Chapter 248: Clothes Are Innocent

Shi Chun continued to revel in his solitude for quite some time after Tong Mingshan left. He waited a long time for the other two, An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, but they never showed up. He didn't go looking for them, nor would he; there was no need. The best approach was to act as if he knew nothing.

He was long accustomed to the notion of accomplices betraying him. Betrayal, in his view, simply meant that things hadn't been handled properly. When significant interests were at stake, failing to allow people choices and instead relying solely on moral demands was not the other person's fault, but one's own. If a plan succeeded, betrayal was irrelevant; if it failed, no one could be kept.

Inside the Shenhuo Palace Inn lobby, Bai Shuchuan, looking around, burst in with two fellow disciples. They found the guest room corridor and headed straight for it. Two attendants promptly appeared, blocking their path. "Sirs, please present your room passes," they politely requested.

As they weren't staying there, they had no room passes. "We're here to find someone," Bai Shuchuan stated. The attendant smiled slightly. "Apologies, but only registered guests of Shenhuo Palace are permitted beyond this point."

Bai Shuchuan's face fell. "Why was this not announced earlier?"

"There wasn't, sir. Our proprietor just issued the new rule," the attendant explained.

While Jieyun Mountain was a renowned sect, its disciples, especially those who only received a standard allowance, couldn't justify spending thousands of gold just to meet someone. Unhappy but without recourse, Bai Shuchuan could only turn away in indignation. He had come specifically to see Shi Chun, whether to vent his anger or seek revenge. In any case, he first needed to confirm Shi Chun's presence.

Indeed, he had come after hearing the news. Upon learning that Shi Chun intended to enter the Divine Flame Domain, the higher echelons of Jieyun Mountain held a brief discussion. At the insistence of Elder Wu Handong, who deemed Shi Chun's actions unforgivable, they resolved to execute the scoundrel and send Shi Chun's head to Wukang Mountain. Once the sect's resolution was finalized, the responsibility for this matter naturally fell to Wu Handong, as he had been the one to push for it. Others were disinclined to get involved in such trouble. Thus, Wu Handong dispatched a team to handle the situation, with the explicit instruction that Shi Chun must not be allowed to escape alive back to his old haunt, Five Waterfalls Mountain, in the Royal Capital of Sheng Shen Continent. There was no other option; once he went into hiding, he wouldn't reappear for half a year, and he always entered and exited in a carriage, making it impossible to know which one. Stationing guards at the entrance was futile.

This time, they had dispatched experts of the Human Immortal realm. Bai Shuchuan was merely a vanguard, useful for identification. Bai Shuchuan was greatly excited at the prospect of avenging his past humiliation.

Upon arrival, he immediately contacted the artifact refining sect in Sheng Shen Continent to inquire about Shi Chun. The response he received was that Shi Chun's Mingshan Sect had not yet reported, which had left them bewildered, thinking their trip had been in vain. Later, he caught wind that Shi Chun was staying at the inn, so he hurried to confirm. Unfortunately, Shenhuo Palace had just implemented a new rule.

Shortly after he left, several individuals arrived from Qiyun Valley. They were staff members responsible for the Divine Flame Covenant, and the inn attendants did not impede them. The group directly sought out Shi Chun. After confirming identities, they immediately instructed the Mingshan Sect contingent to report to Qiyun Valley without delay. Failure to report by the deadline would result in forfeiture, and they explicitly stated that they would not be responsible for any incidents occurring while the sect members remained at the inn.

With their cover already blown, what else could he do? Shi Chun had no choice but to gather everyone and move locations.

Shortly after Shi Chun's group departed, Bai Shuchuan returned with his men. He went straight to the counter, requested a room, and began a lengthy search. They located the room Shi Chun had been occupying, though they couldn't confirm his presence. Finding no one inside, they questioned the inn attendants. However, upon realizing they were inquiring about guest information, particularly Shi Chun, the attendants quickly waved their hands, feigning ignorance.

At Qiyun Valley, after a second round of identity verification, Shi Chun and his group were officially registered. The personnel verifying their identities found the sect rather unpolished. There was no uniform attire; each of the thirteen members wore different clothing. Shi Chun, the least particular, was surprisingly still dressed in Wukang Mountain robes. Wu Jinliang, at least, had changed into his own treasured robes, but Chu Jingting and the others were quite accustomed to Shi Chun's unconventional attire.

Feng Chi, Xiang Lan'er, and Duan Xiangmei were unable to gain entry. Had they claimed to be Mingshan Sect disciples and had Mingshan Sect vouched for them, they would have been admitted. However, Shi Chun refused to acknowledge them as members of Mingshan Sect. Consequently, the three had to find alternative accommodation; staying at the exorbitantly priced Shenhuo Palace was out of the question. Shi Chun's group of thirteen ended up in a small, out-of-the-way building. They had arrived late, and all the better accommodations had already been claimed. Still, they didn't mind, as it was only for a single night.

Shortly after they settled in, a local staff member approached Shi Chun to inform him that someone was looking for him at the entrance of Qiyun Valley. Curious, Shi Chun asked, "Who is it?"

The staff member replied, "I don't know, but it's a beautiful young woman in white, claiming to be an old acquaintance of yours."

"Who could it be?" Shi Chun mused suspiciously. Beside him, Wu Jinliang ventured, "Could it be Mulan Qingqing?"

Shi Chun shot him a glance. "Why would she be looking for me?"

Wu Jinliang merely shrugged, as if to say he was just speculating.

Shi Chun decided to go and see for himself. He followed the staff member. Upon reaching the exit, his gaze immediately fell upon a woman dressed in snow-white robes. Her beautiful, icy demeanor and the elegance accentuated by her sword ornament were all too familiar. Who else could it be but Mulan Qingqing? The guards stationed at the valley entrance also found themselves frequently glancing at her. Her striking beauty, coupled with an exceptional aura, made her the kind of woman who immediately captivated anyone who saw her.

