Chapter 36: Zhuang Yuechan

After returning to the Treasure Seeking Pavilion to explain the situation to Song Luyuan, Song Changsheng went to meet Zhu Yiqun at the agreed-upon time the following day.

"You're here. Put this black robe on first," Zhu Yiqun said, immediately handing a black robe to Song Changsheng upon his arrival.

"What is this?" Song Changsheng asked, feeling puzzled.

"Heh, you're quite a celebrity in this market. If we don't hide ourselves, I'm afraid our movements this time will be exposed. This is a concealment robe; it allows you to blend into the surrounding environment and hide your tracks," Zhu Yiqun whispered into his ear, casting a sidelong glance at a bamboo building in the distance.

Song Changsheng instantly understood what Zhu Yiqun meant. He was no fool; for some time now, he had frequently felt that someone was monitoring him in the shadows, and it seemed Zhu Yiqun had also noticed.

The two of them walked together into a secluded corner. A hidden scout immediately crept toward them, but to his surprise, by the time he arrived, the spot was already empty.

"Damn, I lost him!" The scout realized he had lost his target and hurriedly rushed back to the Hundred Treasure Pavilion.

After he left, the shadows in the corner began to writhe, and a moment later, two figures clad in black robes emerged.

Zhu Yiqun smiled and said, "This trick is called 'Darkness Under the Lamp.' Now that the meddlers are gone, Changsheng, let's go meet our fellow Daoists."

Song Changsheng nodded slightly, but the layer of mist surrounding Zhu Yiqun in his mind grew thicker; the man stood there in a way that made him impossible to see clearly.

The two traveled swiftly and eventually arrived at an inn.

They went up to the third floor and pushed open the door, where a dozen people of various appearances immediately came into view.

"You're finally back. Are we actually leaving or not?" As soon as the door was closed, a burly, muscular man spoke up impatiently.

Zhu Yiqun pulled down his hood and comforted him with a smile, "Don't be anxious, Fellow Daoist Li. I was just going to invite the formation master. We will set off in a moment."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Song Changsheng and said, "Fellow Daoists, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Song Changsheng, a top-grade Rank 1 formation master. He will be traveling with us this time."

Song Changsheng also removed his hood and cupped his hands toward the group. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."

"No wonder Fellow Daoist Zhu said he needed to add someone at the last minute. So it's Fellow Daoist Song. With your mastery of formations, our chances of success this trip will surely increase," a gray-robed cultivator carrying a long sword said readily.

The others also cast friendly glances toward Song Changsheng; after all, he had some reputation in the Flowing Cloud Market.

"Changsheng, let me introduce everyone. This is Fellow Daoist Li Hu, a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator and a rare body cultivator.

The one who just spoke is Fellow Daoist Xu Yunhe, a Great Circle Qi Refinement cultivator and a sword cultivator.

...

And finally, this is Fellow Daoist Xu Yun, a seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivator, who is also a top-grade Rank 1 formation master."

Zhu Yiqun introduced everyone one by one, and the group reached a preliminary acquaintance. There were thirteen people in total, all of whom were late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, making for a formidable lineup.

Through the introduction, Song Changsheng realized that, besides himself, there was already a top-grade Rank 1 formation master in the group.

Combined with what Xu Yunhe had just said, it wasn't hard to guess that he had been forcibly included by Zhu Yiqun, which caused a slight sense of warmth to well up in his heart.

"Eh, has Fellow Daoist Zhuang not arrived yet?" Zhu Yiqun looked around and finally turned to Xu Yunhe.

Xu Yunhe shrugged. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang has always been a loner; none of us know her whereabouts. But since she said she would come, she likely won't break her word."

"Let's wait another hour. If Fellow Daoist Zhuang doesn't show, we'll set off first," Zhu Yiqun nodded.

The room fell silent again as everyone either sat or stood, closing their eyes to rest.

*Creak.*

The closed door was pushed open.

The gazes of Song Changsheng and the others converged on the newcomer, finding a tall woman. She wore a light blue waist-length skirt, her skin was as white as jade, and her figure was graceful and curvaceous.

A white veil covered her face, allowing only the faint outline of her features to be seen, leaving only a pair of spirited eyes exposed.

"My apologies, fellow Daoists. Yuechan is late," the newcomer said to the group with a hint of apology.

"Not too late. Fellow Daoist Zhuang, this is the Fellow Daoist Song I mentioned to you," Zhu Yiqun said, standing up with a smile.

"Song..." A flicker of emotion passed through Zhuang Yuechan's eyes, but she showed no intention of greeting Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng frowned slightly. Although she didn't show it overtly, he keenly sensed the change in her emotions.

It seemed that after learning his name, her attitude had become cold.

"Do I have some grievance with her?" Song Changsheng searched his memory carefully, only to find not even the slightest impression, which left him feeling somewhat bewildered.

Zhu Yiqun also noticed the subtle change between the two and quickly said, "Since everyone is here, let us prepare to depart.

We'll follow the old rules. To avoid attracting attention, we will leave the market in batches. Remember to hide your tracks; we will regroup in the forest outside the market."

Everyone agreed in unison and began to descend the stairs in groups, leaving the market from different directions...

Inside the Hundred Treasure Pavilion, the scout knelt before Elder Cheng in terror, reporting with a trembling voice, "Elder... I lost him."

"Hmm? You lost him?" Cheng Yufei's eyes flashed with fury, and his aura erupted like a raging lion, pressing down on the scout until he could barely breathe.

"Elder, please spare my life!" The scout immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Useless! What is the sect feeding you for? Go and investigate immediately! Find him! Even if he crawls into a crack in the earth, you must drag him out!" Cheng Yufei roared, slamming his hand on the table.

"Yes... yes, Elder!" The scout scrambled up and fled as if escaping for his life.

Soon, the Earth Fire Sect's personnel, both overt and covert within the Flowing Cloud Market, were mobilized to begin searching for any trace of Song Changsheng...

What they did not know was that Song Changsheng and Zhu Yiqun had already left the market from the east, wearing special black robes that could conceal their tracks.

On the road, Zhu Yiqun's eyes could not stop scanning Song Changsheng, looking as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Song Changsheng shook his head and said speechlessly, "If you have something to ask, just ask. Don't let it eat you up."

"Hehe, what's the deal between you and Fellow Daoist Zhuang? Did you do something to her?" Zhu Yiqun asked with a mischievous look.

Song Changsheng paused his steps and looked at him helplessly. "Stop right there. I have never met her, let alone done anything to her."

A glint of "wisdom" flashed in Zhu Yiqun's small eyes as he wagged his index finger. "That's not right. Fellow Daoist Zhuang has known me for nearly two years. Although she isn't very social with us, she is polite and well-mannered; it's impossible for her to treat you so coldly today.

Something definitely happened between you two. Could it be... you abandoned her after a fling?"

Song Changsheng's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

...

(End of Chapter)