This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 361 My sister looks really good in her outfit today, unlike me, who always dresses rather conservatively.

Hearing Xiang Yuan's complaints, Cheng Yuling knew that the child had been wronged, so she quickly said some nice words to soothe his emotions, and took the opportunity to put down the man surnamed Xiao, belittling him to the point of being worthless.

Although it was meant to comfort the child, there was indeed a sense of self-reproach in it.

Cheng Yuling was filled with remorse, worried that Xiao Lingyue would follow in her footsteps. That's why she was so concerned that she lost her composure. She secretly vowed that she would think before she spoke next time. The Xiao family is the Xiao family, and Xiang Yuan is a good kid. Just because the Xiao family members pretend to be good people every day doesn't mean that all truly good people should be condemned.

Even so, Cheng Yuling decided to say a few more words. After all, her daughter wasn't around, and Xiang Yuan's neighbor was a seductive vixen. It was always good to be on guard.

"Blah blah blah, wai bi wai bi..."

Cheng Yuling held Xiang Yuan down and spoke her mind scathingly. But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly veered off course, inexplicably bringing up several names that Xiang Yuan had never heard of. Then, Cheng Yuling's attacks became extremely aggressive.

In a daze, Xiang Yuan seemed to see Xiao Lingyue speaking to Chan'er in a sarcastic tone.

If I'm not mistaken, these unfamiliar names are indeed the princesses of Prince Zhao's residence.

Wow, the Prince Zhao's residence is really something to behold!
Xiang Yuan was no longer sleepy on the spot. While expressing his indignation, he also asked Cheng Yuling to bring more food, thinking about staying at Prince Zhao's mansion for a couple of days.

Even if we can't learn Xiao Yan's strategy of maintaining balance, it's still good to have some fun!

Cheng Yuling spoke for a while, but seeing Xiang Yuan's piercing gaze, she secretly thought she had done something wrong. In a moment of carelessness, she revealed the family's dirty laundry from the previous generation.

She coughed lightly twice, clenching her fist, and skillfully steered the conversation back to Xiang Yuan: "You silly child, why did you suddenly bring up Jianxinzhai just now? Do you know those crazy women over there?"

"When I was traveling the martial world, I encountered a few disciples of the Sword Heart Sect. They were a group of young heroes who slew demons and monsters. It was lively with so many people..."

Xiang Yuan gave a brief description, saying, "We were just nodding acquaintances, barely acquaintances. Later, Lingyue told me some rumors about Jianxinzhai and advised me to avoid Jianxinzhai. I listened to her advice and stopped associating with Jianxinzhai."

"As your mother, I can vouch for you. What Lingyue said is not a rumor; it is all true."

Cheng Yuling raised her eyebrows and gritted her teeth, saying, "Just thinking about Jianxinzhai makes me angry. I really don't want to curse them, but they're a bunch of morally bankrupt, despicable, shameless, and insane crazy women!"

Xiang Yuan was not angry when Shang Qingmeng took the lead, but instead nodded repeatedly when Cheng Yuling criticized Jianxinzhai.

It's like if someone were to insult his true nature to his face, he wouldn't get angry at all.

"Mother, what exactly is the feud between our Wushuang Palace and Jianxinzhai?" Xiang Yuan asked curiously.

"It's not that our Wushuang Palace and Jianxinzhai have any grudges, it's just that Jianxinzhai is looking for trouble..."

Cheng Yuling launched into another tirade, while Xiang Yuan sifted through keywords, picking and choosing from a bunch of sarcastic insults without using vulgar language, but still couldn't find a decent reason.

Xiang Yuan sorted it out and attributed it to the repulsion between people of the same sex. The Wushuang Palace was a female sect, while the Jianxinzhai sect had nine-tenths of its disciples who were female cultivators. Both of them respected the way of the sword. A single sentence like "Your sword is sharp, but my sword is not necessarily sharp" could cause the two sects to fight.

Regardless of the cause and effect, the consequence was that the two swordsmen suffered a great defeat in their duel last year, and agreed to have another duel in the second half of this year.

By the way, of the four main characters in the last sword competition, Xiang Yuan had never met the two grandmasters from Jianxinzhai before, and the two from Wushuang Palace were Yinshuang and Daoxue. They were defeated last night and gained memory manipulation and common sense modification.

