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Join the ServerXiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing followed the Yelan City guards all the way until, at the forest’s edge, they spotted a city slightly smaller than Yongning City.
Though Yelan City lacked Yongning’s grandeur, its location was far more strategic.
Surrounded by rivers on all sides and built on higher ground, it appeared easy to defend and hard to assault.
The city gates and the gilded plaque hanging high above them carried a far more solemn and imposing air than Yongning’s.
“Yelan City.”
Xiu Qingcheng looked up at the weathered plaque with its gilded characters and read the name aloud.
Gazing at the somewhat familiar sign and its bold lettering, a flood of emotions surged within her.
Her memories of this place felt like wandering through thick fog in Yelan City.
Everything around her was obscured in mist—no direction, no guide.
She groped forward bit by bit.
Flashes of memory came and went, yet nothing concrete remained.
“Master, thinking about the past?”
Meng Yingxing’s voice pulled her from her reverie.
She turned, nodding.
“Probably just early-onset dementia. You’ll have to find me lots of spirit treasures to nourish my brain.”
Meng Yingxing was momentarily speechless.
“What about them?”
Xiu Qingcheng asked, peering over his shoulder.
Meng Yingxing knew she meant Shen Xu and the others.
“They said they need to discuss something first and asked us to wait here.”
Xiu Qingcheng nodded without further comment.
People occasionally passed through Yelan City’s gates.
Bored, she counted them idly, humming the “Counting Ducks” tune—badly off-key.
“Wherever Master is, there her disciple will be.”
Meng Yingxing stood at her side, listening to her little hum, utterly entranced.
She only noticed when she leaned against him like a pillar.
His side dipped slightly under her weight; strands of flower-scented hair brushed his peripheral vision.
He didn’t mind at all.
His master’s weight brought him profound peace.
He was about to speak when she looked around and said,
“Yelan City was once a land of constant strife—invaded by foreign enemies, plagued by demonic beasts. Never a day of peace.”
“Yet it endured, preserving the memories of generations.”
Meng Yingxing obligingly asked why.
Xiu Qingcheng flashed a sly grin and shrugged.
“I have no idea.”
He shook his head with a laugh, then pulled her to a quiet corner to sit.
They both chuckled.
Soon, the guards returned.
Shen Xu was still far off but already waving wildly and shouting.
“You two! The Red Team says they’ll handle the beasts and asked me to take you into the city first.”
“They even gave me money—said we absolutely must treat you well!”
“Wan Ke Lai! Their roast duck is to die for—you’ll love it!”
Xiu Qingcheng loved hearing that.
Shen Xu had just become her new best friend!
He approached, scratching his head sheepishly.
“But the Red Team has one small request.”
“Name it!”
Xiu Qingcheng agreed readily.
Meng Yingxing wondered if his master had forgotten their real purpose in Yelan City because of food.
“Please don’t mention the demonic beasts outside the walls while in the city.
Yelan has enjoyed peace for many years—if word spreads, it might cause panic.”
Shen Xu’s smile faded, his tone serious, voice dropping.
“That’s all? I thought it was something big.”
Xiu Qingcheng grabbed Meng Yingxing and agreed without hesitation.
Shen Xu’s grin returned.
“Great! No time to waste—let’s go!”
He naturally took Xiu Qingcheng’s hand and pulled her toward the city.
The instant he held it, he marveled inwardly:
A celestial beauty’s hand truly is softer than us mortals’—like warm jade.
“Wait—Shen Xu, slow down!”
Xiu Qingcheng’s eyes widened, caught off guard.
She could easily keep up, of course—she just hadn’t expected Shen Xu to be so forward after only a few meetings.
Meng Yingxing followed the two women, smiling at his master’s pleading look.
Inside Yelan City.
Xiu Qingcheng wondered if she simply hadn’t seen enough places—cities didn’t seem all that different.
Like Yongning, Yelan’s streets bustled with traffic and pedestrians.
Shops and vendors lined both sides, hawking wares in a lively prosperity.
The only real difference: far fewer cultivators among the crowds.
“Want to stroll around?”
Shen Xu turned, asking them.
Meng Yingxing was about to refuse—they had important matters—when Xiu Qingcheng beat him to it.
