87: Chapter 41 Plotting Against Elder Xiao 87: Chapter 41 Plotting Against Elder Xiao Li Ping’an had anticipated Xiaoyue’s visit.
He had even thought that Xiaoyue would bring that Wen Ling’er along with her.
The moment he saw Wen Ling’er appear at the door, Li Ping’an had already become suspicious.
As an elder trusted by Xiaoyue, Wen Ling’er had been working in the town outside the Wanyun Sect for dozens of years, so her sudden entrance to the mountain gate was very suspicious.
Normally, the only way a servant disciple like Wen Ling’er could enter the mountain gate was by becoming an inner sect disciple through apprenticeship, yet Wen Ling’er was wearing the uniform of an outer sect disciple at the time, surrounded by other outer sect disciples, apparently having been specially arranged by Xiaoyue to join the outer sect of the Wanyun Sect…
What deep meaning did Xiaoyue have for sending Wen Ling’er into the mountain gate?
If it was some sort of seductive trick, Li Ping’an naturally didn’t believe it, firm in his belief that the calculations of an immortal could not be so vulgar.
Moreover, Wen Ling’er was the obedient and cute type, so shouldn’t Elder Xiaoyue personally use the seductive trick on her own father?
As he was pondering this, Xiaoyue had already called out at the entrance of the cave dwelling:
“Qing Su Immortal, Xiaoyue seeks an audience.”
She was a True Immortal, while Qing Su was a Heavenly Immortal, so such a request for an audience was certainly proper.
Within the barrier of the cave dwelling, Qing Su approached with hands behind her back, her slender and tall figure perfectly filling out the ice blue long dress.
Her form flickered twice, appearing behind the door, she turned off the barrier and opened the cave door.
Li Ping’an rose from the lounge chair, stood properly by the lotus pond, and glanced outside.
Outside the door, there was still the beautiful elder.
Xiaoyue’s face suited heavy makeup, with lips red as fire, soul-hooking phoenix eyes, and a rainbow-colored gown that was complex yet revealing, exposing vast swathes of fair skin on her shoulders and chest.
Her sultry figure, combined with the gauzy dress, paradoxically exuded a sense of elegance without being vulgar.
But at that moment, Xiaoyue’s beauty couldn’t suppress Qing Su’s pure and icy presence, creating an effect like fire and ice at the entrance of the cave dwelling.
“Elder, what brings you here?” Qing Su asked calmly.
“Sister doesn’t recognize me anymore?”
Xiaoyue covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, stepping forward to take Qing Su’s arm.
“When you became an immortal, I even attended the ceremony at Caiyun Peak.
It just never occurred to me that in the blink of an eye, my sister would become an inner sect Heavenly Immortal, enjoying the same offerings as the elder, while I remain but at the stage of a True Immortal.
“Elder sister has always been busy in the towns outside the mountain, truly envious of you.”
Qing Su felt a bit uncomfortable and with a slight struggle, brushed off Xiaoyue’s right hand, asking softly, “Elder, do you have business with me?”
Xiaoyue gracefully held her hands in front of her and softly said, “It’s nothing much, may I meet with young friend Ping’an?
I have some matters to discuss with him.”
Li Ping’an was just about to go to the door.
“That won’t be possible.”
“My disciple has a low level of cultivation, not suitable for contact with an elder.”
Li Ping’an immediately stopped in his tracks, standing honestly and looking outside.
Xiaoyue was not annoyed, and with a light smile said, “Sister Qing Su may not know, but I have some prior acquaintance with young friend Ping’an.
My visit this time is to inquire about a new artifact refining method, and I wish to contribute more to our sect.”
Qing Su said, “Then first stop using your bewitching technique.
My disciple is only at the stage of Condensed Light, and such tactics could harm his Dao heart.”
Xiaoyue’s smile froze a bit, showing a hint of embarrassment, her right hand making a gesture, and the seductive waves in her phoenix eyes diminished, leaving her features with an added sense of innocence.
The allure intensified instead.
Qing Su turned to look at Li Ping’an, seeming to consult his opinion.
“Master, I also have matters to discuss with Elder Xiaoyue,” Li Ping’an smiled and said, “My cultivation is shallow; please stand by and keep an eye on me.”
Qing Su nodded slightly and gestured for Xiaoyue to proceed, then floated to Li Ping’an’s side.
Li Ping’an suddenly said, “Master, my conversation with Elder Xiaoyue should not be heard by others.
Please raise the barrier…
You can listen from here, for you aren’t an outsider.”
A slight smile appeared on Qing Su’s lips, she sat back on the lounge chair with a recording jade talisman in her hand.
Xiaoyue let out a light sigh.
Her gaze deep, she looked at Li Ping’an, approaching him gracefully.
Li Ping’an stepped forward to greet her with a bowed hand salute, inviting Xiaoyue to sit at the octagonal stone table, offering some snacks and fruit wine, with all the proper courtesies.
Xiaoyue sighed, “At such a young age, why are you so deep and calculating?
With the barrier raised, I won’t be able to explain myself to Vice Sect Leader Moyi.”
Directly mentioning the name of Moyi?
Li Ping’an smiled and said, “Elder, if you’ve come to see me of your own accord, you must have made up your mind, and you probably wouldn’t care about such matters.”
“Talking to you does indeed save effort,” Xiaoyue laughed and continued,
“I just came from the main hall, where the Sect Leader was entertaining guests, and your father and the other elders were figuring out how to produce more treasures with that set of magic artifacts.
I found it somewhat boring to listen in, so I thought I’d come directly to you.”
Li Ping’an spoke slowly, “You might be disappointed; that set of magic artifacts was actually made by my father.
My father had me present it to the inner sect, only to earn some rewards for me.”
Xiaoyue’s fingertips gently slid along the edge of the porcelain cup, speaking softly,
“But why did Elder Dazhi say he and you are indispensable?
He can produce the entire set of processes, while you can solve the inscription method and the embedding of Spirit Stones?”
Father actually told her all that?
However, Xiaoyue calling my father ‘Elder Uncle’ and mentioning that she was also a Golden Immortal’s disciple implies that Xiaoyue’s master must be a Golden Immortal disciple of the Ancestral Master Kongming.
——The two other Golden Immortals in the sect, one is the Ancestral Master Kongming’s third disciple, the other is a close friend and confidant of Kongming.
“My father can’t truly keep anything to himself,” Li Ping’an sighed, “What I’ve done is merely a minor technique; it’s my father’s integration and tuning that are most important.”
“Since you’ve admitted it, I needn’t beat around the bush anymore.”