Everyone dispersed.
Yun Yan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, the daylight outside cascading like a waterfall, spilling over him.
Though his personality was usually unconventional, at this moment he bore the demeanor of an immortal, otherworldly and serene.
Hmm? That figure in the sky—why does she look like my disciple Jiang Yan?
“Sect Master Senior Brother, what are you looking at?”
A hoarse voice came from Wen Ping, the First Seat of Shenfu Peak. She had stayed since earlier and had not left.
“Oh, Junior Sister, you’re still here! I wasn’t looking at anything in particular.”
Wen Ping smiled faintly at his words.
“Sigh, Senior Brother, don’t think I don’t understand you. Although you’ve always been a bit eccentric on the surface, I know.
You are the only one in our generation who fully masters the divination techniques passed down in our sect, able to see things we cannot.
Perhaps it’s precisely for that reason you keep so much bottled up inside.
You actually saw Lin Yin that night, so why didn’t you say anything?”
Yun Yan fell silent for a long time.
“Alright, I suppose I’m meddling. I’ll take my leave first.”
Wen Ping turned and left.
……
At Shenfu Peak, inside a small pavilion on the mountain.
A disciple with a dignified aura sat before a Go board, deep in meditation.
Looking closely, it was Xu Qianlan, an inner disciple of Shenfu Peak.
His demeanor remained cold, showing no trace of having just killed a mortal.
The Go board in front of him was divided into black and white stones; he held a black stone in hand, hesitating for a long time before placing it.
The seat opposite him was empty.
It was a Qingming stone bench, seamlessly blending with the Go board, polished smooth as a mirror.
An elderly figure approached and sat down in the previously empty seat.
“Have you decided your next move?”
Her tone was gentle but hoarse. Wen Ping carefully observed this disciple who had joined less than two years ago.
“I am dull of wit, but I can barely manage the next move.”
Xu Qianlan placed the stone he had thought of, barely staving off defeat with the black stones.
Wen Ping’s mouth curved slightly, seemingly pleased with the move, though her smile was silent.
But the move was hardly ingenious.
She picked up a white stone; the moment it touched the board, the white stones seemed to receive orders and launched an encirclement against the black stones.
“My skills are lacking, Master, thank you for your guidance.”
“Heh, making it this far with me is already quite good. But you, your style of play is encircling yet hesitant to attack, overly cautious. If you had abandoned that corner black stone just now, there might still have been a chance to win.”
Fine lines of insight appeared at the corners of Wen Ping’s eyes. She was quite surprised by this boy.
Surprised that a child from the General’s Estate could play in such a style, yet at the same time, she felt she understood the boy’s character a little better.
“I understand, Master!”
Xu Qianlan bowed respectfully. Wen Ping stood and patted his shoulder.
“Did you use corporal punishment?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Wen Ping asked with concern.
“My skills are inadequate! I failed to rescue the hostage from the Xie Xiu, so I deserve punishment.”
“Enough, child, this is not your fault. Wan Senior Brother already explained to me. You faced three Foundation Establishment cultivators alone, which was no easy feat.
Moreover, you successfully rescued the child and slew the Xie Xiu. Your merits are undeniable.
Don’t blame yourself.”
“I understand.”
The more Wen Ping looked at this boy, the more satisfied she became. Unfortunately, what marred this was her knowledge that he actually wanted to walk the path of the Sword Cultivator, which she found regrettable.
Though he did not say it, Wen Ping felt a trace of guilt.
“Alright, go back now. Your merits have been discussed with the Elders. You may receive the Tianxin Jue ahead of schedule. Prepare well to participate in the Climbing Immortal Ladder a year from now.”
……
After a while, Jiang Yan escorted Jiang Che back to Xu Qianlan’s residence.
She had had a fulfilling day—rarely did she get a chance to relieve her stress.
When Xu Qianlan returned and heard that Jiang Che had gone out with Jiang Yan, she looked somewhat surprised.
She had mentioned before that she wanted to accompany Jiang Che for a walk, but he had refused.
While Jiang Yan was still there, Xu Qianlan kept her back to ask what they had done during their outing.
Of course, Jiang Yan would never reveal the secret of her secluded cave or the many times she had pinched Jiang Che’s face.
She only said that she had taken Jiang Che flying on his sword to roam around.
However, Jiang Che never smiled, which made Jiang Yan feel a bit odd.
After telling Xu Qianlan, she seemed to understand—after all, Jiang Che’s eyes were like that, surely he had endured much suffering. It made sense he wouldn’t smile.
What she did not know was that this was a problem within Jiang Che’s heart, something very difficult for him to overcome.
No matter how much he tried to control himself, it was hard for him to smile.
Xu Qianlan, hearing this, felt somewhat troubled. She hadn’t expected Jiang Che to willingly go out with Jiang Yan and even talk so much. Jealousy instantly surged within her.
She even regretted having tricked Lin Yin away, as that might have been her only way to learn more about Jiang Che.
She had originally thought that, given their past relationship, Jiang Che would tell her everything.
But the facts proved she had been naive.
What hurt most was that Jiang Che seemed not to trust her!
After Jiang Yan left, Xu Qianlan stared at Jiang Che, who sat quietly in the room.
She found she understood him less and less, and was clueless about what he was thinking.
She approached and picked Jiang Che up. He was a little stunned, not understanding what she intended.
Xu Qianlan carried him a few steps over to the bed and sat down.
“Don’t move.”
A soft, gentle voice filled Jiang Che’s ears. The sound was interlaced with spiritual energy, immensely soothing.
“Relax, I’m coming in.”
“Ah?”
Before Jiang Che could grasp what these ominous words meant, Xu Qianlan’s palm gently rested on his abdomen.
In an instant, warmth spread through Jiang Che’s body.
Xu Qianlan carefully controlled every bit of spiritual energy, sending the purest essence into Jiang Che’s dantian.
“Xiao Che, I’m sending some spiritual energy into your body so the Shi Ling Gu inside you won’t bother you for now.”
Jiang Che’s heart churned with mixed emotions. Why was Xu Qianlan doing this? He clearly did not trust her.
Jiang Che was certain that on the day he left the sect, Zhao Zi’ang had personally told him that Xu Qianlan had refined pills for him.
Recalling the lost Resurrection Pills from the Medicine Hall, for a moment, Jiang Che even wondered if among dozens of possibilities, one was that Xu Qianlan and Zhao Zi’ang had framed him.
Soon, the spiritual energy transmission was complete. Jiang Che was at a loss for words.
“Xiao Che, is there something else you want to do?”
Jiang Che nodded.
“Can you tell me?”
Jiang Che hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
Whether out of distrust or a reluctance to owe Xu Qianlan more, it was probably not the answer she wanted to hear.
“If you won’t say, then so be it. Is there anywhere you want to go?”
Xu Qianlan asked one last probing question. Since Jiang Che was willing to go out today, maybe there was somewhere he wished to visit.
“Can you… help me inquire about something?”