I have Taoism and can understand other worlds

Chapter 709 Friends Gathering
Inside the Jade Cold Mountain cave, a soft light shimmered on the ceramic vase adorned with plum blossoms, making Bai Jing's eyes appear even clearer. She picked up the ice dew and poured a full glass for Jiang Wen, her snow-white sleeves brushing against the stone table, carrying with them a faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

"What are your plans for the future, my benefactor?" Bai Jing pushed the jade cup to Jiang Wen's side, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table. "Now that you've returned, perhaps you should go back and see them. I've been gone for so long, I wonder how those little ones are doing."

Jiang Wen took the ice dew, his gaze sweeping over the young fox peeking out from behind the stone pillar. Seeing the little demon shrink back its fluffy tail in fright, he couldn't help but chuckle: "Let's go to Weizhou for a visit. Dan Chen mentioned earlier that the disciples of Tai Shen Palace are gathered there; perhaps we can find traces of Zi Yun."

He looked up at the wind and snow outside the cave: "Zi Yun has always been quick-witted. She must have left behind her original aura a long time ago. We should go and find her. But her aura is weak. I wonder what happened to her."

Bai Jing nodded upon hearing this, his white hair falling like snow: "Miss Zi Yun is blessed with good fortune and will surely turn misfortune into good luck."

She suddenly seemed to remember something, her brows furrowing slightly. "It is indeed an old friend of my benefactor. I once saw Li Yunshang and Lü Shiming in the outskirts of the capital. They seemed to be in a great hurry at the time, and I was quite curious. After all, my benefactor came to the capital to find them, but they appeared without him, which made me very worried."

Jiang Wen paused slightly in the hand holding the cup.

Bai Jing continued, "However, Yu Shi and I had important matters to attend to that day, so we were unable to stop them from asking questions. We only noticed that the two of them were in a hurry, as if they were investigating something important. Young Master Lü looked solemn, and Miss Li was even covered in wounds."

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the ice patterns on the table: "On the night of the upheaval in the capital, I personally witnessed a bright sword light rise from the west of the city, protecting more than ten Li children as they fought their way out of the encirclement. Such sword intent could only be found in Li Yunshang, who was born with a sword bone."

"That's good." Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief, and the iced dew in his cup rippled slightly. "What about Li Xiangyue, the daughter of the Prince of Zhongshan who came to the capital with me that day?"

"Rest assured, my benefactor." Bai Jing interrupted him, a hint of a smile in her blue eyes. "Three days before the summoning ceremony, I had already sent someone to escort Miss Li away from the capital, using a fake warrant from the King of Zhongshan. As for the King of Zhongshan, he did indeed perish in the blood sacrifice, but the bloodline of the King of Zhongshan's faction has not been extinguished."

She suddenly leaned closer, and the warm breath unique to the fox clan brushed against Jiang Wen's ear.

"Does our benefactor still remember Xu Qingran and her brother whom we rescued in Chuyun Port? They went south with a caravan half a year ago and should have settled down in the south by now."

A moment of silence fell over the cave, broken only by the faint breathing of the young foxes. Jiang Wen, stroking the rim of his cup, suddenly asked, "How is the Prince of Pingnan?"

"The mystery lies here." A shard of ice slid out from Bai Jing's sleeve, transforming into a miniature map of the capital in his palm.

"Seven days before the grand ceremony of summoning the spirit, an earthquake suddenly struck the prison where the Prince of Pingnan was imprisoned. When the imperial guards arrived, they found the prison walls collapsed and the prison-suppressing incantations shattered, but not a single person was to be seen."

The icy map shattered into powder at her fingertips.

"Even the spies planted by Yu Shi's concubine were unable to ascertain the truth of this matter."

Jiang Wen's gaze narrowed slightly, and he was about to speak when Bai Jing replied knowingly, "As for Li Yuxuan, the esteemed disciple of Changchun Zhenren—that child has extraordinary talent and potential. I was afraid he would be caught up in the storm, so I had already entrusted Changmingzi Zhenren of Taishen Palace to take him to the Sumeru Realm."

Seeing the doubt in Jiang Wen's eyes, she explained softly.

"My benefactor should know that the Sumeru Realm is a place where thousands of cultivators gather. Although it is separated from the mortal world, it is the most suitable blessed land for cultivation."

“Chang Mingzi…” Jiang Wen thought of the True Person of Tai Shen Palace and finally nodded. “With him looking after things, it is indeed appropriate.”

As the two talked, several bold young foxes sidled up to Jiang Wenyi's clothes and sniffed. Bai Jing smiled at this and said, "Although these children are not very skilled, they have never harmed any living beings. Most of the spirits in Jade Cold Mountain come here to avoid trouble, and they usually just pick some ice lotus and drink some snow water."

Before she finished speaking, the entire cave suddenly trembled slightly, and the ice crystals on the dome tinkled.

Jiang Wen's magic pearl flew out of his sleeve on its own, hovering in the center of the cave and shimmering with a clear light.

The little demons huddled together in fright, but then Jiang Wen pointed his finger lightly, and a light screen suddenly unfolded in the boundary pearl, behind which the green tiles and flying eaves of Jingxu Temple could be vaguely seen.

“Since you have no karmic obstacles, come with me back to the temple to cultivate.” Jiang Wen flicked his sleeve, stirring up thousands of piles of snow, which condensed into steps in front of the light screen. “With your White Fox clan here in the temple, there are people who can take care of them. It’s better than staying here in fear.”

