Plundering the Dao of the Immortal Journey

After tossing over a tael of silver, the innkeeper led a servant as they fed and watered their horses. Soon after, dinner was served along with a tub of hot water for them to clean themselves. When Pei Zi Yun was done with his dinner, he dipped his feet into the tub of hot water and washed the dirt and grime from his toes. Seeing that it was still early, he decided to leave and take a walk. When he walked out of his room, he noticed that there were about twenty small rooms in a row.

After exploring the inn for some time, he noticed that outside every door was an ignited lantern. Gradually, the crowd in the inn thinned out as he became quiet. He then returned to his room and sat atop his bed as he retrieved a clear vial. He uncorked it and took out a single red pill before swallowing it without hesitation.

The minute the pill had been swallowed, he felt a surge of warmness envelop his entire body with a certain emphasis on his internal organs, where the heat felt the most intense. He felt a substantial boost in his vitality and spiritual energy. The experience this time compared to the last time which he took the pill was somewhat different. A strong surge of energy flowed from his chest to his head, and made him feel comfortable and slightly dizzy at first. After the initial feeling dissipated, he felt such clearness and clarity. He could feel the capabilities of his brain increasing gradually with every pa.s.sing second, as though he was transcending new boundaries. Several moments later, he could feel a certain breakthrough, a blinding light erupted in his mind, and was replaced by a sense of enlightenment.

A ray of light shone down upon him, causing every single blockage within his meridians to be cleared up. The light shone down on every particle of his being.

"The tenth level, the full circle foundation has been achieved after consuming five consecutive pills. Although if I were to continue consuming the pills, they might bring me some benefits, it wouldn’t be of much use. I should just keep it." Pei Zi Yun stood up and paced several steps before thinking, "Ye Su’er’s innate talent is amazing and she has already cultivated up to the seventh level. This pill would actually not bring her much use as well."

"If it weren’t for the fact that my need was urgent, in order for me to attain the Honorary Disciple position, I wouldn’t have used it as well."

"And yet the pill was rather impressive. All it took was five pills for me to reach the tenth level, the full circle foundation. No wonder Daoist Li of Yellow Monastery died for deciding to break down such a magical and immortal treasure."

It was under the same situation in the original owner’s memories that Shen Zhen managed to retrieve the pills. He had exerted all of his strength and energy, coupled with help from the pills to break through the gates of heaven.

"The most effective use for this pill would be for it to heal people who had their vitality and energy well hurt or depleted. I would only use the magical pills like this once to boost my spiritual energy pool and not waste it like this again."

Just as he was thinking this way, there was a knock on the door. When Pei Zi Yun opened it, he saw a small beggar at the door. Seeing such a surprising sight, he frowned.

"Young master, someone has a letter for you." The beggar then retrieved a piece of paper and handed it over. Pei Zi Yun reached out to grab it. The moment the paper was in the hands of Pei Zi Yun, the little beggar ran away.

Pei Zi Yun unfolded the creased paper and read the few words written, "Song Zhi is going to do something to Ye Su’er."

Seeing this message, Pei Zi Yun’s face fell instantly.

Who was the person who had sent this letter to warn him? Why would Song Zhi suddenly decide to make a move against Ye Su’er? Doubts and suspicions appeared in Pei Zi Yun’s mind.

Besides, Ye Su’er was by her aunt’s side. Unless Song Zhi had suddenly increased in capabilities and decided to pit himself against an Earth Immortal?

Although the Earth Immortals only have supernatural powers within Paradise, once they leave they’re still considered extremely strong and are pinnacle Yin masters!

Thinking this way, he retrieved the bracelet given to him by Ye Su’er. After looking at it for several seconds, he tapped the center of the bracelet, and a bright light beamed out from within, and the entire bracelet started trembling violently.

Snail Village

Ye Su’er got off the oxcart, holding an umbrella over her head. At this point it was raining very heavily as she looked at the village which seemed only too familiar to her. It even bore the same familiar smell. She closed her eyes and recalled the events that had happened two years ago. Bandits had surrounded the village and demanded that they hand over the pretty ladies of the village. Since she was an outsider, the villagers wanted to hand her over in order to save their own skins and daughters.

