Chapter 27: Under the City Tower, the Exiled Immortal

Lu Jiajia looked at the young girl in a soaking wet Taoist robe before her. After a few breaths, her frozen thoughts slowly thawed.

Ning Xiaoling walked over with a smile, one hand shielding her head, the other waving at Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia folded the note, tucked it back into her sleeve, and forced a smile. "It's a prescription your senior brother gave me. I just suddenly remembered it and took a look."

Ning Xiaoling examined her, surprised. "Sister Lu, are you injured again?"

Lu Jiajia instinctively touched her waist, her fingers tracing the scale-like sword scabbard, only to realize the sword had been taken by the mysterious person and was no longer with her.

She unconsciously rubbed the sword scabbard and said, "The Imperial City is in turmoil right now, Sister Ning. You should stay at home and avoid wandering around."

Ning Xiaoling looked wronged. "But I'm worried about Senior Brother. Sister Lu, you're so capable, please come with me to find him."

Lu Jiajia's heart tightened. She calmly said, "I'm sorry, but I must go to the Imperial Palace right now. Your senior brother is not simple; he should be fine."

She didn't want to say anything more and walked towards the blue-and-white palanquin.

Ning Xiaoling suddenly hurried forward and tugged at her sleeve.

It was a simple tug, and even in her weakened state, Lu Jiajia could have easily broken free with a slight effort. But for some reason, the words on the note came to mind, and a chill spread like needles pricking her spine. A sensation of stiffness and numbness lingered, leaving her in a dilemma as she looked at Ning Xiaoling's small hand gripping hers.

Ning Xiaoling looked up at her piteously. "Sister Lu, I'm scared. I can't even find that courtyard anymore..."

Lu Jiajia forced herself to maintain steady breathing and said softly, "Xiaoling, stop fooling around."

Ning Xiaoling glanced at the palanquin with its white curtains fluttering and said, "Why don't you take me to the Imperial Palace, Sister Lu?"

"What would you do at the Imperial Palace?" Lu Jiajia blurted out, then realized her tone was unusually harsh.

Ning Xiaoling looked at the woman, who had suddenly seemed a little fierce, tugged at her sleeve, and innocently asked, "The rain is starting to come down harder again, and I can't find my way back. Can you bear to leave me out here in the rain, Sister Lu?"

After speaking, Ning Xiaoling released her sleeve and walked towards the blue-and-white palanquin with a huff.

"Wait!" Lu Jiajia called out.

Ning Xiaoling turned back, her eyes wide, and said, "Didn't Sister Lu say you wanted to take me as your disciple? Are you going back on your word now...?"

Lu Jiajia instinctively shook her head. "No, it's just..."

Ning Xiaoling blinked, waiting for her to continue.

Lu Jiajia's hand pressed against the sword scabbard. Perhaps it was due to her preconceived notions, but though the young girl's words were perfectly ordinary, they now sounded eerie in Lu Jiajia's ears.

The rain intensified, falling in endless sheets that pattered and splashed on the ground, creating countless ripples.

This brief standoff felt incredibly long.

Ning Xiaoling had already slipped into the palanquin, lifted the white curtain, and looked at her. "Sister, come in quickly."

Lu Jiajia's chest heaved. She suddenly thought of removing her sword scabbard and knocking the girl unconscious.

Just as this thought arose, a man's voice sounded from behind her.

"Miss Lu, you're here! Oh, Junior Sister, you're here too... That's great! I've been looking for you for ages and was worried sick. Didn't I tell you not to wander off?"

Hearing the voice, Lu Jiajia finally relaxed. She turned around to see a young man in white, holding an umbrella, standing and smiling at her.

Lu Jiajia felt relieved. "Young Taoist Ning, your junior sister was also looking for you."

Ning Changjiu looked at the girl in the palanquin, walked over, and pulled her out, chuckling. "What, planning to elope with Miss Lu? Are you abandoning your senior brother already?"

Ning Xiaoling said innocently, "It's just that I couldn't find you."

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia, bowed, and apologized. "My apologies, Miss Lu. We've caused you trouble."

