Never Forget Your Roots (Deep Water Bonus Chapter)
Qi Xianqing had been in seclusion for several days, so their plan to search for the ingredients for the elixir of immortality was naturally delayed.
That day, Yan Jue was sitting on the bed, getting familiar with the spiritual power inside her body, when a very familiar set of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
Yan Jue’s ears twitched.
After living as a canine-type creature for so long, she could tell who it was just from the sound of their footsteps.
For instance, Qi Xianqing’s footsteps were unmistakable—light and unhurried.
Yan Jue listened silently as the footsteps drew closer, and the corner of her mouth couldn’t help but lift slightly.
She stood up and walked to the door.
Qi Xianqing entered from outside in a white robe, hands clasped behind her back, looking completely at ease. “The Sect Master has provided five materials, and we’ve already found the merfolk pearl.”
“We’ve been resting in the mountains for quite some time. It’s time to set out and look for the next ingredient.”
Yan Jue cooperated with her very well, smiling as she asked, “Then what does Senior Sister want to look for next?”
“Senior Sister has more experience than I do; I’ll leave everything to Senior Sister’s instructions.”
Amusement flashed in Qi Xianqing’s eyes. “It rained recently, so the Bixian Grass has already sprouted. This time, we’re heading to the Western Region to look for Bixian Grass.”
Back when the Five Dragons Sect’s Sect Master said that the elixir of immortality required five ingredients in total, they were the merfolk pearl, Xiangjing Grass, Bixian Grass, phoenix fetus, and nine-tailed fox heart.
Now that they had obtained the merfolk pearl, only the last four ingredients remained.
Yan Jue certainly wasn’t about to volunteer her nine-tailed fox heart. She only hoped Qi Xianqing would keep ignoring that item. After all, Yan Jue had already made up her mind to return to Ghost Mansion; she would leave after accompanying Qi Xianqing on one more mission.
Naturally, she would not wait until Qi Xianqing came to take her fox demon heart.
Qi Xianqing paused slightly and said slowly, “The place where Bixian Grass grows is in the Western Region.”
Yan Jue was stunned.
The Western Region.
For some reason, she felt that Qi Xianqing’s tone was a little strange.
Was there something wrong with that?
Yan Jue remembered that in the original novel, before Qi Xianqing went up the mountain, she had lived in the Western Region.
It was only later that Qi Xianqing’s entire family was exterminated by demons, and she herself was abducted by tiger demons, suffering inhuman torment in the demon nest.
Qi Xianqing probably didn’t have the best impression of the Western Region.
Yan Jue: “You...”
Although she knew the plot, Qi Xianqing had never said this herself.
So she still had to pretend she didn’t know.
Yan Jue swallowed the rest of her words and looked at Qi Xianqing.
Qi Xianqing’s gaze moved to the window. In those dark peach-blossom eyes, killing intent actually surged.
Half a month ago, she had already volunteered to her master to personally go to the Western Region and kill demons.
This trip was nothing more than using the search for Bixian Grass as a pretext, making herself bait to lure the tiger demons into the trap.
If she hadn’t guessed wrong, her whereabouts had already been leaked to the demon world.
There was a spy within the Five Dragons Sect.
She had already submitted her request to the Administrative Hall to go to the Western Region.
Based on previous experience, this news would naturally spread without effort.
The demons and evils in this world had always coveted the Immortal Spirit Physique.
Those tiger demons had almost succeeded once before; their obsession with her could only be even deeper now.
The Western Region was the tiger demons’ territory to begin with. Going there was no different from walking straight into a tiger’s mouth.
By then, she would be able to meet them as a matter of course.
Back then, she had been so weak, locked in a pitch-black cave, and she had still endured it. Now, would she be afraid?
From the day Qi Xianqing came up Five Dragons Mountain, she had thought of nothing but avenging her family. Now, of course, she looked forward to meeting those mortal enemies again.
Yan Jue had no idea that Qi Xianqing’s mind was turning over countless thoughts at that moment.
