31-40

 

31

Chapter 31

 

That demon was decisively cut in half by Jian Yi and fell limp to the floor into two pieces, motionless.

 

The clues to the empathy parasite snuffed out just like this? Wen Xuan couldn't help but feel it was a pity.

 

But just as he thought this, Jian Yi used the tip of his sword to poke that shadow vigorously: "What are you pretending for? Get

 

up."

 

At this time, the flush on Jian Yi's face has already retreated, his usually composed and prepared appearance returning.

 

After his voice sounded, the two pieces of shadow trembled for a moment and then started to bind together at the injury site. Slowly, it reformed back into one body. Moments later, the black shadow completely returned to its original state. It was still that shadow attachment demon, only its color looked slightly dimmer than before.

 

Trembling all over, it was clearly still somewhat startled from being cut in half. It didn't even dare to speak.

 

"Whatever we ask, you better answer truthfully." Jian Yi raised his sword and pointed the tip of his blade at it. He said in a stern tone of voice: "Don't try to do anything funny again."

 

Don't say it like it did anything funny earlier. Wasn't it just answering truthfully? The shadow attachment demon felt wronged. However, since it's been chopped in half twice by Jian Yi already, it was really intimidated. Therefore, it can only make a face, not even daring to retort at all.

 

"This......" Wen Xuan was somewhat surprised: "This kind of demon can survive even after all that?"

 

"That's right. They're very difficult to kill." Jian Yi poked the tip of his sword on the shadow attachment demon's body, making it shake all over again: "Cut it once, damage its cultivation once. If you want to eliminate it, you must completely cut away its cultivation. Seeing its appearance right now, it probably has 3-5 cuts left."

 

"That's really troublesome." Wen Xuan couldn't help but exclaim.

 

You can't really blame him for not knowing. The big battle between cultivators and demons was something that happened over hundreds of thousands of years ago. The rumor was demonic cultivation has been chased out of the main continent a long time ago. Vanishing without a trace for all of these hundreds of thousands of years, who would have thought they'd be able to see a demon today?

 

Speaking of which, since they haven't appeared in hundreds of thousands of years, why would one appear today?

 

Thinking about this question, Wen Xuan's expression turned slightly heavier: "Other than this one, are there any other demons in the North Ning Continent?"

 

"We probably should ask it thoroughly." Jian Yi said with a smile.

 

As Jian Yi smiled, he lifted the tip of his sword upward and let it reflect a cold light, making that shadow attachment demon feel cold sweat all over.

 

It instantly shivered: "According to what I know......"

 

"Don't say anything now. We won't believe you." Jian Yi interrupted it and then said with a smile again: "Let's make a contract."

 

He was really making this watertight. The shadow attachment demon couldn't help but remain silent.

 

"You're really going to make a contract with it?" On the contrary, Wen Xuan felt a bit worried: "It's a demon after all. Its nature is deceitful and malicious. What if it's plotting against you......"

 

"Shixiong, don't worry." Jian Yi said: "I just have to be a bit careful while making the contract. Once the contract is set, no matter how deceitful and malicious it is, it can't do anything significant."

 

Although this was true, Wen Xuan couldn't help but worry. However, they really needed to know a lot of things from this demon. Using a contract to subdue it was indeed the best method. Pondering for a while, Wen Xuan finally said: "Since it's like this, then let me be the contract holder."

 

Jian Yi was momentarily stunned, then he couldn't help but smile. How could he not know, Wen Xuan was afraid that the demon would seize advantage of the situation and counterattack. So he wanted to face the danger of this counterattack himself.

 

That shadow attachment demon jolted however, mistakenly thinking that Wen Xuan wanted to become contract holder because he wanted the benefits and was trying to snatch the opportunity from Jian Yi. It promptly attempted to drive a wedge between the two by asking: "That's not really good, right? This cultivator Jian used up quite the effort. It's not right that he doesn't get anything......."

 

Its voice didn't even finish, when Jian Yi gave it another decisive slice and cut it neatly in half again.

 

"Shixiong," At the same time, Jian Yi said exasperatedly: "Did you forget? Right now we're connected by the empathy parasite."

