The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 37

Bai Mofeng urgently summoned his eldest disciple, Ji Huairen, and instructed him, “Bring Meng Jiang here. And also invite the Peak Lord of the Artifact Peak.”

Remembering that Meng Jiang was a descendant of Ancestor Wuwei, he turned to Fang Zhiluo. “Martial Aunt Fang, I must trouble you to inform Ancestor Wuwei as well.”

Ancestor Wuwei was known for his reclusive nature, but he held a certain appreciation for talent. Fang Zhiluo’s words would carry more weight than the Sect Leader’s own.

Fang Zhiluo understood Bai Mofeng’s intentions immediately. Like Xie Yunfan, Meng Jiang possessed extraordinary innate talent and luck.

She rose and used the Light Body Technique to travel to the Forbidden Zone of the Back Mountain, the residence of the Sect’s Tribulation Transcendence cultivators.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Bai Mofeng wanted to explain the matter to Yun Xiao in detail. However, his gaze fell upon the Soul-Locking Bottle on the tea table beside her, and he hesitated.

Yun Xiao understood his hesitation. She cast a soundproofing spell on the Soul-Locking Bottle and gestured for Bai Mofeng to speak freely.

“Meng Jiang comes from the Meng Family of Suicheng,” Bai Mofeng began. “His innate talent is only slightly inferior to Martial Aunt Fang’s, and he is a descendant of Ancestor Wuwei. After joining the Sect, he became a disciple of the Peak Lord of the Artifact Peak. In the two centuries since his arrival, he has already reached the late stage of the Divine Transformation realm. Recently, he even forged a Seventh-Rank Supreme-Grade Magical Artifact.”

Bai Mofeng’s expression was conflicted, but he soon resolved himself, stating firmly, “If Meng Jiang’s Sea of Consciousness truly harbors a Primordial Spirit, I hope Senior Wangyun will lend me this bottle to prevent it from causing further harm.”

Losing a disciple with such exceptional innate talent would undoubtedly be regrettable. However, the Azure Cloud Sect had reached its current heights not through the efforts of a single disciple, but through the unified spirit of its entire membership.

He could not afford to disappoint the thousands of disciples who had placed their trust in the sect.

Yun Xiao observed Bai Mofeng’s every expression, feeling a flicker of surprise. Though she hadn’t explicitly stated it, Bai Mofeng’s keen intellect should have allowed him to deduce that Meng Jiang’s smooth progress in cultivation and artifact refinement was linked to the Primordial Spirit residing within his Sea of Consciousness.

Forcing the Primordial Spirit out of Meng Jiang’s Sea of Consciousness would likely disrupt his cultivation. It would be akin to someone accustomed to the convenience of a cheat device suddenly losing access to it. The abrupt loss of such advantages would be difficult for someone who had always enjoyed smooth sailing to accept, and in severe cases, it could even trigger the emergence of a Heart Demon.

Bai Mofeng had clearly considered this possibility, which explained his hesitation.

Yun Xiao had expected Bai Mofeng to struggle with his decision for much longer, but he had surprisingly made up his mind quickly.

She picked up her tea and took a small sip, tilting her head. “Tell me, what’s the situation with the other disciples?”

Bai Mofeng sighed. “As Senior Yun said, several disciples with good innate talent and decent luck have seen their cultivation stagnate. At first, I thought they had simply hit a bottleneck,” he shook his head slightly. “But now I realize something is amiss. How could a bottleneck simultaneously affect their luck?”

Yun Xiaotao narrowed her peach-blossom eyes. “And how did you discover that their luck had deteriorated?”

“I have three disciples. The one you met earlier was my eldest. My second disciple is quite the chatterbox and well-connected. Nothing, big or small, escapes his ears within the Sect,” Bai Mofeng said with a mix of pride and helplessness. “He was the one who told me about these disciples’ situation.”

Yun Xiao nodded in understanding. So, he had a social butterfly disciple.

