Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 129 The curtain falls here, time for leisure at Lishan (Please subscribe)
Lu Chenyuan looked at the [Red Dust Arrow] in front of him.

Its main body is a quiver made of black iron, engraved with the "Love and Longing Talisman Array" and inlaid with the "Six Desires Reincarnation Disc" at the bottom. Each time an arrow is loaded, the corresponding emotional trigram must be rotated. Misalignment will result in a significant reduction in power.

There are nine pairs of arrows. Once shot, the shaft of the arrow made of acacia wood will induce the seven emotions, and the arrow will be poisoned by eighty-one kinds of deadly poisons!
Most importantly, unlike the Three Calamities Divine Arrow, which is broken twice before becoming invincible, its arrow relies solely on poison. After being shot, the arrow body remains unchanged and can be recycled and reused.

It's truly an invaluable artifact!

Lu Chenyuan accepted it with satisfaction.

This trip to Hangu Pass not only yielded the "Divine Talisman Scroll," the mechanical steed, and the "Azure Lotus Refining Divine Scroll," but also a communication token that allows me to talk to the Rooster—judging from her tone, she doesn't seem to dislike him as her master and is quite naive. I can use this to probe her for information, find out about the Dragon's progress, and discover the hiding places of other divine arts.

Overall, it was worth the trip.

The most interesting thing is that the Sheep started to soften its stance and was willing to help...

This was quite unexpected.

Lu Chenyuan thought it would take several years to calm down, but he didn't expect it to ease up in just a month or two. He probably realized that her past obsessions were her own fault and started to find other meaning in life.

He placed Junyi into the painting and used his light-footed skills to escape from the cold pool and secret chamber.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to gather all the precious herbs in the cave...

Lu Chenyuan stepped out of the cave, where the area outside was already a mess.

After the Hundred Flowers Valley Formation was fully activated, all the plants and vines in the valley were transformed into deadly weapons. The mechanical puppets of Xuanbing Valley were pierced through the chest by thick iron wire ferns, and their bodies, forged from refined gold, were torn to shreds. Gears and springs were scattered all over the ground, mixed with dark red root sap, seeping into the soil like blood, and the smell was nauseating.

The assassins from Butian Pavilion fared even worse. They were entangled and hoisted by vines, their joints twisted and broken, hanging from the treetops like rag dolls. Some were still breathing, emitting hoarse hisses, but they didn't even have the strength to struggle.

The air was filled with a rich aroma of medicine.

That was the scent emanating from the poisonous flowers and herbs catalyzed by the grand formation, a scent that made one dizzy.

Lu Chenyuan's gaze swept across the battlefield, and after confirming that no one had escaped, he looked up at the mountaintop—

There, snow was falling heavily.

Li Lingyue held the [Taihua Qing Shuang] sword, and wherever the blade pointed, ice crystals condensed, as if even the air itself was frozen.

She stood amidst the wind and snow, her clothes fluttering, like a celestial maiden descending to earth.

Opposite her, Pei Lingsu knelt on one knee, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her once beautiful face was aging at a visible speed as her true energy was depleted. Fine wrinkles crept up the corners of her eyes, her long black hair turned gray inch by inch, and the red silk wrapped around her body was frozen by the cold, as fragile and easily broken as a spider web.

"you lose."

Li Lingyue said coldly.

Pei Lingsu chuckled softly, her voice hoarse: "Princess Taiping... truly lives up to her reputation."

Just then, Li Lingyue caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye—

Lu Chenyuan arrived, his footsteps echoing through the snow.

She was initially delighted, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, but then, remembering something, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she coldly snorted, "So you still know how to come back?"

Lu Chenyuan paused, then immediately put on a smile and teased, "Your Highness's divine might is unparalleled. I was just afraid of disturbing you from displaying your skills."

Li Lingyue glared at him: "Stop talking nonsense! How would it feel to be captured and used as a furnace cauldron?"

Lu Chenyuan pretended to ponder: "This... I didn't manage to pick it, I don't know what it tastes like."

"you!"

Li Lingyue's fingertips trembled with anger. She took a step forward, pinched the soft flesh of his waist, and said with a dangerous look in her eyes, "You seem to be quite disappointed!!"

"No way."

Lu Chenyuan took her wrist and whispered, "If you're going to pick one, then..."