 

"Empathy parasite?" Wen Xuan was bewildered at first, then his brows furrowed: "Are you saying......"

 

That shadow attachment demon conjoined its two parts together again, its black colored body paled a bit more. It gloomily scooted to the side, not wanting to say even one word more, sulking so hard, it practically wanted to cry.

 

However, Jian Yi used the tip of his blade to poke at it again: "You can explain this one."

 

Under the threat of Jian Yi's blade, the shadow attachment demon reluctantly explained: "Other than sharing life and death together, the empathy parasite also connects your spiritual energy. In many situations, the two of you will be treated by the Will of the Heaven as one person."

 

"Therefore?" Wen Xuan's face was full of astonishment.

 

"Therefore, it doesn't matter which of you forms the contract with me, the other would become the contract owner as well......" The shadow attachment demon made a face: "Even those magic tools that you own prior which have already recognized one owner will listen to the other person's orders from now on."

 

Not daring to say anything extra, it laid out this truth while feigning nonchalance. It knew that whenever two people learned of this truth, often, a hard to avoid estrangement and suspicion would rise between them.

 

Unexpectedly, Wen Xuan only chuckled: "That makes things a lot easier."

 

As for Jian Yi, even more so, he lowered his head and smiled bashfully: "Since it's like this, when I said my things are shixiong's things before, it's no longer nonsense now."

 

Hearing these words again, Wen Xuan couldn't help but look over. Jian Yi was looking slightly to the side. As expected, his face was slightly red again.

 

The shadow attachment demon only felt like his dog eyes were blinded.

 

At this moment in time, he can only hope that these two people didn't know the proper method of making a contract with a demon. After all, the most severe type of contract between cultivators, the blood vow, required essential blood as medium. However, many demons had no blood nor flesh. Naturally, they didn't use that method. Meanwhile, the only contract that was effective on demons, the death contract, normal cultivators knew nothing about.

 

In the end, it despaired. Wen Xuan naturally didn't know. However, not only did Jian Yi know that demons required death contracts, he even knew the exact process of how to form a death contract from the beginning to the end. It didn't take him long to get everything prepared.

 

Jian Yi stated a bunch of cryptic incantations without errors, then used his spiritual energy to draw an eccentric design in the air. After the incantations ended, the design that was drawn by the spiritual energy abruptly pulsed, gaining a layer of black. Then, it became a fist sized vortex in mid air. The entire process was smooth and without hesitation, no faults at all.

 

What's left was only for the shadow attachment demon to provide a drop of essential demonic energy and throw it into the black vortex for the death contract to be counted as complete.

 

"Hurry up." Just as the shadow attachment demon looked at this black vortex in conflict, Jian Yi urged it.

 

The shadow attachment demon was frustrating over the fact that as long as this death contract was completed, it was equivalent to giving these two people complete control over all of its cultivation. A mere thought of theirs could decide whether it lived or died. How could it willingly accept this situation?

 

It decided to do a little trick. It condensed a drop of normal demonic energy, planning to pretend it was essential demonic energy......

 

However, Jian Yi's eyes were sharp and keen. Without a word, he immediately swung his sword at the demon.

 

The shadow that was cut into two pieces didn't fall over limp on the ground this time. Instead, it curled up abruptly and leaped towards the shadow under a tree, wanting to use the opportunity to escape.

 

However, back then when it had such a good moment, it still didn't manage to escape. How could it escape at a time like this?

 

Jian Yi's speed wasn't fast enough, but this was Wen Xuan's specialty area. In a flash, numerous Ice Blades flew out and completely blocked all paths of survival for the shadow that was dashing about left and right. Immediately after, Jian Yi's sword caught up and cut the two piece shadow into four pieces.

 

"You better count carefully now.” Jian Yi said in an ice cold voice: "How many more do you have left?"

 

When the shadow condensed into one body again, the color was so light it was practically transparent, exposing the face around its 'head' area. Its expression looked extremely pained while its

 

entire body shook and trembled. In order to forcibly move itself in an unrecovered state, it wasted a large amount of cultivation. At this moment, it was already at the end of the line. One more hit and it'd be completely eliminated.

