Chapter 176   That Night

The next day, while Yun Shimo was in the tower refining pills, Qingtong came and reported that Princess Qianyang had sent someone here to fetch a medicine. She wanted to use it to treat Hongyi’s wounds.

Yun Shimo was coldly controlling the flame under the cauldron. He said icily, “I won’t help.”

Qingtong gave a start. It was Hongyi after all, someone who had tried to kill Hua Qiyue. It was normal for him not to agree. Yet the servant was Princess Qianyang’s man.

“The man is from Princess Qianyang... ”

Yun Shimo halted for a moment before saying quietly, “Tell him that I’m too busy dealing with the Gnawing Devils Sect. We will talk again after the Gnawing Devils Sect business.”

Qingtong gave a sigh of relief and left.

After Qingtong’s departure, Yun Shimo gave the cauldron a slap, injecting a scorching silver light into it. Boom! A crimson pellet rose within the cauldron, spherical and glistening with a warm luster.

“The Nine Bone Reviving Pill, a fourth-level medicine pellet!”

Yun Shimo said quietly. His entire face was ashen.

Refining this sort of pill exerted much of his energy and Spiritual Qi. No wonder his face looked so ghastly.

The hare chuckled lightly. “I didn’t expect my disciple to be so gifted. You’re young and yet have concocted a fourth-level pill. Hoho!”

“You flatter me, Master. But I wonder... who Qiyue’s Master is?”

Yun Shimo’s brows were all puckered.

Bingyi stood by his side. He rarely saw Yun Shimo pucker his brows so terribly, and finally realized something. It seemed like Hua Qiyue had risen a few positions in his heart again?

“What lethal skill did you witness?”

“Heart of Fire!” Yun Shimo remembered the three large characters. He could not see the rest.

“So, it’s him!” The hare was so shocked that it almost fell from Yun Shimo’s shoulder. Its legs were shivering. Finally, it leaped down.

“You know him, sir?”

Yun Shimo rejoiced quietly. Now he would finally know who that person was.

“Yes... that person is called Tianpi.” The hare’s eyes started to turn solemn. “By the way, we were once friends. Later... after a great battle, we both disappeared. I didn’t expect him to be alive!”

The hare said coldly, a stern light darting out from its eyes.

“Who is he?” Yun Shimo wanted to know Tianpi’s identity badly.

“He... was conceived from the essences of the heaven and the earth. He was born extraordinarily strong. He could master all lethal skills to the Great Completeness just by practicing them once. The Spiritual Qi in his body was several hundred times stronger an ordinary person’s. Unfortunately... for some reason, he became a demon! If he is really Qiyue’s Master, I’m afraid... ”

The hare’s words made Yun Shimo take on a solemn expression.

He did not expect such a character to have chosen Hua Qiyue.

“But we have never seen Tianpi before.” Yun Shimo thought, furrowing his brows. “Although Qiyue and I... are already engaged, she has never introduced her Master to me before.”

The little hare sneered. “He won’t reveal himself so easily! Perhaps he has some secret, that’s why he has chosen Qiyue. Otherwise, how could the utterly conceited Tianpi select an ordinary mortal?”

Yun Shimo’s countenance became grave. For some reason, he was feeling quite disturbed.

Because he remembered the man was called “Handsome Master” by Hua Qiyue.

“How... does he look?”

Yun Shimo asked this question subconsciously. When he came to himself, he felt a little embarrassed.

The little hare gave a strange laugh. “Born from the essences of the heaven and the earth. How do you think he will look? Diabolically handsome! All women will lose their hearts to him.”

Yun Shimo felt his heart sink.

No wonder Hua Qiyue seemed to be more indifferent to him lately.

At this moment, two people walked up from the third storey. It was a man and a woman—Madame Yun and Yun Xuan.

“Father, Mother.”

Yun Shimo came to himself and immediately greeted them respectfully.

“Shimo, your father has already recovered to the Great Completeness of the Moon Eclipse Realm.” Madame Yun smiled. A look of joy flashed across Yun Shimo’s eyes. “In other words... he can return to his former level soon?”

Yun Xuan nodded his head slightly. “Although that’s true, but... I still can’t match up to that person!”

When he heard this, Yun Shimo’s face looked even more gloomy. He gave the hare a glance. “Don’t panic. We’ll find a way out.”

The little hare nodded. “Hehe, I’m here. You guys have mastered many of my lethal skills now. I’m sure you can avenge yourselves.”

The little hare also knew about the Yuns’ family feud.

“But... I heard you mention that Princess Qianyang. Did she really ask the Emperor to grant her marriage? How can such a woman exist? I still prefer Qiyue and Tianci.”

Madame Yun remembered Princess Qianyang and had to ask coldly.

“Mother... you’d better not forced things first.”

Yun Shimo’s brows were furrowed.

For the moment, too many things were making him vexed. He suddenly did not know what to do. He had lived for so many years, yet this was only the second time he had felt so vexed.

“Do you mean... you want to marry Princess Qianyang?” Madame Yun too widened her eyes.

Wasn’t that what Yun Shimo meant just now? Even Bingyi was shocked stiff. He can’t be serious! Did his master want to marry Princess Qianyang? But it was Hua Qiyue who was his sweetheart!

“I don’t mean that. Later, you will understand.”

Yun Shimo said quietly. He placed the pill carefully in a samite box.

