The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 78

A’Ling bent her elbow and vigorously rubbed the side of her neck. That spot had just been brushed by Shi Qingqian’s hair, leaving her tingling for a while.
That strange feeling made her very uncomfortable. She rubbed hard, until her neck was a little red, and only then did the strange sensation seem to dissipate a little from her heart.
With her heart regaining calmness, A’Ling noticed that everyone at the top of the chamber was successively looking at her.
She couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in confusion, her gaze looking upwards. She found it was because Venerable Minci, sitting on the Turtle Ruyi Throne, was frowning, her gaze fixed solely on A’Ling. Consequently, the Abode Masters noticed the abnormality and one by one looked at her as well.
A’Ling’s heart tightened. What business is this of hers again?
After becoming the Peak Master of Summer Shadow Peak, Shan Xinci was rarely ignored like this.
Suppressing her displeasure, her face showing not a trace of emotion, she watched A’Ling for a moment before speaking: “I’ve understood your matter. It’s difficult to say who is more right or wrong here; one can only say that Zhao Shan erred first, and A’Ling, you erred later.”
“Since that’s the case, you shall both be punished. Furthermore, learn a lesson from this incident. Henceforth, Mystic Crane Mountain must no longer use ‘mutual sparring’ as a specious reason to cover up the harming of fellow disciples.”
Shan Xinci’s words directly settled the matter: both were at fault, and both would be punished.
As Shan Xinci spoke further, she put away the amiable expression on her face.
When she became serious, she truly presented an imposing appearance, possessing an aura that made people not dare to act presumptuously.
The eleven Abode Masters at the top all rose in unison and assented, saying, “We will diligently obey your teachings.”
A’Ling didn’t know how Shan Xinci would punish her, but it wasn’t a good time to refuse, so she stood silently to the side.
Seeing A’Ling’s obedient appearance, Shan Xinci’s displeasure dissipated somewhat. After finishing her serious words, she reverted to her previous amiable appearance.
She had everyone sit down to talk, then her gaze turned to Gu Jingyang.
“This time’s mission was your responsibility, Gu Jingyang, and for A’Ling’s mistakes, you also bear some responsibility for connivance. However, considering the incident’s origins, with Zhao Shan being the first to abuse his power and bully others, and given that I currently need someone to handle the matter of the Pi Lingyun Valley’s barrier, are you willing to atone for your faults by performing meritorious service, going with A’Ling to resolve this troublesome matter for the dwelling?”
Gu Jingyang had originally thought Shan Xinci was going to cause trouble. Just now, she had said A’Ling was at fault and would be punished, but without specifying the punishment, which made Gu Jingyang a bit worried.
Now she spoke again, saying Gu Jingyang also had faults, and Gu Jingyang still thought Shan Xinci would punish her severely. She hadn’t expected it would be this matter instead.
But strictly speaking, this couldn’t actually be considered a punishment.
This was like a new mission. Although reinforcing the Pi Lingyun Valley barrier required a lot of effort, it was actually an opportunity.
Just like this trip to Zhuoling Mountain; although dangerous, there were also many gains.
For example, A’Ling obtained the Moonlight Ice Crystal and has now successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Moreover, the Pi Lingyun Valley was not a place anyone could enter. One needed a Night Phosphorus Heavenly Jade Token given by a Peak Master to enter it.
Her mother had long wanted to enter the Pi Lingyun Valley to gain some experience, but had never been allowed. Even now, her mother still had some regrets.
Gu Jingyang thought for a moment. She wanted to agree to this, but Shan Xinci had just said ‘together with A’Ling.’ She turned to look at A’Ling, wondering if A’Ling was willing to go.
After A’Ling heard that the punishment was to go to the Pi Lingyun Valley to reinforce the barrier, her thoughts immediately returned to her previous life. Back then, she was originally dispatched outside the Pi Lingyun Valley to catch the Ghostly Fiends that had escaped after the barrier broke.
But due to her carelessness, or rather, by accident, she fell into the Pi Lingyun Valley. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as she obtained another one of her magic artifacts there.
Her Nine Heavens Immortal-Binding Lock was obtained precisely there.
“A’Ling, do you want to go?” Gu Jingyang saw A’Ling, who seemed to be spacing out, and gently tugged on her sleeve after turning around.
A’Ling snapped back from her memories of her previous life. She looked at Gu Jingyang, thinking, why is this Pi Lingyun Valley matter happening earlier too?
The timing was off again, but then she remembered that in this life, the time she obtained Little Wandering and met her ugly dog was also different from her previous life.
