Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 848 The Bright Light Fades, Demons Lurk (Part 1)

"Please come in and have a seat." Yang Yifeng smiled and pulled up a chair next to the table. "I have heard of Young Hero Pei's righteous deeds. He rescued the orphaned girl Jian Du in Yizhou and escorted her here all the way. He has truly great courage."

Pei Ye glanced at the layout of the hall again. There were two long couches facing each other diagonally, with a small table in the middle. On the table were wine, fruit and snacks, and several swords with water stains still on them. They were different in color and shape, and each had its own distinct characteristics. It was just unknown which one they belonged to.

Seven people sat on the two long couches: three women and four men, separated on the two couches. Shang Yun Ning and Zuo Qiu Long Hua were among them, while Pei Ye had never seen the other four before.

There were a few chairs scattered around the long couch, but only two of them were occupied. Qunfei was sitting on one of them, biting into an apple, and waving to him with a smile.

The remaining four people stood scattered around, some leaning against the back of the couch talking to the person on it, some standing in front of the table picking out fruits, and some standing by the window watching the rain. Ji Jiuying, with her tall figure, stood by the flowerpot with her sword in her arms, where the large orchid was in full bloom.

The candlelight was bright, and the curtains were drawn, making it seem like a completely different world from the night rain outside.

Pei Ye walked over as instructed, and the atmosphere was very polite. Everyone who met his gaze nodded to him. He sat down in the chair, with Yang Yifeng in front of him and Shang Yun Ning beside him. Pei Ye greeted him.

"Brother Pei has also entered the Xuanmen?"

"Yes, this is from the beginning of the year. Where is Brother Shang?"

"After the Feather Scale Trial last year, I returned to the broken realm of the mountain." Shang Yun Ning sat very elegantly and poured him tea.

"Brother Shang's pulse realm hasn't reached its peak yet, but he should be able to compete for a top-three spot in the next competition."

“Since Brother Pei, Master Yan, and Senior Sister Qun are all gone,” Shang Yun Ning smiled. “There’s no point in going. Let’s just go to the Xuanmen and learn the Mu Wang Sword.”

“That’s true. Being obsessed with rankings is meaningless; the Immortal Platform doesn’t even award famous swords.” Pei Ye laughed.

Yang Yifeng, sitting with an air of nonchalance, chuckled upon hearing this and gestured to the side, saying, "Please allow me to introduce you to Young Hero Pei. This is our sect's 'Seven Jade' leader, [Zideng], Senior Sister Ying Yuetian. She is a disciple of Uncle-Master Zhou Wuying, and her cultivation surpasses all others. In recent years, she has been in seclusion, and her whereabouts on the Crane Ranking are unknown, but in reality, her cultivation may not be inferior to Senior Brother's. If there is any conflict this time, Senior Sister will be our support."

Pei Ye had certainly heard of this name. Even though it was "difficult to find on the list of cranes," it was still ranked twenty-sixth. At this moment, he saw the woman sitting cross-legged on the couch, like a large lotus flower. Her sword was placed across her knees, her skirt sleeves flowed around her body, and she had bright eyes and a clear face. Her temperament was upright and steady.

Zuoqiu Longhua was sitting next to her, and Qunfei also pulled up a chair and sat down next to her.

Pei Ye clasped his hands in a salute, and the man, who was looking at him, also nodded politely.

“[Shuangcheng] Ji Jiuying, everyone’s second senior sister, Young Master Pei of Shenjing should have met her last year.” Yang Yifeng gestured, “And [Gongzi] Qunfei, [Feiqiong] Zuoqiu Longhua, Young Master Pei is acquainted with them. Then there is [Jueqing] Bai Huazi, [Chengjun] Nandu, oh, and [Anxiang] Shi Zanxue… I suppose there’s no need to introduce them.”

Shi Zanxue leaned against the door with a smile.

