Luan Terrace

Because Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing had already promised to deliver a letter to Luan Terrace for Liang Tingmian, they did not stay in Five Dragons Mountain for long.

After resting in the mountains for a few days, the two of them set off straight for Luan Terrace.

In the afternoon.

Qi Xianqing stood inside Frozen Peach Haven, holding a brand-new lake-blue pleated skirt as she pressed it against Yan Jue’s shoulder to compare.

“This is the first piece of clothing I’ve ever made.” Qi Xianqing smiled. “It fits you quite well.”

They had bought the fabric on the streets of Skyferry City, and Qi Xianqing had already turned it into a dress.

Her handiwork was actually very good; Yan Jue had long since learned that for herself. The little chicken and puppy chew toys Qi Xianqing had made before were lifelike enough to fool anyone.

Yan Jue stroked the soft fabric, liking it so much she could hardly bear to let go. Since entering the book, she had never worn clothes made of colorful silk, let alone something this comfortable and flattering.

Then Qi Xianqing took out a plain-colored ruqun and held it up to the bronze mirror.

Under the sunlight, her skin was fair as snow, her peach blossom eyes slightly lowered. She was so beautiful it was almost disastrous.

Yan Jue suddenly noticed something and stepped forward, pinching the embroidery at Qi Xianqing’s waist.

A fox lay there lazily, its posture faintly cute.

A fox…

Yan Jue froze. Her heart gave a hard jolt, and the tips of her ears instantly burned.

It was hard not to read too much into a fox appearing at Qi Xianqing’s waist.

Yan Jue suddenly thought of something and lowered her head to look at the embroidery on her own pleated skirt.

The embroidery on her and Qi Xianqing’s clothes was exactly the same.

-

Luan Terrace was situated in the east and belonged to the Six Immortal Sects.

But according to Du Ying, because Luan Terrace possessed Phoenix bloodline and was proud of it, it had recently been trying to become an existence that stood above the Six Immortal Sects.

Inside an inn, Yan Jue flipped through the newest issue of The Five Dragons Encyclopedia, frowning slightly.

“There are rumors in the martial world that Lotus Island in the West Sea may replace Luan Terrace and become a new member of the Six Immortal Sects.”

Qi Xianqing: “Lotus Island has indeed been outstanding in recent years. It wouldn’t be strange at all if they rose to become a new immortal sect.”

“Besides, among the Six Immortal Sects, there’s a shortage of medical cultivators. For the sake of balance, the Imperial Court should also allow Lotus Island to become a newly promoted immortal sect.”

Yan Jue closed the newspaper and quietly responded with an “Mm.”

Qi Xianqing looked at her and asked tentatively, “Eat something. You didn’t seem to eat much this morning.”

The dishes on the table were abundant, steaming gently, their fragrance filling the room.

Yan Jue really hadn’t eaten much. She had eaten too much earlier, and even now she still had no appetite.

After hesitating for a moment, Qi Xianqing picked up her chopsticks and slowly stripped the fish meat from the bones, placing it into Yan Jue’s bowl.

Yan Jue slowly lifted her eyelids and looked at her without moving.

Qi Xianqing then picked up the chicken leg in the bowl and removed the meat.

Because Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue had been together for a long time, she roughly knew Yan Jue’s preferences. Her movements were careful and considerate, and just watching made Yan Jue feel warm all the way to her heart.

That night.

Yan Jue transformed into her little fox form and lay lazily in Qi Xianqing’s arms, her fiery red tail wrapped tightly around Qi Xianqing’s arm.

Qi Xianqing wore a plain white inner robe and leaned against the bed with her eyes closed. A faint smile rested at the corners of her lips, as if she were playing with the fox. She lowered her head, the tip of her nose lightly brushing the little fox’s black, moist nose from time to time.

“Ah Jue.”

The little fox curled up in Qi Xianqing’s arms and found it very comfortable. A rumbling purr sounded in its throat as its hind paws kicked aimlessly, stepping on Qi Xianqing’s stomach.

A fox pancake.

Qi Xianqing: “Whose little fox are you, to be this cute?”

Yan Jue pretended not to understand. Those narrow phoenix eyes opened slightly as she looked at her with a bright smile.

Having a partner by your side didn’t seem like such a frightening thing.

