Chapter 48

I’m baaaaack

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Although Qu Panyan had become the wife of the Sect Master of Xianmeng Sect, her life remained unchanged. Every day, she was urged by her wife, Su Lingyu, to fuse the Golden Core and spiritual energy as if she wouldn’t spare her unless she completely crossed the Minor Heavenly Punishment.

The fusion place was either in the tea pavilion or her own room, never in Su Lingyu’s room. Once it was time to rest in the evening, Su Lingyu would return to her room leaving her behind without any intention of taking her with her.

Qu Panyan, who had just gotten married and was now living separately, couldn’t help but wonder whether Dao companions in the cultivation world truly counted as a married couple. If they were, then why weren’t they spending their bridal chamber night together?

Was it her with over-eagerness and impure thoughts, or was Su Lingyu too indifferent? But which indifferent person would still kiss and caress someone so affectionately until they were weak in the knees?!

Qu Panyan couldn’t figure it out and didn’t want to think negatively, so she could only assume that Su Lingyu was deliberately doing this to allow her to focus on the fusion process.

Within ten days, she successfully completed the fusion of her Golden Core and spiritual energy, smoothly passing the Minor Heavenly Punishment. The feeling of being able to control the spiritual energy at will was something she had truly missed. The Fire Bell Silk fluttered around her, ringing incessantly, portraying a lively and adorable scene.

Qu Panyan raised her hand, and the lively Fire Bell Silk obediently flew into her sleeve, calming down gradually.

She turned around and smiled at Su Lingyu, like a flower field that suddenly bloomed on a bald mountain. She then quickly walked towards her, threw herself into her embrace, and softly asked, “I’ve passed the Minor Heavenly Punishment, don’t you have any reward for me, Sister Lingyu?”

Su Lingyu supported her waist, tenderly embraced her, and lowered her gaze to meet her twinkling star-like eyes, then she asked with a gentle and affectionate tone, “What reward does Yan’er want?”

Qu Panyan held up two fingers, replying. “I want two things.”

Su Lingyu nodded, “Okay.”

Qu Panyan continued, “The first one: I’d like to ask Elder Chayue to help me with the divination about the location where the Divine Beast will descend.”

She wasn’t sure if Qu Muqiu would inform her and Qu Changye of the Divine Beast’s location in advance, so as a member of the Qu family, she had to be prepared with a back-up plan—the operation to obstruct the descent of Heavenly Fire and kill A Yiduo must not proceed without her, Qu Panyan’s involvement!

Su Lingyu responded, “But this depends on fate.”

Since it’s a Divine Beast, it’s the incarnation of celestial beings, the embodiment of Heaven’s Will. Even the accomplished Elder Chayue, who was skilled in divination would need an indescribable amount of fate to peer into Heaven’s Will with mortal eyes. While she could ask Elder Chayue for help, there’s no guarantee that he would be able to divine it for her.

Qu Panyan smiled, “How would we know if Elder Chayue can or cannot attain this fate without giving it a try?”

Su Lingyu understood and pinched her cheek while saying, “Alright, sister Lingyu promises you.”

Qu Panyan nodded contentedly, a hint of joy apparent in her eyebrows as she continued, “As for the second reward, it’s to let me go down the mountain for training together with Second Miss Kang.”

The disciples of the Xianmeng Sect had reached the training period, and the disciples who were going down the mountain had already chosen their tasks yesterday. They were preparing today and would officially go down the mountain tomorrow.

Qu Panyan remembered Qu Muqiu’s instructions before leaving and wanted to get involved by following Kang Congshuang. Although she didn’t know what kind of task Kang Congshuang had chosen, she could take care of her if she fell ill.

Moreover, her wife was the Sect Master, Su Lingyu. With just a wave of her hand, she could directly insert her into Kang Congshuang’s team.

Su Lingyu frowned slightly, “Although Muqiu told you to take care of Congshuang, you don’t need to go with her for the training; especially since you don’t need to train.”

With her protection, how she wanted to spend her life didn’t matter at all.

Qu Panyan held her hand and pressed her face into her palm, looking at her wife with a gentle gaze. “I’ve been sheltered and nurtured by the Qu family for more than twenty years. I should do something for the Qu family.”

Gaining support from the Kang family and obstructing A Yiduo’s fusion were things she knew and could do right now.

She added, “Besides, training is a good thing; It can broaden my horizons, improve myself, and make me more worthy of my sister Lingyu.”

Su Lingyu was slightly taken aback, but then she smiled lovingly and kissed her gently on the forehead. “There’s no need to go through so much trouble. As long as you’re Qu Panyan, it’s enough.”

Su Lingyu then asked, “Yan’er, did you tell Lou Wuhua about us becoming Dao companions?”

Qu Panyan nodded earnestly. Lou Wuhua was the biggest supporter of their relationship, and she owed a lot to her. Naturally, she deserved to know about it.

Su Lingyu fell into silence: “…”

No wonder she received Lou Wuhua’s sound transmission yesterday, which was full of “Ha” characters, there were hundreds of them, floating in her divine sense, giving her a headache, as if she could hear Lou Wuhua’s arrogant laughters from Cangnan Sect even in the Xianmeng Sect.

Fortunately, Qu Panyan was not Lou Wuhua’s direct disciple; otherwise, she would have been teased for a lifetime…

Her laughter might even reach the Heaven Gate.

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Originally, Kang Congshuang’s training team had only four people including her, but now…

“Second Miss Kang, please enlighten me.”

One more imposing presence—The Sect Master’s wife, Qu Panyan.

