Chapter 661
Qingming lives in a cave, where spiritual energy is like fog.
Fu Shaoping stared at the longan-sized green pill in his palm. The patterns on the pill were like dragons and snakes, emitting a frightening spiritual power fluctuation. This was the "Qingming Xuandan" that he had obtained after surviving a near-death experience in an ancient cultivator's cave. It was originally a treasure prepared for his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.
"Nangong, take it." He handed the pill to Nangong Wan, who was leaning on the jade couch, and his voice left no room for doubt.
Nangong Wan's pale face showed a trace of struggle: "This is you"
"I have my own plan." Fu Shaoping interrupted her, tapped her forehead with his fingertips, and injected a gentle spiritual power, "The evil spirit has invaded her heart. If you don't treat it, it may damage your foundation."
Nangong Wan knew that he couldn't beat him, so he could only sigh and take the pill and swallow it. The pill melted in his mouth, and a cool feeling instantly flowed through his limbs and bones, and the five black marks on his back faded at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Seeing this, Fu Shaoping took out a small ice jade bottle from his storage bag and poured out a crystal clear pill: "This is the 'Ice Soul Condensation Crystal', which is compatible with your practice. If you take it with the Qingming Xuandan, the effect will be better."
Nangong Wan's eyes flashed with surprise: "When did you..."
"I changed it when I went to the North last time." Fu Shaoping raised his lips slightly, "I haven't found the right time to give it to you."
The two top-level elixirs took effect at the same time, and a blue and white halo appeared around Nangong Wan, like a mist or an illusion. Fu Shaoping did not dare to neglect it, and immediately sat cross-legged behind her, with his palms on her back, and used the Qingming Jue to help her guide the medicinal power.
Three days later, the evil spirit in Nangong Wan's body was completely eliminated, and her cultivation level did not decline but improved, and she even faintly touched the threshold of the Golden Elixir Great Perfection. When she opened her eyes, she found that Fu Shaoping's face was pale, and beads of sweat were oozing from his forehead - he had been protecting her without sleep for three days, and his consumption was huge.
"It's your turn." Nangong Wan held Fu Shaoping's wrist without saying anything, and checked his internal condition. His brows knitted tightly, "Your spiritual power is so exhausted, and you are still trying to be strong?"
Fu Shaoping chuckled: "It's okay, just take a few days to adjust your breathing."
Nangong Wan ignored him and took out a cold jade box from his storage bracelet. After opening it, twelve ice needles were neatly arranged inside: "The secret 'Ice Soul Needle' of the Snow Soul Sect can help you quickly recover your spiritual power."
Fu Shaoping knew it was useless to refuse, so he accepted it calmly. Nangong Wan skillfully inserted the ice needles into the acupuncture points all over his body. Every time the needle fell, a stream of cool spiritual power was injected into his meridians, like a long drought meeting a sweet rain.
After another four days, Fu Shaoping not only fully recovered, but also improved a lot. The two sat opposite each other, with the meteorite compass and the black jade token suspended in the middle, and a fragmentary map looming in the interweaving of light and shadow.
"Xuanyin Pavilion will not give up." Nangong Wan stroked the edge of the compass with his fingertips. "We got the Falling Star Compass, they will definitely do their best to track it down."
Fu Shaoping nodded: "The black cloak at the auction was just a pawn, the real master is probably on the way."
"It's better to stay away from the limelight for a while." A trace of thought flashed in Nangong Wan's eyes, "I have a secret place, in Qingxi Town, where the secular world and the cultivation world meet. The spiritual energy there is thin, and cultivators rarely come. It's a good place to rest."
Fu Shaoping hesitated for a moment and said, "Alright. Take this opportunity to digest the power of the elixir. When you and I both reach the great perfection of the golden elixir, we can plan for the next step."
The decision was made, and the two immediately began to prepare. Fu Shaoping put the important items in the cave into the storage bag, leaving only a few confusing prohibitions; Nangong Wan took out two sets of secular clothes that had been prepared long ago, as well as the talisman that changed the aura.
At midnight seven days later, two figures quietly left Qingming Residence and rushed to the southeast. They deliberately restrained their auras, avoided areas where cultivators gathered, and walked along wild paths in the mountains.
Three days later, a small town nestled in the mountains and beside the river appeared in sight. The town was not big, with about a thousand households. There were a few old locust trees dotted among the blue bricks and black tiles. A clear stream ran through the town, hence the name "Qingxi Town".
"It's here." Nangong Wan pointed to a secluded courtyard in the east of the town. "That's the house I bought when I was traveling in my early years. Even no one in the Xuepo Sect knows about it."
The house is not big, but the layout is exquisite. There are several plum trees planted in the front yard, and there is a pond in the back yard. There is a small pavilion beside the pond, which is simple but elegant. Most importantly, there is a hidden formation in the yard, so from the outside it looks like an ordinary house.
After settling down, the two began to adapt to secular life. Fu Shaoping changed his name to "Fu Qing" and walked around the town as a traveling doctor; Nangong Wan changed her name to "Ruan Nan", claiming to be Fu Doctor's cousin, good at playing the zither, and occasionally taught children music in the town school.
