**Chapter 28: Immortals Descend Upon Golden Radiance**
Deep within the Northern Border Mountains, shrouded in mist, a handsome youth slowly fanned himself with a feather fan, a sneer of disdain curling his pale, beautiful lips. "Ignorant mortals, daring to defy the fate they ought to obey," he murmured.
He stood beside a dark pool, accompanied by three other immortals, each positioned at a corner, all gazing at the reflection on the water's surface—Chiyan battling the Toad Immortal. His robes were a ghostly blue, his beauty almost ethereal, like a figure stepped from a painting. The fan in his hand lent him the air of a strategist.
In another direction stood a red-haired youth with fiery brows, his posture proud and commanding, clad in ornate leather armor. He was Jialuo Immortal, lord of the Northern Border Mountains' immortals. His blood-red eyes fixed on Chiyan's image, watching her decisive retreat. A faint smile tugged at his lips, interest gleaming in his gaze. "A fine prey," he remarked.
The fan-wielding youth smiled and bowed. "In that case, she's yours, Jialuo Immortal." But Jialuo Immortal ignored him, his eyes never leaving the pool. The slight was palpable, and the fan-wielder froze, his smile stiffening, though he quickly recovered, tucking away his fan with practiced grace.
Masking his embarrassment, he turned to the silent, stern man nearby. The man clutched a halberd, armored and still as a statue, his eyes closed, exuding an aura of unyielding resolve. "As for Chixiao, perhaps Xuanbing and the esteemed lord…" the fan-wielder began.
"I alone suffice," the halberd-wielder interrupted coldly, his eyes snapping open. His piercing gaze swept over the fan-wielder with contempt. "I descended for Chixiao. Whatever schemes you have, if that petty Xuanbing Immortal hinders me, I'll kill him too."
The fan-wielder's smile faltered, at a loss for words. The halberd-wielder continued, "And know this: I am the Soul-Slaying High Immortal*—a title denoting a supreme warrior of the upper realms. Remember that. You are not of the Heavenly Court's ranks—do not overstep."
Xuanbing Immortal's smile vanished, his face darkening with humiliation. "Heh," Jialuo Immortal chuckled openly, making no effort to hide his amusement.
Xuanbing Immortal shot him a cold glance, recognizing the provocation. Jialuo Immortal's laughter was a deliberate jab, meant to goad him into clashing with the imperious Soul-Slaying Immortal. But Xuanbing Immortal, ever calculating, refused to take the bait. He allowed a fleeting sneer to cross his face before restoring his genteel smile, his composure unshaken.
After the Soul-Slaying Immortal departed with a dismissive snort, Xuanbing Immortal leisurely adjusted his robes. "When will you make your move, King Jialuo?" he probed, his lowered gaze concealing the scheming glint in his eyes.
"That depends on when the Immortal Abyss*—a mysterious faction of immortals—acts," Jialuo Immortal replied, finally turning to meet his gaze, a smile playing on his lips.
"King Jialuo need not doubt. The Immortal Abyss is ready and waiting," Xuanbing Immortal said earnestly, lifting his head.
"Heh," Jialuo Immortal chuckled again, his eyes returning to the pool.
"Do you mistrust the Immortal Abyss, King Jialuo?" Xuanbing Immortal's eyes narrowed, his fan slowing, his smile unchanged but his tone hardening.
"I don't mistrust the Immortal Abyss—I simply doubt," Jialuo Immortal said, drawing out the last word.
"Doubt what?"
"Whether the Immortal Abyss has the capability to cooperate with me."
The mockery in Jialuo Immortal's voice was unmistakable. Xuanbing Immortal's smile vanished, his fan freezing mid-air, his eyes flashing with undisguised hostility. Jialuo Immortal remained unmoved, his sneer lingering as he watched Xuanbing Immortal.
The air between them grew thick with tension, Xuanbing Immortal's face turning icy, as if he might storm off at any moment. Finally, he laughed softly, resuming his airy demeanor. "The Immortal Abyss will not disappoint you, King Jialuo."
