Chapter 107: The Vast Powers of Feng Nipó (Bonus for

"You went to the back alley again?"

Landing in the courtyard, she saw Sister Hong Qu holding a Daoist scripture, standing beneath the eaves, her expression cold, her gaze tinged with resentment, her voice icy: "You're so fond of playing around—how will you ever enter the Dao? How will you cultivate Dao energy?"

You claimed you'd break the law that 'martial artists cannot become immortals,' that you'd surely create a miracle.

What miracle can you create amid idle gossip in the streets and alleys?"

Xiao Yu stared closely at her face and eyes, finding it somewhat amusing inside.

Though this girl is a daughter of the Prime Minister's household, her intellect far surpasses ordinary people—but she's still young.

Xiao Yu understood perfectly, and deeply sympathized with her current state.

Two peers became friends; one (Sister Hong Qu) had only the other (Xiao Yu) as her sole companion, making that one her entire social world.

The other "friend" (Xiao Yu) was socially bold, with a much larger, broader circle beyond her.

When one sees the other devote more time and energy to external relationships rather than equally to oneself, resentment brews.

Especially in a lonely, unfamiliar environment.

Fortunately, Sister Hong Qu and Xiao Yu have known each other only a short while—they're friends, but not "closest confidants," let alone "bound by fate." Otherwise, the more she gave, the greater her psychological imbalance would be.

"Don't you know what's happened recently?"

Understanding Sister Hong Qu's pique, Xiao Yu paid no mind to her cold words, instead smiling warmly and generously.

"There's new progress in the counterfeit silver case."

She quickly recounted the story of "The Guan Chenghuang's Night Trial of the Counterfeit Silver Case."

Sister Hong Qu replied coolly, "How naive."

After a pause, she added, "Ah, you're just a desert savage from the Northern Wastes."

Xiao Yu suppressed the urge to pinch her cheeks into a distorted shape and said, "Don't you have similar ghost-and-god legends in your Lu State?"

Sister Hong Qu tilted her chin slightly, proudly: "I've visited the Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang with my father many times!"

Jin Yang is the capital of Lu State; its Guan Chenghuang governs all City Gods across Lu."

"Everyone who visits the Guan Chenghuang temple has seen the Guan Chenghuang," Xiao Yu dismissed. "True greatness lies in pleading for the people, earning the reverence of all common folk—like our Yingxiang Prefecture's Lord General Guan!"

Sister Hong Qu sneered again. "Saying you're a desert savage with shallow Jianshi was no exaggeration.

How much do you know of the legends surrounding the Yingxiang Guan Chenghuang?

Has any of them ever involved judging government officials?

If you get the chance, go to Jin Yang in Lu State and find out—see how the two cities' Guan Chenghuang tales differ."

Xiao Yu fell silent.

Madam Huang had told a story about Lord General Guan for over an hour—each tale was brilliant.

The counterfeit silver case seemed ordinary among them.

But all of them involved the Guan Chenghuang judging commoners—never a single case touched a government official.

Seeing Xiao Yu seemed to understand, Sister Hong Qu's sneer deepened, triumphant—but she didn't press further.

Xiao Yu didn't press either.

Both girls were young, and neither was foolish.

To speak ill of the Guan Chenghuang in Tianmen Town? They weren't government officials!

"Come here, keep reciting the Dao scripture with me," Sister Hong Qu said.

"Okay~~" Xiao Yu obediently followed her into the room.

Then she noticed Sister Hong Qu's explanation of the scripture was more earnest, detailed, and patient than ever before.

Xiao Yu had a thick skin—she'd pester Sister Hong Qu until every unclear point was clarified.

In the past, Sister Hong Qu would either show impatience, deliberately sneer, or radiate condescension.

Today, she showed no impatience, mocked Xiao Yu not at all, and didn't once display superiority in her explanations.

"Sister Hong Qu, come here!"

After eating the dinner sent by Sister Ziying and drinking her own bone-strengthening soup, Xiao Yu stood by the pool, peeling off her skirt as she waved to Sister Hong Qu.

"What now?"

After days of living together, Sister Hong Qu knew her habit: she liked diving into the water to cultivate internal energy, and during her underwater practice, she forbade any disturbance.

So seeing her prepare to enter the water, Sister Hong Qu planned to return to her room and sleep.

"Don't you bathe? Summer's here, it's hot—come join me," Xiao Yu invited.

Seeing Xiao Yu now clad only in her undergarment and shorts, Sister Hong Qu grew even more puzzled. "What are you up to now?"

"Hehe, come over first, then I'll tell you."

Xiao Yu pulled her to the poolside and helped her remove her skirt and undergarments.

Once Sister Hong Qu, dazed, stepped into the water, Xiao Yu pressed her nape and said, "Can you dive? I'll teach you."

