Chapter 126

The chapter number in the previous post was typed incorrectly; I can only fix it once the editor is at work, sorry or2—

Inner City, Fengyi River.

Fengyi River is located on the east side of the Imperial City, very close to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, with riverside residences lining both banks.

As the Sect Master of Mount Zihui, Nangong Ye has many affairs to handle in Jingcheng; he cannot stay at an inn or lodge at Wang Fu indefinitely, so he bought a riverside pavilion by the river long ago. To prevent idlers from disturbing his secluded cultivation, almost no one knows of this secret base.

At midnight, the autumn wind ripples the river surface, which reflects the starlight.

A woman in black robes and a veiled hat suddenly landed on the riverside terrace; her figure stumbled slightly, then she clutched her chest and staggered inward. Halfway there, she raised her right hand lightly, and the glass lamp in the room lit up on its own, illuminating every corner of the room.

Warm yellow curtains hung in the room; musical instruments such as the qin, zheng, and pipa stood against the wall, while the other side held a bookshelf filled with various books related to evil demons and heterodox paths. A yellow-brown sword case stood before the portrait of the Ancestral Master, with a brass incense burner beneath it.

"Haa..."

Nangong Ye removed her veiled hat; her face, originally as cold as an ice mountain, had turned crimson, and she radiated intense heat. Stumbling, she reached the bathing tub in the sleeping room, took out a black jade bead from a brocade box, and tossed it into the tub.

Haa~

The black pearl emitted bone-chilling cold; after falling into the tub, a faint凝结 mist rose from the water surface, followed by tiny ice crystals spreading from the center outward.

Whoosh~

Nangong Ye gritted her teeth, tore open her black skirt and bodice, and plunged her surprisingly plump and robust figure into the tub. As the bone-piercing cold seeped into her limbs and bones, her trembling body calmed slightly for an instant.

The Yang Poison has already been triggered; it cannot be forcibly suppressed. To prevent it from spreading across the entire body like a prairie fire, one can only strive to seal the meridians not yet infected by the Yang Poison and wait for the Yang Poison to burn out until the supreme Yang energy naturally subsides.

This feeling is like watching one's lungs burn through from the inside out with one's own eyes; the indescribable burning pain is enough to shatter one's mind. Pure external cooling is like scratching an itch through a boot, far inferior to the internal clash of icy energy against the Yang Poison.

Still, it offers some psychological comfort, allowing one to think clearly again.

"Haa..."

Nangong Ye took a deep breath, merely inverting a jade bowl to float above the water, then exhaled a long breath of scorching turbid air. Only after the Yang Poison surging through her lungs like a tide subsided slightly did she begin to ponder what to do next.

After acting once today, the Yang Poison has been thoroughly triggered; I don't know how much longer I can endure. If I don't want to die, I must compromise with that demoness...

That damn brat, without the Reviving Grass, still tricked me into coming to Jingcheng...

However, from today's tailing, Xie Jinhuan truly lives up to his reputation; his abilities are impressive, and his righteousness is so pure it borders on the perverse. Even Linghu Qingmo feels somewhat out of his league...

As the Sect Master of Mount Zihui and Seeing Mo Mo's master, she ought to have facilitated this match, but just now was truly too embarrassing...

Pinning down a righteous young hero to demand favors, then turning and leaving afterward—is that not the behavior of a Wu Sect demoness?

If we meet face to face and reveal our identities, I probably won't need to act as an elder anymore...

But as long as Linghu Qingmo is fond of him, they will inevitably meet again; what should be done?

While pondering thus, Nangong Ye opened her eyes, intending to splash water to wash the sweat from her cheeks, but her peripheral vision noticed something amiss.

Turning her head, she saw on the white bodice casually draped over the edge of the tub a vague, large handprint...

Buzz—

Qi surged violently in the room, causing ripples on the water surface and the hanging curtains alike; even the sword case emitted a humming sword cry!

Nangong Ye had been poisoned and unconscious just now, unaware of the exact events. Suddenly seeing such a mark on her chest, her mind was struck as if by lightning. She picked up the bodice embroidered with colorful clouds chasing the moon to examine it closely.

