After traveling for about another day, Ning Jinyu was drowsing off in the sedan chair, while Shangguan Qinghuan toyed with her Jade Flute, her mind wandering.
She was a clear-headed person, not one to languish in sorrow over a man. Although she had been interested in Song Qingyan before, the Black Dragon clan was cold-blooded; it was best not to provoke them.
“Demoness, stop the carriage!”
Swish! A slash of Sword Qi came flying. Shangguan Qinghuan frowned, flying out of the sedan chair to block the attack.
The commotion startled Ning Jinyu awake.
Looking again, she saw someone suddenly leap out of the sedan chair and wave at her. “Fellow Daoist Ning, we’ve finally found you! Get out of the carriage quickly and come with us.”
“…” It was Luo Chuan.
The one fighting the fox demon outside was Zuo Yixuan.
Ning Jinyu scrambled to follow Luo Chuan out. Their horses were nearby. Luo Chuan helped Ning Jinyu mount a horse, then swung himself up behind her and they took off.
As they rode into the wind, Ning Jinyu looked back at the two fighting and asked, “Can Fellow Daoist Zuo handle her alone? She’s very powerful.”
Luo Chuan said proudly, “My senior brother is the Head Disciple of the Sword Sect. Don’t be fooled by his usual low-key demeanor. In reality, his cultivation level is already comparable to a Peak Lord’s.”
That was good. If their cultivation levels were similar, nothing too serious should happen.
“How did you come to rescue me? Cui Xian and the others are still in the Wolf Clan Prison.”
Luo Chuan gently encircled her, tilting his head to avoid her flowing black hair. The sweet fragrance made his cheeks flush as he said, “They were brought back half a day ago. It was Cui Xian who told us. You helped my junior sister and the others, so we came to save you.”
Ning Jinyu thought of those wolf-headed monsters and asked curiously, “There were so many Wolf Demons guarding the prison. How did you rescue them?”
“We bought some Amulets to Conceal Aura before we came. We also observed the Demon Clan for a long time and drugged the jailers’ food. We had to use our wits for this one. After we sent them out of the Demon Clan’s territory, we came to chase after your carriage. We’re almost at the Demon Realm now. Why was that Fox Spirit taking you to the Demon Realm?”
“…” Ning Jinyu coughed and shook her head.
Meanwhile, Shangguan Qinghuan and Zuo Yixuan were locked in a fierce battle. Zuo Yixuan, dressed in a white Taoist Robe, had gentle chestnut-colored eyes, but he looked exceptionally handsome and dashing while holding his sword.
“Little Sword Cultivator, you dare to block my carriage? I’ll make sure you don’t return today.”
Zuo Yixuan’s expression was calm. He executed a few Sword Flourishes with the longsword in his hand and said coldly, “Fox demon, you have committed countless evils. I will not let you leave today either.” With that, the force of his sword suddenly became sharp and fierce.
Shangguan Qinghuan began to play her Jade Flute at the side, and waves of sound materialized into tangible attacks that assailed Zuo Yixuan.
Zuo Yixuan timed it perfectly. As he dodged, he slashed out with his sword. Although Shangguan Qinghuan evaded the blow, it severed a few strands of her hair.
Now she was truly angry. Her face turned cold as she transformed into her Demon Form. The Seven-Tailed Fox Demon, filled with malice, swiped a claw at him.
Zuo Yixuan retracted his sword to dodge. If the fight continued, it would inevitably result in mutual injury. Moreover, they were still in the Demon Clan’s territory. Knowing he couldn’t afford a prolonged battle, he used a talisman to teleport away.
Shangguan Qinghuan was furious. Damn human, fighting without honor! Those who enter the battlefield either live or die! The next time she saw him, she would flay him alive.
She reverted to her human form. The little fox demons who had been driving the carriage emerged from the side, trembling and crying, “Elder, that woman was taken away by a male cultivator just now.”
“Forget it. We’ll return to the Fox Clan first. This score will be settled sooner or later.”
Yan Sheng had been waiting in the Fox Clan for several days. When she first heard that Elder Shangguan had returned, she wanted to see her, but the Elder had gone to the Demon Palace shortly after arriving. By the time she got to the Demon Palace, the person had already left again. Frustrated, she returned to the Fox Clan.
