Stealing Immortal

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Aspiration

He’d had a rough morning and looked the part. He knew Liu Tao would inevitably question him when he returned.

"Hm? What took you so long?" she asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion. "It’s not like you have any chores to do. Where have you been?"

Chen Qingyang, of course, had a ready-made excuse. "Senior Sister, you wouldn’t know, but things have been hectic for the Miscellaneous Task disciples on the mountainside lately. Another junior brother died, and the Law Enforcement Hall questioned me for a long time this morning. That’s why I was delayed."

Staring at him, Liu Tao grew more suspicious. "Why would they question you? You’re not the murderer."

Of course, Chen Qingyang shook his head. "You must be joking, Senior Sister. I’d had some contact with him, so it was just routine questioning."

Liu Tao raised a threatening fist. "That business with Qi Xiuyuan isn’t settled yet. You’d better be smart and stop looking for trouble. Just stay here and focus on the Alchemy Dao. Once you get to Cyan Bamboo Peak, you’ll cultivate properly, and then... you’ll repay me. Got it?"

Chen Qingyang immediately nodded. "You’re absolutely right, Senior Sister."

Only then did her tone soften. "Hmph. That’s more like it."

At that moment, Chen Qingyang thought of something else. "The Senior Sister from the Law Enforcement Hall who came today is named Leng Yueru. I was wondering if you know her?"

Liu Tao’s face was a mask of astonishment. "Why would she be on the mountainside dealing with Miscellaneous Task disciple affairs?"

"So you really do know her?"

Liu Tao added, "Among our Master, Master Yun Ci’s, disciples, her cultivation ranks in the top five, at least. She only began her cultivation a few decades before me, yet her talent has always surpassed mine. She’s also a disciple our Master greatly values."

Chen Qingyang pondered for a moment. "Then how is she also a Law Enforcement Hall disciple?"

Liu Tao loved educating Chen Qingyang, especially when he looked at her with such sincere inquiry. "Of course. You don’t know anything, and most of what you do know, I’m the one who told you. The Law Enforcement Hall is only responsible for maintaining the Sect’s order; it doesn’t pass down Cultivation Techniques or mentor disciples. So naturally, its members have to be recruited from other areas."

"As for my Senior Sister Leng... she has always been aloof, completely absorbed in her own True Skill. Unlike me, she doesn’t encounter bottlenecks, so she never bothered to study the Seven Arts. The problem is, this means she has to acquire the materials for Magical Treasures and other necessities for her cultivation through other methods."

"It was about five years ago, I think, when she became a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall. The rumor is she did it to save up some Merit to exchange for Spirit Stones and the like..."

Liu Tao’s explanation was thorough, and Chen Qingyang finally understood the whole picture. "No wonder you were surprised, Senior Sister. Having a cultivator at the Essence Condensation Fifth Realm investigate something like this is definitely overkill."

"No, no." Liu Tao shook her head cautiously. "Those guys in the Law Enforcement Hall are sharp. They wouldn’t use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. This means the matter is already very serious. Didn’t you say an Outer Disciple died not long ago? I’m afraid there’s a connection."

A wave of concern washed over Chen Qingyang.

’Her actions this morning were clearly intended to cast doubt on me, a mere Miscellaneous Task disciple.’

"So what’s her reputation in the Law Enforcement Hall?"

All of Chen Qingyang’s questions piqued Liu Tao’s curiosity. "Why do you ask? Are you afraid she’s got her eyes on you? What, did you kill that Outer Disciple?"

"Heh." Chen Qingyang chuckled wryly. "Didn’t you just say I’m inexperienced, Senior Sister? I’m just trying to learn more, so people can’t say that despite following you for so long, I’m still clueless. That would tarnish your reputation, wouldn’t it?"

"Nonsense!" Liu Tao scolded, but she couldn’t suppress a smile. "I’ve only heard one thing, that Senior Sister Leng is very good at her job in the Law Enforcement Hall. I think they have a name for her... Right! Cold-faced Rakshasa..."

"Isn’t that... a bit of an exaggeration?"

Just as Chen Qingyang finished his question, he heard footsteps approaching the door.

"Junior Sister Liu Tao, are you in?"

Liu Tao tensed up. "Shh, she’s here."

Chen Qingyang recognized the voice as well—it was Leng Yueru.

’I just saw her this morning, and now she’s come straight to Liu Tao’s place. Is she here to investigate me?’

As she entered.

Leng Yueru was still wearing her signature conical hat. When she removed it, she revealed a strikingly sharp and handsome face.

’She wasn’t conventionally beautiful, just fair-skinned with a cold pallor. Her eyebrows were the most striking feature—not gracefully arched or softly drawn, but like two sharp long sabers, nearly vertical and incredibly sharp. The term "cold-faced" described her perfectly. As for "Rakshasa"—a demon fiend—that must refer to her methods!’

"I heard you’ve had a breakthrough in your cultivation. That’s not easy. Congratulations."

Her cadence wasn’t fast, and she enunciated every word with precision.

She paid Chen Qingyang no mind, her gaze fixed entirely on Liu Tao.