And Pei Zi Yun snuck out in the middle of the night to kill the bandits in order to keep her safe.

When Ye Su’er entered the village, the guards looked at her and felt that she looked somewhat familiar as well. They wanted to ask her which house she belonged to and why was she here? Such a well-dressed young miss. Could she be from the Pei house?

Ye Su’er ignored them all and walked straight into the village and headed towards the old house by the corner of the village.

None of the villagers could recognize Ye Su’er. They a.s.sumed she was either a young miss from a big household coming here to meet the Pei family. Since the Pei family was a renowned house, there would inevitably be many young ladies coming here looking for him.

The old house which Ye Su’er used to live in was still around, and was still well maintained. Ye Su’er pushed open the doors and walked in. This old house was particularly small. Once a person entered, it would be extremely narrow and cramped. There were three tiny rooms within the house, and each room had a cloth curtain draped at the entrance and windows.

The innermost room was the lady’s chamber, which was supposedly the most well adorned and decorated room of the entire house. However, within this lady"s’ chamber there was only a single bed, a porcelain jug, an empty shelf and a table. There were scissors, glue and some paper on the table. Seeing this scene made her recall her experiences two years ago, where she had sold paper slippers just to earn a measly living for herself. Then, her hands were covered in blisters.

"The rooms are all cleaned and tidy, without a single speck of dust. Have you been sending people here to clean it up?" Ye Su’er whispered to herself as she spun around in the room.

All the years of pain and hardship flashed before her eyes. An orphan girl who had been left to fend for herself. Who knew that she had so much pain and suffering welled within her heart?

Ye Su’er remained in the room for a long time before leaving. Her house had remained the same after all these years, and yet brother Pei’s house had taken such a drastic change. It was no longer a mud cottage. In fact, it had been transformed miraculously into a huge mansion, which a gold inscription plate loomed overhead, bearing his status.

"Brother Pei, you’ve made so much progress. It’s just that the mud cottage no longer stands where it used to be. There’s nothing left to remember all the laughter that we had in that cottage."

"Su’er, I wish to study." Pei Zi Yun was only nine years old then as he read his books studiously. Ye Su’er gazed upon his face expectantly, wanting him to play with her.

"Su’er shall we go to the mountains and pluck some fruits? We’re in season for the ripening of chestnuts." Pei Zi Yun carried a haversack as he came looking for her.

These memories all seemed like they only happened yesterday, as they imprinted themselves one by one upon her heart, leaving an indelible mark.

"Su’er, I secretly stole you some eggs, you have to eat them!" As he spoke, he salivated just by looking at the delicious round egg. Actually, she knew back then that the Pei household was extremely poor as well. She knew that her mother had managed to save up for a long time before acquiring that egg to nourish him.

"Go on, eat it. Don’t be afraid. When I’m older I will be an Elementary Scholar and marry you. You shall not have to be hungry ever again!" Pei Zi Yun spoke cheerily.

"But brother Pei, have you considered this before. I have nothing at all. I have no parents, no possessions to offer you. Once you become an Elementary Scholar or even High Scholar, how could I ever be suitable to marry you?"

"That’s why the minute aunt gave me an opportunity to prove myself, I left with her. I don’t want to be slighted and looked down upon by you or your mother."

"You should know that when the villagers wanted to hand me over to the bandits, I was so dejected and was so close to giving up on life. I was thinking of giving my body to you before ending my by cutting my wrists with the scissors. That would’ve been my last resort."

"After I’d left with my aunt, I thought of you every single day. How were you? The weather was cold, did anyone give you a coat to put on? Have you been smiling at any of those n.o.ble ladies who looked your way?"

"Have you forgotten about the girl who had followed you around your entire childhood, and who always held onto the corners of your sleeves?"

"When you wrote the poem for the Grand Princess, you included the line, ‘When I looked back, there she was, standing under the lights’. After reading that I teared and couldn’t sleep the entire night as I cried by myself the whole time."

"Actually, aunt knows about this, and that’s why she made it difficult for you."

"I’ve waited and waited for so long, until you finally came looking for me."

Ye Su’er opened her umbrella once more as she looked out into the rain and paused. Tears welled up within her eyes, and yet she was smiling.

