Zheng Shen said, “This way, this way, esteemed immortals, please.”
This lift platform was no different from the ones they had ridden before. Liu Qiao’e had people inspect it carefully and found no signs of deliberate damage before letting it go.
Zhao Yange asked, “Can we fly down on sword light?”
Zheng Shen wiped his sweat. “That seems… not feasible.”
Shen Chengyin shook her head. “It’s too deep. This is a place where spiritual energy converges intensely. A cultivator’s spiritual energy is easily disrupted here, leading to disorientation.”
In the end, Liu Qiao’e made the decision. “How long to repair the lift?”
Zheng Shen sweated even more. “A day or two at least, three or four at most?”
Liu Qiao’e said, “You have two days. If you need manpower, all these people behind me are at your disposal.”
Zheng Shen bowed. “No need to be so polite, how could we dare? We’ll do our utmost and fix it as soon as possible.”
Liu Qiao’e said, “Ask around first.”
Ignoring Zheng Shen’s eager offer, Liu Qiao’e went to the ragged mine workers and questioned them in detail.
The workers shrank back in fear at the sight of them.
But Mu Daoying noticed that Liu Qiao’e’s expression was uncharacteristically mild and kindly.
These people stammered out their answers out of fear, their accounts disjointed and rambling, yet she, who usually had no patience for such things, did not press them.
Unfortunately, after questioning more than a dozen, she got nothing of value.
Walking side by side with Mu Daoying through the mine tunnels, Liu Qiao’e saw his thoughtful expression and couldn’t help asking, “What are you thinking?”
Mu Daoying came back to himself and said slowly, “I’m thinking about Old Mother’s questions.”
“Oh? Do you think there was any oversight?”
Mu Daoying shook his head, turned to her, and looked at her earnestly. “Old Mother is as meticulous as a hair; how could there be any oversight? I just didn’t expect Old Mother to ask about their wages, whether they were docked pay, their clothing and food, medical care and rest.”
Liu Qiao’e said calmly, “To tell you the truth, I come from a village woman’s background.”
Mu Daoying nodded. Even without her saying it, he had roughly guessed as much.
“From a young age, the people around me toiled in the fields every day but could scarcely save any money in a year. The grain they grew all went to taxes. Have you seen new rice?”
Mu Daoying paused in surprise and nodded. “Of course. It’s as white as snow.”
Liu Qiao’e said faintly, “Unfortunately, the people who grew that rice never got to eat it. The new rice went to taxes, leaving the farmers with only moldy old rice.”
“Even the old or unhusked rice was reserved for the pillar of the family. The others made do with beans or sweet potatoes.”
Mu Daoying fell silent upon hearing this.
“So I’m not afraid you’ll laugh at me. Seeing these people is like seeing my past self. Of course one pities one’s former self.”
Mu Daoying’s heart stirred, a complex mood welling up with an inexplicable warmth. He looked at her solemnly.
“Old Mother…”
But Liu Qiao’e did not want to continue the topic.
The group casually toured the mine, but found no clues, so they returned to Ren Family Village to rest for the time being.
On the way back, Zhao Yange found an opportunity to pull Mu Daoying aside. “Ning Xia, there’s no time left. Have you decided?”
“Earlier, I followed your lead and scouted the outer areas, but found nothing. You and I both suspect we need to probe the core.”
“If in a couple days they go deep into the underground core, then there really won’t be time.”
Mu Daoying frowned slightly at his words.
Since Zhao Yange had found no useful information after so long, the two speculated that Ling Yuan’s message clearly trusted only him, his direct disciple.
Perhaps unless he went personally, Ling Yuan would not show himself or leave any clues.
But that meant deceiving Liu Qiao’e…
Mu Daoying was quiet for a moment before saying faintly, “As agreed, I’ll give it a try tonight.”
At midnight, Liu Qiao’e went to sleep.
Mu Daoying sat by the bed, watching her sleeping face.
Unknowingly, she had grown accustomed to him keeping watch at night, completely unguarded against him. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed, as if she were never at ease.
Mu Daoying raised his hand, wanting to smooth the crease between her brows, but feared disturbing her rest and in the end merely withdrew it into his sleeve.
He simply traced her features with his gaze.
He had never imagined that a few short days together could change his view of her so completely.
He paused, as if steeling himself, and took a jade pendant from his sleeve.
It had started as just playing along, feigned affection, but unexpectedly, real feelings had developed. He did not want to deceive her.
But he had to uncover his master’s clues before the Immortal Alliance did.
This jade pendant… Mu Daoying pursed his lips and placed it solemnly under her pillow.
The pendant had been a gift from his mother long ago.
