Chapter 31
I need to become stronger!
Filled with determination, Song Qi focused on circulating her internal force while planning what else she needed to learn to improve herself in the future.
Hutu: 【I know I shouldn’t interrupt while you’re cultivating, but I can’t resist saying this—you’re genuinely so dramatic.】
Song Qi: 【…Shut up!】
Song Qi ignored Hutu.
By the time she had completely absorbed the Inner Origin Pill, an hour had already passed.
“Whew…”
Song Qi stopped circulating her internal force.
Beside her, Cheng Ying was already snoring away.
Wasn’t he supposed to protect her while she cultivated?
Who guarded someone like this?
Song Qi rolled her eyes at Cheng Ying, stretched lazily, and then woke him.
“Ah, you’re finished?”
Cheng Ying’s eyes were hazy with sleep.
He tried to open them, but his eyelids felt far too heavy. After speaking, he closed them again.
“…I’m going back first.”
“Mm…”
Cheng Ying responded instinctively.
Song Qi then left.
Although Cheng Ying appeared drunk, he remained extremely sensitive to danger around him. The slightest disturbance would awaken him, so Song Qi did not need to worry about his safety.
She was far more concerned that returning so late might get her stopped and questioned by the disciples patrolling the mountain.
Sure enough…
“Huh? Song Qi?”
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaoming was among the disciples patrolling that night.
“Why are you only returning now?”
Fortunately, Lu Xiaoming was an acquaintance.
That made things much easier.
Song Qi gave several dry laughs.
“I encountered a monkey after descending the mountain. It threw fruit at me, so I spent the entire afternoon arguing with it.”
Lu Xiaoming: “…You’re incredible.”
Arguing with people was no longer enough for her.
Now she even picked fights with monkeys!
“I’m joking. I went to Tianshui City to eat something. Some people started arguing in the inn, so I stayed and watched for a long time.”
Song Qi told another lie.
Lu Xiaoming was not Bai Luoyin and did not possess that terrifying intuition, so Song Qi felt quite safe.
“All right, all right. Hurry back. If you’re any later, you’ll miss curfew.”
The Divine Sword Sect had a curfew.
No one was allowed to enter or leave after midnight unless they had special business and received permission.
Song Qi happily returned.
The moment she entered her room, she saw her three roommates gathered together, apparently discussing something.
“Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi! Come here!”
Qiao Qian waved mysteriously at Song Qi.
Song Qi’s desire for gossip immediately ignited.
She hurried over and joined the three women in their huddle.
“Did something major happen?”
Song Qi’s ears practically perked up.
She was already prepared to enjoy their performance.
“I heard the sect leader of the Taixu Sect went to Wucheng.”
At the mention of Wucheng, Song Qi’s brows immediately furrowed.
She began worrying about Wen Wanxi.
“This time, he even brought Xu Yan with him. They clearly went there to demand justice!”
After Zhong Xiaorui finished, Yu Qi continued, “But apparently, they barely exchanged a few sentences before the people from the Taixu Sect were thrown out. It seems they left afterward.”
“That’s it?”
They were acting this mysterious over something so minor?
“Of course that’s not all!”
“Perfected Qing Shang disappeared, right? Rumor says he’s already dead and that Wen Wanxi killed him.”
“What evidence do they have?”
Song Qi became worried.
If this matter stirred up a bloody storm throughout the martial world, would Wen Wanxi’s terrifying reputation begin spreading everywhere?
If everyone tried to condemn Wen Wanxi, then wouldn’t her ending…
“That’s the point. They have no evidence. They can’t even find his corpse.”
“Besides, Wucheng and the Taixu Sect aren’t located along the same route. Why would Perfected Qing Shang be intercepted on the road to Wucheng?”
Yu Qi’s explanation sounded perfectly logical.
Anyone else would probably believe it.
Unfortunately, Song Qi knew the truth.
Perfected Qing Shang had gone to Wucheng seeking revenge like an idiot, only to be intercepted and killed by the completely unhinged Wen Wanxi.
Not even his corpse remained.
It had probably already been devoured by wolves.
Wucheng’s beast arena kept a pack of wolves.
They were Wen Wanxi’s loyal beasts.
If Perfected Qing Shang’s corpse had been thrown to them, not even his bones would remain.
