Chapter 139: Many Suspicions Regarding the Arrival from the South

The reason Lingxiang was so exasperated was not entirely due to what Maidong had said, but also because seeing Long Qi in the courtyard always made her feel incredibly awkward, so she took the opportunity of Maidong delivering the message to pretend there was an urgent matter and ran out.

As she hurried down the mountain, she kept muttering to herself.

"That wretch Long Qi is truly something, actually egging on Xinyi to scheme against me. And this Xinyi too, I haven't even said I consider him a friend, yet he's quite adept at plotting for others."

"These two, a wolf and a jackal, are truly a match made in heaven, they suit each other perfectly!"

Just as she was muttering, she didn't anticipate someone else rushing up from ahead, and the two collided head-on; fortunately, the newcomer was agile, grabbing Lingxiang with one hand and a small tree nearby with the other, preventing them both from tumbling down the mountain.

As soon as they stood steady, the person coming up the mountain spoke immediately.

"I was in such a rush to find someone on the mountain that I collided with you, Miss. But I have an urgent matter at hand, otherwise, I would certainly apologize to you properly."

Hearing the voice, it was actually a woman; Lingxiang looked up and couldn't help but brighten.

Although the person was a woman, she was dressed in a dashing manner, and there is a song that praises it:

Slanted clouds fly over temples, hair parted like a horse's mane, willow brows and heroic eyes, face like a peach blossom.

High nose and delicate mouth, words carry fragrance, yet the whole face is filled with sorrow.

Lingxiang knew everyone in the sect, but this person was wearing red robes and armor, with some dried bloodstains on the armor, as if she had just finished a fierce battle. And that attire looked like Daoist Armor used for subduing demons and monsters; could it be that this person was also from the Daoist Sect?

While saying it was no trouble, Lingxiang casually reached out and placed her hand on the woman's pulse. After a rough check of the pulse, she concluded that this woman definitely possessed cultivation.

Not to mention how steady and powerful the pulse was, just the fact that she had climbed up to Qingwei Peak without her pulse racing showed she knew some Martial Arts, and coupled with the Daoist Armor she was wearing, she must surely have a body of cultivation.

Lingxiang unobtrusively let go of the woman and said with a smile, "I wonder who you are looking for on this Qingwei Peak?" She laughed softly as she spoke, "To tell you the truth, I am acquainted with the Qingwei Peak Master. Judging by your attire, Miss, you must be here to seek medicine. Why not tell me a little about it? Who knows, I might be able to help."

The woman's face lit up upon hearing this: "Is what you say true?"

Lingxiang smiled back: "Look, I am also a practitioner, how could I deceive anyone? Besides, you and I are just chance acquaintances, and I don't even know who you are; what benefit would there be for me to lie to you? There is not a word of falsehood."

The young woman was overjoyed, but hesitated for a moment before pulling Lingxiang to sit aside and began to speak.

……

Hearing what Lingxiang said, Maidong hurriedly chased after her, calling out: "Didn't you drag me in without letting me speak either?"

Just as she was about to catch up to Lingxiang, she was inexplicably pulled again; turning her head to look, it was actually Long Qi.

"In such a rush, has something happened?"

He had just heard Xinyi say that Lingxiang was embarrassed and was feeling happy about it, but he didn't expect Lingxiang to suddenly ignore him, not even glancing at him as she walked past. He couldn't help but feel anxious: what exactly is this little girl thinking?

So, seeing Maidong behind, he didn't even care about Xinyi on the side and hurriedly grabbed her to ask.

Maidong had been ordered to invite Lingxiang, but since Lingxiang had rushed out so anxiously, if she arrived before the Sect Leader Uncle-Master while she herself hadn't arrived yet, wouldn't that be completely lacking in manners? After all, Lingxiang was an elder to her.

While tugging at her clothes, she looked at Lingxiang, who was walking further and further away outside the courtyard, and hurriedly said: "A group of people came down the mountain, saying they were here to ask for medicine, and they also mentioned something about sparring. I don't think so; it looks more like they are here to pick a fight."

