Chapter 102: Putting on a Show
“…Eh?”
“You want me… to return to the Water Moon Sect?” Master Yu Xia said hesitantly.
“Exactly.”
Young Master Sang explained, “After all, the current Sect Leader is the one most familiar with the Water Moon Sect.”
“Chi Yu Sect and Floating Feather Palace are only bold enough to eye the Water Moon Sect because of your sudden disappearance.”
He took out a pill and said, “I will release your cultivation. As long as you appear at the Water Moon Sect, those two forces will reconsider.”
“But I must make it clear first.”
“We’re not entirely clear on the current situation of the Water Moon Sect.”
“It’s highly likely that everything you left behind is gone, and the once-loyal disciples and elders have all left.”
“Even so, do you still have confidence?”
Master Yu Xia calmly bowed to Young Master Sang, “Please rest assured, my lord.”
“I may have been gone for a long time… but I’m still the Sect Leader of the Water Moon Sect.”
Sang had no doubt about this.
The prestige and power of the Water Moon Sect today were not just due to her cultivation suppressing them.
More importantly, it was her cunning and deep scheming.
Even though Master Yu Xia appeared to be enlightened now, seeming like a mere maid whose tasks were reduced to laundry and cooking, over the years, none of the surrounding forces had been able to take advantage of her.
That proved Yu Xia’s worth.
“Alright then.”
Young Master Sang said, “The primary goal of this mission is to rescue the demon cult Heavenly Punishment Department employee Meng Qiyan, and the secondary goal is to reclaim the assets of the Water Moon Sect.”
“I will accompany you for safety.”
“Eh?” Master Yu Xia was taken aback and then anxiously said, “How can my lord put himself in danger?”
“The Water Moon Sect has certainly been targeted by Chi Yu Sect and Floating Feather Palace. I can’t guarantee there won’t be friction with their sect leaders.”
“If you go too, I may not be able to—”
“You don’t need to worry about my safety; I can protect myself,” Sang interrupted.
As if that was even a question.
Maybe the masked mode wouldn’t really allow Sang to fight against a Crossing Tribulation Stage master.
But escaping for his life would definitely be fine.
After all, who dares to get involved in conflicts between Crossing Tribulation Stage cultivators without at least some means of self-preservation?
Sang prioritized his safety.
Furthermore, he had already spoken with Nian Nian to gather information. Though the sect leaders of Chi Yu Sect and Floating Feather Palace had set up ambushes at the protective mountain formation, there were still grudges and wariness between them, so both were appearing in their incarnations while hiding their real bodies, waiting for an opportunity.
Their intention was to lure Hua Jianglian, and if they could strike a heavy blow, the subsequent competition for the Water Moon Sect’s assets would be much less complicated.
But if Master Yu Xia appeared, the two would surely be hesitant to reveal themselves, filled with doubt and suspicion.
Cultivators who made it to Crossing Tribulation Stage were all old foxes.
No one would gamble their life for a bit of small profit.
But Sang wasn’t worried about facing two incarnations. As long as Master Yu Xia, the Sect Leader of Water Moon Sect, showed up, the other two sect leaders, who lacked the justification to act, probably wouldn’t dare to challenge her.
That was the plan.
It relied heavily on information asymmetry.
Seeing Sang’s confident demeanor, Master Yu Xia didn’t ask more questions. She had now unconditionally trusted and submitted to Sang.
“In that case, I’ll heed my lord’s instructions. What does my lord need me to do?”
Sang looked at her seriously and said word by word:
“I need you.”
“To help me put on a show.”
——
——
Water Moon Sect.
The current Water Moon Sect was far from the vibrant and bustling scene it used to be.
On the immortal mountain, the once magnificent gate of the sect was now shrouded in a thin mist.
That was the protective formation of the Water Moon Sect; once activated, anyone who intrudes would be trapped in an illusion, unless they had a clear heart or were Crossing Tribulation experts who could break the law with their strength, otherwise they’d be stuck in the formation.
At this moment, outside the formation, two Daoists, one tall and thin and the other short and chubby, were standing in the air with their hands behind their backs.
“I say, Yuanming Daoist,” the chubby one said slowly with a greasy face, “do you think that little demon girl would really fall for such an obvious trap?”
“It doesn’t matter if she falls for it.”
The tall and thin Yuanming Daoist stroked his beard, “If she doesn’t, we can comfortably split the Water Moon Sect’s assets and later use the girl in the formation to bargain with the demon cult for a good price.”
“Regardless of whether she arrives or not, the Water Moon Sect will definitely be ours today, Elder Yongning.”
The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter simultaneously.
Just then, the mist at the mountain gate seemed to thicken a bit.
Elder Yongning’s chubby cheeks squinted as he whispered, “Someone’s coming.”
A moment after he spoke, two figures slowly emerged from the dense mist.
The moment the figures appeared, both Elder Yongning and Yuanming Daoist’s pupils shrank in shock:
“Master Yu Xia?!”
In the thick mist, Master Yu Xia, dressed elegantly in her sect robes, looked graceful and poised, her legs partially revealed beneath the robe.
Her red lips were striking, and her clear, dignified eyes locked onto the two men with a heavy and profound gaze.
“Esteemed Sect Leaders, I was in seclusion for several days, and upon my return, I find you two gambling right outside my Water Moon Sect?”
Elder Yongning and Yuanming Daoist exchanged astonished glances.
…Wasn’t it said that Master Yu Xia had already perished, likely taken by the demon cult?
…How would I know! Wasn’t that your information?
But both were shrewd and swiftly shifted gears. Elder Yongning broke into a hearty smile, respectfully clasping his hands:
“Oh my, it’s truly wonderful that Master Yu Xia is safe and sound!”
“This sect leader heard that Master Yu Xia unfortunately fell into the hands of the demon cult, and I was worried that the sect would be invaded, so I specially came out to protect the sect and await your return.”
“Yes, yes.” Yuanming Daoist chimed in with a smile, “Turns out you were just in seclusion… indeed, I’ve seen significant progress in your cultivation. Congratulations, Master!”
Though they still felt something was off, they did not doubt Master Yu Xia’s words.
They could clearly feel that Master Yu Xia’s aura was significantly stronger than before, now reaching the strength of a Crossing Tribulation Stage Seven.
That was far stronger than either of them individually.
“Congratulations on your great accomplishment, Master.” Elder Yongning continued with a smile, “However, since you wanted to cultivate in seclusion, why not do it within the sect?”
Master Yu Xia shot him a cold glance.
“Hmph. That’s naturally because I was fortunate enough to receive the guidance of an esteemed one.”
Guidance from an esteemed one? The two Crossing Tribulation masters frowned at the same time.
Before they could express their confusion, Master Yu Xia had already respectfully stepped sideways, speaking with great deference:
“Esteemed One.”
In the midst of the thick mist.
A figure wearing a blue devil’s fangs mask slowly materialized on a stone throne amidst the clouds.
“Since you have met my presence.”
“Why not bow?”
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