Chapter 28: Midnight Dragon-Seeking and Meeting an Old Friend

Maidong was just sighing in her heart at Long Qi's misfortune in having such a master, when she was dragged to Bamboo Garden by Lingxiang.

"Is this what they call a midnight tryst with a lover in the storybooks?" She became excited at once.

"Tryst your head!" Lingxiang shot her a glare. "Why, are you still wanting to 'drink' this Haoran righteous energy when we go back later?"

"Since you're here to see your disciple, why put on such an act? It's not like we're visiting a male courtesan at a brothel, what are you afraid of?" Though Maidong said this, she still craned her neck to peer inside.

"This is, after all, the sleeping quarters for male disciples. To enter so brazenly is, in any case, not quite appropriate." Lingxiang also pressed against the door crack to look in; the courtyard was empty, very good, very good.

Thinking that it had been some days since Long Qi left her, and not knowing if his Martial Dao cultivation had made any progress or if he had hopes of being promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple, it would be better to sneak over now and see if he was slacking off.

"Just a moment ago you wanted Long Qi to serve you, why are you so timid when it comes to the crunch?" Maidong's words were full of mockery.

"After all, there is a distinction between men and women. I am, at any rate, a Peak Master now. If I rush in and happen to bump into someone, I will lose face."

"When we were studying medicine together, you didn't shy away from touching men's bodies, and I never saw you act shy then. Why are you acting like a refined young lady now?" As Maidong spoke, she reached out to push the courtyard gate, but was stopped by Lingxiang.

"You are, at any rate, the closing disciple of the Sixth Senior Brother; you should show some restraint. If your master finds out, he will blame me for corrupting you again."

Recalling when the two were children, they often snuck out of the sect together. Every time they caused trouble, Fuyin Zhenren would always lecture her for not having the slightest demeanor of a martial aunt, little knowing that many of those things were actually the rotten ideas of this dead girl.

The two spoke as they snuck inside, but there were many rooms, and they did not know which one was Long Qi's.

The layout of the Yuanqing Sect's Outer Disciple residences was roughly the same: several rooms surrounding a large courtyard, with a washroom and meditation room inside, while the sleeping quarters were built as two-story pavilions, with the bedroom above and a small parlor below, each with a small courtyard behind the pavilion.

At this time, the disciples were mostly practicing Sword Techniques in the back courtyards of their respective pavilions, preparing for the martial arts demonstration in a few days.

Standing high allowed one to see far, which made it easier to find someone. After a brief discussion, the two leaped onto the roof.

Sure enough, quite a few disciples were practicing swordplay.

This monthly martial arts demonstration was not as ordinary as it seemed. If one could make a stunning impression or display exceptional talent, leaving a deep impression on the Elders, it was possible that after being promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple, one might be taken under the wing of one of them, which was not impossible.

Even if one's performance was mediocre the first time, or if one was defeated by others, if one could improve with each of the three demonstrations, some Elders would still look upon them with favor.

All the disciples were well aware of this and never slacked off in the slightest.

Maidong knew Long Qi, so the two split up to search. To avoid being discovered by other disciples and causing unnecessary trouble, Lingxiang tucked a Spirit-Concealing Talisman into each of their bosoms before they carefully stepped along the tiles.

When they found the second courtyard, they saw Long Qi. He was practicing sword stances with three others, but his sword-wielding method was so unbearable that even Lingxiang, a layman, found it hard to watch. The disciple with him was thin and upright, but he also wielded his sword in a miserable fashion.

However, his appearance was quite handsome; he had a good face, fair skin, a straight nose, bright eyes, and red lips. It was just that his features seemed familiar, though she couldn't recall where she had seen them for a moment.

"Clang!"

While Lingxiang was still wondering where she had seen such a handsome young man, she was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Long Qi dropping his sword.

"This rubbish swordplay is so weak! If I used these moves to subdue demons, I fear the sword would be torn to shreds before it even left the scabbard. It's so useless, I might as well not practice it!"

This fellow was unskilled himself, yet he blamed the swordplay. It was just an ordinary Sword Technique, not a Dharma Technique or Mysterious Art.

