Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Rong Shu’s Big Sister

Southern Wilds.

Cloud Link City.

At the roadside, two men wearing Bright Moon Sect disciple robes stopped a male disciple of Heaven’s Evolution Sect. One of them asked: “Excuse me, do you happen to know a cultivator named Rong Shu?”

The Heaven’s Evolution Sect disciple looked the two over; seeing they wore the attire of other sects, he relaxed a little and said: “Rong Shu? Do you mean Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s personal disciple? What do you want with her?”

Cloud Link City had just been attacked by demonic cultivators, and every sect disciple in the city was more vigilant than usual. Any small disturbance could be suspected as a demonic cultivator or something connected to them.

Hearing his words, the two exchanged surprised looks. One blurted: “Personal disciple?” The other asked: “Is she the Rong Shu who just entered the sect last year?”

“Yes,” the Heaven’s Evolution Sect disciple nodded: “Who else could it be?”

“Where is she now?”

The Heaven’s Evolution Sect disciple pointed toward the registration post and said: “If you want to find Rong Shu, go ask at the registry. I am not familiar with her.”

“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist,” the two said in unison.

The Heaven’s Evolution Sect disciple clearly had no wish to chat. Seeing this, the two offered thanks and did not press further.

Following his suggestion, they went to Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s registration office and asked the sect elder there about Rong Shu.

It had been half a month since the demonic cultivators harried Cloud Link City, yet a number of disciples were still unaccounted for with causes of death uncertain. The temporary registries for each sect, therefore, remained in place.

The sect elder at Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s registry looked the two over and asked: “Who are you?”

They hurried to explain: “We are disciples of the Bright Moon Sect, cousins of Rong Shu, and we want to ask how she is doing.” The second added, anxious: “When the demonic cultivators attacked, we lost contact.”

One of them took from his Storage Pouch his Bright Moon Sect identity token along with a family crest bearing the character Rong.

After confirming their identities, the sect elder leafed through the records. Finding Rong Shu’s entry, he told them: “A few days ago, during our headcount, Rong Shu returned and registered. At present, however, she has already left Cloud Link City.”

The two showed both surprise and disappointment. One said: “Rong Shu left?” The other asked: “Where could she have gone?”

The sect elder shook his head and said: “That I do not know.”

Finding no clue at the registry, the two had to leave.

Walking down the street, they spoke in low voices. The first said: “I did not expect that after just one year, Rong Shu really became Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s personal disciple. I thought it was someone with the same name.”

“In a year and a half she reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining, which is not bad,” the second muttered.

“What now? Our big sister came out of seclusion and suddenly told us to find Rong Shu, and now we have not even seen her.”

“What else can we do? When we get back, we will tell big sister the truth.”

“…”

…

The two from the Rong Clan returned to an inn.

Inside a guest room, they cupped their hands toward a young woman in a blue dress seated by the window. They greeted her: “Big sister.”

The woman in blue had been reading. Seeing them return, she set down her book and turned to them, inquiry in her eyes.

Had Rong Shu been present, she would have recognized the woman in blue as her family’s big sister, Rong Qian Ning.

The older of the two brothers, Rong Ming Lei, spoke first: “Big sister, we did not find her. Rong Shu already left Cloud Link City, and we do not know where she went.”

Rong Ming Zhou curled his lip and said: “Big sister, why are you looking for Rong Shu? I thought you came to see us.”

Rong Qian Ning swept them with a glance, cold light in her eyes. The two immediately fell silent.

“You are both my younger brothers. I came to see you, and I also came to see Rong Shu,” she said evenly. “Since you did not find her, did you at least inquire about her situation within the sect?”

Rong Ming Lei answered at once: “Rong Shu is now Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s personal disciple. She is probably living quite well in Heaven’s Evolution Sect.”

“Exactly, she hardly needs us worrying over her,” Rong Ming Zhou chimed in, sourness in his tone.

Rong Qian Ning’s willow brows drew together: “Rong Shu has only dual spiritual roots. Becoming Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s personal disciple, was there truly no one who objected?”

With her words laying the point bare, the two brothers finally realized the issue. They stared at one another and faltered: “We… did not ask carefully.”

Seeing Rong Qian Ning’s expression grow colder, the two hurried to patch things up. One stammered: “Big sister, we will go ask right now!” The other echoed: “Yes, we will go at once!”

“No need,” Rong Qian Ning said, stopping them as they moved to leave. “Since we cannot find her this time, let it be for now.”

“As for you two, you must cultivate diligently. Having finally set foot on the immortal path, do not slacken in the least.”

Rong Qian Ning stood and walked up to them, adding: “The cultivation world is not like being at home. No one will indulge you.”

Her gaze turned suddenly frigid: “I do not wish to see again the sight of you being nearly beaten to death by a few Qi Refining Stage demonic cultivators. Is that clear?”

Shamefaced, the brothers lowered their heads.

“We understand, big sister,” they said.

They knew perfectly well what she referred to. During the demonic cultivator assault, they had run into several Qi Refining stage demonic cultivators. They could not beat them and were toyed with and tormented. Fortunately, Rong Qian Ning happened upon them and rescued them.

After giving her younger brothers a brief dressing-down, Rong Qian Ning took two Talismans from her Storage Pouch and handed them over: “These two Talismans can defend against ten attacks from a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. Keep them on you.”

At this, both faces lit up with joy. They hurried to accept them, laying on the flattery: “Thank you, big sister!” “Big sister, you are the best!” One could not help but press his luck and asked: “Big sister, do you have any more? Ten feels a bit few…”

Rong Qian Ning shot the restless Rong Ming Zhou a glare: “Do not court death. Cultivate properly. Ten is plenty.”

“…oh.”

“…”

Rong Qian Ning had thought that even if she failed to find Rong Shu this time, there would always be another chance.

Yet to her surprise, in the times that followed, no matter how many inquiries she made, and even once when she went directly to Heaven’s Evolution Sect to look for her, she never encountered Rong Shu.

Only after repeated inquiries did Rong Qian Ning learn that Rong Shu had gone out on a mission and would likely be away from the sect for quite some time.

Standing outside Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s mountain gate, Rong Qian Ning looked one last time toward the sect and murmured: “Not in the sect… perhaps that is a good thing.”

Then she summoned her Flying Magic Treasure and left Heaven’s Evolution Sect.