Another half-month passed. During these two weeks, Mo Tiange never left her residence, quietly cultivating and refining magical treasures within the Void Heaven Realm.
The Tianyan Sect cultivators did not return, and Ayin did not disturb her.
This allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief, yet a trace of worry also surfaced.
Was that person truly Nie Wushang? Had Venerable Songfeng also come to Yunzhong? And what was the final outcome of the matter between her and the Tianyan Sect?
She very much wanted to know these things, but given the current situation, it was inconvenient to inquire. She could only suppress her curiosity and continue focusing her mind on refining the magical treasures.
Just as she was concentrating on the refinement process, she suddenly heard Ayin's anxious voice: "Immortal, Immortal!"
Mo Tiange opened her eyes, halted her spiritual breath, put away the treasures, and exited the Void Heaven Realm. "What is it?"
It was night outside. Ayin dared not enter the room and reported from the courtyard: "Immortal, someone requests an audience."
Mo Tiange focused her senses and could already detect the presence of other cultivators within the small courtyard. One early-stage Core Formation cultivator and two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After brief consideration, she withdrew the restrictions and stepped out of the house.
The Core Formation cultivator waiting in the courtyard turned out to be none other than Lady Chisu herself. Seeing her emerge, Lady Chisu smiled and performed a slight bow in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, this humble one comes to disturb you again."
Mo Tiange was somewhat surprised but returned the courtesy calmly. "Fellow Daoist, what important matter brings you here so late at night?"
Lady Chisu's brows were slightly furrowed, her smile somewhat forced. "Indeed, there is a matter. May I ask, Fellow Daoist Qingwei, if you know the female cultivator residing nearby?"
The "Immortal" living in another small courtyard that Shopkeeper Dong mentioned? Mo Tiange shook her head. "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist Chisu, since arriving at Beiji Island, I haven't gotten to know any cultivators. For the past half-month, I haven't even stepped outside."
"Is that so?" The expression on Lady Chisu's face was strange—part relief, part deepening worry. She thought for a moment and asked, "Then, in these past few days, has your divine sense detected any traces of other cultivators?"
This question caused Mo Tiange's eyebrows to rise slightly. "Fellow Daoist Chisu, you should know the principle of cultivators maintaining distance from one another. Since that area is someone else's residence, of course I wouldn't probe with my divine sense."
This was an unwritten rule among cultivators. Cultivators had a strong sense of self-preservation; places like residences and cave abodes were absolutely not to be violated by outsiders. If someone probed with their divine sense, they would likely be regarded as harboring ill intentions.
Realizing her question was somewhat inappropriate, Lady Chisu paused briefly before revealing a smile and apologizing. "My apologies, my words were improper. To be frank with you, Fellow Daoist, we have been investigating for half a month and have already identified the thief. Coincidentally, they were residing in the courtyard closest to yours. But when we arrived, they were nowhere to be found. I thought of you, Fellow Daoist Qingwei, being right nearby, so I came to ask."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. "It's actually such a coincidence?"
"Indeed. When I first received the news, I could hardly believe it myself." Lady Chisu's gaze remained fixed on her. Though she smiled, her expression held a hint of tension.
Mo Tiange inwardly sighed. This Lady Chisu was probably worried she was an accomplice, wasn't she? That person stole from the Tianyan Sect. She just happened to visit the Yulin Pavilion, and her build and accent were similar. After clarifying matters, it turned out that person just happened to live near her. With so many coincidences, how could they not suspect her?
Thinking this, Mo Tiange sighed. "Fellow Daoist Chisu, is that person also a Core Formation cultivator?"
Lady Chisu nodded. "Correct." Her gaze shifted. "Because the stolen item is valuable, a Nascent Soul senior from our sect has taken action. I believe it will be recovered soon."
After hearing the answer, Mo Tiange merely said calmly, "Then I wish your sect a swift recovery of the lost item."
After this exchange, both were somewhat at a loss for words. They stood for a moment before Lady Chisu finally smiled and took her leave. "Since you haven't seen anything, Fellow Daoist, this humble one will take my leave. I deeply apologize for disturbing you so late at night."
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "It's no trouble. Fellow Daoist Chisu need not be so polite. I still have matters to attend to, so I won't see you out."
Lady Chisu smiled and nodded, then turned and left with the two Foundation Establishment disciples.
Only after they had gone far and there were no longer any traces of cultivators nearby did Mo Tiange turn and instruct, "Ayin, it's fine now. Go back and rest."
"Yes." Ayin acknowledged, watching as she turned and entered the cultivation chamber before returning to her own small side room.
Once inside the cultivation chamber, Mo Tiange immediately activated the restrictions and looked towards a corner. "Come out."
Not long after her voice fell, a shadow slowly appeared in the corner. The shadow grew clearer and clearer until finally, a person materialized.
Clad entirely in black, with delicate features—it was Nie Wushang.
"You actually managed to detect me?" Nie Wushang's ventriloquism sounded, her voice low and hoarse.
Mo Tiange smiled, sat down by the table, and poured two cups of tea. "It's been many years, meeting again in a foreign land. Fellow Daoist Nie, we truly are fated."
Nie Wushang frowned, not responding to her words, but stepped forward and sat down opposite her. "How did you discover me?"