Perhaps the timing was off this time, but she could still obtain her only two magic artifacts.
A’Ling nodded at Gu Jingyang and softly said, “Yes.”
After Gu Jingyang heard that A’Ling was also willing to go, she felt relieved and turned to agree to Shan Xinci.
Just then, Shi Qingqian, who had been silent, spoke.
“The sword cultivators who erred this time are all disciples of my Heavenly Peace Cave Abode. As a Abode Master, I cannot escape responsibility; I should also be punished together. As for the matter of the Pi Lingyun Valley, I am willing to go along.”
The moment she spoke, Gu Jingyang and A’Ling had already turned their heads in unison to look at her.
After hearing what she said, Gu Jingyang withdrew her gaze and glanced at A’Ling. Shi Qingqian volunteered to be punished, likely because of A’Ling.
A’Ling didn’t notice Gu Jingyang’s gaze. She thought of Shi Qingqian’s final words of reprimand in her previous life, which was to tell her not to meddle in others’ business.
She thought, does Shi Qingqian’s action count as meddling in others’ business?
As the Abode Master of Heavenly Peace Cave Abode, if her subordinates made mistakes, at most she would be symbolically reprimanded a few words. Yet, this person actually volunteered to be punished. This time, the one meddling in others’ business was her instead.
A flicker of satisfaction flashed in Shan Xinci’s eyes. Her goal was achieved.
The Saint Venerable wanted her to lead A’Ling and Shi Qingqian to the Pi Lingyun Valley. A’Ling’s part was simple; even without the current punishment, if it was said to be a task she needed to handle, she probably wouldn’t refuse.
But Shi Qingqian was different; it couldn’t be too simple or straightforward. Otherwise, if she refused, bringing it up again would be very deliberate.
She had also seen Shi Qingqian’s concern for A’Ling in the recent incident. Since she was willing to go to Zhuoling Mountain, she probably had a chance to go to Pi Lingyun Valley with A’Ling as well.
Of course, even if Shi Qingqian hadn’t volunteered to go this time, she would have found a way to make Shi Qingqian go later.
But now that Shi Qingqian had spoken herself, it saved a lot of trouble.
She was about to speak to conclude the matter when suddenly, another person below stepped forward and spoke.
“Venerable Minci, I should also be punished. This time, when going to Zhuoling Mountain, I was also a member, and I failed to fulfill my duty to dissuade them during A’Ling and Zhao Shan’s dispute. Therefore, I should also be punished.”
Lan Fushang said somewhat anxiously. Thinking that everyone who went to Zhuoling Mountain this time was punished, and only she remained unaffected, she was extremely alarmed.
A’Ling truly couldn’t help but want to laugh this time. Why are they all rushing to be punished, one by one?
She looked at Lan Fushang, guessing that she might also want to go out with them.
“Who is this young friend?” Shan Xinci hadn’t noticed Lan Fushang at all.
Lan Fushang hastily introduced herself: “Responding to Venerable Minci, my name is Lan Fushang. I am a new member of the Soaring Rainbow Tower. This time, I went to Zhuoling Mountain with A’Ling and the others. I am skilled in the medical path, and in the future, I also wish to enter a medical Cave Abode. A’Ling and the others will also need a medical cultivator for their trip to Pi Lingyun Valley. I am willing to go along.”
Shan Xinci listened and took another look at Lan Fushang. Nowadays, new cultivators rarely wanted to enter medical Cave Abodes.
A’Ling also looked at Lan Fushang. She also glanced at Shan Xinci, thinking, this must be a kind of serendipity. The one who would later succeed as the Peak Master of medical cultivation was precisely Lan Fushang, who was currently at the bottom and still nothing.
Speaking of which, A’Ling thought carefully. This seemed to happen not long after she went to the Demon Realm. Before that, she actually hadn’t heard Lan Fushang’s name much.
It was as if overnight, she emerged and directly replaced Shan Xinci.
When she left Mystic Crane Mountain, Shan Xinci was still fine, but she didn’t know how, not long after she went to the Demon Realm, this person perished.
Shan Xinci didn’t care about one more or one less; the essential people were going, and the rest were insignificant. Since someone wanted to court death, she wouldn’t stop them.
Lan Fushang was very happy to see her agree; she could once again go out with A’Ling and the others.
“Alright, this matter is settled. You just returned from Zhuoling Mountain, so you should go back and recuperate. There’s no rush to depart for this matter; you can set off together after that sword cultivator disciple has recovered from their injuries.”
