Chapter 57: The Refining Furnace (Part 12)

Xu Qianyu went to Chen Duo’s pavilion.
Guards were stationed outside, but she climbed in through the window, scattering flower petals all over the room.
Chen Duo, lying on the bed, looked as if he had seen a ghost, pressing himself against the wall in panic. “You… How did you…”
“I’m not locked up. Are you surprised?” Xu Qianyu smiled at him and walked closer.
The sect leader’s command only delayed the punishment; it wasn’t enough to absolve Yu Chu. If Hua Qingsan deliberately made things difficult in the process, Yu Chu still wouldn’t be freed. She needed to find a breakthrough from Chen Duo.

After his meridians were severed, Chen Duo was left paralyzed in bed. Several elders had come to examine him, only to shake their heads. His previous cultivation was completely lost, and reconstructing his meridians could take countless years.
Chen Duo couldn’t accept losing everything overnight. The demon that injured him had been caught, but it wouldn’t bring back his cultivation. He was jealous of Yu Chu and Xu Qianyu—why should they be fine? So he thought, even if he was ruined, he’d take them down with him!
The immortal sect valued talent, so while they couldn’t escape punishment, their cultivation paths would be impacted. But how was Xu Qianyu standing here unharmed? Wasn’t she supposed to be detained for questioning right now?

Xu Qianyu sighed and said, “Thanks to you, Yu Chu was confined for a day. But don’t worry, she’ll be out soon, just in time to head to the Water Moon Flower Realm.”
“What?” Chen Duo couldn’t believe his ears. “I’m completely ruined, and you two only had to spend a single day in confinement?”
“What more do you want?” Xu Qianyu glanced at him. “You know in your heart that it wasn’t us. Even if it had been, at most, we’d have been confined for two days.”
“Impossible. You’re lying to me.” Chen Duo’s eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth. “I was a cultivator at the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment! Eighth level! Now it’s all gone. In such a large sect, no one is held accountable? Is there no justice here?”
Xu Qianyu chuckled, taking out the sect leader’s token and flashing it before his eyes. “Recognize this? Sect Leader’s pardon—Yu Chu and I are innocent and will proceed to the inner sect selection at the Water Moon Flower Realm as usual.”
In truth, the token didn’t state they were innocent; she only flashed it quickly. Chen Duo, however, recognized the golden glow of the sect leader’s seal and, his spirit shattered, slumped back, not bothering to read the words in detail, falling right into her trap.
“Unfair… why…” His face twisted, and a thought struck him. “Could it be… is it true what they say—that you’re related to the sect leader? Yes, you share the same last name. Ha! So this revered immortal sect is no different—power and privilege colluding, while those of us beneath you can never share your table. Our lives mean nothing, trampled on at will, while you walk away unscathed.”
“Yes, I’m related to the sect leader. I can do as I please and face no punishment.” Xu Qianyu’s naturally haughty demeanor only heightened as she lifted her chin, making her all the more infuriating. “Besides, my meridians aren’t damaged. I’ll continue to cultivate and thrive on the path ahead.”
“What a shame,” she said, noticing his pale face and his body trembling like a withered leaf in the wind. “You were close to forming your golden core and still had some value to the sect. But now, even that’s gone. The sect doesn’t support useless people—what will you do with the rest of your life? If I were you, I’d have bargained by now, negotiating with Penglai to take care of me. But instead, you wasted your chance by slandering me. And look how that turned out—I didn’t even have to serve a day in confinement.”
Chen Duo swallowed nervously, panic filling him.

He valued his cultivation highly and envied his peers precisely because he had escaped his original fate through cultivation, transforming from a street urchin into a respected cultivator.
But he was also terrified of losing his worth and being discarded. Xu Qianyu was right—the upper ranks were too powerful for him to shake. But what about himself—would he have to return to his former state?
Xu Qianyu’s words reminded him that he should plan for his future. The inner sect was highly wary of demons; last time, Xu Jiansu had tracked a demon, even searching his spirit directly! And now he knew something valuable—he could negotiate with Penglai.
With that thought, Chen Duo frantically rang the bell in his pavilion. “Guards! Guards! I have something to report!”
Xu Qianyu, watching from outside the window, couldn’t help but smile slyly.
Now she had his confession.
Her figure caught the eye of the black-robed youth on the roof.
Xie Yuzhen held a maple leaf in his hand, gazing at her for a long time. He had thought Xu Qianyu would lose her temper, force a confession, or maybe even beat Chen Duo to vent her anger. He hadn’t expected that she would only need a few words to turn the blade against him.
Xu Qianyu was domineering and clever. When playing backgammon at the Shui family’s estate, he was the only one who could keep up with her. Whenever he was about to lose, she’d smile with that same satisfaction, though she’d purse her lips and pretend to remain calm, with a glint of light flickering in her pupils.

