Three months ago, Author: Xun Chun Xu Zhou
“Wū… wū… wū…”
In the courtyard, Chu Weiyang stood helplessly, watching the woman beside him curled up in the stone chair, sobbing to herself.
She was a picture of sorrow, tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks.
From time to time, the woman would lift her head, casting a resentful glance at Chu Weiyang, pouting her lips and gritting her teeth, unable to express her grievances.
At this moment, Chu Weiyang scratched his head in frustration, unsure of how to face such a weeping scene.
He felt that it would be more straightforward to settle matters with a sword and a talisman, determining life and death right at the door.
Thinking of this, he even avoided the woman's gaze, turning his head to look at the already opened Qiankun Bag on the stone table.
Several jade slips were scattered across the table, while the rest consisted of a stack of talismans, all sealed with cloud patterns containing the Hundred Flower Fiend Qi.
There were also several jars of unknown dan pills, which, when lightly sniffed, emitted a peculiar fragrance.
Aside from that, the entire Qiankun Bag was clean, leaving not a single word behind.
He was curious to examine the jade slips, but when Chu Weiyang's divine sense swept over them, he suddenly saw streams of spiritual light swirling above the jade slips, transforming into hidden restrictions that obstructed external probing.
If he were to break through with brute force, the jade slips would likely shatter instantly, turning into powder.
After scrutinizing for a moment, Chu Weiyang reluctantly shifted his gaze away.
The sobbing continued like a howling bellows, not only failing to cease but growing louder with each breath, the momentum increasingly rising.
Chu Weiyang sighed again.
Perhaps due to her fright, when the sigh escaped his lips, the woman's crying abruptly paused.
Immediately after, she seemed to feel extremely wronged by her own reaction, frightened to the core, and could only cover her mouth, desperately trying to suppress her voice, while the tears continued to flow in a stream.
This silent weeping only served to agitate Chu Weiyang's emotions further.
Then, his hoarse voice broke the silence.
“In the wilderness, people mingling in the markets often say that the girls of the Hundred Flower Tower are the most genuine, as they can truly show one’s heart; yet, the girls of the Hundred Flower Tower are also the most deceitful, for every tear and smile is a means to ensnare the heart, revealing not a shred of true intent.
That Hundred Flower Fiend Qi, and these talismans on the table, are all undeniably real things. My lady, you cannot continue crying like this. If there are no words of explanation, then you are forcing this humble Daoist to make a hard decision!
I am but a small sect, lacking the shoulders to bear the heavens, and I dare not offend the Hundred Flower Tower. Asking you these questions is merely to see if we can resolve the misunderstandings here, but if you continue to cry like this, I have no other recourse but to kill you.”
As he spoke, Chu Weiyang once again raised the long sword in his hand, the sword light swirling freely with the movement of his wrist.
Sensing the genuine and sharp killing intent emanating from Chu Weiyang, the woman seemed to forget her crying in shock, instead shivering in place, as if her soul had left her body.
In dissatisfaction, Chu Weiyang shook his head.
“Spacing out? Lost in thought? Or do you not wish to say anything? Forget it…”
It seemed that Chu Weiyang had made some decision in his heart.
He crossed the sword over his chest and suddenly stepped toward the stone chair.
“Well then, many matters can be done without hesitation. Regardless of how you know my surname is Chu, or any other matters, I no longer wish to know. I only need to clarify about the ‘Five Organs Feeding Qi Essence Technique’!
Oh, by the way, you seemed quite frightened earlier. Were you thinking of something else? I also want to try teaching you the method of physical offering before I leave. Perhaps entering the Yin Ming realm could earn me some merit! Not speaking? Then I’ll take it as your acquiescence.”
As he spoke, the woman was trembling like a leaf, and seeing Chu Weiyang approach step by step, she suddenly spoke in a slightly sharp voice, her crying tone still evident.
“I’ll speak! I’ll say everything! I am Qing He from the Hundred Flower Tower, sent by Master Yu Ting to find Dong Heng in Jing'an Dao City. The two brothers are hidden agents left by our sect in Dao City, but in truth, they are here to find you, the escaped prisoner from the Demon Suppression Cave, the heir of the Pan Wang Sect, Chu Weiyang!”
Qing He’s tearful declaration was more effective than any Fiend Qi, leaving Chu Weiyang standing there, his expression shifting rapidly.
A sense of inexplicable astonishment surged in his heart.
“The Hundred Flower Tower… your master is… Master Yu Ting?”
