World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 597: The Immortal Maidens Tragic Fate

"Elder Pi!"

"How is she? Why is she here?"

"We've barely stabilized her for now, but her Primordial Spirit has suffered severe damage. Whether she can survive it is still uncertain."

Wang Sheng frowned deeply. At his side, Mu Wanxuan gently tugged at him and handed over a bottle of alchemical pills that could save lives at a critical moment. Though they had been taken from the Small Immortal Realm, Mu Wanxuan offered it without hesitation.

Wang Sheng didn't delay, either. He took a pill and leaned down to place it into Lan Huilin's mouth.

Not long after, a faint cyan light spread across Lan Huilin's forehead, and the condition of her Primordial Spirit's injuries finally stabilized.

"What exactly happened?" Wang Sheng asked again.

An elder stepped forward and carefully recounted how Lan Huilin had been found. Roughly an hour ago, a Xinghai Sect patrol team detected Lan Huilin flying in from beyond Fengmo's skies. She was already covered in blood by then.

Upon seeing the group of celestial soldiers, she flew straight toward them and shouted, "Quick, take me to Elder Pi Kachew!"

Right after, she lost consciousness due to her grave injuries.

That was all the information they managed to get. Hence, the group of Daoist elders couldn't help but be confused.

One whispered, "She appears to be Caiwei, a disciple of the Fengli Sect's sect master and one of the Thirteen Fairies. Didn't she visit Xinghai City with a group some time ago?"

"Did an internal strife between the Fengli Sect's disciples cause this?"

"Why did she seek Elder Pi while she was so gravely injured, though?"

Wang Sheng explained, "I met Caiwei a few times in the past, but we were not particularly close. She probably came looking for me because she had no other option in a moment of crisis. Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, could you arrange a place for her to settle for now? Once she wakes up, the truth will naturally come to light."

Yao Xingzi nodded in agreement. "Very well."

He caught on to Wang Sheng's desire to keep Lan Huilin from getting into contact with the other elders.

Soon, two female disciples arrived, used immortal power to lift Lan Huilin, and carried her to a pavilion behind the palace. Lishang followed along, worried that something would happen to Lan Huilin while she was in the Xinghai Sect.

Wang Sheng, Yao Xingzi, Linyuan, and the other elders began discussing the matter.

Wang Sheng said, "Sect Master, sending a message to the Fengli Sect should be our first course of action."

"We've already sent a transmission jade slip to them," Yao Xingzi said. "Even that jade slip may not be safe right now, though."

"We should respond to changes by remaining unchanged and avoid making any major moves." Wang Sheng pondered briefly, then continued, "Immortal Maiden Caiwei is severely injured, and we have to find those who traveled with her, too. The three other immortal maidens who traded for my swords half a month ago have to be investigated as soon as possible. I'm worried that someone is deliberately setting a trap for us."

Linyuan gravely asked, "The Celestial Wind Sect?"

Wang Sheng shook his head. "Not necessarily. Right now, any situation is possible. We shouldn't draw conclusions lightly. Sect Master, please send several teams of celestial soldiers to investigate, focusing mainly on two aspects."

Yao Xingzi asked, "Which two?"

"First, track down the immortal maidens' movements after my transaction with them. Second, search Fengmo's vicinity. Immortal Maiden Caiwei managed to rush back into our territory despite her heavy injuries, which clearly means they hadn't gone far. Send people to retrace the direction from where Caiwei had flown, too. If a battle occurred near Fengmo, see whether any unaffiliated practitioners witnessed it."

Wang Sheng's suggestions were timely.

If this were any other time, most of the Xinghai Sect's immortals would have adhered to the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble and simply let the Fengli Sect come take Caiwei away.

However, Wang Sheng keenly sensed that this situation was hiding something that they had to unearth, lest the sect fall into a defensive position afterward.

Standing quietly to the side the entire time, Mu Wanxuan couldn't help but feel that her junior brother had become much more mature and steady now.

He generally had more presence than before, too.

Yao Xingzi immediately arranged for several elders to lead celestial soldiers out into the field. He also specifically instructed them to retreat immediately if they were ambushed.

Wang Sheng added, "Sect Master, you and the vice sect master should welcome the second batch of recruits for now. My senior sister and I can go watch over Immortal Maiden Caiwei."

Yao Xinzi smiled faintly. "That would be best. Having you around truly is like having two or three additional Heavenly Immortals, Elder Pi."

Wang Sheng smiled bitterly and shook his head, then departed with his senior sister toward the rear palace.

When he met up with Lishang, Lishang couldn't help but ask, "Elder Pi, which sect do you think is plotting this?"

"I can't tell yet. We still have to see how things develop," Wang Sheng replied as he looked at Lan Huilin, who was covered with a thin blanket on the bed.

The bloodstains on her had already been washed away, but her face remained deathly pale, and she looked as though she were in immeasurable pain.

"Her Primordial Spirit was injured, and her Dao Body was heavily damaged. Considering she just got dragged back from the brink of death, she's naturally still in pain." Lishang then snorted. "We haven't even been at peace for that long yet. If the Celestial Wind Sect truly refuses to change its ways, then we could take this chance to join forces with the Fengli Sect and wipe them out in one strike!"

Wang Sheng said, "It would be nice if things were really that simple. However, I fear this is all part of the Fengli Sect's plot to force us into the frontlines and clash head-on with the Celestial Wind Sect. We'll learn roughly what happened once Immortal Maiden Caiwei wakes. Anyway, let's focus on the recruitment campaign first. The sect master is waiting for you up ahead."

Lishang nodded lightly. "Mm."

