"Wait." A figure in a white dress emerged from behind ancient pines and strange rocks, stepping into the moonlight to follow Song Qianji.
"Fairy Miaoyan?!" Yuan Qingshi exclaimed in shock, then angrily demanded, "Did he kidnap you?"
Everyone had long known there was someone behind the rocks, and from the voice could tell it was a young female cultivator, but none had expected it to be Miaoyan.
No matter what happened, she shouldn't be here, with Song Qianji.
Song Qianji's footsteps didn't pause, showing no intention of turning back or waiting.
"I'm the one who kidnapped him," Miaoyan said coldly. "Step aside."
The Huawel Sect disciples exchanged uncertain glances, full of doubt and suspicion.
Was this really Miaoyan?
Miaoyan was perfect and noble—how could she speak like this?
Chen Hongzhu stood dazed. The world had turned upside down, and even Miaoyan had changed.
If the sect remained stagnant, clinging to its arrogance, it would surely pay the price.
Yuan Qingshi stared at Song Qianji's retreating back, gritting his teeth: "He's arrogant and rude, completely does not understand how to cherish." You're honored as the number one beauty under heaven—why follow someone like him?"
Miaoyan raised an eyebrow and let out a soft, mocking laugh: "Number one beauty? If you care so much, why don't you become one yourself?"
Her cold gaze felt like the final straw. Yuan Qingshi's face stung as blood rushed to his head. He shouted:
"Song Qianji! Don't get cocky! My master has broken through to the half-step Transformation Stage. All the major sects and families of the Western Sky Continent will launch a full-scale war against Thousand Canals!"
Chen Hongzhu's heart sank. She had obtained the "Huaw Micro Seal," preserving her orthodox status and no longer needing to fear expulsion from the sect, but she had been forced to break her oath and suffered the backlash.
But if her father was determined, how could she stop him?
Then they heard Song Qianji say: "You think I'm afraid?"
Contrary to his usual self, he looked at the moon and laughed.
This night had truly been long. Song Qianji had first dealt with sprites, pursued Wuxiang's doppelganger, then suppressed Chaos. Already wounded and battered, he had been taken away by Miaoyan using the Hengduan Comb.
And things weren't over yet—hearing people discuss how to kill him behind his back, then bidding farewell to the wheat field labor spirits.
A stifling pressure weighed on his heart, and he had to laugh out loud.
"Let him come!" Song Qianji waved his sleeve and declared clearly, "I'll be waiting!"
His torn robes fluttered as his figure moved swiftly, disappearing into the distance in moments.
Echoes reverberated through the mountains, the cold wind moaned as if sword energy crisscrossed back and forth.
The young disciples of "Little Huawel Sect" showed yearning in their eyes. Someone murmured:
"If they really fight, and we're still using the Huawel Sect name, which side should we help?"
"Of course we help King Song. King Song's courage touches the clouds. Having witnessed such a hero tonight makes venturing through the secret realm worthwhile."
"Ah, if I possessed Thousand Canals like him, with thousands answering my call, I wouldn't be afraid either."
Hearing this, Chen Hongzhu felt mixed emotions but lightly laughed:
"You've got the order wrong. First, you must be unafraid, then you can possess Thousand Canals."
When Song Qianji wasn't yet the King of Thousand Canals, but just an outer sect disciple of Huawel Sect, he had already feared nothing.
...
The long night was nearing its end, the moon's shadow sinking.
The faint light of dawn spilled over the horizon, forming a golden-red band that spread across the edge of the plains.
Under a sky mostly deep blue with a tipsy red tinge, five people stood facing each other, magical artifacts in hand.
They stood in waist-high wild grass, seemingly four people surrounding one, yet among those four, they were divided into two factions.
Each pair stood three zhang apart, close enough to hear voices and see expressions, ready to attack at any moment.
"Why are you alone?" He Qingqing asked coldly.Two golden lacewings fluttered around Miaoyan, their wings beating like dancing golden bells.
"So you caught up this quickly." Miaoyan glanced at He Qingqing's guiding lacewings. "When I gave you the 'Immortal Sound Token', you already planted 'Soul-Chasing Powder' on me? My intention to retire was genuine back then, why must you always take things to the extreme?!"
"Just leaving a backup plan, better safe than sorry. If you hadn't caused trouble tonight, I would never have used these lacewings." He Qingqing demanded, "Where is he?"
