Chapter 398: What? Junior Sister Eloped with Ning Zhuo

Zhu Xuanji had never anticipated that Ning Zhuo's second letter would arrive so swiftly.

When he received the letter, his heart pounded relentlessly, yet he still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking it might be a letter of thanks.

However, upon unfolding it, he read:

To the Esteemed Brother Zhu Xuanji:

I take the liberty of writing to you due to an extremely perilous situation, which leaves me no choice but to beseech your aid.

Recently, this junior entered the Myriad Monster Cave. Within the cave lies a hidden mystery of profound significance, related to a demonic scourge and further intertwined with the Void Refinement almighty, "Lord of Five Elements."

This junior fears it may endanger the nation's destiny and destabilize the myriad common folk of the Southern Bean Country. Such a matter cannot be overlooked!

Thus, I entrust this letter to you, Brother. If the Myriad Medicine Sect suddenly undergoes a great change, such as the sudden activation of its mountain-protecting grand formation, or any unusual phenomena, these are signs that this junior is in peril. At that time, I implore you, for the sake of the nation and its people, to swiftly appear and render aid to resolve the crisis and safeguard the country and its citizens. This matter concerns the very survival of our society and the safety of all living beings. I earnestly hope, Brother, that you will treat this with utmost seriousness and not be remiss.

Given the urgency, this junior dares not speak further. I humbly entrust this matter to you, hoping my esteemed brother will discern the truth.

Ning Zhuo bows his head.

After reading the letter, Zhu Xuanji was immediately taken aback.

What is happening? What in the heavens is happening!

The previous letter requested wine and spoke of serene scenes, yet this one takes a sharp turn, directly endangering the common folk and requiring the safeguarding of the nation and its people?

"Son of the Tribulation, this is truly the Son of the Tribulation!"

Zhu Xuanji was inclined to believe that Ning Zhuo's plea for help was genuine. Even if there was some falsehood, it was likely only a slight exaggeration.

He immediately took action!

Despite his utmost reluctance to have any involvement with Ning Zhuo, the matter concerned the Southern Bean Country and the nation's safety, so he could not stand by idly.

He promptly reported the situation here to the King.

Within an hour, he received a summons.

Zhu Xuanji, familiar with the route, arrived at the royal palace.

However, at the entrance to the main hall, he was intercepted by guards.

"The King has decreed that the lord is to await orders here," a guard stated.

"What?" Zhu Xuanji was startled, then became enraged. "I have important matters that require me to face the King directly. How can this be treated so casually!"

"Xuanji, calm yourself slightly." At this moment, an elder walked out of the main hall.

He was of imposing stature, with white hair and beard, thick joints in his hands, and a spirited demeanor, radiating the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Upon seeing the elder, Zhu Xuanji quickly saluted: "Greetings, Lord."

The elder's surname was Zhu and his given name was Zhu, a prince of the Zhu royal family. He was at the Nascent Soul stage, one of the main pillars of the royal house.

Zhu Zhu nodded slightly and said to Zhu Xuanji, "To be frank, Xuanji, it was my suggestion that you await orders outside the hall."

Zhu Xuanji said, "May I ask the reason, Lord, otherwise this Xuanji cannot comply."

Zhu Zhu immediately glared, transmitting his voice: "Cannot comply? Then wait for me even if you cannot comply!"

"Hmph, don't you know your own situation, you young fellow?"

"This grand hall was designed with a formation to suppress destiny from the start. If you stand outside, you won't disturb the King's fate. If you meet face to face, being within the same formation, it's hard to say what might happen."

Zhu Xuanji's face immediately darkened.

Zhu Zhu snorted coldly: "You little brat, have some self-awareness! That Son of the Tribulation has sent you letters time and again, the Lava Immortal Palace, the Mist-Shrouded Mountain, and now the Myriad Monster Cave..."

"What does this mean?"

"You are already too deeply entangled with him."

"I fear that in the future, such connections will only increase!"

"Fortunately, your own luck is also quite astonishing, so you can withstand it."