Her eyes were filled with killing intent just moments ago, yet now she appeared rather compliant.

After Lishang left, the three-cun-tall Yaoyun flew out from Wang Sheng's sleeve and lightly tapped Lan Huilin's forehead. Lan Huilin let out a pained groan, tilted her head, and fell into deep unconsciousness.

"She should wake up in about two hours," Yaoyun said calmly. She then flew onto Mu Wanxuan's shoulder, folded her arms, and looked at Wang Sheng. "You suspect the Fengli Sect is using a self-inflicted injury as part of its scheme?"

"Yeah." Wang Sheng slowly exhaled and stood up.

He paced back and forth by the bed, then walked to the side to pour himself a cup of tea.

Mu Wanxuan typed a line on her phone.

Isn't she a disciple of the Fengli Sect's sect master?

"She doesn't seem particularly favored," Yaoyun explained.

When Lan Huilin met Wang Sheng in the blood mine, she revealed that she had been sent to carry out what seemed like a suicide mission.

"The Fengli Sect didn't even deploy a single celestial soldier to pretend to attack the blood mine. Lan Huilin had simply been sent to her death.

Mu Wanxuan typed angrily.

How could her master be so ruthless that he would push his own disciple into a fire pit?!

"That's why I've always had a poor impression of the Fengli Sect," Wang Sheng said. "It's too scheming, and it relies on countless traps and tricks. If the Celestial Wind Sect acts openly with bullying dominance, then the Fengli Sect is a venomous snake waiting in the shadows for the right time to strike. Neither is benevolent."

Yaoyun chuckled. "Well, if we're talking about hiding in the shadows, then we're actually far worse than them."

Wang Sheng shrugged. "Don't say it like that. You make us sound like villains."

Mu Wanxuan frowned slightly, unable to understand what the two meant.

***

Two hours later, Lan Huilin repeatedly moaned softly. She had grown even paler, but she could at least open her eyes now.

Yaoyun immediately returned to Spiritless. Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan quickly moved closer.

"Pi—"

Wang Sheng gently interjected, "Don't rush to speak. Your injuries are too severe right now."

Mu Wanxuan took out a cup of spiritual spring elixir and carefully tilted it toward Lan Huilin's lips, helping her drink it. Not long after, a bit of color returned to Lan Huilin's face, and her injuries healed a little more.

The spiritual spring water, which Qing Yanzi and the other Daoist elders simply used as water for their tea, was actually a rather precious healing treasure.

"Thank you," Lan Huilin said softly as she forced herself to sit up. "Elder Pi, please help save my fellow sect members!"

Wang Sheng helplessly replied, "What exactly happened? If you don't give me a clear explanation, how can I dare agree to help?"

Though Lan Huilin was still extremely weakened, she endured the pain and quickly recounted how their group had been ambushed.

She first started with the purpose of their visit to Fengmo: trading for Wang Sheng's swords, expressing their goodwill, and discussing the possibility of ambushing Long Aotian with him. Apparently, their interaction with him ended up destroying them so thoroughly that they began questioning their own lives instead.

The four didn't immediately leave Fengmo since they feared that failing to accomplish such a simple task would lead to punishment from their master upon returning. Moreover, they wanted to think of other ways to persuade Wang Sheng. Hence, they stayed in a city near Xinghai City.

Since they were already here, they also started packing up the many hidden arrangements that the Fengli Sect had set up on Fengmo. They planned to take them all back now that the planet was no longer worth fighting over.

However, as they secretly left Fengmo half a day earlier, a large group of black-clad figures suddenly surrounded them. A Heavenly Immortal led the attack, instantly crushing the Fengli Sect group's chance at victory.

Since the others had long ostracized Lan Huilin, she had to fight alone throughout the entire battle. The Heavenly Immortal eventually targeted her, sending her flying out of the battlefield with a single palm strike. Unexpectedly, though the attack put her at death's door, she managed to survive long enough to rush straight to Fengmo. In her helplessness and despair, she thought of Wang Sheng.

"I usually don't get along with those three, but we're still fellow disciples. I can't just abandon them! Elder Pi, please consider the bond we forged through hardship and save them for me!"

Lan Huilin's eyes were filled with unease, but also sincerity. She didn't seem to be lying.

Wang Sheng smiled bitterly. "If I can help, I naturally will. You have already been unconscious for nearly half a day, though. How could your martial sisters possibly last this long? Moreover, the Xinghai Sect's sect master has already sent people to investigate in the direction you came from, and news should arrive soon. For now, don't let yourself get overly agitated. Surviving such an ambush already counts as good fortune. Where were you attacked?"

Frowning deeply, Lan Huilin softly replied, "Just a bit of distance from Fengmo. They hit us almost as soon as we left."

"How many people were on their side? From which direction did they come?"

"Nearly a hundred people. They surrounded us from all directions."

"So you walked straight into an encirclement formation?"

Lan Huilin smiled bitterly and nodded lightly. "Mm. I don't know how our location was leaked. We often travel outside, but we never make plans in advance or leave traces, precisely to avoid letting the Celestial Wind Sect learn our movements. Even so, we still fell into a trap."

"How can you be so sure that the Celestial Wind Sect did this?"

At that moment, a disciple ran over and shouted from outside the door, "Elder Pi! The sect master would like to have a word with you at the main palace! The elders who went out to investigate found twenty-eight corpses in the direction that Immortal Maiden Caiwei had come from!"

Lan Huilin trembled and swayed, seemingly about to collapse.

Mu Wanxuan frowned slightly and gently pressed down on Lan Huilin's shoulder.