In the pharmacy, Wen Xunzhu was sorting medicinal ingredients when he suddenly sensed a powerful presence approaching from outside the valley.
The newcomer was a high-level cultivator, and his aura seemed hostile. Wen Xunzhu grew suspicious in his heart, but that aura quickly retracted.
Wen Xunzhu set aside his work and went out to check. He saw a youth dressed in black clothes.
The other party had arrived on a flying sword and landed swiftly. This person was probably a sword cultivator. Wen Xunzhu grew even more puzzled.
He did not often go out to meet with the various sects, so he did not recognize the Sword Venerable of Hidden Sword Mountain.
Amid the surging waves of qi, Yun Jian sheathed his sword and landed steadily.
On his way here, he had confirmed with his sect that the only person in this place with purple eyes and mahayana cultivation was the valley master of Medical Poison Valley.
Yun Jian did not understand why this so-called valley master had abducted her. However, cultivators always emphasized propriety, especially when it involved relations between two sects. He had to uphold the name of the Sword Venerable while traveling outside.
Thus, Yun Jian did not strike first. At the moment, his gaze was deep and expressionless as he scanned his surroundings.
In his field of vision, an elder of Medical Poison Valley dressed in white and purple robes appeared, looking at him hesitantly.
“Fellow Daoist, may I ask what brings you here?” Wen Xunzhu cupped his hands in greeting. “This is the pharmacy, and there are many patients. I hope Fellow Daoist will restrain your spells and divine abilities. It would not be good to disturb the patients.”
After he spoke, the sword cultivator opposite him offered an apology. His originally somber expression changed, becoming gentle in his brows and eyes. “I have long heard of the reputation of Medical Poison Valley and Valley Master Ci Yuan. It has made me quite curious, so I took the liberty of visiting uninvited. Please forgive me.”
“I am Yun Jian of Hidden Sword Mountain. How should I address this elder?”
His attitude had changed noticeably from before. Upon closer inspection, his smile did not reach his eyes. However, Wen Xunzhu had a pure heart and did not suspect anything. He just felt that the name sounded familiar.
For a Tribulation Transcendence Realm elder from another sect to suddenly visit was quite abrupt. Wen Xunzhu was somewhat unsure and did not know the other’s true intentions. Moreover, handling external affairs was not his responsibility—it had always been Elder Bai’s.
Wen Xunzhu still could not recall the Sword Venerable’s name. He simply made a gesture of invitation. “You are too polite. I am surnamed Wen. If Elder Yun wishes to stroll around the valley, please have a seat for a moment. I will call a disciple to guide you.”
With a glance from the corner of his eye, he saw the sect affairs disciple who handled welcoming guests lagging far behind, unable to keep up with this sword cultivator elder, and still rushing over.
He planned to have this person wait a bit until the sect affairs disciple and Elder Bai arrived, then hand him over to them to clarify his identity and intentions.
But this person did not follow his wishes. The black-clothed sword cultivator directly asked, “May I ask where Valley Master Ci Yuan is at the moment? I have some matters I wish to inquire about with him.”
Wen Xunzhu frowned slightly, puzzled but answered truthfully. “The valley master is currently in secluded cultivation. What is the matter? If it is not urgent, I can pass it on for you.”
Of course it was urgent, and a strange matter at that.
Along the way, Yun Jian had not only confirmed Valley Master Ci Yuan’s identity but also inquired about the old stories between him and his wife.
Since he was someone with a dao companion—though that dao companion had long fallen—why did this man, who always mentioned his “madam” outside, abduct a little cultivator?
Moreover, their relationship seemed unusually close…
Yun Jian still remembered how the other party had protected her. His hand on the sword hilt rubbed slightly. The Wen elder of Medical Poison Valley before him had kind features. Yun Jian thought for a moment. “It is not really an urgent matter.”
“Medical Poison Valley’s methods are unique. I came here to ask if there are any spells related to reincarnation.”
He slowed his tone and brought up the topic, secretly observing this elder of Medical Poison Valley’s expression.
“Reincarnation?” Hearing the familiar term suddenly, Wen Xunzhu was somewhat surprised. “Of course there are. What does Elder Yun wish to ask about it?”
The black-clothed sword cultivator smiled faintly. “To be honest, I have a loved one who suffered misfortune in the early years and passed to the netherworld… Fortunately, heaven took pity on me and allowed me to meet her reincarnation. That is why I came to inquire.”
He changed the subject. “I have heard that Valley Master Ci Yuan also had a madam. Though she fell in the past, he should be able to understand my current feelings.”
After he finished speaking, he saw the Wen-surnamed elder in front of him nodding in strong agreement.
Indeed.
Wen Xunzhu thought about it. The valley master had also found his madam’s reincarnation. How similar to this fellow Daoist.