Zhu Xuanji's heart sank to the bottom, and he transmitted his voice with a bitter smile: "Don't say that, old lord, I can't bear it, I really can't bear it!"

Zhu Zhu glared: "Even if you can't bear it, you must. This is your destined encounter. You cannot simply sever it, as it will invite terrifying backlash."

"Alas, let everything take its natural course."

The bitterness on Zhu Xuanji's face grew even stronger: "Old lord, the way you're speaking, it sounds like I won't live much longer?"

Zhu Zhu's face was solemn: "Also, when you speak in the future, don't stand too close to me. Just salute from afar when we meet, don't come near this old man."

With that, Zhu Zhu retreated into the main hall.

Zhu Xuanji had no choice but to communicate with the King through voice transmission.

The King told him: Ning Zhuo's plea for help must be taken very seriously. After all, this person is the Son of the Tribulation. However, from now on, you, Zhu Xuanji, should not bring these letters to me.

For this matter concerning the Myriad Medicine Sect, you, Zhu Xuanji, shall go! Through the emergency teleportation method of the relay stations, without regard for cost, hasten to the Myriad Medicine Valley with the utmost speed!

But rest assured, the royal family will also dispatch a Grandmaster at the Nascent Soul level to accompany you.

Thus, without even meeting the King's face, Zhu Xuanji urgently departed the capital.

He continuously teleported through the relay stations.

Midway, he rendezvoused with the Nascent Soul cultivator Shen Ling Shu.

They traveled non-stop, without a moment's rest, teleporting frequently, almost to the point of dizziness and vomiting, arriving near the Myriad Medicine Valley with the greatest possible speed.

Standing on a mountaintop, Zhu Xuanji saw the grand formation of the Myriad Medicine Sect suddenly rising.

This scene was precisely as Ning Zhuo had described in his letter.

At this point, Zhu Xuanji's last trace of hope vanished.

"Senior Shen, I will go and negotiate directly first to rescue that brat. I request that you, Master, remain hidden somewhere and provide covert support," Zhu Xuanji said.

Although his cultivation was only at the Golden Core stage, lower than the person beside him, this time he was acting under the King's command, and the King had determined that he was the main person in charge.

After hearing this, Shen Ling Shu smiled slightly: "No rush, Fellow Daoist Zhu, allow me to perform a divination."

Shen Ling Shu appeared youthful, with a handsome face and bright eyes. He wore a light blue robe embroidered with mountains, rivers, and clouds. His black hair was simply tied with a wooden hairpin, and an ancient jade compass hung at his waist.

He was deeply trusted by the King of the Southern Bean Country, or more accurately, deeply trusted by the Zhu family.

This was because he was not only proficient in divination, one of the hundred arts of cultivation, but also a son-in-law of the Zhu family, a member of the imperial relatives.

Shen Ling Shu performed a divination and then said, "I have calculated it. It would be better for both of us to appear together and negotiate directly. Of course, this is just my suggestion."

Zhu Xuanji said, "Then I shall follow Senior's advice."

The next moment, Zhu Xuanji and Shen Ling Shu flew into the sky together.

Zhu Xuanji's voice resounded through the heavens: "I am Zhu Xuanji, a member of the Southern Bean royal family, serving in the Divine Constabulary. I have arrived today with Master Shen Ling Shu. I come here on His Majesty's command to pay a visit! Please open the gates and announce our arrival quickly."

The voice traveled into the Myriad Medicine Valley, echoing within the valley for a long time, causing astonishment throughout the entire sect.

Meanwhile, on the original mountain.

Ning Jiufan heard Zhu Xuanji's shout and was instantly overjoyed: "It's Lord Divine Constabulary Zhu! Hahaha, why has he come?"

"Oh! It must be Ning Zhuo, it must be Ning Zhuo."

"That brat, he's still so cunning. He actually made arrangements in advance and called for reinforcements."

"This is my Ning family's junior, hahaha. He could even scheme against Meng Kui, let alone Lin Bufan?"

In an instant, Ning Jiufan's confidence soared, and his demeanor became formidable.

