Daoist Competition

Peng Yuan Sect, Poju Pavilion.

Shan Huizhen’s jade-like face was full of worry, saying: "It’s been so many days, yet the person delivering the medicine still hasn’t arrived. Given Brother’s current situation, I don’t know if he can hold on any longer."

Several years ago, Mu Bingxin’s senior disciple Jin Hong saw cultivators coming to aid from outside and couldn’t resist violating his master’s orders to assist them, only to end up seriously wounded and dying without having made contact. Not only did he fail in his task, his primordial spirit was left with nowhere to reincarnate, forced to hide within jade.

But this was not a permanent solution, so Mu Bingxin sent flying books to friendly sects everywhere, making solemn promises and requesting the outside world to send protective spiritual items.

A month ago, Dan Yang Sect sent news stating they would soon dispatch a disciple to escort spirit grass here, yet even now, no trace of them can be found.

Jiang Zheng reached out, grasped her jade-like hand, and comforted her, saying: "Brother Jin is blessed by heaven, according to the letter, if the Demon Sect’s guards are tight, they will place the spirit grass on Yingong Island, for us to retrieve ourselves. Perhaps it has already been delivered, and at an appropriate time, Lady should dispatch a disciple to search for it."

The maid, Xiu’er, standing at the side, suddenly interjected: "Sir, those disciples have clumsy hands and low cultivation, how could they elude the surveillance of Demon Sect Practitioners? And wouldn’t it be more prudent for you to go yourself?"

Jiang Zheng raised his head in surprise to glance at her, then looked at Shan Huizhen, who lowered her head and avoided his gaze.

Jiang Zheng slowly released her jade-like hand, pondered for a moment, then stood up and said: "Tonight, I will personally make the journey. Lady, rest early."

Shan Huizhen watched him leave with guilt in her heart, her lips moved as if wanting to call him back, yet the words never left her mouth.

Xiu’er rejoiced: "Lady, apart from Elder Mu, it is Sir whose cultivation is deepest in the sect, hence his journey will surely succeed."

Suddenly, Shan Huizhen felt her thoughts chaotic and murmured: "This truly isn’t his concern."

Since entering the sect at a young age, Jin Hong was already a Xuan Guang Practitioner who looked after her, thus she always regarded him as a father or brother with unspeakable feelings, yet after becoming spouses with Jiang Zheng, she buried these emotions deep within her heart.

But witnessing his elegant self now reduced to a cold corpse with a lingering spirit attached to jade, wailing sorrowfully every night, she couldn’t bear it. Bound by her master’s orders to not leave the mansion, she thought of having Jiang Zheng make the trip.

She slowly closed her eyes, contemplating if Jiang Zheng were to encounter trouble, she wouldn’t know how to face it, for now, she only forced herself to not dwell on it.

On the other side of the Cave Mansion, Mu Bingxin emerged from where Jin Hong was residing, looked up at the night sky, seeing the somber, moonless and starless sky, sighed inwardly, "Hong’er truly has a miserable fate. I wonder when I will break through this cloud of shadows and send him to reincarnation."

She sighed softly again, full of thoughts as she returned to the Cave Mansion, sat up on the couch to meditate, yet within an hour, she suddenly sensed activity, opened her eyes, and coldly said: "Summon someone, quickly investigate who has activated the Mountain Gate Prohibition Array?"

After a short while, a disciple hurriedly came, saying: "Elder, upon investigation, it is Master Jiang."

After Jiang Zheng entered Peng Yuan Sect, Poju Pavilion on the island was bestowed upon him, hence the sect’s people all addressed him as Mountain Master.

Mu Bingxin was taken aback, got off the couch, raised her sleeve and waved it over a stone polished to a damp gloss, Jiang Zheng’s form appeared within the prohibition array, she sighed in relief.

That day Jin Hong returned to the residence with several Xuan Guang disciples, fearing infiltration by Demon Sect moles, she altered part of the prohibitions without informing anyone, fortunately, otherwise Jiang Zheng could have left the Cave Mansion.

Currently, anyone in the sect could run into trouble, but Jiang Zheng absolutely must not be compromised, not to mention Mingcang Sect, even Zhang Yan would never let it rest, given his status as the first in swordfight among the Eighteen Sects, merely imagining it sends chills down her spine.

Moreover, she heard Jiang Zheng has good relations with fellow disciples, now in the Zhao You lineage, two have achieved Nascent Soul, if they could be persuaded to come help, it would decisively break the impasse.

She pondered for a moment, said: "Invite him to see me, and remember, be absolutely courteous!"

The disciple received the order and went.

Within moments, Jiang Zheng arrived, entered the Cave Mansion, respectfully bowed, and said: "Greetings to Mu Zhenren."

Mu Bingxin did not reprimand, rather, she warmly said: "Nephew, why did you go out earlier?"