Chapter Sixty-Eight: I Play Myself
Li Qing gazed compassionately at her departing figure.
After they had walked away, she couldn’t help but ask You Ruoying, “Fellow Daoist, can you contact your sectmates now? This child knows nothing at all. Is it possible for the disciples of No-Return Peak to act a day earlier?”
You Ruoying frowned slightly and replied, “I can’t help with that. The plan was set long before I came in.”
“Then isn’t she doomed? She’s so pitiful…” Qian’er stared absent-mindedly in the direction where Qu Yiqiu and the others had left, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“Yes, if she had resisted just now, perhaps she wouldn’t have been taken away so quickly…” A female cultivator in the dungeon sighed softly.
“She’s truly unfortunate…” The female cultivators in the dungeon all sympathized with her plight.
Li Qing’s slender hand dropped from the iron bars, and she lay back down, powerless. Staring at the darkness above, she knew there was nothing she could do.
You Ruoying’s beautiful eyes swept over the empty cell where Qu Yiqiu had stayed. Now it was deserted, with only faint marks left from someone having slept there.
Last night, she had explained things so clearly, yet that girl stubbornly followed the Spring Rain Tower’s courtesan. Was she foolish, or simply naive?
You Ruoying withdrew her pitying gaze.
This couldn’t be blamed on her. She couldn’t ruin the plan to destroy Spring Rain Tower for the sake of one person.
Unless the covert operations of the Union of Joy Sect were eliminated, lone female cultivators or those ignorant of the dangers would have no guarantee of safety.
She closed her eyes, no longer looking at the empty cell.
…
Yunlu City, outskirts.
“Miss, I’ve found out everything. The disciples of No-Return Peak plan to make their move the day after tomorrow,” Fei Zhongda reported respectfully.
Standing before him was Jiang Shuangyan, dressed in a mulberry-colored skirt adorned with moonlit flowers. Her delicate face was as fair as jade; her earrings were exquisite, tiny five-colored gemstones, her hair tied high with only a single pink peony hairpin.
“Good. Since they’re acting the day after tomorrow, we’ll strike tonight! The reputation and achievements lost in Qunan City—we, the Jiang family, must reclaim them in Yunlu City!”
Jiang Shuangyan’s eyes sparkled as she fixed her gaze in the direction of Spring Rain Tower, the tender green twig in her hand crushed to powder by her grip.
“Yes, Miss. This time, our Dai Luo Peak disciples will absolutely return victorious and erase past humiliation!”
On either side of Jiang Shuangyan stood two plainly dressed Foundation Establishment male cultivators, who responded in unison.
Jiang Shuangyan’s almond-shaped eyes swept over them arrogantly, her lips curling disdainfully. “If you fail again this time, you can go join Yu Mingyuan and his companion!”
“Yes!” The two men responded loudly, anxious.
Fei Zhongda kept his eyes down, saying nothing more.
Since Jiang Shuangyan had led her ambitious first team into the chaos of Qunan City and ended up with a tenth-place, insignificant ranking, her longtime confidants Yu Mingyuan and another trusted aide had been replaced by the Jiang family, discarded as useless.
He wondered which remote corner they were mining in now.
He’d been lucky enough to discover that Yuan Zhengqing’s jade slip records were accurate, managed to snatch a few, and earned a bit of merit.
Otherwise, he’d be mining alongside Yu Mingyuan too, and wouldn’t have the chance to follow Jiang Shuangyan any longer!
…
Yunlu City, Fengyun Mountain.
Grass and vines flourished, and the spring hills were in sight.
He Yumian gazed admiringly at the handsome figure standing atop the cliff, her heart fluttering for a moment.
Huo Tangsheng sensed her gaze and turned around.
He Yumian quickly composed herself, her watery eyes calm as she looked at him.
At this moment, Huo Tangsheng’s appearance was completely different from how Qu Yiqiu had seen him amid the underground magma.
He wore a bejeweled purple crown, a white jade circlet with streaming pearls across his brows, long brows like willow leaves, smiling at the corners, his figure tall and elegant, jade at his waist, exuding dignified presence.
“Junior Sister He, we must act tonight. The Jiang family has already arrived,” his voice was clear and crisp, like jade clinking.
He Yumian was stunned for a moment.
She recovered and asked, “How did Senior Brother Huo know? Is the person from the Jiang family Jiang Shuangyan?”
Huo Tangsheng raised a hand, summoning a thumb-sized bee sparrow. He stroked its soft down gently with a finger and said, “It told me. The one from the Jiang family is indeed Jiang Shuangyan.”
He Yumian shifted her gaze to the bee sparrow, her eyes filled with envy.
The Huo family—a super clan with millions of years of heritage. Its foundation was beyond imagination.
Even the rising super clan Jiang family couldn’t compare.
The bee sparrow in his hand looked ordinary but carried the bloodline of the ancient Azure Luan. It could conceal its aura, hide among common birds, and fly incredibly fast, like lightning.
“Since Jiang Shuangyan is here, we can’t delay further. I’ll order everyone to move up the plan,” He Yumian responded briskly.
She showed not a hint of doubt in his words.
Huo Tangsheng nodded imperceptibly, his lips curving into a captivating smile.
He Yumian hurriedly turned away.
She feared she couldn’t control her racing heart.
Despite all her efforts, the gulf between herself and Huo Tangsheng remained unbridgeable—a chasm that would never close.
He Yumian lowered her gaze, hiding the fleeting sadness in her eyes.
She then stepped away, disappearing into the dim cave beneath the cliff.
Huo Tangsheng raised his eyes slightly, watching He Yumian vanish, and released the bee sparrow.
“Go to the Netherworld Domain. Keep an eye on that space for me.”
He had not abandoned the plan to invade the Netherworld Domain.
He had followed He Yumian here only to retrieve the three Nascent Soul stage golden-skinned puppets buried near Yunlu City a thousand years ago.
Now that he had them, there was no need to waste time here.
He Yumian’s actions needed to be swift.
Only then could he return sooner to the Crimson Leaf Deep Valley to face that mysterious figure.
…
Led by the courtesan, Qu Yiqiu entered a room fragrant and filled with feminine charm.
Pink curtains draped down, faintly revealing a spacious and luxurious bed, the atmosphere enchanting.
The courtesan tossed a set of Daoist robes from her sleeve, smiling seductively. “Your looks are just a bit lacking, but you can make up for it with your bearing. Put on these robes—I want to see if you capture a little of Qu Yiqiu’s spirit.”
Qu Yiqiu was startled, her gaze resting on the dark green robes.
These robes were identical to those she wore in Qunan City.
Was the courtesan asking her to disguise herself?
“What’s wrong—are you scared?” The courtesan laughed softly, gently reassuring her. “Don’t be afraid; you won’t have to entertain guests tonight. All you need to do is follow behind me as a decorative attendant.”
Plain looks, not stealing the limelight, an air of righteous prestige—almost like someone from the orthodox path.
The courtesan glanced at her secretly, growing more satisfied.
A lovely flower needs green leaves to set it off!
Qu Yiqiu’s lips twitched. This brothel even dabbled in role play? Using her name to attract business?
Enough was enough—she would endure no longer.
She was determined to destroy this place, to vent her anger!
——Extra——
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