 

But it finally managed to cultivate to this point, how could it just resign to signing a death contract with these two young brats. How can it resign to being ordered around by them?

 

After the pain, the shadow attachment demon's face was full of humiliation.

 

Seeing this scene, Wen Xuan silently sighed and couldn't help but soften: "Although it's a demon, there's no need to treat it like this, right?"

 

The shadow attachment demon abruptly looked towards him, suddenly gaining a spark of hope.

 

But then it heard Wen Xuan continue to say: "Since it'd rather die than submit, then we should just release it from worldly worries."

 

The shadow attachment demon was faceful of tears: Here I thought you were kind hearted, but you're actually this vicious!

 

Meanwhile, Wen Xuan already summoned his divine sword precursor over, looking like he was going to do as he said and give the final strike, 'releasing' the demon.

 

"Wait wait! I didn't say I'd rather die than submit! I didn't say that!" Under the threat of death, the shadow attachment demon eagerly jumped over in front of the black vortex Jian Yi

 

summoned, gathered its essential demonic energy, and threw it in with its eyes closed.

 

As for the pain and humiliation before, it has already forgotten completely to the back of its head.

 

Jian Yi heaved a long sigh: "Shixiong is the best after all."

 

Wen Xuan shook his head in exasperation.

 

Moments later, the vortex spun slowly, the black color gradually fading away and becoming a white colored ball of light. It landed on the tip of Jian Yi's finger and buried into the fingerprints on his finger, leaving behind a light mark.

 

At the same time, Wen Xuan also felt heat on his fingertip. He raised his hand to look. Sure enough, a light circular mark also appeared on his finger. It was only the size of a pin, looking exactly the same as the one Jian Yi has. Meanwhile a link also appeared in his heart. This link was connected to the shadow attachment demon. From this moment onward, no matter what unusual thing happened with this shadow attachment demon, the two of them would know. And with only a single thought, they can make it experience unspeakable suffering. Unless they voluntarily canceled the contract, it was bound for the rest of its life.

 

However, at the very least, the shadow attachment demon preserved its life.

 

Also as soon as the contract was signed, it knew these two people no longer planned to kill it directly. Therefore, it became bolder on the contrary. Immediately it said to Jian Yi in a peculiar tone:

 

"You really aren't simple huh? All of these in and outs, even some of us demons don't understand it with such clarity."

 

When Jian Yi heard these words, he first looked at Wen Xuan.

 

Wen Xuan's expression didn't change at all. Ever since he saw Jian Yi read the will of the Heaven, no matter what Jian Yi knew, Wen Xuan didn't find it strange at all.

 

As long as Wen Xuan didn't suspect anything, Jian Yi felt extremely indifferent. He said with a cold smile: "Before you go off track, you should say what you need to say."

 

The presence of other demons? The shadow attachment demon fell silent for a moment, but didn't remain silent for too long. Amongst demons, although logically, they should unite against a common foe. In the end, they always viewed themselves as most important. Betray wasn't something taboo to them.

 

In comparison, Wen Xuan and Jian Yi were both its contract owners right now. The quality of life for its future days depended on these two people. Naturally, it'd think for these two people's sake.

 

"I also don't really know why there are demons in the North Ning Continent." It said: "I hibernated for a long time and just woke up these recent years. As for other demonic cultivators, I'm not sure. After I woke up, I've seen only a few. If need be, I might be able to get in touch with them. However, let me say the ugly words first. If you want to cause trouble for them, you're not qualified at the moment."

 

Jian Yi nodded: "No rush."

 

Wen Xuan wanted to speak but hesitated, clearly not wanting to put this matter aside. However, after a while, he still sighed and accepted the fact that they weren't strong enough at the moment.

 

"Then let's talk about the empathy parasite." Wen Xuan said: "You really don't know how to get rid of it?"

 

The shadow attachment demon shrank towards the shadow under the tree, clearly looking rather awkward.

