Chapter 58: Mingtang And Qinghe (Part 1)

“Second Miss, are you awake?”
“Second Miss, are you awake? The Master and Madam have called for you.”
Xu Qianyu opened her eyes and found herself lying in bed, surrounded by dim light.
The distant voice of a maid floated closer, soon reaching Xu Qianyu’s ear: “There’s something urgent for you.”

Then, a pale hand emerged from the scarlet canopy and reached down. Xu Qianyu quickly grabbed the hand, preventing it from touching her.
The hand was cold and hard, like a frozen chicken claw, unable to close. Xu Qianyu paused for a moment and then abruptly yanked it, causing the maid to tumble into her tent. Xu Qianyu pulled out a silver dagger with her right hand and plunged it forcefully toward the maid’s neck.
No blood flowed; instead, it felt like stabbing a balloon. The skin crumpled and deflated, releasing a mass of demonic energy. Xu Qianyu lifted the bed curtain and hurled the dagger at it, embedding it in the pillar. The demonic energy was pierced through, quickly burned to ash by the silver glow of the magical artifact, with embers floating in the air.
The scarlet bed curtain slowly fell.

System: “…Oh my, I nearly died when her skin broke just now.”
Xu Qianyu also broke into a cold sweat. She kicked off the covers and sat up, her back against the wall, still immersed in the scene she had just encountered.
Having just stepped through the teleportation array into the Water Moon Flower Realm, she had faced a non-human entity upon opening her eyes, leaving her tense and unable to calm her racing heart.
After a moment, a lotus-shaped golden image the size of an apricot appeared before her and then faded away, indicating that she had successfully vanquished the demon and gained points.
Seeing the familiar mark of Penglai, she felt somewhat reassured, confirming that this was not a nightmare but rather the beginning of her trial.
System: “How did you realize she wasn’t human?”

Xu Qianyu replied, “What maid would reach into a young lady’s tent without permission? Besides, even if she was calling me, a gentle nudge on the shoulder would suffice—there was no need to spread her fingers so dramatically. She even slapped my chest.”
Every maid in her house would be scolded by Guan Niang for such behavior.
The lingering cold sensation of that icy chicken claw remained on her hand. Xu Qianyu wiped her hands vigorously on the canopy, and outside, another distant voice called, “Miss, are you awake? The Master, the Madam…”

The voice was weak and oddly phrased, sending chills down her spine.
“What kind of thing is making such a ruckus?” Xu Qianyu suddenly shouted, startling even the system. “Get out! If you disturb my sleep again, I’ll beat you!”
The voice outside stopped, and after a moment, the footsteps gradually faded away.
System muttered, “So demons are afraid of morning grouchiness, huh?”

Xu Qianyu lifted the bed curtain and squinted, deliberately avoiding the wrinkled figure of human skin on the floor. She stepped over it, slipped on her soft-soled embroidered shoes, and got out of bed.
This room was much simpler than her boudoir in the mortal realm, but it was still relatively neat and comfortable. The furniture was carved pear wood, with an iron incense burner in front of the bed and a golden toad ornament on the table. Her clothes and shoes were made of silk, indicating that she could barely be considered part of a wealthy family.

On the dressing table lay a haphazard pile of hair accessories, all made of gold butterflies and jade beads. It seemed that the owner of this boudoir, like her, enjoyed flaunting luxury.
Xu Qianyu picked up a mirror and looked at her reflection within the Water Moon Flower Realm.
She appeared to be a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, barely acceptable in appearance, but her eyes slanted upward, dark and somewhat harsh. There was a beauty mark under her eye that seemed oddly familiar.

Disciples from Penglai could not complete their tasks in the Water Moon Flower Realm with their real appearances; instead, they had to don different “identities” and adapt accordingly. These identities existed within the Water Moon Flower Realm, but the original owners had either been killed by demons not long ago or were absent from the flower realm, allowing the disciples to take their places.
The identities were randomly assigned by a magical array, so disciples couldn’t easily recognize one another, making it convenient for the elders to assess their individual strengths.
On the table was a letter bearing the Penglai lotus seal, which had been transmitted along with Xu Qianyu. It shimmered with brilliance.

Xu Qianyu opened it to read: “Zhao Mingtang, seventeen years old, the second daughter of jade carving merchant Zhao Fukun in the Water Moon Flower Realm. She is proud and irritable.”
This was the brief identity summary for Xu Qianyu in the flower realm.
The letter also stated that the events encountered by disciples in the Water Moon Flower Realm were all genuinely occurring, almost equivalent to a real “fall.”
However, to ensure safety, each person entering the flower realm would have a lotus mark drawn on their arm. This mark was responsible for scoring points and helped the overseeing “walking observers” recognize their identities. They would not truly die; if they unexpectedly died, they would be teleported back to the sect and considered eliminated.

It was common for cultivators to slay demons while disguising their identities. Thus, each disciple needed to keep their true identity secret and perform their roles well. If they revealed their identity as cultivators, they would be eliminated. If they exposed another’s identity, they would also be eliminated. If someone in the flower realm recognized them as a fraud, they would be eliminated as well.
The last page contained the task for this election: to find and bring back the “Soul Lock,” a weapon lost in the flower realm.

