Love & Redemption
Chapter 47 - 7: Descend the Mountain

Chapter 47: Chapter 7: Descend the Mountain

The third watch.

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Once the New Year had passed, young disciples who were to experience life through travel began leaving Shouyang Mountain one after another.

Xuanji, Linglong, and the others also left on the third day. There was no specific destination set for them, but the ironclad rule was that they were not allowed to return to the Shaoyang Sect within the year.

The three of them stayed one night at an inn at the foot of the mountain and discussed their itinerary for the coming days.

"Why don’t we go to Fuyu Island first?" Linglong was very excited, not at all aware of the purpose of the journey and took it as if they were heading out for an outing.

Zhong Minyan had just finished a set of Yao Hua Swordsmanship, sweat dripping from his hair, came over to look at the map she had drawn, and shook his head, "We should not go there. We are not out to play. It’s better to set a direction first and inquire where demons and evil people are causing trouble, that’s the proper thing to do."

Linglong played with the braid that hung in front of her chest and pouted, "But I want to see Uncle Dongfang! Besides, Xuanji didn’t get to see Uncle Dongfang’s wife last time, and they even promised we could come and visit whenever we had free time! Xuanji, you want to go too, right?"

She hurriedly sought an ally.

Xuanji studied the map for a while and then said, "Fuyu Island is in the east. If we use Sword Control to get there, it will only take half a day. I have an idea; how about we give up using Sword Control altogether on this journey and walk instead? That way, it would take us several months, and we might hear news about demonic disturbances along the way."

Linglong was startled and protested, "How can that be okay! Walking on foot... How long would that take! If there’s no inn on the way, no place to bathe... It’ll be filthy, I don’t want that! Xiao Liuzi~~~ speak up!"

She ran again to enlist Zhong Minyan as an ally.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Minyan actually did not side with her. After pondering for a while, he nodded and said, "Xuanji’s idea is good, let’s do that. We just need to cross the sea to get to the island, then we can use Sword Control to fly there. Wherever there is land, we’ll walk slowly. That’s what training is all about, Linglong."

"..." With no one to support her, Linglong fell silent and, out of spite, skipped dinner and returned to her room.

"Sixth Brother, my sister tends to calm down as quickly as she gets angry, but it’s not good for her to be all pent up alone. Why don’t you go and talk to her?"

Xuanji poured herself a cup of tea while she added to the map names of places Linglong hadn’t written down, suggesting this as she spoke.

When she waited and got no response for a long time, she looked up in surprise to find Zhong Minyan staring at her. Startled, she asked, "What’s the matter?"

Zhong Minyan smiled and said, "No, I was just thinking... you really have changed a lot, Xuanji."

Xuanji touched her face subconsciously and asked in surprise, "I... People grow up, they’re bound to change."

She thought Zhong Minyan was commenting on how much her appearance had changed.

Zhong Minyan shook his head gently, saying, "I’m not talking about that. The kind of troublesome temperament you used to have seems to have mellowed quite a bit, and it seems you’ve learned a lot more too. It looks like Uncle has taught you a lot."

Xuanji didn’t speak and looked down at the map she was drawing. It was as if she suddenly realized he was right; she had unknowingly learned many things. She had not understood before why memorizing maps was useful, but now she realized it could come in handy.

Zhong Minyan said slowly, "I still remember the last time we went to Lutai Mountain for Demon Hunting, how ragged you looked. Even Si Feng was greatly annoyed..."

Upon mentioning Si Feng, both fell silent.

After a moment, Xuanji cautiously asked, "Sixth Brother... Have you, have you been in contact with Si Feng these past few years?"

Zhong Minyan was taken aback and suddenly said, "No... What about you? I remember Si Feng reminded Linglong many times, telling you to write to him after you recovered. Did you write to him?"

Xuanji’s expression turned bitter, and after a long pause, she said softly, "I... forgot."

"How can you forget?!" Zhong Minyan jumped up, finally unable to contain his composure, revealing his true nature, "You really have a pig’s brain!"

"I went to Little Yang Peak and then remembered I forgot to ask Linglong how to write a letter to Si Feng..." Xuanji propped her chin in frustration, "Then I got busy learning this and that from Master, and I completely forgot."

