Moon-Washing Lake

Looking at the two mangled corpses on the ground, Mo Wen could not help feeling a little wistful.

Before he knew it, he had grown accustomed to this kind of life-or-death struggle! Two living, breathing lives had ended beneath his sword, yet not the slightest ripple stirred in his heart.

Perhaps this was the truth of the cultivation world! The tree wished for stillness, but the wind would not cease. If he did not kill others, they would kill him!

If he wanted to seek the Dao and attain longevity, the Attribute Panel alone was not enough. He also needed ways to protect his Dao and an unwavering Dao heart!

As the saying went, "Bleached bones pave the road to immortality; ten thousand souls weep beneath the seat of longevity." What mighty senior who had ascended to the spirit realm since ancient times had not had hands drenched in blood?

There was no helping it. To contend for the slightest chance at immortality, he had to fight against people, the earth, and the heavens!

Mo Wen composed himself and put the belongings of Ji Buqun and his companion into his Storage Bag. Only then did he use the Fireball Technique to destroy the corpses and erase the evidence.

Should I still go to Moon-Washing Lake?

By now, Mo Wen was almost certain that the message was merely a means for the Ji Household to lure him out of the city. Members of the Song Clan might even have been involved.

Forget it. I'll go anyway and see Song Xuan while I'm there. It'll put Yixue at ease too.

Mo Wen changed his appearance once more and flew toward Moon-Washing Lake.

This time, he did not disguise himself as a Qi Refining cultivator, but presented himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. After all, he flew on his sword at a speed no Qi Refining cultivator could possibly match.

Moon-Washing Lake lay east of Azure Luan Immortal City, a little over three thousand li away.

After traveling for most of the day, Mo Wen finally arrived near Moon-Washing Lake.

It was already evening. The last rays of the setting sun shone on the lake, where ripples spread like fish scales.

Mo Wen strained his eyes toward the island at the center of the lake and found it peaceful, with no sign of a siege.

He curled his lip, flew straight into the air above the island, and called out, "Rogue cultivator Mo Wen has come to pay a visit. I ask the head of the Song Clan to show himself!"

Long ago, Mo Wen had learned the basics about the Song Household from Song Xuan. After he and Song Yixue had established their relationship, he had come to know more about the Song Household's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Song Household currently had four Foundation Establishment cultivators, the strongest of whom was the fourth-generation ancestor, Song Shixiong.

Song Shixiong was over one hundred and eighty years old and had reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Because of his advanced age, he no longer managed Lineage affairs, usually remaining in seclusion in his cave abode to recuperate.

Only when something major happened to the Lineage would the Song clansmen disturb their ancestor Song Shixiong.

Below Song Shixiong were three fifth-generation clansmen: the household head Song Leping, the first elder Song Leqing, and the second elder Song Leyao.

Song Leping was one hundred and thirty-six years old and at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He commanded great respect in the Lineage.

The first elder, Song Leqing, was the only one of Song Shixiong's many children to have reached Foundation Establishment. He was nine years younger than Song Leping and at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

The second elder, Song Leyao, was the Song Household's only female Foundation Establishment cultivator. She was over eighty years old and at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Although Song Leping was the head of the Song Household, Song Leqing had always secretly hampered him in handling clan affairs. Out of respect for their ancestor Song Shixiong, Song Leping usually yielded three steps to Song Leqing.

Although Mo Wen did not care much about the Song Household, it was, after all, the Lineage Song Yixue came from, and his old friend Song Xuan was there too. Naturally, he hoped to be on good terms with the Song Household. But judging by the Song Household's reaction during this time, that wish would probably be hard to fulfill.

The sudden appearance of an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator outside their ancestral grounds naturally drew the Song clansmen's attention. Soon, a gaunt-faced middle-aged man with an imposing gaze came to a stop more than a hundred zhang in front of Mo Wen.

"I am Mo Wen. Greetings, Household Head Song." Mo Wen cupped his fists in salute.

"I have long heard of your great name, Fellow Daoist Mo. Now that I have met you, I see you are indeed extraordinary." Song Leping cupped his fists and spoke in a lukewarm tone.

After they exchanged a few more courtesies, Song Leping asked, "Fellow Daoist Mo, what brings you to our Moon-Washing Lake?"

Mo Wen hid nothing and told him directly how a Song clansman had gone to Azure Luan Immortal City with a message.

"Fairy Yixue was worried about her Lineage's safety, so she asked me to come and lend a hand," Mo Wen said.

After hearing the whole story, Song Leping's expression shifted between light and dark. Only after a long while did he say, "Many thanks for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart! However, the claim that a clansman delivered a message was a lie. Our clan has not gone to war with the Ji Household."

"I see. In that case, I can rest easy. Your clansman, Brother Song Xuan, has been a close friend of mine for many years. Is he currently with the clan?" Mo Wen asked.

"Song Xuan should be at Red Leaf Market these days," Song Leping replied.

"Since your clan is safe, I won't disturb you. I'll take my leave now."

"Since you've come to Moon-Washing Lake, Fellow Daoist, how could we let you leave without coming in? Please come inside for tea," Song Leping said politely.

"Fairy Yixue is still waiting for news in the immortal city. I'll pay my respects to Household Head Song another day." Mo Wen naturally would not set foot in the Song Clan's territory so readily, so he politely declined.

"In that case, I wish you a smooth journey, Fellow Daoist." Song Leping did not insist. In his view, a second-rank talisman master was not worth wagering the entire Song Household on!

After leaving Moon-Washing Lake, Mo Wen immediately headed for Azure Luan Immortal City. Rather than retracing his route, however, he made a wide detour and approached the city from another direction.

When he came within a hundred li of the immortal city, he suppressed his cultivation signature to the Qi Refining level and entered the city unhurriedly.

The round trip had taken Mo Wen a day and a night. By the time he returned to his cave abode, the sun had only just risen.

He used a Message Transmission Talisman to inform Song Yixue that he had returned.

Song Yixue soon came running out and threw herself straight into Mo Wen's arms.

"Mo, are you all right? Did you encounter any danger on the way?" Song Yixue asked with concern, holding him tightly.

"Yixue, I'm fine. I'm sorry I made you worry." Mo Wen held Song Yixue, feeling nothing but peace in his heart.

After they entered the cave abode, Mo Wen told her everything that had happened on the journey, concealing nothing.

When Song Yixue heard that two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ji Household had ambushed Mo Wen, she could not help feeling a trace of lingering fear, even though she could see her beloved right beside her!

"The Ji Household is too sinister! To think they laid such a vicious trap. How utterly despicable!" Song Yixue said through gritted teeth.

"Mo, I dragged you into this," Song Yixue said, looking at Mo Wen with heartache.

"Don't say that. As husband and wife, we are one. Your affairs are mine! Besides, in setting this trap, the Ji Household probably also intended to enslave me and make me serve them for the rest of my life," Mo Wen reasoned.

"You're absolutely right, Mo. Those villains may scheme a hundred ways, but they still can't withstand the might of your sword!" At that moment, Song Yixue felt that the weight in her chest had completely lifted, and her whole body felt wonderfully refreshed! Even her cultivation had become much more harmonious than usual.

"Yixue, after this battle, the Ji Household has probably come to see us as mortal enemies! Your cultivation is now close to Qi Refining Peak. Why not step down as shopkeeper and focus on cultivating, so you can reach Foundation Establishment sooner?" Mo Wen urged.

Song Yixue pondered for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Mo, I'll be relying on you to support me from now on!"

"It would be my honor as your husband!" Mo Wen looked at Song Yixue tenderly and opened his arms.

Song Yixue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she buried her head in Mo Wen's embrace.