After My Death, the Immortal Venerable Became a Demon for My Sake - Chapter 15

At the same time, by the city gates, Song Wangxiao and Tan Yiqing were still discussing the matter at hand.

Hearing Tan Yiqing’s request, Song Wangxiao felt that the situation was becoming increasingly strange. This person’s approach was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

“Young City Lord Tan, why would you come to me regarding your marriage prospects?” She spoke carefully, hiding her suspicion behind a simple inquiry.

Tan Yiqing seemed to realize her request was a bit abrupt and sighed. “Fellow Daoist, you may not know, but although I am the Young City Lord of Guanqi City, my mother has always kept me under a very tight rein. In all these years, I have never truly been far from the city. The friction between the Immortals and Demons is increasing daily, and Guanqi City is the largest immortal city closest to the demon realm. Once the war begins, we cannot escape it.”

Having revealed so much classified information, the rest of her explanation came more easily. “Therefore, my mother believes that many sects will send powerful masters to this assembly. If I were to form a marriage bond with one of them, Guanqi City might find a slim chance of survival in these troubled times. But I am unwilling. Though I was not present at today’s assembly, I have heard that the sects are all harbor their own hidden agendas. Even if a bond were formed, I fear Guanqi City would merely become a pawn for others.”

“That is why I have resorted to this plan. I hope you can help me by pretending to be a close friend I am fond of. It will make my mother believe I have already found someone, which should hold her off for a while,” she explained helplessly.

“Young City Lord Tan is quite trusting, telling me all this in such a place. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to the City Lord?” Song Wangxiao relaxed her posture, looking at her with a faint smile, the previous guard in her eyes fading slightly.

Tan Yiqing froze for a moment before regaining her composure. “I feel that you are not the type of person to commit such a petty act.”

Song Wangxiao: “…No, you guessed wrong. I am.”

Tan Yiqing: “…”

Song Wangxiao kept a close watch on the city gates for any approaching Xiyi Sect disciples. Seeing the sky darkening and figuring Yin Xiao should be arriving outside the city soon, she didn’t want to waste any more time. “My apologies, Young City Lord, but I have no desire to stay in a place of such conflict. Farewell.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait! Don’t you want to hear the terms I’m offering?” Tan Yiqing didn’t want to let her go. Her voice rose slightly, drawing the attention of a few people near the gate.

Song Wangxiao: “…” Fearing that Tan Yiqing’s shouting would attract the Xiyi Sect, she turned back, a trace of ferocity in her eyes.

“Young City Lord Tan, you had better offer me a reason worth staying for.” She stood beneath a tree, the shadows masking her expression.

Tan Yiqing regretted her outburst immediately but spoke quickly to salvage the situation. “If you agree, I will arrange for you to stay at my manor. I may not have much power, but I have prestige. Disciples of other sects do not dare to enter my estate uninvited, and even high-level cultivators must have my permission to enter or leave the manor in Guanqi City.”

She had surmised that Song Wangxiao had encountered enemies in the city and her first priority would be a safe haven. The most secure places in Guanqi City were the City Lord’s manor and the Young City Lord’s estate.

As expected, Song Wangxiao’s expression softened. She looked at the woman before her, genuinely interested in the offer.

She didn’t know where she would go if she left the city, nor how far the Xiyi Sect would pursue her. Furthermore, Yin Xiao, who was currently at the assembly, might have already reconnected with her own sect. If that happened, would Yin Xiao still leave with her?

Song Wangxiao was afraid to even contemplate the possibility of Yin Xiao leaving, so she truly considered Tan Yiqing’s proposal.

If this woman could truly keep the Xiyi Sect away from her, then why not stay in Guanqi City? That way, she could stay with Yin Xiao.

She didn’t want to force Yin Xiao to choose, so she made a selfish decision.

“So, you can ensure I don’t run into my enemies? Aren’t you afraid of offending those people yourself?” Even though she had decided to agree, she still needed an explanation.

“Please rest easy. Guanqi City is a governed city; they understand who is in charge here.”

Song Wangxiao stared at her intently. “Why me? There are so many powerful sect disciples here. Why choose a common cultivator like me?”

Tan Yiqing looked at her, seemingly thinking of how to sound convincing.

“Yesterday, while avoiding my mother at the city gates, I saw you and your companion arrive. The other sects all come in large groups. I cannot interact with them much without fueling rumors that Guanqi City is seeking an alliance with a specific sect. That is why I chose you two.”

Song Wangxiao smiled. This pragmatic reasoning was much more believable, and her face relaxed completely.

Seeing her change of heart, Tan Yiqing stepped forward to take her arm and press her request.

However, in the next instant, her back went cold and she broke out in a cold sweat. For several seconds, she found she couldn’t even breathe. She froze and turned around. Not far away, a slender woman in white was standing by the city gate, watching them.

Song Wangxiao followed her gaze and saw Jiang Cishuang. The coldness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a bright sparkle and a wide smile. She waved at her, then, realizing the distance was too great, she ran toward her.

“Yin Xiao! You found me! Didn’t I say to meet at the airship outside the city?” She stopped in front of Jiang Cishuang, wanting to hug her but hesitating at the boldness of the gesture, settling for grabbing onto the woman’s sleeve.

Jiang Cishuang stared at her. The young girl’s smiling face was reflected in her eyes, but that faint light was swallowed by the darkness deep within her gaze, leaving no room for the light of day.

“The airship? I didn’t know.”

Song Wangxiao’s smile faltered. “You didn’t find the note I left in the clothes in the wardrobe?”

Seeing Jiang Cishuang’s continued confusion, Song Wangxiao’s joy turned into shock. Looking at the dark sky, she realized that Jiang Cishuang must have returned to the inn, found her gone, and immediately set out to find her without a moment’s delay.

A mixture of sweetness and ache filled Song Wangxiao’s heart.

“Then how did you find me?”

Jiang Cishuang gave a faint smile. “I wanted to find you, so I did.” Her voice was soft, but there was an absolute certainty in her tone. She then looked over at the approaching Tan Yiqing, her eyes void of emotion.

Seeing how close the two were, Tan Yiqing understood the situation. She clasped her hands. “I am Tan Yiqing, the Young City Lord of Guanqi City. I wish to befriend you both.”

Jiang Cishuang looked at her coldly. “There is no need.”

Song Wangxiao tugged on her sleeve and whispered in her ear: “She can provide us a place to stay so we don’t have to keep running. I think we should accept.”

Tan Yiqing added from the side: “It would simply be as my guests at my manor.”

Only then did Jiang Cishuang truly scrutinize the woman before her. She turned back to Song Wangxiao, the dark gloom in her eyes receding as she smiled normally. “If we do not have to hide, then it is for the best.”

As she spoke, the grass behind her suddenly frosted over, a cold mist rising in the night that others could not see.

Song Wangxiao met her gaze and nodded slowly. Looking at the dark sky, she reflexively pulled her own clothes tighter, then reached out to adjust Jiang Cishuang’s robes as well.

Tan Yiqing was delighted that they had accepted.

“That is wonderful. It is late and the chill is setting in; we shouldn’t let you catch a cold. The gates are about to close, please follow me to the manor.”

Song Wangxiao turned to follow Tan Yiqing back into the city. As she passed a patch of grass, she noticed it felt significantly colder than the surrounding area. She frowned and glanced back at the misty landscape outside before hurrying after the others into the city.

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