Records of Cultivating Immortals [NTR]

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Midnight Investigation

Chapter 49: Midnight Investigation

As night fell, Qin Luo, unable to sleep, was leaning against the window, lost in thought, when he suddenly sensed a fluctuation of true energy coming from the next room. Startled, Qin Luo immediately gripped the withered branch in his hand.

A black figure flashed by, and Qin Luo’s brows furrowed immediately.

Jiang Qingyu!

What is she going to do so late at night?

Qin Luo intended to inform Nangong Muyun, but stopped when he heard lewd sounds coming from his mother’s room. In the time it took to hesitate, Jiang Qingyu’s figure was already getting further and further away. Without time to think, he immediately jumped out of the window, and his Cloud-Stepping Movement Technique was instantly activated to its maximum.

However, Jiang Qingyu was highly skilled and immediately became alert when Qin Luo flew out of the inn. She seemed to be intentionally trying to shake him off. Although Qin Luo tried his best, he was still pulled further and further away.

Left with no other choice, Qin Luo had to use the Azure Dragon Shadow technique he had just mastered a few days ago. With a flicker of his figure, the distance between the two was getting closer and closer.

Upon reaching the foot of a mountain south of Yangxian Port, Jiang Qingyu suddenly stopped. Qin Luo knew he couldn’t escape her perception, so he simply swaggered in.

"Go back now." Jiang Qingyu smiled, her beauty even more breathtaking under the moonlight.

"Perhaps I can be of help." Qin Luo brandished his sword and walked up to her.

He could vaguely guess the secret behind Jiang Qingyu’s solo trip late at night. It was said that there was great chaos in Hedong, but nothing unusual had happened along the way. The people were living in peace and contentment, and the fields were bustling with activity.

It is precisely because there is nothing unusual that it seems even stranger.

Tianxiangfang wouldn’t send a secret message without a reason. Jiang Qingyu probably intends to take the initiative and investigate those sects.

"If you need my help, I won’t investigate alone." Jiang Qingyu, having lived in the deep palace for so long, was still unable to adapt to her new identity.

Qin Luo nodded. Although Nangong Muyun and Jiang Qingu had been fighting each other openly and secretly all along, he believed that his mother would not stand idly by if Jiang Qingyu were in trouble.

Thinking of this, Qin Luo suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Nangong Muyun was already aware of their movements. Since she hadn’t chased after them, it meant there was no danger.

"So Your Majesty is afraid I’ll hold you back?" Qin Luo raised an eyebrow, and the striking resemblance between their features made Jiang Qingyu’s heart tremble.

"If we’re not in Bianliang, you may call me by my name." Jiang Qingyu looked at Qin Luo in front of her and was once again in a daze. In the hazy moonlight, she seemed to see Qin Zheng from back then.

"I’ll still call you Aunt Jiang." Qin Luo smiled. He had already guessed that the Empress and his father must have had a past relationship, so he had always treated her with great respect since then.

When traveling at night, Jiang Qingyu’s outfit was extremely form-fitting. Although it was a black night-clothes outfit, the gold threads along the edges of the clothes still revealed her haughty and superior temperament.

The slightly open neckline allowed Qin Luo to see her delicate collarbone, and looking further down, he could even faintly see a deep cleavage. He quickly looked away, not daring to look any longer.

"Besides Tianxiangfang, there are three other sects in Hedong: Kuxiu Temple, Lingyun Hall, and Fentian Sect."

Jiang Qingyu turned around and said as she walked, and Qin Luo immediately followed.

"The Ascetic Monastery has gradually declined in recent years, and since they have always been detached from worldly affairs, they should not be related to this matter."

"That leaves only Lingyun Palace and Burning Heaven Sect."

Qin Luo’s heart tightened. These two sects were neither too big nor too small, but if they joined forces, they would have the power to fight against a first-rate sect. Thinking of this, he immediately stopped and asked, "Then how could there be no danger?"

Seeing Qin Luo’s expression, Jiang Qingyu couldn’t help but tease him, "Scared?"

"Of course..." Jiang Qingyu’s ambiguous smile suddenly gave Qin Luo a surge of pride, and he patted his chest vigorously, saying, "I’m not afraid!"

"I’m just gathering information." Jiang Qingyu turned around and continued forward, saying, "No need to be nervous."

Qin Luo nodded, and the two unknowingly walked to the depths of a mountain forest. Jiang Qingyu made a gesture, and Qin Luo immediately slowed down and concealed his presence.

A fire was flashing in the distance. Qin Luo dared not make any rash moves, so he could only look ahead and vaguely see a few tents and a campfire in the woods.

"Leave only one alive," Jiang Qingyu whispered to Qin Luo as she bent down, drew her sword, and spoke.

The gradually spreading murderous aura startled Qin Luo. This empress, who was above all others, was indeed worthy of her reputation, decisive in killing.

The two walked side by side, and after a few breaths they arrived at the tents. Qin Luo noticed that there were twelve people in the group, but fortunately their cultivation levels were all around the fourth rank. Before Qin Luo could make a move, Jiang Qingyu’s graceful figure instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning.

After a series of clanging and clashing swords, Qin Luo, still standing there, stared at Jiang Qingyu in the middle of the tent with disbelief in his eyes.

The longsword, gleaming with a cold light, was now stained with blood, and behind Jiang Qingyu lay eleven cold corpses.

The last remaining person was deathly pale. His entire group had died one after another in a matter of moments. The woman’s fierce swordsmanship and unfathomable cultivation had terrified him so much that he no longer had the courage to resist.

