Records of Cultivating Immortals [NTR]

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Steward’s Arrival and the Return to the Capital

Chapter 66: The Steward’s Arrival and the Return to the Capital

Back in the fishing village, Qin Luo had just entered the courtyard when he saw Luo Feng looking at Da Niu with a look of amazement. Jiang Qingyu, standing to the side, seemed to have finally resolved her inner conflict and regained the dignified demeanor of a monarch. However, after the passion of the previous night, Jiang Qingyu suddenly had a touch more charm.

Filled with gratitude, Qin Luo looked at Jiang Qingyu, only to receive a slight nod in return. Before he could thank her again, Luo Feng smiled at Qin Luo and said, "I misjudged him before. This kid really is born with superhuman strength. Where did Nangong Muyun find him?"

Upon hearing Nangong Muyun’s name, Da Niu’s face instantly turned worried. He looked at Qin Luo with a questioning gaze and asked, "Senior brother, when do we...?"

Qin Luo also shook his head with a gloomy expression and said in a low voice, "With our current strength, I’m afraid we are no match for the old sword master."

He slammed his palm on the stone table, his eyes filled with grief and indignation, and asked blankly, "Do we have to wait until the ninth level?"

These words caused the small courtyard to fall silent. The ninth level was a supreme realm that was hard to come by. Thinking of the difficulties and dangers on the road to revenge, Qin Luo looked at Da Niu with a hint of apology in his eyes.

"I’ll figure something out, just wait a little longer."

"I don’t want to wait any longer. Even if I die, I want to die by my master’s side." After saying this, Da Niu turned to leave, but Jiang Qingyu stopped him in front of her.

Da Niu couldn’t lash out at his savior, but he still kept his head down, changed direction, and continued walking out.

"Junior Brother !"

Qin Luo suddenly shouted loudly. The emotions that had been weighing on his heart for many days made him unable to remain calm.

"Don’t you ever think about why Master returned to the mountain with the old sword master?"

Da Niu stopped and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"She risked her life on the two of us. You’ve barely recovered from your illness and you’re already eager for revenge. Have you even considered your master’s painstaking plan?!"

Da Niu paused for a moment, then finally turned around, squatted down on the ground somewhat dejectedly, and muttered, "Eighth rank, I can only wait until the eighth rank."

Qin Luo shook his head helplessly, looked at Luo Feng beside him, and quickly forced a smile, saying, "I’m sorry to have made you laugh, senior."

Luo Feng smiled slightly and gestured towards the courtyard gate. Qin Luo followed his gaze and froze on the spot.

The newcomer was an elderly man in black with white hair and beard. Although he was thin and bony, he had a strong voice. His deep-set eyes were bloodshot, and his tattered straw hat was covered with dust from his journey.

"Uncle Youwen?!"

Qin Luo and Xiao Qing said in unison, while Da Niu, who was squatting on the ground, turned his head away and looked at the unfamiliar old man with a wary expression.

Nangong Youwen took off his bamboo hat and walked up to Qin Luo in a few quick steps, bowing his head and saying, "Greetings, Young Master and Young Master’s Wife!"

The title "Young Master’s Wife" made Xiao Qing’s heart tremble. Her pretty face flushed slightly as she saw Nangong Youwen turn to Jiang Qingyu and say, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jiang Qingyu nodded. Nangong Youwen came to Luo Feng again, took out a wooden box from his pocket and said, "The disciple of Baiyun Palace is seriously injured. Thank you for your help, senior. This is a small token of my appreciation from the young master. Please accept it."

Luo Feng reached out and took the box, then opened it. Instantly, a refreshing fragrance filled the courtyard.

"A thousand-year-old ginseng, a good thing."

Luo Feng put the wooden box away, but Qin Luo, who was standing next to him, felt a little embarrassed. He thought to himself that he had not prepared a single small gift after troubling him these past few days, except for verbally thanking him. He did not expect Nangong Youwen to be so thoughtful and send it in the name of the young master, which was both polite and respectful to Qin Luo.

After Nangong Youwen finished greeting everyone, he came to Qin Luo again and whispered, "The disciples of Sifang Hall, Qingyun Sect, Modao Sect, and Baiyun Palace have all assembled and are just waiting for the young master’s order to attack Guiyi Sect immediately."

Upon hearing this, Da Niu immediately stood up, looking at Qin Luo with expectant eyes and said, "Senior Brother!"

Qin Luo was slightly taken aback at first, but instantly realized that this was an accomplice his mother had secretly gathered over the years. Looking at the travel-worn Nangong Youwen, Qin Luo first invited him to sit down, and then asked Xiao Qing to prepare a pot of hot tea before leisurely asking, "How is their strength?"

