Chapter 4: The Demon Enters the Path

Zhang Kuangyun found a window seat on the second floor facing the street and ordered a pot of the newly released Mingqian Longjing tea

Even without discussing this weapon, just by looking at Zhang Kuangyun's arrogant demeanor, Aunt Sun knew that despite his young age, he was not to be trifled with, so she forcefully suppressed the bitterness and resentment in her heart.

Ah? Really?" Bai Binglan exclaimed in surprise

In any case, this time he took the initiative to recruit, which is just the perfect opportunity for this princess to infiltrate the mortal realm!

On a spring day at Mufu Mountain, flocks of orioles dance in the air, and the vegetation is lush and verdant

As she gazed at the beautiful scenery before her, Bai Binglan secretly admired it, yet felt a twinge of regret.

"What is the matter? Is there something troubling you, Miss Xiaocui?" Zhang Kuangyun said as he looked at her

"Black Hawk Old Demon?" Upon hearing the word "demon," Bai Binglan felt somewhat uneasy, yet her curiosity was piqued. She cautiously inquired, "This mountain peak has clear scenery and is not too far from the village; how could there be any demon clan here?"

Originally, as a follower of Zhang Kuangyun, she should have taken care of him; however, now Bai Binglan feels no psychological burden at all, because after all, he is a member of the human race

As Zhang Kuangyun journeyed westward, Bai Binglan felt that her plan was indeed very correct

Just as she was looking around and marveling at the beautiful scenery, she did not notice that Zhang Kuangyun had a serious expression on his face at that moment, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to see through the overwhelming spring mountains and trees, trying to discern what was hidden within them

Whether walking personally or listening to Zhang Kuangyun casually mention it, she would secretly remember the information she heard and saw in her heart

However, as a trade-off, the roads in this area are not as easy to traverse as those along the banks of Dongting Lake

Indeed! Bai Binglan, feeling understood, said with renewed spirit, "Young Master, do you think so too? I knew my thoughts were not wrong! But..."

Even though she held herself in high regard, having previously infiltrated Huaxia alone, she was still unfamiliar with many matters and unaccustomed to the local customs and culture, inevitably encountering various difficulties. If it were not for this, she would not have lost the rationality she originally possessed and would not have taken it upon herself to practice the so-called "Divine Clan's 'Breaking the Book'" for no reason.

Upon receiving the room payment from the guest, Mrs. Sun should have felt pleased, yet she harbored a sense of regret within: "Alas, this young girl, having attached herself to a wealthy young master, is unlikely to heed my advice and has thus committed herself to a brothel. Oh, the substantial introduction fee I could have earned..."

After pondering for a moment, he did not hesitate much and kindly said: "Miss Binglan, you must firmly believe that 'there is always a way out for those in despair'; if you trust me, there is indeed a path before you."

"Oh? Do tell me more." The girl's response was somewhat strange, piquing Zhang Kuangyun's curiosity

After a while, Bai Binglan also came to her senses, noticed Zhang Kuangyun's expression, and asked: "What’s wrong? Are you afraid of bandits?"

Mount Mufu is located in the southeast of Dongting Lake; if one wishes to reach Jiuyi Mountain, the source of the Xiang River, traveling from the vicinity of Mount Mufu is much closer than traversing the Dongting Lake basin

More than two months ago, my hometown suffered from a disaster, so I came to Hangzhou to seek refuge with my cousin. My sister Xiaocui had always told the family that she married into a wealthy family in Hangzhou, but to my surprise, when I arrived, the 'wealthy family' turned out to be a well-known brothel near Baijingfang

In his eyes, the one sitting before him was a pitiable girl, wretched and unfortunate, a beauty doomed to a short life

Zhang Kuangyun clarified the rent owed by Bai Binglan and then counted the amount out to Mrs. Sun in full.

"Where to?" Bai Binglan asked, blinking her eyes

Though she felt unhappy, Madam Sun dared not show it; having established herself in the inn, she had seen all kinds of people. Previously, Mr. Gou could not discern the hidden blade beneath the flamboyant attire of Zhang Kuangyun, but Madam Sun could see through it at a glance

At this moment, the two individuals each harbor their own thoughts

Moments later, the two of them arrived at a teahouse named "Yunshui Teahouse" located in Child's Alley

Having settled the various matters at hand, they set off on the journey westward, accompanied by the gentle spring light that danced in the clear breeze, heading towards the picturesque Xiang and Dongting regions. Of course, their ultimate destination lay further southwest of Dongting, in the Cangwu and Jiuyi mountains.

"Here, this is the remainder, four hundred wen, count it yourself." Zhang Kuangyun noticed that the tea in the cup was still hot, so he casually tossed a string of copper coins, which clinked as they landed on the table in front of Bai Binglan.

The journey was not rushed; a few days later, they arrived at Mount Mufu, located in the region of Xiaoxiang.

