Translator: Rize
Editor: Larkspur
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At the mention of Xuan Ling Sutra, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and looked away.
"I didn't learn it."
"Nonsense!" Daoist Feng Xuan spoke with excitement as he stared at Mu Yunjin. "Yesterday, you used a concentrated Qi method fundamental to the Xuan Ling Sutra. You can deceive others, but you can't fool me."
"Now speak, how did you master it?!"
Mu Yunjin sighed, this Daoist Feng Xuan is really quite excited. It made her feel a little uncomfortable. She couldn’t help the sarcastic reply. "Reading, learned it by reading!"
"Reading?" Daoist Feng Xuan stood up and approached Mu Yunjin. "The original Sutra reappears every day?"
"Old man, do you know this Sutra very well?" Mu Yunjin asked with a smile, evading his question.
The old Daoist sighed. "The original Sutra has been circulating for a long time. More than ten years ago, Kong Shi unexpectedly obtained it and it stayed with him. However, the people of Jianghu coveted this Sutra and went to Shui Yun Temple repeatedly to probe and provoke in vain. After Kong Shi's death, the location of the Sutra was unknown. Thus, the matter was settled by being left unsettled...."
"But you, at the end, where did you get it?"
Mu Yunjin crossed her arms and pouted. She realized that there was nothing to hide. She told the old Daoist about how Wen Yuan and Ming Yuan tried to snatch the Sutra.
"The Sutra, I had only scanned it over when Chu Li said it was not a good thing. So, I threw it in the Fu's Kitchen stove and burned it." Mu Yunjin stated.
Naturally, she did not tell him that she still had the drawings of the Xuan Ling Sutra on her cloak. After all, she was still not familiar with this old man and was oblivious to his true intention.
When Daoist Feng Xuan heard that she had burned the Sutra, his expression looked better but it soon turned heavy again as he asked, "You said you’ve scanned it, do you remember the form and styles inside?"
When Mu Yunjin heard the remark with deep meaning, she flattened her mouth before she replied. "Of course not, that's an exaggeration!"
"Hahaha, thinking about it, you damned girl, in what way do you have a big skill!" Daoist Feng Xuan stopped being serious and broke into a smile.
Mu Yunjin glared at him. "Didn't you say that you will teach me how to break the formation?"
"En, sit down first and concentrate your Qi. I'll take a look at the level of your martial arts foundation."
"If you don't disappoint me, I will recognize you as my disciple and successor and will teach you all my life skills so that it will be for you to continue...."
Mu Yunjin was startled, she looked at Daoist Feng Xuan closely and saw that he seemed a bit miserable. In his eyes, one could see unconcealable loneliness.
This old man is really strange.
♚♚♚
"Get rid of all distracting thoughts, let your Qi submerge your Dantian, then your heart and mind. Then, condense your true Qi..."
Mu Yunjin was sitting with crossed legs. Before her, stands the old Daoist with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth while repeating instructions, looking at her from time to time.
Mu Yunjin did as she was told, but she could not clear the distracting thoughts and her Qi was gushing up and down her body, unable to condense.
After some time, Daoist Feng Xuan sensed that Mu Yunjin seemed to be unable to concentrate, his face sank. "You are unable to concentrate today, I will not force you."
"I....." Mu Yunjin was a bit speechless. For a moment, she was unable to refute.
She stood up and looked at Daoist Feng Xuan. "Then I'll go back first, and properly think about this."
"En, go." Daoist Feng Xuan did not even bat an eyelid.
Upon leaving the thatched hut, Mu Yunjin looked around and walked a bit before spotting the parked black wooden carriage.
"Huangzifei, you're back so soon?" Ding Xian who was sitting outside the carriage looked distracted as he counted that only one shichen had passed.
"I was unable to get it so the old man asked me to leave and ponder it over." Mu Yunjin faintly replied as she pushed the carriage curtains and took a seat inside.
Ding Xian was stunned but did not speak, and only drove the carriage away.
On the road back, Mu Yunjin leaned against the carriage, closed her eyes and tried to calm herself, and mulled over the old Daoist’s words.
"Huangzifei, we're here."
Not knowing after how long, the carriage came to a full stop and Ding Xian's voice was heard from outside.
Mu Yunjin gave a sound of acknowledgment before stepping out of the carriage. The carriage had arrived in front of Lu Yin.
Mu Yunjin did not lift her head as she walked inside.
At the same time, at the doors of Flower Moon House across, stood Li Niang who was welcoming customers. She glimpsed a familiar side profile at Lu Yin and her smiling face froze.
♚♚♚
Mu Yunjin went to the second floor's private room. Upon opening the doors she saw Chu Li, sitting inside sipping tea.
Mu Yunjin went inside and took a seat and drank three cups of tea in succession. Afterward, she was gasping slightly.
"Why are you drinking so fast?" Chu Li saw that she seemed to be having difficulties and furrowed his eyebrows.
"It's too hot outside." Mu Yunjin wiped her mouth then reached out for some pastries and started eating.
Chu Li saw her being like this and looked at the time outside. He had some thoughts but he did not ask how it went today.