Suddenly, Yan Jue thought of something and asked, “I wonder if Jiang Mengchu, Junior Sister Jiang, will be going with us this time?”
Qi Xianqing: “Ever since Junior Sister Jiang drank Seaheart Fragrance in Yuxu Sea last time, she has often felt dazed.”
“Right now, Uncle Martial Starfield is helping her recover from her injuries, so she won’t be coming this time.”
Hearing that, Yan Jue couldn’t help but feel a little sheepish.
She had thought that a spirit wine like Seaheart Fragrance would help Jiang Mengchu recover her memories; it seemed her own understanding was still too shallow.
Qi Xianqing came to the window and looked at the warm sunlight spilling over the bamboo grove outside as she said indifferently, “It’s autumn now; it’s already the season for Bixian Grass to grow.”
“Time waits for no one. Since we’ve decided to go to the Western Region first, we should set out as soon as possible.”
Qi Xianqing turned back, her eyes clear as water. “But Bixian Grass is extremely hard to find. It looks no different from ordinary grass and trees, and every year, it isn’t only us looking for it. There are also some sect disciples who want to use Bixian Grass to advance their cultivation.”
“So this operation won’t be easy.”
Qi Xianqing had read many books and knew a little about everything in the world. Yan Jue listened in a daze and gradually struggled to keep up, but she still tried hard to understand.
Seeing her expression, Qi Xianqing curved her lips and pushed open the door to go into the courtyard.
She picked up a slender branch from the ground and used the earth as mountains and ravines, drawing directly on the ground.
Qi Xianqing: “The place we’re going this time is Skyferry City.”
“According to the intelligence provided by Cloudfall Pavilion, the city lord of Skyferry City, Liang Tingmian, keeps a sun-moon beast. The sun-moon beast is a herbivorous spiritual beast; what it likes to eat most in ordinary times is Bixian Grass.”
Looking at the patterns Qi Xianqing had drawn in the dirt, Yan Jue suddenly understood. “So because it’s exactly the season for Bixian Grass to grow, we can find Bixian Grass through the sun-moon beast.”
Qi Xianqing: “Exactly.”
The two of them discussed matters in the courtyard, and before they knew it, two full hours had passed.
The sun was beginning to sink in the west.
Under the corridor sat a fox and a pig, silently watching the two people standing opposite each other.
The white fox couldn’t help but sigh. “Master and Lord Meng Heng really have a good relationship.”
Zhu He blinked her bean-sized eyes and said blankly, “Aren’t they discussing something important?”
The white fox: “If they were discussing something important, they wouldn’t be at it for this long. Just look at how long they’ve been standing there.”
“Hm? What are you doing???”
Half of the wooden pillar in front of Zhu He had somehow disappeared.
Zhu He’s cheeks were puffed out as she chewed on something. There were wood shavings around her mouth, and she was still holding a piece of wood in her hand.
The white fox broke out in a sweat. “No way... you even eat wood?”
-
After the day Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue finished discussing things in the courtyard, they still did not set out immediately.
After a few more days of rest, the two agreed on a time to meet at the foot of the mountain, planning to head to Skyferry City in the Western Region.
Last time they went to Wanwu Fortress, Zhu He had been infused with spiritual power by Yun Zhen and had kept feeling hungry, wanting to eat things, and had also been listless.
Yan Jue told her to stay home and rest well, left her more than ten Spirit Lantern Fruits, and did not bring her this time.
The immortal sword moved through the sky like an arrow piercing the clouds, extremely fast.
In less than half a day, the two arrived at Skyferry City.
Skyferry City in the Western Region had an atmosphere of its own.
Osmanthus flowers had bloomed outside the city and fallen all over the ground; the whole mountainside was golden, and a faint fragrance lingered at the tip of the nose, giving one a refreshing and pleasant feeling.
Yan Jue quickly noticed that something was wrong.
This was exactly the season when osmanthus was in full bloom, and stalls had been set up outside the city gates for residents to admire the flowers.
Yet the stalls were empty, desolate and lifeless.
