Chapter 2097: Missing
Chapter 2097: Missing
Along the way, Jing Teng had always bothered Zu An whenever there was any free time. At first, Zu An’s mood was really heavy and he wasn’t in the mood to talk about romance, but in the end, he was no match for Jing Teng’s endless pestering.
White Jing Teng was one thing, since she'd considerately had a heart-to-heart chat with him from time to time along the way. But Dark Jing Teng didn’t have such reservations when she came out. Whenever she came out, she would blame him for not being trustworthy, saying that he was a liar.
Zu An was really helpless before such criticism, and he was in the wrong to begin with, so he had no choice but to help her replenish the essence she had exhausted.
Eventually, White Jing Teng appeared less and less, while Dark Jing Teng appeared more and more. Zu An was a bit suspicious of that. After all, the two had previously appeared at roughly the same frequency, with neither side having a chance of dominating the other. Why had it become so one-sided?
Is it because White Jing Teng is too embarrassed? Or is it because she hasn't continuously received essence like Dark Jing Teng, causing both sides to fall out of balance?
But these two are clearly sharing the same body...
On several occasions, Zu An had wanted to ask about that, but he always gave up on that particular death-courting impulse.
Sigh, ignorance is bliss.
…
Times of happiness were always short, however. Soon enough, they had unwittingly arrived at White Jade Sect’s entrance.
Countless mountain peaks stretched out before Zu An, every single one towering into the sky. The peaks were shrouded in clouds and mist, and atop them were beautiful pavilions and terraces. Looking at them from a distance, it was as if the palaces were built on the clouds themselves.
Zu An even noticed that the highest peak had a large river flowing through it that seemed to surround all of the other peaks. There were many cranes and other birds circling above the water. More importantly, the river flowed completely in midair! He really wondered just how the White Jade Sect had been able to create a river that flowed in the sky like that.
A poem Zu An had once read appeared in his mind.
White Jade Palace up above, with twelve towers and five gates.
Immortals cast blessings from above, binding our hair and granting immortality.
No wonder the White Jade Sect had been able to become such an extraordinary faction among the daoist sects. Now that he was visiting this place for himself, he found that it did indeed deserve its reputation. In the past, he had felt that the Righteous Sun Sect on Violet Mountain was also quite impressive, but there was more of a flourishing sense of prosperity coming from that place, while this location had a more transcendent air, as if they were in the world of immortals. It was no wonder that such a place was able to cultivate individuals like Yan Xuehen and Chu Chuyan.
When he thought about Chuyan, Zu An’s expression couldn't help but darken, but as he looked at those distant mountain peaks, he was also full of expectation. After all, perhaps this world’s Chuyan was still fine. What happened before had involved a Chuyan from a different timeline…
He stopped when he realized that. Even if she was Chuyan from a different timeline, did that mean he wouldn’t save her?
“This is the White Jade Sect’s most important location. All idlers are not allowed further!”
Disciples of the sect soon came to chase Zu An away after noticing him pacing back and forth.
“I’ll have to trouble you to contact Sect Master Yan. I have some important affairs to discuss with her and wish to request a meeting,” Zu An said calmly. He didn’t act in an overbearing manner just because his cultivation was high.
“Do you know how many men have wished to meet with Sect Master Yan over the years? Sect Master Yan has already declared that she won’t meet anyone. Respected sir, please return,” the disciples said as they exchanged a look, as if saying to each other, Another crazy fanatic has arrived.
At first, they wanted to chase Zu An away. After all, they couldn't sense any ki fluctuations from his body. But when they saw that the way he carried himself was different and noticed that there was a mysterious sense of pressure emanating from his presence, they didn’t dare to be too forceful.
When he saw that these people were standing in his way, Zu An frowned. He didn’t bother arguing with them, and instead hollered straight at the distant mountains, “Sect Master Yan, your old friend has come to see you…”
His voice was clearly not that loud, and yet it echoed between the mountain peaks. Almost everyone present could hear it clearly.
The disciples at the gate were horrified.
How is this person’s cultivation so horrifying?
Thank goodness we didn’t offend him just now!
Just then, a transparent barrier suddenly appeared on the various peaks, the surface flickering with runes. It turned out the White Jade Sect’s main defense barrier had been activated. Boundless radiance surged between the mountains.