A blush quickly spread across Li Lingyue's cheeks. She pulled her hand away, and with a "whoosh," [Taihua Qing Shuang] was placed on his neck, feigning a fierce look: "Still dare to talk so glib! Believe me or not, I'll castrate you right now!"

The sword's edge exuded a chilling aura.

Lu Chenyuan's smile grew even brighter, and he said strangely, "Who would swing a eunuch at their neck?"

"..."

Li Lingyue was taken aback upon hearing this, and the tip of her sword subconsciously moved down three inches, pointing directly at his waist and abdomen. However, she immediately realized that she had actually followed his instructions and was filled with shame and anger, her fair cheeks flushing red.

"Lu! Chen! Yuan!"

With a flick of her wrist, the sword flashed through the air, leaving several cold streaks: "Today, I will—"

Lu Chenyuan couldn't stop laughing. Good heavens, that sword dance was so skillful, as if she was afraid he wouldn't be able to dodge it. His heart warmed, and he took two steps back, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender: "Your Highness, please calm down! Although I have been captured, I would rather die than submit. I'm just waiting for Your Highness to come and save the beauty!"

"A hero saves a beauty?"

Li Lingyue laughed in anger: "I think you're so happy you've forgotten all about Shu!"

Lu Chenyuan shook his head, then suddenly reached out and gently pinched the tip of the sword, saying softly, "Your Highness, whether you wish to kill or torture me, this humble servant will have no complaints. However..."

He suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice: "It's freezing cold here, your hands are all red, let me warm them up~"

He was about to start doing it.

"presumptuous!"

Li Lingyue's ears turned slightly red. How could her hands be frozen when she cultivated ice-based techniques? Her excuses weren't even convincing!

She abruptly withdrew her longsword, scolding, "Who needs your warmth?!"

Lu Chenyuan seized the opportunity to step forward and, as if by magic, pulled a red plum blossom from his sleeve: "I saw it on the way and thought Your Highness would surely like it." The plum blossom was in full bloom, with unmelted snowflakes still clinging to its petals.

Li Lingyue glanced at it and sneered, "Just one?"

"Only one is precious."

Lu Chenyuan said with deep affection, "Just like Your Highness, you are one of a kind in the world, absolutely unique!"

"..."

Li Lingyue opened her mouth, wanting to scold him a few more times, but looking at those peach blossom eyes, she couldn't hold back anymore.

That wretched guy, all he does is talk a good game!
A slight smile played on her lips as she took the red plum blossom and turned to walk towards the valley: "I'll deal with you when we get back."

Lu Chenyuan smiled, strode after her, and casually took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

Li Lingyue took his hand in return.

The two walked side by side, their fingers intertwined, until their figures gradually disappeared into the distance.

Watching this scene from her kneeling position, Pei Lingsu suddenly chuckled softly. As she laughed, a tear slid down her cheek, instantly freezing into ice. Her body gradually transformed into an ice sculpture, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the moonlight before quickly melting away into the wind and snow.

……

The dust settled, and the valley returned to silence.

Su Quan stood in front of the mourning hall, looking at the devastation in the valley, his expression complex.

The mechanical puppets of Xuanbing Valley, including Chu Jingtao, were all shredded, and the assassins of Butian Pavilion were also wiped out. In the end, he won this battle—but he felt no joy whatsoever.

"Elder brother..."

He murmured to himself, as if the scene of the three of them practicing mechanical arts together had reappeared before his eyes. Now, his eldest brother's Xuanbing Valley had been destroyed, his second sister's Pei family had lost its leader, and in the Xiaohan region, only his Mujia Sect remained in power.

But this victory felt like severing the last vestiges of camaraderie among fellow disciples.

"Sect Leader Su."

Lu Chenyuan's voice came from behind.

Su Quan composed himself, turned around, and saw a man and a woman walking side by side, with Lu Chenyuan half a step behind. He understood immediately and bowed: "Su Quan, the sect leader of the Wood Armor Sect, greets Your Highness and Lord Lu."

Li Lingyue nodded slightly: "Sect Leader Su, there's no need for such formalities. I'm traveling incognito this time, so it's best not to spread the word."

"I understand."

Su Quan lowered his head and said, "What happened today will not take us beyond this valley."