Even though he was in a predicament, a prisoner, he stroked his beard and smiled: "Sect Master Lin, listen, it's Lord Zhu Xuanji!"

"A few months ago, Lord Zhu Xuanji visited my Fire Persimmon Immortal City and had pleasant conversations with us, and got along harmoniously with my family's Ning Zhuo." "If you doubt my official status, you can ask him for confirmation. Lord Zhu Xuanji, a Divine Constabulary officer famous throughout the country, is representing the Southern Bean royal family on this trip, so he naturally wouldn't deceive you."

Lin Bufan: ...

What a headache.

Sect Master Lin felt a headache coming on.

He had thought that as a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator who had painstakingly managed the Myriad Medicine Valley for over a hundred years, possessing geographical advantage and popular support, dealing with a family that had migrated from the northern region would be a simple matter.

But he had not expected that Ning Jiufan would be an official.

Even more unexpectedly, after Ning Zhuo went missing, he had actually kidnapped his daughter, Lin Shan Shan.

And he had not anticipated that Zhu Xuanji would appear so quickly, accompanied by a Nascent Soul cultivator to assist.

Lin Bufan, who had originally thought he could control the situation, was struck by one change after another, and painfully discovered that the situation had rapidly spiraled out of his grasp and become extremely awkward.

Ning Jiufan cupped his hands, looking as if he was considering Lin Bufan's best interests, and advised: "Sect Master Lin, please make a quick decision. After all, Lord Zhu Xuanji has come with an order. When he is away, he represents the authority of the royal family."

"If you close the gates and refuse to receive them, you will invite criticism. Even if the Southern Bean royal family doesn't take it to heart, and Zhu Xuanji has magnanimous tolerance, others will likely take notice and think more deeply about it."

"In that case, I fear that the business of the Myriad Medicine Sect will plummet. After all, no one wants to befriend a force that has a poor relationship with the Southern Bean royal family."

Lin Bufan snorted coldly: "Your verbal skills are quite good. Is this the demeanor of a man from the northern region?"

Ning Jiufan's smile froze slightly.

Lin Bufan, however, flicked his sleeve and flew out of the original mountain.

He opened a narrow slit in the mountain-protecting grand formation and, speaking through the formation, said to Zhu Xuanji and Shen Ling Shu: "The arrival of two esteemed guests at the Myriad Medicine Sect truly brings radiance to our humble abode. This formation is activated not to refuse guests, but because the whereabouts of Young Master Ning Zhuo are unknown. This method has been specially set up to protect his safety and facilitate search and rescue, preventing any unforeseen accidents. I hope you both will understand."

Sect Master Lin Bufan, a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator, even referred to Ning Zhuo as "Young Master." The reason he said this was to elevate Ning Zhuo's status and express his goodwill.

Zhu Xuanji said, "I have come precisely for him..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Zhuo appeared in the sky, with Lin Shan Shan beside him.

Ning Zhuo cupped his fists in apology: "Brother Zhu, Sect Master Lin, that I have caused such a commotion is truly this junior's fault. Previously, I ventured deep into the demon cave without reporting it. Now that I have emerged and seen such a stir, affecting the entire Myriad Medicine Sect, and furthermore causing Brother Zhu to come in person, it was truly unexpected for this junior. I apologize to both of you!"

After speaking, Ning Zhuo bowed deeply.

Beside him, Lin Shan Shan also smiled, first paying her respects to Zhu Xuanji and Shen Ling Shu, and then speaking to Lin Bufan in public: "Father, I am well. Thank you for your concern."

Lin Bufan's smile was like a spring breeze, and he said warmly: "As long as the two of you are fine, I am relieved. Next time, don't run around carelessly."

Their words were all filled with hidden meanings.

After some exchange, Lin Bufan deactivated the mountain-protecting grand formation and invited Zhu Xuanji and Shen Ling Shu to enter the mountain together.

After they all landed on the original mountain, the entire Myriad Medicine Sect was in an uproar.

People began to discuss this matter, and the discussion was extremely fervent.