Lu Jiajia returned the bow. "You two have been gracious to me. It's no trouble at all."

Ning Changjiu said, "The Imperial Palace was attacked again earlier. It's probably not safe inside the palace right now, so you should still be careful, Miss."

Lu Jiajia nodded slightly.

Ning Changjiu glanced at the empty sword scabbard at her waist, then took Ning Xiaoling and bid farewell, departing.

Lu Jiajia watched the departing figures of the senior and junior disciples.

Ning Changjiu tilted his umbrella considerably towards the girl beside him.

She bit her lower lip, turned, and entered the palanquin. The palanquin responded, lifting into the air.

The blue-and-white palanquin was like a warm bed, radiating rich spiritual energy that enveloped her like silken threads, gradually merging into her snow-like skin, nourishing her body and soul like long-awaited rain.

Only then did Lu Jiajia truly feel at peace. She stopped overthinking and guided the palanquin back to the temple.

Amidst the veil of white gauze curtains, her feigned slumber made her figure appear hazy.

Ning Changjiu held the umbrella. Ning Xiaoling looked up at him and asked, "Senior Brother, how did you find me?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "I just asked for directions. Along the way, I kept asking if anyone had seen a pretty young girl about this tall, and I found you quickly."

Ning Xiaoling scoffed, "You're lying, Senior Brother. There's no one on this street; I didn't see anyone the whole way."

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "What's wrong? You don't seem happy to see your senior brother?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "Of course I'm happy you're alright, Senior Brother. It's just that I could have gone to the Imperial Palace with Sister Lu, but you ruined it."

Ning Changjiu rubbed her head. "What's so great about the Imperial Palace? It's gloomy inside, and there's a big fox glaring outside. If you went, Xiaoling, what if that woman named Zhao Xiang'er couldn't tell friend from foe and gobbled up a little fox like you?"

Ning Xiaoling shivered involuntarily, hugging her arms tightly. "I think that Sister Zhao Xiang'er and you, Senior Brother, are quite a good match."

Ning Changjiu asked with a smile, "Why do you suddenly say that?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "Just a feeling..."

Ning Changjiu shook his head and chuckled, "That princess has stirred up such a storm in the entire city all by herself. Anyone who marries her would be asking for an early grave. Who would be such a fool?"

Ning Xiaoling chuckled, "Sister Zhao Xiang'er's face alone would probably have a whole bunch of fools lining up to propose."

Ning Changjiu said, "Xiaoling will be a beauty someday too."

Ning Xiaoling suddenly stopped.

Ning Changjiu looked back at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ning Xiaoling looked at him with watery eyes and asked, "What if Zhao Xiang'er can't defeat that old fox? Do we still have a future?"

Ning Changjiu said calmly, "That's not something we need to worry about. Besides, if she dares to do this, she must have the confidence to back it up."

Ning Xiaoling closed her eyes, her emotions seemingly collapsing all at once. She shook her head hard, tears spilling from her eyelashes and streaming down her face. She choked out, "She can't win, Senior Brother, she can't win. In an hour at most, the outcome in the Imperial Palace will be decided. Senior Brother, do you really not understand...?"

Ning Changjiu sighed, tilting the umbrella over her head. "Junior Sister, what are you talking about?"

Ning Xiaoling wiped her cheeks, looked at him, and said earnestly, "Senior Brother, let's stop pretending. I know you already know everything."

Perhaps from the cold, the girl's body began to tremble uncontrollably. She bit her lip, almost drawing blood. "The Imperial Palace... the Imperial Palace is doomed, they'll all die! Before that old fox discovers you, Senior Brother, you must leave quickly."

Ning Changjiu sighed, "It's too late."

Inside the Imperial Palace, the young girl in the bright yellow dragon robe, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them when the bell rang.

The guards on the Imperial City walls had all been dismissed. Now, in this vast, deep palace, there was only her, aside from the blue-and-white palanquin that had just flown past the hall.

Zhao Xiang'er stood up, gripping the Fire-Burning Pestle. Her fingers were still as tender as green onions, but her palms were bloody, raw, and covered in scabs, a terrifying sight.

