Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 300 298: Ji Xichan: Qing Yueqiu, You're Seducing Master! How Dare You Face Your Shiniang?

RUMBLE—

A low rumble of thunder rolled in from the horizon, like the roar of an ancient beast, piercing through layers of clouds and fog to reach the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

Ji Xichan's eyes flew open, a flicker of shock and doubt in their depths.

'Such a powerful aura... Is this the Golden Sky Divine Thunder?'

She murmured to herself, her voice laced with disbelief.

The young woman walked to the window lattice and looked toward the distant, cloud-shrouded sky. She could faintly make out streaks of golden lightning darting through the clouds, like golden dragons churning in the Cloud Sea.

'There wasn't this much of a commotion even when I was Crossing the Tribulation. Doesn't this mean Qing Yueqiu is even stronger than me? How is that possible!'

Her voice trailed off, a hint of unease and indignation creeping into her tone.

'On what grounds could Qing Yueqiu's talent surpass hers? She was the Chosen One, blessed by the Goddess Statue!'

Just then, Yu Gu Nan, who was standing to the side, suddenly raised her head. Her gaze was like lightning as she stared fixedly at the sky.

A fiery meteor streaked across the sky, leaving a long trail of flames as it shot like an extraterrestrial meteorite toward the sea of lightning.

"Oh no, Master has gone over."

A solemn expression crossed Yu Gu Nan's pretty face, her brow furrowing as if coated with a layer of frost.

'Why would Pei Yuhang rush over at a time like this? Could he be trying to save Qing Yueqiu from the Celestial Tribulation?'

'What on earth is Master thinking!'

'Doesn't he know how terrifying the backlash is for intruding on someone else's Celestial Tribulation? Wasn't the lesson he learned when something happened to Ye Liyuan enough?!'

"Has Pei Yuhang lost his mind?"

Seeing Pei Yuhang fly over, Ji Xichan hastily used Sword Control to rise into the air, intending to intercept him.

"Pei Yuhang, stop right there!"

Ji Xichan's voice echoed in the wind, laced with anxiety and fury.

Her long hair whipped about in the fierce wind and her robes fluttered, but she couldn't match Pei Yuhang's speed at all. She could only watch as he grew more and more distant.

Just like in the past, he remained an untouchable phantom.

"Damn it! Are you that determined to die with Qing Yueqiu?"

Ji Xichan clenched her teeth, a flash of resentment and anger in her eyes. She gripped the corner of her robe so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She wasn't a Sword Cultivator, after all. There was no way she could catch up to Pei Yuhang's Sword Control. For now, she could only clench her teeth and curse him under her breath.

But she couldn't just stand by and watch Pei Yuhang be buried with Qing Yueqiu in the divine lightning.

If Qing Yueqiu were struck by the divine lightning until her soul scattered, Ji Xichan wouldn't care in the slightest. Not only would she feel no sorrow, she would even applaud.

But Pei Yuhang couldn't be allowed to die in vain. She had worked so hard for so long, and a beautiful life of love was beckoning to her just ahead. How could she stop here?!

She formed a Dharma Seal with her hands, a faint black light glowing at her fingertips.

Innumerable Crow Demon Spirits flew from her sleeves, circling in the air like a black torrent.

They weaved and spiraled in the air, gradually converging behind Ji Xichan to form a pair of black wings that blotted out the sun.

The moment the black wings unfurled, Ji Xichan's aura surged dramatically.

'I have to make it in time... As long as I'm there, not even the Celestial Tribulation can harm you!'

With that thought, Ji Xichan beat her black wings. With a sharp sonic boom, the great wings propelled her straight in pursuit.

The surrounding environment receded rapidly. Just as Ji Xichan was about to approach the sea of lightning clouds, a wave of blood-colored sword light, powerful enough to make even her heart palpitate, erupted from within and shredded the surrounding clouds.

'What's going on? Has Pei Yuhang already made his move? No, his Sword Qi definitely doesn't carry such terrifying killing intent!'

Ji Xichan raised her large Black Raven wings to protect herself, bracing against the aftershocks of the Sword Qi tide.

Within this piercing, Blood-colored Sword Qi, she keenly detected traces of Moonlight Essence.

Her beautiful eyes widened as she seemed to realize something.

'The source of this Sword Qi is Qing Yueqiu. She's already successfully broken through to Divinity Transformation!'

'She withstood the Golden Sky Divine Thunder all on her own, without any external help!'

'How did she suddenly become so strong?'

An inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in Ji Xichan. She remembered the unconcealed killing intent in Qing Yueqiu's crimson eyes every time they met.

In the past, she hadn't paid it any mind, even feeling secretly pleased. 'So what if you can't stand me? You can't hurt me, and you can't drive me away. So I'll just stay right here in your home and take your beloved master for myself!'

This inexplicable thrill was exceptionally addictive for Ji Xichan. It felt like revenge for Pei Yuhang not choosing her as his disciple back then.

'Look, Pei Yuhang! This is the disciple you chose!'

'A weak woman. I'm right here taking you for myself, and she can't do a thing about it!'

But now...

Ji Xichan had a feeling that these good days were about to end.

'Damn it. Could Qing Yueqiu have obtained some sort of opportunity in the Kunlun Mountain Secret Realm?'

Ji Xichan gritted her teeth and, after the Sword Qi dissipated, quickly flew over.

After parting the clouds before her, the sight that met her eyes made them widen, her pupils reflecting the two figures pressed tightly together.

It felt as if a giant boulder was crushing her chest, and her breathing became ragged.

"Qing Yueqiu, what are you doing with your master?!"

