IVYSCP - Chapter 92
Chapter 92
The Great Wilderness was remote and distant. Even a skyship traveling day and night without pause required four or five days.
Passing through Xuanyao Pass, Pei Yin told Ling Qingyue they needed to replenish some spirit stones in case of emergencies. After discussing it, the two decided to stop at Xuanyao Pass for a day.
Pei Xi was naturally delighted as well. Where there were many people, she could eat more dreams.
Putting away the skyship, Pei Yin used an art to blur her features and shifted back into Pei Si's face. A slight adjustment in her features gave an entirely different impression. Pei Yin was cold and aloof, keeping others at a distance, while Pei Si was gentler.
Pei Yin noticed Ling Qingyue constantly looking at her face. Her lips flattened slightly, and she said indifferently, "Do you like this one so much?"
Ling Qingyue blinked, pressing her lips together as she stifled a laugh. "Oh dear, jealous even of your own self?"
Pei Yin glanced at her. "Nonsense."
"No? Let me take a sniff then." Ling Qingyue clung to her arm, practically hanging from her, and leaned her nose toward Pei Yin's neck, saying with a smile, "I can smell it. Sour."
Pei Yin broke into a smile at her teasing and lightly patted her waist. "Behave."
Ling Qingyue straightened up, muttering, "Pretending to be proper."
Entering Xuanyao Pass, Ling Qingyue's mood was noticeably better than it had been on the skyship. On the skyship, she had been thinking about the journey, thinking about their situation. The only thing that could pull her out of those problems was intimacy with Pei Yin, but the two of them couldn't stay glued together all the time.
Xuanyao Pass was one of the three great cities within Lingxu Immortal Palace's territory. Pavilions and halls stood row upon row, shops lined both sides of the streets, and everything from rare spirit herbs and medicines to superior magical treasures and artifacts, talismans, and array plates was readily available. Built upon a natural spiritual vein, the spiritual qi in the city practically condensed into tangible form flowing through the air. Xuanyao Pass had also become the largest spirit-stone trading hub in the Immortal Realm.
Ling Qingyue had once come here with Yu Liuli. A hundred years later, Xuanyao Pass seemed even more prosperous.
Ling Qingyue browsed one stall then another, her eyes gleaming.
"A Cloud-Breaking Saber! A Silver Dragon Spear!" Ling Qingyue exclaimed. After her praise, her peripheral vision caught a snow-white longsword. The moment she saw the sword, it suddenly began to tremble, then flew directly in front of Ling Qingyue.
The stall owner smiled warmly. "Fellow immortal, it seems this sword is fated for you. A spirit sword rarely gains sentience. I can see immortal qi faintly radiating from you. With a fine sword, your cultivation will surely soar."
"Oh?" Ling Qingyue raised an eyebrow with interest. "What is this sword called?"
The owner's eyes lit up for a moment. "Fellow immortal, you recognized the Cloud-Breaking Saber and Silver Dragon Spear, so you clearly have a discerning eye. Look, this sword is pure silver-white throughout, with blood-red long markings covering the blade. In truth, this sword was forged from thousand-year meteorite jade, of the same origin as the legendary Jiuge Sword. If you would grant this sword a chance to reappear in the world, its name would naturally be yours to decide. I can see your bearing is extraordinary, and one day you will surely be renowned throughout the Immortal Realm. You have a kind face, and this sword is fated for you. Let us be friends as well. How about fifty thousand spirit stones?"
Ling Qingyue's lips twitched.
"No need. I'm just looking."
This was the truth. She had Jiuge. If she brought back a younger sword sister for Jiuge, Jiuge would likely chop this sword into eight pieces.
She turned and had barely taken two steps when the sword directly chased after her, blocking her path.
"Ah! Fellow immortal, look! This sword hasn't moved an inch in all the years it's been with me, and now that you're here, it's chasing after you to acknowledge you as its master." The owner raised a hand to wipe at her eyes as if moved to tears. "It has a spirit. It must know you are its future master and is desperately trying to keep you here."
Ling Qingyue: "..."
Out of the corner of her eye, Ling Qingyue caught sight of Pei Yin about to approach and quickly shot her a look.
Pei Yin stepped back, a faint smile in her eyes.
"Fellow immortal, a fine sword is hard to come by. How about forty-five thousand?" The owner put her hand down, all smiles again.
Ling Qingyue feigned distress. "But I already have a sword. What to do?"
The owner's eyes shifted. Just as she was about to speak, a flash of sword light swept past. Before she could react, she was knocked to the ground. Then a heavy sword crashed into her arms, desperately burrowing against her as if terrified.
Ling Qingyue laughed. "Owner, didn't you say this sword hasn't moved in years? I'd say it seems quite close to you. If I bought it, wouldn't it just sneak off on its own at night?"
"H-how could that be." The owner laughed awkwardly, gripping the sword hilt to push the blade away, but the longsword refused, stubbornly clinging to her.
"A sword with a spirit is hard to come by. You shouldn't use it for these swindling tricks." Ling Qingyue advised.
Seeing she couldn't take the sword back, the owner sighed and rose, bowing to Ling Qingyue. Gazing at the wooden sword in Ling Qingyue's hand, she felt even more ashamed. "Your swordsmanship is extraordinary. I was blind."
She said this aloud, but inwardly she was thinking: How utterly unlucky!!! My very first deal! And I run into a master!
Ling Qingyue smiled and moved on, about to go find Pei Yin, when her expression suddenly shifted. The instant she raised her sword, a formation abruptly descended beneath her feet.
Pei Yin was at Ling Qingyue's side almost instantly.
The entire street fell silent under a heart-stopping pressure, and countless strands of divine sense probed over from all across Xuanyao Pass.
