Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 458 444: Doesn't Peng Sword Immortal Want Shang Miaoyan to Die?

"If you're alright, then I'll be heading back."

Pei Yuhang said, his voice chilly.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xuan's eyes danced for a moment before she rolled them at Pei Yuhang, a look of playful pique tinged with annoyance.

That look, full of a coy, girlish charm, made Pei Yuhang's breath catch. A tingling sensation, like a mild electric shock, shot down his spine. He thought to himself, 'Fan Xuan used to have the cold, serious air unique to an assassin. How did she suddenly become so good at flirting!'

Pei Yuhang's eyes narrowed warily. He studied the woman before him for a moment, and only after confirming it was indeed Fan Xuan did he let out a sigh of relief.

'I guess... I'm just being too sensitive.'

As for Fan Xuan, she seemed completely oblivious to Pei Yuhang's scrutiny. She spoke with a hint of playful resentment:

"Did Sword Immortal Pei come all this way so late at night just to say a few words?"

She suddenly turned to the side, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a pristine white wrist. She gestured toward the room, which was filled with the warm glow of candlelight.

"The snowstorm outside is so bad. Why don't you come in and sit for a bit? At least have a cup of hot tea."

Fan Xuan watched Pei Yuhang's eyes closely. When she saw he still showed no sign of yielding, she pressed her lips together and suddenly lowered her voice.

"I have some intelligence on Shang Miaoyan. Do you want to hear it?"

"Intelligence on Shang Miaoyan?"

Pei Yuhang finally showed a reaction. His sharp brows knitted together, and his eyes suddenly darkened.

Seeing his interest, a triumphant smile played on Fan Xuan's red lips. She lightly dragged a fingernail across the doorframe and said, her tone laced with playful jealousy:

"Sword Immortal Pei, you really won't lift a finger unless there's something in it for you. A moment ago, you were giving Xiaoxuan the cold shoulder, so why are you so excited the second you hear Shang Miaoyan's name?"

Hearing this, the corner of Pei Yuhang's mouth twitched.

"Who would be excited about that woman! A woman like that—"

For once, Pei Yuhang seemed to lose his composure, his voice tinged with repressed fury. But before he could finish, Fan Xuan cut him off impatiently.

"Fine, fine, I get it. You can't stand Shang Miaoyan... You don't need to repeat yourself."

Fan Xuan's expression was blank, her earlier enthusiasm gone. She stepped aside to let him pass, saying:

"If you want to hear the intelligence, Sword Immortal Pei, then come in."

A flicker of indecision crossed Pei Yuhang's eyes before he finally stepped inside.

"Pardon the intrusion."

"What intrusion? This was your room to begin with."

Fan Xuan's searing gaze followed his upright back. She slowly ran her tongue over her lips, a spark reigniting in her beautiful eyes.

Only when his silhouette had been fully swallowed by the warm light did she chuckle softly and close the door. The heavy wooden door let out a CREAK, completely shutting out the swirling snowstorm.

「Inside the room.」

Pei Yuhang had just sat down at the low table when he heard Fan Xuan's cheerful voice from behind him:

"That's a nice scarf, Sword Immortal Pei. Where did you get it? I want one too."

Without turning his head, Pei Yuhang said, "Liyuan knitted this for me. You can't buy it."

"Hmph. Can't you just ask Fairy Ye to knit one for me?"

"In your dreams!"

Pei Yuhang took a deep breath and looked seriously at Fan Xuan, who had taken a seat across from him. "Alright, Xiaoxuan, stop messing around. It's time to discuss business. What's Shang Miaoyan's current situation?"

Seeing his grave expression, Fan Xuan dropped her playful demeanor as well. She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, a flicker of gravity in her eyes:

"As the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land, Shang Miaoyan's position is outwardly glamorous, but in reality, it's quite precarious."

"The powers among the Yin Yang Sacred Land's upper echelons are deeply entangled. Though she is the Saintess, she's too young and her foundation is weak. She is caught between various factions, forced to tread on thin ice.

