Legend Management Bureau Chapter 168

[ … words ]

“I almost slapped them,” Lady Houtu said, shoving her hands into her pockets. “Alright, since you know now, hurry up and arrange for them to get it done.”

With that, she walked slowly over to the Queen Mother of the West. Seeing this, the Weaver Girl quickly stood up to offer her seat. Lady Houtu did not even glance at the Weaver Girl as she sat down in the seat next to the Queen Mother.

“Has it been over a thousand years since I last saw you?” the Queen Mother of the West asked softly.

“I cannot remember,” Lady Houtu replied, shaking her head slightly.

“This problem of yours is getting worse,” the Queen Mother said, casting a worried glance at Houtu. “Are you not going to let Meng Po take another look at you?”

“How many bowls of her soup have I drank? What cannot be forgotten still remains unforgotten.”

“Hmph,” the Queen Mother scoffed coldly. “Even so, you should not make up lies saying things like ‘my memory is bad because I have lived too long.’ Where does that leave me? I have lived even longer than you have.”

“I do not want to either,” Houtu slowly shook her head. “But I do not know how else to explain it.”

“Why have you suddenly appeared this time?” the Queen Mother asked again. “Done hiding?”

The Queen Mother did not press the issue, instead focusing her attention on the image on the screen.

As she and Houtu sat quietly in the first row, the other immortals finally realized that their auras were equally powerful. They deduced that this woman had to be either the Old Mother of Mount Li, the Mysterious Girl of the Nine Heavens, or Lady Houtu.

Dong Qianqiu relayed the solution Lady Houtu had just provided to Du Yu, who nodded with half-understanding.

Meanwhile, Bai Suzhen had sobered up.

She was shocked to discover that her husband had turned into stone. After repeatedly questioning the others, she learned that she and her sister had revealed their true forms, scaring Xu Xian to death.

“Master, you should leave first,” Du Yu said to Fahai.

“Leave?” Fahai furrowed his brows. “Huijing, Benefactor Xu Xian has not been saved yet. How can this master leave?”

Du Yu thought for a moment before whispering, “Master, you were the one who gave the realgar wine to Xu Xian. Frankly, you caused this whole mess. So, you should go first. I will handle the rest for you to prevent any further complications.”

“Eh?” Fahai paused, realizing that Du Yu was right. “Huijing, what you say makes sense, but… do you truly have a way to save Xu Xian?”

“I am ninety percent sure,” Du Yu declared. “Master, go back to the inn and wait for me. I will come find you once I have sorted this out.”

After sending Fahai away, Du Yu breathed a sigh of relief and explained the solution he had just heard from Dong Qianqiu to the White Snake and the Green Snake.

The group sat around Xu Xian’s statue, all wearing troubled expressions.

What metal, wood, water, fire, and earth? Why did it sound so complicated?

“Monk, did you just say… your master gave him the realgar wine?” Bai Suzhen asked coldly.

“Uh… your hearing is amazing. You actually caught that?”

“Of course, I am a snake.” Bai Suzhen looked up, staring sternly at Du Yu. “Can you tell me why? Why do you and your master oppose my husband and me at every turn?”

“Well…” Du Yu did not know how to explain. “If I said my master did it to save you, what are the chances you would believe me?”

“I do not believe a single word of it!” Bai Suzhen shouted. “During the day when I was undergoing my tribulation, you opposed me at every turn! And now you have harmed my husband. Unless you can bring him back to life, nothing you say matters!”

Du Yu sighed. “Old Bai, you are being a bit unreasonable. Did I not just tell you the method to bring your husband back to life?”

“First you harmed him, and now you claim you want to save him! Who would believe you?!” Bai Suzhen slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “To think my husband and I are so deeply in love, only for you to cruelly tear us apart!”

Du Yu shook his head helplessly. “I am starting to realize that a lot of times, you really cannot blame the scumbags. After all, you fall for their tricks willingly, treating anyone who tries to help you as an enemy. You might be ‘deeply in love,’ but does Xu Xian truly love you?”

“Enough of your nonsense! Get out of here right now!” Bai Suzhen yelled. “No one here will believe you!”

“I believe him.”

Medusa suddenly chimed in from the side.

“Sister? You!” Bai Suzhen did not know what to say, glaring sullenly at Xiao Qing.

“Commoner Sister, if this man says he can save your mate, then you should try it. After all, your mate is currently a statue of stone. You have no other choice but to trust him,” Medusa told her.

Bai Suzhen remained silent, staring at Medusa.

“Or perhaps… do you prefer a stone statue?” Medusa asked again.

“Of course not! Xiao Qing… I, I just…”

“Then it is settled!” Medusa turned back to ask Du Yu, “Where is this plant you mentioned? What is its name?”

“It is on the Kunlun Immortal Mountain. There is a magical Reishi mushroom there. Go bring it back first.”

Medusa gave a slight nod, then turned to Bai Suzhen. “Peasant Sister, if you do not want to go, I will go by myself.”

“Sister, do you genuinely trust this man’s words?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why?”

She could not shake the feeling that this whole situation was strange and completely illogical.

“Stop asking. That is my privacy.”

Since Medusa had saved her life several times, Bai Suzhen naturally knew that she meant her no harm.

