Chapter 9

"All right, get ready. We’re almost there."

Yin Xianyu felt a little dazed. She was confident in her own strength, but not that confident; this was no different from asking her to take on the heads of the Ten Immortal Sects by herself.

Because she was relying on Xie Qingrang this much, she pushed the questions she’d wanted to ask to the back of her mind and started worrying in earnest about what she was about to face.

She hugged her knees and crouched off to one side, thinking so hard her mind went blank, not even noticing when Xie Qingrang left.

One moment, the sky overhead was a dark red canopy; the next, the massive prow of a flying vessel tore through the clouds and pressed down soundlessly.

The ship was completely black, and the underside was carved with countless spiritual patterns. Every line gleamed with cold blue light, illuminating the entire wilderness in flashes of dim and bright.

The disciples of the various sects all looked up; some even backed away several steps, as though that mountain-sized hull were crushing the breath from their lungs.

Xie Qingrang stepped out of the spirit ship, her bearing graceful and striking, unmatched under heaven. In an instant, everyone’s gaze fixed on her.

The wasteland was noisy. Thousands of people were talking, moving about, and sorting their equipment; the clamor was like a pot of boiling water.

But within three zhang of Xie Qingrang, it was as though an invisible dome had been lowered over her. All sound there was crushed into muffled fragments. She stood in the center of that dome, quiet and completely out of place against the surrounding chaos.

Someone stared so hard they lost focus; their sword scabbard knocked against a rock with a clang, startling them into a flinch.

Xie Qingrang was probably used to such looks. She lifted a foot and walked toward the depths of the wasteland; the Lingzhan Mountain disciples tacitly parted to make way for her, not a single one stepping forward to speak to her.

"Immortal Lord Qingrang!"

The shout burst out from the crowd on the right, bright with a familiar, overfriendly warmth.

The disciples of the various sects turned to look and saw a female cultivator in black robes pushing her way out of the crowd. A broad sword hung from her waist; she walked with long, quick strides while waving at Xie Qingrang.

"I said this ship looked familiar! So it was Lingzhan Mountain’s Black Roc."

She stopped in front of Xie Qingrang and completely ignored the sharp intakes of breath around them.

The two had known each other for a long time. Xie Qingrang had a decent impression of her. Though she didn’t respond, she still gave a slight nod.

Bo Wenyu smiled at her, already used to Xie Qingrang’s cold attitude.

Bo Wenyu had a fiery temper and spoke bluntly. She asked, "Are you going in alone? If not, why not come with us? Our team has three people. You’ve seen them before in the demonic beast secret realm last time; Ji Xingchen and Liu Xinlan."

Xie Qingrang had some impression of the two. Bo Wenyu’s fellow disciples did not talk much.

The two of them just happened to step forward from the side, wearing the formal robes of Xuantian Sect’s inner disciples like Bo Wenyu. They nodded at Xie Qingrang.

It wasn’t strange to form teams with people from other sects when exploring a secret realm. Although the disciples of Lingzhan Mountain were all somewhat familiar with one another, there were also plenty who formed teams with cultivators from other immortal sects.

Ling Yaoguang had only taken one look from afar before she realized that Bo Wenyu had already struck up a conversation with Xie Qingrang.

She had hurried back and didn’t know when Xie Qingrang had returned; she hadn’t even had time to ask anyone before she saw this scene.

Zhao Ruitian stood beside her, secretly watching the dark look on Senior Sister Yaoguang’s face, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Her gaze swept the surrounding crowd and did not see Yin Xianyu anywhere. She couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief. It seemed the two of them were already separated. Thinking of that, her mood improved considerably.

Ling Yaoguang adjusted her expression and flew over. Under the puzzled gazes of the others, she walked up to Xie Qingrang and gave Bo Wenyu a slight smile. "Senior Sister, sorry to intrude. May I have the honor of joining you all?"

Bo Wenyu gave her a strange look, as if she found this suddenly appearing fellow cultivator rather odd. "And you are?"

Ling Yaoguang suppressed the irritation in her heart, lifted her chin a little, raised her voice slightly, and clearly stated her name: "Ling Yaoguang of the Jade Stone Sect."

Bo Wenyu thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "Never heard of you."

Ling Yaoguang’s body stiffened for a moment. She forced out a smile, her anger surging inside her. The Jade Stone Sect had at least some reputation; she wasn’t sure whether Bo Wenyu was deliberately making things difficult for her, but this was enough to make her lose face.

The Lingzhan Mountain disciples nearby held their breaths for a moment, then quietly let out a few snickers. Ling Yaoguang’s expression grew even uglier.

