Minglong

Chapter 184 How did you solve it...?

Qingquan Lane.

As dawn broke, a commotion gradually rose from the side street:

"steamed stuffed bun……"

"Selling coal..."

Many constables left early for their shifts, sitting outside a stall selling mutton soup at the alley entrance, chatting about their recent official duties:

"Young Master Xie is truly remarkable. He fought his way from Danyang all the way to the capital without stopping. I heard he wiped out another wave of bandits last night..."

"Da Biaozi has really hooked up with a big shot. From now on, he'll be at least a seventh-rank official..."

"Seventh rank? Right now he's just Young Master Xie's watchdog, but who knows, he might even rise to the ranks of immortals someday. That's what you call one person attaining enlightenment, and all their chickens and dogs ascending to heaven..."

"Wouldn't this be considered using connections?"

"If they can get in through connections, that takes skill. As for us, we'll be lucky if we can get in through Da Biaozi's connections in the future..."

……

Inside the princess's mansion, autumn chrysanthemums swayed gently in the morning breeze, and condensed dew slowly trickled down their petals, leaving a trail of water.

Nangong Ye, dressed in a plain black dress, stood alone on the terrace of Wuwei Pavilion. Through the thin veil of his hat, he gazed at the golden summit of Zihui Mountain in the distance. His temperament was like that of an iceberg, and his eyes were devoid of any lust. He looked like an iceberg sword immortal who was hiding in the city and secretly contemplating the great Dao of heaven and earth.

But as long as one does not comprehend the mortal world, one cannot avoid being disturbed by it. Even though she has recited the calming mantra hundreds of times, certain images that disturb one's spiritual mind still echo in her mind...

Nangong Ye took a deep breath, suppressing the myriad thoughts in his heart, and felt that he shouldn't have been soft-hearted yesterday.

They even said they'd preserve the uterine cinnabar, but...

But given the situation yesterday, it's true that this young man risked his life to save her...

This kid is poisoned by fire and is trying to distract himself by being high-spirited...

It's all in the past now. From now on, just pretend it never happened, like you were stung by a bee...

……

Lost in thought, a noise came from inside the building outside:

"what--?!"

"Shhh~ You scared me! I thought someone was coming to kill us. What happened?"

"I...I'm sorry, I forgot I slept here last night. I'll go to the academy to fix your soft nails. You should rest a bit longer..."

……

Nangong Ye quickly put aside his distracting thoughts and turned his gaze to the house.

A moment later, a girl dressed in a horse-face skirt, her face flushed, came out carrying a soft armor and ran towards Wencheng Street.

The young and handsome swordsman followed behind, seeing the girl off until she reached the main street. He then bought some breakfast from a stall before entering courtyard number five, looking around as he did so.

"Honghong?"

Nangong Ye was filled with mixed emotions. He really didn't want to see this boy again, but that was obviously impossible. After a moment's consideration, he moved slightly and landed in the courtyard.

Call ~
Xie Jinhuan carried an oil paper package containing steaming hot, sweet-filled white steamed buns as he searched for them in the courtyard filled with fallen leaves.

Hearing the sound of wind breaking, he turned around and found a voluptuous figure descending from the sky, pressing down on his chest and pinning him against the wall.

thump--

Looking up, the black-clad female warrior pressed one arm to her chest, her veiled hat fluttering in the wind, her clothes undulating slightly, her whole figure resembling an ink painting, cold as an ice cube devoid of emotion or desire.

Xie Jinhuan had indeed been quite "indulgent" yesterday, so it wasn't surprising that he was being held down now. He picked up the steamed bun in his hand:
Have you had breakfast?

After a moment of silence, Nangong Ye emphasized in an ethereal tone devoid of any desire:

“Yesterday we helped each other, and I kept my word. I won’t speak ill of you for any wrongdoing you did yesterday. But once it’s light, neither of us can hold a grudge. If you dare to bring it up again…”

“I didn’t mention it, you brought it up. Let’s eat something first; I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat before.”

