Chapter 264
Chapter 264
It was a difficult question. In truth, I already had an answer in mind before I asked, but I still wanted to hear Liu Junyan’s thoughts.
Liu Junyan considered it carefully before answering frankly, “If she can overcome her inner demons, survive this Centennial Soul-Piercing Calamity, and sincerely wishes to return to the Pawnshop, I think I would give her that chance. Of course, she would have to undergo a probationary period.”
After a brief pause, Liu Junyan added, “Xiao Jiu, the world isn’t simply black and white. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that the Copper-Coin Figure gathered the Five Blessing Immortals back then. Every one of them may be crucial to the Pawnshop and Wufu Town — perhaps even indispensable.
“When Moqiong returned, I was also adamant that Bai and Huang had to be cast aside. But now, as we’ve delved deeper into everything, my views and ideas have continued to change. Xiao Jiu, can you understand that?”
“Ah Yan, I feel the same way,” I said. “I don’t think the world is simply black and white either. This is a world where cooperation and mutual interests come first. If Bai Songlan can be useful to us, then we’ll accept her — but only if she proves herself worthy of the position.”
The tension finally eased from Liu Junyan’s tightly furrowed brow. Delighted, he pulled me into his arms and said, “Xiao Jiu, having someone who understands me as you do is the greatest blessing of my life.”
I let him hold me and whispered against his chest, “Ah Yan, after we return from Chang City, find an opportunity to take Bai Songlan to the West Room.”
Let her meet the Copper-Coin Figure.
Let her release the obsession buried in her heart.
I felt that, for her, this might be the opportunity she needed to escape her inner demons.
Liu Junyan weighed the idea briefly before agreeing. “All right.”
Time flew by.
Once I had composed myself and committed the list to memory, I resumed studying the Witchcraft Notebook left to me by the Grand Witch.
Every day, I set aside time to meditate.
Warmth steadily gathered below my abdomen. It was internal force — True Qi.
Before returning to Cangwu Mountain, Liu Junyan had taught me cultivation techniques. However, possibly because I lacked a spiritual bone, they had produced very little effect.
Dual cultivation had actually been much more effective.
Unfortunately, we had so very little time together…
But ever since my mother’s Inner Core fused with my body, it was as if my two main meridians had been completely unblocked. My progress became more obvious by the day.
New flesh had also grown over the ulcerated area on my right cheek, and the wound was beginning to scab over.
Everything was getting better.
It made me feel as though Heaven hadn’t forsaken me after all.
The day before we were due to leave for Chang City, Liu Junyan returned to the Linghai Dragon Palace. Meanwhile, someone delivered a package to me from Senior Sister Yu Nian.
When I opened it, I found a thick stack of Talisman Paper inside, along with several protective amulets.
I knew how to draw talismans too, but compared to Yu Nian’s work, mine was child’s play.
Yu Nian was the true orthodox successor to the Yu Clan’s teachings.
Her foundation, brushwork, and concentration while drawing talismans were all beyond what an ordinary person could hope to match.
Even more precious was the fact that she always kept me in her thoughts.
Knowing I was heading to Chang City, she had prepared so many things for me to protect myself with. Having a Senior Sister like her made me feel incredibly fortunate.
I immediately called Yu Nian to thank her for the Talisman Paper. She gave me reminder after reminder over the phone, and we spoke for quite a while before hanging up.
I gave Li Qingying some Talisman Paper and protective amulets to keep on hand for self-defense.
Li Qingying was the one holding down the fort for us, so her safety was crucial as well.
Fortunately, the Red Banner Child and Black Cat were now staying with Li Qingying at the Pawnshop. And if Fu Wan could fully awaken in the future… I had seen what Fu Wan was capable of, and I eagerly awaited the day she joined us.
Liu Junyan returned while I was having dinner. To my surprise, he’d brought back a small bottle of Dragon Bone Blood and stood there watching until I drank it.
I’d been so busy that I’d completely forgotten about it.
Thankfully, I had Liu Junyan. He had always taken anything concerning me seriously.
I asked, “Who did you get this Dragon Bone Blood from?”
“Brother Xiao,” Liu Junyan replied.
I stared at him in surprise. “Wasn’t Lord Xiao locked up? How did he manage it?”
“Him? No matter how serious a mistake he makes, the Dragon King of Linghai will always consider him brave and resourceful,” Liu Junyan said. “He’ll still be locked up, of course, and they won’t go easy on his punishment. But there’s always a limit. As long as he makes enough of a fuss, he usually gets whatever he wants… except Zhong Susu.”
I didn’t understand. “Why? Lord Xiao loves Susu so much. Why keep them apart?”
As I asked, I was still thinking that Zhong Susu had probably been imprisoned in the Linghai Dragon Clan’s Forbidden Zone because someone wanted to break up the couple.
But Liu Junyan’s expression instantly darkened.
Realizing I might have overstepped, I was about to apologize and change the subject. To my surprise, Liu Junyan took one of my hands and looked at me solemnly.
“Xiao Jiu, once we return from Chang City, I’ll tell you the whole story of Zhong Susu, exactly as it happened.”
I quickly nodded. “Okay.”
We set out early the next morning, before the sun had even risen.
Liu Junyan drove while I leaned back in the passenger seat and caught up on some sleep.
A little before six, my phone rang. It was Hui Moqiong, and I quickly answered.
Hui Moqiong’s voice immediately came through. “Xiao Jiu’er, Gray Immortal Hall erupted into chaos last night! Second Elder Hui tried to seize power, and most of the trouble with the Corpse Fiend was his doing!”
“Can they keep the situation under control?” I immediately tensed. “Did any of you intervene?”
“That bastard is slippery as an eel. Gray Immortal Hall held out, but Second Elder Hui escaped. Seventh Master gave me strict orders, so I didn’t interfere at any point.”
“Good. You did the right thing,” I said. “This is an internal matter for Gray Immortal Hall. As long as Old Madam Hui can handle it, we can’t get too involved.”
“Old Madam Hui is sharp as a tack. She secretly trained a group of deathsworn fighters, and Second Elder Hui knew nothing about them. He suffered quite a setback.” At that point, pride crept into Hui Moqiong’s voice. “Of course, Yumo was incredible too. Old Madam Hui held the fort while Yumo led the charge last night. She was even more imposing than me, her own big brother. The kid really has grown up.”
I wasn’t surprised.
Anyone Old Madam Hui was willing to relinquish power to could hardly be ordinary.
I was simply relieved that although the girl had gone missing at such a young age, she’d still grown up on the right path.
Over the past few days, Hui Moqiong had reported everything happening in Chang City to us daily. Liu Junyan and I had both predicted that an uprising might break out in Gray Immortal Hall a day or two before the Corpse Fiend was set to Undergo a Tribulation. Sure enough, we’d been right.
Second Elder Hui’s real name was Hui Cong. True to his name, he was exceptionally clever. Ever since something happened to Hui Xiaotiao, he had been the one helping Old Madam Hui manage the affairs of Gray Immortal Hall.
If the Corpse Fiend truly was Hui Cong’s handiwork, then there was no telling what Gray Immortal Hall would become if it ever fell into his hands.
Age and experience really did win out in the end.
Given Hui Cong’s abilities, he should have considered the possibility that Old Madam Hui had deathsworn fighters under her command.
Yet he had failed to discover them.
That meant Old Madam Hui must have begun training those deathsworn fighters long ago. She had kept them hidden and bided her time, waiting for the day Hui Cong finally revealed himself and came courting his own death…