Chapter 68: He Went to Rescue His Fiancée

On a small building in Ningcheng County, Yan Shuyi had already received word that the Lingjian Mountain disciples had withdrawn.

But whether the Tian Shu Academy would withdraw—including whether he would—she still did not know.

At this moment, the Junior Mirror Master stood atop the tall building, gazing at the third surge of immortal light in the distance, pondering her earlier message with Zhuo Wanti.

【He said the Lingjian Mountain disciples were going to rescue someone】

【For some reason, he held back】

Yan Shuyi fell silent for a long while, glanced around, found no one nearby, then raised her hand and slowly pinched her own cheek, squinting slightly.

Soon, footsteps sounded below the building; the Junior Mirror Master quickly lowered her hand and resumed her cold, composed expression.

She turned to see Zhuo Wanqiu hastening up the stairs.

“Mirror Master.”

“Mm. How did things go?”

Zhuo Wanqiu bowed and said, “All disciples of the Xuanjian Peak have withdrawn, but some disciples of the Tianjian Peak have not obeyed the order.”

Yan Shuyi heard this without any emotional reaction, merely nodding slightly to indicate she understood.

Since she took control of the Lingjian Mirror, Xuanjian Peak had become the ruling lineage of Lingjian Mountain.

Tianjian Peak, which had held the Dao lineage for centuries, naturally resented this.

In this relic, where immortal fortune spilled out, it was their chance—even if some disciples perished, they must seize what they could.

This may also be why other immortal sects, though aware the mountain held danger, still sent their disciples to die.

For it was said the immortal fortune within the mountain was even vaster than the cosmic resonance at ascension.

Yan Shuyi’s decision to withdraw her disciples was risky, for crisis and fortune always coexist; if Tianjian Peak truly found an immortal fortune capable of shifting the Dao lineage, Xuanjian Peak might once again decline.

But she did not want her own disciples to die—she could not do such a thing.

She had always been like this since childhood: once she deemed something hers, she protected it fiercely.

Yan Shuyi turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “What of the Tian Shu Academy disciples?”

“Report, Mirror Master: I have notified them. All Tian Shu Academy disciples have withdrawn, but… Ji You remains inside the mountain.”

As Zhuo Wanqiu spoke, she secretly lifted her eyes, observing her Mirror Master’s expression, as if seeking clues.

It couldn’t be what I thought…

Our Junior Mirror Master is the next Abbess of Lingjian Mountain, of exalted status—even other immortal sects dare not underestimate her.

Ji You is merely an outer-court disciple of the Tian Shu Academy, said to be a rural self-cultivator with no family backing.

He had reached the peak of the lower three realms and earned a chance to enter the inner court, perhaps even rise further—until he encountered the brilliant Chu family, who cast him aside like trash.

How could two such people possibly have formed some inexplicable bond?

Yan Shuyi knew nothing of Zhuo Wanqiu’s complex thoughts; she said, “Why is he still inside the mountain?”

“According to the Tian Shu Academy, he went in to rescue someone.”

“Aren’t all Tian Shu Academy disciples out? Who else is he rescuing?”

Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips: “I don’t know. All I know is he went to rescue someone.”

Yan Shuyi stared at her, then squinted after a long pause: “Our Lingjian Mountain cultivates the Sword Dao—straightforward and direct. Yet your sword heart seems hesitant, Wanqiu. Are you hiding something from me?”

“Mirror Master, forgive me…”

Zhuo Wanqiu flinched and immediately knelt: “According to his fellow disciples, he went to rescue his fiancée.”

Yan Shuyi froze: “He has a fiancée?”

“It’s said… he has more than one.”

“A mere lower-three-realm cultivator with such tangled thoughts—no wonder when I first saw him, his aura was thick with yellow mist.”

Zhuo Wanqiu looked up: “Mirror Master, what is your true relationship with him?”

Yan Shuyi gazed with icy eyes at the distant mountain where immortal fortune surged: “A stranger I happened to meet once while traveling outside the mountain—only once.”

“I see.”

Zhuo Wanqiu patted her chest, thinking: So I was wrong after all: “Mirror Master, since the Xuanjian Peak disciples have withdrawn, shall we return to the mountain?”

Yan Shuyi sat on the long bench and shook her head: “Wait.”

“Is there something else to do? Mirror Master, please command your disciple.”

“There is nothing to do—just wait. Wait for those inside to emerge, see what kind of scheme could produce such a spectacle, see whether the Tianjian Peak disciples obtain what they seek, and incidentally, see what his fiancée looks like.”

Yan Shuyi leaned against the railing, speaking softly; her previously swaying foot now lay still.

Zhuo Wanqiu, upon hearing the first few words, thought her Mirror Master was indeed far-sighted.

Though she herself shunned danger, as the next Abbess of Lingjian Mountain, she must understand what lay behind this affair.

Moreover, whether Tianjian Peak succeeds or fails concerns the return of power to Lingjian Mountain—these were vital matters.

But when she heard the last sentence, Zhuo Wanqiu froze in place.

The first two matters were important—but if the third was weighed equally with them, then it, too, mattered deeply to the Mirror Master.

Oh no, I thought I was right at first, but now I’m wrong again.

Ji You once saved her; she did not want to see him beheaded the moment he left the mountain.

“Mirror Master…”

“Hmm?”

“If you see him… what will you do?”

Yan Shuyi paused, startled by the oddness of her question.

Observing the final scheme and whether the Tianjian Peak disciples obtained anything was for future caution.

As for seeing Ji You and his fiancée—it would change nothing, merely satisfy curiosity.

Seeing them was seeing them—just a passing whim, a stranger met once, whose roasted sweet potato happened to taste better.

Yan Shuyi hummed a local Lingzhou folk tune, thinking: As long as he’s alive, what more could matter?

Zhuo Wanqiu stared at her Junior Mirror Master for a long while, then fell silent and withdrew, descending to wait below.

At this moment, Ding Yao and the others arrived in Ningcheng County, reached the tavern where they were, and immediately moved to ascend the stairs to pay respects.

In truth, Yan Shuyi had notified Zhuo Wanqiu instead of her personal maid Ding Yao because she knew her maid was connected to the Wenda Sect.

She did not wish to be disturbed by irrelevant people.

But Ding Yao was not foolish; seeing Zhuo Wanqiu slip away, she deduced the Mirror Master was here and secretly followed.

Just then, Zhuo Wanqiu descended the stairs and collided with them face-to-face.

“Sister Zhuo, where is the Mirror Master? I have something to report!”

“The Mirror Master is upstairs.”

Zhuo Wanqiu added: “Sister Ding, wait a while before ascending to pay your respects.”

Ding Yao, about to step up, turned to look at her: “Why?”

“I think the Mirror Master is not in a good mood right now…”

(End of Chapter)