The little hare leaned against the jade couch by the side, its blood-red eyes seemed to be musing.

“I don’t care, Mother wants to see Tianci and Qiyue. If you don’t get them here, I will go out and see them.” Madame Yun was throwing a tantrum.

Yun Shimo halted for a moment and said helplessly, “Very well, I shall invite them in here tomorrow.”

Madame Yun heard him and was finally reassured.

Yun Xuan’s countenance was looking solemn. “Since our Qi Art’s not back to its former level, it’s best not to reveal our identities.”

Madame Yun gave a snort. She had not stepped out of this tall tower for many, many years. Other than the few trusted aides of Yun Shimo, no one knew that the latter still had a father and a mother.

In the end, Yun Xuan wanted to continue cultivating at the lower storey. Yun Shimo said to the little hare, “Sir, please accompany me tomorrow to take a look... see if you can detect the whereabouts of that Tianpi. I want to know his true purpose.”

“You won’t be able to. I was with Qiyue for such a long time and I didn’t detect any oddity.” The little hare’s reply made Yun Shimo very disappointed.

In other words, that man might have already left.

Although it was good that he had left—at least it meant that he could not pester Hua Qiyue—Yun Shimo still felt quite upset to hear her keep calling him “Handsome Master.”

If this man was really so powerful and a demon as well, what purpose could he have, taking Hua Qiyue as his disciple?

Would Hua Qiyue be harmed by him? What if she got hurt?

“Sir, between you and Tianpi... who is stronger?” Yun Shimo suddenly asked in a low voice.

The little hare started and its expression seemed quite dazed. It seemed to be recalling something. “About... the same, I would say. But it’s been so many years. I don’t know if his powers have improved.”

“But... my powers are still very far from yours, sir.” Yun Shimo’s countenance slowly began to sink.

The little hare started to become complacent. “But of course. If a kid like you is more powerful than I, the world would come to an end.”

Yun Shimo became silent. He could not sleep that night. With his eyes open, he watched the moonlight outside the window stream in, then disappear slowly and quietly.

At the bottom of his heart, a vexatious ignorance was bothering him.

Suddenly, Yun Shimo thought of something. He got up and put on his robe, then darted out of the window.

When he arrived at the back gate of the princess’s palace, Yun Shimo finally halted his steps. He remained where he was, standing silently, his brows deeply knitted.

When the back gate slowly opened, a pair of profound eyes were staring at him. Yun Shimo stopped for a moment and finally entered slowly.

“Prince Nan is indeed punctual.” That person gave a cold, indistinct laugh. “It’s your blessing to be fancied by Her Highness. Please wait in the backyard for a while. The Princess wants to see you.”

After these words, she led Yun Shimo to the Moon Admiring Pavilion in the backyard. Princess Qianyang soon arrived hurriedly.

The person who asked Yun Shimo to enter was Fifth Venerable Master.

Just before he left Righteous Hall, she left a message for Yun Shimo, asking him to wait here at midnight. The Princess would like to discuss something with him in private.

And Yun Shimo indeed came.

Princess Qianyang was in a peach-red pleated skirt which was fluttering ethereally in the wind. She resembled an immortal descending upon the earth. Her long hair was down and she was indeed a captivating beauty.

Yun Shimo stood indifferently where he was, with no ripples in his eyes. He was not looking in the least pleased or surprised.

But Yun Shimo was indeed here. The fact made Princess Qianyang very happy. She wanted to marry Yun Shimo badly, and this rendezvous in the night made her little face flush with agitation.

“I didn’t expect... Your Highness to be here. Qianyang is overwhelmed. Please sit. Xiaotao, bring us tea and the titbits.”

Princess Qianyang immediately got her personal maidservant to brew them some tea.

“No need. Please speak up if you have something to say, Princess Qianyang.” Yun Shimo was neither hot nor cold.

Princess Qianyang smiled gently. Fifth Venerable Master gave Yun Shimo a glance and signaled her with her eyes. Then, she left with the maidservants.

The Princess in a rendezvous with a man in the night. If this leaked out, it would reflect badly on the royal family. But Fifth Venerable Master was indeed capable. None of the maidservants dared to speak recklessly and they all deferred to the Fifth Venerable Master’s orders.

“Qianyang has invited Your Highness here to admire the moon. Actually, I have a request. Your Highness is so busy concocting pills and practicing alchemy but time is short. I won’t force Your Highness to give Senior Sister Hongyi medicine, but... one day apart is like three years to me. Therefore, I would like to see Your Highness... ” Although Princess Qianyang was born in Heaven Sect, she was still quite tense when she professed her passion for the man.

Her pretty face was blushing. She remembered that night in the temple, her delicate body glued to her beloved’s. The thought made her ears redden and her heart beat frantically.

Yun Shimo frowned. “Your Highness, I am flattered by your kindness. But I’m now committed in the operation against the Gnawing Devils Sect and Dark Sect. I’m afraid I won’t have time for you.”

“But... Your Highness did come. Surely this meant that you feel for me? Your Highness... might Qianyang be so bold to ask: do you... really like me?”

Princess Qianyang’s scorching eyes were staring at Yun Shimo, her expression full of eagerness.

This man was so remarkable. Seen amidst the crowds, he was even more striking and individualistic. One glance, and she had fallen for him irremediably.

“Your Highness... I am willing to wed you and be your wife. No matter how many concubines you take, I will treat them with kindness and sincerity!”