She looked at the gold-inlaid, jewel-encrusted, opulent seat behind her and chuckled softly, "Still not used to it. It gets really cold sitting here for too long."

In the deep, secluded palace hall, the magnificent and luxurious caisson ceiling above suddenly lit up. A fire phoenix flew out from the Fire-Burning Pestle, circled in the hall, and then soared out of the deep palace.

It was the brightest color in the world just before nightfall.

Zhao Xiang'er then rode on the fire phoenix's back.

Outside the Imperial Palace walls, beneath the collapsed archway, another soul of the old demon fox returned to its body.

Both he and Zhao Xiang'er knew well that the Imperial Palace's grand formation had suffered great damage and would certainly not withstand a prolonged battle. Zhao Xiang'er would definitely make her move before nightfall.

As expected, she was the first to lose patience and make her move.

Although he didn't know what other tricks the young girl had up her sleeve, the old fox knew that the decisive battle had arrived.

The fire phoenix soared, illuminating the long night.

Zhao Xiang'er leaped off the fire phoenix's back, landed on the city wall, and coldly remarked to the old demon fox, who now occupied a woman's body, "How disgusting."

The old fox, controlling the woman's body, smiled. That smile was like a harsh gash carved into a lifeless face, appearing especially eerie.

Zhao Xiang'er unfastened the long sword from her back, held it vertically by the hilt, and plunged it into the ground beside her. Coldly, she said, "The umbrella I gave you isn't complete. This is the other half. Take it if you dare."

The old fox narrowed his eyes, looking at the sword, a hint of caution rising in his heart.

The old fox sighed. "Honestly, I'm quite afraid of you now. It's a pity you still made a wrong move."

Zhao Xiang'er stood the sword upright beside her, stretched her wrists, and asked, "What move?"

The old fox said suspiciously, "The sword that the immortal used to slay me back then wasn't this one."

Zhao Xiang'er replied, "That sword is enshrined in the Jiazhi Hall. You can take it yourself after I die."

The old fox became even more curious. "So you knew. Then why didn't you use that sword? Perhaps it would have given you twenty percent more chance of winning."

A look of unwillingness crossed Zhao Xiang'er's face. "That sword... I can't control it."

The old fox nodded lightly, half-believing, half-doubting. He looked at the girl and said loudly, "Then what are you waiting for? Do you intend to carry the Imperial Palace on your back like a turtle shell forever?"

Zhao Xiang'er sneered, grabbing the golden-feathered fire phoenix cloak she wore. With a twist of her wrist, she ripped it open violently. Amidst the sound of tearing, the bright yellow cloak billowed like a flag, then swished downwards from her grasp towards the city wall, slowly disappearing into the darkness.

Without the cumbersome cloak, she was now clad only in a form-fitting black combat suit. In the dim light, the suit accentuated her delicate and graceful curves, emanating a chilling murderous intent in an instant.

She drew the sword plunged beside her with a backhand motion and leaped from the high city tower.

The fire phoenix let out a clear cry and simultaneously descended with outstretched wings.

Mid-air, the girl's leaping figure and the fire phoenix's shadow converged.

In the previous battle, Zhao Xiang'er had already understood that the fire phoenix alone could never kill the old fox. Even though it was extremely dangerous, she ultimately chose to merge with the fire phoenix and fight the old fox outside the city.

The girl's figure plummeted, landing silently.

At that moment, she felt her body ignite.

From her vital energy sea in the mid-abdomen, through Taiyi, Lingxu, Shencang, and Yunmen—numerous acupuncture points were purged by flowing fire, instantly opening up. The moment her vital energy sea broke through these points, she couldn't help but tremble all over, her body clenching inward, as if something within her was simultaneously constricting and releasing.

When she rose again, a pair of fiery wings suddenly unfurled from her back, each feather, sculpted from fire patterns, distinct and clear.

The girl lifted her head, looking straight ahead, her pure black and white eyes calm and indifferent, with what seemed like heavenly flames burning in their depths.

Just like the banished immortal of old.