Kang Congshuang returned the courtesy, “No need to be so polite, Sect Master’s wife.”

Hearing that, Qu Panyan felt extremely delighted. Sect Master’s wife, these three words sounded so pleasant. It was a hundred times better than being called Third Miss Qu.

The other disciples had never seen Qu Panyan before, and they were hesitant to talk to her due to her distinguished status. They could only stand aside, secretly admiring her with eyes full of envy—the Sect Master’s wife was truly beautiful and blessed.

Although some disciples might not approve of same-sex love, they remained silent out of respect.

With the preparations completed, they set off.

Yue Xiaomeng finally had the opportunity to meet Qu Panyan. She quickly pushed through the crowd and walked side by side with her, saying excitedly, “Qu Panyan! No, it’s not right, Martial Aunt! No, it should be the Sect Master’s wife!”

Qu Panyan was surprised to see her there, “You’re also going down the mountain for training?”

Yue Xiaomeng’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Yes! Master said I should go train outside!”

Qu Panyan nodded understandingly and then asked, “Oh, I see. What task did you choose then?”

Yue Xiaomeng replied, “There’s a small town near the Xianmeng Sect where it’s said that creepy ghosts have been appearing lately. They linger and won’t leave. I’m going to catch them and deal with them on the spot!”

Qu Panyan looked at her, contemplating in silence, and then sized her up. Her expression carried a faint sense of concern. She suddenly recalled the first time she met Yue Xiaomeng.

The little girl who covered her eyes in fear at the sight of the tattered skin and flesh was now going down the mountain to catch ghosts?

“Aren’t you scared?” Qu Panyan asked.

Yue Xiaomeng firmly said, “I’m not afraid! I can do it!”

Qu Panyan: “…”

She sighed and couldn’t help pinching her slightly chubby little cheek, advising her, “Be careful in everything, don’t be careless. Go for it, good disciple, uh uhm… good grand-disciple?”

At this moment, she realized just how confusing her identity had become. To Su Lingyu, she was both a direct disciple and a Dao companion; to Yue Xiaomeng, she was both Martial Aunt and Grand Martial Aunt; to Elder Changxing, she was both Junior Sister and Martial Aunt.

Yue Xiaomeng also paused for a moment, shaking her head softly, and said in a low voice, “That won’t do, I’m not qualified to call you Grand Martial Aunt yet…”

Qu Panyan encouraged her, “Then perform well this time, and maybe when you come back, you’ll be able to call me that.”

She had complete trust in Qu Panyan, and now with the added identity of Grand Martial Aunt, Yue Xiaomeng couldn’t help but be filled with anticipation for the future. “If Martial Aunt says so, then I’ll work hard. Maybe I’ll also be able to call her Grand Master soon?”

She looked at Qu Panyan again, not sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that Qu Panyan seemed exceptionally radiant now, as if exuding an indescribable fragrance.

Qu Panyan noticed her burning gaze and turned her head to ask, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Yue Xiaomeng hesitated for a moment and finally asked, “You and the Sect Master…”

Qu Panyan replied confidently with four words, “In love and married.”

Yue Xiaomeng: “…?” So, the Sect Master is also attracted to women?

Qu Panyan teased, “What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you think I’ve caught some leverage on Sister Lingyu and forced her to become my Dao companion?”

Yue Xiaomeng: “Uh, well…” That reason does sound quite believable.

Qu Panyan found her reaction amusing and suddenly played along, “Yes, I’ve indeed caught her in a compromising position, so she had no choice but to become my Dao companion.” She raised the corner of her lips, looking devilishly charming. “Aren’t I naughty?”

Kang Congshuang, who was standing nearby, reminded her with an unchanged expression, “Be careful with your words.”

Yue Xiaomeng’s eyes suddenly widened and blurted out, “You’re lying to me!” before running back to her own team.

Qu Panyan smiled contentedly. She’s grown up; at least, she can tell when she’s being deceived.

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Kang Congshuang’s chosen task would take longer and cover a wider range, requiring her to visit multiple towns and villages.

Her mission was to catch a serial killer. Recently, several women had gone missing in various places, only to be found brutally murdered in the wilderness with their facial features mutilated—either missing eyes or noses. The killer’s method was extremely cruel; it seemed like the killer had dissected them while they were still alive, which was horrifying and chilling.

Due to the sinister nature of the killings, resembling some sort of sacrificial ritual, some people suspected it could be the work of cultivators. Hence, they sought help from major sects and aristocratic families.

Kang Congshuang chose this case out of her respect for life. The torment of the Inner Fire Disease had made everyone in the Kang family deeply aware of how fortunate it was to be alive—so those who disregarded life and cruelly harmed others would undoubtedly face divine retribution and a miserable end!

Since only one woman died in each location, they would immediately move on to the next place after investigating, hoping to solve the case and apprehend the culprit in the shortest possible time to prevent further innocent women from perishing.

Riding their flying swords and traveling through the heavens and earth, they quickly arrived at their first destination—Changhe Town.

Changhe Town was backed by continuous green mountains, with abundant resources and a peaceful, lively atmosphere. The residents were living harmonious and content lives, seemingly unaffected by the murder case. This was a common human nature—no matter how significant an event, life must go on.

However, before they could even find the location of the first household, they encountered trouble.

A young girl dressed as a warrior suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Qu Panyan, her eyes shining brightly as she said, “You’re so beautiful.”

“Marry me, okay?!”

Qu Panyan was shocked, both by her straightforwardness and the fact that there was a sixth person in their team.

—Su Lingyu, who had concealed her presence.

Young girl, you’ve walked into a disaster.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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