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nChapter Forty One Qingmei’s Intentions

nFalling Parasol was very quiet, with only the occasional barks of dogs echoing in the alleyway.

nDing Ning pushed open the wooden door to the wine shop and entered the unlit shop.

nThe furniture in the wine shop were the same as always yet Ding Ning’s brows quickly furrowed deeply. His heart felt threads of coldness.

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nPreviously, when he and Zhangsun Qianxue had talked here and cultivated here, they appeared to be unguarded most of the time. That was because he knew in Changling, except for a few people, Zhangsun Qianxue would feel any person who walked into the alley.

nAnd if those rare few walked into this alley, then being on guard or not did not make a difference.

nBut Zhangsun Qianxue did not walk out of the backyard this time. He also could not feel Zhangsun Qianxue’s presence … Zhangsun Qianxue was not in the wine shop.

nThe reason he had to return was out of fear something would happen to Zhangsun Qianxue.

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nFor the past several years, he and Zhangsun Qianxue had become used to each other’s existence.

nZhangsun Qianxue’s cultivation was enough to kill countless people of his strength, yet this was Changling. Even the strongest cultivator had multiple possibilities of being killed.

nShe was as blank as a white piece of paper on how to live in Changling and move around it.

nDing Ning lifted the cloth to the back of the year. His heart felt colder.

nZhangsun Qianxue was not inside. Where had she gone?

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nDing Ning stood motionlessly in the backyard. After several dozen breaths, he silently walked into the kitchen on the side and started to cook noodles.

nWhen the water started to boil and the noodles were put in, Ding Ning saw his hands were trembling minutely.

nHe could not see his own expression but he was sure even under the warmth of the fire, his face was ashen pale.

nHe knew that at this time in Changling, he had a weakness.

nZhangsun Qianxue was his greatest weakness.

nNothing could happen to her.

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nSo he lit up the fire and hoped that in the darkness, Zhangsun Qianxue could see the sparks coming from the smoke here, and understand that he had returned.

nThe white noodles floated up in the boiling water.

nHe did not add any seasoning. He fished the noodles into his large crude porcelain bowl and started to eat.

nWhile he ate noodles in soup with a thick soy sauce each morning at the shop door, he was most used to the taste of noodles without any seasoning.

nThe noodle soup was hot but listening to the clear sounds of wind in the streets, his heart grew colder.

nIf Zhangsun Qianxue left now, how long would he have to spend to find her once again?

nHs features looked so young among the steam rising from the bowl, but his expression was filled with endless worry.

nSuddenly, the steam rising from the bowl twisted.

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nDing Ning suddenly lifted his head.

nZhangsun Qianxue seemed to appear out of thin air in front of him.

n“You …” Ding Ning stood up. He thought he could not control himself from shouting yet when he saw her calm and clear eyes, his heart immediately softened. He said hoarsely, “You … where did you go?”

nZhangsun Qianxue frowned slightly.

nShe could see Ding Ning’s concern for her in his eyes. But there were some emotions other than concern that she did not like.

nDing Ning took a deep breath and quickly calmed. He looked at her and said, “You promised me you will not …”

n“Just an accident.” Zhangsun Qianxue interrupted him before he finished speaking.

nShe glanced at him and said, “You said that Cloud Water Palace’s people may have obtained an important clue to the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard.”

nDing Ning’s body tensed and he grew nervous. “You found members of Cloud Water Palace?”

nZhangsun Qianxue said coolly, “Should be.”

nDing Ning was more nervous and asked, “Did you fight?”

nZhangsun Qianxue said, “I only noted down that person’s presence and appearance.”

nDing Ning immediately sighed in relief, his body relaxing as well.