Bo Wenyu remained completely unaware and turned back to the two behind her. "You’ve never heard of her?"

Ji Xingchen and Liu Xinlan exchanged a look, then honestly shook their heads. "No. We’re sorry, fellow daoist."

Another burst of laughter rose around them. Whether it was aimed at her or not, Ling Yaoguang’s face had gone so ugly now that she could no longer maintain the expression from before.

Her cold eyes fixed on the still-grinning Bo Wenyu, then shifted to Xie Qingrang’s face. Her expression instantly softened.

Xie Qingrang still hadn’t said whether she agreed to let her join. That meant there was still a chance.

Ling Yaoguang steadied herself again and asked, "Senior Sister Qingrang, why don’t we go together?"

Bo Wenyu’s smile faded. In an instant, her expression turned playful. She drawled, "Oh, so you’re here to steal people from me. Little junior sister, I thought you really wanted to join us."

Xie Qingrang glanced at her but didn’t speak. Ling Yaoguang’s hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched tightly. She was so tense that she had no mind to care about Bo Wenyu’s mockery; she only wanted the answer as quickly as possible.

Bo Wenyu clasped her hands behind her back and casually strolled over to the two of them. She had originally wanted to pat Xie Qingrang on the shoulder, but after seeing that cold gaze, she withdrew her hand awkwardly and continued, "Immortal Lord Qingrang, do you want to go with her?"

Ling Yaoguang’s heart nearly leapt into her throat. The corners of her mouth could not help lifting, and joy she could not restrain showed on her exquisite face.

Usually, Xie Qingrang was very cold, but she had never seen her agree to anyone in public. If she refused, then she would be refusing all of them together. That way, she would still have a chance to follow Xie Qingrang.

Even if she just followed from far behind, that would do. She would always find the right opportunity.

"No need. I already have someone accompanying me."

Xie Qingrang replied coolly.

To Ling Yaoguang, those words were like a bolt from a clear sky. In an instant, the smile on her face vanished.

She looked at Xie Qingrang in disbelief. The people around them also turned curious gazes toward them, all of them straining to listen.

Her voice had gone a little hoarse. "What? Who is it?"

Only then did Xie Qingrang pull her wandering gaze back. She looked at Ling Yaoguang for a moment, then shifted her eyes elsewhere.

For an instant, Ling Yaoguang felt as though her heart had almost stopped. She somehow felt that look had been eerie, like being targeted by some demonic cultivator.

She nearly choked, then thought it had to have been an illusion. Xie Qingrang would never have a look like that.

But the other woman still didn’t answer her. Instead, she simply ignored her. Ling Yaoguang was unwilling to give up and pressed on, "Senior Sister Qingrang, can you tell me who it is? Which fellow disciple is going with you?"

Bo Wenyu and the two behind her exchanged a look; they all felt that Ling Yaoguang’s words were full of gritted teeth.

"Why should she tell you? Heh."

The softly muttered words reached Ling Yaoguang’s ears. Her face immediately flushed red; the treasure in her hand was ready to go, and her irritation had reached its limit.

After thinking for a while inside the ship, Yin Xianyu still couldn’t come up with any plan. She could only walk out dejectedly. Once outside, she realized the area beyond the door was already packed with people; they had nearly reached the assembly point.

Only then did Yin Xianyu let out a breath. So this was the place. She got off the ship and immediately saw Xie Qingrang in the crowd; she naturally walked over.

"Senior Sister, when can we go in?"

Hearing that, Xie Qingrang looked back. Yin Xianyu had just walked up in front of her. Xie Qingrang replied in a low voice, "Very soon. Wait a moment."

Her cold expression softened a little; she was extremely patient with Yin Xianyu.

Ling Yaoguang stared in shock at Yin Xianyu, unable to understand why she was here, and even less able to understand why the relationship between the two of them was so intimate.

Along with the shock was a trace of guilt. Many people around her had changed expression when they saw her, clearly already aware of the tracking token.

Bo Wenyu naturally greeted Yin Xianyu. Yin Xianyu smiled back; the other’s cultivation was above hers. "Senior Sister Bo."

Bo Wenyu smiled until her eyes nearly disappeared. She still preferred people like this little sun. The two of them quickly started chatting.

Xie Qingrang’s gaze never left Yin Xianyu. Bo Wenyu felt an odd look beside her; she glanced at Xie Qingrang, then quietly looked away and wondered if she’d been mistaken.

The few of them chatted like this, leaving Ling Yaoguang standing off to the side without anyone asking after her.

"Junior Sister, do you want to form a team with us and go into the secret realm? Have you already picked teammates?"

