Minglong

Chapter 331 A greenhorn?

The second-floor lobby was filled with flowing gold and red light.

The cultivators below the Super Grade level were still wondering why Ancestor Lü Yan had lost his composure, while the Super Grade Ancestors were all shocked. They not only understood Lü Yan very well, but even Ye Yunchi stood up, wanting to join in the heartbroken shout.

After all, none of the cultivators present had seen the mask in the box before, but anyone who followed the path of cultivation must have seen a 'bird-headed human-bodied mask'.

It is normally enshrined in the ancestral halls of the Zhuji and Gudu sects, but it is also enshrined in many tribes in the Western Rong and grassland areas, and even in the temples of the Human Emperor.

This person's name is 'Zhu Man', one of the Ten Ancestral Witches, and is popularly known as the Fire God who guards the South. He once sat at the same table with the Human Emperor, chatting and laughing. He is also the founder of the Gu Poison Sect.

The "Zhu Man Si Wu Jing" compiled by Shi Zu is named after this patriarch.

The ancestor of witchcraft, Zhu Man, was a human, so it's impossible for him to have a bird's head. His portraits all depict him as having a bird's head and a human body. Later generations of shamans also wore bird-head masks, which is obviously because the ancestor of witchcraft, Zhu Man, also wore a bird-head mask.

Removing the mask reveals him as a mortal, while wearing it reveals him as the god of fire. This object is the dream weapon of every fire-wielding cultivator in the world, and the ultimate pursuit that Lü Yan would never dare to dream of.

As a result, at this very moment, this legendary immortal artifact was opened right in front of the fellow Daoist. It's a testament to Lu Yan's strong will that he didn't cough up three liters of blood on the spot.

"Mom..."

Even though Xie Jinhuan knew beforehand that there was a celestial artifact inside, he was still surprised when he saw it, and felt that Old Demon Shang had really gone to great lengths to lure him in.

After all, even Shang Lianbi himself couldn't find a substitute for this thing, so he couldn't use it as a gimmick; it was just a way to lure people in.

And he certainly couldn't give in. The ghost hadn't told him the specifics just now, probably because he was afraid the ghost would be blinded by greed and lose his mind.

The mask glowed with a golden-red light inside the box, while the hall became a deathly silent place where you could hear a pin drop.

All the cultivators were shocked. At first, their hearts were filled with envy and heartache, but when they thought about the quality of this item, they were filled with doubt and surprise. They turned to look at Shang Mingzhen, wanting to see what Yanbo City really meant.

This thing can be offered as a prize? Even if Old Demon Shang dared to give it to us, we wouldn't dare take it...

The Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect also looked apprehensive and asked:
"Can I really take this with me?"

Looking at the 'Dan Bird' mask in the box, Shang Mingzhen, as an agent of the righteous forces, didn't renege on his promise on the spot. Instead, he clapped his hands with a joyful expression:

"What are you saying, Miss Mingji? Yanbo City already said beforehand that there was a celestial artifact in the box. Although we didn't expect it to be found, you were lucky enough to get it, so how could I deny it? Congratulations."

"congratulations……"

The remaining countless cultivators also offered their congratulations, but their expressions no longer showed envy, only trepidation.

Even Lü Yan regained some clarity and realized why it was considered an 'extremely ominous' omen.

Cultivating the Dao is not child's play. This kind of fire magic artifact, which even immortals covet, is not something that Yanbo City would give away to outsiders for free.

As a righteous force, Yanbo City will certainly acknowledge the debt verbally, but in private, they have a hundred ways to get the item back. Who in the world can resist the wrath of Old Demon Shang?

Although the crowd didn't understand why Yanbo City would leave such a valuable treasure here to amuse them, they knew that if they wanted to leave Dragon Bone Beach alive, the best thing to do was to be sensible and find an excuse to say they didn't want it anymore, and exchange it for other materials. That way, they could make a big profit, and Yanbo City wouldn't go too far.

But this Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect was also a stubborn and headstrong girl. When Shang Mingzhen said she could take it, she was overjoyed and thanked him. She closed the box and had her subordinates give the beggar ten Dragon Blood Pills.

Seeing this, Ye Yunchi secretly shook his head and said:
"This girl is too impulsive. The Zhuji Sect is currently without its patriarch. Even if Chen Qingke were alive, he wouldn't dare to provoke Shang Lianbi. This thing could very well become a source of trouble."

Xie Jinhuan knew that Yanbo City would not let this go easily if he took it, but Shang Laomo's actions clearly showed that he had no intention of doing good deeds. If he wanted to take it back, he would have to get past 'Wahahaha~' and Sister Guo first.

Seeing that the situation was settled, Xie Jinhuan didn't want to join in and increase the risk of exposure. He just glanced at old man Lü Yan and left Shan Hai Lou with the milk melon cart...
-
Soon after, the Shan Hai Lou reached its third floor.

