Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 274 The Goods Don't Match the Description (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Little White Hair's CPU is burning out again.

If we're talking about following our master's example, and our master is now actually looking for a man, does that mean I should also look for a man?

But I really didn't have that thought.

What a terrible master! Go back and expel her from the sect!

Anyway, she's just a junior sister now!

Dugu Qingli slowly recovered from the system crash and said expressionlessly, "That's right, that day will never come for me!"

"What if there is?"

"That's never going to happen... No, do we really have to stand at the mountain gate and repeat our studies?"

Shen Tang finally laughed out loud, stepped forward and put his arm around Dugu Qingli's shoulder: "Good Qingli, since you're already here, why don't you stay and play for a couple of days?"

Dugu Qingli hesitated.

Judging from the current situation, it seems I don't need to rush back. In fact, going back would only draw me into a vortex, potentially making me a target and a focal point of a scheme. Furthermore, I'd become a prime target for that despicable couple, disliked and constantly being chased around.

Looking at it this way, it seems better to hide in Xiazhou for a few days... I still miss my time in Xiazhou quite a bit, at least it was much better than my experience of wandering the world alone.

But looking at Shen Tang's smiling face, something just didn't feel right. It was as if there was a sense of a first wife looking at her younger sister.

Why are you looking at me with that kind and benevolent expression? If you're so capable, go look at my master with that expression.

Sure enough, Shen Tang whispered in her ear, "Qingli, did you see your master when you came?"

Dugu Qingli almost wanted to run away: "I...I didn't see it!"

"Ok?"

"I...I saw my martial uncle."

Shen Tang: "..."

Remembering what he had told his master, that even if he and Shen Tang were friends, he would still side with his master in this matter… Little White Hair felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, not knowing how to face Shen Tang’s gaze. He gritted his teeth and said, “My martial uncle is going to steal your man! I’m sorry, I have to help my martial uncle!”

Shen Tang almost burst out laughing: "How are you going to help? Are you going to join in yourself?"

Dugu Qingli was dumbfounded: "How could you have such a lewd thought! The Shen Tang I know isn't like this!"

Shen Tang's expression was dangerous: "You were the one who threw me into a man's arms. Who's the despicable one here?"

That implies: You wait, one day I'll throw you into another man's arms too.

Dugu Qingli shuddered and almost turned to run away, but at least she remembered A'nuo: "A'nuo, are you going to see your master?"

Ah Nuo really wanted to go, but when she saw Shen Tang's glare that looked like she was about to punch someone, she sniffled pitifully and said, "No, I'm not going."

Dugu Qingli: "..."

So it's me bearing everything alone again?
But she would rather fight the Ice Prison Sect over whether or not to fill the array eye than face Shen Tang's incomprehensible gaze. In the end, she fled in panic: "I still have important matters to attend to in the Heavenly Frost Kingdom. Since A'nuo is not going, I will not waste any more time with you. Farewell!"

Watching Dugu Qingli disappear in a rainbow as if fleeing for her life, A'nuo turned to look at Shen Tang with a stiff head and pitiful expression: "I miss Master."

Shen Tang bent down and picked her up: "Your master and your husband are having an affair right now, don't go and make lanterns."

What do you mean by "master" and "teacher"... Ah Nuo, who was already a little teary-eyed, was amused by these words: "Doesn't Sister think they are a perfect match, one a master and the other a teacher?"

Shen Tang thought for a moment and said, "From your perspective, they seem to be a good match."

Ah Nuo asked, "And from your perspective?"

There was an incomprehensible light in Shen Tang's eyes: "I just think this world has gone mad."

Ah Nuo: “…”

"When they stayed here for a few days, I thought I was just overthinking things... but seeing Qingli's behavior today, it seems I was unfortunately right." Shen Tang's worldview was completely upended, no less so than Dugu Qingli's. In the past, audiences with the Imperial Preceptor were such solemn, so full of reverence, and so much pressure...

What is this? Am I supposed to steal a man from this being?

You went and wiped out the demon race?
About the same.

Moreover, you can't just snatch them directly; you have to hold onto the big lantern and create opportunities for them.

Where in the world can you find such a pitiful rival in love? It's heartbreaking to hear and tearful to see.

Ah Nuo said, "Aren't you panicking? I can feel your heart pounding."

