Chapter 135: The Taoist Nun

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More than a dozen women suddenly appeared outside the pavilion, every one of them dressed as a Daoist nun. One among them had an ugly face of a dull, silvery gray, so hideous that even Mo Bai’s brows knitted slightly. She was also the one who had spoken moments earlier.

Yu Zhi rose and clasped her hands. “So it is Third Junior Sister Yu Qiu. I have only just returned from my travels. I was hoping to visit Master on Dui Feng Mountain, but on the way I happened to encounter Elder Cui Zhu and Elder Yin Hua here, so I stopped for a while.”

The woman called Yu Qiu was none other than the third disciple of Perfected One Gu Meng. Unexpectedly, she too was a Daoist nun. She stepped out from the crowd, first saluting Elders Cui Zhu and Yin Hua, then turning her gaze upon Mo Bai and the other two. After looking them over from head to toe, she asked, “Second Senior Sister, are these three your friends?”

Yu Zhi smiled. “I only met them here moments ago. I have not yet had the honor of becoming their friend.”

“Oh? Is that so? Yet I saw the four of you conversing so happily just now. I truly envy you, Second Senior Sister, for being able to leave the mountain at will, visit heroes and worthy men, and make so many capable allies.” There was unmistakable provocation in Yu Qiu’s words.

Mo Bai’s expression cleared as he immediately understood what was happening. He had clearly been misunderstood. Since Yu Zhi and Yu Qiu were both Daoists, both of them naturally had a chance to inherit Perfected One Gu Meng’s mantle. How could such intrigue escape Mo Bai’s notice? He promptly clarified, “Indeed, Senior Sister. We only met for the first time here. We have never encountered one another before.”

“Oh? Then the three of you must be planning to enter Dui Feng Mountain. May I ask what brings you here? These are troubled times for the Yihua Sect, so please explain your purpose. I shall report it to Master and let her decide whether you may proceed.” Yu Qiu’s face darkened as she spoke.

“Third Junior Sister, do not misunderstand. This is Mo Bai, the great hero who rendered tremendous assistance to our Yihua Sect at the Lingjue Arena.”

Yu Zhi immediately explained.

“Second Senior Sister, you never went to the Lingjue Arena. Have you actually seen Mo Bai in person? I, too, have heard of him on Dui Feng Mountain, but all I heard was hearsay. Who can say what is true and what is false?” Yu Qiu did not give Yu Zhi the slightest bit of consideration.

Cui Zhu was just about to speak when Granny Yin Hua pulled him back and said softly, “I have already sworn never to concern myself with worldly affairs again.”

Cui Zhu could only glance helplessly at Yu Qiu twice before saying glumly, “Little Yu Zhi, once you have seen Perfected One Gu Meng, come find some time to chat with me. And bring this young fellow Mo along as well. My hands are itching for a spar.”

Before he could finish, Granny Yin Hua forcibly dragged him away from the pavilion.

Yu Qiu watched the two elders depart and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though boundless jealousy churned within her. Before she could speak, the little witch Nalan Xin’er could no longer restrain herself.

“Is this how the Yihua Sect treats its benefactors?”

Yu Qiu turned toward the girl who had spoken. Nalan Xin’er might not have been very old, but she already possessed the makings of a breathtaking beauty, with a figure that would make any woman envious. Yu Qiu had always hated beautiful women most of all. Without giving the matter a second thought, she immediately shouted, “Where did this wild girl come from? What impertinence! Our Yihua Sect has stood for centuries. Dealing with Guihai City would be as easy as turning over our hand. Why would we need anyone else’s help? And as for calling him a benefactor, that is utter nonsense!”

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The little witch was just about to lose her temper when a delicate laugh rang out. A crimson blur flashed past, followed by a voice filled with irresistible charm.

“Well, well. I never expected the foot of Dui Feng Mountain to be so lively. Second Junior Sister, when did you return? Oh? Third Junior Sister, why have you not yet gone to carry out Master’s instructions?”

The newcomer was the Red Forest Lady, the foremost senior disciple of the Yihua Sect.

The many disciples of the Yihua Sect grew tense the moment they saw her arrive and hurriedly bowed. Yu Zhi approached with a radiant smile and clasped her hands.

“Senior Sister, it has been three years since we last met, and you have become even more beautiful.”

“Heavens, am I not merely older?” the Red Forest Lady teased. Then she noticed Mo Bai and the others in the pavilion. “Oh? So you have come as well.”

Wu Luohua was growing anxious. He had seen the Red Forest Lady speaking earlier, and she now cast him a seductive glance before smiling.

“Young Master Wu, there is no need to worry. Everything concerning Junior Sister Gan Yu is proceeding smoothly. My own master personally presided over the ceremony accepting her as a disciple, and she has also bestowed upon her the Yihua Sect’s supreme treasure, the Spirit-Gathering Pill. In just a few days, she should be strong enough to protect you. Hehe.”

Wu Luohua’s old face flushed red, but his heart was filled with delight.

Yu Qiu’s expression grew even uglier. She had not expected these visitors to truly be the Mo Bai and his companions who had displayed such astonishing might at the Lingjue Arena. She cursed inwardly. Clearly, these people were on excellent terms with the Red Forest Lady, and they were also friends of Gan Yu, the disciple newly accepted by Aunt-Master Gu Yu. It seemed that her path within the Yihua Sect would become even more difficult.