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nEach dynasty would always have some great sects in their vast lands, and some great people.

nThe Cloud Water Palace of the Wei Dynasty had died decades ago but was still remembered by each person in Qin. Greatness could be used to describe this sect.

nWhile Cloud Water Palace had not produced so many terrifying people at a grandmaster level like the Zhao Sword Furnace, Cloud Water Palace had produced a mysterious and powerful Bai Shanshui.

nThe cultivators of the major dynasties were certain Bai Shanshui of Cloud Water Palace had passed realm six and become a cultivator of realm seven at the time of the Wei Dynasty’s defeat.

nDecades had passed, yet no one had heard of Bai Shanshui having deeds as famous as the disciples of Sword Furnace who slaughtered a city with a blow. However, all knew he was still alive.

nBeing able to live well when chased by the armies and the cultivators of Qin meant he was stronger than before.

nBai Shanshui was not an enemy that he and Zhangsun Qianxue could face right now.

n“Ignore this matter. I will investigate it.” Ding Ning thought for a moment, drank the remaining soup and said seriously as he washed the bowls, “The Astrology Bureau and the Divinity Bureau will put all their forces to pursuing Cloud Water Palace’s people as the matter concerns the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard. Before Bai Shanshui finally appears, the best course of action for us is to silently observe this matter. Otherwise, if we are dragged in, we will not benefit at all.”

n“I will describe that person to you.”

nZhangsun Qianxue thought for a moment and nodded in agreement of Ding Ning’s words. Then she turned and headed towards the bedroom. “I will wait on the bed for you.”

nThe ambiguous words were still as cold as always when she said it, even carrying a kind of murderousness. Yet Ding Ning’s body finally started to warm up as he looked at her back.

nThe night was cold in the mountains.

nThere was a group of green buildings on a hill not far from White Goat Gorge.

nThese buildings had originally been built out of grey stone. However, because of the green vines that wrapped around the outside for many years, they appeared green in the darkness.

nThe deepest green building which was covered by countless sword marks and the grand carpets woven from the best wool caused the entire building to appear warm in the coldness of fall.

nA tall and thin old man with his grey and white hair coiled up with a green jade hairpin looked extremely clean. Even his fingernails were manicured.

nHis brows were slightly green, his eyes half-lidded, and his expression was calm but authoritative.

nHe was the principal of Green Vine Sword School, Di Qingmei.

nAt this time, he was looking at a note in his hand, a cold and disdainful smile at the corner of his mouth.

n“Du Qingjiao and Xue Wangxu of White Goat Cave are muddle-headed, and have been stubborn all this time. Even after seeing the bloody matters of the first year of Yuanwu, they still do not know to regret and change. Now they have joined our Green Vine Sword School, the old fool Xue Wangxu thought of such a move. Since the two sects have merged into one, the Green Vine Sword School students and White Goat Cave students are the same. Thus the White Goat Cave students can attend our sword trial festival. They are scheming for our green suet jade.”

nDi Qingmei sat facing a middle-aged man in green robes carrying two swords on his back.

nThis green-robed middle-aged person was his own true student so far, Duanmu Lian.

nHearing the authoritative old man’s scorn, Duanmu Lian’s brow furrowed slightly. He said, “Then, Master, will you consent to his request?”

n“Of course I will.”

nThe authoritative old man sneered, “If I do not consent to a request like this from him, how can I reverse the situation and scheme after his spirit vein?”

n“Spirit vein?” Light flashed through Duanmu Lian’s eyes.

n“Du Qingjiao and Xue Wangxu are two fools. Before the empress stated her intentions, they damaged the White Goat spirit vein and split it into three. They think they can protect their spirit vein like that?

nDi Qingmei smiled coldly. “The empress finally managed to find a mistake there, and gave White Goat Cave to us. If we let them keep those three spirit veins, will the empress be happy with us?”

n“Xue Wangxu wants to leave those three spirit veins for the people of White Goat Cave. We cannot let him accomplish this.”

nDi Qingmei looked at Duanmu Lian and said slowly, “Respond to Xue Wangxu for me. Tell him I will allow his request. But the three spirit springs will be used by Green Vine Sword School and White Goat Cave together. Only those who qualify can use them. So they will also be rewards for the sacrificial sword trials, and to be used by the victors of the sword trial festival.”

nDuanmu Lian thought for a moment and said, “Master’s plan is good. Yet Zhang Yi and Su Qin of White Goat Cave’s students cannot be underestimated. Both from their time of entry and their age, they qualify to attend the sword trial festival.”

n“Since you fear that our inner disciples cannot defeat them, think of a way to make them become one of ours.” Di Qingmei glanced at him and said, “I heard that Zhang Yi is very conservative and pedantic, but Su Qin is a talent and one at odds with Zhang Yi.”

nDuanmu Lian’s eyes lit up slightly. He stood up and bowed to this authoritative old man who had the power of Green Vine Sword School. He said, “This disciple understands.”

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