Tong Mingshan had left, and Shi Chun remained alone, quietly pleased with himself for quite a while.
As for the other two, An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, he had waited a long ti, but ultimately they did not show up.
He didn't seek them out, nor would he, nor did he need to. The best course of action was to pretend ignorance.
When it ca to betrayal by his companions and the like, he had long grown accustod to it. If there was betrayal, surely sothing had gone wrong.
When faced with significant interests, not allowing people to choose, only demanding loyalty on moral grounds, that was not the fault of others, but rather one's own issue.
If the endeavor succeeded, betrayal mattered not; if it failed, no one could be retained.
In the Divine Fire Palace inn's lobby, Bai Shuchuan, looking here and there, burst in with two fellow sect mbers and headed straight for the guest rooms.
However, two attendants appeared and stopped the trio, politely saying, "Please show your room cards."
Room cards? They weren't staying here. Bai Shuchuan said, "We are here to look for soone."
The attendant smiled and replied, "I'm sorry, but only Divine Fire Palace guests are allowed inside."
The color drained from Bai Shuchuan's face. "Why haven't I heard of this before?"
The attendant answered, "It wasn't in place previously. The rule was just established following the boss's instructions."
Although Jieyun Mountain was a famous sect, as disciples who could only draw allowance, they wouldn't spend thousands of gold just to et soone. Displeased but without temper, Bai Shuchuan could only turn around and leave indignantly.
His visit was intended to et Shi Chun, whether to vent anger or seek revenge. First and foremost, he needed to verify.
He ca upon hearing the news that Shi Chun was entering the Divine Fire Domain. After so communication among the higher-ups of Jieyun Mountain, and with the insistence of Elder Wu Handong, it was decided that Shi Chun's actions were unforgivable. The decision was thus made to execute this villain and send Shi Chun's head to Wukang Mountain.
After forming the sect decision, the matter was handed over to Wu Handong, for it was he who had insisted; naturally, no one else wanted to involve themselves in such trouble.
Therefore, Wu Handong dispatched a group to take care of this, insisting that Shi Chun must not be allowed to live and flee back to his lair in Five Waterfalls Mountain within the capital of Shengshen Continent.
Once hidden, he could disappear for half a year, not showing his face, moving in and out within a carriage. You never knew which carriage he was in, which made guarding the gate futile.
This ti, experts of the Human Immortal Realm were sent out. Bai Shuchuan was just a pawn used for identification purposes.
He was excited about the prospect of avenging his previous humiliation.
He had imdiately contacted the Artifact Refining sects of Shengshen Continent to inquire about Shi Chun. The response he received was that Shi Chun's sect, Mingshan Sect, had not checked in, leaving them baffled and thinking the trip had been in vain.
Later, hearing a rumor that Shi Chun was staying here, Bai Shuchuan rushed over to confirm, only to find, quite inconveniently, that the Divine Fire Palace had suddenly established new rules.
He had scarcely left the area when a few mbers from Qi Yun Valley arrived. They were the staff responsible for the Divine Fire Covenant, and the inn attendants did not stop them.
The group went straight to Shi Chun. After verifying his identity, they imdiately demanded that the Mingshan Sect delegation report to Qi Yun Valley imdiately. Failure to check in by the deadline would be considered a forfeiture of rights, and any misfortune occurring while staying here would not be their responsibility.
What else could be done? Since his cover was blown, Shi Chun could only notify everyone to gather and move together.
Not long after one group had left, Bai Shuchuan returned with his companions, went straight to the counter to rent a room, and then began a long search.
They even found the room where Shi Chun had stayed, but couldn't confirm if he was still there. The room was empty, so they asked the inn attendants. Upon hearing they were snooping for guest information, especially about Shi Chun, the attendants hastily waved their hands, indicating they knew nothing.
Back at Qi Yun Valley, after reaffirming their identities once again, Shi Chun and his companions were checked in.
The staff verifying their identities felt this sect was a bit crude, lacking even a unified dress code. Thirteen sect mbers sported thirteen different outfits, with Shi Chun being the least particular, wearing attire from Wukang Mountain.
At least Wu Jinliang had changed into his Treasure Robe, though Chu Jingtang and the others seed quite accustod to Shi Chun's attire.
Feng Chi, Xiang Laner, and Duan Xiangi had not been able to enter. If any had said that the trio were Mingshan Sect disciples, with the sect vouching for them, they would have been allowed in. But Shi Chun did not acknowledge them as mbers of the Mingshan Sect.
Thus, the three had no choice but to find another place to stay. They certainly wouldn't be living in the expensive Divine Fire Palace anymore.
anwhile, Shi Chun and the thirteen others settled in a small, tucked-away building. They had arrived late, leaving only less desirable rooms available, but they didn't mind as they would be staying for just one night.
No sooner had they settled in than soone from the local staff ca to inform Shi Chun that there was a visitor for him at the entrance to Qi Yun Valley.
Curious, Shi Chun asked, "Who is looking for ?"
The staff mber replied, "I don't know. A beautiful young lady in white clothing, she claims to be an old acquaintance of yours."
Who could it be? Shi Chun wondered doubtfully. Wu Jinliang tried guessing, "Could it be Mulan Qingqing?"
Shi Chun gave him a look, "Why would she look for ?"
Wu Jinliang spread his hands, as if to say he was just throwing out a guess.
Who is it? Let's find out, Shi Chun followed the visitor.
Arriving at the exit, with a glance, he saw a woman in white as snow. That icy and beautiful face, along with the sword that adorned her, was all too familiar. Who else could it be but Mulan Qingqing?