 

"That......" He pointed at the corpse that only had half a head on the side of the road: "person is an inner disciple of Cerulean Feathers. However, his shifu died so normally, people didn't bother with him. After I took over his body, I read plenty of jade slips inside the Cerulean Feathers Sect. That's where I learned how to use the empathy parasite. As for the method to get rid of the parasite...... at that time, I didn't think I'd need to use it."

 

Therefore, you didn't learn it? Wen Xuan's cheek twitched.

 

"Can you go back to learn it now?" Jian Yi followed up.

 

"Let me try......" As the shadow attachment demon said this, he squeezed back into the corpse of Zhao guy from Cerulean Feathers who was missing half a head.

 

Then, a strange thing happened. The Zhao guy's horrifying corpse got up just like that, felt its way to where the other half of its head was, picked it up, then pieced it together like a jigsaw puzzle. Wen Xuan forcibly suppressed the disgust he felt and saw, after a period of wiggling, the two head pieces stuck together

 

again at the seams and started to reconnect. Even the injury that was sliced open by the sharp sword gradually closed, looking wonderful and unblemished in the end. It was still that slightly handsome fox-like face, looking like it was never chopped off.

 

emished in therd gradually closeche injury that

 

Moving his head slightly, the guy touched the site of his injury with the tips of his fingers, then let out a breath: "Looks like it's all good."

 

Entering the body, even its voice changed to something different. Originally, the shadow attachment demon's voice was extremely high pitched. Right now, it sounded closer to a normal man..... even if it was still slightly high pitched.

 

Wen Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.

 

Jian Yi's eyebrow raised: "This cultivator is called what?"

 

"Zhao Feiyu." The shadow attachment demon, no, right now it was the Zhao guy from Cerulean Feathers answering.

 

As he talked, he gave Jian Yi a glance. After signing the death contract, he was connected internally with Wen Xuan and Jian Yi. Naturally, he was more sensitive to the state of these two people. With just one glance, he instantly discovered an aura that he didn't notice before on Jian Yi's body. His expression promptly changed subtly.

 

He almost asked directly, however, he was an astute type in the end. Very quickly, he realized that it wouldn't be good for Wen Xuan to hear what he discovered. Therefore, he only looked back and forth between the two people, wanting to talk but hesitated.

 

"Then we'll be troubling Cultivator Zhao to deal with the method to get rid of the empathy parasite." Jian Yi cupped his hands at him.

 

Wen Xuan still looked somewhat conflicted. Clearly he hasn't quite adapted to the situation before him yet. However, he wasn't such an inflexible person, and knew what's urgent and what's not. After a moment, he also cupped his hands similarly: "Please."

 

Zhao Feiyu nodded and turned to leave.

 

"Wait." Jian Yi followed him and said: "I still have a few words to say to you."

 

Originally, Wen Xuan wanted to follow him, but Jian Yi turned his head and said: "Shixiong, can you clean up the scene here? It'll prevent people from seeing anything strange if they happen to come by in the future."

 

After the two people left Wen Xuan behind and walked further away, Jian Yi finally grabbed Zhao Feiyu and asked viciously: "Ask away, what is it?"

 

Zhao Feiyu replied: "It's really nothing. I just discovered there's traces of a curse left on your body."

 

"A curse?" Jian Yi furrowed his brows.

 

"A curse that's already been utilized.” Saying this, Zhao Feiyu suddenly felt courageous again. After a while, he chucked: "Your body has already been cursed to death once before-- so in the end, we're actually the same kind of people huh?"

 

32

Chapter 32

 

A curse? Jian Yi knew of this concept. This wasn't a method used by the upright cultivators. Instead, it's a ploy that demonic cultivators often used. Once infected, if the method of unraveling the curse wasn't found, the cursed person would slowly grow weak and die. If someone didn't have enough cultivation or didn't have a slight understanding of this ploy, they probably wouldn't even know how they died. It's an extremely malicious method.

 

In an instant, Jian Yi's complexion turned unsightly.

