Chapter 128: One Hundred and Thirty-Five: A Little Sister

One Hundred and Thirty-Five: A Little Sister's Shock for a Blockhead

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal did not possess only one Sheng Beast mask.

Because she had sacrificed more than one life.

Her so-called immortal sect was a branch of the divine alchemy lineage active along the eastern seas of the north.

Though it called itself an immortal sect, it was not prominent.

Or rather, the divine alchemy lineage had no sect as illustrious or powerful as the Hidden Upper Sect.

Perhaps one of the three immortal mountains rumored to exist upon the eastern seas might hold such power—legend said they were the abodes of immortals.

But perhaps the Lady Yuzhi Immortal's position was too low, her vision too obstructed, to hear such secrets.

Since she began Qi Refining, all the fellow cultivators she had encountered were reclusive alchemists roaming the seas, seeking immortals, refining elixirs, or madly obsessed with eternal life, calling themselves immortals.

Yet during her early years at sea seeking immortals, she had once heard whispers.

Many alchemists beyond the seas had personally seen famous immortals who had ascended hundreds of years ago, allegedly having consumed immortal formulas and achieved eternal youth.

These were the true transcendent sages.

They cultivated the legendary path to eternal life, approaching the primordial source.

Naturally, the Lady Yuzhi Immortal yearned for this.

But immortals were hard to find, and immortal arts were hard to seek.

The original Qi Refining technique of the divine alchemy lineage had, over a thousand years of wild development and spread by overseas alchemists, become vast and chaotic.

The current system of arts was already sprawling and disordered, not to mention that many among them were mere con artists and street charlatans.

Yet the Qi Refining technique of the Lady Yuzhi Immortal's sect had a peculiar advancement method, roughly in three steps:

Perform a ritual, ingest a spirit formula, kill and offer a sacrifice.

The more noble the bloodline, the more special the identity of the victim, the greater the spiritual essence gained, and the easier it was to break through and ascend.

It might be somewhat sinister, but the Lady Yuzhi Immortal had seen far more sinister alchemists beyond the seas.

What was killing and sacrificing? Taoxinwafei 、 Shengtunhuobo was the normal way to begin.

Yet the Lady Yuzhi Immortal had once heard someone say:

The most primordial mythic Qi Refining technique was the lost nine immortal formulas, which could turn even mortals into immortals.

This unbelievable external alchemy was, in a world where internal alchemy dominated both within and beyond the mortal realm, the most heretical of heresies.

Yet it was the dream of every divine alchemist under heaven.

Seeking immortals, seeking immortals—what else did they long for day and night but to find an immortal and receive the path to eternal life?

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal did not know if she would ever have the fortune to touch it in this life.

But regardless:

Her current choice was to serve as a retainer of the Liu family, killing for them.

To ride their wind, climb to the Wei family, ascend to the Two Capitals, and peddle the path to eternal life to those so-called Shenjing Luoyang nobles, aiding them in seeking immortals.

Not to mention how many "sacrificial offerings" she could harvest during this time.

Previously, with the Liu family's help, she had orchestrated a drowning to secretly sacrifice Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan—just a small trial.

In past days, without a patron, how could she dare openly kill an imperial official without fearing the Yin-Yang diviners dispatched from the Divine Capital would trace her footsteps?

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal had finally realized: in certain struggles among the dynasty's upper echelons, a noble's life was sometimes worth less than a dog's.

This was precisely her opportunity as a cultivator of special sacrificial Qi Refining arts.

Outside a solemn main hall during the bustling temple fair at Donglin Temple.

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal ceased her thoughts, gave a few instructions to the Liu family's servant, left the crowd of worshippers, and followed Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the other, entering the main hall.

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal was not afraid of being discovered.

Because at this moment, she wore another Sheng Beast mask.

She had also transformed into the appearance of an ordinary wealthy woman, slightly plump.

This mask had been crafted long ago from the spiritual essence collected after she sacrificed a wealthy woman, used for everyday disguises.

Through it, she had escaped many deadly pursuits.

It was also one of the reasons she dared to lurk and operate near the Lady Yunmeng Sword Marsh's very doorstep in Longcheng County—not merely because of the Liu family's protection and concealment.

Inside the main hall.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had originally intended to wait outside; after all, he wasn't here to burn incense or worship, and the women were all kneeling on prayer mats—what would he do standing inside?

But his junior sister insisted, citing safety, that he follow her inside.

She also said the knife was in his hands, and he had promised to carry it for her.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt a bit embarrassed; had he not known his junior sister was entering to pray for love, he might have thought she meant to chop up the bald monks like melons.

He could only reluctantly follow.

The once solemn and austere hall was now filled with the warmth of human Yanhuo.

Everywhere were faithful men and women.

In the center of the hall, beside the majestic Buddha, stood a familiar old monk's figure.

He wore black robes, had long white whiskers, a ruddy complexion, and looked like a transcendent sage of profound virtue.

Worshippers who came to burn incense and draw lots felt reassured by him, and flocked forward, asking the master to interpret their fortunes.

