My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion
Chapter 168 - 148: Just a Furnace

Chapter 168: Chapter 148: Just a Furnace

"Bring the Taoist here to lock the soul and bind the spirit."

Chen Yi’s gaze was heavy as he stared at the corpse on the ground.

"Yes."

The officer beside him rushed out of the cell in a panic. The prisoner about to be interrogated had committed suicide in custody—an incident that, if not handled promptly, could spell disaster for someone.

The corpse’s head hung lifelessly, still in a meditation posture at the moment of death. Chen Yi glanced at the dossier in his hand, his expression growing more solemn.

It seemed that Elder Luo had disclosed certain forbidden information and was silenced through a sinister method of the magic cult.

The magic cult, the Sacred Body Elixir Soup, the Princess Consort of Xiang... These threads seemed connected by an invisible line, and caught in the midst of them was none other than Yin Tingxue, who was supposed to be the Demon Sect Saintess.

Chen Yi’s gaze sharpened with a trace of ruthlessness.

His determination to unravel the mystery intensified, for he would never allow anyone to target the people he cared about.

After a long pause, Chen Yi spoke slowly:

"The matters concerning the Joyful Sect are far more intricate than I imagined."

Although Min Ning wasn’t privy to the deeper details, she understood that Chen Yi wasn’t exaggerating. She pondered for a moment before asking:

"Then... next, do we just wait here?"

"No, waiting idly is useless. Besides, this magic cult elder might have used a secret technique to entirely obliterate the soul. I need to head to Wuyong Building. Will you come?"

"You’re going to find... my sister?"

Min Ning felt a sudden unease in her heart.

Chen Yi shook his head and said:

"Your sister may be the Oiran, but in Wuyong Building, she’s merely an intelligence broker. The one I want to meet is Li Jisheng, the shopkeeper of the Capital City’s Wuyong Building."

...............

Jinya Pavilion, situated near the capital, though not in it, bore the elegance of the city. Its architecture was exquisite, complemented by gardens, artificial hills, and vibrant floral arrangements. Even as winter approached, traces of spring remained.

In one of the side chambers, Lu Ying expertly brewed tea, accompanied by a stunning woman dressed in men’s attire, who eagerly watched the rising bubbles in the tea. Inside the room was a prayer mat, upon which sat none other than the Taichua Goddess, Yin Weiying.

It was morning, yet outside the pavilion, carriages and horses bustled, and individuals of various demeanors continued to enter. Most carried weapons, clearly marking them as Jianghu figures.

The previous day, Jinya Pavilion announced that a successor of the Joyful Sect had fallen into the hands of Li Jisheng. The wealthy merchant, known for his silk trade, naturally seized this opportunity and hosted a small auction via Wuyong Building, starting at three thousand silver taels, with the highest bidder taking possession.

This auction was exclusive, with access reserved for only the elite, either wealthy or noble.

As the Taichua Goddess and the daughter of Prince Jing, Yin Weiying was naturally among the select few.

However, Yin Weiying wouldn’t attend the auction herself; she sent someone in her place, while she remained in the side chamber to discuss Taoist skills with a fellow cultivator from Yin Sword Mountain.

After brewing the tea, Lu Ying handed cups to East Palace’s Ruo Shu and Yin Weiying. The female crown accepted her tea, scrutinized its color, took a light sip, and marveled:

"Excellent tea—its appearance and flavor are both of the highest quality."

Lu Ying returned a faint smile and remarked:

"Unfortunately, there is no serene scenery to accompany it. If the Goddess visits the summit pavilion of Cangwu Peak at Yin Sword Mountain, overlooking the mountains while sipping tea, that would truly be indulgence."

Yin Weiying nodded. Earlier, the two had debated Taoist practices with sharp repartee—but such exchanges hadn’t caused any discord. Instead, mutual respect akin to the camaraderie of ancient sages had blossomed between them.

East Palace’s Ruo Shu gulped her tea down in a single motion.

"Look at you,"

Lu Ying, accustomed to her carefree demeanor, retrieved her teacup and was about to remark, "How will you become the Crown Princess Consort behaving like this?" But noticing Yin Weiying’s presence, she hastily amended her words:

"Who taught you such habits?"

"My master, of course. Who else?"

Ruo Shu replied, hugging her ankles, rocking back and forth, showing no sense of decorum,

"Just as tea is swallowed in one gulp, so too might one strike with a blade in a single movement."

Earlier, while Lu Ying and Yin Weiying debated Taoist principles, Ruo Shu had been bored to the point of drowsiness. But now, she was clearly more animated.