He turned to Lu Chenyuan and bowed deeply: "If it weren't for Lord Lu's rescue this time, my life would have been in danger, and the Mujia Sect would have been destroyed. I will never forget this kindness and gratitude."

Lu Chenyuan waved his hand and laughed, "Sect Leader Su, you flatter me. It was nothing. But your sect's protective array is truly admirable."

Su Quan looked at the ravaged valley with a complicated expression: "Fratricide among fellow disciples is truly not what I wished for..."

He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee and solemnly said, "I will never forget your great kindness! From this day forward, the Wood Armor Sect is willing to be loyal to Your Highness and will never have any other thoughts!"

"..."

Li Lingyue looked slightly surprised and exchanged a glance with Lu Chenyuan.

This is an unexpected gain.

Although the Wood Armor Sect is not a major sect in the martial arts world, its mechanical arts and valley protection formations are indeed unique.

"Sect Leader Su is very understanding and righteous." Li Lingyue nodded: "I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

With a flick of her wrist, a crimson token floated into Su Quan's hand: "There's no need to dwell on the past. With this token, you can go directly to the Princess's residence. If you need anything, come to the capital to find me."

"Su Quan, thank you for your grace, Your Highness." He respectfully put the token into his pocket.

Lu Chenyuan said at the right moment, "It's getting late, we should go back."

"Why don't we rest for a while?" Su Quan suggested, "The newly brewed Dew of a Hundred Flowers in the valley..."

"Let's do it another day," Lu Chenyuan said with a cupped hand and a smile. "You still have a lot to take care of, and we should go back and rest too."

He naturally took Li Lingyue's hand.

Li Lingyue glanced at him, gently pinched his palm with her fingertips, but did not break free.

As night deepened, the two figures gradually disappeared along the winding mountain road.

A mountain breeze carried a faint conversation:
"Tell me, where did that vixen's hand touch you?"

"Heaven and earth bear witness, I dodged very quickly!" "Hmph, I see you seem to enjoy being chased and having your essence extracted."

"Innocent! I'll show you how weak I am when we get back!"

"Ugh, you're so unserious..."

The sound faded, followed by the sound of someone angrily slapping the ground.

Su Quan shook his head and chuckled, then turned to look at Hundred Flowers Valley, where he saw the remnants of yesterday quietly disappearing among the newly sprouted grass and trees.

……

Lu Chenyuan and the other person returned to Tingyuxuan.

The goddess and the golden lion were waiting in the carriage. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the group had returned safely. The group changed inns and rested well for the night before setting off for Mount Li the next day.

The goddess has gained another playmate, the mechanical Junyi.

Lu Chenyuan also gave her the communication token so she could chat with Youji when she had free time.

The rest of the journey was smooth sailing.

Lu Chenyuan spent his days traveling, using his time to meditate on the "Azure Lotus Refining Spirit Scroll" to hone his divine sense, condense talismans, and stabilize his realm. At night, he practiced and studied the three scrolls of supernatural powers. Fortunately, the "Heavenly Craft Scroll" and the "Alchemy Scroll" were both more technical; otherwise, even for him, practicing all three simultaneously would have been too much to handle.

Hangu Pass is only about 300 li away from Mount Li. We traveled along the way, enjoying the scenery, and it took us five days to get there.

Li Lingyue's bestowed garden, "Qibao Garden," was located within Mount Li.

Counting the time, it had been a long time since she had come to the garden to relax, especially since she had brought Lu Chenyuan with her this time.

Li Lingyue stepped out of the carriage with great interest, leaning half her body on Lu Chenyuan's shoulder as they climbed the mountain together. She would occasionally point to a distant view with her fingertips, her face beaming with laughter.

However, they were stopped right in front of the mountain gate.

"Shut up!"

Lu Chenyuan reined in his horse and looked up. The vermilion gate of Qibao Garden was right in front of him, but an old woman with white hair stood in front of the gate, with eight palace maids standing behind her, waiting solemnly.

The old woman was thin and stood straight. She wore a plain palace dress with red cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and a short knife hanging at her waist. The scabbard was crimson and seemed to be warm.

Seeing the carriage stop, she bowed slightly, her voice hoarse but respectful: "This old woman, Wei Chenbi, greets Your Highness."

