Volume 2, Chapter 77 – The Investigation

By the time dawn broke the next day, Bai Xiang woke to find Xiang Xian sprawled on her chest, drooling, and was a bit speechless.

But what could she do about it.

She herself had no idea what exactly had happened with that scene last night, or what string in Xiang Xian had been plucked; after their conversation, Xiang Xian had obviously become even more affectionate toward her, to the point it felt like she was treating her as a daughter—she even had to cling to her to sleep.

Bai Xiang herself didn’t care either way; Bai Zhuqing had hugged her to sleep who knew how many times already, and she didn’t have those worldly desires toward the female body.

She was just somewhat resistant, and also rather puzzled why, whenever someone slept with her, it always ended with their head buried in her chest and them uncontrollably drooling all over her.

“Haa~~ Xiang’er?”

Her movement as she sat up was a bit too big and startled Xiang Xian, who yawned and opened her eyes.

“Master.” Bai Xiang looked at her, then lowered her head to the damp patch on her chest, looking a bit like she wanted to say something but held back.

“Ah… that…” Xiang Xian’s face was a little awkward too. “Even your teacher doesn’t know what’s going on—just keeps feeling that Xiang’er’s embrace is hard to let go of… hey! I really didn’t mean it like that!”

I think I have a guess.

Bai Xiang’s expression darkened slightly.

If she was right, this was actually a “side effect” of her soul growing stronger.

Plenty of storybooks and strange-records novels about mountains and rivers mentioned things like “soul-charming arts”. The ones who used them were usually mountain spirits and ghosts, and most of the forms they took were seductively beautiful.

Some people had even specifically researched this and concluded that the looks of such ghostly beings weren’t arranged by them deliberately, but were a “talent-born appearance” shaped by their souls.

They might as well point straight at Bai Xiang’s nose and say, “Your soul’s too strong, that’s why you naturally attract other souls to come snuggle.”

That actually made perfect sense too—remnant souls that caught the scent of Bai Xiang’s soul all went crazy wanting to pounce on her; Xiang Xian was, at the end of the day, a Divine Fetus cultivator. Even if she hadn’t cultivated any soul arts, her soul strength itself wouldn’t be low, so there was a high chance she’d be drawn in by Bai Xiang’s soul.

As if to confirm Bai Xiang’s guess, Xiang Xian stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly said, “Hey, why do I feel like Xiang’er looks even prettier than yesterday?”

She had “Jade Spirit”, so she could naturally analyze that Bai Xiang’s features hadn’t changed.

Hmm… if there was any change, it wasn’t on her face, but rather in those parts below her neck…

What had changed was her presence.

Right, her presence.

There was a certain indescribable air curling around Bai Xiang that made her seem incredibly attractive, making people unconsciously want to draw close.

Bai Xiang’s mood was not great, because this meant that when she went out later, the harassment she faced would increase quite a bit.

Thinking of Bai Zhuqing again, and putting Bai Zhuqing’s drooling side by side with Xiang Xian’s drooling, her mind involuntarily conjured up the face of her attending physician from her previous life, along with that mock-serious voice: “Even if this gets cured, she’ll still be drooling…”

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She really couldn’t hold it in—Bai Xiang’s lips curved into a delighted smile.

The moment Xiang Xian saw it, she was stunned.

Bai Xiang’s looks and bearing had already been top-tier, and on top of that it was early morning; the girl sitting on the bed had a touch of lazy softness beneath her usual chill, a bit of girlish cuteness she didn’t normally show.

And at this moment, she grinned!

And it was this kind of brilliant smile!

It was simply… even she was dazed for a heartbeat, completely becoming a prisoner to her disciple’s beauty in that instant.

“Xiang’er, you need to smile less at people from now on.”

Once she recovered, Xiang Xian admonished Bai Xiang, even as she felt a pang of regret in her heart.

Such a beautiful, bright, warm-hearted and obedient precious disciple—who knew which bastard would get to cash in on that in the future!

After washing up, the two of them were led by Benling disciples into the inner hall, where they saw Old Man Wang Ran already seated at the main seat; when he saw them, he immediately stood up.

