Seven days later, they finally reached the Fire Cauldron Sect.
Scholar Xiao had already blended into the sect with the medicinal-ingredient convoy. The others would have to find their own way in.
Du Heng went ahead to inquire about registration for this year’s Pillfire Conference, leaving the other two to find lodging first.
Both of them had made something of a name for themselves during the Golden Core Competition. Though new faces emerged in the cultivation world every year, the excitement surrounding the competition was still fresh enough that someone might recognize them. Both therefore adopted a degree of disguise.
To be safe, they did not eat in the main hall and instead had their food delivered to their room.
Ye Chenyan leaned against the window and watched the crowds stream past outside.
“It’s lively.”
“Probably no less crowded than Qingzhou was during the Golden Core Competition.”
“You could likely grab anyone off the street right now and find either a cultivator with fire-wood dual spiritual roots or an unaffiliated pill cultivator.”
Yu Qingtang returned from the doorway carrying their dishes and curiously leaned over to look outside as well.
“The Fire Cauldron Sect is really this popular?”
“Besides newcomers, quite a few unaffiliated pill cultivators who have already made names for themselves seem to want to join too.”
Ye Chenyan laughed.
“Of course. Life is difficult for an unaffiliated pill cultivator. Getting started is manageable, but advancing further requires rare treasures, pill furnaces, and pill formulas. Without a proper lineage, those are not things you can obtain with spirit stones alone.”
“That’s true.” Yu Qingtang clicked his tongue in wonder and served himself a bowl of rice. “High investment, high return—and {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} a high risk of failing to learn anything at all.”
He muttered under his breath, “Good thing the Biehe Sect doesn’t specialize in pill cultivation. Otherwise, my master probably couldn’t afford to raise a single disciple.”
Ye Chenyan laughed, shut the window, and returned to the table. He rested his chin on one hand and watched Yu Qingtang eat.
Yu Qingtang looked up and blinked.
“Aren’t you eating? Why are you only watching me?”
“I was thinking that it’s been a long time since the two of us were alone together.” Ye Chenyan sprawled across the table and looked at him. “Back when I was trapped in the Immortal-Bewildering Forest, I couldn’t go out with you, but at least whenever you came back, it was just the two of us.”
Yu Qingtang poured him a cup of wine, patted his head, and mercilessly exposed the flaw in that statement.
“Actually, Little Big Sister Bamboo was there the whole time. She simply didn’t speak.”
The Girl in the Bamboo’s voice came from the window.
“Mm.”
“I am here now as well.”
Ye Chenyan: “...”
Someone even less considerate pushed open the window and jumped inside.
Du Heng gave him a faintly amused look.
“My apologies. I’m here too.”
To improve his chances of admission, he had disguised himself this time as a plump young man with a prosperous, fortunate-looking face. He was dressed in jewels and finery, the very image of someone with no shortage of spirit stones.
Ye Chenyan sat upright without expression.
“Did you finish asking around?” Yu Qingtang pulled out a chair for Du Heng.
Du Heng poured himself a cup of wine and nodded.
“I did. Registration is surprisingly lenient this year. I’m not sure whether the Fire Cauldron Sect intends to expand its intake or has some other motive.”
“However, our original plan to have the two of you enter disguised as my attendants probably won’t work.”
“Why?” Yu Qingtang’s eyes widened nervously. “Were we exposed? Is security too strict?”
“No.” Du Heng sighed. “Each applicant is only allowed to bring one attendant. I even tried offering spirit stones, but they still refused. It is probably a hard rule.”
Ye Chenyan frowned.
Du Heng looked at Yu Qingtang.
“I intend to bring you inside.”
“When we first met, weren’t you disguised as a woman? Why not do it again?”
“What?” Yu Qingtang stared at him in shock. “I...”
“I’m not teasing you.” Du Heng’s smile faded. “I observed them for a while and noticed that the Fire Cauldron Sect questioned female applicants—and applicants with female attendants—far more thoroughly.”
“Especially the attractive ones. They received particular attention. I cannot tell whether someone is simply overcome by lust or whether it has something to do with the previous disappearances of female cultivators.”
Ye Chenyan’s brows drew together. He clearly disapproved.
“Wouldn’t that make it dangerous?”
Du Heng looked at him with a half smile.
“If we enter openly, they will be less likely to make a move.”
“Besides, he is already a Nascent Soul cultivator. Plenty of untalented cultivators never advance beyond that level in their entire lives. He is hardly weak.”
“Do you really need to be so protective?”
