Love Travels through Time (My father who traveled through time and space to cultivate immortality came back to pick me up) - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Rescue

Compared to the last time she had been mocked repeatedly by Yin Changli in Gale Valley, Luo Yunxiu’s resistance had clearly improved.

She covered her lips with her long sleeve and gave a charming smile.

“Senior is truly witty and humorous.”

Liu Yixing was thoroughly speechless at this lovestruck fool.

Descending from midair, he revealed his form and cupped his hands with a smile toward Xiang Haikui.

“Brother Changli, it’s been a thousand years. I hope you’ve been well.”

With his long hair flowing, donning a tall crown and wide-sleeved robe, he looked quite like an immortal.

Xiang Haikui didn’t recognize this person, but the frequency of Tiankuang’s vibrations quickened, indicating that his cultivation was even higher than Luo Yunxiu’s.

He couldn’t possibly be the Underworld King, so he must be one of the Twelve Palace Lords of Netherworld City, someone once a colleague of her boss.

But then, could someone please explain why both of them had mistaken her for her boss?

Xiang Haikui had a face full of confusion.

“What on earth are you two talking about?”

“Brother Changli, there’s no escape today.”

Liu Yixing pointed at the three little monsters circling around Xiang Haikui.

“This is the weapon I mentioned last time,” Luo Yunxiu added, somewhat embarrassed.

“His Majesty spent a thousand years crafting it, designed specifically to deal with you.”

Liu Yixing continued, “Even if you abandon your body and possess this little female cultivator, we can still track you.”

Luo Yunxiu said sincerely, “I advise you to leave this body voluntarily and come with us back to Underworld City. Otherwise, if they suck you into their bellies, it would be quite the humiliation.”

She truly meant it out of kindness.

Even though Yin Changli had once humiliated her, even kicked her in the face, being bullied by a powerful senior wasn’t a big deal.

After the anger subsided, she actually felt a bit of admiration.

Ugh—just thinking about such a refined senior getting his soul devoured by those drooling freaks made her nauseous.

As Xiang Haikui listened to their duet-like exchange and saw the three little monsters repeatedly trying to attack the jar on her back, a terrifying thought suddenly struck her.

The little black snake in the jar…

Daochen wanted to feed the snake to a mirage beast…

Then Daochen had fled in terror after being stabbed…

The little black snake froze itself…

When Daochen returned, he seemed to have been possessed by her boss’s avatar…

Oh no!

Xiang Haikui’s eyes widened.

Her legs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed against the wall.

It wasn’t the boss’s avatar that had possessed Daochen. It was the real boss himself!

So the boss was actually a black snake demon!

And what had she done?

She had scraped the scales off the gravely wounded boss, salted him like a pickle, and even chopped him clean in half with a kitchen knife!

I’m dead I’m dead I’m dead!

Xiang Haikui, you are so dead!

As her courage failed her, the Tiankuang Sword—which had been glowing like a fluorescent tube…suddenly went dark, like the power had been cut.

It drooped like a salted fish.

With no sword light to illuminate the way, it was as if a dark cloth had been draped over her eyes,she couldn’t even see the three monsters anymore.

That wouldn’t do.

Xiang Haikui broke out in a cold sweat.

From what those two were saying, the monsters would devour her soul.

If her life was in danger, they’d soon realize something was wrong and take the little black snake away, then go hunt the real boss instead.

She had to act crazy. But how?

“That’s right. Yes, even if I’ve switched shells, I won’t change my name or surname. I am Yin Changli!” she declared boldly.

Buzz—

The Tiankuang Sword suddenly reignited, its brilliance even more dazzling.

Xiang Haikui: …

Facing off against two top-tier underworld bosses, her madness stat was rising with machine-like precision.

Every time she mentioned the boss, the progress bar skyrocketed.

Yin Changli-brand supercharged power bank—whoever uses it knows.

Use it once, never forget it.

With the explosion of sword light, the monsters that were about to pounce on her were blasted backward.

She saw one of them get knocked all the way to the entrance of the Buddha Cave and then bounce off again.