Finally, she had managed to catch her.
“Elder Shangguan, Elder Shangguan! I’m Yan Sheng, here to learn spells from you.”
Shangguan Qinghuan, who had just returned to the Fox Clan, lifted the sedan curtain, her expression indifferent. “Little Princess, I’m very busy right now.”
Yan Sheng said earnestly, “Whatever is troubling you, Elder, I will help you!”
Shangguan Qinghuan twirled her Jade Flute and curved her lips into a smile. “Alright. Then go to the Demon Realm and help me deliver a letter to the new Demon Lord.”
“The new Demon Lord? Okay, okay!” Yan Sheng had never traveled far in her life. Having been pampered in the Demon Clan, she had long wanted to go out and have some fun.
After writing the letter, Shangguan Qinghuan sent her away and then left the Fox Clan for the human realm.
She had lost the person. How could she possibly go to the Demon Realm and lose face?
She decided to wash her hands of the matter and lie low in the human world for a while. When she had time, she would find that arrogant brat from the Sword Sect to settle the score.
…
The Sword Sect.
In the few years since Ning Jinyu had left, the sect had changed somewhat. Several of the main halls had been renovated.
Even Elegant Bamboo Peak had been tidied up to look much neater.
“Fellow Daoist Ning, you can stay on our peak for a few days. The people in the sect are currently recuperating. We’ll send you back to the Joyful Union Sect in a couple of days.”
Luo Chuan led her to Soaring Sword Peak and found an empty room for her.
Ning Jinyu looked down at her clothes, which were still the rather provocative attire of the Wolf Clan. She asked, “Excuse me, do you know Ming Lu? And Zeng Rui Wen, and Qi Mu.”
“Erm, the Ming Lu you mentioned is Second Martial Uncle’s Personal Disciple. She’s on Sword Storage Peak. I don’t know Zeng Rui Wen; I’ve never heard of him. As for Qi Mu, he’s also Second Martial Uncle’s disciple, but he’s out cultivating and hunting demons.”
Ning Jinyu nodded and smiled. “Thank you. I’ve stayed at the Sword Sect before, so I won’t trouble you any further. I’ll go find Ming Lu; she’s a good friend of mine.”
“Oh, alright then.”
Luo Chuan watched her leave, then blinked and went to his Eldest Senior Sister’s residence. He didn’t see her; she was probably still in seclusion.
…Sword Storage Peak.
“Who’s that? Is that Eldest Senior Sister?”
“She looks like her, but not quite. Isn’t Eldest Senior Sister in seclusion?”
“She’s not wearing our Sword Sect’s clothes.”
“Hello, I’m looking for Ming Lu.”
Each peak had Outer Sect Disciples on guard duty. The two exchanged a look, then stepped aside to let her pass. “You must be the female cultivator Senior Brother Luo Chuan and the others brought back. Please, come in.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Ning Jinyu departed with light steps.
The guards looked at each other, their faces a little red. She looked so much like Eldest Senior Sister, yet she was so cute and spoke so gently.
She wasn’t at all like the outrageous person Senior Sister Luo had described.
Ning Jinyu had been away from the Sword Sect for a long time, but because Luo Jingmin had been constantly spreading stories about her, quite a few people had heard her tale.
Ming Lu was in her room refining pills when a sudden knock on the door interrupted her, causing her to lose focus. With a displeased look, she went to open the door.
But then her eyes widened in a stunned gaze.
Ning Jinyu was even more beautiful than before. She had never forgotten her.
“Jin Yu! Why are you here!”
Ming Lu’s expression changed from cloudy to sunny as she tearfully hugged the visitor.
Ning Jinyu laughed. “Did you miss me? Hey, aren’t you going to let me in to sit down?”
Ming Lu came to her senses and opened the door wider, chuckling sheepishly. “You’ve come at the perfect time, Jin Yu. Quick, help me take a look at this Essence Solidifying Pill. I’ve been trying to refine it for so long.”
Ning Jinyu opened the lid of the Square Cauldron. The fresh scent of herbs wafted out. She had refined this pill before in the Joyful Union Sect. The book was missing one ingredient, Scorpion Grass. She added it in, then closed the lid.