I served her for many years, so I know that her greatest threat as Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land comes from the Elder Hall, which is led by the conservative faction.

She made an implacable enemy of the Elder Hall when she pushed for an alliance between the Yin Yang Sacred Land and the Xuanyuan Dao Sect, and advocated to abolish the Sect's inhumane regulations regarding Cauldron Slaves."

Something stirred in Pei Yuhang's eyes as he heard this.

Everything Fan Xuan said was news to him.

'So... the alliance between the Yin Yang Sacred Land and the Xuanyuan Dao Sect... and the reformation of that evil Sect that built its foundation on exploiting the world's men... was Shang Miaoyan really the one pushing for all of it?'

Pei Yuhang lowered his gaze, recalling a time he'd been drinking with Shang Miaoyan under the moonlight. Emboldened by the wine, he had rambled drunkenly about his wish to improve the plight of the Cauldron Slaves within the Yin Yang Sacred Land.

At the time, Shang Miaoyan had only given him an ambiguous smile, the tear-shaped beauty mark by her eye looking as bewitching as a drop of blood in the Moonlight. He never imagined that vicious woman would actually take his drunken rambling to heart.

'And I certainly never expected that she would actually go and do it...'

Fan Xuan, observing Pei Yuhang's expression, continued:

"After I returned to the Dao Sect, I made some inquiries and found out that Shang Miaoyan returned to the Yin Yang Sacred Land three days ago."

"Based on my guess, she went back this time to face the Elder Hall's motion to impeach her for her 'prolonged absence from the Sect.'

She'll probably have her hands full for a while. It's unlikely she'll be able to return for several months."

At this point, Fan Xuan suddenly stretched languidly, her graceful curves becoming faintly visible beneath the thin gauze of her clothes. She narrowed her fox-like eyes, covering a soft laugh with her hand:

"That's wonderful! It would be perfect if those old geezers in the Elder Hall just assassinated her now that she's back. Then I'd never have to worry about her hunting me down again!"

"What do you think, Sword Immortal Pei? If Shang Miaoyan were to die, you wouldn't have to worry about her threats anymore, either. We'd both be rid of a massive headache."

Pei Yuhang pressed his lips together, then shook his head.

"She may be abominable... but her crimes don't warrant death."

"Oh?"

Fan Xuan tilted her head, dark hair spilling over her shoulder as she laughed coquettishly. "Since when did Sword Immortal Pei become so soft-hearted? Wouldn't it be better if Shang Miaoyan died? That way, you'd be free of your burden. No more wicked woman holding your unspeakable, hidden past over your head.

To your Dao Companion, your disciples, and the world, you would forever remain the noble White-clothed Sword Immortal."

Pei Yuhang's voice was somber, yet tinged with acceptance:

"That only applies to me. Shang Miaoyan may have treated me poorly... but she is a force for good in the world.

If something were to happen to her at the Yin Yang Sacred Land, the conservative Demon Forces led by the Elder Hall would regain the upper hand. The Sacred Land would then revert to the ways of the Demon Dao.

On a grander scale, it would disrupt the balance between the world's Righteous and Demonic Daos. On a more personal level, countless innocent people would again be abducted and taken to the Yin Yang Sacred Land, their lives burned away as Cauldron Slaves with no dignity. It would lead to countless more tragedies, shattering families and destroying lives.

Nothing can be allowed to happen to Shang Miaoyan."

Pei Yuhang's eyes gleamed with resolve as he rose to his feet. "Xiaoxuan, thank you for telling me these secrets.

I believe it's necessary to inform the Dao Sect's leadership about the internal struggle between Shang Miaoyan and the Elder Hall. We should have the Dao Sect dispatch forces to support the Saintess Hall.

At the very least, we cannot allow Shang Miaoyan, an ally of the Righteous Forces, to be defeated."

With that said, Pei Yuhang hurriedly pushed the door open and departed.

He left Fan Xuan behind, watching his retreating back with a soft sigh.