Kong Hou and the others were once again shut outside the door by the nameless old man.
The salted fish uncle didn’t want to lose face with them. He sat on the driver’s seat of the carriage, lazily cracking pine nuts. Seeing Zhenren Wuming close the door on Kong Hou and Zhenren right in front of them, he even laughed aloud schadenfreudely.
Just when he thought these famous orthodox sect disciples couldn’t endure this insult, he saw Kong Hou lying on the door, patting it, apparently using telepathic communication with Zhenren Wuming.
【Zhenren, we’ve already gathered all the medicinal ingredients. If you’re interested, you can go to our Yunhua Sect and cooperate with Uncle-Master Qingyuan.】
The door was yanked open forcefully from inside. Zhenren Wuming’s expression was displeased: “Why should I go to your Yunhua Sect instead of Qingyuan coming here to me?” Going to Yunhua Sect—if he and Qingyuan got into a fight, wouldn’t Yunhua Sect help Qingyuan?
“Zhenren.” Kong Hou cupped her hands and bowed. “I know Zhenren has no one here with divided loyalty, but evil cultivators’ methods are sinister and evil. If they came here to launch a surprise attack, it wouldn’t be good for either you or me.” She always used the greatest malice to speculate about evil cultivators’ behavior. Gathering these medicinal ingredients wasn’t easy. If they were destroyed by evil cultivators during the refining process, she feared even her inner demons would be forced out.
“Our humble sect has been established for many years. Though we can’t compare to Liuguang Sect, Jiufeng Sect and others’ wealth, we also have a mountain-protecting grand formation and disciples guarding the mountain. Even if evil cultivators rashly came, wanting to break through the sect’s mountain-protecting grand formation isn’t such an easy matter.” Kong Hou took out two jade boxes from her storage ring. “These are some medicinal ingredients and spirit stones. Please accept them, Zhenren.”
Zhenren Wuming casually accepted the jade boxes and turned to glance at Huan Zong behind Kong Hou. He looked askance: “Men can’t be spoiled. If you do everything for him, he’ll become arrogant from being pampered.”
Kong Hou, seeing Zhenren Wuming accept the gifts, said with a grin: “Can’t help it. If I don’t spoil my own man, should I go spoil other men?”
The spoiled man, the cultivation world’s most famous Zhenren Zhong Xi, gave Kong Hou a gentle smile, peacefully accepting being pampered.
Seeing the two like this, Wuming turned and walked toward the house: “Wait outside for a while. I’ll go pack my things.”
With more people, it was no longer suitable to have Lin Hu rush along on his flying sword or ride in the carriage. Kong Hou searched in Huan Zong’s storage ring for a flying artifact with the strongest defense to ensure no mishaps on this trip. Haven’t you seen in various story books—after righteous faction people find important individuals, complications always arise due to various accidents? She didn’t want even the slightest accident to occur in this matter.
The matter of gathering the medicinal ingredients—flying message talismans had already been sent to the sect master of Liuguang Sect, as well as the sect master on Yunhua Sect’s side and Uncle-Master Qingyuan. Both sects had prepared early. Liuguang Sect even arranged for some disciples to disguise themselves as tourists and stay in Yong City.
The artifact with the strongest defense wasn’t the fastest among all flying artifacts. It took several days to rush back to Yong City. Kong Hou knew the salted fish uncle wouldn’t go with them to Yunhua Sect, so she handed over the land deed and house deed that Yunhua Sect had already prepared to him.
The salted fish uncle followed Kong Hou to the small courtyard. Seeing that the courtyard was in a good location, cleaned spotlessly, even the bedding was newly laid with the smell of having been sun-dried, he nodded with curved lips: “I’m very satisfied.”
“As long as you’re satisfied. Uncle, we’re rushing back to the sect now. Please forgive any inadequate hospitality.” Kong Hou sincerely thanked the salted fish uncle. When writing a letter back to the sect, she specially asked Senior Brother Wu Chuan to find a good small courtyard. Even the storefront was a prosperous shop on the main street.