Qing He nodded, “Exactly!”
In a daze, Chu Weiyang’s thoughts surged, and as his figure swayed, he seemed to return to that boat, to the time when he had not yet met Master Yu Ting.
At that time, he thought it was merely a chance encounter between two cultivators among the masses.
But now, Chu Weiyang realized that even during that meeting, perhaps before meeting him, Master Yu Ting had already seen through his background.
Recalling that day when he stood by the window, seemingly without any cover…
This…
Thinking of this, Chu Weiyang came back to his senses.
When he looked at the softly sobbing Qing He again, he inexplicably felt a surge of anger and shame.
However, this emotion came swiftly and was quickly suppressed by Chu Weiyang.
He controlled his emotions with great difficulty and then looked at Qing He with a very calm demeanor.
“Master Yu Ting from the Hundred Flower Tower and I had a brief encounter on the way to Jing'an Dao City. At that time, I even deceived her, saying my name was Guo Dian, the heir of the Pan Wang Sect… I suppose she was laughing at me then. But regardless, we had met, and since I didn’t mention anything at that time, why did it come to this, causing you to go through such trouble to find me?”
Upon hearing this, Qing He did not respond immediately.
Instead, she pondered for a few breaths before speaking.
“If I wanted to deceive you, Chu Daoist, I could conjure up countless flawless excuses in an instant. However, the matter of seeking you was ordered by my master. As for what she plans to do upon meeting you, how could I, as a junior, possibly know?”
At this point, Qing He hesitated again, biting her lip, clearly conflicted, before continuing.
“However, before I left, I overheard my master’s close maidservants gossiping, saying that Dong Heng knows of a cave overseas. Judging by the traces, it must have been left behind by a predecessor of the Pan Wang Sect. Thus, they came to Dao City to seek Chu Daoist, perhaps for this matter…”
Upon hearing this, Chu Weiyang nodded, as if he accepted Qing He’s words.
“I understand this reason now. But what about the ‘Five Organs Feeding Qi Essence Technique’? Since you know I am the heir of the Pan Wang Sect, let’s speak plainly. You should know what I am asking!”
Upon hearing this, Qing He showed no hesitation and even became bolder as she spoke.
“Are you asking about the dan recipe? That’s of no use, or rather, to be more precise, it’s of no use to you. Because aside from the Yuan Qi that the precious dan can refine, the medicinal power also needs to be combined with the secret methods of the Hundred Flower Tower for cultivation! If you only want to hear the rumors circulating in the markets, you’ll need to comprehend it from me!
As for cultivation, after our sect obtained this technique, the true essence of cultivation lies not in the furnace or the dan cauldron, but in the five organs and meridians, in the Hundred Flower Fiend Qi! Various precious dan combined are merely to select five types of flower fiends, each corresponding to the five elements, first entering the medicinal power, then refining into the five organs and meridians, especially entering the path of the Hundred Flowers!
This is a clever method, for directly entering the path with the Hundred Flower Fiend Qi is indeed as difficult as ascending to the heavens. However, if one uses this technique to surpass the initial bottleneck, mastering the five types of flower fiends, the flow of the five Qi, and the cycle of life, the five flowers become the Hundred Flowers. This principle is not something to be afraid of sharing with you. The dan recipes we use in our cultivation are all derived from the calculations of our elders!
Everyone is different; just a slight difference can lead to a great error. Moreover, even if there are elders willing to help you calculate the dan recipe, it may be too late. Chu Daoist, your Ciyu Fire is so formidable; I imagine you have already stabilized the poisonous fire within the heart chamber? If one of the five elements is lost, then cultivating the flower fiend will only fuel the fire.”
At this point, both Qing He and Chu Weiyang shook their heads simultaneously, as if they both recalled the scene of the Ciyu Fire swelling in the wind.
However, being cut off by Qing He’s few words, Chu Weiyang did not feel discouraged.
Beneath his calm exterior, his heart was filled with increasing joy—
The direction of cultivation for the ‘Five Organs Feeding Qi Essence Technique’ as explained by Qing He almost pointed out a clear path for Chu Weiyang!
Since the poisonous fiend can stabilize and enter the heart chamber, then naturally, Chu Weiyang could seek another method, drawing the poisonous fiend into the five elements, using this as a clever method to surpass the bottleneck of facing the Fiend Qi head-on.
In the endless cycle of the five elements, he could find his own path to refining the fiend!
In a daze, a cold stream seemed to pour down from the back of his head, the chill reaching his feet!