Yang Yifeng gestured again: "On our side, after Yun Ning is Ning Xuanyan, then Cenpu, followed by Jiang Suming, Gongsun Jiming, and Lu Yunsheng... Junior Brother Lu should have met Young Hero Pei when he was in Bowang two years ago."

Pei Ye greeted them one by one. [Green Ear] Lu Yunsheng was indeed the young man Bowang had seen before. With his cultivation of seven lives, he stirred up the affairs of the Seven Dragon Cave, which led to the establishment of a connection between Tianshan and Cuiyu Sword Sect.

After getting acquainted with everyone, the hall seemed somewhat quiet. Ying Yuetian looked towards the door and asked, "Junior Sister Shi, how did it go after you invited all the sects here this morning?"

Shi Zanxue walked in and closed the door: "Just as we thought. Although the various sects tried their best to maintain the relationship, it was as thin as paper. Those who came were all hall masters and hut masters. After Young Hero Pei arrived at noon, he took me to visit the leaders of the various sects. We just returned from Luoying Mountain."

"Which families did Young Hero Pei visit?" Ying Yuetian asked Pei Ye. "Did you go to Diancang?"

"We went to Diancang first, and Sect Leader Shen agreed to promise not to make the first move," Pei Ye said. "Sect Leader Shen has not yet ascended to the Heavenly Tower. This time, his concern for self-preservation outweighs his desire to compete. He also seems to have a clear conscience and did not interfere with the Snow Lotus matter."

Shi Zanxue walked over and leaned against the table behind Pei Ye's chair: "But Diancang is under the most scrutiny and pressure this time, and Shen Qing is finding it difficult to maintain his composure."

Pei Ye nodded: "Then I went to Kunlun."

"Have you seen Palace Master Wei?"

"I saw him."

Ying Yuetian looked at him with slight surprise: "How about Kunlun?"

“It’s like walking on thin ice, with tigers eyeing us.” Pei Ye said, “Palace Master Wei trusts nothing except Kunlun’s own forces. The atmosphere is tense now, and there’s no way to persuade him.”

Yang Yifeng said, "Young Master Pei dared to go straight into Kunlun to persuade me face to face, which is already admirable."

Pei Ye smiled and said, "It's just a case of a fox borrowing the tiger's power."

Qunfei, resting his chin on his hand, laughed, "Young Master Pei, you have so many idioms on your lips now, it's quite impressive."

“‘Look at someone with new eyes’ is a phrase Sun Quan used to encourage Lü Meng to learn from him; I knew that before,” Pei Ye said with a smile.

"Knowing the attitudes of Diancang and Kunlun reveals the current climate of the entire Western Regions martial arts world," Ying Yuetian said solemnly. "It seems the situation is extremely critical."

Pei Ye looked at her: "Ying... Senior, I also have some questions about Tianshan."

Ying Yuetian looked at him: "Please speak."

“Since the Snow Lotus disaster, only Tianshan has been able to turn the tide, so why is their attitude ambiguous? After Lord Ye established the Yaochi Alliance, why have they stopped showing up?” Pei Ye said, “What exactly are Tianshan’s plans regarding the Snow Lotus disaster?”

The hall fell silent for a moment, and Ying Yuetian said after a brief pause, "Senior Uncle Ye is not currently in the sect."

Pei Ye was taken aback: "Not here? Where did you go?"

Ying Yuetian shook his head: "We don't know either."

"..."

"The Snow Lotus originated from the revival of the Western Celestial Court, and its source is indeed on Mount Tian. However, Senior Uncle Ye's ideas differ from ours. He sent orders to the Western Region to establish the Yaochi Alliance, but we do not know what he intends to do. Afterwards, he left Mount Tian without informing us." Ying Yuetian said, "Young Hero Pei, what you say is very true. Mount Tian should be organizing the Western Region and eliminating the crisis at this time, but right now, my master and the sect leader on Mount Tian are both tied up. Without them, the situation in the Western Region would probably be even worse."

"Can't you tell me what entanglements you're bound by now?" Pei Ye looked at her.

