Chapter Twenty-Nine: Emerging from Seclusion
The two of them thought this way, but it didn’t mean King Jin Ghost could rest easy.
His gaze was fixed ferociously on Huo Tangsheng’s profile within the crystal, as if he could tear him to pieces if only he could burrow inside.
“Hey… Sansha, bring us all the fruit and beast meat. I want to feast here with the king!” Yao Zhimei stood up on her chair, waving at Sansha as he passed outside the central hall.
Sansha’s eyes were glazed. He nodded, floating away.
At that moment, Huo Tangsheng’s voice sounded again from within the crystal.
“The time has come. You should be on your way.”
“No… spare me! King Ghost, save me…!”
Huo Tangsheng’s face was cold as he crushed the black mist in his hand.
“Foolish Wang Er, even on the verge of death, you want to drag me down with you!” King Jin Ghost gritted his teeth viciously.
Qu Yiqiu glanced at the crystal image.
Huo Tangsheng, sensing something, turned his face squarely toward the crystal’s lens.
“He startled me!” King Jin Ghost, seeing those cold and wicked eyes, cried out and leapt back more than a yard.
Qu Yiqiu’s eyes narrowed. Could it be that Huo Tangsheng had already sensed someone was secretly observing him?
But in just a breath, Huo Tangsheng turned away again, silently pacing out of the dark chamber.
“It’s best not to provoke that lad. He’s got plenty of treasures on him; perhaps he’s already aware of the crystal’s presence,” Yao Zhimei squinted, feeling a faint aura of killing intent emanating from Huo Tangsheng.
That was an aura accumulated only through murder.
“Yes, yes, this boy is ruthless when he acts, nothing like a righteous cultivator—no compassion at all!” King Jin Ghost regained his composure and walked a few steps, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.
Yao Zhimei rolled her eyes dramatically. How could she have been chased up here by such a cowardly ghost cultivator?
Qu Yiqiu pondered Huo Tangsheng’s final glance, thinking he must have sensed something.
“Grandma Yao, the fruit and beast meat are served!”
Dashan, Ershan, and Sansha, one after another, brought platters and dishes to the table.
Fresh, tender spiritual fruits of every color filled the air with sweet fragrance.
“Hahaha, King Jin Ghost’s life isn’t bad at all. Being the overlord here is worth it—the food is excellent!” Yao Zhimei laughed, tossing a pink peach to Qu Yiqiu.
King Jin Ghost’s eyelids twitched. He forced a smile. “As long as Grandma Yao and the mistress are satisfied, that’s all that matters!”
Thinking of how he wouldn’t be able to live freely for some time to come, a sharp pain stabbed his heart.
Qu Yiqiu took a bite; sweet peach juice filled her belly.
“It’s delicious. Where did you get all this?”
King Jin Ghost licked his lips, answering guiltily, “Mistress, these were all taken from human cultivators by me and my subordinates.”
Qu Yiqiu was not surprised.
Apart from the gloomy grass and other Yin-tinged weeds, she had seen no other plants in the ghost cultivators’ paradise.
“Once we finish, we’ll have to leave.”
“So soon? Do you want me to prepare anything for you?” Yao Zhimei popped a grape into her mouth, mumbling.
“I need gloomy grass and spirit stones. If you have both, prepare some for me,” Qu Yiqiu spoke without hesitation.
By permitting Yao Zhimei to summon everyone, she had already decided to hand over the ghost cultivators’ paradise to her.
“Haha, those are all in the treasury. I’ll personally prepare everything for the mistress!” Yao Zhimei, with a purple grape between her lips, smiled brightly.
Qu Yiqiu nodded, unconcerned about Yao Zhimei doing anything underhanded.
King Jin Ghost’s eyelid twitched violently, cursing himself for his stupidity.
If only he’d put those things away earlier, they wouldn’t have fallen into someone else’s hands for nothing!
He had grown too comfortable in the ghost cultivators’ paradise, forgetting the dangers outside.
