The Red Dress

The voice was very familiar! Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he fixed his gaze ahead. The spirit ward opened, and the mist parted to both sides as a woman in red strode through the haze. Her brows curved like mountain ridges, and her eyes were dark and piercing. She wore a phoenix coronet and was bewitchingly gorgeous. Draped in a long crimson dress, her elegance was peerless, full of grace. As her gaze fell upon Qin Sang, a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Granny Jing?" Qin Sang was equally astonished. Granny Jing was Senior Qingzhu's daughter, whose true name was Qingjun. When he first met Qingjun at the cultivation market, she had concealed her cultivation under the alias Granny Jing, appearing as an ancient, decrepit old woman. Only before entering Zhitian Peak did Qin Sang learn that Granny Jing's identity was merely a disguise; Qingjun's true appearance was breathtakingly beautiful, not in the least inferior to Chen Yan. Yet seeing Qingjun again, she had changed once more. He still remembered back then when Qingjun revealed her true form: dressed in white, unsoiled by the dust of the mortal world, like an immortal maiden from the moon palace who did not partake of worldly fare, drifting gracefully like a celestial. Now, her looks remained as breathtaking as a century ago, time having left not the slightest trace upon her face, yet the impression she gave Qin Sang was entirely different. A blazing scarlet dress, vibrant as the morning glow, struck the eye with intense presence. Her demeanor shifted endlessly; Qin Sang felt somewhat bewildered, unable to tell which was the real her. "Interesting! Back then, I intended to seek you out to ask whether you had found that person's remains, only to discover you had vanished without a trace. Later, I learned that you provoked Dongyang Bo and Chen Yan inside Ziwei Palace. If I recall correctly, you hadn't even formed a golden core back then—you were only at the False Core stage, right? Yet you managed to escape with your life and stayed off the grid for decades, only to reappear with such cultivation?" The corner of Qingjun's mouth curved slightly as she looked Qin Sang up and down with an intrigued expression. *My impression wasn't wrong—this woman really has changed. Her bearing and demeanor are completely different from my memory.* Qin Sang muttered inwardly. Confirming that this woman was indeed Qingjun, Qin Sang suppressed his thoughts, cupped his hands in greeting, and offered a polite compliment: "After so many years apart, Senior's grace remains as magnificent as ever. Please forgive Junior for presumptuously disturbing your quiet cultivation." Qingjun was Qingzhu's daughter. Since Peach Blossom Valley was her ancestral home, running into her here was not strange. However, judging by the tone Qingjun had used back then, she didn't seem to hold much affection for Senior Qingzhu, and Peach Blossom Valley was by no means some blessed sanctuary of paradise. Qin Sang had never expected to reunite with Granny Jing so soon. What surprised Qin Sang the most was that Qingjun's aura was so obscure that he could not see through her true cultivation. There was only one possibility: Qingjun had already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage! Yet upon further reflection, Qin Sang realized this was only natural. More than a century had passed since they parted. Even a hundred years ago, Qingjun had dared to infiltrate Shaohua Mountain with designs to ambush and kill Leng Yuntian. "I have never mentioned Peach Blossom Valley to anyone. How did you know I was here? You must have another purpose for coming to Peach Blossom Valley, don't you?" Qingjun saw right through Qin Sang's intention. "Come inside and speak." Qingjun turned and walked into the spirit ward. Qin Sang voiced his thanks and hurriedly followed. Passing through the spirit ward, the valley was indeed a sea of fragrant blossoms, draping the valley in shades of crimson. The peach trees had all been meticulously pruned. Some blossoms were in full bloom, while other trees hung heavy with bright red immortal peaches that filled the air with sweet fragrance. A babbling brook meandered through the peach orchard, eventually flowing into a clear pond. There were no opulent pavilions here, only an exquisite small courtyard and a few wooden cabins built adjacent to the clear pond, nestled between the mountain and water and hidden among the peach trees. The final words Senior Qingzhu had left on the cliff had merely been depicting the most deeply etched scene in the depths of his memories. Qin Sang's thoughts turned, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt an extremely pure spiritual energy wash over him, even richer than the cave dwellings of Yunyouzi and Li Yufu. *Doesn't Peach Blossom Valley have only one minor spirit vein?