Ah! So that’s why they waited until she stepped out the door before surrounding her, these underworld creatures feared the power of Buddhist light and couldn’t enter the cave!

Xiang Haikui was close to the entrance…of course, she had to seize the chance and run inside.

In truth, either Liu Yixing or Luo Yunxiu could have stopped her easily, but neither made a move.

When she had denied it earlier, Liu Yixing thought she was acting.

Now that she admitted it, he didn’t believe her—what a joke.

That panicked and sloppy demeanor looked nothing like Lord Changli.

Luo Yunxiu, however, was distracted by the Heavencraze Sword.

“I remember now, I’ve seen this female cultivator before…”

She explained.

Liu Yixing’s doubts were dispelled.

The evidence was ironclad…Yin Changli had long since prepared a body for possession and had laid the groundwork perfectly.

This current persona was just a deliberate misdirection.

“Brother Changli, hiding won’t work,” Liu Yixing said calmly, hands clasped with a smile.

“We’re only temporarily unaccustomed to the Buddhist aura. Give it a few days, and we’ll be unbothered by it.”

Xiang Haikui sheathed the sword and rushed ahead.

She had to get back to the room quickly.

She had been swinging that sword for quite a while.

Tianbao could surely sense it, but Xiao Bai  hadn’t appeared.

Something must’ve happened.

She pushed open the door and saw Yin Changli still soaking in the water, eyes shut tight like he was sleeping.

Lu Xiqiao and Xiao Bai were both collapsed on the floor.

“Xiao Bai?!” The room was small, and Xiao Bai was blocking the door, so Xiang Haikui kicked him through the crack.

The commotion startled Yin Changli.

He snapped out of his daze and looked sharply toward the Buddha Cave entrance.

Xiao Bai  groaned in pain, clutching his head and slowly regaining consciousness.

Soul-capturing techniques always damaged the mind and this one had even drained half of Liu Yixing’s spiritual energy.

“What happened?” he tried to stand, stumbling a few times.

“Young Master Lu?”

Lu Xiqiao’s nose was bleeding profusely.

He was unconscious, like a dead pig.

“Forget him for now.”

Xiang Haikui checked him and found no major injuries, so she dragged him into the corner.

Then she finally dared to look at Yin Changli.

“Senior, did you lose your memory after possessing someone?”

Yin Changli’s bare upper chest was faintly shrouded in steam.

But Xiang Haikui couldn’t care less.

Her mind was like a broken record, repeating: “I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m so dead.”

Yin Changli looked at her through the mist, his gaze unreadable.

“Two top dogs from Netherworld City are here with three monsters, blocking the entrance to the cave,” Xiang Haikui said.

She had never been able to guess what he was thinking, now even less so.

Gritting her teeth, she described their pursuers.

Bai Xingxian’s head was still fuzzy.

When he came to, he said, “I’ve heard my uncle mention him; that’s Liu Yixing, Lord of the Soul Palace. Not particularly talented, just lived long enough to climb the ranks.”

Even so, someone like him was way beyond Xiang Haikui’s league.

“Luckily, their brains aren’t working too well and they mistook me for Senior.”

She gave a quick rundown of what had happened but carefully left out the part where she chopped and salted the snake.

Bai Xingxian sat in stunned silence for a moment before an explosion of realization hit him.

His uncle was a snake?

And earlier, he had actually encouraged eating said uncle?!

Xiang Haikui gave him a meaningful look: You’re dead too.

Yin Changli watched the two of them.

Something was off…he could tell they were hiding something.

“Uncle? You don’t remember me?” Bai Xingxian shoved his panic down, hurried over to the tub, and cried, “It’s me, Xiao Bai!”

Then he flashed his big gold tooth.

“The Tianbao Sword. You pulled my tooth and stuck it in when I was ten!”

“Senior, where’s your little black orb palace?”

Xiang Haikui asked.

Judging by his state, he probably had little spiritual energy left. If he had the black orb, she could distract the enemies while Bai Xingxian took him away.

But clearly, Yin Changli remembered nothing about the Tianbao Sword or the orb palace.

His eyes were full of confusion, doubt, and fogginess.

Maybe even a trace of fear.