Shen Tang was silent for a moment, then sighed: "If that's good for him, then there's nothing I can do... Anyway, I can't give it to him anyway."

Ah Nu clenched her little fist: "But even the master probably can't give it to you, so you can still have a fair fight."

Shen Tang blinked: "How do you know you can't give it to me?"

"It's not that I can't give it to you... it's just that you're so proud, I don't think you'll get what you want so easily."

"Wait a minute, Ah Nuo, how old are you?"

Ah Nuo cried out, "I want to eat candied hawthorn..."

"Okay, okay, I know you're five years old." Shen Tang carried A Nuo up the mountain, bouncing along. "Next time, just say it directly. If you pretend to cry and act young again, I'll turn you into a candied hawthorn."

"Sect Master!" Just as they reached the halfway point up the mountain, another disciple rushed up from below: "Commander Wan of the Demon Suppression Division requests an audience."

Shen Tang was taken aback, then turned back: "Wan Cheng usually tries to act as if he has nothing to do with our martial arts sects, so why did he suddenly come to our door? What major event has happened?"

Upon descending the mountain and meeting Wan Cheng, who was accompanied by a group of men, Wan Cheng appeared very serious: "Sect Leader Shen, we've come to investigate some cases... Hmm, no need to be nervous, it's just routine questioning."

Shen Tang asked curiously, "What happened?"

"A student from the Imperial Academy of Alchemy went missing during a trial. When the news reached the capital, His Majesty was furious and ordered the entire Demon Suppression Bureau to search for and solve the case." Shen Tang was baffled: "What does this have to do with our remote Xia Prefecture?"

"The missing student is named Chen Yu. His classmates say that Chen Yu is usually low-key and kind, but he had a conflict with Lu Xingzhou in the Demon Subduing Domain." Wan Cheng sighed, "So normally we should ask Young Master Lu, but he has already been taken out for trials by Mr. Ye of the Pill Academy. The higher-ups heard that he returned to Xiazhou a while ago, so they sent us to ask him."

Shen Tang scoffed: "If they are Xingzhou's enemies, I would kill them on sight without any need for concealment or fear of being punished. So if I haven't seen them, then I haven't seen them."

Wan Cheng: "..."

He didn't know this person's identity before, but now he vaguely does. If this person really wanted to secretly kill a student, they wouldn't be afraid of being investigated.

Noticing that Anuo's expression seemed a little strange, Wan Cheng put on a creepy smile: "That's right, Miss Lu is also a student of Dan Academy... Does Miss Lu know something?"

Ah Nuo covered her mouth and shook her head.

Wan Cheng said enticingly, "Don't worry, just tell me what you know. Even if it's related to your master, we're all friends here. I'll help cover it up for the sake of Chief Constable Sheng and Miss Sheng."

Ah Nuo said, "I didn't say because I wasn't sure, and I didn't want it to be considered spreading rumors and slander."

Wan Cheng's eyes lit up: "It doesn't matter, just tell us, we'll only use it as a reference."

Ah Nuo said, "My master is friendly to everyone in the capital. Do you know why he is at odds with Chen Yu alone?"

Your master was not on good terms with anyone in the capital. Before leaving the capital, he knocked out several teeth of the third young master of the Huo family in front of Prince Jin and in front of everyone.

Wan Cheng inwardly scoffed, but outwardly hummed in agreement: "Why is that?"

“Because we suspect Chen Yu has ties to the demon race, that he’s a demon spy!” A’Nuo said. “But Chunshan Pavilion is a reputable sect, and it’s said to have a good relationship with Prince Jin. We don’t have any evidence, so we dare not make things up. Now that he’s supposedly disappeared, maybe he’s gone to the demon race…”

Wan Cheng was shocked: "Is this true? You can't just say things like that; you have to take responsibility."

Ah Nuo sobbed, "Everyone said I had no evidence and was afraid of spreading rumors, but you told me to say it, to say it's okay... Waaah..."

Wan Cheng was covered in sweat. He quickly turned to his subordinates behind him and said, "Reply to Chief Sheng and tell him to investigate in the direction of the demon race and see if there is any news."

He then cupped his hands in greeting to Shen Tang and A Nuo, saying, "Then I won't disturb you two any longer. I wish Sect Leader Shen continued success in his cultivation."

