The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 27

Sunlight spread across the earth, and the sky was completely bright.
Shi Qingqian looked at the carriage curtain, which had stopped swaying. The faint figure had already disappeared.
The carriage suddenly became empty. The Three Purity True Fire Furnace on the floor seemed out of place. Just then, the palm-sized furnace suddenly split into two from its center, as if breaking out of a shell.
A small, silver-glowing orb fell out of the furnace, rolling until it was stopped by Shi Qingqian’s shoe, where it came to a halt.
The next moment, the silver light receded, and the orb dissipated into the air like shattered light, revealing the magic artifact that had been refined inside.
A red object, resembling a whip but much thinner than a regular one, lay quietly on the padded floor.
Shi Qingqian completely understood: A’Ling had misunderstood just now, thinking the whip in her hand was something A’Ling had refined. So, the magic artifact she wanted to refine was also a whip…
What a coincidence.
The red ‘whip’ on the ground must be what she had refined this time. Shi Qingqian bent down, picked it up, and held it in her palm.
Strictly speaking, it couldn’t even be called a whip. It had no sheath, and its body was only as wide as a pinky finger, entirely dark red, like a thin strip of torn leather twisted into a rope.
Shi Qingqian thought of how A’Ling, after having the magic artifact recognize her as its master, transformed the whip into a bracelet and wore it on her left wrist. She picked up the ‘red rope’ in her hand. This was a failed refinement; it couldn’t be considered a magic artifact, nor could it recognize a master or transform into other forms.
She lowered her head, looking at the ‘red rope’ in her hand, and stroked it. She hadn’t expected such a coincidence, which had magically solved a problem that had troubled her for a long time.
Originally, she hadn’t held out hope that A’Ling would accept the magic artifact she had refined.
A weight in Shi Qingqian’s heart slowly lifted. She looked at the ‘red rope’ in her hand, closed her palm, and grasped one end of the rope.
She wrapped the other end around her wrist, circling it seven times. Looking at the ‘red rope’ now resembling a bracelet, Shi Qingqian tied the excess length into a tight knot, securing it firmly on her left forearm.
Lowering her sleeve, she gently stroked it over the soft fabric. Shi Qingqian pursed her lips.
Let’s consider it an exchange.
Inside the lounge at Hongjian Academy, where a barrier had been set, A’Ling was amused. She smiled and flicked the whip with a ‘thwack’ a mere inch from Gu Jingyang’s foot.
“What are you saying? I refined this myself. What do you mean, ‘where did I steal it from’?”
Gu Jingyang glanced at the spot on the ground where A’Ling’s magic artifact had struck. After the sparks faded, the ground was scorched black, as if struck by lightning.
Divine artifact! It truly is a divine artifact!
Gu Jingyang looked up, her gaze intensely fixed on A’Ling: “It’s just the two of us here. Tell me, where did you get this?”
A’Ling deliberately straightened her face, pretending to lash out at Gu Jingyang, her eyes containing a warning.
Gu Jingyang laughed, raising both hands: “Alright, alright, alright, you refined it. Then you truly are amazing!”
A’Ling felt that although Gu Jingyang said that, her playful tone didn’t sound like she truly believed it. But that was fine; it only proved that her Little Wandering was no ordinary item.
She didn’t bother arguing with Gu Jingyang and happily introduced: “This is the Wandering Amethyst Gold Whip. It has already recognized me as its master, and from now on, you can call it Little Wandering.”
The moment A’Ling finished speaking, the whip in her hand seemed to understand, its tail wagging like a happy puppy, and the purple-gold light pulsed faster and faster.
Just like in her previous life, it liked this name.
Speaking of which, when she first named it, she thought of her past years of wandering and instability, and how she likely wouldn’t find peace in the future, never hoping for stability.
She only hoped that in her wandering years, there would be someone who would stay by her side, or if not a person, then a magic artifact of her own would be good too.
In her previous life, Little Wandering had truly accompanied her through her wandering and never left her side.
Hearing that A’Ling had even named her magic artifact, Gu Jingyang raised an eyebrow, extended her hand with a smile: “Let me see.”
Taking the Wandering Amethyst Gold Whip from A’Ling, Gu Jingyang gently stroked the Vermilion Bird carving on its sheath, feeling the immense power emanating from it, and her heart stirred.
It really was a Grandmaster-grade magic artifact. If A’Ling could refine an artifact of this level, it would truly be heaven-defying.
“I really find that hard to believe.”
