Zanxing

Chapter 116 - Fairy Song Vine (1)

She took Yinli's primordial spirit out of the underground imperial tomb, not for any particular reason, but simply because she didn't want that beautiful merfolk to live an entire life without ever having his name remembered by the one he loved. Cultivators value their cultivation deeply, and some would go to any lengths to break through. Yet Yanxing took the risk of potentially damaging her own cultivation by allowing Yinli's primordial spirit to attach to her.

For her, it was a simple act of kindness. For Yinli, it was likely his only chance.

When he dissipated into light, Yanxing had heard a soft "Thank you" near her ear. Later, she discovered this pale-colored fish scale within herself. She didn't know what it was.

"Merfolk scales are tough, capable of withstanding attacks," Gu Baiying said as he looked at the scale before her. "Yinli's physical body has been dead for years. This scale, formed from his primordial spirit, can't block attacks, but it holds water-based spells within it." He continued, "Keep it. It's his gift of gratitude to you."

Yanxing carefully put the scale away, feeling a bit silent.

Thinking of Yinli made it hard for anyone to feel joyful.

After a while, Mu Chengxiao said, "I heard that after Princess Lizhu woke up, she didn't remember what had happened before."

That night on the Xingxiu Platform, Yinli had kissed the woman, and afterward, his primordial spirit had dissolved into light. But when Princess Lizhu woke, she had no memory of Yinli, nor of anything that had happened.

"It was likely Yinli's doing," Mengying said with a somber expression.

Mendong took a bite of the roasted fish, found it undercooked, and placed it back over the fire. While doing so, he curiously asked, "Why did he erase Princess Lizhu's memories? After paying such a huge price, he left nothing behind. Was it worth it?"

"Probably because not everyone can handle the truth," Yanxing thought of the young boy with pure eyes and quietly said, "He didn't want the one he loved to suffer, even if it meant being forgotten himself."

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Tian Fangfang sighed, "That's just too noble. I couldn't do it."

"What a fool," Gu Baiying coldly remarked.

Yanxing looked at him, "Martial Uncle, don't you think so?"

"Of course," Gu Baiying replied without hesitation, "If I liked someone, I'd make sure she remembered me. Even after I died, I'd want her to remember me."

Yanxing said, "You'd be dead, and she'd still remember you? That must be some deep grudge."

"Yang Yanxing!" Gu Baiying glared at her in anger.

"I was just joking."

Mu Chengxiao flipped the fish over and softly said, "But one thing still seems strange. At the time, Yin Ying said someone had given him demonic power and ordered him to enter the secret realm to search for a painting. But in the end, he was silenced, and we still don't know who was behind it. For someone to raise Yin Ying's power so drastically, that person is definitely not ordinary."

Even the greatly empowered Yin Ying had troubled the cultivators, so it's likely that the person behind him had even greater cultivation and was equally ruthless.

"But how could there be a painting in the secret realm?" Tian Fangfang asked Mendong. "Did Senior Sister Ziluo ever mention it to you?"

Mendong shook his head, "Senior Sister Ziluo only said that there are many rare spiritual herbs and fruits on Wudong Mountain, and if we were fortunate enough to find a spirit beast, it would be considered good luck... she never mentioned a painting."

"If their plan fails, they'll surely try something else," Gu Baiying reminded them, "Stay alert in the secret realm. Don't fall into anyone's trap."

Yanxing twirled the fish-skewering stick in her hand, but her thoughts were elsewhere. That day, she had asked Yin Ying why he had snuck into her room, but before he could finish his sentence, he disappeared. Yet, the strange look he gave her had left Yanxing uneasy ever since.

What exactly was it?

On the other side, the disciples from several other prominent sects were happily grilling meat.

Yinfeng Sect had mines within their territory, making them wealthy. Their disciples' Qiankun Bags could hold much more than those of other sects, and with such capacity, they didn't care how much they brought. They packed anything they thought might be useful, such as various seasonings, ingredients, and even pots, pans, and utensils—far more refined than Mendong's medicinal pot.

The members of their sect were also quite generous. Whenever disciples from other sects came to borrow chopsticks, bowls, or seasonings, they happily obliged. Before long, they had become quite popular.

At this moment, Nie Xinghong sat on a green stone, his deep blue robe spotless, his hair tied into a refined bun, exuding an air of elegance and meticulousness, as if he were not in a secret realm but in some grand, luxurious restaurant in the mortal world.

His junior brothers were grilling rabbit meat, while a senior sister from Xiangling Sect sliced the watermelons Tian Fangfang had just brought and distributed them among the cultivators.

He Ri from Chihua Sect, who disliked Yinfeng Sect's showiness, intentionally mocked Nie Xinghong, "Nie Xinghong, I heard that yesterday you tried to curry favor with Taiyan Sect by offering them a whole box of Huiyuan Pills, only to be sent packing?"

"Huiyuan Pills?" Other cultivators who heard this looked at Nie Xinghong with newfound interest. Huiyuan Pills weren't cheap, each costing several dozen spirit stones. For Yinfeng Sect to give away a whole box, that was certainly extravagant.

Nie Xinghong didn't get upset upon hearing this. He simply fanned himself and, maintaining his cultured demeanor, smiled and said, "I had good intentions, but Fellow Immortal Gu probably thought I had ulterior motives toward Fairy Yang... Since the two of them are Dao companions, being a bit sensitive in these matters is understandable."

The moment he mentioned "Dao companions," everyone was instantly reminded of the scandalous love affair exposed by Yin Ying that day in the imperial tomb.

Holding their watermelons, the cultivators edged closer to Nie Xinghong, teasingly asking, "Nie Xinghong, is it true that Gu Baiying and Yang Yanxing are Dao companions? I thought that was just the merman spouting nonsense."

"It's absolutely true." Nie Xinghong smiled slightly and spoke earnestly, "From my many years of experience in matters of the heart, I can tell they are deep in the sweet, inseparable phase of their relationship."

Putao from Xiangling Sect glanced over at Gu Baiying in the distance and said, unconvinced, "Impossible, right? Yang Yanxing still has that big black scar on her face. If you said Mengying was his Dao companion, that might be believable... but Yang Yanxing..." She didn't finish, clearly holding a poor opinion of Yanxing.

Seeing her complicated expression, Nie Xinghong chuckled knowingly and said, "That's not the right way to look at it. Fairy Yang may have a flaw in her appearance, but her heart is kind and noble. Not everyone would be willing to let a merman's primordial spirit possess them. Besides, from what I've seen, it's obvious that Immortal Gu cares for Fairy Yang more than she does for him."

"Really?" Another cultivator chimed in, "Ignoring a great beauty like Fairy Meng and paying special attention to an ordinary junior disciple instead? It seems Immortal Gu must be quite the gentleman who's not swayed by appearances."

"Gentleman?" Another laughed loudly, "More like someone with questionable taste!"

Putao said no more, her fingers tightening slightly around the bamboo skewer as she silently roasted the deer meat in front of her.

In the distance, the faint chirping of birds could be heard, disappearing into the far reaches of Wudong Mountain.