Chapter 77: To Kill

Tn: Chapter 76 is just the author saying that he's taking a leave because of something.

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Chapter 77: To Kill

Yushan Mountain.

In the afternoon, Master Yu Ling, the esteemed immortal of Yushan Mountain, was leisurely humming a tune while bathing in her residence's pool.

"That brat Chen Yin is just too much."

She murmured with a hint of grievance, "Why hasn't he brought Xiang'er back after so long?"

"Can that little rascal even handle it? Will I have to go personally in the end—"

She hadn't finished speaking when her humming stopped abruptly, and a fleeting glimmer passed through her eyes.

In the next moment, her figure vanished from the pool. Instantly, she reappeared, fully dressed, in the main hall.

A luxurious, wide Daoist robe wrapped around her petite frame. Holding a teacup lid delicately with her slender fingers, she took a light sip of fragrant tea, speaking in a casual tone:

"Oh, what a rare guest."

"—Even the old undead from your sect has the time to visit Yushan Mountain?"

As her words fell, several dark shadows slowly stepped into the main hall from the doorway.

"Heh, Yu Ling, it's been a while. I hope you've been well?" The speaker's voice was kind yet ancient.

"Don't." Yu Ling pouted slightly. "You came all this way; you must be hoping I'm unwell."

"Spit it out already. What do you want?"

The leading figure chuckled softly and said, "Can't we drop by an old friend's place for no reason?"

"Who's your old friend? I'm not familiar with you."

Yu Ling shot them a lazy, displeased glance. "Are you going to talk or not? If not, I'll see you out."

The dark figure chuckled again. "Very well. I'll get straight to the point."

"I heard that the young ones from your Yushan Mountain have recently been investigating the matter of the Changli Palace. Are you aware of this?"

Yu Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, but her tone remained indifferent. "How would I know?"

"Those two brats of mine are crazier than the other, running wild all over the place every day. How would I know what they're up to?"

"But let me warn you, unless you have concrete evidence, you’d better hold it in."

"If you dare touch my two little ones without proof…" A trace of killing intent flashed in Yu Ling's gaze.

"—You’ll bear the consequences."

The group of dark figures exchanged glances. The leader continued to smile and said, "Very well, let's set that matter aside for now."

"Your little disciple—she's called Yu Xiang, right?"

"Yes. What about her?"

"Do you remember where you picked her up?"

This single sentence brought a sudden chill to the atmosphere in the residence.

Yu Ling's expression darkened as she fixed her gaze on the group, speaking slowly, "That was over a decade ago. How would I remember?"

"Immortal Yu Ling, surely you're joking. Such an important matter—how could you not remember?"

The shadowy figure let out a sinister chuckle. "Shall we help jog your memory?"

"That little girl should have been found in Ziqing Prefecture, correct?"

"Surely you’re aware that the Changli Palace was the largest sect in Ziqing Prefecture?"

Yu Ling remained silent.

She had already understood. Since these people dared to come and question her, they clearly already knew something.

"No need to beat around the bush. Just say it."

Yu Ling spoke coldly. "What do you want?"

"There's no need to overthink it, Immortal Yu Ling."

The shadowy figure said in a loud voice, "You are a guest elder of great honor in our sect, renowned throughout the cultivation world."

"We have no intention of opposing you. It's just that your disciple, Yu Xiang, is extraordinarily talented and gifted. Why not send her to our main sect for further training? With time, she could become a peerless genius rivaling the Frost Moon Sword Immortal."

Hearing this, Yu Ling's expression turned completely icy.

"So you're here to take her away?"

She raised her chin proudly and snorted coldly. "And what if I refuse?"

The shadowy figure let out a quiet sigh.

"Yu Ling, must it come to this? Just three ten-day periods ago, your injuries from that battle have yet to heal, even with your prized Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart. Must you oppose the main sect now?"

Yu Ling sneered and spat disdainfully. "Pah. You old undead geezers. I toil tirelessly outside, and you sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Now you even plan to stab me in the back?"

"Aren't you afraid that if word gets out, the Misty Spirit Sect will become a public enemy, with the entire cultivation world uniting against you?"

"Afraid? Of course, we're afraid."

The shadowy figure replied with a smile, "So without absolute assurance, how could we dare to provoke the tiger's whiskers of Yu Ling?"

As he spoke, he slowly pulled something out from behind him.

Yu Ling's pupils shrank.

She recognized that object—a Celestial Summoning Flask, a treasure from the ancient celestial realms. It could trap anyone below the True Immortal level for three days, regardless of their strength. However, it was a single-use item.