“Xie Yuzhen,” a voice called from below. Xie Yuzhen leaped down, meeting Lu You’s tear-streaked face. She held onto his sleeve like a flower battered by the rain, pleading, “Can you help me?”
Xu Jiansu had tracked the demonic energy to her location. He remembered her vaguely; last time, he’d detected demonic energy in her pavilion, and it made him suspicious the second time around.
Fortunately, outer sect disciples who were friends with her spoke on her behalf. “Miss Lu is kind-hearted. I am willing to vouch for her.”
“Yes, she’s soft-hearted. I even entrusted my spirit pet to her care. She couldn’t have harmed any disciples.”
“Lu You is gentle. There’s no way she could overpower someone as big as Chen Duo. I am willing to vouch for her.”
So many people stepped forward to vouch for her that Xu Jiansu grew annoyed but couldn’t express it openly.
Even Elder Xiao, who was always indifferent to fame and fortune, spoke up. “She’s a disciple I hold in high regard. She has a noble character and would never act inappropriately.”
Xu Jiansu forced a smile. “Words alone aren’t enough. She must still come out to face us.”
Elder Xiao reluctantly held back Xu Jiansu, feeling a hint of disappointment. Lu You had always been considerate in the past; why had she disappeared in this crucial moment?
Lu You didn’t dare return to her pavilion. She had exhausted her points buying a bell, so she couldn’t purchase any more items. All she could do was seek the demon king’s help.
Xie Yuzhen looked at her for a long moment, his shoulders cloaked in dark energy, his true form partly revealed: half of his body wreathed in dark mist, half covered in thorny spikes, like the eerie robe of a dark lord.

He broke off two of the black thorns on his body and handed them to Lu You, his red lips curving in a faint smile. “Take these. Not only will they clear your name, but they might even help you enter the inner sect.”
The two black thorns transformed into demonic energy in Lu You’s hand, curling up obediently like small snakes.
Lu You immediately understood. Xie Yuzhen was saying, “These thorns represent the demons causing trouble in Penglai and the culprits behind Chen Duo’s downfall.” She could pretend to have subdued them, transforming herself from a suspect into a hero. She couldn’t help but tearfully thank him, “Thank you, Yuzhen.”
Xie Yuzhen’s lips curved slightly.
But after Lu You left, his face paled with pain, the humor gone from his gaze.
These were the very demons that had once held him captive on the Wuzhen bed, now fully absorbed into his body. Since they were part of him, what he had just done was like breaking his own fingers or removing his ribs. He felt pain, too.
“Lu You is my life. What are a few demon thorns in comparison?” a voice murmured.
But he was somewhat puzzled.
Lu You usually cared for him greatly, yet just now, when he broke the demon thorn, her gaze was half numb and half hopeful, but there was no pity at all.
When the young lady came to see Wuzhen, because he casually asked about the weather outside, she could find a way to make the summer wind brush against his face.
The Demon King did not understand what tenderness was. However, once he encountered true tenderness, he could then distinguish the false.
Xie Yuzhen suddenly called out to Lu You: “When the time comes, take me into the Water Moon Flower Realm.”

Lu You originally wanted to tell him to rest, but considering Chen Duo was out of commission, if Xie Yuzhen went along, their chances would increase. She smiled at him: “Okay.”
Xie Yuzhen brushed away the fallen flowers from the girl’s hair, lost in thought, thinking that he would meet the young lady again.

*

The day Yu Chu came out of the confinement room, Xu Qianyu brought a bouquet of “Starry Sky.” She had initially planned to light it up grandly when she entered, but it seemed she had inadvertently picked up a damp firecracker; she tried for a long time to no avail.
As she was bending down to wrestle with the firecracker, Yu Chu ran out, hugged her, and knocked her off balance.
Yu Chu started sobbing: “Qianyu, Qianyu, you said you would come to get me in two days. I didn’t expect it to be true! I was so scared, so scared! I thought I would be kicked out of the sect; I even prepared a self-pitying edict. Wuwu… We can go to the Water Moon Flower Realm now; that’s so good!”
Xu Qianyu felt her trembling. Yu Chu had been so calm in the confinement room, but it turned out to be a facade; deep down, she was still just a pathetic person. Xu Qianyu couldn’t help but chuckle.
At that moment, another weight joined them as someone else hugged them. Xu Qianyu, through Yu Chu, pushed Ruan Zhuqing away with difficulty: “What’s wrong with you? You’re so heavy; get lost.”
Ruan Zhuqing said, “We three went out together, and I’ve been worried for several days. While you two are here crying, I also want to cry a little.”