"Pick a fight? Since they are here to ask for medicine, why would they pick a fight?" Xinyi was puzzled, and while asking, he helped Maidong pull her hem free.

Seeing Xinyi ask him, Maidong's mind was no longer on Lingxiang, and she turned around to say: "Hey~ they said they were here to ask for medicine to save someone, but then they said they wanted to spar in Daoist arts. You tell me, who would have the heart to spar with others when they are in a hurry to save someone? Everyone knows that saving a life is like fighting a fire; even rushing wouldn't be fast enough, yet they actually have such thoughts. I think they are definitely here to cause trouble; asking for medicine is just an excuse."

"You mean the people who came are intent on fighting?" Long Qi asked hurriedly upon hearing this.

Maidong curled her lips: "The people who came? A whole bunch of them came, saying they were from the Kunwu Sect. The leader is an old man who looks very fierce, not at all like a practitioner. Look at the several Elders in our sect; even Uncle-Master Zhaoming is the strictest, but he is just sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, and even his appearance is that of a kind person."

Kunwu Sect? Xinyi couldn't help but frown. He knew about this Kunwu Sect. When Xinyi was working for Bai Wuchang, he had gone to Haoyang City to inquire about the Kunwu Sect in order to find news about the Life-Prolonging Pill.

The Kunwu Sect was a major sect in Haoyang City in the south, and its strength was by no means inferior to Yuanqing. Moreover, unlike Yuanqing, which was a sect of quiet cultivation, its disciples often went down the mountain to eradicate demons and monsters for the people, and their reputation was excellent. It was just that he had heard the Sect Leader of the Kunwu Sect was a charitable person; how could he be someone with a fierce appearance?

In his confusion, Xinyi hurriedly asked Maidong again: "Did the person who came say who he was?"

Hearing this, Maidong scratched her head and thought for a while: "He did say it, it seems to be called something like Daoist Xuantan, and he is currently leading a group of disciples in the Deliberation Hall."

Daoist Xuantan? This was strange; Daoist Xuantan should be the Managing Elder of the Kunwu Sect, so how would he have time to come to Yuanqing in person? Furthermore, for sects to visit each other, the Sect Leader True Person should have come in person; where did True Person Xuanhuai go?

After talking for a long time, Maidong finally came to her senses and slapped her forehead, hurriedly getting up—she had clearly intended to catch up with Lingxiang just now; if she let her arrive at the hall first, she might be scolded by Uncle-Master Zhaoming for having no manners later!

"No, no, today I am meeting people from an outside sect, and Master has repeatedly urged me to observe the rules. Now I've been so busy talking to you that I've forgotten about Lingxiang. If she arrives at the hall and I am nowhere to be seen, I will definitely be scolded when I go back!" Saying this, she hurriedly chased out of the Xianyun Abode.

Long Qi and Xinyi looked at each other; he saw something unusual in Xinyi's eyes, and the two nodded to each other and chased out together.

At this time, Rendong, who was hiding in the kitchen, came out. He had naturally heard everything they said, but now that he had things on his mind, he really didn't want to think about it anymore.

Rendong pondered at the door for a moment and finally decided to return to his room—thinking that there was no need to cook this meal, he might as well go back and tidy up.

Long Qi and Xinyi were fast, and in no time they caught up with Maidong. They had intended to ask her more questions, but Maidong suddenly stopped. The two were puzzled, and looking up, they saw Lingxiang sitting alone halfway up the mountain, not knowing what she was thinking about.

Seeing this, Maidong gathered her Qi and leaped, turning around and landing in front of Lingxiang.

"Consider yourself to have a conscience, caring about our sisterhood, knowing that if you arrived and I didn't, I would definitely be punished."

But Lingxiang didn't respond to her words, instead looking up and saying to Maidong:

"Maidong, I need your help with something. This matter concerns a human life, you absolutely cannot refuse!"