Before leaving, his mother had cried, saying she couldn’t bear to let him go, that ascetic cultivation was so lonely—how could she bear her son severing all worldly ties?
“You’re still so young, haven’t experienced the passions of the world. Won’t it be lonely?”
He had solemnly held her arms. “Jade Clarity Temple does not forbid marriage. Mother, worry not.”
His mother wept. “Not even allowing a single servant boy, no one to know your needs. How can Mother rest easy?”
But at that time, the young boy had been proud and arrogant, believing the Great Dao lay within his grasp, ignorant of the heights of heaven and depths of earth. He had already sworn to unite body with the Dao and sever emotional ties.
In the end, his mother took out this white jade pendant and gave it to him. “This was from your grandmother to me. In the future, if you meet a girl you like, no matter her looks, the one my son likes is surely the best. If you meet her—give this to her!”
“Then remember to bring her to see your mother, and I’ll be at ease!”
Today, as Mu Daoying gave away this jade pendant, his mind was clear.
He and Liu Qiao’e had shared so many intimate acts. Regardless of how she saw it, deep down, he already regarded her as his wife and could not shirk responsibility.
He placed the pendant under her pillow, paused, then moved his hand to the storage pouch at her waist. With hardly any effort, he undid the surface array and took out the vial of antidote.
Holding the small porcelain bottle in his palm, Mu Daoying examined it closely for a moment before preparing to withdraw.
But Liu Qiao’e on the bed suddenly stirred!
Mu Daoying was startled, and her slightly lazy voice sounded. “What are you doing?”
It was too late to conceal it. In his panic, Mu Daoying acted without thinking, wrapping his long arm around her and pulling her into his embrace. Without another word, he leaned down and kissed her deeply.
…
With just that one kiss, Mu Daoying regretted it.
The sensation of their lips brushing was so tender and wonderful that it made him tremble. He immediately lost control and sank into it.
He took a deep breath to steady himself and unobtrusively slipped the porcelain bottle into his own sleeve.
Reason told him to pull away, but his emotions made him linger on her soft lips involuntarily.
Liu Qiao’e was dazed by the kiss. “You…?”
“Are you crazy?!” Her cheeks flushed red with shame and anger as she pinched his arm and growled lowly.
Mu Daoying’s expression did not change; such minor pain meant nothing to him. In fact, having been hit by her so many times before had its benefits.
Liu Qiao’e’s struggles were mostly symbolic. After a couple tugs, she softened.
This was the man she had yearned for over many years. How many times had she fantasized about him suddenly grabbing her arm, kissing her domineeringly without reason? And now it was reality?
His kisses were fragmented and gentle, dense as spring rain, leaving her breathless and at a loss. Her body grew softer and softer. Mu Daoying had to hold her waist, lifting her repeatedly and cradling the back of her head as he continued the deep, meticulous kiss.
Perhaps because he was about to leave, his emotions surged forth. Mu Daoying’s heart ached as he stroked her temple hair, planting a few kisses on her cheek and brushing his lips against hers again.
Seeing her starry eyes misty, her face flushed with desire and confusion, Mu Daoying lowered his gaze and kissed the corner of her lips.
With fierce resolve, he crushed a pill he had prepared between his fingertips and whispered by her ear, “Ol—not, E Niang, I will come back.”
Regardless of whether she could hear him now, he hesitated, then solemnly whispered by her ear, “Wait for my return. Then I… I will marry you.”
The woman in his arms had already closed her eyes, falling into deep slumber. Mu Daoying lifted her and settled her back on the bed before leaving the room.
The pill he had crushed was called the Great Dream Pill, a supreme treasure of Jade Clarity Temple.
As a Daoist temple, Jade Clarity naturally excelled in external alchemy. The Great Dream Pill could only be refined with the temple’s supreme Dao artifact, the Spirit Mother Jade Liquid Cauldron. With sufficiently precious materials, it could even fell a Seven Realms cavernous illumination cultivator. But the pill was exceedingly rare—even the elder most skilled in alchemy could refine only one furnace every few years, and only elite disciples could obtain it.
The night wind hit his face, cooling the heat in his body.
The kiss had been too passionate, and her response too compliant and fervent, like a soft creature in his arms.
She was so small that he had to keep lifting her waist. In the process, their waists and abdomens rubbed, stirring some reaction. Mu Daoying stood there a while until it subsided, then went to find Zhao Yange as agreed.
Along the way, he walked hurriedly. Though dangers lurked ahead, he couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander.
If he saw his master, he would tell him he had met a woman he wanted to marry.
But as he reached the rendezvous point, Mu Daoying paused.
At the village outskirts, under the sparse moonlit woods, it was empty. Neither Zhao Yange nor Shen Chengyin had come.
