Sect Master Pao knew that no one could save him this time.
Before he closed his eyes, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. His grandmother who doted on him when he was young, his parents who shed tears when they parted with him, his lofty aspirations when he was young, his high spirits when he became the sect master of Shenji School, and his not-so-smart and unreliable disciple…
Everything was like smoke from the past, but the memories were still so clear.
“Master, Master…”
From afar came the call of his disciple, and Sect Master Pao thought with some impatience, this foolish disciple was truly troublesome. He was almost dead, yet he would not let him be at peace.
But thinking about how sadly he was crying, Sect Master Pao still opened his eyes with difficulty.
Eh?!carpreads.pages.dev
Sect Master Pao blinked and silently closed his eyes. It must have been a dying dream. How could he see someone from Wangshu Pavilion?
His life had been full of glory, but ever since he had encountered Wangshu Pavilion, it had become a misery. If he could go back in time, he would never have provoked this unfortunate sect in that moment of arrogance.
“Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui, why did Master open his eyes and then close them again?” Yuan Wo asked with worry, subconsciously seeking help from Jiu Hui.
“Hmm?” Jiu Hui took the sect master’s pulse and said with certainty, “Don’t worry, he’s fine now. He probably vomited too much blood and his body is a little weak.”
Compared to Sect Master Pao, Bu Ting was really able to withstand the torment. He could still go to a small city after vomiting so much blood.
You’re the one who’s weak!
Upon hearing such infuriating words, Sect Master Pao finally realized that this was not a dream, he had truly survived.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the roomful of people before finally landing on Jiu Hui. Why was she here?
“Sect Master Pao, where else do you feel unwell?” Jiu Hui asked, seeing Sect Master Pao’s dull eyes. “Sect Master Pao?”
“Little friend Jiu Hui?” Sect Master Pao slowly regained his senses. “Why are you here?”
“Junior has been traveling and heard that Senior’s health was not well, so I came to visit you.” Jiu Hui took two steps back, giving the space at the edge of the bed to the people from Shenji School. “Seeing that you have turned the corner, this Junior is relieved.”
“What happened to me?” Sect Master Pao was no fool. Just yesterday, he had only felt a little unwell, and even the head disciple of Changshou Palace hadn’t been able to see what the problem was. Today, his life hung in the balance. Something unexpected must have happened.
“Sect Master, you’ve been poisoned with a demonic poison.” The Grand Elder was still feeling apprehensive when he saw Sect Master Pao regain consciousness. “Fortunately, this young lady that Yuan Wo brought back used her spiritual energy to force the poison out of your body just in time.”
The Grand Elder was very self-reproachful. The several Elders were not as capable as a young girl, and they did not even discover that the Sect Master had been infected by demonic poison.
After the Grand Elder finished explaining the events to Sect Master Pao, Sect Master Pao was already able to sit up in bed.
He looked at Jiu Hui, who was standing behind the crowd, with mixed emotions. He had just been complaining about Wangshu Pavilion, and now his conscience was aching.
When he was complaining about Wangshu Pavilion, Jiu Hui saved his life and became his savior.
He… really was a piece of work ah…
“Little friend Jiu Hui…” Sect Master Pao’s expression changed several times. He wanted to get up and thank Jiu Hui, but Jiu Hui and Yuan Wo stopped him together.
“Sect Master Pao.” At Jiu Hui’s gesture, Zhi You used his spiritual power to press Sect Master Pao back onto the bed.
“Your health is important.” Jiu Hui saw that the people from the Shenji School had made way for her, so she had no choice but to walk back to the bedside.
“It’s not that your sect’s Elders failed to discover the poison in the Sect Master’s body in time, but rather that this demonic poison is extremely rare and adept at hiding. It will lie dormant in the human body for seven days before suddenly erupting. If it’s not discovered in time and its exact location is not found within an hour, and if a cultivator with a cultivation base above the Nascent Soul stage does not use pure spiritual energy to force it out of the body, even an Immortal Venerable will be hard-pressed to save the victim.”
Pure spiritual energy was only possessed by young cultivators who have never experienced love.