After Shan Xinci finished speaking, she left first. After she left, the eleven Abode Masters also left one after another. Xing Yanchu saw that only A’Ling and a few others were left in the council hall, thinking it was dangerous, and quickly left as well.
Finally, only A’Ling, Gu Jingyang, Lan Fushang, and Shi Qingqian remained in the council hall.
Lan Fushang happily said to A’Ling: “This is great, A’Ling! I can go out with you again!”
A’Ling was exasperated: “That’s going to receive punishment! How can you be so eager to suffer?”
And that place was indeed dangerous.
Gu Jingyang also had this concern. She thought A’Ling and Lan Fushang were both unaware, so she explained a bit more.
“The ones confined in the Pi Lingyun Valley are extremely fierce Ghostly Fiends. Those with wavering willpower might even be possessed by Ghostly Fiends if they find an opportunity. So both of you must be extremely careful when you go.”
“However, with Qingqian accompanying you this time, I feel much more at ease.”
Gu Jingyang said, looking at Shi Qingqian: “Qingqian, you volunteered to go this time; do you have any other plans?”
Although she felt Qingqian was doing it for A’Ling, it might also be that she was overthinking, and Qingqian had other intentions.
If there was anything she needed help with, it would be better if she knew.
Shi Qingqian caught sight of A’Ling also looking at her from the corner of her eye, seemingly also curious why she wanted to go.
“Those who err should be punished,” Shi Qingqian said slowly.
Gu Jingyang’s eyebrow twitched. This person truly was a good Abode Master who led by example.
When A’Ling heard these four words, her body trembled; some deep memories were about to flood her. She didn’t want to stay any longer and hastily said she had something to do and was leaving.
Hearing this, and since they were going the same way, Gu Jingyang also bid farewell.
Lan Fushang saw the two leave and also hastily left. She wouldn’t dare to stay in the same place as Shi Qingqian.
The moment A’Ling left Immortal Rainbow Platform, without another word, she immediately soared into the sky on her sword, her speed so fast it was as if a demonic beast was chasing her from behind.
“A’Ling, why are you going so fast?” Gu Jingyang flew on her sword, catching up to A’Ling, and asked, raising her voice against the wind.
“To see if my ugly dog is still there.”
Gu Jingyang knew that the barrier A’Ling had set up in her cave dwelling had been broken: “Don’t worry, as long as it’s still within Warm Tower Mountain’s range, you’ll find it.”
She wanted to go check on A’Ling’s barrier for her, but just now Heng Qingyi told her to go to Warm Tower Cave Abode first before leaving.
A’Ling knew she had something to do, so she told her to go and busy herself, saying she would go back to check the situation first.
After entering Warm Tower Mountain, the two parted ways, and A’Ling went straight back to her cave dwelling.
Arriving at the entrance of her cave dwelling, she saw that the barrier was indeed gone, but the door of the cave dwelling was tightly shut.
A’Ling called out “ugly thing,” then opened the door and entered the cave dwelling.
The inside of the cave dwelling was no different from when she left; even the overturned dog bed by the bed still maintained its appearance from when she left.
After A’Ling conducted a thorough check, she found that besides the dog being gone and a stack of talismans missing, nothing else was more or less.
Those talismans were all blank talismans. No one in a spiritual Cave Abode lacked blank talismans; if you ran out, you could just go to the Southern Forest Pavilion to get more.
No matter how she thought about it, it was impossible for someone to break her barrier just for a stack of ubiquitous talismans.
So the intruder came specifically for her dog?
Originally, if the ugly dog went missing, A’Ling would definitely suspect Shi Qingqian first.
But this time, Shi Qingqian returned with them. She couldn’t have created a clone to steal the dog, could she?
A’Ling searched carefully all around, then left the cave dwelling and began searching within the range of Warm Tower Mountain.
On the way, she met fellow disciples, and A’Ling caught one and asked another.
Finally, after asking seven or eight people and getting completely unclear answers, one person had a slightly different answer.
“That day, your cave dwelling’s barrier was broken, and I was the first one to discover it. I immediately went to report to the Abode Master. The Abode Master thought you encountered some danger on Zhuoling Mountain, and that the barrier in your cave dwelling broke on its own because something happened to you.”
“Broke on its own?”
“Yes, your barrier was perfectly fine, and no one tried to break in. It broke by itself.”
“Huh?”
A’Ling was shocked. She had clearly sensed someone breaking her barrier while on Zhuoling Mountain; her barrier didn’t break on its own.