“No,” Yu Qingtang said sincerely. “There are differences even among Nascent Soul cultivators. Someone like me shouldn’t really be treated as one.”
“And I already appeared in women’s clothing before. It may not be convenient to do so again...”
“Don’t be modest.” Du Heng smiled and poured him a cup of wine. “As long as your appearance differs from Miss Qingtang’s during the Golden Core Competition, you should not be recognized.”
“Besides, whether you dress as a man or a woman...” His gaze swept over Yu Qingtang from head to toe. “It is difficult to believe you have absolutely no connection to Miss Qingtang.”
Yu Qingtang: “...”
Ye Chenyan stabbed his chopsticks down between the two of them.
“No.”
“You’re a pill cultivator, and he’s a qin cultivator. Neither of you is good at fighting. I’m not comfortable with it.”
“How touching. You even managed to spare a little concern for me while saying that.” Du Heng shook his head in amusement. “You two can remain outside and adapt as needed. Besides, isn’t Brother Xiao already inside?”
“Actually...” Yu Qingtang rubbed his chin and gave Ye Chenyan a thoughtful look. “It may not be impossible to bring him in.”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow.
“Mm?”
Du Heng looked Ye Chenyan up and down.
“Disguising him as a woman would be rather unsuitable. His face might pass, but his shoulders are too broad, and his arms are too muscular...”
Ye Chenyan clenched his fist, his face darkening.
Yu Qingtang hurriedly shook his head.
“That wasn’t the terrible idea I had in mind!”
He gestured as he explained, “I meant the totem. When Senior Candle Nine Yin infiltrated the Golden Core Competition, didn’t he pretend to be Elder Green Snake’s spirit-pet mount?”
He looked at Ye Chenyan expectantly.
“You turned into a giant wolf before. Can you make yourself smaller? About the size of a puppy.”
Ye Chenyan: “...”
He lowered his gaze toward the tiny shape Yu Qingtang was indicating. A faint struggle crossed his face.
“Oh—” Du Heng laughed. “I have also heard that the demon race’s seventy-two totems are extraordinarily versatile.”
“Spirit pets should be permitted as well. Can you do it?”
Ye Chenyan pursed his lips and frowned as though weighing the matter. Then he turned his head away.
“...I cannot become too small. Even at my smallest, I would still be about the size of a wolfdog.”
“That works too. I just won’t be able to carry you.” Yu Qingtang sounded rather disappointed. “Otherwise, I could have gone in as an attendant carrying a dog...”
Du Heng laughed with open delight.
“Ahem. Never mind.” Yu Qingtang guiltily averted his gaze and turned toward Du Heng.
Du Heng suddenly had an ominous feeling.
Yu Qingtang stared at him expectantly.
“Come to think of it, we have never seen Senior Brother Du Heng’s real face. We still don’t know what you look like.”
In truth, he did know.
The original novel had described it. When Du Heng removed his disguise as a full-bearded burly man, a refined and handsome face had appeared beneath it, creating a striking contrast.
Du Heng maintained his usual mild smile while quietly dragging his chair backward.
“...There is nothing remarkable about my appearance.”
“Don’t run.” Yu Qingtang signaled Ye Chenyan to block his escape route, then solemnly patted Du Heng’s shoulder. “Senior Brother Du, since we advance and retreat together, we must also share both joy and hardship!”
He pointed at Ye Chenyan.
“Brother Ye is willing to sacrifice himself and become a puppy...”
Ye Chenyan corrected him.
“A Coursing Wolf.”
Yu Qingtang ignored him and pointed to himself.
“And I am risking my life to accompany a gentleman by changing into women’s clothing.”
Du Heng’s eyelid twitched.
“I will naturally disguise myself thoroughly and bring both of you into the Fire Cauldron Sect so that we may accomplish our great undertaking together.”
Yu Qingtang ignored the grand speech and leaned closer with a smile.
“Senior Brother Du Heng, why don’t you turn into a peerless beauty too? Wouldn’t that make it easier to get inside?”
Du Heng: “...My current appearance suggests that I have plenty of wealth to exploit. The Fire Cauldron Sect will take that into consideration.”
Yu Qingtang remained unmoved.
“Then you can become a peerless beauty who looks like she has plenty of wealth to exploit.”
Du Heng: “...”
Du Heng was still searching for an excuse when Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow and spoke bluntly.
“You transform, I transform, and he transforms.”
“If you refuse, none of us will do it.”
Du Heng sighed deeply.
“I have never disguised myself as a woman before. It would be difficult.”