Why was no one coming out to enjoy the flowers in this beautiful autumn season?
As they walked, Qi Xianqing said, “The city lord of Skyferry City, Liang Tingmian, is a woman. She has no connection with the Five Dragons Sect, so I don’t know whether she’ll be willing to lend us her sun-moon beast.”
Although there was no one outside Skyferry City, there were many residents inside.
After walking through the busiest street, the two came to a rather grand building.
The city lord’s residence.
The city lord’s residence was built magnificently, with flying eaves, blue-tiled roofs, intertwined and layered.
Golden osmanthus blossoms covered the entrance, and several guards stood watch there.
Qi Xianqing went to the gate, said something to the guard, and took out the token at her waist.
As one of the Six Major Immortal Sects, the Five Dragons Sect commanded respect from everyone; after seeing the token, the guard went inside to report.
The two waited outside for quite a while before someone finally came to invite them in.
The city lord’s residence looked splendid from the outside, and the inside was no less so.
A fresh breeze blew through, making the bamboo blinds sway slightly; pavilions and towers rose and turned with elegant charm.
Following the servant’s guidance, the two arrived at a rather refined room.
The bamboo blinds on that side were lifted, and a woman was helped out by a maid, walking slowly forward.
Yan Jue was slightly startled.
It was an extremely beautiful woman, dressed in a vermilion robe embroidered with baoxiang flowers, jeweled ornaments swaying in her hair.
With such looks, it would not be an exaggeration to call her stunningly beautiful.
But whether it was Yan Jue’s illusion or not, there seemed to be a faint trace of sorrow on that woman’s fair face.
This should be the city lord of Skyferry City, Liang Tingmian.
City Lord Liang raised her eyes slightly and looked at the two of them. “May I ask what brings the two Immortal Lords of the Five Dragons Sect here?”
When sect disciples traveled outside, the city lords of these cities would generally do them the favor of making things convenient.
Qi Xianqing lowered her eyes and glanced at the ground, briefly explaining their purpose to Liang Tingmian.
Since they had come this time to Fuxian Mountain to look for Bixian Grass, and the sun-moon beast most liked to eat Bixian Grass, which would allow them to easily locate the Bixian Grass that looked no different from ordinary plants, they hoped to borrow Liang Tingmian’s sun-moon beast for use.
After listening silently, Liang Tingmian smiled faintly. “I’m sorry, but my sun-moon beast is a spiritual beast that has absorbed the essence of heaven and earth. I can’t just lend it out casually.”
“To tell the truth, aside from you two, a few others came to ask me to borrow the sun-moon beast the day before yesterday. They’re still waiting at the gate now.”
That made sense. Since it was the autumn equinox, there were not only them but also disciples from other sects coming to look for Bixian Grass.
It seemed borrowing the sun-moon beast would not be so simple.
Yan Jue frowned slightly, but then she saw Qi Xianqing smiling as she asked, “May I ask if the city lord has any conditions for lending out the sun-moon beast?”
“If it’s spirit stones, silver, or anything similar, we can discuss it.”
City Lord Liang smiled. “Immortal Lord is clever.”
“I’m not short on spirit stones. I only want the Immortal Lords who come to borrow the sun-moon beast to help me do one thing.”
Qi Xianqing lowered her gaze, listening attentively.
With help from the maid, Liang Tingmian sat down in a chair. “I wonder if the two Immortal Lords noticed how sparsely populated it is outside my city when you came here?”
Qi Xianqing’s brow moved slightly. “Yes.”
Liang Tingmian: “That’s also because we had no choice. Several years ago, every citizen of Skyferry City who left the city would mysteriously disappear.”
Liang Tingmian sipped some tea and said indifferently, “Some people said they were dead, with no bones left behind. But every night, those missing citizens can be seen gathering in the forest to play, chat, and laugh, looking like ghosts.”
Liang Tingmian: “This has troubled me for a long time.”
“However, this is the mortal world. People like us do not have any means to deal with demons.”
“If the Immortal Lords want to borrow my sun-moon beast, you’ll have to help me handle this matter first.”
