118: Chapter 117 Qin Wan is kidnapped

Several Late Golden Core Stage Elders had gone to inquire about the price, but for some unknown reason, they all eventually returned in disappointment.

Some guessed the price was too high, others suspected the Shenduan Sect had no intention of selling at all, and still others claimed the Medicinal Pill was reserved for another purpose and was only being displayed for show.

Yun Ming did not join the excitement.

He stayed obediently in his Immortal Cave, keeping Qin Wan company, Cultivating, and occasionally visiting Sikong Gu to exchange Alchemy insights. His days were leisurely and comfortable.

Until this day.

Yun Ming was returning from Sikong Gu's place, still pondering the Pill Formula they had just discussed. Sikong Gu said that the refining of the jinyuan pill could be further optimized; if one could master that knack, the success rate could be increased by at least twenty percent.

He walked while thinking and unknowingly arrived at his own doorstep.

He pushed open the door.

"Mother, I'm back."

No one responded.

Yun Ming thought Qin Wan was in the inner room, so he walked further inside.

"Mother?"

Still no response.

He paused, his Divine Sense sweeping through the entire Immortal Cave—

It was empty.

Qin Wan was not there.

Yun Ming frowned slightly and searched the area again. The food in the kitchen was still warm, as if it had just been prepared. The clothes drying in the courtyard hadn't been brought in, and there were no signs of watering in the garden of Spiritual Plants.

Everything was normal, except the person was missing.

He stood where he was, a faint sense of unease rising in his heart.

Yun Ming said nothing.

He turned and left the house, his Divine Sense spreading out to cover a radius of several miles.

Nothing.

Still nothing.

It was as if Qin Wan had vanished into thin air.

Yun Ming stood at the door, looking at the empty courtyard, his heart sinking bit by bit.

Just then, a Shenduan Sect Disciple landed in front of Yun Ming.

The Disciple was dressed in the standard blue-gray Daoist robe of the Shenduan Sect and had a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation. His attitude was respectful as he cupped his hands toward Yun Ming: "May I ask if you are Immortal Master Ming Yun?"

Yun Ming frowned slightly. He was just about to go out and search for Qin Wan when he was blocked at the door by this person, making him feel quite impatient.

"What is it?"

The Disciple said, "Perfected Yueling requests your presence. In a dense forest on the north side of the Qingxuan Sect, Perfected Yueling has prepared a modest feast and invites Immortal Master Ming Yun to the appointment."

Without even thinking, Yun Ming directly refused: "I'm not going. I have matters to attend to at home. Tell Perfected Yueling that I cannot accompany her."

He moved to leave.

However, the Disciple remained in place and added, "Perfected Yueling said that if the Immortal Master is looking for someone, she has clues."

Yun Ming's footsteps paused.

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the Disciple's face. The Disciple felt uncomfortable under his stare and subconsciously took half a step back.

"What did you say?"

The Disciple braced himself and said, "Perfected Yueling said... that the Immortal Master is looking for someone, and she has clues."

Yun Ming's expression instantly turned grim.

Looking for someone.

Qin Wan had just gone missing, and Jiang Yueling had sent someone to deliver a message saying she had clues.

How could there be such a coincidence?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his heart and not erupting on the spot. He waved his hand at the Disciple: "I understand. You may leave."

As if granted a great reprieve, the Disciple hurriedly took his leave and departed.

Yun Ming stood where he was, watching the Disciple disappear at the end of his vision, his face terrifyingly dark.

He couldn't understand what this Young Miss was trying to do. Was it for another match? Or was it because of what happened last time that she held a grudge and wanted to take it out on his family?

Anger burned in his chest, making it ache, but he forced himself to calm down.

Rushing over to question her now would be useless. Fighting would be even worse. She was the beloved Disciple of a Nascent Soul True Lord; if he touched her, True Lord Qingyue would not let him go. Even if he were in the right, in the face of absolute strength, reason meant nothing.

He had to go see the situation first.

Without alerting anyone, Yun Ming took to his escape light and flew toward the north side of the Qingxuan Sect.

