Xu Qing looked quietly into the night sky for a long moment. Then he inhaled deeply, put away his dharmaskiff, and headed in the direction of the Dark Serenity Sect.

He took his time.

As he walked, he thought about all the secrets about himself that he had revealed during his fight with Master Shengyun. Although Master Seventh had assured him he was safe, Xu Qing couldn’t help but think that he had slipped up more than once recently.

The president has a golden crow, and so do I. That makes him an antagonist. The fact I’m so much weaker does mean I’m relatively safe, though. Beyond that, Master Shengyun obviously has the president’s golden crow in his right eye, which means he won’t die easily. But as time goes on, will he remain Master Shengyun, or will he change into something else?

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed.

It really is a dog-eat-dog world.

As the darkness of night covered the coalition, a breeze blew along the path, stirring Xu Qing’s garment and long hair. He stared up into the sky again.

“Master was right,” he murmured. “I’m too weak.” He really didn’t want to see the day in which he was the one eaten up. But if that day did come, he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

I’ll give it my all. And if that day does come, I’ll make sure that whoever eats me regrets it!

The truth was that the world hadn’t changed at all since his days in the slums and the scavenger basecamp. What had changed for Xu Qing were the way people thought and the level of their ruthlessness.

Back in the scavenger basecamp, things were simple. To get what they wanted, people resorted to a simple tactic: killing. But as your cultivation base grew, and you encountered increasingly powerful people, you couldn’t just resort to the simple tactic of killing. You had to use other methods. In the past, Xu Qing didn’t understand that. But now he did, and he knew that he had to work hard to grow up and master those skills.

He was wrapped up in such thoughts as he made his way to the Dark Serenity Sect. It was late in the night by the time he arrived. Though the Dark Serenity Sect was pitch black, there was light at the summit.

Looking up at it from the foot of the mountain, Xu Qing took a deep breath and was about to start walking up the stairs when his eyes widened. From the darkness above, a figure descended, step by step.

The moonlight revealed the face of an old woman.

Xu Qing clasped hands and bowed very politely.

Snorting coldly, the old woman said, “You really don’t understand how things work, do you, Xu Qing? Do you know how long ago the matriarch summoned you? You really took your time. If this happens again, I’ll have to punish you!”

Xu Qing didn’t say anything in response. Sizing up her throat, he followed her as she turned and started back up the steps.

Without looking back, the old woman coldly said, “Keep your eyes off my neck, otherwise I’ll dig them out. Believe it!”

Xu Qing maintained silence. He didn’t see any point in engaging in banter, especially when dealing with people stronger than himself. Based on the terrifying cultivation base fluctuations coming from this old woman, he could tell that she was roughly on the same level as Master Sixth. Keeping his expression neutral, he followed.

Upon realizing that Xu Qing wasn’t saying anything, the old woman looked over her shoulder at him, but kept walking. It was in complete silence that they climbed to the summit, where they reached a manor complex made from plum-colored jade, with a pagoda in the middle of it. The lamplight was shining from that pagoda.

Inside the main entrance of the manor complex was a limestone path lined with rich decorations. There were small pavilions here and there, and handmaidens hustling about on various tasks. All of them were young and attractive, even seductive, with skin as fair as snow. As Xu Qing walked the path, many of the handmaidens looked at him curiously. Noticing his good looks, they smiled and whispered among themselves.

Xu Qing didn’t pay attention to any of that.

As for the old woman, she glared viciously at the handmaidens, who then hurried away.

There were also some colorful boulders that seemed to have been placed in a specific pattern that made the interior of the mansion seem incredibly elegant. A small stream had been hewn out. It wasn’t possible to identify its source, but it gurgled out of the mansion and down the mountain. Within the water were numerous golden fish with long whiskers. At a mere glance it was obvious they were extraordinary creatures.

Xu Qing spotted snakes in the trees. There were many, some climbing into the trees from the path, some wrapped around the branches, and some coiled in the shadows. Regardless of what the snakes were doing, though, when they noticed Xu Qing, they bowed their heads in subservience.

When the old woman noticed that, her eyes went wide, and she looked back at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s face remained expressionless, but inside he was actually wondering what was going on.

His curiosity grew as he realized he was being led into a side-room in the mansion where there was an immortal hot spring. From a distance, it was possible to see steam rising up into the air where it formed auspicious clouds. Surrounding the hot spring was a curtain of white gauze, where a few dozen handmaidens stood, their heads bowed and their backs to the hot spring.

The handmaidens all held jade trays, upon which were pieces of jewelry, clothing, and fruit. The jewelry was all extremely beautiful, the clothing was neatly folded, and the fruits were all varieties of immortal spirit fruit.

A fragrant aroma filled the air. As Xu Qing neared, he realized that the drifting steam, the sound of the water, and the fragrant aroma made the place seem like a celestial paradise. Also as he neared… his anxiety increased. And that was because he could just barely make out a lithe figure beyond the white gauze, bathing in the immortal hot spring.

He quickly averted his gaze and stopped walking.