She took out several jade slips and placed them in the salted fish uncle’s hands: “If you have matters and need to find me, you can crush a jade slip. If I have matters and can’t rush over in time, I’ll also ask other people to come.”
Playing with the jade slips in his hands, the salted fish uncle nodded: “I know. Go busy yourselves. Don’t disturb my sleep.”
His tone wasn’t very good, but Kong Hou didn’t mind. She turned and withdrew from the small courtyard with Huan Zong and Lin Hu.
“This person’s temperament is unpredictable, his whereabouts a mystery. I don’t know if he’s friend or foe.” Lin Hu glanced at the courtyard gate closed behind them. From when they encountered this person in the dilapidated town to obtaining dragon blood, this person’s words and actions were all suspicious.
“Whether he’s a friend I’m not clear about, but he’s definitely not an enemy.” Kong Hou shook her head. “What kind of enemy would give us dragon blood? There’s no such magnanimous and selfless enemy in the world.”
“Everyone has secrets they must guard. This uncle moved into Yong City—any small moves he tries to make in private will be difficult.” Kong Hou smiled looking at the pedestrians coming and going on the main street. “In our Yong City, the local common people all have discerning eyes.”
How many evil cultivators had been captured and killed after entering Yong City? How many cultivators who committed evil fled to Yong City only to never have another chance to leave?
Yong City—this was a city where if villains came, they shouldn’t think of leaving.
Returning to Yunhua Sect, Kong Hou discovered there were several unfamiliar faces in Yunhua Sect—recently recruited disciples. These disciples hadn’t seen Kong Hou or Huan Zong before. Seeing other senior brothers and sisters all saluting the two, they didn’t dare ask more questions and could only follow everyone in bowing in confusion.
Only after the two left did the new disciples dare to ask about their identities.
“It was actually Zhenren Zhong Xi and Senior Sister Kong Hou?”
Zhenren Zhong Xi’s great name was known throughout the entire cultivation world. Even those not traveling in the cultivation world still had legends about him. The Zhenren Zhong Xi in their imagination should be unsmiling, aloof and serious—a great power. They didn’t expect him to be so good-looking, standing together with Senior Sister Kong Hou, gentle as jade without a trace of sharp energy.
After learning what the new disciples were thinking, the senior brothers and sisters who had been guided in sword techniques by Zhenren Zhong Xi couldn’t help but shake their heads with emotion. These new disciples were still too young, not knowing that men all had two faces.
The current Zhenren Zhong Xi was gentle as spring breeze not because he himself was gentle, but because there was someone beside him who made him gentle.
Among those present, who had Junior Sister Kong Hou’s ability to make even Liuguang Sect’s Heartless Sword turn into finger-winding tenderness?
After arranging Zhenren Wuming, Kong Hou took Huan Zong and Lin Hu to Yunhua Sect’s main hall. In the main hall, not only were Heng Yan and Wang Tong present, but there was also someone Kong Hou hadn’t expected—Liuguang Sect’s Sect Master Jinyue.
She turned her head to look at Huan Zong beside her. Before returning to Yunhua Sect, they hadn’t known about Sect Master Jinyue being here. Could it be this matter couldn’t be spoken of publicly?
“Huan Zong pays respects to Master, to Uncle-Master Heng Yan, to Uncle-Master Wang Tong.” Huan Zong stepped forward and bowed, his posture elegant, composed and courteous.
Wang Tong nodded slightly. This disciple son-in-law was barely acceptable.
After Kong Hou also paid her respects, Lin Hu bowed to everyone: “I’ll take my leave first.” With several elders sitting here looking at the juniors, he wouldn’t join this excitement. During this period, watching the sweetness between the young master and Miss Kong Hou every day had been enough to exhaust his heart and spirit.
After exchanging pleasantries, Heng Yan went straight to the point: “Your dao companion ceremony date is set for the eighth of next month. All the invitation cards have been sent out. But Sect Master Jin and I discussed—ten years ago at Liuguang Sect, Jiu Su was severely injured by Zhong Xi and Zhenren Hong Yan. Zhenren Hong Yan died. Jiu Su’s full rage can only be vented on Zhong Xi. Ten years’ time is enough for Jiu Su to recover from his injuries. We suspect he’ll suddenly attack during your dao companion ceremony.”