“Yesterday was just a simple bit of hospitality,” Wang Ran said with a smile as he walked over, subconsciously keeping his gaze on Bai Xiang’s face.

“Today’s the real main event—I’ll take Miss Xiang to the Scripture Tower first, shall I?”

Bai Xiang wasn’t going to stay long at the Benling Dojo; that had been settled with Wang Ran yesterday.

Since time was limited, it was only natural to fulfill her promise as soon as possible and let Bai Xiang read as many stance-arts commentaries as she could.

Neither of them had any objections, so they had Wang Ran personally lead the way, bringing them into a tall tower building.

These buildings only looked antique on the outside.

Once Bai Xiang went in, she saw that the furnishings all around were no different from a library; there were electric lights overhead and even central air conditioning.

“This is the place.”

The disciple guarding the Scripture Tower led them to a corner on the third floor; as he stole a quick glance at the small strip of black-stockinged leg showing under Bai Xiang’s skirt, he pointed at a whole wall ahead and said solemnly, “This section is all stance-arts commentaries. The stance-arts rubbings have also been laid out over there on the Dao Lord’s instructions for Miss Xiang to consult at any time.”

“All right, then we won’t disturb you.”

Xiang Xian patted Bai Xiang’s shoulder, then left together with that disciple and Wang Ran, leaving Bai Xiang alone here.

Because Wang Ran had only agreed to let Bai Xiang read them; he’d never promised to let her read them too.

If she insisted on reading as well, Wang Ran would give her that face, of course; compared to what the Yuming Sword Dao had collected, Benling’s library really wasn’t worth much.

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But that would be rude and not in keeping with her status.

It really would have an impact…

Bai Xiang shook her head, still seeing in her mind that disciple’s overexcited expression from just now.

She’d seen this man yesterday, but he hadn’t been this much of a mess when he’d seen her then; clearly, having her soul grow stronger really did have a “soul-capturing” effect.

Maybe it would settle down with time?

She comforted herself.

But very quickly she realized she was just fooling herself, because there was no way she was going to stop hunting remnant souls from now on.

Those remnant-soul Yaosui were naturally countered by her, even easier to kill than Demon Pools, and as long as she kept hunting them, she was bound to manifest more anomalies in the future.

Enough.

Depressed, Bai Xiang looked for a cabinet to sit by, pulled out a copy of the Falling Petals Stance from the stance-arts rubbings, and immersed herself in reading.

Time passed, and Bai Xiang fully slipped into a study state.

Whenever she got thirsty or hungry, she’d just eat a pill, and with the aid of “Jade Spirit”, her reading efficiency skyrocketed.

Of course, that was also related to the fact that she already had a grasp of the Thirty-Six Stance Arts.

The Tiger-Subduing Arhat Scripture mainly introduced the Tiger-Subduing Arhat Stance, that ultimate stance-art, but it also mentioned and introduced the other stance-arts.

It was just that those explanations weren’t as in-depth as the commentaries here; likely Monk Suizhen, the author, had felt that elaborating on such “grade-school basics” was pointless and had only brushed over them in passing.

Most of these stance-arts were of no use to Bai Xiang, but some of them did have their merits.

Like the previous Floating Duckweed Stance, which had broadened Bai Xiang’s horizons and showed her that movement arts could ferry the body in that sort of way.

This Falling Petals Stance was the same; although the extended sword moves were a bit flashy, there were a few that could perhaps be integrated into the Shenming Sword, making it even more unpredictable.

As she read, Bai Xiang once again used “Jade Spirit” to evolve the Splitting-Light Multiple-Images Sword Formula.

This sword formula was extremely special as well; it wasn’t exactly a complete sword art in and of itself, and was more like an algorithm that worked in tandem with “Jade Spirit”—or perhaps it should be called a formula.

Feed the formula in, and “Jade Spirit” would calculate the most optimal heart-meridian route for you; follow that route to drive your moves, and copying sword forms would become especially easy.

Bai Xiang was completely absorbed in calculations and learning; by the time she was jolted awake by her phone vibrating, it was already growing dark outside.