Li Lingyue's eyes flickered, and she actually got out of the car herself, quickly stepping forward to help her: "Aunt Wei? What are you doing here?"

The old woman looked up, revealing a face deeply wrinkled yet remarkably energetic. She smiled and said, "His Majesty said that Your Highness's health is weak. Although there are hot springs at Mount Li, it is still cold in winter. He was worried that the servants might not be able to take good care of you, so he specially sent me to look after you." She paused, then added meaningfully, "It also prevents... any petty people from disturbing Your Highness's 'recuperation'."

Lu Chenyuan stood quietly to the side, his gaze slightly narrowed.

This old palace maid appeared ordinary, but her breathing was deep and even, and her body emanated a subtle warmth, clearly indicating that she was a top-tier expert, whose cultivation was probably no weaker than Lin Hanyi's.

Wu Zetian had quite a few capable people under her command.

Li Lingyue's smile remained unchanged, but her tone carried a hint of coquettishness: "Aunt, Mother doesn't trust me, so she specially sent you to keep an eye on me!"

Wei Chenbi chuckled and patted the back of her hand: "Your Highness is joking. His Majesty is just worried about you."

Her gaze swept over Lu Chenyuan, and she said meaningfully, "Furthermore... His Majesty sent word that the Imperial Hospital prescribed a formula to nourish your Yin and replenish your vital energy in the middle of last month. Although the hot spring at Lishan is good, if you soak for too long, I'm afraid the imperial physicians will have to stay up all night to prepare the medicine again."

In mid-last month... Nourishing Yin and replenishing vital energy...

Li Lingyue's face instantly turned red.

This naturally refers to the extraordinary feat of "five days and five nights" before the Luoshui Festival.

The reason for soaking them for too long is to prevent them from going too far and becoming unrestrained. We've called someone to keep an eye on them.

My mother is really something!

Tell everything out loud!

Li Lingyue's ear tips were so red they looked like they could bleed, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the gold thread embroidery on her cuffs. She glanced at Lu Chenyuan subconsciously, only to see that he was calm and composed, as if it were none of his business, which made her grit her teeth in anger.

"aunt!"

She stamped her foot, her voice tinged with embarrassment and annoyance: "That, that's just a routine pulse check at the Imperial Hospital..."

Wei Chenbi smiled and said "Oh," her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two: "This old woman understands. Your Highness's health is precious and naturally requires constant care." She paused deliberately: "However, the nights at Lishan are cold and the dew is heavy. If Your Highness intends to 'admire the moon' at night, please remember to wear an extra layer of clothing."

Haha!

They're all expert drivers.

Lu Chenyuan couldn't help but chuckle, which earned him a sharp pinch on the arm from Li Lingyue's sleeve.

Lu Chenyuan bowed without changing his expression and said, "Auntie, rest assured, this humble official will... take good care of the princess."

He spoke with a straight face, but he emphasized the word "take care" very heavily, which made Li Lingyue feel both ashamed and annoyed.

She maintained her princess-like dignity and said with a stern face, "I am here to recuperate, so I know my place."

Wei Chenbi nodded with a smile: "It's good that Your Highness understands. His Majesty has ordered that Qibao Garden is too small, and that the Princess should move to the palace. I have already ordered someone to prepare a hot spring. Your Highness must be tired from your journey, so why don't you take a bath first to relax?"

Li Lingyue nodded and stepped inside with poise, but as she passed Lu Chenyuan, she covered her lips with her sleeve and uttered a very soft sentence:
"Come find me through the window tonight."

"..."

Lu Chenyuan glanced at Wei Chenbi.

The old man lowered his head and coughed lightly, as if he hadn't heard or seen anything.

Lu Chenyuan smiled and nodded slightly in agreement.

Eight palace maids escorted Li Lingyue to the main hall, Chaoyuan Hall, while Lu Chenyuan was placed in the Yuntao Hall in the corner.

"Lord Lu."

Wei Chenbi said, "This old woman will take you to Yuntao Palace to rest."

"Thank you for your help, Aunt."

Lu Chenyuan bowed calmly, and as he turned around, he flicked his sleeve, sending a subtle burst of energy towards the silk sash at Li Lingyue's waist.

The apricot-colored palace sash swayed gently, brushing just past her lower back, causing her to pause slightly.

Li Lingyue's fingers, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, clenched tightly as she forced herself not to turn around and glare at him.