The disciple who was asked also looked bewildered: “What? Your barrier didn’t break by itself?”
A’Ling nodded definitively: “No.”
The disciple was also confused: “But in Warm Tower Cave Abode, no one would causelessly break a fellow disciple’s barrier. Did you lose anything?”
A’Ling said: “My dog is gone, and a stack of talismans is missing.”
When the disciple heard this, her gaze towards A’Ling became hesitant. This A’Ling couldn’t have injured her brain on Zhuoling Mountain. Her ugly dog was truly uniquely ugly, making people’s skin crawl just looking at it. She believed that in the entire Warm Tower Cave Abode, aside from A’Ling, it was impossible for anyone to be willing to raise such an eyesore of an ugly dog.
As for blank talismans, she could take out a large pile right now. Even if they were spread on the ground as stepping stones, no one would give them a second glance.
This was a spiritual Cave Abode; who didn’t have several stacks of blank talismans on hand for practicing spiritual arts?
A’Ling saw her expression and knew what she was thinking. She wasn’t so muddle-headed as to think someone specifically broke her barrier for a stack of blank talismans; she was merely stating the fact of what she was missing.
The key was that she really was only missing these two things.
The disciple jested: “Could it be that your dog broke the barrier and ran away by itself?”
As she spoke, she seemed to find it very amusing and laughed: “Speaking of which, your dog really did try to break through that barrier before. Maybe it accidentally broke the barrier and ran out.”
When A’Ling heard this, she voiced her confusion: “You’re saying my dog tried to break through the barrier?”
“Yes, I’m not making this up. Because this was amusing, quite a few disciples came to watch.”
She didn’t feel there was anything wrong with secretly peeking into A’Ling’s cave dwelling without A’Ling’s permission. Anyway, A’Ling wasn’t there, and they were looking at a dog.
After A’Ling finished listening, she lowered her gaze, looking at the bluestone slab beneath her feet, lost in thought.
The disciple saw that she suddenly fell silent and was in a state of serious thought. She felt that A’Ling’s appearance was somewhat like her ugly dog that day, which also stood silently in front of the barrier, with its head lowered, deep in thought.
Could it be that if a pet is raised for a long time, it really starts to resemble its owner?
Seeing that A’Ling had no other questions, and that she still had things to do, she left first.
After A’Ling thanked her, her steps were slow as she walked and pondered the most absurd possibility.
Her dog, holding her blank talismans, did what? Broke her barrier?
Just with a dog?
A dog! It could break her barrier?
A’Ling, with her thoughts in a whirl, searched through the entire Warm Tower Mountain but still found nothing.
Listening to her shouts echoing through the mountain, A’Ling’s vexation doubled.
Why didn’t she think of giving this ugly dog a name? Listening to the echoes of ‘ugly dog—ugly dog—ugly dog—’ in the wind, A’Ling felt that if she were that dog, she wouldn’t want to come out either.
Seeing a hexagonal pavilion in front of her, she walked vexedly to a stone bench in the center of the pavilion and sat down. She looked up and gazed outside the pavilion, at the dense forests of Warm Tower Mountain.
Was that ugly thing really no longer within Warm Tower Mountain’s range?
Then where would it go?
A’Ling, following her train of thought, thought of Shi Qingqian.
In her previous life, after that ugly thing left her, it went to Shi Qingqian’s cave dwelling.
Could it be the same this time?
A’Ling watched the gradually darkening sky, her expression conflicted. Finally, she decided to go take a look.
It wasn’t that she still thought Shi Qingqian would steal her dog…
Alright, she still had a little suspicion.
After A’Ling learned of so many misunderstandings, she had already demanded herself to be more fair and objective towards Shi Qingqian, but some thoughts still required some time to completely change all at once.
A flicker of determination flashed in her eyes, and she abruptly stood up. If she didn’t go take a look at Shi Qingqian’s place, she really couldn’t put her mind at ease.
But when A’Ling arrived at Heavenly Peace Mountain on her sword, she regretted it a bit. There were many people gathered in front of Shi Qingqian’s cave dwelling. She had originally wanted to come back another time, but she was discovered by sharp-eyed people.
She was even forced to land by their sword array.
“It’s her! She’s the spiritual cultivation disciple A’Ling who injured Elder Zhao!”
The moment A’Ling landed, she heard this sentence. She thought, this isn’t good. These people were probably looking for trouble on behalf of Zhao Shan.
The other party had many people. A’Ling actually wanted to say she wasn’t that A’Ling, but looking at their uniform blue sword cultivator attire, her white robes with gold collar spiritual cultivation disciple attire was truly eye-catching.
