Chapter 170 (2/2)
Qingfeng could only look on with distress. He could not risk venturing far and long from the stronghold of the Jade Qing Sect lest Patriarch Guanshan launched a sudden invasion. “Would you not come with me now, Junior Sister?” He pressed again.
Huashang could see that Qingfeng was getting jittery with anxiety. Of all people she would offend, she would never want to make things difficult for him. “I’ll go. But only for you, not the others, and definitely not for the good of everyone,” she muttered quietly, then she shouted loudly towards outside, “Lingjiao!”
Chu Lingjiao had already been waiting outside. Hearing her name being called, she quickly came in and bowed to her mentor, “Your instructions, Teacher?”
“I will be away for some time. You will see to everything in my absence. Lead some of the acolytes and disciples to the rear mountain and activate the magical formation I have prepared there.”
“Understood, Teacher!”
Huashang nodded faintly in approval before sending her off. “Please wait a while, Senior Brother,” she said to Qingfeng and beckoned Xiao Chen to follow her into the inner chambers.
Huashang’s eyes immediately turned frosty once they left Qingfeng’s presence. She cast a magical barrier, keeping out any eavesdroppers, “You will divulge to no one, especially my Senior Brother Qingfeng, about the Heartless Curse, or I’ll never help you break the curse,” she hissed.
“So this is why you called me here alone?” Xiao Chen revealed a thin smile, “Rest at ease, Senior. I will tell no one about it.”
“If only you were this obedient earlier. You would not have to endure such hardships,” Huashang revealed a wry smile of her own.
Xiao Chen said nothing else. He was confident that he would be able to break the curse on his own once reaching the Core Forming Realm.
They went back to the hall and Li Muxue hurried to Xiao Chen’s side. “Did she agree to help you with the curse?” She asked with concern. Xiao Chen smiled at here, saying nothing.
The four immediately left the valley and head back to the stronghold of the Jade Qing Sect. They arrived at dusk, to find a host of acolytes waiting to receive them on Perfected Immortal Qing Chen’s orders. The thronging congregation of the Jade Qing Sect saw Qingfeng returning and could easily guess the identity of the woman with him, although no one could believe that she looked as youthful as Master Mo Xuan. Together as one everybody exclaimed, “Welcome back, Seniors Qingfeng and Huashang!”
Huashang stopped and gazed up the white jade-gilded steps stretching up to the main hall with memories and recollections flowing through her mind like a kaleidoscope. It has been long since she had returned; so long that she had forgotten which year was it she had left. Quietly and melancholic, she climbed up the stairs slowly.
They reached a wide plaza and two acolytes led the four into the Coalesced Colors Hall where Perfected Immortal Qing Chen was expecting them. He beheld the sight of Huashang and wearily uttered, “You’ve come, Junior Sister.”
“What?” Huashang shot him a scathing look and growled, “You wish for me to leave, do you not?”
A cheerful peal of laughter came from the corridors leading to the inner cloisters. “Long have we all waited for your return, Junior Sister! We would never think of driving you away!” “Yet I have never received word that he ever came to visit me,” Huashang scoffed with disdain.
Moxuan Zi appeared from behind. Beside him was another woman, whose hair flowed white with weathered features of a relatively-aged woman, although her face was devoid of any wrinkles. Huashang stared intently at her suddenly before a note of recognition registered. “What has befallen you, Sister, that you become thus?” She laughed.
Is this Yanluo, Xiao Chen wondered. Despite her seasoned appearance, she looked hardly older than everyone present. But she was shocked to find Li Muxue here too, saying gently to her, “Muxue…”
Thrice Yanluo called her name, but Li Muxue gave no answer. She was stunned beyond words as her eyes remained on Yanluo.