Chapter 84:
Chapter 84:
Chapter 84:
In a hidden courtyard in the western part of the city.
"Chiyang from Xuantian Sect, I greet the Great Yan Emperor."
A middle-aged Taoist dressed in a red daoist robe walked in, chin slightly raised, looking directly at Emperor Yonghe.
"Emperor Yonghe stood up straight, with a calm expression on his face.
"Is the Xuantian Sect here for something?" he asked.
Taoist Chiyang, although he was actually just a low-ranking servant. In Xuantian Temple, there is a sign for "Immortal Chiyang" placed.
"I came to urge you, Emperor, to start your journey," Taoist Chiyang said with a smile.
"It’s been half a month, and it’s time to leave Heyang City and head to Qingming Mountain Range. Isn’t it about time?"
Emperor Yonghe remained silent.
He had already made a decision, but he naturally delayed kneeling to the Xuantian Temple immortal beings."By the way, regarding the incident of the ordinary martial artist breaking into Xuantian Temple yesterday…" Taoist Chiyang mentioned this, and Emperor Yonghe immediately held his breath slightly.
The main business had arrived.
After Saintess Wu Qingxin took away the flying knife yesterday, he has been thinking about how to deal with the Xuantian Sect leader who will come to hold him accountable…
"Immo—" He was about to utter the first word when Taoist Chiyang interrupted him earnestly.
"What happened yesterday was indeed a misjudgment on my part, on behalf of the Immortal Gate, Saintess Wu Qingxin."
"We, the Xuantian Sect, are after all a righteous sect, and we should handle things in a fair and just manner."
"Since it’s Saintess Wu Qingxin’s fault, then the Xuantian Sect has decided to…"
"Take away Wu Qingxin’s title as a Saintess and banish her from Heyang City."
Emperor Yonghe was slightly shocked.
He never expected that this matter would turn out like this.
Could it be that the cultivators of the Xuantian Sect are easier to talk to than the other Eight Immortal Gates? They even discuss right and wrong?
Next to Guard Chu, his heart was greatly shaken.
Although he couldn’t understand why, he only knew one thing.
This Saintess Wu Qingxin, is probably going to die soon.
This woman was originally a traitor of the Wuji Association. As soon as she left Xuantian Temple, she would likely face the pursuit of the Wuji Association…
"Great Yan Emperor, now that this matter is resolved. Shouldn’t you also start your journey?" Taoist Chiyang smiled and said.
…………..
At the same moment, outside Xuantian Temple in the north of the city.
Yesterday’s blood stains and signs of fighting have all been cleaned up. People are coming and going on the streets, occasionally pilgrims enter Xuantian Temple, everything is the same as before.
Inside a noodle restaurant by the street.
Qiao Mu chose a table near the street and sat down. He ordered a bowl of long life noodles.
"Today is my 60th birthday… I’ll add some beef, no, maybe lamb instead."
He sat there quietly slurping his noodles, occasionally looking up at the busy street. He felt a rare sense of tranquility in his heart.
Meow~
About thirty or forty steps away, a little cat peeked out from a corner of the wall and let out a meow. When it saw Qiao Mu looking over, it quickly hid again.
Qiao Mu noticed that whenever this silly cat got too close to him, it would become weak and limp, collapsing on the ground with squinted eyes, as if offering itself to be picked up.
He didn’t hold back either. After encountering this magical cat last night for the first time, he immediately grabbed it and petted it like crazy.
Since then, the cat didn’t dare to get too close to him.
At first, it only dared to follow Qiao Mu from a distance of about forty to fifty steps away. Then it became slightly braver and approached a little closer.
I wonder if the demon cat’s body has gradually gotten used to the strong smell of death, or if the death on Qiao Mu’s body has faded because of it.
However, it doesn’t matter. As long as it is willing to stay by Qiao Mu’s side, that’s good.
The Impermanent Demon Cat, a creature that can smell death, usually only appears around people who are about to die.
The closer Qiao Mu gets to death, the happier the cat is, and Qiao Mu also becomes happier.
Qiao Mu pondered, maybe he could judge how close he is to death based on the cat’s reaction?
He bowed his head to eat noodles, occasionally glancing at Xuantian Temple.
Qiao Mu continued to stay nearby because he was actually enamored with Saintess Wu Qingxin and wanted to personally see her off.
But because he had practiced the "Martial Saint Spiritual Technique," his uncertain intuition made Qiao Mu believe that it would be impossible to successfully assassinate her.
Perhaps the intuition’s warning is mutual; once he gets closer, Wu Qingxin should also sense it.
"Is it really so magical?" Qiao Mu frowned.
He had practiced the "Martial Saint Spiritual Technique" to the point of being "skilled," and had gained a deeper understanding of this secret technique.
He felt that there was something fishy about this secret technique, maybe he should temporarily stop practicing it and focus on other martial arts instead.
"Hmm? Isn’t that Sheriff Qian?" Qiao Mu’s gaze fell on a soap-clothed constable on the side of the street.
Qian Qian, at this moment, was leading a team of constables patrolling the streets, coming and going in a hurry.
There were more patrolling constables and officers on the streets near Xuantian Temple, it was clear that security was much stricter than usual.
It is estimated that they were afraid of another person like Qiao Pifu, trespassing on the sacred grounds of the Immortal Gate.
Suddenly.
Sheriff Qian, in contrast to his serious expression, quickly put on a smile on his face and slightly bent his waist, bowing to a middle-aged man in official attire walking along the street.