"Is that so?" A cryptic question, followed by Jialuo Immortal's amused murmur, "Then how is it that a single Taoist has you cowering, too scared to leave the Immortal Abyss?"
Xuanbing Immortal's grip tightened on his fan, his body stiffening, an aura of menace pressing toward Jialuo Immortal. Jialuo Immortal knew this was the true moment of Xuanbing Immortal's fury—the earlier display had been mere theater. Yet he stood firm.
"Chixiao will be handled by the Soul-Slaying High Immortal. But if King Jialuo believes he can best that old rogue, he's welcome to try," Xuanbing Immortal said, his aura easing, the tension dissipating. He deftly sidestepped the argument while subtly challenging Jialuo Immortal.
"Does Xuanbing Immortal imply the Soul-Slaying High Immortal is no match for him?" Jialuo Immortal countered, catching the implication.
"Hmph," Xuanbing Immortal scoffed, refusing to answer directly. From his expression, Jialuo Immortal gleaned the answer he sought. A few probing words had revealed the lay of the land. Weighing the Northern Border Mountains against the Immortal Abyss, a cruel yet intrigued smile spread across his face.
"Interesting, interesting. Another fine prey."
---
The story returned to Qingyun and Qingxuan after their escape from the opera *Immortal*. Guided by Qingyun, they found a hidden alley. Still shaken, Qingxuan didn't immediately set Qingyun down. She stood in the alley, contemplating their next move.
"Senior Sister, you can put me down now," Qingyun murmured, his nose still catching faint traces of her scent. Being cradled in her arms had dulled his fear of the *Immortal*, but now that the danger had passed, embarrassment flooded him. Being carried like this—if anyone saw…
Qingxuan blinked, realizing the impropriety. Flustered, she dropped him unceremoniously, eliciting a yelp as he hit the ground. "In times of crisis, formalities don't matter. It's not like I haven't carried others before, Junior Brother," she said, turning her flushed face away, struggling to maintain composure, though her voice betrayed a hint of panic.
Qingyun, seemingly oblivious, merely rubbed his backside and pointed toward Pingbo Lake. "Senior Sister, whatever you do, don't go near Pingbo Lake."
Intrigued, Qingxuan glanced at him suspiciously, recalling his earlier feat. "Junior Brother, how did you see through the mist after just a nap?"
Qingyun scratched his head, unsure how to explain. "It's like in the enlightenment chamber—my body started practicing the *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique* on its own, and suddenly, the scriptures made sense. It's as if I understood so much in an instant…"
Just as he feared his explanation was lacking, Qingxuan nodded in understanding. Her eyes widened in amazement. "Though Master mentioned it, I never thought you'd truly master the *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique*. Among our generation, only you have."
The *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique* was legendary in the Five Elements Sect. Tales of ancestors wielding it to turn the tide or achieve the impossible made it seem as though anything tied to the technique was destined for greatness. Thus, Qingxuan's awe at Qingyun's sudden insight felt natural, not strange.
Remembering her own past efforts with the technique, Qingyun's face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't expected to learn the very art Qingxuan had warned him against. Unbeknownst to him, her eyes held a glimmer of admiration.
Noticing his odd expression, Qingxuan recalled their history and coughed awkwardly, changing the subject. "It's said the *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique* excels in divination. No wonder you could see through the *Immortal's Guidance*."
Enlightened by his training, Qingyun was no longer the naive boy from the mountain. He nodded eagerly. "Now that you say it, it makes sense."
Qingxuan, unsuspecting, asked, "So, what exactly can you do now?"
Before he could answer, Qingyun froze, then grabbed her hand, pulling her deeper into the alley. She frowned but didn't resist, letting him lead her. Seeing his urgency, she guessed the reason and quickly retrieved talismans from her robe. She stacked bricks against the wall, setting up a simple concealment array.
Having seen Chixiao arrange the *Eight Gates Formation*, Qingyun recognized her intent but could only wait anxiously. Once the array was set, they stepped inside. Qingxuan used sound elements to whisper, "This is a stealth array. It can hide us. If the newcomer…"
A figure appeared at the alley's mouth. Both turned to look.