Indeed, the mark on the bodice was a handprint, with many rubbing traces along its edges...

As for the source of the traces, it was quite simple.

Xie Jinhuan and Ye Shirong fought fiercely; their clothes were shredded and their bodies beaten into minced meat. Add to that tearing off roof tiles, pushing open doors, and breaking windows; his hands could not possibly be spotless...

The path of the traces on the white bodice was also clear at a glance: first reaching into the garment to search for an object, the back of his hand rubbed a few times, then he turned his hand to feel the bodice. Perhaps he suspected a magical artifact was hidden within the bodice, or...

"Haa..."

Even with a Dao-heart as iron as hers, Nangong Ye's cheeks were stained with a faint blush; she looked like a plump, juicy white lotus flower, turned pink!

After several such deep breaths, Nangong Ye decided it was a case of necessity overriding propriety; Xie Jinhuan had done it unintentionally while saving someone.

However, because of this incident, she could never meet Xie Jinhuan again in her life, nor could she reveal her identity.

After all, what difference is there between this and a disciple touching his master's wife?

But Linghu Qingmo has fallen in love; they cannot avoid meeting...

Perhaps I should suppress the Yang Poison, then go settle the score with that demoness, explore the treasures at Zhu Que Mausoleum, and hide away for a year or two...

When I return later, that brat should have mostly forgotten this matter. To speak of it, it was 'necessity overriding propriety,' so it won't be too awkward...

While pondering thus, Nangong Ye had not yet devised a concrete plan when she heard knocking from outside:

Knock knock knock—

And a voice that was already somewhat familiar:

"Miss Mu, are you asleep?"

"?! "

—

Seventy percent of the Fengyi Riverbank is greenery; courtyards and pavilions are built along the river. At night, there is almost no noise from bustling markets, only a beautiful night scene.

Xie Jinhuan stood outside a two-story detached building lit by lamplight on the riverbank, waiting quietly for a response.

The two-story building faced the street with its back to the water, flanked by green bamboo and willow trees on both sides; the environment was extremely elegant. Across Fengyi River lay the Imperial Palace; anyone living here must be either extremely wealthy or highly noble.

Yet Xie Jinhuan, wearing a sleeveless tight shirt and ripped pants, with two weapons hanging at his waist, looked like a street urchin with dyed hair standing outside a top-tier rich and beautiful lady's villa.

Xie Jinhuan knew this outfit somewhat marred the city's appearance, but there was no other choice.

He sought the Sixty-Year Lotus not to enhance his own strength, but for the sake of the entire Great Qian!

If he failed to obtain it, a good wife blowing up a grave would be one thing, but a bad wife blowing up a grave would truly harm the Emperor...

So after bidding farewell to Seeing Mo Mo, he rushed over without even time to change clothes, fearing that the heroic Miss Mu Mu Yun Hong, full of mischief, might give him a fake address!

Fortunately, Suyun Zhai was indeed here, and lights were still on inside, so Xie Jinhuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Because he needed to trick the young lady out of the Sixty-Year Lotus, Xie Jinhuan naturally could not adopt an accusatory stance. After waiting a moment, he was about to knock again when a sound came from the second floor:

Creak~

Looking up, one could see an ice-cold beauty in a white skirt, pushing open the window with one hand to gaze downward. Although the casual dress left her ample figure unmistakably on display, her phoenix eyes carried an oppressive intensity, and her expressionless demeanor gave the distinct impression of rejecting anyone from a thousand li away.

It was like a top-tier female CEO spotting a hooligan who had come to her door to pester her relentlessly...

Xie Jinhuan felt that Miss Mu's expression was somewhat abnormal, as if she did not welcome her savior, but knocking on a Miss's door late at night naturally elicited such a reaction. He stepped back two paces, looked up, and smiled:

"Miss Mu, you are not yet asleep?"

Thinking of the handprint on her corset, Nangong Ye felt an urge to make Xie Jinhuan's face tell a story, but such a silent loss was something she simply could not mention. She said flatly:

"The night is deep. If you are not going home to tidy up, what are you doing here?"