"I’ll ask, you answer." Jiang Qingyu approached step by step, her voice very calm.

Just as he was about to bite his tongue and commit suicide, the man lying on the ground had his teeth shattered by a punch from Qin Luo, who had finally come to his senses.

"If you can answer the question, you can die a quick death." Jiang Qingyu said to the man on the ground who had no way to die. Her cold demeanor made Qin Luo take a step back.

Looking at the dismembered limbs around him, Qin Luo couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile, thinking to himself, is this what Jiang Qingyu meant by "gathering information"?

The man nodded, his eyes filled with fear. Jiang Qingyu walked up to him, smiled, and half-squatted down, asking, "What’s your name?"

"Ling Rumo," the man said indistinctly, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"What brings you down the mountain?"

"Seize the medicinal herb fields."

"How do we seize it?"

"They threatened the prefect, increased taxes, and forced the people to rebel." Facing imminent death, Ling Rumo spoke rapidly.

"Why haven’t you taken action yet?"

"Bodhi has decreed that we must wait until the auction is over."

A flash of sword light, and Ling Rumo’s head fell to the ground. Jiang Qingyu sheathed her sword and let out a long sigh.

"Who is Bodhi?" Qin Luo asked.

Jiang Qingyu’s killing intent had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

"Ten... is an old friend." Jiang Qingyu’s answer made Qin Luo frown even more.

"Is it related to my father?" Qin Luo asked again.

Jiang Qingyu shook her head and said, "Let’s go back to the inn first."

...

The next morning, Qin Luo and his three companions went downstairs and looked at the empty inn. Da Niu couldn’t help but feel a little jealous: "That kid really booked this place?"

For some reason, Da Niu had an innate hostility towards Mo Yuji. Perhaps it was related to his background. Having grown up in the mountains, he especially looked down on those playboys.

Looking at Jiang Qingyu, who was still sitting by the window in her black and gold dress, Qin Luo was slightly taken aback. The bloody attack from last night seemed to be right before his eyes.

A series of scattered footsteps came from outside the door. Qin Luo peeked out and saw Mo Yuji from yesterday walking over behind an old man.

The old man had white hair and beard, and a kind face. Just standing there gave people a feeling of warmth and comfort. Mo Yuji put away his slightly frivolous attitude from yesterday and stood respectfully behind the old man. When he saw Qin Luo, he didn’t forget to give him a kind look.

Nangong Muyun stood up, and Qin Luo and Da Niu hurriedly stood up as well, thinking that this old man must be Mo Ming from Tianxiangfang.

"Palace Master Nangong, please forgive us." Mo Ming stepped forward, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and bowed slightly, saying, "I should have gone out of the city to greet you, and invited you to stay at Tianxiangfang for the time being, but..."

Mo Ming raised his head but did not continue speaking. Nangong Muyun shook her head and said, "It’s alright, sit down."

At the square table inside the inn, Mo Ming, Nangong Muyun, and Jiang Qingyu sat facing each other. Qin Luo, with Da Niu behind his mother, stood up with his ears perked up.

To Qin Luo’s surprise, Mo Yuji did not step forward, but instead stood outside the door with two disciples from Tianxiangfang.

"Return to the Root..." Nangong Muyun began, but her attitude was much more amiable.

." Before Nangong Muyun could finish speaking, Mo Ming interrupted, as if the rules established by Tianxiangfang over the past hundred years did not exist.

"What I want to ask is, where did he come from?" Nangong Muyun asked again.

"If I were to say..." Mo Ming suddenly glanced at Qin Luo, then turned to Nangong Muyun with an ambiguous look and said, "Tianxiangfang will be gone."

Nangong Muyun sighed. Just as she had guessed, Tianxiangfang was now under the control of the old sword master.

Mo Ming waved his hand, and a pot of hot tea suddenly appeared on the table. After filling the pots for the two of them, he looked at Qin Luo and Da Niu again.

Qin Luo finally understood and tugged at Da Niu, saying, "I’ll take my leave for now."

Nangong Muyun did not stop them. After the two left the inn, Qin Luo immediately sensed an invisible barrier enveloping the three people in front of the table.

"Are you two still investigating the old sword master?" Mo Ming asked.

Nangong Muyun did not deny it, but Mo Ming shook his head and said, "I have something to say that may offend some people, but I now feel that Mr. Song may not be the murderer who harmed Brother Qin."

To everyone’s surprise, Nangong Muyun’s reaction after he said those words was surprisingly calm.

Mo Ming glanced at the sword at Jiang Qingyu’s waist and continued, "Mr. Song is now at the ninth level of cultivation, just one step away from ascension. If he were really the mastermind, your plans over the years would probably not have gone so smoothly."

Nangong Muyun nodded. Mo Ming’s words did make some sense, especially after Qin Luo entered the world, which made her increasingly doubtful of her previous investigation.

"So what do you mean?" Jiang Qingyu asked in a cold tone.

"I’m just saying a few more words; the final decision rests with you two." Mo Ming smiled and said, "But most importantly, he’s now at the ninth rank."

Perhaps sensing Jiang Qingyu’s unfriendly tone, Mo Ming, though no longer daring to use the honorific title for the old sword master, still emphasized the words "ninth rank".

Two second-tier cultivators might be able to kill a third-tier cultivator, but facing a ninth-tier expert, even if surrounded by several eighth-tier cultivators, they would likely be doomed.

Jiang Qingyu snorted coldly and said no more, and the atmosphere at the table instantly dropped to freezing point.