Not long after.
In a roadside tavern, a middle-aged painter dressed in a blue shirt entered, holding scrolls of ink wash paintings, and carrying an oiled paper umbrella on his back. Looking at the sky, he chuckled, "It seems a heavy rain is coming. Waiter, please arrange a table by the window on the second floor."
"Certainly, honored guest. Right this way!"
A short while later, the painter sat down, ordered a plate of stir-fried dishes, a plate of spiced beef, and a pot of wine. He then dismissed the waiter. He took a bite of the food, finding it as bland as chewing on wax. Taking a sip of wine, he found the watered-down inferior brew undrinkable. He stopped eating and drinking, looked into the distance, and couldn't help but sneer, "So be it. One last chance for you."
As he spoke, he dipped his fingertips in the wine from his cup and began to write and draw on the table. He was sketching the vital meridians of Liu Liying, the Goddess of the Folding Fan. The moment the meridians were complete, Wu Yuanzi flicked his wine-covered fingers towards the ground, shouting, "By decree, roll out!" Da Feng Xiao Shuo Wang.
With a splash, accompanied by a mist of evaporating wine, a wisp of Liu Liying's soul was forcefully summoned before Wu Yuanzi. She fell to the ground, her beautiful eyes looking pitiful yet defiant. She said softly, "Master, Liu Liying awaits your command..."
"Awaiting your command?"
Wu Yuanzi chuckled, "You wretched woman are about to become companions with that banished immortal named Lin Zhao, soaring through the skies together. How could I, a mere Wu Yuanzi, be worthy of commanding you, a celestial couple?"
"Master."
Liu Liying's eyes welled with tears, and she said softly, "Young Master is truly a remarkable person. Please, Master, spare him. Liu Liying is willing to pay any price for Young Master's safety..."
"Hmph!"
Wu Yuanzi sneered, "Do you think I don't want to spare Lin Zhao? He doesn't want to spare me. Although he's merely a passerby, Lin Zhao insists on stirring up trouble in this realm of a hundred flowers. He is the one who has overstepped his bounds. Liu Liying, I can tell you openly: Lin Zhao cannot be allowed to live. He must die in the realm of a hundred flowers. As for you, you can barely protect yourself, let alone protect Lin Zhao. I'll give you one last chance. If you decide to assassinate Lin Zhao, you can reclaim your own Great Dao. Otherwise, you will vanish into thin air, and the world will no longer know the Goddess of the Folding Fan."
Liu Liying's eyes were blurry with tears.
Wu Yuanzi raised his hand slightly, and a wisp of blood-red mist flew from his sleeve, transforming into an arrow of blood-red, swirling energy. He said calmly, "This is a Soul Tracking Arrow. Refine it immediately. Soon, a storm will descend upon the capital. You are the one hiding behind Lin Zhao. Use this Soul Tracking Arrow to kill him."
"..."
Liu Liying held the Soul Tracking Arrow, her eyes glistening with tears. "Is there truly no other way?"
"Stop your pathetic act!"
Wu Yuanzi stood up and took a step, creating a small domain that isolated the second floor of the tavern from the outside world. He strode forward and kicked Liu Liying, sending her tumbling. He scoffed, "Why are you pretending to be good, Liu Liying? Over the years, you've helped me commit evil, severing the Great Dao of so many young talents in the realm of a hundred flowers. To put it bluntly, no less than five peak talents of the mortal world have died after separating their souls for you. Now, you put on this pathetic act of a young girl, who are you trying to disgust?!"
Liu Liying clenched the Soul Tracking Arrow, her delicate eyebrows knitted. "I know what I need to do... Please rest assured, Master."
"Hmph!"
Wu Yuanzi stood up, flicked his sleeve, and left through the window with the oiled paper umbrella. His voice echoed in the wind, "Don't leave in a hurry. Settle the bill for me before you go."
"Yes, Master..."
Liu Liying stood up and performed a respectful curtsy.
...
In Ning'an City, on the street, a stunning woman in a purple long skirt, carrying a long sword, walked slowly through the crowd. She was Chu Xiantong, the Sect Master of the Cheng Huang Sect.
After meeting Lin Zhao, Chu Xiantong was deeply shocked. He was indeed the legendary banished immortal. It turned out that the existence of celestial beings in the outer world was true. Moreover, Lin Zhao left an excellent impression on Chu Xiantong: his sword intent was restrained, and he was a gentle gentleman as warm as jade. This was Chu Xiantong's first impression of Lin Zhao.
She frowned. Her private search for Lin Zhao seemed like a betrayal of the sect, yet Chu Xiantong felt she had to do it. In recent years, the Cheng Huang Sect had become like a demon. Ever since their ancestor Chu Ruoshui emerged from seclusion, she had decided to use the entire power of the Cheng Huang Sect to serve Zhao Qian. Although they gained immense benefits, and the Cheng Huang Sect became the number one sect in the world, even earning the reputation of having "three Nascent Souls in one sect," it still left Chu Xiantong with a vague sense of unease.
She was the Sect Master of the Cheng Huang Sect, yet Ancestor Chu Ruoshui repeatedly bypassed her to issue orders directly. In just half a year, two Golden Core junior disciples of Chu Xiantong's lineage had died in disputes over mountain territories. Furthermore, the ancestor was insatiably greedy and practiced a very sinister evil art that required virgin female cultivators as cauldrons. Therefore, Chu Xiantong already had a Golden Core realm junior sister and two Void Comprehending realm female disciples taken into the ancestor's cave dwelling. Moreover, that Golden Core realm junior sister had grown up with Chu Xiantong and they had a very close relationship. Such humiliation was a constant thorn in Chu Xiantong's heart.
