Mu Heng sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Ling Xi for a long time, unable to understand why Ye Ziling didn't strike him dead.
Seeing Ye Ziling diligently checking his pulse, she seemed quite serious.
Did the demoness also save people? How rare.
“How is it, is he dead?” Seeing Ye Ziling lower her wrist, Mu Heng eagerly stepped forward to check Ling Xi’s breath.
Ye Ziling frowned, smeared the black blood from his wound with her fingertip, and sniffed it.
This was caused by a mountain demon.
For a mountain demon’s wound, there was only one cure: the immortal ganoderma from Yingzhou Immortal Island.
Yingzhou was inhabited by many immortals. If she went to find it, she might encounter old immortals from the Heavenly Palace.
She had once led all the gods. Even though her appearance had changed, those old immortals would still recognize her easily, and her identity might be exposed.
At the bridgehead, the water vapor on the lake transformed into clouds, rising along the bank and gradually spreading to the distant mountains. Following the valleys, it conjured a hazy, ethereal scene, dense like wine, faint like a dream.
“Young lady, where are you going? My spirit boat has plenty of spirit mist. It can travel by water or air, to any distant place!” A spirit boat descended from the sky. The captain was a small turtle-like beast, waving its claws at Ye Ziling enthusiastically.
The river wind carried white mist, blowing up her skirt, accentuating her slender figure, making her appear ethereal and celestial.
“Yingzhou Immortal Island.”
As the spirit boat set off, her white robes swayed with the waves, like a night-blooming cereus flower blooming in the swirling white and green mist, gradually drifting away.
Seeing the misty realm in the distance, resembling the Heavenly Palace, Ye Ziling disembarked.
Two divine beasts stood by the coral gate. Upon seeing someone dock, they quickly bowed. One of them said, “Does the young lady have an immortal token?”
Even though the woman before them wore a veil, the powerful aura and noble demeanor emanating from her filled them with awe.
“Please inform Elder Bai Lian that Ye Ziling of the Sacred Medical Tribe seeks an audience.” Ye Ziling said.
Ye Ziling and Elder Bai Lian had an unusual relationship. Although she was the foremost civil official in the Celestial Realm, she was also skilled in medicine. Privately, they would play chess under the Moon Palace and discuss medical arts, becoming confidantes. However, Bai Lian did not know that she was the sole descendant of the Sacred Medical Tribe.
Now that she was using the name of the Sacred Medical Tribe, it would be difficult for him not to agree to see her.
She had previously promised to recommend Bai Lian to the Heavenly Emperor, which was how he rose from a minor immortal physician to the position of Elder.
The divine beasts snapped back to attention, exchanged glances, and revealed expressions of disdain.
The Sacred Medical Tribe?
Wasn’t the Sacred Medical Tribe annihilated?
They had also never heard of any descendants left by the Divine Medical Tribe. Could they have misremembered?
Ye Ziling’s eyes were calm as she watched the two divine beasts whisper to each other: “What day is it today? Have you forgotten? Ten years ago, the Emperor was stabbed by a traitor. Although the wound healed, it left a hidden ailment. He then planted an immortal ganoderma at Old Lord Bai Lian’s place, and he is coming to retrieve it today. Perhaps the Emperor is unwell and sent an immortal maid to fetch it…”
“Does she look like an immortal maid?”
“Can the Emperor’s personal immortal maid be like an ordinary maid?”
…
Hearing the familiar name, Ye Ziling felt a surge of emotion.
Qing Bai? He was also coming to get the immortal ganoderma?
If she remembered correctly, the Yingzhou Immortal Island only produced one immortal ganoderma every ten years.
It seemed she had to obtain this sole immortal ganoderma.
To avoid offending any immortal, the divine beasts still proceeded to relay the command as requested.
“Please wait, I will report it immediately.”
Shortly after, the divine beast hurried back, its attitude respectful yet somewhat reserved, “Please follow me, Miss Ye.”
Ye Ziling nodded and followed the divine beast through the coral gate, heading towards the depths of the immortal island.
“Elder, the guest has been brought,” the divine beast said, bowing out.
Ye Ziling looked around and found herself in a pharmacy, filled with various medicinal herbs, all neatly arranged and classified.
Beside her, an old man with white hair was grinding something by the herb shelves. Hearing the voice, he slowly opened his eyes, glanced at her, and said, “Is the young lady a descendant of the Sacred Medical Tribe?”
Bai Lian felt that her eyebrows and eyes were somewhat familiar, like those of an old acquaintance, but he couldn’t recall who it was.
“Indeed.” Ye Ziling replied faintly, her gaze sweeping over rows of herbs and then resting on Bai Lian.
“I recall that the Sacred Medical Tribe was wiped out more than ten years ago. Where did the descendants come from? I’m afraid someone is using the name to swindle people.” Bai Lian put down the brush in his hand, stroked his beard, and looked at her with a smile, but his tone was cold.
“If you thought I was swindling you, you wouldn’t have let me in,” Ye Ziling gave him a meaningful look.
“You are indeed clever, girl. Tell me, what do you need from me?” Bai Lian felt her temperament was very much like that of an old acquaintance from the past.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a coincidence. Their features were similar. However, his old friend had died ten years ago, which was why he found the Heavenly Palace boring and moved to Yingzhou Immortal Island to live in seclusion.
“I want an immortal ganoderma from your Yingzhou Island.” Ye Ziling cut straight to the chase, too lazy to beat around the bush.
Bai Lian chuckled as if he had heard a great joke: “I’m sure you know before coming that my immortal island only produces one immortal ganoderma every ten years. What makes you think I will definitely give it to you?”
Ye Ziling calmly walked past him, chuckling, “What if I say I can fulfill your lifelong wish?”