"Please forgive me, but I am not on Mount Tianshan and cannot speak with you."

Pei Ye nodded: "I apologize for asking so abruptly."

Ying Yuetian looked at Pei Ye: "I am not being presumptuous, Young Hero Pei. It is best that you are willing to ask directly. We, the Eight Steeds and Seven Jade, have been doing our best to follow the ancient traditions of Tianshan, to find the Immortal Treasure of King Mu, to assist the destined Lord of the Immortal Court, and to revive the Western Immortal Court... I'm sure Junior Sister Shi has told you about these things as well. Now the people of the Western Region are in a state of panic and are in danger. No matter what Senior Uncle Ye's attitude is, we must go down the mountain and do our best to save it. Even if our strength is weak, we will do our best to do something."

Pei Ye clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Senior Xie Ying, please speak frankly. What I desire is also the stability of the Western Region. Every day that passes, countless innocent people die. If things really descend into chaos, it is unimaginable."

Ying Yuetian looked at him and said, "Absolutely."

At this moment, Shi Zanxue smiled from behind the chair and said, "Young Master Pei, Senior Sister is only twenty-nine years old. You call her Master Zhu, so you probably don't address her as 'senior'."

Pei Ye smiled and said, "I don't know how to address you properly."

Shi Zanxue fell silent. Qun Fei, standing to the side, waved his fan and laughed, "She's also called 'Miss Ying'."

Ying Yuetian smiled without saying a word, seemingly not as strict with his junior sisters as he appeared.

Yang Yifeng asked, "Young Master Pei, after visiting Kunlun and Diancang, which other places did you go?"

Shi Zanxue smiled and said, "We originally planned to go to Qingsang Valley, but halfway there, Song Zhilan stopped us. Her master invited us to sit for a while in a building on the street." Qunfei asked curiously, "What did she talk to you about?"

Ying Yuetian said, "Qingsang Valley should have no opinion."

Shi Zanxue leaned her forearm on the back of Pei Ye's chair and laughed, "I only prescribed medicine for Young Hero Pei."

Bai Huazi, who had been listening quietly by the window, spoke up. It was a pleasant but lazy voice—Pei Ye was indeed somewhat surprised that he could hear the 'lazy' in the tone of her voice.

"What medicine did you prescribe?" She turned back, her face also listless.

Qun Fei laughed: "You've piqued her interest again."

Shi Zanxue said, "Perfect timing. Why don't you go and get the medicine for Young Hero Pei? Here's the prescription."

Bai Huazi walked over and took it, looking down at it.

“Qing Sang Valley really didn’t take any stance. Later, I visited Longhe Sword Manor and Yunshan, Kongtong, and then I tried to visit some sects with slightly lower strength,” Pei Ye said. “Firstly, all the sects were indeed very tense; secondly, I did not find the person behind the Snow Lotus disaster.”

Yang Yifeng asked, "Young Master Pei, are you referring to the Southern School?"

The man on the other chair spoke for the first time: "I think I'm referring to what's behind the Southern Sect."

Ning Xuanyan was handsome and tall, and rarely spoke. Pei Ye nodded to him, "Yes. What do you all think of the Southern Yijian Sect?"

Ying Yuetian said, "That's too resolute."

Pei Ye looked at her, and Ying Yuetian said, "The Southern Yijian Sect should be the same as Kunlun. Even if they have ambitions, know the inside story of Tianshan, and have a plan to make a move when Xiting is revived, they should not cut off their own escape route."

"Yes."

"The Southern School of Yijian's attempt to seize Tianshan's place is inherently risky. Their strength is inferior to Tianshan's, leaving them with no other option but to gamble. Young Hero Pei killed Sheng Yuse in Yizhou and tracked their movements; he should have done his utmost to mediate, but..."

“But they continue to go their own way,” Pei Ye said.

“That’s right,” Ying Yuetian said. “The Southern Sect is one of the Thirty-Three Sword Sects, second only to Yunlang and Dongting. Even if it doesn’t achieve much, it is still a great sect. Yet it is risking a break with the Immortal Platform to take this gamble.”

