Chapter 42
Embarrassed to admit that she had been caught stealing food at Dong’e Mountain, Qing Xun simply mumbled a vague response to Que Chenyi’s question. She figured since the Azure Dragon was one of the Five Phoenixes, calling them “relatives” wasn’t entirely wrong.
Que Chenyi looked thoughtfully at the spiritual fruit in her hand. If Qing Xun had such a close relationship with Dong’e Mountain, then the goal must be to train her into an official capable of taking over the Ministry Head position. Qing Xun was still young, but she had potential. She had benefited from Qing Xun’s connection, enjoying spiritual fruits she couldn’t even afford to buy. It was only right to return the favor. With this thought in mind, her initial reluctance vanished. She beamed at Qing Xun. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you everything I know.” She then made a copy of the documents from the side hall and handed them all to Qing Xun, instructing her to read through them.
Qing Xun: “…”
By the time Phoenix Mountain noticed something was amiss with Qing Xun, it was already her third day on the job. She was young and her immortal body was incomplete, so the Azure Dragon Elder hadn’t expected her to become an official. She hadn’t restricted her movements or pressured her to focus on her studies like the other clan members. The Elder had hoped that Qing Xun would live a carefree life as a wandering immortal, but things hadn’t gone according to plan. A clan member had seen her busy at work at the Celestial Feather Ministry—she seemed even more like an official than those who were actually candidates.
The Azure Dragon Elder couldn’t ignore this. Upon hearing that Qing Xun had returned to the mountain, she immediately summoned her to find out what was going on.
Qing Xun stammered, but the Elder was determined to get to the bottom of it. Knowing she couldn’t hide the truth any longer, she confessed everything about being caught at Dong’e Mountain.
The Azure Dragon Elder was stunned. She couldn’t believe Qing Xun had been so audacious. As she heard the names of the spiritual fruits mentioned, her eyelids twitched violently. Her lips moved soundlessly for a long time before she finally spoke. “What spiritual fruits?”
Qing Xun hung her head, dejected. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. “Heavenly Phoenix Fruit, Snow Feather Fruit, Origin Fruit… and some others I didn’t recognize.”
The Azure Dragon Elder: “…” Waves of dizziness washed over her. Phoenix Mountain certainly couldn’t afford to compensate for those. They couldn’t possibly leave their fellow feathered brethren to starve just to redeem Qing Xun, could they? “Just focus on your duties at the Celestial Feather Ministry,” she said through gritted teeth. After a moment, she beckoned Qing Xun closer. “Come here.”
Qing Xun shuffled her feet reluctantly.
The Elder sighed internally and took a step forward. She raised her finger and pressed it against Qing Xun’s forehead. This little Azure Dragon had been born with a deficiency and was weaker than other members of their lineage. However, the damage was slowly healing thanks to the effects of the spiritual fruits. Although her immortal body couldn’t be fully restored, her strength had improved considerably. The Elder looked at Qing Xun intently but didn’t say anything more. She waved her hand, dismissing her.
Whether that person from Dong’e Mountain had done it intentionally or not, she had to pay them a visit, partly to confirm a suspicion that had been growing in her mind.
With this thought, the Azure Dragon Elder personally went to Dong’e Mountain early the next morning.
Ming Jian Su was reading the documents sent by Que Chenyi when she received the message.
On a nearby bed, Feng Chiyue was lounging, playing with the Chaos Mirror, a carefree smile on her face.
Feng Chiyue’s senses were sharp. She instantly noticed Ming Jian Su’s gaze. She pulled her attention away from the Chaos Mirror and turned to look at Ming Jian Su, her brow raised in silent inquiry.
“Elder Qingyun of the Azure Dragon lineage is here,” Ming Jian Su said.
Feng Chiyue’s face fell. “I don’t want to see her,” she said dismissively.
Ming Jian Su initially assumed that she had come because of Qing Xun. However, in the past, any matters concerning Phoenix Mountain, regardless of the lineage involved, were handled by Feng Yao. These elders, wary of the Heavenly Court’s scrutiny, rarely ventured out. Perhaps Qing Xun was just an excuse. Was her true purpose to gather information about her junior sister? The thought made Ming Jian Su’s gaze turn cold. She handed the stack of documents to Undefeated. “I’ll be back shortly,” she said, getting up and leaving.
Feng Chiyue responded distractedly, her eyes following Ming Jian Su until she disappeared from sight. Only then did she return her attention to the Chaos Mirror, resuming her chat with Ying Cunxin.
