The Villainous Demon Lord’s Handbook for Success: Rebirth - Chapter 26

“If Master wants new clothes, there is a place in the sect for tailoring. I can go give the order; there is no need for you to do it yourself,” Qiu Yi said, turning to leave, but was called back by Chu Qingqiu.

“The tailoring in the sect is too mediocre; it is not good,” Chu Qingqiu shook her head. “Among the gifts sent by the Heaven’s Pivot Sword Sect two days ago, I remember a bundle of fabric woven from the leaves of Celestial Mountain herbs. Is it still in the palace?”

“Yes, I will go get it right away,” Qiu Yi answered, but then gave a bitter smile. “But Master, I know nothing of tailoring either. Even with the fabric, I would be helpless. It would be better to go down the mountain and find some tailors or seamstresses and pay them to do it.”

Chu Qingqiu was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “There is a manager disciple in the West Court who is often with Ning Fuyi, what was his name again?”

“Rong Jin?” Qiu Yi scratched her head.

“Mm.” Chu Qingqiu smoothed her robes and sat down, her hand touching the dried flowers. “Summon him.”

Qiu Yi said yes and was about to turn away when she was called back again. She spun around helplessly but dared not say anything, continuing to bow.

“That matter in Furong Town—how is your investigation going?” Chu Qingqiu looked up. When speaking of official business, she carried a mysterious majesty that made one afraid to look directly at her.

“Reporting to Master, I found the wreckage of the Flying Eagle Boat in Tongchuan. The internal mechanisms were intact; I found no trace of immortal power or leftover talismans. Looking at the break, it seems it was forced open by a massive power,” Qiu Yi answered.

“Master, do you think that accident was suspicious?” Seeing Chu Qingqiu’s expression remained unchanged, Qiu Yi added cautiously, “But the elders sent to investigate said it was because the boat was old and poorly maintained, combined with the thick miasma of the Ghost’s Eyes and the heavy winds that day.”

“I simply find it strange that an accident only resulted in Ning Fuyi falling,” Chu Qingqiu said, waving her hand. “Fine, you may leave.”

Although Qiu Yi still had doubts, she dared not ask more. She bowed and finally departed.

Ning Fuyi had been delayed for a long time at Jingshan Palace. By the time she ran breathlessly to Xuanliang Court, the afternoon Immortal Lessons had already begun. The court was silent, save for the voices of elders teaching in various halls.

Ning Fuyi sighed, tiptoeing across the porch and passing under the window lattices in a crouch before half-squatting at the doorway.

Today’s subject was formations, and the instructor happened to be the strictest, Elder Pingyao. Ning Fuyi thought I’m doomed as she peeked inside.

The rows of seats were full; no disciple dared to be absent from Elder Pingyao’s class. Only her seat and Li Chaoan’s were empty. Her deskmate, Liu Wenzhu, caught her eye and stared with wide eyes.

“Save me,” Ning Fuyi gestured.

Liu Wenzhu closed her eyes and looked troubledly at Elder Pingyao, who was lecturing with great enthusiasm. She shook her pale face at Ning Fuyi, indicating she was helpless.

Ning Fuyi simply clasped her hands in a pitiful plea. Liu Wenzhu, being soft-hearted, covered her face and suddenly stood up as if going to her death, interrupting Elder Pingyao’s flow: “Elder Pingyao, could you draw that formation again? I forgot to note it down.”

Her ethereal voice drew everyone’s attention. Elder Pingyao’s raised hand paused in mid-air, and she frowned as if about to say something, but because the interrupter was the consistently hardworking and obedient Liu Wenzhu, she ultimately did not scold her.

“Do not let your mind wander again,” Elder Pingyao instructed. She turned back and raised her finger again, drawing the formation diagram in the void.

Taking advantage of her back being turned, Ning Fuyi sprinted into the room and sat down. By the time Elder Pingyao turned around, she was already sitting steadily with her chin propped in her hand.