"This is not a decision that a major faction should make."

“Therefore,” Ying Yuetian said, “I suppose Young Master Pei thinks the same way I do. There are two reasons for this. First, his ambitions must be very grand to warrant such a risk. Second, he must have someone else helping him to make him so confident that he would not turn back even after Young Master Pei has caught him.”

Pei Ye nodded.

Ying Yuetian said, "Sheng Xuefeng did not come to Yetian City, and according to our information, he is not in the Southern Sect either."

"Not in the police force either?"

"Yes."

"I see." Pei Ye pondered, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Shi Zanxue smiled from behind the chair: "Junior Sister Bai, did you understand Valley Master Chen's prescription?"

Bai Huazi drooped his eyes: "You need medicine for this too? Qing Sang Valley really is a sect that grows medicinal herbs."

Shi Zanxue smiled and said, "Due to some reasons, Young Hero Pei is unable to practice the conditioning methods of Qing Sang Valley."

At this moment, Pei Ye came to his senses and turned to look at Shi Zanxue with a warning.

"There's nothing that can be done to treat it." Bai Huazi looked at him. "Young Master Pei, are you feeling unwell?"

"It won't affect anything," Pei Ye said.

His body had long since stopped causing him trouble. Although it was inevitably somewhat messed up due to its lack of care, it became ten times stronger with each bit of mess. Of course, it was impossible for some excessive blood energy to affect his mental state. His true energy alone was enough to suppress it. Moreover, he possessed the Mind-Controlling and Quail Head techniques, among other wondrous mind-controlling arts. Even if his energy was a hundred times stronger, he would not become a manic fighting demon.

“Look,” Bai Huazi said, “it’s just like fingernails. When it’s time to trim them, there’s no need to take medicine to stop them from growing.”

“That makes sense.” Shi Zanxue rested her chin on her hand. “How should it be trimmed?”

"Just find someone to serve him in bed," Bai Huazi said, looking at Shi Zanxue.

"..."

"..."

Shi Zanxue retorted angrily, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

A polite silence fell over the hall. Qun Fei turned away to suppress her laughter. Ying Yuetian glanced at them and nodded apologetically: "Sixth Junior Sister is used to speaking without thinking. Young Hero Pei, please forgive her."

Pei Ye smiled and said, "It's alright... I also know a physician friend who gets along well with Bai Zhenchuan. I can introduce him if there's a chance."

He continued, "There is one more thing. I brought a humanoid object from Yizhou. I wrote to Miss Shi to inquire about it, and she said she needed to see it. Now is the perfect time for you all to see it together."

"We've already heard about this, where should we go to see it?"

“No need.” Pei Ye turned his head slightly, and a few moments later, the door was pushed open, and the cloaked doll walked in.

Everyone turned their attention to that direction.

The doll removed its cloak, revealing its strange body.

At this moment, it was no longer the same as Lu Yuque's mother. Its body was as white as ivory and as smooth as leather, resembling a whale or dolphin. After a few breaths of seeing the group, it locked onto Shi Zanxue's figure, and its shape and appearance began to change. In an instant, clothes and hair grew out, and another Shi Zanxue appeared vividly in front of them, only stiff and strange.

Shi Zanxue turned back, looking at Pei Ye with a hint of horror: "Is this what you meant by..."

“Not bad.” Pei Ye stared at it.

It stared at Pei Ye for a long time before finally speaking, "Young Master Pei... quickly, quickly untie my body..."

“A puppet,” Shi Zanxue sighed. “It really is a puppet.”

Ying Yuetian, Yang Yifeng, and the others nodded slowly.

Pei Ye looked at them: "What is it?"

"Legend has it that the strange puppet that Yan Shi presented to King Mu of Zhou could sing, dance, and move just like a human," Shi Zanxue said. "If the records in the classics are correct, it should have come from King Mu's celestial treasure."

(End of this chapter)