Just as Yin Xianyu nodded, she felt a hand caught beneath her sleeve. She and Xie Qingrang were standing very close together; from the side, one could not tell that the wide sleeves of the two had touched. Xie Qingrang’s hand tugged at Yin Xianyu’s, and warmth flowed from her fingertips.

Yin Xianyu seemed to have been burned; she hurriedly broke free and looked up into Xie Qingrang’s cold eyes. A little awkwardly, she replied, "Ah, yes. Senior Sister is going with me."

Bo Wenyu widened her eyes slightly and turned to look at Xie Qingrang, as if criticizing her for being unfair. They were fellow cultivators; why was she bringing her and not herself?

Yin Xianyu’s voice gradually grew smaller. It seemed she had said something wrong.

Her spiritual sense kept pressing against that layer of barrier, wanting to speak with Xie Qingrang. At last, the barrier loosened by a crack. Her faint, trembling thread of consciousness crawled through the opening and into Xie Qingrang’s sea of consciousness. "Senior Sister, what’s wrong?"

Xie Qingrang didn’t answer. Her question seemed to sink into the sea without the slightest response.

Yin Xianyu asked again, undeterred. "Did I say something wrong? Why isn’t Senior Sister speaking?"

She simply hooked a finger around Xie Qingrang’s knuckle. Only then did the other’s voice come through. "Bo Wenyu just asked me to go with her. I refused."

Yin Xianyu suddenly understood. Then she started thinking again. She still didn’t know much about this Senior Sister Bo’s strength; if her cultivation was high, then the pressure on the two of them would be lighter.

Bo Wenyu seemed quite familiar with Xie Qingrang, and her personality was also good from the way she spoke. Yin Xianyu turned the matter over in her mind and cautiously asked, "Senior Sister, how does her cultivation compare to yours?"

Xie Qingrang did not answer; she only looked at her. Yin Xianyu simply took her hand, interlocking their fingers. Only then did Xie Qingrang’s voice come through again. "Passable. Probably a little weaker."

Yin Xianyu’s eyes lit up. She smiled at her and continued sending a message. "Then how about we ally with her? The secret realm is dangerous. I don’t want you to be too tired; bringing someone like me along is hardly ideal."

Xie Qingrang’s gaze lingered over her face for a moment. Her fingertips gently brushed against Yin Xianyu’s, occasionally touching her fragile thread of consciousness. Yin Xianyu shivered violently and tried to pull her hand back, but Xie Qingrang held it even more tightly; she could only lower her head, her eyes pleading for mercy.

She kept mulling over the words tired and ally. For a while, she couldn’t make sense of the strange feeling in her heart; a trace of bitterness rose, yet a little sweetness followed after it. It was truly bizarre.

She completely failed to notice that Yin Xianyu’s ears were gradually turning red. Their strange atmosphere was broken by Bo Wenyu’s question.

"Why don’t the five of us go together? My cultivation isn’t bad, and I can protect you, junior sister."

Yin Xianyu’s eyes brightened. It felt like she’d found a kindred spirit. Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted? She had been worrying that the two of them going in alone would be too dangerous.

Yin Xianyu once again looked at Xie Qingrang with pleading eyes. Bo Wenyu followed her gaze as well and saw Xie Qingrang looking at her with an expression that was half-smiling, half-not. Instantly, she felt a little prickly all over.

Logically, with her cultivation, unless there was real danger, all her other senses should already have been blocked off. Yet at this moment, she felt as though she were made of flesh and blood after all, clearly able to sense danger.

Bo Wenyu gave an awkward smile. "If that won’t do..."

Xie Qingrang didn’t wait for her to finish. She said, "All right."

Bo Wenyu was a little delighted. Her joy instantly outweighed her fear, and she turned to vigorously signal to the two behind her.

"Then it’s settled. I’ll go back and pack a few things."

Bo Wenyu vanished in a flash, leaving only the four of them standing in place.

Yin Xianyu let out a breath. She had just started to be happy when she turned and met Xie Qingrang’s eyes, and the smile died again. "Senior Sister, can I go back and pack a few things too?"

Xie Qingrang shook her head. "It’s all here already. What else is there to pack?"

Yin Xianyu felt that something was a little off, but she was only trying to find an excuse to leave for now; she had a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Xie Qingrang, however, held her hand. Beneath the wide sleeves, their hands moved together at the same time. Ling Yaoguang took in every bit of that scene, and anger she could not suppress burned in her heart.

But the two of them paid no attention at all. A breeze swept by, stirring Xie Qingrang’s hair across her stunning profile and adding a touch of softness to her beauty as she asked, "Isn’t one of me enough to protect you, Junior Sister?"