Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 119 Admiring without overstepping, thinking without transgressing.

The land of Songmo.

Li Lingyue immediately understood that Tang Xiujing's trip, ostensibly to intimidate the various barbarians, was actually to cover up the strange phenomena of Mount Taibai so that the Yuanwei could investigate and obtain the hidden immortal treasure...

There might be a "Dunjia Scroll" hidden in that fog!
The timing is too perfect.

It's also possible that the enemy used the "Dunjia Scroll" as bait to lure people here with ulterior motives!
To date, more than twenty experts in Qimen Dunjia have perished in this incident.

This is also one of the reasons why she wanted to take Lu Chenyuan to Chang'an.

—What if his mother sends him? If the enemy possesses a magic scroll, even if he has extraordinary wisdom, he will be nothing but fish on a chopping block once he enters the formation!

While it's wise to say that Lu Chenyuan possesses two divine arts, sending him would be too risky; a slight misstep could result in him losing more than he gains.

But mother...

Li Lingyue didn't want to admit that ever since her mother was manipulated by those two swindlers, she no longer held her in the same esteem.

The "Dunjia Scroll" can deduce heavenly secrets; it can be used not only to find the Netherworld Palace, but also to find... the "elixir of immortality"!
If she were to become blinded by greed again, she might very well make a decision that would put Lu Chenyuan at risk.

It's best to avoid it for now.

However, she didn't expect that her mother would assign Shangguan Wan'er to lead the team...

This is understandable; an army is raised for a thousand days to be used in a single battle. To achieve his goals, the emperor is willing to sacrifice everyone. However, she and Shangguan Wan'er are ultimately different. They grew up together and have a deep sisterly bond. She simply cannot bear to see her take such a risk...

If the "Dunjia Scroll" has truly fallen into enemy hands, her journey there will undoubtedly be fraught with peril!

Li Lingyue's expression was complicated.

"..."

Lu Chenyuan's gaze swept over the two women, keenly noticing the strangeness in their expressions: "Is this trip dangerous?"

Shangguan Wan'er shook her head slightly, about to brush it off casually, when Li Lingyue began to explain the situation in the Northeast.

Lu Chenyuan had been busy guarding the Cen residence these past two days and was unaware of this matter. Upon hearing the reason, his expression changed.

Seeing this, Shangguan Wan'er smiled easily and said, "No need to worry."

She raised her hand and gently touched the [Cloud Dragon Drinking Ink] armor at her waist. The black armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight: "Although Wan'er is a woman, she has read the saying 'To sacrifice oneself for one's country in times of crisis, to regard death as returning home.' Now that I have put on this armor, I have no intention of taking it off easily."

Her gaze swept over Li Lingyue's worried face, then fell on Lu Chenyuan's furrowed brows. Her voice was soft but firm: "The strange phenomenon at Mount Taibai is related to the safety of the nation. If we can really obtain the 'Dunjia Scroll,' it may help the court unravel the Netherworld Palace's conspiracy. Even if... even if it is a trap, someone still needs to investigate the truth."

As Shangguan Wan'er spoke, her fingertips gently caressed the hilt of her sword. Suddenly, she straightened her back, her armor clanging as she laughed freely, "Back then, Princess Pingyang was able to personally lead the troops into battle, taking the lead and beating drums and gongs to lead the women's army to achieve great feats. She is a role model for us women. Today, as the deputy commander of the Kite Guard, how can I be timid and hesitant?"

A gust of wind blew by, lifting a few strands of hair at her temples. Shangguan Wan'er reached out and tucked the hair behind her ear. This usually gentle gesture now revealed a touch of heroic spirit against the backdrop of her military uniform.

"Besides..."

She looked at Li Lingyue with a gentle smile in her eyes: "Doesn't Your Highness often say that we women are not necessarily inferior to men?"

Li Lingyue opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say anything to dissuade her.

She knew her best friend all too well—beneath her seemingly delicate exterior lay a heart more stubborn than anyone else's.

Lu Chenyuan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly walked into the bedchamber, took out a small golden bell from his bundle, and handed it to Shangguan Wan'er: "Lord Shangguan is naturally not lacking in magical artifacts, but this [Soul-Shaking Bell] is a rare weapon specifically designed to attack the soul. 'When the bell shakes, the primordial spirit trembles.' It might come in handy in a critical moment..."

Lu Chenyuan, intending to ease the tension, smiled and said, "In the battle at Cen Manor, Qu Baichuan was covered in Gu poison and the like, hardly presentable. However, Duanhun from the Seven Stars of Chasing the Moon possessed such a treasure, probably a gift from Zhou Xing. It just goes to show that 'appearances can be deceiving.' If Lord Shangguan doesn't mind..."

Shangguan Wan'er stared at the golden bell, her fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly.

The bells tinkled softly in the wind, like gentle taps on her heart.

She forced herself to look away and shook her head: "Wan'er doesn't lack such magical treasures, Lord Lu should keep them for himself..."

"He's so strong, why keep him!" Li Lingyue snatched the bell without a word and shoved it into Shangguan Wan'er's hand. "It's never a bad thing to have an extra item for self-defense!"