"Isn’t that Governor Lou…" whispered the diners nearby.
"Is Governor Lou going into Xuantian Temple?"
"Has yesterday’s incident become a big deal?"
Qiao Mu was slightly surprised and his gaze fell on Qian Qian’s face.
Governor Lou didn’t pay attention to Sheriff Qian’s greeting on the street. He hurriedly entered Xuantian Temple with some guards.
Qian Qian breathed a sigh of relief. There was no trace of hatred or any other emotion on his face as he resumed his patrol.
"I wonder how many taels of redemption gold Qian Qian has paid to the Lous over the years for his old father?"
"No… there is no more redemption gold now."
Qiao Mu silently watched as Governor Lou walked into Xuantian Temple.
One cent can challenge a hero, but Sheriff Qian couldn’t accumulate the thousand silver coins in his whole life.
………
Inside Xuantian Temple, the main hall.
Saintess Wu Qingxin silently looked at the statues of immortal beings on the altar of Xuantian Temple.
The immortal beings are roughly divided into three levels based on their status.
Led by the sect leader "Immortal Xuantian, the Great Virtue, Great Power," the elders of the sect occupy the main position.
The second level consists of the holy sons of Immortal Gate, as well as a few outstanding disciples of the younger generation.
At the very bottom rank, there are attendants of Immortal Gate who protect temples, such as "Immortal Chiyang" and "Immortal Qingyang".
But there is no plaque for Wu Qingxin, a saintess of Immortal Gate.
"One day, I will also become one of the immortals in the Xuantian Sect."
She looked back and saw that Governor Lou was approaching with his people.
"Saintess," Lord Lou said with an apologetic smile on his face.
"Regarding yesterday’s incident with Qiao Pifu, although it was only his recklessness, it still violated the sacred grounds of the Immortal Gate. It has made me uneasy," the official said.
"This ten thousand silver taels is the tribute from the city, given to Xuantian Temple. Knowing that Xuantian Temple needs funds for reconstruction, I have sent it in advance…"
After speaking, the followers brought over a large box filled with neatly stacked silver coins.
Wu Qingxin looked expressionless, her gaze cold.
Even though she held the title of Saintess, it didn’t quite live up to its name.
Yet within the Heyang City, in the eyes of worldly figures like Lord Lou, she was still a significant figure representing both the Xuantian Sect and the Immortal Gate.
Governor Lou was also a martial artist of the 4th rank, and also the ruler of a province.
Now that something has happened, even though he has nothing to do with it, he immediately sent ten thousand silver pieces, afraid that the Immortal Gate would find a reason to blame him.
All the talk is about fearing the tiger’s skin she has.
As for the rebuilding of Xuantian Temple… it’s just an excuse.
Yesterday, that Qiao Pifu burned to ashes, just as he had arrived at the entrance of Xuantian Temple, he hadn’t even stepped inside, and it’s just a small problem that some martial arts slaves died.
"Lord Lou, there’s no need to worry, this matter has nothing to do with you," Wu Qingxin said calmly.
"Our Immortal Gate acts with integrity and would never act recklessly."
Governor Lou breathed a sigh of relief and soon took his leave.
Wu Qingxin glanced at the box filled with silver coins.
On the path of cultivation, we should also follow the Law of Partnership in Wealth.
The worldly possessions of gold and silver are not of great help to her, but they do have their uses.
After some contemplation, she gathered all the servant practitioners from the Taoist temple.
"Yesterday, you defended Xuantian Temple, but failed to completely stop that ordinary martial artist…"
As the story goes on, the servants became extremely fearful and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, worried that the Saintess would punish them.
"Stand up, there’s no need to plead guilty," the Saintess said calmly.
"Our Immortal Gate’s actions, even if they are wrong, are still right."
"Your mistake lies in your weakness."
"Although you are weak, many people were injured yesterday. Despite having no achievements, you have worked hard."
"This is your reward," he said, waving his hand and giving some silver coins as a reward to these martial arts servants.
"Thank you, Saintess," the servants exclaimed excitedly, expressing their gratitude repeatedly.
This Saintess Wu Qingxin is the ideal in the hearts of these servants.
If it weren’t for Wu Qingxin, who turned from martial arts to cultivation, becoming the Saintess, they might not have been willing to do these chores.
"If you serve the Immortal Gate for me, there will be rewards. If you can accomplish great feats, not only these ordinary things, but even the secret techniques of the sect may be bestowed upon you."
After painting such a beautiful picture, she realized it was just an illusion:
"Beyond the western hills outside this city, although there are monsters roaming, there are also occasional treasures of heaven and earth…"
Wu Qingxin dared not leave Heyang City, but if this martial arts slave could go to dangerous places on her behalf to pick some spiritual fruits, it would be making the most of their abilities.
It can only be said that the identity of the Saintess is incredibly useful.
Whether it’s the lord of the manor, Lord Lou, or the martial arts slave in the Taoist temple, they all treat her with great respect.
After dealing with these trivial matters, Saintess Wu Qingxin once again took off with the wind and flew back into the building on the top of the hill.
She hasn’t been practicing daoism for a long time, so she needs to make the most of her time to seclude herself.
However, this time, as soon as she returned to the hill, she saw a daoist dressed in a red robe at the entrance of the building.
"Saintess, I have come to inform you of an important matter, which has been decided by the elders of the sect…" Taoist Chiyang said with a smile.
After Taoist Chiyang finished speaking, Wu Qingxin’s usual cold expression disappeared instantly.