My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 747 - 474: Mountain God Temple (Combined)

Unable to wait out the New Year at Yin Sword Mountain, Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue had to head south early.

As for the reason, the southern regions were far from peaceful. The chaos of the White Lotus Sect had grown increasingly fierce, threatening to engulf all of Hu-Guang. By the beginning of next year, the situation would surely worsen. If they did not seek a foothold now, while the storm had yet to fully sweep through, heading south afterward would surely be fraught with peril. Furthermore, with letters of plea for aid from Dragon and Tiger Mountain flooding the Taoist gates across the world like snow, Chen Yi and his companions could no longer afford to idle away their time and spend the holiday at leisure.

Before departing, Zhou Yitang retrieved the sword box from the Ancestor Hall. A thick layer of bamboo slats wrapped the box's exterior, followed by a layer of gray cloth securing it firmly. Even under the sunlight, despite the coverings that buried it deep, Chen Yi still felt an icy, ominous energy emanating from within. A single slip, and it seemed the box could slit throats and sever necks.

"Doesn't our Yin Sword Mountain believe there's spiritual essence within swords?" Chen Yi asked.

"And what of it?"

"Will those Taoists at Dragon and Tiger Mountain really use this sword?" Chen Yi pressed further.

The Tai Sha Sword, the master blade of Yin Sword Mountain's Twelve Demon Suppressing Sword Array, was said to have been obtained by the Northern Emperor during his conquest of the Twelve Ghost Palaces in Fengdu. Its true appearance was known only to the Sword Armor bearer, the Sect Leader, and the Teachings Leader through the ages. As Chen Yi touched the sword box, he could feel the killing aura within, undiminished despite the countless chants and sutras offered by Yin Sword Mountain's people.

Simply touching the sword box revealed its murderous intent to Chen Yi; passing this to the Dragon Tiger Mountain people—how could those Heavenly Masters ever tame it? He feared that once the box was opened, the Tai Sha Sword would unleash a bloodbath.

"That's nothing you need to worry about. The sword entering the sword array is merely passing from one cage to another," Zhou Yitang replied.

Chen Yi furrowed his brows at this and asked, "What if Dragon and Tiger Mountain doesn't want the sword in their array? The chaos of the White Lotus Sect in the south will likely lead them to target the Taoist temples, yet Dragon and Tiger Mountain has already sealed itself off, instead of fortifying the temples. Isn't it possible they are consolidating their strength for a decisive battle?"

Zhou Yitang countered, "Do you think we haven't considered this?"

Chen Yi fell silent in contemplation before brushing his hand against the sword box again and asking, "Another twist of fate, perhaps?"

Zhou Yitang merely replied, "The south is unlike the north. Dragon and Tiger Mountain holds the reins of the Taoist gates in the southern regions and naturally has to plan for the southern sects. The chaos wrought by the White Lotus Sect is full of mutable factors. Sending you south with this sword box was also the result of my divination. As for how Dragon and Tiger Mountain will utilize the sword, the letters exchanged remain frustratingly vague. So… the outcome may only be determined by circumstances when the time comes."

Chen Yi nodded slightly, reluctantly accepting this explanation.

In the matter of the world, unraveling its intricacies and clarifying one's thoughts was never simple. Matters involving the Taoist and Buddhist sects, tied to destiny and fate, were even harder to explain—almost akin to scaling the heavens. Zhou Yitang offering the phrase "determined by circumstances" was already a piece of divinely inspired insight.

Chen Yi considered storing the sword box in the Square Land but found the blade's emanating murderous aura causing his Jade Pendant to tremble slightly in response. He glanced at Zhou Yitang before slinging the sword box onto his back.

"It has to be carried on the back?"

"It has to be carried on the back," Zhou Yitang affirmed after a brief hesitation. His tone was slightly uncertain as he added, "Though you're Third Rank, with your current state… you're capable of suppressing it."

The formless flow of Chen Yi's Sword Intent gradually calmed the energy within the sword box.

He smiled at Zhou Yitang and said, "So, I'm stronger than you now?"

Zhou Yitang avoided the question and remained silent.

Chen Yi didn't press further; after all, the question of who was stronger between them remained unanswered. They had never faced each other in combat. At his current Third Rank level, he could only assure himself of holding his ground for fifty moves. But beyond that—well, the rest would be left to fate.

Yin Tingxue, noticing their exchange had concluded, cautiously approached.

Truth be told, when the two of them interacted, the atmosphere rarely felt harmonious. It was either a clash of swords or the calm before a storm. This little fox had suffered enough setbacks to know to keep her distance, only emerging at critical moments.

Chen Yi reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling as he said, "Little fox, we're heading south to Dragon and Tiger Mountain to deliver the sword. We'll also find one for you."

Yin Tingxue nodded and cast a quick glance at Zhou Yitang, asking, "Then what about Master Zhou?"

"We'll go first; Master Zhou will catch up with us later."

With that, Chen Yi paused for a moment, hinting with a smile:

"Along the way, I'll teach you how to be a Taoist."

Yin Tingxue eyed Chen Yi skeptically, finding it hard to believe he resembled anything close to a competent Taoist.

Chen Yi, noticing her doubt, said nothing. He took her hand and descended Cangwu Peak.

Flanking the path were rows of fir trees. The mountain trail stretched straight towards the base, as Chen Yi lifted his gaze for a moment of distant reflection. His eyes settled on the far-away layers of clouds and mist concealing the mountainous terrain, extending south like a boundless tapestry. The skies appeared blurred and indistinct, casting a haze over the view. His gaze wandered through the veiled peaks, coiling endlessly, as his thoughts turned to the past. Yin Tingxue, once the Demon Sect Saintess, emerged in the south under uncertain circumstances. What had destiny inflicted upon her there—what pains had she weathered to make her so withdrawn and harsh…?

And later,

As they traveled southward… who else among his acquaintances would they encounter?

A sudden thought rose and sank just as quickly. Chen Yi's mind wandered to his newly born daughter somewhere out there, lingering for a moment in a haze of unspoken longing.

Should he venture further south?

Chen Yi's thoughts were adrift, emotions churning as they failed to anchor. He stood still in place.

Yin Tingxue, far more simple-minded, glanced between Zhou Yitang and Chen Yi, her thoughts skipping to the bundles of branches piled by, as well as Chen Yi's hand scratched by the bamboo slats.

The Kongming Lantern intended for Master Zhou hadn't even been delivered, yet they were about to leave...

Yin Tingxue felt a pang of regret.

What a pity...

But as she reconsidered suddenly, clutching the thought, a smile crept onto her lips.

Maybe she could give the Kongming Lantern to herself...

Yin Tingxue covered her mouth and chuckled, 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

All regret vanished in an instant.

Back at Cangwu Peak, a one-armed woman watched them leave from afar. But when Yin Tingxue turned to look back, she saw the woman turning away decisively.

It seemed she wanted them to believe she harbored no lingering attachments.