Пьяные облака, слегка спящая луна

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Before Ling Bing and Li Fan even stepped into the hotel, they could hear Yu Xue cursing at Ling Bing in her distinctive soprano voice.

Li Fan smiled at Ling Bing and said, "Now you're in for a rough time when you get back!"

Ling Bing blushed, and tried to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything.

"You're back! Come and eat! Yu Xue is starving, but Ye Feng insisted on waiting for you two to come back so we can eat together. Come on over!" Meng'er shouted as soon as she saw Ling Bing and Li Fan step through the door.

Then he whispered to Ling Bing, "Yu Xue is throwing a tantrum again, haha!"

"Sorry, Li Fan and I got so engrossed in playing that we lost track of time and kept you from eating!" Ling Bing scratched her hair with one hand and nervously tugged at the hem of her clothes with the other, her eyes constantly glancing towards Yu Xue.

"You idiot, you know how to be embarrassed? Did you forget which way the hotel door faces when you saw the beautiful scenery in the mountains?" As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately gave Ling Bing a Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

"Oh dear, my little darling, couldn't you have been a little gentler? Where did I see anything beautiful? Don't believe me? Ask Li Fan!"

As Ling Bing spoke, she frantically searched for Li Fan. When she turned around, she saw that Li Fan was already sitting at the table eating. Looking around, everyone else was also sitting at the table eating, except for Yu Xue and Ling Bing, who were bickering on the side!

"Hey, Ye Feng, you're such a bad friend! We haven't even sat down yet, and you guys are already eating!" Yu Xue yelled angrily at Ye Feng. Ye Feng, while chewing on a pheasant leg, said:

"Hmm... I bet you, Miss Yu, are really angry with that brat Ling Bing... Hmm... How can you possibly eat anything? If I make you eat again... gulp... Won't you just choke on it? That would be the same as me risking my life!" With that, she tossed aside the chicken bone she'd finished gnawing on and picked up a piece of rabbit meat, stuffing it into her mouth with a loud crunching sound.

Just as Yu Xue was about to explode in anger, Meng'er quickly stood up and pulled Yu Xue to her side, saying:

"Alright, Yu Xue, Ye Feng is just joking with you. Let's eat and stop arguing with him!"

Ye Feng smiled smugly at her, but Yu Xue glared at him fiercely, turning her head away and ignoring him.

After dinner, everyone was sitting in the main hall discussing their trip to the mansion the next day when suddenly someone walked in. Ling Bing looked up and was startled; it was none other than the young man who had come down alone from the path in Nanshan earlier.

"Brother Mo Han, why are you so late today? Have you eaten?" Cheng Jin called out to the person who came in.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Mo Han. Ignoring Cheng Jin's words, Mo Han slightly raised her head, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on Zheng Qi. That gaze was no longer icy; it seemed to carry a hint of doubt. Zheng Qi also looked up, staring intently at Mo Han. Finally, Mo Han's lips twitched slightly, then she returned to her usual cold demeanor and slowly walked upstairs.

Zheng Qi's eyes followed Mo Han upstairs until Mo Han disappeared at the entrance of the stairwell. Only then did he turn his gaze away, turn his head to the window, and stare blankly at the dark night fog.

Ye Feng observed all of this. Now he was starting to understand Zheng Qi a little. Ever since entering Guhua Town, Zheng Qi had either seemed preoccupied or absent-minded. Ye Feng couldn't figure out what Zheng Qi was thinking, but he was too embarrassed to ask, because he knew that Zheng Qi had always been like this. But these past few days, he seemed to be becoming increasingly unpredictable.

"Hey, Cheng Jin, who was that person just now? Why did they act like they didn't care?" Ye Feng asked.

"I don't know who he is either. I only know that his name is Mo Han. I saw that in the registration book when he first arrived. He's just like that. He doesn't like to talk to people and always comes and goes by himself."

"He's a bit cold, but he seems pretty cool!" Yu Xue said, looking dazed.

"Aren't you ashamed? Aren't you afraid Ling Bing will be jealous!" Li Fan, who was standing to the side, saw Ling Bing with his head down and not saying anything, and assumed that he was angry about Yu Xue's words, so he spoke up in defense of him.

"You're not even allowed to say that? Ling Bing isn't as petty as you, right?" After saying that, Yu Xue nudged Ling Bing, who was sitting blankly to the side.

Ling Bing was lost in thought when Yu Xue suddenly nudged him, startling him awake. Seeing everyone staring at him, he said:

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Ha..." Everyone present laughed.

"You stupid pig head, what are you thinking?" Yu Xue blushed and took her anger out on Ling Bing after hearing everyone's laughter.

"Haha, he's thinking, 'Why do you, Miss Yu, only allow officials to set fires while forbidding ordinary people to light lamps?'"

