Wei Yunqing was so angry she could barely suppress the pressure of her aura. The moment she looked at the Jade Purity Bottle, a voice in her heart told her it was a treasure and she had to get it.
But before she could make a move, the bottle landed in Wei Yunxi's hands. Her chest felt suddenly hollow, as if something important had slipped away again.
That was why she spoke out in fury.
Sheng Yuhong, who had been about to leave, stopped instinctively when Wei Yunxi appeared. Hearing Wei Yunqing's challenge, his brows knitted together.
Wei Yunxi turned back calmly. "I am chatting with old friends. Did you not see?"
Old friends Zuo Die'er and Ming Ya would have loved not to "chat" with Wei Yunxi, but strength left them no room to act tough. All they could do was smile awkwardly.
"The Jade Purity Bottle."
Wei Yunqing refused to give up, but the three words were cut off by Wei Yunxi. "Do you mean you also took a fancy to it and planned to buy it? Buying things is not done with one's eyes. Everyone saw it. I paid a price the stall owner accepted, so he sold it to me."
Wei Yunqing nearly lost reason. A red light flashed in her eyes, and Wei Yunxi, facing her head-on, saw it clearly.
Wei Yunxi had not expected Wei Yunqing to have already birthed a heart demon without realizing it herself. She pressed her lips into a smile, the dimples at their corners showing, and her mood lifted a little more.
To Wei Yunqing, that smile was pure provocation. She was just about to strike when Sheng Yuhong's voice sounded in her ear. "Wei Zhēnjūn, do not be impulsive. This is the Central Region, and you represent Haoran Sect. If you clash with a same-sect cultivator in the city, it will shame Haoran Sect. The leading Zūnzhě will not sit idly by."
Reason returned at once. Wei Yunqing drew her clenched fists back into her sleeves, fixed Wei Yunxi with a deep look, then flashed out of the crowd.
Sheng Yuhong cupped his hands to Wei Yunxi, said nothing in the end, and left the center as well. Being stared at was not his taste.
The covert onlookers dispersed, retracted their divine senses, and moved on to the next stall.
Only then did Wei Yunxi turn to Zuo Die'er and Ming Ya with a smile. "If the two of you are free, keep me company. Since we parted at Shuangshan City, this is our first meeting."
What could they say but yes. To outsiders, being seen walking with a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn was a matter of pride.
As they walked, Wei Yunxi asked with interest, "You still have not answered my earlier question."
Zuo Die'er wore the face of someone with constipation, clearly unwilling. Ming Ya shot her a covert glare and spoke up. "Ran Xi Zhēnjūn, after the Shuangshan City incident, Zuo Die'er and I received compensation, then returned to our sects to go into seclusion. We lost contact with Brother Zhou.
When I emerged, I heard the Baohua Mountain secret realm would open. My cultivation was limited, and I knew that place was perilous, so I did not plan to go.
But after Zuo Die'er learned Brother Zhou would enter, she urged me to go with her. I had not even formed a Golden Core. How could I accompany her?
She stuffed a Jie Jindan into my hand, told me to hurry and form my core, then enter the secret realm with her."
Zuo Die'er cut in at once. "Hmph. I kindly found you a Jie Jindan, and you still failed to form your core before the realm opened, making me miss my chance to train at Brother Zhou's side. Tell me, should I not be angry?"
Wei Yunxi asked suddenly, "If you wanted to stay by Zhou Langchen, and you had reached the minimum cultivation to enter the secret realm, why not go yourself? Why drag Ming Ya along? Were you not afraid she would steal your beloved?"
Ming Ya seized the chance. "Zhēnjūn is right. I want to know that too. You were the one too scared to go into the realm, so you failed to stay with Brother Zhou. How is that my fault? Brother Zhou disappeared and you did not even search for him. You only haunt me day and night. Being your friend is the worst luck I have had in eight lifetimes."
With Wei Yunxi present, Zuo Die'er did not dare cross the line. Ming Ya let loose, venting long-held resentment.
Zuo Die'er ground her teeth. "Ming Ya, do not think I do not know you like Brother Zhou as well. You were the one who egged me on to pursue Zhou Langchen and used our friendship to get close to him. You taught me how to create chances, how to push and pull. Now he is missing, so who else should I watch but you?"
Watching the two glare, Wei Yunxi was happily eating melon. Even Dian Dian in her arms and Cong Shan in the beast pouch pricked up their ears to listen to the tale of love and grievance.
"I know where Zhou Langchen is."
With a wave of her sleeve, Wei Yunxi cut off their staring contest.
Zuo Die'er frowned. "Zhēnjūn has seen Brother Zhou?"
"I have seen his Martial Uncle. When we came to the Central Region, we traveled with Mingjian Gate."
"Then where is he now?" Ming Ya asked in a small voice.
Alarm bells rang for Zuo Die'er. "Ming Ya, dare you say you have no feelings for Brother Zhou? Why do you ask where he is?"
Ming Ya pressed her lips together and did not answer.
Wei Yunxi's eyes curved. "His senior sealed his memories and cultivation, then threw him into the mortal world to undergo a love tribulation."
"A love tribulation?"
"With another female cultivator?"
They spoke at once, intent differing.
Wei Yunxi answered both without pause. "Yes. Shi Jun Daoyou said disciples of Mingjian Gate who cultivate the Ruthless Dao must walk the mortal world and find a mortal woman to pass a love tribulation. Only by having feelings can one sever them, and only by severing can one be without."
Zuo Die'er and Ming Ya exchanged a glance and read each other's intentions in an instant. Zuo Die'er spoke first. "Ran Xi Zhēnjūn, I have matters to attend to. I will not hold you up. Thank you for telling me Brother Zhou's whereabouts."
Wei Yunxi did not keep her. "Go on, then."
After Zuo Die'er left, Ming Ya also took hurried leave, clearly to chase her.
Only when they were gone did Dian Dian transmit her voice. "Master, was that 'diverting the trouble elsewhere'?"
"Ah, do not put it that way. I only do not wish to see Zhou Langchen ruin a mortal girl's marriage fate. I found him two evenly matched female cultivators instead. Only that kind of love tribulation will be carved into the bone."
Cong Shan chimed in, "Master, you seem to dislike Mingjian Gate's method."
"I have no prejudice against the Ruthless Dao. My understanding simply differs from Mingjian Gate's. That is a matter of doctrine. We will not convince each other. Still, giving them a few extra hurdles is not bad."
One mistress and two beasts chatted idly as they continued to follow Wei Yunqing from not too far and not too near. Wei Yunqing's mood worsened by the step.
Just then, she spotted Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang walking together. A thought flashed in her eyes. She flicked her wrist, and the Shadowscale Serpent shot out.
Almost at the same moment, Cong Shan cried out, "Master, she released the snake to bite."
"Hmph. A dog cannot stop itself from eating filth."