But how could Bai Mofeng, a young man who always wore a stern expression, end up with such a talkative and sociable disciple?

Thinking of something, Bai Mofeng asked hopefully, “Senior Yun, do you think you could make the Primordial Spirits return the Luck they stole?”

Yun Xiao waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t have that kind of power.”

If she truly could restore the Luck, the Heavenly Dao would have annihilated those three Primordial Spirits with its last breath, rather than going through the trouble of seeking her out.

She couldn’t help but suspect that her sudden arrival here wasn’t a coincidence—it might have been orchestrated by the Heavenly Dao itself.

The answer would have to wait until her next encounter with the Heavenly Dao.

Bai Mofeng withdrew his gaze in disappointment. Hearing footsteps, his expression immediately reverted to its usual indifference.

Seeing this, Yun Xiao couldn’t help but think, What a waste of talent—he should be an actor.

She wasn’t so tactless as to deliberately undermine Bai Mofeng’s facade. Instead, she pulled out the remaining skewers from earlier and began eating them with casual disregard for her surroundings.

Bai Mofeng, seated at the head of the table, repeatedly hesitated, wanting to remind her of proper etiquette, but each time he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Forget it, he thought. Senior Yun has always been unconventional. I shouldn’t risk upsetting her over trivial matters. The important thing is to focus on the main issue.

Ji Huairen and Meng Jiang had just entered the main hall when Fang Zhiluo and Wuwei arrived as well.

“Enough with the formalities,” Wuwei said, striding straight to the main seat and settling down. He glanced at Yun Xiao, who was enthusiastically skewering meat, his voice deep and resonant. “Meng Jiang, come here.”

Meng Jiang possessed a handsome face, radiating noble bearing and arrogance. Hearing his ancestor summon him, he felt a mix of confusion and apprehension.

Remembering the reverence and envy he inspired in others, he straightened his back and calmly approached Wuwei, bowing respectfully. “This junior pays his respects to the Ancestor.”

Wuwei immediately discerned Meng Jiang’s cultivation level, a flicker of pity crossing his eyes. He turned his gaze to the Soul-Locking Bottle beside Yun Xiao, his gaze fixed.

After a few breaths, he withdrew his gaze and declared in a solemn voice, “Do not resist. I must examine your Sea of Consciousness.”

Meng Jiang’s expression shifted, and he retreated several steps, his eyes flashing with wariness and panic. He forced himself to speak, “Forgive this junior’s impudence, but the Sea of Consciousness is as vital as the Dantian. May I ask why the Ancestor wishes to inspect it?”

He cast a sidelong glance at Yun Xiao, guessing, “Did someone say something?”

Yun Xiao readily admitted, “Yes, I did.”

Meng Jiang’s anger flared, his gaze locking onto Yun Xiao as he demanded, “Who are you? Why are you trying to harm me?”

Before Yun Xiao could answer, Meng Jiang turned to Bai Mofeng, his voice incredulous. “Sect Leader, would you rather believe an outsider than your own disciple?”

Bai Mofeng was about to reply when Peak Lord Guangcheng of the Artifact Peak strode into the hall, his voice booming with displeasure.

“Who dares doubt my disciple?” The rugged-looking Guangcheng glared at Bai Mofeng. “Sect Leader, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Fang Zhiluo activated an isolation array and interjected, “Daoist Guangcheng, it’s best to hear the full story before demanding justice.” She exchanged a meaningful glance with Bai Mofeng.

Understanding her cue, Bai Mofeng recounted Yun Xiao’s account in detail, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

A flicker of panic flashed in Meng Jiang’s eyes. Afraid of exposing himself, he forced himself to remain calm and vehemently denied the accusations. “This is all fabricated! I know my own Sea of Consciousness better than anyone. If there were a Primordial Spirit, I would have asked Master for help long ago.”

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became of his own lies. He pointed an accusing finger at Yun Xiao. “She’s the one with malicious intentions! She wants to sow discord within the Azure Cloud Sect.”

