61: Chapter 61 Peach Blossoms Fall from the Sky, Fairy Couple

[There is another big event recently.]

[News of the Wen Xin Hall Branch opening an altar to teach the Dao has been spreading in Yan City for three days.]

[It is said that a female cultivator of the Gu Zhen Realm, at the invitation of the Wen Xin Hall Branch, will be explaining the Great Dao of Dual Cultivation to cultivators.]

["Brother Chu! Dual cultivation!"]

[Qian Youcai tugged at Chu Sheng's sleeve, his eyes shining, "Dual cultivation is great, you have to learn dual cultivation! If we happen to learn some real skills, it would be worth it for a lifetime!"]

[Chu Sheng's mouth twitched: "Young Master Qian, are you sure you're going to learn skills, and not to see the fairy?"]

[Qian Youcai said righteously: "A fair lady is a gentleman's desire! Besides, does looking at a fairy conflict with learning skills? It does not!"]

[Chu Sheng was speechless.]

[So the next day, the two mixed into the crowd and entered the Dao Inquiry Palace.]

[The Dao arena was set up in the martial arts field of the Wen Xin Hall Branch, with thousands of people sitting in a dense crowd.]

[Chu Sheng took a glance and found that most of those who came were young cultivators, with men accounting for 70% and women for 30%.]

[Each one had eager eyes, like fledglings waiting to be fed.]

["She's here, she's here!" Qian Youcai poked him excitedly.]

[A figure descended from the sky and landed on the Dao platform.]

[It was a woman who looked about thirty years old, dressed in a plain white Daoist robe, with black hair like a waterfall, and features that were delicate and otherworldly.]

[She just stood there quietly, making it impossible for people to look away.]

[The aura of the Gu Zhen Realm was restrained perfectly, but occasionally a trace leaked out, like a mountain pressing down, making people dare not act presumptuously.]

["I am Cloud Sunset."]

[She spoke, like a clear spring flowing over stones, "Today's Dao lecture is called Dual Cultivation. Do you all know what Dual Cultivation is?"]

[The audience immediately became lively.]

["The harmony of Yin and Yang, the intersection of Heaven and Earth!"]

["Men and women cultivating together, complementing and helping each other!"]

["Heh heh heh, this seat thinks it is a technique of plucking and supplementing!"]

[Fairy Yunxia smiled slightly and shook her head.]

["Those who dual cultivate, it is not plucking and supplementing, nor is it lewd joy, but Dao companions with one heart, together witnessing the Great Dao."]

["One plus one is greater than two, Yin and Yang complement each other, mutually achieving. If one only covets the pleasure of the flesh, how is it different from a beast?"]

[As her voice fell, many people in the audience showed disappointment.]

[Qian Youcai's face fell directly, like a deflated ball.]

["Boring, boring," he muttered, "I thought I could learn some real things, but this is it?"]

[Chu Sheng held back his laughter and continued listening to the lecture.]

[An hour later, the lecture ended. People dispersed one after another, and just as Chu Sheng was about to get up, he was stopped by a voice transmission.]

["That young friend in green, please stay."]

[Chu Sheng was taken aback and looked back.]

[Fairy Yunxia was looking at him, nodding slightly.]

Chu Sheng watched this scene, his eyes narrowing.

"There is something wrong with this female immortal. Out of thousands of people, she didn't call anyone else, but chose me; there must be something fishy."

[The crowd dispersed, and Fairy Yunxia walked up to him and sized him up.]

["Your name is Chu Sheng?"]

[Chu Sheng's heart jumped: "Senior, do you know me?"]

[Fairy Yunxia didn't answer, but reached into her sleeve, took out a jade pendant, and handed it to him to see.]

[The style of that jade pendant was exactly the same as the crown princes token in his arms.]

["I recognize Li Chunfeng's token."]

["I am his... old friend."]

Chu Sheng was stunned.

Old friend?

He remembered the weathered face of the Old Man of the Pavilion Guard, and remembered the words he had spoken.

This female immortal, as cold and aloof as a fairy, with him...

["The Sixteen Swords of Yan Yun he taught you, how is your practice?" the female immortal asked.]

