Chapter 178: Chapter 174: Thirty Years, A Smile
Normally, if an unfamiliar Cultivator isn’t wearing their Sect’s standard robes, it’s difficult for anyone to discern their Cultivation Technique, let alone their background, just from their aura before they’ve even acted.
Unless they have specifically cultivated a special Secret Technique.
But there are three Sects whose members have such obvious characteristics that anyone with a bit of experience can identify their Cultivation Technique from their temperament and aura alone.
This is because the people from these three Sects are all known as "madmen," and they naturally carry an air of insanity.
There are the Sword Madmen from the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion, who dedicate their entire lives to the Sword Dao, possessing nothing but their swords.
There are the madmen of the Buddhist Sect from the Third-class Sect, Great Compassion Temple, who preach that "Heaven and Earth are unfeeling; all things share a common sorrow," and are always ready to "incinerate this wretched body of mine, for great sorrow is akin to joy."
And then there are the madmen from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect—unhinged, erratic, and unpredictably volatile.
After confirming the Kun Cultivator’s identity, Fang Hua couldn’t help but shiver.
Even a sheltered fool like her had been drilled by Shuyue Hua since childhood: Never, ever provoke the madmen from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect. One moment they might be baring their soul to you, and the next, they could be staring at you with deep affection while plunging a blade into your heart.
After stabbing you to death, they might even cut off your head, preserve it with Magic, and keep it with them, taking it out from time to time to gaze at it affectionately and kiss it passionately.
In Shuyue Hua’s words, "With the Sword Madmen from Lingxiao Sword Pavilion, at least you know they care for nothing but the sword. With the madmen from Great Compassion Temple, you know they only want to sacrifice themselves to save the world. But with the madmen from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, you have no idea what they want at all. There’s no way to guess."
Watching that Kun Cultivator from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect walk into the Imperial Palace as if no one else existed, Fang Hua could roughly guess what had happened. This madwoman must have been trying to use Yang Wenwan’s situation to collect extreme emotions to forge a Demon Artifact, but "Fellow Daoist Yu" had ruined her plans.
She must be here to call him to account.
Fang Hua couldn’t help but worry.
It wasn’t that she worried "Fellow Daoist Yu" was no match for her.
Although the woman’s aura was clearly that of the Foundation Establishment Perfection realm, meaning that "Fellow Daoist Yu" logically had no chance of winning, Fang Hua still had an inexplicable faith in him.
What Fang Hua worried about was that "Fellow Daoist Yu" would get involved with this madwoman and become entangled with her, leading to all sorts of bizarre troubles in the future.
In the Momenan Cultivation Realm, there were many unwritten but universally accepted rules.
One of them was: If you wish to live a peaceful life, then when someone from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect greets you, you must remember: Do not answer! Do not answer! Do not answer!
***
Du Youqian reclined on a soft couch, watching the wisp of smoke from the incense rise into the air, lost in thought.
A smooth, white Jade Slab flew in from outside the hall, followed by a voice he knew all too well.
"Lin Sha, True Inheritor of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, pays her respects to Yu Guardian Envoy of the Holy Blood Sect!"
Du Youqian caught the Jade Slab and replied in a cold tone, "Enter."
The slender figure walked in, barefoot.
A long, black, floor-length dress completely covered her wrists, neck, and ankles.
Her face, white as porcelain, bore no trace of makeup.
Her snow-white, waist-length hair was particularly striking against the black dress.
Her emotionless eyes and a gaze as cold as ten-thousand-year-old glacial ice made one want to shiver for no reason.
’It seems she hasn’t had it easy these past few years.’
’And she must have confirmed the news of Qiu Yuanqing’s death.’
Her icy, unapproachable demeanor and simple dress brought two words to mind: grieving widow.
Du Youqian’s heart was filled with a thousand emotions, but his face remained impassive. "Fellow Daoist Lin, please have a seat," he said coolly.
Lin Sha took a few steps forward and sat on an Agarwood chair not far from Du Youqian.
They were less than ten feet apart, and at such a close distance, Lin Sha’s faint fragrance was clearly perceptible.
Du Youqian spoke first. "What business do you have with me?"
Lin Sha said coldly, "Fellow Daoist Yu, you may be an Upper Sect Guardian Envoy, but you overstepped your bounds in the matter of Yang Wenwan. I have spent over a decade and poured countless efforts into my plans to forge a few Sacred Artifacts to protect myself during Core Formation. And now, with a single, casual word, you intend to wash all my efforts away?"
"And what do you propose to do about it?" Du Youqian’s voice was just as devoid of emotion.
"It is not a matter of what I will do, but how you, Fellow Daoist Yu, intend to compensate me. If you do not plan to offer compensation, then so be it. I will simply leave. However, should I be fortunate enough to achieve Core Formation in the future, do not blame me for being merciless and showing no respect for an Upper Sect Envoy."
Du Youqian’s gaze was deep, as if he were pondering her words.
Lin Sha did not press him.
Instead, she lowered her head to look at the incense burner, a little lost in thought.
’This was her favorite type of incense. She hadn’t expected the Yu Guardian Envoy to like this scent as well.’
Lin Sha didn’t think much of it and quietly awaited his reply.
"How exactly do you plan on being merciless? In what way will you disrespect an Upper Sect Envoy? Tell me the details."
Lin Sha was stunned for a moment, then felt the situation was absurd.
To her, his words were practically flirting.
’This minor Guardian Envoy has some nerve!’
’He’s only at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivation. Who gave him the gall to flirt with a Foundation Establishment Perfection madwoman from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect?’
A surge of anger rose within her, but surprisingly, it wasn’t intense. She wasn’t angry enough to want to spill blood, only to trade barbs.
