Chapter 691 - 351: You Are the Saintess of the Cyan Lotus Sect?!
Chapter 691: Chapter 351: You Are the Saintess of the Cyan Lotus Sect?!
A half two-hour ago.
Wind Snow Pavilion.
This place is not far from Chang’an Palace and was specially built by the West Imperial Dynasty to host foreign guests.
However, the facilities are far inferior to those of Chang’an Palace, so the Loose Cultivators who came to participate in the Immortal Ascension Ceremony were arranged to stay here.
After Si Minglan parted ways with Qin Gengyun and the others, she returned to the Wind Snow Pavilion.
Just as she entered the gate, she saw chaos inside with countless Golden Snake Guards searching around with stern expressions.
At this moment, Si Minglan had already returned to Ming Chou’s appearance. She paused for a moment, then continued to walk inside calmly.
She happened to encounter several female cultivators living in the room next to hers, who were from Wangyuan Town of Eastern Cultivator.
The young girls were not very old, and their highest cultivation was only at the Early-period Golden Core. To make it into the selection was fortunate.
The girls were pure-hearted, warm, and cheerful, often bringing various foods to Si Minglan next door and chatting with her.
However, at this moment, the lively young girls were cornered by several Golden Snake Guards. One of the prettiest was being surrounded and frisked by three or four Golden Snake Guards.
She tried to resist but was firmly suppressed and couldn’t move at all. When she turned her head and saw Si Minglan, her reddened eyes were full of pleading:
"Sister Ming, save us!"
Si Minglan walked inside calmly, as if she hadn’t seen anything.
The Golden Snake Guards also saw her, and their eyes immediately brightened as several of them came over to block her.
"The Golden Snake Guards are searching by imperial decree. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
Though the words were solemn, their gazes roamed over Si Minglan unscrupulously.
The appearance of Si Minglan as Ming Chou was only average, but her gentle temperament, coupled with the hint of charm she naturally carried after cultivating the Nine-Tailed Fox Tail Scroll, made these Golden Snake Guards covetous.
Si Minglan calmly cupped her hands and said, "Gentlemen, may I ask why we are being searched?"
"A mere Loose Cultivator, why so many questions?"
The nearest Golden Snake Guard could wait no longer and reached out to grab Si Minglan’s chest.
Slap!
This Golden Snake Guard was sent flying by a slap from Si Minglan, and no one even saw her movement clearly.
With a few clanging sounds, the other Golden Snake Guards drew their long knives: "How dare you defy the Empress’s orders!"
They all abandoned those three female Loose Cultivators and attacked Si Minglan.
In just a moment, all these Golden Snake Guards were lying on the ground, writhing in pain.
"Thank you, Sister Ming!"
The three female cultivators came forward, tearfully expressing their gratitude, but before they could finish speaking, an elegant figure in a phoenix robe suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Wind Snow Pavilion.
A powerful spiritual power pressure swept over, and they immediately knelt to the ground, their bones creaking painfully.
"You- you are..."
Blood trickled from the corners of the three girls’ mouths as they fearfully watched the figure slowly approach.
"The Western Empress?!"
Si Minglan’s expression changed slightly, her mind raced, and her face showed a strained resistance, her knees bending as if unable to withstand the other’s spiritual power pressure.
Behind Lin Yuan were dozens of Golden Snake Guards. She slowly walked to the four and smiled:
"They are not evildoers; what they did was at my behest. I apologize to the four Taoist friends on behalf of this palace."
The three female cultivators were shocked: "Empress, why did you do this?"
Lin Yuan’s smile was gentle and dignified: "Last night, the Commander of the Golden Snake Guard, Si Mingcheng, was killed horribly. I examined his body. The killer was not a sect disciple; it should be a Loose Cultivator. Thus, I ordered the Golden Snake Guards to deliberately cause trouble in the Wind Snow Pavilion. As long as the killer acted, I would recognize his cultivation technique."
"The actions of these Golden Snake Guards just now indeed went too far. I hope the three of you will pardon them."