Thousands of years ago, when the founding ancestor established the Cheng Huang Sect, he had said that the sect members should cultivate themselves on the mountain. Now, were the many shameful deeds committed by Ancestor Chu Ruoshui and the Cheng Huang Sect worthy of the "cultivating oneself" the ancestor spoke of? Thinking of this, Chu Xiantong frowned, strengthening her resolve. The path of the Cheng Huang Sect had truly gone astray. And now, if anyone could correct the Cheng Huang Sect single-handedly, it could only be herself. As for her helper, it was undoubtedly that banished immortal in white.
"Ahem..."
On the crowded street, a middle-aged painter carrying an oiled paper umbrella and ink wash scrolls bumped into Chu Xiantong. Chu Xiantong tensed slightly, feeling as though she had seen this painter somewhere before. The painter smiled faintly, and his voice echoed in Chu Xiantong's spiritual sea, "If the Sect Master truly wishes for the Cheng Huang Sect to prosper, you shouldn't harbor such rebellious thoughts. What's the point?"
Chu Xiantong's heart chilled. This painter's cultivation was so high that she couldn't even probe his depth. She frowned, "Who are you, sir, and why do you say that?"
"You don't need to know who I am."
The painter smiled. "I am merely offering a word of advice to the Sect Master. Do not trust that Lin Zhao. Following Lin Zhao will truly lead you down a path of no return. At that time, you will be a sinner to the Cheng Huang Sect, and perhaps the lives of the entire sect will be sacrificed for you."
"Is that so?"
Chu Xiantong's palm tightened, and the precious sword in its sheath trembled and sang. She, Chu Xiantong, was not a pushover and had never succumbed to threats. If you want to fight, then fight! What is there to fear?
"Hmph!"
The painter chuckled. "Good advice is hard to give to a stubborn fool. Sect Master, do as you see fit."
As he spoke, the painter took a step forward, his figure blurring as if a drop of water had fallen into a freshly painted ink wash. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the street. When Chu Xiantong looked back, he was nowhere to be seen.
She frowned, her heart growing more and more clouded.
...
The capital, Lu Residence.
Lin Zhao returned with Liu Liying. Lu Huaining arranged a very elegant room for Lin Zhao, with a window overlooking the courtyard. The location was excellent.
Lin Zhao had nothing else to do, so he practiced his fist stance in the second-floor corridor, cultivating his intent. He was already in the third realm of a martial artist, so would the fourth realm be far behind?
Inside the room, Liu Liying obtained a set of calligraphy and painting supplies from a maid, along with a sheet of drawing paper. She began to paint at the desk by the window. The painting depicted Lin Zhao practicing his fists in the corridor. Although the style was far inferior to masters like Wu Yuanzi and Qi Fengzi, Liu Liying's brushwork was very delicate. In the painting, Lin Zhao was performing a fist technique, and a rich fist intent seemed to be about to leap off the paper.
"Not bad!"
At some unknown time, Lin Zhao leaned outside the window and said with a smile, "Your brushwork, it's almost as good as Wu Yuanzi's."
Liu Liying chuckled. "As long as Young Master thinks it's good."
"Liying."
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Why are you painting me?"
Liu Liying's heart skipped a beat, and she softly replied, "Because in Liying's eyes, Young Master is the most beautiful scenery in this entire courtyard."
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly and continued practicing his fists. "No matter what, I won't like you. Stop dreaming."
Liu Liying pouted and stomped her foot in anger. This time, she wasn't angry about not being able to break Lin Zhao's mental state, but it seemed she was angry about something else.
...
In the evening, Lu Huaining prepared a banquet at his residence, inviting Chi Yuran, Chi Zhongyu, Lin Zhao, Liu Liying, and several skilled guards from the mansion. The intention was clear: to thank everyone for their care on the journey. Without these people, Lu Huaining, who was only at the seventh realm, would not have been able to return to the capital, let alone leave Jiangzhou Prefecture.
During the meal, sharp observers like Lin Zhao, Chi Zhongyu, and Liu Liying naturally understood that this was Lu Huaining's farewell dinner. After this meal, he would inevitably ask them to leave. Lu Huaining was no longer the Grand Scholar of the Wen Hua Pavilion in the Hanlin Academy, nor was he a second-rank Minister of Revenue. He was merely a commoner. And it was unnecessary for Nascent Soul realm cultivators like Chi Yuran, Chi Zhongyu, and Lin Zhao to protect a commoner who was of no significance to the world.
Lu Huaining was a scholar. He could not afford to lose face.
Therefore, the meal was tasteless, not because the mansion's chefs lacked skill, but because no one had the appetite to savor the delicious dishes.
...
Not long after, night fell.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the entire capital seemed to have fallen silent. At this moment, an elderly scholar in a green robe appeared outside the Minister's residence, carrying a jade-colored wine pot. He stood outside the gate and chuckled loudly, "His Majesty has bestowed a pot of imperial wine and ordered Prime Minister Zhao Qian to escort former Grand Scholar Lu Huaining on his way!"