Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 845 The Copper City Boils Over (Part Four)

When Pei Ye and Shi Zanxue returned, Lu Yuque was lying on the table flipping through the "Unexplained Sword Sutra" when he heard their footsteps and looked up.

"You must be hungry? Miss Shi has asked the waiter to prepare some food." Pei Ye said with a smile, "You can go upstairs to eat."

"Young Master Pei...aren't you and Fairy Shi going to eat?"

“We have to go out for a bit,” Pei Ye said. “We’ll talk about it when we get back. After you finish eating, take a nap and get some rest.”

“Oh… well, regarding the ‘Unexplained Sword Sutra,’ I’ve discovered two more issues, Young Master Pei.” Lu Yuque held up the book and pointed, “Look, don’t these pages look newer than the others?”

Even on the road these past two days, Lu Yuque has been constantly bringing him new ideas and questions. Pei Ye has gotten used to it, and took a look at it: "It seems so."

“I think the mystery might be on these few pages.” Lu Yuque looked up at him.

Pei Ye checked the documents—in fact, he had carefully checked every page—and shook his head: "I didn't see anything."

Shi Zanxue glanced at it from the side and smiled, "I think it's because this book is stored vertically and is not moved often, so the sunlight just doesn't reach these few pages."

“…” Lu Yuque paused for a moment, “It seems so.”

“Yes. I often stay in the Tianshan Library, so I recognize you.” Shi Zanxue smiled.

Lu Yuque lowered his head: "Then it seems I was overthinking it again."

“Miss Deer, you don’t need to keep staring at it. As we agreed, once the senior from Tianshan Diange arrives, we can ask him to take a look and we’ll know,” Pei Ye said. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

"Okay." Lu Yuque nodded, but did not put away the martial arts manual, only holding it in his arms. "Then I'm going up."

"Okay, see you tonight, Miss Deer."

Pei Ye watched the woman go upstairs and leave. A moment later, Shi Zanxue said, "If we can find a way to suppress the snow lotus buds using the 'Unsolvable Sword Sutra,' the calamity in the Western Region can be considered resolved."

The two turned towards the door, and Pei Ye asked, "Can that senior you mentioned really recognize it?"

“If Grandmaster Xi can’t recognize it, then no one in the Western Region can figure out this method.” Shi Zanxue smiled. “Grandmaster Xi Bingdu is the Grand Master of Tianshan. Since I was a child, he has been known as a walking encyclopedia. There are countless books in Tianshan, but as long as you mention them to him, there is nothing he doesn’t know.”

Does the matter of snow lotus sprouts also include this?

“Of course, Grandmaster Xi’s mastery of spirit weapon arrays is also among the best in the Western Region. He himself is also researching a way to remove the snow lotus buds. After hearing about the ‘Sword Unsolvable Scripture,’ he was very willing to come over,” Shi Zanxue said. “The Seven Jade and Eight Steeds will arrive later tonight, and perhaps Grandmaster Xi will enter the city tomorrow night.”

"Seven jade horses and eight steeds? Are they all here?"

"At least most of them," Shi Zanxue said, glancing at him with a smile. "Is Young Master Pei nervous?"

Pei Ye reached the steps and opened his umbrella: "A little."

He hesitated for a moment: "Piaoqing... has she come to the city too?"

Shi Zanxue shook her head and smiled: "Sect Leader Li wrote to ask me why the Jade Sword had sprouted. I said it was because she didn't put it in a dry and ventilated place... Jade Mountain has been very busy this year. Piao Qing said that this matter could be resolved if it could be resolved, but if it couldn't be resolved, there was no use in her coming, so she didn't come... However, at that time she didn't know that Young Hero Pei would come."

"It wasn't on my way here, so I'll go to Bowang to see her on my way back."

"Then Sect Leader Li must be very happy."

“…If the Snow Lotus disaster were to occur, Jade Jade Mountain would be in great danger,” Pei Ye said.

The cold rain continued to drizzle. The two walked down into the courtyard with their umbrellas. Pei Ye turned his head and saw seven or eight people in light-colored robes standing in the courtyard with one umbrella each.

The leader was young and pale, his expression blank and lifeless. The others were also silent, like several iron weights pressing down on the rain.

They carried the body of a middle-aged man out the door. The young man stood frozen for a few moments before slowly catching up.

“Valley Master Zhao Long of Plum Valley,” Shi Zanxue said softly, “Yesterday he killed the leader of Little Red Cloud and stole two copies of the Lotus Martial Scripture. Today, Senior Li Fengzhao captured him, and Fang Heng killed him before leaving.”

Pei Ye remained silent.

“Because they came to seek a solution, almost every sect that came to Yetian City brought at least one copy of the Lotus Martial Scripture,” Shi Zanxue said. “They all seemed to be emitting a fragrance.”

"Both of you are from the Xuanmen sect, aren't you?"