Lin Yuan’s demeanor was elegant, noble, and grand. Her voice was gentle yet authoritative. The resentment of the three female cultivators immediately dissipated, and they repeatedly said it was all right.
Lin Yuan then looked at Si Minglan, her smile still in place, but the spiritual power pressure targeting her did not weaken at all:
"May I ask for this Taoist friend’s name?"
Si Minglan portrayed herself as being unable to withstand the pressure yet unwilling to kneel, gritting her teeth: "My name is Ming Chou."
"Ming Chou?"
Lin Yuan walked up to her, using two fingers to lift her chin gently, scrutinizing her face, her red lips slightly parted:
"Minglan?"
Thump!
Si Minglan finally "couldn’t bear" the immense spiritual power pressure, kneeling with a face full of shame and anger:
"The West Imperial Dynasty holds the Immortal Ascension Ceremony to welcome cultivators from all corners. Why does the Empress humiliate me like this?"
Lin Yuan carefully observed Si Minglan’s face and slowly shook her head: "You’re not her?"
Finally, the immense pressure disappeared, and Si Minglan "struggled" to stand up from the ground, her eyes red, looking like a wronged Loose Cultivator in anger.
Lin Yuan chuckled softly and said tenderly: "I’m sorry, Taoist Friend Ming. I thought you were an old friend, so I tested you earlier. I apologize."
With that, she turned and left the Wind Snow Pavilion, and those Golden Snake Guards who were causing havoc inside stopped their antics and left with Lin Yuan.
Everything came and went quickly, leaving the Loose Cultivators bewildered, not knowing what had actually happened.
"These Golden Snake Guards were too excessive!"
"We are guests of the West Imperial City, yet they treated us so rudely!"
"Fortunately, the Western Empress stopped them in time!"
"The Western Empress is indeed a paragon of courtesy."
"They say Empress Lin is dignified and virtuous, the mother of the West Imperial. Seeing her today, she’s even more impressive than the rumors!"
The surroundings were filled with admiration and praise for Lin Yuan, while Si Minglan stood upright, a cold smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
At this moment, a petite, cold figure appeared outside the Wind Snow Pavilion.
Si Minglan’s gaze sharpened, and she walked out of the Wind Snow Pavilion, following that figure down a familiar street, stopping opposite a pharmacy.
"Qiu Zhihe, why have you brought me here?"
Qiu Zhihe turned and said to her, "This pharmacy is a base for the Cyan Lotus Sect’s old members in the West Imperial City."
Si Minglan was taken aback, looking at the unassuming pharmacy opposite, her feelings a bit complicated.
Back then, the Si Family was annihilated, and she was thrown into the Imperial Music Bureau as an Official Courtesan, enduring misery until her master, Sang Yue, rescued her and took her to the Zhenyang Sect.
Since then, she has been a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect.
And the Cyan Lotus Sect was naturally her enemy.
Yet, times have changed. Now that she has been expelled from the Zhenyang Sect, what presents before her...
Is the gate to the Cyan Lotus Sect.
Enter or not?
"Afraid?"
While hesitating, that disdainful, cold voice came to her ears.
Si Minglan turned to glare at Qiu Zhihe. She was evidently a Fox Spirit, but suddenly, this cold and clear woman seemed more enchanting and disconcerting.
She snorted coldly: "What am I afraid of?"
After saying that, she strode inside.
"What kind of herbs do the two guests need?"
The shopkeeper behind the counter smiled broadly, but upon seeing Qiu Zhihe, his voice faltered and he became extremely respectful, leading the two of them into the back hall and into a courtyard.
There were dozens of people in this courtyard, and one woman, dressed in white, held a snow-white Immortal Sword. Si Minglan was stunned.
"Xiaoxue, you are here too?"
At this moment, everyone in the courtyard respectfully saluted Qiu Zhihe:
"Greetings, Saintess!"
"Saintess?!" Si Minglan was stunned, slowly turning her head to look at Qiu Zhihe.
"You- you are..."