Volume Two, Chapter Seventeen: Heaven and Earth

Turning back, the jade-faced gentleman and Daoist Feixu were nowhere to be seen, leaving only two strands of silver thread on the ground.

“Grandmaster Baopu…” Meiniang said uncertainly. Hanyu nodded quickly.

“Yibing, what are you doing?” Seeing Yibing darting toward the garden gate, Master Tai Miao hurriedly called out to him.

“I… I’m going after them!” Yibing blinked his eyes.

“And where do you think you’ll find them?” Master Tai Miao couldn’t help but laugh.

“I don’t know…” Yibing scratched his large head awkwardly. Yes, where would he go?

“Sigh!” Master Tai Miao let out a long breath and beckoned Yibing over. Yibing immediately hurried back.

“Let them go! All fates come to an end in their own time.” Master Tai Miao patted Yibing’s shoulder. Yibing nodded, only half understanding.

“Bear with it a little longer,” Master Tai Miao said after carefully examining the tops of everyone’s heads, then strode toward the jade pavilion. Yibing glanced around and quickly followed.

No sooner had they sat down than Master Tai Miao regarded Yibing with curiosity.

“Sit down, won’t you?”

“Oh!” Yibing promptly sat upright across from the master.

“Have you found your master yet?”

“Not yet! My uncle is still searching everywhere!”

“Ah! The virtuous are protected by heaven—don’t worry.”

“Yes!” Yibing suddenly found Master Tai Miao oddly reminiscent of his uncle.

“Thank you for helping Guishan and the others so many times! Especially Lingyao—if it weren’t for your lotus seed, her soul would’ve truly dissipated.” Master Tai Miao’s gaze was full of approval.

“No, no, it was just a lucky accident!” Yibing waved his hands repeatedly.

“Accident or not, we still have to thank you!” Master Tai Miao laughed.

“Sometimes, accidents do more harm than good…” Yibing’s face fell.

“The rabbit was a calamity fated by destiny! It’s not all your fault,” Master Tai Miao immediately saw through his thoughts.

“Even so! She limps now because of me—what a sin!” Yibing was racked with guilt.

For some reason, Yibing felt especially close to Master Tai Miao, and the two of them chatted idly for half an hour before remembering all those people still soaking in the pond.

“Let’s go see how they’re doing,” Master Tai Miao said, standing up, but after a few steps, he stopped.

“Give your divine iron a name!” Master Tai Miao pointed to Yibing’s belt.

“A name? You’re right… but I…” Yibing scratched his head with a wry smile.

“Think it over carefully.”

“Why don’t you give it a name?” Yibing quickly surrendered.

“All right! Let’s call it Heaven-Cleaver,” Master Tai Miao said with a gentle smile.

“Heaven-Cleaver?!” Yibing was startled.

“That’s settled!” With that, Master Tai Miao walked straight to the lotus pond.

Jin Guishan and the others had long grown impatient. Though the glowing orbs above their heads had vanished, none dared come ashore without their master’s word.

“Come on up!” Master Tai Miao waved, then turned to Yibing: “Go fish out that pagoda!”

“Yes!” Yibing dashed to the pond, and with a splash, drenched everyone but Master Tai Miao.

“Hey, you… fatso!” Hanyu’s ears drooped, water pouring off them.

“Heh heh…” Yibing grinned foolishly as he climbed up, the pagoda now noticeably smaller than before.

“Guishan, come here,” Master Tai Miao carefully took the pagoda. Jin Guishan hurried forward.

“From now on, you keep this. Lean in!” Master Tai Miao whispered in his ear before handing it over.

“Thank you, Master!” Jin Guishan, learning quickly, shrank the pagoda to palm-size and tucked it into his robe.

“Lingchi!” Master Tai Miao turned to He Lingchi, who was tidying her clothes.

“Yes, Master!”

“This is for you,” Master Tai Miao said, handing over his horsetail whisk.

“Master?!” He Lingchi could hardly believe it.

“Keep it well!” Master Tai Miao pressed the whisk into her hands, whispering something in her ear.

“Thank you, Master! Thank you!” He Lingchi couldn’t hide her gratitude.

Just then, a flash of green burst from the grass, dragging a sack behind it.

“Hey, here’s your sack!” Before the divine turtle had finished speaking, it tossed the sack at Hongkun’s feet.