"Jinliang actually hit the mark..." Shi Chun muttered to himself, a little perplexed. He wondered why this woman had come looking for him. Was she still seeking revenge? He had already reported his presence here; rashly killing him would be tantamount to breaking the Divine Flame Covenant. Even the Suyuuan Sect couldn't afford such a transgression, could they?

As they stood face to face, their eyes met, and for a moment, neither spoke. Finally, Shi Chun broke the silence with a teasing remark. "What brings you here? Are you planning to treat me to a meal?"

"Alright," Mulan Qingqing nodded, agreeing. "What would you like to eat?" she asked.

"Huh?" Shi Chun exclaimed, startled. "Whatever."

And just like that, he was easily led away by Mulan Qingqing. He felt a little bewildered, suspecting her beauty had simply dazed him. Once he regained his composure, he considered backtracking or making an excuse. However, he then recalled how influential her father was and thought that befriending her seemed like a rather good idea. So, he decided to just go with it.

They found an inn on the sea cliff. After Mulan Qingqing asked about Shi Chun's preferences, she casually ordered some wine and dishes, and the two sat facing each other. Both looked as they had when they first met: she still in snow-white robes, and he still wearing the attire of Wukang Mountain. There had been some changes, though; Shi Chun's complexion was much fairer, appearing more normal. Mulan Qingqing was also less talkative. In truth, she was never a verbose person; she only spoke more when she had to express herself while commanding various factions. Below the cliff, the roaring waves frequently crashed against the shore.

When the food and wine arrived, Shi Chun offered to pour her a drink, but she waved him off. "I don't drink," she said. She picked up the teapot herself, gesturing to use tea instead of wine.

"Alright then." After serving himself, Shi Chun finally couldn't resist asking, "What is it you want from me?"

Mulan Qingqing said, "I hear the Divine Flame Domain is very dangerous. Should anything unexpected happen, how would you keep our appointment?"

Shi Chun, who had just picked up a dish with his chopsticks, looked bewildered. "An appointment? What appointment?" he asked. No sooner had he spoken than he was met with her piercing, knife-like gaze, and he instantly understood. "Oh, right, our agreement, the three-year pact! I remember, I remember. To be honest, my victory last time was pure luck. If we were to fight again, I'd certainly lose to you, and I'll be even less of a match in three years. Mulan, you know, fighting and killing is too dangerous; there's no need for us to fight to the death. Let's let bygones be bygones. We're fated to have met, after all. Why not let go of the unpleasantness and become friends instead?" Having said that, he jabbed a piece of food into his mouth with his chopsticks and began to chew.

Internally, he was cursing. *This woman is insane. You speak of an 'appointment,' but I never agreed. By what right do you declare it an agreement?* Yet, he had to concede one point: if he had known how influential her father was back then, he certainly wouldn't have attempted to kill her. He would have gently defeated her, leaving a favorable impression. And who was that person who secretly intervened to prevent him from delivering the killing blow?

Mulan Qingqing was silent for a moment. "There's no need for a life-or-death struggle; merely determining a victor will suffice."

"Alright, alright, alright." Shi Chun immediately breathed a sigh of relief. As long as his life wasn't at stake, letting her win later would be fine; only a fool would argue. Then, with an expectant look, he asked, "So, can we be friends?"

Mulan Qingqing gazed at him, sensing something was amiss. While his intent was clearly to get close, it didn't feel like the typical admiration she received from other men. She picked up her tea, took a thoughtful sip, and then said, "If we can sit here and share a meal, doesn't that already make us friends?" Indeed, it was unprecedented for her to dine out with an unmarried man, though the person across from her was unaware of this.

"Excellent!" Shi Chun beamed, immediately pulling out a mother-child talisman. He broke it in half and slid one piece across to her. "I currently reside at Five Waterfalls Mountain in the Royal Capital of Sheng Shen Continent. If you ever find yourself in the capital, feel free to contact me anytime. Command me whatever you wish; as long as it's within my power, I will not hesitate, even if it means death. Let's stay in touch!"

Mulan Qingqing looked at the half-talisman, not touching it. She then glanced at his attire. Every time she saw him, she felt a flood of questions, and she couldn't help but ask, "Weren't you expelled from Wukang Mountain?"

Shi Chun immediately looked down at his own clothes, understanding her implication. "The clothes are innocent," he explained.

Mulan Qingqing was tempted to ask if it was appropriate for him, now a member of Mingshan Sect, to wear Wukang Mountain robes. But then she reconsidered: people who impersonated Youxia Mountain disciples still flaunted Wukang Mountain robes. What else could possibly be inappropriate for him? So she changed tack. "You still haven't answered my question. The Divine Flame Domain is dangerous. If something unexpected happens, how will you keep our appointment?"

Shi Chun ate and drank with a nonchalant expression. "What danger could there be? If it's truly perilous, I'll simply hide until it's over. It only opens once every two hundred years; such opportunities are rare in a lifetime. Naturally, I want to see what the Divine Flame Domain is like and broaden my horizons."

Hearing this, Mulan Qingqing felt a stir of curiosity. The holy land of artifact refiners! She suddenly yearned to enter and see it for herself, yet she knew it was unrealistic; given her identity, entry would be impossible. She truly couldn't fathom how the man before her had managed it. What she found most astonishing was that this man was once again associating with the same lackeys he had conned during the Celestial Meteor Shower Conference. They had even partnered to establish a sect and then gone off to 'play' in the Divine Flame Domain, stirring up a sensation throughout the entire cultivation world. Could life truly be lived with such carefree abandon?