Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Reunion at Qiyun Mountain, a Deep Talk Under the Moon
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"Ji Wujin has his eyes on me?"
Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat. He looked sharply at Luo Xiyue, his expression puzzled, and asked via voice transmission, "Immortal Luo, are you saying Ji Wujin truly considers me a close friend?"
"You could say that. He'll offer you some help, but if your cultivation can't keep up, he'll also kill you."
Luo Xiyue put away her top-grade magical artifact, the Remnant Snow Sword. With a thought, she piloted the spirit boat toward Mirror Moon Lake.
Evidently, Luo Xiyue didn't want to say more about the Ji Clan.
"Brother Chen, when did you and Ji Wujin get on bad terms?" Ruan Tieniu asked, puzzled.
"Bad terms? Not at all. Fellow Daoist Ji was genuinely here to see me off," Chen Jianghe replied with a chuckle.
Ruan Tieniu gave a knowing smile.
As a demon hunter with keen insight, how could he not have caught the sarcasm in Chen Jianghe's earlier words?
Or notice the change in Ji Wujin's expression when the two were communicating via voice transmission.
Several times, Ji Wujin had nearly flown into a rage out of shame and attacked Chen Jianghe.
Ruan Tieniu could sense all of this.
As an experienced demon hunter who had not only survived to successfully reach Foundation Establishment but had even escaped from the Beast Taming Market City.
He was hardly an unobservant person.
However, since Chen Jianghe didn't elaborate, he wouldn't press the matter.
Their friendship hadn't reached that point. Saying more would be pointless. He could back Chen Jianghe up, but he wouldn't fight his battles for him.
Half an hour later.
The spirit boat appeared in the sky above Mirror Moon Lake, but they hadn't run into Yun Xiaoniu and the others along the way.
"Immortal Luo, let's go to Qiyun Mountain." Chen Jianghe pointed in the direction of Qiyun Mountain.
Luo Xiyue gave a faint nod.
She piloted the spirit boat toward Qiyun Mountain.
They flew along the Luoxing River the entire way, but when they reached Qiyun Mountain, there was still no sign of Yun Xiaoniu.
This puzzled Chen Jianghe.
Knowing Yun Xiaoniu, as soon as he received the message, he would have definitely headed for Qinghe Market City.
But not encountering him on the way made Chen Jianghe a little confused.
"We've arrived at Qiyun Mountain. Big Brother Ruan, are you heading directly to Ferry Market City, or will you rest here for a bit?"
Chen Jianghe stood up and looked at Ruan Tieniu.
"I won't be staying."
Ruan Tieniu looked at Chen Jianghe and said solemnly, "Brother Chen, I will remember this kindness. If you ever come to Thousand Mountains Market City north of the Tongtian River, be sure to find me."
"Alright." Chen Jianghe nodded.
"Thank you, Immortal Luo."
Ruan Tieniu turned to thank Luo Xiyue, only to find she had no intention of responding.
He wasn't offended. He simply flew off the spirit boat and headed north toward Ferry Market City.
As for asking Chen Jianghe to help get Luo Xiyue to modify the Profound Heaven Dragon Pattern Rope, that was something that couldn't be rushed.
Their friendship wasn't deep enough for her to use up a favor for him.
Watching Ruan Tieniu's departing figure, Chen Jianghe turned to Luo Xiyue and asked, "Where does Immortal Luo plan to go?"
"North of the Tongtian River, to Thousand Mountains Market City."
"In that case..."
Chen Jianghe started to say something, but the words died on his lips. He changed the subject and invited, "Why don't you rest at Qiyun Mountain for a while, Immortal Luo?"
"Alright."
With a wave of her hand, Luo Xiyue put the spirit boat away.
Chen Jianghe felt the ground disappear from beneath his feet and immediately circulated his magical power to steady himself, shooting a helpless glance at Luo Xiyue.
Why so few words?
Couldn't she have given a heads-up?
The two then landed in the small cultivator town halfway up Qiyun Mountain. This place used to be a market city established by the White Clan.
The market had been plundered twice by Lan Tianxiang.
Later, with the fall of the White Clan, the market city fell into ruin.
After the Yun Clan took over the Qiyun Mountain territory, they naturally didn't establish a market here, focusing their main efforts on the Mirror Moon Market City.
After the Yun and Yu clans split, Qiyun Mountain and the surrounding six hundred li became the Yu Clan's territory.
After Yu Daniu's family arrived at Qiyun Mountain, they established this small cultivator town, five li in circumference.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue walked side by side through the small town, drawing many stares.
