Chapter 87: Immortal Sheng Lan
Once inside Hanzhong City, the temperature rose slightly, but snow still piled on the eaves and icicles hung low. Every breath turned into a mist.
Fortunately, spiritual energy was abundant here. Cultivators could regulate their breathing to protect their bodies, so they didn’t feel cold whether they wore much or not.
Hanzhong City was usually in a state of chaos. With the Wenxin Secret Realm about to open nearby, the city was even more overcrowded.
On the streets, one could see all kinds of cultivators. Some were in groups wearing uniform attire, while others were solitary. Judging by their appearances, none of them seemed like kind souls. Because they lived on the edge of a blade all year round, they carried a heavy aura of slaughter.
The roads in the city were wide, and there were merchants selling magical artifacts and treasures. Every hundred steps or so, there was a guard maintaining order. No one dared to cause trouble; it was clear the City Lord was quite powerful and inspired awe.
Feng Shi walked with Xue Mei, Zhou Rurong, and other acquaintances, but he didn’t dare to interact too much with them, fearing Shen Songhe beside him would cast another itch-curse and create two more Xie Anhuis.
After walking for a while, a carriage drawn by snow wolves approached from ahead.
The carriage looked as if it were carved from ice and jade, crystal clear. Blue jade rings hung above, draped with white gauze.
The wind fluttered the white gauze like ripples on water. The jade stones struck each other, making a crisp sound along the way.
Beside the carriage, two white-faced singers hovered. They were dressed in emerald-blue clothes, with cherry-red mouths, smiling with their eyes squinted. At first glance, they looked like paper effigies, appearing somewhat eerie.
He wondered who was sitting in that carriage to have such a grand display.
As Feng Shi thought this, he and the others stepped aside slightly. His gaze fell upon the figure faintly visible behind the white gauze.
Just as he was guessing the identity, a talkative rogue cultivator nearby provided the answer.
“Ah! It’s the carriage of Immortal Sheng Lan from the Yusui Immortal Sect!”
“I didn’t expect her to come this time! If I could catch a glimpse of her beauty, this trip would not be in vain!”
“Didn’t they say Immortal Venerable Yubai from the Chongshan Sect is also coming? If they meet, there might be a good show to watch!”
Feng Shi hadn’t been very interested, but hearing this, his eyebrows shot up.
Immortal Venerable Yubai?
Shen Songhe?
He lazily shifted his gaze over.
Shen Songhe sat regally on his flying carpet, his expression indifferent and his skin as translucent as snow. There wasn’t a ripple of emotion. Seeing Feng Shi look over, his cold eyes softened as he sent a voice transmission: “What is it?”
Feng Shi didn’t know much about Shen Songhe’s past, nor did he know much about the Yusui Immortal Sect. But he knew that Immortal Sheng Lan was the second-ranked beauty on that list of four.
Shen Songhe was number one.
The two were often ranked together.
Judging by what that rogue cultivator said, could it be that these two had some past history?
“Nothing.” Feng Shi thought this in his mind, but his face remained expressionless as he looked away.
Shen Songhe pursed his thin lips. In the next instant, he stood up from the flying carpet and landed beside Feng Shi.
He had a protective artifact casting an illusion; only Feng Shi could see and touch him.
His dark red robes made him look like a plum blossom in the snow, reducing his previous coldness and adding a touch of allure. His passionate eyes were as soft as water.
The back of Feng Shi’s neck felt a bit hot. Just as the heat was about to reach his earlobes, he forcibly suppressed it with spiritual energy.
Ever since Feng Shi mentioned that white was too plain and suggested he try other colors, Shen Songhe had been putting effort into his attire every day.
When a person is good-looking, anything they wear is just the icing on the cake. Different colors brought out different charms, making him even more seductive.
Today’s red was particularly hard to resist.
Just as the two were about to speak, the carriage that should have passed by suddenly stopped in front of the Chongshan Sect group.
The surrounding chatter stopped abruptly. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the delicate jade hand that lifted the white gauze.
After a short silence, the gauze was pulled back further, revealing a small, slender chin and a full lower lip.
The red lips parted, and a soft, gentle voice asked, “Where is Yubai?”
The spectating rogue cultivators were excited: Here it comes, here it comes!
Feng Shi thought to himself: Sounds like a very gentle and beautiful woman.
Qiu Changzhou felt his scalp tingle as soon as he saw the carriage. He had hoped they would pass by quickly, but it seemed he couldn’t escape it. He could only respond with a smile, “Junior Brother is unwell and it’s inconvenient for him to travel. Immortal Sheng Lan, don’t believe those rumors.”
The person behind the white gauze didn’t respond immediately. After a long while, she suddenly lowered her hand, seemingly believing him.
A moment later, the carriage started moving again. The wind lifted a corner of the gauze, allowing Feng Shi to briefly see the person’s true face.
She was indeed a rare, peerless beauty, but…
Um…
Just now, it seemed, appeared, likely, perhaps… she gave him a glare…
They had never met before. Feng Shi just assumed he was seeing things and didn’t take it to heart.
As the carriage drove away, the surrounding people dispersed, looking somewhat disappointed.
Qiu Changzhou also let out a breath of stale air and turned to wipe his sweat.
However, before he could take a step, Sheng Lan’s voice called out from a distance, sounding so sinister it made his hair stand on end: “Qiu Changzhou, if you dare to lie to this old lady, I’ll make sure you lose your reputation in your old age!”
The voice was airy and gentle as it echoed through the long street.
As soon as these words were spoken, Feng Shi saw the male cultivators around him silently clutching their waistbands tightly. They then looked at Qiu Changzhou with smiles, as if waiting for a show.
Feng Shi: “??”
Beside him, Xue Mei covered her mouth and giggled. “I’ve heard that Immortal Sheng Lan likes to pull down male cultivators’ pants to dampen their spirits. I didn’t expect it to be true.”
Feng Shi: (゜ロ゜)
Realizing what this meant, he suddenly looked at Shen Songhe beside him, thinking of a possibility.
No way, no way…
Shen Songhe read his gaze and helplessly flicked his forehead. “What are you thinking?” Then he clarified for himself, “No.”
Feng Shi couldn’t believe that such a gentle-looking beauty could have such a personality. He looked at Qiu Changzhou, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, with extreme pity.
After this small interlude, the group finally arrived at the accommodation reserved for them by the City Lord of Hanzhong.
It was a luxurious ten-story inn consisting of four buildings surrounding a large open space in the middle. It was as lively as a small city inside, even featuring a small arena for people to spar.
The people staying here should be from the Five Great Immortal Sects.
The Chongshan Sect was an exception due to their “backdoor” connections.
However, the people staying here were all sect disciples. Figures of status like Immortal Sheng Lan had separate residences.
Feng Shi even saw disciples of the Hehuan Sect. Those disciples were naturally wild and uninhibited, teasing the disciples of other sects until their faces were red. This reminded him of the fear of being controlled by Zhao Xianyun, and he couldn’t help but shudder violently.
The group entered the building. Feng Shi was lost in thought when, quite unexpectedly, he almost collided head-on with someone at a corner.
Translator’s Note: Immortal Sheng Lan’s hobby is… unique, to say the least! Poor Sect Leader Qiu. And it seems Sheng Lan might have a bit of a grudge against Feng Shi already? Also, the Hehuan Sect disciples are back! Things are definitely going to get chaotic in Hanzhong City before the secret realm even opens.
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