I have no interest in the bluestone slabs.
Of course, Xie Wujie was only joking. Since he was heading to the capital, having someone to keep him company and pass the time was not a bad thing, so he agreed to travel together.
This trip to the capital, Xie Wujie planned to visit Danxia Sect. According to the records left by Song Zhong, one of the eight guardians, the seventh, had sought refuge in Danxia Sect after the annihilation of the Immortal Longevity Sect.
Danxia Sect was one of the ten great sects in the world. Among the top ten sects, Yunshang Kingdom boasted two, and Danxia Sect was one of them. It was said that Danxia Sect was renowned for its alchemy and artifact forging; nine-tenths of Yunshang Kingdom’s magical treasures and elixirs originated from Danxia Sect.
Even more crucial was the fact that Danxia Sect was located right in the capital. It was rumored that the founding emperor was obsessed with cultivation and needed the elixirs produced by Danxia Sect daily. As a mortal, he lived to over two hundred years, which was three times the average lifespan.
Thus, Danxia Sect had some ties to the royal family.
The second major sect in Yunshang Kingdom was the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons. This sect was quite mysterious, but its members were very reserved and rarely caused trouble. Because of their inherent strength, Yunshang Kingdom simply turned a blind eye.
If the nation faced a crisis, the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons could be counted on for aid. Besides, to eliminate them would be no small feat.
“Danxia Sect possesses the legacy of the Crimson Sky Divine Ape, one of the twelve divine beasts,” Dongmen Qianyun said.
Xie Wujie replied, “There are twelve divine beasts?”
“You didn’t know? Let me tell you, elder brother, the world is vast and full of wonders. Currently, there are twelve ranked celestial beasts: the Time King Rat, Drought God Ox, Dragon Lion, Star Marrow Rabbit, Demon Heaven Dragon, Abyssal Flood Dragon, Moon-Stepping Steed, Seven-Colored Deer, Three-Eyed Spirit Ape, Undying Bird, Three-Headed Demon Hound, and Auspicious Pig,” Dongmen Qianyun explained.
Xie Wujie exclaimed, “There’s even an Undying Bird?”
“You got it! Seems you’ve heard of the Undying Bird? But unfortunately, its legacy was broken thirty years ago. During the internal chaos in Yunshang Kingdom, the sect that housed the Undying Bird was called the Immortal Longevity Sect. The Hall of Ten Thousand Demons coveted Immortal Longevity Sect’s tenth place in the rankings and challenged them. The sect leader of Immortal Longevity Sect was killed, and the sect dissolved. Most of its members joined other sects,” Dongmen Qianyun said, as if she knew many secrets.
Xie Wujie couldn’t help but wonder how Dongmen Qianyun knew so much, but everyone had their own secrets, so he didn’t pry. He drove the carriage leisurely, and when they reached the capital and delivered Dongmen Qianyun safely, he would have fulfilled his responsibility to her.
“Nowadays, each of the ten great sects has the legacy of a divine beast. Two legacies are missing: the Undying Bird and the Time King Rat, ranked first,” Dongmen Qianyun said as she looked ahead, eating walnut kernels. The walnuts had a peculiar flavor but were filling enough.
“Is the Time King Rat powerful?”
“Absolutely. The key is in its name—Time King. This rat is said to possess incredible abilities, able to control time… In battles between experts, a single breath can change the outcome. The Time King Rat is the prized target of the Chong family. Even now, many are searching for its successor,” Dongmen Qianyun replied.
Xie Wujie thought to himself, no wonder Song Zhong and Song Xiao valued the Undying Bird so highly—it truly had an extraordinary origin.
“Also, it’s said that each of the twelve successors possesses unique techniques. For example, the sect leader of Danxia Sect practices a special art called the Spirit Ape’s Three Transformations. With this technique, no one dares provoke Danxia Sect,” Dongmen Qianyun seemed to recall something unpleasant and sighed softly.
“You seem to know a lot about Danxia Sect,” Xie Wujie remarked.
