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

“Describe the details of what happened in the secret realm to me, and I will help you search your soul,” Yun Nongyu said.

Specifically, what was the form Chu Mingkong took after absorbing the extreme Yin energy, and how he then returned to his original form? This was a matter of great importance, and couldn't be casually mentioned.

But this is also an opportunity to truly befriend this Taoist priest.

"I can't tell you the specifics, but I can show you some secrets. You can guess the rest yourself." Zuo Qiuchi made the decision for Chu Mingkong.

"Yes," the female Taoist priest readily agreed.

Zuo Qiuchi released the layer of sword intent energy that he had placed on Chu Mingkong, which was used to shield him from others' perception of his injuries.

Through the blindfold and Chu Mingkong's clothes, Yun Nongyu saw a powerfully pulsating... Yin Core?

Isn't this a humanoid abyssal beast standing in front of her?

Wait, there's a golden thread near the heart—is that extreme Yang energy?!

Chapter Two: Wait for Me to Come Back

He's not worried about the soul-searching at the Taoist temple for the time being.

Moreover, with Zuo Qiuchi keeping an eye on things, Chu Mingkong could rest assured for the time being, and he didn't need to worry about anyone continuing to harm Zuo Qiuchi, since the blindfolded Taoist was right here.

They're really not afraid that someone can punish these two big shots in a short time.

Chu Mingkong asked Yun Nongyu if she had any magical artifacts that could conceal one's whereabouts, and Yun Nongyu casually gave him a talisman of exceptional quality.

"This is the Dustless Talisman, which can conceal your form. The drawback is that it amplifies your aura movements. However, since you are currently afflicted by the Abyss Injury, it actually prevents your aura from being exposed. Take it and use it."

This is a real treasure! Chu Mingkong had read quite a few works with the theme of invisibility in his previous life... cough cough, he was referring to the sixth brother of the Calabash Brothers.

Serious works!

"Then I will accept your thanks without hesitation. As for expressing my gratitude, please let my master convey it to me. I will return to the capital first to check on the situation. I will leave the situation here to my master and Daoist Yun!"

Zuo Qiuchi stood up, intending to kick him down the mountain, and said irritably, "You want me to thank you on your behalf? When you hook up with a pretty girl later, why don't you let me enjoy her first?"

Yun Nongyu recalled the "vulgar words" Zuo Qiuchi had said to her before, and used them to respond:

"It's alright, you two are very close, so the three of you can enjoy it together."

Zuo Qiuchi was suddenly speechless, not expecting this female Taoist to be so vengeful.

Chu Mingkong hadn't expected the sisters' conversation to be so...interesting, and he wanted to join in and discuss it further.

However, seeing Zuo Qiuchi's expression as if he was about to lash out, he slipped away and ran off.

------------

After activating the Dust-Free Talisman, Chu Mingkong went to the nearby riverbank to look at his reflection. Indeed, he couldn't see it anymore; it was quite strange.

He was very worried that the balance barrier would prevent him from entering the capital, because the golden thread on his heart had become quite weak.

Fortunately, this worry was unfounded!

Although it was a bit difficult and took some effort to get through the layer of barriers in the capital the first time, things became easier after that, and they didn't stop him again.

Chu Mingkong didn't take advantage of his invisibility to act recklessly. He first loitered around the inbound procession near the city gate to see if he would be discovered.

A pair of men walking side by side, judging from their attire, were members of an opera troupe. One was a young man with powdered face and a somewhat effeminate demeanor, singing songs, while the other was a rough man responsible for odd jobs.

These two people looked like ordinary people with a tiny bit of cultivation, insignificant, just there to assist in the opera performance.

Chu Mingkong gently patted the young boy's butt, but didn't leave, just stood there watching his reaction.

The young, rosy-cheeked man, blushing and angry, said to the rough-looking man in a coquettish voice, "What do you mean? I asked you to do it before, but you wouldn't. Now you're flirting with me!"

The rough-looking man stared at his blushing colleague with a puzzled expression.

Chu Mingkong took a few steps back, muttering to himself, "Could this be considered a bad thing? But it seems they really can't find me, so I'd better slip away first."

"Now we should find a child to try. Children and the elderly are quite strange; they can easily see things that ordinary cultivators cannot."

His target was a little girl carrying a basket of flowers, who was talking and playing with a cricket on the ground.

This farm girl came to the city with her father to sell things. It was already evening, and restaurants and markets were buying ingredients. Her father was pulling a cart full of vegetables, walking laboriously behind her.

Chu Mingkong walked up to the little girl and said, "Little girl, I'll buy your basket of flowers. How much?"

He stood right in front of the girl, but she didn't notice him at all. She looked around in surprise, finally fixing her gaze on the cricket.

"Cricket, you can talk?"

"Yes, what flowers should I give to a girl?"

"Many older girls love to buy these two kinds of flowers, red and purple. Do crickets also need to be given as gifts to girls?" The little girl stared wide-eyed.

Following the little girl's suggestion of color matching, Chu Mingkong picked a cluster of flowers and then tossed a few pieces of silver into her basket.

While the little girl was checking what had fallen into the basket, Chu Mingkong tossed the cricket away, pretending that the "Cricket Immortal" had left.

After swaggering past the city gate guards, Chu Mingkong felt completely at ease. At least he could control his movements, and the Dustless Talisman could indeed make him invisible to a considerable extent.

"It would be perfect if even the movements and noises could be completely concealed. It's a pity. When you encounter top experts, they can detect the ground tremors caused by your footsteps, the airflow from your breath, and the slightest changes in spiritual energy."

But it's not good to have too many expectations; it's enough to just help him avoid the trouble of some minor thugs.