In recent months, Nangong Ye has been taking fasting pills to break through to the Super Grade, so he is pure inside and out. Otherwise, he would not have dared to let this kid do evil yesterday!
Seeing that this boy wasn't afraid of her at all, Nangong Ye couldn't really give him a beating. In the end, she withdrew her hand and adopted a sword immortal stance with one hand behind her back, tilting her veil to one side.
"I've already eaten. I'm going to Zihui Mountain to visit the senior later. You stay near the Prince's Mansion and don't wander around. I'll take you back to the capital at noon."

Xie Jinhuan is also planning to go to Zihui Mountain, but it's definitely not a good idea for him to go with Bing Tuozi:
"Alright. My Qi Sea has basically recovered, and I can ensure my own safety. Be careful when you wander around, and come back soon."

As they spoke, Xie Jinhuan picked up a sweet-filled steamed bun and took a bite. It was white and soft, and with each bite, her mouth was filled with sweet, syrupy filling, some of which even overflowed. It was surprisingly delicious…

"..."

Nangong Ye glanced at the sweet steamed bun out of the corner of his eye, seemingly recalling some scene from last night, and his sleeves twitched slightly.

brush~
Xie Jinhuan ate the whole thing in one bite, then looked blankly at his empty hands:
"Shall I go buy you a few more?"

Nangong Ye's cheeks burned. After taking a deep breath, he warned:
"There's a mutton hot pot with sesame flatbread at the alley entrance; you're not allowed to eat that anymore!"

"why?"

Sweets can easily damage your teeth.

"?"

Xie Jinhuan wasn't actually a big fan of sweet-filled steamed buns; he just saw one on the street and thought it looked a bit like a block of ice, so he bought it to try. He nodded in agreement.
"That makes sense, I'll listen to you."

Nangong Ye found it difficult to calm his mind, so he leaped into the alley and disappeared in an instant.

Xie Jinhuan came to the alley to see him off, but found that the ice block was gone. He turned around and wanted to run to the Demon Suppression Mausoleum as soon as possible to ask the white-haired female priest to cast the Golden Light Spell.

Turning around, she saw the red-clad ghost, its pink tongue lolling out, leaning close to her face.
"A little bit~"

"?"

Xie Jinhuan was startled, but this time his reaction was incredibly fast; he lunged forward with lightning speed.
boo~
Night Red Sorrow is an illusion; without creating the feeling of a kiss for Xie Jinhuan, it's impossible to launch a sneak attack.

However, at this moment, the ghost face froze, and it shrank back, its captivating eyes filled with coldness, like a volcano about to erupt!

Xie Jinhuan hadn't expected to succeed in his sneak attack; he grabbed the wrist of the woman wearing the large bracelet.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself."

Ye Hongshang pulled her hand away, gave a soft hum, and walked out of the alley carrying her red umbrella.

"Why would I be jealous? But you didn't talk to me last night, so I'm angry. You won't be able to touch me for the next three months."

?

Did I mention being jealous?!

Xie Jinhuan felt that the ghost was truly honest, and quickly walked to her side:
"Yesterday was an emergency, and I was suffering from internal heat poisoning, so I wasn't feeling very well. I was just focused on detoxifying..."

Ye Hongshang raised his left hand, revealing a crystal ball containing a smug and wicked smile:

"You've almost forgotten your own surname, and you're still not having enough fun?"

Xie Jinhuan glanced at him briefly, realized he was being a bit obnoxious, and changed the subject:

"Why did you write all this down? You're not going to show it to me..."

"Sister, write this down as evidence. In the future, if I ever find my true self and lose an argument at home, I'll help them recall their wonderful past experiences, and I guarantee they'll be completely silent once they see it..."

?

Xie Jinhuan thought that his ghost wife was so lacking in martial ethics that she would beat him to death if she had three wives and four concubines, but that was a matter for the future. For now, he just chatted casually and sped away towards the outskirts of the city...
-
The other side.