After deleting Chu Yi’s name seal, Ying Cunxin had spent a night wallowing in sadness before turning her attention to the mysterious West River Master. She had left a comment on a topic related to the West River Master, never expecting Chu Yi to chime in. Although Chu Yi didn’t ask why she had deleted the name seal, Ying Cunxin was still startled. Driven by a strange sense of guilt, she postponed her plans to visit the West River Master and had been holed up in the Dragon Palace, refusing to go out.
However, even though she didn’t go out, Chu Yi could still visit her.
Ying Cunxin didn’t want to see her, but she was afraid that if Chu Yi spoke to the Dragon King, her lie about the “forced marriage” would be exposed. She had no choice but to receive her guest.
To her relief, Chu Yi didn’t mention anything about the “name seal” or their “battle.” It seemed she was only here to discuss “Four Seas matters.” Ying Cunxin thought to herself that, after all, Chu Yi was the Emperor’s daughter. She possessed a magnanimity that ordinary immortals could only dream of. Perhaps she had already forgotten about that minor incident. Ying Cunxin breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring the faint twinge of regret in her heart. However, just as she was sending Chu Yi off, about to see her out of the East Sea, Chu Yi suddenly asked, “Do you need me to introduce you to the West River Master?” Ying Cunxin’s heart skipped a beat. She could barely maintain her calm facade.
Thankfully, Chu Yi left right after saying that, but she hadn’t clarified her intentions, leaving Ying Cunxin in a state of perpetual anxiety. She reviewed the events that had transpired and couldn’t understand why she felt guilty. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Wasn’t it perfectly normal to add or delete name seals on the Chaos Mirror?
“How did the Emperor’s daughter know that I wanted to meet the West River Master?” A panicked Ying Cunxin sought out Feng Chiyue to confide in her.
Feng Chiyue’s answer was straightforward. “I told her.” It was best if these two were entangled with each other, so that neither of them would covet her Elder Sister!
Ying Cunxin: “?”
Feng Chiyue ignored Ying Cunxin’s speechless reaction and continued, “Chu Yi is vindictive. You were probably the first person to add her and then delete her. She’ll definitely remember you.”
Ying Cunxin: “…” “Surely not?” Her heart was pounding in her chest. The rumors must be false. Feng Chiyue must have heard some gossip and believed the words of those jealous, troublemaking immortals.
Feng Chiyue: “How do you think she and I became enemies in the first place? Those who understand you best are often your enemies, aren’t they?”
Ying Cunxin couldn’t come up with a rebuttal. Her instincts told her that Feng Chiyue was talking nonsense, but the meaningful words and look in Chu Yi’s eyes before she left lingered in her mind. “Then what should I do?” Desperate, she asked for advice.
“Chu Yi loves beauty and responds better to gentleness than force. Just try to appease her,” Feng Chiyue said.
Ying Cunxin hadn’t noticed Chu Yi’s appreciation for beauty. After all, in the Ethereal Spirit Realm, Chu Yi’s aura had been all about destroying beauty. However, she could see some truth in the “responds better to gentleness” part. When she had pretended to be ill, it had prompted Chu Yi to go to the West Sea and confront Ao Chaofeng. But she had deleted Chu Yi’s name seal because she genuinely believed that Chu Yi had feelings for her and that her situation was dangerous. Wouldn’t approaching her again be like stepping back into a quagmire? Perhaps in the process of appeasing her, she could slowly change Chu Yi’s attitude? But appeasing someone was an art. “Do you know how to appease people, Fellow Daoist Feng?” Ying Cunxin decided to seek guidance from Feng Chiyue.
“I’m the one who’s usually being appeased,” Feng Chiyue replied.
Ying Cunxin: “…” The East Abode Master must have spoiled her rotten!
Although Feng Chiyue had no personal experience with appeasing others, she was kind enough to send Ying Cunxin a curated collection of her favorite plays and novels for her to study.
Meanwhile, Ming Jian Su, the expert at appeasing others, was standing outside Dong’e Mountain, calmly facing Qingyun, the Azure Dragon Elder. After exchanging greetings, she simply stood there, showing no intention of inviting her guest inside.
Qingyun sensed the “unwelcoming” aura emanating from Ming Jian Su. The relationship between Phoenix Mountain and Dong’e Mountain had never been good. However, she didn’t take offense. After expressing her gratitude, she steered the conversation towards Feng Chiyue. “Is Ministry Head Feng not in the mountain?” she asked with feigned concern.