“So, you show yourself now?” Meiniang sneered sarcastically.

“Ahem, I was simply exhausted just now. Is everything all right?” The divine turtle feigned curiosity.

“Save it! You saw danger and ran first—don’t pretend otherwise!” Hanyu leaped toward the turtle, who bolted in panic. For a moment, with a fox blocking the way and a rabbit in pursuit, the pond’s edge became a scene of chaos and laughter.

“All right, enough! Let’s go see what’s ahead,” Master Tai Miao said, unable to contain her amusement.

The group hurried out of the garden. The main hall was already deserted. Though the place was a mess, there was little real damage. Under Jin Guishan’s lead, they searched every room. They found no trace of the enemy, but did discover many sect disciples who had been tied up and imprisoned.

Once everything was cleaned up, Fatty Girl and the other female disciples had already prepared a vegetarian meal. Famished as they were, the group fell upon the food like wolves.

“Slow down!” Master Tai Miao scolded, though it was unclear whether she meant Fatty Girl or Yibing. Their manner of eating was truly alarming.

“Hmph!” “Hmph!” Both muttered through mouthfuls. Hongkun and Jin Guishan exchanged embarrassed glances.

Out of gratitude for having their lives saved, the Misty Cloud Sect treated Hongkun and the others as honored guests, providing the best rooms and even private quarters for Hanyu, Meiniang, and the divine turtle. The daily meals, though vegetarian, were varied, and the baked cakes were said to be a peerless delight, a secret family recipe handed down by Jin Guishan’s ancestors.

Having eaten their fill, they could not sit idle. Mount Jiuxi was a picturesque landscape shrouded in mist, like a fairyland. Accompanied by Jin Guishan, they fished, enjoyed the flowers, and played to their hearts’ content.

But by the third day, Hongkun could bear it no longer. Remembering his uncle was still waiting for news, he went to take his leave from Master Tai Miao. She did not try to stop him, only asking that he thank Daoist Xifeng on her behalf. Over the past few days, Fatty Girl had grown close to Chengyan and Moyan. Though Chengyan was taciturn, she listened while Fatty Girl talked, and they got along well. Now that it was time to leave, there was a sense of reluctance.

“Master, I’d like to see them off,” Fatty Girl pleaded.

“Guishan, take Yuanxiao and Lingchi with you—and Lingyao as well!” Master Tai Miao smiled. “Go with them to Banyue Mound, thank Daoist Xifeng for me, and see if you can help them find their master.”

“Master, that may not be wise—what if…” Hongkun began anxiously.

“No ‘what ifs’! If I don’t go after them, they’re already getting off lightly. With me here, they won’t dare return. Don’t worry!” Master Tai Miao understood his meaning.

“Yes, yes!” Hongkun laughed in relief.

“Great!” Fatty Girl and Moyan jumped up with excitement.

“Good!” Even Chengyan managed a rare smile.

On the way down the mountain, Qi Yuanxiao led the way. Whatever magic he used, the mist parted before them, and they soon reached the foot of the mountain.

“Turtle Brother! Turtle Brother!” Hanyu and Meiniang had just opened their mouths when Moyan shouted first. Hanyu and Meiniang rolled their eyes.

“Ah? Heh heh…” The divine turtle happily hopped from the sack.

Except for Fatty Girl, none of the Misty Cloud disciples had ever seen a turtle this size.

“Wow, really?” He Lingchi stared at Fatty Girl in disbelief.

“Turtle Brother can fly!” Fatty Girl said, climbing aboard.

“Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe!” Yibing hurried after her.

“Sit separately! Sit separately!” Hongkun and Jin Guishan shouted in unison. Fatty Girl and Yibing blushed with embarrassment.

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” The divine turtle’s little tail wagged.

“Hey, no somersaults this time!” Hanyu warned as Moyan took the lead.

“Just one?” Moyan pleaded with Hanyu.

“…Just one! Let us know first!” Hanyu nudged the turtle’s shell.

“Got it, got it!” The divine turtle nodded impatiently.

But as soon as they took off, the turtle started to play tricks, swaying from side to side as if about to roll over but never quite doing so, making everyone clutch the shell in terror.

“Hey, you dumb beast, are you going to flip or not?!” Meiniang couldn’t help but curse.