The guards stationed at the valley's entrance were also eyeing her frequently, because she was indeed beautiful, and her excellent temperant made her the kind of woman who captures the heart as soon as she catches the eye.
"Jinliang really hit the nail on the head," Shi Chun muttered to himself, sowhat baffled. He wondered what this woman was here for. Was she seeking revenge?
He had already checked in here; killing him rashly wouldn't be any different from breaking the Divine Fire Covenant, and even the Su Yuan Sect couldn't afford that, could they?
The two stood face to face, their eyes t, and for a mont, they were at a loss for words.
In the end, it was Shi Chun who teasingly broke the silence, "What brings you here? Were you thinking of inviting for a al?"
"Sure," Mulan Qingqing nodded in agreent. "What would you like to eat?"
"Ah?" Shi Chun was caught off guard and replied, "Anything."
So he was easily lured away by Mulan Qingqing, feeling sowhat perplexed, as if he had been dazzled by her beauty.
Once he ca to his senses and thought about making excuses to back out, he considered that her father was a big deal. Becoming friends with soone like her didn't seem too bad, so he just went with the flow and played it off as a mistake.
They found a tavern atop a seaside cliff. Mulan Qingqing inquired about Shi Chun's taste preferences before casually ordering so dishes, and then they sat down opposite each other.
Both of them looked the sa as when they first t; one still in white as snow, the other still in Wukang Mountain's garb.
There were changes though; Shi Chun's complexion had beco much fairer, looking more normal.
Mulan Qingqing was also less talkative, which truly was her nature, except when she had to express herself as the leader of various sect forces.
The sound of the surging waves hitting the cliff would occasionally rise from below.
When the food and drinks arrived, Shi Chun went to pour her a drink, but she waved it off, "I don't drink alcohol."
She took a teapot and gestured to substitute tea for wine.
Alright then, minding his own business, Shi Chun eventually couldn't hold back his curiosity and inquired, "Why were you looking for ?"
Mulan Qingqing responded, "I heard the Divine Fire Domain is very dangerous. What if sothing happens? How will you keep your appointnt?"
Just as he picked up so food with his chopsticks, Shi Chun was puzzled, "Appointnt? What appointnt?"
The mont the question left his lips, he suddenly grasped the icy, piercing coldness of her gaze, and he abruptly ca to his senses, "Oh, oh, oh, our agreent, the three-year agreent, I rember, I rember. Honestly, winning against you last ti was purely by chance. If we fought again, I'd definitely lose to you, and in three years, I'd be even less your match.
Mulan, that is, this fighting and killing is too dangerous; there's no need to fight to the death. Let bygones be bygones, right? We're fated to et after all, so how about we drop the unpleasantness and be friends?"
After saying this, he shoved the food into his mouth and chewed.
Muttering curses inside, he thought, this woman is crazy, appointing a challenge I never agreed to. Why does she get to decide the agreent just because she says so?
Yet, he had to admit, if he had known her father was such an influential figure, he certainly wouldn't have aid to injure her seriously and would have defeated her gently to leave a good impression.
Who was the one who secretly stopped him from killing her?
Mulan Qingqing was silent for a mont, then said, "No need for life or death, just to decide a victor is enough."
"Alright, alright, alright," Shi Chun let out a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't a matter of life and death, he thought, just let her win next ti. He'd be crazy to actually compete with her, and then he looked forward with anticipation, "So, can we be friends?"
Mulan Qingqing gazed at him intently; sothing felt off. Although her intention was to get closer, it did not seem like the sort of admiration other n showed her. She picked up her tea, sipping it thoughtfully before saying, "Aren't we sitting here eating together already friends?"
For her to co out for a al like this with a single man was truly unprecedented, but the man opposite her had no idea.
"Alright, alright, alright," Shi Chun was overjoyed. He imdiately took out a pair of talismans, split them, and pushed one half across to her. "I'm now staying at Five Waterfalls Mountain in the capital of Shengshen Continent. If you're in the capital soti, feel free to reach out to . Ask for anything; I won't hesitate to help if I can. Let's stay in touch, okay?"
Mulan Qingqing looked at the half talisman before her but did not touch it. She glanced at his attire and couldn't help but feel confused every ti she saw him, as if she was looking at a walking question mark. She asked, "Weren't you expelled from Wukang Mountain?"
Shi Chun imdiately looked at his clothes, got her point, and explained, "The clothes are innocent."
Mulan Qingqing was tempted to ask whether it was appropriate for a mber of the Mingshan Sect to wear the attire of Wukang Mountain, but then she rembered this man had posed as a disciple of Youxia Mountain while still wearing Wukang Mountain's clothes without any issue, so what could be inappropriate?
So she shifted her question, "You haven't answered . The Divine Fire Domain is dangerous. How will you abide by the appointnt if an accident happens?"
Shi Chun nonchalantly continued eating and drinking, "How can it be dangerous? If it's really dangerous, I'll just hide until it's over. It only opens once every two hundred years; life is short, and when there's a chance, naturally I want to see what the Divine Fire Domain is like. Consider it broadening one's horizons."
Upon hearing his casual response, Mulan Qingqing felt a stirring of curiosity herself. The Divine Fire Domain was a sacred place for Artifact Refiners. She too wanted to see it but knew it was unrealistic; with her identity, she definitely wouldn't be able to enter. It baffled her how the man before her had managed it.
What astounded her the most was that this man had mingled with the flatterers he had fooled during the Sky Rain teor Conference and had even founded a sect to venture into the Divine Fire Domain for fun, causing quite a stir in the Cultivation World. Was it really possible to live life so carefree?
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