Lu Zheng straightened his posture, his eyes flashing, “Probing your true nature?”
Probing someone’s true nature was entirely different from casual observation. It involved deliberately revealing one’s cultivation or even attempting to locate Shen Ying’s true form.
Such behaviour could hardly be considered friendly.
“Exactly,” Shen Ying said with a frown, “The other’s cultivation is not weak, and… it seems to carry a trace of aura similar to mine?”
“Hmm?” Lu Zheng blinked, “Could it also be a spirit of plants or trees?”
“No, the other is human,” Shen Ying shook her head, “Let’s go take a look.”
In other places, Shen Ying might not have control, but Peach Blossom Ridge and Peach Blossom Shrine were her domain, not to be coveted or disturbed by outsiders.
Using illusion techniques to conceal themselves, the two drifted lightly to the entrance of the Peach Blossom Shrine.
The shrine now looked different from when it was first built last year.
Back then, it was just a simple shrine and a stone tablet. Now, there was a courtyard, several side halls, and a large square spanning dozens of zhang in front of the main hall.
The government had not provided further funding; these additions came from the shrine’s own incense offerings and donations from wealthy households in the city.
A steady stream of commoners burned incense and prayed before the shrine, with those who could afford it placing money in the merit box.
The statue of the Peach Blossom Fairy on the main hall’s altar occasionally sent faint strands of peach blossom spiritual energy to those who offered the most incense.
This spiritual energy could uplift the mind, strengthen the body, and ward off illness and calamity.
At that moment, apart from the devout worshippers, one person mingled among the leisurely visitors, thoughtfully gazing at the Peach Blossom Tablet in front of the main hall.
This man wore a sky-blue, cross-collared jacket, appeared to be in his forties, with a square face, straight eyebrows, bright eyes, and a short beard under his chin, resembling a government official.
He studied the Peach Blossom Tablet intently, strands of true qi subtly extending from his hand into it. His cultivation was profound, unnoticed by Qian Bo and An Bo, who were presiding over the worship in the main hall.
“Such pure incense aura,” the man thought, quietly astonished, before glancing toward the main hall.
“Other Peach Blossom Shrines are built by ordinary folk, with temple keepers appointed by the court or supported by wealthy clans. Only here are two ghost entities serving as temple keepers. This must be the origin of the ‘Peach Blossom’ poem and the Peach Blossom Fairy.”
“Who would have thought a single ‘Peach Blossom’ poem could transform a mere land deity so profoundly, aligning with the poem’s essence, with limitless potential and even drawing incense from the Mother Goddess.”
“If…”
The man looked toward the depths of the peach blossom forest, “Could the Peach Blossom Fairy be deep within the forest? What level of cultivation has she reached?”
At that moment, he suddenly sensed something and glanced around.
Everything seemed normal.
Looking again at the Peach Blossom Fairy statue in the main hall, his eyes carried a hint of caution, “Has this woman noticed me? A mere land deity, only absorbing incense for a little over a year, and her cultivation has already advanced so far?”
The man withdrew his gaze from the statue, concealed his aura, and casually left the shrine with the crowd, heading down the mountain.
“He’s cautious.”
“We can’t get too close. Let’s follow.”
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying stood in a corner outside the shrine’s courtyard, hidden by illusions. Seeing the man leave, they quietly took a side path to follow.
The man’s cultivation was not weak, and he blended among countless commoners. To avoid alarming the crowd and without knowing his full capabilities, Lu Zheng and Shen Ying refrained from acting rashly or revealing themselves immediately.
…
The man followed a small path to the main road, but halfway along, a strange feeling lingered in his heart.
“Have I been discovered?”
His eyes flickered, but he gave a dismissive smile, showing no concern on his face, naturally blending with the descending crowd. He travelled dozens of li along the mountain road before entering Tonglin County.
“Mere ghosts, in broad daylight, even if they can sense the peach blossom forest, could they follow me into the county?”
The man entered the Tonglai Inn, inquired about the Peach Blossom Shrine from the innkeeper, checked out in the afternoon, left the city through the west gate, and headed south.
“Hmm?”
Upon turning onto a secluded path, he saw a man and a woman, a striking pair, standing not far ahead, looking at him.
“The Peach Blossom Fairy?” The man paused.
“Who are you, and why are you secretly spying on my Peach Blossom Shrine?” Shen Ying asked calmly.
“Oh?” The man exclaimed, “You can manifest your true form here? The ‘Peach Blossom’ poem has aided you so greatly?”
Though he only questioned without answering, Shen Ying could sense his ill intentions from that single remark.
Since he wouldn’t answer, she would have to subdue him first.
Shen Ying waved her hand, and countless peach blossom phantoms scattered, filling the sky.
Facing the overwhelming peach blossom aura, the man glanced at Lu Zheng beside her, sneered, and a palm-sized peach talisman slid from his sleeve into his hand.
“Peach Blossom Fairy, until we meet again!”
*Bang!*
With a soft sound, the talisman exploded, and a cloud of pink peach blossom miasma instantly spread, enveloping an area of several hundred zhang. The miasma carried traces of toxic vapour, surging toward Lu Zheng and Shen Ying.
“Mere rotten peach miasma, and you dare show it off? Break!”
Shen Ying gave a light shout, her sleeves dancing. Countless peach blossom auras spun and swirled, absorbing the miasma in an instant.
The next moment, they saw the man who had detonated the talisman transform into a wisp of smoke, fleeing rapidly to the southwest.
Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed, “So decisive?”
The man’s cultivation was not weak, yet he fled without hesitation.
However…
“Stay!”
Shen Ying waved her long sleeve, her form drifting lightly as she pursued.
Lu Zheng formed a hand seal, and a sudden mountain wind roared, not only propelling him forward swiftly but also boosting Shen Ying from behind.
Her robes fluttered in the wind, like a fairy gliding on waves. In a fleeting, ethereal moment, she overtook the man, surrounding him tightly with countless peach blossom auras, “Speak! Who are you, and why are you spying on my shrine?”
“What a Peach Blossom Fairy! Fortunate in fate, but unlucky in destiny!”
The man shouted, producing another peach talisman, which he threw to the ground. A peach tree instantly sprouted, growing dozens of zhang in a breath, breaking through the peach blossom auras and standing tall between heaven and earth.
But the man’s figure vanished again.
“He escaped through the tree roots!”
Lu Zheng shouted, diving into the ground with an earth-travel technique to pursue.
However…
*Bang!*
Lu Zheng emerged hundreds of zhang away, holding a broken peach tree root, his expression grim.
“A substitute technique!”
Looking up, Shen Ying had quietly arrived, and the towering peach tree had turned to ash.