Several figures riding on swords arrived from the distance. They had also been really shocked when they heard that voice. Anyone who could accomplish such a thing had to be a rare and powerful enemy. Out of fear that this enemy would attack their sect, the entire sect’s most powerful individuals came out at almost the same time.
While they were about to engage the trespasser, someone suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that the regent?” Some White Jade Sect disciples had met him previously during the Violet Mountain battle, after all.
Only after learning his identity did the White Jade Sect’s experts put away their hostility in embarrassment.
Everyone in the sect knew that he had shown extreme kindness to the White Jade Sect. However, the members of the sect rarely interacted with the court. If they welcomed him in a grand manner, wouldn’t that be giving the outside world some misleading signals?
Hold on, he seems to be here for Sect Master Yan?
Hmm, his wife seems to just happen to be Sect Master Yan’s personal disciple...
While everyone else was at a loss, a white figure flew over from the distance.
“We pay our respects to the sect master!” Many disciples bowed in greeting.
Many of them sighed in amazement at Sect Master Yan’s transcendent presence. Furthermore, for some reason, she seemed to even be a bit prettier than usual.
When she saw that familiar figure, Yan Xuehen’s eyes shone with a unique radiance, but she quickly hid it and asked in her usual cold voice, “May I ask what the regent came all this way for?”
“I came here to see you, of course,” Zu An replied as he looked at her. Her facial features were like that of a painting, her long hair fluttering behind her and her white dress gently swaying. Her entire being seemed to be glowing.
Yan Xuehen’s cheeks immediately turned red.
How can you say something like that in front of so many people? Are you kidding me right now?
Only when she saw that the disciples of the White Jade Sect didn’t find it strange did she realize that she was Zu An’s senior, as well as his wife’s master. If he was seeking her out, it clearly had to be for his wife’s sake, so they naturally wouldn’t think anything strange.
When she realized that, she didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. She collected her thoughts and said, “Follow me.” Then, she turned around and walked up the mountain, looking just as beautiful from behind.
Everyone else was a bit stunned. They were used to Sect Master Yan refusing all the men in this world, and yet today, they'd ended up seeing her let someone through so easily! Didn’t this mean that the sect master had already agreed to their saintess’ marriage?
Zu An didn’t bother trying to figure out what these people were thinking and quickly followed at Yan Xuehen’s side. He secretly took her hand. Yan Xuehen was startled and quickly tried to pull her hand back, but he grabbed on firmly and didn’t let her.
“Are you mad?” Yan Xuehen exclaimed; her heart was about to jump out of her chest!
There were White Jade Sect disciples all around them. If she was seen holding his hand out here in the open, an uproar among the sect would be one thing, but the White Jade Sect itself could become a joke to the rest of the world! The master had ended up stealing her disciple’s man…
“Don’t worry, they can’t see anything,” Zu An said with a chuckle. After the battle with the Shadow Monster King, he'd gained the realization that the Heaven Devouring Sutra could create ‘black holes’ that distorted space. Light could naturally be distorted too.
The onlookers could only see that the two were walking side by side, while the space between them was blurry. Thus, others wouldn't be able to see much at all.
Yan Xuehen was stunned. She quickly extended her divine sense and saw that she couldn't see from outside after all. She released a sigh of relief before asking, “How are you doing this?”
“I’m merely warping the surrounding space a bit…” Zu An said, then told her a bit about the principles behind the technique.
As she listened, Yan Xuehen’s eyes began sparkling. A while later, she said with a sigh, “You really are a cultivation genius after all.”
“Of course I’m a genius. How else would I be able to hold your hand?” Zu An replied with a chuckle.
Yan Xuehen’s heart was racing. She had never thought that one day, she would be able to hold his hand publicly in the sect. This kind of feeling felt like some sort of taboo, and yet also brought her a sense of indescribable joy.
Still, she said, “This is still the sect, though. Once we go further up, you need to quickly let go of me.”
“Didn’t you want to walk together with me too? Otherwise, you would have just flown on ahead. Why else would we need to take this small mountain path?” Zu An replied with a grin.
“You…!” Yan Xuehen seemed to have been exposed. She immediately felt embarrassed and panicked.
For some reason, Zu An just really liked to see her embarrassed like this. However, when he remembered his purpose for coming here, he sighed inwardly and gave up on continuing to tease her. He asked, “By the way, is Chuyan okay?” As he asked the question, his voice started shaking a bit.
Yan Xuehen suddenly became silent. A while later, she replied, “Sorry, but Chuyan has gone missing.”