A child stood there, a bizarre head atop its own, clutching a stick of candied hawthorns, its face blank. The strange head resembled the mythical multi-faced deities, with expressions of drooling vacancy—a child, a middle-aged woman, and two indistinct faces.
Slowly, the child's face rotated, replaced by the woman's, now facing the hidden pair. "Senior Sister, it… can sense us," Qingyun whispered, his heart pounding so hard he feared he might faint. But he refused to be a burden, forcing his eyes to stay open.
Qingxuan swallowed hard, steadying herself. "It's just one *Immortal*. Maybe I can…" Before she finished, their eyes widened in unison. At the alley's entrance, behind the first figure, a second, third, fourth… figures emerged—each of different builds but all bearing multiple faces on their heads, expressions vacant, drool dripping.
原始中文文本
北疆山,迷霧深處.
「愚昧無知的凡人,竟妄想要反抗原本該順從的運命.」俊美青年緩緩搖著手中羽扇,蒼白的俊美臉龐上露出一抹輕蔑的笑意.
祂站在一泓深潭旁,與其祂三仙各立一角,同時注視著水面倒映的畫面──赤煙大戰蛤蟆仙.
幽藍的衣飾與過於美麗的長相,讓俊美青年就像一名畫中走出的美人,手執的羽扇輕搖著,又讓祂帶上幾分謀士的氣質.
另外一個方向,赤髮紅眉的青年負手而立,身姿挺拔,下頷昂揚,傲氣油然而生,其穿著一身華貴皮甲,正是北疆山眾仙之主──迦邏仙.
赤髮青年殷紅如血的眼眸看著湖面顯現的赤煙,見其果決驚走對手的姿態,嘴角微微勾起,神色中透出一抹興趣,評道:「是個好獵物.」
一旁的羽扇男子聞言,面帶笑意地拱手說道:「既然如此,那麼她就交給迦邏仙了.」
但迦邏仙沒有回應,全然當作沒聽見這句話,只是繼續注視著湖面,這無禮的姿態讓祂頓了頓,雙手一僵,臉上卻沒有露出任何不快,依舊掛著滿面春風,隨後不著痕跡地收起羽扇.
隱去自身尷尬後,羽扇男子又轉頭看向一旁始終靜默的嚴肅男子,男子手持長戟,身穿甲冑,雙目輕閉,彷彿一尊石像一般,堅毅卻又不容忽視地站在那裏.
「至於赤霄,就讓玄冰與大人⋯⋯」
「吾一人即可.」這個提議剛說出口,便被男子冷冷拒絕.
祂睜開閉著的眼眸,銳利的目光掃過羽扇男子,睥睨的眼神並未將其放在眼裡,語氣冰冷地說道:「吾下界便為赤霄而來,不管汝有何算計,小小玄冰仙若敢拖累於吾,一併殺之.」
羽扇男子笑容一僵,正不知該如何回話,長戟仙又繼續說道:「還有,吾號戮魂上仙,下次謹記,汝非天庭軍士,豈敢僭越?」
玄冰仙被這狂妄蔑視的話語一沖,臉上笑容再也維持不住,露出了幾分難堪的神色.
「呵.」一旁的迦邏仙見祂吃鱉也輕笑出聲,絲毫不做掩飾.
玄冰仙聽見這聲恥笑,面無表情地瞟了對方一眼,知道迦邏仙這聲輕笑內裡包藏禍心,連同方才的無禮皆是刻意要激祂惱怒,如此便能漁翁得利,看祂在怒極失控的狀態下與這位上界駕臨的戮魂仙起衝突.
自覺明瞭一切的玄冰仙沒有多做反應,只是隱蔽地露出一抹嘲諷神情,旋即又迅速將儒雅笑容掛回臉上,唾面自乾的姿態不言而喻.
等到戮魂仙冷哼一聲離開後,玄冰仙這才好整以暇地整理起衣裳.
「迦邏王何時動身?」他試探性問道,低垂的面容讓人看不見那雙隱含算計的雙眸.
