Chapter Text
On the second day, Yingying walked around with her shijie, Qiong Ding. She also attended one of the lectures on basic diplomacy for junior disciples.
Yingying actually disliked diplomacy, especially in the past when her diplomacy with Luo Binghe only resulted in Luo Binghe acquiring a new concubine. Thinking about it, it was disgusting. Seeing that lecherous man having hundreds of concubines made her want to vomit. But fortunately, that man did not allow his wives or concubines to get pregnant. If that had happened, there would probably have been more than a thousand children created.
Lost in her crazy thoughts, Shen Yingying didn't realize when she was called upon.
"Shen-shizi, perhaps this lesson is too boring for you?"
"My apologies, Shifu, but Yingying truly doesn't understand this subject very well. Maybe when Yingying is older, Yingying will understand." Yingying said in an adorable tone, which made the master of the hall give up.
Yingying smiled while trying to pay attention again. Although it wasn't very useful to her right now, perhaps it would be in the future.
After the boring class finished, a Shixiong from Qing Jing Peak came to check on her. He also brought several storybooks he had taken from the Qing Jing library.
"Fei-shixiong, aren't you busy?"
"Hm? No. All my tasks are finished. I just brought some books for you and to let you choose the ones you want. I'll return the rest later." Fei Hong said, pulling books out from under his robe.
"What books?" Shen Yingying asked curiously.
"Books about plants, animals, and regular stories," Fei Hong said. "Or do you want to read something else? We can visit the Qiong Ding library."
"Can we go to the library?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then carry Yingying! The library is far, Yingying wants to be carried," Yingying requested forcefully.
"Can't you ask gently? Like a duckling?"
"Don't want to be a duckling, shixiong."
Fei Hong sighed in resignation. He then squatted down and allowed Yingying to climb onto his back.
"Okay, let's go!" Yingying urged.
Fei Hong then walked casually with Yingying on his back. They became the center of attention with the color of Qing Jing Peak amidst the color of Qiong Ding. Fei Hong met several acquaintances, explaining their purpose each time.
When they arrived at the library, Yingying asked the elder guarding the library about what people outside Qiong Ding Peak usually looked for there. The elder explained that the most sought-after item concerned the story of Tianlang Jun's sealing.
Yingying thought this might be an opportunity to find out something about the Heavenly Demon. This was one of her missions to remove the future threat posed by Luo Binghe.
"Fei-shixiong, can you tell me about it?"
"Hmm, sure, let's find the book first. Because what I remember might be different from what's in the book," Fei Hong explained, since he was at the sect during the sealing.
After they found the right book, they sat down at a seating area at the end of the library.
"Let's see," Fei Hong said, immediately opening the book titled 'The End of the Last Heavenly Demon'.
Shen Yingying paid attention while reading the parts she could make out.
"Okay, it previously started with Lao Gongzhu of Huan Hua Palace. They said that his head disciple, Su Xiyan, had been bewitched by Tianlang Jun, causing her to disappear. This happened 2 years after the Qing generation ascended to power. Actually, there's no proof of whether that was true or not. What I know is that my Shizun, the previous peak lord, once stated that Tianlang Jun was not dangerous and was interested in human culture."
"Is that true?" Yingying tilted her head.
"Yes, but here it says Shen Qingqiu eventually formulated a plan to seal Tianlang Jun. I remember that Yue Qingyuan actually didn't believe this because he asked for strong evidence of what really happened. Of course, at that time, no one cared about evidence; everyone already believed that Tianlang Jun would bring bad influence to humans."
"So, everyone just believed it?"
"Yes."
"It also says here that Huan Hua Palace prepared a trap to lure Tianlang Jun to come. Thousands of cultivators participated in the war. And one of the strongest cultivators at the time, Yue Qingyuan, drove Tianlang Jun back, until he was finally sealed under Bailu Mountain on Shen Qingqiu's suggestion." Fei Hong flipped through the next few pages, which contained achievements, but he didn't mention them. He only said, "But after the war was over, Shizun suffered a qi deviation, and after that, he went into seclusion for 6 months. I don't know what happened on the battlefield, but there were hundreds of casualties from the sealing."
Shen Yingying fell silent for a moment. Her mind was engrossed in the story. Mama might have seen something that others didn't at that time. She must ask Mama what happened.
•••
Yue Qingyuan had to admit that his niece was truly extraordinary. She controlled the conversation from the start. Her face was deceiving, and her childish demeanor became an added value in every sentence she spoke.
Although the child was not Xiao-Jiu's biological daughter, she inherited many things from Xiao-Jiu. Everything was too similar. It had only been their second day together. He truly was impatient.
Yue Qingyuan was certain that last night's crying was merely an act, seeing that she could be so cheerful in the morning and easily deceive him into making another promise that needed to be spoken. As if she had been waiting for that very thing.
Shen Yingying would become a perfect duplicate of Xiao-Jiu in the future.
Yue Qingyuan sighed, thinking about what would happen when Yingying grew up. He didn't realize it until a bird made of qi suddenly appeared, quickly bringing a message.
「 It's a trap, Shen Qingqiu is severely injured. Bring Mu Qingfang. Don't tell his daughter. -Liu Qingge」