This time, the Celestial Flower and Wine Festival had invited an immense number of immortals. Though not everyone had arrived yet, the Pi Xiang Hall was already shrouded in auspicious clouds, filled with the presence of countless ethereal shadows of immortals. Thousands of disciples of the mountain lords, dressed in dark robes and wearing crowns and rings made of greenwood, stood at the hall's entrance, respectfully welcoming the immortals. Each disciple had strikingly handsome or stunningly beautiful features, so captivating that they could charm nations and kingdoms. The decorations outside the hall were as lavish and magnificent as one could imagine.
Tan Yin had never witnessed such a sight before and couldn’t help but be completely absorbed by it. The divine realm would never again see such grandeur and luxury.
"Wait for me here for a moment," Yuan Zhong squeezed her hand gently, "I’ll be right back."
Tan Yin nodded. At this point, only about half of the guests had arrived, and the banquet had yet to start. The immortals who knew each other gathered to chat, and no one paid attention to her. She leaned on the railing, taking in the breathtaking scenery of Xiangqu Mountain, when suddenly, a rich and alluring voice sounded from behind her: “Young lady, are you alone?”
The voice was incredibly familiar, the kind that once heard, could never be forgotten. Tan Yin turned around and indeed saw Fu Jiuyun standing behind her. He wore a greenwood crown and dark robes, standing tall and distinguished among the disciples of the mountain lords.
Tan Yin smiled slightly, "We meet again."
Fu Jiuyun was momentarily stunned. He had been feeling bored when he noticed a great monk and a young woman in white together. Just as he was about to greet them, the monk left the girl alone and entered the hall. Since he had never seen the monk alone with a woman before, his interest was piqued. To his surprise, the young woman acted as though she knew him, which greatly puzzled him.
A vague feeling stirred within him, as if he had experienced this situation before, yet he couldn’t recall when or where.
“Have we met before?” He maintained a calm expression, smiling warmly.
Tan Yin remained silent. As soon as she entered Xiangqu Mountain, she sensed the presence of the Soul Lantern. It made perfect sense that Fu Jiuyun would stay here as a disciple of the mountain lord.
Seeing her silence, Fu Jiuyun wasn’t offended. “I had thought the great monk would arrive with Prince Tang Hua, but I didn’t expect him to come with you instead.”
At the mention of “Prince Tang Hua,” Tan Yin was reminded of the purple figure who mercilessly cursed Yuan Zhong in the small cave paradise. Her eyebrows knitted slightly. Even though she knew that the devout fox-man had been manipulated by Han Nü, she couldn’t help but harbor a distaste for him.
“Has Prince Tang Hua come as well?” she asked offhandedly.
Fu Jiuyun pointed toward a distant purple silhouette. “Isn’t that him?”
Tan Yin was taken aback. He had really come! How could he have the audacity to face Yuan Zhong again? Or perhaps he intended to strike in front of all these immortals? Following Fu Jiuyun’s gesture, she spotted the long purple robe. As if sensing her gaze, Tang Hua quickly turned around, his eyes filled with a strange smile, locking onto hers.
"Ji Tan Yin," his lips moved, though no sound escaped, yet she immediately understood his meaning.
He knew her identity now? Did Han Nü tell him? In the cave paradise that day, she was in her spiritual form. These mortal immortals couldn’t possibly have seen her. How did he recognize her?
Without hesitation, Tan Yin started walking toward him. For the first time, Fu Jiuyun was completely ignored by a woman, and he stood there dumbfounded for a moment. But soon, other female disciples approached him with laughter, and the strange girl was quickly forgotten.
Tang Hua smiled as he watched Tan Yin approach, giving her one last look before turning and walking away.
Trying to escape? Tan Yin followed him from a distance, and soon they were far from the Pi Xiang Hall.
Inside the hall, there were slightly fewer immortals. Layers of high platforms had been set, and on each wooden table, a single flower was placed—osmanthus, roses, and peonies—each unique, their fragrances filling the air.
Yuan Zhong, carrying a porcelain box, made his way toward the inner hall. Along the way, he passed many immortals, some he knew, some he didn’t. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to exchange many words. Lord Meishan, like a clingy insect, stayed glued to his side, carefully asking, “Are you planning to give all the Tianxia Wu Shuang to the mountain lord?” Then, pretending to be generous, he smiled, “I don’t mean anything by it, just asking.”
Yuan Zhong was amused and exasperated by his behavior, when suddenly, he pointed behind Lord Meishan in mock surprise: “Huh? Did I just see the ghost general? Is that Xin Mei with him?”
Lord Meishan spun around and dashed under a nearby table, urgently muttering, “Don’t tell them I’m here!”
Look at him, what a coward! Yuan Zhong shook his head and left.
The mountain lord was in a small room behind the hall, changing clothes. When the gatekeeper reported that the great monk had arrived, he hurriedly put on his shoes and personally opened the door. The monk of the fox clan held a noble status, so the mountain lord didn’t dare show any disrespect. He pressed his palms together and smiled. “Honorable monk, I’m sorry for appearing before you in such disarray.”
The mountain lord, whom Yuan Zhong hadn’t seen in years, seemed to have gained even more weight. The small room was filled with radiant treasures, making it obvious that changing clothes was just an excuse—he was probably secretly admiring the gifts sent by the guests.
“No need for formalities, mountain lord. I’ve been away from Fangwai Mountain for quite some time and have nothing else to offer, except these two jars of Tianxia Wu Shuang as a small token of my gratitude.”
Before Yuan Zhong could hand over the porcelain box, the mountain lord’s expression changed. Of course, he knew what Tianxia Wu Shuang was, and such a gift was extraordinarily rare and valuable. Shrewd as he was, he immediately understood that Yuan Zhong must have come to ask for something in return. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder—what could a monk of the fox clan possibly need from a lowly wandering immortal like him?
The mountain lord’s expression turned serious as he cautiously took the porcelain box. “You are too generous, Honorable Monk. I am deeply humbled. May I ask what brings you here?”
Yuan Zhong drew out the pair of God-Slaying Daggers from his sleeve. The mountain lord's jaw almost dropped, and though he managed to steady himself, his voice still trembled. “Th-this... aren’t these... my collection pieces? H-how did they end up with you?”
Yuan Zhong chuckled. “Has the mountain lord perhaps forgotten? If you hadn’t lent them out yourself, how could anyone else have obtained such treasures? To be honest with you, these daggers are quite dangerous. They almost took my life.”
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