"…Such extravagance," she muttered, lowering her gaze slightly.

"For someone like you, Yu Ling, no expense is too great."

The shadowy figure chuckled warmly. "We kindly invite Immortal Yu Ling to visit our main sect."

Yu Ling slowly closed her beautiful eyes. Her long lashes trembled slightly before she let out a derisive laugh.

"Do you think that just because I’m injured, you can do as you please?"

"—Do you even understand the weight of being the 'First Under the True Immortal’?"

Before her words had fully landed, the dark figures reacted as if facing a deadly threat, instantly retreating several steps.

The next moment, Yu Ling opened her eyes. A faint golden gleam flickered in her pupils.

<+>

The journey back to Yushan Mountain took a few days.

Walking along the mist-shrouded mountain path, Shen Shuanglian remarked with nostalgia, "Your mountain is still as misty as ever."

"Yushan Mountain has always been like this," Chen Yin replied, looking around with a hint of sentiment. "The mist here never dissipates, year-round."

"Perhaps it's because of the Yushan Flowers."

"Yushan Flowers? Are they the flowers that grow on your mountain?"

"Yes," Chen Yin said with a smile. "They smell wonderful. I'll pick one for you to smell when we get there."

Yu Xiang silently watched the two's backs, her head lowered, lost in thought.

At the end of the dusty path, a heavenly residence appeared, shrouded in ethereal mist beside a waterfall.

Finally, they were home.

Chen Yin instantly felt refreshed. In just a few strides, he ran to the residence's entrance, kicked open the door, and shouted happily:

"Old hag! I’m back…."

His voice trailed off.

The entire residence was in shambles.

Broken furniture was scattered everywhere, many pieces ground into fine dust. The air reeked of blood, mixed with an overwhelming aura of lingering spiritual energy.

It was as if a catastrophe had swept through.

"This..." Shen Shuanglian covered her mouth in shock. Yu Xiang's eyes widened before she dashed into the residence, shouting:

"Master!"

Xiang'er frantically searched every corner of the residence, while Chen Yin's expression grew colder. Taking a step forward, he headed straight for the door to his master’s bath.

Pushing the door open, the bath was still filled with mist. In the pool, a frail figure leaned quietly against the edge, her face obscured by the swirling vapor.

The entire pool was dyed red with blood.

As if sensing someone approach, the woman, who had kept her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Upon seeing who it was, she closed them again.

"—Brat. Had your fun, didn’t you? Took you long enough to come back."

"I'm sorry," Chen Yin said seriously.

"Heh, what for? Didn’t you bring Xiang'er back?"

His master spoke faintly, "I can already hear that girl’s yelling. Tell her to quiet down. She’s disturbing my rest."

Before she could finish, a pair of broad hands rested on her shoulders.

Because Chen Yin cultivated the same technique as his master, The Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart, his spiritual energy entered her body unimpeded, soothing her chaotic meridians.

His expression grew colder and more composed.

After a long silence, he finally said, "I should have waited until you recovered before going to find Xiang'er."

His master chuckled boldly. "Do you look down on your master? Let me tell you, those old bastards—your master could crush them all with just one finger—"

"They were from the Misty Spirit Sect, weren’t they?"

Her voice cut off abruptly. After a moment, her gaze darkened.

"You’d better not get involved in this matter," she said. Scooping up a handful of water and pouring it over herself, her tone was calm. "Once I recover, I’ll make them pay."

Chen Yin said nothing. His gaze was like a stone submerged in icy water.

Soon, Shen Shuanglian and Yu Xiang also found their way to the bath. Shen Shuanglian stared in shock, while Yu Xiang nearly burst into tears, throwing herself at her master.

"Master—"

"Hey, hey, what’s with the wailing? I’m not dead yet."

Yu Ling pouted discontentedly. "You little rascal. Wandering outside for so long without returning—you’ve earned a spanking."

"Once I recover, I’ll pin you down and give you a good beating—"

"Save it for when you’re healed." Chen Yin interrupted her.

His gaze burned intensely as he stared at Yu Ling, his tone devoid of emotion.

"For the next two days, use all the pills you’ve been hoarding to heal yourself."

"Hey, you little spendthrift," she grumbled. "Do you know how expensive those pills are? Each one is worth a fortune. Are you going to replace them if I waste them?"

"I will," Chen Yin replied without hesitation, surprising her.

"Do whatever it takes. Just get back to a point where you can defend yourself."

"Then what about you?" she asked, displeased by how he was making decisions for her.

Chen Yin turned, his gaze steady as it fixed on the direction of Misty Spirit Sect’s main sect.

"I’m going to kill them."

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