Before Shangguan Wan'er could decline, Li Lingyue asked again, "Did you bring [Qingmo]?"

Shangguan Wan'er stared blankly at the golden bell in her palm. Hearing the question, she snapped out of her daze and said, "I...I brought it..."

"take it out."

As Li Lingyue gave the orders, she grabbed Lu Chenyuan's hand, summoned the [Taihua Qingshuang] sword, and with a single stroke, made a small cut on Lu Chenyuan's fingertip. A bead of gilded blood slowly seeped out, and the wound healed quickly. Li Lingyue clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction and muttered, "There's not enough blood. I'll have to make another cut..." As she spoke, she raised her sword again.

"Hey!"

Lu Chenyuan's eye twitched. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

Li Lingyue snorted, "I should have slashed you a few more times... Don't let the wounds heal, let them bleed a few more drops. Wan'er is proficient in 'Spirit Painting' and has a secret technique called 'Qingming' that allows her to mix blood with ink to communicate. If she is ever in danger, she can use this ink to send a message and ask you to point out how to break the formation."

Lu Chenyuan remained calm, clearly having guessed the purpose of the blood sample.

The Azure Letter Secret Technique is a basic application of Spirit Drawing. It requires the blood of two people as a medium, dissolved in a specially made "Azure Ink". After writing with this ink, the writing will quickly disappear and simultaneously appear in the same position on another person. It is an extremely exquisite communication technique.

However, Shangguan Wan'er's face turned pale after understanding her plan. Her hand paused, and she didn't continue to take the ink. She said repeatedly, "No! No need... I have to go first! I have to go to war. Xie Tingyun and the others are still waiting for me..."

She turned and left, head down, feeling utterly ashamed!

She dared not turn around, afraid to see Li Lingyue's concerned gaze, afraid to see Lu Chenyuan's puzzled expression.

That drop of gilded blood seemed to scorch her conscience.

Li Lingyue treated her like a sister, but she... harbored such unsavory thoughts.

Disregarding etiquette, she channeled her inner energy and prepared to use her lightness skill to leave.

"Wan'er!"

Li Lingyue reacted quickly and grabbed her wrist.

Time seems to freeze at this moment——

Li Lingyue frowned, her eyes full of confusion; Yuan Qingshuang stood aside, vaguely sensing something was amiss but unable to put her finger on it; Shangguan Wan'er was overwhelmed with shame and wished she could disappear into the ground; Lu Chenyuan noticed but made no reaction. The more he explained, the more awkward it would be, and besides, the fundamental problem hadn't been solved, so there was no need to think about it further.

"What's wrong with you?"

Li Lingyue asked, puzzled, "When it comes to life and death, what's there to worry about when there are multiple options?"

She suddenly thought of something and chuckled: "Could it be because you're worried about the taboo of men and women touching each other? When did you become so old-fashioned? Besides, it's just mixing ink and adding a little blood, what does it have to do with any strict rules of etiquette?"

Seeing that Shangguan Wan'er still didn't move, Li Lingyue simply reached into her bosom: "Where did you hide the ink box?" As she spoke, she deliberately groped her chest, then mischievously pinched it, "Oh, our Lord Shangguan has it here..."

"Princess!"

Shangguan Wan'er gasped in surprise, her face flushing red with embarrassment. The shame she had felt earlier was quickly washed away by this sudden teasing.

She frantically covered her chest, only to see Li Lingyue take out the ink box and proudly wave it around.

She followed Lu Chenyuan, learning all sorts of "knowledge," and her behavior became increasingly unconventional. "That's more like it!"

Li Lingyue laughed, "What's there to be shy about?" She turned to Lu Chenyuan and winked, "Aren't you going to come over and give me some blood?"

That's dripping blood!

Lu Chenyuan shook his head helplessly and obediently extended his finger.

This time, Li Lingyue acted swiftly and quickly collected enough blood drops. She dripped the blood into the blue ink to dissolve it, then pulled Shangguan Wan'er's hand and forced her to drip a drop of blood into it as well.

"All right!"

Li Lingyue looked at the mixed ink with satisfaction and split it in two: "Now if you encounter danger, you can always ask this 'living array diagram' for help."

She glanced meaningfully at Lu Chenyuan.

Looking at the box of ink that gleamed with gold, Shangguan Wan'er felt a mix of emotions, but Li Lingyue's outburst had somewhat eased her earlier embarrassment.

She sighed softly and carefully tucked the inkwell into her bosom: "Thank you..."

Li Lingyue shook her head: "Your safe return is the best reward." She then suddenly leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "If you dared not come back, I'd burn all those storybooks you hid under the bed!"

Shangguan Wan'er finally stopped crying and smiled, her eyes shining with warmth.

She gave the two of them a deep look, straightened her skirt and armor, and this time, she truly straightened her back as she left.

Watching her departing figure, the smile on Li Lingyue's face gradually faded.

She turned to Lu Chenyuan, suddenly reaching out to pinch his cheeks and pull them apart: "You naughty thing!"

