First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2273 - Deep Ties
Chapter 2273 – Deep Ties
The pavilion was simple and elegant. Light shone in through the windows.
Zhong Xinlan sat before her zither and said, “Seems to me that he wasn’t afraid, and that he just wanted to avoid trouble.”
“I stuck out my neck for you, yet here you are, turning around and calling me trouble. Next time a swarm of amorous suitors pesters you, I won’t get involved,” the woman in red said with feigned anger.
Zhong Xinlan shook her head and laughed. “Never mind that. In just two weeks, the curtains will open on their Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil. We’ve got to hurry.”
Cloudy Heights Temple was far, far away, in a snowy plain to far west of the Southern Flame Divine Continent.
The plains had been bitterly cold since ancient times.
At their speed, even factoring in their tower ship, it’d take two full weeks to get there.
“I’ve been curious this entire time,” said the woman in red. “They’re just hosting this Dharma Assembly to select a new Buddhist son, so why invite representatives of all of the divine continent’s top factions to attend?”
Zhong Xinlan pondered briefly, then said, “Apparently, Cloudy Heights Temple has an announcement to make at this Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil. They say it’ll affect the balance of power of the entire divine continent.”
“But no one in the outside world knows the specifics, not even the top factions of the Southern Flame Divine Continent.”
The woman in the red dress drowned. “Cloudy Heights Temple sure knows how to whet the appetite. I truly can’t think of what they could possibly announce that would affect the entire divine continent.”
“When the Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil begins, all will naturally become clear,” Zhong Xinlan said softly.
The woman in the red dress changed the subject. “I heard that your ‘Senior Apprentice Brother
Zangyun’ plans to ask your family for your hand in marriage?”
Zhong Xinlan was a core disciple of the Southern Flame Divine Continent’s Donghua Sword Pavilion, as well as one of the most dazzling divine children beneath the heavens.
The “Senior Apprentice Brother Zangyun” the woman in red spoke of was called Sun Zangyun. He was the direct descendant of one of Donghua Sword Pavilion’s high elders and an unparalleled figure in his own right.
Sun Zangyun had admired and pursued Zhong Xinlan for a long time. This was no secret.
Zhong Xinlan paused, then sighed. “No need to bring that up.”
The woman in red hugged her around the shoulders and said gently, “If you aren’t willing to marry him, I’ll figure out a way to help you. I absolutely won’t let you suffer any grievances.”
“I just hope that won’t happen,” said Zhong Xinlan. “If it does…”
She shook her head and trailed off, but although she didn’t say anything, her fingers strummed at her zither.
She’d planned to vent her emotions through her music, but then, she seemed to recall something unpleasant, and one of the strings of her zither snapped.
“Xinlan, what’s wrong?” exclaimed the woman in red. “Why do I get the sense that your mood suddenly changed?”
“It’s nothing,” Zhong Xinlan said in a daze. She sighed.
She’d planned to pour her heart into her music, but few could understand it. Who’d listen now that one of her strings had snapped?
……
Seven days later.
“Eh? What’s that guy doing here again?” The woman in red was leaning over the tower ship’s railing and gazing into the distance when she suddenly saw a little flat boat headed their way.
A sallow-faced young man in gray robes leaned against the sides of the ship.
It was the same guy she’d sent packing just a few days ago!
“He seriously hasn’t given up yet?” The woman in red frowned.
Zhong Xinlan was there too this time. She shook her head. “Big Sister Yun, that’s just a passerby. Why lose your temper over this?
“A passerby? As if! Over the past few days, wherever we go, he shows up, too. He’s got to be tailing us. How could something like that be a coincidence?” The woman in red said with seething murderous intent, “This time, I’ve got to teach him a lesson!”
“Stop,” Zhong Xinlan said hurriedly. “Why not ask him his origins and intentions first? It really wouldn’t be appropriate to attack him out of nowhere.”
The woman in red paused to mull it over, and in the end, she said in a huff, “Fine. I’ll listen to you.”
Then, she shouted into the distance, “Hey, you! Yes, you! Why are you following us again?”
She wasn’t the least bit polite. Zhong Xinlan couldn’t help but feel exasperated. My Big Sister Yun is great in almost every way, but her temper’s just a bit too explosive…
Meanwhile, over on the little flat boat, Su Yi was surprised, too. Why do I keep running into this woman?
At first, he planned to ignore her and leave, just as he had last time.
But when he saw Zhong Xinlan seated beside her, his gaze silently focused, and memories long-covered in dust flooded back to the surface.
“What the hell are you looking at? I’m asking you a question!” shouted the woman in red.
Su Yi ignored her, then directed his little boat closer to the tower ship. He gazed at Zhong Xinlan and said, “Forgive my boldness, miss, but are you perhaps surnamed Zhong?”
The woman in red sneered. “Quit playing dumb. You’re seriously using such a feeble excuse to hit on Xinlan? Don’t you think you’re being ridiculous?”
Zhong Xinlan sighed. “Big Sister Yun, could you please say just a little less?”
Then, she looked at Su Yi. “I am indeed surnamed Zhong. What can I do for you?”
“I knew it,” said Su Yi, an inscrutable look in his eyes. He sighed ruefully. “I truly could never have imagined that such a coincidence could exist in this world.”
“This isn’t a coincidence! You’ve just been shamelessly stalking us this whole time!” the woman in red said with a cold laugh. The look in her eyes said, “I can see right through you.”