Elder Pingyao’s gaze seemed to linger on her for a moment; just as Ning Fuyi’s heart jumped into her throat, the elder looked away.

“The Tracking Formation, as the name suggests, can find lost items or missing persons. If used correctly, the search distance can span the Four Seas and Eight Desolations. The study of formations is profound and vast; using people as the formation, stones as the formation, or ink as the formation all produce different effects.”

“Similarly, a seemingly ordinary formation can undergo earth-shattering changes by modifying just one or two shapes. However, as North Court disciples with shallow cultivation, you must never change a formation at will during casting, as it could very likely injure you.”

The formation behind her glowed brightly. Ning Fuyi watched in a daze, then suddenly grabbed a piece of paper from Liu Wenzhu’s desk and traced the formation.

“Truly rare; our Yiyi is actually listening to a lecture,” Liu Wenzhu smiled. She nudged Ning Fuyi’s arm. “I couldn’t find you anywhere after I finished moving the stone lion for Elder Yuanming. Where did you go? What did Elder Yuanming say to you in secret?”

“I went to deliver the Crimson Jade Sect Seal to Chu Qingqiu,” Ning Fuyi answered while tucking the traced formation into her sleeve. “Elder Yuanming said Man’er is special—her true form is a precious celestial herb—and he wants me to look after her when I have time.”

“That girl is truly pitiful. Those of the Spirit Tribe have no parents, and she was captured just after taking form. Having seen so many bloody scenes, it is only right that we look after her,” Liu Wenzhu sighed with pity.

“There’s no need to look after her much. Once she is grown, we’ll just send her back to the Celestial Mountain,” Ning Fuyi said dismissively.

As the distant mountains blurred together and the sun sank in the west, the day’s lessons ended. Disciples began to stretch and yawn. Elder Pingyao suddenly tapped the desk and said seriously, “Wait a moment, everyone. I have one more announcement.”

The hall fell silent. Dozens of eyes fixed on Elder Pingyao.

“The Zhaoyao Grand Assembly is approaching. As you know, there are spots for disciples below the Bright Realm this time. However, as there are many North Court disciples, the elders and the Sect Leader cannot choose candidates privately. Therefore, we have decided to hold a selection tomorrow. Lessons are suspended; all North Court disciples intending to participate should gather at Yunshen Hall at the hour of Chen.”

“You are dismissed,” Elder Pingyao finished and left the court, leaving a clamor of disciples behind.

“An open selection? Although we spar regularly, I’ve never truly fought anyone. I have no confidence at all,” someone behind Ning Fuyi said loudly.

“What do you have to fear at the Awakening Realm? I’m just at the Mortal Realm and have no intention of participating. Tomorrow I can stay in the dormitory and sleep!” another man said as he walked out, drawing agreement from several others.

“I just broke through to the Awakening Realm, and I’m a Wood-element. How could I beat those Fire and Thunder types? Forget it, I’ll just sleep tomorrow too.” The speaker hurried to catch up with the others.

“Yiyi…” Liu Wenzhu leaned in softly, only for Ning Fuyi to lean away.

“Don’t try to persuade me. Even those in the Awakening Realm know they have no chance. I just reached the Mortal Realm; if I face someone powerful, it’ll cost me half my life,” Ning Fuyi shook her head. “Don’t worry, you are close to the Bright Realm and have the most powerful Fire element. The selection won’t be a problem for you.”

Liu Wenzhu looked at her with bright, pleading eyes. “You really don’t want to try? It will be so boring going to Mount Zhaoyang alone without you.”

“Senior Brother Rong Jin will be there; with his cultivation, he’ll definitely be chosen. It won’t be boring,” Ning Fuyi comforted her, then suddenly looked around. “Speaking of Senior Brother Rong Jin, he usually comes to walk with us after class. Everyone is gone, so why is he nowhere to be seen?”

Liu Wenzhu’s attention was diverted as she looked out the window. “Indeed, it is strange. Perhaps he was delayed by something. Let’s head back first.”

