Chapter 58

The next morning, Wei Rongniang took Wei Shibai away, and Qin Zhen climbed high to look into the distance in the wind and snow. She didn’t return to Tiandu Peak until she could no longer see their figures. She didn’t go to the stone room at the foot of the mountain but stayed in the wilderness, focusing on cultivating the *Taiyi Foundation Building Scripture*. Her companion was a green wolf named Qing.

Xu Li didn’t come to harass her again. This was partly due to Xin Laoyao’s persuasion and partly because of Deng Yuantong’s intentions. Neither Xin Laoyao nor Deng Yuantong could ignore Wei Shibai’s importance in Xiandu. His performance in the trial disciple competition had made him stand out, entering the vision of the sect leader. The poison had been resolved, and if he could make further progress over the years, he would be a surprise force for Xiandu when the Red Mist Valley Sword Discussion took place.

Wei Rongniang’s group of five included three of her disciples, two from the inner sect and one from the outer sect. The inner sect disciples were one male and one female. The male, Duan Wenhuan, had already broken through the sword seed stage but hadn’t found a flying sword that suited him. The female, dressed as a Taoist nun, was surnamed Chen and had the Taoist name Suzhen. She had a cold and beautiful appearance and had already formed a Dao embryo, currently striving to break through the sword seed stage. The outer sect disciple, Cao Jinren, was in his thirties, nimble and very clever, often smiling and adept at arranging accommodations.

Because of his senior brother, Wei Rongniang took good care of Wei Shibai, treating him like family. Duan Wenhuan and Chen Suzhen, having seen his strength, looked up to him, and they all got along well.

The group traveled through the Kunlun Mountains, encountering a few weak monsters along the way, all of which were dealt with by Duan Wenhuan. For this training, he had specially borrowed the Dragon Severing Sword from his sect. These minor monsters couldn’t withstand a single strike from his sword.

However, their luck was bad, and the monsters they killed didn’t have any demon cores.

Cao Jinren skinned the monsters, cut off some of the tender leg meat, and stored it in his storage bag. In the evening, when they set up camp, he busily gathered firewood, boiled water, and cooked tea and meat. Wei Shibai, being from a mountain hunter’s family, was familiar with these tasks and helped out. Cao Jinren was pleasantly surprised and repeatedly thanked him.

Wei Shibai also had a storage container, but the Penglai Bag could only hold flesh and blood, and its origin was unknown, so it was better not to show it. The sword pouch, though given by his sect, could only hold weapons and had no other use. Seeing how convenient the storage bag was for storing miscellaneous items, he wanted to get one for himself. While gathering firewood, he casually asked Cao Jinren about the storage bag and learned that it wasn’t a common item but had been temporarily lent to him by Wei Rongniang from the Penglai Hall.

Whether it was a sword pouch or a storage bag, one needed to become an inner sect disciple or earn enough merit to be granted one by a senior of the sect.

Wei Rongniang wasn’t picky about food, but she couldn’t do without tea every day. Cao Jinren catered to her preferences, finding high-quality tea and tea sets from the foot of the mountain to serve his master. As a result, Duan Wenhuan and the others also got to enjoy it.

Wei Shibai was used to drinking coarse salt tea and found the delicate tea unsatisfying, but he followed the tea tasting etiquette quite well, which surprised Wei Rongniang. She knew he was from a mountain hunter’s family and probably couldn’t read much, but she didn’t expect him to know how to appreciate tea. Indeed, one shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance.

After drinking tea, Cao Jinren took out some dry rations, cut the roasted meat, and distributed it to everyone. Wei Shibai, as usual, only ate the meat. Cao Jinren, understanding his preference, roasted a few more pieces for him.

As they ate and chatted, the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.

Wei Rongniang tore off a small piece of meat, placed it delicately in her mouth, and chewed it slowly, savoring the flavor. Just as she was about to praise Cao Jinren’s cooking, she suddenly put down the roasted meat and looked intently at the dense forest to the southeast. Several mountain peaks away, a bright flame suddenly appeared and disappeared, and countless birds took flight, scattering in all directions.

The flame was like a spiritual snake, appearing abruptly. Duan Wenhuan frowned, “Could it be a talisman practitioner?”

“It’s a fire snake talisman, which is only cultivated by talisman practitioners from the Central Plains. Strange, why would a talisman practitioner be in the Kunlun Mountains?” Wei Rongniang stood up and instructed, “Suzhen, you and Jinren stay here and guard. Wenhuan and Shibai, come with me to take a look.”

The three moved quickly to the southeast. Wei Rongniang and Duan Wenhuan’s sleeves fluttered as they took large strides, moving like immortals. Wei Shibai, not having learned this method of travel, had to run to keep up, though his speed was not slow despite his awkward posture.

In no time, they reached the dense forest where the flame had disappeared. They saw a square-faced, muscular man lying on the ground, his limbs twisted into bizarre shapes. His chest was charred and smelly, and the area around him was scorched black, with all vegetation destroyed. Another man, with a soft and effeminate appearance, was standing on his crotch, coldly interrogating him, clearly dissatisfied.

Duan Wenhuan, filled with righteous indignation, shouted, “Who are you, and why are you causing trouble in the Kunlun Mountains?”

The effeminate man pressed his foot down harder, causing the square-faced man to scream in pain, but he remained unmoved.

Duan Wenhuan couldn’t bear it any longer and drew his sword, “Pretending to be deaf and dumb, I’m asking you a question!”

The effeminate man glanced back, ignoring Duan Wenhuan, and smiled at Wei Rongniang, “Miss, it’s better if you don’t know. Just pretend you didn’t see anything to avoid trouble.” He was skilled in reading people and could tell at a glance that the woman was the most powerful among the three, with the other two slightly behind, so he treated them as juniors.

Wei Rongniang said calmly, “The Central Plains cultivators dare to cross the Savage Bone Forest, defying the world. You are underestimating the Kunlun Mountains too much.”

The effeminate man paused for a moment, his tone becoming more polite, “The Taiyi Sect is pursuing the remnants of the Yunya Sect for a reason, not out of malice. May I ask if you are a disciple of the Kunlun Sect?”

Wei Shibai’s heart stirred. He had heard Xun Ye mention that the cultivation method on the animal skin fragment was the Moon Howling Technique of the Yunya Sect. Looking at the square-faced man, with his muscular build, it was clear he had practiced a body-strengthening technique.

Wei Rongniang said, “Leave this person and quickly leave the Kunlun Mountains. We will not hold you accountable for entering without permission.”

“... In the past, the Taiyi Sect and the Kunlun Sect agreed to use the Savage Bone Forest as a boundary, not to interfere with each other. If you are a Kunlun disciple, that’s a different matter. If not, what right do you have to meddle in the affairs of the Taiyi Sect?”

Duan Wenhuan flicked his Dragon Severing Sword, “Whether it’s the Yunya Sect or the Taiyi Sect, once you enter the Kunlun Mountains, you must follow the rules of the Kunlun Mountains. If you don’t leave, then stay here!”

The effeminate man understood the situation and laughed, “So you’re not Kunlun disciples, trying to bluff with a tiger’s skin. Who are you fooling!” He boldly looked over Wei Rongniang, his gaze filled with lewdness.

Wei Rongniang lowered her eyes, “Then let’s fight. Wenhuan, go and test the Taiyi Sect’s talisman practitioner.”

Duan Wenhuan responded and advanced with his sword.