Mo Tiange no longer held any lingering resentment towards Jing Xingzhi. The events of that year had been the result of someone else's scheming; nothing substantial had actually happened between them. Now that she and Qin Xi were so blissfully happy together, there was even less reason to dwell on the past. Moreover, while Jing Xingzhi's personality might be lacking, he had shown genuine loyalty towards Qin Xi.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but glance at Qin Xi, then at Jing Xingzhi.
Come to think of it, the relationship between these two was rather peculiar.
Qin Xi was by nature aloof and disliked socializing. Others often perceived him as arrogant and cold, keeping people at a distance of a thousand miles. In truth, he was quite amiable in his dealings and always courteous and polite when interacting with others.
On the other hand, he maintained a certain distance from almost everyone, holding back three parts in his words and actions.
But with Jing Xingzhi, he never bothered with pleasantries or formalities, often being very direct instead. It seemed he didn't mind revealing his true emotions in front of him.
From this perspective, Mo Tiange almost thought Qin Xi considered Jing Xingzhi a friend—and the kind of friend with whom one could be completely open. Yet, they didn't even have the most basic interactions between friends. After leaving the Tianmo Mountain, Qin Xi had never once mentioned Jing Xingzhi.
Looking at Jing Xingzhi again, from Mo Tiange's own standpoint, this person was truly not someone worth befriending. He hardly spoke a word of truth to others, lavished attention on women but held none of them in genuine regard in his bones; he was utterly self-serving, disregarding others' lives to achieve his goals; he would even harm others without benefiting himself, dragging people down with him when he couldn't escape.
However, despite being unreliable to the extreme, he still adhered to his own principles. Back then, under Songfeng Shangren's coercion, he had been unwilling to commit that act, and afterwards, he even felt he had wronged Qin Xi.
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange felt that the relationship between them was simply a tangled web of gratitude and grudges, love and hate!
"I say—"
Her voice broke the silence, immediately drawing the gazes of the other two.
"What exactly is the relationship between you two?"
Hearing this question, Qin Xi merely looked at her without answering. Jing Xingzhi, however, raised an eyebrow and smiled with a hint of surprise. "What do you think?"
Mo Tiange ignored him, her eyes fixed on Qin Xi.
Qin Xi still didn't answer, only giving her a slight shake of his head. It was unclear whether he meant it didn't matter or that he didn't want to discuss it now.
Then, he turned back to Jing Xingzhi and asked that question again: "Why are you here? You disappeared from Tianji all these years—did you come to Yunzhong?"
This time, Jing Xingzhi didn't retort with "Why can't I be here?" Instead, he sighed and answered seriously, "What else could it be? Don't you know? My days in the Ancient Sword Sect weren't easy. After the Tianmo Mountain incident, I fell out with them and simply never went back."
Mo Tiange asked, "Fellow Daoist Jing, back then you were only at the Core Formation stage. How did you get to Yunzhong? Surely you didn't cross the South Sea?"
"Heh," Jing Xingzhi gave her a half-smile, half-sneer glance. "If you could get to Yunzhong safely, why couldn't I?" He paused, then answered earnestly, "In the past, during an adventure, I happened to learn of an ancient Teleportation Array. After deciding to leave Tianji, I spent some effort repairing it. Who knew the destination of this ancient array was actually Yuanzhou? After arriving in Yuanzhou, I made my way to Yunzhong. Seeing the high level of cultivation here, I simply stayed. What about you two? Why come to Yunzhong? Surely you weren't driven out too?"
Since he had answered in such detail without concealment, Mo Tiange replied in kind: "I learned of an undersea passage through an ancient cultivator's cave abode and came to Yunzhong to gain experience. As for Senior Brother, he crossed the South Sea to get here."
"Oh?" Jing Xingzhi raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between them. "Why didn't you take the same route?"
"Because the passage collapsed," Mo Tiange answered glumly. Since it was already collapsed, there was no harm in saying it.
"..." Not expecting such an answer, Jing Xingzhi was momentarily speechless. He looked at Mo Tiange, then at Qin Xi, and suddenly said, "Don't tell me you crossed the sea just to look for her?"
Qin Xi's face turned cold. "What, is that not allowed?"
"..." Jing Xingzhi raised his eyebrows in astonishment. After a long moment, he patted Qin Xi's shoulder and said, "Qin Shoujing, we've known each other for over two hundred years. Even though you've always been hailed as a genius and your cultivation has always been higher than mine, I never really took it to heart. But today, I admit defeat. This kind of thing—I couldn't do it."
Qin Xi snorted and didn't reply.
Seeing his reaction, Jing Xingzhi actually laughed. "And you talk about me? Your own awkward personality hasn't changed a bit either, has it?"
Qin Xi's face darkened slightly. He resisted the impulse to summon the Three Yang True Fire Sword and finally asked calmly, "Did you come alone? That Immortal Palace passage is no simple matter. Even a Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could easily perish within. Didn't you just form your Nascent Soul?"
"Ai!" Jing Xingzhi sighed. "I say, Qin Shoujing, others might not know, but surely you do? Or have you been ahead all these years and grown accustomed to looking down on me?"