Seeing Master Venerable Shan Dao's unwavering figure greeting ladies and young ladies seeking love matches,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched.

How could Master Venerable Shan Dao do everything?

Well, perhaps not everything.

But wherever there were female devotees, he was always there.

So dedicated? Behind, Magistrate Ouyang Rong waited, muttering under his breath.

Ahead, Chenjun Xie Ling stepped forward, approaching the Buddha.

"Master…"

Her face showed slight tension and difficulty as she softly called out.

"No need for words, virtuous lady."

Master Venerable Shan Dao clasped his hands, his eyes—bright and wise from years of Chan meditation and understanding Buddhist truths—glinted faintly as the old monk closed them slightly and spoke with profound mystery:

"All speech is empty form; all forms are illusory. The virtuous lady may simply make her wish and draw her lot."

Chenjun Xie Ling shook her head: "No, I mean—when I make my wish, can you stand farther away?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao: "..."

The old monk paused, then smiled benevolently:

"Virtuous lady, please proceed. These are the Guanyin divine lots; after making your wish, draw one yourself."

Master Venerable Shan Dao moved to the rear, joining Magistrate Ouyang Rong, and both stood with hands clasped, waiting.

In the solemn, spacious Guanyin Hall, before the statue of the Bodhisattva, Chenjun Xie Ling knelt with hands clasped, eyes closed, murmuring softly in reverent worship.

She did not believe in Buddha; even though her father had erected a Buddha stupa for her mother at Donglin Temple, Chenjun Xie Ling did not believe—she only saw it as psychological comfort.

But that did not prevent her from temporarily believing today—yes, with her senior brother beside her.

Time passed second by second.

Nearby, near the hall's entrance,

the Lady Yuzhi Immortal, disguised as the plump woman, frowned and shook her head, growing impatient.

You just like Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan behind you—why the hell are you praying to Guanyin for a love lot?

This business of romantic love is so tedious, so indecisive, so utterly frustrating.

Just finish these roundabout games quickly, hurry to the Beitian Charity Hospital to die, and become a pair of doomed lovers.

Yet though she grumbled inwardly, during the wait, the Lady Yuzhi Immortal began to ponder something.

Judging by this, if Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan were beheaded before Chenjun Xie's daughter at the Beitian Charity Hospital, this woman would likely collapse and go berserk, refusing to let it go.

And if that bastard Ajie fled at the last moment, leaving her alone to face the consequences, it would be disastrous.

Should she copy last time's warehouse fire trick—lure Chenjun Xie Ling away with a diversion?

But would she fall for it a second time?

The Lady Yuzhi Immortal couldn't help but glance again at the graceful back of the woman kneeling reverently before the prayer mat.

Before the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Chenjun Xie Ling's kneeling form was tense.

She sat on her heels,

Though if someone stood before her now, they would see only a calm, earnest expression.

But only Chenjun Xie Ling knew: inside, she was panicking.

This time, bringing her senior brother to the Donglin Temple fair to draw a love lot was not merely for worship or fortune-telling.

Nor was it at the request of that little Su girl.

If the latter knew Chenjun Xie Ling was using her name to lure out her senior brother,

she'd probably draw her blade and kill her.

Yet Chenjun Xie Ling hadn't lied entirely—she truly would pray for the little Su girl too.

The little Su girl had reached marriageable age; drawing a love lot for her as a gift for her upcoming birthday wasn't unreasonable.

Originally, Chenjun Xie Ling had hoped to find the long-desired "Returning Home" essay.

But later, she gave up—the piece might not even exist in this world anymore.

Regardless of everything, she had come in grand fashion to seek a love fortune slip, even sacrificing her dignity by donning a blush-pink dress she hadn't worn in ages before her senior brother.

What Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang truly wanted to do… was to awaken some stubborn, dense fool.

To subtly or coyly hint to her senior brother:

Right now, she's easy to pursue—but only by him.

In truth, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang felt her cheeks burning.

From her bath and dressing, from putting on the pink dress and stepping out, to just now giving him the knife-tied skirt in the alley, to forcibly pulling him into the hall to watch the fortune-seeking—

These were no longer subtle hints; they were outright declarations.

Yet her senior brother always managed to respond with that indulgent look of "fine, I'll humor my little junior sister," neatly dissolving all her hints and efforts.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang clenched her silver teeth for a moment.

Finally,

before the solemn, benevolent statue of Guanyin, it all dissolved into a soft sigh, her heart whispering:

"Why is my senior brother so dense? What if… what if I try something even bigger?"

"But what if… even that doesn't wake him up?"

"Must a girl really say it outright, shamelessly throw herself at him…?"

The noble lady Chenjun Xie felt torn between hope and dread.

She faced Guanyin alone.

Her back turned to Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Master Venerable Shan Dao.

For a moment, her expression wavered uncertainly.

…

Clarify the reincarnation: the protagonist and the original body are Qian Shi and Jinsheng, but the soul of this life was killed, while the Qian Shi soul took over, inheriting this life's memories—thus, in a sense, they are still the same person, more like parallel worlds.