Ye Feng chuckled and teased. Everyone burst into laughter again, and Yu Xue's face turned even redder. She knew that Ye Feng was making fun of her for scolding Ling Bing for looking at Mei Mei earlier.

"Meng'er, look at this! How can your husband bully people like this!"

"Hehe, alright, Ye Feng, just say less! Yu Xue, don't be angry, Ye Feng was just joking with you!" Meng'er said, trying to smooth things over.

"Hmph, no wonder I'm angry! Meng'er, you have to teach him a lesson for me!" Yu Xue pouted and said resentfully.

"Okay, just wait and see how I deal with Ye Feng and get revenge for you! Is that alright?" Meng'er coaxed Yu Xue like she was a child.

"That's more like it!" Yu Xue stuck out her tongue at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng glanced at Ling Bing beside Yu Xue with a puzzled look. Since returning from outside, Ling Bing seemed even more withdrawn. Even though he wasn't very talkative before, he was usually quite attentive to Yu Xue, occasionally chiming in with comments that suited her personality. But today, he looked preoccupied, his reactions to Yu Xue's words so cold, which surprised Ye Feng. Looking at Li Fan beside him, he also seemed to have lost his usual cheerful demeanor, appearing somewhat absent-minded. "What's going on?" Ye Feng's doubts grew stronger. His friends had all become quiet and withdrawn, as if they all sensed something was wrong. This made Ye Feng feel uneasy, but he couldn't say anything. The only optimistic ones, besides Meng'er and Yu Xue, were the newly acquainted Cheng Jin!

Seeing that it was almost time, Ye Feng got up and explained the preparations for going to the mansion tomorrow, as well as some things to pay attention to. After giving his instructions, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

In the corner, Old Man Gu sat squinting, smoking his pipe. Through the wisps of smoke, he watched Ye Feng and the others disappear one by one into the stairwell. The strange smile that had appeared on his face during the day returned.

The wind picked up, the night grew cooler, and all around was quiet as the chill of the night slowly spread.

"How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

"Reporting to Lord Fengxing, this matter is a bit tricky. I still can't tell the truth from the falsehood."

"Today is July 11th. If you still haven't figured it out by July 14th..."

"I know, I understand, and I will do my best to investigate."

"It's good that you know. You need to understand that I can save you, or I can destroy you!"

"Yes, Your subordinate will search with all your might. Please, Lord Fengxing, calm your anger!"

"Go down. Remember, you must find out the truth before midnight on July 14th! Otherwise, you will be annihilated."

"Understood, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now!"

The person finished speaking in a trembling voice and hurriedly left.

Feng Xing stared coldly ahead, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Inside Panyun Cave, Yunpiao was meditating for the last moment of rest, exhaling, inhaling, circulating his qi, drawing the qi into his dantian, and then resting.

Yun Piao rested quietly for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then slowly opened her slightly bewitching bright eyes and gazed at Feng Xing with tender affection.

Feng Xing thought to himself that the reason he fell in love with Yun Piao so desperately must have started from the moment he saw her bright eyes.

"How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?" Feng Xing asked with warm concern.

"Mmm! Much better." Yun Piao nodded gently, leaning lightly against Feng Xing's shoulder. Feng Xing took the opportunity to hug the petite and slender Yun Piao.

"It's such a pity that my five hundred years of cultivation have been destroyed in an instant!" Yun Piao said sadly, tears welling up in her eyes, thinking that her thousand years of hard-earned cultivation were now only half left.

Looking at Yun Piao's tear-streaked face, Feng Xing couldn't help but feel pity and said:

“When the Lord of the World is resurrected, I will ask him to grant you the ‘Great Luo Cultivation Divine Technique’. Using this technique will make your cultivation twice as effective.”

"Really?" Yun Piao could hardly believe her ears.

"If this plan succeeds, we will be the rulers, second only to the emperor!"

"Feng Xing, are you really determined to betray your master?" Yun Piao asked somewhat timidly.

"Yun Piao, I don't want to be controlled by him for all eternity!" Feng Xing frowned.

“But Fengxing, if our master finds out about our plan, the consequences will be unimaginable!” Yun Piao said worriedly.

"Don't worry, it's alright. I've made all the arrangements. He can't save the Lord of the World!" Feng Xing smiled and comforted Yun Piao.

After a long pause, Feng Xing stroked Yun Piao's long hair and whispered:

"By the way, what exactly happened with the Spirit Pearl? And who was it that injured you?"

Yun Piao was originally a nine-tailed fox who had cultivated for a thousand years. Due to her high level of cultivation, she could transform into human form and appear in the human world at any time. She came to Mengshan to find the whereabouts of the Spirit Pearl on the orders of her master.

Upon arriving at Mengshan that day, it gathered all the fox demons with certain cultivation levels to inquire about the whereabouts of the Spirit Pearl.

