Volume One: Tempests in a Small Town Chapter Twelve: The Eminent Qian Muyun of the Sacred Land

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Heng stepped forward, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture. “Zhang Heng greets the Patriarch. Patriarch...”

But before Zhang Heng could finish, Zhang Qingcang interrupted him.

“Something major is about to happen. If you have nothing important to do, stay out of trouble.”

His voice was full of authority. With those words, Zhang Qingcang turned and left, his guards immediately following behind.

Zhang Heng was left standing there, utterly bewildered.

He left? Damn it, I had prepared such clever words, ready to lavish him with praise and make him feel at ease—and he just walked away? Zhang Heng watched as Zhang Qingcang disappeared into the distance, sighing helplessly. It seemed that clinging to this powerful figure wouldn’t be easy.

Forget it; I’ll look for another opportunity.

Frustrated, Zhang Heng made his way back to his residence.

But just as he reached the doorway, he spotted three women sitting in the courtyard, startling him.

One was his adorable maid, Xiaohong.

Another was Murong Qingxue, who had already dissolved her engagement with him.

And the third—was her? The woman he had met at the pavilion, asking for directions.

She wasn’t wearing a veil today, but her figure and attire made it clear she was the same person.

How had they all ended up together?

Zhang Heng walked over slowly.

This time, you’d better not play with fire again, or I’ll show you what a real man is...

He approached the three women, ignoring the enigmatic woman who radiated both warmth and coldness, and addressed Murong Qingxue directly: “Miss Qingxue, you’ve come. I was occupied with something just now and had to step out. Please forgive me.”

She was a disciple of the Sacred Land, after all. His future happiness depended on her, so naturally he had to be courteous.

But before Murong Qingxue could reply, the other woman cut in, her tone slightly annoyed. “Little brother, you didn’t greet your elder sister first. I’m really upset, you know.”

Zhang Heng couldn’t be bothered with her. If he ruined his image in Murong Qingxue’s eyes, that would be disastrous.

Feigning deafness, Zhang Heng continued, “Did you come today because you’ve made progress with the scripture? You truly are gifted, brilliant as ice and snow. I’ve studied that scripture for more than ten years without making any headway. You managed to grasp it in just a few days. I’m honestly in awe.”

Regardless of the circumstances, Zhang Heng showered her with praise.

Though Murong Qingxue had a cultivated mind and was likely indifferent to such words,

But damn it, this is all I’ve got. Besides flattery, I really don’t know how else to please you.

This wretched transmigration system—never mind not giving me any special abilities, it even weakened the skills I had in the modern world. I really can’t keep up.

As expected, Murong Qingxue didn’t respond to Zhang Heng. Instead, she curiously asked the woman beside her, “Master, do you know him?”

Zhang Heng was startled, barely able to believe it. “Miss Qingxue, she’s your master?”

“Yes,” Murong Qingxue replied calmly.

Hearing this confirmation, Zhang Heng was so shocked he collapsed onto the ground.

This is the end, the end, the end!

Murong Qingxue’s master—wasn’t that a supreme figure from the Linglong Sacred Land? Someone like her could end Zhang Heng’s life hundreds of times with a snap of her fingers.

He’d been so disrespectful to her earlier, hadn’t even answered her questions. Would she be displeased? This was it; his journey through this world would end after only five days.

But Zhang Heng truly couldn’t understand how such a person could be an unparalleled powerhouse.

If you’re so formidable, why walk like an ordinary person? Aren’t experts supposed to fly on magical objects or traverse through space? And if you’re so powerful, why ask for directions? Couldn’t you just use a simple spell to find Murong Qingxue’s home? And most importantly, why tease a nobody like me if you’re so extraordinary?

This world was simply too unfriendly.

After a while, Zhang Heng managed to compose himself. He looked at Murong Qingxue’s master, smiling broadly. “Senior, I didn’t know your identity before and may have offended you. Please, be magnanimous and forgive me.”

Murong Qingxue’s master didn’t reply, but instead stared at Zhang Heng, smiling mischievously, as if to say, “Surprised, aren’t you?”

Truth be told, such a smile didn’t match her cold and aloof demeanor, but Zhang Heng had no energy to complain.

Could it be that the great one was truly angry?

“Senior, you’re so beautiful—like a celestial maiden. Surely you have a kind heart and wouldn’t hold a grudge against me, right?” Zhang Heng continued.

Women usually liked compliments, didn’t they? Of course, Murong Qingxue was an exception.

Suddenly, Murong Qingxue’s master spoke, slightly annoyed. “Sister is only six hundred eighty years old this year. ‘Senior’ isn’t quite appropriate, is it? My name is Qian Muyun. Just call me Sister Muyun.”

So it was just an issue of address.

Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn’t angry.

Then, he scampered over to Qian Muyun, picked up the tea from the table, and handed it to her with a fawning smile. “Sister Muyun, please have some tea.”

Hearing the change in address, Qian Muyun nodded in satisfaction. As she took the tea, she playfully scratched Zhang Heng’s hand, then drank it in one gulp.

Murong Qingxue watched them, a little surprised, but said nothing.

Ha! I really am the chosen one. Who would have thought that by some twist of fate, I’d end up acquainted with a powerhouse like Qian Muyun? Now, Zhang Heng no longer had to worry about his inability to cultivate.

If Qian Muyun could cure his body, that would be ideal. If not, it didn’t matter—with Qian Muyun backing him, he could walk unchallenged in Liu Country, no, in all seven ancient kingdoms.

So, Zhang Heng’s priority now was to please Qian Muyun and fulfill all—well, most—of her requests.

(Some things are bottom lines after all, and cannot be agreed to.)

After all, Zhang Heng had come from the modern world; six hundred eighty years old was really hard to accept.

When Qian Muyun set down her tea cup, Zhang Heng timely asked, “Did Sister Muyun and Miss Qingxue come here because of the scripture?”

Let’s keep relationships clear, or things could get complicated.

Suddenly, Qian Muyun became serious. “Where did you get that scripture?”

Ah, this was more fitting—the icy demeanor suited her.

Could that Daoist scripture really be helpful for their cultivation? That shouldn’t be the case.

Zhang Heng quickly pondered how to answer. The truth was out of the question—even if he told it, they wouldn’t believe him. If he had to lie, it had to be a convincing one.

After all, Qian Muyun had lived six hundred eighty years; she was certainly knowledgeable. Ordinary lies would be easy to see through.

Got it.

“I found the scripture when I was a child, lost outside the Dragon Burial Abyss.”

Drawing on the classics he’d read these past few days, Zhang Heng immediately gave his answer.

It was a perfect reply.

The Dragon Burial Abyss, one of the four forbidden grounds in the Immortal Cultivation Continent—even if Qian Muyun’s cultivation was sky-high, she couldn’t possibly know everything about it.

“I see. So that's where it came from. No wonder the scripture is so extraordinary.”

Qian Muyun set down her tea, sighing in regret.

“Alas! It’s a pity there’s only one volume. It seems obtaining the complete scripture is unlikely.”