If Palace Master Bai Wuyan hadn't noticed anything amiss between the two, the hypnotic switch in their minds would have remained dormant. The next time they encountered Xiang Yuan, a snap of his fingers would have made them fall into a daze again.

"This year's sword competition is probably going to be a bit difficult to organize." Cheng Yuling changed the subject, a hint of worry appearing on her face.

"Mother, what do you mean?"

"Last year, Jianxinzhai suffered a great defeat. Before leaving, they made a bold statement that they would definitely win a great victory in this year's sword competition."

Cheng Yuling's expression was serious: "Although the Sword Heart Sect is of low character and is an evil sect among the righteous sects, it must be said that the swordsmanship of those crazy women is indeed remarkable, such as the current sect leader, Sword Venerable Su Ran, and Sword Venerable's first disciple, Shang Qingmeng..."

"The Sword Master Su Ran is nearing the end of his lifespan and will pass away in a few years. At that time, Fairy Shang will become the new sect leader."

"..."

Xiang Yuan didn't speak. Cheng Yuling's information was outdated; Shang Qingmeng wouldn't become the sect leader within the next hundred or eighty years.

Furthermore, judging from Cheng Yuling's words, Wushuang Palace seems unaware that the Door-Crack Sword Master has regained his youth and is now in his prime, free from any concerns about lifespan.

Jianxinzhai is really hiding something, holding back a big surprise. I wonder who they're plotting against.

If it's a scheme against the Peerless Palace...

Because of his help, the Sword Master of the Door Crack was able to revive from his desolation and live a second life. If this news were to reach the Peerless Palace, he, as the son-in-law, would never expect to receive a kind look from the Peerless Palace again.

"The two sides are clashing swords. Neither the Palace Master nor Sword Venerable Su Ran has made a move. If Sword Heart Sect wants to get revenge, it will definitely do so before Fairy Shang becomes the new sect leader, which is this year's sword competition."

Cheng Yuling continued, "Although I have never met that Fairy Shang, I have heard of her extraordinary talent in swordsmanship. She has severed the seven emotions and six desires, and devoted herself to the sword. She is far beyond the reach of ordinary people."

If you hadn't stayed overnight at Prince Zhao's residence last night, you might have seen him.

Furthermore, the claim that one should sever all emotions and desires is a rumor. You didn't see how jealous Shang Qingmeng was; the heartless technique she cultivated must have been a fake bought on the street.

Xiang Yuan thought to himself, but on the surface he was full of admiration: "Mother, Lingyue also mentioned that Fairy Shang to me, saying that she is the Palace Master's closed-door disciple and there is a very high chance that she will face her in the sword competition this year."

"Who says it isn't?"

Cheng Yuling looked distressed and said, "The man surnamed Shang is quite old, while Lingyue is only a few years old. This competition is unfair."

Xiang Yuan nodded in agreement. Without using the Sun and Moon in the Sky technique, Xiao Lingyue was indeed no match for Shang Qingmeng, and even if she became a grandmaster, she would have no chance of winning.

Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan felt a sense of anticipation and planned to sneak into the sword-fighting tournament to see the specific process of the two fighting.

Also, which grandmasters will Jianxinzhai send out this year? Will they also send out Ziping?

As for Qin Zhaorong, Shang Qingmeng's external brain and mouth double, she will probably go out with her as well.

When these three get together, if Qin Zhaorong does something naughty, Ziping will be in trouble, and then the fun will begin.

Looking forward to it.JPG
Xiang Yuan made up his mind that he would not let this year's sword competition slip by.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Three days later, the Zhen Dianfu concert was held as scheduled.

The location was Wenqu Academy in the east of the city, and the organizer was Prince Zhao's Mansion. Xiang Yuan, as Jiang Yingjun's personal bodyguard, accompanied her in the carriage and headed straight for the academy.

People thronged both sides of the road, but fortunately, the soldiers of Zhen Dian Prefecture cleared the way, so there was no congestion.

Inside the carriage, Xiang Yuan sat upright on a soft couch, next to Cheng Yuling, who was disguised as a maid. Further away, Jiang Yingjun was surrounded by several maids, applying light makeup and changing her clothes.

The car was very spacious, with a separate room. Jiang Yingjun could have avoided Xiang Yuan to change her clothes, but mistakenly took the disguised Cheng Yuling for Xiao Lingyue, so she chose to change her clothes in front of him.

