Chapter 34: Unable to Resist

Time, like the passage of years, flows most swiftly when it is tranquil. Half a month had slipped by, and Qian Mo, who had been reflecting in solitude in the rear courtyard, finally emerged.

He soon arrived at Cloud Sea Square. Along the way, he encountered several disciples from Tongtian Peak; all of them greeted him with great respect, even a hint of fear in their eyes. Qian Mo understood the reason and shook his head slightly, paying them no mind. Though he too was a disciple of Tongtian Peak, he had never interacted with them. As long as they left him alone, he was content.

Looking around, Qian Mo’s gaze quickly found four figures beneath a tree, and he walked straight towards them.

The four also noticed him. Lu Xueqi hurried over, her eyes scanning him, her tone gentle: “Are you all right?”

At her words, Qian Mo took her slender, fair hand in his own, smiling: “It was nothing more than a period of reflection. What could possibly have happened? See, I’m standing here before you, safe and sound.”

She nodded. Because she had been so anxious, Lu Xueqi did not withdraw her hand at once in front of everyone; instead, her face flushed slightly. But when Zhang Xiaofan and the others gathered around, she quickly pulled her hand away in a single, decisive motion.

“Since your reflection is complete, why not come down the mountain with us? I’ve brought the silver you’ve saved over the years, and there are plenty of clothing shops in the city at the mountain’s foot,” Zhang Xiaofan offered as he approached, unsurprised by the two’s close relationship.

Zeng Shushu, grinning, glanced around but his eyes held a trace of puzzlement. He hadn’t expected the usually reserved Lu Xueqi to show such warmth toward Qian Mo; he began to guess at the nature of their relationship. Lin Jingyu, meanwhile, kept his gaze fixed on Zhang Xiaofan.

After a brief discussion, they decided to descend the mountain to Heyang City. The group set off at once, with Qian Mo and Lu Xueqi walking at the rear, while Zhang Xiaofan, Zeng Shushu, and Lin Jingyu led the way.

Zeng Shushu turned to Qian Mo with a smile: “Qian Mo, is the Six Harmonies Mirror that the Sect Leader passed to you truly powerful?”

Qian Mo glanced at him and replied, “I’ve heard the Six Harmonies Mirror is a treasured artifact of our Qingyun Sect. Though I haven’t tried it myself, it must be formidable. Since we are atop the mountain, and only the heads of the Seven Peaks may fly by sword, let’s leave the Cloud Sea first—then we can travel by sword.”

Lu Xueqi walked silently behind him, following wherever Qian Mo went. Zeng Shushu beamed, while Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu both looked eager; since joining Qingyun Sect, this was their first time descending the mountain.

From Qingyun Mountain to Heyang City, the five most outstanding disciples of the sect soared on their swords, moving with the ease of immortals.

Zhang Xiaofan wielded a rather ordinary celestial sword. Lu Xueqi summoned her blue “Tianyao” sword; Zeng Shushu’s sword, “Xuanyuan,” shimmered with a faint purple light; Lin Jingyu, of course, bore the Dragon-Slaying Sword.

Qian Mo, unconcerned about hiding anything, summoned his Lingqian Sword as well. Its fierce aura astonished the group, revealing the true depth of his cultivation. After all, Qian Mo had not wielded his own celestial sword during the Seven Peaks Tournament; he had dispatched each opponent with a single blow, earning his fearsome reputation—and all without using his full strength. If he had used his sword, how much more powerful would he have been?

Yet none pressed him for details, understanding that everyone kept certain secrets.

They soared through clouds and over mountains, often pausing to take in the scenery, so the journey—which should have taken half a day—lasted until sunset before they finally reached Heyang City.

To avoid drawing attention, the five chose a secluded spot to land. Thanks to their considerable cultivation, long flights left them little fatigued.

After a brief rest and tidying of their rumpled white robes, the five set off on foot toward the towering walls of Heyang City, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Qian Mo and Lu Xueqi again walked at the rear. Zeng Shushu, sensing the mood, didn’t intrude, instead enthusiastically describing the city to the others, giving the pair a rare moment of peace.

“Within a hundred miles, this is the most prosperous place. The city’s population numbers at least several hundred thousand, and thanks to its location, merchants from all over gather here. The city is lively beyond compare.”

Hearing his words, the group couldn’t help but admire Zeng Shushu’s breadth of knowledge.

As the others chatted, Qian Mo glanced at the sky and said, “Xueqi, it’s getting late. Let’s spend the night here and continue our journey tomorrow.”

Lu Xueqi smiled gently. Qian Mo leaned in to whisper something in her ear—whatever he said, it brought a rare blush to her usually cool, flawless cheeks.

Entering the city, the group’s white robes drew little attention, but Lu Xueqi’s beauty made a stir in Heyang—passersby couldn’t help but stop and stare.

Qian Mo looked at Lu Xueqi. Though her expression was cold, her eyes flashed with anger. He patted her shoulder gently, saying, “It’s only natural for people to admire beauty.”

Hearing this, the anger in Lu Xueqi’s eyes faded, a testament to her remarkable self-control.

Soon, Zeng Shushu, familiar with the city, found them a renowned inn and handled all the arrangements with evident enjoyment.

He did not disappoint: after negotiating with the innkeeper, a servant led them to the finest quarters in the rear garden.

The inn, named “Abyssal Sea,” was large and well-appointed. The rear garden held four separate courtyards; they were given the western one, each with their own room.

