Chapter 487: Doumu Yuanyun

Meng Qi had anticipated this and remained expressionless. He transmitted his voice into the secret chamber: “Yuanjun, please follow me.”

Doumu Yuanjun gave a slight nod and raised her hand to remove the mask covering her face. Beneath it was a beauty beyond description—willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, lashes as fine as brushstrokes, a straight and sculpted nose, perfectly full lips, and a complexion as pale as a lotus emerging untainted from muddy waters, or a lotus in its pure, unadorned state. Her demeanor carried a hint of coolness, accentuated by her thick, silky black hair and tall, slender figure, radiating a mature charm that made her age impossible to discern.

She knew that wearing a mask while moving through Su’s secondary estate would draw unwanted attention. At this moment, it was also best to avoid using true qi or physical strength, so she calmly removed the mask, slightly adjusted her facial muscles, and applied some disguise to make her appearance more ordinary.

Meng Qi made no attempt to guess her true identity from her looks. He first erased traces of their passage in the firewood shed, then turned and walked toward the courtyard where he had planned to recuperate. Doumu Yuanjun changed out of her outer robe and followed Meng Qi like a maid, head lowered.

The secondary estate had few servants, and Meng Qi could sense them from afar, allowing him to change course in advance. Thus, the two smoothly entered the side courtyard and stepped into the side chamber.

After inspecting the surroundings and finding nothing amiss, Meng Qi finally asked, “Yuanjun, how are your injuries? Do you need medicinal pills for healing?”

This was merely a polite inquiry, a formality. Even if Doumu Yuanjun needed spiritual pills, where could he possibly conjure them from?

The best healing medicine he had was the Dahuandan, but it was only for opening meridians.

Doumu Yuanjun shook her head: “I have already consumed the Qizhuan Qingyuandan. With two days of quiet rest, I will recover. During this time, I hope you can help conceal my presence.”

“This estate is quiet enough. As long as the Su family isn’t suspected of colluding with the Luo Sect, it will remain safe.” Meng Qi paused, puzzled. “Yuanjun, how did you know that the Su family’s secondary estate had a member of Xianji? Could it be that you already knew my true identity?”

Given Doumu Yuanjun’s injuries, the best choice would naturally be to hide nearby. However, without someone on the inside to cover her, it would be easy to be discovered.

Doumu Yuanjun’s expression remained calm, showing none of the weakness typical of a severely injured person: “You obtained the first move of the ‘Rulai Divine Palm.’ Would Lingbao Tianzun not inform official members of your true identity?”

“Although we are few in number and have various responsibilities, we may not always have someone secretly protecting you. But once you enter our territory, we will naturally offer some protection. If we didn’t know your true identity, how could we watch over you?”

Ah… Meng Qi suddenly understood. Xianji had indeed acted with good intentions.

Doumu Yuanjun sat down on the bed, cross-legged and upright, her tone still calm and steady: “I know your identity, and you’ve seen my face. We’re even.”

“Unfortunately, I was expelled from Shaolin early and never got to see the appearances of the great figures, so I couldn’t recognize Yuanjun,” Meng Qi joked lightly.

Now that the other party knew his appearance, it would only be a matter of time before they uncovered his identity if they wished to. It was better to be open and honest to gain trust. After a moment’s thought, Doumu Yuanjun said, “Meimei Manor’s Ye Yuqi.”

“Cold Ice Fairy?” Meng Qi nearly lost his composure, whispering Ye Yuqi’s martial arts world nickname.

This was truly a figure of great power and prestige—ranked among the top thirty on the Earth List over a decade ago!

After Master Lu settled into seclusion at his wife’s tomb and withdrew from worldly affairs, she had effectively become the leader of Meimei Manor, the head of one of the great martial sects in the land.

No wonder Bixia Yuanjun had said that Doumu possessed formidable strength, noble status, and was a major figure.

Had he not previously met Master Lu, Meng Qi’s surprise would have been even greater.

“Yes,” Ye Yuqi, already concealing her aura, continued to stimulate the medicine’s effects, her expression as calm as still water, growing even more composed.

“I’ve had quite a connection with Meimei Manor…” Meng Qi’s surprise faded, and he chuckled. “Two years ago, I met Master Lu once. Now I’ve met Yuanjun again. It must be fate.”

With Master Lu’s connection, Meng Qi felt a sense of closeness toward Doumu Yuanjun Ye Yuqi, and his desire to help her was no longer solely because they were both members of Xianji.

Ye Yuqi’s half-closed eyes suddenly flew open, stars seeming to fall within them, like cascading light rain: “You’ve seen my brother-in-law?”

“I was fortunate to meet him in Maoling, Jiangdong,” Meng Qi replied.

Ye Yuqi seemed momentarily lost in thought: “The Jinshui Tidal Surge…”

“Yes, Master Lu said he goes there every year,” Meng Qi answered honestly.

Ye Yuqi pursed her lips slightly, a faint smile or sigh playing at the corners of her mouth: “That’s just the kind of single-minded person he is.”

Meng Qi retrieved a wooden carving gifted to him by Master Lu from his ring: “Yuanjun, Master Lu gave me this. Do you know its purpose?”