Bai Jing gazed at the Taoist temple scene behind the light screen, a hint of gentleness appearing in her eyes. She bent down and picked up a shivering ferret, gently stroking its back and softly saying, "Don't be afraid, there are endless spiritual fruits and immortal dews to eat at Jingxu Temple."

Upon hearing this, the little demons all transformed into their original forms. The fox demon and the snow rabbit leaped into the light barrier one after another, and finally even the plum tree that had cultivated into a spirit pulled out its roots and staggered across the boundary.

Once the last bit of demonic energy disappeared into the boundary bead, Jiang Wen stopped his incantation and turned around.

Bai Jing stood in front of the cave entrance, the wind and snow swirling her long, silvery hair, her wide sleeves fluttering like a crane spreading its wings.

“My benefactor.” She turned around and looked at me, her blue eyes shining like stars in the snow. “If you ever go out to seek danger again, do not leave me behind.”

The two smiled at each other and stepped side by side into the swirling snow.

The cave behind him slammed shut, and the two characters "Jingxue" on the stone door were gradually covered by fresh snow. Only a few plum blossom petals swirled in the wind, eventually falling to the ground and disappearing without a trace. In the courtyard of the inn in Yuhan City, snow piled up into a small hill in the corner. Jiang Su was meditating, while Xiao Wen'er played under the eaves. Seeing Jiang Wen return with Bai Jing, her clear, cold eyes flickered slightly.

Bai Jing quickly took a few steps forward, bowed gracefully to Jiang Suying, and asked with a hint of doubt, "Who is this young lady...?"

“Jiang Su,” Jiang Wen continued, his tone calm, “she and I are one, she can be considered another version of me.”

Bai Jing's eyes widened instantly as she looked at Jiang Su in disbelief, then turned to Jiang Wen: "I didn't expect her to be my benefactor as well. But why is she a woman?"

She circled around Jiang Su, scrutinizing him closely, her eyes filled with amazement: "My benefactor is truly remarkable; he always manages to surprise me."

She suddenly stopped joking and solemnly bowed to Jiang Su again: "This humble servant greets my benefactor."

Jiang Su remained expressionless, only nodding slightly: "No need for formalities. I am merely an incense-burning spirit avatar, which is how I was fortunate enough to take on this form."

At this moment, Xiao Wen'er, who was in Jiang Su's arms, wriggled and stretched out her little hand to Jiang Wen, calling out in a childish voice, "Daddy, hug me."

Bai Jing's attention was immediately drawn to the exquisitely beautiful little girl. Her eyes lit up, and she leaned closer for a closer look: "What an adorable baby! My benefactor, this is..."

Jiang Wen took Xiao Wen'er, a playful smile curving his lips: "My daughter, Jiang Ji."

Bai Jing was taken aback at first, then her eyes curved into crescents: "My benefactor is so fortunate to have such a bright and intelligent child..."

Her eyes sparkled, and she suddenly leaned close to Jiang Wen's ear, her breath sweet as orchids, "However, if my benefactor desires offspring, I can help. Our White Fox clan is most skilled at procreation."

"Cough cough!" Jiang Wen coughed lightly, choked by her blunt words, and glared at her in annoyance.

Bai Jing took in his reaction, her smile growing even more charming: "Is my benefactor shy? Don't worry, I never lock the door at night..."

"Nonsense!" Jiang Wen couldn't help but scold in a low voice, but he was somewhat helpless at the sly glint in her eyes.

"What nonsense have I been spouting?" Bai Jing blinked innocently. "To have children is the natural order of things. My benefactor saved me from dire straits, and I have no way to repay him but to offer myself to him."

"Stop!" Jiang Wen quickly interrupted her.

Seeing his expression, Bai Jing knew the joke had to stop, so she smiled and then teased Xiao Wen'er: "Little Jiang Ji, call me 'Auntie'?"

Little Wen'er opened her big, bright eyes and mumbled, "Fox, fox."

Bai Jing was delighted by her amusement. Jiang Wen watched this scene, shook his head and chuckled, "Alright, let's get down to business. The matter at Jade Cold Mountain is settled, and I plan to head to Weizhou."

Bai Jing immediately straightened her expression: "Weizhou? I will go with my benefactor."

She spoke firmly.

Jiang Wen nodded: "That's exactly what I was thinking. You're familiar with the situation in the south, and it will be easier to get things done with you by my side."

He looked at Jiang Su and said, "Pack your things, we'll set off tomorrow."

Jiang Su nodded slightly.

Bai Jing then remembered something: "Besides searching for Miss Ziyun and the disciples of Tai Shen Palace, did you have any other plans when you went to Weizhou, my benefactor?"

"Let's wait and see," Jiang Wen said, looking south. "Let's find Zi Yun and the people from Tai Shen Palace first."

"Wherever my benefactor is, I will follow." Bai Jing smiled gently, her words straightforward, but her eyes were extremely earnest.

Jiang Wen looked at her and finally smiled helplessly. This fox, with thousands of years of cultivation, still spoke without any shame, yet her sincerity was so genuine that it was impossible to criticize her.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the group, and in the small courtyard, a god, a fox, an infant, and the Taoist priest in green robes formed a harmonious picture in this cold northern city.

(End of this chapter)