Chapter 328: My Precious Garment

Chapter 328: My Precious Robe

"Xiao AQ, come with me, Master is going to pull off a big stunt!" Captain blurted swiftly, his eyes scanning the surroundings with alertness.

"I'm not going." Xu Qin shook her head.

"Why?" Captain grew flustered.

"You're the one who pissed off the Xuan You Palace, and you want me to cover your ass," Xu Qin recalled the previous time in the Xuan You Palace's forbidden grounds, the opponent's manic gaze upon the snake's fangs.

Moreover, she thought of his frequent visits with Wu Jianwu, only to find Wu Jianwu now a bemused captive, while the captain had escaped unscathed.

Clearly, Wu Jianwu had been duped by the captain, rendering him utterly foolish.

Captain coughed, his heart indeed held such thoughts; after all, his past deeds were too glaring. He feared that without Xu Qin's company, he might be smacked dead by Zi Xuan Immortal.

But dragging Xu Qin along—if Zi Xuan Immortal truly appeared… With Xu Qin present, he stood a high chance of survival.

"Xiao Xue, believe in your big brother! You can rest assured, this time it's definitely a big stunt. Aren't you in the Tian Gong Palace? Once this matter concludes, your Tian Gong Palace shall open even more!" Captain stared into Xu Qin's eyes, feigning sincerity as he patted his chest.

He then snatched an egg from beside him, peeling it to devour.

Xu Qin remained composed, sipping her soup. Yan Yan, meanwhile, eyed the captain with curiosity, her peeled egg placed gently in Xu Qin's bowl, followed by a sweet smile.

This sight irked the captain, who glanced at his egg, wishing someone would peel one for him.

"Little AQ, you don't look like a human," Captain said.

"Xuan You Palace's people should've found us by now," Xu Qin took a sip of soup.

Captain's eyebrows shot up.

"Humans can't possibly have such a face—it's impossible. Have you noticed how you've grown older, becoming increasingly otherworldly? You subtly resemble a mysterious clan I once heard of. I reckon you're most likely their survivor, Little AQ. I know much about that clan—what you want to know about your origins?"

"No interest." Xu Qin downed her last sip, then nibbled an egg, inwardly satisfied. The captain's antics met with indifference.

Seeing Xu Qin unmoved, Captain resorted to his trump card.

"Xu Deputy, you still owe me two million spirit stones!"

"Big brother, I have some jade slip—should be quite valuable." Xu Qin presented a jade slip with Captain's female attire.

"Yan Yan, you shouldn't join the Seven Blood Pupil. Listen to me—join the Xuan You Palace. In my understanding, he favors the Xuan You Palace deeply." Captain nudged Yan Yan.

Yan Yan's eyes widened.

Xu Qin sighed internally, realizing Captain's desperation this time—he must drag her along, or it wouldn't work.

"Little AQ has grown up. Doesn't he remember his elder brother's kindness? I'm your superior, your big brother! I've ranted against his master for you, exposed his master's weaknesses, bled for you, covered for you—we've bathed together, gone out to play…"

Captain displayed a pitiful expression.

Yan Yan's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Captain then Xu Qin.

Xu Qin remained silent, then withdrew an apple from her sleeve, offering it to Captain.

Captain's eyebrows lifted. Xu Qin then handed over a Celestial Pool card.

Captain hesitated.

"70% off!" Xu Qin smirked.

Captain glanced at the card, resisting the urge to grab it.

"Will you go?"

Xu Qin sighed. She didn't want to go, but Captain had reached his limit, so she nodded.

Captain's face brightened, snatching the apple and card, he whispered, "That's a good junior brother. This time, Brother won't lie to you—big stunt, Yan Yan, let's go!"

Yan Yan beamed and nodded swiftly.

"Let's go, let's go! We'll be late, Little AQ, use your magic vessel." Captain hurried up, urging them on.

Xu Qin retrieved her magic vessel silently.

As the vessel materialized, Captain leaped aboard first. Xu Qin's body swayed, then she stepped onto it too. Yan Yan was about to follow, but Xu Qin glanced at her.

Yan Yan immediately pointed at Captain.

"She said you can go."

"Take Yan Yan—she understands women, aiding us in pulling off the big stunt." Captain spoke rapidly.

Xu Qin narrowed her eyes, saying nothing, and with Captain's prodding, they channeled their techniques. The vessel roared into the void, swiftly distancing themselves from the Seven Blood Pupil Mountain.

Barely thirty instants after their departure, Zi Xuan Immortal, his face cold, strode to the void, gazing at the retreating vessel. Though he yearned to pursue, Xu Qin's recent silence made him ponder.

"Let him clear his mind. Still, the old one won't escape!" Zi Xuan Immortal sneered, charging toward the Seven Blood Pupil Mountain.

