Chapter 948, Nian Yuexian Going on a Retreat
Chapter 948, Nian Yuexian Going on a Retreat
Translator: Jon
Translation Checker: Silavin
“How are you going to deal with her?” Nian Yuexian asked.
Lu Ye shot Shen Chudan a look and cupped his fists at Nian Yuexian. “You’ll call the shots, Madam.”
At the same time, he activated his Divine Ego and secretly spoke to her. “Madam, I met her on the Cloud River Battlefield, so we could be considered friends. It was also thanks to her that my message was passed on to Ying Wuji, who then led us to the Desolate Plain.”
Upon hearing his tale, Nian Yuexian nodded and said to Shen Chudan, “Since I need a maidservant, you’ll follow me around from now on.”
Although Shen Chudan was sorrowful, she wouldn’t dare turn her down. “Yes.”
She secretly consoled herself that it was fine being a maidservant. It wasn’t embarrassing to work for such a famous Divine Ocean Realm Master. It was better than getting captured by those people.
Nian Yuexian turned to look at Lu Ye. “Get some rest and come to look for me tomorrow. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave, then.”
After Lu Ye was gone, Nian Yuexian disappeared as well, leaving behind a baffled Shen Chudan. At that moment, she had no idea where to go or what to do.
After giving it some thought, she ran after Lu Ye and soon arrived at his bamboo house. She knocked on the door and asked, “What should I do now, Lu Yi Ye?”
However, the man never responded to her. It wasn’t until she knocked on the door again that it was opened. Lu Ye walked past her while grabbing the hilt of his weapon. It was as though he couldn’t see her.
A furious Shen Chudan got in his way and demanded, “Are you deaf or something? I’m talking to you!”
Lu Ye remained in the same spot and gave it some thought. As though recalling something, he turned around and returned to his bamboo house before slamming the door shut.
Shen Chudan was dumbfounded, thinking that Lu Ye was a terrible person. He was the one who had captured her, but now, he just ignored her. He even pretended that he couldn’t see her. She felt aggrieved as she recalled helping him to pass something to Ying Wuji and relaying his message to the man.
Just like what Ying Wuji had said, coming into contact with Lu Ye would make one suffer miserably. As Shen Chudan thought about it, she felt disgruntled. She was on the brink of breaking into tears.
[He can’t see me…] Suddenly, something dawned upon her. She felt her chest tightening, finally realising something.
Meanwhile, Lu Ye was seated cross-legged in the bamboo house and replying to Cheng Xiu’s message.
Cheng Xiu was a member of the Ministry of Laws who was responsible for taking Explosive Fire Spirit Stones from him. Previously, he would come to Blue Flame Mountain Pass to collect the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones that Lu Ye had made every seven days. Nevertheless, Lu Ye felt that it was too troublesome, so he told Cheng Xiu to inform Qian Wudang that the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones should be collected once per month.
Upon hearing the suggestion, Qian Wudang agreed to it. However, Lu Ye had been held up in the Thousand Demon Ridge’s territory for the past two months, so he couldn’t pass the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones to Cheng Xiu. During this period, Cheng Xiu repeatedly asked him what was going on, but Lu Ye only told him to wait.
Now that he was finally back in Blue Flame Mountain Pass, he was supposed to pass the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones to Cheng Xiu. After all, he would get some battle points for his effort.
Cheng Xiu directly agreed that he would go to Blue Flame Mountain Pass and collect the items the next day.
Lu Ye wanted to ask why the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones made by him had gone to Surging Waves Lake Pass, but it wasn’t like he could do that. After all, he wasn’t supposed to find out what happened at Surging Waves Lake Pass so soon.
After an agreement was reached, Lu Ye scanned his surroundings with his Divine Ego and discovered that Shen Chudan was gone. She was nowhere to be found in a radius of one kilometre around him.
“She isn’t too foolish,” he muttered under his breath.
They could be considered friends, and she had helped him out previously. Naturally, he wouldn’t make things difficult for her. However, after he saved her from those Grand Sky Coalition cultivators, he couldn’t let her go at once. As such, he could only bring her back to Blue Flame Mountain Pass.
Now that the woman had gone missing from Blue Flame Mountain Pass, it had nothing to do with him. Nian Yuexian would face the pressure if anybody wanted to hold them accountable.
Lu Ye never cultivated his power. Although he had asked Cheng Xiu to come and collect the items the next day, he didn’t even have one Explosive Fire Spirit Stone. Therefore, he could only hurry up and make the items.
It wasn’t difficult for him, though. After all, it wouldn’t take him much time to create an Explosive Fire Spirit Stone.
Since he had been absent for two months, he would need to make 60,000 Explosive Fire Spirit Stones, which would bring him 300,000 battle points. He hadn’t included the extra Explosive Fire Spirit Stones he would get that he told Qian Wudang would be lost during the process if he failed.
The night went by in silence. When Cheng Xiu arrived at Blue Flame Mountain Pass the next day, Lu Ye had already prepared 60,000 Explosive Fire Spirit Stones. After taking the items, Cheng Xiu left the place with satisfaction.
Lu Ye had no time to rest as he had to head to Nian Yuexian’s residence in a hurry. He entered the bamboo house and only took a seat after getting permission.
“The woman you brought back yesterday has returned to Lone Cloud City Pass safely,” Nian Yuexian said.
Lu Ye was startled for a moment before realising that Nian Yuexian must’ve secretly protected Shen Chudan, which was why she knew all the details. He then cupped his fists and said, “Thanks, Madam.”
“Also, I’m going on a retreat,” Nian Yuexian said.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll do my best to look after the Pass.”
Nian Yuexian shook her head. “It’ll take me quite a while this time.”
