Chapter 88

After dawn, the wind and snow eased off a little. They quickly hurried on with their horses, using the sun as a guide.

On the way, they occasionally met merchants returning from the Fenglin Continent, all of them in a state of lethargy. When they asked, they found out that the Cangyu Sect was now under strict security, and that they had to conduct strict checks on people and goods entering and leaving Kunlun, especially those from the Central Plains.

Lan Chui Han said, "It seems that the Cangyu Sect isn’t unaware of their situation. I really can't think of how they plan to get through this crisis if they don't hand over the Flying Plume Ambassador."

"Will the Cangyu Sect not let us in?" Xie Bi An was a little worried. Even though they were not from the Immortal Alliance, the intention of coming was not favorable to the Cangyu Sect.

"That depends on whether they can stop us too." Zhong Kui shook his wine jug, "Hey, it's almost empty, we have to move faster."

It was midday and the winter sun was in full swing. The sun’s glow did not warm the body much, but when it fell on the snow, the reflected light seemed to carry a manacle, making it almost impossible to open one's eyes. The wind was so cold that it swept up a white mist of snow, even those who were a horse's length apart were separated by a thick curtain and only silhouettes could be seen.

In the midst of the chaos, they simultaneously felt an unmistakable spiritual pressure ahead of them.

"Who’s there!?" Fan Wu She shouted alertly.

As the wind and snow gradually dissipated, a figure appeared in mid-air, wearing a mili* making them unable to see his face, but his figure was clearly that of a slender man, who stood in the void, in a flowing icy grey that almost merged with the icy sky and snow.

"Yun Zhong Jun?" Lan Chui Han said in surprise.

This man was the Cangyu Sect's Eldest Senior Brother, Yun Zhong Jun?! He was truly as rumored, floating like an immortal, but never showing his true face to the world. When looked at closely, he was actually stepping on a clear ice crystal underneath his feet.

Yun Zhong Jun arched his hand and said, "I, a humble servant, have been ordered by my master to come and welcome Heaven Master, Lord Lan, and the two Impermanence Immortals to Fenglin Continent." His voice was like the gurgling water on a glacier, clear and cold, "Please follow me and proceed on your swords."

Yun Zhong Jun led the way, and several people followed behind with their swords, flying further north in the cold wind and snow.

Through the layers of snow and mist, a snowy mountain towering into the clouds appeared in the distance. The view was endlessly white, with a single turquoise blue lake set like a jewel on top of the snow-capped mountain. This picturesque fairyland made people forget to breathe for a moment. This is exactly where the famous Kunlun Cangyu Sect is located - Fenglin Continent.

"It's so beautiful ah. After seeing the mountains and rivers of the Central Plains, this snowy country landscape is really something else." Xie Bi An exclaimed.

Lan Chui Han whispered, "Fenglin Continent's terrain is so treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to invade. If the Immortal Alliance really goes to war with them, the distance, the weather and the terrain, all are advantageous to the Cangyu Sect."

"Yeah, the fact that the Cangyu Sect can grow and develop is inseparable from its location, not to mention the fact that holding the Shen Nong Ding is like holding a golden mountain." Zhong Kui narrowed his eyes, "However, do not underestimate the ambition of the Immortal Alliance. There is no sect or person who does not covet the Shen Nong Ding, and all dare not speak out against the Cangyu Sect's behavior of pulling out the hair from the geese*. There is no telling how the matter of Immortal Lord Xu will evolve."

"It is true that there is no shortage of those in the Immortal Alliance who want to take advantage of the opportunity to crush the Cangyu Sect, but I believe that at least Alliance Master Li would never want to go to war with the Cangyu Sect." Lan Chui Han frowned and said, "Neither does Xianyue Pavilion, which is the exact purpose of my trip."

As they flew closer and closer, the grandeur and magnanimous palace built against the lake became clearer and clearer.

Fan Wu She looked at the approaching Fenglin Continent and pondered.