After a short rest, a servant summoned them to dinner in the main dining hall.

The inn’s restaurant was located on the bustling central avenue of Heyang City, but the third-floor VIP room was quiet and well-insulated—Qian Mo noticed traces of a formation in the corners, explaining the excellent soundproofing.

Clearly, the Abyssal Sea Inn was not as simple as it appeared. To thrive in Heyang City, it must have powerful backing.

The spacious hall held fewer than ten tables; about five were occupied. Zeng Shushu, apparently a regular, called a servant over and ordered several dishes with practiced ease.

Qian Mo was quite satisfied with the surroundings—far more luxurious than the austere life atop Qingyun Mountain.

On their way up, they had passed the opulent second floor, while the third was even more resplendent: carved dragons and painted phoenixes, redwood beams, all exuding an ancient elegance.

The five found a table by the window. Zhang Xiaofan glanced at the decor and exclaimed, “Shushu, a night here can’t be cheap. Do we have enough savings?”

Zeng Shushu grinned, “This is Heyang’s most famous inn, of course it’s not cheap. But our Qingyun Sect is well respected here—the owner welcomes us and will certainly give us a discount.”

Zhang Xiaofan nodded but glanced around nervously; after all, their savings were limited.

Soon, a servant brought out several freshly cooked side dishes, and finally a plate of stewed fish—the aroma alone was enough to make their mouths water.

Qian Mo, a gourmand, was picky about food, especially since he had once enjoyed the finest delicacies on earth, while at Qingyun he’d had only porridge and bread. Even game from the wilds lacked true flavor.

Faced with such delicious fare, he could not help but be tempted. When he had first arrived in this world, he had never stopped at Heyang City; had he known of such a place, he would have made frequent trips.

Zhang Xiaofan, always interested in cooking, had prepared all the meals for his fellow disciples on Bamboo Peak. He had never seen the fish on this table, and could not resist asking, “Young man, what kind of fish is this, and how is it prepared?”

Knowing these guests were distinguished, the servant answered respectfully, “Sir, you have a discerning eye. This ‘Stewed Mei Fish’ is our inn’s signature dish—fragrant, tender, with a sweet taste. It’s famous throughout a hundred miles of Heyang.”

Hearing this, the group didn’t hesitate; they picked up their chopsticks and took a bite, then closed their eyes in delight:

“The flesh is delicious, and perfectly cooked. There’s a hint of sweetness—some sugar, perhaps—and ginger to remove any fishy odor. There’s a fresh scallion aroma, surely from new shoots. Most impressive is how the pepper, five-spice, and sesame oil are balanced. Truly remarkable!”

Zhang Xiaofan looked enraptured. Zeng Shushu and Lin Jingyu were left speechless, while Lu Xueqi’s expression turned a bit odd. Qian Mo laughed, “On Bamboo Peak, Xiaofan handles all the meals—he’s quite gifted in the kitchen.”

The servant, full of admiration, exclaimed, “Sir, you are a true connoisseur!”

Zhang Xiaofan, slightly embarrassed, coughed and put down his chopsticks before asking, “Young man, where does this Mei Fish come from?”

Before the servant could reply, a woman’s voice rose from the next table: “The Mei Fish is native to the Zhugou Mountains in the south, a thousand miles from here. How could you possibly serve it here? Are you trying to deceive your guests?”

The group was startled and turned to look. At the next table sat eight people—six men in yellow robes and two women. One woman wore a pale violet dress and a gauzy veil, concealing her features, yet her exposed skin was fair as snow.

The other, who had just spoken, looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in green, with delicate features, fine brows, snowy skin, and bright, lively eyes—a beauty almost rivaling the celestial Lu Xueqi.

After speaking, the green-clad girl’s gaze fell on Lu Xueqi, clearly struck by her beauty.

Women are naturally drawn to beauty, and even Lu Xueqi, usually as cold as ice, couldn’t help but take a second look at the girl in green.

At this, the servant smiled apologetically, “Miss, you are correct that a hundred years ago this fish was found only in the southern Zhugou Mountains. But later, Master Dao Xuan of Qingyun Sect brought it back from his travels and released it in the Hongchuan River behind Qingyun Mountain. It has thrived and flourished there ever since.”

As he spoke, his face took on an expression of deep reverence. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to Master Dao Xuan—it is only thanks to him that we may enjoy such delicacies.”

The disciples of Qingyun Sect beamed with pride, but the young woman simply exchanged a glance with her veiled companion, then sat back with a cold snort.

As he sat at the table, Qian Mo drank his wine in one gulp, a faint smile on his lips. He could see at a glance that the green-clad girl was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, while the veiled woman beside her was at the seventh level of Golden Core.

Apart from himself, there was not a single person on the third floor who could match that woman’s strength. Then his gaze fell on a small, faintly glowing flower on the green-clad girl’s finger. He paused—could it be… the Sorrowful Flower?

Noticing his unconcealed stare, the girl in green glared back fiercely. Lu Xueqi, too, sensed something amiss and, beneath the table, pinched him hard on the waist.

Qian Mo sucked in a sharp breath, quickly averting his gaze, his lips twitching—a reminder that young ladies are not to be trifled with.

“Qian Mo, what’s wrong?” Zhang Xiaofan asked in puzzlement.

Qian Mo forced a laugh. “This Mei Fish is simply too delicious—I couldn’t help myself, truly.”

(End of chapter)