Chapter 21: Assassination Attempt

The fierce wind howled everywhere, dark clouds roiling as if about to crush the mountains. Shadows of trees swayed wildly without cease, and all the peaks were shrouded in silence.

Before long, the thick black clouds seemed to tear open, and a torrential downpour instantly poured down, striking the wooden eaves and tiled roofs with a crackling sound that echoed continuously.

Flowing Cloud Pavilion, Qixia Residence.

After parting ways, Yun Xin went straight back to her quarters. The disciples inside the pavilion stared at her as if seeing a ghost, their mouths agape, rubbing their eyes hard, fearing it was an illusion.

Yun Xin wore a dark expression. If Senior Brother Ming Yang saw this, he would surely mock her.

She thought to herself, since she had returned this rare time, it was time to test the disciples on their lessons. Those who passed would receive extra training; those who failed would be severely punished. She would harbor no personal bias.

Under the corridor eaves, Yun Xin took off her crimson robe and carefully tended to her little garden. Various flowers bloomed in competition beneath the eaves. Listening to the rain while appreciating the flowers and savoring tea—these were the pleasures of life.

“It’s been a long time since I cooked; I wonder if I’ve lost my touch,” Yun Xin murmured, closing her eyes as she sat in a reclining chair crafted from red pear wood, surrounded by a cluster of blossoms, a wisp of tea fragrance drifting around her.

The “Nine Pear Soup” was not named for being stewed from nine varieties of pears in one pot. Instead, it required the flower buds from three types of pear trees—the Early Spring White Pear, the Du Pear, and the Autumn Moon Pear—gathered in early spring; three types of pear petals collected in late spring; and the fruits of the three pears harvested in autumn. The essence of the flower buds was extracted, the petals crushed into juice as a base, then slowly simmered with pear flesh, white fungus, wolfberries, longan, and a touch of rock sugar. A few drops of the flower bud extract were added at the end, marking the dish’s completion.

This delicacy was painstaking in its ingredients and preparation, taking three seasons to complete before being sold at the grand inn. Yun Xin had loved fine food and drink in her youth and had once secretly learned the recipe at the foot of the mountain.

The spiritual energy was sparse down below, yet the plants were unaffected and bloomed and fruited according to the seasons.

The sect’s site had abundant spiritual energy, with a dedicated Spiritual Plant Peak for growing spirit fruits. However, the spirit plant cultivators had waned in influence and had been merged into the Spiritual Pill Peak, which now housed the cultivation of various spirit fruits.

The spirit orchard was guarded by a special formation, allowing trees that bore fruit once a year outside to yield three harvests annually within. After centuries of spiritual energy nurturing, the fruits were plump and rich in energy. Consumed by cultivators, they replenished qi and nourished the spirit; ordinary people who ate them could extend their lifespan, strengthen muscles, and fortify bones. Each harvest allotted a certain quantity to the peaks; the remainder was transported out of the sect for sale, never facing unsold stock.

In recent years, the orchard had steadily expanded.

All three ingredients needed for the Nine Pear Soup were available in the orchard. Only after Ming Yang’s reminder did she realize Elder Ling Xu’s intent. This excuse allowed frequent access to the Spiritual Pill Peak; overtly, it prevented her from blocking others’ words, but covertly, it carved her a shortcut. Her family’s forefather and Elder Ling Xu were likely suspecting something about the Spiritual Pill Peak!

After sipping the warm tea, Yun Xin sighed softly, “With the eldest senior brother absent, Senior Brother Ming Yang shoulders great responsibility and must act with propriety, not making mistakes. This filthy, tiring work truly falls to me alone.”

That was for the best; she had never liked that Elder Mu Deng. If she uncovered anything, even with sect rules in place, she would not show mercy.

The storm raged through the entire night.

The next morning, Ji Ning awoke early.

Fresh air seeped through the window with a hint of chill, and just waking, she shivered involuntarily.

After this rain, autumn had truly arrived.

