Heavenly Sword Peak, Lan Yue Pavilion (the temporary residence Qin Shuying had arranged for Chen Mo).
The quiet room was laid with thick carpets, furnished with a simple bed, table, and chairs, and incense of sandalwood for calming the spirit was burning.
Qin Shuying pushed open the door and entered. Behind her followed two maids with lowered eyes and brows, carrying many items.
She directed the maids to set down the things one by one.
They were not clothes or jewelry, but an unrolled silk cloth painted with complex array patterns, several boxes of strange ointments, a few translucent crystals, and a bottle of pills.
“This is the Huanyin Jue. It can change your voice.”
“This is Yurong Gao. It can conceal male characteristics.”
“And this,” Qin Shuying took out a palm-sized mask carved with intricate ice patterns, exquisitely crafted, with faint spiritual power flowing at its edges.
“Huanxue Mian. A high-rank illusion magical tool. It can confuse a cultivator’s perception, making it hard for others to remember your true facial details, and it can slightly alter the aura around you. Wearing it, as long as no one deliberately investigates, no one should be able to easily see through your male identity or true appearance.”
Chen Mo curiously touched the gauze-thin mask.
“Tomorrow, I will announce that I need to go into seclusion for a few days to intensively study a sword art.”
“You will tell Su Wan’er that, entrusted by me, you are going to Wuyin City on the East Sea coast to visit a reclusive alchemy grandmaster on my behalf, to request a rare medicinal ingredient—Bingxin Huolian—that will help my sword dao breakthrough. Round trip plus requesting the medicine will take about a month.”
Qin Shuying had already arranged everything.
Wuyin City and Jinyun City, where the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion was located, were not far apart.
Encountering the Flower Queen Competition on the way and deciding to participate on a whim could be explained.
Even if Su Wan’er became suspicious later, this excuse would barely cover things.
“Alright, let’s try it out first.”
“The medicine effect can last two hours. It’s harmless to your body. It will naturally recover after the time passes.”
Chen Mo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Qin Shuying applied all the tools.
With movements gentle yet irresistible, she helped him sit down and began to coat him with the cold, sticky ointment.
Instantly, strands of spiritual power coiled around his limbs like living things, bringing a strange sensation of being gently kneaded and reshaped by invisible hands.
He could even clearly feel his shoulders narrowing, his waist curves being deliberately accentuated.
This feeling of his body being forcibly altered by external force made his stomach churn, almost making him vomit.
The array light lasted about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, then gradually dimmed.
Chen Mo lowered his head. The lines of his body were indeed much softer.
With trembling hands, he touched his throat. There… it was smooth.
No one knew how much time had passed before the slight stinging sensation on his body finally ceased.
The maids combed his hair.
His hair quality was excellent, smooth as black satin. It was coiled into an elegant but youthful Feixian bun, with a few stray strands naturally falling by his cheeks.
A white jade hairpin was inserted diagonally into his hairline, with a fine tassel hanging down, gently swaying with his movements.
Finally, the maids applied a little makeup to him and dotted his lips with fragrant lip balm.
Chunlan handed him a clear water mirror.
Chen Mo slowly opened his eyes and looked into the mirror.
Then he froze.
The person in the mirror looked like an immortal maiden who had accidentally fallen from the moon palace.
It was still his facial features, but his eyebrows had been trimmed slender and soft, losing some of his usual heroic spirit.
The corners of his eyes had been lengthened, carrying a natural, misty, watery gleam as if about to cry.
His figure was slender, his skin luminous like snow, his hair dark as clouds, and the jade hairpin glowed.
The whole person was cool, fragile, untouched by dust.
This… was him?
Chen Mo couldn’t believe it.
“The Peak Master said that you have a very good foundation, Young Master, and that a little modification would be sufficient. Now it seems it’s true.”
Chen Mo nodded woodenly.
The following days were like dancing on a knife’s edge.
During the day, he did his best to manage affairs as usual, accompanying Su Wan’er, and in his spare time teaching Han Chuan to read, write, and understand human relationships, guiding her to integrate better.
Only in the dead of night, when he confirmed that Su Wan’er had already entered meditation to regulate her breathing and Han Chuan was guarding outside the courtyard, did he go alone to Lan Yue Pavilion on Heavenly Sword Peak to receive increasingly strict special training from the male etiquette officer who had been specially invited.
The dark circles under his eyes could not be completely covered even with makeup, and his figure visibly thinned.
The day before departure, Sleeping Palace.
After the evening meal, the maids cleared the cups and dishes.
The hall was lit with calming sandalwood incense, and the candlelight was warm.
Su Wan’er sat on the edge of the bed, holding a jade slip containing records of some obscure spiritual herb, her brows slightly furrowed, obviously not having gained much.
Chen Mo sat beside her, skillfully massaging her temples.
His fingertips carried a trace of spiritual power, soothing the fatigue from her days of reading ancient books.
“Silence,” Su Wan’er put down the jade slip, raised her hand to stop his moving hand, and turned to look at him. “You seem to have lost weight these past few days. Is there something on your mind?”
Chen Mo’s heart leaped violently, but then quickly relaxed. He lowered his eyelashes. “Nothing. My Matriarch is overthinking it.”
Su Wan’er’s doubts slightly dissipated upon hearing the answer.
Maybe it was really her overthinking. Her Silence was soft-hearted and had his heart set on her. Seeing her unhappy, he would naturally lose sleep and appetite.
“I’m fine. Just a bit drained from flipping through the ancient books,” Su Wan’er pulled him to sit beside her, cupping his slightly cold hands in her palms. “I heard… that Senior Sister Qin of Heavenly Sword Peak went into seclusion a few days ago?”
