Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 69: Miaoyan Invites Peng Sword Immortal for a Drink Again

Pei Yuhang was indeed incredibly fast with his Sword Control. In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, he and Qing Yueqiu had crossed hundreds of Immortal Mountain Temples and Mansions, traveling from the edge of the Dao Sect's territory to its very heart.

Qing Yueqiu peered down from the flying sword and saw that the once rolling mountain ranges and high peaks had given way to a vast plain. At its center lay a great lake, so expansive it could be called an Inland Sea.

This was the largest lake within the Dao Sect, named the Hidden Immortal Sea.

Legend had it that a true Immortal was once buried in this lake, which was how it got the name "Hidden Immortal."

"Yueqiu, the Hidden Immortal Sea is a vital area of the Sect. From now on, you must not leave my side for even a moment."

"Yes, I understand."

Qing Yueqiu clutched Pei Yuhang's robes, feeling no resistance to this rule whatsoever.

'After all, having to stay by Master's side... for her, it was more of a reward...'

As Pei Yuhang descended on his sword, the two of them drew closer to the Hidden Immortal Sea. The lake's surface, which had been perfectly calm, suddenly began to ripple in dense, concentric circles.

An impossibly mythic scene unfolded before them.

The vast lake waters suddenly split apart. Bursts of purple, divine light pierced through the hazy mist, casting a violet-gold glow across the heavens.

Qing Yueqiu's lovely eyes widened. Even with her normally placid temperament, she was struck speechless at the sight of the lake parting to reveal a colossal, violet-gold divine tower from beneath its surface.

WHIRRR—

The Spirit Sword at Qing Yueqiu's waist began to tremble as if drawn by the divine tower. It started to slide from its scabbard, seemingly wanting to fly into the structure on its own.

Only when Pei Yuhang placed his palm over the hilt of Qing Yueqiu's Spirit Sword did the blade finally quiet down.

"Palace Master Pei, it's been a while. Hahaha."

An old Daoist with crane-white hair and a youthful complexion appeared, walking barefoot on the air. He approached Pei Yuhang step by step, as if climbing an invisible staircase.

"Elder Liu, my apologies for the wait."

Pei Yuhang and Qing Yueqiu bowed to Elder Liu.

In response to their formal greeting, Elder Liu simply chuckled and waved a hand, seeming like a freewheeling individual who paid little mind to rigid etiquette.

He glanced at the silver-haired girl standing respectfully behind Pei Yuhang, nodded, and said,

"This must be Palace Master Pei's prized disciple, I presume?"

"An Innate Sword Bone. She's an exceptional prospect for a Sword Cultivator and has already come quite far in her Sword Dao. It would be no disgrace for a sword from the Divine Sword Pavilion to fall into her hands. Excellent, excellent."

Elder Liu sized up Qing Yueqiu's Dao Practice with a single glance. After confirming that she was indeed a genius Sword Cultivator, he let out a subtle sigh of relief.

"Palace Master Pei, every second counts in Great Dao Cultivation. Now that I've manifested the Divine Sword Pavilion, why not have your disciple enter and retrieve her sword?"

Pei Yuhang, being rather thick-skinned, didn't agree immediately. He wanted to ask for more information about the Divine Sword Pavilion to give Qing Yueqiu an edge.

In response, Elder Liu simply said with an air of mystery,

"The Divine Sword Pavilion is itself a supreme treasure with spatial attributes. It contains a top-tier Grotto Heaven Secret Realm, and every Cultivator who enters will have a unique experience.

Since you are so concerned for your beloved disciple, Palace Master Pei, I will offer a single piece of advice."

"Within the Divine Sword Pavilion, the person chooses the sword, but the sword also chooses the person. As long as your disciple stays true to herself after entering, she is certain to be rewarded."

Elder Liu's words had already revealed a fair bit. Pei Yuhang was tactful enough not to press for more.

He had done everything he could to gain an advantage for his beloved disciple. The rest was up to Qing Yueqiu's own destiny.

He patted Qing Yueqiu's shoulder and offered her an encouraging smile.

"Go on, Yueqiu. Remember Elder Liu's words, and just try to relax."

"Mm."

Qing Yueqiu gave her master a solemn nod. She then took a simple, ancient bronze Token engraved with the insignia of the Divine Sword Pavilion from Elder Liu, transformed into a streak of light, and flew into the structure.

Pei Yuhang watched his first disciple's figure vanish, feeling an odd sensation, like a parent sending their child off to take college entrance exams. His heart couldn't help but rise to his throat.

'Yueqiu's luck has always been good. Nothing should go wrong… right?'

Once Qing Yueqiu's figure had vanished, Elder Liu turned to Pei Yuhang with a chuckle.

"Palace Master Pei, you can wait for your disciple to emerge on one of the pleasure boats on Hidden Immortal Lake."

"I've already prepared a first-class private room for you, Palace Master Pei. There's fine wine and rare delicacies inside to help you pass the time. The flow of time is different inside the Divine Sword Pavilion, so you should only have to wait for about an hour before your disciple emerges."

Pei Yuhang followed Elder Liu's gaze and saw that, about a hundred meters away on the lake's surface, a red vessel had appeared at some unknown time.

He could vaguely make out a beauty in a long green dress standing on its deck, holding a parasol and offering him a dazzling smile.

Pei Yuhang knew he would have to face her sooner or later, so he didn't refuse Elder Liu's "kind" arrangement.

...…

"Xiaohan, hurry and sit down. The wine I warmed up for you is about to get cold, you know."

"Demoness, how did you infiltrate the Xuanyuan Dao Sect? Besides Elder Liu, which other high-ranking Cultivators in the Sect are moles for your Yin Yang Sacred Land?"

Pei Yuhang did not sit as Shang Miaoyan suggested. His face was like ice as he stared into the crescent-moon eyes of the vixenish beauty before him. He was ready at any moment to have his sword, Silence, shatter the Transmission Token and signal an enemy invasion.

Stared at with such hostility, Shang Miaoyan sighed helplessly.

"Infiltrate? Oh, Xiaohan, you really get suspicious over the strangest things.~

Our Yin Yang Sacred Land and the Xuanyuan Dao Sect are like brother sects now. Why would we resort to such underhanded tactics as planting spies in each other's territory?

Don't forget, that Fountain of Youth you gave Sister Ye was a gift from your own Dao Sect's Sect Leader. Don't tell me… you think your Sect Leader is a spy planted by our Sacred Land? Hehehe~~"

As she spoke, Shang Miaoyan couldn't help but laugh at her own words. The neckline of her robes, stretched taut and unable to close completely, revealed a dazzling and deep expanse of milky-white cleavage.

However, this did little to dispel the White-clothed Sword Immortal's suspicions.

"Then why does Elder Liu obey you? He seems to know your true identity, and he's helping you!"

Shang Miaoyan took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye, wiping away a tear of laughter that may or may not have been genuine.

She stood, lifted the cup of now-cool wine to her lips, and blew a fragrant breath across its surface, instantly warming it again.

She offered the cup to Pei Yuhang's lips, playfully raising a perfect eyebrow as if to say, 'If you don't drink, I won't answer your question.'

The message was clear: if he wanted more answers, he would have to play by her rules.

Pei Yuhang hesitated before finally taking the cup and sipping the wine. However, he immediately used his Spiritual Qi to envelop the liquid in his throat, sealing it away. He didn't dare digest it, fearing Shang Miaoyan had drugged it.