Chapter 71 – Up to No Good

  Shen Ruolan sat across from Jun De, the warm steam of their teacups curling between them as the afternoon sun filtered through the trees that ringed the courtyard. The nervous tension that had been etched in her shoulders slowly began to melt away the longer they spoke.

  Jun De answered her questions honestly, although he tried to keep most of the horrible things he had experienced from leaking into the narrative.

  “I arrived in Yunlai City because of a teleportation array.” Jun De confirmed. He tapped the porcelain cup with a fingernail absentmindedly as he spoke.

  “It wasn’t intentional. I was caught in a fight that I couldn’t win, and I was forced to detonate an artifact. Thankfully, I was protected by a talisman Elder Mu had given me. I woke up deep underground where the array was concealed.”

  Ruolan’s eyes widened slightly, and she gasped in surprise.

  “You destroyed a spiritual artifact to survive? I didn’t know such a thing was possible.”

  “I didn’t have any choice.” Jun De said, trying to appear casual with a shrug of his shoulder. But inside, he was terrified. He never wanted to be in that situation again and had promised himself that he would take extra precautions in the future to prevent it from happening.

  “I see. Then it really was fate that brought you here. Of all the places the teleportation array could bring you, it carried you safely to Yunlai City.” Ruolan said, her lips curling into a smile that lit up her face.

  Jun De quirked an eyebrow and chuckled.

  “I would have preferred that fate used a less explosive method of bringing me here.” Jun De replied dryly.

  For a moment, silence lingered in the courtyard that was only filled by the rustling of leaves and the occasional ripple in the pond nearby. Ruolan, who was much more at ease now, found her bold confidence returning.

  As the City Lord’s granddaughter, she wasn’t accustomed to being uncomfortable. And the way her parents spoiled her had given her a fair share of arrogance. Whether it was sneaking out of the City Lord’s Mansion dressed as a man, attending lectures on the Dao, she did whatever it took to get what she wanted.

  ‘And right now, I want Jun De.’ Shen Ruolan thought to herself.

  “I told my parents about you.” She said simply, and Jun De froze with his teacup partly raised to his lips.

  “You did?” Jun De replied, confused as to what she meant.

  Shen Ruolan nodded while swirling the tea in her cup.

  “They want to meet you.”

  Jun De set his cup down gently, while his expression grew guarded. Whatever she meant, he had a feeling it wasn’t good.

  ‘I knew I should have run away from her when I saw her standing on the street outside my Inn.’ Jun De thought regretfully.

  “I would like to meet them as well, although I fear I won’t have been able to offer much of interest to people of such high esteem. Why would they want to see me?” Jun De said carefully.

  Shen Ruolan didn’t hesitate, and her bold arrogance was on full display as she replied.

  “Because I told them I am interested in marrying you.”

  The silence that followed her statement was absolute. Jun De felt a surge of panic rise up from his belly, and he had to use all of his willpower not to leap to his feet and flee immediately.

  ‘I knew she was up to no good!’ Jun De screamed in his mind.

  Page Break

  In the private chamber at the rear of the grand hall that had just been filled with people moments before, Han Zhengwu and Mu Yanyu were sitting at a table carved from a thousand-year-old spirit wood.

  Incense burned in a porcelain holder shaped like a qilin, perfuming the air with the smell of lotus flowers and sandalwood.

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  Han Zhengwu sat at the head of the table, drinking tea while Vice Sect Master Mu Yanyu rested her hands calmly on the table’s surface and carefully watched the City Lord’s expression while she spoke.

  “The Hollow Stream Sect was reduced to nothing but ash, and the blood essence of everyone inside was drained to the last drop. It wasn’t a simple raid for resources or to control their spiritual vein. It was a ritual sacrifice that followed a demonic cultivation method.”

  Han Zhengwu's face fell, and a heaviness seemed to press against her as the City Lord considered her words.

  “I have heard the rumours, and have witnessed these demonic cultivators first hand. I’ve doubled our patrols, and nothing can enter the city without my awareness. If you are concerned about infiltration, I can assure you that there are no demonic cultivators in Yunlai City.”

  Mu Yanyu bowed her head slightly in deference to the Nascent Soul expert. She was the Vice Sect Master of the Tranquil Mountain Sect, and her status was very high across the entire Southern Continent, but she was still only in the Core Formation Stage.

  Still, she felt she needed to warn the City Lord about what Jun De had heard.

  “I do not doubt your vigilance, City Lord Han. But you may be unaware of the seriousness of the cultivation method these Demonic Cultivators practice. We have confirmed that it is the Crimson Rebirth Sutra.”