Without waiting for her consent, she shoved her head underwater with force.

Just as Sister Hong Qu thought Xiao Yu meant to prank her again, Xiao Yu's voice came crystal-clear into her ears: "Don't struggle—I just want to whisper to you."

Sister Hong Qu was stunned and uncertain.

Xiao Yu smiled again: "You want to know how I can speak underwater? It's a special internal skill—I practice underwater every night; how could I have no strange effects?"

She lied.

Speaking underwater was more like an innate ability or divine power, barely related to internal energy.

Xiao Yu could only guess it was tied to the "Kunpeng Transformation."

The Kunpeng Transformation had truly altered her body and soul.

But limited by the environment, this small pool couldn't reveal all her bodily and spiritual changes.

A persistent urge pulsed in her blood—a desire to leap into the outside Liang River and fully unleash herself in the water.

Xiao Yu felt that if she let go, her underwater speed would far exceed her lightness skill.

But whenever this urge arose, a faint sense of danger stirred deep within her purple palace.

So she could only fiddle in this small pool—and "speaking underwater" was one of the small techniques she'd recently developed.

She used internal energy to generate sound waves, then controlled how they traveled through the water.

She'd once tried it on the golden carp in the water—but she wasn't the Sea King, couldn't converse with fish, only scared them away—now there were two fish in the pool, clinging together; she spoke to only one, and one fish fled, while the other stared blankly with dead eyes, utterly clueless.

So Xiao Yu was certain this "speaking underwater" technique was extremely secretive.

"Sister Hong Qu, you're the best friend I have in this world!" Xiao Yu said.

Sister Hong Qu's face flushed crimson.

If she could speak, she'd have teased with a touch of embarrassment: "Desert savage, indeed—so blunt and crude. Friendship is about heartfelt connection; you don't just blurt it out face-to-face like some sycophant groveling for favor."

Xiao Yu sighed: "I lived among the dunes for eleven years—I met many people with ties.

Some bonds ran deeper than ours now—but they weren't 'true friends.'

True friendship ultimately demands mutual understanding.

I treat you as a friend; I understand your situation and thoughts.

Do you know? At least three pairs of eyes are watching Wu Xiaojing Wang Xuan right now.

When I move around Hongxiu Courtyard, one pair of eyes keeps watch on me, half-hearted.

The first time I leapt onto the rooftop, the watching eyes multiplied to five pairs.

When I jumped into the back courtyard of Master Wang's house, they nearly jumped out themselves.

Now, when I sneak through the soy sauce alley, only two pairs remain.

Soon, there'll likely be just one.

All this is what I can faintly sense at my current realm.

The stronger your internal energy, the clearer your perception.

When internal energy awakens spiritual intent and merges with sword techniques, perception peaks.

But is this all I've sensed?

Are there unseen eyes watching me, undetected?

If so, I'm in danger.

Do you understand what I mean?

They'll rescue you, then casually slit my throat.

Sometimes I really want to take you to find Sister Jinlian, to the soy sauce alley to hear Old Lady Zhang and Old Man Li gossip about others.

It wouldn't be hard for me.

But I held back.

You're the noble daughter of the Prime Minister's household; Prince Qinghe deliberately dumped you into the Teaching Bureau. If your father still has living friends with any honor, they'd be burning with rage, unable to endure it.

Leaving you in the Teaching Bureau is a trap to force them to reveal themselves immediately.

Your immortal uncles and aunts could leap out at any moment.

When that happens, it'll be a brutal immortal battle.

I can't withstand it. Jinlian, Old Lady Zhang—they can't either."

She removed her right hand from Sister Hong Qu's neck.

Sister Hong Qu remained motionless, still submerged.

Xiao Yu didn't stay in the water all night.

She didn't mind staying submerged—but she didn't want to seem even more abnormal.

Tianmen Town had night watchmen; after the third watch, she'd climb out of the water and return obediently to bed.

The room held only one bed, one point two meters wide; Sister Hong Qu slept at one end, she at the other.

As usual, they woke up almost simultaneously.

Today seemed no different from before, yet they exchanged a glance, both lips curling into a faint smile.

A quiet, indescribable harmony settled between them.

If Sister Hong Qu were an ordinary little girl, Xiao Yu would never speak to her those "friend's words."

She wouldn't say similar things to Sister Ziying either.

Even if her bond with Sister Ziying were slightly deeper.

Sister Ziying was precocious; Sister Hong Qu was gifted. Precocity was forced by circumstance; giftedness came from talent.

To Sister Ziying, Xiao Yu felt a touch of pity and affection for a child; to Sister Hong Qu, she felt genuine intellectual equality—this equality was the foundation of true friendship.

Morning, Yihong Academy, Hongxiu Pavilion.

"Sister Jinlian, you're back so soon? I thought you'd stay longer in Yingxiang Prefecture."