In the novel, Wen Wanxi had fed quite a few people to those wolves, including Yu Mingshun.
Yu Mingshun would repeatedly oppose Wen Wanxi in the future, so she eventually fed him to the pack.
She must have found him exceptionally irritating.
“I heard the Taixu Sect leader has now sent everyone throughout Wucheng to search for Perfected Qing Shang. That’s practically an open provocation.”
After Qiao Qian spoke, Yu Qi asked curiously, “Who would stand with the Taixu Sect?”
“No one dares choose a side right now. The Taixu Sect has no evidence, and no one wants to offend Wucheng recklessly.”
After explaining, Song Qi’s brows remained tightly furrowed.
Tomorrow was the day she was supposed to meet Wen Wanxi.
With Wucheng facing so much trouble, would Wen Wanxi still arrive as promised?
If she came, Song Qi absolutely had to warn her to be cautious of Perfected Tianyan.
That man appeared friendly, but he had numerous dealings with the Blood Lotus Cult.
In the novel, the Taixu Sect leader, Perfected Tianyan, possessed mediocre talent but compensated through hard work.
Later, after suffering a complete defeat against Wen Wanxi during a dispute, he took the wrong path.
He contacted the Blood Lotus Cult.
As long as he worked for the cult, Jiang Xiang would give him an internal cultivation method capable of improving his physique and internal force—the Bone-Forging Art.
The Bone-Forging Art appeared ordinary, but it was extremely useful to Perfected Tianyan.
His talent was mediocre because his natural foundation was poor.
With the Bone-Forging Art, he could completely transform himself.
“Xiao Qi, what are you thinking about?”
Seeing Song Qi distracted, Qiao Qian wondered whether she had thought of something they could gossip about together.
“Nothing. You gathered here just to discuss this?”
“Of course not!”
Yu Qi hooked an arm through Song Qi’s and gave her an ambiguous smile.
“We also heard today that a male disciple has feelings for you. Apparently, he likes you very much.”
Song Qi: “…”
Had the gossip somehow become about her?
“All right, the conversation is over. Let’s wash up and sleep!”
Song Qi had no interest in discovering which man liked her.
All she could think about was warning Wen Wanxi to be careful.
Multiple factions were watching Wucheng closely now.
Every action needed caution, or the entire situation might collapse.
Seeing that Song Qi showed no interest, the three women stopped talking and returned to their own beds.
After Song Qi bathed, she extinguished the candle and lay down.
However, before falling asleep, she continued thinking about how she could warn Wen Wanxi to be cautious of Perfected Tianyan tomorrow.
**
The following day, immediately after lunch, Song Qi hurried down the mountain.
Her mind was entirely occupied by Wen Wanxi.
She did not pause her lightness skill even once.
By the time she reached Tianshui City, she was drenched in sweat.
As usual, Song Qi bought a bowl of tea.
Only after finishing it did she head to Yunmeng House.
This time, the madam immediately led her to the second floor.
“Isn’t it on the third floor?”
The madam stopped at the second-floor staircase and said awkwardly, “The third floor is not somewhere people like us are permitted to enter. I can only bring you this far.”
Song Qi understood.
There was a clear hierarchy.
Moreover, with Wen Wanxi’s strange temper, if the madam went upstairs without permission, she might be greeted with Killing Threads.
Song Qi cupped her hands respectfully toward the madam.
Even though the woman worked in a brothel, Song Qi did not neglect basic courtesy.
She did not discriminate against people based on their professions.
Once on the third floor, Song Qi headed straight toward the room at the end of the corridor and knocked.
No one answered.
She wasn’t there?
Song Qi knocked again.
Still no response.
She could not sense any movement inside either, so she knew the room was empty.
She stood outside and waited.
Since she had time, Song Qi sat cross-legged and began circulating the Drunken Heart Art, guiding the remaining medicinal power of the Inner Origin Pill into her extraordinary meridians.
After swallowing the pill yesterday, Song Qi could already feel that her internal force had become richer and purer.
She could clearly sense the medicine’s effects.
As expected, such a rare pill possessed extraordinary power.
Song Qi did not know how many cycles she completed before hearing someone ascend the stairs.
She immediately drew back her internal force and stopped cultivating.