This was the main mission, along with other tasks, such as slaying demons and protecting the living within the flower realm. For instance, when Xu Qianyu’s mark sensed that she had killed a demon, it automatically awarded her points.
Xu Qianyu looked in the mirror again, familiarizing herself with this face. The real Zhao Mingtang had either left the flower realm or was already dead. Given that Zhao family servants had all become demons, Zhao Mingtang was in grave danger. She feared that by the time she arrived, Zhao Mingtang would have already been devoured by a demon, becoming a mere shell of her former self.
The Water Moon Flower Realm was rich in spiritual energy, and various monsters frequently appeared. Families succumbing to demons was not uncommon. Moreover, since cultivators often came to slay demons, the demons had become quite cunning and would disguise themselves as humans. However, their methods were crude, and one could easily notice them, just like the demon disguised in human skin she had encountered earlier.

At that moment, the third maid knocked on the door, urging Xu Qianyu to change clothes to meet the master and mistress.
Knocking and speaking normally meant this maid was indeed human.
Xu Qianyu followed the maid to the flower hall.
Zhao Fukun was dressed in a silk coat, sitting at the head of the table reading, while the plump and wealthy Mrs. Zhao sat beside her. As soon as Mrs. Zhao saw Xu Qianyu bringing tea, she took it with both hands, her eyes narrowing with a smile and her chin becoming round, with a pair of jade drop earrings swaying: “Mingtang is quite sensible and obedient today.”

After sipping her tea, she reproached, “But you got up too late. Three rounds of people were sent to call you, yet you wouldn’t wake up. Your elder sister is getting married tomorrow; you mustn’t sleep so late. You need to get up early to welcome the bridegroom.”
Zhao Fukun also scolded her: “It’s fine if you have no discipline usually. But tomorrow, you must give your sister some face; don’t cause a scene. Even if you have to pretend, make sure you present a harmonious image. The Guo family is having a grand welcoming ceremony, with neighbors and friends coming; don’t let outsiders mock the Zhao family.”

Xu Qianyu observed them for a while and nodded in acknowledgment. This couple were also humans.
She took a sip of tea. The letter had mentioned that Zhao Mingtang was the second miss, with an older sister named Zhao Qinghe, who was nineteen this year. How coincidental; Zhao Qinghe was getting married tomorrow.
It seemed Zhao Mingtang did not like her sister and was probably the tyrant in the family, someone people avoided.

Mrs. Zhao then asked her, “Has Xue Ling not returned yet?”
Who is Xue Ling? This was not mentioned in the letter.
Xu Qianyu was momentarily confused and shook her head.
Mrs. Zhao sighed, “Don’t be too harsh with him. The last time I saw him, he had a long scar on his arm that looked frightening. Even if you don’t like him, don’t hit him; it will leave a scar, and won’t that make you feel worse? We are all family; where does this deep-seated enmity come from?”
Zhao Mingtang was indeed irritable and could hit people. But she didn’t know who Xue Ling was; he might be an adopted brother or something who had suffered her abuse.

“Well, he deserves it,” Xu Qianyu feigned being a spoiled young lady and asked, “Mother, what should I hit him with?”
She wanted to familiarize herself with Zhao Mingtang’s style to better imitate her.
“Why are you pretending to be foolish?” Mrs. Zhao scolded her, “You either pinch him with your nails or bite him; did he owe you in his past life? And now, you even lashed out at him. What will the outside doctors think when they see the scars? It’s no wonder he hasn’t come back; he’s probably avoiding you. How about this: I’ll have someone invite him back, and you mustn’t throw a tantrum anymore. Just look at how your reputation has spread.”

Although Mrs. Zhao reprimanded her, she wasn’t genuinely angry; her words revealed her indulgence and protection of Zhao Mingtang.
Zhao Mingtang’s younger brother was too miserable, suffering beatings with no one to mediate for him.
Mrs. Zhao had guests to attend to, so she dismissed Xu Qianyu.
Xu Qianyu initially wanted to stroll through the winding corridors to admire the lotus flowers and explore the garden. But the maid insisted that the household was busy preparing for the wedding, and she was compelled to return to her room. Xu Qianyu saw many golden boxes piled up in the corridor and asked, “What are those?”
“All of them are the eldest young lady’s dowry.”

“The dowry is so lavish.” Xu Qianyu then asked, “What about my sister?”
“The young lady is busy preparing for her wedding, with many things to attend to. Second Miss, don’t disturb her.”

Zhao Mingtang had a domineering personality, so Xu Qianyu felt free to ask without raising suspicion. The maid only clutched her arm tightly, looking anxious, as if afraid she would cause trouble.
The night in the Water Moon Flower Realm was lively, but the daytime was overcast and foggy, as if shrouded in a layer of smoke and sand. The entire Zhao residence seemed to be still asleep, quiet, and dazed.