Yun Xiao swallowed the grilled meat in her mouth and flicked Meng Jiang with a spiritual energy chestnut from across the room.

Under Meng Jiang’s resentful gaze, Yun Xiao stood up, clapped her hands, and said, “This is a matter for your Azure Cloud Sect. I’m an outsider, so I won’t interfere.” Before the words had even left her lips, she had already turned to leave.

Fang Zhiluo immediately rose to follow. “I’ll show you around.” Before leaving, she remembered to grab Yun Xiao’s unfinished barbecue.

Seeing this, Bai Mofeng breathed a sigh of relief. He had a feeling Yun Xiao still had something to say, and he needed to keep her here.

Unaware of Bai Mofeng’s thoughts, Yun Xiao sat on the back of the Immortal Crane, observing the Azure Cloud Sect.

“The Azure Cloud Sect was founded nearly ten thousand years ago. The Sect strictly prohibits disciples from killing each other and provides the most resources among the Four Great Sects. In the hearts of the disciples, the Azure Cloud Sect is their home.” As Fang Zhiluo spoke, a hint of warmth flickered in her eyes.

Yun Xiao pulled out two Spirit Fruits and casually handed one to Fang Zhiluo. Realizing what she had done, she tried to retract the fruit, but Fang Zhiluo had already taken it.

Turning away, Yun Xiao took a large bite of her Spirit Fruit and retorted, “Using resources to win over the hearts of disciples is indeed a clever tactic. Look at you—you’ve always been grateful for the Azure Cloud Sect’s kindness, willing to live and die for it. No matter how you calculate it, it’s a profitable deal.”

Fang Zhiluo wore a helpless expression, her eyes filled with affection as she said gently, “A’Xiao, you can’t put it that way. Perhaps obtaining resources comes easily to you, but for the vast majority of ordinary cultivators, even a single Medicinal Pill or Spirit Herb requires them to exhaust all their efforts.”

“The Azure Cloud Sect provides us with Medicinal Pills and other cultivation resources every month. We should repay them accordingly.”

Yun Xiao scoffed, “And how long must this repayment continue? Until death? Once your cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul Stage, you have to find most resources yourself. In other words, the Sect’s resources are only truly effective before the Nascent Soul Stage. After that, they become somewhat useless.”

Moreover, the resources needed before the Nascent Soul Stage are relatively inexpensive.

Exchanging cheap resources for the loyalty of Sect disciples is a guaranteed profit.

Fang Zhiluo naturally understood Yun Xiao’s unspoken meaning, her eyes showing confusion. “But isn’t it natural to make sacrifices for family and protect our home together?”

Since she was a child, her Master had taught her that protecting the Sect was her duty, and she must never do anything that would tarnish its reputation.

For years, she had kept these words firmly in mind, never daring to disobey them even slightly.

Yun Xiao reclined on the Immortal Crane’s back, cracking spiritual melon seeds and occasionally glancing at the matches unfolding on the arena below. “Your family provided you with shelter from the wind and rain, helped you embark on the path of cultivation, and even supplied you with resources. That’s indeed an immense debt of gratitude that deserves repayment,” she said casually.

Her tone shifted. “But such repayment should be within your means, not require sacrificing everything, even yourself.”

The confusion in Fang Zhiluo’s eyes deepened. No one had ever spoken to her like this before.

Could I have been wrong all along?

Seeing Fang Zhiluo’s brow furrowing deeper, Yun Xiao felt an unexpected urge to reach out and smooth the wrinkles away.

She turned her head away, refusing to look at Fang Zhiluo, and sternly reminded herself: She’s the enemy who killed you. Her fate has nothing to do with you.

Only through repeated self-reproach did the impulse gradually subside.

Sensing the sudden distance in Yun Xiao’s eyes, Fang Zhiluo temporarily suppressed her confusion and awkwardly changed the subject. “Shall we go down and watch the matches?”