Ji Xichan's voice was cold and sharp, like a sword piercing the beautiful atmosphere of the master and disciple's embrace.

Ji Xichan's harsh voice made the intimately close master and disciple freeze simultaneously.

Panic flashed in Pei Yuhang's eyes, and he instinctively tried to pull away.

But Qing Yueqiu, as if declaring her sovereignty, hugged Pei Yuhang even tighter. She nuzzled his earlobe, which bore her bite mark, a triumphant smile on her face.

"Ji Xichan, are you blind? Can't you see I'm getting close with my master? What are you doing, shamelessly interrupting our good time?"

Qing Yueqiu's voice was icy and mocking. Her gaze fell challengingly on Ji Xichan, a flicker of disdain in her eyes.

At the same time, her fingertips slipped gently inside Pei Yuhang's collar... as if deliberately provoking Ji Xichan!

"You! How dare you!"

Ji Xichan's voice suddenly shot up, clearly incensed.

"You shameless little hussy! Seducing your master in broad daylight, aren't you afraid your master's wife, Ye Liyuan, will find out?!"

Her pupils burned with raging flames as she stared daggers at Qing Yueqiu's pretty, smiling face.

Evidently, even at this moment, she hadn't completely lost her reason and turned into a shrew who could only curse and scream.

She knew she had no official standing. If she were to argue openly with Qing Yueqiu, Pei Yuhang would certainly not take her side—after all, she was no saint herself.

But now, she had brought up Pei Yuhang's official Dao Companion, judging Qing Yueqiu from the moral high ground. Even if Pei Yuhang wanted to be biased, he would have nothing to say!

"You have the nerve to bring up Master's wife?"

But upon hearing this, Qing Yueqiu showed none of the fear a mistress might feel when confronted by the main wife. Instead, the corner of her lips curled into a sarcastic smile.

"Ji Xichan, you shameless woman, after what you did to Master, you're the one least qualified to mention his wife!

Do you really dare tell her about this? When the time comes, the first one to be kicked out of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion will be you, the outsider!"

Qing Yueqiu's voice was cold and mocking, as if to say, 'How ridiculous of you to try and use Ye Liyuan to pressure me!'

"You—"

Ji Xichan was at a loss for words. Although Qing Yueqiu hadn't spelled it out, she knew that the other woman was fully aware of what had happened between her and Pei Yuhang.

'But how is that possible?'

'How could she know about what happened between me and Pei Yuhang? There's no way he would have told her himself...'

Ji Xichan's confusion was not answered by Qing Yueqiu.

Her crimson eyes were now filled with mockery, as if she were enjoying Ji Xichan's anger and helplessness.

"Pei Yuhang, are you just going to let her act so recklessly?"

Unable to answer Qing Yueqiu's words and powerless to refute them, Ji Xichan could only look to Pei Yuhang.

She hoped he would recognize the difference in their statuses—hers and Qing Yueqiu's—and not take that forbidden step.

"Master, don't pay any attention to this crazy woman. If you want to find the Mirage Dragon to save me, you don't necessarily need her. Yueqiu has a way to find it."

Qing Yueqiu inhaled Pei Yuhang's pleasant scent and thought to herself, 'I can contact Bei Lingyin and use Yama Hall's information network to find the Mirage Dragon. That way, I can kick this annoying woman away from Master's side for good!'

"Alright... both of you, stop arguing for now."

Just then, Pei Yuhang's voice rang out.

He looked at Ji Xichan and said coolly:

"Ji Xichan, I know how to handle matters concerning Yueqiu. I don't need you, an outsider, to tell me what to do."

Hearing this, Ji Xichan's heart turned bitter, and the light in her eyes instantly dimmed.

Qing Yueqiu, however, was filled with sweetness. She hummed softly and, as if to flaunt it in front of Ji Xichan, hugged Pei Yuhang even tighter.

But Pei Yuhang's next words made the silver-haired girl's pretty face fall.

"Yueqiu, please try to be less prejudiced against Ji Xichan from now on. We still have to find the Mirage Dragon together. Hunting an Ancient Strange Beast of that caliber is no child's play. If there's discord within the team, it's no different from suicide."

"Master, your disciple actually has a way..."

Qing Yueqiu was anxious, on the verge of revealing the information about Bei Lingyin, but Pei Yuhang's words cut her off.

"That's enough, Yueqiu. Let's leave it at that... If you don't want to talk to Ji Xichan, you can stay with me on the road."

'Stay with Master...'

Qing Yueqiu's mind went blank for a moment, as if imagining many sweet, indescribable things. A crimson blush instantly spread across her pretty face.

All thoughts of Ji Xichan were instantly thrown to the back of her mind.

"Okay, Yueqiu will listen to whatever Master says."

Qing Yueqiu lowered her head and whispered from within Pei Yuhang's embrace.

When Ji Xichan saw this, she felt as if a bitter melon was stuck in her throat. Even her breaths were sour and bitter.

'It hurts. It hurts so much!'

'Are this damn couple using the search for the Mirage Dragon as an excuse to go on a honeymoon?!'

"I don't agree! Men and women should keep their distance, and you're master and disciple. How can you stay together?!"

However, Ji Xichan's opinion was unimportant, and no one paid it any mind.

Pei Yuhang merely glanced at her, then sent a voice transmission:

"If you don't behave, then Yueqiu and I will go by ourselves. You can pull together another team to search for the Mirage Dragon!"

"..."

Ji Xichan heard this and wanted to cry but had no tears.

'Why? I was the one who proposed the plan to hunt the Demon, so why am I the outsider now? Waaah~~'