["Small success."]

["Demonstrate it for me to see."]

[Chu Sheng stood up, drew his qing feng sword, and demonstrated the Sixteen Swords of Yan Yun from beginning to end.]

[The sword light was like clouds, the sword momentum like wind, every move and stance was smooth and flowing.]

[The female immortal watched, her eyes becoming softer and softer.]

["Good," she nodded, "better than he used to use it back then."]

[Chu Sheng sheathed his sword and sat back down.]

[The female immortal was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and untied the jade hairpin holding her hair.]

[Her black hair, like a waterfall, cascaded down.]

[Chu Sheng was stunned.]

["You..."]

[While combing her long hair with her fingers, the female immortal said calmly: "Li Chunfeng owes me a debt of affection. He said that if he died, he would let his disciple repay it."]

[She looked at Chu Sheng, her gaze calm and frank.]

["Are you willing to bear this debt?"]

Chu Sheng's mind went blank.

Bear the debt? How to bear it?

He looked at the female immortal's face, whose age could not be guessed.

What is this for?

I'm only at Qi Guiding Rank 8, and she's at the Gu Zhen Realm; this gap is just too big!

"This... what kind of immortal peach blossom is this? Did the Old Man of the Pavilion Guard leave this trick before he died?"

["What are you thinking about?"]

[The female immortal suddenly smiled, her smile carrying a hint of mischief, "I am already an old bag of bones, could I possibly eat you up?"]

[She said softly, "He sent me a message saying he had taken a disciple and asked me to look after him a little."]

[Chu Sheng was stunned.]

[Her tone was calm, but Chu Sheng heard a trace of melancholy.]

["He went to the Tianfeng Kingdom and was gone for twenty years. I stayed in the Yan Kingdom, guarding the Wen Xin Hall Branch, waiting for him to return."]

[She paused and gave a wry smile.]

["What I waited for was the news of his death."]

Chu Sheng was silent.

This is another woman delayed by Li Chunfeng.

That old man, the debts he owed are truly not few.

["He is dead, I cannot ignore his disciple." Fairy Yunxia put away the jade pendant and looked at him.]

["I know about you working undercover in the Qian Family. Walking on the tip of a knife, a slight carelessness and you are doomed forever."]

[Chu Sheng's heart shook.]

[She knows? How does she know?]

["Don't be nervous." Fairy Yunxia waved her hand, "I am the crown prince's person."]

[Chu Sheng's pupils contracted slightly.]

[The crown prince's person?]

[Doesn't the Wen Xin Hall Branch not interfere in state affairs?]

["They don't interfere on the surface, but privately..."]

[Fairy Yunxia smiled, "There must be some inclination."]

[She paused and looked at him seriously.]

["After thinking it over, I decided to find you a helper."]

[Chu Sheng was bewildered: "A helper?"]

["I have a disciple named Yue Jianli, twenty years old, at the Ninth Grade of Qi Induction."]

[As Fairy Yunxia spoke, she took out a hair ribbon and began to tie her hair.]

["She is also beautiful and has a gentle temperament. If you are willing, you can become Dao companions with her."]

[Chu Sheng almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.]

["Se-Senior?" he stammered, "This... this is too sudden, right?"]

[Fairy Yunxia tied her hair and looked at him: "Why? Not willing?"]

[Triggering key choice: How to respond to Fairy Yunxia's proposal?]

[1. Agree to become Dao companions. Directly bound, gaining the Wen Xin Hall background and a Ninth Grade of Qi Induction helper, but the emotional foundation is zero.]

[2. Politely decline. Use having a wife as an excuse to refuse, remaining single, but possibly missing out on an important helper.]

[3. Try getting along first. Agree to spend time together, cultivate feelings, and do not rush to become Dao companions. A safe compromise.]

Chu Sheng looked at these three options and fell into deep thought.

"Agree? Too hasty. Feelings, that kind of thing, a twisted melon is not sweet."

"Refuse? That would be a fool. Yue Jianli is Ninth Grade of Qi Induction, with a Wen Xin Hall background; this kind of helper couldn't be found even with a lantern."

