Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 93 The Little Demoness's Adventures in Danxia Mountain
"Are you really sick in the head?"

"...It starts with what you put in your feet, as you yourself said."

"That's not what I meant! Why has it taken so long? My legs are sore."

When Ah Nuo returned, she heard this conversation outside the door and was too scared to come in.

The little dumpling didn't know anything about what started from the ground, but the coquettishness and charm in Shen Tang's voice were enough to send chills down one's spine, making one wonder if she had fainted from lack of oxygen after being kissed so much.

Ultimately, none of them are among the top three; they haven't even reached the point where their own pores are in harmony with the universe and they still need to breathe.

But then again, what level of war could make a fourth-rank martial artist like Shen Tang's legs tired? Could it really be because the Imperial Extreme World-Shaking Scripture is too weak?

Ah Nuo scratched her head, hugged her knees, squatted outside the door, and rested her chin on her knees, lost in thought.

Lu Xingzhou made a strange sound from inside, and Shen Tang's voice came again, indignant: "How disgusting... How am I supposed to walk?"

Lu Xingzhou's voice seemed to tremble slightly as he smiled apologetically and said, "This subordinate is washing the sect leader's feet."

Anuo shuddered. She was certain that this was the first time in her life she had heard her master speak so obsequiously. Even when facing Sister Yu, her master had always been very calm. Was her master possessed by someone now...?

Footsteps sounded, and Anuo moved aside slightly. The door next to her opened, and Lu Xingzhou carried Shen Tang out.

Ah Nuo quickly turned her head away, she simply couldn't bear to look.

The usually dignified sect leader seemed possessed, nestled limply in the man's arms. Her clothes were not only open, but had also fallen from her shoulders to her elbows, revealing a snow-white expanse above. A small undergarment barely covered her face, letting in drafts everywhere.

From the side, Ah Nuo could see something bouncing, trembling, just like the ball that she and the other kids had been swatting at in the city.

As for what caused the need to wash my feet...

Ah Nuo swayed for a moment, not seeing clearly, and the two of them were already sitting on the edge of the pool, embracing each other.

Ah Nu leaned over and saw something white flowing down the mountain along the specially made opening at the edge of the pool.

I wonder if anyone down the mountain drinks this water... Ah Nuo clasped her hands together and prayed for the other person.

"No, Ah Nuo, what are you doing here?" They were washing their feet together, and when they were almost finished, they realized that someone was sitting behind them, watching them with their knees drawn up.

Startled, Shen Tang immediately left Lu Xingzhou's embrace and hurriedly put on her clothes.

Ah Nuo secretly curled her lips. With such low vigilance, and you call yourself a judge and a sect leader? If someone really came to assassinate you, you two would both be dead.

This family will fall apart without Ah Nuo.

But with a fawning smile on his face, he held out a handful of candy: "There were weddings in the city where people were throwing candy, and I grabbed a lot. Would you like some, Master's wife?"

The words "teacher's wife" made Shen Tang, who was originally flustered, overjoyed: "Anuo is so good."

He then pulled out a large gold ingot: "This is New Year's money."

With a "whoosh," Anuo's movements were as swift as lightning, and Shen Tang didn't even realize that the gold ingot was gone.

"..." Lu Xingzhou winked at A Nuo, who, having received the benefit, stopped pretending and ran off happily with the gold ingot in her hand.

The young couple exchanged a glance and smiled. The previous awkwardness and tenderness finally dissipated, and they resumed their normal interactions. Shen Tang faced the clear pool water and tidied her messy hair. Lu Xingzhou helped her comb her hair from behind, smiling sheepishly, "Well, we were broke for the past year."

Shen Tang laughed and said, "Anuo is hard to raise. No matter how much money you make, you can't fill this bottomless pit. This is the first time I've seen a child who grew up eating pills."

Lu Xingzhou felt a pang of sympathy. It wasn't just that she grew up on pills; as her cultivation level increased, the grade of pills she needed also rose, something most people simply couldn't afford. He, Lu Xingzhou, was already quite resourceful to have managed to avoid cutting off her supply the previous year.

