Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 145 - 144: Master and Disciple Team Up to Deceive the Master's Wife

In Shang Miaoyan's private garden, within the Yin Yang Sacred Land.

Fan Ya, dressed in a slim, purple qipao, patiently watered the Spiritual Flowers and Exotic Herbs with a Glazed Water Pot. This place was less the Holy Daughter's flowerbed and more Fan Ya's own.

After all, the Holy Daughter's interest in anything—or anyone—besides Pei Yuhang was always fleeting. Whenever she found some exotic flower or herb in the Cultivation Realm, she would bring it back, only to grow tired of it within a day and dump it all on her personal maid, Fan Ya, to manage.

"I was only at the Xuanyuan Dao Sect for a few months. Did you all miss me this much?"

Fan Ya stroked the flowers and grasses clinging to her fair insteps. Having gained a nascent spirituality, the plants trembled happily at her touch.

A smile graced Fan Ya's lips at the sight.

She could have easily used Magic to handle tasks like watering and fertilizing the Holy Daughter's garden, but that would just be a meaningless, mechanical chore. Fan Ya much preferred personally nurturing these flowers and grasses, watching them grow large and beautiful.

It was an incredibly fulfilling task.

Only after making a full round of watering the flowerbed did Fan Ya stand up and turn around. She then noticed a woman in black in the shadows of a corner of the garden, and there was no telling how long she had been watching her work.

The woman was tall, her long legs razor-straight and sharp. She wore a black mask adorned with the pattern of nine deep-red lotus petals.

This was the insignia of the Red Lotus Guard, a secret unit of death-sworn soldiers formed by the Holy Daughter. The more lotus petals on the mask, the higher the soldier's status. This person's mask had nine red lotus petals, indicating she was highly valued by Shang Miaoyan.

"The Holy Daughter will emerge from seclusion to face her Celestial Tribulation in half a month at the latest."

Seeing Fan Ya turn back, the woman known as "Jiu Lian" spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Fan Ya showed no surprise, nor any sign of worry.

It was merely the Divinity Transformation Celestial Tribulation. For the brilliantly talented Holy Daughter, who had completed her Dao Heart and deepened her comprehension with Pei Yuhang's help, there would be no surprises.

"What do I need to do?"

"The Holy Daughter wants you to prepare. After she overcomes her Celestial Tribulation, she will immediately depart for the Xuanyuan Dao Sect... She plans to live there long-term, so she asks that you, Fan Ya Fairy, put everything in the Saintess Hall in order."

As for why she had to hide her identity and live in another Sect long-term, rather than remaining the all-powerful Holy Daughter in the Yin Yang Sacred Land, both women knew the reason without needing to ask.

It was simply not a topic for subordinates like them to discuss in private.

Those who couldn't control their tongues, or who harbored any improper thoughts about the Holy Daughter's private treasure... their fates were never pleasant.

...

...

"Haaa... Today, I will finally return to the Divinity Transformation realm."

Pei Yuhang slowly opened his eyes. The grass beneath him stirred, though there was no wind, and bowed in unison.

"Master, are you going to face the Celestial Tribulation now?"

Qing Yueqiu's voice came from behind. In her heart, her Master was the most powerful Sword Cultivator, so a mere Celestial Tribulation should be trivial. Still, she couldn't stop the worry and anxiety from bubbling up inside.

"Yes. If I'm quick, I should be back in about four hours. I'm leaving the Cold Palace Sword Mansion in your hands until then."

Pei Yuhang looked at his first disciple, feeling assured.

He had only told Qing Yueqiu about his decision to undergo the Celestial Tribulation, not even his Dao Companion.

He knew that Liyuan still suffered nightmares about her own fatal Thunder Tribulation. Knowing that he was about to face his would only add to her worries. She would be powerless to help and it would only cause her more pain.

Therefore, Pei Yuhang had hidden the matter from his Dao Companion.

The White-clothed Sword Immortal thought of his Dao Companion, who was still sound asleep, and a gentle smile touched his lips. He stepped onto his Spirit Sword, slowly rose into the air, and after one last glance back at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, he drifted away.