Dongmen Qianyun smiled, but the smile was forced and quickly disappeared from her face.
When the carriage arrived at a small town, Dongmen Qianyun stretched and said, “Let’s rest here for the night and continue tomorrow. Sleeping in the carriage last night left my back aching.”
“Alright, I need to buy some provisions anyway,” Xie Wujie replied.
When the two entered an inn in the town, they found the people around them behaving strangely, casting odd glances their way.
Xie Wujie was puzzled. Did these people recognize him?
He quickly dismissed the idea. This town was called Dog-Paddle Town, on the border of the capital in Tongzhou. If not for the forest ahead, he wouldn’t have stopped here. The forest was fraught with danger; spending the night there risked being attacked by wild beasts, so he agreed with Dongmen Qianyun's suggestion.
Dongmen Qianyun said, “You take Room One, I’ll take Room Two. I’m going to bathe, don’t you dare peek!”
She burst out laughing, her smile captivating.
Xie Wujie was curious about this mysterious, medically skilled girl, but didn’t wish to pry. He waved his hand and said, “I have no interest in peeking. Go ahead and bathe! But be careful, someone else might try to peek!”
“You! Do you think I’m not pretty?” Dongmen Qianyun said angrily.
In truth, Dongmen Qianyun was quite attractive, with delicate features. When they first met in the mountain stronghold, her face was dusty, so Xie Wujie hadn’t seen her true appearance. After she cleaned up, he was genuinely stunned.
Dongmen Qianyun was petite, with exquisite features and fair skin. But when Xie Wujie saw her chest, flat as a stone slab, his interest vanished.
He still missed Song Xiaoyu; her figure would be impressive even by modern standards—definitely a B+!
Xie Wujie glanced at Dongmen Qianyun’s nearly board-flat chest, and a smirk appeared: “You’re still a kid, uncle only cares for you. Stay in your room, uncle will go buy you some sweets!”
Dongmen Qianyun was dumbfounded. She looked at Xie Wujie, then at herself, suddenly understanding, and hurled her walnut at him: “Damn it, Xie Wujie! You rotten dog, Xie Wujie, you’re dead meat! I’m already twenty years old, not a little girl!”
Xie Wujie waved his hand: “I’m off, wait here in the inn. If you’re hungry, order something!”
With that, Xie Wujie left the inn.
Once he was gone, Dongmen Qianyun stomped her foot in frustration. She felt wronged: “Does he think I’m like this by choice? It’s hereditary from my mother. Men really are all pigs!”
She angrily headed to her room, and the attendant greeted her, “Miss…”
“Prepare bath water!” Dongmen Qianyun snapped.
The attendant was puzzled, “Miss, are you quarreling with your father?”
“Father?” Dongmen Qianyun’s mouth dropped open, staring at the attendant. “Who are you calling father?”
Xie Wujie was twenty-seven or twenty-eight; in this region, it was common for men to be fathers by fifteen or sixteen. Dongmen Qianyun had a naturally youthful face and petite build, so the attendant misunderstood.
This made Dongmen Qianyun’s cheeks flush red. “I’m not his daughter!”
She marched upstairs and slammed her door.
Soon, the door was knocked. Dongmen Qianyun paused, thinking Xie Wujie had returned to apologize. She smiled briefly, then said sternly, “Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you apologize! Let me tell you, my mother was already married at my age, and my father praised her for being petite and cute. You’re so unappreciative, always bullying me. But since you came to find me, I’ll forgive you—just this once!”
She turned, only to find not Xie Wujie, but two burly men. One held a rope, the other a sack, both standing menacingly at the door.
“This is the little girl traveling with Xie Wujie?”
“The boss said, as long as we capture her, we can threaten Xie Wujie. He probably doesn’t know his warrant has reached our town. This time, we’re going to make a fortune, haha!”
The two men lunged to seize Dongmen Qianyun. She was terrified: “Who are you? Stay away, don’t come near! Ah! Get away!”