Chapter 7: The Crisis of the Immortal Path Hall

She believed that apart from the innate gifts of the Celestial Fox clan, her greatest skill was reading people—"at least better than reading books," she thought resentfully

If it were just this, it would be fine; however, when Bai Binglan was led into the side room by Zhang Kuangyun and was pointed to the extremely simple bamboo bed, and told that she would sleep here from now on, in that instant, the once proud and willful princess of the celestial fox suddenly felt an impulse to repent

Shi Luming is a middle-aged man of average build, with a slightly dark complexion and a serious expression

It turns out that over the years, through his relentless investigation, he has discovered that both the murderer of his aunt's family and the assailant of his mentor bear a striking resemblance to a group of demon clan assassins that have been roaming the land of Shenzhou in recent years

Seeing him captivated, Bai Binglan couldn't help but chuckle to herself: "Heh, indeed, he is an ignorant human, just staring at the cover like a fool."

"How to say?" Zhang Kuangyun looked at her strangely

As they walked out of the bamboo forest, along the hillside, and back towards the mountain path, Zhang Kuangyun suddenly said: "Bing Lan, I didn't realize you were quite eloquent."

Thinking of this, Bai Binglan's mood unexpectedly became somewhat cheerful

Sigh, I had good intentions, seeing that he has a decent heart, but his abilities are simply lacking. I kindly offered him the scriptures of our ancestral deity, hoping it would help him improve his skills. However, judging by his foolish demeanor, the situation does not look promising

Bai Binglan clearly observed that the young man in white, who effortlessly captured demons and fought against enemies in Hangzhou and Mufu Mountain, was now too afraid to even breathe, with sweat beading on his smooth forehead

There, the creatures that have never taken a life will atone for their sins through labor and hardship, while also receiving the teachings of the Xuanling Sect. Only after they have undergone this education may they be handed over to the authorities, to be used in future exchanges of prisoners of war with the Tushan Kingdom

With a slightly nervous heart, he brought Bai Binglan into the Fan Zong Hall

As one ascends the winding mountain path along Shicheng Peak, the clouds and mist become increasingly dense, and the mountain breeze blowing against the face grows ever colder

She wishes to seek the forgiveness of the goddess Nüwa, to pardon her years of pride and stubbornness, only asking not to be punished so severely

Over time, through the oral transmission of survivors, this mysterious and terrifying demon clan assassin organization came to be known as "Ghost Guest"

Upon thinking of this, she indeed became somewhat worried

Since it belongs to the demon clan, it has no owner. I believe you can keep it for now and see if there is anything useful inside. Perhaps it will reveal significant intelligence and earn great merit for our sect.

Oh, my esteemed teacher, could it be that heaven has shown mercy, and today I receive a message through spring bamboo shoots, meant to lead me to the clues of the true culprit who murdered you?

The path up to Bailuy Cliff winds its way from the foot of the mountain, connecting with the stone platform by the Duyun Pavilion

In the midst of his satisfaction, he suddenly heard Zhang Kuangyun talking to himself: "Regardless of whether this book is strange or not, it was lost by someone else. When I return to the sect, I will hand it over to my second senior brother to deal with it."

This is a certain mysterious intuition and conjecture brought about by his persistent pursuit of the ghostly guest over many years, a powerful obsession.

The secular disciple hall of the Xuanling Sect, known as the Fanzong Hall, is located on Shicheng Peak. Even now, as the red sun sets in the west and dusk approaches, Zhang Kuangyun has already taken Bai Binglan to the Fanzong Hall to report and file with the elders in the hall

Seeing this, Bai Binglan fell into a deep contemplation

From his attire and expression, Bai Binglan could also deduce that he is a serious and cautious person, and likely someone who takes things quite seriously.

Upon thinking of this, he had no more doubts and immediately cradled the book "Spring Bamboo Shoots" in his arms

Seeing him like this, Bai Binglan felt very anxious, and not knowing if it was a moment of inspiration, she blurted out: "Actually, Senior Brother Zhang, although this book is called 'The Fuxi Classic', I can't help but feel that it is strange in every aspect, and it resembles more of a book from the demon clan."

It is evident that Zhang Kuangyun is also aware of this fact

Oh. Shi Luming responded and picked up the wolf hair brush, writing down the addition of a new female disciple after the entry for Xianlu Hall in the roster, and even forgot to ask about her age, let alone her background

Shi Luming is known for his integrity and strictness. Although the Fan Zong Hall does not impose the wearing of the Daoist crown and robe of the Xuanling sect, he has always worn his dark robe adorned with the Xuanling emblem in a neat and orderly manner

However, she pretended not to see.

She said to herself, as a descendant of the noble celestial fox, the princess of the Tushan Kingdom, and the co-lord of all demon clans in the world, what is this little hardship worth

For Zhang Kuangyun, all of this is second nature and poses no problem; rather, it is the new apprentice that presents a first-time challenge.