Under the morning light, Zihui Mountain is a picturesque sight.

Behind the main peak, in a courtyard built on the edge of a cliff, a century-old osmanthus tree sways in the mountain breeze, emitting a faint fragrance of osmanthus.

Nangong Ye, carrying his sword, walked alone into the main room of the three-room courtyard and looked at the portrait hanging in the central hall.

The portrait depicts a spirited female Taoist priest, dressed in a blue robe, carrying a magic sword on her back, with an umbrella hanging at her waist. Her lively eyes seem to be watching the endless mountains outside the door, as if she is observing her descendants' every move from the unseen realm.

On the desk in the side room, the writing brush, ink, and inkstone used by the immortal Qixia Zhenren are still there, wiped clean, and seven small characters can still be seen on the table:
I want to be a fairy!
These seven somewhat childish characters were not the work of a novice Taoist, but rather the motto of Master Qixia during his apprenticeship.

Master Qixia joined Zihui Mountain at the end of the previous dynasty. At that time, the world was in turmoil, evil spirits were rampant, and sectarian feuds were hard to suppress, so much so that Zihui Mountain, which had been passed down for five hundred years, was left with only a hundred or so disciples.

The Immortal Qixia lived in this secluded little courtyard. She wasn't particularly talented, and her cultivation goal was different from her fellow disciples who aspired to bring peace to the world. She simply wanted to become a fairy who could fly high and stay young forever. It is said that those who were able to go up the mountain to become disciples were all addicted to reading fantasy novels.

But all those with lofty ambitions ultimately fell on the thorny path of cultivation. Only Master Qixia, whose goals were not quite right, truly achieved "a heart of iron." With a clear goal and tireless efforts, he climbed to the position of a direct disciple of the inner sect with his not-so-outstanding talent.

Discovering that Zihui Mountain was barren of resources, he descended the mountain alone and embarked on a long journey, traveling from Danzhou all the way to the southern border. Along the way, he slew demons and monsters, robbed and plundered, and confided in fellow Daoists, experiencing countless hardships...

Several years later, the Corpse Ancestor emerged from seclusion, the Witchcraft Rebellion broke out, and the Immortal Qixia returned to the mountain, truly becoming the 'fairy' in the eyes of the world. Not only was her cultivation profound, but she also possessed a bunch of magical treasures stolen from who-knows-where, and her ability to track down demons and evil spirits was no less than Xie Jinhuan's today.

Moreover, Xie Jinhuan at least left behind a mangled corpse when he slayed demons, while Master Qixia traveled alone for thousands of miles, leaving not a trace of bones or ashes. The righteous heroes could only determine their merits by the magical artifacts they carried.

His swift actions earned him the respect of the entire righteous path, and he eventually became one of the greatest contributors to quelling the great calamity of the common people, along with the Twin Saints Ye Shrine, Jade Nian Bodhisattva, and the Three Immortals of the Northern Territory. The imperial court bestowed upon him the title of "True Man of Profound Mystery and Wonderful Understanding," which, like "Bodhisattva of Compassionate Crossing," was an officially conferred title of immortal or Buddha.

Nangong Ye had never met the real Qixia Zhenren, but as a direct descendant, he always regarded this ancestor of the restoration of Zihui Mountain as a role model.

Coming here at this moment is also to recall the deeds of my teachers and stabilize my own Dao heart.

The Qixia Immortal's ambition was to become a fairy revered by all. Her initial intentions were not entirely righteous, and there were some doubts about her actions throughout her life. However, no one could question her contributions to the people of the world, and she ultimately achieved her goal.

Her ambition is to cultivate for the sake of all living beings. Even if, in the course of her cultivation, she develops inextricable ties with younger generations, and her heart and body become impure, as long as she is worthy of the people, she should also be worthy of her teachers' teachings... right?

Nangong Ye stared at the portrait of his master on the wall, his mind in turmoil, even a little afraid to face the eyes in the painting.