"I'm not telling you." Miaoyan showed no fear.
Her beautiful face was gilded with orange-gold by the morning sun, her lips curving into a dazzling smile.
"What evil sorcery have you used? Where have you hidden senior brother?" Meng Heze shouted.
Miaoyan smiled without answering, refusing to cooperate.
Furious, Meng Heze was stopped by a hand.
Wei Zhenyu said, "She can't harm Song Qianji. And with Song Qianji's movement speed, if he truly wants to leave, she can't keep up—only chase from behind."
First calming Meng Heze and He Qingqing, he turned to Miaoyan with a pleasant expression:
"Fairy Miaoyan, when we intercepted you, you were rushing with clear direction—apparently also pursuing someone. Could you please lead us to where Song Qianji went?"
Wei Zhenyu didn't know what had happened between He Qingqing and Miaoyan in the secret realm, nor what had occurred between Song Qianji (disguised as Song Xun) and Miaoyan.
But he excelled at reading people, able to deduce the unknown from subtle clues and complete the puzzle.
If He Qingqing could produce guiding lacewings and soul-chasing powder, her sect sister Miaoyan should possess similar methods.
Miaoyan's smile vanished: "I've long heard of the fearsome reputation of Northern Desert's Wei Wang. If I refuse to lead you, will you kill me?"
"The Cultivation World is full of rumors, you misunderstand me." Wei Zhenyu took a light step forward, his handsome features combined with gentle smile and focused gaze creating a highly deceptive impression. "I'm not with them. The two of us could cooperate."
Meng Heze stared in shock, turning his sword hilt: "Wei Ping, have you gone mad?!"
Ji Chen rushed forward: "Calm down! He's not called Wei Ping anymore!"
"Stay where you are!" Miaoyan remained highly vigilant, threatening Wei Zhenyu: "Or I'll crush my lacewing, and none of you will ever find him!"
Wei Zhenyu immediately stopped, signaling his harmlessness: "I suspect you took Song Qianji not with ill intent, but rather because you want to follow him, am I right? But your current identity is compromised before him, making it difficult to gain favor."
While speaking, he observed the changes in Miaoyan's eyes, continuing to tempt: "I have a small Cloud Shuttle. We can shake off these people together, you lead me to him. Leave the rest to me—I'll surely help you achieve your wish."
"Oh? Why should I believe you have such capability?" Miaoyan asked.
Wei Zhenyu looked sincere: "When I first met Song Qianji, I was an assassin sent to kill him. But through my performance, even knowing my assassin identity, he still kept me as his steward to manage his daily life. No matter how compromised your identity was before him, it couldn't be worse than an assassin's. Later when I left Thousand Canals, Song Qianji even disguised himself as Song Xun to help me... You see, I'm familiar with this situation and have successful experience. I'm your best partner."
Meng Heze's expression could no longer be described as shocked. He looked like he'd swallowed ten thousand pots of Song Qianji's noodles—the kind from before his cooking improved.
Did Wei Zhenyu have any shame left?
Ji Chen simply felt his mind going numb.How is it that the same matter, when spoken by Wei Zhenyu with a different phrasing, completely changes its meaning?
Suddenly, He Qingqing’s faint voice drifted over: “Be careful, Junior Sister Miaoyan. He isn’t helping you out of kindness—he just doesn’t want Song Qianji to see me first.”
Wei Zhenyu didn’t refute it: “Fairy He is astute.”
He Qingqing had known Meng Heze and Ji Chen before and shared some camaraderie with them. Under normal circumstances, these two wouldn’t abandon He Qingqing.
But Wei Zhenyu was unwilling.
With his intentions exposed and his covert tactics turned into an open scheme, he simply laid it all out:
“I’m not like Song Qianji, who only cares about his own little patch of land. At this critical moment, you’re rushing to find him for no other reason than to persuade him to join forces with you, leveraging the power of Thousand Canals to help you make a comeback. Am I right?”
He Qingqing replied coldly: “Wei Wang has extensive intelligence and numerous informants. The conflicts within the Celestial Sound Sect are hardly subtle, so of course, you’d know. But I’m not trying to use him—I’m proposing an alliance. If a war is inevitable in the Cultivation World, who can remain untouched? Who doesn’t need allies?”
