Ex-girlfriend (Part 3)

‘Beigong is still quite good; she merely had me hold her shoes while she put them on, and didn’t even lay a hand on me…’

Stepping out of the Ink Pavilion, Shangguan Xue let out a sigh, her thoughts already turning to the Violet Mist Tower, where her third ex-girlfriend awaited.

“I should go find Ziyan… I reckon if I just rush over to her and exclaim, ‘Yanzi, how can I possibly live without you?’ we might just reconcile.”

“Does the Violet Mist Tower headquarters also have a founder’s statue? I recall it being the Medical Sage.”

“However, this particular founder is female and certainly didn’t author the ‘Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases’… After all, people in this world possess spiritual energy, rendering them immune to cold damage.”

“Speaking of which, isn’t she the foremost alchemist in the world? Why isn’t she called the Pharmaceutical Sage? Is it perhaps because she led the Violet Mist Tower in healing the sick and saving lives?”

“Come to think of it, the Sun Palace suppresses the Nightmare Clan, the Ink Pavilion establishes academies and schools, and the Violet Mist Tower dedicates itself to healing the world… These three are essentially public service organizations!”

“Hao Jin is nothing more than a novice!”

Tearing open space, Shangguan Xue arrived at the Violet Mist Tower’s headquarters, muttering under her breath as she scrutinized the mountain valley before her.

The valley itself was a riot of vibrant blossoms, with misty pavilions and towering structures peeking out from amidst the dense foliage.

‘You people run off into the mountains to refine medicine, turning the place into a smoky, sooty mess…’ Shangguan Xue muttered, a slight pout on her lips, as she activated her spiritual energy to shield herself.

The Violet Mist Tower stood as the preeminent organization of alchemists, revered as a sacred ground by all practitioners of the art.

Yet, the alchemists of the Violet Mist Tower were also formidable poison masters and Gu masters. The very flowers adorning the valley formed a deadly poison array they had meticulously arranged, though it was still incapable of piercing a Martial Saint’s spiritual energy shield.

Martial Saint Shangguan Xue soared gracefully to the main building and rapped on its door.

“A Martial Saint requests an audience with the Tower Lord.”

“Come in,” a rather languid voice drawled from beyond the door.

Shangguan Xue pushed the door open, her gaze immediately drawn to the brazier warming the center of the room.

‘My Lady Tower Lord, with our level of cultivation, we surely wouldn’t feel cold, would we? Look at me; I wear this red robe all year long.’

‘Still, with the brazier lit, the room did feel notably cozier.’

Shangguan Xue grumbled inwardly, her eyes falling upon the woman with unbound violet hair who lay reclined beside the brazier.

Her graceful figure exuded an air of profound languor, yet a dangerous glint flickered within her eyes, much like a venomous snake stirring from its hibernation.

“Violet Gloom Poison Sage” Ziyan lifted her ash-gray eyes, casting a fleeting glance at Shangguan Xue.

“What brings you here?”

“I missed you, so I came to pay you a visit.” Shangguan Xue settled onto the opposite side of the brazier. “How have you been recently?”

Ziyan let out a soft, amused chuckle, then flicked her finger, sending a cup of tea gliding towards Shangguan Xue.

“Lies, you know, can lead to being poisoned mute.”

Her tone was deceptively casual, yet Ziyan was a Poison Master of the Creation Realm’s pinnacle, making such a threat far from idle.

Undeterred, Shangguan Xue picked up the teacup and drained it in a single gulp, showing not the slightest concern about Ziyan having laced it with poison.

“Not afraid?”

Ziyan’s eyes crinkled into a smile, though the gesture only served to enhance her inherent languor.

“You’re quite fond of my voice; you’d never bring yourself to poison me mute. What do I have to fear?”

Shangguan Xue wore a smug expression, looking as though she were about to burst into a song about the audacity of the favored.

Composing herself, she adopted a more serious demeanor. “Yanzi, I do indeed have something important to discuss with you.”

“Do tell, then.” Ziyan took delicate sips from her tea.

‘Are you truly too lazy to even part your lips…?’ Shangguan Xue mused inwardly, even as she spoke aloud.

“In twenty years, I will be dead.”

Upon hearing this startling news, Ziyan blinked slowly, then tilted her head, her gaze questioning.

“Was it the four of us who did it?”

Shangguan Xue froze in an instant, utterly mortified.

“No, it wasn’t. And personally, I don’t believe any of you would actually let me die,” she chuckled awkwardly. “Surely, Yanzi, you wouldn’t bear to, would you?”

“That’s true,” Ziyan conceded. “At most, I would place a Gu on you, ensuring you remain obediently by my side.” She nodded thoughtfully, though the movement was barely perceptible.

‘Hold on! Yanzi, you have a yandere streak too! Oh, right, she always was quite possessive.’

‘This is bad. Now I don’t even want to tell her my plan anymore… While her Gu might be ineffective against my current strength, it would certainly control me if I were to start over from scratch.’

To maintain a neutral expression, Shangguan Xue’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. It took every ounce of her effort to steer the conversation back on track.

“I was killed by the Son of Humanity’s Destiny.”

This time, Shangguan Xue refrained from mentioning Hao Jin’s connection to the Nightmare Clan or the Merfolk, simply stating that he was her killer.

“I have currently devised a method to defeat him: I will re-cultivate, seize his opportunities, and usurp his destiny.”

“However, my efforts alone will not suffice; I require your assistance.”

Having stated her case, Shangguan Xue adopted an expression that plainly declared, ‘If you don’t help me, I’ll die right before your eyes.’

She understood that Ziyan differed significantly from Shi Ledong and Beigong Qingmei. The Lady Tower Lord had a complete family, harbored no profound grudges, and showed little personal interest in the Violet Mist Tower, delegating all affairs to her subordinates.

Ziyan, however, would be easier to persuade, for her feelings for Shangguan Xue ran considerably deeper.

It wasn’t that the others didn’t love Shangguan Xue, but rather that their hearts were preoccupied with too many other matters, allowing love to claim only a fraction of their attention.

In Ziyan’s heart, conversely, love commanded the greater half, with the remainder reserved for her mastery of medicine, poison, and Gu.

“Alright then…” Ziyan’s voice held a trace of weariness. “I will help you.”

“Then I thank you in advance, Yanzi.” Shangguan Xue gave a knowing chuckle. “We shall meet tomorrow at Cuiyun Peak.”

“Mm…” Ziyan refilled both her own and Shangguan Xue’s teacups, before suddenly pausing. “Wait… did you just say ‘you all’?”

The reclining Tower Lord cradled her head, pondering for a moment before finally speaking.

“You sought them out as well?”

‘You truly are the slowest one to catch on…’ Shangguan Xue grumbled inwardly, though she dared not voice the thought. Instead, she merely nodded.

“Alright, alright then…” Ziyan replied, feigning indifference.

“In that case, I shall take my leave?” Shangguan Xue inquired tentatively.

“Wait a moment,” Ziyan said, waving a languid hand. “Go fetch a basin of hot water and wash my feet.”

Her feet, fair as congealed cream, rested delicately upon the wooden floor.

‘Seriously, what is it with you all today? Are my feet suddenly everyone’s favorite obsession?’

Shangguan Xue grumbled under her breath, yet dutifully went to fetch the water.