Chapter 91: Only Waiting for Spring to Open

Pei Chuyun knew Lu Xingzhou; she had seen his portrait, a necessity for "knowing important figures of the same path," so that she would recognize him at a glance, yet in reality, she knew little about him.

After all, she was a little demoness who had always been in secluded cultivation; her knowledge of worldly affairs was not necessarily any better than Little Bai Mao's. She only knew that the organizational structure of the Yanluo Hall was established by the Judge, who later always handled internal management and diplomatic affairs, initially even conducting some trade, which was later handed over to others.

"The Judge of the Yanluo Hall is a very special existence," the senior sisters knew much more than her: "When he first accompanied the Yan Lord's rise, he was only in his early teens; not only did he sit in a wheelchair himself, but he often held an infant in his hands. At first, people thought the Yan Lord was bringing along a burden of a younger brother, secretly laughing that such a young girl was truly ridiculous, how could she accomplish anything like this..."

"And later?"

"Later, people watched helplessly as the Yanluo Hall rose rapidly. Ordinary people thought it was because the Yan Lord was too strong, but anyone who had done a bit of management work naturally knew that relying on one person's combat ability alone makes it hard to stably expand a huge organization. Either the Yan Lord was not only strong in combat, or that child beside him was a very powerful assistant. Just as expected, the name of the Judge soon spread; it is said that within the Yanluo Hall, the Judge's words were as effective as the Yan Lord's."

"Wouldn't the Yan Lord be suspicious? Even a biological brother could turn against him, right?"

"So the Judge was driven away?"

"..."

"Anyway, even if he was driven away, there was no pursuit, not even a statement declaring 'This person has no connection to this Hall from now on.' This attitude is truly hard to understand. Whether in the Righteous or Demonic paths, those who leave their sects have never been so leisurely. To put it plainly, no high family has ever had a third-grade or lower cultivator as a high-ranking member; only the Yanluo Hall opened everyone's eyes several times. You say a mere third-grade cripple as a high-ranking member; how many of these arrogant Demonic path cultivators could accept it? So it is said the Judge had many enemies within the Yanluo Hall."

"Third grade?" Pei Chuyun finally ground her teeth: "He is clearly sixth grade, and his cultivation technique is very special, extremely strong! And a cripple, he..."

The words suddenly cut off here; Pei Chuyun sipped her wine, her expression unreadable.

Looking at it this way, the fact that Lu Xingzhou's legs were healed should be information unknown to the world; holding it in her own hands might serve a purpose, such as a means to threaten Lu Xingzhou... In any case, there was no reason to spread it casually; then what value would her own injury have?

Was information gained at such a great cost just to give these trash a warning?

From this, it could also be seen that Pei Chuyun and these "senior sisters" were not necessarily of one heart. Otherwise, even just to warn their own people, they would not have swallowed their words.

Finally, it turned into this sentence: "Whether they accept it or not depends on how much the Yan Lord protects him. Scholars without cultivation can become prime ministers; what does that rely on? As a founding elder who co-created the Yanluo Hall, his merit must account for half; if people dare to challenge him, it is because the Yan Lord also hopes to suppress him."

The senior sisters all agreed: "Indeed so."

Pei Chuyun asked again: "His cultivation is low, his status is high, and his ability is strong... Have the various families not tried to charm and control him, to recruit him for themselves? Especially us, haven't we tried? Don't tell me it was for such a ridiculous reason as camaraderie among the same path."

"Very early on, when we first interacted, we tried mind-bewitching arts; the one who cast the spell was backfired upon. In the end, we dared not tear the Yan Lord's face, so we could only swallow the bitter loss." A senior sister who knew sighed: "Later, some tried seduction tactics, but the Judge was completely unmoved. He was sixteen that year, the age when love first blooms, yet he had such self-control; it was quite admirable."

Pei Chuyun sipped her wine, lost in thought.

"Hey, you wouldn't be planning to charm him, would you?" someone said: "This is meaningless; he is no longer in the Yanluo Hall now, with no authority. The identity of a guest elder of the Tianxing Sword Sect is not worth it. If it is for personal reasons, his cultivation level... even if you say he is sixth grade, it is not worth the Saintess making a move."

"What is worth or not worth? Recruiting another capable dog isn't that good?" Pei Chuyun chuckled lightly: "Are we only allowed to recruit one?"

Everyone laughed too: "Casually recruiting is fine, but if it requires using body-breaking tactics, let's skip that; those must be saved for critical moments."

A meaning-ambiguous mockery flashed in Pei Chuyun's eyes.

Chastity only to be used at critical moments... Do you all really think of yourselves as prostitutes auctioning off your first nights, only giving it to the highest bidder?

What a pity... If the Tianyao Saintess could be subdued, it would mostly give a blow to their ridiculous thinking, and also make her own future choices more autonomous.

Who knew it would be ruined by a scoundrel pretending to be a cripple.

The mind-bewitching art being backfired upon probably means he has a treasure... Seduction tactics being ineffective because of high self-control?

That is not necessarily true... His relationship with Shen Tang and the Tianyao Saintess is definitely not ordinary. Having Shen Tang and still trying to seduce the Tianyao Saintess, isn't he a lustful man?