He had been to Fenglin Continent twice before. The first time, he had infiltrated incognito as a traveler, wanting to investigate what had happened when Zong Ming He had taken Zong Zi Heng to Shen Nong Ding. Zong Zi Heng had disappeared for some time, and when he reappeared, he had killed his father, the king, on the Eight Trigrams Platform of the Wuliang Sect, usurping the throne. The second time, he was already a Supreme Demon. In the world’s eyes, the impregnable fortress was easy to defend and difficult to invade. To the Yin soldiers, it was like walking on flat ground. He forced Qi Meng Sheng to open the Shen Nong Ding using her Cangyu Sect’s authority. Qi Meng Sheng would rather die than submit. If Xu Zhi Nan did not rush here in time to persuade Qi Meng Sheng to submit, there may not be a Cangyu Sect now.

But he still doesn't know what happened back then. Zong Zi Heng, a hypocrite with a mouth full of justice and virtue, would rather earn himself eternal infamy and usurp the throne no matter what. Perhaps Zong Zi Heng had already become apathetic after framing his 2 younger brothers one after another. His eyes only had the throne and did not care about the infamy behind his back.

However, none of that mattered anymore. He was originally going to come back to Fenglin Continent to take something away, only this trip was much earlier than he had expected.

"Junior brother, junior brother?" Xie Bi An called out twice, "It's time to land."

Fan Wu She turned his head to look, and Xie Bi An's face once again caused him to be briefly dazed between memory and reality. As he came back to his senses, he landed with the others.

The lake in front of him was smooth and flat like a mirror, reflecting the entire palace and the snow-capped mountains behind it, as if they were two spaces divided in two, looking at each other across the mirror. Everything in Fenglin Continent was so mysterious and dreamy.

"This way please gentlemen."

When the disciples of the Cangyu Sect saw Yun Zhong Jun, they all bowed down respectfully and called out "Senior Brother". Judging from their attitude, this Yun Zhong Jun was feared in the Cangyu Sect.

"Is Yun Zhong Jun taking us to see the Immortal Lord?" Zhong Kui said.

"Heaven Master, my master cannot see guests at the moment."

Zhong Kui frowned, "Then should we be taken to meet the two Flying Plume Ambassadors?"

"My senior sister and junior sister are in seclusion and pondering over their mistakes, so they are also not available to meet guests."

"What do you mean?" Zhong Kui pulled down his face.

Lan Chui Han said hurriedly, "Heaven Master, let me ask." He walked over to Yun Zhong Jun and said sternly, "Brother Yun, you should know the purpose of our trip."

Yun Zhong Jun said coldly, "Lord Lan, our sect does not dare to neglect Heaven Master, but it is true that it is not convenient for Master to see guests right now, and I cannot make decisions."

"Is she unable to see guests because she is hanging on to life with the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp?" Fan Wu She asked directly.

Yun Zhong Jun twisted his head to look at Fan Wu She, and despite the mili covering him, the crowd still felt his sharp gaze. The people around him were accustomed to Fan Wu She's supercilious, but in the eyes of outsiders, this was a huge transgression.

It was a rare occasion that Xie Bi An did not rebuke Fan Wu She. He had only met Xu Zhi Nan once, but Xu Zhi Nan was highly respected and admired, and what had happened in Chunyang Sect had made him feel nothing good about the Cangyu Sect.

Zhong Kui said coldly, "If the Immortal Lord does not see me, I will have to go and see her, so I hope you will bear with me if I offend you."

This bare threat caused the spiritual pressure around Yun Zhong Jun to rise, and he was silent for a moment, "All of you will stay in Fenglin Continent for now. I will go and ask Immortal Lord." After saying this, he made a ‘please’ gesture and took the lead in walking forward.

Xie Bi An gave Zhong Kui a thumbs up and said quietly, "As expected of you Master, you were very impressive just now."

Zhong Kui grinned, "Really? Was it impressive?"

"Very impressive. If Master drinks less and meets people with this kind of aura more often, you can remain impressive."

