12 Unveiling the Veil

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The letter contained only this brief sentence and nothing more.

At that moment, Chu Jiye was young and impulsive. Having been doted on by his family since childhood, seeing this message suddenly made him feel as if his heartfelt sincerity had been trampled upon. Furious, he tore the letter to pieces and casually tossed the fragments aside. The attendants were too slow to catch them, and a few scraps drifted and fluttered into the sea.

It wasn’t until news arrived that the Moonlight Sword Sovereign had failed in his demon-slaying, becoming trapped in the Boundless Secret Realm, that Chu Jiye realized this was the last message Sheng Ningyu had sent him.

The Moonlight Pavilion on the sea must be dismantled.

Yet he stubbornly refused to tear it down.

Chu Jiye deceived himself, thinking that given Sister Ningyu’s temperament, if she saw him so disobedient, she would be furious enough to come find him even in another life.

Whether ghost or spirit, mountain demon or wild creature—

As long as they came looking for him, he would acknowledge them all.

A faint, illusory smile flickered across Chu Jiye’s face. He glanced over the sword cultivators whom Chu Le had gathered; their temperaments were surprisingly gentle.

“Finish eradicating the demons. Everyone, please follow me to seek out the root of that puppet barrier.”

The sword cultivators were overwhelmed with favor and responded obediently.

If Sister Ningyu were among them, seeing that puppet barrier, she would surely be unable to resist taking action.

But if not—

Chu Jiye thought, what did it matter to him whether they lived or died facing that enormous barrier?

...

Sensing the Chu family’s retreat, the young master Yuan finally relaxed.

Not only him, but the people around Yunwang Palace also showed a guilty look on their faces.

The sound of the bamboo forest stream eased their spirits.

Sheng Ningyu observed this quietly and smiled slightly.

She released the hand she was holding with Xie Qianjing and returned the “Eye-Shielding Pearl” to young master Yuan. With a serious tone, she said, “Thank you, young master, for your assistance. My surname is Ning, and I am called Moonlight. This is my friend, Xie. Should you ever need help, we will do our utmost within our means.”

Sheng Ningyu understood well.

Had young master Yuan not promptly handed her the “Eye-Shielding Pearl” to conceal their presence, she would likely have been caught by Chu Chang’an.

It wasn’t that she feared Chu Chang’an could definitely recognize her, but she dreaded complications.

Currently without her spiritual bone and without a sword in hand, facing the Chu family—even the young Chu Le—she could not be absolutely certain of victory.

Young master Yuan hastily returned the salute: “I am Yuan Shuhe of Yunwang Palace. Daoist Ning need not worry. It was thanks to your swift action just now that, had young master Chu Le been injured, the family head would have been even less forgiving.”

“This Eye-Shielding Pearl, you may keep it for now. Return it once safely arrived at Linghuan Dock.”

So it was this Shuhe fellow.

He had grown up quite a bit.

Sheng Ningyu smiled and accepted.

Though they conversed, they did not forget to continue their journey. Listening to young master Yuan, Sheng Ningyu roughly understood the current situation of Yunwang Palace.

Old Master Yuan Daojun was said to be very healthy—like a tortoise—but in recent years had indulged more in the mountains and waters, leaving the mundane affairs of Yunwang Palace to his eldest son, Yuan Buxu, who merely held the family head title.

“So, where are the two of you headed?” Sheng Ningyu knew that Xie Qianjing intended to go alone to the Great Wasteland Mountain. She was about to stop him, but Xie Qianjing spoke first: “I need to visit the foot of the Wasteland Mountain briefly. Since the Chu family is here, I fear I might trouble you all. We’ll speak further once we’ve left this territory.”

This coincided with Sheng Ningyu’s own thoughts.

Yuan Shuhe and the others nodded and suggested, “Linghuan Dock recently built a path used by the former palace lord to gather medicinal herbs for his wife. One spot along it leads directly to the Great Wasteland Mountain. Once Brother Xie returns with us to Linghuan Dock, you can take that route.”

This was news Sheng Ningyu had not known.