There were only a few cultivators in the entire cultivation world who were above the Nascent Soul realm and of such young age.
“I remember, there is indeed such a method to dispel the demonic poison in ancient books.” An elder looked at Jiu Hui with gratitude. “Many thanks for your life-saving grace, fellow Daoist. May I ask which Daoist Master’s disciple you are? Not only is your cultivation profound, but you also have such knowledge?”
“Senior, you flatter me.” Jiu Hui smiled. “Junior Jiu Hui, personal disciple of the Sect Master of Wangshu Pavilion.”
Wang……shu……Pavilion?
These three words quickly stirred the memories of the Elders. Last year, after the Sect Master returned from attending Yin Ji’s Body Integration Grand Ceremony, he had nothing but disdainful words for Wangshu Pavilion. When his emotions ran high, he would even utter a few curses.
The elders all felt a little embarrassed when they thought about how the sect master had scolded that person for a whole year in the sect, but that person had saved the sect master’s life in a time of crisis.
Sect Master Pao was suffering from both physical and mental torment. Every time he looked at Jiu Hui, his conscience would ache even more.
“So you are the esteemed disciple of Pavilion Master Yu.” The Grand Elder bowed to Jiu Hui. “Fellow Daoist, we of the Shenji School will never forget your great kindness. In the future, if you have any requests, we will definitely do our best to fulfill them.”
“Senior, you’re too kind. I just happened to know the method to detoxify the poison.” Jiu Hui’s smile faded, replaced by an anxious expression. “The Demon Clan has been eyeing our cultivation world, and their vicious methods are endless. The top priority now should be to report this matter to the Ten Great Sects. I’m worried that the Demon Clan will repeat their old tricks and poison others.”
“Fellow Daoist speaks reasonably.” The Grand Elder nodded repeatedly. “This old man will send a message to the Ten Great Sects right away.”
“Sect Master Pao has just recovered from the demonic poison and is exhausted. I will not disturb you any longer. I will take my leave.” Jiu Hui glanced at the hole that had been corroded in the ground. “However, Sect Master Pao should recall who you have been in contact with recently. Do not let yourself be poisoned again.”
“Many thanks for the reminder, young friend.” Sect Master Pao’s face showed a thoughtful expression, but he didn’t let Jiu Hui leave just like that. “The two of you have come from afar. As the host, how could our Shenji Sect not welcome you? Why don’t you stay in our sect for a while so we can properly entertain you?”
“I appreciate the sect master’s kindness, but I have three cousins living in the inn. They are ordinary people without cultivation, and they are timid by nature. I’m afraid they won’t be used to living in a cultivation sect.”
“We’re staying at an inn in Songcheng. Fellow Daoist Yuan Wo has been to the inn, so he knows where we’re staying.” Jiu Hui cupped her hands in a salute to Sect Master Pao. “The major sects are all connected. Sect Master, you don’t need to worry about such a small matter.”
Seeing that Jiu Hui and Zhi You insisted on leaving, Sect Master Pao did not try to keep them and asked Yuan Wo to see them out.
“Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui, Fellow Daoist Zhi You.” After sending the two out of the Shenji School, Yuan Wo bowed deeply to them. “I will never forget your life-saving grace. Fellow Daoists, you have let bygones be bygones, but I cannot feel at ease. Please accept my bow.”
After speaking, he lifted his robe and kowtowed to Jiu Hui.
“That’s enough.” Jiu Hui only let him kowtow once before reaching out to stop him. “According to the customs of my hometown, if you kowtow again, I’ll have to give you a red envelope. Get up quickly.”
Yuan Wo bowed again. “When Master recovers, I will accompany you on a tour of Songcheng.”
“Alright, we’ll be staying in Songcheng for two days anyway.” Jiu Hui hopped onto the flying sword. “You go back and keep the Sect Master company. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”
Watching Jiu Hui and Zhi You’s departing figures, Yuan Wo’s tense back relaxed little by little.
Fortunately, Jiu Hui helped today, otherwise…
Less than half an hour after Jiu Hui and Zhi You returned to the inn, the thank-you gifts from the Shenji School arrived.