Bai Lian was startled. He immediately turned around, his eyes wide: “You… who exactly are you?”
His greatest wish was to repay the favor owed to Goddess Tu Yao. But when she was thrown into the alchemy furnace, he was powerless, and he didn’t even have the courage to speak up for her.
Every time he recalled it, he hated his own helplessness. For years, he was plagued by nightmares and couldn’t sleep, only wishing he could do something for her one day.
Bai Lian excitedly grabbed her arm, his eyes slightly reddening, “You are… Tu…”
Ye Ziling interrupted him, smiling, “My surname is Ye.”
Tu Yao was the immortal name Qing Bai had given her.
Bai Lian knew she didn’t want to reveal her identity, so he could only nod repeatedly, “Miss Ye, please convey to that friend that I am very guilty for not being able to help her when the heavens collapsed…”
“If Elder truly wishes to do something for her, then simply produce the immortal ganoderma,” Ye Ziling interrupted him.
“Good, good.” Bai Lian was so overcome with joy that tears welled up. He quickly called an immortal maid to bring a tray, upon which lay an immortal ganoderma. He carefully handed it to her.
“Thank you, Elder. Farewell, and may we never meet again.” Ye Ziling took the immortal ganoderma.
“Truly, never meet again?” Bai Lian quickly called out to her.
Bai Lian was aware of the fate of those who fell from the nine heavens. Even if they survived, their primordial spirits would have been shattered.
“Gather the two Sun and Moon Divine Vessels and utilize divine beasts to summon the primordial spirit.”
Bai Lian spoke his final words.
Ye Ziling paused, did not turn back, and walked directly towards the door. After only two steps, she bumped into a handsome and refined face. That cold and ruthless face instantly appeared before her eyes.
It was Qing Bai.
Ye Ziling avoided his gaze, instead stepping aside and bowing her head.
She was veiled at the moment, which could temporarily conceal her identity.
The man wore a white immortal robe, his dark black hair cascading down to his waist. Arrogance was evident in his demeanor, his thin lips slightly pursed. His stern face was expressionless as he brushed past her.
“Your Majesty, a divine beast just reported that you sent an immortal maid to retrieve the immortal ganoderma a quarter of an hour ago. Why are you personally coming to retrieve it again?” asked an accompanying immortal official.
“Absurd. When did I send anyone?” The man’s voice was as cold as ice, causing the immortal official to shiver and dare not speak further.
Qing Bai stopped, a hint of confusion appearing on his stern face.
Something was wrong. Why did the veiled woman he just saw have such familiar features?
Qing Bai flicked his sleeve and turned back the way he came, flying towards the woman’s direction.
He would remember those features even if they turned to ash.
Qing Bai chased all the way to the door but couldn’t find the woman. Only two divine beasts bowed respectfully to him, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Did you see a woman leave?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, we did not see anyone leave. However, about a quarter of an hour ago, a woman did enter. Wasn’t she the immortal maid by your side?…”
Qing Bai’s expression turned cold, his solemn and handsome face showing a hint of gloom. “What is her name?”
“It seems to be… from the Sacred Medical Tribe, Ye something. We cannot recall clearly. We beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Qing Bai’s face grew even more solemn. He waved his sleeve and stepped back into the main hall, “Close the door and allow no one to leave.”
The divine beasts nodded obsequiously.
Since no one had left, it meant she must still be inside the hall.
Ye Ziling hid in the hall for a moment. She knew that with Qing Bai’s suspicious nature, he would definitely come back looking for her.
As she was about to step away, she saw the person outside returning and quickly slipped into the immortal garden.
If she left with the immortal ganoderma, Qing Bai would surely hold Bai Lian accountable upon his return. She needed to devise a plan.
As Qing Bai took a few steps, news of a fire came from the front courtyard.
“Help! There’s a fire! Quickly, bring water!”
“Quickly extinguish the fire, the immortal ganoderma and herbs are about to be burned!”
…
The divine beasts descended into chaos, carrying buckets to fetch water and splashing it out basin by basin, but the fire only grew larger, engulfing the entire immortal garden in thick smoke.
Ye Ziling smiled faintly as she watched the flustered divine beasts and, taking advantage of the confusion, quickly slipped out the gate.
-
The man sat in the main seat, his tall and straight figure leaning slightly forward, his eyes half-closed, his expression solemn.
“Your Majesty is asking you questions! Where is the immortal ganoderma?” an immortal official berated.
The divine beasts knelt in fear, trembling, “There was a fire just now, and the immortal ganoderma… is gone.”
“Gone?”
Qing Bai’s face darkened, and a chilling killing intent emanated from him.
He stood up, looking down at the beasts from above. A terrifying pressure enveloped them. Feeling the intense oppression, the beasts fell silent in fear.
“Elder Bai Lian, please explain, how did the immortal ganoderma disappear?”
Qing Bai turned to look at Bai Lian.
The old man raised his eyes, glanced at Qing Bai, and sighed softly, “Your Majesty can see that the immortal garden caught fire, and the immortal ganoderma is naturally gone. It is my dereliction of duty and has nothing to do with anyone else.”
The man on the throne slowly sat down, his gaze sharp as a knife. He scanned Bai Lian and snorted, “Was it burned, or was it given away?”
Bai Lian was startled, then said, “I never saw anyone enter the hall, nor was it given away.”
The man sneered, “Are you saying I am wrongly accusing you?”
He knew the relationship between Tu Yao and Bai Lian. Seeing his constant protection, he was even more certain that the person was Tu Yao. He had already obtained the answer he wanted.
“Enough. Let us return to the palace.”
The man stood up and left, his back straight, his figure majestic.