However, all eyes were on Luo Xiyue.
As for Chen Jianghe with his plain face, he was completely ignored.
Chen Jianghe paid it no mind. He looked around, observing the small cultivator town run by the Yu Clan.
The streets were sparsely populated with just over a hundred cultivators, most of them in the early stages of Qi Refining, with a few in the middle stages.
As for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, he only saw three.
But there were quite a few mortals.
"Excuse me~"
Chen Jianghe stopped a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Before he could even finish his question, the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator hurriedly bowed in salute.
"This junior, Han Ping, pays his respects to Senior."
"Uh~"
Chen Jianghe was slightly taken aback, feeling the fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator's reaction was a bit over the top.
But then he remembered that this wasn't a market city but a newly built cultivator town, currently not even comparable to Port One of Mirror Moon Lake.
As a great cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he would naturally be highly respected.
At this moment, he seemed to understand why those early and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and even the mortals, dared to stare so brazenly at Luo Xiyue.
Luo Xiyue was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her aura concealed.
These cultivators didn't think Luo Xiyue was a lofty Foundation Establishment Ancestor. They probably mistook her for the concubine of a great ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator like himself.
They were treating Luo Xiyue like a mortal woman.
"Excuse me, how do I get to the Yu Clan's residence?" Chen Jianghe asked with a smile.
"This junior doesn't dare to be addressed as 'excuse me' by Senior."
Han Ping bowed and replied, "Senior must be asking about the main family of Qiyun Mountain. They don't live in the cultivator town, but at the summit."
"Mm, thank you."
Chen Jianghe nodded, then turned to Luo Xiyue and said, "Immortal, let's go."
Then, Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue flew toward the summit of Qiyun Mountain.
"This senior's words are so gentle. He actually said 'thank you' to me?"
Han Ping found it somewhat incredible. A moment later, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly in a proud expression.
---
The summit of Qiyun Mountain was as flat as if it had been sliced by a blade. On it sat a nine-courtyard mansion, surrounded by smaller courtyards that stood guard over the main residence.
This used to be the ancestral land of the White Clan.
Now, it had become the Yu Clan's ancestral land. However, looking at the empty courtyards, it seemed no one was living in them.
Even the main mansion housed very few people.
Arriving before the mansion, Chen Jianghe knocked on the door ring. Soon, a middle-aged cultivator emerged.
He was at the third level of Qi Refining and dressed simply.
He was likely a servant of the Yu Clan.
"Senior is?"
"I am a friend of Yu Daniu, from Qinghe Market City. Go announce my arrival," Chen Jianghe said calmly.
"Please wait a moment, Senior."
Hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator hurried toward the inner courtyard to inform Yu Daniu.
A moment later.
Yu Daniu appeared in Chen Jianghe's line of sight. Seeing Chen Jianghe, his pace suddenly quickened.
In an instant, he was in front of Chen Jianghe.
"Big Brother!"
Yu Daniu, who had been filled with worry, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Chen Jianghe.
After learning that a beast tide was about to erupt in Qinghe Market City, Yu Daniu had been worried about Chen Jianghe every day.
If not for his low cultivation level, he would have flown to Qinghe Market City long ago to face the danger with Chen Jianghe.
In fact, Yu Daniu had initially planned to go to Qinghe Market City, but Yun Xiaoniu had persuaded him not to.
After all, he was only at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Going to Qinghe Market City would only be a distraction for Chen Jianghe.
Even Alchemist Zhuang, Zhuang Xinyan, and Jiang Ruxu had been sent away in advance.
"Daniu, where's Xiaoniu?" Seeing Yu Daniu, Chen Jianghe quickly asked about Yun Xiaoniu. He believed that as long as Yu Daniu saw the letter, he would have definitely sent Yun Xiaoniu to Qinghe Market City.
"Big Brother, you didn't run into Eldest Brother?"
Seeing that Yun Xiaoniu hadn't returned with Chen Jianghe, Yu Daniu thought for a moment and then said, "Eldest Brother, the Ancestor, and Cousin Bufan left Qiyun Mountain together this morning. They said they were going to the Gu Clan first, then following the Fuyao River to the Youxian River to pick you up from Qinghe Market City."
Hearing Yu Daniu's words, Chen Jianghe understood what had happened.
Yun Xiaoniu must have still been on the Fuyao River when they entered the Luoxing River. They had clearly missed each other.
Luo Xiyue's spirit boat was too fast.
If they had been flying on their swords, they probably would have met Yun Xiaoniu on the Youxian River.
