Chapter 57: Search His Body!

Night deepened, and the depths, devoid of sun or moon, were utterly sinister.

Three bonfires burned amid the ruins, crackling occasionally, spitting out sparks.

By the central fire sat Yuanchen and his hired thug brother-in-law; to the left stood Zhuo Wanqiu and the other four Lingjian Mountain disciples.

They too were searching for someone, and seeing the two seemed to have direction, they followed.

To the right were the seven or eight people Ji You had casually saved along the way, huddled by the fire, too terrified to sleep, their faces etched with lingering shock.

In Yuanchen’s eyes, his brother-in-law seemed to have some kind of compulsion.

He muttered about avoiding people at all costs, refusing to seek treasures to escape the fatal misfortune of possessing something valuable, yet he always rescued them—and then demanded silver with a vicious glare.

According to him, these low-rank disciples clearly hadn’t entered willingly; they shouldn’t die here for someone else’s immortal fortune, and taking silver was his bandit’s code.

What an odd man…

Yuanchen pondered, summoning the sensing jade disc from his gourd, watching its faint glow—his heart gradually steadied.

He could now sense his sister’s presence; it meant he’d find her soon.

This eased the tension in Yuanchen’s nerves, and he closed his eyes slightly as dawn broke.

On the second day, the group pressed deeper, heading toward the mountain where immortal light surged.

The closer they got, the heavier the malevolent energy became, suppressing spiritual energy almost to its limit.

Several had been attacked by disciples of other sects the day before, exhausting their spiritual energy; outside the ruins, they’d recover in just over an hour.

Yet after one night, their replenished spiritual energy hadn’t even reached half.

This weighed heavily on Zhuo Wanqiu and the others, and thoughts of withdrawal began to form.

In stark contrast was the Tian Shu Academy disciple who had saved them—his spiritual energy remained abnormally abundant, as if he possessed an extra spiritual source, leaving everyone baffled.

“Someone’s coming.”

“?”

As the group reached a mountain pass, Ji You suddenly spoke—three long swords summoned themselves, hovering in midair, brimming with spiritual energy.

At this, all tensed, swiftly drawing their weapons.

Over these days, the Seven Immortal Sects had sent more disciples in; conflicts had intensified.

Especially deeper in, bloodstains grew more frequent, corpses littered everywhere—meaning danger could strike at any moment.

Just as nerves tightened, five figures emerged from the woods.

When they recognized their faces and attire, Zhuo Wanqiu froze, then relaxed, sheathing her sword.

The five included three disciples of Lingjian Mountain and two disciples of Wenda Sect.

Leading them was a female sword cultivator from Lingjian Mountain, a red cinnabar dot on her brow, sword held backward, cold and haughty, ordering the other two to remain alert.

“That’s my inner sect senior sister Ding Yao, Young Master, sheathe your sword.”

Ji You turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “A Tongxuan Initial Realm disciple commanding two Tongxuan Middle Realm ones?”

Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips: “Young Master doesn’t know—Ding Yao is the Little Mirror Master’s personal maid, with high status in the sect.”

“And the two men? Also her maids?” Ji You’s gaze grew cold.

“Young Master misunderstands—those two are disciples of Wenda Sect. The one ahead, I recognize: Senior Min Cheng of Wenda Sect’s inner sect.”

“Trustworthy?”

Zhuo Wanqiu nodded: “Senior Min Cheng has admired Ding Yao for years—he’s trustworthy.”

Ji You sheathed his sword, his eyes still cold: “Wenda Sect’s direct disciple admires your Little Mirror Master, and now one of their disciples is chasing her personal maid?”

“Lingjian Mountain and Wenda Sect have always been friendly—this isn’t new.”

“Then why not be friendly with Tian Shu Academy?”

Zhuo Wanqiu paused, thinking: one was in the far south, the other in the northern heartland—how could they possibly be friendly?

Meanwhile, Ding Yao and Min Cheng had spotted Ji You’s group in the woods and drew their swords swiftly.

Seeing this, Zhuo Wanqiu panicked, fearing misunderstanding would spark conflict, and stepped forward to bow.

“Senior Sister Ding, I’m Zhuo Wanqiu, an outer disciple of Lingjian Mountain.”

Ding Yao looked puzzled: “Why is an outer disciple here?”

Zhuo Wanqiu straightened: “We’re searching for a missing disciple from Qingzhou—we traced them here.”