"Yawn." Zhong Kui said disdainfully, "It's better not to have all those flashy reputations."

Xie Bi An looked up, "Then in the eyes of outsiders, you are an old drunkard, you can't be impressive."

"How dare you say that about your master, you little brat." Zhong Kui made a move and was about to slap him on the head.

Xie Bi An dodged it easily and sighed, looking at Zhong Kui with an expression of unquestionable anger.

His rebuke was full of care, leaving no doubt that this master and disciple were actually as close as father and son.

Fan Wu She looked at this warm and vivid Xie Bi An and suddenly thought that if they had had a father like Zhong Kui in a previous life, history would have looked different. At least, his big brother would not have become that hypocritical and cold-blooded Human Emperor.

After the four of them were settled, Yun Zhong Jun left first.

Lan Chui Han put down his traveling clothes and intended to go out to find Yun Zhong Jun.

Zhong Kui called out to him, "Chui Han, I see that this Yun Zhong Jun does not look like he is quite close to you either."

Lan Chui Han smiled bitterly, "We used to drink and compete with each other, and we occasionally wrote to each other, but after what happened this time, I guess he is in a dilemma, and he is also on guard against us, that's why he is so cold."

"You should also be careful with your words when you go find him."

"Please rest assured, Heaven Master."

After Lan Chui Han left, Xie Bi An said, "I heard that Yun Zhong Jun is also an orphan picked up by Qi Meng Sheng, and belongs to the Yun generation with Yun Xiang Yi, but Yun Xiang Yi is the eldest sister, so their cultivation levels are not equal, and the Cangyu Sect is rich in Yin and lacks Yang. No matter how you look at it, it is impossible for Qi Meng Sheng to pass the sect leader position to Yun Zhong Jun."

"Yes, Chui Han also saw this as a reason to start from Yun Zhong Jun first. I have no interest in their sect's internal strife, I just want to see Qi Meng Sheng. As for those two girls..."

Xie Bi An said, "Master, should we take them back?"

Zhong Kui shook his head, "We have interfered too much in mortal realm affairs, and it is not in accordance with the rules. It is better to let the Immortal Alliance settle this matter on its own."

---

Xie Bi An finished tidying Zhong Kui's daily necessities and wanted to go to Fengming Lake with Fan Wu She to have a look, but the people from the Cangyu Sect were following and watching, so they were too annoyed and gave up instead. After eating, they went back to their respective rooms to rest.

In the middle of the night, Fan Wu She changed into his nightclothes and left his room silently, sneaking all the way to the outside of the palace.

There were guards patrolling the shores of Fengming Lake day and night, but the lake was so large that when a person was thrown into a corner where the moonlight did not shine, it was like throwing a stone, which hardly attracts any attention.

After casting a spell, Fan Wu She jumped into the lake and swam hard towards its center.

On the other side, Xie Bi An was sound asleep.

There was a sudden tremor on the calm surface of Fengming Lake. The water sparkled, stirring up the full moon and spreading an invisible spiritual energy in all directions.

In his sleep, Xie Bi An furrowed his brows and muttered indistinctly under his breath. His consciousness was tangled in confusion, his body falling in the darkness.

And then, his eyes suddenly "opened".

Above his head was a tent of white gold, the densely woven fabric was richly embroidered with flowers. It looks very luxurious with one look, and was of a quality he had never seen before. He struggled to sit up, and the blanket slid down around his waist. His body tired and aching, making him a little dizzy, and he looked around him to find himself in an extremely luxurious room. He looked down again to see his naked body covered in bruises and red marks of every shade.

His mind went blank.

 

PS: Let’s go for a car ride in the next chapter wheeee~

 

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mili*[幂篱]---a hat with veil, u can see the picture here: https://baike.baidu.com/item/幂篱

pulling out the hair from the geese*[雁过拔毛]--- spare no effort in taking advantage of what one puts his hand on

 

Edited on 6 Apr. 21 (Emzie)

 

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