"Thirteen seventh-tier cultivators and over seventy below the sixth tier," Nangong Youwen reported the exact numbers almost instantly.

Jiang Qingyu frowned slightly upon hearing this, exchanged a glance with Qin Luo, and then said, "Not enough."

Nangong Youwen was startled and looked at Qin Luo, saying, "Isn’t this enough?"

Qin Luo shook his head and sighed, "These people are already struggling to deal with the Venerables under the Old Sword Master, let alone..."

Looking around, Nangong Youwen sensed something ominous from the expressions on everyone’s faces. Da Niu’s emotions, which had just been stirred up, were instantly extinguished. Finally, Qin Luo was the first to come to his senses. Looking at Nangong Youwen in front of him, he seemed to have many questions to ask, but for a moment he didn’t know where to begin.

Nangong Youwen noticed Qin Luo’s reaction and said in a low voice, "After Qin Jianshen died, the Palace Master appeared to be heartbroken and dismissed more than 700 disciples of Baiyun Palace, but she secretly investigated the truth of the battle at Wutong Mountain, and never stopped for more than ten years."

"Some disciples changed their names and went into hiding within various sects, hoping to find some clues, but after so many years..."

Nangong Youwen gave a wry smile and continued, "Not much has been found out about what happened back then, but a few disciples unknowingly rose to the position of sect leader..."

Qin Luo’s heart tightened upon hearing this. He had been thinking about this since earlier. In the past, this was just his family matter, but now so many people were involved. If a war broke out, half of the lower realm would probably be stained with blood.

Nangong Youwen’s words subtly made Qin Luo feel the weight of his burden. After taking a sip of tea, Nangong Youwen continued, "Regarding the Tianxiangfang matter, I initially planted many spies, but on the day of the auction, all eighteen of them perished. I knew then that something terrible had happened, and I rushed to Yangxian Port immediately, but..."

"Mo Ming kept your whereabouts a secret, and I couldn’t get any answers from him, so I had no choice but to return to Baiyun Palace for the time being. However, on the way, I received a secret letter from Changge Sect."

Nangong Youwen glanced at Luo Feng as he spoke, and continued, "Sect Leader Gu Hanyan informed me of the young master’s whereabouts. After notifying several fellow disciples to prepare for battle, I rushed here without stopping."

"Gu Hanyan..." Luo Feng’s eyes softened when he heard the name. "Speaking of which, this little girl was my first disciple."

He thought of his former disciples, while Qin Luo thought of Fairy Lin, who was at Changge Sect. Several days had passed since they parted in the capital, and he wondered how she was doing over there...

"Actually..." Nangong Youwen looked at Qin Luo and tentatively said, "If we release the news that we are seeking revenge for Qin Zheng, the Sword God, we should be able to gather some experts."

Qin Luo shook his head and said, "I don’t want to turn a family matter into a national affair, and my father certainly doesn’t want innocent people to be dragged into it either."

Nangong Youwen shook his head helplessly; he had already thought of this answer before he even spoke.

"I’m afraid things might get complicated if we wait too long..." Nangong Youwen lowered his head. The cultivators that the Palace Master had painstakingly gathered over the years could not be dispersed, but as a steward, he had no right to tell the young master what to do.

"Are you here to pick someone up?" Luo Feng saw through Nangong Youwen’s intentions and stood up to ask.

Nangong Youwen stood up and bowed, saying, "It still depends on what the young master thinks."

Qin Luo glanced at Da Niu, who was frowning beside him, and thought to himself that staying with Luo Feng all the time was not a solution. However, Nangong Youwen’s words reminded him that he probably couldn’t go back to Baiyun Palace for the time being. After all, the disciples of Baiyun Palace were waiting for him to give orders. If he showed up rashly, he would not be confident that he could persuade them one by one in the face of the indignation of many forces.

This put him in a dilemma; he never imagined he wouldn’t be able to go home now.

"How about..." Jiang Qingyu said, "come back to Bianliang with me."

Nangong Youwen could see through Qin Luo’s thoughts, and upon hearing Jiang Qingyu speak, he immediately echoed, "It’s a good place. All land under heaven belongs to the king. If it’s not convenient to make a move for the time being, it would be better for the young master not to show himself."

Qin Luo and Xiao Qing exchanged a glance, then looked at Da Niu beside them and nodded, saying, "Alright."

She stood up to say goodbye to Luo Feng, who smiled and whispered a few words to Jiang Qingyu before saying loudly, "Consider this my way of repaying Qin Jianshen’s favor. Farewell."

Qin Luo pulled up Da Niu and bowed to Luo Feng. The group left the fishing village and returned to Broken Sword Peak. Looking at the smooth gap on the mountainside, Qin Luo didn’t say a word, but bowed deeply and turned to leave.