“She’s not,” Ming Jian Su lied blatantly.
“Is she at the Celestial Feather Ministry then?” Qingyun continued to probe.
Ming Jian Su’s brow furrowed. She was now certain that Qing Xun was just a pretext. She met Qingyun’s gaze, the corners of her lips curving up in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Is there something you need from my junior sister, Elder Qing?”
Qingyun smiled faintly. “I haven’t seen her in a while. I just wanted to check on her.”
“My junior sister is doing well,” Ming Jian Su said, emphasizing the last two words. Dong’e Mountain was the only place where her junior sister truly belonged.
“We trust that Fellow Daoist Ming will take good care of her,” Qingyun said. After guessing Feng Chiyue’s true identity, they actually felt a bit regretful. If they had kept Feng Chiyue back then, would things have been different? But regret was useless. They could only try to maintain good relations with Dong’e Mountain. After all, based on the current situation, the East Abode Master was the only person Feng Chiyue cared about.
“What does your trust have to do with me?” Ming Jian Su asked, feigning confusion. “Taking care of my junior sister is my duty. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Her intention to sever ties with Phoenix Mountain was clear. The gentle smile on Qingyun’s face faded slightly. Lowering her gaze, she said, “The clan will always be there.”
The clan? If the clan was so reliable, would her junior sister have had to endure Nirvana alone? Would she have been trapped in the Abyss of the Milky Way for so long? Ming Jian Su’s eyes turned frosty, an icy aura emanating from her. The smile vanished from her face as she said curtly, “Then I wish your clan prosperity and continued success.”
Qingyun pretended not to understand her meaning. “Thank you for your kind words, Fellow Daoist Ming.”
Her intention to leave was obvious. Qingyun didn’t press further. She handed the Qiankun bag, meant as a token of gratitude, to Ming Jian Su and bid her farewell.
Ming Jian Su looked at the Qiankun bag with a sneer. She would still accept the gift. It rightfully belonged to her junior sister. Why refuse it? After returning to the mountain and tossing the Qiankun bag to Zhu Wan to be stored in the treasury, Ming Jian Su stood under the peach blossom tree, trying to calm the anger surging within her. Those from the Vermilion Bird and Bifang lineages in Danxue Mountain deserved to die, and those from Phoenix Mountain were no better. The results of the recent Celestial Feather Ministry assessment proved it. They were always clamoring about returning to their former glory and taking revenge, but in the end, weren’t they just as corrupt as the Vermilion Bird and the others? They clung to their arrogance and pride and weren’t even half as hardworking as those with less impressive bloodlines.
The entire Immortal Realm was a mess. Everyone was infuriating! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. The birds that had been playing around the swing set scattered in fear, sensing the dark aura emanating from her. Even the pink peach blossoms swirled in the wind, keeping a safe distance.
“Why the long face?”
A soft murmur reached her ears. Ming Jian Su looked down and saw a pair of jade-like hands wrapped around her waist.
She covered Feng Chiyue’s hands, the turmoil within her instantly subsiding. “It’s nothing,” she said, forcing a smile.
“You’re lying.” Feng Chiyue didn’t believe her. She hugged Ming Jian Su tightly from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. Her eyes were hazy, like autumn mist hanging over a river. “You’re unhappy after seeing Qingyun. Phoenix Mountain must have made some unreasonable request.” She sided with Ming Jian Su unconditionally.
Ming Jian Su sighed internally. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “They want to see you.” Or rather, they wanted to see the Phoenix Sovereign.
Feng Chiyue snorted. “Who do they think I am? Do they think they can just see me whenever they want?” After a pause, she added, “Should we erect a stone tablet outside Dong’e Mountain? Inscribe it with ‘Demons and members of Phoenix Mountain are forbidden entry’?”
Ming Jian Su chuckled. She let go of Feng Chiyue and turned to face her. Raising her hand, she tucked a stray braid behind her ear. “There’s no need for that.” It wouldn’t reflect well on Dong’e Mountain if word got out.
Feng Chiyue made a noncommittal sound, her gaze fixed on Ming Jian Su.
When she had awakened in the Abyss of the Milky Way, Ming Jian Su was the first person she saw, making her the most special person in her life.
A gentle breeze blew, scattering peach blossoms in the air.
Ming Jian Su gathered the falling petals and led Feng Chiyue back to the Dharma Hall.
