Missing Thoughts Literature

Chapter 44: Give Him a Good Whipping ### "All right, then. What did you come to me for?"

Seeing that every word she said concerned business, with not a trace of personal feeling, Pei Yanqing felt a flicker of self-mockery.

He realized Yun Luo seemed even better suited to the Ruthless Dao than he was.

After three months of secluded cultivation, reciting the Heart-Clearing Formula a thousand times each day, seeing her again, he still couldn't match her openness.

He couldn't bring himself to take the Qiankun Pouch hidden in his sleeve.

After a long while, he finally said stiffly, "The Chengying Sword is damaged. I wanted to ask whether the Hehuan Sect could repair it."

Damage to a divine sword was no small matter. Yun Luo became serious.

Only two people in the Hehuan Sect could repair Divine Artifacts: Elder Zhu of the Refining Hall, and her own master.

"This is something an elder needs to handle personally. Come back to the sect with me first."

"Okay."

Pei Yanqing stepped onto the Chengying Sword. Just as he was about to call Yun Luo, he saw that she was already standing on the Black Iron Sword.

His thin lips pressed together. He said nothing, flying alongside Yun Luo.

As they flew above the Sea of Clouds, the flower fields among the Hehuan Sect's towering mountains came into view in the distance, magnificent and dazzling.

It was Pei Yanqing's first time setting foot in the Hehuan Sect. Even as someone from the Qinglian Sword Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, he was awestruck by its grandeur.

No wonder it was the wealthiest sect aside from the Heavenly Deduction Sect.

Yun Luo had lived here for three years and was already used to such beautiful scenery.

At that moment, her thoughts were all on riding her sword.

Her earlier tumble into the forest while riding her sword had shaken her badly. She absolutely couldn't afford to fall again now.

The journey passed without incident.

When they reached the Mountain Gate, Yun Luo first sent Elder Zhu a message explaining the situation.

For an Artifact Refiner, the chance to see a Divine Artifact even once in a lifetime was rare, let alone to repair one personally.

Elder Zhu very much wanted to take the job, but she was currently crafting a Heaven Grade Spiritual Artifact and had reached a critical stage. It would take at least another month to finish.

Pei Yanqing obviously couldn't wait that long.

Yun Luo took him to the Outer Sect Guest Courtyard and asked Mu He about it on a Jade Slip.

Mu He didn't reply right away. Yun Luo assumed she was busy, but just as the outer courtyard attendant brought in the tea, Mu He suddenly appeared in the courtyard with a whoosh.

She didn't even acknowledge Yun Luo, her well-behaved disciple, and went straight to Pei Yanqing.

"Where is the Chengying Sword?"

It was the first time Yun Luo had seen such a fanatical expression on her.

Pei Yanqing's thoughts stirred, and the Chengying Sword appeared in his hand.

Mu He's finger traced from the hilt to the tip, stopping at last by the small chip.

As if admiring a painting or calligraphy, she furrowed her brow after her fervent admiration.

"Every material used to forge the Chengying Sword came from beyond the heavens. Even my Hehuan Sect would struggle to gather them all. Would you accept substitutes?"

From her expression, it was clear she didn't want to do that.

It would be sacrilege against a Divine Artifact.

Pei Yanqing took out a Qiankun Pouch.

"Senior, there's no need to worry. I've already gathered the ores needed to repair the Chengying Sword. The only thing missing is the Nine Nether Cold Spring needed for tempering."

Mu He glanced at the pouch, then suddenly smiled.

"You've certainly done your homework."

The Nine Nether Cold Spring came from places of extreme yin, where evil spirits easily gathered. Cultivators who entered such places could be affected by the illusions conjured by the evil spirits and develop inner demons.

When it came to breaking illusions, the Hehuan Sect was likely unmatched in the Cultivation World.

As it happened, she had some Nine Nether Cold Spring.

Pei Yanqing cupped his fists.

"I ask you to lend a hand, Senior."

Mu He turned and sat down, lightly tapping the tabletop with her finger.

"Though you've gathered the ores needed for the repair, the Nine Nether Cold Spring is also priceless. I'd hate to part with it even for a hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones."