Here to trick me into giving up the Sixty-Year Lotus...

Xie Jinhuan raised his right hand, gesturing to the wine gourd hanging from his finger, along with the oil-paper-wrapped peanuts, braised pork, and spicy and sour chicken feet:

"Miss, are you hungry?"

"?"

A twitch ran along the corner of Nangong Ye's eye. She did not know how much willpower it took to suppress the urge to slap this fellow away with one palm. Her voice was slightly cold:

"Young Master, please exercise self-restraint. I live here alone. Hosting a man in the dead of night would invite gossip..."

"Rest assured. No one saw me come."

Xie Jinhuan knew he was not welcome, but the path to the Sixty-Year Lotus lay right before him; he had to enter this door no matter what:

"Does Miss also wish to uncover the Mingshen Sect's band of demons?"

Nangong Ye knew her own identity; there was no way she would let this fellow enter her home today:

"I will help you investigate the clues regarding the Mingshen Sect..."

"More people mean more strength!"

Xie Jinhuan said earnestly:

"The Mingshen Sect is extremely cunning. I feel we must discuss carefully how to investigate this matter. If it is inconvenient for Miss to come down and open the door, I can come up myself..."

Hoo~

Before the words had fully faded, Xie Jinhuan shot straight up from the ground!

The result was the sound of a sword being drawn, 'Clang!', coming from above.

What the hell?

You even brought a sword to guard against me?!

Xie Jinhuan immediately went into free fall, returning to his original spot. Seeing that soft tactics would not work, he could only resort to hard ones:

"Miss Mu, to speak plainly, you are somewhat unscrupulous. I just expended countless true qi to suppress the poison for you, and this morning I even told you the method to detoxify. And you? Not only do you look down on me, but you even refuse to let me sit inside..."

Nangong Ye's gaze was cold and sharp: "I am a woman. The night is deep. It is inconvenient to receive a distinguished guest. It is not that I look down on you."

Xie Jinhuan spread his hands: "Then why do you not trade with me? You got the method and ran, not even showing your face, and made my master come out to negotiate with you. If this is not being unscrupulous and looking down on me, then what is it?"

Nangong Ye had never considered using Xie Jinhuan's outrageous method, so naturally she felt no guilt. Seeing this, she retorted:

"Do you have the Reviving Grass?"

"Do you have the Sixty-Year Lotus?"

"I naturally have it."

That is good...

Xie Jinhuan's heart rejoiced wildly. With confidence, he said:

"I can detoxify you! I do not need the fake method from the daytime."

?

Nangong Ye blinked. Although she felt she should not have further contact with this fellow, Xie Jinhuan had already demonstrated his ability, and the Immortal-Burning Gu was a life-threatening threat to her core. She deliberated for an instant:

"The Reviving Grass can not only detoxify but also cleanse the bones and marrow, strengthen the meridians, and extend lifespan. If you have the Reviving Grass, I will trade with you. But if you only know the detoxification method, I will not give you the Sixty-Year Lotus; at most, I will give you some opportunity cultivation technique."

Xie Jinhuan was not in a hurry; his current goal was simply to enter the door:

"Then can I come in?"

Nangong Ye took a light breath. Her resolute mindset of keeping him at the door had clearly wavered.

After all, her body currently felt as if it were being burned by fire. If the Yang poison flared up again, she did not know if she could survive it; she must obtain the detoxification method as soon as possible.

Moreover, even if she could suppress it, not wanting to compromise with the Wu Sect's demoness, she still had to obtain the detoxification method.

With the pressing emergency weighing on her, Nangong Ye deliberated for an instant, and finally disappeared from the window:

"The front door is sealed. Use the back door."

Xie Jinhuan felt a great weight lifted, and even muttered secretly:

This is a small step for me, but a giant leap for the Sixty-Year Lotus!

May the wandering spirit bless me; I must trick it into my hands...

Even if I die today, I will cling to life and stay inside the house. I absolutely cannot be kicked out...

(End of this chapter)