When she opened her eyes, Wen Wanxi was approaching gracefully in a pale-red dress.
Today, she wore light makeup.
The pale-red shadow around her eyes emphasized her seductive beauty, yet the coldness in her brows made people afraid to stare directly at her.
Coldly beautiful, alluring, and completely unhinged.
Song Qi became captivated again.
However, she knew this woman was also extremely dangerous, so she quickly looked away and stood.
“I…”
“Come inside.”
Without allowing Song Qi to finish, Wen Wanxi opened the door and let her enter.
Fine.
You’re beautiful, so naturally you’re allowed to be late.
Only after Wen Wanxi sat did Song Qi sit as well.
She glanced at her and noticed that Wen Wanxi’s complexion did not seem particularly good.
Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.
“Except for the third and fourth elders, I’ve checked everyone. Only the sect leader has a flying-eagle tattoo on his leg.”
The moment Wen Wanxi heard that, her previously cold expression softened.
A trace of brightness even appeared in her eyes.
“Mm. Very good.”
But why did such a bright expression still seem strangely dangerous and chilling to Song Qi?
“Although I know I shouldn’t ask, how did you know one of them had a tattoo on their leg?”
The moment she asked, Wen Wanxi looked at her.
The smile at the corners of her lips deepened, carrying a seductive charm.
“Stop looking at me like that. I don’t want to know anymore, all right?”
Song Qi constantly felt as though Wen Wanxi might kill her at any moment.
Especially now.
She seemed to be in a poor mood.
“The information you brought today is extremely useful. You may return first.”
Song Qi did not move.
She stared directly at Wen Wanxi.
Wen Wanxi looked back in surprise, not expecting Song Qi to disobey her.
“There’s something else I want to warn you about.”
“What?”
“Be careful of Perfected Tianyan. He may be connected to the Blood Lotus Cult.”
In the novel, Perfected Tianyan acted openly while the Blood Lotus Cult operated in the shadows.
When those two forces joined together, many Wucheng disciples died while carrying out missions.
They could not be ignored.
“Oh? What makes you think that?”
Wen Wanxi leaned lightly against the back of her chair, resting her head on one hand.
She tilted her head and looked at Song Qi.
Her eyes were bright and lively, leaving Song Qi’s mouth dry.
Why did this woman have to be so beautiful for no reason?
“It’s a guess.”
“The Taixu Sect has no evidence proving that Perfected Qing Shang died at Wucheng’s hands.”
“The other orthodox sects won’t accompany the Taixu Sect in provoking this kind of trouble.”
“Meanwhile, the Taixu Sect and Blood Lotus Cult are geographically close. Perfected Tianyan may seek the cult’s assistance.”
Song Qi had reasoned this out herself.
In the novel, Perfected Tianyan had allied himself with the Blood Lotus Cult to obtain the Bone-Forging Art.
But now, because Song Qi had crippled Xu Yan’s arm, the two sides had already entered into conflict.
Considering all the factors, the Blood Lotus Cult would probably become Perfected Tianyan’s reluctant ally.
Wen Wanxi watched Song Qi.
The light in her eyes seemed to grow increasingly bright.
Unable to endure the gaze, Song Qi lowered her head.
Her ears and even her neck had turned red.
Beauty truly led people astray!
“Song Qi.”
“Present!”
Song Qi immediately stood and straightened her back, facing Wen Wanxi like a soldier awaiting orders from her empress.
“You truly are a treasure.”
So she was actually a hidden treasure of a woman?
Hutu: 【A treasure who unfortunately has a mouth.】
Song Qi: 【Shut up! You’re the one with a mouth! Your entire family has mouths!】
“I’m becoming more and more interested in you.”
Wen Wanxi tilted her head and watched Song Qi.
The smile at the corners of her lips carried both seductive charm and gentleness.
Song Qi instantly became dazed again.
Damn it.
Beauty truly led people astray!
Author’s Note
Another update!
Whenever Song Qi sees Sister Wen, she becomes completely captivated by her beauty.
Her status as a shameless lover of beautiful women is officially confirmed!
Song Qi: Ah, another day of being led astray by beauty!
Sister Wen: Do you like it?
Song Qi: I couldn’t ask for anything better!
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