At the mention of a hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, Pei Yanqing lowered his gaze.

The price was within his expectations, and he had already prepared to raise the funds.

He was about to speak when Mu He continued, "But asking you Sword Cultivators to produce a hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones would be asking too much. Besides, my Hehuan Sect isn't short of that bit of money."

### "Since you looked after A Luo in the secret realm, I, her master, will show my gratitude by trading goods instead. I'll repair the Chengying Sword, but the extra ores will belong to me, and the Hehuan Sect will handle the sword's upkeep from now on. What do you think, Young Friend?"

It wasn't clear who would come out ahead in this deal.

After all, the ores in that pouch alone were worth no less than the Nine Nether Cold Spring.

But Pei Yanqing heard something else in Mu He's words.

It was as if Mu He were saying, "Here's five million. Leave my disciple."

(Mu He: That's not what I meant.)

"Say yes already!"

Yun Luo poked him.

What was this silly boy standing around for?

Pei Yanqing came back to himself and saw Yun Luo looking at him expectantly.

His heart grew heavy. "You're too kind, Senior. It was only a fellow cultivator looking after another; there's no need to take it to heart. Repairing a Divine Artifact will surely take a great deal of effort, and I wouldn't dare take advantage of you. In addition to what you've proposed, I'm willing to offer another thirty thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones as thanks. I hope you won't refuse."

Mu He didn't understand why he wouldn't take advantage of a good deal. She assumed all Sword Cultivators were like this.

"Fine. Since you insist, I won't refuse. You're so sincere that I'll get to it as soon as I can, though it may still take a month."

Forging a Divine Artifact was complicated, and repairing one was naturally no easier.

Pei Yanqing had no objections this time.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior."

With that, he placed a wisp of his divine consciousness on the Chengying Sword to suppress its baleful aura and keep it from accidentally injuring anyone.

Then he handed Mu He the ores and the thirty thousand Spirit Stones.

"Sit for a while, Young Friend. A Luo, come with me. I'll get something for Young Friend Pei."

Yun Luo gave Pei Yanqing a few instructions, then followed Mu He out of the courtyard.

After the two left, the courtyard fell into a terrible silence.

With nothing else to do, Pei Yanqing sat and quietly drank his tea.

He'd only had half a cup when his ears suddenly twitched.

It was instinctive for cultivators to extend their divine senses in unfamiliar surroundings. He keenly sensed a group of female cultivators gathered outside the wall.

[It really is Pei Yanqing. He's even better-looking than the portraits on the forum.]

[Wow, that face, that waist, those long legs.]

[That Yun Luo girl has it so good.]

[What are you saying? Junior Sister Yun is a sweet girl. Pei Yanqing's the one who lucked out.]

[Heh, you mean the sweet girl who punched a wild boar to death?]

[That's a stereotype. Why can't a sweet girl punch a wild boar?]

[Could Junior Sister Yun please get her act together and coax him into a cave outside the Mountain Gate to cultivate together? I wanna watch. Hnngh, hnngh.]

[Exactly! Junior Sister Yun has looked my way so many times.]

Pei Yanqing hadn't wanted to pay them any mind, but at that, he choked on his tea, his neck turning red.

The Hehuan Sect was actually this...

If they'd been outside, he would have sent them flying several miles away with a burst of Sword Qi.

But now, all he could do was conjure a curtain of water to block the view from outside the courtyard.

He also set up a soundproofing array, no longer listening to their lewd remarks.

Half an hour later.

Yun Luo returned from Lingxi Peak and saw a group of people gathered outside the courtyard, led by several Direct Disciple senior sisters.

She stopped and listened for a moment, catching the word "stingy."

"Sister Jiang, what are you all doing?"

She approached to ask, and everyone turned around and started gossiping.

"Pei Yanqing is so stingy. We were only looking, but he actually blocked our view."

"Exactly! Junior Sister Yun, you should give him a good punishment. How dare he act so aloof on our Hehuan Sect's turf?"

"I just bought a little leather whip. Give him a good whipping for me."

"..."

Yun Luo didn't know what to say. She could only agree vaguely and send everyone away.

"He's shy. Don't tease him like that. I have one of those myself. Maybe another time."