Chapter 25: Pinching

Late at night.

Moonlight like water, sprinkled upon the secluded pools between the mountains, rippling across the water's surface, faintly reflecting a figure as if carved from mutton fat jade.

Gongsun Qingyue slowly walked out of the pool, almost tripping inadvertently.

"This scoundrel's martial arts! And this scoundrel himself!"

She spat softly toward the west, put on her clothes, and circulated her True Qi to soothe her body, "Sooner or later, I'll make this scoundrel pay."

Gongsun Qingyue thought back to the previous scenes, once again clenching her teeth in anger; she had never suffered such a loss in her life. At this thought, her exaggerated pectorals trembled in rage.

"Just you wait."

Her heart silently swore revenge as Gongsun Qingyue entered a delicately crafted small hut by the poolside. She sat down in front of a dressing table, sending a stream of True Qi into a Jade Mirror. The mirror's surface shimmered brilliantly, revealing a grand, ethereal hall within.

Shortly after, amidst swirling dresses and floating ribbons, a woman with her face veiled by light gauze appeared in the mirror.

"Master."

Gongsun Qingyue called out and reported, "Jiang Li has completed the Bone Marrow Cleansing, and indeed as you said, this person is extraordinary. The duration of his Bone Marrow Cleansing lasted a whole day and night. Moreover, when I used Sun Dui's Magical Divination to predict his fate, it seemed clear yet unclear, like looking at flowers through the fog."

"The Dao Fruit within the Ochre Whip belongs to Emperor Yan, and though not complete, it is not something ordinary people can bear. Since Jiang Li is qualified to be assisted by the Ochre Whip, his fate is certainly extraordinary."

The woman's voice in the mirror was pleasant, with a hint of steady authority from long-held position. She spoke calmly, "As for the day and night of Bone Marrow Cleansing, it must be due to his deep compatibility with the Ochre Whip. If he were not merely Ninth Grade now, perhaps the Ochre Whip would have already acknowledged him as its master."

"I see," Gongsun Qingyue nodded lightly, then asked, "Is the Dao Fruit within the Ochre Whip incomplete? Then the other part..."

"The other part naturally remains with the Jiang family. The Divine Farmer's Cauldron, the Jiang family's treasure, holds the other part of the Dao Fruit," the woman explained, "That part represents the divinity of Emperor Yan, while the part within the Ochre Whip represents the human aspect. Only when combined do they form the true Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Qingyue understood why the Jiang family was so determined to retrieve the Ochre Whip.

It was not only because the Ochre Whip was a powerful weapon, but also because of the completeness of Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit.

In the Jiang family's declining days, they desperately needed strength to ensure the continuation of their family, even hoping for a comeback. Even though the advancement through Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit was extremely difficult, they were willing to attempt it.

And Jiang Li, if he were truly acknowledged by the Ochre Whip, then the most eager to kill him would likely be the current holder of the Divine Farmer's Cauldron from the Jiang family.

He and the Jiang family had almost no chance of reconciliation, only able to rely on the Dinghu Sect.

"However, I observe that Jiang Li has quite a private agenda."

Gongsun Qingyue thought of this, recounting her interactions with Jiang Li over the past two days. Of course, she had to omit the section about the Nine Yang Divine Skill.

Such a divine skill, shocking and appalling, was better kept unknown to others.

As for her conclusion about Jiang Li, Gongsun Qingyue was quite fair, not mixing in any personal grievances.

Although Jiang constantly spoke of loyalty, Gongsun Qingyue saw through his private motives. Just as good people never claim to be good, the truly loyal do not always tout their loyalty.

However, Gongsun Qingyue's master was not concerned about this point, she said indifferently, "Who in the world is without self-interest? Whether it's you or I, including the other five elders and the Sect Leader, we all have our own desires. If Jiang Li were selfless, he should just offer his neck to Jiang Zhuyun for disposition, rather than relying on the Sect."

"As long as his personal motives do not harm the Sect, the Sect will not reject his affiliation. Even with personal motives, as his personal interests greatly align with those of the Sect, his private desires will transform into public spirit for the Sect. Moreover, his expressed intention to align, those repeated claims of 'loyalty,' are his way of expressing his inclination to the Sect."

"I understand," Gongsun Qingyue nodded, then asked, "Master, do you want to meet him?"

"He already knows what he needs to know, so no need to meet. It's not the time yet, just let him..."

At that point, the woman suddenly paused, displaying a slight loss of composure for the first time, "He has left the island."

The scene in the Jade Mirror changed, clearly revealing Jiang Li's figure.

He was divining by the poolside; one divination was the Heng Trigram, which is Thunder and Wind Heng, and another was the Bo Trigram, which is Mountain Earth Stripping.

"Thunder and Wind Heng, Zhen on top and Xun below, signifies the Zhen Palace Three Generations Trigram, He who gets this trigram, by persevering, will naturally succeed. This arrangement was probably for his own future journey, indicating that leaning towards the Sect was correct. As for Mountain Earth Stripping..."

With a hint of playfulness, the woman said, "Gen on top and Kun below, implies a high mountain in danger of collapsing and stripping away, foretelling hardships ahead, advising to stop at the right time and evade. And this trigram, spoken at the time of peak Yin Qi, must concern a woman, representing the danger caused by a woman."

Although the woman's face was not visible on the mirror surface, her tone clearly carried a teasing note.

"You have suffered a great loss, so you want to take revenge," the woman no longer held her formal air, teasingly said to her disciple.

This trigram clearly foresaw the upcoming encounters, calculating how fierce Gongsun Qingyue's retaliation would be.

Gongsun Qingyue remained silent, only secretly grinding her teeth, infuriated once again.

The Jade Mirror continued to display Jiang Li's actions.

After interpreting the two trigrams, he paced back and forth by the pool, pondered for a while, then finally glanced at the Divine Farmer Stone Statue and resolutely left, walking to the edge of the island and into the water.

He intended to swim back.

That was the reason why the woman earlier had been slightly startled.

To avoid being retaliated against by Gongsun Qingyue and choosing to swim back, it was unclear whether to say that Jiang Li was extremely accurate in judging people, noticing Gongsun Qingyue's pettiness, or to say that he was adept at gauging the situation.

Seeing this scene, Gongsun Qingyue, still grinding her teeth, was somewhat amused, her anger largely diffused.

"I really don't know whether my revenge or his swimming back is the heavier punishment for him."

Gongsun Qingyue covered her mouth and laughed, "This Junior Brother Jiang, really is a character."

Jiang Li, who had just swum half a li, looked back toward the island.

Under the moonlight, the island was gradually becoming transparent, slowly becoming intangible, and within a few breaths, the large island had completely vanished.

"It seems the elder of the Sect thinks it's not yet time for me to appear."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Li confirmed.

With that, he could leave in reassurance. If the island hadn't disappeared, he would have had to swim back.

"Seeing me leaving like this, Senior Sister Gongsun's anger should also dissipate a bit."

Even though that Senior Sister Gongsun was a bit petty, she was someone who enjoyed a bit of fun, and by entertaining her like this, Jiang Li might reduce some of her anger, avoiding any grudges for today's encounters.

[This is like holding a screw shell steady with three fingers, grasping Sister's mentality perfectly.

But why, with such capabilities, did I spend Valentine's Day alone in my previous life? Truly a sad story.]

Jiang Li, seeing the text that appeared before him, suddenly darkened his expression.