Yun Xiao flatly refused. “Just a bunch of weaklings pecking at each other. No point.”

“I’ve acquired some Bodhi Clarity Tea,” Fang Zhiluo invited. “Come to my Cave Abode, and I’ll brew you a cup.”

She had obtained this tea over a century ago from a Secret Realm beneath the sea. The quantity was meager, less than half a kilogram. She had offered three taels to her Master and distributed some among the four Supreme Elders, leaving only two taels for herself.

Over the past century, whenever she faced cultivation bottlenecks, she would brew a cup of this tea.

Yun Xiao’s interest piqued slightly. Bodhi Clarity Tea ranked just below Enlightenment Tea, both being exceedingly rare Heavenly Treasures.

Having grown tired of Enlightenment Tea, a change of pace sounded appealing.

She retrieved one tael of Enlightenment Tea from her Storage Pouch and tossed it to Fang Zhiluo. “Exchange one tael with me. I’ll brew it myself.”

She couldn’t bring herself to drink tea in her enemy’s Cave Abode.

Even before opening the porcelain jar, Fang Zhiluo sensed a faint spiritual aura, immediately recognizing that the tea inside surpassed Bodhi Clarity Tea in quality. She also understood that Yun Xiao was drawing a clear line between them.

Suppressing her bitterness, Fang Zhiluo forced a smile. “It’s not that I don’t want to exchange, but I have less than a tael of Bodhi Clarity Tea left.” With that, she handed the porcelain jar back to Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao raised her hand, her fingers accidentally brushing against Fang Zhiluo’s fingertips. Her traitorous heart fluttered slightly.

At that touch, the bitterness in Fang Zhiluo’s heart dissolved, replaced by a faint sweetness. The corners of her lips unconsciously curved upward.

Could this be a sign that their relationship was progressing?

The book had said, “Nothing is impossible for those who set their mind to it.” As long as she didn’t give up, one day she would earn Yun Xiao’s forgiveness and reconcile with her.

Fang Zhiluo gently patted the Immortal Crane, which turned and carried them to the highest peak of Azure Cloud Sect.

Dismounting, she offered two Mid-Grade Spirit Fruits as payment. The crane snatched the fruits, let out a joyful cry, and soared away.

Unaware of any danger, Yun Xiao strolled leisurely along the winding path. Far from the clamor of the world, only the occasional birdcall echoed through the air. The worries and frustrations that had weighed on her heart were gradually swept away by the gentle breeze.

Reaching the pavilion at the summit, she gazed out at the overlapping mountain ranges, lush and verdant, as if immersed in a boundless green sea. The refreshing wind carried the fragrant scent of grass and trees.

Fang Zhiluo sat down at the stone table, took out her tea set and Spirit Spring, and began brewing tea. Her tender gaze occasionally drifted to the figure standing with hands clasped behind his back.

Yun Xiao inhaled the wisps of spiritual energy and tea fragrance, her heart expanding with the panoramic view. The stagnation in her mind cleared in that moment.

Even with her current ability to overturn clouds and seas, in the vast cosmos, she, and perhaps even the entire Heavenly Origin Realm, were but a grain of sand in an endless ocean.

The road ahead stretched endlessly, filled with mysteries to explore and tasks to complete.

She couldn’t afford to stop. She needed to find the Breathing Earth to repair the Heavenly Ladder, achieve Ascension to the Upper Realm, and discover a way back to the modern world—all so she could see her mother again sooner.

Withdrawing her gaze, Yun Xiao turned to find Fang Zhiluo sitting serenely at the stone table, arranging the tea set. As steam rose from the teapot, a delicate mist settled on Fang Zhiluo’s lowered lashes, making her appear utterly vulnerable and heartbreakingly tender.

Yun Xiao’s fingers curled at her side, her lips pressed into a tight line, her peach-blossom eyes churning with distress and inner conflict.