One of the little foxes, who had cultivated for nearly a hundred years, said, “There is a Taoist temple in this mountain. Twenty years ago, a Taoist priest in the temple adopted an orphan. That day, out of curiosity, I wanted to go in and take a look, but a strange red light emanated from the child’s bag. Later, the Taoist priest came in, and we hid in a corner to watch. It turned out that the red light came from a bead, about the size of a red berry from the mountain. I wonder if what you are referring to is this bead?”

At that moment, Yun Piao knew that the glowing red bead described by the little fox was the very spirit bead she was looking for, so she asked, "Is the Taoist temple still in this mountain? Are the child and the Taoist still there?"

"Yes, I saw that Taoist priest yesterday. That little boy from back then has grown into a man!"

Yun Piao dared not delay, and immediately inquired about the location of the Taoist temple before rushing there.

By the time Yun Piao reached the mountain, it was nearly midnight, and the Taoist temple was eerily dark. Yun Piao slipped inside. She knew the bead possessed a spirit and would emit a red light when it encountered demons, foxes, or other monsters. Yun Piao initially intended to steal it under cover of night, but then she reconsidered. Although she possessed a thousand years of cultivation, she didn't know the extent of the power of the old man and young man in the temple. If she tried to steal it but ended up losing more than she gained, it would be disastrous! She hadn't yet ascertained the situation and couldn't act rashly. With this in mind, Yun Piao decided to wait until dawn to investigate the temple's true strength before making any further plans.

The next day, Yun Piao hid inside the temple, observing the old Taoist priest's refined and chivalrous demeanor and his profound skill. The young man, however, seemed to lack the necessary refinement, appearing to be inferior to Yun Piao. Fortunately, the Spirit Pearl was hidden on the young man's person. Therefore, Yun Piao decided to seize the Spirit Pearl from the young man at midnight, taking advantage of the darkness and avoiding the old Taoist priest.

That night, while the old Taoist priest and the young man were fast asleep, Yun Piao tiptoed into the young man's room. Gently approaching the spirit pearl, Yun Piao was about to reach out and take it when she saw it emit a faint red light. Thankfully, the young man was sound asleep and completely unaware. Yun Piao hesitated for a moment, and just as she reached for the spirit pearl, she heard a shout from the sky:

"Fox demon, how dare you cause trouble in the Daoist realm!"

Yun Piao heard a whooshing sound in her ears. Before she could think, she was struck by a palm. She stumbled and fell against the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood. She realized she had greatly underestimated the old Taoist's power. Just as she was about to struggle to her feet and retaliate, the young man awoke. Yun Piao knew that this palm strike had cost her five hundred years of internal energy. As the saying goes, a wise man doesn't fight a losing battle; it was best to retreat now. So she used the "Earth-遁钻空术" (a technique Feng Xing had taught her) to escape and save her life. Fortunately, the old Taoist didn't pursue her.

After listening to Yun Piao's explanation, Feng Xing fell into deep thought. Yun Piao quietly looked at Feng Xing.

After a long pause, Feng Xing said:

"You're really lucky. Do you even know what you've been hit by?"

Yun Piao shook his head blankly.

"The palm strike you took was the Maoshan Sect's 'Hooking Evil Returning Soldiers Palm.' If it weren't for your thousand years of cultivation protecting you, you would probably be dead by now!" Feng Xing sighed after saying this.

Yun Piao was taken aback upon hearing this. She had not expected that this palm strike would be so powerful. It seemed that she should not underestimate the magic of Maoshan Sect in the future!

"So, in your opinion, what kind of person is this old Taoist priest?" Yun Piao asked.

Feng Xing stood up, paced back and forth a few steps, and looked at the strange peaks and rocks in the mountains, saying:

"If I'm not mistaken, that old Taoist priest should be Shangqing Zhenren, who holds a certain position in the Maoshan Taoist sect." After saying that, he frowned and stared ahead.

Yun Piao looked at Feng Xing, somewhat at a loss.

"You should focus on healing your injuries first. As for the Spirit Pearl, I'll handle that!" Feng Xing patted Yun Piao on the shoulder.

"Alright!" Yun Piao nodded wearily.

"Master, I have discovered that the spirit pearl is hidden on that boy's person!"

"Good, Lightning, you did a great job. Keep a close eye on him for me!"

"Yes, Master, they plan to enter the house first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Good, everything is under our control! Lightning, you're getting more and more capable!"

"Thank you, Master! This is all thanks to your wise decisions and excellent leadership!"

"Ha ha……"

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing that I'm unsure whether I should say or not?"

"explain!"

"Fengxing and Yunpiao have betrayed their master!"

"What? What did you say?"

"Reporting to my master, this is a report from my men. After my own investigation, it is indeed true. Feng Xing and Yun Piao plan to revive the Lord of the World by themselves at midnight on the 14th of July!"

"Hmph, they think they can go against me? They're overestimating themselves!"