She was now Jinlian's partner: she taught Jinlian swordplay; Jinlian took her to social engagements.

Whenever Jinlian returned home, she had to fulfill their agreement and serve as her sword instructor between the hours of Si (9 to 11 a. m.).

"I wished to stay longer, but…" Jinlian sighed, her expression wistful.

Xiao Yu glanced at Chun'er.

Chun'er was dull-witted, showing no reaction.

"By the way, I've heard a few things about the General Guan household—would you like to hear them?"

Jinlian asked, looking at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu did not refuse. "What is it?"

"Yesterday, General Xiang General Guan Huchen rode his fine steed aboard a Zhou Rao flying chariot and departed the West," Jinlian said.

"Departed the West—to where?" Xiao Yu exclaimed.

Had General Xiang General Guan Huchen's wounds healed completely?

It wasn't even wounds anymore.

She was certain Xiang General Guan Huchen had died at Feixian Ferry!

To return from Feixian Ferry to Yingxiang Prefecture took days—his corpse would have rotted and stunk by now, wouldn't it?

What price had the Guan Chenghuang paid to bring him back to life?

Even if revived, he'd remain gravely wounded.

From the rumors, it wouldn't be surprising if his recovery took two or three years.

"He crossed the Liusha River, heading east to the Celestial Court, reportedly to join the Great Qin Northwest Army," Jinlian said.

Xiao Yu frowned. "The Emperor has passed. Great Qin is likely in turmoil."

Jinlian stared at her face. "Precisely. Great Qin is unstable—that's precisely why the General has a place to shine."

"Sigh, someday I'll visit the Guan Chenghuang Temple to pray for General Xiang… wait, no need—I don't need to pray. Guan Laozu Xiang will surely protect him."

Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Besides the Guan Chenghuang Temple, does Tianmen Town have any other temples? Ones especially potent?"

Chun'er laughed. "Many—Lin Yue Temple, Xianyun Pavilion, Fanneng Monastery—all thronged with worshippers."

Jinlian still watched Xiao Yu's face. "Do you know why General Xiang left the West?"

Xiao Yu grew wary: Is this little witch spying for Madame Wen?

But her sword bone is ruined, and she's now in the Jiaosifang—what could they possibly want from her?

Could it be she's been too conspicuous lately?

"Isn't it because Great Qin is unstable, making it a good place for the General to seek his fortune?"

"That's one reason. The General Guan family has had many troubles lately—have you heard?" Jinlian asked.

Xiao Yu wanted to pretend ignorance.

But Zhang Da, the Huang widow, Old Man Li—their "Long-Tongue Art" was too high-level, too powerful.

Even Madame Wen's affair with General Guan General Guan Wenlong had four different versions.

Each version, if written out, would rival Jin Ping Mei as forbidden literature.

She couldn't pretend ignorance.

Even if Jinlian hadn't revealed Xiang General Guan Huchen's eastern crossing today, Xiao Yu was certain she'd learn of it within days from Soy Sauce Alley.

"I've heard whispers. Alas, it's all my fault," Xiao Yu said, looking guilty. "I meant to join this family—I never intended to tear it apart."

Jinlian's expression twisted slightly.

Sister Ziying sensed the tension and chuckled. "Lunchtime's near, Sister Jinlian—let's practice swordplay! You missed a lesson yesterday!"

Jinlian glanced out toward the outer courtyard. "No sword practice today. We're meeting a mighty 'Immortal Grandma.'"

"What Immortal Grandma?" Sister Ziying asked curiously.

At that moment, an elderly maid entered the courtyard gate and called out: "Miss Jinlian, Feng Nipó is waiting at the outer gate. She says you made an appointment."

"That's right—we arranged it yesterday. Let Grandma in at once! Wait—I'll go greet her myself!"

Jinlian jumped up in a fluster, saw Xiao Yu still sitting dazed in her chair, rushed over, yanked her up, and warned seriously: "Little Little Fengxian, don't act up later!"

"Feng Nipó is the Mother of the Buddha, the Daughter of the Dao's Supreme Lord, the Sister of the Queen Mother of the West. She's one hundred and thirty years old, possesses boundless divine power, eternally youthful, omniscient, and omnipotent."

I had to beg and beg just to get her here for a divination—this is a huge favor.

You're lucky to bask in her radiance—cherish this blessing, do you understand?"

Xiao Yu wanted to grab her ears and scream into her empty skull: Sister Jinlian, are your ears clogged with earwax? The Mother of the Buddha? Daughter of the Dao's Supreme Lord? Sister of the Queen Mother? How can you say that?

"I understand. Of course I do. For women, you call them 'Dry Mother'; for men, 'Dry Father.'"

Jinlian nodded reluctantly. "A bit perfunctory, but at least the etiquette's covered."