“May I ask how you and Lu’e became acquainted?” Yi Qinglan couldn’t help but ask.
“This…”
Before Madame Ruan could speak, Lu’e spoke up quickly and sharply, “Oh, her! She was originally a good friend of my mother’s. They used to be very close and visited each other often. Later, Madame Ruan moved to Duliang City, and my mother passed away from illness a few years later, so we lost touch. For the past few years, Madame Ruan has been searching for my whereabouts. It just so happened that a few days ago, a mutual acquaintance connected us, and that’s how she found me.”
So that’s how it is, Yi Qinglan thought to herself. It seemed that this Madame Ruan was the very person who had bought Lu’e that night. She had even spun a web of lies that somehow completely convinced the girl.
But looking at Lu’e’s overflowing joy and happiness, it wouldn’t be right to expose the truth directly right now.
Faced with Lu’e’s frankness, Madame Ruan remained entirely composed, her face beaming with smiles. “You girl, you just blurted out all our family matters the moment you opened your mouth.”
“The pastries from Suqiao Pavilion are excellent. I remember you used to love eating those treats,” Madame Ruan said to Lu’e. “Go and buy some. While you’re at it, let our distinguished guests try something fresh.”
“Alright!” Lu’e leaped up from her seat like a lively sparrow. She held out her hand with a bright smile until Madame Ruan took out a purse and handed it to her. Then, she turned to head out.
“Wait,” Madame Ruan called out again, producing another purse that looked quite weighty. “Take this as well. Buy whatever you like if you see something on the way.”
Lu’e paused and spun around to catch the purse. She cast a clever yet coquettish glance at Madame Ruan, and her figure quickly vanished through the doorway.
It seemed Madame Ruan treated her quite well. Yi Qinglan observed, momentarily putting her mind at ease. Lu’e looked even happier and more energetic than before, showing no signs of having suffered any mistreatment.
Perhaps… it wasn’t a bad thing after all?
Once Lu’e left, Madame Ruan tucked away her doting and indulgent demeanor, putting on a bit of her usual business owner’s authoritative yet approachable air. “I heard from Lu’e that you two distinguished guests are from an Immortal Sect? Did you come to the clinic to seek a consultation with Divine Physician Cui?”
Feng Hanyu smiled slightly. “Indeed. Unfortunately, our timing was poor. Divine Physician Cui has unexpectedly gone into secluded meditation due to illness.”
Madame Ruan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and smiled. “As for this Divine Physician Cui, I see him regularly, and he looks robust and healthy. Being highly skilled in medicine himself, how could he suddenly fall ill?”
“Could it be that his seclusion hides an alternative motive?” Yi Qinglan asked.
Madame Ruan set down her teacup and said smoothly, “To be honest with you two, I have had my fair share of dealings with him. In my view, Divine Physician Cui’s claim of illness this time is likely not genuine, but merely an excuse.”
Yi Qinglan glanced at Feng Hanyu. “Why would that be?”
Madame Ruan smiled but pivoted the topic instead. “Let’s not rush into that question. First, I’d like to ask you two, since you come from an Immortal Sect, do you know why our Kingdom of Muzhi has no cultivation sects?”
Yi Qinglan thought to herself that her Master had once mentioned that Muzhi was sparsely populated and limited in land, lacking sufficient talents with cultivation potential. Furthermore, it had remained isolated and unbothered by outside forces for a century, which was why cultivation never flourished there. However, it wasn’t appropriate to state this reason directly to a native of the kingdom.
Yet Madame Ruan seemed to have already guessed her thoughts. “To be honest, our kingdom has a small population, and our sovereign has never believed in ghosts or deities, so our people do not practice the path of cultivation. Speaking of which, our sovereign has ruled diligently and was originally an enlightened ruler. Unfortunately, he too ultimately cannot defy time. He is now in his twilight years, and his days are clearly numbered.” She sighed softly.
“I have heard that those who cultivate immortality can live for hundreds of years, enjoying a lifespan equal to heaven,” Madame Ruan’s face showed a look of great interest. “I wonder if this is true or false?”
Yi Qinglan replied, “Proper cultivation can indeed strengthen a mortal’s body and extend their life. If an ordinary person wishes to practice, they can adopt standard methods to draw Qi into their body, which is similar to regular deep breathing exercises. However, if one wishes to glimpse the Great Dao or even ascend to immortality, they must possess exceptional natural talent and diligently practice under an orthodox sect. It is a process that takes hundreds or even thousands of years to achieve.”
Madame Ruan nodded. “So that’s how it is. No wonder cultivation is not something ordinary people can accomplish at a whim.”
“But recently, I heard a rumor. Divine Physician Cui traveled far and wide in his earlier days and somehow acquired some special methods. Originally, no one in our kingdom cared about seeking immortality, but it just so happened that a noble figure in the imperial court grew highly interested in this matter. She wishes to use cultivation methods to help the sovereign extend his life.” Madame Ruan couldn’t help but smile slightly. “One thing led to another, and the construction of a royal Daoist temple was placed on the agenda.”
“A Daoist temple?” Yi Qinglan asked in surprise. “Could it be that Divine Physician Cui has been working on establishing a Daoist temple recently?”
“Not entirely,” Madame Ruan shook her head. “He is merely a physician, how could he possess such capability? He is simply acting as a mediator and introducing people. That noble figure is the greatest pillar of support behind the scenes. Without her, nothing could be accomplished.”
“I heard that Divine Physician Cui has long since selected an auspicious site with excellent feng shui. He is only waiting for the propitious day and hour. When the heavenly signs align, the noble figure will board a dragon boat to attend the completion ceremony of the temple. Only invited guests may accompany her. Divine Physician Cui’s recent claim of illness is likely because he is busy with this very matter.”
