Chapter 24: Could It Possibly Be True?!

“Why did little sister go to the Reception Hall? Weren’t we supposed to go down the mountain together to the market?”

The second brother, He Han, said with deep confusion.

Li Daoxuan didn’t know either.

“Probably just curious—today marks the official start of the Five Sects’ Artifact Exchange Fair, and several Sect Masters have come along for the occasion. They’re currently conversing with our Master in the Reception Hall. Little sister hardly ever gets to meet such figures; of course she wants a good look.” Li Daoxuan smiled.

He Han nodded in strong agreement.

After a while, the two finally reached the Reception Hall—and sure enough, they saw little sister crouched before a window, peering inside furtively.

The two exchanged a glance and chuckled, then crept forward and gently tapped her shoulder.

“Little sister—”

The sudden voice startled Lu Yaoyao; only when she turned and saw her two senior brothers did she quietly exhale in relief.

She immediately signaled for silence, then pulled both of them closer to the window, urging them to look inside.

“Senior Brother, Second Brother—who is the woman sitting at the far left up top?” Lu Yaoyao pointed, her eyes curious.

The two peered through the crack in the window and finally understood who she meant.

She was a middle-aged beauty with an elegant figure, a high nose bridge, red lips and white teeth, and skin as pale as snow, untouched by time.

Especially the vivid red dot adorning her brow—smooth as lamb’s fat jade—like a crimson plum blooming on snow, striking yet eerie.

More striking still, her silver hair, streaked with faint green, was coiled high atop her head, and the jade hairpin embedded within added solemnity and grace.

Li Daoxuan whispered: “She is the Sect Master of the Qingyu Immortal Sect, her Dao name Xuanyou Immortal.”

“Xuanyou?” Lu Yaoyao murmured softly, her eyes filled with contemplation.

Beside her, Second Brother He Han’s gaze fell upon the faint silver strands hidden beneath Lu Yaoyao’s black hair, then shifted to Xuanyou Immortal’s silver-and-green locks—his eyes widened sharply, as if he’d uncovered some monumental secret.

He swiftly sent a silent message to Senior Brother.

Senior Brother Li Daoxuan glanced around, but soon shook his head.

Perhaps it was coincidence—Master had said that when he hunted sea beasts along the coast, a typhoon had struck there.

Little sister fell from the sky, badly injured at the time—she must have been swept up by the hurricane.

How could she possibly be connected to the Sect Master of Qingyu Immortal Sect?

Yet seeing little sister’s troubled expression, Li Daoxuan felt a flicker of doubt.

He couldn’t help asking: “Little sister… do you know her?”

Lu Yaoyao gazed at the beauty with a complex expression, her eyes distant: “I don’t know. Perhaps she’s just a stranger to me—or perhaps… she’s my kin.”

At these words, both men were stunned.

This was a major discovery—they must inform Master immediately.

If the daughter of the Qingyu Immortal Sect’s Sect Master were the beloved disciple of the Taiqingmen Sect Master, their two sects would become the most unshakable allies.

But no one had ever heard that Xuanyou Immortal had a Dao partner?

Soon, Lu Yaoyao pulled the two away from the Reception Hall, her face serious: “Senior Brothers, I was just joking earlier—don’t take it to heart. Let’s hurry down the mountain.”

The two nodded, but Li Daoxuan, with his hands behind his back, formed a hand seal—suddenly, a tiny paper crane slipped from his sleeve and flew silently toward the hall behind them…

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was jovial, filled with laughter as if old friends had reunited after many years.

Yet in truth, though the five sects were allied, their hidden rivalries were fierce.

“Long time no see, Xuanyou Immortal—you’ve grown even more radiant!” Jin Leizong’s Sect Master, Lei Wuji, with his thick beard and rugged appearance, boomed his praise.

Xuanyou Immortal smiled and shook her head: “Radiant? Time spares no one—I’m no longer what I once was.”

Lei Wuji laughed heartily: “I say you’re just as beautiful as ever! Xuanji, your Tianji Sect excels in divination—why not calculate for the Immortal? Where is her destined one now? Is he in this very hall?”

Lei Wuji turned his gaze to the Tianji Sect’s Sect Master.

Xuanji wore a white robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams, his long beard fluttering in the breeze. He sighed and waved his hand: “Such things cannot be divined—nor should they be. If he truly were here, it could only be Master Sikong.”

All turned to look at Sikong Yan, the Lord of Cangyan Dao Palace.

Sikong Yan sat quietly, in his prime, his years having forged in him maturity and poise.

His sword-like brows arched sharply into his temples, his facial contours sharp as if carved by axe and chisel—every line perfectly balanced, blending the depth of middle age with masculine vigor.

His crimson robe blazed like a living flame, bold and unrestrained.

All knew Sikong Yan had pursued Xuanyou Immortal for years without giving up—yet her heart remained as cold as flowing water.

Now Sikong Yan glanced at Xuanyou Immortal—she turned her head slightly away, pretending not to notice, leaving him to smile helplessly.

Taiqingmen’s Sect Master Cao Zhengyang, Cangyan Dao Palace’s Lord Sikong Yan, Qingyu Immortal Sect’s Xuanyou Immortal, Tianji Sect’s Master Xuanji, Jin Leizong’s Sect Master Lei Wuji.

These were the five sect leaders.

Seeing the atmosphere grow awkward, Cao Zhengyang quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere.

But at that moment, a small crane talisman flew in—upon hearing its message, Cao Zhengyang’s expression subtly changed, and he instinctively glanced at Xuanyou Immortal.

Xuanyou Immortal sensed something, and asked curiously: “Brother Cao, is something the matter?”

Cao Zhengyang waved his hands hastily: “No no no—the time is late. My sect has prepared fine wine and delicacies. Please, let us move to the Jade Banquet Hall—we can eat and talk.”

“Then we’re indebted to you, Brother Cao!”

“No need to thank me—just don’t find our fare lacking.”

“After you!”

“After you!”

…………

Zhou Qing sat with his chin propped on his hand beside Third Brother’s stall, watching him passionately haggle with customers—utterly bored.

Indeed, as Shi Zhen had said, most items on the stalls were counterfeit—almost all were scams.

As Yan Xiao Hu completed another sale, Zhou Qing clapped: “Third Brother, after we pack up, you’re treating us.”

Yan Xiao Hu squinted his small eyes, beaming with pride: “Of course! By the way, I didn’t get to ask—what did you buy? Let your elder brother take a look.”

Zhou Qing reluctantly pulled out the half-bone.

Seeing the broken bone, Yan Xiao Hu froze, disbelieving.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it!”

“How much did you pay?”

“Ten lower-grade spirit stones.”

“You—you—you’re wasting money! Ten spirit stones for this scrap? If you want marrow, go to the kitchen behind the fire pit—they’ve got plenty!” Yan Xiao Hu looked as if he’d lost faith in humanity.

Too wasteful—even learning experience isn’t bought this way.

“Forget it, forget it—as long as you’re happy. It’s your money, spend it wisely!”

Seeing Zhou Qing scratch his head and grin foolishly, Yan Xiao Hu didn’t scold further, just tossed the bone back.

Zhou Qing offered no explanation—he didn’t mention how the Second Uncle had twice transformed into Third Brother’s appearance.

Saying too much would only worry his brother—he already had a way to verify things.

“Yan Senior Brother, Zhou Senior Brother, you’re setting up a stall here?”

As Zhou Qing was dozing off, a delighted voice rang out.

(End of Chapter)