CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 42: YONGHUA CITY

Yue Zhao turned around, glanced at Jun Wu, and nodded.

"Geng Geng, since Brother Yue is looking for you, I’ll leave first. You should rest early." Jun Wu suggested his departure before Gu Qingqing could speak.

"Alright, you should rest early too." Gu Qingqing nodded.

After Jun Wu left, she turned her head to look at Yue Zhao.

"Let’s go in, Second Brother." She walked to Yue Zhao’s side and said.

Yue Zhao nodded and followed Gu Qingqing into the courtyard.

"Rong Ye just sent us a message. They have returned to the Holy Land and informed Master of what happened. The First Brother has had some insights and is now in seclusion, trying to break through to the Half-step Immortal Rank. Rong Ye said he had some matters to attend to, so they won’t be coming over for now. The son of the Wuji Sect Master and the daughter of the Liuyun Pavilion Master are getting married on the ninth day of next month. They’ve sent an invitation to Master, who wants us to attend on his behalf." After sitting in the drawing room, Yue Zhao conveyed Rong Ye’s message to Gu Qingqing.

"The First Brother is going to make a breakthrough? Is his injury alright?" A breakthrough is a good thing, but Gu Qingqing remembered that Si Lin was still injured, so she asked worriedly.

"With Mu Chen’s elixirs, the First Brother’s injuries have healed." Yue Zhao put down his cup and said with a smile.

"That’s good," Gu Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and was happy for Si Lin, "Where is the Wuji Sect? When do we leave?"

Please forgive Gu Qingqing for not having a clear understanding of the power distribution in the Sub-immortal Realm despite being here for so long. She only remembered the locations of a few major forces, but there were so many second-tier forces like the Wuji Sect, she couldn’t remember them all!

"The Wuji Sect is in Qing City of Chiyun Prefecture. Whenever you want to leave, we’ll leave then." Yue Zhao looked at Gu Qingqing and said dotingly.

Gu Qingqing thought for a moment. Her injuries had healed, and she had reached the ninth level, so she seemed to have no reason to stay in Yunlan Sacred Land. "Then let’s depart the day after tomorrow."

Today she had just promised Shen Shuyi to spend more time with her, and they had agreed to go shopping together tomorrow, so she couldn’t break her promise!

"Alright," since Yue Zhao said he would let Gu Qingqing decide, he naturally had no objections, "You’ve just recovered not long ago, rest early. I’ll leave now."

After discussing things, Yue Zhao stood up and said to Gu Qingqing.

Gu Qingqing nodded, seeing Yue Zhao to the door, and returned to the courtyard after he left.

The next morning, when Jun Wu accompanied Gu Qingqing to Shen Shuyi’s courtyard, Gu Qingqing informed Jun Wu of this matter.

"I’ll go with you," Jun Wu said without thinking.

"But aren’t you the Saint Heir of Yunlan Sacred Land? Is it alright for you to leave Yunlan Sacred Land casually?" Gu Qingqing asked curiously, looking at Jun Wu.

"It’s alright. Although I am the Saint Heir, my father is in his prime and manages most things." Jun Wu explained.

Previously, Jun Wu handled most affairs of Yunlan Sacred Land, but since he was pursuing Gu Qingqing now, his father, Jun Yutian, had to help with the management!

Thinking of Jun Yutian, Gu Qingqing nodded without suspicion. She naturally hoped Jun Wu would accompany her, so she wouldn’t refuse.

After Gu Qingqing was dropped off at Shen Shuyi’s place, Jun Wu left, while Gu Qingqing stayed to accompany Shen Shuyi shopping.

Shen Shuyi had once thought of having a daughter, but unfortunately, her health was weak, and she was injured during Jun Wu’s birth, making it difficult to conceive, which she always regretted. Now seeing Gu Qingqing reignited her desire for a daughter.

Gu Qingqing was someone Jun Wu liked, and in Shen Shuyi’s heart, she was half her child. Since she considered her own, she naturally doted on her. So, while shopping with Gu Qingqing, she constantly bought her things—clothes, jewelry... anything she thought suited Gu Qingqing, she’d buy it. Gu Qingqing felt awkward initially, but later became indifferent, thinking as long as Shen Shuyi was happy.

When they returned to Shen Shuyi’s courtyard, it was already evening, and Jun Wu was waiting.

After Jun Wu and Shen Shuyi exchanged a few words, he escorted Gu Qingqing back to her residence.

The next morning, Gu Qingqing and her group bade farewell to Jun Yutian and Shen Shuyi, leaving Yunlan Sacred Land and heading to Chiyun Prefecture.