"They are all from the Xuanmen (mysterious sects)."

Pei Ye didn't say anything more. He watched the group leave the courtyard before taking a step forward.

“The Martial Scripture is the foundation upon which an individual or a sect is founded, and people’s greed for it is unimaginable. Young Master Pei has no experience in sect training and has come from all over the world to acquire his skills, so he probably lacks understanding of this,” Shi Zanxue said. “The Dao Qi Society actually only benefits a very small number of people. The pinnacle of cultivation for the vast majority of people is determined by the Martial Scripture.”

Pei Ye nodded and stepped out the door: "Let's go."

Diancang Villa was built in the west of Yetian City, right on the main street.

Yetian City was clearly not as expensive as Shenjing; the houses were spacious and comfortable, and the streets were not as busy and crowded.

Due to the recent gathering of various sects, the atmosphere in this city has become exceptionally lively. News of the Yaochi Conference has spread throughout the Western Region, and the news of a major event in the martial arts world has drawn crowds eagerly to attend.

However, the recent series of bloody incidents has clearly cast a shadow of tension and unease over the situation.

This was clearly the largest gathering of martial arts practitioners in the Western Regions in a long time. Even if not all of the "two thousand three hundred sects" came, about seven or eight out of ten were present. Martial arts practitioners could be seen frequently in the city, but their presence did not generate a corresponding level of activity.

There were no sword fights, no social gatherings; it seemed that only the uninformed common people were enjoying the commotion.

The carriage stopped, Pei Ye lowered the curtain, drew his sword and went out. When Shi Zanxue tried to follow him, he stopped her.

"I'll go by myself. You can stay in the car and wait."

Shi Zanxue paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Okay."

Diancang is a powerful and influential force in the western region.

The disciples of the sect traveled and acted chivalrously, their style resembling that of the Taihang Mountains. However, when Pei Ye introduced himself and was led into the courtyard by his disciple, he saw the sect leader, who was famous throughout the western region, sitting cross-legged by the pond fishing.

He wore a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, with a sword and an old gourd for holding wine beside him.

"Sect Leader Shen, I am Pei Ye. I apologize for disturbing you." Pei Ye clasped his hands and bowed.

The man turned around. His hair was tied back in a single loop, and he had well-groomed eyebrows and sharp eyes. Compared to his reputation and status, he did look young. His eyes were dark and his beard was slightly bluish.

The moment Pei Ye was met with those eyes, he felt all the surrounding sounds disappear, and his bowed posture unconsciously straightened. The head of Diancang Sect, the current master of the Sword-Bearing Cliff, [Snow Pavilion General] Shen Qing.

The man smiled, did not get up, and casually raised his sleeve to clasp his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Young Master Pei. I have long admired you. Your sudden presence at my humble abode is quite a surprise."

As he spoke, he turned back and placed a small stool beside him, saying, "Please sit here, and be careful not to startle the fish."

Pei Ye bowed again in thanks and sat down next to the man.

"Alone with a sword, daring to enter the heart of a major sect, Young Hero Pei, you have great courage and skill."

"A junior should not need to be bold when visiting a senior."

"The treasures you possess are probably worth more than a thousand copies of the Snow Lotus Martial Arts Manual." Shen Qing cast his line, baiting the hook, and gazed at the clear, round spots on the pond's surface.

"According to Sect Leader Shen, I am the most tempting bait in Yetian City."

Shen Qing chuckled twice: "I wasn't going to lay a hand on you anyway, but now that you've said you're bait, I'm even less likely to."

"So, who is Sect Leader Shen planning to target?"

Shen Qing did not answer, his expression hardening, his tone as cold as the rain: "This is not a question a junior should ask."

"Then, Sect Leader Shen, who do you think will attack your sect? Pei Ye might join forces with your sect to fight against them."

Shen Qing turned her head and looked at him with a smile.

Pei Ye sat cross-legged, holding his sword and umbrella, staring intently at the fishing line in the pond, and suddenly said, "It's about to hit."

Shen Qing was slightly taken aback. The next moment, his hand felt heavy as he lifted up a white fish about half the length of his palm.

"This pond is isolated from all sides, and the fish in it are all released there. What's the point of Sect Leader Shen fishing for them?"

Shen Qing sighed and threw the fishing rod aside: "It's rare to find peace of mind in this world; we are often disturbed by worldly people."

He stared at the boy beside him: "What brings you here?"

"Upon arriving in Yetian City, I witnessed the calamity of the Snow Lotus. Whether the martial world falls or not depends entirely on the will of a few, but despite the invitation from Tianshan Anxiang, none of the sect leaders have agreed to come, so I had no choice but to visit them one by one." Pei Ye looked at him.

The Lord of Diancang was definitely a true martial arts giant; Pei Ye sensed this as soon as he sat down next to him.

