Chapter 041: Bai Yu Takes the Blame

West Spring Hall, Plum Treasure Palace.

Jianrong watched Bai Yu’s departing figure with great satisfaction. For a moment, she failed to notice anything amiss with Meihua, until her gaze suddenly caught a faint purple glow inside the room.

“The Plum Blossom Curse?”

Startled, Jianrong hurried inside and quickly shut all the doors and windows of the Plum Treasure Palace.

“Hahaha… I knew I’d chosen the right person!”

“Esteemed Master!”

“I heard every word you said to her! Such skill, such cunning—well done!”

“Esteemed Master, you… you could hear our conversation? Could it be…”

Jianrong was deeply shocked, though she masked her alarm with delight. Inwardly, however, she fretted: This man’s powers are growing stronger by the day. What if he refuses to serve me? Yet I still need to rely on him for my plans!

“Heh, it’s not that my powers have suddenly soared. It’s simply the effect of the Plum Blossom Curse—I can wield it at will now. Most of the plum trees in your palace have borne its mark. To sense what happens here is no difficult feat.”

“Yes! I just saw Senior Brother and Junior Sister Xueze leaving. They were casting spells in the Misty Valley, as if searching for someone, so I tried to stop them. Alas, I couldn’t match Senior Brother’s power, so I used the carrier dove to draw him away. Who knew, as soon as he left, Junior Sister got lazy; after chasing butterflies and tiring herself out, she ran off to play at the foot of the mountain!”

“If I’m not mistaken, you meant to test Xueze first, then have Qianguai’s dove send word to Lanshui, creating an opening. Was this to hinder their search and conceal Xueze’s expertise?”

Jianrong nodded with a smile. “Nothing escapes you, Esteemed Master!”

“Hehehe! Why did you feel the need to test her? Are you afraid she’ll steal your place?”

“To tell the truth, I do harbor such worries. She may seem ordinary, but she’s the daughter of the previous Celestial Maiden and is deeply favored by Master Qianguai. Even if her talents are lacking now, who knows what the future holds? It’s better to act first and remove a future threat to both our interests.”

“Hmph! Don’t act on your own whims! If you’d harmed Xueze today, it would have caused great trouble, entangling Liu Qing and the imperial court, and shattering my plans completely. If Qianguai and the others investigate, do you think you can keep it secret? Would either of us find peace? Today you incited Bai Yu to take the blame—tomorrow, who will it be? Our foundation is shaky; we must tread carefully and not invite disaster!”

“Yes! I realize my mistake!”

“For now, keep things quiet for a while. That mortal poisoned by me won’t live much longer, so don’t worry about it. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll strive to walk the mortal world again. Only then may you act further. Besides, the position of Celestial Maiden is yours—there’s no need to worry about rivals. With my secret arts, who could compare to you?”

“Yes!”

“Then make sure to win Bai Yu over, keep her safe, and use her to serve my ends as soon as possible!”

“Yes!”

“Is there anything else? Why that look?”

Jianrong hesitated, then produced a scroll. “This was given to me by Junior Sister Xueze. The sword techniques described are formidable, but they aren’t from Tianshan. What is your opinion, Esteemed Master?”

“Heh, you have a real treasure in your hands! Keep it safe for future use. Though not from Tianshan, it was written by a true master. Learning it can only benefit you—perhaps it may yet serve other purposes.”

“Yes!”

As Bai Yu stepped out of the Plum Treasure Palace, her ears burned and her heart was uneasy. She didn’t deliver the pastries as planned, but went straight back to her chambers.

Staring at the basket of pastries, Bai Yu was filled with tension and dread. How could she possibly face Senior Brother now? There was some truth to what Senior Sister said about taking the blame, but still…

Before she could decide what to do, a disciple arrived to announce a visitor.

“Lady Bai Yu, Senior Brother is here!”

“Let him in.”

Bai Yu rose, straightened her clothes, and watched as Lanshui entered. His cold, brisk step matched his chilly expression, inspiring awe and making Bai Yu lower her gaze before those eyes that seemed to see through everything.

“Senior Brother!”

“What are you doing?”

“I was just about to deliver pastries to you and the others…”

“Is that so? Instead of making pastries, you’d do better to manage your carrier doves. Have you forgotten your duties as the Dove Maiden?”

Bai Yu stood frozen, unable to reply.

“Now, the carrier doves have gone astray and even implicated Xue Bamboo Grove. What will happen if the Celestial Master learns of this? Or the Supreme Elder of Nine Skies? Do you fully comprehend the consequences, Bai Yu?”

At these words, Bai Yu dropped to her knees in panic. “I understand my mistake, Senior Brother. I will fulfill my duties faithfully from now on and never abuse my position again!”

“Only now do you realize? Last time, you recalled the carrier doves and placed Xueze in danger—I already warned you! What, was my punishment too lenient?”

Bai Yu bit her lip, flustered and tense. “I was wrong, I won’t manipulate the doves at my whim again!”

Lanshui snorted coldly, uninterested in Bai Yu’s frail demeanor. “I’ve already shown you leniency for your status as Dove Maiden. Your nerve and composure need serious discipline to prevent greater mistakes. It seems I can’t teach you—perhaps only the Celestial Master can set you straight.”

“Please, Senior Brother, have mercy for the sake of all the pastries I’ve made! Don’t tell Master—if you do, I truly won’t know what to do!”

Seeing her so frightened, Lanshui’s expression became utterly cold, his gaze refusing to rest on her any longer.

“Now you claim you don’t know what to do? It’s high time the Celestial Master disciplined you so you remember who you are!”

Tears streamed down Bai Yu’s face as she bowed her head in shame. “I realize my mistake!”

“So you admit what happened today…”

As Lanshui spoke, he hesitated, sensing something odd. Bai Yu made no effort to explain herself, only yielding and apologizing, which struck him as suspicious.

“Yes. It was I who sent the false message today, separating you from Junior Sister… I… I only wished to see you.”

“To see me? Was there no other way? Did you have to take such a risk?”

“Because I… I can’t bear to see you alone with her…”

“You mean you saw—no, you followed me and Junior Sister?”

Bai Yu froze, unable to respond, her head bowed. “I—I only happened upon you by chance, and followed for a short way, that’s all!”

“Then… that gust of wind—was that your doing?”

“Yes!”

“And you broke the formation too?”

“Yes, yes, it was all my doing!”

Lanshui nodded, pondering. “Tell me, aside from you, is there anyone else in Tianshan who can control the carrier doves?”

Bai Yu was startled, instantly thinking of Jianrong. She, too, was curious how Jianrong could control the doves, especially those reserved for the Supreme Elder.

“Silent? Then never come to see me again!”

“There is someone!”

“Who?”

“Well… if someone deliberately cultivates a secret art, they could briefly control a particular dove, but no one except the dove’s master would know. However, I alone have command over all the carrier doves. From now on, I will be careful, and never again act against my duties or status!”

“See that you do.”

Lanshui regarded Bai Yu coolly, then departed. Further questions would likely yield nothing; better to return to Xue Bamboo Grove and consult with Master.

Who could that person be? What secret art is being cultivated in the shadows, and to what end?