Wei Zhenyu chuckled softly: “I’ve been in the secret realm, so news from the outside hasn’t reached me promptly. But when Fairy Miaoyan met you, the first thing she mentioned was the ‘Celestial Sound Order’ and ‘retirement.’ That’s how I confirmed that you had lost in the Celestial Sound Sect’s upheaval—and that Fairy Jiangyun had lost as well.”
He looked at He Qingqing with pity: “Fairy He, you’ve misunderstood Song Qianji. He has no desire to compete for victory, much less would he stake Thousand Canals to help someone else win.”
He Qingqing laughed: “Then do you know who gifted me my first zither and taught me my first song? Who is responsible for my achievements to this day?”
Wei Zhenyu sighed.
As his sigh faded, the morning sun leaped over the horizon, stretching his shadow long.
Standing against the light, his expression was indistinct:
“He was good to you in the past simply because he is a good person. He saves anyone he comes across—one or two, it makes no difference. Everyone thinks they’re special, but in what way are they truly different…”
He Qingqing’s expression shifted: “Shut up!”
But Wei Zhenyu continued: “Look at the lush greenery filling Song Courtyard—which plant hasn’t flourished under his temporary care? You’re so intelligent, Fairy; don’t misinterpret his kindness and indulge in wishful thinking.”
“You!” He Qingqing raised her hand in fury, a sharp glint flashing at her fingertips.
Wei Zhenyu smiled faintly, not evading, as if he hadn’t had time to dodge.
He Qingqing’s hand halted mid-air, then dropped abruptly. Furious, she laughed instead:
“You’re deliberately provoking me? You want me to injure you so you can play the victim in front of him. If you see him wounded, he’ll surely soften toward you and resent me for my cruelty. The mighty Wei Wang of the Northern Desert resorts to the tactics of a scheming housewife?!”
Hearing this, Meng Heze inexplicably perked up.
That familiar scent—the fragrant tea of Wei Ping’s antics was back!
Without resorting to mental transmission, he openly discussed with Ji Chen:
“Wei Ping is always scheming, best at currying favor in front of Senior Brother. He Qingqing and Miaoyan are no pushovers either. What are they really fighting over?”
“To be first,” Ji Chen said with double meaning.
Meng Heze thought for a moment: “Right, each of them has something to feel guilty about in front of Song Qianji. The situation is simple: whoever sees Senior Brother Song first gets to ‘state their case’ first. They can easily slander others and whitewash themselves, can’t they? Song Qianji has always been soft-hearted and kind—he might actually be deceived by them. Only the two of us have nothing to feel guilty about…”Ji Chen suddenly exclaimed, "Wait! Our own positions aren't any better now! Setting up the Entrapment Formation against Wei Zhenyu on the Red River, along with tormenting Zhao Ren—Senior Brother Song witnessed it all with his own eyes!"
Their personas as righteous young heroes and innocent youths had completely shattered.
Meng Heze gasped sharply and immediately turned his head:
"Fairy Miaoyan, this scoundrel Wei Ping is treacherous and suspicious, adept at killing the donkey after it's done grinding the grain. If you side with him, he'll only snatch your guiding firefly and push you off the Cloud Shuttle. You'd be better off cooperating with us!"
Miaoyan shot a glance their way: "Ji Bianxiu, you're the only honest man here. Why don't you step forward? I'll speak to you alone. Set up an Entrapment Formation to hold these people back!"
Ji Chen: "Ha, are you saying I'm the dumbest? If I step forward, you'll only mouth words without making a sound—you're trying to drive a wedge between me and Brother Meng! Unless you give me the firefly first to show your sincerity."
Miaoyan: "Wei Wang, your sword is the swiftest here. Why don't you kill He Qingqing first? Then I'll trust you, and we can leave together!"
Wei Zhenyu: "Fairy, you jest. If I strike, the moment we face Song Qianji, you'll be the first to accuse me!"
He Qingqing: "Meng Heze, Ji Chen! Our journey here was smooth all the way—this current mess is all Wei Wang's provocation. Why don't we join forces and subdue Wei Zhenyu first!"
Wei Zhenyu: "Ji Chen, what did you promise me before we came? Have you forgotten?"
Ji Chen: "Aren't you all exhausted thinking so fast? Is there no trust left between people at all?!"
The five of them spoke faster and faster, like a volley of ten thousand arrows.
Suddenly, they fell silent in unison, looking up at the sky:
"Song Qianji!"
"Senior Brother Song!"
"Brother Song!"
A familiar figure streaked across the sky like a shooting star.
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