"There’s really no relying on you for anything! Forget it, I’m going up! So I don’t die of frustration because of you!"

Zhong Minyan turned around and walked away.

"Wait a second..." Xuanji called after him, "Then... we can still ask Linglong now!"

Zhong Minyan turned back with a sarcastic smile, "It’s been four years, how could she possibly remember. You sisters..." he pointed at his head, "are pretty much cut from the same cloth."

Why didn’t he contact Si Feng himself? Xuanji felt dismayed, this must be what Master called misplaced anger. It was always like this with Zhong Minyan, it was never his fault in a million years, no, Mr. Zhong could do no wrong.

She lowered her head to finish the map and also felt a bit tired, so she went upstairs to rest on her own.

The next day, when she saw Linglong, she was acting as if nothing happened, presumably Zhong Minyan had calmed her down effectively the day before. The young lady was smiling like a blooming flower, unusually, she had called for breakfast for them, waiting downstairs on her own initiative.

Upon seeing Xuanji descend the stairs, she eagerly waved, "Xuanji! Over here! Let’s set off after we finish breakfast, shall we?"

Xuanji took out the map from her bosom, looked at it, and said, "If we’re heading east, we’ll need to cross Pusu River first, and after the river, there should be a town. We can decide our next move based on the situation there."

"Alright! I’ll follow your lead." Linglong smiled sweetly, completely different from the day before.

Zhong Minyan really did have some skill. She glanced up at him, but he pretended not to notice, focusing hard on drinking his soy milk, only to choke on it and start coughing violently.

"Look at you, can’t even eat without causing a fuss." Linglong hurried over to pat his back, the very picture of a devoted wife and mother.

While Zhong Minyan kept coughing, suddenly, two or three men wearing straw capes, travel-worn, came in from outside the inn. One of them approached the innkeeper to inquire, "Excuse me, how many days’ journey is it from here to Shouyang Mountain?"

The three of them, hearing his accent that seemed foreign, couldn’t help but look over.

The innkeeper smiled and said, "Dear guest, you are heading to Shouyang Mountain! Not far at all, just follow the road behind the town straight up, about two or three days’ walk, and you’ll see the gate of Shaoyang Sect. May I ask, does your village have a demon causing trouble, hence you’ve come to request the Immortals of Shaoyang for demon hunting?"

The man sighed and shook his head repeatedly, "Indeed. We are from the east, from Wangxian Town. Ghosts have been causing disturbances in our town, every midnight there are cries of ghosts and howls of wolves, scaring everyone to the point where no one dares to step outside. It’s been going on for over three months, with the weakened and the women and children, sickening and dying, we just can’t go on like this. Later, a passing Taoist said that Shaoyang Sect on Shouyang Mountain is a famous place for cultivation, and so we’ve come to request an Immortal to exorcise the ghosts."

Hearing this, the innkeeper fell into thought and said, "Hmm, it’s always said that once yin and yang part, spirits and ghosts are rarely seen. If it’s a demon wreaking havoc, then the Immortals on the mountain are indeed adept at handling it. As for exorcising ghosts, I’m afraid..."

Before he could finish, a crisp voice interrupted, "Those uncles over there, we’re willing to exorcise the ghosts for your town! Please come and talk."

Everyone hurriedly looked, only to see in the hall, three young men and women, with handsome features and extraordinary demeanor, it was Xuanji and her group.

As it happened, Xuanji had checked the map and found out that Wangxian Town was to the east, which was on their way. Linglong, who loved excitement, heard about the ghost exorcism and quickly called them over.

Seeing the swords at their waists, the men figured they must also be people of Tao, and they quickly approached to bow their heads and exchange names. It turned out the three were brothers, all surnamed Zhao.

Zhong Minyan bowed his fist and said, "We are cultivation disciples from Shaoyang Sect out for experiential training. Please, Uncle Zhao, tell us more about the ghost disturbances in detail. If we can assist, we will certainly spare no effort."

Boss Zhao sighed and said, "Young man, you are kind, but as the innkeeper just said, those of cultivation may not be too familiar with exorcising ghosts..."

Linglong interrupted him with a smile, "Oh, you can’t say that! Seeing is believing, we won’t know if we can handle it unless we go and see. Uncle, please tell us the situation first!"