The news that the Northern Darkness Sect had bestowed a golden legend, even rarer than the Five Directions Divine Gift, quickly swept through the entire Yanbo City like a whirlwind. The lower-level cultivators went almost mad, spreading this strange tale by word of mouth, while the middle and upper-level cultivators each had their own thoughts, pondering the meaning behind Yanbo City's actions.

Rumble…

Thunder rumbled outside the window, casting the hall in flickering light.

Shang Mingzhen sat in the main seat, his expression no longer as warm as before, but he wasn't exactly furious either, since he had actually expected this situation.

From the side, a middle-aged scholar, twirling a three-inch sword in his hand, inquired:
"Did Lü Yan determine the location of the box through divination?"

Opposite him, Long Boyuan sat back in a chair, with the local tyrant Gu Xuanzun and a mysterious man in a black cloak beside him.

Long Boyuan was unaware that Yanbo City had dropped such a huge bait beforehand, and his response at this moment was:
"The Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect was also divining, but she was completely in the wrong direction. Lü Yan was more skilled and actually calculated the exact location of the box, but at the time he was not sure what was inside. Young Master Shang stepped in to stop her, which caught the attention of the Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect, and that's how she got the advantage."

Shang Mingzhen stopped making beads and shook his head, saying:
“My master is also proficient in the divination method, how could Lü Yan have figured out his true nature? It was Xie Jinhuan who came to Dragon Bone Beach, and he was probably in the building just now.”

Long Boyuan knew how high the sealing skill of the box was; only Master Qixia and Xie Jinhuan, who was of the same lineage, could possibly decipher the box in advance.

Qixia Old Demon is currently blocking Yang Huaxian in the north. He came here because Xuanwu Divine Gift might have failed. The only one who came for this reason is Xie Jinhuan. Others could not have such a clear purpose. With Shang Mingzhen's intervention, there is no chance of him being chosen by luck.

Now that the box has indeed been opened, if it wasn't for Lü Yan's brilliant foresight, then it could only be that Xie Jinhuan has arrived.

"So, Lü Yan just had contact with Xie Jinhuan? I was sitting near that old man Lü Yan the whole time, and I didn't see him exchanging glances with anyone."

"It's possible that there was prior negotiation, or that we didn't notice. Back then, Master Qixia seemed to have divine assistance; even if the Corpse Ancestor approached within a hundred feet, he could be detected. Yet, it was very difficult for outsiders to track Master Qixia's whereabouts. Xie Jinhuan should be in the same situation."

Shang Mingzhen turned to look at the group after saying this:

"Anyway, Xie Jinhuan is definitely here. I just don't know if Master Qixia is with him. I will keep an eye on Lü Yan and see who he has been secretly contacting lately."

"Furthermore, it may not be a coincidence that the Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect became a beneficiary. Keep a close eye on her. Whether Xie Jinhuan goes to take it, steal it, or rob it, he will have to make contact with her."

Keeping an eye on a top-tier cultivator in secret is obviously no easy task, and locking onto the elusive Xie Jinhuan is even more incredibly difficult.

Long Boyuan thought for a moment: "What if Xie Jinhuan doesn't go to retrieve the immortal artifact, and the Holy Maiden of the Beiming Sect doesn't go to seize the opportunity, but instead stays openly in the city until the matter is settled and then returns to Beizhou? What should we do? Sending people to intercept and kill them in secret would be a rather unseemly act."

It was agreed in advance at Dragon Bone Beach that during this period of seizing opportunities, everyone was responsible for their own lives. No matter how they died outside, Shang Lianbi would not care, and the righteous path would have no reason to say that Shang Lianbi was wrong because of this. Therefore, they could secretly seize the opportunity with a white glove.

But if the Holy Maiden of the Northern Underworld Sect doesn't get involved and instead stays quietly in the city, Shang Lianbi will have to take responsibility if something happens again. After all, someone died in your house and just got a valuable treasure from you. Can you say that this has nothing to do with you?

Shang Mingzhen had anticipated this situation and responded as follows:

"Xie Jinhuan can't possibly give up the immortal artifact. Even if he can resist, he'll still have to snatch the Azure Dragon's divine gift. We know he's at Dragon Bone Beach, and we know his purpose. How can we not deal with him?"

"As for the Beiming Sect, if they don't leave the city, I'll visit them privately to discuss it. At worst, I'll give them some rare and precious materials as compensation. The Beiming Sect can't possibly refuse to give my master face. If the Beiming Sect is really stubborn and refuses, once they leave Dragon Bone Beach, their life or death will have nothing to do with us."

Long Boyuan thought about it and agreed. He didn't say anything more and got up with the others to leave the tea room...
-
The torrential rain poured down, but the streets were actually more crowded, with passersby spitting and talking amongst themselves.

"The shop owner is truly generous; he said he'd give away a celestial artifact, and he really did..."

"That makes me want to give it a try too..."

"No one below the third rank is qualified to go upstairs. Even if you did, could you afford ten Dragon Blood Pills? You couldn't even afford two ounces of Dragon Yang Flower..."