Xiang Haikui saw that the hand resting on the edge of the tub was now gripping it tightly, like someone clutching driftwood after a shipwreck.

“So you’re saying I once held a position in the underworld, then stole a treasure and fled, and now everyone’s hunting me down…” Yin Changli finally spoke after some deliberation.

“And my true form is… a snake?”

Xiang Haikui slapped her forehead, how could she be so dumb! He just needed to touch the little black snake to tell.

She quickly reached for the jar on her hip, only to realize it was wrapped in a tightly secured pouch…Lu Xiqiao’s treasure pouch.

What the—

She bent down and slapped Lu Xiqiao’s face.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Aside from more nosebleeds, there was no response.

Yin Changli had half believed her.

He mustered his courage and stepped forward but seeing this, he quietly pulled his foot back again.

“Forget it, let’s figure out our next move.”

Xiang Haikui turned to Bai Xingxian.

“How long do you think it’ll take them to adapt to the Buddhist aura?”

“There’s actually one way.”

Bai Xingxian, with five hundred years of fleeing experience, said, “Get a little monk to send word to the city lord’s mansion. Have Xiang Tianqing come fetch you. Once you’re inside the city, stay among crowds; they won’t dare make a move.”

Xiang Haikui: “Why?”

Bai Xingxian: “Just like the upper realm can’t descend to the mortal world, the underworld can’t disrupt its order either. Even contact is best avoided. Breaking this rule is a major offense.”

Especially Xiang Tianqing, she was a reincarnated cultivator undergoing tribulation.

Her soul shone differently from mortals.

She also came from a renowned military family with sacred heirlooms protecting her soul.

Liu Yixing would definitely notice and wouldn’t dare mess with her destiny.

Xiang Haikui nodded repeatedly, just about to carry it out as instructed, when speak of the devil …. Xiang Tianqing’s voice came from outside the cave: “Master Daochen? Haikui?”

Xiang Haikui frowned slightly and went back out.

From across the long corridor, she saw Xiang Tianqing standing at the entrance of the Buddha cave, with Meng Xilou and Wumian behind her.

Wumian stood with his arms crossed and a face full of reluctance, clearly dragged along against his will.

Meng Xilou, as always, stood with his hands behind his back and wore a blank expression.

What are they doing here?

Just as she approached the entrance, Xiang Haikui slowed her steps.

The moment she stepped out, she suddenly drew her sword.

“What are you doing?!”

Xiang Tianqing, who was standing in front, was so startled her face turned pale.

Wumian immediately rushed forward and spread his arms to shield her.

Meng Xilou didn’t move, but his eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of killing intent flashing beneath his gaze.

“My sword sensed killing intent and came out on its own,” Xiang Haikui said as she sheathed her sword Tiankuang, brushing it off casually.

The little monsters were gone, and Liu Yixing and Luo Yunxiu were hiding.

Bai Xingxian was right.

Meng Xilou paused, then withdrew his killing intent.

Wumian scowled. “Killing intent? I say you’re just petty. You’re still holding a grudge because I hit you yesterday!”

Who hit who? Xiang Haikui grumbled inwardly but couldn’t be bothered to argue.

“Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Sister… why are you here?”

Xiang Tianqing smoothed her chest, still keeping a stern face due to yesterday’s unpleasant exchange.

“Word has spread that you injured the master. Of course we had to come check on things and give everyone an explanation.”

Xiang Haikui responded sincerely, “You really came at the perfect time.”

Bai Xingxian stepped out.

“Master says it’s getting late, and he’s unwell and needs to rest early. He appreciates your kindness.”

Meng Xilou had no interest in going inside anyway.

“Then I’ll return another day.”

Xiang Haikui followed the plan and prepared to leave with them.

But Xiang Tianqing blocked her.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Xiang Haikui replied, “Of course, back to the estate.”

Xiang Tianqing lectured, “Didn’t you volunteer to stay and take care of the master yesterday? You’ve only watched over him for a day and now you’re leaving. What will others say? Don’t you realize that if this matter isn’t handled properly, it could bring unnecessary trouble to our father?”

“I don’t know any medicine. Staying won’t help,” Xiang Haikui said, spreading her hands.

