Having witnessed the brutal fights among Nascent Soul cultivators over the piece of skin on her arm, Bao Gu knew all too well that flaunting her treasures would only lead to a fate worse than death. Seeking external help by using her treasures would only result in throwing herself into the tiger’s den. With Xuan Tian Sect’s current strength insufficient to protect her, staying in Qing Feng Pavilion posed a constant danger.
Thus, her only option was to seek external forces to divert the attention of those eyeing her. After some thought, Bao Gu softly uttered four words: “Nanshan Yijian.”
Yu Mi was startled and exclaimed, “That mad beggar?” She frowned, “Is that wise? His mind is unclear, and he doesn’t even resist when people throw him into the river. How can he protect you?” She added with a slight frown, “Besides, personally, I’d rather he not be disturbed.” It was out of sympathy.
Bao Gu said, “Sister, please invite Master Feng over.” She found the acting sect leader rather slippery and felt Master Feng was somewhat more reliable. Since Master Feng was from the same peak as the acting sect leader and had a close relationship with him, he could somewhat speak on behalf of the acting sect leader. Being well-acquainted with Pavilion Master Lu of Qing Feng Pavilion, inviting him was the most appropriate.
Yu Mi pondered and couldn’t figure out what Bao Gu was planning. She said, “You have Master Feng’s communication bell. Please invite him over.”
Bao Gu left the courtyard, crushed the communication bell given by Master Feng, and waited for him in the house.
After about half a cup of tea’s time, Master Feng’s voice calling from the courtyard gate could be heard.
Bao Gu rushed to open the door and saw Master Feng standing anxiously at the entrance, with a solemn-faced Pavilion Master Lu behind him.
Seeing Bao Gu safe and sound, Master Feng heaved a sigh of relief, then immediately became angry, “You’re safe and sound, so why ring the bell?”
Pavilion Master Lu also secretly relieved, looked at Bao Gu and Yu Mi with displeasure.
After Yu Mi greeted them with a bow, she invited the two men inside.
Master Feng asked Yu Mi, “What’s the matter for calling me here?”
Yu Mi replied, “Master Feng, it’s Bao Gu who’s looking for you,” and quickly moved aside to serve tea obediently.
Bao Gu stood in the room, looking at Master Feng, and said, “Master, I heard from Sister that Tai Yin Sect has been after the treasure on me and might make a move at any time, is that true?”
Master Feng glared at Yu Mi and said, “Nonsense! You can stay here peacefully; no one can touch you!”
Pavilion Master Lu played with his folding fan, glancing at Yu Mi indifferently.
Yu Mi kept her gaze down, pretending to see and hear nothing.
Bao Gu let out a long “Oh” and said, “Since it’s nothing, then forget it. Master Feng, sorry for troubling you for nothing.”
Master Feng sternly said, “Speak directly if you have something to say.”
Bao Gu waved her delicate little hand and said, “Since Tai Yin Sect isn’t targeting me, let’s not make a move. It’s fine, it’s fine, hehe!” She laughed a bit nervously.
Pavilion Master Lu spoke softly, “Bao Gu, you’re staying under my care, and I will protect you at all costs. Tai Yin Sect and Xuan Tian Sect have been at odds for a long time. If you have a way to help our sect, feel free to tell Master Feng.”
Master Feng stared at Bao Gu as if to say, “I know all your tricks, just spit it out!”
Bao Gu softly said, “Master Feng, well, I was thinking, if Tai Yin Sect really pressures us and we don’t want to engage in a sect war, could we ask Nanshan Yijian for help? I’ve met him once and think he’s a good person. He even showed us the way when we got lost coming to Xuan Yue Ancient City.”
Master Feng and Pavilion Master Lu stared at Bao Gu as if they’d seen a ghost, then looked at Yu Mi.
Master Feng asked, “Do you know Nanshan Yijian’s whereabouts? Really?” He suddenly stood up, “Was it you who spread the news about Nanshan Yijian at the entrance of Xuan Yue Ancient City the day you arrived?”
Bao Gu whispered, “I accidentally let it slip!”
Master Feng cursed, “Nonsense! I’ve turned Nanshan upside down and couldn’t find him.” Not just him, nearly a thousand cultivators had searched Nanshan without finding Nanshan Yijian.
Pavilion Master Lu stood up excitedly, “Where is he?”
Bao Gu replied, “Nanshan.”
“Where in Nanshan?”
Bao Gu remained silent.
Pavilion Master Lu looked at Yu Mi.
Yu Mi pointed at Bao Gu.
Master Feng thought for a moment and asked Bao Gu, “You called me here to tell us about Nanshan Yijian, what do you want to do?”
Bao Gu puffed her cheeks and said, “Invite him to stay in our small courtyard. I want to see if Tai Yin Sect dares to come after me!”
Yu Mi silently praised, “Bao Gu is domineering!”
Master Feng wanted to slap Bao Gu, “Do you think Nanshan Yijian is your relative?” Then he thought about how even the ancestral Duobao Spirit Monkey followed Bao Gu and swallowed his words, not wanting to embarrass himself.
Pavilion Master Lu was shocked speechless. After a long pause, he loudly said, “Good! Bao Gu, if you can invite Senior Nanshan to Qing Feng Pavilion, you will be our great benefactor! Qing Feng Pavilion will spare no effort to repay you!”
Master Feng wanted to smack Bao Gu! “You’re inviting him to Qing Feng Pavilion? Why not invite him to Xuan Tian Sect?”