Along the way, his mind raced.

Should he use the Fuli Heaven-Concealing Record to sneak in and rescue Qin Wan first?

No.

That place was not far from the Shenduan Sect's Battleship, and True Lord Qingyue's Divine Sense could sweep through at any time. Having suffered a loss at the Cangxuan Immortal Sect before, he would first see what this Young Miss was actually up to this time.

The northern dense forest grew closer and closer.

Yun Ming slowed down, his Divine Sense quietly probing forward.

Soon, he found them.

In an open area where the surrounding trees had been cleared, a table was set in the center. On the table were several dishes of food, a wine pot, and cups; it truly looked like she was hosting someone.

Jiang Yueling sat alone at the table.

Today, she had changed into a long dress that was simpler than her previous purple one, making her look less sharp and more like a gentle young girl. However, she was clearly distracted, poking at the dishes with her chopsticks without taking a single bite for a long time.

And not far behind her—

Qin Wan was standing there, holding a teapot.

Her expression was dazed and her eyes were empty, completely oblivious to her surroundings. If someone called her, she would move; if no one called her, she would stand quietly like a marionette.

Yun Ming's heart suddenly tightened.

He no longer hesitated, accelerating his escape light and landing directly in the clearing.

Jiang Yueling looked up, and upon seeing him, a hint of joy actually appeared on her face.

"You've come." She put down her chopsticks. "Sit and eat."

Yun Ming ignored her.

He quickly walked to Qin Wan's side, pulled her behind him, and sent his Divine Sense into her to check her condition thoroughly.

After finishing the inspection and confirming that Qin Wan's life was not in immediate danger, Yun Ming turned around to face Jiang Yueling.

His gaze was terrifyingly cold.

"Perfected Yueling, what is your intention in kidnapping my mother for no reason?"

Facing his questioning, Jiang Yueling showed no sign of guilt. Instead, she curled her lip and spoke as casually as if she were commenting on the weather:

"I want to have another match with you."

Yun Ming laughed out of sheer anger.

He took a deep breath, trying his best to remain calm: "If you want to compete, just say so. Why kidnap my mother?"

Jiang Yueling looked at him seriously: "If I just said it, would you fight me seriously? Last time, to save face for me and the Shenduan Sect, you intentionally lost to me. Did you think I didn't know?"

She stood up, walked to Qin Wan's side, and waved her hand in front of her face. Qin Wan's eyes remained dull, showing no reaction.

"I placed a Curse Seal on her. Deep within her Divine Soul. Don't worry, this Curse Seal won't harm her; it just puts her into a state similar to sleepwalking where she is completely obedient to the caster." Jiang Yueling's tone was flat, as if she were talking about a trivial matter. "And right now, she is obedient to me. If you intentionally go easy on me and lose this time—"

She paused, looking at Yun Ming with a slight curl of her lips:

"I will have her commit suicide right in front of you."

Yun Ming's pupils constricted.

"Of course," Jiang Yueling continued, "you can also choose to prioritize the big picture, not offend the Shenduan Sect, and not care about her life. Then you can just go back now and pretend you never came."

After she finished speaking, she returned to the table, sat down, picked up her wine cup, and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Yun Ming stood there, looking at that young and proud face and the certain light in her eyes, remaining silent for a long time.

Then he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"Undo the Curse Seal," he said. "I will fight you."

Jiang Yueling's eyes lit up as she put down her wine cup: "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Good." Jiang Yueling stood up. "As long as you defeat me, I will undo her curse."

Yun Ming: "I hope you are a person of your word."

"I swear in the name of the Shenduan Sect."

Yun Ming nodded without speaking. He raised his hand and gently pulled Qin Wan to the side, letting her sit against a tree. Qin Wan's eyes remained empty, and she gave no reaction.

Yun Ming turned to face Jiang Yueling.

"Come."

However, Jiang Yueling shook her head and pointed to the food on the table: "Eat first. I had people prepare this all morning; it would be a waste not to eat."

Yun Ming didn't even glance at the dishes.

"No need. The food at home is still warm."