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She silently noted this and, seeing everyone look toward her, half-jokingly spoke.

“I am different from him. Since childhood, I have had a frail body and weak foundation, and… have also encountered misfortune. This trip was originally just to seek medicine at Yunwang Palace in Linghuan Dock. I did not expect to meet you all along the way—that must be fate.”

Sheng Ningyu paused and sighed heavily. “Along the way, I heard much about the Chu family. It is said their patriarch is eccentric and not easy to deal with, so I had no desire to get involved. But that day, poor and hungry, I mistakenly ate the Chu family’s prepared early meal. Left with no choice, I had to lie that I was not a sword cultivator and escaped by a hair…”

Her explanation was reasonable.

But—

Yaoyou Ling could not help but say, “Daoist Ning, why do you think the Chu family would definitely pick on you? With Daoist Xie by your side, shouldn’t you be quite safe? From what I saw earlier, neither Chu Le nor Chu Jiye alone looked as good as Daoist Xie.”

This Daoist Xie’s appearance was rare in the world, truly peerless.

Snow-clear bamboo bones, carved like jade, especially the red mark on his brow—he looked nothing like a mortal gentleman painted in the world, but rather like a Buddha statue in a high temple, touched by bodhi, taking human form, appearing in the mortal realm.

Simply standing there without words, he radiated elegance.

Yaoyou Ling did not consider herself ugly, and the two young masters of Yunwang Palace, Yuan’s sons, were famously handsome in the cultivation world, yet before this Daoist Xie, they seemed ordinary.

Only the so-called “First Young Master” Rong Que seemed capable of competing.

Xie Qianjing glanced at Yaoyou Ling and smiled, shaking his head gently. “You are mistaken in thinking so.”

Yuan Shuhe, unable to stop Yaoyou Ling, rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Ling junior brother, have you forgotten what the elder brother said? Be silent and listen.”

Sheng Ningyu smiled and said, “No matter, it is indeed a doubt.”

After speaking, she took off her veil.

The red marks on her face had all disappeared; the effect of the disguise pill had worn off. She revealed her face unexpectedly, leaving everyone stunned.

Her skin was translucent white; every feature exquisite. Her brows and eyes held a chilling serenity. Wherever her gaze landed, it was like a bright moon hanging high in the sky—any dirt nearby would feel ashamed and dare not show itself, lest it profane her.

Ice sculpted into bone, the moon as her soul—beautiful and cold in every way.

She should have been an extremely aloof beauty.

But she was not.

When she stood in the sunlight, wearing a faint, almost imperceptible smile and casting a casual glance, she revealed a hint of lazy flirtation. Yet this flirtation was bright and unrestrained, evoking no reproach.

Like moonlight scattering in the night, causing frost and snow to willingly melt.

Especially when Sheng Ningyu stood beside Xie Qianjing—both so beautiful side by side, one could hardly tell who was more stunning.

No wonder Daoist Ning thought she would surely be targeted.

The medical cultivators could not help but think, if they were retainers of the Chu family, even if the swordsmanship of these two was crude, they would not let them go without bringing them back for the patriarch to see.

Moreover, Daoist Ning was not only beautiful but also approachable and familiar-looking.

All the medical cultivators praised her, and some disciples sighed, “Perhaps the Moonlight Sword Sovereign the Chu family seeks is someone of such appearance as these two.”

Suddenly, they felt a little disgusted.

Sheng Ningyu was somewhat accustomed to such remarks and remained composed: “The rumored Sword Sovereign is said to be a heavenly figure, bright as the moon, radiant with boundless light. We are but mediocre mortals—how could we compare?”

At her words, the corner of Xie Qianjing’s lips rose ever so slightly.

“Senior Brother Yuling, lend me your long-kept golden jade glaze bead.”

Yaoyou Ling suddenly snapped back to attention, eyeing his chest-high junior sister warily. “There are plenty of glaze beads, but the golden jade glaze bead is hardest to refine. I only have one—what do you want it for?”