I didn't mean anything by it; I simply didn't consider Xiang Yuan an outsider.

Although Jiang Yingjun only changed her outer clothes and did not reveal any skin, Cheng Yuling had seen all kinds of situations and sensed a strong sense of provocation. Due to her status, she could not directly lash out, so she used telepathy to talk to Xiao Lingyue.

In a short while, Jiang Yingjun finished changing her clothes, moved to Danxiang, and sat elegantly next to Xiang Yuan. Under the guise of exchanging poems and songs, she put all her effort into making Xiao family's young lady suffer.

Xiang Yuan didn't know what to say, so he shifted the blame to Cheng Yuling. Originally, Jiang Yingjun had no intention of taking the initiative, but because of Cheng Yuling's appearance, she immediately became full of fighting spirit.

Mother-in-law, what exactly are you doing here? Do you think your daughter's life is too comfortable, and are you stirring up trouble and making enemies for her?
Xiang Yuan had always kept his distance from Jiang Yingjun, especially in front of Cheng Yuling. Knowing how to quiet down the artistic young woman, he took out the poetry collection he had obtained from Xiao Yin and let Jiang Yingjun read it.

The poems "Sympathy for the Farmers," "Untitled," and "Ode to the Plum Blossom" were three poems that Xiang Yuan had never recited to Jiang Yingjun before. As soon as the artistic young woman picked them up, she immediately fell silent.

They rewarded her handsomely!

The fragrance in the air gradually intensifies, and the aroma from afar is refreshing and invigorating, allowing for an epic inhalation of its aroma.

Cheng Yuling, on the contrary, was so disgusted by the smell that her eyes rolled back, and she wished she could draw her sword and stab the fox spirit's face.

Unfortunately, it cannot be stabbed.

With his innate cultivation level, he could barely be considered a master in the backyard of Prince Zhao's mansion. But in front of Jiang Yingjun, who was at the Nascent Soul stage, drawing his sword would only bring shame upon himself, and he would only make Xiao Lingyue lose face.

For the past three days, Cheng Yuling has stayed by her side closely, keeping a close watch on her. Jiang Yingjun hasn't heard her teacher recite poetry for three days, and she feels like ants are crawling all over her body; she can't describe how uncomfortable she is.

Once you get to know new poetry, you'll be fine in no time.

Seeing that Xiang Yuan had no intention of taking it back, Jiang Yingjun held the poetry collection in her hand, glanced at the expressionless 'maid' out of the corner of her eye, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. She thought to herself, "Interesting."

If I had asked you to dress as a maid, and you had appeared openly and honestly, I should have been the one avoiding you.

As Jiang Yingjun thought this, her beautiful eyes rippled, and she moved slightly towards the center of the soft couch, sitting side by side with Xiang Yuan. Pointing to the words in the poetry collection, she said, "Sir, I haven't been able to understand this passage. Could you explain it to me?"

I'm an artsy young woman, not a scheming, manipulative woman. Do you realize you've ruined your image?

A delicate fragrance wafted towards him. Xiang Yuan clenched his fist, coughed lightly, and then moved to the side.

Then Jiang Yingjun also moved around a bit.

After a few times, Xiang Yuan had nowhere to sit.

The inn was not far from Wenqu Academy, and Jiang Yingjun arrived in no time. She secretly regretted that she was now more looking forward to Miss Xiao's tantrum than to today's concert.

Smirking.JPG
"Sir, today's event is different from previous ones. We would be grateful if you could stay and provide protection..."

Jiang Yingjun got up and stepped out of the carriage, deliberately walking side by side with Xiang Yuan, appearing weak and dependent on him. Xiang Yuan nodded upon hearing this. Zhen Dian Prefecture was the last stop of the concert. Once Jiang Yingjun returned to Northern Qi, her status would be worthless, and the ambitious people in Western Chu would definitely make their move today.

Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan reminded Jiang Yingjun a few times, and then sent a telepathic message to Cheng Yuling, telling her to be careful as well.

Xiang Yuan was overthinking things. Cheng Yuling was a very unqualified guardian in place of Xiao Lingyue. Three days ago, she failed to keep an eye on Xiang Yuan, and Shang Qingmeng got a taste of the benefits, robbed him on a large scale, and left triumphantly. Her performance today was even more worrying.