Had something delayed them? He waited a while, but no one appeared. Mu Daoying grew anxious, suspecting some unforeseen problem with the plan.
He did not wait idly. After a brief thought, he decisively turned back to the village.
He moved cautiously, concealing his aura and coordinating with the Hidden Submersion Five Falsities, Body Concealment Scene Hiding Technique as he made his way to Zhao Yange’s lodging.
He gently pushed open the window and peered inside. The room was empty.
But the candle was still lit.
Without thinking, Mu Daoying leaped inside lightly like a night swallow and touched the teacup on the table and the bedding.
They were still warm.
Next, he went to Shen Chengyin’s place. It too was empty.
Only then did his expression finally change slightly.
There was something wrong with this village.
Qiao’e!
If Zhao Yange and Shen Chengyin had vanished, then Liu Qiao’e was surely in danger too!
At that thought, he hesitated not a moment and made his choice.
Plans had changed; he had to check on Qiao’e first.
Along the way, his expression was grim. He couldn’t help thinking of the Great Dream Pill he had crushed, nearly drowning in worry and guilt.
If Qiao’e suffered any harm from the Great Dream Pill… his fingertips trembled at the thought. He would never forgive himself in this lifetime.
But halfway there, a candle flame suddenly appeared in the darkness. Mu Daoying immediately went on alert.
“Who’s there?” a withered, elderly voice asked.
“It’s me.” Mu Daoying steadied himself and stepped out from the shadows.
“Oh…” The voice drawled slowly. The candle swayed, revealing a withered old face. “You? Who are you?”
Mu Daoying looked at the old man before him, over sixty, and said gently, “Old sir, I’m one of the cultivators who arrived in the village today. Couldn’t sleep at night, so I came out for a walk.”
No matter how he looked, this was just an ordinary old man with no spiritual energy, advanced in age and somewhat hard of hearing.
The old man smiled. “Young people are so full of vigor. Sigh, not like us old folks. I have shallow sleep; can’t stay asleep even if I want to!”
Mu Daoying’s mind turned, and he changed tack. “It’s dark, paths are treacherous. Where are you headed, old sir? Let me escort you.”
The old man shook his head. “I’ve lived in the village all my life; every path is familiar. No need! Go on your way. I’ll wander a bit; don’t mind me!”
Mu Daoying did not press and bid him farewell, turning his back and walking into the darkness unperturbed.
One step, two steps.
A strange wind rose behind him!
Mu Daoying was prepared. In the instant he turned, he precisely twisted the old man’s arm and subdued him!
The old man’s face changed drastically, and he cried out in pain. “Ah! What are you doing! You had a bug on you; I was just removing it…”
Fearing his shouts would draw accomplices, Mu Daoying struck several acupoints on his body.
The old man could no longer speak and looked at him in terror.
The young man before them, who had just been as warm as a spring breeze, now wore an expression indifferent and cold as frost and snow. “Old man, I’ve changed my mind. Let this youngster send you on your way, and we’ll have a good talk?”
The old man nodded frantically.
Seeing this, Mu Daoying’s countenance softened slightly, and he loosened his clamp a bit.
The old man quietly moved his hand. A flash of brilliant light appeared at his fingertips, but before he could act, a cold sensation pressed against his neck.
Mu Daoying formed a sword with his two fair fingers and gently placed them against the old man’s neck. His voice was soft and indifferent, his cheeks glowing like flowers. “Old man, youngsters have hot tempers. I’m afraid if I’m not careful, my hand might slip and cause a funeral. What do you think, old man?”
Where would the old man dare to resist? The item in his hand clattered to the ground. Mu Daoying swiftly caught it in his palm and took a look. His heart sank.
The item was as large as a jujube pit, perfectly round, and emanated waves of demonic qi. It was a demon pearl, faintly scented with medicine. The fragrance seemed somewhat familiar, but upon closer inspection, he could not pinpoint it.
Though he had a good temper and a gentle disposition, he was not someone who showed useless pity or compassion regardless of time, place, right, or wrong.
Precisely because he had done many good deeds in daily life, he knew that sometimes, ruthless and direct methods of killing were the greatest kindness. The Vajra’s wrathful eyes were also compassion.
Seeing that Mu Daoying spoke so softly and looked so handsome, yet his actions sent chills down one’s spine, the old man dared not play any more tricks.
Mu Daoying forced him to go to Liu Qiao’e’s room. Sure enough, it was empty.
Though he had already anticipated this, a hidden anger still stirred in his heart.
He closed his eyes and suppressed a breath of fury. Mu Daoying opened his eyes and nodded lightly to the old man. “Now, take this youngster to your secret camp.”