“I’ll accompany you for dinner.” Liu Wenzhu affectionately took Ning Fuyi’s arm, and the two headed to the dining hall chatting and laughing.

Ning Fuyi had things on her mind, so after dinner, she excused herself as being tired. Bidding Liu Wenzhu goodbye, she walked alone toward a hidden path. At the end of the path was a wooden hut. It looked quite simple but was kept very clean, surrounded by a fence overgrown with roses—a look entirely different from the rest of the sect.

This place was given to her by Ning Changfeng when he was still alive. At that time, Ning Fuyi was young and saw that the Young Sect Leaders of other sects had their own palaces, while she was still sleeping in a dormitory with other disciples. She was very dissatisfied and clamored for Ning Changfeng to prepare one for her too. At first, he refused, but after she pulled his ears and cried for three days, he couldn’t take it and assigned her this wooden hut used for storing junk.

At first, Ning Fuyi was happy to have her own place, but after finding out it was originally for storing brooms, she grew to despise it and never stepped foot in it again.

It wasn’t until three days ago during a midnight walk that she remembered this place. After cleaning it up, it was a fine place to be alone.

She shook the fallen leaves from her shoulders and entered the hut smelling of greenery. The hut was small but well-equipped, with a courtyard, hall, study, and bedroom. She walked to the study, pushed aside the scattered papers, and placed the formation she had recorded earlier in the center.

Whether cultivating as an immortal or a demon, the most important thing was to have one’s own magical tool. Her tool in her previous life was an Emei piercer that summoned heavenly thunder, rumored to be a relic of an ancient evil spirit and a treasure sought by the entire Demon Realm.

In her past life, she had snatched the Emei piercer from someone else. As soon as she touched it, it rang loudly and recognized her as its master. If she could have this treasure’s blessing in this life, her path of demonic cultivation would be much smoother.

But she had tried looking for it using demonic formations over the past few days and had not sensed that familiar aura. She thought she had hit a bottleneck, but after hearing Elder Pingyao’s lecture on formations today, she suddenly had an adventurous idea.

The reason she couldn’t find the Emei piercer’s aura might be due to insufficient power to search further. If she combined the two formations, could she achieve a different result?

Ning Fuyi pondered the two formations for a long while, then rose to find a larger piece of paper. Holding a brush, she began to draw seriously.

After about half an incense stick of time, a brand-new formation appeared on the paper. She set down the brush, whispered a heart incantation, and as she extended her fingertip, immortal power surged out.

The ink on the paper suddenly turned into dense black mist, and the next moment, it ignited with a brilliant golden light. It slowly floated into the air, expanding to the width of a person. The golden light was dazzling; Ning Fuyi quickly closed her eyes to prevent being blinded.

It seemed as though something was drawing her will. Suddenly, a mountain appeared in her mind’s eye. The mountain floated amidst a sea of clouds. Looking closer, the mountain was filled with pavilions and terraces wreathed in immortal mist, with countless rare birds trailing colorful tail feathers, singing and dancing in the air.

A strange feeling drove her to lean forward slightly, as if something were calling her, making her desperate to step onto that mountain.

Ning Fuyi snapped her eyes open. The brilliance of the formation vanished instantly. She breathed heavily, her mind filled with uncontrollable excitement.

Mount Zhaoyang!

What she had seen in her mind was undoubtedly Mount Zhaoyang!

Ning Fuyi stumbled into a seat, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her phoenix eyes glinting with a dangerous light. Mount Zhaoyang was a land of purity, filled with supreme treasures and guarded by four divine Blue Phoenixes; ordinary people could not climb it. It seemed she absolutely had to go to tomorrow’s selection.

No matter what tricks she had to use, she had to get a spot.

As she was thinking, footsteps sounded outside. Ning Fuyi quickly returned to her usual appearance, calmly tossing the paper with the formation into the waste bucket and using a fire starter to burn it to ashes.

Just as she finished tidying up, there was a knock at the door. Ning Fuyi walked to the hall and opened it.

