“Senior Sister Lingyi, are you feeling better?”
Yun Lingyue lifted the door curtain and walked in from outside. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the paper window, spilling onto the pale thin quilt and waking the sleeping Fu Lingyi.
She mumbled, asking, “Lingyue, what time is it?”
Eight days had passed since the Demon Lord Yue Jin last came to provoke them. Fu Lingyi had been quite seriously injured then. During this time, several martial sisters had taken turns managing the sect affairs, allowing her some brief peace for recovery.
Yun Lingyue put down the tray in her hand. “It’s early morning, Senior Sister. Drink today’s medicine first. Oh right, I heard from a few young disciples on Jueyuan Peak that the Sect Leader might be coming out of seclusion today.”
“Coming out early? Why?” Fu Lingyi recited a Cleansing Incantation, picked up a spoon, scooped a mouthful of Immortal Herb Medicinal Soup, and blew on it to cool it down before bringing it to her lips. “The Sect Leader has been cultivating for a long time. Without any important matters, why would she do this?”
“It seems…”
Yun Lingyue lowered her voice, leaned close to her ear, and whispered secretively, “It seems something happened down the mountain. That Xuanzhuo Sect, which has always been ambitious and often hostile to our Sword Sect, was completely wiped out by the Demonic Path. I heard that even the bones of young children weren’t found. If you ask me, the cultivation tabloids were absolutely right; that Demon Lord is definitely a demon in disguise, a man-eater who devoured everyone completely!”
“Lingyue, you’re reading strange books again. In this world, there are only demon beasts, where would demons come from?” She sighed, tilted her head back, and drank the medicine soup dry, then got out of bed and sat in front of the mirror.
Fu Lingyi never believed in such talk of demons and ghosts. She only believed what she saw with her own eyes.
The Demon Lord Yue Jin was merely a slightly stronger demonic cultivator. She would surpass her one day.
Yun Lingyue walked over with a smile, picked up a wooden comb, and slowly began to comb her hair. She felt a little embarrassed. “I wasn’t reading random stuff. Anyway, anyway, the Sect Leader must have come out temporarily because of this matter. She’s going to join forces with other sects to eliminate the Demonic Path and restore the righteous path.”
Restore the righteous path?
The Sect Leader was indifferent even to matters within the sect, never took personal disciples, and remained oblivious to outside affairs. The Demon Lord had repeatedly come to their sect, trampling the reputation of the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect underfoot, and she didn’t care in the slightest.
Would such a person abandon her cultivation opportunity specifically to restore the righteous path?
Thinking this inwardly, Fu Lingyi showed nothing on her face. She smiled sweetly, looking into the mirror. “Yes, with Master Sect Leader taking action, evil entities will have nowhere to hide.”
Sure enough, before the sun reached its peak, the Sect Leader summoned her to the main peak.
Fu Lingyi changed into plain white robes. She gathered her dark hair high, securing it with a silver crown. Kneeling on one knee, she tilted her head and looked up at the person standing with her hands behind her back in the main peak’s hall.
“Greetings, Master Sect Leader.”
That person seemed not to have heard, taking a long time to tell her to stand up. So she remained kneeling on the ground, her knees going a little numb.
“Lingyi, sit.” After a long, long time, a pleasant, melodious voice descended from above.
Fu Lingyi propped herself up with her sword and stood straight. “Thank you, Master Sect Leader, but I can stand.”
“It’s been a long time. You’re still so proper. No wonder Yi Qing values you so much.”
That person turned around, her hair falling like a waterfall, smooth and lustrous. There was a tear mole beneath each of her slanted phoenix eyes, and her smile reached deep into her eyes.
Seeing her not reply, the Sect Leader didn’t blame her. “I summoned you this time for an urgent matter. Have you heard about the tragic massacre of the Xuanzhuo Sect by the Demonic Path?”
Yun Lingyue had actually guessed right.
“Reporting to Master Sect Leader, Lingyi has heard bits and pieces from a few talkative disciples, but the specific details are unclear.”
