New Empyrean City, near the vicinity of the Clear Sky Pavilion;
Two horse carriages were trotting on the road. One of the horse carriages had belonged to the Heavens Ridge Villa and the other had belonged to the Clear Sky Pavilion.
"Master, we are really going to the Clear Sky Pavilion?" Lu Qingyun asked quietly.
Qin Keqin smiled, "Why not? I've heard that the Clear Sky Pavilion occupies one of the most beautiful peaks in New Empyrean City and there is even a large waterfall in its back mountains. That will be quite a sight, right?"
Then she smiled as she looked at Lie Xingyuan, Leng Qiuyue and Ouyang Xue. "You will be interested to take a look right?"
Lie Xingyuan merely smiled at her question while Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue were smiling bitterly. It was not because Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue did not like the beautiful views but because somehow they did not feel that this Qiuxiang Huan had any good intentions.
At first they had a better impression of Qiuxiang Huan after she had stepped in to aid Lu Qingyun but when she had asked Qin Keqin the cause of the Heavens Ridge Villa attack on the Solitary Manor, they had become wary of her and their backs had turned cold. It was because the two of them were involved in the attack against the Solitary Manor that very night. If their sect leader screwed up in this matter in public, they would all be screwed up as well.
Lu Qingyun sighed softly, "Ke-, erm…Master. I don't think this Maiden Qiuxiang Huan has any good intentions for you. You ought to be wary of her."
Qin Keqin had a sudden smile, "Oh? You're asking me to be wary of such a beautiful maiden? I've thought that all men are lustful animals that cannot resist a pretty maiden."
Lu Qingyun had an awkward smile, "I don't know. I'm just feeling uncomfortable around her."
Ouyang Xue said quietly, "Senior brother is right. Moreover there are only the five of us now, minus the two protégés that are driving the carriage. If anything were to happen to our sect leader then it is our failings."
Qin Keqin smiled wryly, "Don't worry. We'll be fine…"
Qin Keqin was never a cautious person and she had frequently paid dearly for her curiosity. She was really curious what the Clear Sky Pavilion really looked like. Moreover she did not want the others to fear her, she only wanted to see their true self.
In her heart, the Celestial Realm was like her playground before she ascended to the boring Immortal Realm. Therefore she had wanted to experience all the fun that she could before her future ascension. But the troubles that she had caused to herself had almost killed on a number of occasions.
Although that was the case, the word fear did not even exist in her dictionary.
Therefore when Qin Keqin said she would like to visit the Clear Sky Pavilion, Qiuxiang Huan was totally caught by surprise. Usually such a visit would need some preparations and a strong mental will to visit a rival celestial clan. Anyone would need some time to fortify their mental preparation for such a visit and moreover Qin Keqin was visiting with such a small entourage.
Qiuxiang Huan was thinking, "Did I misjudge her? She is a more formidable opponent than I've thought?"
Ouyang Xue asked in a soft whisper, "Sect leader, please pardon me for asking this. But are you really an elder of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa?"
Qin Keqin rolled her eyes and to extend her spirit perception to ensure that there were no eavesdroppers around before she chuckled softly, "Of course I am not! If I am, I would not be here."
Lu Qingyun, Ouyang Xue, Leng Qiuyue and Lie Xingyuan: …
Ouyang Xue was stammering, "If the Patriarch Clan Heavenly Fragrance Villa found out about this then we will all be in serious trouble…"
Even Leng Qiuyue who had remained emotionless till now was startled as she gasped, "Sect leader, that leadership token is a fake?"
Lu Qingyun almost dropped his jaws when he had heard Qin Keqin…
With a soft laugh, Qin Keqin whispered. "It is a real leadership token. I took it from someone."
Lu Qingyun, Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue: …
Only Lie Xingyuan was thinking, "Does sect leader really knows the Great Saintess Feng Minyue?"
Ouyang Xue had turned pale, "Sect leader, we have caused quite a big disturbance today. It won't be too long before news that you are an elder of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa spreads like a caustic cloud. When it reaches the ears of the Heavenly Fragrance Princess, we will be in serious trouble."
The eyes of Leng Qiuyue were panicky as she muttered, "When that happens, our celestial clan won't exist on the map anymore. Our home will be gone."