Ji Ning’s cultivation was low, and she had no special garments for warmth. She jumped out of bed, rummaged under it for a wooden box, pulled out two roughly sized coarse cloth jackets, and pushed the box back under.

Disciples of Ling Yun Peak were not issued uniforms; when cold, they could only layer up for warmth.

After washing up, she draped one jacket over herself and, careful not to wake the still-sleeping Snowball, stepped outside alone.

She headed to the dining hall.

The muddy path outside the disciples’ quarters led after a while to the central area of Ling Yun Peak, a district primarily centered on the Servants’ Hall.

It was like a university was built on the outskirts of a modern city, where the area nearby bustled with commerce.

On the first day of September, few people were in the dining hall; Ji Ning guessed most were busy grabbing jobs in the Servants’ Hall.

After a quick meal, Ji Ning took packed food and returned to her small room.

Snowball had just woken and, drawn by the scent of food, eagerly pounced on Ji Ning.

Ji Ning still had things to do, so after petting the fox’s fur a few times, she let Snowball eat.

She pulled a compass from her storage pouch; the number displayed was “3.”

Ji Ning curled her lips, silently cursing in her mind but swallowing it all down for fear of corrupting Snowball, only managing to mutter through clenched teeth, “So stingy.”

She had nearly lost her life rescuing Senior Brother Qi, and this was only worth two luck points? She was dissatisfied.

Ji Ning calmed herself and examined the compass from all angles, waiting for a long time, but the compass gave no response.

She shook the compass and even knocked it several times on the wooden table. “Wake up! Where’s my lottery? You’re not going to swallow it, are you?”

Half a cup of tea’s time passed, and the compass remained inert. Snowball ate contentedly but noticed the sound and turned to look. From its viewpoint, a flustered human was clutching a compass tightly, threatening it with words.

That compass had no consciousness and could not understand human speech, Snowball thought.

Yet the next moment, a revelation shook the fox’s beliefs. Perhaps the compass could not endure Ji Ning’s verbal harassment or feared she might throw it into the fire. A line of golden characters appeared:

“You need to accumulate 5 luck points for this lottery!”

The air froze.

After a long silence, Ji Ning wanted to curse but found no words.

The inventor of the compass and the Heavenly Book must have been the same person—stingy to the extreme.

Ji Ning did not understand the source of luck points and could only carry the compass with her daily, ever ready.

Several days passed, all uneventful.

Since that day, Ye Yueqing had not troubled her again. Occasionally passing by, Ye Yueqing did not even spare her a glance, as if giving up on dealing with Ji Ning.

Completely ignored—this was unlike Ye Yueqing’s usual style, Ji Ning thought.

After entering the arena, the weather turned cooler. Ji Ning switched to tending the spiritual fields and cultivating during the day. The fields, planted abundantly with spirit plants, suited her Wood Spirit Technique cultivation very well, providing new insights daily.

Autumn rains fell gently several times but none as fierce as that prior storm.

Life was peaceful and fulfilling, making Ji Ning somewhat unaccustomed.

That night, the sky cleared and brightened, a round moon hanging high, casting silvery white light.

Suddenly, two figures entwined in combat, blades clashing fiercely, disturbing the tranquility of Ling Yun Peak.

Within less than the time of a tea cup, a tall, sturdy figure, unable to withstand the swordsman’s sword intent, was defeated and hastily escaped using a magical treasure.

The swordsman did not pursue but took out a black cloth to wipe blood off his long sword before sheathing it.

He found a house, and as he drew a spiritual talisman, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in his peripheral vision. Raising the corner of his eye, a glint sparked in his gaze. He drew his sword again, leapt down from the roof, and directly lunged at the person.

His movements were silent and light. Just as his sword tip was about to pierce flesh, the person reacted swiftly, snatching up an object to deflect the blade and then stepped back.

In the moonlight, Ji Ning stood in a corner holding a broom, frowning as she stared at this uninvited guest.