As an upstart to the cultivation world, the Shenji School had quite a fortune.
Bai Yan sent the disciples of the Shenji School out of the inn, and when he came back, he saw the entire room filled with thank-you gifts. He squeezed into the room with difficulty, put away all the gift boxes piled up at the door, and was barely able to close the door. “Young Master, what did you do at the Shenji School? They actually sent so many things?”
“Saved the life of the Shenji School’s sect master.” Jiu Hui stood on her tiptoes and grabbed a chair. “You guys clean up the stuff and put it away in different categories.”
“There’s not even a gift list.” Yu Li bent over to organize the gift boxes. “I guess they took the items out of the treasury and sent them directly to you, Young Master.”
The absence of a gift list meant that the other party had sent the gift in a hurry and didn’t want the young master to return the favor.
Various gemstones, magic weapons, spirit stones, and spiritual herbs and medicines. It seemed that the other party’s intention in giving gifts was very sincere.
“The sect master’s life is quite valuable.” Yu Li poured all the gems together. “Young master, if you save a few more sect masters, can you become the richest person in the entire cultivation world?”
“What are you thinking about?” Jiu Hui opened a box and took out a beautiful hairpin. She held the hairpin next to Yu Li’s temple and inserted it into her hair. “If I hadn’t come here today, we the yaos will have to take the blame.”
“What’s going on?” Kong Cangnan, who was unpacking the box, frowned at Jiu Hui.
“The Sect Master of the Shenji School was poisoned by Chi Quan’s blood poison. Chi Quan was almost able to ascend to become a yao immortal after bowing to the moon three times. You should be able to guess how powerful his poison is.” Jiu Hui always had a smile on her face, but when she put on a cold face, it made others feel that she was noble and inviolable.
“Others may not know how potent Chi Quan’s poison is, but they can tell that it’s a yao poison.” Bai Yan understood immediately. “Someone wants to kill the sect master of Shenji School and blame it on our yao clan?”
“Yes,” Jiu Hui nodded.
“What should we do then?” Yu Li asked anxiously.
“Don’t worry, with me here, these are all minor issues.” Jiu Hui opened another gift box, which contained a pink glass vase. “While taking the opportunity to force out the Chi Quan blood poison from Sect Master Pao, I concealed the yao energy and let the Shenji School discover the truth.”
“What truth?” the three yaos asked in unison.
“The truth about the Demon Clan poisoning Sect Master Pao.” Jiu Hui snorted. “I’m always a warm-hearted and kind person, so I reminded the Shenji School again, asking them to spread the news to the Ten Great Sects, so that the other sect masters wouldn’t be poisoned by the Demon Clan.”
“Right now…” Jiu Hui glanced at the sky, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. “All ten major sects should have received the news that the demons have poisoned the sect master of the Shenji Sect.”
-—–
Jiutian Sect.
“Who did you say poisoned the Sect Master of the Shenji School?” Bu Ting, with his long hair loose, sat in the octagonal pavilion and fed the fish in the pond. After listening to Nan Feng’s report, he turned his head and looked at Nan Feng deeply for a long time. “The demons?”
“Yes,” Nan Feng said. “Immortal Venerable Qiu Hua was very dissatisfied with this matter and ordered all major sects to encircle and suppress the Demon Clan with all their might.”
Bu Ting covered his mouth and coughed violently, and countless drops of blood fell into the pool through the gaps between his fingers, blooming into red bloody flowers in the pool.
“Master.” Nan Feng took out a large cloak from his storage ring and draped it over Bu Ting’s body. “It’s cold in winter. I’ll help you to the hall to rest.”
“Immortal Lord Fuguang is unwilling to let me go, what does that have to do with the weather?” Bu Ting’s tone was indifferent: “What happened to the Sect Master of Shenji School?”
“Fortunately, he was rescued in time, so his life is not in danger.” Nan Feng’s tone was somewhat relieved. Although Sect Master Pao was ostentatious and vain, his crimes did not warrant death. It would be best if he could be safe and sound.