In the middle of the street, the two stood shoulder to shoulder. Before them hovered a longsword that was pitch-black from end to end.
The longsword bore no killing intent. It swayed before Ling Qingyue, tilted its hilt to tap the wooden sword in her hand, then drifted over to her face again, bobbing up and down, looking ready to start speaking in its urgency.
Ling Qingyue more or less understood what it wanted to say.
It was asking: Where is Jiuge? Why aren't you carrying Jiuge?
"Quexie!"
A cold reprimand sounded. Quexie immediately straightened its blade, traced a streak of sword light through the air, and obediently returned to its sheath.
Then two people landed before Ling Qingyue and Pei Yin.
It was Ying Ying and Chi Que.
Ying Ying looked somewhat surprised. Her gaze circled over the two of them, and then she exchanged bows with Chi Que beside her.
As they bowed, Ying Ying nudged Chi Que.
Why is the Immortal Venerable here?
Chi Que glanced at her.
Don't know.
Compared to the Immortal Venerable who had come in disguise, Chi Que was far more curious about Elder Ah Xi at the Immortal Venerable's side.
Back when Elder Ah Xi underwent her tribulation, Quexie had already sensed something. And just now, after sensing a strand of sword intent, Quexie had charged straight over.
The only thing that could make Quexie this restless was...
Chi Que straightened up and looked at the wooden sword in Ling Qingyue's hand.
An exceedingly simple wooden sword, as if casually picked up. Normally, wooden swords weren't this slender and thin, but this one's blade was extremely slender and extremely thin.
Ling Qingyue spoke first. "It's been a long time, you two."
Ying Ying glanced at Chi Que, who was lost in thought, and smiled, nodding. "Yes."
There were too many probing gazes around, so Ying Ying invited the two of them to Cloud Rising Tower.
Cloud Rising Tower belonged to Lingxu Immortal Palace. Each room was protected by formation restrictions.
Once inside a room, Pei Yin removed her concealment art.
Ying Ying and Chi Que saw this and bowed again. "Immortal Venerable."
Pei Yin nodded in return.
Ying Ying cast several glances at Chi Que. Seeing that she still wouldn't speak, Ying Ying had no choice but to take the lead. "Quexie has been a bit off lately. Chi Que was already planning to take a look at it. It offended the Immortal Venerable and Elder Ah Xi just now. Please be forgiving."
As she spoke, Ying Ying tugged at Chi Que, urging her to say a few more words.
No matter what, Quexie suddenly charging over like that would startle anyone.
But Chi Que abruptly lifted her gaze and looked directly at the person beside Pei Yin, her voice cold as she spoke. "Ling Qingyue."
Ling Qingyue and Pei Yin both looked at her at the same time.
Ying Ying didn't react for a moment. She tugged at Chi Que, transmitting through gritted teeth: I said Quexie has a problem, not that you have a problem. What are you bringing up Ling Qingyue for? What, did she send you a dream? Were the two of you that close before? How come I never knew?
Pei Yin narrowed her eyes, looking at Chi Que. "What did you just say?"
Ling Qingyue keenly sensed that Pei Yin's tone was somewhat displeased.
Chi Que tapped her sword scabbard. Quexie eagerly emerged, circled the room once, then came over to Ling Qingyue's side before finally returning to Chi Que's hand, visibly disappointed.
Chi Que said plainly, "Quexie is extremely sensitive to sword qi. It just sensed the sword intent of Jiuge."
"Therefore, you are Ling Qingyue."
Before her words even finished, Ying Ying clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her against her own chest, then said to the two opposite with a smile, "Forgive her. She might also have a slight problem. No need to mind it."
Ling Qingyue blinked, not expecting her identity to be exposed because of a sword.
Ying Ying dragged Chi Que to sit down.
Ling Qingyue and Pei Yin sat across from them.
Looking at the two of them, Ling Qingyue suddenly asked with curiosity, "What brings you both to Xuanyao Pass?"
A Lingxu Immortal Palace young palace master and a Wushi Sect sword-holding elder. They had been inseparable at Piaomiao Sect before the Ancient Yao Forest Realm, and now here they were appearing together at Xuanyao Pass.
Seeing the topic shift, Ying Ying inwardly sighed in relief and lamented, "Recently, for some reason, rumors suddenly began spreading that the death of the previous Hidden Moon Lord is related to the Sword Venerable. Although the Sword Venerable's side hasn't said anything, this matter originated from Xuanyao Pass, so I came here to investigate the situation. Elder Chi happened to be passing through."
"What?" Ling Qingyue looked astonished. "The previous Hidden Moon Lord and the Sword Venerable?"
Ying Ying nodded, frustrated. "Everyone knows the previous Hidden Moon Lord died at the hands of the Demon Race. The Sword Venerable was once engaged to her. Their bond was very deep. How could that be possible? It's sheer nonsense."
Ling Qingyue pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow.
If this had been before, she certainly would have chimed in agreement. This matter was absolutely nonsense!
But...
She could not see through Lou Wudu. She was no longer certain whether Lou Wudu would harm a Dao companion she had once been on the verge of bonding with...
Ying Ying did not attach much importance to this matter. She was merely stepping forward to show a stance for Shangtianqiong's sake and to dissociate Lingxu Immortal Palace from the incident.
"Immortal Venerable, Elder Ah Xi, what brings you here?" Ying Ying rose to pour them tea. "If there is anything I can help with, please do not hesitate to say so."
There was indeed one thing.
Ling Qingyue steadied her mind slightly and looked at Ying Ying. "Young Palace Master, I wish to ask you about something."
Ying Ying smiled. "Just call me Ying Ying. What is it?"
Ling Qingyue said softly, "Regarding your cousin, Yu Liuli."
Ying Ying's smile froze on her face in an instant.
Comments
Post a Comment