“Disciples being talkative means you, as the Head Senior Sister, have been derelict in your duty,” the Sect Leader said calmly, lightly stroking the carved stone pillars in the hall. “You must discipline them properly and not let them talk too much.”
She didn’t mention her own responsibilities at all.
Fu Lingyi could only lower her head and agree.
She added a few more words, asking about cultivation progress and also about Yun Lingyue’s recent situation, before slowly saying, “That matter of the Demonic Path slaughtering a sect is not without cause.”
So, after such a long preamble, beating around the bush, she was just waiting to say this one sentence.
“Those in the Demonic Path are cruel and ruthless, always at odds with the righteous sects. Especially that Demon Lord, who has repeatedly invaded our Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect. I even heard from disciples on the main peak that last time she came, you lost.”
A chill struck, and Fu Lingyi’s heart leaped. She quickly knelt again, her sword falling from her hand with a crisp clatter on the ground.
“…Master Sect Leader, Lingyi was careless.”
“You’d better be careless.”
The Sect Leader still wore a faint smile, but her tone deepened, her eyes holding an obscure, unreadable expression: “Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect doesn’t compete with others for first place, but everyone knows our sect is the undisputed number one.
“With me overseeing and Yi Qing assisting, you, as the foremost disciple, absolutely should not have done anything to disgrace the sect and your master.”
“Your disciple will remember.”
The oppressive pressure lifted. The Sect Leader was back to her smiling self, walking down to help her up and picking up the sword from the ground to hand back to her.
Fu Lingyi looked surprised, quickly taking it.
“Since it was done by the Demonic Path, as the head of the righteous path, we cannot stand by idly. Therefore, for the Alliance Assembly tomorrow, you will go on my behalf and attend.”
A hand patted her shoulder, that face magnified in front of her, lips parting slightly. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you face the enemy alone. Yun Lingyue will accompany you, and you can pick a few more people. I will protect your safety from the rear.”
The Sect Leader naturally still wouldn’t take action. Fu Lingyi held no hope for this; since entering the sect, she had never seen her reveal her cultivation techniques. She thanked the Sect Leader, indicating that she understood and would absolutely not lose this time.
Subsequently, she secretly clenched her teeth. Such an excellent opportunity, I must thoroughly crush the Demon Lord’s arrogance.
Meanwhile, Yue Jin also learned of the news about the punitive expedition. Her followers were spread within various sects, and someone brought back the unofficial news.
Elder Wu Bei was extremely nervous, wishing she could pack up her valuables right now and take Yue Jin to escape.
But the person at the center of the storm didn’t care in the slightest.
“Wu Bei, stop pacing back and forth. You’re making this Lord dizzy.”
“They will attack Qingyuan Palace tomorrow,” Wu Bei said, thoroughly exasperated. She twitched her eye. “It might even be tonight. Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you going to think of a countermeasure? Are you just going to let those hypocrites unite?”
“That Xuan… something sect, I haven’t even heard of them. Yet they dare to splash such dirty water on this Lord’s head. It seems a battle is unavoidable no matter what, so what is there to worry about? Just let them come and fight.”
Yue Jin toyed with the ribbon in her hair, appearing fearless.
“But…”
“Enough, I don’t want to hear it anymore. Have the Benevolent Emissary and Malicious Attendant returned?”
“That’s the problem,” Elder Wu Bei’s age was unfathomable; despite her white hair hanging like strands, she had a childlike face, appearing like a youthful girl of fifteen. She gently tucked the stray hair behind her ear. “Not only have those two not returned, but Wu Xi isn’t in Qingyuan Palace either.”
Hearing this, Yue Jin frowned. “Where did she go?”
“My Lord Demon Lord, don’t forget, Wu Xi’s intelligence network is spread everywhere. This news about the expedition was passed up by her followers. She probably found out early and ran away.” Wu Bei rolled her eyes. That Wu Xi is just a two-faced latecomer, not to be deeply relied upon.