"We must have missed them. We took the Luoxing River and detoured through Mirror Moon Lake on our way here."
"I expect they'll be back soon. The beast tide in Qinghe Market City has already erupted. The demonic beasts should have surrounded the city by now."
Chen Jianghe said.
"Hiss~ So the beast tide really did erupt." Yu Daniu sighed.
"It's good that you're back, Big Brother."
"And this is?"
Yu Daniu grabbed Chen Jianghe's arm, ready to lead him into the courtyard, only then noticing the devastatingly beautiful woman standing beside him.
Her stunning beauty was in no way inferior to Gao Peiyao's.
"This is Immortal Luo. I was only able to return thanks to her," Chen Jianghe introduced.
"This junior, Yu Daniu, greets Immortal Luo."
With his ninth-level Qi Refining cultivation, combined with his frequent encounters with Foundation Establishment cultivators—his own son being one—
he could tell at a glance that Luo Xiyue was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Immortal Luo."
"Yu Daniu? Peiyao has told me about you. Honest and loyal. Very good," Luo Xiyue said faintly.
"Haha, you praise me too much, Immortal."
Yu Daniu scratched his head and gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Big Brother, Immortal Luo, please, come in."
Upon learning she was Luo Xiyue, Yu Daniu recalled what Yun Xiaoniu had said upon his return and knew that Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao had a deep relationship.
They arrived at the reception hall.
A servant served spirit tea.
Yu Daniu sent someone to inform Alchemist Zhuang. Soon after, Yun Siniu, Lady Zhou, and Yu Qirui also arrived.
"Uncle."
"Granduncle."
Yun Siniu and Lady Zhou bowed respectfully.
Yu Qirui came before Chen Jianghe and also bowed in a proper manner.
Chen Jianghe noticed that Yu Qirui had already begun cultivating.
He had drawn qi into his body and was at the first level of Qi Refining.
"Mm, good."
Chen Jianghe nodded and said to Yun Siniu and Lady Zhou, "This is your Aunt Yao's closest friend, Immortal Luo. Come and pay your respects."
Yun Siniu and Lady Zhou exchanged a look, both stunned for a moment, before quickly bowing to Luo Xiyue.
"Greetings, Immortal Luo."
They had both assumed Luo Xiyue was Chen Jianghe's concubine, as she had no magical power fluctuations.
With such beauty, she must have stirred Chen Jianghe's mortal heart.
They never expected her to be a Foundation Establishment senior.
Luo Xiyue merely gave a slight, faint nod.
"Daniu, Immortal Luo will be staying at Qiyun Mountain for a while. Have you arranged a place for her to stay?"
Chen Jianghe could tell that Luo Xiyue seemed to dislike such scenes, so he spoke to Yu Daniu.
"For Immortal Luo to stay at Qiyun Mountain is a blessing for my Yu Clan."
Yu Daniu also noticed that Luo Xiyue preferred quiet and immediately said to Lady Zhou, "Xiaoyue, take Immortal Luo to the upper courtyard to rest."
"Yes, Father."
Lady Zhou replied.
But just then, Alchemist Zhuang walked in briskly with his granddaughter and disciple. The moment he saw Chen Jianghe, he burst out laughing.
"I knew you would turn misfortune into fortune, Fellow Daoist! Haha... It's good that you're back, very good!"
"Immortal Luo?"
At this moment, Alchemist Zhuang saw Luo Xiyue and said slowly, "No wonder you were unwilling to leave Qinghe Market City with us back then, Fellow Daoist. It turns out you were waiting for Immortal Luo."
"This old man greets Immortal Luo."
Alchemist Zhuang clasped his hands in salute.
"Old Alchemist."
Luo Xiyue responded softly, glanced at Chen Jianghe with her phoenix eyes, and then said to Lady Zhou, "Let's go."
"Immortal, please follow this junior."
Lady Zhou respectfully led the way, taking Luo Xiyue to her arranged residence.
The residence didn't really need arranging. The Yu Clan was newly established, and there were excellent, high-class courtyards everywhere, all rich with spiritual energy.
Some of the upper courtyards even had formations to draw upon earth fire.
After all, this place had been managed by the White Clan for several hundred years and was quite well-developed.
"Senior, you're finally here! If you hadn't come back soon, Master was getting anxious enough to go looking for you in Qinghe Market City."
"Mm, Grandpa's getting impatient in his old age."
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both said with a grin.
"You two rascals." Alchemist Zhuang looked at them with a doting expression.
"I've made you worry, Fellow Daoist."
Chen Jianghe clasped his hands and said sincerely.
