Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

He was initially worried about Si Chunhua and the other elders, but then he suddenly realized that they were showing him filial piety again. Chu Mingkong knew that they had woken up and were all well.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, has finally settled down!

Perhaps because the demonic influence of the black relic was gone, Elder Si Chunhua no longer sent him three relics of filial piety at the same time.

Chu Mingkong felt a slight sense of loss, as if the love his elders had diminished, and sighed:

"Suddenly I realized that the black relic was actually quite good to me; I only learned to cherish it after I lost it."

Chapter 149 Memories

A medium-sized floating spaceship is traversing the vast territory of the Celestial Empire high in the sky.

Compared to land transport, this mode of transport is far faster, unaffected by terrain or areas teeming with magical beasts, except for the occasional encounter with flying magical beasts. However, this mode of transport is extremely expensive, and even the Celestial Empire only uses it during wartime or large-scale decapitation operations.

Perhaps only auction houses in the cultivation world, such as Immortal Treasure Pavilion, can afford the operating costs of medium to large floating ships, because the auction profits are very high.

Di Shudie was the captain of this caravan. The journey was long, and the caravan's officers inevitably chatted among themselves.

A male officer named Wang Fei became quite close to Di Shudie. The two were Daoist partners, but they did not show too much intimacy when it came to work.

Wang Fei asked Di Shudie curiously:

"Shudie, the caravans of Immortal Treasure Pavilion rarely carry passengers, so why are there two extra guests this time? Who are they?"

Those of them in this line of work can turn a deaf ear to the contents of the goods and suppress their curiosity. The main thing is that curiosity is useless anyway. An auction house of the level of Immortal Treasure Pavilion will definitely put restrictions on the goods. Let alone taking a look out of curiosity, even touching them will be known by the big shots who have put up the restrictions!

This time, there were two more people, which made them very curious.

The transport journey was tedious, and according to the rules, one couldn't even meditate or cultivate oneself; one had to stay alert at all times. Hearing that they could gossip, the female cadre Lin Xin curiously joined in and began to discuss:

"Yes, my husband is from a different route of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion caravan. I've never heard of him being a transporter. Could it be that this time the goods contain some extremely rare items that require two important figures to be secretly escorted?"

Wang Fei shook his head and said:

"It doesn't seem like it. The two people are a big one and a small one. One is a woman wearing a veil, and the other is a boy who is this short. They look like a mother and son. What important figures could they be? They stay in that house all day and don't get bored. Could they be hiding from some kind of force that is hunting them down?"

"No way. Don't you see what kind of place White Tiger Plain is? It has tribes, exiled clans, demons, and the former royal family of the Moonlit Kingdom. It's a place where all kinds of forces exist. It's really unwise to flee to such a place. If you're not careful, you'll offend some powerful forces. What's the difference between that and making more enemies for yourself?"

Di Shudie stopped his colleagues' idle chatter, interrupting them:

"Alright, that's enough said. Saying more will offend people. Remember, this is the arrangement made by the Pavilion Master above."

In short, regardless of who these two guests are, we are only responsible for guiding them to their destination. If you don't want to be blamed by the Pavilion Master, go and do your own work. We'll soon be passing through an area inhabited by flying magical beasts, so keep an eye on the surrounding area.

The captain intervened and stopped them, so the others couldn't continue talking and returned to the deck corridor to patrol.

These people were naturally talking about Zuo Qiuchi and Chu Mingkong.

Before boarding the ship, under Chu Mingkong's various alarmist pronouncements, Zuo Qiuchi changed back into her woman's attire, a dark purple similar in color to Chu Mingkong's.

She wore a flowing, dark purple gown, lined with a brocade bodice. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with delicate black floral patterns, and the bodice was trimmed with lace. A sheer, misty gauze overlay covered her upper body. The most striking feature was the dark corset, which accentuated her slender waist, highlighting the fullness of her breasts and the plumpness of her hips. She exuded a noble air, her presence as ethereal as a delicate orchid. A jade pendant adorned her neck, its tip sinking into her jade-like breasts.

After boarding the ship and entering the room, Chu Mingkong clung to Zuo Qiuchi, feeling an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

Admittedly, Zuo Qiuchi usually dresses very beautifully. To be honest, with her figure and looks, she can wear anything without looking bad. However, Chu Mingkong especially loves her current "fashion skin." If he doesn't stick close to her for a while longer, she might find the clothes troublesome to wear and never wear them again.

While he was enjoying Zuo Qiuchi's pleasure, Zuo Qiuchi was also enjoying his pleasure. Chu Mingkong's appearance had been outstanding since childhood, and his arms and legs were soft and tender, making it feel like hugging a small animal when he was holding him.

"Mingkong, how did you know that Fengying was in a godforsaken place like Baihu Plain?" Zuo Qiuchi suddenly remembered this.