Shen Tang said, "Anuo's condition must be unusual. Haven't you tried to investigate it?"

Even now, Lu Xingzhou has a slight suspicion that A Nuo herself is a pill that jumped out with that pill furnace... or rather, that A Nuo ran away and took the pill furnace with her.

The main problem is that no matter how you investigate, she is human, even Yuan Muyu's investigation showed that. So no one can get conclusive evidence and can only leave it as a conjecture for the time being.

If Yuan Muyu's abilities aren't enough to analyze this, then who is? Gu Zhanting? Ye Tinglan?
It's uncontrollable. What if they find out something? That would be a disaster for Ah Nuo.

"Why not be confused?" Lu Xingzhou stretched and laughed, "No matter what Anuo's background is, she is my family who depends on me for survival."

Shen Tang felt it wasn't just a matter of mutual dependence... Lu Xingzhou's childhood experiences could easily have turned him into a demon, and the reason he still had a conscience was largely due to raising such a lovely child. If it weren't for A Nuo, Lu Xingzhou would definitely not be the person he is now.

So, everyone should thank Ah Nuo first.

As they spoke, Lu Xingzhou combed her hair and, as if by magic, produced a jade hairpin and inserted it into her hair.

Shen Tang looked at his movements and the jade hairpin reflected in the pool, as if she could see her own eyes reflected in the water, brimming with the same light as the pool.

"You haven't sent me anything in so long, why the sudden gift today?" Shen Tang spat lightly, "Could it be because of 'starting with a step'?"

"How could I have guessed this when I bought the hairpin?" Lu Xingzhou turned her around, leaned back and examined it for a while, then said seriously, "I have no experience and forgot about giving gifts... A few days ago, I remembered that it was almost New Year's, so I went to Wanbaoge and bought one. This hairpin can protect against soul attacks and has strong resistance to mind-controlling techniques. Now that you have a conflict with the Charming Maidens' Joyful Union Sect, this is quite suitable for you."

Shen Tang smiled slightly.

Whether the magic weapon's effects are suitable or not is actually irrelevant; the Wanbao Pavilion in Xiazhou wouldn't have any high-end magic weapons to speak of. But even if it's just an ordinary jade hairpin, it can still make one happy. She wanted to laugh at Lu Xingzhou; at this moment, saying "So beautiful" would be much more touching than a serious explanation of the magic weapon's effects, but he seemed to really lack experience in this area, appearing somewhat inexperienced.

So how did they come to be in this relationship? It's hard to figure out in detail; it seems like they just naturally came together.

Leaving aside the couple's endless lovey-dovey antics, Ah Nuo had taken Yuanbao early in the morning and skipped down the stream, planning to go to the city to buy some more things.

Halfway up the mountain, I suddenly paused, noticing a simply dressed woman wandering aimlessly in the mountains, seemingly lost.

Ah Nuo knew that this wasn't because they were lost, but because their master had set up a maze around the mountain. Furthermore, if they flew into the area, they would be subjected to extremely fierce attacks from the formation. Otherwise, given their almost zero vigilance when they were being affectionate, how could they have dared to hide on the mountain alone...

The ground is left undefended to prevent ordinary cultivators from Xiazhou from accidentally wandering in; a maze array would prevent accidental injury. However, everyone in Xiazhou knows this is the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and generally dares not trespass. In the past few months, no one has accidentally wandered in and gotten lost.

This woman does indeed possess some subtle signs of cultivation, appearing to be at the eighth or ninth rank... Is she an ordinary cultivator?

Seeing a child standing by the stream looking at her, the woman quickly noticed him and waved from afar: "Little sister, I think I'm lost. Do you know how to get up the mountain?"

"Going up the mountain?" Ah Nuo asked curiously, "This is private land, what are you going up there for?"

The woman came running over, panting, and bent over, supporting herself on her knees as she gasped for breath: "I...I can't walk anymore, little sister, do you have any water?"

"No." Ah Nuo's eyes darted around, and she stepped aside. "Isn't there a stream?"

