Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

Duan Zhengchun turned to Lu Wushuang and gestured for her to step forward. He then cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to Master, her name is Lu Wushuang, and she is the daughter of Lu Zhanyuan, the head of the Lu Family Manor in Jiangling City."

"After Li Mochou's attack on the Lu Family Manor failed, her parents were exhausted both physically and mentally, and eventually chose to retire from the martial arts world. Before they passed away, they entrusted their daughter to me."

Upon hearing this, apart from Qiu Chuji, the other four disciples all instantly became serious and couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"What kind of nonsense is this? How can you bring a woman back to the Quanzhen Sect?"

"Entrust him? What will happen to him afterward?"

"Bringing such a woman back to the mountain gate, what kind of decorum is this?! Won't we become a laughing stock if word gets out?!"

Hearing the whispers around her, Lu Wushuang became increasingly nervous, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly. After hastily bowing to Qiu Chuji, she hid behind Duan Zhengchun, feeling somewhat at a loss.

"Don't worry, fellow disciples, she won't stay here for long. I plan to have her become a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect."

Duan Zhengchun glanced at the group of people who were still talking and said loudly.

Upon hearing this, the group exchanged glances and fell silent.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. I heard you escorted Master Kumu to Guiyun Manor in Jiaxing City. Did you deliver him safely?"

Qiu Chuji nodded and immediately changed the subject.

Duan Zhengchun said, "Don't worry, it has been delivered safely."

Qiu Chuji looked pleased and continued, "You did very well on this trip to the Western Regions. Your Uncle Liu and Uncle Sun have told me everything that happened along the way. You've worked hard."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er, who were sitting to the side, nodded and smiled again.

Duan Zhengchun shook his head and frowned, saying, "It's not hard work. I dare not take credit. Although I successfully rescued Uncle Liu and Uncle Sun, many disciples died on the way, and we couldn't even bring back their bodies. I feel ashamed."

Qiu Chuji's face showed a trace of sadness, and he said helplessly, "In the martial world, life and death are unpredictable. Their deaths are not your fault. Without you, the other disciples would not have been able to return safely."

"You've done very well, there's no need to blame yourself."

As he spoke, Qiu Chuji's face was full of satisfaction.

"Yes, your fame has even surpassed that of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen! Not only did you wreak havoc on the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions with just your sword, but you also fought against Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, in Jiangnan without being defeated by him. It's all over the martial arts world! You've really brought honor to our Quanzhen Sect!"

Hao Datong, standing to the side, smiled broadly and praised loudly.

"That's right. To be able to fight Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, at such a young age, besides the disciples of our Quanzhen Sect, what other sect's disciples could do that?!"

"Back in the Western Regions, I already saw that with Zhiping's talent, he would one day become famous throughout the martial arts world. I never expected it to happen so quickly!"

Sun Bu'er and Liu Chuxuan also spoke up one after another, praising him without reservation.

Wang Chuyi, however, remained silent throughout, feeling extremely uneasy. His original intention in sending Zhao Zhijing along was to make a great contribution during this westward mission, but Duan Zhengchun stole all the limelight.

Hearing the praise from everyone, Duan Zhengchun humbly bowed to them, feeling much better.

"Alright, now that you're back safely, go and rest. You must be exhausted after being away for almost two months."

"Settle Miss Lu in the back garden first. Come find me later; I have something to tell you."

Qiu Chuji waved his hand, signaling Duan Zhengchun to step down first.

Duan Zhengchun agreed and slowly left the main hall with Lu Wushuang.

Before leaving, he deliberately took a good look at Wang Chuyi, whose expression was solemn. Although Wang Chuyi's face was not good at this time, he was no longer as hostile to him as he had been before leaving Zhongnan Mountain.

It seems that Qiu Chuji did indeed keep his promise and must have explained things to Wang Chuyi during the time he was away from Zhongnan Mountain.

...

The back garden.

After leaving the main hall, Duan Zhengchun led Lu Wushuang to the back garden and into his former residence.

This place was originally where he was confined, but before leaving Zhongnan Mountain, he had obtained Qiu Chuji's consent to turn it into his residence.

