The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 23

Phoenix City is located in the northernmost territory. It is the human realm city closest to the Demon Realm, yet it possesses high-grade spiritual mines. Consequently, there is no shortage of immortal sects wishing to be stationed here.

However, because so many sects coveted the spiritual mines, the previous City Lord dared not offend any of them. While the various sects were deadlocked in dispute, the previous City Lord could only helplessly seek aid from the Patriarch of the Cangqing Sect at the time.

With the Cangqing Patriarch mediating, a proposal was made to rotate the presiding immortal sect every year. Under the pressure of the Patriarch’s prestige, the matter finally settled down.

Now, over a thousand years have passed. The City Lord has changed countless times, and the immortal sects have rotated through many cycles. Things should have remained peaceful, but in recent days, reports of children being murdered have surfaced frequently. Despite multiple sects dispatching disciples to investigate, none have been able to find the root cause.

Since the onset of these strange occurrences, the city’s inhabitants have lived in a state of constant terror. Even during the day, very few people venture out, leaving the streets and alleys looking particularly desolate.

The doors and windows of a pharmacy were tightly shut, yet the sound of cautious, hushed conversation drifted from within, as if the occupants were terrified of something.

Soon, the pharmacy door opened, but only by a crack wide enough for a single person to pass through, as if opening it any wider might cost them their lives.

Two people emerged from the gap in quick succession. As soon as the second person’s foot stepped out, the shop door slammed shut instantly, faster than one could react.

The pharmacy’s blatant attempt to drive away customers did not provoke any anger from the pair instead, their panicked expressions were tinged with gratitude.

They were an elderly couple, looking haggard with fear in their eyes. After hurriedly thanking the people inside the pharmacy, they prepared to rush back.

In their haste, one of them stumbled and fell down the short flight of stairs.

Seeing this, the old woman hurried to help him up. She spoke with extreme speed, her urgency laced with a slight tremble.

“Old man, we can’t delay. Our grandchild is waiting for this medicine to save their life.”

The old man grimaced in pain but immediately brushed the dirt off his clothes and spoke urgently.

“Quick, we’re going back now. My heart feels uneasy leaving the house unattended.”

At his words, the old woman grew even more flustered. In her frantic state, she failed to watch her step and tripped again. The several packets of medicine she was holding scattered across the ground.

They scrambled to pick up the medicine, but at that moment, they caught a glimpse of a figure walking toward them down the lonely street.

With few pedestrians and the shops closed, the entire city was shrouded in desolation, making it clear that the newcomer was indeed approaching them.

The newcomer was tall. The veil of her hat fluttered in the wind, making the features beneath it appear indistinct, yet one could still discern a cold, transcendent beauty. Her pale green robes accentuated her extraordinary temperament, and the aura of pressure surrounding her made people look away.

She leaned down, reached out to pick up the scattered medicine packets, and handed them to the two who were struggling to stand.

“Thank you, thank you,” the old woman said gratefully.

The two accepted the medicine with some trepidation. Even though they could tell her status was likely extraordinary, they couldn’t help but steal a few glances at her.

Chi Li reached up to adjust her veiled hat, completely concealing her face behind the light gauze. This lent her an air of mystery that was, strangely, exceptionally comforting.

Her gaze swept across the deserted street. Although she already knew why it was so empty, she caught sight of a figure that had been following her since she entered the city. She intentionally spoke to the couple.

“Pardon me, has something happened in the city?”

Hearing her question, the two looked at each other for a moment. It wasn’t until they noticed the jade talisman belonging to an immortal sect hanging from her waist that they seemed to realize something. The old woman spoke up quickly.

“Immortal Master, you may not know, but the city has been haunted lately. Many children have gone missing.”

As she spoke, the old man also took on a look of distress, sighing.

“I don’t know what damned ghost it is that specifically targets children. It’s truly a sin.”

Chi Li frowned thoughtfully. Catching another glimpse of the figure lurking in the darkness nearby, she spoke again.

“I have come specifically to investigate this matter.”

Hearing this, the two remained worried and said:

“Immortal Master, you might not know, but several waves of people from immortal sects have come before, yet none could find the source.”

Chi Li said nothing more, but handed them a talisman inscribed with intricate patterns, saying:

“Take this. It has the power to ward off evil.”

Upon hearing this, the two were overjoyed. They took it and thanked her repeatedly.

Still keeping an eye on that shadow in her periphery, Chi Li asked the two once more:

“Which way is the City Lord’s Manor?”

The moment she asked this, a flash of malice flickered from the figure hidden in the shadows, as if it resented her for being about to ruin some plan. It quickly vanished into the unknown.

Chi Li had naturally sensed its departure. A hidden glint flashed in her eyes beneath the gauze, and she deliberately restrained her aura.

The two people, now holding Chi Li’s talisman, became much more helpful. Since every previous immortal sect visitor had sought out the City Lord first, they did not doubt her motives and pointed in a direction.

“Go to the end of that road, then turn left and walk for a bit. When you see a large estate, that is the City Lord’s Manor.”

Having achieved her goal, Chi Li nodded and thanked them politely.

“Thank you.”

The two watched Chi Li’s retreating figure until she was far off, only then did they remember their own business and hurriedly support each other as they rushed home.

“This Immortal Master is quite kind, specifically giving us a warding talisman.”

In her previous life, Chi Li had visited Phoenix City. Back then, she came because Mu Zhi was on the verge of forming her Golden Core. However, Mu Zhi had been severely injured after entering a secret realm, and Chi Li feared she wouldn’t be able to survive the lightning tribulation.

When Chi Li had begged Yun Xi for medicine, the latter could only shake her head helplessly, the required pill lacked a single ingredient: a flower bud that bloomed only by sucking human blood.