Chen Mo’s breath caught again, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
He forced himself to stay calm. “Yes. Miss Chunlan came to deliver something the day before yesterday and mentioned it in passing. She said Peak Master Qin was comprehending a sword art.” He paused, as if casually mentioning it. “Why does my Matriarch ask about that?”
“Nothing. Just remembering some old matters from childhood.” Su Wan’er’s eyes darkened slightly, then cleared again.
She looked at Chen Mo and suddenly said, “Silence… tomorrow, I need to go to the edge of the Back Mountain Forbidden Area.”
A former elder of Danxia Peak who was on good terms with her had sent a message.
She said that at a certain place on the outskirts of the forbidden area, traces of Jiuye Huanhun Cao had been found.
This herb had some remarkable effects on soul solidification.
Although it wasn’t the right medicine for her condition, it might alleviate it somewhat.
She wanted to confirm it in person.
If it was true, she would pick it and keep it for later use.
The trace of the spiritual herb was elusive. If they went too late, things might change.
Chen Mo’s heart tightened. He looked up at her. “Back Mountain Forbidden Area? Why are you going there, Matriarch?”
“Don’t worry. I’m just entrusting someone to find something. There are protective arrays there. It’s fine.”
Su Wan’er patted his hand reassuringly.
Chen Mo saw the unquestionable determination in her eyes and knew further persuasion was useless. Besides, he himself was not free.
She asked softly again, “Silence, how have things been going with Senior Sister Qin?”
These past few days, Chen Mo had often gone out under the pretext of “helping Senior Sister Qin with some trivial matters related to spirit cranes” or “seeking advice on sword dao doubts.”
Although she was a bit puzzled why Qin Shuying had suddenly become so close to Chen Mo, thinking that the old friendship between the two had eased and that Chen Mo seemed to enjoy it (she thought), she didn’t look into it further.
Chen Mo walked over and sat beside her. His gaze fell on her slightly pale face.
His heart ached fiercely, his throat felt blocked. After a long while, he spoke in as steady a voice as possible, slowly:
“Wan’er… before going into seclusion, Senior Sister Qin entrusted me with a matter… She wants me to make a trip for her to Wuyin City on the East Sea coast, to visit an alchemy grandmaster living in seclusion there.”
Upon hearing this, Su Wan’er’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
“Wuyin City? The journey is not short, and that grandmaster… I hear his temperament is somewhat reclusive, not easy to meet.”
“Senior Sister Qin has been kind to me and has also taken good care of Yue Peak. I cannot refuse this matter.” Chen Mo’s voice was very soft but carried persistence. “And I also thought, with this opportunity, I could go out and see the world.”
“I really can’t rest easy with you traveling far alone. Although the East Sea region is not too dangerous, the road is long and full of variables. How about… you pick a few capable disciples from the peak to accompany you?”
“No need.” Chen Mo immediately shook his head, his tone somewhat urgent.
Then he realized his loss of composure and quickly softened his voice to explain.
“Junior Sister Jingzhe is in a crucial moment of seclusion and cannot be disturbed. As for the disciples of the peak… this is after all a private errand for Senior Sister Qin, not suitable for publicity. It’s more convenient for me to go alone. Wan’er, trust me. I will take care of myself and come back as soon as possible.”
He held Su Wan’er’s hand back, his eyes pleading.
“Alright. Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you. But I have one request. Take Han Chuan with you. That child has a cold temperament, but her cultivation is not weak. With her there, I can feel a bit more at ease.”
Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
She reached out one hand and gently stroked his thin cheek, her fingertips carrying a warm tenderness.
“You must promise me. Put your own safety first in everything. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t take risks. If the matter cannot be accomplished, return immediately. Do you understand?”
Chen Mo’s eyes suddenly grew hot.
He quickly lowered his head, burying his face in Su Wan’er’s warm palm.
“Mm. I promise you.”
That night, the two of them slept in each other’s arms, but both were heavy-hearted and found it hard to fall asleep.
Chen Mo listened to the even, light breathing of the person in his arms, his eyes open, staring at the endless darkness of the bed curtains until the east began to lighten.
—
The news that Chen Mo was going out to visit friends and would be descending the mountain soon stirred up layers of undercurrents in certain secret circles.
The message had deliberately obscured the destination and specific reason, but the fact of descending the mountain itself was enough to touch the nerves of some people.
In the depths of an unknown, dark, damp mountain river thick with demonic qi, a pair of dark purple eyes suddenly opened in the shadows.
In her hand, she held a slightly warm black bone fragment.
On it appeared a few small words: “Target leaves mountain, direction southeast, suspected heading to Yunzhou. Companion: Qin Shuying.”
This was a vague message sent by a low-level demon she controlled.
“Left the mountain? And with that bitch?”
Chao’er’s scarlet eyes exploded with jealousy and hatred.
The demonic qi around her surged with her emotional fluctuations, corroding the riverbank with a sizzling sound.
Since that day in the valley when they were forced apart, she had been pining for her Master’s Husband day and night.
Yunyin Mountain’s defenses were extraordinary. With her strength not yet restored and that old woman’s threat, she had never dared to act rashly.
But now, a godsent opportunity had arrived!
“Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion… Flower Queen Competition…”
Chewing on the fragmented information, Chao’er’s eyes blazed with light.
Although she didn’t know why her Master’s Husband was going to such a place, the location was clear!
“Master’s Husband… wait for me…” Her throat made vague, dreamlike mutterings, her gaze sometimes clear, sometimes unfocused. “I’ll come find you soon… very soon…”