As soon as she stepped off the carriage, Cheng Yuling spotted Xiao Yan, who was speaking on behalf of the organizers, and several shameless people who had come to attend the event.

The "shameless" thing Cheng Yuling was referring to was several of the princesses of the Zhao Prince's Mansion.

Leaving aside lovers, babies, and darlings, Xiao Yan had nine officially married wives, four of whom were present today. Each of the four beauties—plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—had her own unique charm; they were all mature and radiant beauties. Surrounding Xiao Yan in the center, they instantly made his upright and dignified face look repulsive.

Xiang Yuan heard a lot of low-pitched curses.

Looking at Xiao Yan again, his back was straight, and a faint smile of a winner in life hung on the corner of his mouth. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and he cursed a couple of times in his heart.

You old rascal, you're pretty smug!

It's inevitable that he'll be smug. If Xiang Yuan can reconcile Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er, he'll be beaming with pride wherever he goes, wanting nothing more than to tell everyone.

But being attacked face-to-face is a completely different matter!
Xiang Yuan cursed the scumbag in her heart, pretending not to see Xiao Yan, and refused all family ties during the mission.

We can talk about it after get off work.

Cheng Yuling didn't have such a strong sense of responsibility. She disappeared in a flash and soon appeared in full dress, joining the princess's small team.

"Sister, you look really good in this outfit today. Unlike me, I always dress more conservatively."

"Sister, you've come to the poetry gathering too! I had no idea you were knowledgeable about literature."

"My sister is so petty, getting angry over such a small thing. I'm much more magnanimous!"

"Hey, I think I've upset my sister again, but I really care about her feelings..."

Under Xiang Yuan's indignant gaze, the ladies of Prince Zhao's mansion immediately fell into chaos. Xiao Yan busied himself trying to put out the fire, which pleased him greatly, and he thought to himself that this was exactly how it should be.

Unfortunately, including Cheng Yuling, the princesses all gave Xiao Yan face in public. Even if they were unhappy, they did not make a fuss. They just used sharp words and spoke sarcastically to each other.

Jiang Yingjun was taken aback, then realized something and asked telepathically, "Sir, your maid... isn't the Xiao family's young lady you're engaged to?"

"hold head high."

"..."

Jiang Yingjun's face turned red, as if she felt ashamed to face anyone. She raised her sleeve to cover her face and hurriedly walked into the academy.

What a shame!

Xiang Yuan shrugged and followed, fulfilling his duties as a bodyguard. He stood coldly beside Jiang Yingjun, ready to give any busybody a look that would startle them back several feet away.

A Nascent Soul cultivator who had come from afar was unconvinced. He glared back at Yuan, asking, "What are you looking at?" As he stared, he became distracted, laughed out loud as if he had lost his mind, and left. After climbing over the academy wall, he began to run naked in front of everyone on the street.

After making three trips, Jiang Yingjun was no longer surrounded by busybodies, and the scholars and poets who came to exchange ideas became much more polite.

They're always threatening to run naked and die on the spot. What cultured person can withstand such humiliation?

As Xiang Yuan followed Jiang Yingjun onto the long bluestone path, he noticed a gaze fixed on the back of his handsome head and turned to look at it.

Beside the old plum tree, a woman with delicate features and a refined temperament gazed at the plum branches in a daze, leaving Xiang Yuan with a rather stunning profile.

Xiao Lingyan!
Xiang Yuan withdrew his gaze, only to find another gaze behind him. Turning to look, he saw Xiao Lingyan struggling with the plum branch in front of her, occasionally seeming to suddenly realize something.

Go ahead and watch, it's free.

"Sir, do you know that woman?" Jiang Yingjun asked curiously.

"Yes, she's from the Xiao family, and we're engaged."

"Then, why don't you go over there..."

Jiang Yingjun subconsciously took two steps back to avoid getting too close to Xiang Yuan and causing him to suffer an unjust accusation.

Coming to my senses, I secretly regretted taking those two steps back.

"No, we're not familiar with each other."

"???"

A string of question marks flashed across Jiang Yingjun's mind. What did "not familiar" mean? If Xiang Yuan and Miss Xiao were not familiar, what was the story behind the love poem that made her both envious and jealous?

“I am engaged to two women from the Xiao family. This is the other one, and we haven’t spoken much.”

"sisters?"

“Half-sisters.” Xiang Yuan sighed.