She glanced at Yin Weiying and seemed to recall something, turning to Lu Ying with curiosity:

"That argument you had—does it mean Yin Sword Mountain and Taihua Mountain cultivate different Taoist methods?"

"Of course they differ."

Lu Ying paused, half-explaining and half-praising:

"Taihua Mountain practices the Supreme Forgetting Emotions method, requiring golden boys and jade girls to first form emotional bonds, then detach from them, mutually protecting one another to achieve enlightenment and ascend as immortals. Yin Sword Mountain’s approach, however, is to enter the Tao through the sword. The sword’s essence is the heart of the Tao; one ascends in a single strike, needing no partner nor seeking one."

"What happens if someone seeks a partner?"

Ruo Shu asked curiously.

"According to tradition, they would be expelled from the sect."

Lu Ying, well-versed in her sect’s rules, answered matter-of-factly.

Ruo Shu turned to Yin Weiying and, with her characteristic easy familiarity, smiled and said:

"Yin Sword Mountain is dull. If I ever cultivate, I’ll surely join Immortal Yin’s sect."

"Blessings of Infinite Heavenly Venerable—each path has its own karma."

Yin Weiying replied with a faint smile.

Ruo Shu leaned closer and asked, "Then if I may be so bold... does Immortal Yin have a dao companion?"

The white-clad female crown’s expression froze.

Ruo Shu, with wide and innocent eyes, looked at her. It was clear that all her prior buildup had been leading to this question.

After all, she’d heard rumors suggesting that the Taichua Goddess had some kind of involvement with West Factory Thousand Households Chen Yi.

Yin Weiying’s serene visage dimmed like spring water clouded. She knew all too well how such stories had spread—from their encounter with the Ghost General Deng Ai in Huaisui Village, the relationship between her and Chen Yi had seemed ambiguous to outsiders.

Although the witnesses had largely been Taoist sect peers, cultivation didn’t guarantee moral impeccability, nor did it prevent backbiting.

After collecting her thoughts for a moment, the female crown lowered her gaze before offering a subtle smile:

"Not a dao companion."

Ruo Shu blinked her eyes wide in surprise and asked:

"But how come I’ve heard stories about Immortal Yin and that Chen Yi amidst tales of phoenixes seeking mates?"

"Such impudence!"

Lu Ying quickly took hold of her, scolding her before turning to Yin Weiying to apologize,

"Immortal Yin, please forgive her."

"No matter. The tales exist as they are; let others speak as they will. How does it affect me?"

Yin Weiying spoke calmly, not taking offense, but rather displaying an almost carefree manner befitting someone who walks freely under the night sky.

Witnessing her composure, Lu Ying silently admired her title of Taichua Goddess.

"Then what exactly is the relationship between him and Immortal Yin?"

Ruo Shu asked nervously.

"Merely..."

Yin Weiying slowly uttered two words,

"A furnace."

Ruo Shu was stunned by the revelation, while Lu Ying looked somewhat perplexed.

Yin Weiying observed their reactions and secretly exhaled in relief. Since rumors of her connection with Chen Yi had already circulated, there had to be an explanation—otherwise, if wild tales spread further, how would she mitigate the damage?

But revealing the truth was out of the question. If it leaked, it wouldn’t just tarnish her reputation; the dignity of the Prince Jing Mansion and Taihua Mountain would also crumble.

And as a Taoist, she couldn’t utter falsehoods, so she cleverly played with semantics.

Yin Weiying chuckled lightly, her voice faint and serene, as though imparting Taoist wisdom:

"This Tao practices the Supreme Forgetting Emotions method. By chance, I dreamt of guidance from an immortal and attained sudden enlightenment. I chose not golden boys and jade girls but rather a furnace to forge a new path to achieve Taoist mastery. The trials and tribulations within are not worth elaboration."

Ruo Shu gazed at Yin Weiying, half-stunned and half-awed. That renowned Thousand Households of the West Factory, Chen Yi, was merely the Taichua Goddess’s furnace?

What kind of... bizarre yet strangely fitting reality was this?

Thinking back, Chen Yi was but a martial artist. And yet, he slew a flood dragon to save the emperor, earning repeated accolades despite his prior obscurity. The peculiarities now made sense—he was backed by the Taichua Goddess herself.

Watching their growing belief, Yin Weiying inwardly sighed in relief.

As long as Chen Yi, the person in question, wasn’t present, the truth could remain hidden. She could continue being the revered Taichua Goddess of the mountains...