If she said she wasn’t, probably no one would believe her.
“Fellow cultivator, this matter has already been personally handled by Venerable Minci today. It was your Zhao Shan who first bullied an unsected newcomer from outside.”
A’Ling’s words had just fallen when the people on the other side seemed even more enraged: “She’s a medical cultivation Peak Master! What business does she have meddling in our sword cultivators’ and spiritual cultivators’ affairs? This matter only counts if our sword cultivation Peak Master says so!”
“Exactly! You came at just the right time! Quickly come with us to see Venerable Cai Yun! Let her decide what punishment a malicious spiritual cultivator like you should receive!”
These people had all heard that Venerable Minci had given Zhao Shan and A’Ling equal punishment, actually resolving the matter so ambiguously.
It wasn’t that they particularly liked Zhao Shan, but they felt that such a judgment was intentionally shaming sword cultivators.
Their sword cultivators were the strongest and most numerous daoist sect in Mystic Crane Mountain. How could they let spiritual cultivators bully them, and finally be punished by medical cultivators?
If this got out, it would be a loss of face for all sword cultivators.
A’Ling found their strange collective consciousness truly perplexing. It was as if there was a worm within, yet for the sake of this collective’s nonexistent ‘face,’ they had to protect this worm, as if doing so would prevent anyone from realizing that the whole entity, infested with a worm, was already failing.
Turning her head to look at the gradually approaching crowd, A’Ling’s hand grasped Little Wandering at her wrist.
She couldn’t just go with them to see Venerable Cai Yun. Who knew if that person would be like this group, judging based on stance without asking for reasons?
Just as she was about to summon Little Wandering, suddenly, a streak of sword energy swept across. A gust of wind brushed her ears, and the people in front of A’Ling were all thrown dozens of meters away, sprawling in disarray.
A’Ling looked in surprise towards the direction from which the sword energy had come. Shi Qingqian, in a white robe, her skirts fluttering and sleeves rustling, leaped down from an ordinary iron sword that looked unremarkable from any angle.
The lingering after-effects of the dissipated sword energy stirred up a strong wind, making A’Ling’s skirt flutter like layered waves in the wind.
A’Ling’s heart also seemed to be stirred by the wind, unable to calm down. She watched with wide eyes as the person walked step by step towards her, her heart unable to quiet down.
For the first time, she wanted to sigh with emotion without any personal feelings: Shi Qingqian’s entire demeanor was truly astounding and breathtakingly beautiful, like light clouds just emerging from a mountain peak and moonlight descending into the mortal realm.
And beneath those long, feathered eyelashes, a pair of eyes like bright silver moonlight, as if no one else was present, were completely focused on her.
Amidst the clamor, beneath the lingering sunset glow, her long eyebrows slightly raised, in a pristine white robe, she took unhurried steps and walked to her front, standing by her side.
A’Ling’s eyes flickered as she looked at those eyes, as clear as frosty moonlight. She didn’t know what was wrong with her now; she could always see a tenderness no less than moonlight from a pair of eyes that should have made people feel cold.
She slightly turned her head away, watching the blue figures on the ground struggling to get up.
A’Ling suddenly realized that her near-white spiritual cultivation disciple attire and Shi Qingqian’s plain white robes, within this sea of blue, seemed as if they belonged together.
The original awkwardness of having trespassed into another’s territory immediately dissipated considerably.
“Were you looking for me?”
Shi Qingqian had just finished handling the matter between Zhao Shan and Xing Yanchu and was about to return to her cave dwelling. While flying on her sword in the sky, she suddenly caught sight of a striking white amidst the sea of blue below.
Almost immediately, Shi Qingqian recognized that person as A’Ling.
She had a very unusual habit compared to others: she always liked to, when standing, slightly tilt her head and grasp one hand with the other. This was a seemingly casual state, but in reality, she was constantly on guard.
A’Ling nodded upon hearing her question. Just as she was about to say she had encountered some trouble and wanted to leave now, suddenly, her vision went black.
When she opened her eyes again, A’Ling found herself already inside a cave dwelling. And this empty, incredibly desolate cave dwelling, she knew without even guessing.
It was Shi Qingqian’s cave dwelling.
Wait, there were still so many people outside!
Didn’t she need to say anything???
The speed of this action made A’Ling think of an osprey hunting on the river surface, diving down, snatching a fish and leaving, so fast that only the ripples on the river surface knew what had happened.
But she wasn’t a fish!