The Fairy: From the Traveling Merchant

Chapter 900 Aftermath and Help

Warm waters ripple across jade-like branches, while heroes serve beneath a veil of misty silk.

The rosy clouds fly beyond the cold peaks, the moon falls on the waves and snow-white hair flutters.

Ink stains the spring breeze, the willows are strong and supple; gold ripples like jade waves, the waist of the Chu palace is slender.

The sacred spring washes away worldly affairs; why must one ascend to the heavens to attain immortality?

It wasn't until evening, when Ming Xueling returned from arranging the trip, that Zhao Chen came to his senses and stopped reminiscing about the boundless spring scenery he had just experienced in the "Chess of Yaochi" secret realm.

To be honest, he never expected that Ning Meng, who was always "naive," would come up with such an idea, and that Sister Hongxia and Master Mo would both agree to it.

Especially Mo Qiu, although she hasn't reached the final step yet, but her...

Shaking his head, Zhao Chen stopped thinking about it, while Ming Xueling glanced at him strangely, feeling that something was not quite right.

Sensing the other person's gaze, Zhao Chen coughed and asked, "How did things go?"

“The journey from the capital to Xiaoguan has been arranged, and we can set off early the day after tomorrow…” Ming Xueling replied simply, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “As for what happens after we leave Xiaoguan, you should have other plans, so I won’t interfere.”

Xiaoguan Pass is located in Guang Prefecture, which is the southern gateway to the Central Plains. It is adjacent to Suzhou.

"Oh? How did you know?" Zhao Chen asked, surprised and intrigued.

He didn't tell Xiao Ling about his promise to Hong Yue.

Ming Xueling thought for a moment and analyzed, "We are not like when we first came to the capital. There are countless people watching us now, and you, young master, could have left the Nine Provinces through the Zheng family's 'teleportation node,' yet you tacitly allowed me to arrange the journey..."

"This shows that you want to lure potential 'enemies' to Suzhou by making your movements overt."

Hearing this, Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction and said, "Not bad, it seems that you are becoming more and more accustomed to human ways of thinking, Xiao Ling."

If it were before, she would simply faithfully complete the tasks assigned by Zhao Chen without considering the complexities involved.

Hearing Zhao Chen's praise, Ming Xueling also flashed a beautiful smile, revealing a hint of pride.

After exchanging a few more words with Ming Xueling, Zhao Chen used the "vital energy" bestowed upon him by the Empress to communicate with her briefly, informing her that he would not be going to the palace to bathe that night.

Firstly, I've been overworked today, and I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the Empress's "sucking" and the Consort's "pure body" exploitation.
Secondly, he has some important business to attend to tonight.

The Empress had anticipated this and didn't mind, only instructing him to visit her palace one more time before officially leaving the capital.

Consort Wang Qingling, however, was extremely unhappy. These days, she had been using the "Nine Netherworld Divine Body" to cultivate with Zhao Chen every day, and having tasted the sweetness, she had become somewhat addicted...

Unfortunately, the "Nine Netherworld Divine Body" is coveted and cannot leave the palace for the time being. Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine herself has gone to the neighboring Xuzhou to fight the final match of the league between "Ghost Face," the captain of the "Changshe Club," and "Giant Axe," the captain of the "Wuguan Club."

This is also why the Imperial Concubine was unable to come and watch Zhao Chen's magical duel today.

In truth, Wang Qingling no longer wanted to participate in the competition, but one should see things through to the end. Although she didn't care about the penalty for breach of contract, she was unwilling to easily break the "contract" she had signed. Zhao Chen ate a few bites of dinner and had just returned to his room when the shadow by the window lengthened on its own, and a graceful woman emerged from inside—it was Zhong Ying, who hadn't shown her face since the "Third Secret Realm" incident.

Of course, she just didn't show up, but she wasn't completely out of contact. Whether it was the great battle with "Jade Toad Immortal" or the recent battle at "Thousand Bamboo Garden," she was actually there.

As soon as Zhong Ying appeared, she said with a half-smile, "Are you happy now? You suddenly invited me into the secret realm of 'The Chess of the Jade Pool,' and I thought something was wrong, but who knew it would turn out like this..."

"Can't Yan Hongxia, Mo Qiu, and Ning Meng satisfy you?"

That was after the fact, okay? Besides, I didn't actually take Mo Qiu and that little girl Ning Meng. She's still sulking.

Moreover, the reason I pulled you into the secret realm was actually to find a safe place to talk about the Tantai Bamboo Palace, and to ask for your help along the way.

Zhao Chen muttered a few words to himself, but didn't say them aloud. After all, whether it was Mo Qiu or Zhong Ying, although it wasn't the end, they had already taken advantage of everything they could...

"Have you found any new information about Tantai Bamboo Palace?" Zhao Chen changed the subject.

"It's only been a short time, what can we possibly find out?" Zhong Ying rolled her eyes at him and continued, "However, one thing is clear: Tantai Zhugong's resume was completely blank before entering Kyushu, as if he appeared out of thin air."

"Maybe it just appeared out of thin air..." Zhao Chen said thoughtfully.

Zhong Ying nodded: "In this case, it's highly likely that he previously lived in some kind of grotto-heaven... Such people are usually core disciples of the upper sects."

This is also one of the reasons why cultivators from various forces in Kyushu suspected that Tantai Zhugong came from a Shangzong sect or a noble family.

"But as a core disciple of the upper sect, she seems to be a bit too old... Even a legitimate daughter like Qingyan, who is not highly regarded, achieved supernatural powers before the age of eighteen. Those true direct descendants who have been cultivating in the cave heavens would probably be able to cross the first step of the supernatural power ladder at the age of sixteen or seventeen."

“He was probably already out in the world before he was eighteen… while Tantai Zhugong was already in his twenties when he first appeared,” Zhong Ying added.

No, Tantai Zhugong is not just a core disciple of the upper sect. He knows too much, far more than a normal cultivator with supernatural powers... He feels somewhat similar to me!

Moreover, from the moment I saw him, I felt an inexplicable strangeness. Although he claimed that he was imitating my style to provoke me into a challenge, now that I think about it, that feeling might be... "kindred spirits"?
Or rather, counterfeit...

Zhao Chen didn't voice his guess, since it was just a feeling and he had no evidence.

After that, the two did not continue the topic, but instead blended into Zhong Ying's shadow, and quickly arrived near a house in the western suburbs under the omnipresent shadows of the night.

Meanwhile, officers Wei Baishu, Fang Baichuan, and Chu Baihua, along with many female warriors who had once fallen into the hands of the Jade Toad Immortal, were waiting here.

It's not easy to bring so many people to Mianchi without anyone noticing, which is why Zhong Ying's help is needed. By using her shadow, they can secretly travel between several "underworld" strongholds in Kyushu.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Zhong Ying did not appear. Only Zhao Chen showed up and, together with Wei Baishu, Fang Baichuan, and Chu Baihua, made arrangements to transport the numerous female warriors to the teleportation node of the Zheng family in Mianchi in batches.

Next, Zhao Chen opened the "Dark Domain Passage" inside the dry well, connecting with one of his "own people" in "Shuzhou," and opened the double "Bronze Gate" next to him.

(End of this chapter)