Bu Ting looked down at the blood on his palm and used a magic technique to clean it. “Is that so? I wonder who saved his life?”
“The letter from the Shenji School didn’t mention it.” Nan Feng shook his head. He looked at Bu Ting’s increasingly pale face and said with concern, “Master…”
Bu Ting looked up at him and said, “Don’t act like a child. I won’t die for now. How are the preparations for the enthronement ceremony going? If you have any questions, you can ask them.”
“Master.” Nan Feng opened his mouth, and after a long while, he slowly shook his head. “This disciple has no questions.”
Because at a certain moment just now, he actually felt that his master seemed to be dissatisfied with the Shenji School.
“If you don’t have any, then step down.” Bu Ting looked down at the fish in the pond. His blood had already blended with the water in the pond. No matter how much these fish swam, they would never be able to swim out of this pond.
He closed his eyes wearily, his long black hair dancing gently in the cold wind.
After Yin Ji left the Jiutian Sect, he discovered that the jade bottle containing Chi Quan’s blood, which had been placed in the hall, had vanished. Could it be that the person who took Chi Quan’s blood was not Yin Ji?
If it were Yin Ji, then the poison in the sect master’s body should be yao poison, not demon poison.
If the yaos didn’t enter this chess game, how could he disrupt the chessboard and make them help the world’s living beings resist the heavenly tribulation?
“Eldest Senior Brother Nan?” Shiyi asked as he saw Nan Feng exiting the Sect Master’s hall. “Has the Sect Master Immortal Venerable’s injury improved?”
Nan Feng shook his head slowly, and said in a hoarse voice, “Shiyi, come with me.”
“Where to?” Shiyi agreed without hesitation.
“Go…” Nan Feng paused. The world was vast, but other than the Jiutian Sect, there was nowhere else he could go.
“Go to Taolin City.” He closed his eyes wearily. “Go for a walk in Taolin City.”
“Okay.” Sensing that his mood was not good, Shiyi accompanied him onto the flying boat. After the flying boat left the Jiutian Sect, Shiyi said, “When I left Taolin City, Boss Song said that when winter comes, she would invite us to eat glutinous rice dumplings. Why don’t we go and have a bowl today?”
“Alright.” Nan Feng nodded.
It turned out that in the vast world, only the small Taolin City could become a place where he could let go of all his worries.
As they neared Taolin City, they encountered disciples of the Shenji School who were also riding a flying boat.
“Greetings, Immortal Nan Feng.” Recognizing the person on the flying boat as Nan Feng, the Grand Elder of the Shenji School quickly stopped the flying boat and bowed.
“Where are you going, Elder?” Nan Feng returned the greeting.
“In the past, our humble sect has offended the Wangshu Pavilion on many occasions. Today, this old man represents our humble sect to apologize to Pavilion Master Yu.” The Grand Elder’s face was full of regret.
“After experiencing life and death, our sect master recalled the day he crashed the Wangshu Pavilion’s flying boat, and he has been unable to sleep due to guilt. However, he is currently indisposed, so he can only send this old man to apologize on his behalf.”
To apologize?
More than a year later, they were finally going to Wangshu Pavilion to plead guilty?
Shiyi knew about the incident where the Shenji School crashed the Wangshu Pavilion’s flying boat, but he couldn’t figure out why the Shenji School would go to Wangshu Pavilion to plead guilty after such a long time.
This was not at all like the way the Shenji School usually do things.
Nan Feng thought of a possibility. Sect Master Pao was able to turn the crisis into safety, which might be related to Wangshu Pavilion. Otherwise, Sect Master Pao, who always cared about his reputation, would not have specially sent the Grand Elder of Shenji School to apologize to Wangshu Pavilion.
He was silent for a moment. “Sect Master Pao is infected with the demonic poison. I wonder how his body is now?”
“Thank you for your concern, Immortal Nan Feng. The Sect Master has improved a lot and will host a banquet tomorrow to entertain our distinguished guests,” the Grand Elder said with a smile on his face.
“A distinguished guest?” Nan Feng asked, not knowing why he did so. “Are you inviting Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui?”