As expected, this call was from Xiang Xian; Bai Xiang had thought she was calling to drag her out for food, but as soon as she picked up, the voice on the other end was extremely serious.

“Xiang’er, tell your teacher honestly—do you… mm, do you have some method that specifically restrains that kind of thing?”

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Why is she asking me this out of nowhere?

Bai Xiang paused for a moment, then answered, “Yes.”

Whew—

Xiang Xian let out a tiny breath, a surge of excitement rising in her chest.

She’d only come to ask this because someone had requested it of her, but Bai Xiang’s admission also meant that she trusted her. How could that not make her happy?

“Mm, here’s the situation.”

She gave a simple explanation of things and told Bai Xiang what was going on.

I see.

Bai Xiang understood.

The ones who’d come knocking were from the Shangqing Sword Dao.

They should have left yesterday, but it seemed they’d postponed their departure because Leng Qiu still hadn’t woken up. Now they’d gone through her master to ask her for help; that was definitely because Abbess Li Sheng had noticed something.

Bai Xiang wasn’t surprised; the other party was, after all, a Divine Fetus cultivator.

She and Leng Qiu had both fought Bolou; they already knew there was something foul on Bolou’s body, and Leng Qiu had been hit while she hadn’t… even an elementary schooler could solve that logic puzzle.

“What about the Luohou delegation?” Bai Xiang asked.

“They’ve been detained,” Xiang Xian said. “I even saw Fang Xiaochun today; he told me they’ve already gone through the Guest Affairs Office to raise a protest with the Luohou Kingdom. Looks like they’re going to handle this very seriously.”

Fang Xiaochun went back to the Qiyun Circuit?

Bai Xiang narrowed her eyes.

No notice sent here—was that because he didn’t want to disturb me?

Seems I count as a bit of a big deal now.

After agreeing to go take a look later, Bai Xiang stressed that she couldn’t guarantee she’d be able to solve the problem.

That was perfectly normal; not only did Xiang Xian not feel anything was off, even the Shangqing people didn’t say anything after hearing that response. On the contrary, their tone toward Bai Xiang was full of gratitude.

Except for Abbess Li Sheng.

That woman’s face stayed cold the whole time, and she acted like even saying one extra sentence was too much trouble.

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On Bai Xiang’s end, she set down the book, slung “Feixiang Heaven” across her back, and walked out while pondering what exactly was going on with Leng Qiu.

He’d already been a remnant soul to begin with—could he split again and possess someone?

If it was possession, then if I hadn’t exposed it, Leng Qiu’s condition wouldn’t have been treated seriously; they would definitely have taken him straight back to Jingshui… was it to use Leng Qiu as a surveillance device?

“Smack!”

Bai Xiang abruptly stopped walking.

Because she’d suddenly realized something strange—Bolou had only laid a “poisoned hand” on Leng Qiu and hadn’t done the same to anyone else, especially not those Benling disciples.

Plenty of people had had their arms and legs broken by him, but none of them had suffered any damage to their souls—not a single case.

Why?

Why only set a trap for Shangqing Dao and completely ignore the Benling Dao right at his elbow?

Did he think that after winning the exchange meet and moving in here, he’d be able to do that kind of work himself?

Or was it that, actually, he already…

Without hesitation, Bai Xiang immediately took out her phone and dialed a number.

“Hello? Miss Xiang?”

Xu Xi’s voice came from the other end.

“Did anyone from your dojo not show up yesterday?” Bai Xiang asked.

What kind of question is that?

Xu Xi was a bit baffled, but out of respect and trust for Bai Xiang, she still answered, “There… must’ve been some field disciples who couldn’t make it back.”

“How many?”

“Maybe a few dozen? I’m not really sure… could be over a hundred, even. I’m not the one in charge of the main roster, after all…”

“Any big names among them?” Bai Xiang switched angles. “People with influence, pillars of the place.”

“Yeah.” This Xu Xi knew, and answered at once, “Elder Liang Qiusheng!”

“I remember he went to Zezhou on a field assignment, and he still hasn’t come back yet!”