He had long been puzzled by this item but had feared taking it for appraisal due to its possible connection with the Six Paths. Now that the opportunity arose, how could he let it pass?

Ye Yuqi’s expression changed slightly, her pallor deepening. She reached out with her hand, drawing the carving toward her. As she gently caressed it, she seemed to be muttering to herself, yet also answering Meng Qi’s question: “He has sensed something about reincarnation…”

Her emotional control was extremely strong, and in an instant, she had regained her composure. She returned the carving to Meng Qi with a slight sense of gravity: “Keep this well. It may one day save your life.”

Ye Yuqi did not elaborate further, seemingly out of fear that the Six Paths might detect it.

Meng Qi, ever perceptive, understood the implication and asked no more questions.

Could even Fashen-level experts sense reincarnation to some extent? His heart was already in turmoil.

Ye Yuqi closed her eyes once more and pulled out two talismans from her sleeve. They were pale yellow, resembling those casually made by street-side Taoist priests: “Although this mission was ruined by Jiutian Thunder God, resulting in the loss of our mission item, I haven’t come away empty-handed. During the chaos caused by my battle with Simashi, I secretly captured two strands of the Great Luo demon girl’s essence and sealed them into these talismans. They can be used to track her movements. Keep one for yourself as a warning, and give the other to Guangcheng Tianzun so he can determine the Luo Sect’s current hideout.”

“It will be difficult to meet Guangcheng Tianzun now, with the capital on high alert,” Meng Qi frowned.

“That’s fine. You’ll see him soon enough,” Ye Yuqi said confidently.

“Eh…” Meng Qi was puzzled. Before the Six Doors’ ban was lifted, whether he could even leave the Su family’s secondary estate was uncertain.

Ye Yuqi handed the two talismans to Meng Qi: “Guangcheng Tianzun is the Blood Fang Divine Catcher, Yuan Lihuo. He should be coming to question you.”

Blood Fang Divine Catcher Yuan Lihuo! Meng Qi was shocked again. Today’s revelations were truly explosive—Xianji had infiltrated the “enemy’s core”!

“No wonder you launched such a sudden assault. If not for Jiutian Thunder God, Yuan Lihuo might have passed by, noticed the commotion, joined the battle, and you would have retreated upon realizing the unfavorable situation. Then the formation would have been triggered, drawing Simashi in and capturing the Luo Sect members?” Meng Qi finally understood Xianji’s plan.

Ye Yuqi nodded: “The Saint Emperor’s Demon Order is used to steal the power of all beings to enhance the emperor’s fate. It holds little value for the Six Doors and the emperor behind them, except as a precaution against others using it. So even if the Luo Sect and the Heaven-Annihilating Gate’s half of the Saint Emperor’s Demon Order fell into the Six Doors’ hands, Guangcheng Tianzun still had a good chance of secretly switching it after things calmed down.”

“Unfortunately, Jiutian Thunder God was determined to kill me and was secretly watching, which caused your plan to fail,” Meng Qi sighed.

He believed Jiutian Thunder God had been tailing him, looking for an opportunity to strike, and had merely stumbled upon the operation by chance, not due to any mistake by Xianji.

Ye Yuqi’s expression turned slightly cold: “If we miss this chance, we must not let him go next time.”

To this, Meng Qi raised both hands and feet in agreement.

As night deepened, the divine catchers who had been searching everywhere returned empty-handed to the Su estate to inquire about details.

“Flying Dragon Divine Catcher” Zhao Mingche personally spoke with Su Li, while other catchers selected their own interviewees. Without a doubt, Meng Qi faced “Blood Fang Divine Catcher” Yuan Lihuo, who had volunteered.

Yuan Lihuo was tall and imposing, differing from his “Guangcheng Tianzun” identity only in that his black hair was streaked with silver.

His face was ruddy, not quite white-haired but possessing a childlike complexion. He quietly made a gesture, revealing the unique ornament of Xianji.

Meng Qi also displayed the “Xianji Brooch,” and both discreetly put them away. Then came the calm question-and-answer session about the evening’s battle details.

“I recognize the Great Luo demon girl’s essence…” As Meng Qi said this, he secretly slipped the talisman given by Doumu Yuanjun into Yuan Lihuo’s palm.

“The Great Luo demon girl’s essence…” Yuan Lihuo repeated, appearing to listen intently.

“If such a powerful figure as Doumu Yuanjun escapes, it will be extremely difficult to find her again. Divine Catcher, please don’t rush,” Meng Qi unexpectedly comforted Yuan Lihuo at the end of the questioning.

Yuan Lihuo understood the hidden meaning and nodded with a sigh: “Yes, I hope this matter can be resolved soon.”

After leaving the interrogation room, Meng Qi saw Su Li and “Flying Dragon Divine Catcher” Zhao Mingche also concluding their conversation and stepping out.

“There’s no need to worry. Ultimately, the Emperor still trusts me…” Su Li sighed as she looked toward Meng Qi. “I’ll just have to temporarily step down as Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards until after the Qionghua Banquet.”

(Note: The repetitive “放心” (fàngxīn – “don’t worry”) phrases appear to be placeholder text or an error, so they have been omitted in the translation to maintain readability and coherence.)