Since a Divine Ocean Realm Master had said so, the duration wouldn’t be short. She would probably cultivate her power in seclusion for years.
Lu Ye asked meditatively, “Did you gain a lot in the Sword and Tool Sect, Madam?”
Nian Yuexian nodded. “On the Sword Mountain, every flying sword contained a flash of willpower of the Seniors from the Sword and Tool Sect. As I was trekking up the Sword Mountain, I gained a lot of insights on the Way of Swords. Therefore, I have to take some time to comprehend them. Also…”
She then fished out the Willow Catkin. “I have to fully refine this treasure.”
The Willow Catkin was a being that was much greater than any Spirit Treasure. Nian Yuexian had tried refining it, but she hadn’t managed to succeed. She estimated that it would take her quite a long time to fully refine the treasure.
“Madam, you mean…” Lu Ye formed some speculation in mind.
If Nian Yuexian only wanted to cultivate her power in seclusion for half a month or even two months, it would be fine. However, if it would take her a long time, she would have to look for somewhere safe. As such, she surely had to leave Blue Flame Mountain Pass.
After she was gone, no one could protect the Pass. Lu Ye, a Third-Order Real Lake Realm Master, wouldn’t be of much help. It would be dangerous if he stayed here alone. If those from Thousand Demon Ridge found out about it, they would come to attack the Pass just to kill Lu Ye.
“I’ve informed those from Grand Sky City about it, and some Divine Ocean Realm Masters are going to take over the Pass. Also, many soldiers will be transferred to this place. In the future, Blue Flame Mountain Pass will be just like any other Pass.”
Blue Flame Mountain Pass was unique because of Nian Yuexian. She was famous across the entire Jiu Zhou as she was able to protect an entire Pass on her own.
Without Nian Yuexian, Blue Flame Mountain Pass would just be like any other Pass.
“I’ll give you three options.” Nian Yuexian glanced at Lu Ye. “The first one is you can stay in Blue Flame Mountain Pass. Since you’re a captain who is fairly powerful, regardless of which Divine Ocean Realm Masters are coming over, they won’t underestimate you. Naturally, since you’re from the Crimson Blood Sect, they might be resentful of you if they’re your Sect’s enemies. In that case, you’ll have a hard time staying here. The second option is that if there’s any Pass you’d like to go, I can help you with it. I can get this small matter done.”
“What about the third option?” Lu Ye asked.
Nian Yuexian looked calmly at him. “Previously, Qian Wudang had contacted me to get you transferred to the Ministry of Laws so that you could work for him, but I ignored him. If you don’t want to go to any Pass, you can join the Ministry of Laws. Although Qian Wudang can be unreliable sometimes, he won’t make things difficult for you at the very least. Also, since there’s a deal between you two, he’ll treasure you if you join his Ministry.”
“I understand.” Lu Ye nodded. “What’s your suggestion, Madam?”
Nian Yuexian glanced at him and said slowly, “I’m sure you’re aware of the uniqueness of the Crimson Blood Sect. Your Sect has many friends in Bing Zhou, but there are also many enemies. Whichever Pass you go to, you can’t be sure you won’t be targeted. That’s because there are usually two Pass Leaders in every Pass, and above them, there’s a Canyon Leader. The Pass Leaders have their friends as well. If someone insists on making things difficult for you, it’ll be hard for you to resolve the conflicts. On the other hand, the Ministry of Laws is different because they’re an authoritative and powerful organisation. Qian Wudang is a responsible leader who is protective of his subordinates. If he treasures you, you’ll be given important tasks if you join his Ministry.”
“So, you suggest that I join the Ministry of Laws.”
“This is just my suggestion, and you’re free to make your own decision. There isn’t a hurry to tell me your decision. Just come and look for me in three days. I’ll make the arrangement for you before I go on a retreat.”
“I understand, Madam. Thanks for looking after me.”
With a conflicted gaze, Nian Yuexian replied, “Don’t mention it. You’ve helped me a lot during this period too.”
As she thought about it now, it had only been months since Lu Ye arrived at Blue Flame Mountain Pass, but what had happened during this period was more interesting than what she had experienced in the decades she had spent looking after the Pass.
“By the way, this is for you, Madam.” Lu Ye fished out a jade slip.
“What is this?” Nian Yuexian looked puzzledly at him.
“It’s a copy of the Sword and Tool Sect’s insights on the Way of Swords,” Lu Ye replied. “It should be useful to you.”
Before the Hidden Realm fell apart, Kong Kong had given Lu Ye the Sword Gourd, which was a Sect Master’s token. He also gave him a jade slip containing insights on the Sect’s Way of Artification and Way of Swords.
Nian Yuexian didn’t need the insights on the Way of Artification, but the ones on the Way of Swords would be useful to her.
The day before, Lu Ye had split the content into two parts, after which he made several copies using his Divine Ego.
Nian Yuexian nodded. “Thanks.”
“I’ll take my leave, then.”
After leaving the woman’s bamboo house, Lu Ye returned to his residence and sat down cross-legged. He seemed to be deep in thought.
Seeing that, Yi Yi asked, “What happened?”
“The Pass Leader is going to cultivate her power in seclusion for a long time…” Lu Ye then told her about the three options Nian Yuexian had offered.
Upon hearing that, Yi Yi asked, “Which option are you going to choose?”
“I’d like to go to Surging Waves Lake Pass,” Lu Ye said. His words surprised Yi Yi.
Xiao Xinghe was having a hard time over there. If Lu Ye went to Surging Waves Lake Pass, the two of them could take care of each other.
Nevertheless, there would be a problem if he went there. As a disciple of the Crimson Blood Sect, he would be targeted and suppressed.