Chapter Fifteen: Return

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Chi Yushu immediately thought of his own fault, which had led to her being unable to rest. With a solemn expression, he said,
“Fellow Daoist Huo, the innkeeper has already been knocked out by your people, and Junior Sister Huang has paid the bill. There’s no need for everyone to keep dwelling on this. There are plenty of vacant rooms at the inn, you’re free to choose whichever you like.”
“Senior Brother is right. Huang Lan has admitted her mistake, Senior Huo, there’s no need to cling to it. She didn’t mean any harm,” Qu Youyou seized the chance to defend Huang Lan.
Huo Tangsheng merely cast a cold glance over the two, then strode past Chi Yushu with an air of effortless grace.
“Let’s leave it at that for now, but don’t count on being so lucky next time.”
Though his voice was soft, everyone present heard him clearly.
Qu Youyou bit back her anger and did not lose her temper.
He Yumian and the others followed in his footsteps. She turned with a smile and said, “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Huang, for reserving the rooms. Now our fellow disciples who arrive later won’t need to pay for lodging.”
“You’re welcome…” Huang Lan replied reflexively, only to receive a covert glare from Qu Youyou.
A soft laugh drifted down from the second floor—He Yumian’s voice.
Xu Chenguang looked around at the crowd, inwardly sighing at his misfortune—there were few here whom he could afford to offend.
Forcing a severe tone, he instructed, “It’s getting late. You should all head up to rest. I’ll stay here and gather all the disciples on task from our sect.”
“Yes,” Wu Qiu and the others responded.
The three of them had worried all night for the safety of Chi Yushu and Qu Yiqiu, utterly exhausted.
Now, without further hesitation, they headed upstairs.
“Junior Sister Qu, let’s go up and rest as well,” Chi Yushu naturally prepared to shield Qu Yiqiu as they ascended.
Xu Chenguang’s expression grew strange at these words, but he said nothing.
Qu Youyou and her four companions stood at the threshold, their gaze fixed on her with undisguised hostility.
Sensing something amiss, Chi Yushu added, “Just as before, I’ll keep watch in the corner to ensure your safety.”
Qu Yiqiu’s brows lifted slightly. She thought to herself that if he hadn’t added this, it would have been fine, but now the hostile glares from behind grew even more intense.
“Don’t you want to rest, Nephew Youyou? It’s best to sleep early before you reach Foundation Establishment,” Xu Chenguang offered what he thought was a considerate reminder.
Qu Youyou, still seething, replied with open displeasure, “Of course I know that. No need for your advice, Master.”
Huang Lan and Zhao Wen dared not speak a word beside her.
Xu Chenguang’s goodwill was met with a cold shoulder. Embarrassed, he said nothing more, chose a spot for himself, and sat down to meditate.
…

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The night was as cool and clear as water.
Qu Yiqiu lay on her side, her left eye opening a sliver to glance at Chi Yushu meditating in the corner.
A gentleman of noble character: calm, dignified, and refreshingly upright.
“What a refined and elegant young man,” Qu Yiqiu silently praised him.
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was, Chi Yushu had entered deep meditation.
Now was the perfect moment to send a voice transmission charm without being discovered.
She looked at the complete Immortal Cultivation Mall before her and the meagre three hundred cultivation experience points she had left, spending them all to purchase a Mind Transmission Talisman.
If not for the predatory stares of those people, she wouldn’t have had to spend all her experience.
After grumbling inwardly for a while, she carefully recited her message and imprinted it into the talisman.
With a thought, an invisible spiritual glow slipped from her back and vanished underground.
All the while, Qu Yiqiu watched Chi Yushu’s face for any sign he might rouse from meditation.
Seeing no hint that he’d open his eyes, she finally relaxed, drifting into a deep sleep.
The Mind Transmission Talisman, bought for three hundred cultivation experience points, was well worth it—it could block even the detection of a Golden Core cultivator, though the transmission range was woefully short.
…
Dawn broke.
The innkeeper and his assistant were still fast asleep.
Yet dozens of people had already gathered inside the inn.
Xu Chenguang swept the area with his spiritual sense and knew immediately who had yet to return.
He summoned his flying vessel, channeling his spiritual power to call out, “Those who have returned, board first.”
Qu Yiqiu, following Chi Yushu down from the second floor, heard this and stepped onto the flying vessel without hesitation.
The interior of the vessel was spacious—a welcome change from the crowded inn.
Qu Yiqiu settled alone in a room, wondering if Yao Zhimei had managed to sneak aboard.
The transmission talisman she’d sent last night had been for Yao Zhimei, instructing her to slip onto the vessel amidst the crowd.
With only Xu Chenguang, a single Golden Core cultivator, guarding the ship, it would be easy for her to blend in.
Once they reached Tianyan Sect, she would have a way to obtain the pills she needed.

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“Hiss—” Qu Yiqiu suddenly felt a chill and turned abruptly.
A pale, disheveled woman’s face appeared before her.
“…” Qu Yiqiu was speechless.
“Why aren’t you afraid?” Yao Zhimei, finding it suddenly dull, withdrew her head.
Qu Yiqiu watched her impossibly long neck retract to normal human length, her lips twitching. “If you pull that trick again, you’ll scare me into a heart attack! When did you sneak aboard?”
Her cultivation was much higher than Qu Yiqiu’s, and to appear so suddenly—who wouldn’t be startled?
Thankfully, Qu Yiqiu had seen plenty of horror films in her time; otherwise, she might have screamed.
Yao Zhimei weakly crossed her legs, saying, “The moment that yellow-robed Daoist released the flying vessel, I slipped inside. What’s a heart attack?”
She fiddled with her hair, casting Qu Yiqiu a puzzled glance.
“It’s a deadly disease. Though, looking at you, your injuries don’t seem serious,” Qu Yiqiu said, exasperated by her nonchalant manner.
Yao Zhimei nearly burst out laughing, but restrained herself. “This is nothing. Back when I was a general, I suffered wounds far worse than this. Human bodies heal easily; for us ghost cultivators, it’s hard to find the right medicine.”
“You were a female general in your past life?” Qu Yiqiu asked, surprised.
Yao Zhimei shot her a disgruntled look. “Don’t mention ‘past life’ in front of me. I’m alive and well—just happened to be a female general for a spell a thousand years ago.”
This ghost cultivator was certainly proud.
“A thousand years ago?” Qu Yiqiu knew that ghost cultivators lived much longer than humans, but she’d never known just how long.
Yao Zhimei seemed pleased by her astonished expression and chuckled, “It’s hard for ghost cultivators to make progress. Without a thousand or ten thousand years, there’s no hope of advancing in cultivation. As long as you don’t throw your life away and avoid those sanctimonious hypocrites, you can live as long as you please.”
Qu Yiqiu wrinkled her nose. Such longevity was enviable, but sounded unbearably lonely.
Very few ghost cultivators ever achieved anything—most were eliminated by righteous cultivators while they still roamed as wandering spirits.
“By the way, I don’t plan to follow you back to Tianyan Sect. Once the flying vessel passes over Shuangran City, I’ll jump off,” Yao Zhimei said casually.
“You’re going to Shuangran City?” Qu Yiqiu asked, puzzled.
Yao Zhimei leaned in, grinning. “That’s right. When you bring the pills, just use this strand of hair to contact me.”
Qu Yiqiu accepted the hair she’d plucked and pressed a hand to her forehead. “With your youthful looks, Senior, there’s really no need to refer to yourself as ‘old lady’ all the time.”
This ghost cultivator was truly too uninhibited and unconcerned with decorum.