「那就看仙淵何時發力了.」迦邏仙終於轉過頭,並將目光投向玄冰仙,祂的嘴角同樣噙著笑.
「迦邏王無須多疑,仙淵已然枕戈待旦.」玄冰仙抬起頭,態度認真地回應道.
「呵.」迦邏仙卻又是一聲輕笑,再度將目光轉回水面.
「迦邏王可是信不過仙淵?」玄冰仙的眼眸微微瞇起,手執羽扇的動作也逐漸趨緩,雖然笑意不減,語氣間卻帶有幾分生硬.
「本王不是信不過仙淵,只是相當懷疑──」迦樓仙像是沒看見玄冰仙的面容變化,自顧自地說著,並刻意拉長句尾.
「仙淵是否有那個能耐與本王合作?」
隨著這句話被迦邏仙略帶譏諷地說出,玄冰仙收起臉上笑容,羽扇靜止在半空中,雙眸內的寒芒毫不掩飾地射向迦邏仙.
迦邏仙不為所動,仍保持著嘴角略帶譏諷的笑意,靜靜地看著玄冰仙.
兩人之間的氣氛凝結,羽扇青年的臉色冰冷得可怕,彷彿下一刻就要甩身離去.
最終,玄冰仙輕笑一聲,回到雲淡風輕的姿態,平靜地說道:「仙淵的能耐,自然不會讓迦邏王失望.」
「是嗎?」
先是一聲耐人尋味的反問,接著迦邏仙又笑吟吟地道:「那怎麼又會讓一個道士壓得抬不起頭,嚇得連仙淵都不敢出?」
聞言,玄冰仙攥緊手上羽扇,雖然姿容未改,立於潭邊的身形卻是一緊,一股氣勢壓向迦邏仙.
迦邏仙心知,此時才是真正讓玄冰仙失態,方才玄冰仙收斂起笑容的樣子,不過是演演戲罷了.然而即使心裡有了幾分計較,迦邏仙卻依然不為所動.
「赤霄自有戮魂上仙對付,但若是迦邏王自認能夠勝過那老雜毛,屆時也可出手.」片刻後,玄冰仙氣勢一鬆,兩人之間緊迫的氣氛也為之和緩.祂雖然不與迦邏仙爭執關於赤霄的問題,卻也同時用話語激了對方一把.
「玄冰仙的意思是⋯⋯戮魂上仙非其對手?」只不過迦邏仙並沒有被祂所激,反倒從中品出了話外之意.
「哼.」提起戮魂,玄冰仙沒有回答,只是輕哼一聲,表明了意思.
從玄冰仙臉上得到了自己想要的答案,幾句話試探讓迦邏仙瞭解了敵情,祂心中衡量著北疆山與仙淵的對比後,臉上露出一抹感興趣的笑容,同時又帶著一絲殘酷.
「趣味,趣味,看來這又是另外一個好獵物.」
故事回到青雲與青璇逃離戲子仙後,青璇在師弟的指路下,兩人終於找到一條隱密的小巷.
剛拐過轉角,抱著少年的青璇有些餘悸未消,並沒有第一時間將青雲放下來,而是站在巷中,尋思著接下來的行動.
「師姐,可以放我下來了.」青雲吶吶地對身畔師姐開口,鼻間還縈繞著若有似無的體香.在佳人懷,似乎讓他對仙也沒有這麼畏懼,反倒是危機一去,驚覺此時姿態的不妥,讓他心中有些羞臊.
竟然被師姐打橫抱在懷中,要是被其他人看見,自己⋯⋯
青璇一愣,也發現此事,心裏一慌便直接將青雲放下,讓他哎喲一聲著地.
「危急時刻,便沒有諸多顧忌.師,師姊也不是沒有抱過別人,師弟明白?」她將通紅的臉龐撇向一旁,努力維持住表情的平淡,只有語氣間隱約露出一絲慌亂.