After all, if the teachers knew about the mistakes she had made, they would probably be ashamed to associate with her and expel her from Zihui Mountain on the spot.

Just as Nangong Ye was lost in thought, a commotion suddenly arose outside the main gate:

"Is something on your mind, Sister Nangong?"

Her voice was soft, gentle, and warm, like a master's wife visiting her disciple, giving people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

But upon hearing that familiar voice, Nangong Ye's back revealed a hint of murderous intent. When he turned around, he had already regained his usual icy demeanor, radiating purity and detachment, and looked towards the courtyard:
"You still dare to come to Zihui Mountain?"

Beneath the lush, century-old osmanthus tree, there is a chessboard.

Bu Yuehua, draped in a black cloak and her face veiled with a light blue gauze, revealing only a pair of peach blossom eyes and her round, pert buttocks, rested on a stone bench in a rather graceful posture.
"You're always elusive, if I don't come here, where else can I find you? Come over and have a chat."

Nangong Ye appeared icy and aloof, but inside he was actually a little panicked.

After all, if this vixen finds out about last night's outrageous behavior, she could eat him alive for the rest of his life!

However, judging from his expression, he probably didn't notice...

Nangong Ye drew his sword and walked to the chessboard, gazing at the distant mountains:

"I have nothing to talk about with you."

Bu Yuehua didn't mince words; she simply raised her left hand, and a streak of light shot out from under her cloak.

swoosh~
The light was as fast as a shooting star, too fast for ordinary people to see, but Nangong Ye only had to think slightly, and an invisible wall seemed to appear beside him.

The three-inch throwing knife was embedded in an invisible wall, trembling violently, but it could not get any closer before falling to the ground.

Cha~
Then both of them fell silent, with only the soft rustling of autumn wind through the laurel leaves:

Shashasha~
Bu Yuehua sat up a little straighter, her peach blossom eyes scrutinizing the massive, rock-solid ice block with surprise:
"How did you break the Immortal Burning Gu?"

Nangong Ye did not undo the debunking, but after being chiseled by Huang Mao for more than half an hour, his Yang poison was now reduced to less than half a percent, and his attacks had no effect.

At this moment, Nangong Ye's eyes were also filled with surprise:
"How did you unlock the Seven Star Nails?"

"..."

The two fell silent again.

Bu Yuehua felt that things had developed in a somewhat unexpected way. She stood up, her hands folded at her waist, and the dark blue hem of her skirt under her cloak rippled like water.

"A mere Seven-Star Nail is no match for this manor lord. Now that the blood oath has been dissolved, let bygones be bygones, and let's talk about the Phoenix Feather Grass and the Vermilion Bird Tomb again..."

Cancel it all?

The suffering that Nangong Ye endured because of the Burning Immortal Gu was unimaginable to this demoness. The reason she didn't tie him up on the spot and throw him in front of Xie Jinhuan to seek equal compensation was because she was a righteous person and couldn't do such a heinous thing.

Seeing that the other party was trying to wipe the slate clean with a casual remark and let the matter drop, she definitely didn't want to agree.

The problem now is that she hasn't completely untied the Burning Immortal Gu. She only managed to strike three or five times before she was exposed.

This vixen is at her peak right now, and could reach the Super Grade at any time. Dealing with her is a piece of cake. But if we really find out she has a problem, then it won't be a matter for discussion at the table.

Beat her up on the spot, take away the Phoenix Feather Grass, and spread the word throughout the martial arts world that she is inferior to others!
Forced by the uneven balance of power, Nangong Ye restrained his imposing manner and sat down beside the chessboard:
"I've suffered a lot of setbacks this year because of your ulterior motives, and I'll settle this score with you. But let's keep things separate. If you want to talk about the Phoenix Feather Grass, I'll talk to you about it."

Bu Yuehua stood up in preparation for battle, but seeing that Nangong Ye didn't make a move, she breathed a sigh of relief and sat down opposite him.