When he sought the poison technique from Yan Jianming, it was indeed with the idea of indirectly transforming the fiend through poison.
Now, as he delved deeper, achieving success should be a natural outcome.
However, upon hearing the direction of the Hundred Flower Tower’s cultivation method, before he could truly see the results of the poison technique, he understood that this was a correct and feasible path.
Such realizations invigorated Chu Weiyang’s spirit more than anything else!
Thus, even though there were countless excuses he could use here, with this initial joy of understanding, when Chu Weiyang looked at Qing He again, he suddenly realized that no matter what, he could not kill her now, could not kill her before his eyes.
Thinking of this, Chu Weiyang nodded.
“Thank you, Miss Qing He, for your guidance. Now, can we consider this misunderstanding resolved? I do not wish to entangle myself with your holy sect. Since your master has business with me, regardless of whether it concerns that ancient cultivator’s cave overseas, I am here in Dao City, in this courtyard, waiting for her to arrive. What do you think?”
At this moment, Qing He’s nostrils twitched, as if she was about to cry again in fear.
“Then… before saying all this, do you have a place to bathe?”
Arriving in palace attire, departing in a sky-blue wide Dao robe.
Her wet long hair cascaded over her shoulders as Qing He joyfully walked through the bustling streets of Dao City.
After a few turns, the noise suddenly dissipated, and Qing He stood still in another secluded courtyard, waving her hand to let the spiritual light of the restrictions on the walls fall.
Looking again, there was no trace of sobbing or fear on Qing He’s face.
Her face was full of shrewd smiles, and with a flick of her hand, a light red jade slip was pinched in her palm.
As the spiritual light swirled, Qing He’s melodious voice rang out.
“Master Ancestor, it’s quite a coincidence. By chance, I encountered that lone heir of the Pan Wang Sect, the one named Chu Weiyang. I had no choice but to change my original plan and, using some reasons and coincidences, disclosed the path of our sect’s cultivation of the ‘Five Organs Feeding Qi Essence Technique’ to him.
After all, he is a fiend who has fought his way out of the Demon Suppression Cave, traveling ninety thousand miles with sharp methods! I fell into his hands and was interrogated by him… but I didn’t dare to mention the connection between our sect and the Pan Wang Sect. I had no choice but to reveal that my master was seeking him. I see he seems to have other intentions and does not appear willing to wait for my master.
Alas… it’s all a series of unfortunate coincidences that led to this situation. I am anxious and dare not speak to my master. Master Ancestor, please see… with the plan changed, how should we arrange my master’s journey? I met with Chu Weiyang this morning, and now I cannot follow him anymore. Perhaps when my master arrives, it will be a wasted trip, and if she gets angry, I fear I will suffer.”
“Master Ancestor, you must save me…”
In the courtyard.
Qing He had been gone for a long time, and Chu Weiyang remained in place, idly flipping through the Qiankun Bag he had taken as “collateral.”
He weighed the few jade slips in his palm.
“Miss Zhi, what about the secret methods of your Ting Chang Mountain? Is there a way to break this restriction?”
In his mind, Chunyu Zhi naturally did not respond to this, but instead asked Chu Weiyang.
“Do you believe what that girl said? In my opinion, she is not an honest child…”
Chu Weiyang continued to weigh the jade slips.
“Which part are you referring to? About the cultivation method? Or about Master Yu Ting?”
Without hesitation, Chunyu Zhi replied, “Naturally, it’s about Master Yu Ting!”
Chu Weiyang smiled and shook his head. “Half true, half false. Perhaps it’s true that she came to find me, and it’s true regarding that cultivator’s cave, but at least, I do not believe that Dong Heng is a hidden agent of the Hundred Flower Tower. Perhaps he has some vague connection with the Hundred Flower Tower, but he certainly cannot be a hidden agent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to deceive him into making a vow that day outside Dao City. Looking at it this way, that cultivator’s cave might also be a trap…
With both strength and influence, they might play tricks on you. It’s frightening, making one anxious just to think about it, especially in the Spirit Hill Mountain Tree Sea…”
In place, Chu Weiyang gathered his sleeves and looked up at the gray sky with a sense of melancholy.
The trees wish to be still, but the wind does not cease.
In this surging sea breeze, it was still the same.
“So what do you think? Are you really going to wait here for Master Yu Ting to come?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Weiyang sighed.
“I think I’ve roughly understood the implications behind Qing He’s reckless actions…”
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