Hearing this, Qin Xi fell silent. The two of them had met before reaching Foundation Establishment and had shared adventures. That one time, he had obtained the Three Yang True Fire Sword and the Yang Spirit Pearl, while Jing Xingzhi had gotten that ancient cultivator's sword and sword art manual from him. It could be said that the gains from that adventure were the greatest Opportunity in their cultivation journeys thus far. Relying on the Three Yang True Fire Sword and Yang Spirit Pearl, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. As for Jing Xingzhi, though not as dazzling, Qin Xi knew his capabilities were not to be underestimated.
Jing Xingzhi's gaze swept between them, and he suddenly smiled. "I say, your situation isn't too good, is it?"
Seeing Qin Xi glare at him, he smiled triumphantly. "The rumors in Yunzhong say that Fuyaozi's Fusheng Sword is in the hands of a Core Formation female cultivator named Qin Wei. It seems now that rumor is true. However, even though Fellow Daoist Qingwei possesses the Fusheng Sword, the two of you are isolated and outnumbered, unlike those major powers deeply rooted in Yunzhong. Among those Late-Nascent Soul cultivators, you probably aren't having an easy time, right?"
"So?" Given Jing Xingzhi's intelligence, Mo Tiange wasn't surprised he had deduced their current predicament. However, she wasn't worried he harbored ill intentions. No matter what, their situation was better than Jing Xingzhi's. He was only an Early-Nascent Soul cultivator. Even if he had the skill to pass through the passage safely and enter the Immortal Palace, with so many Late-Nascent Soul cultivators here, obtaining benefits wouldn't be easy. Besides, once she and Qin Xi reunited with Perfected One Yuanmu and the others and entered the storeroom, they would be safe. Jing Xingzhi, however, would not be. If that God Transformation Stage Corpse Puppet chased them again, he would likely be doomed. Under these circumstances, Jing Xingzhi's intentions were quite clear.
"So, I want to cooperate with you!" he said with a smile. "Even though I'm only at the Early-Nascent Soul stage, with me, your strength will increase significantly!"
Just as expected. Mo Tiange looked up at Qin Xi, but his expression remained impassive. "State your terms."
"Simple," Jing Xingzhi put away his playful demeanor and answered seriously. "I know Fellow Daoist Qingwei possesses the Fusheng Sword. Your information is certainly more extensive than mine, and you've probably already prepared a way out. As for me, I'm also isolated and outnumbered in this Immortal Palace. Even if there are Opportunities, they won't fall to me. Besides, with the sudden appearance of that God Transformation Stage Corpse Puppet, danger lurks everywhere. Since our situations are both unfavorable, why not join forces? If I join you, not to mention Opportunities, my chances of survival increase greatly. And for you, with me added, your strength increases, giving you more leverage when negotiating with others."
After he finished, Qin Xi narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "You're quite confident. Those are Late-Nascent Soul cultivators standing at the peak of the mortal realm. Ordinary Early or even Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators are beneath their notice. Adding you won't make much difference."
"How much weight one carries depends on one's strength," Jing Xingzhi said with a faint smile, a sharp glint flashing across his face. "I'm a sword cultivator. Even with ordinary skills, I can match a typical Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Besides, you know why I have this confidence."
"..." Qin Xi fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he turned to glance at Mo Tiange, a question in his eyes. Mo Tiange smiled at him, her gaze full of trust. He then also curled the corner of his mouth slightly.
"Alright," Qin Xi said. "Even though your personality is utterly rotten, cooperating with you is still relatively reassuring."
"Hey, hey!" Jing Xingzhi protested as soon as he heard this. "What do you mean 'utterly rotten'?"
Qin Xi ignored him completely and continued, "Since it's cooperation, we need to clarify the terms clearly. Although we are isolated, cooperating with you isn't an absolute necessity for us. As for you, without cooperating with us, staying in the Immortal Palace poses a mortal danger."
"..." Jing Xingzhi wanted to say something but finally just spread his hands helplessly. "So?"
"I'll be frank with you. We do indeed have a way to evade this Corpse Puppet. This method requires the use of a certain item, and this item is also connected to a great Opportunity. We obtained this item with great difficulty..."
"So, you can lend me the item, but the Opportunity is yours," Jing Xingzhi rolled his eyes. "Is that what you mean?"
"Yes," Qin Xi admitted frankly. "The benefit for you is merely survival. Whether to accept is up to you."
"Fine."
Hearing the immediate affirmative answer, Qin Xi raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.
Jing Xingzhi snorted. "Could I refuse? It's obvious you wouldn't simply hand over an Opportunity within the Immortal Palace to me. If I were in your place, I wouldn't agree either."
Though his personality was detestable, he was a smart man.
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "Fellow Daoist Jing, although we won't give you this Opportunity, by participating, you might not necessarily end up empty-handed."
"Indeed," Qin Xi also showed a smile. "With your personality, you'd definitely find a way to snatch some benefits."
"..." Jing Xingzhi said, "Since this item was something you obtained earlier, such a demand is normal. However, if we obtain anything afterwards, you must give me a share."
"Naturally," Qin Xi agreed readily. "As long as you contribute, there's no reason not to share with you."
Satisfied with the answer, Jing Xingzhi nodded. "Your personality is also quite annoying, but cooperating with you is also relatively reassuring."