Chapter 19: The Masters Come to Aid

Covering his swollen half-face, this short Daoist complained:

“Just making a joke to lighten the atmosphere, Xiao Jiu, why are you so rough! I, your senior brother, went through all the hardships, feeding you with my own hands from infancy...

Cough, let's get to the point.”

The short Daoist's Daoist name was Jiu Wu. When Jiu Ji had entered the sect as a child, their master Wangqing Zhenren had already begun his long-term seclusion, so it was indeed Jiu Wu who had taken care of and raised her.

Though they were senior and junior siblings in the sect, their bond was more like that of father and daughter, and they often bantered in daily life.

Seeing that Jiu Ji was about to lose her temper again, Jiu Wu quickly rolled his eyes and changed the subject, pointing to the several people behind him and asking in rapid succession:

“Who among them is missing? Where did they go missing? How long have you all been trapped here?”

Jiu Ji's face darkened as she bowed with a Daoist salute toward the people behind her, but for a moment, she didn't know how to respond, lightly biting her lip as she lowered her head.

Liu Yaner and Wang Qi showed joy on their faces, flying over from behind and hurrying forward to bow, calling out “Master,” “Senior Uncle,” and “Senior Aunt.”

Behind Jiu Wu Daoist were several figures: Jiang Jingshan from Potian Peak—a Zhenxian, the master of Qin Xuan Ya, and a disciple of the current sect leader of Duxianmen;

Lin Qi from Potian Peak—a Zhenxian, the master of Yuan Qing;

And two immortals from Dulin Peak and Xiaoling Peak, who were of the same generation as Jiu Ji. Now that they had found their own disciples, they didn't linger.

Jiu Ji's gaze fell on the white-haired old Daoist standing at the back.

Qi Yuan from Xiaoqiong Peak, the master of Li Changshou.

At that moment, this old Daoist looked haggard, and Jiu Ji didn't dare meet his eyes directly...

She sighed softly, knowing in her heart just how important this disciple, Li Changshou, was to the old Daoist—how much hope and hesitation he had placed in him.

Jiu Ji said softly, “Qi Yuan Shixiong, the last time I saw Changshou, he was heading north.

Yuan Qing and Xuan Ya went northwest, accompanied by a general from Xuan Ya's family named Yuwen Ling.

If I'm not mistaken, this was a scheme targeted at Xuan Ya.”

Qi Yuan the old Daoist gave a bitter laugh, cupped his hands toward Jiu Ji, and then bowed deeply, saying, “Life and death are fated. Out on training, such things are to be expected.

Everyone, I have yet to achieve immortality, so it's difficult for me to act in Beiju Luzhou. I ask you all to help me search for my disciple.

The Xiaoqiong Peak lineage will be forever grateful!”

From the side, Jiu Wu quickly added:

“No need for formalities among family. Qi Yuan Shidi, don't worry—we'll split into teams right now. I'll go with Jiu Ji to search north with you.

Ninth Shimei, snap out of it! Save the scolding for after we find them!

Those two Yuanxian were guarding the array outside. When I found them, they were busy repairing it, so they're clearly one of the masterminds behind this trap. We'll each grab one and interrogate them—that should get us some answers!

Let's go, hit the road!”

Jiang Jingshan and Lin Qi both agreed readily, their anxiety evident.

Jiu Wu flicked his sleeve, and the two unconscious Yuanxian from afar were instantly pulled over by him, one tossed casually to Lin Qi.

They didn't say more—finding and rescuing their disciples was the priority.

After setting the frequency for mutual communication and their respective search areas, the group finally split into three teams:

Wang Qi's master took Wang Qi and Liu Yaner to the nearby town to gather information;

Liu Yaner's master went with Jiang Jingshan and Lin Qi toward the northwest;

Jiu Wu led Qi Yuan and Jiu Ji straight north to search.

In a hurry and full of urgency, these immortals from Duxianmen continued their journey to find their disciples.

Meanwhile, a certain handsome fellow who preferred not to reveal his name was hiding in a newly opened cave a thousand li north.

He lit a bonfire, held a scroll of bamboo slips, and quietly waited for these reinforcements to arrive.

He wasn't panicked at all—in fact, he felt a bit... contentedly relaxed.

Youqin Xuanya sat cross-legged at the deepest part of the cave, meditating with her eyes closed. Every so often, she opened them to glance at the figure at the cave entrance.

Each time she tried to start a conversation, she could sense that Li Changshou didn't want to talk.

After Yuan Qing's death, she had been unconscious for three days and had only woken up half a day ago. Her injuries were now fully healed, except for a bit of lingering pain in her scalp.

“Changshou Shixiong, are we just waiting here?”

“Mm,” Li Changshou replied casually. “I've left several of Duxianmen's unique hidden markers within a three-hundred-li radius, and I've set up arrays outside this cave to conceal our presence. We're safe here for now.

As you said, Yuan Qing's group had other accomplices, so heading south again would risk running into them.

By my calculations, whether Jiu Ji Shishu escaped or not, the immortals from the sect coming to our aid should have already entered Beiju Luzhou.”

Li Changshou paused, looked up at Youqin Xuanya, and continued, “If you're still worried, we could take a detour of about thirty thousand li, but that also carries the risk of encountering them.”