But she hadn't expected that Liu Xia had actually joined the Yuanqing Sect.

"Your master doesn't remember teaching you to give up in the face of difficulty and leave things half-finished!"

Forget it, since she lacked someone to pour tea and water, she might as well go down and help him.

When Long Qi heard this, his heart couldn't help but thump—he was all too familiar with the person who had arrived!

He hurriedly stood up from the large rock and looked around.

"Stop looking, I'm up here!"

He looked up, and it was indeed Lingxiang.

But today she seemed different from usual, looking even more elegant. Could it be because she changed her dress?

She leaped from the roof and drifted down, her sleeves fluttering like a fairy descending to the mortal world. The bells at her waist jingled like celestial music, and Long Qi was left dazed.

As soon as Lingxiang stood still, Liu Xia hurried forward to pay his respects. Long Qi had thought she came specifically to visit him, but he hadn't expected her to start talking to Liu Xia and the other three.

"Miss Lingxiang, it has been many days. You truly look more and more different."

"Different how? Are you saying I'm even more ethereal and refined?" Lingxiang asked with a smile.

"More than ethereal, you are like a fairy flying from beyond the heavens, making it impossible for one to look away."

How come she hadn't noticed these days that Liu Xia was such a smooth talker? She had underestimated him.

"It's been a long time, you look like you've…" Lingxiang said, raising her hand to poke Liu Xia's chest, "become much sturdier."

She was actually being touchy-feely with another man! Didn't she know that as a woman, she should maintain self-respect?

"Not at all, not at all. Practicing every day, I naturally have to make some progress."

"Speaking of which, I didn't expect you to join the Yuanqing Sect. I hope you didn't sneak out behind Magistrate Liu's back again!" Lingxiang teased.

"How could I dare, how could I dare? This time, joining the sect was strongly recommended by the Immortal Chiyanzi, and I received the permission of my father and mother." Liu Xia said, scratching his head.

Received permission? With such a glib tongue, he'd be better off being kept at home and strictly supervised, rather than coming out to harm young girls. That old man Chiyanzi only knows how to cause trouble for others!

"Is the young lady the Fairy from Youran Abode?" Zhao Wuyang interjected at this moment.

"That is indeed this young lady," Lingxiang turned her head to see a young boy with red lips, white teeth, and delicate features. He still had a childish air and was very cute, so she couldn't help but pinch his cheek. "Which young master are you?"

Wuyang is still young, and this woman is actually going to lay hands on him too! She is truly shameless!

"Ahem!" Long Qi coughed feignedly, but Lingxiang acted as if she hadn't heard, and actually started rubbing Wuyang's face.

"Young lady… please… do not do this…" Zhao Wuyang struggled to break free from Lingxiang's devilish claws and hid behind Liu Xia.

Well done, Wuyang! Stay away from this mother-monster! Don't let her take advantage of you!

"My family is the Zhao Mansion of Guyang City. A few days ago, my mother wrote to say that thanks to the young lady's help, she has now fully recovered. Your great kindness is unforgettable, thank you very much!" Zhao Wuyang only revealed his eyes to finish speaking hurriedly, then shrank back again.

"…" Lingxiang's eyes flickered. She was stunned for a moment before she said, "Ah~ so you are the young master of Lady Qiao's family. You truly look exactly like her…"

Before she could finish, she turned and walked toward Xin Yi.

"This young master looks very familiar. Have we met before?"

Long Qi felt a tightness in his chest—was this mother-monster doing it on purpose? She actually bypassed him to talk to Xin Yi.

"No." Xin Yi was as sparing with his words as ever.

"I always feel like I've seen your face somewhere before. Could it be…" Lingxiang reached out to touch his face. Xin Yi was just about to dodge when she heard Maidong calling her from the roof.

"Good for you, Lingxiang! You said not to disturb anyone, yet you yourself…" Before she could finish, she didn't notice a loose roof tile and tumbled down with a somersault.

Before Lingxiang had time to turn around, she saw Xin Yi leap up, catch Maidong steadily in mid-air, and by the time she turned, the two of them had already landed firmly.