Watching the people from the Demon Suppression Division leave, Shen Tang grabbed A Nuo's cheek and said, "Tell me, what happened? You look like you know the inside story."

Ah Nuo glanced around and whispered, "Master was playing a game with the Demon Emperor using Chen Yu's name. I bet Chen Yu was captured by the demon race..."

Shen Tang was both amused and exasperated.

Long Qinghuang returned to the Demon Realm, and the Demon Emperor's order to investigate Chen Yu was quickly relayed to the Great Qian Dynasty.

The Great Qian Dynasty had countless lurking demons, and the investigation results were given immediately: there was indeed a young alchemist named Chen Yu, a student of the Alchemy Academy, from the Spring Mountain Pavilion. It was said that he was out on a trial with his mentor.

All matched.

It's ironic that Ye Tinglan's privilege of taking Lu Xingzhou out for trials so early has motivated other students in the Pill Academy to also start their trials ahead of time. Otherwise, normally the Pill Academy wouldn't even be at the time for students to undergo trials with their mentors yet. But now, Chen Yu has actually gone out for trials with his mentor...

When the news reached the Demon Court, the Demon Emperor quickly issued an order: "Capture him intact, without harming him."

Chen Yu had no idea that such a huge problem would arise. He hadn't concealed his whereabouts during the trial, and there was no secrecy whatsoever. Before long, he was followed. Taking advantage of the moment when he was away from his mentor searching for medicine, the demons swarmed in and dragged him back to the demon realm. By the time his mentor found out, he was nowhere to be found.

Poor Chen Yu spent his whole life keeping a low profile and pretending to be weak while actually being strong, only to run into an unreasonable demon clan, and all his efforts were in vain.

The mentor hurriedly led the team back to Beijing, which led to Wan Cheng's inquiry.

At this moment, Long Qinghuang sat in the Demon Court, lazily resting her hand on the armrest of her throne, propping her forehead up. She watched as her subordinates shoved and pushed a figure in, a cold smile appearing on her lips: "Chen Yu, do you think you can escape my grasp?"

Chen Yu looked up in grief and indignation: "I don't know when I offended His Majesty the Demon Emperor. At least let me die knowing the truth."

As she looked up, Long Qinghuang's smile froze on her face, her demonic aura surging wildly, sending sand and stones flying: "Who is this ugly thing!"

Chen Yu: "..."

Zuo You asked nervously, "This...this is Chen Yu from Chunshan Pavilion."

"This is not what you promised! I've put so much effort into building up the Great Qian's power, and this is the result you've given me?"

A group of demons, who thought they had done a good deed, knelt down in the courtyard, their eyes filled with malice as they glared at Chen Yu, wishing they could tear him to pieces.

Chen Yu felt that even the dogs were more wronged than him. "I was captured by you for no reason, and you still hate me?"

One of the stubborn individuals reluctantly replied, "I reported the information to His Majesty earlier, and His Majesty confirmed that it was indeed him..."

Long Qinghuang angrily said, "Hey you, I'm asking you, does your Spring Mountain Pavilion have anyone named Chen Yu?"

"No, it's just me."

"Bang!" The demonic energy swept over, and Chen Yu felt as if he had been hit by a ten-thousand-pound iron hammer, spitting blood and flying away.

"Who was that alchemist who went to the Frozen Moon River with our mentor?! He dared to lie to me!"

Chen Yu was nearly killed by the sweeping attack; the blood he coughed up contained fragments of his internal organs. He weakly stammered, "That person... what other distinguishing features did that person have..."

Long Qinghuang's chest heaved. After thinking for a while, she finally said, "He has a cute little sister with him."

"...No...sister, that's...his disciple...this person must be Lu Xingzhou without a doubt."

Long Qinghuang roared in fury: "Investigate! Investigate this Lu Xingzhou! If you get the wrong goods again, you'll all be beheaded!"

The subordinate asked nervously, "Then, what should we do with this incorrect item?"

"Throw it to the dogs!"

"Your Majesty, please wait!" Chen Yu was terrified and hurriedly said, "I have considerable connections in the Great Qian Dynasty and am a confidant of the Prince of Jin. I can do things for Your Majesty!"

Long Qinghuang narrowed her eyes slightly: "First, plant the Myriad Demon Restriction on him, and we'll discuss the rest later."

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.

P.S.: Still asking for monthly votes, sob sob~
(End of this chapter)