His expression turned emotional. Then he heard the black-clothed sword cultivator ask, “The relationship between Valley Master Ci Yuan and his madam must have been very good, right? So many years have passed, yet I have never heard of him remarrying.”
This Elder Yun was actually inquiring about Valley Master Ci Yuan’s private matters. Unable to resist his usual lack of suspicion toward others’ intentions, Wen Xunzhu replied, “Yes, our sect’s valley master and Valley Master Madam… indeed have a harmonious relationship. The valley master has never had any intention of remarrying.”
As he spoke, he could not help revealing a trace of melancholy.
The valley master and Valley Master Madam had a harmonious relationship. No matter how much fondness he had for the little madam, it was not right.
While he was lost in his own thoughts, the sword cultivator opposite him was also preoccupied with his concerns.
Never remarried?
Yun Jian sneered coldly in his heart. “Really?”
He kept it off his face and pretended it was a casual remark. “But how did I see that Valley Master Ci Yuan seems to have a female cultivator by his side now? Could it be that good news is near and he is rekindling old flames?”
He was just short of saying he had moved on to someone new. Wen Xunzhu was startled. “How could that be? The valley master has always been with the little madam!”
There was no one else by the valley master’s side from beginning to end—it was always just Valley Master Madam. He hurriedly defended, only realizing afterward that he had let it slip as he covered his mouth.
The little madam had asked him to keep it secret.
As soon as his words came out, the black-clothed sword cultivator was stunned.
“What?” He seemed unable to comprehend it. After a daze, his brows furrowed tightly.
The news would be known to outsiders sooner or later anyway. Wen Xunzhu lowered his hand. “It is quite a coincidence. The valley master also found his madam’s reincarnation. The female cultivator you saw might be the reincarnation of our sect’s Valley Master Madam. I hope Elder Yun can help keep it confidential. When the dao companion bond ceremony is held another day, we will certainly invite you to attend…”
He spoke politely, but the black-clothed sword cultivator sharply retorted, “Impossible!”
The elder of Medical Poison Valley looked shocked. Yun Jian cleared his throat lightly. “…I was just too surprised. To think such a coincidence could happen.”
With that, Wen Xunzhu took it seriously. “Indeed. I never expected two reincarnations to appear at once. It truly is coincidental.”
He never imagined that these so-called two reincarnations might be the same person.
He nodded with emotion. The sword cultivator’s hand pressed hard on the sword hilt. “She and him… Valley Master Ci Yuan and that reincarnated woman, are they truly husband and wife?”
He practically enunciated each word of “husband and wife.” Wen Xunzhu affirmed, “Of course. The valley master and her have already formed a dao companion bond. They were husband and wife in their previous life.”
A sword cultivator’s hand was always the steadiest, but now it trembled unusually.
Even someone as slow as Wen Xunzhu could tell that this Elder Yun of Hidden Sword Mountain did not look well.
Was he unwell? Or had some old ailment flared up?
Before he could ask to diagnose him, the youth in front of him suddenly retreated half a step, then abruptly steadied his grip on the sword, pressing tightly on the hilt.
Impossible…
Impossible!
Yun Jian’s fingertip touched the sword tassel hanging from the sword hilt—
If she was that valley master’s reincarnated madam, then who was he? What did that make him?!
How could there be such a coincidence in the world!
That damned valley master must have taken a fancy to someone new, deceiving others by claiming the little cultivator he abducted was his madam reincarnated!
She was his little senior sister, not some madam!
–
After going back and forth, Li Yin deeply suspected that Valley Master Ci Yuan was deliberately giving her an opportunity.
There was the gu transformation cultivation, then several days and nights, and complete unawareness. Earlier, she had clearly exposed herself, yet he acted as if nothing happened and even lit the incense, as if covering for her.
If he did not have feelings for her and discover her little actions, why not expose her but instead conceal it?
The player sat cross-legged and picked up the Purification Gu to fiddle with it.
In the save file, intimacy was not allowed because of poison in his body. But now, it was as if he was tempting her to make a move on him.
After weighing it several times, it was hard to refuse the beauty’s earnest invitation. The little demon cultivator confirmed her course of action—
Go.
It would be a pity to miss this chance. Not only would she go, she would also supplement from him.
If he wanted to rekindle their old romance, he had to accept her demonic cultivator identity—which meant submitting to be the little demon cultivator’s cauldron.
If he did not accept it, she had the Purification Gu for protection. His poison would be useless against her. Whether he could harm her was another matter, and besides, she had props and other means to escape when the time came.
First time novel, second time familiar. When the sky darkened, the door to the quiet room was gently pushed open again. Valley Master Ci Yuan, who had been meditating with his head lowered, was once more approached.
Li Yin crouched in front of the beauty, scrutinizing him nonstop.