As soon as the Yin-Yang Sect members departed, the Longbrow Real Person grinned and said, “Little rascal, I never thought our trip to Sifang City would yield such a haul.”
“Not only did we obtain the complete Saint’s array pattern, but you also got a token. From now on, we can strut about freely.”
“Hahaha…”
“Do not celebrate too soon,” Ye Qiu said. “The Dragon Bodhisattva is not dead yet. If he denies everything, and the Yin-Yang Sect traces it back to us, we shall face a catastrophe of epic proportions.”
“We should not linger here.”
“With the complete Saint’s array pattern in hand, let us make haste to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect to treat the Hundred Flowers Immortal.”
With that, Ye Qiu prepared to fetch Green, but a knock sounded at the door.
“Young Master Ye!” Green’s voice came from outside.
Ye Qiu opened the door to find Green standing there, her face etched with anxiety.
“Young Master Ye, are you all alright?” Green asked with concern. The earlier commotion had frightened her badly in the adjacent room.
“We are fine,” Ye Qiu said. “Has the Hundred Flowers Immortal awakened?”
Green shook her head. “Not yet.”
“The old codger obtained the complete Saint’s array pattern. Let us hurry to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, lest delays breed complications.” Ye Qiu finished speaking, summoned the Longbrow Real Person, and entered Green’s room.
Ye Qiu lifted the unconscious Hundred Flowers Immortal into his arms and said, “Old codger, activate the array pattern.”
“Right away.” The Longbrow Real Person produced the Saint’s array pattern and infused it with his true qi.
Hum!
The Saint’s array pattern emitted a brilliant white light.
Ye Qiu and Green stepped into it immediately.
“Ready to depart.” The Longbrow Real Person adjusted the teleportation coordinates. After a long while, nothing happened.
“What is the matter?” Ye Qiu asked.
“No idea!” The Longbrow Real Person looked utterly baffled. “I clearly set the coordinates right, yet the Saint’s array pattern is not teleporting.”
Ye Qiu said, “Could the Dragon Bodhisattva’s half have a flaw?”
“Impossible,” the Longbrow Real Person replied. “The Dragon Bodhisattva was pursued for millions of li by Yin-Yang Sect powerhouses and escaped solely thanks to the array pattern. His piece clearly worked fine.”
“Moreover, if there were an issue, the two halves would not have fused.”
“This poor Daoist shall study it further.”
The Longbrow Real Person examined it for quite some time, tweaking the coordinates several times, but they remained rooted in place, unable to teleport.
Frustrated, the Longbrow Real Person cursed loudly, “Damn it all, what in blazes is going on?”
“Your cultivation is insufficient,” a feeble voice suddenly arose from Ye Qiu’s embrace.
Ye Qiu looked down to see the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s eyes open at some point.
“You are awake?” Ye Qiu’s face lit with joy.
“Mm.” The Hundred Flowers Immortal murmured softly. In truth, she had roused a while earlier but, finding herself cradled in Ye Qiu’s arms, felt too embarrassed to stir.
“Immortal, do you mean my cultivation falls short to activate the Saint’s array pattern?” the Longbrow Real Person asked.
“Yes,” the Hundred Flowers Immortal said. “A complete Saint’s array pattern can teleport millions of li at a time, thus requiring formidable cultivation to sustain it.”
“None of us possess sufficient cultivation to employ the complete Saint’s array pattern for teleportation.”
The Longbrow Real Person was stunned. “So, in other words, we cannot use the Saint’s array pattern at all?”
“Not entirely,” the Hundred Flowers Immortal replied. “It can be powered by spirit stones. Ten thousand spirit stones suffice for one use.”
Ten thousand spirit stones!
The Longbrow Real Person drew in a sharp breath and muttered, “Well, it turns out the Saint’s array pattern is nothing but a money pit!”
Ye Qiu frowned as well. His universe pouch held a mere three thousand-odd spirit stones, far from enough.
He had planned to use the Saint’s array pattern to go straight to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, but now that seemed unfeasible.
The Longbrow Real Person seized the Saint’s array pattern and tugged at it fiercely, exerting every ounce of strength, yet it would not separate.
“This is just grand. Now we cannot even use half a pattern. What do we do?”
The Longbrow Real Person looked on the verge of tears.
Ye Qiu pondered briefly and said, “I hold Yin Hua Granny’s personal token. With it, we should face no hindrance using the Yin-Yang Sect’s teleportation arrays. Let us set off at once.”
The Longbrow Real Person’s eyes brightened. “That is a splendid idea. Away we go.”
As they prepared to leave, a “knock knock” sounded at the door.
Ye Qiu signalled the others with a glance to stay silent, then asked, “Who is it?”
“Young Master Bai, it is I!” The innkeeper’s voice came from outside.
“What do you want?” Ye Qiu asked.
The innkeeper replied, “The city lord has sent someone to invite you to the city lord’s mansion for a drink.”
“I understand. You may go now!” Ye Qiu said.
After the innkeeper left, the Longbrow Real Person said, “What does this Sifang City lord mean by it? Why invite you for a drink?”
Ye Qiu replied, “If I am not mistaken, the city lord seeks to befriend me. Remember, Sifang City falls under Yin-Yang Sect jurisdiction, and Yin Hua Granny holds considerable standing within the sect.”
“Shall you go?” the Longbrow Real Person asked.
“Why not?” Ye Qiu laughed. “The city lord extends a personal invitation. It would be rude to decline.”
Green hurriedly said, “Young Master Ye, the city lord’s mansion teems with experts. It is far too perilous. I think you should not go.”
Ye Qiu smiled. “Fear not. With Yin Hua Granny’s token, he dares not harm me.”
Ye Qiu then instructed, “Green, stay here with the Hundred Flowers Immortal. We depart the moment I return.”
“Old codger, you remain as well to guard the Hundred Flowers Immortal and Green.”
The Longbrow Real Person widened his eyes and said, “Little rascal, wine is on offer and you leave me behind? That is hardly sporting!”
“I insist. This poor Daoist shall accompany you.”
“Besides, more eyes mean more support. If all goes smoothly, splendid. If trouble arises, this poor Daoist can trigger a heavenly tribulation on the spot, and we escape in the chaos.”
The Hundred Flowers Immortal added, “Green and I shall be fine here. Let the Daoist accompany you.”
Ye Qiu hesitated briefly, then agreed. “Very well, old codger. You come with me.”
“Take utmost care,” the Hundred Flowers Immortal urged Ye Qiu, her beautiful eyes brimming with deep concern.
Thereupon, Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person emerged from the room and descended the stairs.
“Young Master Bai!”
As Ye Qiu reached the ground floor, an elderly man in ornate robes blocked his path.
The elder held a folded fan, smiling as he cupped his hands towards Ye Qiu. He said, “I am Li Qian, steward of the city lord’s mansion. By the city lord’s command, I have come to escort Young Master Bai to the banquet.”
Li Qian?
Ye Qiu’s mind involuntarily recalled a certain effeminate Li Qiancheng, sending shivers down his spine.
“I have seen Steward Li,” Ye Qiu replied with cupped hands. “It truly honours this junior that you receive me personally.”
Steward Li laughed. “Young Master Bai need not stand on ceremony. Yin Hua Granny intends to take you as her disciple and has bestowed her personal token upon you. Should you enter her tutelage in future, pray look after this one kindly.”
Ye Qiu chuckled. “Of course, of course.”
“Young Master Bai, this way!” Steward Li gestured invitingly and led the way ahead.
The group proceeded towards the city lord’s mansion.