“Then imitate someone.” Yu Qingtang pushed open the window and leaned out to search the street. “Let’s see whether there are any wealthy-looking peerless beauties outside... Hm?”
He froze.
A woman was walking through the crowd.
She stood tall and carried herself with an aloof, distant air. Amid the hurried stream of people, she stood out like a crane among chickens, elegant and untouched by the mundane world.
Everyone who passed could not help glancing at her.
—With that appearance and bearing, she could not possibly be an ordinary person.
Yu Qingtang had only looked twice when Ye Chenyan tapped him on the head.
“Who are you staring at so intently?”
“Her!” Yu Qingtang pointed the woman out to Ye Chenyan. “Do you see her?”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow.
“She doesn’t look wealthy.”
“But she’s very beautiful...” Yu Qingtang had barely finished half the sentence when Ye Chenyan turned and narrowed his eyes at him.
“I am not being seduced by her beauty!” Yu Qingtang declared righteously. “Her bearing reminds me a little of Little Big Sister Bamboo. She somehow looks like an expert!”
“Her cultivation...” the Girl in the Bamboo said softly. “She is only at Golden Core, but she also does not feel like a Golden Core cultivator.”
“Hmm—” Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “I suspect she is not an ordinary passerby!”
“Whether she is ordinary or not has nothing to do with us.” Ye Chenyan covered his eyes. “Stop looking.”
Yu Qingtang: “...I only feel like she looks familiar.”
Ye Chenyan muttered under his breath, “Being familiar to you is not necessarily a good sign. She may be another one of Hua Shimiao’s admirers...”
He warned him quietly, “Do not provoke her.”
Du Heng had also leaned against the window. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes.
“Someone is following her.”
He pointed.
“They do not look well-intentioned... Are we not going to help?”
Ye Chenyan slowly turned his head toward him.
Du Heng shrugged.
“I don’t care. I have never enjoyed meddling in other people’s affairs.”
His eyes curved with amusement.
“It is only that my Little Junior Brother Yu has always possessed the heart of a bodhisattva. After learning some Buddhist compassion, I fear he will not be able to bear watching a young lady come to harm...”
Yu Qingtang was already pulling Ye Chenyan’s hand down and curiously peering outside.
“Who’s following her? The candied-haw seller?”
“No,” said the Girl in the Bamboo flatly. “The one with his hand hidden at his waist. He is probably gripping a weapon.”
Yu Qingtang raised his eyes toward Ye Chenyan.
Ye Chenyan resignedly rubbed his brow.
“...How do you manage to stumble across every opportunity beneath heaven to rescue a beauty?”
“It’s not me.” Yu Qingtang patted his shoulder. “It’s you.”
“And I truly do think she looks familiar.”
Not because she matched a description from the book, but because she felt like someone he had personally seen before.
Ye Chenyan sighed and pulled him closer to emphasize his point.
“Let us make this clear first. I am only going because you asked me to save her.”
“Mm-hm.” Yu Qingtang nodded vigorously.
Only then did Ye Chenyan growl, “Move.”
The group quietly followed the woman across the rooftops.
She made a few turns through the city and deliberately chose remote side streets, almost as though she were selecting the perfect place for the sinister figure behind her to strike.
Sure enough, once the man saw there was no one around, he suddenly attacked. He rushed forward and flung a handful of powder straight at the woman’s face.
The woman did not dodge.
Perhaps she had been frightened senseless.
But a sudden gust swept in from behind her and sent the powder flying back. The man was caught completely off guard and received the full cloud in the face. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed sideways to the ground.
The woman: “...”
Yu Qingtang and the others descended from above with righteous expressions.
“Caught him!”
“How can someone this weak even become a villain?”
He turned his head.
The young woman was staring at him in speechless silence.
Yu Qingtang carefully examined her again. She still looked familiar.
The woman sighed.
Yu Qingtang’s ears twitched.
That was familiar too. He recognized the timbre of her voice.
The woman suddenly raised one hand and dispelled the illusion.
Mister Qingzhu of the Heavenly Music Sect, whom they had met once during the Golden Core Competition, revealed his true face and looked at them wordlessly.
“...You ruined everything.”
Yu Qingtang’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?”
Ye Chenyan’s expression turned strange.
“You...”
He looked at Yu Qingtang, then at Qingzhu.
“Is dressing as a woman some kind of tradition among music cultivators...?”
Qingzhu denied it without hesitation.
“No.”
Yu Qingtang immediately agreed.
“There is no such thing. Don’t make things up!”
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