"I haven’t decided yet. I suppose it will depend on my mood at the time. Perhaps Fellow Daoist Yu can use his imagination."
Du Youqian’s expression instantly became a little unnatural. He was reminded of the time Lin Sha, relying on her higher cultivation, had wantonly dominated him in bed, almost snapping his waist in half.
Lin Sha, with her hair-fine perception, naturally noticed the subtle change in Du Youqian’s expression.
’She was curious, wondering what on earth this Guardian Envoy was thinking about.’
A flicker of anger returned. "If you’re thinking about something you shouldn’t be, Fellow Daoist Yu, don’t blame me for being too vicious when I go mad."
After she said it, even she was stunned. Her words were actually weak and powerless. It was less of a threat and more like flirting.
Lin Sha suddenly felt completely uncomfortable. She shot to her feet. "I have said my piece. Fellow Daoist Yu, you’d best consider your actions."
Du Youqian was taken aback. "Leaving already? Not even staying for a cup of tea?"
Lin Sha snapped, "Where is the tea?"
Du Youqian was a bit embarrassed.
’I forgot to prepare Spirit Tea. This really is impolite of me.’
"Ahem," Du Youqian coughed to cover his mistake. "I arrived in a hurry and forgot to prepare tea. I hope Fellow Daoist Lin will forgive me."
"Hmph. You’d best remember my words, Fellow Daoist, and think carefully about how you’ll compensate me." With that, she flicked her long sleeves and turned to leave, displeased.
"Wait!" Du Youqian called out to her, asking sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Lin, without those Sacred Artifacts, will it affect your Core Formation?"
Lin Sha stopped but didn’t turn to look at him. After a long moment, she said coldly, "It will."
Du Youqian thought for a moment, then tossed her a Storage Treasure Pouch.
Lin Sha opened the Storage Treasure Pouch and scanned its contents with her Divine Sense. She froze.
After a long while, she finally turned back to look at Du Youqian, her gaze complicated. "This is...?"
"Compensation."
Lin Sha found this utterly absurd. "Three hundred units of Flower Cyan Gang Jade, worth at least thirty thousand Spiritual Jade. You’re using this to compensate me? Fellow Daoist Yu, what are your intentions?"
Du Youqian paused, then it dawned on him.
’Looks like I gave her too much.’
The Demon Artifacts Lin Sha wanted to forge to protect herself during Core Formation were worth five or six thousand Spiritual Jade at most.
Even if she planned to forge two of them, ten thousand Spiritual Jade would have been the limit.
Du Youqian sighed internally. ’My emotional control still isn’t perfect; I’ve lost my sense of proportion.’
After a pause, he said in an indifferent tone, "Fellow Daoist Lin has a high chance of reaching Core Formation. If I can spend a small amount to gain the friendship of a Core Formation Master, I believe it is well worth the price."
Lin Sha lowered her head and mulled it over for a moment before reluctantly accepting his explanation. She said coldly, "In that case, we are even. Fellow Daoist Yu, I will leave that mortal to you. I will not interfere any further."
Du Youqian said, "Not just that mortal. I don’t want you interfering in the entire Han Kingdom. I am conducting some experiments and do not wish to be disturbed."
Lin Sha weighed the Storage Treasure Pouch in her hand. "For the sake of this Flower Cyan Gang Jade... Hmph. I will leave the Han Kingdom for you to do with as you please, Fellow Daoist Yu."
With that, she turned and walked away.
When she reached the entrance of the hall, she glanced sideways at an empty corner, her voice tinged with ridicule. "Quite the loyal little maid."
After speaking, she stepped out of the hall and drifted away.
Only after she had left did Fang Hua reveal herself. She said nervously, "Fellow Daoist Yu, I just remembered I forgot to grab something. I wanted to bring some local specialties back for Fellow Daoist Luo, so I turned back."
"Is that so," Du Youqian glanced at her. He was perfectly aware that she had been secretly following ever since Lin Sha entered, but had restrained himself from calling her out. "Then go get your local specialties. Be quick about it."
Seeing that Du Youqian wasn’t going to press the issue, the corners of Fang Hua’s mouth couldn’t help but curve up. "Alright!"
*******
Lin Sha’s Flying Boat landed at an estate outside the Han Kingdom Capital City. After picking up Gong Yuhuan, it took off again, flying toward the Panyun Mountain Blessed Land.
Aboard the Flying Boat, Lin Sha turned and glared at Gong Yuhuan. "Why are you staring at me?"
Gong Yuhuan quickly lowered her head. "I’m sorry, Senior Sister Lin!"
Lin Sha said coldly, "I didn’t ask for an apology. Tell me, why were you staring?"
Gong Yuhuan secretly glanced up at her expression and, mustering her courage, said, "You were smiling just now."
Lin Sha found this incredible. "What did you say?"
"You were smiling just now."
Lin Sha was stunned, reaching up to touch her own smooth cheek.
’Smiling?’
’She hadn’t smiled in over thirty years.’
’It wasn’t just smiling; she hadn’t had any other emotions either.’
’Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness—she had felt none of them.’
’And yet today, in just a brief conversation with that Yu Guardian Envoy, she had gotten angry several times.’
’And... she had smiled...’
Her left fist clenched, nails digging deep into her flesh.
’No, I won’t allow myself to smile. I won’t allow myself to feel any joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.’
’He’s gone... From now on, I am just a stone, an emotionless shell.’
’To sever all emotion is the true path. To be unfeeling is to reach the highest state of feeling.’
’That is why I can continuously advance in my cultivation of the Supreme Purity Emotion Scripture.’
’When the person I loved most is gone, it is only natural to become unfeeling.’
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