The journey from Yunlan Sacred Land to Chiyun Prefecture passed through Yuehua Prefecture and Anhe Prefecture, and wasn’t very far. Plus, with some time until the ninth of next month, Yue Zhao and others took the opportunity to show Gu Qingqing around.

After leaving Yunlan Sacred Land, their first stop was Yonghua City in Yuehua Prefecture.

Yonghua City is a medium-sized city, very large, with a large population, making it very lively to walk around.

Due to the rich spiritual energy in the Sub-immortal Realm, almost everyone can cultivate, unlike the Xuantian Continent, where there are mortals. You can see people with cultivation levels of four or five stages everywhere on the streets. Even the little assistants in the shops are at the fourth or fifth stage.

The members of Gu Qingqing’s group were all exceedingly good-looking and carried an exceptional presence. Upon entering Yonghua City, many people kept staring at them, but they had long since gotten used to such attention and weren’t bothered by it.

With Yue Zhao and the others around, Gu Qingqing didn’t have to wear a veil like she did in Huazhou City. She was holding Little Yu, chatting and laughing with Yun Ran along the way, becoming a beautiful scenery. If it weren’t for Yue Zhao and the others looking extraordinary, someone would have approached them long ago.

Yun Ran and Zhuo Tingqiu didn’t accompany Gu Qingqing to Yunlan Sacred Land earlier. They had waited in a nearby city and only joined Gu Qingqing and the others upon their departure.

When Yun Ran and Zhuo Tingqiu saw that Gu Qingqing had broken through to the ninth stage, they were numb to the fact, having grown accustomed to her rapid advancement.

After the previous battle with the Demon Clan, their cultivation levels also increased. It wouldn’t be long before they could break through to the ninth stage!

"We’ll stay overnight in Yonghua City and continue our journey tomorrow," Yue Zhao said after observing the time of day to the others.

Gu Qingqing naturally had no objection. They found an inn that seemed decent to stay, freshened up, and went out to find food.

"I just inquired with the inn staff, and there’s a restaurant in Yonghua City called Phoenix Pavilion. They make excellent roasted chicken. Let’s eat there," Yun Ran suggested, looking at Gu Qingqing.

"Sounds great." Hearing about good food, Gu Qingqing agreed immediately without hesitation.

The others had no objections, so they made their way to Phoenix Pavilion.

When they arrived, Phoenix Pavilion was almost full, and this restaurant had no private rooms. Although there were two floors, everyone sat in the main hall. At this time, there was only one table left in the hall, so Gu Qingqing and her companions naturally headed toward this table.

Just as they got close, a sword was thrown onto the table.

"This table is ours," a domineering voice rang out.

Gu Qingqing and her companions turned their heads to see a group standing not far away, consisting of both men and women, wearing uniform clothing, suggesting they were from the same sect. The one speaking was a man standing at the forefront, slightly raising his head, looking at Gu Qingqing and her companions arrogantly. Although he was surprised by Gu Qingqing and her group’s appearance, he still maintained his high-headed posture.

"Junior Brother Zhou, since they arrived first, we shouldn’t take someone else’s spot. Eating at another restaurant would be the same." Lu Yingying’s eyes brightened as she glanced at Yue Zhao and his group, persuasively urging the man speaking with a troubled look.

"Senior Sister Lu, you’re just too kind. They only arrived a moment before us and haven’t sat down yet, while my sword is already on the table. How can it be said I snatched their spot?" Although Lu Yingying’s words made Zhou Chong lose face, he was enamored with Lu Yingying and naturally wouldn’t blame his goddess, only feeling that she was too kind-hearted and always thought for others.

Lu Yingying glanced at Zhou Chong, hesitated to speak, then looked in Yue Zhao’s direction with a slightly troubled smile.

Yue Zhao paid no attention to Lu Yingying; his focus was on Zhou Chong, with a deepened smile on his lips but an icy gaze in his eyes.

Nan Hua’s hand, which was fanning himself, stopped as he coldly glanced at Zhou Chong. He opened his fan, waved it towards the table, and Zhou Chong’s sword was flung back, straight towards Zhou Chong’s face.

Zhou Chong didn’t expect his sword to be flung back by the opponent; he hastily caught it with his hand, glaring at Nan Hua as if wanting to devour him.

Nan Hua didn’t even glance at him, directly turned around, and sat on the stool, signaling Gu Qingqing and her companions to sit. Gu Qingqing exchanged a look with Yun Ran, glanced at Zhou Chong’s nearly contorted face, and calmly took a seat.

Zhou Chong, ignored by Gu Qingqing and her companions, was almost infuriated to death. As the son of the sect leader, he had been spoiled and unruly since childhood, and this was the first time he was treated like this!