Qing Yueqiu gazed after her Master's shrinking figure until it vanished completely from sight, then murmured to herself.

"Please, come back safely, Master."

...

...

Pei Yuhang arrived at a mountain range he had chosen in advance, deciding this was where he would face his Thunder Tribulation.

In truth, most Cultivators chose to face their tribulations in places like mountain ranges, where earth-element Spiritual Qi was dense. After all, earth countered lightning, and the mountainous terrain could weaken the power of a Thunder Tribulation and reduce its scale to some extent.

Back when Ye Liyuan underwent her tribulation, she had been too reckless. After her Dao Heart's enlightenment, she gave no thought to anything else, single-mindedly focused on breaking through to a higher realm. She flew directly into the clouds to face the Celestial Tribulation head-on, which led to the subsequent tragedy.

If only Ye Liyuan had been able to discuss a strategy with Pei Yuhang before her tribulation. Perhaps then, even when facing the calamitous Blood Evil Tribulation Thunder, the outcome would have been vastly different...

But what was past was past. Pei Yuhang could only treat it as a cautionary tale and ensure such a disaster would never again befall someone he cared about.

"Bai Jingjing, are you ready?"

"Ready. It's just an electric shock. It's probably less stimulating than your flaming wax play."

"?"

'My Sword Spirit seems to have gone off the rails after being roasted by my Pure Yang Fire Qi,' Pei Yuhang thought. He had even worried for a time that the sword's body had overheated and fried her brain...

"Behave yourself. I'm about to start Crossing the Tribulation."

"I'm always serious, okay?"

"A Sword Spirit is not allowed to talk back to her master!"

"..."

While bickering with his Sword Spirit, Pei Yuhang activated the Grand Array he had set up in the mountains. In an instant, the mountains surged, and countless rocks were pulverized into dust by a torrent of Sword Qi, which Pei Yuhang then sent into the clouds with a wave of his hand.

When the Thunder Tribulation began to coalesce, this earthen dust would be able to greatly interfere with the lightning's power.

Once he confirmed that all was ready, Pei Yuhang's mind jolted. The sound of shattering shackles exploded in his Sea of Consciousness. In an instant, he felt like an unplugged drain in a pool, frantically siphoning the tidal wave of the world's Spiritual Qi.

Simultaneously, the entire sky was instantly devoured by black clouds. Oppressive and roiling, the clouds surged like a dark ocean, threatening to crash down upon the earth at any moment.

「In the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.」

Ye Liyuan was startled awake by the distant peal of thunder. Like a frightened animal seeking security, she subconsciously reached out to hug the man beside her.

But her arms found only empty air.

"Ah Han? Ah Han, where did you go?"

She threw off the thin blanket and scanned the empty room, growing anxious like a child who can't find their parents. As the thunder rumbled in the distance, her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and Qing Yueqiu entered.

"Mistress, Master just informed me that he went out to bring you some Spirit Fruits. He said he'll be back soon."

Hearing this, Ye Liyuan's anxious heart finally settled. Her face then flushed red with embarrassment for panicking in front of a junior. She rubbed her nose and stammered, trying to save a little face.

"Um... Yueqiu, you didn't have to explain. It's fine. I'm a grown woman, not a child... Your Master can go wherever he pleases. It's not like I care..."

"..."

'Mistress is surprisingly childish.' It was the first time Qing Yueqiu had seen this adorable side of her, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

As Ye Liyuan continued, she felt she was only fooling herself. Her pretty face grew redder and redder, and her voice trailed off until it was barely a whisper, inaudible even to herself.

An awkward silence filled the room.

"Mistress, Master told me to go practice my sword..."

"Oh, right! You should go."

As Qing Yueqiu left the room, Ye Liyuan let out a whimper and buried her face in her pillow, hugging it as she rolled around on the bed.

"AHHH—That was so embarrassing! My image as a cold and aloof Female Sword Immortal is completely ruined!"