Hearing this, Kong Hou said unhappily: “This truly fits their style of not letting people be comfortable even when dying.”
“However, you two don’t need to worry too much. Before your dao companion ceremony, we’ll send people disguised as ordinary common people to blend into the city. Within five li outside the city, we’ll also set up various protective formations. As long as the evil cultivators’ evil techniques leak out, the formations will detect them.” Heng Yan stroked his beard. “In this matter, we ten great sects will work together. We’ll arrange ambush personnel in the city. Although we don’t know who will win, at least completing your dao companion ceremony smoothly is no problem.”
Guessing that evil cultivators might want to use Kong Hou and Zhong Xi’s dao companion ceremony to catch all of them orthodox cultivators in one net, the ten great sects wouldn’t be stupid enough to have a pile of people gather on the mountain to drink celebration wine without preparing anything. If it were truly like that, this wouldn’t be famous orthodox sects but rather fools whose brains weren’t very good.
Evil cultivators wanted to catch them all in one net. They also wanted to use this opportunity to beat the evil cultivators until they fled in defeat, making them never again dare to covet the cultivation world.
“You juniors don’t need to worry about these matters. We elders have it under control.” Wang Tong said, “Kong Hou, take Zhong Xi to Chenxia Peak to find Qingyuan. In your spare time, go try on the celebration robes Elder Qiushuang refined for you. If there are places that don’t fit, there’s still time to alter them.”
“Alright.” Kong Hou nodded, grabbed Huan Zong’s hand, and smiled at Wang Tong. “Many thanks, Master.”
Watching the two young people’s joyful appearance, Wang Tong sighed and waved his hand: “We’re family. No need for such formality.”
After the two juniors withdrew, Jinyue revealed a smile toward Wang Tong. Rumors said Wang Tong didn’t quite like his disciple. Looking today, it seemed not quite like the rumors. From this one could see that rumors couldn’t all be believed.
Wang Tong acted as if he hadn’t seen Jinyue’s gaze and turned to look at the floor vase in the corner.
Zhenren Wuming and Qingyuan had different views on some medicinal principles. When refining this medicine whose ingredients were so rare they were nearly extinct, their cooperation was very harmonious. The two worked very cautiously. Worried about refining failure, they only took a portion of the medicinal ingredients to practice.
Five days later, the medicinal pills emerged from the furnace. The pill furnace emitted purple fog. The pills even had purple-gold colored pill patterns. The spiritual energy was so abundant that the entire room overflowed with spiritual energy.
“Zhenren Wuming, Uncle-Master, how is it?” Kong Hou pushed the door and entered.
This furnace refined only two pills total. Qingyuan pinched one of them, his expression grave as he shook his head: “According to the ancient formula’s description, when pills are completed, not only should there be purple energy swirling, there should also be the sound of dragons and phoenixes calling harmoniously. After we finished refining, we only saw purple energy but no dragons or phoenixes.”
Kong Hou bit her lip: “How could this be?”
“First take these two pills and let Zhong Xi try them. We’ll think carefully again about exactly which step went wrong.” Qingyuan placed the two pills in Kong Hou’s hands. He somewhat didn’t dare look at his martial niece’s eyes, afraid he was letting down this trust.
“Many thanks to Uncle-Master and Zhenren. You’ve worked hard.” Kong Hou gripped the pills tightly and smiled at the two.
Seeing this smile, Qingyuan’s heart relaxed slightly. He patted Kong Hou’s head: “Don’t worry. We’ll definitely be able to successfully refine them.”
Kong Hou nodded and withdrew from the pill refining room. Seeing Lin Hu waiting for her outside, she silently shook her head.
Lin Hu’s eyes dimmed. They had only thought about gathering the medicinal ingredients but hadn’t considered that pill refining methods now were already different from several thousand years ago. Whether the pills could be successfully refined was actually also a major problem.