The woman hesitated and said, "I heard this is a private sacred spring. Will it cause any problems if I drink from it?"

"It's alright," Ah Nuo said with a smile. "I'll treat you to a drink."

The woman thanked him happily, squatted down, scooped up water and drank it down, clearly very thirsty after wandering around there for so long.

Ah Nuo stood to the side with her arms crossed, peering around cautiously. She spotted something her master had just washed off her stepmother's feet floating by. Whether the woman was pretending to be thirsty and drinking it for Ah Nuo's benefit or not, she was caught off guard and drank it.

"Ugh... spit it out..." The woman almost vomited: "What is this?"

"Ah, it must be due to the spiritual energy solidifying. Sister, you are so lucky."

woman:"……"

Ah Nuo smiled and said, "So what did you go up the mountain for, sister?"

The woman took a breath and said with a sad expression, "My mother has fallen ill with a strange disease. I heard that Master Lu, the alchemist on the Rising Star List, lives here, so I came here to ask for help."

"Why don't you go to Director Chen of the Pill Recipe Department? My master often goes to him to learn from him."

"Master Chen doesn't easily treat patients. Otherwise, with his reputation, people would be lining up to see him until next year, and I wouldn't get a chance."

"Can't others cure it?"

"I can't cure him. I've had no other choice but to bother Mr. Lu." The woman said anxiously, "Young lady, are you Mr. Lu's apprentice? Could you please help me pass on his message?"

Ah Nuo touched her round chin and smiled honestly: "Of course."

After saying that, he didn't go down the mountain, but hopped and skipped back up the mountain: "Follow me, don't go more than five steps away."

The woman obediently followed behind, watching Ah Nuo sway left and right. The seemingly troublesome maze had no effect whatsoever; it looked as if she were simply going upstream with the stream.

A look of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes.

"Lu Xingzhou's cultivation is average, but his mastery of formations is truly superb. I can't even see through this maze. Luckily, the little girl is easy to fool. I remember the footsteps of her, so this formation can be studied."

"Sister," A'nuo said from the front, "My name is A'nuo. I forgot to ask what your name is."

The woman said cautiously, "My surname is Huo, and my humble name is unworthy of your attention."

Huo is a common surname in Xia Prefecture, so using this surname casually would be the least suspicious thing. Little did they know that A'nuo was blinking her eyes in front of them, saying, "Sister Pei, you're in such a hurry to marry into my master's family, but you'll have to see if I, A'nuo, agree."

Pei Chuyun had no idea how she had been exposed, but the more she walked, the more uneasy she felt. It felt like she had been walking for a long time, yet the mountain scenery remained unchanged. The mountain itself wasn't very high, and she had already walked halfway up; would it take this long to continue upwards?

"Little sister, did you go to the wrong place?" Pei Chuyun became a little wary and asked cautiously.

"It's a maze, so it's bound to take a longer route." Ah Nuo waved her hand. "Look, we're almost there, aren't we?"

Pei Chuyun looked up and saw a corner of a building faintly appearing. She felt a little relieved and quickened her pace to follow.

As the building gradually came into full view, it was revealed to be a solemn and majestic palace. Pei Chuyun was somewhat surprised. Hadn't she heard that Lu Xingzhou and his disciple lived on a mountaintop? Why did they need such a large palace?
Upon closer inspection, the words on the plaque of the hall finally came into view, which read: "Jianfeng Hall".

Ah Nuo suddenly darted forward: "Grandpa Zhang, come out and fight the monster!"

"Whoosh!" A third-grade sword aura suddenly burst forth from the hall, accompanied by the cold voice of Zhang Shaoyou, the head of the Sword Peak Hall: "Who dares to trespass on my Heavenly Path Sword Sect!"

Pei Chuyun dodged and ran, surrounded by shadowy figures, already encircled by a sword formation.

Pei Chuyun finally had to admit that she, who was used to lying, had been fooled by a child this time.

The reason they went so far was not because of the maze that took them around, but because they reached another mountain and were taken directly to the entrance of the strongest Sword Peak Hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect!
(End of this chapter)