Although the two of them were now partners, they had not yet formed their core bond. According to Qi Xianqing, they had a month-long trial period; if they got along well after that, then they could form their bond.

Yan Jue also knew that choosing a partner was something that should be done with great caution. Besides, she was a demon.

But every time she saw Qi Xianqing being so considerate, she would sometimes be unable to resist the urge to begin this relationship early.

-

Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing rested at the inn for one night.

Early the next morning, they continued on their journey.

Before long, the two of them arrived at eastern Luan Terrace.

Luan Terrace stood within Jade Blossom Mountain. The mountain road was steep; as far as the eye could see were eight hundred ninety-nine stone steps.

By the time they reached the mountainside, faint clouds and mist had already begun to swirl around them.

Spiritual energy surrounded the area in abundance, making it seem like a paradise.

With a long sword on her back, Qi Xianqing walked steadily along the mountain road. Turning her head slightly, she looked at Yan Jue. “If Ah Jue is tired, I can carry you.”

Yan Jue rested a hand on Qi Xianqing’s shoulder and continued up the mountain at an unhurried pace. A breeze lifted the girl’s skirt, yet she remained calm and composed. “I don’t need that.”

Yan Jue really wasn’t tired.

At the very least, she was already at the demon core stage, and she had even undergone special physical training in Five Dragons Sect before. This bit of mountain road was nothing to her.

After walking for nearly two hours, Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing finally reached the mountain gate of Luan Terrace.

Standing on the blue stone steps, Yan Jue saw the flying eaves gleaming brilliantly and magnificently. The enormous gate was carved with exquisite phoenix motifs in flight, so lifelike they radiated a solemn, imposing air.

Yan Jue could not help glancing back at the road they had taken.

The mountain path stretched endlessly, and all she could see were the steep steps vanishing into the distance and the mist curling around them.

This was the legendary eastern Luan Terrace; calling it a fairyland would not be an exaggeration.

Qi Xianqing raised her hand and knocked on the ancient green beast-faced door knocker.

The two of them stood outside and waited for a long time before they heard footsteps from within.

A maid wearing a silk skirt embroidered with plum blossoms and a tall figure, her face as lovely as a hibiscus, came to open the door.

She glanced at Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing. “What is it?”

Although she was asking them, she did not really look at them, her expression faintly arrogant.

The Phoenix Clan had always relied on their phoenix bloodline and did not think much of human cultivators.

“We’re here to deliver a letter,” Yan Jue said.

With that, she presented Liang Tingmian’s letter. On the cover was a line of small characters: For the Eldest Princess, personally opened.

“A letter for Her Highness?” The maid froze, then looked at them more carefully.

“The Princess is gravely ill and has been recuperating for several years. There’s no way anyone would be delivering her a letter.”

“The princess is seriously ill?” Yan Jue was startled. “May I ask what kind of illness it is?”

The maid pressed her lips together. Though she looked down on commoners from the bottom of her heart, the king had recently been in a terrible rush trying to cure the princess. One could say he was doing everything possible to search the world for famous doctors.

Doctors kept coming to Luan Terrace, but none of them could cure the princess.

So the king gathered all the disciples of Luan Terrace and declared that whoever could find an immortal doctor capable of curing the princess would be specially promoted to become one of the king’s yellow-card disciples.

The reward was unbelievably tempting.

From green-card maids to yellow-card disciples, no one in all of Luan Terrace wanted to miss even a single chance to help the princess find a famous doctor.

Though these two were human cultivators, perhaps they were hiding something, or perhaps they happened to know some worldly expert.

Even if the maid disliked them, she still briefly explained the princess’s condition.

“Our king has been searching for famous doctors,” the maid said with a pout. “But the world is full of so-called experts, and in the end they’re all useless mediocrities. Not a single one has been able to cure the princess’s illness.”

Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing exchanged a look, and Yan Jue stepped forward with a smile. “I happen to know an immortal doctor. I can ask her to come take a look at the princess.”

Since the maid had already spoken to her like that, Yan Jue was not stupid. She naturally understood the maid’s meaning.

There were many immortal doctors in the world, but many of them kept a very low profile. Even if Luan Terrace openly recruited famous physicians from all over, those people might not necessarily be willing to come.