A moment later, within the mountain's depths, Seven Elder bellowed furiously.

"Chen Erbiu, if you've got the guts, come back! I'll break your legs!"

The sound echoed far and wide, reaching Xu Qin, who glanced at Captain, who coughed nonchalantly.

"Elder's hinting I shouldn't return soon. Guess the Master does care about me."

"Master's serious this time." Xu Qin glanced at Captain, then checked her talisman, where Seven Elder's growl resounded in her mind.

"Your big brother must've done something with that snake's fangs. He's locked up the talisman, afraid to contact me. Tell him, the Ancestor agrees he's too troublesome—proposing to break his legs. I support it!"

Captain missed Xu Qin's mental message, smugly smirking.

"You don't get it. The Master isn't most concerned about me—it's the Ancestor. Even if I beg the Ancestor, it's useless. Only I'm the Ancestor's favorite disciple, so lively… You can't compete, Little AQ. I'm the one who wins the Ancestor's favor, for they love my lively nature."

Xu Qin pocketed the talisman, dismissing the thought to inform him.

She then piloted her vessel, inquiring about Captain's grand scheme.

"Truly a big deal!" Captain, watching them depart the mountain, exhaled in relief, his eyes darting as he muttered, "This time, our target is the Three Spirit Village's Zhen Dao Mountain—the Third Elder, the ghostly spirit immortal."

Xu Qin's gaze hardened, preparing to reverse course—she didn't wish to die.

"Don't, this time it's safe! I've scouted details. Our target is the Third Elder of the Three Spirit Village, that ghostly spirit immortal." Captain's eyes sparkled.

"That robe she wore—you remember it, right? When she arrogantly soared over my head, I fancied that robe."

"Most crucially, I've intel—the Sword Hall is planning action on the Three Spirit Village soon. Calculating the timeline, it's near. So we infiltrate first, then when the Sword Hall strikes, we'll loot my robe."

"The robe's embedded with treasures. Little AQ, just absorb a bit, open several Tian Gong Palaces effortlessly." Captain's breaths raced, his excitement evident—he'd coveted that robe for ages.

"Moreover, you think I went to the Xuan You Palace for that snake's fang? Just to bite through the robe—I found the material tough. But with a snake's fang, it's manageable."

Yan Yan, hearing this reckless plan, even her bloodthirsty nature couldn't stomach it—she'd lived enough. She deemed Captain insane, for he challenged a top-tier immortal.

Stealing her robe… the risk was immense. Discovery meant certain death. Worse, it wasn't a barren void—it was three-fold.

Even if the Sword Hall intervened, the danger was extreme, for she understood women's attachment to beloved attire, surpassing all else.

Tampering with the robe would unleash a tempest of fury.

The next moment, she perceived the contemplative expression on Xu Qing's face, and so she blinked her eyes lightly, saying nothing.

Xu Qing pondered inwardly, his heart analyzing the situation with careful consideration. If such were the case, the matter was not without merit; yet certain doubts still lingered in his mind. Having reflected thus, he immediately spoke.

"To take action is unproblematic, yet that garment is unmistakably a battle robe. When the Shadow Spirit Lord bestows her power, she must needs wear it. How are we to acquire it?"

The captain's eyes gleamed with disdain.

"She may be a woman, albeit a most beauteous one! Do not forget that she flew through the air, ever attending to her mirror as she went."

Xu Qing felt uncertain.

Observing Xu Qing's confusion, the captain suddenly felt a sharp surge of superiority, whereupon he coughed delicately and turned toward Yan Yan.

"How many garments dost thou possess, Yan Yan?"

"Not many..." Yan Yan replied softly, her eyes blinking innocently, then added with a whisper: "Though should any dare touch my attire, I shall slay them—Xu Qing is an exception."

The captain disregarded the latter half of her words. From his lofty vantage, he gazed at Xu Qing with an air of profound meaning.

"Dost thou comprehend? The Shadow Spirit Lord cannot have but a single robe—such a notion is absurd. Even if by some chance she exited in that very garment for combat, she must needs possess other treasures of similar splendor."

"Ah, woman! She cannot have but one precious garment. Small Xu Qing, I understand women better than thou."

"Thus our gains this time shall be considerable!"

Xu Qing fell silent.

"Moreover, the Sword Saint's recruitment trials are on the verge of commencing. Once we complete this task, we shall pass through and arrive just in time."

"I have already planned it: we shall present ourselves before the Sword Saint's high command at the Three Realms, displaying our prowess to earn their notice and familiarity. When the trials begin, we may secure additional advantages."

"Trust me, junior disciple. All that I do is in service of our greater joining the Sword Saint's ranks!"