青雲像是沒聽出來一般,反應不大,只是在扶著屁股起身後,急忙指著平波湖的方向,對青璇說道:「師姐,千萬別靠近平波湖.」
這句話引起了師姐興趣,有些狐疑地看了青雲一眼,想起了剛才的事情,忍不住出聲問:「師弟,你怎麼睡了一覺就能看透這些濃霧?」
青雲不知道該怎麼解釋,只能撓著頭說:「就像之前在悟道室時,身體突然開始自發運轉『大衍空行訣』,很多經文也突然一點就通,好像在一瞬間師弟就知曉了許多⋯⋯」
正當少年覺得自己解釋得極差時,青璇卻是一點頭,表示她明白了.
同時她目光中帶著幾分詫異,驚嘆道:「雖然師父早有提過,卻沒想過師弟竟然真能修成『大衍空行訣』,本代弟子中也就只有你學會了.」
大衍空行訣在五行觀中一直都帶有傳奇色彩,很多故事中修行此訣的先祖都可以力挽狂瀾,或是達成不可思議的成就,這讓觀內道士們總覺得,好像什麼事情只要牽扯到大衍空行訣就會順理成章,即使青雲說自己一瞬間悟透許多法訣,青璇也只會大聲讚嘆,而不會覺得奇怪.
想起師姐曾在此中做過的功夫,青雲臉色有些訕然,沒想到最終還是學會了青璇當時阻止他修行的大衍空行訣,但他卻沒注意到青璇眼眸深處那絲潛藏的崇拜.
青璇見他神色古怪,也想起了這麼一回事,臉色有些窘然,不自然地輕咳了一聲,便輕輕帶過這個話題.
「據說大衍空行訣最擅卜算,難怪師弟能夠一眼看清仙人指路.」
開光後的青雲日漸聰慧,不再像初上山時的懵懂憨厚,也連忙跟著點頭附和道:「原來如此,師姐這樣一說我就明白了.」
青璇不疑有他,又說道:「那師弟現在具體能做到什麼地步?」
青雲正要回答,伸出手掌時卻忽然一怔,連忙拉住青璇的手朝巷子內躲.
少女先是蹙起眉頭,卻沒有反抗師弟的輕薄舉動,任由他將自己拉進巷弄深處.看見對方有些驚惶的樣子,青璇大約知曉了原因,連忙探手從懷中掏出幾張符咒,並撿過一旁疊在牆邊的磚頭,將它們壓好,布置出一個簡單的隱匿陣法.
見過老道士布置八門陣,青雲自然也清楚師姐的意圖,但他此時卻幫不上忙,只能在一旁焦急地等待.
待青璇布置好陣法後,兩人一同站入圈內,此時青璇操控音子,朝少年傳音說道:「師弟,此為匿蹤陣法,可以掩蓋我們的存在,如果來者⋯⋯」
此時,巷口出現了一道身影.
青璇停下話頭,和青雲一起轉頭望去.
只見一名幼童出現在巷外,他頭上頂著一顆奇怪的頭顱,手上拿著一串糖葫蘆,面容呆滯.
那顆奇怪的頭顱,就像是傳說中可以三頭六臂的神仙一般,在每個方向都有一張臉,上面呈現張口流涎,雙法發直的神情,分別為孩童,中年婦女以及另外兩張青雲兩人看不清楚的面孔.
而此刻,孩童呆滯的臉孔緩緩轉動,換成婦女那張臉孔對著巷內兩人躲藏的位置.
「師姐,祂⋯⋯能感覺到我們.」青雲感覺胸膛裡的心臟好像要跳了出來,劇烈的擂鼓聲讓他差點又要暈過去,但他知道此時絕對不能讓自己成為師姐的累贅,努力撐著不讓眼皮閉上.
青璇嚥下一口唾沫,強自鎮定地說道:「只,只有一個仙,也許師姐可以⋯⋯」
話還沒說完,兩人突然一齊瞪大了雙眼,只見巷口處,在那道身影的左右兩旁,慢慢地走出了第二道,第三道,第四道⋯⋯高矮胖瘦不一,卻同樣在頭顱上有著多張面孔,表情呆滯,嘴角流涎的身影.