Chapter 138 — High-level Demon Race: She, Timid and Shy

After leaving the library pavilion, Lian Mu went straight to Fragrance-Attracting Peak. By the time she found the white plum tree she had seen earlier, only Ji Mingyue was left beneath it.

The teacup opposite still held warmth, petals scattered all over the ground untouched by dust or mud — Yi Zifei had just left.

Lian Mu climbed twelve floors up and down, her legs a little sore, so she plopped down across from Ji Mingyue.

“Your master left?”

Ji Mingyue held her teacup and nodded. “The barrier on the top floor has been opened. He’s gone to see Master Feng.”

Lian Mu had just wanted to say that actually, Feng Tianche hadn’t wanted Yi Zifei to disturb him.

“The top-floor barrier in the library pavilion was set up by Sect Master Shen according to Master Feng’s wishes. After Master Feng died, a fragment of his soul was sealed on the top floor, and no one has been able to break the barrier all these years,” Ji Mingyue said. “It’s said that even Sect Master Shen himself couldn’t undo it once it was set. How did you guess the rune to break it?”

Lian Mu said, “I just drew a random line and it opened. Maybe it’s fate.”

She didn’t say that the real rune was actually a turtle, to preserve Feng Tianche’s image in people’s minds.

“So, what does he really look like?” Ji Mingyue leaned closer. “I heard that aside from being the number one alchemy cultivator, he was just a crude street thug, foul-mouthed and hideous — his portrait could stop children from crying at night. I find that hard to believe, but even the Feng family themselves say so.”

“He actually looks pretty good.” Lian Mu pulled out the image-recording stone and was about to activate it. “He’s not nearly as terrible as people say. Let me tell you a secret, actually the Feng Clan of Wuyang in White Tiger West isn’t—”

“Junior sisters! If you’re not busy, don’t linger outside for too long!”

A voice came from the sky, cutting Lian Mu off. Both of them looked up to see two young men suspended high in the air.

One rode a sword, his green robes fluttering; the other stood atop a silver kite, his long ponytail tied high.

Lian Mu squinted at them for a moment, feeling they looked familiar.

Before she could remember who they were, the two young men landed nearby.

“Senior Brother Ye, Senior Brother Xiao,” Ji Mingyue greeted first.

Hearing the titles, Lian Mu suddenly remembered — they were the two who, five years ago, had subdued a demonic beast by the deep pool and saved her and Xu Xianxing.

Also, the ones from her dreams…

Lian Mu instinctively tightened her grip on her sword hilt.

“Junior sister, what’s wrong?” The sword-riding youth stepped closer with concern.

Lian Mu snapped out of it, glanced at the two of them — they still seemed normal for now.

“It’s nothing.” She smiled and stood up. “You two appeared so suddenly, I’m timid and easily startled.”

Ji Mingyue: “?”

Ji Mingyue: “You, timid…”

Lian Mu stepped on her foot under the table. Ji Mingyue immediately fell silent, biting her lip to endure the pain, then forced a smile. “Please don’t mind her, senior brothers. She’s timid and… shy around strangers.”

“This junior sister must be new? You probably don’t know us yet.” The sword-riding youth smiled. “I’m Ye Minghe. Judging by your attire, you’re a sword cultivator — I’m also from Cold Arrival Peak. This beside me is Xiao Jin, from Autumn Peak.”

“I’ve heard Xu Xianxing mention Senior Brother Ye before,” Lian Mu said.

“You know Junior Brother Xu too? What a coincidence — he once repaired my sword for me, but I never had the chance to thank him properly. If you see him, please pass along my gratitude.”

Ye Minghe’s smile was gentle, but beside him, Xiao Jin kept staring at her.

Lian Mu inadvertently met Xiao Jin’s gaze, and a memory from her dream flashed in her mind. She frowned slightly, then quickly masked it and smiled. “Senior Brother Xiao, is something wrong?”

Xiao Jin didn’t answer her but nudged Ye Minghe, his voice cold. “Don’t you think she looks familiar?”

Ye Minghe paused. “What?”

Since Xiao Jin had recognized her, Lian Mu admitted directly, “Senior brother, five years ago at the mountain’s foot, you met me and Xu Xianxing.”

Ji Mingyue gave Lian Mu a deep look: so she knew this many people…

Ye Minghe stared at her for a moment, then suddenly remembered. “So it was you. I didn’t expect you’d join the Returning Immortal Sect too.”

Xiao Jin kept his eyes fixed on her. “I’ve long heard of you. Lian Mu, one of this year’s second-seat sword cultivators in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition. In White Tiger West, your strength was so strange you were almost mistaken for a demon race.”

“Senior brother cares so much about me, huh?” Lian Mu smiled faintly.

Xiao Jin snorted coldly. “I know about you. In this year’s Immortal Sect Grand Competition, you stirred up three sects — you do have some skill. But whoever you are, you must follow the rules. The sect has ordered that no one lingers outside unnecessarily. Yet you two are leisurely drinking tea here.”

“Don’t be upset, junior sister. He doesn’t speak gently, but he means well.” Ye Minghe quickly smoothed things over. “The sect hasn’t been peaceful lately. All disciples must stay on Elegant Seasons Peak. If you’re free now, I’ll escort you back.”

“Senior brother, I can’t go back yet,” Ji Mingyue said. “With the demon race invading, I need to see the elders. Please take her back first.”

Hearing this, Ye Minghe nodded. “You’re Junior Sister Ji Mingyue, right? It’s a bit of a distance to the main peak, and the wind and snow are fierce outside Fragrance-Attracting Peak. Let me take you there.”

“Xiao Jin, you escort Junior Sister Lian.”

If the sect was so on guard that even its own grounds were restricted, Lian Mu couldn’t imagine what kind of demon race this time must be.

She glanced at Xiao Jin’s cold face and fell silent. “…”

Couldn’t she, a sword cultivator, just fly herself?

Ye Minghe and Ji Mingyue left, leaving only Lian Mu and Xiao Jin staring at each other. The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

“Senior brother, there’s no need to trouble you. I’m a sword cultivator — I can go back by myself.”

Honestly, she hated dealing with people who were cold for no reason.

“I just returned from Shifang Nether Soil,” Xiao Jin spoke first. “I’ve seen many demon remnants. In fact, the Illusory Heaven Pool water of Azure Dragon East can’t detect all demons.”

“I once encountered a high-level demon whose corrupted aura was hidden inside their body — completely unaffected by the Illusory Heaven Pool and nearly impossible to detect by ordinary means. Even the Ji clan couldn’t tell.”

“You mean… you suspect me?” Lian Mu asked.

“I’ve seen your image. You don’t look like a normal person.”

“Calling me names is unnecessary, don’t you think?”

“The sect leader himself has verified you, so I, a nobody, dare not say more.” Xiao Jin turned and started walking toward Elegant Seasons Peak.

“You’d better be the one to help the Returning Immortal Sect rise again… and not what I fear you might be.”

Lian Mu stood still.

“I won’t do anything to you. Escorting disciples back to Elegant Seasons Peak is the sect’s order.” Xiao Jin paused and looked back. “Come on, Junior Sister Lian.”