“Hah, you foxy thing! I never said I would flip, so I won’t!” The divine turtle chuckled.

After that, the flight became smoother. Although Moyan kept urging, the divine turtle always said to wait. Helpless, they could only nervously admire the scenery below.

Just as they were about to reach Banyue Mound, flashes of light on the ground caught their attention. Unexpectedly, at that moment, the divine turtle suddenly did a huge somersault.

With cries of alarm, everyone tumbled headfirst downward.

“It’s flipping! It’s flipping! Heh heh!” The divine turtle called from the sky.

“Fun, isn’t it?!” When they were ten meters from the water, the divine turtle scooped them back up.

“Fun, my—” Hanyu was about to curse when a huge golden bird charged straight at them.

“Great Immortal!” Yibing shouted with excitement. The newcomer was none other than Carefree.

“It’s you?!” Carefree quickly withdrew his talons, circling the divine turtle. The turtle craned its neck, eyeing him sideways.

“It’s me! It’s me! Great Immortal, are you well? You didn’t…” Yibing asked anxiously.

“I’m fine, don’t worry! And this is?” Carefree glanced at the turtle.

“This is Brother Turtle! Turtle, this is Great Immortal Carefree!” Yibing hurried to introduce them.

“Great Immortal?” “Turtle?” Both looked at each other with disdain.

“Shall we land first?” Yibing asked awkwardly.

“After you!”

“No, after you!”

“I’ll go first!”

“I’ll go first!”

“Carefree! Turtle! Let’s go together, all right?” Moyan suddenly piped up sweetly.

“All right, all right!” Both were instantly delighted.

No sooner had they landed at the edge of the marsh than Carefree rushed to Moyan and Chengyan.

“Where’s your master?” Carefree asked with a grin.

“She’s at Banyue Mound!” Moyan blinked her big eyes.

“Still with that old… over there?” Carefree glanced at Yibing.

“Yes, and last time Master praised you!”

“Praised me for what?” Carefree’s eyes widened.

“She said you were understanding and helped Yibing!”

“No, no, he helped me!” Carefree was honest.

“Great Immortal, please don’t say that! If you hadn’t agreed, I wouldn’t have gotten the lotus seed, and Miss Zhao could never have been saved. By the way, this is Miss Zhao!” Yibing pulled Fatty Girl forward.

“Great Immortal, I thank you!” Fatty Girl bowed deeply.

“Ah?! Oh, no need!” Carefree was so shocked his beak almost didn’t close. This fatty seemed even fatter than that fatty!

“Greetings, Great Immortal! Thank you so much!” Jin Guishan and the others hurried forward.

“You three again! Back to steal from me?” Carefree joked.

“No, never!” Jin Guishan blushed to his neck.

“No need for that, you’re excused!” Seeing Hongkun about to bow, Carefree waved a wing.

“Still haven’t found your master?” Carefree asked.

“Not yet!”

“And you two, where do you come from?” Carefree suddenly fixed a piercing gaze on Hanyu and Meiniang behind Yibing.

“You’re the demon!” Hanyu’s ears shot up, while Meiniang dared not speak.

“Oh! Still bold before me? I’ll finish you!” Carefree’s wings beat fiercely.

“You dare!” Unexpectedly, the divine turtle darted in between.

“What did you say?” Carefree immediately grew in size.

“I said you dare!” The turtle puffed up too.

“Say it again!” Carefree grew larger still.

“And what if I do?” The turtle swelled once more.

“Great Immortal, please stop! My master has recognized them!” Moyan, now upset, grabbed Carefree’s wing.

“Really?” Carefree looked to Chengyan, who nodded quickly.

“Heh heh, just teasing!” Carefree immediately put on a broad smile.

“Turtle, you two are both powerful immortals, one of heaven, one of earth—let’s not fuss anymore, all right?” Moyan’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“All right, all right! No more fussing! Don’t cry!” The turtle glared at Carefree.

“Yes, yes! Anything, as long as you don’t cry! I can’t stand crying!” Carefree agreed at once.

“Hee hee, just teasing you! But you two really are a good match—both terrified of tears!” Moyan jumped up, grinning. Carefree glanced at the turtle, the turtle at Carefree, and both shut their eyes.

But at that moment, three dark shapes suddenly burst from the marsh.