Chapter 420: Shangqing (3)

But he never expected…

“Fellow Daoist, please help me with my cultivation,” Yu Yunlan said seriously.

“PFFT!”

Fang Rui sprayed a mouthful of wine, forming a faint rainbow in the sunlight.

‘What does she mean by “help me with my cultivation”? Is she asking for my body, or is this some kind of selfless sacrifice to feed a tiger?’

But he soon realized he had misunderstood.

“The Cultivation Technique I practice is the Three Pristine Nine Transformations Profound Skill. In the Profound Domain Realm, one must cultivate the three bodies: the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Upper Qing.”

“The Taiqing Body requires a heart as still as water and a Taishang-like detachment from emotion; it took three years to master. The Yuqing Body attunes with the Celestial Heart and benefited from my constitution, so I achieved it directly. All that remains is the Upper Qing Body, which requires experiencing the mortal world. I have failed repeatedly, but I have a premonition that I can succeed by your side, Fellow Daoist.”

Yu Yunlan asked, “I wonder, would it be possible for my Upper Qing Body to stay by your side for a while, Fellow Daoist?”

“Well…”

Fang Rui frowned slightly, weighing the pros and cons.

Having Yu Yunlan’s Upper Qing Body stay with him had its advantages. He might learn some secrets of the Great Yu Court, and in a worst-case scenario—say, a Royal True Monarch from the Great Yu Royal Family coming to kill him with an Innate Supreme Treasure—her presence might offer a way out.

The downside was that his own secrets might be exposed.

Furthermore, she was just too powerful. Even knowing a True Monarch who wielded an Innate Supreme Treasure meant him no harm, her presence made him feel very insecure!

“Sorry, I don’t like being followed,” Fang Rui said after some thought, ultimately refusing her.

“Then never mind.”

Yu Yunlan didn’t say much more. She released Xin Xue’Er from the Map of Mountains and Rivers, said her farewells, and departed.

‘This girl has a decent personality. I can get along with her.’

Fang Rui could tell that Yu Yunlan wasn’t angry or holding a grudge because of his refusal.

“Uncle, isn’t the pretty sister coming with us?”

“No.”

Fang Rui explained, “She has her own things to do.”

Under the sun, he and Xin Xue’Er departed on the Purple Feathered Crane, disappearing into the clouds.

…

「Yu Yao Prefecture.」

Fang Rui had brought Xin Xue’Er along, intending to find a secluded spot to make his breakthrough. However, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Even after wandering through the bustling Prefecture City, the sensation lingered.

His Divination revealed no danger, yet he couldn’t find who was watching him. How could he possibly attempt a breakthrough with peace of mind?

「Evening.」

「An inn, in his room.」

Fang Rui suddenly sighed. “Fellow Daoist Yu, I’ve found you. Come on out!”

“How did you discover me, Fellow Daoist?”

Yu Yunlan had actually been bluffed out.

Her appearance and temperament were identical to how she’d been during the day—cool and aloof, with almost no difference. The only change was that her aura fluctuated at the level of the Source Technique Realm.

This was clearly her Upper Qing Body.

‘I guessed, obviously.’

Fang Rui rolled his eyes inwardly and, instead of answering, retorted, “Fellow Daoist Yu, why are you following me in secret?”

“You wouldn’t let me stay by your side.”

“That’s not—so because I wouldn’t let you stay by my side, you decided to follow me in secret?”

Fang Rui was rather speechless.

‘Is this like, “I can’t counterfeit money, so I’ll just print real money instead?”‘

‘No, what kind of twisted logic is that? He was so exasperated he couldn’t think straight.’

“Having someone secretly following me around affects me, too.”

“Does it? You can just pretend you don’t know, Fellow Daoist.”

“AHEM!”

Fang Rui finally understood Yu Yunlan’s logic.

She had asked to openly experience the mortal world with him, and he had refused. So, she decided to observe him secretly and leech off some of his “variable” nature.

In her mind, since she thought Fang Rui wouldn’t find out about the second method, it wouldn’t count as a disturbance, would have no effect on him, and thus required no notification.

“There’s this thing… how do I put it? It’s called ‘privacy.’ When you’re doing something, the thought of being watched makes you very uncomfortable…” Fang Rui tried his best to explain.

“Is that so? I apologize.”

Yu Yunlan thought for a moment, apologized sincerely, and then added, “Next time, I will be more careful so that you don’t notice me, Fellow Daoist Fang.”

Fang Rui: ???

‘If I don’t notice, it doesn’t exist? Good heavens, lady, aren’t you just plugging your ears while stealing a bell?’