sui Ying would definitely be the first to cause trouble for her.
This woman was always aggressive and overbearing, and had meted out unauthorized punishment many times. If there were not a thousand that had died at her hands, there were nine hundred.
Notes:
This chapter was translated by Lily.