Returning to the cave dwelling, Kong Hou saw Huan Zong sitting at the table reading a book. She rubbed her face to make herself reveal a brilliant smile. With light steps, she walked before Huan Zong: “Huan Zong, Uncle-Master Qingyuan wants you to first try this pill’s medicinal effect.”
Huan Zong put down his book and accepted the pill from Kong Hou’s hand, placing it in his mouth.
“How is it?” Kong Hou widened her eyes looking at Huan Zong, expecting this pill to have miraculous effects.
“The spiritual energy is very abundant. My five viscera and six bowels are all very comfortable. Even the spiritual energy in my spiritual platform has become much more plentiful.” Huan Zong closed his eyes and used his spiritual sense to follow the spiritual energy throughout his body for a minor circulation. “It’s an extremely rare good medicine.”
Meaning the spiritual platform hadn’t recovered?
Kong Hou’s heart was somewhat disappointed. She rested her head on Huan Zong’s knee, chattering on about some interesting sect matters, not mentioning the pill refining matter at all.
Gently stroking the top of Kong Hou’s head, Huan Zong’s expression was tender, the corners of his mouth also revealing a smile.
Standing outside the cave dwelling, Lin Hu saw this scene and silently retreated to the side. In his heart he didn’t know if it was relief or sadness—he only felt a mixture of five flavors. No matter what the final result was, at least in this life the young master had encountered a woman who taught him to smile and taught him to truly live.
Even in that moment of body death and dao dissipation, this life’s memories wouldn’t be blank and cold.
But since he already possessed beauty, why not let this beautiful time be a bit longer, a bit more perfect?
Kong Hou and Huan Zong stayed in the cave dwelling for a day. Early the next morning, they went to the pill refining room again. Zhenren Wuming and Elder Qingyuan were arguing endlessly around the ancient medicine formula. Kong Hou, bored with nothing to do, took a cloth to wipe the dust on the pill furnace. This would make her heart peaceful.
Zhenren Wuming and Qingyuan argued more and more fiercely, waking the distracted Kong Hou from her absent-mindedness. When turning around, her hand hit the ear of the pill furnace. She was cut by the dragon horn carved on it, her index finger immediately bleeding profusely.
People who refined pills were very sensitive to the smell of blood. Qingyuan, seeing his junior martial niece’s hand injured, couldn’t care about arguing with Wuming anymore. He took out several bottles of pills from his storage ring—ones for stopping bleeding, whitening, removing scars. This serious battle array scared Kong Hou until she almost thought she’d disfigured herself.
“Last time we followed your idea, and the refined pill failed.” Qingyuan lowered his head to treat Kong Hou’s wound. Without turning his head back: “This time we’ll do it according to my idea.”
Wuming calculated the remaining medicinal ingredients—they could still refine pills twice. He could only grit his teeth: “Fine. This time we’ll do it according to your idea.”
Kong Hou tugged Qingyuan’s sleeve and said in a small voice: “Uncle-Master, Huan Zong is our Yunhua Sect’s son-in-law.” Don’t pit your own martial nephew-in-law because you’re feuding with Zhenren Wuming.
“Go, go, go.” Qingyuan pretended to be annoyed. “Don’t be a hindrance here. Uncle-Master is about to start refining pills.”
Kong Hou, who was ruthlessly driven out by Uncle-Master Qingyuan, squatted on the stone steps outside the door hugging her legs. Many thoughts flashed through her mind. Before she knew it, the sky had already darkened.
When Huan Zong found her, he saw Kong Hou, who was usually full of vitality, squatting in a corner with a blank expression, like a milk puppy that had been frightened. He walked to her side and bent down to pick her up.
“It got dark. I came to take you back.”
Kong Hou reached out to tightly embrace Huan Zong’s neck, resting her head on his shoulder: “Huan Zong, you must stay with me.”
Huan Zong held her even tighter: “Alright.”
“Forever and always.”
“Mm…”