Unlike Taoist sects like Shenxiao, Diancang truly has countless subordinate sects in the Western Region, with influence spanning several states. Even among the various sects in the Western Region, Tianshan and Qingsang are not prominent, and the Southern Sect is far to the north. The true rulers of the Western Region's martial arts world are Kunlun and Diancang.

This person's cultivation level is also unfathomable. According to the information available, he ranked twenty-first on the Crane Ranking four years ago. He did not appear in the last Feather Scale Trial. Obviously, as the leader of a sect, he did not want to compete for a ranking, but was preparing to break through to the next level.

It's hard to imagine what profound knowledge and experience a 35-year-old sect leader possesses.

Indeed, as he said, it takes some courage for a greenhorn to sit so close.

"If that's the case, why didn't you let Anxiang come in with you?"

"I think that Sect Leader Shen may not be willing to say some things to Tianshan, but he is willing to say them to me."

Shen Qing did not answer, but stared at the surface of the pool, her expression almost blank.

“Young Master Pei, a martial arts manual has sprouted a flower that can then devour other flowers, or be devoured by other flowers. Once complete, it disappears, merging into an even stronger martial arts manual. If you have studied the original, you can easily learn it without much practice,” Shen Qing said. “Within a day or two, it will sprout and grow again, and can continue to devour… Young Master Pei, have you ever heard of such a strange thing?”

"Never."

“Of course, neither have I. It’s practically a miracle.” Shen Qing picked up the sword and shook off the water. “What choices can a person make in the face of a miracle?”

"..."

“Young Master Pei, we are strangers, but you are right, I am willing to say a few words to you. Because we people of the martial world value reputation, and I admire your character since you started out.” Shen Qing clasped his hands in a fist salute to him expressionlessly. “But I have taken the title of Lord of Diancang from my master, and I must guarantee that Diancang will stand firm no matter what happens, whether it is man-made disaster or a miracle.”

“Young Master Pei, you know Tianshan better than Diancang. Perhaps you are willing to trust the beauty, but let me ask you, can Tianshan really be trusted?”

"..."

"The calamity of the Snow Lotus originated from Tianshan. Ye Wohan claimed that the Queen Mother of the West had been resurrected in the Celestial Court, but where is he now? And where is Zhou Wuying? If they don't come to see us, are we supposed to go to the Tianshan Pavilion to discuss matters with Shi Zanxue?" Shen Qing said. "The Yaochi Alliance has been formed, fulfilling Ye Wohan's wishes. What's next? The Southern Yijian Sect has consistently refused to make contact with Tianshan, their hostility is written all over their faces. Kunlun, Xie Tingyu, and others all have old grudges against Diancang. Diancang's willingness to send Tie Rusong over is already an effort."

Pei Ye paused for a moment, then said, "I know that. I also plan to climb Mount Tian to ask about it."

"Then please convey my regards to Master Ye and Master Zhou." Shen Qing sighed softly. "Even as for Young Hero Pei, how can I trust you? In this Snow Lotus disaster, isn't the one who benefits the most the lonely one? Young Hero Pei is the most prominent among them. Once chaos ensues, Young Hero Pei will disappear without a trace, reaping most of the Western Regions and returning them to the capital. Under Master Li's watchful eye, who can bring them back? To be honest, I was fishing here, and my sword was originally in the house. I only had my disciple bring it over after hearing that Young Hero Pei was visiting."

He smiled and picked up his fishing rod again: "Young Master Pei, you are afraid when facing the unknown. I have lived a long and turbulent life and have rarely been afraid of anything, but now I truly feel as if I am standing on the edge of an abyss, trembling with fear. Who is not a tiger, and who is not prey?"

Pei Ye remained silent for a moment, watching the man adjust his straw hat and cast his fishing rod back into the pond.

“I understand, Sect Leader Shen,” Pei Ye said. “This junior only wants a promise from the Sect Leader.”

Shen Qing turned to look at him: "You'd believe me if I told you?"

"If Sect Leader Shen says so, then this junior will believe him."

“Alright,” Shen Qing said solemnly, “Diancang will absolutely not release Tanlang first.”

Pei Ye stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Thank you, junior."

Shen Qing gave him a deep look and said calmly, "Please leave."

Pei Ye came out and boarded the carriage. Shi Zanxue sat quietly in the carriage and looked at him questioningly.

"It's alright. Sect Leader Shen has the big picture in mind."

"Where to next, Qing Sang?"

Pei Ye thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Kunlun first, and then send a visiting card to the other families."

“…Alright.” Shi Zanxue hesitated for a moment. “Kunlun’s attitude is still unknown. Wei Guang is a man of great strategy and deep cunning, quite different from Shen Qing’s chivalrous style. Moreover, Wei Guang has been a member of Tianlou for many years, and your relationship with Kunlun seems to be…”

Pei Ye paused for a moment, then nodded: "It's alright. I have to go."

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)