At this point, she heard someone call out to her. "True Element Sect’s Junior Sister Ye Su’er. I am Free Cloud Sect’s Song Zhi. It’s a pleasure meeting you."

Song Zhi appeared from a corner behind. His eyes bore a l.u.s.ty and bothered look, almost as if his eyes were burning just by looking at her. Ye Su’er was taken aback by this sudden intrusion, and all her thoughts had been shattered by that voice. She looked up at Song Zhi unhappily and said coldly, "I don’t know you. I do not wish to speak to you."

When Song Zhi heard this, his face took a sharp turn. It seemed to turn pale before turning red with anger. Seeing that Song Zhi still refused to leave, Ye Su’er walked past him before walking to the cottage she had been in earlier. This man came looking for her and had such a devilish expression in his eyes, she didn’t want to be in his presence any longer. At this point the bracelet on her wrist burned hot.

It’s brother Pei looking for her. Ye Su’er’s heart leapt for joy, and yet she was rather suspicious. She used a finger to press the center of the bracelet and the jade lit up, shining a bright light from it before the shadow of a man appeared before him.

"Su’er, where are you now?" Pei Zi Yun saw the projection of Ye Su’er’s shadow on his end as well and asked immediately.

"Brother Pei, I’m in Snail Village!" Ye Su’er exclaimed happily, and Song Zhi who was still beside her glared menacingly at the shadow of Pei Zi Yun, his eyes were bloodshot.

Pei Zi Yun could see from the talisman’s projection that Song Zhi was beside Ye Su’er. Immediately his face contorted in a state of panic, "Su’er, be careful of Song Zhi. He wishes to harm you, hurry get away from him."

"What?" Ye Su’er was taken aback before casting a glance behind herself to look at Song Zhi, whose face was stoic. He then laughed maniacally, before stepping forward, "Pei Zi Yun, since you wish to steal my Honorary Disciple position, and steal Free Cloud Sect, which belonged to me, I shall steal your woman this very day."

When Ye Su’er heard this, her face was filled with anger as she felt around her waist for the sword that hung down. She then drew her sword. Pei Zi Yun shouted, "Song Zhi, you’re looking for death!"

Pei Zi Yun started screaming into the talisman, at the shadow of Song Zhi. The next thing he saw was the face of Song Zhi before he heard a snap as the jade bracelet broke into many fragments and the image of him disappeared.

Peach Flower Origins Monastery

At the exact same time that happened, the Sect Leader was holding a cup of tea and sipping it slowly. All of a sudden, she raised her brows.

"What is it?" The monastery leader asked.

The Sect Leader didn’t speak a word as she slashed a finger across the air, where the color of the air took on a strange color. "Not good! Ye Su’er’s in trouble. Hurry, let’s go."

"She must’ve gone to Snail Village. You’re familiar with the roads here, take us there. Quick!"

Within the inn, Pei Zi Yun’s face contorted in rage. He knew that Song Zhi would overpower Ye Su’er before long. The situation was getting extremely dangerous. He stood up and drew his sword before shouting for Shen Zhen.

"Young master Pei, what’s the matter?" Shen Zhen rushed in and asked. Pei Zi Yun replied him coldly, "Shen Zhen, follow me to Snail Village. He’s made a move on the love of my life."

"What?" Shen Zhen’s face took an abrupt shift as well, "Young master, let’s leave for Snail Village immediately. It’s only a short distance away. We should get there in no time."

The both of them leapt onto the horse as the innkeeper ran after them, shouting for payment. Pei Zi Yun reached deep into his pockets before throwing out five taels of silver onto the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the both of them flailed the reigns of the horse urgently, spurring the horse to ride as fast as it could as they made their way towards Snail Village.

"Ye Su’er, you have to hold on and be strong."

"Song Zhi, you have the audacity to make such a move. Even if I have to fail my Plum Blossom missions, I will kill you, no matter what it takes."

"This is still not fast enough!" Pei Zi Yun was extremely anxious as he pointed a finger to Shen Zhen’s horse before pointing a finger at his own horse. Both horses whinnied before running at an increased speed, as they dashed onward.