Yu Qiu had long since made succeeding as the next sect master of the Yihua Sect her greatest ambition, and she had worked tirelessly toward that goal. As the third disciple of the current sect leader, Perfected One Gu Meng, her cultivation was in no way inferior to that of any disciple of her generation. In fact, she surpassed most of them. Throughout the entire Yihua Sect, fewer than ten people could match her, and of those, only two or three were on friendly terms with her. Several others were secular disciples. Thus, in her heart, she had always regarded Yu Zhi as her greatest rival.

Yet during the battle at the Lingjue Arena, her master had not sent her out of the mountain. Instead, she had dispatched the Red Forest Lady and Yu Fu to Guihai City. This had deeply agitated Yu Qiu. She immediately realized that two more hidden rivals had emerged.

Although the Red Forest Lady was a secular disciple, she was nevertheless the Yihua Sect’s foremost senior disciple. Her cultivation was extraordinarily refined, and she had rendered outstanding service to the sect. Who could say that Master might not one day lose her judgment and break precedent by allowing the Red Forest Lady to inherit the sect’s supreme position?

And besides the Red Forest Lady, Yu Fu had risen like a sudden military force from nowhere. Proud and aloof by nature, Yu Fu was nevertheless deeply favored by Master. How could Yu Qiu not feel troubled by that? If not for the repeated encouragement of a certain elder who supported her from the shadows, she might long ago have been unable to endure it.

Now Mo Bai had suddenly appeared as well, making Yu Qiu even more nervous.

While Yu Qiu was lost in her thoughts, the Red Forest Lady’s expression had grown somewhat stern. In a rare display of severity, she reprimanded her, “Third Junior Sister, if you do not leave now, you may not make it back before nightfall. If you delay the item Master requested, will you be able to bear the consequences?”

Her words immediately brought Yu Qiu back to her senses. Although she had gained no advantage here, she did not make any further fuss. Turning toward the Red Forest Lady, she clasped her hands.

“Thank you for reminding me, Senior Sister. I shall take care of it at once.”

With that, she turned and departed. The dozen or so Daoist nuns behind her bowed to the Red Forest Lady and Yu Zhi before following her.

The Red Forest Lady watched Yu Qiu’s departing figure and gave a helpless smile.

“Junior Sister Yu Zhi, did you see that? Three years have passed, yet Yu Qiu is still exactly the same. Alas, there is simply no helping her.”

Yu Zhi, however, did not take it to heart.

“Senior Sister, good things often come only after hardship. I believe that one day Junior Sister Yu Qiu will understand. But let us invite our guests up the mountain quickly. It is getting late, and I must also go pay my respects to Master.”

The Red Forest Lady smiled and took Yu Zhi by the arm. Then she turned to Mo Bai.

“Please, Mo Bai, great hero. Hehe.”

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Mo Bai could only smile helplessly. The Red Forest Lady’s captivating gaze was truly difficult to resist.

Beside him, the little witch wore an indignant expression and muttered, “Brother Mo, you go on ahead. I will stay here. I can find somewhere to rest. Once you and Brother Hua have finished your business, come back for me.”

Clearly, the girl had formed a poor impression of the people from the Yihua Sect.

Mo Bai and Wu Luohua both froze. Under no circumstances would either of them abandon Nalan Xin’er.

At that moment, Yu Zhi gave the girl a gentle smile.

“Little one, do you not wish to see your Sister Gan Yu?”

Those words struck precisely at the little witch’s weakness while giving her a graceful way out. She replied reluctantly, “Very well. I suppose I can endure it for the sake of seeing Sister Gan Yu.”

With that, she strode ahead, but suddenly turned back and said to Yu Zhi, “Senior Sister, I am not a little girl. I am a grown woman!”

Yu Zhi smiled helplessly. Then she saw Mo Bai nod at her, expressing his gratitude. She politely clasped her hands and began walking up Dui Feng Mountain alongside the Red Forest Lady.

Not long after the group had departed, a silver shadow flashed. A lovely young woman appeared inside the pavilion. She was dressed entirely in silver and possessed an exceptionally beautiful face. Her alluring eyes were no less captivating than the Red Forest Lady’s, and whenever she smiled, they curved into graceful crescents.

She gave a soft laugh.

“Mo Bai truly is an interesting man. Wherever he goes, he is welcomed by everyone. Ah, poor Yihua Sect. It has so many beautiful women without husbands. I wonder how many of them will eventually fall into his arms. And I wonder how many attacks that little Nalan girl can withstand. Perhaps I should go join the fun. Hehe.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman transformed into a streak of silver and pursued them toward Dui Feng Mountain like a ghost.

On a small peak some distance away, Elders Cui Zhu and Yin Hua had witnessed everything. They exchanged a smile.

Cui Zhu sighed. “Have I truly been away from the world for too many years? I never imagined that the experts of the Linglong Continent would become more numerous with each passing day—and that so many of them would be women. Judging by the figure of that young girl just now, she was certainly no less impressive than Yu Zhi.”

Granny Yin Hua frowned slightly.

“Old man, did you not notice that the girl’s figure looked somewhat familiar?”

Cui Zhu was taken aback. A thought stirred in his heart.

“You are right. There is something familiar about her, but… but…”

Before Elder Cui Zhu could finish, Granny Yin Hua sighed.

“I only hope that the arrival of that young fellow Mo Bai will not stir up trouble within the Yihua Sect.”

The two elders gazed together toward the peaks of the Yihua Sect, their eyes filled with profound unease.