“Du… Man’er?” She looked at the face outside—like a white flower after rain—and spoke in surprise.

“Greetings, Immortal Sister,” the girl spoke in a soft, delicate voice, holding something in her arms.

Ning Fuyi never expected the girl to seek her out here. She stared at her for a few moments and stepped back. “The sun has set. Why have you come to find me?”

“Coming to disturb Sister without announcing myself is my fault,” the girl spoke with a clever tongue. But her voice was pleasant, she was as beautiful as jade, and her frame was frail; even when laying her intentions bare, it was hard to dislike her.

“Never mind. It’s windy outside; come in.” Ning Fuyi let go of the door and turned back into the room. The girl followed silently, obediently closing the door.

She gave two coughs under the candlelight, her slender willow-like waist swaying. She coughed until her eyes were full of water, making Ning Fuyi feel a hint of pity.

However, at this age, her face was youthful and didn’t look that much like Chu Qingqiu yet. Ning Fuyi inexplicably lost the desire to stare at her. She turned and poured her a cup of cooled tea. “Have some tea, Man’er.”

“Thank you, Sister.” The girl held her bundle with one hand and took the tea with the other, bringing it to her lips. Her lips were crystalline where the tea touched them.

“Only, I am not called Man’er. I was captured shortly after taking form and shipped far away to Furong Town to be sold. I suffered all the way, and no one gave me a name,” the girl said, giving a sorrowful smile.

Ning Fuyi frowned as she watched her, not responding for a long while.

But the girl didn’t seem to mind, continuing on her own: “Sister protected me; you are the first good person I’ve met in the world. Could I ask Sister to bestow a name and surname upon me, so I am no longer a nameless little blade of grass?”

Although Ning Fuyi didn’t like her at all, the girl had died by her hand in her previous life, so she showed a bit more patience. She spoke: “Orchids and crabapples in the mountains, white and peerless. How about Du Baishuang?”

“Du Baishuang.” The girl’s bright eyes curved, looking instantly happy. “I like it. Thank you, Sister.”

As they spoke, neither noticed that someone else was already outside the door. The evening wind whistled, and a tall white figure stood outside, her clothes fluttering like butterfly wings, standing alone.

The little white tiger circled her feet twice, attempting to push the door, but was stopped by Chu Qingqiu’s gaze.

She shook her head, her gaze complicated as she looked through the wooden door into the warm room.

The girl held out the bundle in her hands, shoving it into Ning Fuyi’s hands with a gentle smile. “Sister, I made this for you. Open it and see.”

Ning Fuyi wanted to dodge, but the girl seemed to trip, her body softening toward Ning Fuyi’s embrace. Ning Fuyi was momentarily flustered. She managed to avoid the person but not the bundle. By the time she stood steady, she was holding a stack of fabric as light as air.

“What is this?” Ning Fuyi was puzzled.

“It is a robe I made for Sister, as a thank-you for saving me from my misery,” Du Baishuang lowered her eyes shyly. “I made it using fabric manifested from my own leaves. It is light as a feather, waterproof, fireproof, and tough to destroy.”

“Please do not despise it, Sister. Look, I even embroidered a little blade of grass on the collar…” Du Baishuang leaned in as she spoke, a lock of hair from her forehead inadvertently brushing Ning Fuyi’s nose.

From a distance, their shadows merged into one. Chu Qingqiu immediately averted her eyes, turned around, and placed her hands behind her back.

The little white tiger whined, using its paw to signal her to knock.

“They have a guest; why knock?” Chu Qingqiu spoke coldly. The sky was half-dark, and there was not a single spark of light in her eyes, which were too dim to read her expression.

“Since she has a robe, there is no need for me to interfere further.” Chu Qingqiu looked at the crumpled stack of fabric in her hand. Her teeth grazed her lip as she raised her hand and threw it into the bushes.

The fresh wounds on her hand that hadn’t had time to heal were exposed to the air for an instant before being hidden back in her sleeve.

“Let’s go, Bai Lin,” she whispered, then strode off into the deepening night.

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