“Very well… Sister, in that case, the two of us shall swiftly fly to the Kunlun Immortal Realm and steal the magical Reishi mushroom.” With that, she looked back at Du Yu and added, “Monk, I will let this slide for my sister’s sake. If we bring back the magical herb, I hope you truly have a way to bring my husband back to life.”

Du Yu offered an awkward smile. He had barely understood the method Dong Qianqiu had explained. What ‘Li Fire’, what ‘Wu Earth’—how was he supposed to know any of that? He could only send them away first and then slowly ask Dong Qianqiu for details.

Bai Suzhen and Medusa stepped out the door, immediately displaying their divine abilities as they flew toward the Kunlun Immortal Mountain at top speed.

Du Yu quickly asked Dong Qianqiu to explain the complex principles of the Five Elements in detail. Dong Qianqiu did not completely understand it either, so he had to pass the microphone to someone else.

“Next, let me explain it to you…”

The moment Du Yu heard this voice, he exclaimed in shock, “Eh?! You…?!”

…

Bai Suzhen stepped onto the clouds, her heart still somewhat unsettled.

She glanced back at Xiao Qing, who had sprouted wings from her feet and was flying rapidly behind her.

“Sister, I still want to know. Why do you trust that man so much?”

Medusa cast a cold glance at Bai Suzhen and asked, “Then why do you trust Xu Xian?”

“Because he saved my life a long time ago. I am here to repay that debt of gratitude. If I cannot trust him, who else can I trust?”

Medusa smiled and said, “Commoner Sister, I am the same.”

“I do not understand.” Bai Suzhen shook her head. “What do you mean you are the same?”

“That monk also saved my life a long time ago, and I too am here to repay that debt. Do you understand now? Just like you, I am a ‘snake who has crossed a millennium to repay a kindness’.”

This answer greatly exceeded Bai Suzhen’s expectations.

“You are also here to repay a debt?!” Bai Suzhen finally understood. “Is that why we both appeared outside Hangzhou City at the same time? Sister, did you save me because you felt we were so alike?”

“Uh…” Medusa thought for a moment before replying, “Pretty much.”

Bai Suzhen beamed and told Medusa, “Sister, it is all my fault for doubting you earlier, but now my mind is completely at ease.”

…

It did not take long for the two of them to arrive at the Kunlun Immortal Mountain.

The Queen Mother of the West furrowed her brows when she saw the two figures appear on Mount Kunlun.

‘Someone actually harvested magical herbs in my own domain? How did I not know about this?’

Medusa and Bai Suzhen circled the area continuously. After a good while, Medusa asked, “Commoner Sister, what does this plant you mentioned look like?”

“Have you never seen a Reishi mushroom before, Sister?” Bai Suzhen pondered for a moment before saying, “A Reishi mushroom… how should I describe it? It is crimson red, but looks like a stiff straw mushroom.”

“A red… mushroom?” Medusa nodded in acknowledgment. “I understand now. Let us split up and search.”

The two separated, searching the northern and southern sides respectively.

Coincidentally, it took Medusa only a short while to find a large patch of vibrant red mushrooms on the shady side of the slope.

She picked one and examined it closely. It was indeed a red mushroom, so vividly red it looked as if it were dripping moisture. However, aside from the red, it was also dotted with white spots. Holding it up to her nose, she caught a pungent odor.

“How strange. Can this thing really cure ailments? But there are so many red mushrooms here, which one is the Reishi they spoke of?” Medusa looked around at the dozens of mushrooms blanketing the ground. She simply decided to pluck them all and toss them into her spatial pouch. “I will just let them pick and choose when I get back.”

On the other hand, because Bai Suzhen knew the habits of the Reishi mushroom, she did not land. Instead, she specifically searched along the steep cliffs and precipices.

After spending about an hour, she finally spotted a crimson Reishi mushroom growing beside a rock on the cliff face.

The magical Reishi mushroom had a spreading shape, looking like a burning cloud. Its brownish-red color bore hints of black, and upon closer inspection, it emitted a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy. It was a magical herb at least a thousand years old.

“Excellent!”

Overjoyed, Bai Suzhen quickly lowered her cloud and flew over. Just as she extended her pale hand, someone grabbed it from the side.

Her expression shifted into one of shock. ‘There was someone right next to me and I was completely unaware?’

Turning her head, she saw a kindly-looking old man who had appeared out of nowhere. Shockingly, he was standing horizontally against the sheer cliff. He had a prominent, bulging forehead, a face full of smiles, and a white beard that practically reached the ground.

“Do not pick that just yet,” the old man said, shaking his head. “Come with me.”

Bai Suzhen furrowed her brows. ‘This old man is so strange…’

The elder pulled Bai Suzhen by the hand and flew gently down to flat ground.

“Senior!” Bai Suzhen cupped her hands in a respectful salute. “This humble girl urgently needs this magical herb to save a life. I beg for your assistance!”

“Shh!!!” The old man quickly hushed her. Looking around, he whispered, “It is not that this old man does not want to give it to you. But do you know whose mountain this is? And whose herb this is? If you just pluck it like this, the tigress is going to throw a fit!”

The Queen Mother of the West gasped, staring at the old man on the screen, veins bulging on her forehead. “How dare you, Old God of Longevity! To think you would speak of me like this behind my back?!”