Now, as Zhang Kuangyun heads towards Jiuyi, he takes care of everything along the way, so she does not need to worry at all

She not only did not give the two of them any respect, but instead laughed with a beaming smile, full of flattery

"Hmm," Zhang Kuangyun said warmly, "The young lady just introduced herself and was candid, so I do not wish to conceal my origins. I am Zhang Kuangyun, a lay disciple of the Xuanling Sect of the Daoist school, affiliated with the Xianlu Hall of the Fan Sect."

Princess Bai Binglan of the Celestial Fox, through a dramatic and unexpected encounter, became the follower and assistant of a young man on the fringes of an enemy clan's sect.

For her, this is extremely valuable military intelligence

As the wind calmed and the clouds dispersed after the rain, having tidied her attire and bid farewell to the clients, Xiaocui stepped out of the courtyard, only to suddenly recall that she had left home early this morning, and it seemed that she was not supposed to be engaged in her regular duties today

"It is like this," Bai Binglan said eloquently, "I am not that courtesan 'Xiao Cui', but rather Xiao Cui's cousin, Bai Binglan."

Could it be that this young man, like my kin from earlier, is coveting my beauty?

The difficulty lies in the two characters 'Xiao Cui'" Bai Binglan said with a hint of resentment

Oh, your cousin speaks the truth" Zhang Kuangyun could not help but softly agree

She is the Xiaocui mentioned earlier by Zhang Kuangyun.

However, in the days that followed, she discreetly observed and quietly inquired among the people, as if nothing had happened at the residence of Master Gou, and no one seemed to trouble her, Xiaocui. Only then did she feel relieved

Relying on years of cultivation, Zhang Kuangyun finally returned to normal and said with a smile: "Let's go"

After several rounds of hot water, the tea leaves had almost lost their flavor. Only then did Zhang Kuangyun take Bai Binglan and leave the Yunshui Teahouse

Find a quiet tea house and settle the bill" Zhang Kuangyun waved his hand and said

Great, great! Despite the fact that Zhang Kuangyun had been maintaining an aloof demeanor just moments ago, upon seeing Bai Binglan agree, he immediately jumped up, nearly dancing with joy.

I originally lived in the Fortune Inn on Child's Lane, and my cousin had been supporting my rent all along; however, after I upset her that time, she cut off my financial support, and I felt it was inappropriate to ask her again. Therefore, therefore... I am truly at my wit's end now!

I am a delicate woman, but I have been influenced by my grandfather since childhood and have a slight understanding of poetry and literature. I truly do not wish to fall into the same depravity as my sister. However, my sister thinks otherwise; she believes that I possess some beauty and constantly urges me to join her in welcoming guests at the brothel. She also claims that the 'wealthy families' have been struggling in recent years, with a decline in clientele, and that as long as I take up a position there, I will surely revive the business and become the top courtesan in the brothels of Hangzhou.

When she thought this way, her desire to remain hidden in the realm of mortals became even more fervent

Uh... seeing him so excited, Bai Binglan maintained a smile on the surface, but suddenly felt a bit hesitant inside

Oh, I did not say anything," Zhang Kuangyun said with a serious expression, "I see that the young lady is well-educated and virtuous, pure and noble, and would not easily fall into the ways of the world.

Hmph, I am not afraid! Bai Binglan thought fiercely to herself, Don't forget, I am the dignified princess of the Tushan Kingdom; if he intends to plot against me, even if my abilities are temporarily weak, with a little cleverness and strategy, dealing with him will be a piece of cake

These two individuals both believed they had gained an advantage over the other party. After sipping some tea, one genuinely and the other feignedly introduced their respective situations to each other.

"Mountain bandits?" Zhang Kuangyun chuckled, "If they were ordinary mountain bandits, what would my Xuanling disciples have to fear? I am merely patiently inquiring whether that old black eagle demon has returned to its lair"

Yet, neither he nor she could have imagined that on this exceedingly ordinary spring day in Hangzhou, their fateful encounter would unexpectedly set in motion a later journey filled with tumultuous waves and intricate emotions of blood and fire

Oh? Zhang Kuangyun's gaze flickered, and there was suddenly a hint of vigilance in his eyes

As a disciple of the Xuanling sect, I have the responsibility of recruiting new members. If Miss Binglan is interested, she may become my assistant; in the future, should I achieve mastery in my Dao, she could directly become my disciple, and we could cultivate the supreme path together

No matter how cautious he was, he could never have imagined that the person before him was a significant figure of the demon clan, who had rarely lost the unique aura of the demon race due to being possessed by demonic energy.

Because there is a regulation in their Xuanling Sect that if an honorary hall, established due to various opportunities, does not have a thriving population, and eventually the last person perishes, the hall title will be revoked accordingly

"No need to count, I trust you." Bai Binglan's gaze flickered towards Zhang Kuangyun, and then she put away the 400 wen.

The legendary origins also inadvertently attracted many disciples of the Zhang surname, but now it has come to the hands of Zhang Kuangyun. The once talent-rich Xianlu Hall has, after the death of his master, been left with only him.

This little Taoist is indeed wealthy Seeing him order the expensive new tea, Bai Binglan's resolve to infiltrate his side became even more steadfast

From this point on, I will be able to know both myself and my adversaries. When I, Tushan Zhao, confront them in the future, will it not be a matter of effortless success? Ha, ha ha ha!

