Chapter 84: Heartless Immortal Dao
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The cold wind blew.
Mu Jin’s fair hair on her forehead was slightly messed up, and the pearl jade under her delicate earlobes swayed in the wind. However, she looked straight at the small courtyard, her face seemingly calm but unable to hide her anxiety.
The white pink embroidered emerald-patterned dress fit her quite well. It was both lively and obedient. Standing at the door seemed to block out the sunlight.
Shen Ping noticed this beautiful figure the moment he walked out. However, his footsteps were neither slow nor anxious, and there was a faint smile on his face. When he came to Mu Jin, he said, “Fellow Daoist Mu, you didn’t tell me in advance that you were coming to visit. I didn’t prepare much. Please come in.” Mu Jin thanked him and followed Shen Ping with her head lowered. The two of them sat down in the hall. As the fragrance of the spiritual tea lingered, Mu Jin couldn’t help but ask, “Talisman Master Shen, the deacons and guest elders of the True Treasure Pavilion will leave at the end of the year. What are your plans?”
Shen Ping drank the spiritual tea and said softly, “I have to leave, of course.” “But, but doesn’t Talisman Master Shen still have a family? What about them?” Mu Jin looked anxious. Her usual standard sweet smile and relaxed look were no longer there.
The treatment of external members was indeed good. Under normal circumstances, one could become a peripheral member of the True Treasure Pavilion by getting to know some seniors and with their potential cultivation. However, the situation was special now. Shopkeeper Ding was not on the evacuation list either, and he still had to owe someone a huge favor.
Mu Jin had asked several guest elders in succession over the past few days, but in the end, she could only place her hopes on Talisman Master Shen. She knew that he still had family members who had not left. From her daily interactions, she could more or less tell that he was not a heartless and cold ascetic.
“Fellow Daoist Mu, just say what you want to say.” Shen Ping did not intend to continue beating around the bush.
Mu Jin bit her lip and hesitated for a while before saying, “I-I want to exchange something for the spot of Talisman Master Shen.”
Shen Ping chuckled. “The life and death of Golden Cores and Nascent Souls are unknown when they stayed in the market. What price are you prepared to pay to exchange for my life?” There was a hint of coldness in his voice.
Mu Jin’s face was slightly pale. Her fair nails gripped the corner of her dress tightly, and the lines of her legs under the emerald patterns trembled. “I’m still a virgin.”
Shen Ping did not say anything and only picked up his teacup. Mu Jin didn’t move. She stared straight at Shen Ping. “I’ll give you whatever you want.” “Fellow Daoist Mu, you should find another way!” Shen Ping stood up and left. Before he reached the threshold of the hall, he heard Mu Jin’s pleading voice. “Talisman Master Shen, I know you won’t leave your family behind. You must have a way to leave, right? Please, please take me with you!”
Shen Ping ignored her. Mu Jin’s pretty face was instantly covered with despair. She laughed self-deprecatingly. “Talisman Master Shen, sorry to disturb you.” As she spoke, she used all her strength to get up.
She crossed the threshold. Her fragrance assaulted his nose, but there was no color on her beautiful and sweet face. She walked in the courtyard. Her curves were still round, but it seemed to be lifeless.
The moment the Nascent Soul elder of the True Treasure Pavilion announced the departure list, the outcome of these external members had already been decided. They would either stay in the market and wait for the situation to change, or they would be like moths to a flame like those cultivators who rushed into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Mu Jin had a glimmer of hope in her heart until it completely dissipated.
Yu Yan looked out of the window in silence. Luo Qing sat cross-legged at the head of the bed with her eyes closed.
Shen Ping walked to the door of the quiet room and inadvertently glanced at Mu Jin’s back from the corner of his eye. He couldn’t help but be stunned. He thought of Shopkeeper Chen and the sulky feeling in his chest that day.
“This world…” He sighed. The corners of his mouth twitched. “30 Spirit Protection Talismans, come in half a month!”
Mu Jin stopped in her tracks as she stepped out of the small courtyard. She felt a lump in her throat and tears quietly fell from the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you!”
When she left, the sweet smile on her face was so sincere that it made the sunlight dim.
Days passed.
The market became more and more deserted. Most of the shops on both sides of the street had already closed. Even the robbers had disappeared from the dark corners of the alleys. Only the law enforcement patrol team walked through the alleys from time to time.
The night before the Wei Kingdom’s Lantern Festival, Shen Ping received messages from Shopkeeper Ding and Matchmaker Ceng at the same time. He took a deep breath and called Yu Yan and Luo Qing into the hall. “Tomorrow. One of you has to leave first. Follow the True Treasure Pavilion to the Golden Sun Sect and leave on a flying ship.”
Yu Yan and Luo Qing were stunned. Then, they looked at each other and said in unison, “Husband, you should leave!”
