Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 273: Drunken Fools
The successor’s celebration banquet was rowdy. It had been a long time since Yan Ping suffered from headaches. The troublemakers were not from other sects, and as the sect leader, she felt embarrassed by the hooligan behaviour from her sect elders. Clearly, the higher one rose in rank in the Mystical Qilin Sect, the less they cared about manners.
"Come, little one! Sit on Elder Zhu’s lap. It’s easier to reach for the meat if you’re higher."
Standing beside, Elder Quan slapped him.
"Stop it! What will you do if Zhao Mingfeng charges into our sect to cut off your hands for inappropriate contact with a minor?! You’re drunk! Go back and sleep already! Go cuddle with your wife’s corpse instead!"
Anji noted how Elder Quan was also flushed. She was equally drunk, if not more. Anji never remembered the apothecary to be this violent. The lady was usually sweet-tempered and restrained. Yet, under the influence of alcohol, a good number of people were behaving in direct contrast to their normal selves. Whatever dignity the Mystical Qilin Sect had was now gone with the wind in the celebration.
"Shifu, should we end the celebration early? How did they get this drunk? I thought people with the Enlightened Core and above aren’t able to get drunk?"
Yan Ping pursed her lips. That was true for regular alcohol. However, the Mystical Qilin Sect was nothing but resourceful.
"Seeing how nobody here truly wants to send you off with tears, they brought out the strongest spiritual wine from the cellar for tonight. Don’t worry about these fools. Just leave with Gu Ying and your third brother. Shifu will escort you."
Unable to refute, Anji gave the drunk and brawling elders a last glance and bowed out of their sight. Gu Ying did the same and left after Anji. Zhao Yihao grinned at the lively scene. If he knew the Mystical Qilin Sect was going to be this funny, he would have gifted them alcohol instead of books like his mother suggested.
The Celestial Dragon Sect could only afford to send Yihao over as a representative due to their role in the war. Presently, the Rainbow Alliance had an upper hand only because the Celestial Dragon Sect had stepped in to hold everyone together like social glue. Sects that had been previously ambushed would have collapsed if not for their interference. Unlike Zhao Mingshen, Zhao Yihao had only reintegrated into society for a few months. Like Anji and Gu Ying, he was still catching up with current affairs.
Yan Ping slowed her steps. This time, it was not to match Anji’s pace. Truthfully, she had her worries. The visions about Anji had stopped for a while now. Ever since Anji entered the successor’s trial chamber, something shifted in the stars. She had never seen such an ominous, long stretch of darkness covering the celestial signs. The worried sect leader spent hours poring through their sect’s records to understand what was happening. There was only one other explanation for her clouded sight. However, without any concrete evidence, Yan Ping hid her worries behind her usual countenance. There was no use in needlessly worrying Anji.
Until they arrived at the exit, Yan Ping did not speak. Anji followed behind, every step felt heavy. Leaving the sect, she would no longer have to embrace the identity of a successor. However, it had been so long that she was unsure if she could smoothly transition back to being the fourth daughter of the Celestial Dragon Sect. What did that even mean?
"We’ve arrived," Yan Ping announced. They were at the very edge of the barrier, and outside was a carriage Mingshen had prepared.
Anji halted in her steps. Gu Ying and Yihao stood a few meters behind to give her a private moment with her teacher.
"Do you have the hat?" she asked.
Anji nodded and tugged at her sleeve. She had no idea when she would meet her teacher again. Due to the complicated logistics of the ongoing war, this is likely the last time Anji would see her teacher in years. She was told not to send letters as they might get intercepted.
"Shifu, don’t worry. I will not directly confront the demonic cult. However, if I discover traces of Pu Jianming or learn about the spells he is using, I will send information back. Hong Nian Niang sent a message through my second brother. She has set up a connection with Imperial Concubine Liu in secret for us. It’s the first thing we will do after arriving at Chang’an."
It was a good arrangement. Yan Ping could not become involved in court politics due to her position as the Sect Leader of the Mystical Qilin Sect. However, with Anji’s double identity, she could easily meet with the previous sect leader of the Heavenly Phoenix Sect to find out more about the situation in the capital city. Hong Nian Niang’s information network confirmed there was a correlation between the number of crimes in the capital city and the demonic cult’s movements.
A huge, unprecedented storm was about to shake the entire murim world. Nobody knew if the Rainbow Alliance would still be intact after it. Even the position of the Mystical Qilin Sect was not absolute. Not when the emperor might be involved.
Yan Ping reached out to Anji’s hair accessory. The silver longevity locket became the physical form of Yan Ping’s prayer.
May no harm befall this precious child. Even if the Mystical Qilin Sect was a safe place, she could not keep Anji caged for long. A dragon’s child was never meant to be bound to earth for long. Eventually, it must soar and return to the heavens. As this was Anji’s natural duty and path to walk, she could only watch from afar as a guardian and continue her duty as a lighthouse.
"Lift your head high when you walk," she told Anji. "For you are the only successor to pass the trials at such a young age. There are many geniuses in the world, but none as outstanding and prolific as you. Zhao Anji, courtesy name Ci Wang, from this moment on, you are to receive a top secret mission in the name of the eighth sect leader of the Mystical Qilin Sect. Until you accomplish it, you are not to return to the sect. Apprehend the traitor in our name and never expose your affiliation until he has been subdued."
Clasping her hands behind her sleeves, Anji bowed low.
"I, Zhao Anji, courtesy name Ci Wang, received the eighth sect leader’s orders! May the Mystical Qilin Sect remain prosperous and wise for many years to come."
Getting onto her knees, Anji did one last kowtow to her teacher and kissed the ground at her feet out of respect. With this, she was no longer affiliated with the Mystical Qilin Sect until she was to wield its name for her mission. Without the protection of the ancient sect, Anji could now only rely on the name of her family’s sect and her vow as a doctor.
Leaving the sect’s barrier, Anji embraced her new restrictions on spells. Except for when she wore the special hat, Anji’s superior spell-casting ability was restricted. She might know many spells, including those from the forbidden library. However, Yan Ping ensured they were sealed using the Artificial Cores implanted in her body. It might seem unfair to others, but Anji knew best why it was done.
With her advanced spiritual strength, her golden core was barely keeping up. Without the regulation of the artificial cores to slow her rapid progression, there was a high chance that Anji would have to undergo a new tribulation during her travels. The tribulation from a Solid Core to an Enlightened Core was not something easily withstood. Without a proper cultivation chamber, there was a high chance Anji would sustain injuries during the trial. To prevent that, her abilities were sealed. Thankfully, it was a seal that Yan Ping taught her how to undo in times of emergency. However, the feeling of energy restriction on her body after leaving the barrier instantly made Anji weak.
Gu Ying reacted quicker than Yihao did. She supported Anji, who stumbled almost as soon as she left the protected grounds. Anji could only describe the heaviness in her body, similar to the feeling of being sickly when she was a child. Thankfully, her second brother was a youth with great foresight. The horse-drawn carriage awaited them not too far from where they were.
"You should rest in the carriage," Yihao frowned. "Gu Ying will sit with you. I can drive us to meet up with Mingshen."
Too tired to struggle, Anji agreed and let Gu Ying support her until they reached the carriage. After boarding, Anji collapsed onto the comfortable, cushioned seat and meditated. Her body felt ten times heavier. It had been so long since she had fallen sick that the feeling felt ten times worse than she remembered.