Feng Hanyu said, “Presumably, Madame Ruan is one of those invited guests?”
Madame Ruan smiled, the expression on her face saying it all.
“May I ask when and where it will be held?” Yi Qinglan inquired.
Madame Ruan did not answer directly. Instead, she set her teacup aside and lightly toyed with the thumb ring on her hand. “Knowing that you two are guests from an Immortal Sect, I dare not treat you lightly, and I truly feel a sense of closeness toward you. Taking this opportunity, I am willing to introduce you two to that noble figure. If you wish to carve out a path for yourselves in this land in the future, wouldn’t this be of great assistance?” She smiled elegantly after speaking.
Knowing they are cultivators, she wants to use us to gain favor and show off before the noble figure, Yi Qinglan thought to herself. So this is what Madame Ruan is scheming.
Since they were currently stressing over what Divine Physician Cui was secretly plotting, Madame Ruan’s invitation played perfectly into their hands. Yi Qinglan agreed immediately, “We couldn’t ask for more.”
Madame Ruan looked as if she had anticipated this all along. “The location of that Daoist temple is highly secretive. When the time comes, I will personally send people to escort you both.”
Right at that moment, the door swung open and Lu’e returned, holding large and small packages of pastries. She dumped them all on the table at once. “What is it? What is it? I want to go too!” Her eyes were sparkling.
Seeing her return, Madame Ruan could no longer suppress her joyful expression. A faint look of triumphant satisfaction from having achieved her goal flashed across her face as she affectionately caressed Lu’e’s cheek.
When the agreed upon day arrived, Yi Qinglan discovered that the so-called royal Daoist temple was actually located on an island in the middle of a lake.
Misty water vapor drifted through the air, and the rain fell in a gentle drizzle. The two of them rode in Madame Ruan’s boat, drifting leisurely toward the island.
When they were halfway through the water journey, Feng Hanyu leaned slightly closer to Yi Qinglan’s ear. “There is demonic Qi here.”
Yi Qinglan nodded and whispered back, “I noticed. It seems to be constantly shifting.”
Seeing Madame Ruan turn around from the front, the two smoothly pulled apart, acting as if nothing had happened.
Madame Ruan pointed toward an exceptionally exquisite and grand pleasure boat not far away, telling them, “Look, that is the vessel carrying the noble figure.”
Yi Qinglan followed the direction of her finger. That pleasure boat was indeed extraordinary. Looking from afar, it stood out spectacularly among the crowd of vessels.
Suddenly, a person walked out from the pleasure boat, followed by several attendants.
From a distance, Yi Qinglan saw that the leading woman was dressed in exceptionally lavish attire, wearing an ink-black fur cloak. She was most likely the noble figure Madame Ruan had mentioned. Behind her, along with her attendants, was a figure that looked remarkably familiar.
“Isn’t that Divine Physician Cui?” Lu’e’s sharp eyes spotted him immediately.
Yi Qinglan’s heart stirred. He really showed his face here.
Before long, the boats docked one after another. A stone mountain path surrounded by lush greenery led the crowd up to the Daoist temple. The temple was built against the mountain, featuring flying eaves and upturned corners. It was incredibly magnificent and grand. It was only after winding around the ridge to the main entrance that its full scale was revealed.
Standing at the entrance of the temple was indeed a crowd of Daoists with fluttering robes. Yi Qinglan scrutinized them carefully. They wore green robes and their style appeared highly unified, they were likely cultivators who belonged to their own distinct sect.
The noble woman walked at the very front of the crowd. As she lowered her cloak’s hood, Yi Qinglan noticed that her hair was already half-gray.
“Did you know? That is the Noble Consort of our Kingdom of Muzhi.” Lu’e covered her mouth, her low voice betraying a hint of excitement. “Madame Ruan told me. Isn’t she beautiful, noble, and deeply elegant?”
Yi Qinglan asked curiously, “Doesn’t your Kingdom of Muzhi value youth as the standard of beauty for women? I see that this Noble Consort appears to be at least sixty or seventy years old.”
“Tsk, tsk,” Lu’e looked at her with an expression reserved for the uninitiated. “You think a figure like the Noble Consort needs youthful beauty? No matter how old her Ladyship looks, she possesses more grace and poise than anyone else.”
“Cultivators, please wait a moment. Once the ceremony is concluded, I will introduce you to the noble figure.” Madame Ruan spoke to Feng Hanyu, but when she turned around, Yi Qinglan was nowhere to be seen. She was thoroughly astonished. “Huh? Where did Miss Yi go?”
Unbeknownst to anyone, Yi Qinglan had already slipped past the rows of Daoists and quietly made her way into the deserted, deeper areas of the temple.
Reaching into her sleeve, a furry little creature appeared in her hand. It was exactly the Baofu Mouse (Treasure-Fortune Mouse) that had run around so recklessly in the demonic dragon’s lair last time.
“I’ll have to rely on you again this time.” The corners of Yi Qinglan’s mouth curved slightly as she opened the box containing the red pill, letting the creature catch its scent. Understanding the command, the Baofu Mouse squeaked a few times and then obediently led her forward.
After a period of training under her, the Baofu Mouse had already turned into a spiritual pet that was both obedient and capable of tracking scents. In this unfamiliar territory teeming with people and complex layouts, it proved to be incredibly useful.
This Daoist temple was built in a bizarre fashion. Just now, she had observed the peculiar feng shui of this place. The lake water, the temple, and the island faintly formed the configuration of a mountain and water array. Coupled with the fluctuating demonic Qi here, if that physician surnamed Cui truly had a connection with the demon behind the scenes, she would definitely be able to find some clues here.
A faint premonition arose in Yi Qinglan’s heart. Perhaps the two women from the Immortal Sect mentioned by the Golden Toad Attendant were hidden right here.