At this moment, Zhang Kuangyun was completely unaware of this

At this point, Bai Binglan raised her sleeve and wiped her eyes, as if she were wiping away tears—yet in reality, she had not a single tear. Even if she were to act, she was unwilling to feign tears for the mere mortals before her

Our Xuanling Sect is the orthodox sect of the world, located in the Jiuyi Cangwu Mountain of the Xiaoxiang region, ranking as the third sect in the world. If the young lady does not mind the remote and arduous life of the sect, may I invite you to join our 'Xianlu Hall'

I see, how truly pitiful... Bai Binglan's insincere performance still managed to touch Zhang Kuangyun

Seeing her behave with such arrogance at first and then with such deference, Bai Binglan could not help but feel a sense of disdain and criticism towards the human race's snobbery in her heart

In less than seven or eight days, the young lady from the brothel in Hangzhou, Xiao Cui, completely put this matter out of her mind

The work is done... Sigh— Bai Binglan suddenly appeared melancholic, letting out a long sigh

I am willing! I am willing!" Bai Binglan responded repeatedly, her bright eyes sparkling, appearing extremely excited and joyful

In addition to this, she also felt some fear, uncertain whether her greed for wealth would lead to mistakes and offend those she could not afford to offend

The task is already completed, there is no need to throw me flirtatious glances anymore. Zhang Kuangyun said with a slightly awkward smile

What did you say?" Bai Binglan looked at him

She is unaware that Zhang Kuangyun currently holds an extremely marginal position within the sect; it was manageable when his mentor was alive, but after the death of his mentor, Zhang Kuangyun, who inherited the title and residence, finds himself in a constant state of panic over preserving the title of the Immortal Path Sect.

Once you have entered the Immortal Path Hall, you are considered family

"It is a monster!" Hearing that Bai Binglan used a neutral term, Zhang Kuangyun immediately corrected her, "Binglan, I know you come from an official family and have a gentle disposition; however, you should also be aware that those from the demon clan are almost all cruel and cunning. You must not be soft-hearted; the consequences of being lenient may be minor, but it could very well endanger your life!"

Behind them in Hangzhou, on the noon of the day when Mr. Gou encountered trouble, there was a young lady of some beauty, swaying as she emerged from a secluded courtyard.

Whether it is Dongting Lake or Mufu Mountain, they may mean little to Zhang Kuangyun; however, for Bai Binglan, every place feels exceptionally novel.

"Do not doubt the words of the young master," Bai Binglan observed the expressions of those around her and hurriedly spoke in a tone filled with sorrow, "My sister Xiaocui and I can also be considered children of an official family; my grandfather once served as a governor, but later, due to his upright character, he voluntarily resigned from his post, and our family fortunes subsequently declined"

She wondered why the human race had occupied the most exquisite parts of the Divine Land, while the various demon clans of Tushan could only reside in the hot and polluted southern regions

What the self-satisfied Princess Tianhu does not know is that Zhang Kuangyun has been tirelessly searching for new talent for the Xianlu Hall. Today, upon seeing Bai Binglan and witnessing her perfect performance, and after hearing her speak of her difficulties, Zhang Kuangyun found a perfect match with her.

At the moment of sudden realization, Xiao Cui felt embarrassed, somewhat guilty about her professional ethics, and worried that it would affect her reputation in the marketplace.

After leaving the teahouse, Zhang Kuangyun accompanied Bai Binglan back to the inn in the small alley

At this point, Bai Binglan looked troubled and said, "However, when I shared such thoughts with my cousin, she became angry and left, scolding me as a dim-witted girl who doesn't understand."

Bai Binglan turned over countless thoughts in her mind, some excited, some happy, yet she was completely unaware that she had entirely misjudged Zhang Kuangyun's intentions

The Xianlu Hall, where he is located, was originally the foremost Daoist sect in the world. It served as the temporary residence of the extraordinary figure Zhang Xingyan from the Qing Palace on Mount Luofu during his visit to Mount Jiuyi. Due to the remarkable and ethereal experiences and path of the senior Zhang Xingyan, this stone chamber nestled among the pines and bamboos was designated as an honorary Daoist hall in accordance with the customs of the Xuanling Sect, symbolizing Zhang Xingyan's transcendent path, and has been passed down to this day. The Xianlu Hall, named in honor of Zhang Xingyan's ethereal journey, has been inherited continuously.

Hmph! These despicable and arrogant Taoists, always boasting about 'slaying demons and eliminating evil', are indeed the mortal enemies of my clan; Hahaha! Who would have thought that this princess, by mere chance, could dissipate her own aura and, taking advantage of this self-righteous little Taoist, actually infiltrate their so-called 'Third Sect of the World'!

Originally, she was the main character of the "beauty scheme" introduced to the young man by Wang Po. However, true to her profession, when she set out early to the meeting place, she was approached by a dandy who, with promises of substantial rewards, made her forget all about the agreed-upon task and led her into a small courtyard, where she devoted herself to her usual work.