Cultivation is not only about resources; it is also about connections.

In this kind of situation, anyone might become a bridge to a famous doctor.

Naturally, the maid would not let this opportunity slip.

And conveniently, Yan Jue knew an immortal doctor.

If they could cure the princess, that would be equivalent to gaining a foothold at Luan Terrace.

…

As the chief disciple of Lotus Island, Song Miyun did not hurry to settle down in a town and open a clinic after reaching the fifth realm. Instead, she roamed the world in search of precious medicinal herbs.

Back then at Fuxian Mountain, Song Miyun and Yan Jue had exchanged their message spaces, so Yan Jue could contact her with a transmission talisman.

-

For cultivators, traveling eight thousand li in a day was nothing unusual.

After receiving Yan Jue’s message, Song Miyun hurried over.

When she saw Yan Jue, her gaze clung tightly to her.

Song Miyun had always been obsessed with medicine, and every part of a nine-tailed fox was the most precious of medicinal materials.

Yan Jue had a fatal attraction for her.

Perhaps her gaze was too fervent. Qi Xianqing, standing beside Yan Jue, suddenly felt an extremely uncomfortable sensation.

Song Miyun asked with a smile, “Fellow Daoist said this trip could help restore the reputation of Lotus Island. May I ask what the matter is?”

Qi Xianqing answered on Yan Jue’s behalf, “The princess of Luan Terrace is gravely ill, and the Phoenix King has already sought out many famous doctors, yet still cannot cure her.”

Song Miyun: “Oh? Then how are the two of you so sure I can treat such a complicated illness?”

Qi Xianqing smiled faintly. “It’s only worth trying. As long as the immortal doctor does her best, that will be enough.”

The gate of Luan Terrace stood wide open. The few of them followed the maid and slowly walked inside.

Eastern Luan Terrace was already magnificent enough from the mountain gate, but once inside it was even more so; carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers, elegant in layout yet never losing their solemn dignity.

The sect structure of Luan Terrace was very different from most sects in this world.

Based on bloodline, Luan Terrace divided its disciples into four levels: yellow card, red card, blue card, and green card.

Those without Phoenix bloodline could not enter Luan Terrace no matter how high their talent was.

Those with a low purity of Phoenix bloodline could only obtain green cards, which was roughly equivalent to the status of outer disciples; they could only do miscellaneous chores within the sect.

Those with an extremely pure Phoenix bloodline, however, had a chance to hold yellow cards, equivalent to the king’s personal disciples.

As for red cards and blue cards, those were the two levels among ordinary inner disciples.

This was another way Luan Terrace differed from other sects.

Sects like Five Dragons Sect in the southwest, Beast Taming Pavilion in the northwest, Tiangang Shrine in the center, Lotus Island in the West Sea, and Gentle Breeze Valley in the southeast all placed the Sect Master at the highest position within the sect, followed by the elders, then the inner disciples, and only after that the outer disciples, and so on.

But in Luan Terrace, the highest-ranking person was the king. Below the king came, in order, yellow, red, blue, and green disciples.

In short, Luan Terrace was a place where class divisions were drawn with extreme rigidity.

The group arrived in a very spacious room with wooden floors, rosewood furniture, and curling incense smoke. Sunlight fell down from above.

On the large bed lay a pale woman dressed in a plain white inner robe. She was turned on her side, her right hand clenched tightly into a fist, her brows deeply furrowed, her breathing faint.

The green-card maid lowered her eyes and said, “This is Her Highness the Princess.”

Yan Jue frowned slightly.

Liang Tingmian had said that her wife had disappeared without a word that day, and Yan Jue had assumed she had merely been taken away by her clan.

She had never expected that things would have come to this, to the point of life and death.

Under everyone’s gaze, Song Miyun placed her fingers on the woman’s pulse. Since she was already highly accomplished in the medical path, she quickly judged the woman’s condition.

“She’s taken marrow-cleansing medicine.”

Yan Jue had once read about such medicine in the books in the Library Pavilion.

It was said to be a sinister and vicious drug that could help the user undergo a complete transformation, washing away their own bloodline and establishing a new one.

After taking it, many side effects would appear: intense burning, stabbing pain, tremors throughout the body. If one’s constitution was weaker, the powerful medicinal force could even cause the body to collapse and flesh to split apart.