Bao Gu said, “Pavilion Master Lu, I need to clarify something first! If I invite Nanshan Yijian here, you can’t blame me!”
Pavilion Master Lu smiled, “I’m grateful, why would I blame you?” He thought, “Could there be something amiss? If it’s a good thing, why not invite him to Xuan Tian Sect?”
Master Feng said, “Hold on! Bao Gu, clarify the situation. I and Brother Lu are sworn brothers; you can’t trick him!”
Bao Gu thought, “Master, you’re really turning your elbow out!” She said, “Nanshan Yijian’s situation is a bit different from what you imagine.”
Master Feng said, “Stop beating around the bush, speak plainly.”
Bao Gu said, “I can only say, inviting Nanshan Yijian to Qing Feng Pavilion won’t harm the pavilion, but inviting him to Xuan Tian Sect won’t benefit the sect. I just want to borrow his protection for a few months from being targeted.” She bowed, “Whether to invite him or not, please decide, Master Feng and Pavilion Master Lu.”
Pavilion Master Lu thought for a moment, then turned to Master Feng, “Brother Feng, if Bao Gu really knows Nanshan Yijian’s whereabouts and can invite him to Qing Feng Pavilion, let’s invite him first. We can discuss further matters later.”
Master Feng hesitated slightly, then nodded, “Okay!” He looked at Yu Mi, “How did you encounter Nanshan Yijian?”
Yu Mi replied, “Master, your teleportation array was unstable. We exited the void early, encountered many Nascent Soul cultivators in a melee, avoided the chaos, got lost in the mountains, and accidentally met him.”
So many people in the cultivation world have been searching for so many years and couldn’t find him, but you two got lost and accidentally met him?
Yu Mi, knowing what Pavilion Master Lu and Master Feng were thinking, added mischievously, “I originally wanted to avoid him, but Bao Gu, not recognizing the great mountain, insisted on approaching.”
Bao Gu said, “Sister, I thought he looked pitiful.”
Pavilion Master Lu and Master Feng were speechless at the sisters’ story, hardly able to listen.
Master Feng said, “Give me the coordinates, we’ll go through the teleportation array.”
Yu Mi, having measured the distance on foot from where they encountered Nanshan Yijian, knew the area like the back of her hand.
Pavilion Master Lu led them to Qing Feng Pavilion’s teleportation array.
To prevent other cultivation sects’ spies in Qing Feng Pavilion from tracking them through the array, Yu Mi first set a coordinate on the edge of Nanshan. Once they arrived, she had Master Feng provide another teleportation array platform, and they teleported to the small town.
It was the dead of winter, and the snow in the town was more than a foot thick.
There were almost no pedestrians on the street.
Even the shops had thick curtains down to block the wind and snow.
Yu Mi and Bao Gu arrived at the inn where they first encountered Nanshan Yijian.
The inn’s curtain was down, and the inn was quiet without a sound.
Under the eaves outside the inn, a shivering old beggar in tattered cotton clothes, with white hair covering his face, curled up, holding a frozen steamed bun.
Master Feng scanned the small town with his divine sense, “I’ve been to this town several times and haven’t detected any trace. Could Nanshan Yijian be here?”
Pavilion Master Lu had also searched here! The town was filled with ordinary residents, not a single cultivator or even a martial artist to be found.
Bao Gu said, “Master Feng, Pavilion Master Lu, he’s on this street. You look.” She and Yu Mi headed straight for the inn.
The two searched every household on the street with their divine sense but found no trace of Nanshan Yijian.
Pavilion Master Lu laughed, “Brother Feng, stop searching. Nanshan Yijian’s skills are profound; if he wishes to hide, we couldn’t possibly find him!” He pointed at the inn Yu Mi and Bao Gu were heading towards, “Perhaps he’s in the inn!” He straightened his clothes, ready to meet the senior.
Master Feng also straightened his clothes and walked to the inn’s entrance.
Master Feng and Pavilion Master Lu stood neatly outside, ignoring the curled-up old beggar at the door, and bowed towards the inn, “Xuan Tian Sect’s Feng Yi greets Senior Nanshan!”
“Qing Feng Pavilion’s Lu Teng greets Senior Nanshan!”
The inn’s curtain was pulled aside, and the innkeeper looked at the two men with a puzzled face, “Where are you gentlemen from? Staying at the inn?” Seeing their extraordinary demeanor and that they weren’t wearing cotton clothes in the cold, he suddenly slapped his thigh, “Oh, could you be immortals? Please come in, immortals, come in! Girl, we have immortals visiting, brew some tea! Come greet the immortals!” He hurriedly lifted the curtain to welcome the two immortals inside.
Master Feng said, “Innkeeper, we’re here to visit Senior Nanshan.”
The innkeeper was taken aback, “Senior Nanshan? Are you here to visit the mountain god? I understand, immortals visiting friends. Immortals, the mountain god’s temple is on the hill at the east end of the village. Let me lead you!” Excitedly walking out, “Mountain god, divine spirit, ever since two Female Immortals arrived, we often see immortals flying in the sky! Those two Female Immortals are good people, ah, no, good Female Immortals, kind-hearted!” He respectfully led the two immortals towards Nanshan’s mountain god temple, not daring to lift his head, catching a glimpse of two more immortals standing outside, he bowed without raising his head, “There are two more immortals, I pay my respects to the immortals.”
Yu Mi and Bao Gu looked at each other, neither saying a word, watching as Master Feng and Pavilion Master Lu were respectfully led away by the innkeeper.