Undefeated was clumsily trying to organize the documents. Seeing Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue, it flipped over in a gesture of protest and banged its hilt against the table.
Feng Chiyue asked with a smile, “Where are the other two swords?”
Undefeated immediately quieted down. Although its master was fickle, it was the first to follow her and the only one who knew how to handle paperwork!
After spending some quality time with Feng Chiyue, Ming Jian Su refocused on her work.
Feng Chiyue didn’t bother Ming Jian Su. Instead, she summoned the Chaos Mirror and posted a declaration severing ties with Phoenix Mountain.
Although they had never had much of a relationship to begin with, a formal “separation” was still necessary.
She was a Phoenix, but she wasn’t from Phoenix Mountain or Danxue Mountain. She was the one and only Phoenix of Dong’e Mountain.
— What happened? Why did she suddenly publish a “Severance Letter to Phoenix Mountain”?
— As expected, when Feng Chiyue goes crazy, she doesn’t care about anyone’s face. She even attacks the Phoenix.
— Fellow Daoist above is mistaken. There are exceptions.
By the time Ming Jian Su saw the news, it was already common knowledge throughout the Immortal Realm. There were many onlookers enjoying the spectacle. Some members of the feathered lineages expressed their indignation and cursed Feng Chiyue, while others applauded her actions. The former were likely supporters of Phoenix Mountain, while the latter were clearly from the Vermilion Bird lineage, seizing the opportunity to fan the flames and drive a wedge between Dong’e Mountain and Phoenix Mountain.
“Junior Sister, why did you–” Looking at Feng Chiyue’s beaming face, Ming Jian Su couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Are you happy, Elder Sister?” Feng Chiyue blinked. “After this, Phoenix Mountain shouldn’t bother us anymore.”
Ming Jian Su felt a mix of emotions. She was happy, of course. Her junior sister always put her first. But she also felt heartbroken. Her junior sister deserved a carefree life. Why had she suffered so much injustice in the past? She pursed her lips, found those who were cursing Feng Chiyue on the Chaos Mirror, and sent them duel invitations. Whether in the Ethereal Spirit Realm or in actual combat, as long as she could shut them up, she was willing to oblige!
Ever since slaying Bai Yang Star Monarch, Ming Jian Su’s reputation had been tainted with a lingering aura of ruthlessness. She was practically a bogeyman used to scare children at night. After her actions, no one dared to insult Feng Chiyue anymore. They were all too terrified to speak.
Ming Jian Su didn’t care what others thought. She only cared about achieving her goals. For the next few days, neither the Emperor’s daughter nor Phoenix Mountain came to Dong’e Mountain to disturb her peace with her junior sister. This was exactly what she wanted. However, there were still a few unpleasant incidents. During the Celestial Feather Ministry assessment, several former Mountain Patrol Emissaries tried to obstruct the process. The candidates, hesitant and lacking the courage to act independently, simply reported their findings. Ming Jian Su didn’t blame them too harshly. After all, it was understandable that those from smaller lineages wouldn’t want to offend the Vermilion Bird and Bifang.
While the candidates from smaller lineages were afraid of the former Mountain Patrol Emissaries, Ming Jian Su was not. She went to the Celestial Pivot Department and forcefully demanded a dozen Arrest Warrants from Yunze Young Lord. After beating those who obstructed official business, along with their supporters, half to death, she tossed them all into the Grand Court of Justice.
Yunze Young Lord was in a difficult position. He didn’t want to get involved in this mess at all. Wasn’t it better for the Celestial Pivot Department to remain quiet and unnoticed? No sooner had Dong’e Mountain left than the Vermilion Bird and Bifang came knocking. The most terrifying thing was that decrees from the Heavenly Emperor and the Celestial Mother arrived one after another. The former demanded the release of the prisoners, while the latter insisted on upholding the law. It was the first time that the two embodiments of the Mandate of Heaven had issued conflicting orders. Whose command should he follow? He couldn’t afford to offend either of them! He had no choice but to go to the Celestial Pivot Hall and seek guidance from Dao Ling Star Monarch, who was still in seclusion. Shortly after, he received a message containing only an image of a crescent moon. Yunze Young Lord’s eyelids twitched, and he carefully put away the message. The moon symbolized the Great Yin Celestial Mother. Dao Ling Star Monarch clearly sided with the Celestial Mother!