Xu Qianyu was speechless, but Yu Chu burst into laughter.
Ruan Zhuqing said, “Junior sister, you really have no conscience. I even helped you report Lu You! You’re abandoning me after I helped you.”
That day, he had been dispatched by Xu Qianyu to inform Xu Jiansu and to check on Lu You, but he happened to cross paths with Lu You. The girl looked like a beautiful glazed flower, her nose tip red and delicate, making her appear lovable. He felt she wasn’t that type of person, but this thought only lasted a moment before he dismissed it.
Xu Qianyu crossed her arms and walked ahead, smiling at him: “If I’m abandoning you, does that make you a donkey?”
Ruan Zhuqing replied, “I’m digging my own grave.”
Once outside, Xu Qianyu casually placed the unlit firecracker on a stone platform outside the Discipline Hall to let it air out.
Moments later, the Starry Sky was picked up by a pale hand.

Shen Suweiwei, carrying a message from the sect leader, went to comfort the flower umbrella that Xu Qianyu had scratched. Upon exiting the Discipline Hall, he heard the three of them playing around; he paused indoors for a moment, simply watching quietly without interrupting. Once they left, he stepped out.

He turned the firecracker in his hand; the Starry Sky had been frozen in frost and snow, which then melted away.

At that moment, Xu Qianyu returned to grab what Yu Chu had dropped and bumped into him, her eyes widening in surprise as if she were delighted. Shen Suweiwei had no expression, extending his hand to offer her the bouquet of fireworks.

Seeing her only staring at him and not taking it, he recited a spell to create fire, lowered his gaze, and lit it for her.
The fireworks dried, and with a flicker, they ignited. When Shen Suweiwei looked up again, the brilliant sparks cast his eyes into deep darkness, profound and quiet. The starry sparks sprinkled onto the back of his hand.
The action of handing it over reminded him of that illusion. He tried to substitute the person in that illusion with Xu Qianyu, and it seemed natural. She also liked candied hawthorns. But her features still carried a youthful innocence; she lacked that coldness and oddity and wasn’t as tall, so he needed to lower his hand a bit.
Xu Qianyu snatched the fireworks from him and blew them out directly, saying, “It’s too bright outside; I can’t see clearly.” Her pupils darted around as if thinking of a mischievous idea, and suddenly she grinned, her eyes lighting up, “Senior Brother, can we go into the Discipline Hall? It’s really dark in there.”
“… No.” Shen Suweiwei’s expression was subtle. He had just been scolded out by the flower umbrella. But Xu Qianyu acted too quickly and had already dashed inside.

Suddenly, Shen Suweiwei appeared in front of her, blocking her path. Then, lifting his sleeve, he led her to a dark corner. This was a blind spot of the Discipline Hall, so they wouldn’t be discovered for a while.
Shen Suweiwei handed her the lit fireworks, leaning against the wall, habitually checking for anyone outside.
When he looked down again, he saw Xu Qianyu focusing on the Starry Sky, the glow casting a beautiful light on her forehead and eyes: “Senior Brother Shen, are you still in seclusion?”
In truth, she wasn’t looking at the fireworks; it was the fireworks that cast a hazy warm hue on Shen Suweiwei’s cloud-like garments, making him look quite lovely.
“I’m no longer in seclusion,” Shen Suweiwei replied lightly, using two fingers to pass her a piece of paper. Since the fireworks hadn’t finished burning, Shen Suweiwei held them for her so that Xu Qianyu could take the note.
Seeing that it was written in her handwriting asking, “Are you well, Senior Brother?”—it was the last message she had sent him. He returned it to her. The moment she took it, the words disappeared, and they transformed into new ones.
In truth, the previous message she had sent was, “I will be your junior sister sooner or later.” She had waited for several days, but her senior brother neither replied nor sent anything back. She felt a bit restless, worrying that her words might have offended him, so she borrowed a messenger butterfly from Ruan Zhuqing to ask about his recent situation, wanting to test if he had grown tired of her.
Only when this messenger butterfly was also confiscated did she suspect that she had disturbed his quietude, and she decided to stop there.
At that moment, her first reaction was to reach into her sleeve. The messenger butterfly she had received was still tucked neatly in her sleeve. She initially thought it was a reply to her letter, so how could there be another one?