Yue Jin: “…”
She was silent for a moment.
“Then the sect still has…”
“Still has you, me, and Wu Ju, who’s idly tending to her flowers and plants.”
Qingyuan Palace had four elders. The former Elder Wuchen had long since perished, leaving the position vacant. The remaining were Wu Bei, Wu Xi, Wu Ju, and the two guardians by Yue Jin’s side, the Benevolent Emissary and the Malicious Attendant.
Now that even Wu Xi had fled, Yue Jin felt the place was chilly and lifeless.
“Forget it, let them leave if they want to,” she stood up, her bells tinkling crisply. Her vibrant red robes accentuated her enchanting features, with a slight hint of annoyance. “This Lord doesn’t care about them. Qingyuan Palace only keeps those with sense. This Lord is going to cultivate now. Wu Bei, stop bringing up those trivial matters. You just tell Wu Ju and the followers not to worry. When I emerge from seclusion tomorrow, that will be the day those people are buried.”
Wu Bei watched the departing figure, shaking her head and sighing.
Over the years, Yue Jin had never lost a single duel, becoming increasingly arrogant, placing no one in her eyes.
This matter had come about strangely, and likely wouldn’t end well. She couldn’t rely solely on her. She had to go find Wu Ju and discuss the next steps.
Yue Jin circled around to the back of Qingyuan Palace, took a small path upwards, and continued deep into the mountain.
Dense jungle grew throughout the mountain. Dark leaves covered the sky and blocked out the sun, while the few rays that pierced through appeared like fish scales on her face.
Hidden beneath the green trees on the back mountain was Qingyuan Palace’s sacred place.
Successive Demon Lords had absorbed the heaven and earth’s spiritual energy here, cultivating themselves and improving their cultivation methods and power.
Yue Jin crossed her hands, waving away the still air. The stone door before her opened wide with a “rumbling” sound.
Holding her breath and concentrating her spirit, she stepped inside, disappearing into the darkness.
The large door closed again. The startled birds that had flown up landed, perching on the layered branches, tucking in their heads and staying still.
Wu Ju hummed an unknown tune, rolled up her sleeves, and watered and buried the soil. Outwardly, she wore black robes, the outer corners of her eyes turned up, her eyebrow peaks raised; someone unfamiliar might feel intimidated seeing her. But her expression was tender and affectionate, looking at those flowers and plants as if they were her own children.
“You’re quite leisurely.”
Wu Bei’s voice echoed faintly from behind her.
She chuckled softly. “Jin’er said she’s coming, but you’re worrying about this and that instead. Hand me that shovel, yes, the black one.”
Not getting the answer she wanted and having to act as an assistant, Wu Bei’s face darkened. She picked up the shovel leaning against the table, feeling quite upset. “You believe her? Is the Ninth Heaven that easy to cultivate? If it were that simple, Wuchen wouldn’t have…”
“That was a long time ago, let’s not bring it up again.” Wu Ju interrupted her, digging a small pit with a shovel.
A handful of seeds was gently scattered down. She buried the soil firmly, watered it, and recited an incantation.
“Ai, I’m just anxious,” seeing the atmosphere become a bit stiff, Wu Bei stumbled to patch things up. “Well, we can’t really just leave her to it. So many followers in Qingyuan Palace have received the news, I’m just afraid everyone’s morale isn’t stable.”
“Precisely because of that, Jin’er needs to step forward even more, to calm everyone’s hearts.”
Wu Ju knelt down, touching the newly grown cotyledons on the ground, a look of reluctance on her face.
“However, I have sent a message to the Benevolent Emissary and Malicious Attendant, telling them not to return for now and to stay away from Qingyuan Palace. This matter involves someone favored by destiny causing chaos, it’s no small thing.”
“What, what about Yue Jin? Are you trying to send her to her death?”
Wu Bei couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing.
Wu Ju sighed and shook her head. “…This is also Jin’er’s opportunity.”
Thanks for the chapter