Seduction failed because you are common dross and he doesn't look up to you, right...

At this time, Lu Xingzhou had already returned to Lingquan Mountain with Shen Tang and A'nuo.

The three strolled by the mountain pool; Shen Tang smiled leisurely: "The imperial court indeed has experience with this kind of mysterious magnetic earth vein matter; they say stopping its spread is difficult, but its direction of spread can be guided by arrays or treasures, meaning one should try to make it expand downwards."

Lu Xingzhou also laughed helplessly: "Indeed, the state's handling experience is much more useful than my deep meditation and bitter thinking. Hmm... speaking of this kind of guiding method, I actually have one."

"After all, you are just one person," Shen Tang said. "What is the situation over at the Chana Hehuan Sect?"

"I have someone watching it for now; nothing is happening," Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Anyway, I am also in secluded cultivation this time returning to the mountain; Pei Chuyun surely wouldn't dare to break into our Tianxing Sword Sect."

Shen Tang looked up and thought for a moment: "So the recent disturbances have all scattered, and we finally have some stable days?"

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou looked at her rosy side profile, knowing what she was thinking in her heart at this moment.

Because he thought the same himself.

When the situation is stable and everyone cultivates in their own way, waiting to settle down... only then does one have the mood to spend time under the flowers and moon.

Shen Tang sighed softly again: "But I still feel a bit sad; feeling that the Tianxing Sword Sect has become lively, yet I feel lonely beside me... I wonder when I can see Miss Qingli again."

A'nuo glanced at her; are you sure you really want to see Miss Qingli?

Lu Xingzhou's heart was more complex than Shen Tang's; not only because of the ambiguity with Little Bai Mao, but also because he had bid farewell to two friends in just a day or two, leaving his heart with unspeakable feelings.

The lively Xiazhou had risen with the wind; now Sheng Yuanyao was gone, and Dugu Qingli was gone, like the end of a banquet, leaving only a ground full of cold silence.

Actually, Yuan Muyu's judgment was basically correct. Although Lu Xingzhou did not plan to leave the Tianxing Sword Sect, this was different from going out; he did not want to squat in Xiazhou forever, such as asking Yang Dechang to keep an eye on news of the Huo family members going out; once known, he would definitely chase after them to cause trouble.

But in the short term, he really did not want to leave. Having two friends leave already made his heart feel empty; if he left too, Shen Tang's loneliness would be unbearable to think about.

Thinking this, he quietly reached out and took Shen Tang's slender hand.

Shen Tang's face turned slightly red; she glanced quickly at A'nuo and lowered her head, but she did not want to let go of that hand no matter what.

The family of three strolled slowly, gradually reaching the edge of the cliff.

The sky turned to dusk again; the sunset glow made the distant horizon brilliant.

In the Danxia mountains, sword qi surged to the sky as disciples were practicing.

Tang Yunzhong and a group of loyal old Tianxing Sword Sect members had quietly entered the Dragon and Tiger Secret Realm, cultivating in the vast spiritual energy; breaking through the realm collectively was just around the corner.

Between the Huo residence at the foot of the mountain and the original Shen merchant house, vast stretches of continuous farmland had hired tenant farmers to prepare for spring reclamation. The merchant house and the Huo residence were both used as external branches, responsible for different business interactions.

The newly arrived Qin Buwang was appointed as the branch master of the Incense Burning Branch, leading a group of original Danxia Gang disciples to plant spiritual herbs on Incense Burning Mountain and responsible for connections with various forces in the commandery.

A huge sect occupying two mountains, with continuous farmhouses and external branches, was visibly rising.

Now that the Lingquan spring had emerged and the Yin-Yang embracing formation was broken, spiritual energy had unknowingly grown in the mountains, gradually spreading across Xiazhou.

As one declined, the other rose; the Dongjiang withered, the Prefect's Office fell into ruin, and the Incense Tower was extinguished; the atmosphere began to decline.

The north wind suddenly rose; the thick clouds overhead shifted, almost revealing clear dragon and tiger shapes gathering above Xiazhou, a vigorous kingly qi covering everything, waiting for the right time.

The man and woman who first met sitting in wheelchairs at the cliff edge, each full of thoughts, now stood side by side at the cliff edge facing the mountain wind, holding hands tightly, overlooking the magnificent atmosphere belonging to them.

Shen Tang's heart was somewhat stirred; unconsciously, she gently tilted her head, leaning on Lu Xingzhou's shoulder, and said softly: "The auspicious snow is just right; we only wait for spring to open."

Lu Xingzhou reached out to embrace her, subconsciously lowering his head to seek something. Shen Tang, as if by telepathy, raised her head slightly; their lips met accurately, embracing and kissing.

The mountain wind grew ever stronger, whipping skirts and sleeves into the air; beneath the setting sun, a man and woman embraced in a passionate kiss, like a scene from an immortal painting.

A little girl sat aside in a huff, hugging her knees, her lips pouting high, like a seal in the corner of the painting.

【End of Volume One】

(End of this chapter)