She waited in the hall until a female cultivator draped in a red robe landed before the palace. Her skin was fair and tender, and her features were distinct from those of Jiangnan. She had higher brows and larger eyes, while the bright red robe made her look all the more dazzling.
She wore pale moon-colored inner garments beneath her vibrant red robe, paired with golden bangles at her sleeves, further elevating her refined aura. Both eyes twinkled as she smiled and said, "I am Bi Yuzhuang. Greetings, fellow Daoist. Might you be from the Moongaze Li Family?"
"I am Li Qinghong of the Moongaze Li Family. Greetings, senior," Li Qinghong responded naturally. Beside her, Bi Qiaoyu clasped his hands and swiftly withdrew.
Bi Yuzhuang made a 'please' gesture, the golden bangles on her wrist jingling as she smiled and said, "You are too polite, Qinghong. Fellow Daoist Xuanfeng and I fought side by side at Green Pine Temple and share some camaraderie."
Bi Yuzhuang led her all the way to the highest crimson pavilion. It contained only a red-lacquered wooden table, upon which sat a jade vase with a few diagonally arranged white plum blossoms.
The two of them sat down. Bi Yuzhuang poured some tea and said gently, "Daoist Master Chang Yun of Jiangbei used the Golden Feather Sect’s favor to establish a gate in Chengshui Marsh and called it Chengyun Gate. He even claimed a territory for it. The Golden Tang Gate has also reopened its mountain gate and begun sending disciples down the mountain.
"The current sect leader of Chengyun Sect is Zhong Qian. He shares a deep friendship with Fellow Daoist Xuanfeng. Your family could consider sending someone to establish that connection."
Bi Yuzhuang finished steeping the tea, glanced at her, and smiled. "I worried that you’ve been away from the mainland too long and might not be up to date, so I thought I’d offer a word."
Li Qinghong quickly said she wouldn’t dare. Her heart warmed toward Bi Yuzhuang, and she silently thought, Hengzhu Dao is after all one of the most orthodox among the great Daos... and since they’re on friendly terms with my family, she should be trustworthy.
After a few casual exchanges, Bi Yuzhuang soon brought the conversation around to the topic at hand. "The Purple Mansion Realm spirit items you need on this island, Qinghong, are known best by me. Though the Eastern Sea now surges with thunder, if you're seeking items like Celestial Thunder Blossom or Cloud-Patterned Heavenly Lightning, my family can't retrieve them at the moment."
It was clear that the excuse Li Qinghong used—repaying a favor for a Purple Mansion Daoist Master—had fooled Bi Qiaoyu, but not Bi Yuzhuang, who was a direct descendant of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. She had been probed from her first words.
Fortunately, Li Qinghong had not come for her own cultivation path, and she replied gently, "Thank you for your concern, Senior. It doesn’t have to be Celestial Thunder. Are there any other Purple Mansion Realm spirit items available?"
"Hmm?" Bi Yuzhuang appeared slightly surprised. She raised an eyebrow as a thoughtful expression crossed her face, then casually said, "Items like Quetong Radiance or Sea-Treading Rainbow are mostly found among the Dragon Clan or in Mount Luoxia... Fortunately, my family does possess a Heaven-Guarding Rainbow, which fell during the Northern Sea’s Sky Fracture. It’s rather valuable."
Bi Yuzhuang had already read through the intelligence on the Li Family. She had originally intended to mention that her family also possessed a Purple Mansion Realm Cold Essence, but after recalling from the reports that Li Xijun was still far from the Purple Mansion Realm, she reconsidered. If she exposed Li Qinghong’s excuse too directly, the conversation might end, and she would gain nothing from it.
But Li Qinghong understood from her words that Bi Yuzhuang had clearly assumed her family intended to seize a Purple Mansion Realm breakthrough. She silently turned her teacup without replying.
Sensing something amiss, Bi Yuzhuang simply followed up smoothly and said, "We don’t have Bright Yang either. Only one Cold Essence, one Radiant Essence, and a piece of Azure Manifestation."
No Bright Yang either... Li Qinghong fell silent for a moment, her mind cycling through various ideas before she asked, "If one wished to trade for these spirit items, what would be the terms?"