Xu Qianyu returned to her room to search for clues. Lifting her pillow, she found a folded riding whip beneath the round pillow.
The whip was sharp and thin, with a small silver hook dangling from it, which would surely cause severe injury.

It was too much for Zhao Mingtang to use it on a child.
She also discovered a torn half of a painting in the vanity drawer. The painting depicted Zhao Mingtang in a red skirt holding a fan, standing beside a round chair. Based on Xu Qianyu’s experience in painting, this composition likely included another person sitting on the chair. However, this person, along with most of the chair, had been torn away, leaving their identity unknown.

Xu Qianyu rummaged through the drawers and searched under the bed, finally finding a pile of shredded paper at the bottom of the wardrobe that had been gnawed on by mice. She reluctantly pulled it out. With nothing better to do, she planned to piece the painting together that afternoon.

Beside Zhao Mingtang, a girl in a blue skirt also sat on the round chair, holding a fan in a similar manner. Her appearance resembled Zhao Mingtang’s, but she was more elegant and beautiful, with a tear mole under her eye. The two looked like twin lotus flowers. This should be her sister, Zhao Qinghe.
Xu Qianyu stared at the tear mole on the two of them for a long time, as if she had seen Zhao Qinghe before.
She was the girl who willingly ran off with four white-clad cultivators.

*

At the edge of the spirit lake in the Penglai Immortal Sect, surrounded by swirling mist, there was a spiritual ladder formed by a dragon’s spine, leading underwater.
Shen Suwei descended along it, reaching the underwater Magical Palace. This palace was a remnant from the chaotic war era; as spiritual energy gradually diminished and became unsustainable, it was submerged beneath the spirit lake by the sect leader.
The formation within the palace could help disciples shape their identities and send them to the Water Moon Flower Realm.

After entering the flower realm for a moment, Shen Suwei walked straight out of the formation.
The guardians of the formation were a pair of twin girls named Lingzhu and Lingxiu, dressed in white crane feather robes, looking delicate and smiling sweetly as they greeted him, “Shen Shixiong (Senior Brother).”

Shen Suwei looked at them without smiling. “Why is it another female form?”
Lingzhu and Lingxiu exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with mischief. Lingzhu said, “It’s the formation’s choice; we can’t interfere.”
Lingxiu nodded. “Exactly, it’s all random.”
In the Water Moon Flower Realm, a cultivator’s identity could be of any age or gender, not necessarily matching their physical form. Shen Suwei had already been assigned a young female form four times in a row; he wouldn’t believe it if no one was intervening.

Lingzhu and Lingxiu indeed had a bit of a mischievous streak. As they guarded the underwater formation day and night, they often played recordings of the flower realm to see how disciples performed.
There were often instances where men took on female identities and women took on male identities, and they would giggle at those who struggled to play their roles well. Male disciples in female forms were the easiest to spot because their strides were larger, their shoulders moved, and they had a rough, comical demeanor.

However, Shen Shixiong (Senior Brother) from the inner door was an exception: he had no feminine traits, but when he took on a female form, he moved gracefully with delicate steps, exhibiting perfect poise without a hint of flaw. His temperament was too subtle, lacking vibrancy, but when he took on a female form, he could joke normally, his gaze flowing, with every frown and smile exuding an oddly captivating charm.

Lingxiu particularly loved watching Shen Suwei in a female form; she became so engrossed that her cheeks turned red, so she always arranged for him to take on a female identity.
“I’m on ‘Observation Duty’,” Shen Suwei said. “This is inconvenient.”
‘Observation Duty’ referred to the responsibility of patrolling within the Water Moon Flower Realm to maintain order during the inner door competition. He had to constantly assess situations and rescue disciples in distress.

He originally didn’t confine himself to any role and could disguise himself very well; being in a female form didn’t hinder him.
But this female form was too much: upon entering, he was tightly bound by ropes, gagged, and could neither move nor see, rendering him utterly helpless. How could he perform his observational duties? It would take quite an effort to extricate himself; he was far too passive.
Lingzhu and Lingxiu tried to stall, but Shen Suwei interrupted, looking directly at them, “Change me back to a male form.”

The two were stunned. Shen Shixiong (Senior Brother)’s tone was unchanged, but beneath the water, his gaze was extremely bright, and his aura shifted sharply, like a sword drawn from its sheath, cold and intimidating. The water temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, indicating he was displeased with being toyed with and had lost his patience.

Lingzhu and Lingxiu broke into a cold sweat, not daring to act recklessly or argue, hurriedly starting to operate the formation.
After a while, Lingzhu looked pitifully at him, “Shen Shixiong (Senior Brother), we’ve changed you back to a male form. But… but it was too late; we still had to use that female form for the past few days, so please bear with us.”

They exchanged glances, realizing the gravity of the situation, and awkwardly kneeled in a huddle, saying in unison, “Please punish us, Shen Shixiong (Senior Brother).”
Shen Suwei sighed silently, stepping over them and directly entering the Water Moon Flower Realm.