"Try getting along first... this is good. There is buffer space, and also the possibility of development."

[Chu Sheng took a deep breath and made his choice.]

["Senior's kindness, this junior accepts with gratitude."]

[He cupped his hands and said, "It's just that this junior already has a wife; rashly becoming Dao companions would be unfair to her. Could we... spend some time together first?"]

[Fairy Yunxia looked at him for a while and suddenly smiled.]

["You are quite honest."]

[She nodded, "That's fine. Matters of the heart cannot be forced. Then let's just get along for now; when the time is right, then we will become Dao companions."]

[She took a jade slip from her bosom and handed it to him.]

["This is Yue Jianli's residence. Go find her tomorrow and get to know each other."]

[Chu Sheng took the jade slip and thanked her solemnly.]

[Fairy Yunxia waved her hand, turned and left, looking at him meaningfully.]

["Kid, you are lucky. That girl Yue Jianli, not just anyone can be worthy of her."]

[After speaking, she floated away.]

[The next day, Chu Sheng found Yue Jianli's residence.]

[It was an elegant bamboo house.]

[He just walked to the door, and the bamboo door opened automatically.]

["Please come in." A gentle, soft voice came from inside.]

[Chu Sheng took a deep breath and stepped inside.]

[The bamboo house was simple; by the window was a woman in white, with her back to him, her black hair like a waterfall, her figure graceful.]

[She turned around.]

[It was a delicate and beautiful face, with gentle eyebrows and eyes, and skin like congealed fat.]

[The moon-white Daoist robe set off her otherworldly temperament, making her look like she had walked out of a painting.]

["Greetings, Young Master Chu." She bowed slightly, her voice soft and sweet.]

[Chu Sheng hurriedly returned the salute: "Greetings, Miss Yue."]

[The two looked at each other, both a little embarrassed.]

[After a moment of silence, Yue Jianli spoke first: "Master said, let me and Young Master Chu... get along for a period of time."]

["If Young Master doesn't mind, feel free to come and sit often. I am quite good at making tea, and my zither playing is barely listenable."]

["Miss Yue is too polite." He smiled, "Then I will trouble you from now on."]

[Chu Sheng often went to the bamboo house.]

[The two drank tea, chatted, discussed the Dao, and occasionally sparred with swords.]

[Yue Jianli was at Ninth Grade of Qi Induction, Chu Sheng at Qi Guiding Rank 8, and theoretically the gap was not small.]

[But Chu Sheng had the Sword Saint trait blessing, and his Sixteen Swords of Yan Yun were used to the peak of perfection, actually able to fight back and forth with her.]

[The two fought for hundreds of rounds, and in the end, Chu Sheng narrowly won by half a move.]

[Yue Jianli lost, but was not angry, "Young Master's sword technique is exquisite, Jieli admires it."]

[Chu Sheng sheathed his sword and smiled: "Miss Yue was letting me win."]

[Yue Jianli shook her head: "I did not let you win. Young Master's sword intent is indeed above mine."]

[She paused and said softly: "Master was right, you are someone who can be entrusted."]

[Chu Sheng was taken aback and looked at her.]

[Yue Jianli had already turned to make tea.]

Chu Sheng watched this scene, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"It's only been a few days, and we've already developed feelings for each other? This girl Yue Jianli is indeed not bad. Gentle and generous, not pretentious, and has good taste."

He suddenly thought of a problem.

"How is the Qian Family doing lately?"

[Returning to the Qian Residence.]

[Chu Sheng keenly discovered that the atmosphere in the Qian Residence had been wrong lately.]

[There were more people.]

[Every day there were strange faces entering and leaving the Qian Residence, at least at Late Stage Yin Qi, mostly at Condensing True Essence.]

[Second Master Qian's study was brightly lit every night.]

[The Family Head's carriage ran to the Qian Residence every few days.]

["Black clouds press down on the city, the city is about to crumble."]

[Chu Sheng stood in his own courtyard, gazing at the lights deep in the Qian Residence, murmuring.]

It seems that the storm is coming soon.