"..."

Jiang Yingjun blinked, analyzing from Xiang Yuan's sigh a part helplessness, a part sarcasm, a part nonchalance, and a smugness of ninety-four points.

You're clearly enjoying it!
Even a gentleman is just an ordinary person!

Jiang Yingjun felt a surge of joy. She liked the common people. She sighed softly, "This Miss Xiao has been looking at you, sir. She wants to go up to you but doesn't know how to start. Her feelings for you must be very complicated."

What's going on? Is your idol getting old and ready to transition into becoming a relationship expert?
Under Xiang Yuan's silent gaze, Jiang Yingjun turned and walked towards Xiao Lingyan, who continued to study the plum branches, but her breathing became somewhat disordered.

Want to run!

Jiang Yingjun gracefully approached Xiao Lingyan, giving her no chance to escape. Xiang Yuan then stepped forward, politely nodding to Xiao Lingyan as a greeting.

Xiang Yuan and Xiao Lingyan were not familiar with each other. They had only met once. Xiang Yuan was tricked by Ji Boli and inexplicably got together and became engaged.

They hadn't even exchanged two words, so there was naturally no affection between them.

Xiao Lingyan nodded in response, but seeing that Xiang Yuan had no intention of getting close to her, her expression darkened and she turned to leave.

Jiang Yingjun reached out and took Xiao Lingyan's arm, acting as if they were old friends. She kept calling her "sister" and saying that she was new here, hoping that Xiao Lingyan would accompany her and introduce her to the Wenqu Academy.

Xiang Yuan didn't quite understand and couldn't figure out what Jiang Yingjun was doing.

Xiao Lingyan was somewhat submissive and didn't talk much. When Jiang Yingjun asked her to stay, she stopped and acted as a guest of the organizer, introducing Wenqu Academy to Jiang Yingjun.

She ran out of words after just two sentences.

Jiang Yingjun smiled slightly, released Xiao Lingyan's arm, took a step forward, and threw her next to Xiang Yuan.

Xiao Lingyan stared intently at Jiang Yingjun's back, regarding her as a substitute for Meizhi, and followed without uttering a word.

After a while, she mustered up her courage and said to Xiang Yuan beside her, "My mother told me that you would be here today, and asked me to come and talk to you."

She seemed weak and somewhat aggrieved.

It was truly unfair. After the engagement was made, Xiang Yuan fled as if he were running away and never appeared again.

Xiang Yuan was speechless for a moment, not knowing where to begin. This marriage was purely caused by Ji Boli's meddling. It was just a routine interaction within the Benxin Dao, disguised as a political alliance, which made him want to annul the engagement but also difficult to do.

drag!
If it drags on for three or five years, nobody will mention it anymore.

Then Xiao Lingyan told Xiang Yuan that they could delay it, but the marriage agreement had already been reported and the capital city had given its answer, sealing the deal.

"After the New Year, people from the capital came to bestow titles upon two princesses upon the Prince Zhao's residence. One is me, and the other is my sister Lingyue." Xiao Lingyan explained the titles: she was to be called 'Princess Heyan', and Xiao Lingyue was to be called 'Princess Heyue'.

Two, two?

Xiang Yuan's eye twitched. As expected of the Xiao family of the capital, they married two princesses at once. In terms of shamelessness, they were number one in the Three Kingdoms.

On this track, the Liu family of Tai'an and the Li family of Shangyuan couldn't even see the taillights of the cars, let alone feel the heat of the exhaust fumes.

Furthermore, Xiao Lingyue's life is practically tied to the moon.

"The court officials didn't say much. My father said that my sister Lingyue and I were granted the title of princess because of you." Xiao Lingyan looked doubtful, quite curious about her fiancé.

Xiao Lingyan wasn't a talkative person, and she'd already said so much in one breath. Xiang Yuan didn't want her to continue talking to thin air, so he said, "The reasons are rather complicated, mainly due to chance and misunderstanding. It can't be explained in just a few words..."

Halfway through his sentence, he looked ahead and saw a man dressed as a scholar with a cold face and an obscure aura around him, who had already entered the realm of a grandmaster.

finally come!

Grandmasters of the three families of the Heavenly Sect!
"If I can't explain it, I won't. I'll demonstrate it for you, and you'll understand why she was bestowed the title of princess by the gods."

(End of this chapter)