Shen Ping said gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll catch up soon. Yu Yan…”
Yu Yan crossed her arms in front of her chest and interrupted with a smile, “Husband, the eighth level of Qi Refinement gave you the guts. Why aren’t you leaving?” Speaking of this, her lips were as cold as a stranger’s. “The Immortal Dao is heartless. Why care about the life and death of others?”
Swoosh.
Her spiritual energy flickered. The ring-shaped Dharma artifact on Yu Yan’s wrist suddenly cracked, turning into green light blades that slashed at Luo Qing. Luo Qing smiled and did not move.
Clang!
The Spirit Protection Talisman was activated. The green light blades landed on the Spirit Light Barrier, causing layers of green ripples.
Shen Ping frowned. “Yu Yan, take it back. I’ve made up my mind. Luo Qing, leave tomorrow. When you reach Qingyang City, remember to tell Yun’er and Ying’er that we’re fine and will definitely arrive safely.”
Luo Qing could not help but say, “Husband, I’m about to die. There’s no need…”
Shen Ping stood up, grabbed Yu Yan’s shoulder, and led her to the room. They entered the house.
Yu Yan’s eyes were moist as she wrapped her arms around Shen Ping’s neck skillfully. She was enchanting, but the corners of her lips were no longer cold. She said in a gentle and moving voice, “Husband, why are you so good to me? Without me, you don’t have to make such a choice. You’re clearly afraid of death, but you’ve risked your life for me time and time again. I’m not worthy…”
Shen Ping lowered his head and stopped her. At the same time, he took the opportunity to pull off the robe and the single gauze dress. The sweet grapefruits immediately lost its restraints. She allowed the size to be measured.
When traces of Dao techniques appeared in Yu Yan’s eyes, Shen Ping stopped and smiled. “Tomorrow evening, you’ll leave with me.”
Yu Yan was stunned and said in confusion, “Husband, didn’t you say that there was only one spot?”
“A cunning rabbit has three burrows. I have many tricks up my sleeve.” Shen Ping pretended to be profound and smiled calmly.
Yu Yan heaved a sigh of relief. In an instant, she regained the enchantment of the Thousand Faces Charm Technique and became flirtatious. The corners of her eyes rippled, and her fragrant tongue seemed to form a chasm as she said, “I want to see how powerful my husband’s new methods are.”
As she spoke, her eyes became blurry, and she had already quietly placed her foot on Shen Ping’s shoulder. Her voice was intermittent. “Can it be powerful… so powerful that the spring water was flowing out of me…?”
Shen Ping’s expression turned serious. “Please enlighten me!”
As the crystal lamp swayed, the two of them quickly began to fight. It was only when the tide surged that this exchange finally ended. However, because they had something important to do tomorrow, they did not continue. Instead, they returned to the quiet room to adjust their state.
At dawn the next day, Shen Ping brought Luo Qing to the True Treasure Pavilion. Shopkeeper Ding shook his head gently when he saw this, but he still said, “Talisman Master Shen is a sentimental person.”
As for Guest Elder Cui and Guest Elder Ruan, they did not say anything. Everyone had their own choices.
“Shopkeeper Ding. When you reach Qingyang City, I hope you can take care of her.” As Shen Ping spoke, he stuffed an Armor Spirit Talisman into Shopkeeper Ding’s hand.
“Sure, sure!” A smile appeared on Shopkeeper Ding’s face. “Talisman Master Shen, you have to come early. Although Qingyang City is big, it’s not easy to cultivate.”
Shen Ping cupped his hands. “Definitely!” He turned around. He instructed Luo Qing, “Qing’er, no matter what happens along the way, you have to follow Shopkeeper Ding closely. Don’t worry, you don’t have to worry about me and Yu Yan.”
Luo Qing’s eyes were complicated. Her lips moved, but she still did not speak.
“Let’s go!” The purple-robed Nascent Soul elder swept his Dharmic powers and the cultivators in the small courtyard disappeared. The light of the Dharma treasure in the air suddenly fled in the direction of the Golden Sun Sect.
The entire True Treasure Pavilion instantly became empty.
Shen Ping glanced at the sky, shook his head, turned around, and walked out. When he returned to the small courtyard in Qinghe Alley, he saw Mu Jin standing at the door. Today, she had changed into a green and white robe. Her hair, wrists, and the pink ribbon at her waist all had Dharma artifacts.
“Talisman Master Shen. Here are 30 Spirit Protection Talismans and two bottles of high-grade pills. If I can get out safely, I will definitely repay you handsomely!” Mu Jin’s eyes were full of sincerity. She had been in the True Treasure Pavilion for a long time and still had some assets.
“We’ll leave in the evening. I’m not completely confident either.” Shen Ping waved his hand and put these items into his storage bag.
Mu Jin smiled sweetly. “Talisman Master Shen, it’s already a great favor for you to take me with you.”
“Let’s go into the house first!”