From the moment Alchemist Zhuang gave him the second-tier Gold-element attack talismans, he knew the alchemist's concern for him was genuine.
"It's good that you're back, Fellow Daoist. By the way, why didn't Fellow Daoist Yun return with you?"
Alchemist Zhuang asked, puzzled.
This very morning, he had watched Yun Xiaoniu and the others leave Qiyun Mountain to go pick up Chen Jianghe from Qinghe Market City.
How was it that Chen Jianghe was back, but Yun Xiaoniu wasn't?
"He should be back soon."
Chen Jianghe calculated the time. He had been at the Yu residence for over two hours. If nothing unexpected happened, Yun Xiaoniu should be on his way back from Qinghe Market City by now.
Seeing the beast tide erupting at Qinghe Market City, they would definitely turn back.
Then, Yu Daniu had Yun Siniu arrange a family banquet to welcome Chen Jianghe back once Yun Xiaoniu returned.
As for whether to invite Luo Xiyue, Yu Daniu asked Chen Jianghe. Chen Jianghe thought it was better to extend the invitation.
Of course, she most likely wouldn't attend.
Just as Chen Jianghe expected, he went to invite her personally, but Luo Xiyue declined the spirit banquet, citing closed-door cultivation as her reason.
By the first quarter of the Hour of the Pig that night.
Yun Xiaoniu finally returned, his face full of disappointment.
He, the Yun Clan Ancestor, Yun Bufan, and the Gu Clan Ancestor had traveled from the Fuyao River to the Youxian River, then followed it toward Qinghe Market City.
Just as they were approaching Qinghe Market City, they saw that a beast tide had already erupted, with thousands of demonic beasts surrounding the city.
Among them were quite a few terrifying second-tier demonic beasts.
They couldn't get close to the city at all and could only turn back along the Youxian River, hoping Chen Jianghe had already left.
After searching for four hours, the Gu Clan Ancestor left.
Then the Yun Clan Ancestor and Yun Bufan also left one after another.
Only Yun Xiaoniu remained, searching along the Youxian and Luoxing Rivers in the hopes of finding Chen Jianghe.
"Uncle?!"
When Yun Xiaoniu returned home and saw Chen Jianghe chatting and laughing with Yu Daniu and Alchemist Zhuang, his face lit up with pleasant surprise.
"Xiaoniu, you've worked hard." Chen Jianghe stood up and said to Yun Xiaoniu.
"As long as you're back, Uncle, this nephew can rest easy."
With Yun Xiaoniu's return, the family banquet began.
With Chen Jianghe present, Alchemist Zhuang, Zhuang Xinyan, and Jiang Ruxu were naturally included in the banquet.
The members of the Yu Clan held sincere respect for Alchemist Zhuang.
This was because during his time at Qiyun Mountain, Alchemist Zhuang had Jiang Ruxu help the Yu Clan refine many spirit pills.
Of course, even though the Yu Clan provided the medicinal herbs and Jiang Ruxu refined high-grade spirit pills, the Yu Clan still paid her fifty percent of the market price in spirit stones.
By this calculation.
It was equivalent to the Yu Clan buying spirit pills from Jiang Ruxu at a twenty percent discount.
They were already getting a great deal.
The Yu Clan also knew that Alchemist Zhuang and his disciples had come to Qiyun Mountain because of Chen Jianghe.
However, an unexpected person appeared at this family banquet.
It was Yun Huizhen's younger sister, Yun Huixiang.
According to Yu Daniu's explanation, Yun Huixiang had been sent by Yun Huizhen to the cultivator town in the Qiyun Mountain territory a long time ago.
She appeared today simply because she happened to be at Qiyun Mountain.
Chen Jianghe didn't think much of it, merely lamenting how quickly time passed. The arrogant young girl from back then had now become a middle-aged woman.
It made sense. He himself was already seventy-six years old.
Yun Huizhen's sister was only six years younger than him. Now at the age of seventy, she naturally showed her age.
At the banquet, Chen Jianghe was the center of attention. Yu Daniu and Alchemist Zhuang conversed with him, and the younger generation frequently toasted him.
Coupled with Jiang Ruxu's lively disposition, she often laughed and chatted with Chen Jianghe.
By the seventh quarter of the Hour of the Pig.
The family banquet concluded.
Chen Jianghe had originally asked Yu Daniu to arrange a place for him to stay, but Yu Daniu pulled him to the rear courtyard, saying he wanted to have a long talk with him under the moon.
Alchemist Zhuang led Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu out of the mansion and back to the upper courtyard where they lived.
The younger generation also returned to their respective rooms.