The Grand Elder’s smile became more guarded. How did the people of the Jiutian Sect know that they were going to host a banquet for Miss Jiu Hui? Could it be that there was a spy from the Jiutian Sect within their Shenji Sect?
Good, good, he just knew they still suspected that the Shenji School was the one who caused trouble in the Jiutian Sect that day!
What about the basic trust between sects?
Nan Feng smiled wryly. It seemed that the person who had saved Sect Master Pao should be Jiu Hui.
The demonic poison was refined from the heart’s blood of a thousand-year-old demon and various rare poisons in the world. Those who were poisoned felt no pain or discomfort. Two days before the onset of the poison, they would experience slight discomfort, but neither spiritual power nor pulse-taking could detect any problems.
Only during the moment the poison flares up would it hurt to the bone marrow. This poison had no cure, and its only nemesis was the pure spiritual energy of a cultivator who had reached the Nascent Soul realm and was under twenty years old.
“In the entire cultivation world, the only cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm and is under the age of twenty is probably Jiu Hui.” Seeing the Shenji School Elder’s wariness towards him, Nan Feng explained, “It seems that my guess was correct?”
“Hmm?” Shiyi suddenly asked curiously, “Jiu Hui calls Zhi You ‘Little Junior Brother’. But Zhi You is older than Jiu Hui?”
Nan Feng: “…”
Was this the time to be curious about such things?
Shenji School Elder：“……”
He had thought that only their Shenji School had disciples who were not very bright, but it turned out that the lofty Jiutian Sect also had such disciples, which made him feel relieved.
Looking at the Shenji School Elder’s inexplicably relieved gaze, Nan Feng’s mood became even more complicated, because he didn’t know what the other party was relieved about.
An hour later, the people of Wangshu Pavilion looked at the Elders and disciples of Shenji School who were smiling at them and offering countless apologies, and they were all a little confused.
Although they liked to go around and take advantage of others, it was the first time they had seen a sheep actively offer its wool.
“Elder, what is this…” Yu Jing looked at the box filled with gold and silver jewelry. Did their Wangshu Pavilion save the lives of their Shenji School so they were being this attentive?
“I came today, firstly, to apologize to Pavilion Master Yu, and secondly, to express my gratitude.” The Grand Elder cupped his hands. “Pavilion Master Yu, you have taught your disciples well, saving our Shenji School from a dire situation. From this day forward, the Shenji School wishes to form an eternal bond of friendship with the Wangshu Pavilion.”
The Elders all turned their heads to look at Yu Jing, asking her with their eyes, what have your two precious disciples been doing outside?
Yu Jing：“……”
She hadn’t expected that Jiu Hui and Zhi You’s trip back to their hometown would also generate income for the sect.
“Elder, you’re too kind.” Yu Jing held the heavy jewelry box. “You can just come, why did you bring a gift?”
Since you brought it, don’t even think about taking it back.
-—–
Shenji School.
“Seeing that Senior has recovered so well, we juniors are relieved.” After eating and drinking their fill, Jiu Hui glanced at the enthusiastic Sect Master Pao who was smiling at her and put down her chopsticks. “Thank you for your hospitality, Senior.”
“Little friend, since you like our sect’s food, why don’t you stay in Songcheng for a while longer?” Sect Master Pao began to doubt his past self. Why had he ever found this girl annoying?
Look at those eyes, how bright, how big, and how adorable they are!
Look at that face, so fair, tender, and sweet. One look and you could tell that she’s blessed.
He must have been blind in the past.
“I will keep your kind offer in mind, Senior. However, I am on a journey to accompany my cousins. If I were to stay in Songcheng, I would have a hard time explaining it to my elders when I return home.” Jiu Hui stood up. “If I come to Songcheng again, I will definitely stay longer next time.”
“Alas,” sighed Sect Master Pao. After letting Jiu Hui talk for a while longer, he personally escorted her and Zhi You to the sect gate. “On the first day of the first lunar month, at the Jiutian Sect’s succession ceremony, this old man will have a good chat with you again, my young friend.”
