Moonlight Pavilion's Tranquility · The Waning Moon's Knotted Heart

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Autumn arrived earlier than usual in Heaven Dou City.

Nan Feng stood in front of the city gate and looked up at the gray sky. A north wind rose from the Withered Bones Mountain Range, swirling red dust across the official road and hitting his face with a rough feel.

He traveled for seven days after leaving the Slaughter City. Along the way, he encountered no one except for caravans and a few villages.

The guard glanced at the red ribbon on his left wrist and waved him through.

Nan Feng swept through the main street. There were fewer pedestrians than a few months ago.

He paused as he passed a teahouse. Inside, several Soul Master were whispering amongst themselves, and through the window, he could hear the words "Spirit Hall," "Pope," and "change."

At the end of the street in the eastern district of Heaven Dou City stands a mansion. Above the gate hangs a black lacquered wooden plaque with two characters written on it.

Moonlight Pavilion.

Nan Feng stood in front of the door, looking around. The entrance to the Moonlight Pavilion was inconspicuous. There were no stone lions, no gilded decorations, only two vermilion wooden doors with bronze animal heads as door knockers.

Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light, he raised an eyebrow.

The entire Moonlight Pavilion was enveloped in a gentle fluctuation of Soul Power. The fluctuation was very subtle, separating the residence from the hustle and bustle.

He grasped the brass ring and knocked it three times.

There was no response from inside. Nan Feng waited a moment, and then the door opened.

The woman who opened the door was wearing a plain-colored long dress, in her early thirties, with a pretty face and no makeup. Her long, black hair was tied back and secured with a wooden hairpin.

Her eyes were bright, but a hint of melancholy lingered between her brows, like a thin cloud in a clear sky.

Tang Yuehua.

Her gaze fell on Nan Feng, from his dusty outer robe to the red ribbon on his left wrist, and finally settled on his eyes.

"You come from the Slaughter City." Tang Yuehua's voice was gentle and calm, her tone resolute.

The Nan Feng nodded.

Tang Yuehua's gaze shifted. Her Soul Power was only level nine, and normally she wouldn't be able to sense the aura of a level thirty Soul Elder, yet her eyes held a knowing look.

"The aura of the Divine Slaughter's Domain is very strong," she said. "Your domain is different from ordinary Divine Slaughter's Domain; there is a more ancient power flowing within it."

"It's dangerous, and it's also very quiet."

A person with only level nine Soul Power can sense the existence of the Divine Slaughter's Domain and the Primordial World Power.

Tang Yuehua stepped aside to let her through the doorway.

"Come in. Moonlight Pavilion's cultivation can help you calm your killing intent."

Nan Feng entered Moonlight Pavilion.

The front yard is paved with bluestone slabs, and several clumps of bamboo are planted on both sides.

Passing through the moon gate leads to a backyard with a bamboo pavilion, a stone table, and several old plum trees.

The circular open space in the center of the backyard was paved with white gravel, with concentric patterns drawn on it.

"This is the Meditation Grounds," Tang Yuehua said, walking to his side. "Students regulate their Soul Power here every morning."

She looked at the Nan Feng.

"You returned from the Slaughter City, and the killing intent in your soul is far stronger than that of an ordinary Soul Master. Ordinary meditation will be useless against you."

"The guiding patterns of the Meditation Grounds, combined with my Moonlight Martial Soul, can strip away the killing intent from the surface of the soul."

Why are you helping me?

Tang Yuehua walked to the bamboo pavilion, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea. She took a sip, her gaze falling on the old plum tree.

"If the murderous intent of the Slaughter City isn't dealt with, it will erode the minds of Soul Master within three to six months." She put down her teacup and looked at Nan Feng. "At best, it will drastically change their temperament; at worst, they will suffer a qi deviation."

"Your soul is pure at its core, unlike those outlaws who come from the Slaughter City."

"You are Tang San's friend."

Nan Feng looked at her. Tang San had mentioned his aunt when he was at the Nuoding Academy, but he didn't go into details. Tang Yuehua was Tang Hao's younger sister. She guarded Moonlight Pavilion and never married. Her Soul Power was stuck at level nine.

"Do you know me?" Nan Feng asked.

Tang Yuehua smiled slightly. It was a faint smile, and the gloom between her brows faded a little.

"I don't know you. But I know Xiao Wu. She wrote to me and mentioned someone named Tower Simpleton."

"They say this person has a strange tower, likes to travel around alone, and never teams up. They also say this person saved her life."

Xiao Wu wrote a letter to Tang Yuehua; judging by the timeline, it happened during her time at the Shrek Academy.

"She said you're a good person." Tang Yuehua looked at him. "Xiao Wu has a good eye for people. That's why I believe you."

Nan Feng walked to the edge of Meditation Grounds, took off his boots, stepped barefoot onto the gravel, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

The Divine Slaughter's Domain receded into the depths of his soul, but the killing intent at its edges was more active than before. The killing intent from the Hell Road washed over him, and the bloody accumulation from the ninety-nine killings was suppressed by the Primordial World Power, not completely dissipating.