After Song Miyun reached her conclusion, the green-card maid beside her nodded as well. Before this, many famous doctors had come to examine the princess too; everyone could tell that the princess had taken marrow-cleansing medicine so powerful that not even eight oxen could drag her back from it, and that she already had one foot in the gates of hell.

They could not understand it no matter how they thought about it.

The princess possessed the purest Phoenix bloodline. This should have been an incomparably glorious thing.

So why would their princess take this kind of medicine and wish to wash away every trace of Phoenix blood in her body?

More importantly, the princess was about to be married.

Song Miyun pondered for a long while, then turned back to look at Yan Jue. “Fellow Daoist Yan.”

Marrow-cleansing medicine was not a rare thing in this world, and naturally it was not difficult to resolve.

The reason those doctors before had failed to cure the princess was because they were missing one medicinal ingredient.

As the saying goes, rare medicines are hard to find.

Yan Jue nodded and slowly stepped forward, taking from her sleeve a shining sleeve arrow. She lightly nicked her finger with it.

Blood dripped down and condensed in the air into streaks of golden light.

On this return to the mountain, Yan Jue had specially cultivated the Bloodline Heart Manual.

The nine-tailed spirit fox had always had excellent comprehension, and Yan Jue’s blood-refining method had already reached a minor accomplishment.

At the very least, she would no longer become so weak and exhausted from losing just a little blood as she had before.

The blood refined through the blood-refining technique condensed the essence of the five elements. Just three drops were enough to achieve the effect that had once required a full bowl.

Song Miyun mixed the golden spirit fox blood with the medicinal herb Green Ancient Ginseng, then added several more ingredients. She decocted the medicine in a clay pot and finally prepared a bowl of scalding medicinal soup, which she fed to the princess.

Feng Ru, lying on the bed, furrowed her brows and slowly drank the medicine down.

“The medicine I just gave Her Highness can repair meridians and strengthen the body.” Song Miyun said, “Though marrow-cleansing medicine is vicious, its effects come quickly and fade quickly as well. We can wait until tomorrow to see the result.”

The maid was stunned, apparently not expecting that the immortal doctor they had invited from outside would really be able to prescribe medicine.

Then Song Miyun’s expression changed, and she frowned. “My prescription can at most repair the meridians already damaged by the marrow-cleansing medicine. But the marrow-cleansing medicine has been taking effect in her body for a long time; the original Phoenix bloodline is already completely ruined. I’m afraid it will be hard to restore it to its former purity.”

The maid’s arms trembled slightly when she heard that.

Phoenix bloodline was priceless.

And yet the princess had actually destroyed all of her bloodline by taking marrow-cleansing medicine.

How was this supposed to be explained to the king?

…

After Song Miyun finished treating the princess, she did not forget to leave her name.

After all, though she was currently traveling and utterly devoted to medicine, she was still a disciple of Lotus Island. If she could treat such a difficult illness for the noble descendant of Luan Terrace, then if word spread, it would always help promote Lotus Island’s good name.

The world was in turmoil now, and the ranking of the Six Immortal Sects could change at any time.

Though she was devoted to medicine, that did not mean she did not want to contribute a little to Lotus Island.

Song Miyun walked slowly with Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing across Phoenix Terrace, a giant plaza inside the Luan Terrace mountain gate.

Immortal mist drifted around them, bathing the surroundings in a hazy atmosphere.

Song Miyun had a gentler temperament. Medical cultivators did not place much emphasis on cultivating divine powers or techniques, so even though she was already in the fifth realm, she still could not beat an ordinary fifth-realm cultivator at all.

That was also why, back at Fuxian Mountain, Yan Jue had been able to let Song Miyun take her pulse without any concern.

In that situation, even if Song Miyun had suddenly turned hostile, Yan Jue would not have feared her.

“I travel the mountains and wilderness in search of extraordinary medicines, but I keep missing these notices for recruiting medical cultivators,” Song Miyun said. “Thank you both for introducing me.”

Yan Jue smiled. “It’s nothing. When you’re out and about, we’re all friends.”

Song Miyun’s gaze fell on her again.