Outside the gates of the Shenji School, several carriages were parked. Yu Li, who was sitting in one of the carriages, saw the Shenji School’s Sect Master looking at the young master with great reluctance, and she shook her head and sighed, “I think this Sect Master is about to treat the young master as his own daughter.”
“As long as the young master is willing to take action, there is no sect in the world that she cannot conquer.” Bai Yan blew on the heat of the teacup and said in a mysterious tone, “The ten major sects will sooner or later be in the hands of the young master.”
Yu Li scratched her head, but didn’t the young master say that she wasn’t interested in the Ten Great Sects?
Why did Little Bai keep thinking about taking down the Ten Great Sects?
Could it be that he wanted to capture the disciples of the ten major sects to grow tea trees and garlic chives?
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Jiu Hui, holding a pile of things that Sect Master Pao had just stuffed into her arms, stepped into the carriage with the help of Zhi You’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Where should we go next?” Kong Cangnan asked.
“Don’t worry, someone will definitely invite us to be their guest.” Jiu Hui smiled at the three of them. “But you might have to suffer a little.”
The three of them didn’t take this to heart until two days later, when they were suddenly captured by several demons and had knives held to their necks. It was then that they finally understood what Jiu Hui meant.
Jiu Hui’s face was pale, but she tried her best to hide the anxiety in her eyes. “Sha Luojia, those few are just useless mortals. I’ve never been close to them since I was a child. If you think you can threaten me with them, then you’ve made a mistake.”
“Heh.” Sha Luojia looked at her tightly clenched fists and lips that had turned white from biting them, and sneered, “Since you don’t care about them, then I’ll kill them.”
“Wait!” Jiu Hui took a deep breath. “What exactly do you want to do?”
“Aren’t you interested in our Demon Clan’s token?” Sha Luojia laughed disdainfully. Even if this Jiu Hui had some abilities, she was nothing more than a mortal who couldn’t let go of worldly emotions. “Then I’ll take your Junior Brother and your family to the Demon Clan as guests for a few days. Are you willing?”
“Sister, I don’t want to die!” Yu Li suddenly wailed, “Sister, save me.”
Bai Yan and Kong Cangnan were speechless. They didn’t expect the young master of the Koi Clan to be so dramatic, but… a bit too exaggerated.
“Shut up!” Sha Luojia was annoyed by Yu Li’s sudden crying. “If you cry again, I’ll kill you with one strike!”
“Oh.” Yu Li sniffed and obediently lowered her head, closing her mouth.
“I’ll go with you!” Jiu Hui quickly said. She was afraid that if she hesitated any longer, Yu Li would be exposed. “But you have to let my little junior brother go.”
“Let him go so he can spread the news throughout the cultivation world?” Sha Luojia laughed. “Do you think I’m as foolish as Luohe?”
She tied Jiu Hui and Zhi You up with two ropes. “These are Spirit-Controlling Ropes, specially designed to restrain cultivators. The more you struggle, the tighter they’ll bind you. If you’re smart, you’ll come with me to the Demon Clan without trying to escape.”
Seeing that Jiu Hui and Zhi You really didn’t dare to move, Sha Luojia was extremely happy and tied up the three useless humans as well.
Kong Cangnan glanced at the Spirit-Controlling Rope on Jiu Hui’s body and sneered with disdain. He thought to himself, what a genius, using a rope meant for human cultivators to bind the young master of the yao clan.
“What are you laughing at?” A demon guard hit him on the back with a stick. “Now that you’re in the hands of our Demon Clan, don’t put on airs like a young master of the human clan.”
When Bai Yan saw Kong Cangnan getting beaten up, he silently lowered his head and held back his laughter, thinking, serves him right! Beat him up even harder!
Sha Luojia opened the crack in the Demon Realm and pulled Jiu Hui and the others into it. Once inside the Demon Realm, she would let Jiu Hui know what regret was.
Author’s Note
Little Garlic Chive: I don’t quite understand. I just want to ask, is the abbreviation of “She will let Jiu Hui know what regret is” is “She will regret it”?
Zhi You: I wish everyone a happy last weekend of 2023~