Bi Yuzhuang lifted her chin slightly and said gently, "Rest assured, Qinghong. My family has always conducted ourselves uprightly and has no need for tricks... It’s just that Purple Mansion Realm spirit items are exceedingly rare. If a trade is to be made... considering your family’s situation, there are a few things that might be viable."
She sipped her tea and continued, "A Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact, ancient Purple Mansion Realm spirit items, cultivation methods from the Hengzhu Dao lineage of the Purple Mansion Realm, and..."
The woman raised her brow and lightly rested her jade-like fingers on the edge of the gold bangle on her other wrist as she tested, "Supreme Yin Moonlight!"
Li Qinghong held her breath, then showed a look of regret and replied with a hint of dejection, "The Immortal Dao still assumes that since our family occupies Moongaze Lake, we must have such a thing... Even if we once truly had a portion, those days are long gone."
Bi Yuzhuang looked a bit embarrassed as she quickly explained, "After all, someone did obtain it from the lake in the past. It’s recorded in the annals of many families. I merely asked in passing."
Li Qinghong did not wish to dwell on the subject and simply nodded in response, "I’ve taken note of your terms, Senior. If our family is able, we will certainly come to trade with the Immortal Dao."
Hengzhu Dao Gate lacking a Bright Yang spirit item was within expectations. Ultimately, Li Qinghong could only pin her hopes on Yu Fuzi. After carefully choosing her words, she asked, "I heard from Senior Qiaoyu that Yu Fuzi has become quite unruly..."
Bi Yuzhuang visibly frowned at the name. Gazing at the white plum blossoms in the vase, she said with some regret, "He’s indeed formidable. The conflict between my gate and Changxiao has lasted a long time. We once entrapped and killed Yunkongzi, but thinking back now, if we had known that Yu Fuzi would follow him, we would’ve spared that useless man’s life..."
There were too many blood debts between the two sides, so Bi Yuzhuang couldn’t go into detail. She simply recounted the general grievances between them.
Li Qinghong understood the situation and inwardly sighed with regret, Bi Yuzhuang’s struggle with Yu Fuzi hasn’t yet reached the point where she’s desperate. Our ties aren’t close enough for her to ask for my help directly either. Otherwise, she’d have offered far more in return.
So be it. Nothing in this world is ever truly perfect.
She let a troubled expression fall across her face as she said in a low voice, "To speak frankly, Senior... He possesses a treasure that is of great importance to my family..."
As soon as those words were spoken, Bi Yuzhuang's expression lit up. Her heart finally cleared, and she suddenly understood, So that’s how it is!
Now even her gaze turned fervent as she said in a low voice, "Your esteemed family means to..."
Li Qinghong sighed and probed, "This is the Eastern Sea, after all. Everything is much easier to handle here, only Daoist Master Changxiao is of concern..."
Bi Yuzhuang shook her head repeatedly and replied quickly, "Qinghong, there’s no need to worry! Our gate’s Daoist Master Shanzhu is far stronger than Chang Xiaozi. Moreover, Chang Xiaozi is not on good terms with Crimson Reef Island and rarely comes to the Eastern Sea. As for Changxiao Gate, they have very few Purple Mansion cultivators. Daoist Master Chengyan rarely leaves the mountain gate, so how could he possibly oversee everything?
"As long as we lure Wang Fu into the grand formation I’ve set and invite Daoist Master Hengxing to offer a blessing, it can all be covered up cleanly as long as no other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators steps in."
Her voice dropped slightly, but her eyes were sharp as she continued, "And even if Changxiao Gate finds out, so what? We’re merely hiring fellow Daoists to act. Your esteemed family has ties to Daoist Master Xiao, and this even nominally falls under the Azure Pond Sect's jurisdiction. What is there to fear? The person dies in the Eastern Sea, and the Eastern Sea has its own rules. Changxiao won’t dare to intervene!"
Li Qinghong understood that despite how nicely she phrased it, this would undoubtedly offend Changxiao Gate. But her family was already mentally prepared for this.
She answered softly, "You are right, Senior."