“I... I'm fine...”

Youqin Xuanya said softly, raising her head. Their eyes met for a brief moment.

For some reason, though she always considered herself upright and free of guilt, she instinctively looked away and lowered her head.

Her heart felt a slight emptiness, like a tiny cat's paw gently scratching at it—a bit of unease, a touch of uncertainty.

It was probably because this shixiong had saved her twice.

Youqin Xuanya thought to herself that she should find a way to repay him, even though she was still under his protection...

“Shixiong, is there anything I can do?”

“Mm, don't casually release your spiritual sense.”

“Understood,” Youqin Xuanya replied seriously, though she felt a bit disappointed inside.

She had become like dead weight.

Snap!

The bonfire made a soft crackle, its flames dying down a little.

Li Changshou took a piece of gray dry wood from his sleeve and added it to the fire, making the flames rise again.

Only then did Youqin Xuanya notice how unusual the fire was—it produced no smoke at all and gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.

“Shixiong, is there something special about this fire?”

Li Changshou glanced at the bonfire and said calmly:

“This is a type of wood that's not particularly valuable, from the Beiyuan Cold Pine, which grows south of the North Sea.

It's not a spiritual root; in ancient times, it was just an ordinary pine with the trait of withstanding cold.

After Beiju Luzhou was covered in miasma, this pine nearly went extinct but later grew back abundantly.

Ever since then, the Beiyuan Cold Pine has gained some mystical properties—it repels miasma and emits an aura that makes poisonous insects and beasts instinctively avoid it.

This small bonfire keeps the area within three hundred zhang free of toxins.

They say it's commonly seen in the places where the Wu clan gathers today, and it doesn't cost much in spirit stones, but few people use it.”

Youqin Xuanya listened intently, her eyes reflecting the side of Li Changshou's face as she whispered, “Shixiong truly knows so much...”

“It's all recorded in the sect's texts,” Li Changshou replied casually, continuing to read his scroll without further conversation.

Youqin Xuanya pursed her lips, pondering something in her heart.

After a while...

“Shixiong, did you find the herbs you were looking for?”

“I was quite lucky; I found them,” Li Changshou said with a smile, his mood lifting at the thought.

Youqin Xuanya didn't want the chat to end there, so she asked, “Shixiong seems to have prepared a lot for this trip.”

“Ah,” Li Changshou answered without looking up, “I've been preparing for this Beiju Luzhou trip for fifteen years, gradually gathering various antidotes along the way.”

Fifteen years?

Youqin Xuanya blinked lightly and asked again, “What about Yuwen Ling and those villains— what happened to them?”

Li Changshou said, “They perished together with that Three-Eyed Blue Wave Snake that was about to become an immortal. We were very fortunate; the snake's poison was extremely potent.”

“Mm,” Youqin Xuanya sighed, “Such villains were bound to meet a bad end. I just didn't expect retribution to come so quickly.”

Li Changshou followed up, “That reminds me, Youqin Shimei, there's something I'd like to ask of you.”

“Shixiong, please go ahead!”

Youqin Xuanya perked up immediately, her eyes bright and fixed on Li Changshou. “If it can repay your life-saving grace, I'm willing to give my life for it!”

“It's not that serious,” Li Changshou laughed. “Our experiences on this outing have been full of twists and turns, and when we return to the mountain, our masters will surely ask for a detailed report.

I'm not one for trouble and don't want to draw too much attention or invite any complications, so please, when you report back to the elders, don't mention anything related to me.

My cultivation isn't high; I only have a skill in earth escape, and saying it out loud might just make people laugh.”

“Shixiong...”

Youqin Xuanya's expression shifted, a small spark flashing in her heart.

Bestowing favors without seeking repayment, avoiding empty fame.

Single-minded in pursuing the Dao, with the demeanor of a true gentleman.

Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, her eyes shimmering as she reflected:

‘Changshou Shixiong is a real gentleman. His character and breadth of mind are beyond my reach and far superior to Yuan Qing's.

Youqin Xuanya, you've always been surrounded by superficial and arrogant people, leading you to think that fellow cultivators are all like that. Little did you know that someone like this is right among our own sectmates.

If I could become close friends with Changshou Shixiong, that would truly make this immortal path worthwhile...’

“Shixiong, rest assured,” Youqin Xuanya said firmly. “I'll keep it all in mind and handle it accordingly.”

Li Changshou blinked, wondering if she truly understood.

He felt she might still have some lingering confusion, but why?

Oh well, once he returned, he'd just stay secluded on Xiaoqiong Peak. Even if this caused some stir, it should calm down in a few months.

Staying low-key was the way to avoid karma.

As long as nothing went wrong afterward, his trip to Beiju Luzhou would be a perfect success.

Suddenly, Li Changshou's expression changed as the silk threads from the three Chongtong Spiders he had set up outside captured an image...

Several figures flew swiftly from a hundred li away, the one on the outer edge wearing hemp clothes with a slender figure.

Though she was flying too fast for him to see her face clearly, from the way the hemp shirt clung and the striking curve that appeared in the wind, he could tell...

It was Jiu Ji!

“Get ready—they're here.”

Li Changshou smiled, and a weight finally lifted from his heart.