A month passed in a blink of an eye, and the two gradually integrated into the life of the town. Fu Shaoping's medical skills were superb, and he cured many difficult and complicated diseases, and soon won the respect of the townspeople; Nangong Wan's zither skills were even more amazing, and wealthy families from neighboring towns often came to her and paid her a lot of money to teach their children.
At dusk that day, Fu Shaoping had just returned from collecting herbs outside the town when he saw Nangong Wan playing the zither in the pavilion. The sound of the zither was clear, but it contained a hint of solemnity - this was the code they agreed on, indicating that something unusual was happening.
"The blacksmith Li's daughter didn't come to the school today." Nangong Wan plucked the strings of the zither with his fingertips, and only Fu Shaoping could hear the sound. "It's the third day. Five girls have disappeared in the town recently, all between the ages of fourteen and sixteen."
Fu Shaoping frowned slightly: "Is there any movement from the government?"
"The county government sent detectives, but they couldn't find any clues." Nangong Wan's piano tone changed and became softer. "I secretly investigated the aura of the missing girl's home, and there was a trace of cold spiritual power left, which was very similar to the Xuanyin Pavilion's skills."
Fu Shaoping's eyes flashed coldly: "They actually chased here?"
“Not like that.” Nangong Wan shook his head. “The technique was crude. It’s more like the work of an outer disciple of Xuanyin Pavilion, using the girl’s vital yin to practice evil skills.”
Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment: "We should not reveal our identities, but we can't just sit back and do nothing."
Nangong Wan paused: "I have a plan."
The next morning, a distinguished musician came to the town, calling himself "Mr. Ruan," and offered to play for free in the town's central square for three days to comfort the townspeople who were worried about the girl's disappearance. The news caused a sensation throughout the town.
On the first day, Nangong Wan, wearing a plain white gown and with her hair tied high, sat in the middle of the square and played the zither. The sound of the zither sometimes sounded like the gurgling of a spring, and sometimes like the sound of pine waves, which made the townspeople intoxicated. Fu Shaoping mixed in the crowd, secretly observing the reactions of every listener.
Sure enough, he found a middle-aged man in a brocade robe at the edge of the crowd. The jade pendant on his waist was engraved with subtle Yin patterns - the mark of the outer disciples of Xuanyin Pavilion. The man stared at Nangong Wan with a burning gaze, and a trace of greed flashed in his eyes.
After the performance, the man couldn't wait to come forward and say, "Mr. Ruan is an extraordinary musician. I am Zhou Shirong, a local squire. I wonder if you would honor me by visiting my humble home. My daughter loves music, but has no famous teacher to teach her."
Nangong Wan pretended to hesitate: "This..."
Fu Shaoping appeared at the right time and said, "Cousin, this master is so kind, you might as well accept his invitation." He turned to Zhou Shirong and bowed, "My name is Fu Qing, and I am a traveling doctor. If Master Zhou doesn't mind, could you allow me to come with you? I've been tired from collecting herbs recently, so it's a good time to take a break."
Zhou Shirong's eyes flashed with displeasure, but he quickly concealed it: "Of course you are welcome." The Zhou Mansion is located in the west of the town. It is a three-courtyard house with red doors and high walls, and it is extraordinary. After entering the main hall, Zhou Shirong asked the servants to prepare tea, and he left for a while on the pretext of something. Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan exchanged glances, and each understood the other.
After three rounds of tea, Zhou Shirong returned with a pretty girl: "This is my little girl Yu'er, who has loved music since she was young."
Nangong Wan looked at the "Miss Zhou" and found that her eyes were dull and her behavior was stiff, which showed that her mind was controlled. What was even more suspicious was that her aura was exactly the same as Zhou Shirong's, and they were definitely not father and daughter.
"What song does Miss Zhou want to learn?" Nangong Wan asked in a gentle voice, while lightly plucking the strings of the zither with his fingertips, and an invisible sound wave spread out.
"Miss Zhou" shuddered all over, a trace of clarity returned to her eyes, and her lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but Zhou Shirong held her shoulders and she immediately became numb again.
Upon seeing this, Fu Shaoping deliberately knocked over the teacup: "Oops, how rude!" The tea splashed on Zhou Shirong's robe. While he was wiping it hurriedly, Fu Shaoping flicked his fingertips and a colorless and odorless powder fell into Zhou Shirong's sleeve.
After leaving Zhou's house, the two met in a grove outside the town.
"That 'Miss Zhou' is fake." Nangong Wan said with certainty, "There is evil energy in her body. She must be a puppet controlled by Zhou Shirong with evil magic."
Fu Shaoping nodded: "I put 'Qianlixiang' in his tea, and I can track his whereabouts tonight."
As night fell, a secret door quietly opened in the backyard of Zhou's mansion. Zhou Shirong changed into a black suit, hung a black cloth bag around his waist, and walked stealthily towards the forest outside the town. He didn't know that two figures were following him closely.
