And so, Yuan Heng nodded very earnestly. “Yes, indeed. I'm taking my little martial nephews out to travel and gain experience.”
“I see you still have business to attend to, Fellow Daoist, so we won't impose on you any longer~”
Time to slip away.
This Eastern Emperor Taiyi really was a casual character, speaking so freely about everything. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would end up knowing the entire hit list for the ambush on Fellow Daoist Hongyun like the back of her hand.
Yuan Heng wanted to leave with the two little ones, but in the next second, Taiyi stepped forward and blocked their path.
Two people and a dragon blinked, their small faces full of innocence. Yuan Heng shielded the two little ones behind her. “What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist Taiyi?”
What are you doing? What are you doing? My master is the Dao Ancestor. What do you think you are trying to do?
Yuan Heng shrieked in her heart. If this Quasi-Saint insisted on attacking a Daluo like her, then he shouldn't blame her for screaming "Master, save me!" at the top of her lungs.
Seeing her on guard, Taiyi's lips curved upward. “Do not misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng. I merely wished to catch up and have a chat with you.”
Yuan Heng: “...”
But she didn't want to chat at all. Knowing too much was never a good thing.
As Taiyi spoke, he waved his hand, conjuring a wooden table and several prayer mats. He gestured with his hand. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, please, sit.”
Seeing his unyielding attitude, Yuan Heng sat down with the two little ones and offered a helpless smile. “What does Fellow Daoist wish to discuss with me?”
She wanted to see what the Demon Court's Eastern Emperor was playing at.
Taiyi propped his chin up with one hand, while his other hand casually tapped on the table. His eyes stared straight at her, radiating an air of complete leisure and ease.
Yuan Heng felt incredibly uncomfortable under his slightly intense gaze, but she still maintained an expressionless little face.
“Fellow Daoist Taiyi, if you have something to say, please speak plainly.”
Why was he staring at her like that?
“Ah... It is actually nothing major. I merely wanted to ask Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng: since you are the beloved disciple of the Dao Ancestor, do you know what his attitude is toward the Demon Court that my brother and I have established?”
Yuan Heng: “...”
Please don't ask her such a difficult question.
Yuan Heng forced her stiff lips into a smile, her tone somewhat flat. “This question is far beyond my knowledge, Fellow Daoist. Master has never mentioned this to me before.”
What attitude could he have? An attitude of sitting back and watching. Master had never acknowledged the Demon Race's Celestial Court as the orthodox lineage of the Primordial World.
Taiyi smiled and said nothing. After a moment, just as Yuan Heng was starting to feel like she was sitting on a bed of needles, he spoke. “I have my answer.”
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, for clearing up my doubts.”
Yuan Heng: ???
Did she even say anything...
Duobao & Huanglong: Ah?? What answer?
Yuan Heng got up with the two little ones to leave, her face filled with bewilderment. No, wait, what exactly did Taiyi find out?
When she had walked a few steps away, Taiyi called out to stop her once more, his tone carrying a hint of playful teasing. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, come visit the Demon Court when you are free~”
Yuan Heng was utterly baffled. She casually brushed it off. “Next time, definitely... definitely next time, haha.”
Time to run!
She continued walking eastward with the two little ones, not noticing that behind her, Taiyi was watching their departing figures with a particularly meaningful gaze.
The Dao Ancestor does not seem to favor the Demon Court... In that case, they absolutely cannot miss that opportunity for sainthood.
But... Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi are inseparable. It won't be easy.
...
Yuan Heng led the two little ones all the way out of the Western Wilderness. From afar, she spotted a mountain with tranquil earth veins and a long, lingering immortal charm.
—Mount Wanshou.
They had arrived at Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi's Wuzhuang Temple. Should she go pay a visit?
However, they had just parted from Taiyi and learned that they were waiting in ambush for Fellow Daoist Hongyun. Right now... should she go drop a subtle hint?
Oh well... she might as well go.
Yuan Heng glanced at the Little Yellow Dragon on her shoulder, then looked over at Duobao. “Since we happen to be passing by Mount Wanshou, your junior aunt will take you to visit Wuzhuang Temple.”
The dragon and the rat nodded. They would go wherever their junior aunt went; they would just be obedient.
Meanwhile, sensing something, Zhenyuanzi raised his hand to calculate. Looking at Hongyun, who was slumped motionlessly at the table, he took the initiative to speak. “Hongyun, stop lying around. A distinguished guest is about to arrive.”
Hongyun, who had made no progress in comprehending the purple qi and had been cooped up in Wuzhuang Temple by Zhenyuanzi out of sheer boredom, sat up upon hearing this and stretched lazily. “A guest? Who is it?”
“It is Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, whom you've been constantly thinking about playing cards with.”
Hongyun instantly perked up upon hearing this. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng is coming!”
“That is wonderful! Let's go, let's go, Zhenyuanzi. We must go to the gates to welcome her right now!”
Watching Hongyun rise to leave with such eagerness, Zhenyuanzi shrugged and followed him helplessly.
They arrived at the gates, and as luck would have it, Yuan Heng had just landed from the clouds with the two little ones.
From afar, Hongyun waved his hand at Yuan Heng, his eyes curved and his smile exceptionally warm and bright. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng!”
Seeing Hongyun's cheerful and bright demeanor, Yuan Heng couldn't help but be infected by his energy. She beamed and said, “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, have you been well lately?”
Zhenyuanzi cupped his hands. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng.”
Yuan Heng returned the greeting and introduced Duobao and the Little Yellow Dragon. “Come, Duobao, Huanglong. Greet your Senior Hongyun and Senior Zhenyuanzi.”
“Greetings, both Seniors.”
Hongyun's gaze fell upon the two little ones. “Hello, there.”
Zhenyuanzi nodded slightly, a trace of curiosity in his eyes. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, who might these two young friends be?”
“They are the disciples of Brother Tongtian and Brother Yuanshi. I brought them out to travel this time.”
“Oh, I see.”
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun nodded in understanding, then quickly invited Yuan Heng and the two little ones inside.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, and you two young friends, please come in. We can catch up once we're inside.”
Hongyun echoed Zhenyuanzi's words. “Exactly, exactly! Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, please come in.”
Yuan Heng nodded, entering Wuzhuang Temple with the two little ones, alongside Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi.
Once they reached the courtyard, Zhenyuanzi called out, “Qingfeng, Mingyue, go and harvest a few Ginseng Fruits!”
Hearing this, Yuan Heng's DNA couldn't help but stir.
Such familiar names, such familiar lines...
So why would the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi eventually end up becoming sworn brothers with a little monkey?
Was it the temptation of merit, or the degradation of his immortal nature... Yuan Heng was incredibly curious.
However, before Yuan Heng could ponder any further, Hongyun's loud voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, since we happened to run into each other, shouldn't you, Zhenyuanzi, and I battle it out for a few rounds of cards?”
Huh?
Yuan Heng's lips instantly drooped down. “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, is that really necessary?”
Every single time, you two best buddies team up against me. No way, absolutely not. I am not playing with you two.
Hongyun laughed heartily. “Ah~ You are quite mistaken, Fellow Daoist. Of course we must play.”
“Come, come, come, I've already cleaned up the card table...”
Zhenyuanzi: “...”
Did he mean the one that had just been 'wiped' clean and shiny by his robe when he was slumped like a salted fish?
Well, it certainly was clean.
Rate on N.U.