Gu Jingyang exclaimed, “Especially this Vermilion Bird carving! For a magic artifact to have this seal, not to mention how rare the refining materials are, the refiner themselves would need formidable inner energy and spiritual energy to control this ancient divine bird!”
A’Ling grinned, seeing Gu Jingyang’s shocked expression caused by her Little Wandering.
So happy, so incredibly happy. Her luck was still here in this life, not just here, but even better.
Not only had she refined Little Wandering, but she had also done it over three months earlier than before.
A’Ling grinned so wide her gums showed, both happy and emotional. Thankfully, she had been so afraid that her rebirth might change some predetermined events, so afraid she might never see Little Wandering again.
In her previous life, it was only with Little Wandering that she wasn’t bullied in the Huo family. Later, after entering the inner sect and then being expelled, Little Wandering allowed her to pass the first six layers of the Heaven-Bearing Sorrowful Prison Cliff. Furthermore, after she fell to the demonic path and went to the demon realm, it saved her many times when her cultivation was low.
Her bond with Little Wandering was no less than that of a life-and-death companion. It was truly good that it was still here in this life.
Gu Jingyang saw A’Ling’s expression suddenly turn sorrowful as she smiled, her eyes red. She thought A’Ling was about to cry and had already pulled out her handkerchief, but then A’Ling smiled again.
Gu Jingyang silently put her handkerchief away. Seeing A’Ling’s joyful demeanor, she also felt happy and asked A’Ling with a smile how she had specifically refined the magic artifact.
A’Ling didn’t hold back, telling her everything from the materials and methods to the artifact refining techniques she had learned at Taichuan Academy.
After speaking, A’Ling sighed with emotion: “It’s a pity I didn’t personally witness Little Wandering being refined.”
Gu Jingyang immediately furrowed her brows, asking in confusion: “You didn’t see it?”
“I was asleep when the magic artifact awakened,” A’Ling nodded regretfully, still feeling a lingering fear. “I almost had Little Wandering stolen by Shi Qingqian because I was asleep.”
Gu Jingyang was surprised again, her eyes wide: “Stolen? Qingqian stole your magic artifact?” Her tone was full of disbelief.
This time, A’Ling was genuinely a bit displeased: “Why don’t you believe me?”
“No, no, I’m just a bit surprised,” Gu Jingyang explained.
A’Ling snorted coldly: “I saw it with my own eyes.”
Gu Jingyang had known Shi Qingqian for so many years. Although Qingqian appeared somewhat cold, she was by no means a person with ill intentions.
“Tell me exactly, how did she steal it? How did you find out?” Gu Jingyang blinked, feigning concern.
But A’Ling felt that Gu Jingyang might not be genuinely concerned about her; perhaps she just wanted to gossip.
However, Gu Jingyang’s words did make A’Ling feel a bit better. At least Gu Jingyang was willing to believe her.
A’Ling recounted everything that happened in the carriage to Gu Jingyang, including how she opened her eyes to see Shi Qingqian holding her Little Wandering, caught red-handed.
After listening, Gu Jingyang looked at A’Ling with a complicated expression. She didn’t quite understand how A’Ling had arrived at this conclusion, especially since A’Ling seemed so confident.
“How are you so sure this is yours and not Qingqian’s?”
A’Ling was so amused she scoffed: “This is Little Wandering! How could I not recognize it?!”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Gu Jingyang didn’t understand. If it was a magic artifact only just awakened today, how could she already recognize it?
“Because—” A’Ling’s words caught in her throat. She almost revealed her past life. She had originally wanted to say, ‘Because I refined Little Wandering in my previous life,’ but she couldn’t tell Gu Jingyang that.
“Because, I have a connection!”
As A’Ling spoke a summoning word, Little Wandering obediently returned to A’Ling’s palm, its whip tail cocked, lightly patting A’Ling’s arm as if playing with her.
“See how well it gets along with me,” A’Ling said, lowering her eyes and smiling as she stroked Little Wandering’s dark purple whip body.
Gu Jingyang looked at A’Ling’s smiling face, deep in thought.
When she returned to the classroom and saw Shi Qingqian, Gu Jingyang dragged her cushion and moved it next to Shi Qingqian, staring intently at Shi Qingqian, who was meditating.
She had a faint suspicion in her heart. She crept closer and closer to Shi Qingqian, who was meditating with her eyes closed.
Just as she was about to touch Shi Qingqian, Shi Qingqian finally opened her eyes.