"I paid a heavy price to undo the Seven Star Nails, but since you have already undoed the Burning Immortal Gu, I will not seek compensation from you."

"I'll find you another Phoenix Feather Grass. As compensation, I've discovered some secrets about the Vermilion Bird Tomb over the past year, which I can share with you. Then we can go together to seize the opportunity."

Nangong Ye frowned slightly: "You think I'll trust you again?"

Bu Yuehua lifted her hood, revealing a purple-blue butterfly hair clip behind her hair bun that shimmered like a jewel in the autumn sun.

"Isn't it beautiful? This is amethyst. Part of it was used to forge the 'Xiang Wang Ling'. It is the most precious material of yang in the world. With it, I no longer need to worry about the cold air invading my lungs on the night of the new moon."

"You obtained it from the Vermilion Bird Tomb?"

"Yes. But we didn't dare to go any deeper. We only found a small part. There must be a great opportunity hidden inside."

As Bu Yuehua spoke, she took out a stone the size of a fingernail and pushed it in front of Nangong Ye.

Nangong Ye picked up the ore to examine it, confirmed it was genuine, and after thinking for a moment, gave his reply:
"As previously agreed, we will decide the value of the Phoenix Feather Grass based on our cultivation levels; we will split the Vermilion Bird Mausoleum's secret treasure equally. As for the information, I will give you three doses of Azure Spirit Pills."

Bu Yuehua sighed softly: "Then there's nothing to talk about. I'll go find Ancestor Sikong and the others; I can still get the opportunity in the Vermilion Bird Mausoleum."

"If you could control these people, why would you need me? Be careful that after discovering the treasure, you don't get the treasure and end up as someone else's concubine."

"Hehe~ No need for Sister Nangong to worry about that."

Bu Yuehua stood up, twirling her slender longsword in her right hand:

"Now that the blood oath has been broken, if you insist on judging the outcome by cultivation level, I'll fight you. The winner takes the Phoenix Feather Grass, and we'll have no more feelings for each other. Don't worry about the things in the Vermilion Bird Mausoleum anymore."

"..."

Nangong Ye can't beat him right now!

He paused for a moment, then responded:
“This is a strategically important place, Zihui Mountain. You can’t afford to pay for the damage, and you didn’t bring any immortal herbs. At the end of this month, outside Zhennan Pass, bring the Phoenix Feather Grass, and we’ll settle the score in one battle.”

"Oh?"

Bu Yuehua blinked her peach-red eyes and reminded her:
"I might find an opportunity to get into Super Item by the end of the month. Are you planning to give me double happiness?"

What kind of opportunity are you looking for?

Can I tell you that?

"..."

Once Nangong Ye undoes the Burning Immortal Gu, he can reach the Super Grade without relying on Phoenix Feather Grass. After a moment's consideration, he waved his hand to dismiss the guest.

"If you win then, that's your skill. I'm willing to accept defeat. Please leave."

Bu Yuehua didn't say much, turned around and walked gracefully out of the mountain. Her waist and hips under the black cloak swayed with a small but naturally alluring movement...

Nangong Ye watched them go with a cold expression, his thoughts unknown.

As a result, Bu Yuehua hadn't gone far when she turned back and looked at her waist and hips:

Why are you looking at my butt? Have you changed your taste?

?

Nangong Ye turned his veil towards the endless mountains, his voice clear and cold:

"Slut."

"White Tiger".

Snapped--

Nangong Ye slammed his hand on the chessboard, displaying a murderous aura that seemed to soar to the heavens.

Bu Yuehua, with her eyes crinkled in a smile and her figure graceful, gave a slight bow before slowly disappearing down the mountain path...

……

---

To be honest, it takes Guan three or four hours to finish revising a chapter, which is slower than others writing two chapters!

Yesterday I wrote 8,000 words, today I wrote 9,000. That makes up for the day before yesterday's leave. Guan did his best, or2?
(End of this chapter)