"You, get up!" Ignoring the discouragement of his fellow sect members behind him, he charged to the table with a ferocious expression and yelled at Gu Qingqing and her companions.

"Geng Geng, did you hear a dog barking?" Nan Hua looked at Gu Qingqing and asked with a smile.

Gu Qingqing glanced at Zhou Chong’s twisted face, a slight smile flashing in her eyes, and replied, "Seems like it."

"Sounds a bit annoying." Yue Zhao poured a cup of Spiritual Dew for Gu Qingqing and echoed.

The group directly treated Zhou Chong as air, making his expression twist grotesquely. He wasn’t a person with a good temper and directly drew his sword to stab towards Nan Hua.

Nan Hua’s expression turned cold. Sitting on the stool, he tilted his body and used his fan to block Zhou Chong’s attack.

After the first attack was deflected, Zhou Chong immediately struck again, and Nan Hua’s fan turned, once again deflecting Zhou Chong’s attack.

Suddenly extending his left hand, he grabbed Zhou Chong’s arm and pulled forcefully, bringing Zhou Chong’s body in front of him, and delivered a slap, causing Zhou Chong’s face to swell instantly with a clear handprint mark.

Angrily, Zhou Chong struggled to hit Nan Hua, but Nan Hua grabbed his other arm and, with a backhand slap, struck again, making both cheeks swell symmetrically.

Because everything happened too fast, Lu Yingying and her companions, who followed Zhou Chong, hadn’t reacted. Upon seeing Zhou Chong’s swollen face, they immediately rushed over; some pulled at Zhou Chong, while others drew their swords to attack Nan Hua and his companions.

Lu Yingying didn’t go to pull Zhou Chong, but instead drew her sword towards Gu Qingqing, aiming the tip at her face, intending to scar it because Gu Qingqing was prettier than her!

Gu Qingqing hadn’t moved yet, but those beside her did so first.

Yun Ran stood up directly, swinging her whip towards Lu Yingying’s face. Jun Wu, being closer, directly kicked at Lu Yingying.

Lu Yingying was first struck on the hand by Yun Ran’s whip, dropping her sword, then immediately kicked in the stomach by Jun Wu. Jun Wu’s kick wasn’t merciful, sending Lu Yingying flying.

"Senior Sister Lu." Lu Yingying’s junior brother exclaimed and immediately drew his sword at Jun Wu.

Jun Wu sidestepped the opponent’s sword, simultaneously lifting his foot to kick at the opponent’s abdomen, sending him flying like Lu Yingying, coincidentally landing on top of her, causing her to suffer secondary injuries and cough up blood.

Zhou Chong’s group, with the highest cultivation at only eight stages, were no match for Gu Qingqing and her companions, one by one being thrown out.

"Dare to cause trouble again, and you’ll end up like this sword!" Yue Zhao smiled, glancing at Zhou Chong’s group, with Zhou Chong’s sword between his fingers, and directly snapped it in half before their eyes.

Zhou Chong’s group, seeing the broken sword, had a flash of fear in their eyes, trembling in fear.

"Scram!" Nan Hua’s icy gaze slid over Zhou Chong’s group as he coldly yelled.

Although Zhou Chong’s group was unwilling, they couldn’t defeat Gu Qingqing and her companions, and the two broken parts of the sword served as a reminder of the consequences of provoking them. After exchanging glances, they supported each other and left the restaurant.

While they were fighting, those around them had moved away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. Now that the fight was over, they returned to their seats, but occasionally glanced at Gu Qingqing and her companions with curiosity and wariness in their eyes.

Though encountering Zhou Chong’s group was frustrating, the roast chicken at Phoenix Pavilion was undeniable the best in all of Yonghua City. Gu Qingqing and her companions ate happily, completely putting Zhou Chong’s group out of their minds.

After eating, they walked around the streets for a while before returning to the inn to rest.

...

Zhou Chong’s group left Phoenix Pavilion in a sorry state, feeling very unwilling, but each of them was injured, so they went straight back to their inn without eating.

Lu Yingying, having been kicked by Jun Wu and then landed on by her junior brother, was the most severely injured among them. She was supported by the others back to the inn and helped to her room by a junior sister.

"Senior Sister Lu, how are your injuries? Do you need me to get a doctor for you?" Huang Shiyu looked at Lu Yingying with concern, asking.

"I’m fine. After taking an elixir and resting well for a night, I’ll be okay. Junior Sister Huang, how are your injuries?" Lu Yingying, looking weak, asked Huang Shiyu with concern.

"My injuries aren’t severe. I’ll be fine after sitting in meditation for a while when I get back." Huang Shiyu, happy to receive Lu Yingying’s concern, quickly replied.