"Xiaoyue."
Yun Huixiang called out to Lady Zhou and said amiably, "May I come to your place for a visit?"
"Aunt, what are you saying? It is this junior's blessing that you would visit my home." Lady Zhou invited Yun Huixiang into her small courtyard.
Yu Qirui didn't live with her.
Ever since Yu Qirui started cultivating, he had been staying by Yun Xiaoniu's side.
"Please sit, Aunt. I'll make you some tea."
Lady Zhou respectfully invited Yun Huixiang to sit, then brewed a pot of spirit tea and poured her a cup.
"Xiaoyue, can your aunt confide in you?" Yun Huixiang looked at Lady Zhou with a somewhat sorrowful gaze.
"Aunt, what's wrong?"
Lady Zhou felt very puzzled. This aunt, with whom she had never been particularly close, had not only sought her out today.
But she also wanted to confide in her.
Lady Zhou didn't dare to slight Yun Huixiang, because she knew this was her mother-in-law Yun Huizhen's only sister.
Given Yu Daniu's and Yun Xiaoniu's loyal and righteous nature, they would certainly place great importance on Yun Huizhen's sister.
In truth, deep down, Lady Zhou rather disliked Yun Huixiang.
Because she had heard that her husband, Yun Wuniu, had grown up with Yun Huixiang since he was a child.
In her view, Yun Wuniu's promiscuous nature was definitely Yun Huixiang's fault.
Otherwise, Yun Xiaoniu, Yun Youniu, Yun Sanniu, and Yun Siniu were all so loyal, righteous, modest, and polite.
Yet somehow, they ended up with the scourge that was Yun Wuniu.
However, despite her dislike, Lady Zhou dared not show it. Yu Qirui was not yet grown, and she needed to rely on her father-in-law, eldest brother-in-law, and fourth brother-in-law to raise him.
"Xiaoyue, did you know? I almost became your aunt-in-law."
"Aunt-in-law?!"
Lady Zhou was stunned. She remembered her father-in-law only had one younger brother and one younger sister.
The sister had already passed away.
The brother was living out his old age in the cultivator town halfway up the mountain.
She had never heard of an older brother!
Suddenly, Lady Zhou thought of something, and a look of shock appeared in her eyes. "Aunt, are you talking about Uncle?"
She looked at Yun Huixiang's old woman appearance, then thought of Chen Jianghe's youthful face that looked to be in its twenties.
She simply couldn't connect the two.
"Yes~"
Yun Huixiang nodded and sighed softly. "Back then, I was too proud and arrogant. I thought he would be nothing but a Fishery Farmer his entire life."
"But he never told me he was a Talisman Master."
"Xiaoyue, do you know? When he became a Talisman Master, he was already qualified to marry me, but he never even mentioned it to my brother-in-law!"
"Really, if he had just asked, I would have married him right then."
"Why didn't he ask my brother-in-law?"
Yun Huixiang recalled Jiang Ruxu at the banquet, ten times more beautiful than she had been in her youth, constantly pestering Chen Jianghe with conversation, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
And that Zhuang Xinyan, pretending to be so innocent, was also stealing glances at Chen Jianghe throughout the banquet.
This made her curse the two girls viciously in her heart.
Listening to Yun Huixiang, Lady Zhou pursed her lips and couldn't help but distance herself from her.
She didn't respond, simply letting the words go in one ear and out the other.
After a long while.
Yun Huixiang raised her head, looked at Lady Zhou, and said earnestly, "Xiaoyue, thank you for listening to your aunt ramble on."
"As your elder, let me give you a piece of advice. As a woman, you must seize your opportunities. Matters of marriage, once missed, will turn to dust when our beauty fades."
Lady Zhou frowned, her expression displeased. "What do you mean, Aunt?"
"Xiaoniu has already reached Foundation Establishment. The fact that he's keeping Qirui by his side clearly shows he's interested in you. You should be more proactive now, seize the opportunity. Don't wait until time has passed and you look like your aunt, then..."
"Get out!"
"Get out of my sight!"
Lady Zhou's face changed drastically. Disregarding Yun Huixiang's status as an elder, she waved her hand, and her magical power swept Yun Huixiang up and threw her out of the small courtyard.
"You venomous shrew! To say such shameless things! From this day forward, you are forbidden from ever setting foot in the Yu residence again!"
Lady Zhou's furious shouts carried far in the dead of night.
"Daniu, what's going on?"
In the rear courtyard, the two brothers, Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu, were drinking and talking when they suddenly heard Lady Zhou's angry curses coming from a side courtyard.