“Sure! Lead the way, Miss Shen Xu.”
“No trouble at all! If you enjoy it, we can—”
Meng Yingxing watched his master’s back, lips pressing together.
‘Master, we’re here for the Blood Incineration Flower.’
He reminded her privately.
Ahead, Xiu Qingcheng glanced back, gray eyes twinkling mischievously.
‘No rush. Let’s ask her later—she’s local.
She might know where the Blood Incineration Flower is.
Better than us two newcomers wandering like headless flies, right?’
Meng Yingxing thought: Master is so cute.
No—actually: Master is absolutely right. Brilliant!
At Wan Ke Lai restaurant, Shen Xu led them upstairs.
Xiu Qingcheng sat by the second-floor railing, able to peer down at the floor below.
No wonder Shen Xu called it Yelan’s best—the ground floor was packed, leaving only upstairs open.
“So crowded! Look, disciple—there’s a storyteller down there!”
Xiu Qingcheng excitedly tugged Meng Yingxing, who sat beside her, pointing to the performer in the hall.
The storyteller had just finished a segment and was sipping tea.
His master had seen far more of the world than he had, yet right now she looked like a child experiencing everything for the first time.
She knelt on the chair, arms draped over the railing, eyes wide at the sights.
Meng Yingxing smiled softly, responding to her endless chatter while shelling the complimentary nuts and feeding them to her.
She accepted every snack without refusal.
Across from them, Shen Xu watched the pair, occasionally sneaking glances at Xiu Qingcheng’s bare legs beneath her skirt.
“Miss Shen Xu… is something wrong with my legs?”
Having seen enough downstairs, Xiu Qingcheng turned with a beaming smile, calling her out.
Caught, Shen Xu showed no embarrassment—only starry-eyed admiration as she clapped.
“Wow, you noticed? Cultivators really are sharper than us ordinary martial artists!”
“I’ve been dying to ask… Miss Xiu… aren’t your legs cold?
And why no shoes or socks?”
Good question.
Xiu Qingcheng glanced at her bare thighs and feet—ten crystal-clear toes.
She glanced at Meng Yingxing; he seemed curious too.
If changing clothes didn’t constantly drain spiritual energy, she’d be in thick winter pants by now.
She cleared her throat.
“Cultivators are protected by spiritual energy—of course we don’t get cold.
Going barefoot lets us feel the earth’s spiritual qi more closely.”
Perfect—instant cultivator mystique.
Shen Xu’s eyes sparkled even more.
She clearly idolized cultivators.
Meng Yingxing wore a helpless yet indulgent expression.
You two really aren’t dao companions?
Shen Xu watched their intimate interactions and couldn’t help thinking it.
Of course… not.
Meng Yingxing lowered his eyes, continuing to shell nuts for Xiu Qingcheng.
Soon, the dishes Shen Xu ordered arrived.
Nothing to say about the food—beautiful, fragrant, delicious.
Xiu Qingcheng demolished most of it herself.
Mid-meal, a storyteller’s gavel struck downstairs.
The noisy restaurant quieted considerably.
“Dear guests, the tale I’ll tell next is one long passed down in our Yelan City.
Long ago, a demon youth named Ying greatly admired Yelan’s famed female general, Xie Ziguang…”
After introducing the leads, the storyteller launched into a winding tale with dramatic flair.
Finally, he struck the gavel for the climax.
“Yet General Xie wielded a demonic sword, became a demoness, and wrought evil in the city—truly deplorable!
Fortunately, the demon youth struck her down, protecting Yelan’s peace for generations. His heroic name echoes still!”
Xiu Qingcheng listened rapt, chopsticks in mouth.
Meng Yingxing could have spoken in her mind but chose to whisper in her ear instead:
“Master, since it’s an ancient Yelan legend… could that demonic sword be the one you’re seeking—Duan Li?”
Huh?
Xiu Qingcheng snapped awake, processing slowly.
Possibly…
Fully alert now, she shoved Meng Yingxing away.
“Stupid disciple! I told you not to talk in my ear!”
Her voice was soft but fierce.
Meng Yingxing grinned sheepishly.
Just then, Shen Xu slammed her cup on the table with a harsh clatter.
“This story is complete nonsense!”
Shen Xu’s face darkened.
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