Chu Li did not ask, but Mu Yunjin herself brought it up. "What to do? I don't think I can learn how to break the formation."
"Don't worry." Chu Li had rarely heard Mu Yunjin say that she was unable to learn, he couldn’t help but smile.
"That old man seems to have some tricks." Mu Yunjin bit half of the pastry in her hand and was still chewing some as she spoke.
As they were talking, there was a knock and Ding Xian's voice followed from outside.
"Come in."
The door of the private room was pushed open and Ding Xian came in followed by a young servant girl.
The servant girl approached Chu Li and Mu Yunjin and curtsied. "Servant girl Tao Huai pays respect to His Highness Liu Huangzi, pays respect to Liu Huangzifei."
"You’re excused." Chu Li said, nonchalantly.
"This servant is under the orders of the City Lord to invite Liu Huangzi and Liu Huangzifei tonight to the City Lord's Fu to have dinner."
Hearing that Qu Xinyao was inviting them to dinner, Mu Yunjin was astonished. She thought that Chu Li had already agreed to this matter.
After Tao Huai left, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li. "Isn't that Qu Xinyao quite unreasonable? Inviting us to dinner, is she planning to deceive us?"
"Will not." Chu Li confidently replied.
Mu Yunjin wore an inquisitive look. "Is it possible that Qu Xinyao is relying on you to deal with some matter?"
Chu Li shook his head.
♚♚♚
Nightfall.
Chu Li and Mu Yunjin arrived outside Qu Fu. Stepping out of the carriage, Mu Yunjin looked at the dark sky and then at the lantern in Ding Xian's hand. She frowned.
"Ding Xian, take the lantern away, it is bright everywhere. If you carry a lantern it will draw suspicions." Mu Yunjin instructed.
Ding Xian was stunned, he looked towards his master and saw him nod.
Stepping into Qu Fu’s gates, Mu Yunjin moved close to Chu Li and whispered. "You should walk slowly, no matter what, I will protect you!"
After speaking the part about protecting, Mu Yunjin gave Chu Li a proud and crafty look but for a moment something flashed by between them..... Warmth.
Chu Li frowned, feeling a bit displeased. "Benhuangzi's leg is not broken."
"But you're blind......"
Mu Yunjin blurted out, then immediately covered her mouth in fear and cautiously looked towards Chu Li.
Chu Li's face turned heavy as he looked at Mu Yunjin. He gave a soft snort before brushing away his sleeves and quickening his pace.
"Ei, hey." Mu Yunjin chased after him.
Ding Xian, who was walking behind them, watched the scene and shook his head in amazement. Previously, his master had never evinced his anger or joy. Now, happy or not, everything showed on his face!
Some skills this Third Miss Mu has!
In the Front Hall, a gorgeous Qu Xinyao, as usual, was draped in red. Upon seeing Chu Li and Mu Yunjin enter the door, she did not hesitate to smile.
Mu Yunjin walked behind Chu Li, and upon entering the door, she saw Qu Xinyao wearing the plum blossom white jade hairpin on her hair.
Didn't she throw it away?
Could it be that...
She’d picked it up again...
Mu Yunjin suddenly twitched her mouth, then nodded in greeting.
At the dining table.
"Today, I am honored that Liu Huangzi and Liu Huangzifei came to my Fu to dine with me. I do not know if these dishes are to your liking?" Qu Xinyao looked at them.
Chu Li nodded and put his left hand under the table and lightly tugged at Mu Yunjin's clothes.
Mu Yunjin was busy eating and Chu Li’s tug caught her by surprise. She furrowed her brows and looked at Chu Li, but saw him looking elsewhere.
Mu Yunjin was momentarily dazed but quickly adapted. She looked at Qu Xinyao and smiled. "We've troubled City Lord Qu, we are the ones bothering you."
Qu Xinyao faintly smiled. "Then eat more, Tao Huai quickly pours wine for Liu Huangzi and Liu Huangzifei."
"Yes, My Lord."
Once the cups were filled, Qu Xinyao raised hers and drank some wine. She looked over at Chu Li. "Liu Huangzi, is it possible to tell Xinyao a few things about Xu Heyu?"
Mu Yunjin's gossipy nature was kindled yet again.
"What do you want to know?" Chu Li insipidly looked at Qu Xinyao.
"You know, for so many years he has been hiding from me, unwilling to see me. But from time to time, he sends me presents. I want to know why he is doing that." Qu Xinyao spoke as she reached out for the Plum blossom white jade hairpin on her head.
"This is only appropriate to ask him personally." Chu Li replied.
Qu Xinyao’s eyes flashed a trace of desolation. "If I could see him, why would I ask you? Nevermind, don't mention that heartless man."
Then, Qu Xinyao turned her gaze towards Mu Yunjin and smiled. "Liu Huangzifei, remember to hold on to your man firmly. In this world, there are good people and cheap people, don't let a cheap person fill any gaps between you."
"Oh, when I say cheap person, I am talking about the one surnamed Qin..."
♚♚♚
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