* "I relocated a spirit vein from the Yuanshen Sect. It serves well enough," Qingjun noted Qin Sang's surprise and remarked indifferently. "Yuanshen Sect... Could Leng Yuntian be...?" Hearing this, Qin Sang let out a low gasp, his face filled with shock. When he was at Yinshan Pass, he had deliberately inquired about news regarding the Yuanshen Sect. He had learned that the Yuanshen Sect was still ranked among the top sects, having suffered no decline, and that Leng Yuntian was still alive. He had assumed Qingjun had failed in Ziwei Palace and hadn't been able to kill Leng Yuntian. Hearing that Qingjun had actually been able to move a spirit vein from the Yuanshen Sect, a flash of insight struck Qin Sang's mind, and he suddenly realized something almost beyond belief. Qingzhu's family shared a blood feud with the Yuanshen Sect; Qingjun would certainly never compromise with Leng Yuntian. There was only one possibility... "That's right. Leng Yuntian's Five Directions Pagoda was defiled by the Foul Blood Divine Light, and I killed him in Ziwei Palace. Such a vast foundation like the Yuanshen Sect could hardly be disbanded or handed over to outsiders, so I disguised myself as Leng Yuntian and assumed the role of sect master. The disciples of the Yuanshen Sect couldn't see through my true identity, though Red-Haired Ancestor and the others noticed something amiss. However, on one hand, the war was raging fiercely at the time, and I took the initiative to join the battlefield and fought the enemy with all my strength. On the other hand, the deed was already done, and I didn't slaughter the innocent within the Yuanshen Sect. Besides, Dongyang Bo and the others knew of the grievances between us, so after issuing a few warnings, they simply turned a blind eye..." Qingjun recounted the reasons offhandedly. Qin Sang knew full well that matters could never have been as simple as Qingjun made them out to be. Leng Yuntian was dead, and someone had occupied the Yuanshen Sect's vast foundation like a cuckoo usurping a magpie's nest. How could the Nascent Soul patriarchs of the various sects witness such a thing without feeling a sense of shared grief and caution? Even with all sorts of justifications, they would never allow someone to act so brazenly without restraint. Unless her strength had reached a point where everyone had no choice but to compromise! Qin Sang covertly observed Qingjun. Whether it was an illusion or not, he faintly sensed that the aura emanating from Qingjun was even more obscure and unfathomable than that of the early Nascent Soul cultivators he had encountered in the Hall of Seven Kills! Qin Sang was startled by this thought. A hundred years ago, when Qingjun had dealt with Leng Yuntian—who had only just barely formed his Nascent Soul—she had needed elaborate schemes and had even recruited him to assist. In just a century or so, could she have made breakthrough after breakthrough to reach the mid Nascent Soul stage already? That was simply too shocking. Even with a heavenly spiritual root, it would be difficult to break through so rapidly, wouldn't it? Or had there been some hidden secret all along? Qin Sang fell into deep thought. The impression Qingjun gave him was full of contradictions. Back then, Qingjun had disguised herself as an old crone, hiding in Wenyue Cultivation Market. Yet she had dared to sneak into Shaohua Mountain, approaching Dongyang Bo's cave dwelling without the slightest worry of having her presence detected by him. Her cultivation had always been shrouded in mystery, fluctuating high and low, keeping people completely in the dark. Just as Qin Sang was lost in thought, the two walked through the peach orchard and arrived beside the wooden cabins. "Speak. What did you come for?" Qingjun suddenly stopped and looked at Qin Sang, asking. Behind the wooden cabins, Qin Sang noticed two graves with the names of two women carved on the tombstones in delicate, graceful handwriting. Indeed, both fair maidens had already passed away. Qin Sang knew the identities of the tomb owners and sighed for them. *May Senior Qingzhu reunite with them in the Netherworld!* Qin Sang put aside his stray thoughts, silently wishing them well. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Junior was entrusted by Senior Qingzhu to bring his remains back to be buried in Peach Blossom Valley." As he spoke, light flashed at Qin Sang's fingertips, and he retrieved the ice coffin holding Qingzhu's body. As if having anticipated this, Qingjun gazed steadily at the ice coffin, her expression complex.