As for the old woman, she ignored Xu Qing, walked up to the white gauze curtain, and bowed at the waist.

“He’s here, Matriarch.”

From beyond the white gauze curtain, Arch-Immortal Plumdark spoke in a tender voice. “For being rude to the child I invited here, go ahead and slap yourself three times on the face.”

The old woman’s expression was the same as ever as she unhesitatingly slapped herself viciously three times in a row. She used such force that her face immediately started to swell, and some blood seeped out of the corner of her mouth. Afterward, her eyes contained no resentment, and she quietly kept her head inclined.

That put Xu Qing even more on guard. However, all he could do was stand in place, clasp hands, and bow.

“Disciple Xu Qing is here to offer greetings to Senior Plumdark.”

Laughter drifted out from the hot spring. ．

“Why are you being so formal, child? In the note that came with the gift you sent, you didn’t address me as Senior.” Combined with the sound of the water, Arch-Immortal Plumdark’s voice was profoundly enticing.

Xu Qing’s heart was pounding, and he vowed that he wouldn’t forget what the Captain had obviously done. Given the Captain’s personality, Xu Qing could only imagine what form of address he had used in that letter.

Having no way of knowing, he could only brace himself inwardly as he said, “Many thanks for saving my life, Senior.”

“Oh, so that’s why you’re being so formal,” Arch-Immortal Plumdark said. “Truth be told, if I hadn’t stepped in, Sir Bloodsmelter would have.” Her tone was so casual, so languid, that anyone who heard it would feel their innards stirring.

Xu Qing wasn’t sure what to say in response. He had never been in a situation like this, talking to someone from the other side of a white gauze curtain. He was truly at a loss for words. The sound of the water was like pearls dropping onto white jade, and it pierced him to the depths of his heart.

“In any case, it’s true that I helped you. Therefore, child, would you mind doing me a favor?” The sound of rippling water could be heard, as though Arch-Immortal Plumdark were rising to her feet.

Xu Qing averted his gaze even more.

As he did, a shadow appeared on the white gauze curtain, revealing the spectacular figure of a beautiful woman. It was almost as if heaven on high had shown her unusual favor, and had blessed her with every aspect of beauty a woman could have. Her shadow alone was astonishingly alluring, and would leave anyone who gazed upon her, be they male or female, palpitating with longing.

Her long, slender leg left the immortal hot spring, and the white gauze swirled, forming a garment around her. Long, black hair draped down her back like a cloak, and the slight flush to her skin made her oval face delicately exquisite. 1

The surrounding handmaidens respectfully kneeled and held the jade trays up.

Arch-Immortal Plumdark smiled, reached out, and took a skewer of immortal spirit grapes. As she approached Xu Qing, her enticing aroma reached him before she did.

Xu Qing looked at her. She wore white gauze and had long, black hair. She walked with grace, like a supremely elegant immortal beauty descended from the highest heavens. As she neared, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he took a few steps back. Then she blurred and appeared right in front of him, where she took a grape off the skewer and put it in his mouth. Xu Qing’s mind was a complete blank.

“Why do you always call me matriarch, child? Am I really that old? Next time, why don’t you just call me Plum?” She laughed softly, and there was something indescribably charming about it.

Xu Qing’s heart was racing, and he felt an anxiety that surpassed anything he had felt from even the most terrifying beasts in the forbidden regions he’d been into over the years.

Seeing him react in that way, Arch-Immortal Plumdark laughed again, and this time, it sounded sweet and carefree. Forgoing any further enticing behavior, she turned and began to walk off.

“Why are you so scared of me, child? Are you worried I’m going to eat you or something? I heard that on your recent river patrol you encountered another Dark Serenity Sect. That sect was founded by an old friend of mine. Considering you ran into it, I’d like to go there with you in a few days. To look around.”

With that, she left, flanked by her handmaidens and the old woman. Amidst the other women, Arch-Immortal Plumdark seemed like a peony in full bloom: beautiful but not coquettish, gorgeous but not vulgar, bewitchingly charming and absolutely incomparable.

Xu Qing stood in place breathing heavily for a long moment. Then he left the Dark Serenity Sect, not really sure what he was feeling inside.

***

In the tall pagoda in the middle of the mansion atop the Dark Serenity Sect, Arch-Immortal Plumdark sat eating grapes and laughing softly.

.

He really has no idea what’s going on. Someone wrapped a slip of life essence love around his right wrist. That’s not a human technique. Whatever silly girl did that, I wonder what species she’s from. She actually parted with a slip of her own life essence love. Unilaterally. Given that, if the child dies, she’ll probably die too. 2

1. Chinese has a number of interesting terms to describe facial structure. In this case, Arch-Immortal Plumdark is said to have a “melon seed” face. Most dictionaries list this as “oval” but one key aspect is that a “melon seed” face has a delicately pointed chin. Here’s a picture depicting that type of face. 👈

2. Arch-Immortal Plumdark’s final words got me thinking. Considering other evidence in this very chapter, it made me recall something that happened in 👈