She had to leave now  and only then could she draw the pursuers away and buy the boss a chance at survival.

“Then I’ll stay,” Xiang Tianqing said.

Xiang Haikui: …“That’s really not necessary.”

Bai Xingxian quickly added, “The master is an ascetic monk. Really, it’s not needed. I’ll stay and take care of him.”

Xiang Haikui shook her head.

“But you’re not from the City Lord’s Mansion. Right now, everyone is watching our mansion’s attitude.”

Bai Xingxian whispered, “What should we do, Xiao Haikui?”

Xiang Haikui could only whisper back, “Didn’t you say her soul would glow or something? Let her stay. Maybe she’ll save the senior’s life at a critical moment.”

Bai Xingxian: “But my uncle doesn’t want to get involved with her.”

Xiang Haikui: “So what’s more important ; staying single, or staying alive?”

Bai Xingxian: …

Xiang Haikui had no better solution.

“If it’s fated love, seems like there’s no dodging it.”

Bai Xingxian wanted to explain, but didn’t know how.

In his uncle’s view, this wasn’t destiny but someone from the upper realm was tampering with the threads of fate, deliberately entangling him with Xiang Tianqing.

Someone was scheming against his uncle.

But Xiang Haikui was right.

Right now, survival was the top priority.

“Tianqing…” Meng Xilou didn’t want her to stay either, but knowing he couldn’t stop her, he let it be.

Just as well… with her around, he could act without worry.

“Xiang Haikui, you’re a troublemaker! Look at all the mess you’ve stirred up in just a few days!”

Wumian cursed her in his heart , damn fox and climbed onto his mount.

Xiang Haikui had planned to ride her own beast, tied up not far away, but worried about being alone and running into danger, she went over to Wumian.

“Third Senior Brother, I haven’t slept for days and I’m really out of it. Can I ride with you?”

Wumian froze, looking down at her.

She blinked up at him, eyes full of hope.

And Wumian suddenly remembered the way she looked in her demonized form yesterday, the complete opposite of her current sweet and innocent face.

Wake up!

You’re a damn white tiger!

He mentally slapped himself across the ears, yanked the reins, and rode off, putting as much distance as he could between himself and this fox that reeked of seduction.

Xiang Haikui had no choice but to try Meng Xilou.

To her surprise, he actually offered first, reaching out his hand from atop his mount.

“Come, I’ll take you.”

Xiang Haikui didn’t hesitate and took his hand.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

His hand was cold, not like a killer’s but she still couldn’t rule him out the way she did Wumian.

Meng Xilou was highly suspicious.

Still, if he was from the upper realm too, sticking close might actually be safer.

Xiang Haikui settled behind him.

“Ready, Senior Brother.”

Meng Xilou curled his lips faintly, tugged the reins, and rode off from the Buddha cave territory.

Xiang Haikui sat tense, listening closely to her surroundings.

She couldn’t help glancing back at the Buddha cave.

Senior… please be safe.

…

Xiang Tianqing watched her ignore her own beast and insist on riding with the senior brothers.

Her lips went pale from being pressed so tightly.

Face dark, she followed Bai Xingxian into the cave.

At this time, Yin Changli had already gotten out of the water, preparing to ask Bai Xingxian some detailed questions.

He couldn’t remember who he was, but he could tell he must have been an extremely suspicious man in the past.

After putting away the bath tub and dressing in monk’s robes, he noticed a few strands of black hair stuck to his sleeve.

His robe had originally been thrown on the desk, but when Lu Xiqiao fainted, he’d grabbed it, and it ended up on the floor.

That spot had previously been occupied by Xiang Haikui and neither of the other two had black hair.

It was probably from when Lu Xiqiao gave her the phoenix feather, and the hair had fallen while she was redoing her bun.

Yin Changli picked it up with his fingertips, about to throw it away.

But the feeling of the hair clinging to his fingers made his body stiffen.

He hurriedly closed his eyes to carefully sense it.

So… the seaweed that had lifted him from the Sea of Death — it was her?

Yin Changli was both surprised and confused, but all suspicion toward her vanished.

He opened the door and chased after her.