Forget about leaving a mark. From the capital to Baihu Plain, it's a distance of 108,000 li. Even with the help of a spaceship or floating boat, it would take a day or two to get lost on the road. Any mark would be invalid.

Chu Mingkong couldn't very well say, "I've bound you all to the system's elders, so I can monitor your movements as a single person at any time," could he?

"She said she was coming to Baihu Plain on business and even wrote down an address for me."

"Where did she go? She was supposed to stay and be your maid, but she just ran off so far away for no reason. Did you make some unreasonable request to her in private and then dump her?"

Chu Mingkong had made this guess before, but it didn't make sense, because he didn't remember making any unreasonable demands on her, not even any demands at all.

"I don't recall her doing that, but... Feng Ying was fine when she and Master helped me with the 'tongue-rolling spear' last time, so what could possibly make her angry and run away?"

The mere mention of that night with the Hehuan Dew made Zuo Qiuchi angry. She lifted Chu Mingkong's head off her chest and pinched his cheek to vent her anger.

That oppressive feeling that went straight to the back of my throat resurfaced, and I could almost taste the flavor from that time still lingering in my mouth.

"You're bringing this up on purpose again, aren't you? You're really asking for it!"

But now, looking back, Zuo Qiuchi realized that Chu Mingkong, that little brat, must have had a thing with Feng Ying before. After Feng Ying got the medicine once, it was as if she wanted to see Chu Mingkong embarrassed. While he was still sensitive, she deliberately "rolled" him up again, not caring that he got it all over her face.

"Tell me honestly, how did you and Feng Ying meet before? I've never heard Yun Han mention her more than a few times."

"Uh... we met by chance, and I feel like I'm doing something insincere, so how could I mention too much to Yunhan?"

"An accident?" Zuo Qiuchi asked suspiciously, running his fingers across his disciple's cheek, making the flesh bounce. "Then tell me the details of the accident. I'm so bored on this broken ship. Tell me about it. I'm starting to think that you and Feng Ying aren't just having an affair, you're having an affair!"

"The incident was pretty much like this: Kazekage wanted to steal something, and taking advantage of my young age, she stepped on me. I made her apologize, and then she took advantage of me."

Zuo Qiuchi saw through his insincerity, and unceremoniously picked him up, saying:

“If you keep talking nonsense and refuse to tell the truth, I’ll throw you out the window.”

“…Alright then.” Chu Mingkong scratched his head in distress and sighed, “But Master, I was still young back then, and it’s been so long. Could you wear black lace stockings and high heels so I can hold you and help me remember?”

Zuo Qiuchi: "?"

--------

PS: I've just finished the extra chapter, so I'll slow down the pace and add a bit more of Kazekage's memories.

Interlude: Fragrant Breeze and Graceful Figure (Part 1)

“Ying’er, you are now a capable young woman who can stand on your own. This is your graduation mission, which is very difficult, but I don’t want you to fail.”

As she spoke, a middle-aged woman in white took out a parchment scroll containing information about the assassination target and handed it to Feng Ying.

This middle-aged woman's vitality was waning, and her hair was beginning to grow back dry. Yet, one could still vaguely discern the former beauty and elegance she once possessed in her facial features. She carried no aura of cultivation, but she was the master of Feng Ying, the most prominent female assassin in the Crescent Moon Kingdom over the past decade.

Fengying's achievements are due to her own talent and hard work, but they are inseparable from this woman's devoted cultivation. All of Fengying's skills were learned from her, from assassination techniques, stealth movements, poison making, and the ability to forge identities. The more Fengying learned, the more she felt the mystery and power of her master back then.

The graceful and stunningly beautiful young woman accepted the mission assigned by her master. The target of the assassination had no name, only a well-known code name: "The Phantom of the Withered Bones".

"Ying'er, your two senior brothers and sisters both died at the hands of this person. She was my mortal enemy back then. You've grown up now, and I can no longer hide my selfish motives. I took you in back then and later poured all my skills into you. Although I felt sorry for your constitution, I valued your talent even more. I hoped you would become someone who could stand on your own, avenge me, and fulfill my last wish..."

Of course, I don't require you to take on this task immediately; you can prepare first... However, I still hope to see my enemy's head with my own eyes before I die.

Facing his master's gaze, Feng Ying nodded.

"I will prepare as soon as possible. Master is waiting at home for Ying'er's good news. I will settle Master's grudge and the grudges of the two senior brothers and sisters for you!"

Leaving his master's room, Feng Ying looked at the desolate but bustling tribal village, found a shady giant tree, sat down, and stared at the few pieces of information on the parchment scroll.