Xu Qianyu thought for a moment and asked, “Could it be that day; you were also with the sect leader?”
Shen Suweiwei did not deny it.
Xu Qianyu recalled her performance that day, feeling utterly embarrassed.
But Shen Suweiwei said, “You want to go to Wufu Cliff; if you enter the inner gate, you can go.”
It seemed to imply acknowledgment. Xu Qianyu thought for a long time, cautiously asking in the light, “Do you think I can? To be your junior sister?” She then smiled brightly again, not waiting for his answer, “I definitely can.”
“Finished.” Shen Suwei slightly lowered his eyes and stood the burnt-out firework upright in the middle.

*

On the day of Xu Qianyu’s assessment in the equipment-making class, the surrounding disciples gathered around her to look at what she had made from wood: “What is this thing?”
It looked like a cart that could be sat on, but underneath it had two huge wheels. Someone suddenly realized, “I’ve seen this before in the mortal realm; it’s what people who can’t walk use.”
Xu Qianyu said, “This is a wheelchair.”
“A wheelchair, huh!”
“What made you think of making this?”
“It doesn’t seem like a very good omen.”
Why else would she make it? She couldn’t refine a decent magic tool from the furnace, and she had no talent for carving wood. She had never practiced needlework at home, unlike Yu Chu, who was skilled enough to create delicate decorations like wind-catching water carts. Every time she carved a piece of wood, she couldn’t control her sword energy well and ended up breaking the wood.
Xu Qianyu was thoroughly annoyed, so she directly made the largest bookcase she could manage. A bigger piece would be less likely to get damaged.

She didn’t like useless things, so after she passed the assessment with the wheelchair she had spent several days making, she pushed it all the way to Chen Duo’s courtyard, making a rolling sound.
Chen Duo had demanded that the immortal sect promise to support him before he would reveal clues about the demons, and he was moved to a somewhat larger residence.
However, Chen Duo had a history of bullying others and had a poor reputation. Now, having been crippled, the people around him scattered like birds and beasts, leaving him alone with an increasingly irritable temperament.

Upon seeing Xu Qianyu and the object in her hands, he leaned against the bed and started cursing loudly, even picking up stones to throw at her.
Xu Qianyu’s temper flared up too. Without saying a word, she kicked the wheelchair, which rolled to his bedside. She turned and left, not staying for even a moment longer.
But Chen Duo was stunned. What was this? Was she not here to make fun of him?
After waiting for a while, with veins bulging on his forehead, he struggled to use his hands to move himself and sat in the wheelchair. Now, completing such a simple action made him break out in a cold sweat, filling him with despair.

He gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching as he rolled the wheelchair for the first time and made it out of the room, entering the courtyard.
This courtyard was really big. The path was paved with blue stones, flowers and grasses were fragrant, and bees and butterflies hovered around. A gentle breeze brushed his face.
Chen Duo looked at the courtyard that belonged to him and smiled, but it was a pity that there was no one around. Gradually, his smile faded away.
Xu Qianyu was actually the first person to come to see him.
The wheels of this wheelchair were cut a bit unevenly. As they rolled over the bricks, Chen Duo was jolted up and down, but he endured it. The wheels got stuck on a stone, and the next moment, he fell “thud” onto the ground.

Chen Duo couldn’t help but curse, “I knew Xu Qianyu had bad intentions.”
But as he slowly got up from the ground and his hand touched the bottom of the wheelchair, he suddenly noticed marks drawn with a pen on the wheels. The marks were crooked and had annotations.
This wheelchair—this wheelchair was actually made by Xu Qianyu. It wasn’t that she was deliberately making things difficult; it was just that her craftsmanship was too unrefined when she made it.
Meanwhile, at Lu You’s side, she received two consecutive notifications:
“Character [Yu Chu] strategy failed, side quest failed.”
“Character [Chen Duo] strategy failed, side quest failed.”

“Warning! The host is deviating from the favored character persona. Please return to the main storyline as soon as possible!”
Hearing the alarm sound repeatedly, Lu You felt despair: Is this still the world of the Koi heroine that she liked the most?

[Penglai Xianmen (Immortal Sect) Volume 2: End]