With Dao Ling Star Monarch, who oversaw the Celestial Pivot Department, making the decision, Yunze Young Lord’s anxiety subsided. Even if the Heavenly Emperor wanted to hold someone accountable, it wouldn’t be him.
Back in Dong’e Mountain.
Before the Heavenly Emperor’s messenger arrived, they received a long-awaited guest—Ming Yuheng.
Feng Chiyue wasn’t in the mood to entertain guests. She stayed in the Dharma Hall to play, leaving Ming Jian Su and Zhu Wan to receive their visitor.
“Is Ministry Head Feng not available?” Ming Yuheng asked, sitting upright, her voice low, her tone guarded. Although she knew it was unlikely that Feng Chiyue would actually be working at the Celestial Feather Ministry, she still held a faint glimmer of hope.
“She’s in the inner hall,” Ming Jian Su replied.
Ming Yuheng nodded. This meant she had to be careful with her words, as the inner hall wasn’t exactly a thousand miles away from the reception hall.
After a cup of tea and a game of Dao chess, Ming Yuheng finally brought up the matter of Phoenix Mountain and Feng Chiyue. “The major changes at the Celestial Feather Ministry have already completely alienated Danxue Mountain. Now, with the added conflict with Phoenix Mountain, isn’t she completely isolated within the feathered lineages? It’s true that some smaller lineages are hoping to take advantage of these changes to rise to prominence, but you know how things work in the Immortal Realm. Smaller lineages attaching themselves to larger ones is the key to long-term survival. Most lineages choose to hedge their bets.” She didn’t want Ming Jian Su to get caught up in the turmoil within the feathered lineages. The situation had escalated beyond an internal conflict. It was now a game between the Heavenly Emperor and the Celestial Mother. Unfortunately, no matter what she said, Ming Jian Su wouldn’t listen.
“I know,” Ming Jian Su said calmly.
Ming Yuheng looked at her suspiciously. “You haven’t appeared at court much since your return. The Heavenly Emperor is already displeased with you. And I’m afraid the Celestial Mother is simply using you as a pawn.” Since they were in Dong’e Mountain, safe from eavesdroppers, she spoke more freely.
Ming Jian Su smiled faintly. “They’ll need to be capable enough to do that.”
Ming Yuheng remained silent for a while before asking, “What are your plans?”
“If the obstacles disappear, there won’t be any problems, will there?” Ming Jian Su replied.
Ming Yuheng hadn’t expected her to be so bold. In her memory, her fellow Daoist’s dream had always been to live a carefree life of pleasure and comfort. “Is it worth it?” she asked meaningfully.
“It’s worth it,” Ming Jian Su answered without hesitation.
Seeing her resolve, Ming Yuheng didn’t try to dissuade her. Even friendship had its limits. After a moment of thought, she said, “There’s been some activity in the Demon Abyss. If I’m not mistaken, the Heavenly Emperor will use this as an opportunity to send you to the battlefield between gods and demons to resolve the conflict.”
A glint flashed in Ming Jian Su’s eyes. She remembered the message from Tushan Xiurong. Perhaps her “death” had given someone a brilliant idea. She nodded but didn’t say anything more. It wasn’t until they finished a few more games of Dao chess that she got up to see Ming Yuheng off.
As she stepped out of the hall, Ming Yuheng didn’t pay attention to her surroundings. Looking at Ming Jian Su’s calm face, a wave of worry washed over her. The word “Elder Sister” that had been about to leave her lips caught in her throat. Instead, she said, her voice filled with concern, “Susu, be careful.”
Ming Jian Su didn’t respond.
Ming Yuheng’s eyelids twitched. A sense of foreboding filled her.
“Susu?” A slightly questioning voice with a hint of amusement. Ming Yuheng turned around and saw a figure clad in vibrant red. A chill ran down her spine. Without even looking at Ming Jian Su’s expression, she transformed into a beam of light and fled.
Feng Chiyue tossed the last spiritual fruit to the flock of birds, then clapped her hands, meeting Ming Jian Su’s gaze.
She walked towards the hall casually, as if she hadn’t just spoken those two words.
No fuss, no anger. This was the scenario that Ming Jian Su feared the most. She hurried after Feng Chiyue.
“I don’t know why she called you that,”. First “Elder Sister,” then “Susu.” Ming Yuheng must be her nemesis!
“Huh? What did you say, Elder Sister?” Feng Chiyue blinked, a confused expression on her face, as if she hadn’t understood what Ming Jian Su had said.
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