Lu Chenyuan let her act up, then sighed, "Your Highness is really hard to please! She'll bleed you out of the blue, and then she'll curse you afterward... Looks like she's fallen out of favor. Alas, nothing lasts forever. I'll have to start thinking about finding someone else..."

"you dare!"

Upon hearing this, Li Lingyue's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she increased the force in her hand, distorting Lu Chenyuan's handsome face: "You dare to try going to someone else!" she said through gritted teeth, but a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.

Lu Chenyuan, his face being pulled by her, chuckled indistinctly, "Then what does the princess suggest? Either way, it's all my fault..."

"It was your fault to begin with!"

Li Lingyue released her grip, then grabbed his collar instead, "Who told you...who told you..."

She suddenly became speechless, unable to think of any crime to accuse him of.

Lu Chenyuan pulled her into his arms and chuckled, "Who made me so handsome and dashing!"

"Pooh!"

Li Lingyue rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "You're just bragging! Go copy the book!"

"Tsk tsk, they use people when they need them and discard them when they don't."

Lu Chenyuan sighed twice, picked up his breakfast, and went back to his bedchamber to eat: "Hmm, the steamed buns are good~"

"..."

Li Lingyue glared at him, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless of what others thought, he remained quiet and unassuming, whether in the Ghost Market or inside or outside the mansion, without ever overstepping any boundaries or deliberately seducing anyone. Otherwise, with his looks and talent, it would have been more than just a few people who were attracted to him.

That rascal, always attracting women...

Li Lingyue withdrew her gaze, looking in the direction Shangguan Wan'er had left, and sighed softly: Some things can be given up, some things cannot. Wan'er, don't disappoint me.

"Your Highness, Lord Shangguan..."

Yuan Qingshuang hesitated, unsure whether she should speak or not.

Li Lingyue waved her hand and said, "Alright. Admiration without transgression, thoughts without offense. Her leaving on her own initiative just now is enough to prove that Wan'er is still Wan'er. At least for now, there's nothing to say. As for the future... never mind! Let's not talk about this. Bring me all the recent intelligence on Hangu Pass and Mount Taibai. I want to see it!"

"Yes."

Seeing that she understood, Yuan Qingshuang breathed a sigh of relief and turned to head to the archives.

……

The next ten days.

Lu Chenyuan dutifully copied books at the princess's residence. Every day, besides visiting the Empress and the Golden Lion in the Lingni Palace, playing the zither, playing chess, and studying mechanisms, he would also review intelligence from both places and pay his taxes. He even attributed the "Canghai Longyin Pu" to the Seven Stars of Zhuyue without arousing anyone's suspicion, thanks in large part to the mystery and unknown nature of the Seven Stars.

The fact that others don't understand them means that they can apply whatever they want to them.

Anyway, Seven Stars is dead, so there's no way to verify anything!
The fake "Canghai Longyin Manual" has now been included in the Xuanji Pavilion, and its presentation caused a sensation on the day it was presented.

That was, after all, a peerless skill that Luo Binwang had only shown briefly, and even the palace sent people to retrieve it and examine it.

Zen Master Yunhe put in a lot of effort for this secret manual, which was seven parts true and three parts false. To prevent experts from seeing through its secrets, he made the entire manual shrouded in mystery. After Lu Chenyuan further expanded upon it, it became a complete mystery.

The various allusions in the book have nothing to do with comprehension; they are purely meant to fool people.

For example, the opening outline:

"The sound of jade and gold knocks on the gates of heaven, and the energy turns into surging waves and clouds."

One chant echoes as the vast ocean swallows the sun and moon; another, as stars fall into the long river.

An echo resounds through an empty valley, its form unseen; the sound lingers in the mist-shrouded towers, yet the echo remains in the heavens.

In the stillness of the night, one can hear the dragon's whisper; without strings or melody, one can attain profound understanding.

Who can tell that this is a sonic energy cultivation method that uses the dantian as a bell and the meridians as strings?

Who would have thought that "metal and stone", "clouds and smoke", "falling stars" and "stringless" actually refer to the realm of martial arts?

If you could understand this, you wouldn't be a genius, you'd be a monster!

Other techniques are obscure and difficult to understand because of that mysterious feeling, which can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words. They are like prose, loose in form but coherent in spirit, and can only help people understand that state through the accumulation of words and images.

But what if the person who wrote the manual didn't want anyone to learn it in the first place?
If the form is scattered and the spirit is scattered, it's pointless for anyone to come!

Empress Wu Zetian looked at it for a long time but couldn't understand it, so she had it sent back and scolded Luo Binwang, saying, "You're just making a fuss!" When she learned that Lu Chenyuan had mastered it, she specially summoned him to the palace to play it once, and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's truly like a dragon's roar in the vast sea, startling ghosts and gods. Once the music is played, all sounds submit!"

Lu Chenyuan read the comments aloud to the teacher again, and Zen Master Yunhe stroked his beard proudly and said, "She knows her stuff!"

"..."

Lu Chenyuan really wanted to say, "Master, why don't you enter the palace? I think she's quite interested in bald heads..."

(End of this chapter)