Ji Qingwu, holding her face, said, “I’m going to frame that pear blossom—Senior Brother, no wonder people say surviving great calamity surely brings blessings.”

Though she had been entangled by the puppet barrier, luckily it was the mildest kind, and she had gained such a beautiful pear blossom from this sister, which was extremely fortunate.

Moreover, for some reason, she felt an immediate kinship with Daoist Ning upon seeing her.

Yaoyou Ling thought about it and agreed, “Indeed.”

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These two’s appearances clearly were no ordinary people, especially Daoist Ning, not only extraordinarily beautiful but also evoking warmth.

To have met them was truly a blessing.

The remaining medical cultivators of Yunwang Palace nodded unconsciously.

Yuan Shuhe: “...”

Having such fellow disciples was his true fortune.

He sincerely admired them.

The young master, though still a boy, sighed maturely and reminded Sheng Ningyu, who had put her veil back on: “Before we reach Yunwang Palace, Daoist Ning, remember not to remove your veil.”

The boy’s tone was steady, somewhat reminiscent of his elder brother.

Sheng Ningyu’s gaze grew more affectionate as she smoothly coaxed, “I am usually careful and cautious—I simply trust the character of everyone here at Yunwang Palace.”

The medical cultivators were flattered and elated, and Yuan Shuhe blushed deeply.

Strangely, he felt like a shy child once again, being comforted by the maids of the sect.

Despite this, Yuan Shuhe insisted, “Even the most rigorous sects and clans have those with wavering hearts. Daoist Ning, having just met me, should not trust me so easily.”

Sheng Ningyu’s eyes softened further. “Thank you, young master Yuan, for your reminder—I have taken note.”

It felt even more like childhood.

Yuan Shuhe turned his face away embarrassedly but then turned back, pointing at Sheng Ningyu: “By the way, Daoist Ning, do you want to treat your right hand?”

Her hand?

Sheng Ningyu instinctively retracted her right hand into her sleeve, replying, “It’s inconvenient outside—better to wait until we reach Linghuan Dock, then I’ll ask you…”

“My senior brother didn’t say that,” Ji Qingwu, the young girl, peeked beside Sheng Ningyu, reaching to tug her sleeve but Sheng Ningyu deftly avoided, hiding her hand behind her back.

Her expression unchanged, she bent down and joked with the girl, “My hand is dirty, not yet washed. If you touch it, you’ll soil that pear blossom.”

Ji Qingwu inhaled sharply, neither stepping back nor trying to touch again, just pointing at Sheng Ningyu’s right hand: “But your right hand—Sister Ning, your right hand is bleeding.”

Sheng Ningyu paused and looked at Yuan Shuhe.

Seeing her gaze, Yuan Shuhe shyly coughed with his fist to his lips: “I only saw when Daoist Ning removed the veil earlier. To have borne this wound for so long is our fault as medical cultivators. I have some pills in my Star River pouch; if you don’t mind, I can give you a simple treatment now. We can plan further once we reach Yunwang Palace.”

So that was it.

Relieved, Sheng Ningyu smiled and raised her hand: “If it’s not troublesome—”

“Leave it to me.”

A sudden coolness, like cold jade, covered her right wrist.

Sheng Ningyu suddenly turned her head to see Xie Qianjing had quietly moved to her right rear, smiling as he held her hand, looking at Yuan Shuhe.

Clearly, the medical cultivators of Yunwang Palace wore bamboo-green robes, while Xie Qianjing was in plain clothes. Yet among the bamboo forest, Sheng Ningyu felt he stood out the most.

Bodhi like jade, jade like a lord.

Lowering his eyes and smiling, like vast stretches of pure jade.

Sheng Ningyu was momentarily dazed when Xie Qianjing’s gentle voice came: “Young Master Yuan has protected us all the way, with words to comfort us. I am deeply grateful on behalf of Daoist Ning.”

“If we disturb you further, it would be embarrassing. Let me tend to Daoist Ning’s wounds. You can take this opportunity to rest with your fellow disciples. This way, we can both feel more at ease.”