Tang Yuehua walked to the opposite side of the Meditation Grounds. She did not release her Martial Soul, but closed her eyes.

A gentle wave emanated from her, passing through the white sand and touching the surface of Nan Feng's soul.

The murderous intent contracted, changing from dark red to light red, and then to a transparent pink.

Nan Feng opened his eyes. The killing intent hadn't completely disappeared, but the pressure on the surface of his soul had lessened considerably.

The Old Huai's voice rang out in the Tower Spirit Space.

"This woman's Martial Soul Origin is flawed, inherently deficient. Her Soul Power should be more than level nine, but her origin is suppressed, forever stuck at a bottleneck."

"However, her soul is very pure, somewhat like that Tang San."

Nan Feng stood up. Tang Yuehua opened her eyes; her face was paler than before, but her breathing was steady.

"It's working. Your killing intent is stronger and more controllable than I imagined. Use it once each morning and evening, and after seven days, you'll be able to peel away most of the surface killing intent."

"Thank you," Nan Feng said.

Tang Yuehua turned and walked towards the hall.

"You'll be staying in the west wing for now. There's hardly anyone in the Moonlight Pavilion, just me and a few servants who do chores."

"While you are cultivating here, I will not inquire about your private affairs. However, you must abide by the rules of the Moonlight Pavilion: no noise, no fighting, and no bringing outside grudges into the house."

For the next seven days, Nan Feng received guidance at Meditation Grounds every morning and evening.

The killing intent peeled away layer by layer. The dark red on the surface of the soul receded, replaced by a refreshing calm.

The Divine Slaughter's Domain remained intact, no longer agitated. His Soul Power had settled even deeper, and the Primordial World Power within his meridians was quietly condensing.

Seven days later, Nan Feng made his final adjustment. Tang Yuehua stood under the bamboo pavilion, holding a cup of hot tea.

The autumn sunlight filtered through the plum tree branches and leaves, falling on her plain-colored long dress.

"You've mostly dealt with your killing intent." She took a sip of tea. "If it builds up again in the future, you know how to handle it."

Nan Feng put on her boots and walked to the bamboo pavilion.

The woman had remained quiet for seven days. She neither asked him where he came from nor where he was going.

"Your Soul Power is stuck at level nine," Nan Feng said.

Tang Yuehua paused, her hand holding the teacup still. She looked up, a flicker of gloom in her eyes.

"Yes."

"May I examine your Martial Soul?" Nan Feng asked. "My tower possesses the Power of Creation, capable of probing the state of Martial Soul Origin."

Tang Yuehua remained silent for a long time. The old plum tree outside the bamboo pavilion swayed in the autumn wind, and a few withered leaves fell onto the sand and stones.

She put down her teacup and extended her right hand.

A pale silver crescent moon appeared in his palm. It was curved, incomplete, and had jagged edges.

Nan Feng used his Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light to probe into the illusory figure.

Tang Yuehua's Martial Soul Core was wrapped in a dark gray membrane. The membrane carried the aura of old emotional wounds, absorbing the Martial Soul Origin to grow, compressing the growth space of the Martial Soul Core, and permanently locking her Soul Power at level nine.

"Your Martial Soul Core is covered by something," Nan Feng said, withdrawing his spiritual light. "It's like accumulated emotions, unrelated to Soul Power, but related to your state of mind."

Tang Yuehua withdrew her hand, and the crescent moon's illusory image vanished. She turned to look at the plum tree in the distance.

"I know," she said softly, "I've known for many years."

The Nan Feng did not ask any further questions. The autumn wind blew through the branches of the plum tree.

After a long while, Tang Yuehua picked up the teapot again and poured a second cup of tea.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" she asked.

"Hmm," Nan Feng said, "I still have things to do."

Tang Yuehua held her teacup, looking at the pale green tea inside.

"Next time you pass through Heaven Dou City, you can stop by the Moonlight Pavilion for a while. Your killing intent will accumulate again, and you can use Meditation Grounds anytime."

Nan Feng nodded, turned and walked towards the west wing. After a few steps, he paused and looked back at Tang Yuehua.

"Senior Tang," Nan Feng said.

Tang Yuehua raised her head.

"Your Martial Soul Origin can be repaired," Nan Feng said, looking at her, "But not now. Perhaps I can find a way after I take another step forward."

Tang Yuehua didn't speak, her fingers tightening around the teacup, and after a long while, she nodded.

Nan Feng turned and walked into the west wing.

Inside the Tower Spirit Space, Old Huai's voice rang out once more.

"Her Martial Soul Origin has been suppressed by her inner conflict for decades; repairing it won't be a matter of a day or two. But her smile just now was different from before."

Nan Feng closed the door and walked to the window. Tang Yuehua was still standing under the bamboo pavilion, holding the cup of tea that had gone cold.

He sat on the bed planning the route.

The Yin -Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is the first stop. Old Huai said that there is Soul-Suppressing Azure Lotus there, which can stabilize his Primordial World Power and is also the key to the fusion of the Tower Soul and the Primordial World. Dugu Bo guards the valley.

We're setting off tomorrow.