Mo Tiange looked at her, her gaze sweeping across the room with a hint of a smile. "You entering this courtyard is one thing, but you actually entered my room. This room is arranged with my unique formation. Although your concealment technique is superb, I can still be aware of it."
"So that's how it is." Nie Wushang nodded, picked up a teacup, and took a sip.
Mo Tiange's eyes flickered, somewhat unclear about her intentions. Hiding in her room without a greeting seemed like an offense. Yet, knowing there were restrictions here, she still dared to enter and drank the tea she poured without any caution... This Nie Wushang seemed to believe she wouldn't harm her?
"Fellow Daoist Nie," Mo Tiange spoke after a while. "How did you come to Yunzhong? And why did you steal from the Tianyan Sect?"
Nie Wushang looked up, a slight curve at the corner of her mouth. "Actually, you want to ask if my master is here too, right?"
Mo Tiange paused, then smiled. "Does that even need asking? You went to steal from the Tianyan Sect and then hid here with me. Your master definitely isn't with you."
Nie Wushang was taken aback, lowered her eyes, and held the teacup without speaking.
Mo Tiange found the current situation somewhat bizarre. Their respective masters bore a great enmity. Between them, there was both gratitude and resentment. Yet, they happened to meet in Yunzhong, tens of thousands of miles from the Tianji Region. If that were all, it would be one thing. But now Nie Wushang had stolen from the leading sect on Beiji Island and hidden here, seemingly without a shred of caution... She didn't recall her relationship with Nie Wushang being this good?
Regardless, Nie Wushang, knowing she was within her formation restrictions, remained so composed. She likely harbored no hostility.
Just as she was thinking this, Nie Wushang stopped her contemplation, looked up at her, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Mo, how did you come to Yunzhong? What about your husband? Did he come with you?"
Mo Tiange was momentarily stunned. "You know I... have a Dao Companion?"
Nie Wushang's mouth curved slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. "Fellow Daoist Mo, don't underestimate the fame of you and your husband. Your husband formed his Nascent Soul just over two hundred years old and is currently making waves in the Tianji Region. And you, a genius who formed your Core within a hundred years. When the two of you entered dual cultivation, the news spread throughout Tianji. As long as I paid attention, I naturally knew."
"..." Mo Tiange truly hadn't expected this. Qin Xi was one thing, but at least she didn't think she herself was that famous. However, Nie Wushang mentioning this made her notice something else. "Fellow Daoist Nie, my dual cultivation happened only three or five years ago. Did you also arrive in Yunzhong recently?"
"Mhm." Nie Wushang nodded, glancing at her sideways. "Fellow Daoist Mo, just now, I was the one asking you."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange smiled. "But initially, I was the one asking how you came to Yunzhong, Fellow Daoist Nie, and you haven't answered."
"..."
The two stared at each other for a while, both feeling somewhat silly, then averted their gazes and sighed.
The sighs were remarkably synchronized, causing both to pause, look at each other, and couldn't help but share a smile.
With this smile, the two unconsciously grew closer. Those messy grudges and favors were temporarily set aside.
"Alright, I'll answer first," Nie Wushang said. "I obtained a treasure from my master. It was precisely by relying on this treasure that I safely crossed the South Sea. However, I went off course and drifted to Beiji Island." After saying this, she looked at Mo Tiange. "And you? How did you come to Yunzhong? I don't see your husband. Could it be you're alone too?"
Mo Tiange replied, "Correct, I am indeed alone. Originally, I had just broken through to mid-stage Core Formation and was traveling to gain experience. Later, I accidentally discovered a path and came to Yunzhong."
Both spoke vaguely, as their relationship was complex, and some things didn't need to be explained too clearly.
After this brief exchange, Mo Tiange asked, "Fellow Daoist Nie, you stole from the Tianyan Sect and then hid here with me. What do you mean by this?"
"What, you don't want me hiding here?" Nie Wushang countered with a question instead of answering.
Mo Tiange was taken aback, then shook her head. "I neither want to meddle in your affairs nor help the Tianyan Sect catch a thief. Where you are has nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, Nie Wushang revealed a smile. "If that's the case, why ask further?"
Mo Tiange frowned. "Fellow Daoist Nie, you are currently in my cultivation chamber. If I don't clarify things, how can I continue staying here?"
Nie Wushang thought for a moment and nodded. "You have a point there. Alright, then let's first discuss our relationship."
"..." Mo Tiange always felt that this Nie Wushang before her was different from the one she met at the Demonic Mountain and even more different from the one she saw at the sect over sixty years ago. The previous Nie Wushang, though delicate in appearance, seemed shrouded in a fierce aura, with a peculiar personality. But the one before her now was clearly much more relaxed, exuding a lighthearted air.
Perhaps it was because she had left Venerable Songfeng? This thought involuntarily surfaced. It wasn't impossible. Back when they met at the Demonic Mountain, Nie Wushang's behavior spoke volumes. Venerable Songfeng would frequently beat and scold this disciple, and Nie Wushang also revealed emotions of both fear and hatred towards her master.
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange's mind stirred. Nie Wushang had just said she obtained a treasure from Venerable Songfeng to leave the Tianji Region and come to Yunzhong. These words sounded somewhat strange. To rely on it to cross the South Sea, this treasure must possess immense power. Given Venerable Songfeng's attitude towards her, it was highly unlikely he would bestow such a magical treasure upon her, right? Was it possible she stole Venerable Songfeng's treasure and fled privately?