Chapter 472 - 482: A Sky Full of Peach Blossoms

Wen Qingye asked casually, "Oh? Is there a particular reason Your Reverence has come out this time?"

Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain was a famous peak in the northeast. It was the highest in the entire Eastern Profound Domain, covered in white snow and shrouded in frost all year round. Ordinary Martial Artists couldn’t even enter the mountain, making it one of the four great Secret Lands. For Shoujing to suddenly travel from Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain to the Northwest Territory, there must be a reason.

"It’s good that Benefactor is aware. Perhaps we can even conduct our first piece of business," Shoujing said with a smile, then continued, "Benefactor should know of the Ninth Trading House, correct?"

Wen Qingye nodded, waiting for Shoujing to continue.

Meng Yiyu had mentioned the Ninth Trading House before. It was a trading house located in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, right in the center of the Eastern Profound Domain. The trading house was rich in resources, had everything one could want, and its influence spread throughout the entire Eastern Profound Domain. However, it was also extremely mysterious, and Wen Qingye had naturally heard of it as well.

Shoujing continued, "The Ninth Trading House has a branch called the Ninth Pawnshop. Have you heard of it, Benefactor? They are currently in need of a Shopkeeper, which is why they have invited me to go."

The Ninth Pawnshop!

Wen Qingye’s heart skipped a beat.

He finally understood why the Ninth Trading House had felt so familiar. It was because of the name: the Ninth Pawnshop.

The Ninth Pawnshop was a renowned establishment even in the Immortal Realm. This pawnshop could be said to comprehend the workings of heaven and man and understand the changes of past and present. Its master was an expert in Plum Blossom Divination, the Ziwei Astrology System, and the Qiankun Trigram Inference Method—you name it. You could find out anything you wanted, as long as you had something of equal value to trade.

Back then, Wen Qingye’s own Inference Skill had been a few notches below this person’s. After all, that person cultivated the Divination Skill of the Three Thousand Great Dao.

But now, the same name had appeared in this place. Was it just a coincidence?

Wen Qingye’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "What kind of business does this Ninth Pawnshop do?"

Shoujing smiled faintly. "Name the person you want killed or the information you desire, and provide an item of equal value. That’s all."

’Just as I thought.’

"I have a feeling you were waiting here for me specifically." Wen Qingye’s gaze was like a torch, as bright and clear as the stars in the sky.

Shoujing felt her Heart Spirit tighten. ’That gaze... Just what is this person’s identity?’ But Shoujing was no simple character herself; she recovered quickly.

"You’re overthinking things. We just happen to be fated to meet," Shoujing said.

"Is that so? I don’t think so." Wen Qingye tilted his head back and laughed.

For some reason, cold sweat began to stream down Shoujing’s back. It wasn’t anything else about Wen Qingye that she feared, but his piercing gaze that seemed to see right through people’s hearts, as if he had seen straight through her own.

"Alright, let’s say our fated meeting ends here for today," Wen Qingye said with a smile, slowly getting to his feet.

Shoujing nodded and said, "Take care, Benefactor."

After speaking, Wen Qingye strode away. Shoujing only vanished after watching him disappear into the distance.

「......」

"Was that Shoujing person waiting for us on purpose?" the Ice Python asked curiously.

Wen Qingye sneered. "I’m pretty sure of it. How could it be such a coincidence that we’d meet twice? And why would she strike up a conversation with me?"

"But what’s the reason?" the Ice Python asked again.

Wen Qingye calmed his Heart Spirit and analyzed slowly, "I’m not sure, but it has something to do with this Ninth Trading House. Most likely, that woman has a grudge against the Taiyi Pavilion and wants to use me to deal with them. She’d stand to gain quite a bit from it, too. The people from this Ninth Trading House are not simple."

The Ice Python nodded. "The factions in this Eastern Profound Domain are truly tangled and complex. It seems we’ll have to be careful with everything."

"Of course." Wen Qingye nodded. The factions of the Eastern Profound Domain were indeed complex, but so what? He had only one goal: the Taiyi Pavilion. No one could stand in his way. As his eyes looked forward, they became profound.

After that stretch of road, the Ice Python continued to carry Wen Qingye forward.

Time passed quickly. In less than three days, the man and the python arrived at the border of Canglan Country, in Yun City.

This was also the meeting point of the Three Realms Sect, the Flowing Cloud Sect, the Celestial Thunder Hall, and the Celestial Profound Sect. The True Essence Fruit Tree that the four sects had discovered together was located here.

Wen Qingye stood alone at the city gate, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. He slowly said to himself, "Passing through the valley ahead will lead me to where the True Essence Fruit Tree grows. I’ve arrived at just the right time. Today is the day the True Essence Fruit Tree bears fruit. The True Essence Fruit is quite a nice treasure. I can use it to refine True Essence Pills."

At that moment, a large crowd had gathered at the city gate. Men and women alike were laughing and joking with each other as they all headed toward the valley ahead.

Wen Qingye thought nothing of it and headed for the valley south of the city.

The number of people on the road grew, and every one of them was beaming with joy, their faces filled with delight.

The sunlight wasn’t scorching; it felt pleasantly warm on the skin. The vast sky was a clear, azure blue, and the surrounding air was exceptionally fresh and pleasant.

Suddenly, Wen Qingye heard a clear, sonorous song. The voice was utterly pure, without a single trace of impurity. Everyone felt their minds go blank, as if they were floating.

A delicate fragrance slowly wafted to their noses.

"This... This is..."

Wen Qingye’s brow twitched. Then, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile involuntarily. He looked ahead and quickened his pace.

After walking for about half an incense stick’s time, the fragrance grew stronger. Suddenly, a sea of pink appeared before him. He couldn’t help but be slightly dazed, his eyes staring blankly ahead.

It was a pink ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Countless five-petaled pink blossoms drifted through the air. In the gentle breeze, the flowers danced as if flying. The trees’ branches were gnarled and twisted, swaying in the wind.

A gentle breeze blew, making the peach trees RUSTLE. Petals fell from the branches one by one, dancing on the wind, which carried their sweet fragrance along with it.

Wen Qingye caught a petal from the air. Looking at the flower in his hand, he seemed to recall something and began to smile.

It was the flower from his dreams.

Peach blossoms.

He walked forward, letting the petals shower over him, their sweet fragrance filling his senses.

The peach blossoms drifted down. Following the gentle breeze, he walked into the endless grove of peach trees. Fragrance lingered everywhere. Specks of golden sunlight reflected off the boundless sea of flowers, yet they couldn’t outshine the beautiful, moving colors of the petals.

The peach blossoms were brilliant, lush and vibrant, a harmonious mix of red and white.

Standing in the center of the tide of peach blossoms, Wen Qingye thought he heard a familiar voice.

"...Husband, let’s leave this place. Let’s go somewhere no one will find us, alright?"

"Would this be considered eloping?"

"...Let’s go. To the ends of the earth."

The wind blew, sending waves of peach blossoms rising and falling. His heart seemed to calm significantly, just as those words faded.

"In a place where the peach blossoms bloom, one can smile upon the mortal world, and smile upon life."

Wen Qingye murmured, taking a step forward. The peach blossoms continued to fall, landing on his shoulders, at his feet, and before his eyes. His figure gradually faded, disappearing into the ocean of peach blossoms.