There was a hidden stone house deep in the forest, with two burly men guarding the door. Zhou Shirong showed his badge and entered. Not long after, he heard the sobbing of a girl from inside the house.
Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan hid in the treetops and had a panoramic view of everything. There were five or six girls locked up in the stone house, the ones who had disappeared in the town. They were chained and looked pale, obviously having lost a lot of their essence.
"He is indeed an outer disciple of Xuanyin Pavilion." Nangong Wan transmitted the message, "But judging from the method, he must have acted on his own, not under the instruction of the top leaders of Xuanyin Pavilion."
Fu Shaoping's eyes flashed coldly: "That's perfect, no need to worry."
At midnight, Zhou Shirong left the stone house contentedly, with the cloth bag on his waist bulging with the essence of the yin extracted from the girl. He walked towards the town humming a little tune, unaware that death was approaching.
Halfway through the journey, a clear sound of piano music suddenly sounded. Zhou Shirong froze, and was horrified to find that his body was out of control. Then, a green sword light flashed, and the cloth bag on his waist was neatly cut open, and the essence of his yin disappeared like smoke.
"Who?!" Zhou Shirong shouted, but found that he could not make a sound.
Under the moonlight, two figures slowly walked out. They were the "Doctor Fu" and "Mr. Ruan" from the daytime, but at this moment their temperaments changed drastically, one with a sword-like aura, and the other with a bone-chilling coldness.
"Xuan Yin Pavilion's outer sect disciple Zhou Shirong," Fu Shaoping said in a cold voice, "privately kidnapping secular girls to practice evil skills, what crime should he be punished for?"
Zhou Shirong's face turned pale, and he finally realized who he had offended. He wanted to beg for mercy and use the name of Xuanyin Pavilion to scare the other party, but he couldn't say a word.
Nangong Wan's jade fingers gently plucked the strings of the zither, and a ray of sound waves penetrated into Zhou Shirong's ears: "Where are those girls?"
Zhou Shirong answered uncontrollably: "Shishiwu"
"Are there any other accomplices?"
"Guards two by two"
Fu Shaoping pointed his sword at Zhou Shirong, who immediately collapsed to the ground like mud, with all his cultivation gone. Nangong Wan took out a jade bottle, poured out some powder and sprinkled it on him: "This medicine will make you forget what happened tonight. When you wake up tomorrow, you will only remember being attacked by bandits."
After dealing with Zhou Shirong, the two quickly returned to the stone house, easily dealt with the two guards, and rescued the imprisoned girls. Fu Shaoping used his spiritual power to heal their bodies, while Nangong Wan used the sound of the piano to calm their frightened emotions.
Before dawn, all the girls were safely sent home. They only remembered being kidnapped by bandits and fortunately being rescued by kind people. As for Zhou Shirong, he was found unconscious outside the town the next day. When he woke up, he was crazy and talked nonsense all day, and died suddenly soon after.
Qingxi Town returned to peace, and the missing girl case became a topic of conversation among people, and was gradually forgotten. Only two "ordinary people" in a secluded courtyard in the east of the town knew the truth.
"Although Zhou Shirong is dead, Xuanyin Pavilion will find out sooner or later." Fu Shaoping stood under the plum tree in the yard, playing with a black token found in the stone house.
Nangong Wan stroked the strings of the zither gently: "At least we have bought some time. In another month or so, you and I will be able to completely digest the power of the elixir. By then, even if the Jindan cultivator from Xuanyin Pavilion comes in person, we will be able to fight."
Fu Shaoping nodded and looked towards the green hills in the distance: "This period of seclusion reminds me of my life in the secular world when I was a teenager."
Nangong Wan's piano music changed and became more lively: "Why not stay a little longer?"
"That's exactly what I meant." Fu Shaoping smiled and reached out to catch a falling plum blossom. "The road to cultivation is long. If you stop occasionally, you may be able to see further."
Plum blossoms fell, and the sound of the zither rose. In this small town far away from the disputes in the cultivation world, two great Jindan monks lived the lives of ordinary people, waiting for the next moment of great opportunity.
When the third snow fell in Qingxi Town, Fu Shaoping stood under the eaves of Huichun Hall, watching the children walking out of the school across the street. They were wearing thick cotton jackets and lined up like a group of ducklings, led by Nangong Wan, known as "Mr. Ruan" by the townspeople.
Three years.
Fu Shaoping touched the short beard he had deliberately grown on his chin, which made him look more like a doctor in his early thirties. Over the past three years, he has completely integrated into the identity of "Mr. Fu", and even he himself sometimes feels confused - is Fu Shaoping real, or is Mr. Fu his true self?
"Mr. Fu!" A childish voice interrupted his thoughts. Xiaodouzi, the son of the widow Li in the town, was looking up at him, "My mother asked me to get the medicine."
Fu Shaoping bent down and rubbed the boy's head. "It's already wrapped." He took out an oil paper bag from under the counter. "Take one dose each morning and evening with warm water."
The boy nodded solemnly, took out a few copper coins from his pocket and put them on the counter. He hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Fu, my mother said that you can cure my father's cough. Is that true?" (End of this chapter)