In the Crescent Moon Kingdom, almost everyone knows the assassin codename "Bone Phantom." She is a legend, elusive and mysterious, having assassinated many powerful figures. Each time, she appears before her target under a different identity, and no matter how strong the guards, "Bone Phantom" always manages to kill her with a single blow, then escapes unscathed. Only after examining the victim's wounds can outsiders recognize that it was "Bone Phantom's" work.

Her master, Gu Mei, originally served a master who was killed by "The Phantom of the Bone". Because of this, she studied "The Phantom of the Bone's" sword techniques, recreated her battle tactics, and used them to find weaknesses.

Now, Fengying has perfectly replicated the dagger technique of "The Phantom of the Bone," to the point that when she anonymously accepts missions, her killing moves are sometimes mistaken for those of "The Phantom of the Bone."

In fact, when Fengying first accepted the assassin mission, she had already heard her master Gu Mei mention this person. Fengying had been collecting information about this enemy until today, when her master officially entrusted her with this graduation mission.

This is not just a graduation mission, but also involves the blood feud between the sect and the master's lifelong wish. For Fengying, this is her opportunity to repay the master for adopting and raising her and for passing on his skills.

The ancient, yellowed parchment scroll felt exceptionally heavy in her hands. Feng Ying already knew the information on it, but she was not complacent or relaxed.

"What kind of enemy is this, and what abilities am I lacking...?" Fengying murmured to himself as he put away the scroll.

Master is no longer able to learn new cultivation techniques and combat skills. She is too badly injured. What she can teach is the same as what she taught her senior brothers and sisters back then. And since her senior brothers and sisters all failed, it means that there are parts of the methods that Master taught her that cannot deal with the "Shadow of the Withered Bones".

"But what exactly is missing? If we really want to figure it out, perhaps I lack the means to penetrate strong defenses."

The way of the assassin is not to kill people head-on. In many cases, they can use disguise and other means to find the enemy when their defenses are relaxed and strike them dead.

"Since we're making preparations, let's also address this aspect."

Fengying plucked a tender new leaf, flicked it with her scallion finger, and stuck the leaf into a piece of wood in the hand of a villager below.

The villagers of the tribe were simple and honest. Just as they were about to lash out at who was trying to cause trouble, they discovered that it was Fengying, whose rough, red face revealed a silly grin.

Fengying is the object of unrequited love for all the unmarried young men in the nearby villages and the object of infidelity for all the married men. In the words of the priestess, Fengying is more beautiful and charming than the queen in the royal court.

People flocked to Fengying with cattle and sheep as betrothal gifts, but none succeeded, because they couldn't defeat her.

"Fengying, I'll accept this green leaf you gave me as a token of our love. I'll go hunt some game later and propose to Aunt Gu!"

"..." Feng Ying stopped him impatiently: "You're daydreaming. Don't you know your own limitations? Let me ask you, do you know any martial arts technique that can instantly defeat a heavily defended enemy?"

The young man had been rejected and was heartbroken, but he still answered Fengying's question:

"Although some tribes say that their totem heritage can defeat giant beasts, from what I have seen with my own eyes, the Xiling Army has a technique called 'Steel Slicing,' which is really powerful. I once saw a person in full armor use 'Steel Slicing' to kill a thick-boned wild bull that had become an abyss in a flash."

"You're lying. I know the strength of the Xiling Army. The Thick-Bone Wild Buffalo is as big as a small elephant, and they have to form a unit to hunt it down. You're just bragging!" Feng Ying felt that he had wasted his time and should have spent some money to buy intelligence.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, and the captivating charm she exuded in that instant left the young man mesmerized. He said in a deep voice:

"Fengying, I admit you're quite attractive. If I were thirty, I would definitely divorce my wife and marry you. If I were twenty, I would definitely reject the girls who were pursuing me and accept you. If I were fifteen, I would definitely pursue you without regard for my life. But I'm only ten now..."

"..." Feng Ying interrupted the brat's spiel, unable to resist retorting, "Where did you hear all this from?"

"I heard this when my father took me to the Xiling Tea House. A child who was a little younger than me said this to a woman who was much older than him. That woman was laughing so happily. Feng Ying, why aren't you laughing? Aren't you moved?"

"..."

Feng Ying didn't want to waste any more time. She turned around and prepared to leave, wanting to buy the information as soon as possible and get her hands on the cultivation technique.

Seeing that Feng Ying was about to leave, the young man hurriedly tried to show off his extensive knowledge to the girl, calling out to her:

"I really know, I saw it with my own eyes, the person who single-handedly killed the Abyss Bull was a nobleman active in the Xiling Army. I heard them say that he was some kind of prince?"

Feng Ying stopped in her tracks. Judging from his tone, he didn't seem to be lying. She turned around, looked down at the young man, and asked:

"He's not a prince, he's a crown prince, isn't he?"

"Lion? I'm looking at a person, not a lion."

"Sir."

"Oh, what's wrong with lice? Where are the lice?"

"..."