Min Cheng recalled rumors of the Little Mirror Master’s visit to Chen Shixian Clan: “Wasn’t it your group that followed Yan Shimei when she went to Chen Shixian Clan?”

“Yes.”

“Where is she? Senior Xi Yao has been thinking of her daily.”

Wenda Sect’s direct disciple, Shang Xi Yao, had long admired Lingjian Mountain’s Little Mirror Master—this was known throughout the Qingyun Realm.

Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips: “The Mirror Master never came here—she went to investigate something else.”

Ding Yao glanced at Min Cheng, smiling sweetly: “Senior Brother Min, when you return, tell Senior Xi Yao not to rush. I’m like a sister to the Mirror Master—if she returns, I’ll send word.”

Min Cheng nodded: “Then I’m indebted to you, Senior Sister Ding.”

“We should thank you and Senior Xi Yao. Though the Mirror Mirror now belongs to our Xuanjian Peak, Tianjian Peak still watches jealously. Frankly, Wenda Sect will be the Mirror Master’s greatest support.”

Ding Yao turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “Find anything?”

Zhuo Wanqiu pulled a fruit from her robe: “We found this…”

“Zhu Guo?!”

“Yes—found it by chance on the path.”

Ding Yao snatched the fruit, her gaze burning: “Any more?”

Zhuo Wanqiu shook her head, thinking: even this one nearly killed us—how could we dare have another?

Min Cheng glanced at the fruit, then pointed to Ji You and the others still standing in the woods: “Sister, do you think they might have more?”

Ding Yao paused, then ordered the two Tongxuan Upper Realm disciples: “Go, search them.”

“Senior Sister, no—they’re our companions!”

“Don’t worry—I won’t kill them. The highest among them is just a Lower Realm Full, what harm in a search?”

Zhuo Wanqiu watched the two Tongxuan disciples approach Ji You—her mind went blank.

He wasn’t just any Lower Realm Full—here, with his spiritual energy efficiency, he might even exhaust a Rongdao cultivator!

And this Tian Shu Academy disciple had saved her life—yet she was a Lingjian Mountain disciple—who should she side with if they fought?

At that moment, Zhuo Wanqiu’s face was tense, as if she already saw the sword qi surging like crashing waves.

Though no target was chosen, her hand had already gripped her sword hilt.

“Why are you nervous?”

“That man’s sword is terrifying.”

Ding Yao sneered—everyone knew Lingjian Mountain’s sword art was supreme; she’d never heard of any Tian Shu Academy disciple being a sword master.

Besides, no matter how strong a Lower Realm Full was, facing two Rongdao cultivators?

As expected, Ji You and Yuanchen offered no resistance—like the other lone cultivators, they let them search.

Seeing this, Zhuo Wanqiu blinked in surprise.

Though the white-robed Tian Shu Academy disciple looked harmless, his sword intent was razor-sharp.

Sword intent was sword heart; sword heart was human heart.

She knew this Tian Shu Academy disciple would never endure humiliation.

Yet now, he let himself be searched without reaction—leaving Zhuo Wanqiu utterly baffled.

Moments later, the two Lingjian Mountain Tongxuan disciples returned, shaking their heads: “They have nothing.”

Ding Yao turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “Come with us. All Lingjian Mountain disciples are waiting in the pass—we’re heading to the deepest part to claim the greatest immortal fortune for Lingjian Mountain.”

Zhuo Wanqiu blinked: “But we’re still searching for someone.”

“So what if a few disciples are lost? If another sect claims this immortal fortune, how can Lingjian Mountain still stand supreme in Qingyun Realm!”

Ignoring Zhuo Wanqiu’s objections, Ding Yao led her group away.

Yuanchen was straightening his disheveled clothes, turning to Ji You with a puzzled look.

“Brother-in-law, they patted our pockets—did you just let them humiliate us?”

“What else could I do?”

“They can’t beat you here!”

“They’re Lingjian Mountain disciples—for now, I’ll let it pass. When I meet their Little Mirror Master, I’ll search her instead.”

Yuanchen grinned inwardly: My brother-in-law really knows how to brag.

That’s the fastest Yingtian cultivator in Qingyun Realm—don’t even think about touching her robe, you’d be sliced to pieces just for looking at her.

Ji You said nothing, glanced at Ding Yao’s retreating back, lifted his sword, and walked deeper into the woods.

(End of Chapter)