Qiu Chuji had already ordered all the household items and books from "Yin Zhiping's" previous residence to be moved over, so it no longer looked so shabby.

"Do the people here not like me?"

Lu Wushuang stood silently behind Duan Zhengchun, then suddenly pouted and asked a question.

Duan Zhengchun snapped out of his daze, turned to look at Lu Wushuang with a smile, and said softly, "Why do you have this question?"

Lu Wushuang said, "Master, my elder brother's fellow disciples all looked at me strangely. Just now in the main hall, when those old men saw you bring me back to the Quanzhen Sect, they all seemed to be blaming you."

Duan Zhengchun smiled and pulled Lu Wushuang into his arms, saying slowly, "Since the founding of the Quanzhen Sect, I'm probably the first person to bring a young lady up the mountain. Do you think they'll greet you with a smile?"

"The Quanzhen Sect is different from other sects. Although it is not as averse to women as the Shaolin Temple, it is still a place of pure cultivation and does not allow its disciples to get close to women, let alone bring them back to the sect."

Upon hearing Duan Zhengchun's answer, Lu Wushuang looked surprised and asked, "Huh? You're not allowed to get close to women? Then you..."

Before she could finish speaking, she blushed and lowered her head, swallowing the rest of her words.

"Then what am I?"

Duan Zhengchun deliberately leaned close to Lu Wushuang's ear and whispered a question.

Lu Wushuang shook her head and hurriedly covered her ears with her hands, her mind involuntarily recalling many past events.

"Master, you're so mean..."

Immediately afterward, her face flushed, she muttered a complaint, and quickly ran away, lying face down on the bed, covering her face and too afraid to get up.

"Alright, you must be exhausted after traveling for so long. Go get some sleep."

Duan Zhengchun smiled and walked towards the bed as he spoke.

"Um?!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wushuang jumped up like a frightened bird, glanced anxiously at the door, and her face turned even redder.

"What are you thinking? I mean, I want you to rest for a while and recharge."

Duan Zhengchun shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile.

"Oh..."

Lu Wushuang agreed and shyly hid under the covers.

Duan Zhengchun smiled and said nothing more. He hid the wine gourd he had been carrying in his bosom, wiped the broken sword clean, and placed it on the bookshelf.

After doing all this, he found that Lu Wushuang had actually fallen asleep, and it seemed that she was indeed exhausted from the journey.

After a moment's hesitation, Duan Zhengchun quietly left the room and went to Lin Zhiyuan, who had been guarding the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Yin, are you really going to send Miss Lu to the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

Lin Zhiyuan glanced at the door behind Duan Zhengchun and asked softly.

Although he only met Lu Wushuang once, he could tell at the time that the relationship between Senior Brother Yin and Miss Lu was unusual.

Duan Zhengchun frowned and said, "You don't need to worry about this. I'm asking you, has something happened at the Ancient Tomb Sect recently? Why did I hear the disciples talking about marriage proposals just now?"

Lin Zhiyuan said, "Oh, this matter? Recently, rumors have suddenly spread in the martial arts world that a martial arts contest will be held to find a husband for Xiaolongnu on her eighteenth birthday."

"Whoever can defeat her can not only marry her, but also obtain all the martial arts manuals and gold and silver treasures in the Tomb of the Living Dead."

"As soon as the news spread, people from all walks of life in the martial arts world rushed to Zhongnan Mountain. However, Xiaolongnü denied the matter. It was later discovered that the whole thing was a complete fabrication, a rumor deliberately spread by Xiaolongnü's senior sister, Li Mochou!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun's expression suddenly changed, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who?! Who spread these rumors?!"

Lin Zhiyuan hesitated and said, "Li Mochou... I didn't expect that after the Lu Family Village incident, she would start causing trouble for the Ancient Tomb Sect again."

Duan Zhengchun frowned. He hadn't expected this to happen and thought he had misheard.

But Li Mochou clearly said she was going to return to Chixia Manor to live in seclusion temporarily, so why did she suddenly reappear? And why did she deliberately spread rumors to lure martial arts figures to Zhongnan Mountain to cause trouble for Xiaolongnu?

...