That scoundrel! How dare he be so insolent in front of Aunt Wei!
Wei Chenbi took in the undercurrents between the two, shook her head and sighed, "Young people..." She deliberately lagged behind by half a step and whispered to Lu Chenyuan, "Lord Lu, if I may be so bold, although His Highness has been of marriageable age for many years, he is still a nobleman..."

Lu Chenyuan replied respectfully, "Aunt's teachings are correct."

"I can tell you're a sensible person."

Wei Chenbi narrowed his eyes: "Yuntao Palace is half a mile away from Chaoyuan Palace, and there are three palace walls in between..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Chenyuan suddenly took out a brocade box from his sleeve: "Auntie is old. This is a spiritual medicine I obtained by chance called 'Wenluo Pill'. It can cure diseases, strengthen the body, nourish the spirit and beautify the complexion. Please accept it, Auntie."

Wei Chenbi was taken aback. She took the brocade box; the pills inside were as lustrous as jade, with a faint crimson glow, clearly top-grade spiritual medicine. She glanced at Lu Chenyuan with a complicated expression, then at Li Lingyue, who was listening intently, and finally sighed, "...I suddenly remembered that the moon is waning tonight, and I need to go into seclusion to regulate my breathing. The guards in this palace probably won't be changing shifts until 9 PM..."

Lu Chenyuan smiled knowingly: "Aunt, please take good care of yourself."

Li Lingyue felt relieved, smiled, and strode away.

Lu Chenyuan followed Wei Chenbi to Yuntao Palace.

Before leaving, Wei Chenbi suddenly turned back and said, "By the way, the palace wall on the west side of Chaoyuan Hall is under renovation recently, and the guards have all been removed." She added meaningfully, "That wall isn't high, so climbing it... shouldn't be too difficult."

Lu Chenyuan chuckled, made arrangements for the goddess and the golden lion, and began reading, waiting for the "night visit to the boudoir" that evening.

……

at the same time.

The north wind was biting.

The town of Hanxi at the foot of Mount Li was shrouded in a dry, cold night, with a thin layer of frost on the bluestone slabs.

Dim yellow light shone through the paper windows of a private room on the second floor of the "Welcoming Guest House" in the east of the town, casting three shadowy figures sitting quietly.

"A message came from the palace informs that Her Highness the Princess has arrived at the Chaoyuan Hall. Lu Chenyuan has moved into the Yuntao Hall."

The man in black, kneeling on the ground, reported in a low voice, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The three people inside the room—one a burly young man in a brocade robe with a face full of scars, another an old man wearing a colorful Miao robe and a purple sable around his neck, and the last a strange man covered in a hideous mechanical armor—none of them uttered a sound, yet the entire room felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Ah……"

A chilling chuckle broke the deathly silence.

Wu Youji twirled the black iron thumb ring on his thumb, then suddenly clenched it with a "crack," causing the veins on his knuckles to bulge menacingly. He grinned and sneered, "My esteemed wife certainly knows how to put on an act! She's already done everything she was supposed to do—and now she knows to live in separate palaces? Who's she putting on this show for!"

"Why must the prince consort be angry?"

Beside him, the former High Priest of Miao territory, Chi Ming, slowly opened his eyes. His withered fingers caressed the purple electric sable wrapped around his neck. The sable's eyes were dark purple, its fangs were menacing, and it would occasionally stick out its scarlet tongue.

Chi Ming said coldly, "That brat won't live more than three days. I will make him pay for Wu Huagu and Qu Baichuan's lives!"

With each word he spoke, the candlelight in the room flickered eerily.

There were faint electric sparks running through the fur of the purple electric sable, as if something invisible was wriggling in the shadows.

The last person—Gongshu Pan, the patriarch of the Gongshu family of the East Sea—remained silent.

He was covered in a set of ferocious mechanical armor, as black as ink, with sharp barbs at the joints, and a crimson crystal embedded in his chest, from which a dark current like magma could be seen surging, as if he were breathing and rising and falling like a living thing.

He uttered only three words: "The Scroll of Heavenly Craftsmanship..."

Outside the window, the north wind whipped the withered branches against the window frame.

The lights of the Lishan Palace in the distance flickered in the night, like the gaze of a giant beast...

(End of this chapter)