This was an exceedingly rare item, unfound even in the Demon Realm.

Left with no choice, Chi Li searched everywhere until she heard a rumor from an unknown source that what she needed might be here. Thus, she had come to Phoenix City.

Back then, by the time she found the bud and rushed back, she was already gravely injured. Clinging to consciousness until she reached the Cangqing Sect, she saw Mu Zhi, gave her a few brief instructions, and finally allowed herself to fall into a coma.

She remained unconscious for over ten days. By the time she woke, Mu Zhi’s Golden Core lightning tribulation had long since passed.

However, when Chi Li asked about the whereabouts of the flower bud she had brought back, Mu Zhi stammered, saying that Yun Xi had already refined it into a pill for her.

Chi Li knew Mu Zhi well that expression was a clear sign of a lie. It wasn’t until Chi Li’s face turned cold that Mu Zhi finally admitted the flower bud had been refined into a Marrow Cleansing Pill and given to Mo Fan.

As for Mu Zhi, because she was already injured and facing the life or death Golden Core tribulation, she had nearly lost her life.

Knowing the truth, Chi Li was naturally furious and intended to demand an explanation immediately. But Mu Zhi held her back, informing her that this was an order from Immortal Venerable Yi Lin. The reason was simply that Mo Fan’s spiritual roots were too poor and he required a Marrow Cleansing Pill and that flower bud was the final missing catalyst for it.

Now, Chi Li had arrived in Phoenix City ahead of schedule. She had only told Mu Zhi of her departure, but Mu Zhi had no idea what the true purpose of her trip was.

Snapping back from her thoughts, Chi Li raised her eyes. Her cold gaze swept over the objects coiled around the plaque of the City Lord’s Manor. She followed the trail of the growth, scrutinizing the vermilion pillars on both sides that were completely engulfed; one could only catch glimpses of the red paint through the gaps in the vines.

These encircling vines made the entire Manor look desolate and bleak. Even the two guards on watch were dozing off.

Seeing a figure standing before the manor, the guards frowned, intending to drive her away. However, they were met with a cold glare that sent an unexplainable chill through them. Exchanging looks, they lost the courage to shoo her and instead sent one man inside to report.

Chi Li was in no hurry. She simply stood there quietly, yet she already exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.

After a moment, the guard returned, followed by a man dressed as a housekeeper.

The moment Chi Li saw him, her expression turned indifferent. Even her polite facade vanished, replaced by a heart-shaking chill.

Steward Zhang looked Chi Li up and down. Based on her attire, he was fairly certain she was from an immortal sect, but he couldn’t see a sect jade talisman on her person, making it impossible to confirm her affiliation.

Chi Li noticed his searching gaze lingering on her waist where she usually hung her talisman and a dark glint flickered deep in her eyes.

The jade talisman she had shown the elderly couple earlier was not from the Cangqing Sect. Now, she had deliberately removed it so that even the person tailing her, or this steward, would be unable to immediately discern her true sect.

Seeing the steward hesitate, Chi Li’s brow furrowed in displeasure. She spoke coldly, her voice laced with a deliberate arrogance and a high and mighty posture.

“What are you standing there for?”

Struck by her tone, Steward Zhang wiped away a cold sweat. For some reason, as if possessed, he instinctively invited her inside.

Watching the man allow her entry without even asking for her identity, a cold smirk played at the corners of Chi Li’s mouth.

According to the plot described in those “writings,” the item here was destined to be taken by her, so her entry was bound to be smooth.

It wasn’t until they were halfway through the courtyard that the steward seemed to snap back to his senses. He hurriedly asked:

“May I ask if the Immortal Master is from the Yueming Sect?”

Chi Li’s eyes flashed with an unreadable light. She produced her jade talisman with a flick of her hand and spoke calmly.

“I am of the Cangqing Sect.”

Chi Li did not reveal that she was the disciple of Immortal Venerable Yi Lin. In the future, if anyone came looking, there were thousands of disciples in the Cangqing Sect, it would be impossible to narrow down who she was.

Upon hearing “Cangqing Sect,” a flash of panic crossed Steward Zhang’s face. Out of a guilty conscience, he didn’t dare ask her name, instead pressing on with a stiff expression.

“May I ask what business brings the Immortal Master of Cangqing Sect to Phoenix City?”

Chi Li’s gaze was piercing as she scanned the surroundings of the manor. She said pensively:

“I heard there are demons and ghosts in the city.”

Steward Zhang’s face changed abruptly. After a moment of thought, he stammered:

“Such a small matter need not trouble an Immortal Master of the Cangqing Sect…”

Before he could finish, Chi Li silenced him with a look of stern disapproval, cutting him off directly.

“Steward Zhang, this is the duty of the immortal sects. Since I am here, I absolutely cannot sit idly by.”

When Chi Li addressed him directly by his surname, Steward Zhang’s expression turned dark for a split second. He became increasingly certain that she had come prepared.

However, realizing his slip, he immediately regained his fawning smile and nodded in agreement.

“Where is the City Lord now?”

Chi Li emphasized the words “City Lord,” as if she already knew something.

The steward frowned but answered nonetheless.

“The City Lord should be in the study right now.”

“Fine, I understand.”

Without another word to the steward, Chi Li walked straight toward the study, moving as if she knew every path in the manor by heart.

Behind her, Steward Zhang watched her back with a sinister gaze. He quickly caught up, testing her:

“Has the Immortal Master been here before?”

“I have. I had the honor of visiting once,” Chi Li replied.

Her eyes grew dark, and the tone of her voice was so ambiguous it sent an involuntary shiver down one’s spine. Then, as if lost in a memory, she sighed with deliberate intent:

“The City Lord’s Manor didn’t look like this back then.”