The demon clan..." In Zhang Kuangyun's eyes, a sharp light suddenly emerged, and the expression on his face became serious and profound

Upon witnessing this miraculous transformation, Zhang Kuangyun's first reaction was to ask her to help clean his bedroom as well

He took up his pen and wrote the name Bai Binglan, adding a few words: "Of official lineage, settled in Hangzhou"

What is her name?" Shi Luming asked routinely

Noticing the shock on Bai Binglan's face, he felt a flush of embarrassment on his handsome face and hurriedly took the initiative to provide a brief introduction about Bai Binglan's background.

Hearing him say this, Bai Binglan recalled his earlier mention of his orphaned background

She rolled her eyes and said softly, "This book does not seem like something someone would discard; rather, it appears to be a gift from heaven."

Thus, looking at the figure before her, which, although young, appeared rather desolate, Bai Binglan felt an inexplicable softness in her heart

Thereafter, there was no further conversation

"Yes, indeed!" Zhang Kuangyun watched him enter from behind, repeatedly affirming.

Of course, Bai Binglan remains proud. In the face of these setbacks, after a brief period of dejection and frustration, she quickly regains her composure

Seeing Zhang Kuangyun eagerly wanting to speak, he disregarded the still wet ink, and with a "bang" closed the roster, his face darkened as he said: "Disciple, this time you took the initiative to descend the mountain to capture demons, and you have also recruited a new female disciple, which is quite commendable in attitude"

The marginalized Xianlu Hall has no courtyard, just a main building with four rooms, and a small annex with two rooms on the west side, partially surrounding an open stone plaza. In the southwest corner of the stone plaza, there is a stone pavilion for shelter from the rain, named "Du Yun Pavilion"

Oh? Zhang Kuangyun was indeed taken aback and began to listen attentively to what Bai Binglan was saying

What a joke! How could you think of having the noble and great Princess Tianhu do your housework

Of course, her concern for Zhang Kuangyun was not purely altruistic; such a small act of kindness served another significant purpose: "Having practiced this troublesome 'Fuxi Classic' to the point of obsession, she now wanted this young disciple of the Xuanling Sect to practice it as well, while she observed. As the saying goes, 'the bystander sees clearly,' she hoped to gain some insights that might help her restore her own abilities sooner.

He is also the transmission elder in the Fan Zong Hall, with a position in the hall second only to the hall master, Ning Zhuoran

"It is better to believe in its existence than to disbelieve in it," this is the current creed of Zhang Kuangyun. Moreover, the various manifestations of the "Fuxi Classic" are indeed beyond the realm of humanity, making it difficult to guarantee that it is not an artifact of the demon clan

Is that so? Zhang Kuangyun still feels a bit confused and hesitant

Although it was exhausting, she felt a sense of relief as she saw that the originally stern-faced youth seemed to have been persuaded by her words

The location of Bailuy Cliff is extremely remote. The initial choice to establish Xianlu Hall there was to highlight the ethereal and transcendent nature of Xianlu Hall; however, upon considering the current situation, it appears increasingly to be a case of being "pushed to the side".

Therefore, upon hearing Bai Binglan's insistence on dragging the demon clan into the conversation, he not only did not scoff at it, but instead fell into deep thought

At this moment, Zhang Kuangyun was still walking forward in the slanting sunlight of the west, when he accidentally kicked a stone that was half-exposed in the dirt of the grass; he nearly stumbled, struggling to steady himself, yet he was unaware that the charming young girl behind him had already arranged his entire life

Certainly, the demon captured in the small vessel has been handed over to the disciples of the戒法 to be taken to the secret realm of Jiuyishan, known as "Demon Suppression Valley"

Yet, even as his lips moved slightly, the vanity of the "Master of this place" and the "Master of the Immortal Path" still rendered him unable to speak the words

Behind this stone cliff, a mountain spring flows year-round, cascading into a waterfall that is cool and refreshing. It is said that white deer often came to drink from it, hence it was named "Bailu Spring". Consequently, this stone cliff is also known as "Bailu Cliff"

After reaching this conclusion, for many years, Zhang Kuangyun has been investigating the whereabouts of the Phantom Guests, not only seeking revenge but also wanting to ask them why they harmed his relatives and mentor, turning him into a lonely and helpless wretch

At this thought, Bai Binglan's lips curled into a smile, almost laughing out loud

She hurriedly took two steps to catch up, thinking to herself: "Hmm, seeing your pitiful background, once you fall into madness, at most I will marry you two little妖精, one from the fox clan and one from the wolf clan, ensuring you can carry on your lineage and have a house full of descendants. This can be considered as my benevolence, and I will not treat you unfairly."