Qi Xianqing smiled lightly. “This has already happened for so long. Has no other cultivator come forward?”
City Lord Liang: “Because this matter is too strange, none of the nearby cultivators were willing to deal with it. A few cultivators were willing to help me before, but without exception, they all died suddenly.”
The room was very quiet. Hearing such words spoken in Liang Tingmian’s slow, unhurried tone made one’s scalp go numb.
Qi Xianqing stood up. “Rest assured, City Lord. If the city lord agrees to lend the sun-moon beast to the Five Dragons Sect, I will do whatever it takes to exterminate the demon.”
City Lord Liang gave a slight nod. “Of course.”
Because Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue were not familiar with this area of Skyferry City, City Lord Liang even specially arranged for a little maid to accompany and lead the way for them.
“Tomorrow, when it’s time to set out, just have her take you there.”
Qi Xianqing thanked Liang Tingmian and then turned to leave.
-
Since it was already late, Qi Xianqing decided to rest with Yan Jue at a nearby inn for the night.
Night.
Yan Jue sat on the bed, thinking over what had happened during the day.
She kept feeling that Qi Xianqing’s condition today had been a little strange.
Yan Jue’s instincts told her that Qi Xianqing was hiding something from her.
Although she was also hiding a lot from Qi Xianqing.
But in the past, even if Qi Xianqing didn’t tell her everything, she would at least share her worries with the little fox.
But now, for some reason, Qi Xianqing’s interactions with the little fox had become very few.
Thinking this, Yan Jue couldn’t help feeling a little down.
Moonlight flowed like water, scattering across the big bed in the room.
Yan Jue, wearing a plain white inner robe, flipped herself up onto the windowsill and looked up at the bright moon outside, absently fanning herself with the round fan Du Ming had given her.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door.
Yan Jue’s ears perked up, and she spread out her Divine Sense to search.
The one knocking was Qi Xianqing.
What was Qi Xianqing doing here so late?
Yan Jue’s eyelid twitched. She walked over and opened the door, seeing Qi Xianqing standing quietly in the corridor outside in a snow-white inner robe with a lilac-colored outer gown over it, her black-feather-like long hair falling over her shoulders as she looked at her.
Yan Jue: “What are you doing here?”
Qi Xianqing let out a breath. “I can’t sleep, so I came to find Junior Sister Yan to chat.”
She lifted her eyes and asked, “Is that okay?”
The moonlight was bright; the room was quiet.
Yan Jue was slightly stunned. “Mm, that’s fine.”
She pulled the door open, and Qi Xianqing slowly walked in, sitting down on the chair by the window.
Outside the window was Fuxian Mountain beyond Skyferry City.
The lush mountains stretched on and on; even sitting by the inn window, one could still smell the faint fragrance of plants and trees.
Yan Jue followed Qi Xianqing’s gaze and fell into thought.
Qi Xianqing suddenly raised her hand and pointed into the distance. “My home is over there.”
Yan Jue was slightly startled and looked out, seeing only dark, rolling green mountains beneath the deep night sky.
Qi Xianqing pressed her lips together and said indifferently, “When I was very young, my parents died at the claws of demons. Since the Sect Master brought me into the Five Dragons Sect, it has been a very long time since I last came here.”
Yan Jue quickly understood what Qi Xianqing meant.
Even after so many years.
Even after the village where she had once lived had long since been leveled.
Qi Xianqing could still clearly remember the direction of home.
She was, after all, someone who never forgot where she came from.
Qi Xianqing was born in the Western Region. Back then, the tiger demon incident had not only buried the Qi family; the entire village had been swallowed by the tiger demons.
Although the demon nest was later wiped out by the Six Major Immortal Sects working together, the male and female tiger demons were nowhere to be found.
If Qi Xianqing had any obsession in her heart beyond her natural hatred of demons and evils, it had to be those two tiger demons whose whereabouts were unknown.
Qi Xianqing’s absent-mindedness, as well as the recurring nightmares she had recently suffered, were definitely related to her family.