Clearly, Liu Tao respected this Senior Sister of hers a great deal. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. You’re always so busy at the Law Enforcement Hall; what brings you to my place today?"

At this, Leng Yueru finally extended a finger and pointed at Chen Qingyang. "I came specifically to investigate this Miscellaneous Task disciple of yours!"

At her words, Liu Tao immediately tensed up. Chen Qingyang, however, remained impassive. Taking half a step forward, he spoke. "Senior Sister Leng. Senior Sister Liu. Senior Sister Leng must be here about Hu Kai’s disappearance, and has come to question me again."

Liu Tao seemed to realize what he was doing, and the color returned to her face slightly. But this flicker of change, to someone as perceptive as Leng Yueru, was impossible to miss.

"It seems... Junior Sister Liu places quite a bit of trust in this Miscellaneous Task disciple?"

Trust could come in many forms—including the kind that hinted at a secret between the two of them.

Chen Qingyang understood her probing and answered bluntly, "Though I may be a Miscellaneous Task disciple, I am able to refine Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills for Senior Sister Liu. That is why she treats me so well!"

"Oh." A flicker of shock flashed through Leng Yueru’s eyes. "So you’re saying you’ve already started Qi Refining?"

"Yes, the Qi Refining Second Realm."

Leng Yueru mused, "Then I understand. Our Junior Sister’s swift breakthrough is thanks to you. It’s only right that she values you highly."

And just like that, the focus of her attention shifted.

Of course, Leng Yueru had other questions. "You say you’ve already entered Qi Refining, so why are you still a Miscellaneous Task disciple? Why not find a Foundation Establishment Master on the Golden Summit? Our own Master might not take you, but some other Foundation Establishment Master surely would."

Since he was just a Miscellaneous Task disciple, it wasn’t his place to answer every question. He glanced at Liu Tao as he answered, "It’s all because Senior Sister Liu appreciates my talent. She wants me to wait a few years and find a peak that’s good for practicing alchemy to continue my cultivation, instead of languishing here."

Liu Tao chimed in, "You know this as well, Senior Sister. My cultivation breakthrough was all thanks to his Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills, so... he’s rather important to me."

This was her way of hinting that she was also a reason he hadn’t joined the Outer Sect.

Leng Yueru commented, "You have ambition, and you, Junior Sister, have good Immortal Fate. I had some doubts this morning, but they’ve been resolved. All the odd things about this Miscellaneous Task disciple now make sense, one by one."

After saying her piece, she prepared to leave.

But Liu Tao actively stopped her. "Senior Sister, I don’t quite understand your words. What matters could possibly be linked to a Miscellaneous Task disciple?"

Leng Yueru replied nonchalantly, "Recently, three Miscellaneous Task disciples have left the mountain without cause, one has gone missing, two Outer Disciples are dead, and another Miscellaneous Task disciple has also died. He seems to have a tenuous connection to all of these events, which is why I came to ask. But perhaps... it’s all just a coincidence."

Liu Tao was visibly stunned. She’d thought it was just the incident with Xu Baoling. "I understand. If I discover anything, I’ll let you know immediately, Senior Sister."

Leng Yueru nodded gravely. "Alright."

Still not satisfied, Liu Tao thoughtfully walked her guest to the entrance of the Pill Institute. When she returned, ready to confront Chen Qingyang, she found him already preparing elixir ingredients.

"Speak! What on earth are you hiding from me?"

Her angry roar nearly made Chen Qingyang jump out of his skin. "Wasn’t Senior Sister Leng’s stance perfectly clear just now? It’s all a coincidence."

"Hah!" Liu Tao sneered. "What coincidence? She was just not saying it outright! Do you think her suspicions can be so easily erased? And she mentioned the Profound Light Association—what is that?"

’It’s obvious. Leng Yueru wants Liu Tao to be the one to interrogate me.’ "I only ever heard Hu Kai mention it. I don’t know anything else..."

Seeing that Liu Tao was still furious, Chen Qingyang quickly explained, "You know my reputation is terrible because of Li Qianxue, so people target me all the time. Sometimes, I use elixirs to bribe the Stewards and have them drive off those who have it out for me. That’s what happened. As for the death of an Outer Disciple... do you really think I’m capable of something like that?"

After a moment of thought, Liu Tao seemed to accept his explanation. "That’s true. If she truly suspected you, she’d have had you arrested and tortured."

"Your judgment is wise, Senior Sister."

’When is Qi Xiuyuan going to die already?’ Chen Qingyang thought yet again. ’Then all this attention could be diverted to the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace.’

"I... I’m going to do some alchemy."

First came the Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill, then the Jade Flower Spirit Dew and the Yang Replacement Powder. He worked from noon straight through to midnight.

He hadn’t planned on descending the mountain, seeing as he’d just have to come back up the next day. But when he considered that Qi Xiuyuan might be waiting for him, he decided to go down after all.

However, he saw no sign of Qi Xiuyuan the entire way down the mountain. ’He’s certainly patient,’ he thought. ’That’s not like Qi Xiuyuan at all!’

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