……

Xie Jinhuan walked through the crowd, while also having A Piao keep an eye on the surroundings. It was obvious that he was doing nothing behind the scenes, and Yanbo City certainly didn't have the time to monitor him. After walking half a street without finding anything unusual, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look to his side.

Ye Yunchi had no idea that the young hero beside him was the mastermind behind the changes that had just occurred. At this moment, he was wearing a veil and carrying a long box containing calligraphy and paintings in his arms. To prevent his beloved treasures from getting wet, he was practically holding them with a milk gourd. He was walking hurriedly, as if he wanted to go back and appreciate them as soon as possible.

"Senior Ye, where is your jade pendant?"

“When traveling, it’s impossible to carry a large amount of treasure with you. I’ve left it at the Mountain and Sea Pavilion as collateral, and I can redeem it with the treasure after some time. Although the jade pendant isn’t as valuable as this painting, the city lord’s reputation is there, so I’m not afraid that the younger generation will default on their debts or disappear.”

"Oh……"

……

Yuezhuo Tower was just on the same street. The two exchanged only a few words before arriving at the brightly lit high-rise building.

Ye Yunchi walked to the door, then seemed to remember something and stopped to ask:

"Is your friend who is skilled in calligraphy and painting really in the city?"

Xie Jinhuan knew what was going to happen next: they'd go upstairs for a chat, watch something together, and who knew it might even turn into a hug...

However, he had many patrons making appointments, and he also needed to study the newly acquired magical artifact with the ghost. In response, he said:

"I'll go back and take a look, and while I'm at it, I'll fetch the pills. Please wait a moment, Senior Ye."

Ye Yunchi nodded slightly, thought for a moment before entering, and then asked:

"By the way, I still don't know your name..."

After getting to know her, Xie Jinhuan could tell that this female teacher wasn't a wicked person. Although it wasn't convenient for her to reveal her real name, there was no need to make one up. He simply raised his hand to cover his lips and said mysteriously:

"Wei Kun!"

"Ok?"

Ye Yunchi was slightly taken aback, and then re-examined the crude martial artist below the steps:
"So you're the new leader of the Blood Rain Pavilion who survived a blow from that brat Xie Jinhuan?"

a little kid...

Xie Jinhuan was taken aback. He looked at the milk melon cart again, and only after confirming that it wasn't Lü Yan in disguise did he nod slightly.
"Exactly. Hmm... Xie Jinhuan is quite formidable. I was beaten up because I brought it on myself. Senior Ye, do you perhaps have a grudge against him?"

Ye Yunchi spoke with great manners. While "young brat" was already a very strong derogatory term, he didn't see anything wrong with it and said earnestly:

"You are well-educated and reasonable. Xie Jinhuan hitting you is definitely his fault. The high-ranking figures in the righteous path are not as clean as you think. For example, Li Chimo, the disciple of Monk Wuxin, and Jing'an Temple..."

Xie Jinhuan knew that many high-ranking members of the righteous path were ordinary people, and he wasn't exactly a saint either, but his public image hadn't collapsed yet. Seeing this, he asked in confusion:

"That's true, but Xie Jinhuan is known for his public-spiritedness and chivalry, so he doesn't seem to have a bad reputation..."

Ye Yunchi shook his head:
Do you know whose apprentice he is?

The image of a 'sixteen-foot-tall cart' flashed through Xie Jinhuan's mind:

"Who?"

Ye Yunchi said cryptically:

"It's not easy to talk about, but like father, like son. Xie Jinhuan is definitely not a good person either. I'll go in first, and you go and invite that friend over. I'll wait for you upstairs."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan stood in the pouring rain, watching his mother-in-law's waist and hips gradually disappear into the distance, his eyes filled with a sense of bewilderment.

Ye Hongshang also appeared, arms crossed, and said in surprise:

"Like father, like son. Does she know I exist?"

Xie Jinhuan felt that A Piao's upbringing was indeed crooked, but he wasn't led astray by A Piao; he was born that way. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"I feel like they're talking about Fairy Qixia. To outsiders, I do look like a disciple of Senior Qixia."

Ye Hongshang nodded slightly:
"So she has a grudge against Little White Hair? I don't remember that at all?"

"It might be a feud that just started a few months ago. Senior Qixia's actions... well, it's not surprising to make enemies."

Xie Jinhuan couldn't figure out what was going on and felt that he needed to find out more, so he didn't say anything more, turned around and entered the alley, heading towards the Beiming Sect's headquarters...

-

Name it:
I recommend a book called "What Mischief Could My Daoist Partner Have?", you might want to check it out if you're interested!

　Summary:
　　What bad intentions could my Daoist partner possibly have?

　　When Li Qing'an opened his eyes again, he looked at the red candle altar and the paper figures in their fine clothes with a bewildered expression.

　　Is July 15th an auspicious day according to the Chinese calendar?
　　"At midnight, the bridal sedan chair arrives to fetch the bride!"

　　"My lord, it's time to go to the wedding."

　　and many more!

　　A wedding procession?

　　Who?
　　I?
　　Am I opening my eyes the wrong way?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)