Chu Mingkong arrived at the Shangguan residence again, the sound of gongs and drums growing louder, and the smiles on the servants' faces becoming even wider.

With the addition of a Crown Princess to the household, their status will rise accordingly, and they will receive a celebratory allowance tomorrow—equivalent to several months' worth of allowance in just two days.

Anyone who dares to cause even the slightest obstacle to the Second Miss's wedding day will be met with a fight to the death!

Chu Mingkong strode in through the main gate and skillfully strolled around the Shangguan residence, where he saw the dozens of dowry carts that had been prepared.

There wasn't enough room, so it was divided into several rooms, but he didn't check each one.

"It seems that tomorrow is the official wedding day. Being rich is really awesome. So many dowry carriers, such a hasty and temporary wedding, and they can prepare everything so quickly."

He clicked his tongue and shook his head, then swaggered into the women's courtyard.

Upon entering Shangguan Rong's courtyard, the surroundings immediately became quiet.

It was a truly magical feeling; the boisterous, celebratory sounds vanished the moment I stepped into the courtyard.

It's beautiful here, even without that festive atmosphere.

A few magpies gathered by the window, occasionally chirping to keep the girl in the room company.

Chu Mingkong entered Shangguan Rong's boudoir, focused all his energy on concealing himself, and quietly approached Shangguan Rong's side.

The woman, who had been standing tall and straight, changed back into men's clothing. On the corner of the desk lay a torn piece of cloth, which was carefully pressed down by an inkstone.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Rong was writing the four words "Wait for me to come back" from the cloth book on a piece of white paper.

She has already written many sheets, and several are on the ground.

Some were imitations of his handwriting, seemingly trying to guess his state of mind when he wrote them; others were written in her own handwriting, and she even changed several different fonts, as if mocking Chu Mingkong's ugly handwriting.

Yet it also seems like she's using these few words to pass the time while waiting for him to come back.

She must have been tired of writing, because she muttered, "Her handwriting is ugly, and her heart is ugly too. What a lecher!"

Chu Mingkong almost couldn't help but laugh out loud. He slowly leaned over and reached out to hug her.

Chapter Three: The Primordial Yin Remains

However, Chu Mingkong failed to hug her; Shangguan Rong's keen perception was somewhat beyond Chu Mingkong's expectations.

Even if the energy flow is imperceptible when the body is extremely close, the air movement caused by raising a hand is enough for the other person to notice someone approaching.

Shangguan Rong's reaction was still intense. One second she was dipping her brush in ink, and the next she was kicking back while coldly flicking the brush behind her, sending a few drops of ink flying like projectiles towards the location of "Dongjing".

The ink droplet contained a trace of extremely yin energy. It wasn't very strong and couldn't harm Chu Mingkong, but it was enough to hurt many unsuspecting people.

Chu Mingkong removed the Dust-Free Talisman, revealing his true form. He raised his hands in surrender, with a few drops of ink still hovering at his fingertips.

"Stop, I was wrong, you don't need to react so strongly."

When Shangguan Rong saw that it was Chu Mingkong, she stared at him coldly for a while, and then, remembering something, she quickly put the papers on the desk and the floor into her storage bracelet.

She scoffed, "You scoundrel."

"How did my reputation go from being a lecherous scoundrel to a scoundrel..." Chu Mingkong slowly walked over and put the ink from her fingertips back into her inkstone.

Shangguan Rong's reaction just now wasn't actually that big. Ordinary people don't have such an "invisible" ability. It wasn't until he was almost hugging her that Shangguan Rong realized there was someone behind her.

The girl's subconscious thought was of flower thieves or the like, and she would definitely beat them as badly as possible.

"Is what you just did something a normal person would do? You're lucky you didn't get a beating! Do you act so frivolous towards every girl you meet?"

Chu Mingkong knew she was still angry about that "playing" method, so he stood still and let her vent her anger by scolding her first, without uttering a single rebuttal.

However, when Shangguan Rong reprimands people, the air of a strict female teacher and her commanding presence are probably something she honed when she was the Grand Tutor and disciplined the princes and princesses.

If Shangguan Rong were still a teacher at the Royal Academy, Chu Mingkong could sneak in and get a scolding.

In terms of lecturing others, Xiao Yunhan is pretty much the same. Being a stranger in a strange land, he finds a pretty girl to scold him, which he considers a form of homesickness.

Shangguan Rong scolded him several times, but when she saw that he didn't speak, her anger gradually subsided, and she also remained silent, creating a cold standoff with him.

The magpie by the window watched the couple inside the house with curiosity, not understanding how the man had appeared, what game the two were playing, or why they were both silent.

Chu Mingkong was the first to speak. He moved a few steps closer to Shangguan Rong. The woman was not used to his sudden approach and subconsciously stepped back, but behind her was a desk and paper.

"What did you plan to do in your room after I left?"

"It's nothing." Shangguan Rong turned her face away, shifting her gaze elsewhere.

She's the kind of girl who's strict and rigid with herself and others, and she's the least likely to lie. She can even maintain a calm and composed expression in front of strangers.

But he felt guilty and dared not look Chu Mingkong in the eye.

When Chu Mingkong left the city, no premonition appeared in his mind. He didn't know if it was because they had developed some kind of relationship after cultivating together once, but he felt his heart skip a beat.

That wisp of extreme yang energy "grabbed" his heart, seemingly as a kind of reminder.

He couldn't be sure what kind of feeling it was, but he instinctively felt it wasn't a good thing. However, he didn't have time to go back at the time, so he had to make a compromise and send a blood letter back.

Tell Shangguan Rong that whatever needs to be done, be sure to wait until he returns.