“Let me tell you: over the years, Xinlan’s had more suitors than there are stars in the sky. I’ve seen every trick in the book. I urge you to learn some self-respect and get lost!”
She undoubtedly took Su Yi for one of Zhong Xinlan’s suitors.
This time, Su Yi frowned. He was finally starting to run out of patience. He glanced at the woman in red.
It was just a glance. Zhong Xinlan didn’t sense anything at all.
But the woman in red stiffened from head to toe, her soul palpitating with fright. Irrepressible terror and helplessness filled her heart.
Her face instantly paled, and she stood there in a daze, as quiet as a cicada in winter.
Only then did Su Yi say calmly, “I have business with Miss Zhong. You’re welcome to stand there and listen, but if you rudely interject like that again, don’t blame me for my poor manners.”
The woman in red was obviously furious, but when she recalled his terrifying gaze and that overwhelming sense of dread, she held back.
She dared not utter a word.
Zhong Xinlan obviously noticed the change, and she softly comforted her. “Big Sister Yun, this fellow Daoist is looking for me. Just watch for now.”
Then, she faced Su Yi and clasped her fist in greeting. “Forgive my boldness, Fellow Daoist, but what is your honorable name and surname, and what business do you have with me?”
She wore a plain white dress, and her long hair hung loose. She was graceful and elegant, and every gesture seemed natural and composed.
Her beauty was indeed unparalleled.
But Su Yi was in no mood to admire her good looks.
He thought for a moment, took out a jade slip, and carved a message in it. Then, he passed the slip to Zhong Xinlan.
Zhong Xinlan accepted the slip and skimmed its contents. The look on her beautiful face instantly shifted.
She suddenly looked up at Su Yi and exclaimed, “How did you…”
Su Yi waved dismissively. “Don’t ask any further questions. It’s enough that you know that I have an old friendship with the Zhong Family.”
Zhong Xinlan silently clutched the jade slip tightly. “You still haven’t told me your name.”
Su Yi casually came up with a pseudonym. “Ye Mu.”
His current appearance was neither Xiao Jian’s nor his true appearance. He’d taken on an ordinary face.
This was because he wanted to avoid revealing Xiao Jian’s identity, and ideally, his true identity, too.
After all, he was going to Cloudy Heights Temple to kill people.
“Ye Mu…” Zhong Xinlan thought long and hard, but she couldn’t recall anything; she had never heard the name before.
However, the contents of that jade slip told her that even if Ye Mu was hiding things, he really did have a deep connection with her family!
She suddenly couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve followed us all this way. Did you perhaps recognize me a long time ago?”
Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh dryly. “I told you, it’s a coincidence. I’m on my way to Cloudy Heights Temple. I didn’t anticipate running into you repeatedly like this.”
Zhong Xinlan looked enlightened. “So, that’s it.”
But then, the woman in red disregarded Su Yi’s warning and blurted, “What do you mean, ‘So that’s it?’ He’s obviously been plotting this for a long time. He had to have known that you’re going to Cloudy Heights Temple to witness the ceremony as a representative of your sect!”
She cried out frantically, “Xinlan, you have to be careful! He’s dangerous! Just now…”
She was obviously a dutiful sort; she wanted to defend Zhong Xinlan even if it meant offending Su Yi.
But before she could finish, Zhong Xinlan said gently, “Big Sister Yun, I’m certain that Fellow Daoist Ye isn’t a bad sort. You must have misunderstood.”
The woman in red instantly fell silent, her expression shifting and uncertain.
Su Yi could tell that the woman in red was just whole-heartedly fixated on ensuring Zhong Xinlan’s wellbeing, so he didn’t make any further trouble for her.
Otherwise, given his typical temper, he’d have dealt with her a long time ago.
“It just so happens that we’re on our way to Cloudy Heights Temple too. Why not travel with us, Fellow Daoist Ye?” offered Zhong Xinlan.
“Sure,” said Su Yi. He really had no reason to refuse.
Actually, even if Zhong Xinlan hadn’t invited him, he’d have found some excuse to stick around.
The reason was simple. As Li Fuyou’s reincarnation, he owed someone from the ancient Zhong Family an enormous favor!
He put away his little boat, then hopped on board the treasure ship.
The woman in red then watched with extreme reluctance as Zhong Xinlan led him into a pavilion.
The woman in red wanted to follow them inside, only for Zhong Xinlan to say gently, “Big Sister Yun, I’d like to have a private chat with Fellow Daoist Ye. Could… you give us a little space?”
The woman in red froze, but in the end, she said, “Xinlan, you must be careful! If anything happens, make sure to tell me immediately, okay? I’ll stay outside!”
As she spoke, she shot Su Yi warning glances.
At least, she tried to. Unfortunately, Su Yi was facing the other way, and he had no interest in turning to look at her.
Thus, her threatening gaze missed its mark.
Meanwhile, Zhong Xinlan led Su Yi into a clean, elegant pavilion and gestured for him to sit down. She was just about to pour him a cup of tea when Su Yi shook his head.
“No need for such politeness. I’ll just drink wine.”
Zhong Xinlan nodded, then sat near her zither, not far from Su Yi
“Fellow Daoist Ye, might you tell me more about your deep connection with my family?” asked Zhong Xinlan, getting straight to the point.
She was just too astonished. She couldn’t even imagine it. Fellow Daoist Ye is so ordinary looking. How could he possibly have learned all the secret, ancient legacies transcribed in that jade slip?