"I said, why did the mountain-protecting grand formation suddenly rise? So it was for Young Master Ning Zhuo."

"You scared me! I thought there was a surge of demonic beasts from the Myriad Monster Cave?"

"How could that be! The Myriad Monster Cave hasn't had any demonic beasts for many years. Seeing Zhu Xuanji appear, I guessed that perhaps some major criminal had appeared here, causing Sect Master Lin to activate the formation to apprehend them."

"I never thought it was because of Ning Zhuo."

"Did you hear just now? Even Sect Master Lin referred to Ning Zhuo as 'Young Master'!"

"I've investigated. The Ning family in Fire Persimmon Mountain isn't that big. Why is Ning Zhuo treated with such courtesy by Sect Master Lin?"

"I don't know! All I know is that the formidable Zhu Xuanji, a Divine Constabulary officer famous throughout the country, actually came specifically for Ning Zhuo!"

"What is Ning Zhuo's identity?"

"Compared to that, I'm even more curious why the eldest young lady of the Myriad Medicine Sect, Sect Master Lin's beloved daughter Lin Shan Shan, would suddenly travel arm-in-arm with Ning Zhuo?"

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I'm also extremely curious!"

"What else could it be? They are of similar status, like a pair of golden boy and jade girl, they just caught each other's eye."

Hearing others discuss this, Hua Guzi's face paled slightly.

Seeing this, Hanzhou sighed and shook his head: "The world is full of suffering. Hua Guzi, you..."

Just as he was about to offer comfort, Hua Guzi interrupted him coldly: "Shut up!"

Hanzhou felt an unprecedented sense of danger from Hua Guzi and immediately shut his mouth, saying nothing more.

Hua Guzi secretly gritted her teeth: "Young Master Ning Zhuo must have been in danger before, otherwise he wouldn't have brought about the aid of Lin Bufan and Zhu Xuanji."

"It must be that Lin Shan Shan!"

"Hmph, it must be Lin Shan Shan who coveted the young master's good looks and put the young master in danger. She's too wicked, this woman is too wicked! She actually wants to snatch the young master from me!!"

The senior and junior brothers like Lao De were also in an uproar.

"Junior Sister? How did Junior Sister suddenly appear and stand with Ning Zhuo?"

"She, she wasn't grounded? How did she sneak out?"

"I understand Master. Without a major incident, how could Master suddenly raise the mountain-protecting grand formation?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Perhaps Junior Sister and Ning Zhuo eloped and were discovered by Master, which is why the grand formation was used to seal the area!"

"This Ning Zhuo has sinister intentions and has been plotting for a long time. In order to successfully elope, he even specifically invited Zhu Xuanji as a backup plan. Now that he and Junior Sister are sealed within the Myriad Medicine Valley by Master, they will be found sooner or later, so Zhu Xuanji had no choice but to appear."

The senior and junior brothers: ...

Many of them covered their chests, feeling as if their hearts were breaking.

"How could Junior Sister..."

"I've disliked that pretty boy Ning Zhuo for a long time. This guy must have honey in his mouth. He's a scoundrel, just a scoundrel!"

"Where's Senior Brother? I need to tell Senior Brother! This matter is too big."

"Senior Brother must be extremely anxious in the Myriad Monster Cave, right?"

"Alas, a few of us will go find Senior Brother and report the situation."

"Wait, this is just our guess, right?"

"What are you waiting for? If you wait any longer, the day lilies will have cooled!"

A few of them eagerly went to the back mountain of Grand Contest Peak, but when they reached the Myriad Monster Cave, it was empty.

"Senior Brother?"

"Where is Senior Brother?"

"Senior Brother is gone!"

Within the formation within a formation.

Linghu Jiu paced back and forth, performing sword techniques, panting with exhaustion: "Damn it, what kind of formation is this? How am I supposed to get out!"

"Brother Ning Zhuo! Brother Ning Zhuo!!"

He was not skilled in formations and could only helplessly call out Ning Zhuo's name, hoping for aid.

(End of this chapter)