Evening gradually fell outside, but the ghost cultivators’ paradise remained unchanged. Pale gray mist drifted everywhere, as if nothing threatened its existence.
The next day.
Yao Zhimei went out first, using her divine sense to scout the surroundings.
Once she confirmed that Huo Tangsheng had left, Qu Yiqiu and King Jin Ghost emerged from the ghost cultivators’ paradise.
Qu Yiqiu took the storage pouch Yao Zhimei had prepared for her, then ordered King Jin Ghost to lead her on a detour.
She and Yao Zhimei shared the same thought.
Huo Tangsheng’s behavior was truly bizarre. For the sake of her own life, she’d rather take the long way back to Tianyan Sect.
With King Jin Ghost guiding her, Qu Yiqiu didn’t spend much time on the journey back.
Two days later, she returned to Xiaoping Peak.
“Master, you’ve come out of seclusion!” Qu Yiqiu stared in surprise at Mo Qingli, whom she hadn’t seen in ages.
He wore plain robes, his black hair tied at the back with a jade-green bamboo hairpin. His garments fluttered, his presence ethereal.
“Yiqiu… you’ve worked hard.” Mo Qingli spoke gently.
His transcendently handsome face made Qu Yiqiu’s eyes sting.
“Master, you finally… wait, why is your cultivation level even lower than mine?” Qu Yiqiu’s emotion vanished as she asked in astonishment.
Mo Qingli’s star-like eyes dropped slightly. “My foundation was destroyed long ago. At first, I thought I had no hope, so I transferred my cultivation to Mu Yunjin. Now, I can only disperse my cultivation and start over.”
Qu Yiqiu watched his meekly bowed head, her brows twitching, but in the end she didn’t speak harsh words.
“I understand. Master, let’s cultivate together. That way, when you teach us, we can spar with each other!”
Qu Yiqiu blinked, thinking perhaps this arrangement wasn’t so bad.
But… but his cultivation was only at the first layer of Qi Refining—it really diminished Xiaoping Peak’s reputation!
The highest cultivation on the whole mountain was only the ninth layer of Qi Refining!
How would they get by?
Mo Qingli looked up at her. “I always knew Yiqiu was my most sensible disciple, but…”
“But what?” Qu Yiqiu’s scalp tingled, sensing he was about to say something unexpected.
Mo Qingli pressed his lips lightly. “But while I was in seclusion, I nearly exhausted all the resources left in the storage pouch. From now on, Xiaoping Peak’s taxes, wages for the servitor disciples, cultivation materials…”
“Master, I understand. I’ll earn enough to make up for it, you just focus on regaining your cultivation!” Qu Yiqiu interrupted him, picking up the thread with perfect timing.
She expected Mo Qingli to show appreciation, but he shook his head strangely instead.
“I’ll go out and take on tasks to earn it myself. I can’t let your cultivation progress be delayed—just that I won’t have time to teach you much anymore…”
Qu Yiqiu froze—he really was her true master!
But earning so many spirit stones with only the first layer of Qi Refining…
She couldn’t help but remember Mu Yunjin being knocked off the cliff by a tail snake when he was at the first layer.
“Master, do you know the sect’s minor competition is about to begin?” Qu Yiqiu put on a stern face, asking seriously.
Mo Qingli’s eyes were hazy. “No, is the competition starting again?”
Qu Yiqiu nodded firmly. “Yes, the sect’s minor competition is coming, but this time the one entering isn’t me—it’s Mu Shidi, who knows nothing!”
She absolutely couldn’t let Mo Qingli go out for tasks.
She had plenty of ways to earn spirit stones. There was no need for him to risk himself with only the first layer of Qi Refining.
Besides, if Mo Qingli went out in his current state, he’d surely be ridiculed by many disciples.
She worried gossip would affect his spirit.
“The sect competition is coming…” Mo Qingli murmured softly.
“Yes, master, so you can’t leave now. You must stay at Xiaoping Peak and teach Mu Shidi spells, ensuring he isn’t bullied on the stage!” Qu Yiqiu watched his expression closely.