Gu Jingyang felt a surge of triumph; she knew this tactic would work.
“Something wrong?” Shi Qingqian’s expression was calm, and no displeasure at being interrupted during her meditation could be seen on her face.
Gu Jingyang nodded: “I remember you said your magic artifact was already refined. Can I see it?”
Hearing this, Shi Qingqian slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on Gu Jingyang beside her, without uttering a word.
Gu Jingyang let her observe, then said meaningfully: “A’Ling also refined a magic artifact, and it

is still a Grandmaster-grade magic artifact. How is she so amazing, only just established Foundation, not even Core Formation yet, and she can refine such a heaven-defying artifact?”
“I just saw it; it’s truly a rare and excellent item. I couldn’t even tell what rare spiritual materials it used.”
“And A’Ling refined it in her dream, by the way. She also said you tried to steal it.”
Gu Jingyang finished speaking, staring intently at Shi Qingqian’s face, not wanting to miss a single expression.
Shi Qingqian turned her head back, withdrawing her gaze. She looked down at something, gripping one hand with the other arm.
“What do you want to ask?”
Gu Jingyang’s eyes lit up. Talking to smart people was easy: “I’m guessing, is it possible that someone refined a heaven-defying magic artifact, and someone else, waking up groggily, mistook it for their own?”
Shi Qingqian looked up at her, neither confirming nor denying.
Gu Jingyang’s heart understood. So that was it; it really was a magic artifact Shi Qingqian had refined, and A’Ling had mistaken it for her own. But…
“And why did you do it?”
Gu Jingyang didn’t quite understand. A magic artifact of this caliber, even if Shi Qingqian refined it, was considered heaven-defying luck. Why would she just give it to A’Ling?
And was what happened today an accident or intentional on Shi Qingqian’s part?
Was the magic artifact specifically refined for A’Ling, or was it a case of going along with a misunderstanding after A’Ling made a mistake?
She had so many questions and wanted to ask more, but Shi Qingqian suddenly spoke.
“I owe her.”
Her tone was low and sorrowful, causing Gu Jingyang’s heart to tremble. The playful look on her face faded, and Gu Jingyang looked at Shi Qingqian with a complicated expression.
“A’Ling is very happy right now,” Gu Jingyang said, emphasizing her voice slightly. “She is absolutely certain it’s something she refined herself.”
Shi Qingqian looked up at Gu Jingyang, her expression even more complex than Gu Jingyang’s, and her tone even more somber: “What are you trying to say?”
Gu Jingyang no longer had her usual casual demeanor; her expression was serious: “How sad would she be if she knew the truth…?” Especially knowing that the magic artifact was refined by Shi Qingqian.
Shi Qingqian understood the implication of her words. She lowered her head, looking at the dark red color subtly showing through her plain white sleeve.
After a long silence, her tone was firm, as if speaking to herself, and also as if instructing Gu Jingyang.
“Don’t let her know.”
Gu Jingyang hadn’t expected Shi Qingqian to genuinely not plan on telling A’Ling. She was shocked. Such a heaven-defying Grandmaster-grade magic artifact was given to A’Ling just like that, and she wasn’t even going to mention it.
Gu Jingyang looked at the person in front of her, the astonishment in her heart like surging waves, crashing against her heart, leaving it damp.
She felt like she had uncovered an incredible secret.
Suppressing the shock in her heart, she focused on this matter. Even a wild goose leaves a trace. She didn’t know if there was such a thing as an airtight wall in the world, but regarding this magic artifact, she vaguely felt it was inappropriate. She had a gut feeling A’Ling would eventually find out.
If A’Ling found out, how disappointed would she be…? Gu Jingyang didn’t want to think further. Perhaps it really was better not to know.

A’Ling’s joy was evident; her upturned lips didn’t straighten all morning, prompting Qi Leshan to look at her several times.
After finishing the morning’s basic cultivation, A’Ling excitedly left the academy and saw Chen Qiniang waiting, which reminded her of the morning’s mix-up.
Chen Qiniang had waited anxiously all morning and finally saw A’Ling come out.
“Miss, I’m so sorry. My child was sick and fussy this morning, which delayed me a bit. I’m truly sorry. When I arrived at your house, you had already gotten into the carriage ahead. I followed all the way, wanting to explain, but you went straight into the academy after getting off, and I couldn’t go in.”
Chen Qiniang spoke while twisting the corner of her clothes, her expression anxious, fearing that A’Ling would say she wasn’t hiring her anymore.