  Han Zhengwu’s expression darkened, and the heaviness in the room deepened until Mu Yanyu was forced to cycle her Qi to protect herself from the spiritual pressure the City Lord was releasing in his shock.

  “The Crimson Rebirth Sutra. It should have been destroyed when the Black Briar Sect was obliterated for practicing its foul method. Body-refining through blood essence, resentment and human sacrifice.” Han Zhengwu muttered.

  “Xun Beiming fought against us in the Hollow Stream Sect. It was through this method that he has nearly reached the Nascent Soul Stage.” Mu Yanyu replied, and City Lord Han’s shock grew.

  “Xun Beiming…that old bastard is still alive? He was only in the early stages of Core Formation when the Sect fell.” The City Lord said, and there was a trace of anger in his voice.

  “The Crimson Rebirth Sutra offers results for cultivators with poor talent and little support. It’s insidious, powerful, and dangerously seductive.”

  Mu Yanyu paused, thinking about how to approach what she needed to say next, before continuing.

  “My Disciple, Jun De, attended a lecture last night where a member of your Mansion spoke. Jun De was disturbed by some of the content. He is sharp and cautious. If he was concerned by the speaker’s words, I trust his instincts.”

  “I see. You suspect this lecture Jun De attended may have been a veiled introduction to the demonic path?”

  “A technique that promises fast breakthroughs and strength through death will find itself being taught to those with desperate ears.”

  The City Lord sat back in his chair, and his gaze grew distant for a moment.

  “If the Crimson Rebirth Sutra has made its way here, then I will burn out every trace of it.”

  Mu Yanyu nodded and let the subject rest. This was Han Zhengwu’s territory, and the Tranquil Mountain Sect had no business interfering. Giving the City Lord a warning was the best she could do, and that was for the sake of the relationship between Han Zhengwu and her own Sect Master.

  Standing from the table, Mu Yanyu gave a deep, respectful bow and withdrew from the room as the City Lord began to think about how to proceed.

  When she stepped into the courtyard that Jun De had been provided with, her steps were light and purposeful. The hem of her blue robes whispered across the stone pathway like flowing water.

  Mu Yanyu had just entered through the gate when she saw Shen Ruolan approaching her on her way out of the courtyard.

  “Vice Sect Master Mu.” Shen Ruolan said, giving her a bow and a soft smile. There was nothing improper with how she presented herself, but Mu Yanyu frowned as she saw the look in Shen Ruolan’s eyes.

  There was a feeling of smug satisfaction and possessiveness, combined with a silent message that was clear to her.

  It said, ‘I win.’

  Mu Yanyu’s expression didn’t change as she passed. She gave the young woman a small nod in return, one that was neither warm nor hostile, but entirely distant. In her mind, Shen Ruolan was of no consequence when compared to her own status and cultivation.

  The only reason she had offered even a sliver of acknowledgement was due to her bloodline. She was the granddaughter of Han Zhengwu, but that only deserved a touch of courtesy and nothing more.

  When the young woman had left the courtyard, Mu Yanyu walked toward the young man who was seated near a tranquil pond at the center of the space.

  He was sitting in front of a carved stone table, his white robes pristine and glimmering in the sunlight. There was a cup of tea in his right hand, and he was staring into it as though it might contain answers to a question that was plaguing him and causing a frown to appear on his face.

  When he finally noticed her presence, Jun De jolted slightly. He smoothly stood from the table and gave her a deep bow while clasping his hands respectfully.

  “Elder Mu, I apologize, but I didn’t sense you approach.”

  Mu Yanyu arched a delicate eyebrow as she moved to take a seat at the table across from him. She gestured for Jun De to pour her tea, and she didn’t speak before he had done so.

  “You seem conflicted.” Mu Yanyu said, and Jun De let out a small sigh as he set the teapot on the table and returned to his chair.

  “I’ve seen and experienced too much over the past few days. Things just seem to become complicated whenever I leave the Sect.” Jun De admitted.

  Jun De was caught up in fate, and it wouldn’t let him just stay in the Sect and cultivate diligently. The heavens would always find a way to push or pull him in the direction they wanted.

  He was like a man adrift in a small boat, clutching the oars with determination and cursing the ceaseless tide that pulled him further from the shore. No matter how hard he tried to row against it, the ocean was his destination.

  “You will have your wish soon. We will wait in Yunlai City until the Tranquil Mountain Sect sends the flying vessel to continue the hunt for the Demonic Cultivators. For now, rest and recover. We will leave in a week’s time.” Mu Yanyu said, and, strangely, her words seemed to cause Jun De’s concerns to rise.