In order to achieve her small acts of kindness and little schemes, Bai Binglan exerted all her strength, feeling that it was even more challenging than dealing with the kings and chieftains of various clans from the elder generation during her time in the Tushan Dynasty

At worst, I can bring him back to the Kingdom of Tushan, provide him with good food and drink until he grows old, and then casually find a little妖精 to marry him, which would not be considered a slight against him

Thus, under the astonished gaze of Zhang Kuangyun, Bai Binglan swiftly arranged the bedding, laying out the pillows and quilts that had been prepared before ascending the mountain; then she displayed the makeup box, bronze mirror, incense burner, and other items that had been prepped in her travel bag, tidying up once more. In the blink of an eye, this seemingly dilapidated and rundown old house was transformed anew

Now that a creature of the demon race has appeared here, does it not have some mysterious connection with the tragic death of my mentor at the hands of the ghostly guest in the Jiuyi Valley last time

In that moment, Bai Binglan felt that this human boy was truly somewhat pitiable

She suddenly had a very unsettling feeling: "Ah, this Zhang Kuangyun, could it be that her status in the sect is so marginal? Why is it that with the arrival of a new female disciple, the person in charge doesn't even bother to ask more questions?"

To transform conjectures and speculations into ironclad facts, support from evidence is still required

At the very least, this young man is just like herself, becoming obsessed to the point of losing all his abilities. That is of no consequence; after all, this young man's skills were never that impressive. How could his loss possibly compare to that of her, the Princess of the Celestial Fox?

However, it remains merely a conjecture that lingers in the heart and cannot be expressed in words

How could Bai Binglan possibly overlook this detail

Seeing him like this, Bai Binglan appeared calm and composed on the surface, yet she felt a secret joy in her heart

Because the master has not returned for a long time, the stone platform in front of the Immortal Path Hall is now covered with fallen leaves and withered flowers, adding to the desolation of the already tranquil scenery

"Look, this book has just been pushed out by three spring bamboo shoots. It is evident that it was originally buried shallowly underground. These spring bamboo shoots can sprout and grow overnight, clearly pushing the book out, waiting specifically for your arrival," Bai Binglan said eloquently.

However, since the passing of your junior brother Huiming at the Xianlu Hall, there has been too much debt. Where do you think you stand? Even if you say it is a drop in the bucket, that would be considered good! You should seriously think about what to do! I can see that within half a year, the reputation of the Xianlu Hall will be tarnished under your management!

Shi Luming felt somewhat impatient with Zhang Kuangyun's initiative

She has always been very confident in the matter of judging people by their appearance

Upon hearing this, Bai Binglan's eyes twitched, and just as she was about to argue, she heard Zhang Kuangyun walking ahead, muttering to himself: "Indeed, the children of official families, raised by both father and mother, are truly different."

"Bai Binglan." Zhang Kuangyun answered honestly

"Look, this material is certainly not of our world," Bai Binglan said solemnly. "Although my younger sister has limited knowledge, I have heard my father speak of extraordinary tales from his travels in my childhood. It is said that the Yao clan's Tushan Kingdom possesses many such peculiar items, and it is only natural that the texture of their books differs from that of our world."

However, she soon became concerned about her own situation: with this fellow's low status in the sect and his poor skills, how could she possibly gather information about the true core secrets of the human Dao?

However, to her surprise, the arrival of Zhang Kuangyun, a person who appeared to be very meticulous and serious, was met with a seemingly indifferent and lazy demeanor.

The elder on duty in the hall today is named Shi Luming

The location of the Xianlu Hall is on a stone cliff at the southeastern corner of Shicheng Peak

If there are no issues, it would appear that this princess is repaying him for helping to pay the rent, demonstrating that our demon clan is one that repays kindness; if there are issues, not only would it expose their unreliable legends, but it would also bring misfortune to one more person, which would certainly improve this princess's mood significantly

After speaking, he stood up, turned around, and returned to the inner hall to continue depicting his talismans

The Jiuyi Mountains are the heartland of the human race in the Divine Land, and under normal circumstances, there should be no trace of demons.

Moreover, as he approached the age of twenty, with an increase in knowledge and experience, Zhang Kuangyun suddenly had a bold idea earlier this year: the demon clan's ghostly visitors, who have always been perceived as acting without any principles, might not be as they are commonly thought to be. They are not merely the demon criminals exiled from the Tushan Kingdom, driven to commit crimes in Huaxia out of desperation; rather, there may be underlying patterns to their actions that remain unknown to the public.

Because these assassins often operate under the cover of night, their methods are ruthless, their movements elusive, and they frequently strike with precision before vanishing into the darkness, almost like ghosts

The smile on Bai Binglan's face suddenly froze

Hehe, what am I worried about? I just want to see if these self-proclaimed descendants of the divine race can practice the techniques passed down by the divine race without any issues