A’Ling had been too happy that morning and had completely forgotten about Chen Qiniang. Fortunately, getting into the wrong carriage didn’t cause any serious consequences.
“Just this once. Next time you’re late, I’ll deduct your wages!”
Chen Qiniang’s anxious heart finally settled. She wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes, lifted the carriage curtain, and eagerly tried to help A’Ling into the carriage.
A’Ling waved her hand, lightly hopped into the carriage: “To Taichuan Academy.” She wanted to ask the magic cultivators at Taichuan if there were any spells that could be used with her Little Wandering to enhance its power.
Chen Qiniang, with red eyes and a face full of excitement, responded: “Alright!”
Her appearance made A’Ling a bit uncomfortable. She remembered when she first hired a carriage driver, she met Chen Qiniang on the road, who was applying for a job.
At that time, Chen Qiniang held a child in her arms, constantly pressing the child’s head so they wouldn’t look forward.
They came from behind A’Ling, and Chen Qiniang, carrying the child, walked very fast, gradually overtaking A’Ling.
A’Ling, behind her, watched as the child on Chen Qiniang’s shoulder repeatedly tried to look forward.
Chen Qiniang repeatedly turned the child’s face backward: “Daughter, the sun is strong, don’t face forward, it will hurt your face.”
This reminded A’Ling of her past, the days she spent with Jin Siliu in the human realm. For a period, Jin Siliu found work at a tofu workshop, taking A’Ling to the mill every day before dawn.
The road back to their dwelling after work in the afternoon was directly under the strongest summer sun.
Jin Siliu also repeatedly turned her head back when she tried to look forward, but back then, she never said why, and would even scold her for being disobedient and wasting time.
A’Ling sighed. Many things she didn’t understand at the time, and thinking back on them later, she felt it was better not to understand.
When the carriage stopped in front of Taichuan Academy, A’Ling got out and handed Chen Qiniang a money pouch.
“Go to North City and deliver this to this address. This is extra pay for the errand.”
A’Ling said, giving Chen Qiniang both the address and the money.
“No, no, Miss, you pay me monthly. How can I take extra for something that’s part of my duty?”
A’Ling sternly said: “I hired you for academy transfers. Extra errands naturally get extra pay. Don’t waste time, go and come back quickly.”
After speaking, she impatiently stuffed the items into Chen Qiniang’s hand and walked into the academy.
Chen Qiniang, clutching the extra money, her eyes grew redder. She sniffled and got back into the carriage, heading towards North City.
A’Ling stayed at Taichuan Academy all afternoon. Her Little Wandering shocked everyone. Hearing everyone praise her Little Wandering as an extraordinary item, A’Ling felt honored.
Her smile was wider all afternoon than it had been in the morning, and she even signed up for an artifact nurturing course.
For magic artifacts to improve their abilities, besides the master’s cultivation improving, they themselves also needed to be ‘nurtured’ and ‘trained’.
When the sun set behind the western mountains, A’Ling finally left the academy, still wanting more. She now fully felt the joy of cultivation, and time seemed to fly by.
Chen Qiniang saw her come out and quickly went to meet her, her face filled with trepidation.
She had gone to the address A’Ling gave her in North City but hadn’t seen the person A’Ling mentioned. She asked people around, and they all said they hadn’t seen anyone in that house for a long time and didn’t know where she had gone.
Feeling that she hadn’t completed A’Ling’s task, Chen Qiniang returned both the money pouch and the wages to A’Ling.
A’Ling only accepted the money pouch.
On the way home, A’Ling looked at the money pouch in her hand and thought of the previous money pouch she had given away, which had been returned because of Shi Qingqian.
This time, would it also be because of Shi Qingqian that this money couldn’t be delivered?
Could Jin Siliu’s disappearance be due to Shi Qingqian?
A’Ling recalled their last meeting, which was at the Huo family’s gate. Jin Siliu had come to ask her about shoes, then saw Shi Qingqian and left with her.
What happened after Shi Qingqian took Jin Siliu away?
Where did she take her?
A’Ling furrowed her brows. Although she didn’t want any more entanglement with Shi Qingqian, and she didn’t want to waste her emotions on Jin Siliu anymore, but…
Nothing bad happened, did it?
Someone as malicious as Shi Qingqian, what if she made Jin Siliu do something dangerous? With her foolishly loyal mind, she’d probably do it without a second thought.