Qin Keqin was startled, "This is this serious?" She was now thinking, "I've better ask Feng Minyue for help again…"
She did not know that Feng Minyue had already cleared plenty of troubles for her as she though, "Maybe it will be fun if I ask Minyue to make me a real elder of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa? Then I can show off in front of Qingyun and the rest of my clan?"
But she replied nonchalantly, "I know what to do, don't worry. I won't get any of you in trouble."
Lu Qingyun said, "Master, I have something to ask of you."
Qin Keqin smiled, "What is it? You sound so serious?"
Lu Qingyun sighed softly, "I have heard that the Matriarch of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa is the Great Saintess 'Feng Minyue'." He had purposely emphasized her name.
Qin Keqin nodded slowly, "That's right."
Then he heaved a soft sigh before he smiled, "I see."
"That's all?" Qin Keqin asked.
"That's all." Lu Qingyun smiled.
Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue were quite astonished to see that Lu Qingyun did not seem as anxious as earlier. In fact, he was returning to his normal self and was smiling.
It was as though this question had a mystifying magic that could ease his anxiety?
Lu Qingyun was thinking. Since the Great Saintess Feng Minyue was Qin Keqin's sister, naturally she would be able to bail her out anytime. Even though faking one's position was considered to be disrespectful and could even lead to angry splits but from what he had observed from Feng Minyue, she did not seem to be someone who was particular about little things.
"So you know who Feng Minyue is now…" Qin Keqin thought silently as she stole a glance at Lu Qingyun.
Lie Xingyuan was smiling weakly to herself, "The Great Saintess Fan Yuqing and the Great Saintess Feng Minyue is said to be extremely close to each other. It is no wonder that Qin Keqin is not bothered by her white lie. But for senior brother to ask this question, does it mean that he had already met with the Great Saintess Feng?"
Ouyang Xue was still anxious and suggested softly, "It may be wise to return the leadership token to the Heavenly Fragrance Villa. In this way, we may get a lighter punishment instead of a heavier one."
Qin Keqin was not going to return the leadership token to Feng Minyue anytime soon. In fact, she had just thought of abusing the position of being an elder of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa. So she smiled, "Although I am not an elder of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa yet but this leadership token is really from the Great Saintess Feng Minyue. As a matter of fact, she has already promised me to make me an elder when she is free."
Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue were smiling weakly. A lofty seventh realm divine ruler would never be free for anyone.
Leng Qiuyue asked doubtfully, "Sect leader, you have really met with the Great Saintess Feng Minyue? What does she looks like?"
Qin Keqin answered solemnly as she lifted her head to ponder, "She isn't as beautiful as rumored. She is just so and so only…"
Lu Qingyun: …
Feng Minyue was actually quite an alluring maiden. This was one thing that Lu Qingyun was sure about. When he had heard Qin Keqin, he almost choked on himself.
Leng Qiuyue said with a weak smile, "The leadership token of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa isn't something that can be given out freely to anyone. Even a core protégé of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa isn't going to be an elder."
She did not mean to doubt her sect leader but this was something that was pretty hard for her to believe that the leadership token would be freely given to Qin Keqin.
Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue were both looking anxiously at Qin Keqin for a reasonable explanation. It was not that they did not trust her but they were anxious for the safety of their clan and on this issue, they were on the same side.
Strangely enough, after they had been through the same experiential mission together and after they had fought together in the night raid against the Solitary Manor, there was a kind of bonding between the two of them and even their old rivalries were now forgotten, leaving behind a grudging respect for each other.
Now the two of them were concerned about the celestial clan that they had called home and in this matter, they were quite united.
Qin Keqin returned a faint smile as she looked at them. This was the type of cordial relationship that she liked and did not fault them for raising so many doubting questions.
She merely returned a faint smile, "Now is not the time for you to know. When we are back to our clan, I will tell you more."
At this moment, there were shouts from the protégés helming the carriage. "We have reached the Clear Sky Pavilion!"
She immediately snapped her fingers and looked at everyone delightfully, "Come follow me! This is going to be fun!"
When Lu Qingyun saw that Qin Keqin was so delightful, he was glad too as he thought dreamily. "Keqin, every single day, I am learning to know you more and more. I am so happy to have you by my side…"