“May I ask whether Fellow Daoist Yan has experienced any unusual reactions after dual cultivation?” Song Miyun’s eyes were sharp; as a top-tier medical cultivator, she naturally caught Yan Jue’s differences from usual very quickly.

Yan Jue stopped short. “Hm?”

Song Miyun murmured, “Because I’ve heard that a nine-tailed spirit fox’s body is extremely sensitive. It softens at the slightest touch, and when it engages in intercourse with someone, it becomes boneless and pliant, able only to lie beneath and submit.”

“This trait of the nine-tailed fox often drives men wild, making them unable to stop.”

“The more fervent the man becomes, the more smoothly the nine-tailed fox can absorb yin essence.”

Song Miyun frowned slightly and took a booklet from her bag. “I’m rather curious whether the reality is actually the same.”

Yan Jue twitched the corners of her mouth. “That’s certainly a curious thing to be curious about.”

Song Miyun: “It’s like this: your appearance has given me a strong interest in the topic of nine-tailed foxes.”

“Everything about a nine-tailed fox is treasure; truly rare in this world…” Song Miyun said as she stared straight at Yan Jue, her serious gaze sweeping over Yan Jue’s slender white neck, the lake-blue crossed collar, and the pale purple jade pendant at her waist.

It looked so intense that Yan Jue’s hair stood on end.

Qi Xianqing, watching from behind, found it funny; at the same time, that inexplicable possessiveness of hers began to stir again.

Qi Xianqing reached out and took Yan Jue’s hand, pulling her slightly behind her. “Even so, while nine-tailed foxes are rare, she isn’t the only one in the world.”

Song Miyun paused slightly, withdrew her fervent gaze, and looked at Qi Xianqing.

Qi Xianqing curved her brows at her, her features refined in the sunlight.

Qi Xianqing’s eyes were peach blossom eyes, the corners deep and slightly folded inward. When she was not smiling, she seemed distant and detached; when she smiled, however, there was always a hint of something between a smile and not a smile.

Only then did Song Miyun realize that her earlier behavior had gone a little too far.

The nine-tailed spirit fox in front of her already had a partner.

Even if Yan Jue were as slow as could be, at this point she still realized that Qi Xianqing was protecting her.

Yan Jue also couldn’t be bothered to talk to Song Miyun any further. She reached out and grabbed one of Qi Xianqing’s sleeves, shrinking back behind her.

She peered out from behind Qi Xianqing’s shoulder, glaring at Song Miyun in silent protest.

Song Miyun: “……”

Song Miyun thanked the two of them and quickly left.

Qi Xianqing then took Yan Jue’s hand. “Let me see.”

Yan Jue had just cut her finger and let a few drops of blood fall. The wound was very shallow. Cultivators were not afraid of such injuries to begin with, and after all this time the cut was almost healed.

Qi Xianqing looked carefully at the girl’s fair fingertips, gently holding them with her cool hand.

“What are you looking at?” Yan Jue couldn’t help laughing. “You don’t like me bleeding?”

Qi Xianqing lifted her eyelids and looked at her indifferently. “What do you think?”

She lowered her head and whispered beside Yan Jue’s reddening ear, “Even if you shed a little blood, I’d still feel bad for you.”

The surroundings were quiet, and Qi Xianqing’s voice was very soft, yet it made Yan Jue feel as though she were about to burn up.

Qi Xianqing herself also thought she was strange.

No matter how one looked at it, her thoughts were highly irrational.

Yan Jue was not some fragile mortal girl. She had only just cultivated the blood-refining method recently, and there was no reason for her to still fear bloodletting.

Yet here she was, worrying.

“Don’t worry…” Yan Jue pressed her lips together and looked at Qi Xianqing for a long moment, then suddenly said.

Qi Xianqing was slightly stunned.

“Senior Sister… I promised you.” Yan Jue held Qi Xianqing’s hand and looked up at her, those amber phoenix eyes clear and bright. “If anything happens to me, I’ll tell you first.”

Qi Xianqing stared into Yan Jue’s eyes, the corners of her lips curving.

As the sun sank in the west, she slowly bent down and, testing the waters, lifted her eyes to meet those clear amber ones.

Yan Jue’s brows and eyes curved slightly; she nodded gently, seeming to encourage her.

Qi Xianqing lightly covered her lips with her own.