No, she still had to find Shi Qingqian and ask.
A’Ling pondered all the way how to question Shi Qingqian, and also planned to go to North City herself to see what the situation was, perhaps the person just happened to be out.
Lost in thought all the way, by the time the carriage arrived home, A’Ling got out and entered the house, intending to call for Aunt Sun to ask if Shi Qingqian had returned.
If she had, A’Ling had something to ask her.
But the moment she entered, before she could even open her mouth to call out, she heard a rough, angry question.
“You’re back so late, where did you go?!”
The voice was very familiar, familiarly disgusting. A’Ling looked up, and indeed, she saw a face she deeply despised and loathed.
Huo Zhen’s eyebrows were raised sharply, his eyes fierce, his face dark. He stood in the center of the courtyard, seemingly waiting for her, his aura aggressive and ill-intentioned.
Sun Juhao knelt not far from his feet. Seeing A’Ling return, she abruptly stood up, stumbled, and rushed to A’Ling’s side.
“A’Ling, quick, quickly admit your mistake to Master.”
Sun Juhao said, then knelt down again, forcefully pulling A’Ling, trying to make her kneel too.
A’Ling, initially unaware, almost got pulled down. Coming back to her senses, A’Ling pulled Sun Juhao up from the ground.
“He’s not dead, why kneel to him?”
Sun Juhao nervously tried to cover A’Ling’s mouth: “A’Ling, don’t be stubborn, quickly admit your mistake to Master.”
She still remembered how tragically A’Ling had been beaten last time; it was too horrific. That terrifying memory made her knees weak. No matter how A’Ling pulled, she kept sinking downwards.
She also clung to A’Ling, wanting her to kneel together: “Don’t be stubborn, A’Ling, quickly admit your mistake, quickly beg Master to forgive you!”
Sun Juhao’s lips trembled. She didn’t bother to wipe away her tears, her hands gripping A’Ling’s clothes tightly, trying to pull her down to kneel.
This time, she really couldn’t be stubborn. Last time, it was just a conflict between A’Ling and Qingqian, and Master got angry from being contradicted. This time, it didn’t seem like a minor matter. Master had searched A’Ling’s room as soon as he arrived, finding some unknown things.
He also asked her if A’Ling had been in contact with anyone from the Gu family on Golden Splendor Street recently. She had said no to everything, but Master didn’t seem to believe her.
She didn’t know what trouble A’Ling had caused this time, but it definitely wasn’t minor. Given Old Master Huo’s temperament, he would truly beat someone to death.
“A’Ling, A’Ling, quick, quick, kneel and admit your mistake!” Sun Juhao pulled erratically, her eyes frantically unfocused, her heart pounding. Last time, A’Ling’s horrific state had scared her unconscious.
This time, Old Master Huo was even angrier than before. She dared not imagine the consequences. Her whole body felt as if its spine had been removed, and she was about to collapse.
A’Ling’s clothes were wrinkled from being pulled, her collar constricting her neck, forcing her to lower her head. She glanced at Sun Juhao, who was already scared out of her wits. A’Ling frowned, exerted some force, and directly half-lifted her.
She turned around and kicked the door open, placing Sun Juhao outside: “Run far away.”
After speaking, she slammed the door shut with a loud ‘clang’ and slid the crossbar into place.
Sun Juhao looked at the tightly closed door, her lost wits returning. She frantically banged on the door: “No, A’Ling, come out! Run!” A’Ling should be the one running!
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t push open the locked door.
No, someone will die. What should I do? Sun Juhao was so terrified that tears trembled in her eyes, not daring to fall. Suddenly, she thought of Shi Qingqian.
“Right, right, Qingqian! Qingqian must have a way! I’m going to find Qingqian!”
Sun Juhao braced herself against the door, stood up, and stumbled towards the street.
On the other side of the door, after A’Ling had secured the crossbar, she took out two sound-eating birds she had bought earlier from her Universe pouch and tossed them onto the roof.
Looking at the tall, dark-faced figure in the courtyard, A’Ling curved her lips.
“These two sound-eating birds are low-grade. If you don’t want people outside to hear the sounds inside, you can put out two more.”
A’Ling spoke, one hand gripping the purple bracelet on her wrist. She slowly walked out from the shadow under the eaves, step by step, into the bright part of the courtyard.
A tingling current ran through her palm, spreading through her muscles and into her heart.
Little Wandering seemed to sense the danger and became excited.
A’Ling felt the same.