 

He re-examined this body that he took over. At first when he first opened his eyes in this world, he already found himself inside this body. At that time, the owner of this body already left the world, dying suddenly in the middle of a forest and completely on an empty stomach. After Jian Yi transmigrated over, he felt his stomach was starving so much, it hurted. Without energy at all, Jian Yi hunted several days of wild animals before recovering. He naturally thought the original body had died of starvation.

 

Then Jian Yi followed the original's memories and found some heirlooms left behind by his ancestors. He obtained that storage bracelet as well as a small amount of assets that allowed him to successfully join the Water Cloud Sect. The rest was history.

 

Even when he learned from Jizi Ang that the original's parents were very likely murdered by someone, Jian Yi didn't question the original's death. After all, a dimwitted child who was driven away from his residence within the city after his parent's death wouldn't have been likely to survive.

 

But now, with Zhao Feiyu's words, everything changed. If he had the remains of a curse on his body, it was proof that the original actually died of the curse, and proof that the original and his parents were all murdered by someone.

 

Just what kind of person wouldn't even let off a dimwit?

 

This injustice was really too much, so much that Jian Yi could no longer use 'deal with Wen Xuan's matters first, then figure out his own business' to continue delaying it. He must take care of this matter, and it must be immediately. Otherwise, he'd no longer be able to remain in this body without qualms.

 

Jian Yi thought back and forth about all of these things. In actuality, only a mere second has passed. Seeing Jian Yi's expression turn heavy, Zhao Feiyu thought it was because he figured out the fact that Jian Yi stole someone else's corpse. Immediately, he started laughing gleefully. Raising a hand, he wanted to place it over Jian Yi's shoulders, attempting to use this similarity between the two of them to pull close their relationship.

 

Jian Yi raised his head and gave Zhao Feiyu a look, gaze even colder than before.

 

Zhao Feiyu instantly froze. Then he gave two dry laughs, withdrawing the hand he just raised dejectedly.

 

"Is the remnants of the curse on my body very apparent? What are the chances of it being discovered by others?" Jian Yi asked.

 

"Not at all." Zhao Feiyu answered honestly: "Looks like it happened several months ago. Very faint. Even a demonic cultivator like this lowly one wasn't able to see through it without the help of the death contract."

 

Jian Yi let out a breath of relief, color recovering to his face. Several months ago, that did coincide with the time that the original had died.

 

"Don't tell anyone." Jian Yi continued to say: "If a 3rd person learned of this matter...... you know what will happen."

 

Zhao Feiyu instantly shivered on the spot: "This lowly one, this lowly one understands. But what if the other contract owner asks..."

 

"Shixiong......" Jian Yi mumbled, expression revealing some hesitation. After a long time, he sighed: "If shixiong asks on his own accord, I naturally wouldn't pressure you. However, if he doesn't ask, you can't say a word."

 

"Got it, got it.” Zhao Feiyu finally nodded his head.

 

Jian Yi was just about to continue speaking when he suddenly paused. He pressed his lips together hastily. From behind, Wen Xuan walked over, clearly already finished cleaning the battle area from before.

 

Wen Xuan asked: "What are you guys talking about, taking this long?"

 

Saying these words, he suddenly saw the expressions of the two people before him change subtly. He couldn't help but look bewildered: "What?"

 

appear here

 

"Shixiong," Jian Yi said: "Shixiong....." But he didn't know what to say at this moment.

 

Without a doubt, this matter should be concealed from Wen Xuan. For Jian Yi to deal with this, he must avoid Wen Xuan.

 

"Just now we were just discussing how I feel like I should accompany him together to Cerulean Feathers." In the end, Jian Yi said: "Let's separate for a while and arrange for a time to meet up again?"

 

"You're going to Cerulean Feathers?" Wen Xuan was even more bewildered: "Why?"

 

"Who knows what will happen, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it alone." Jian Yi explained: "After all, those people who ran off might have already told Cerulean Feathers about what happened. The situation might not be cleared up so easily. With me coming up with plans on the side, he might be able to deal with it better."

 

"But that still doesn't need......" Wen Xuan clearly wasn't too willing.

 

"And plus, there might be some of the yuan gathering materials you need in Cerulean Feathers” Jian Yi continued to say: "I can go take a look along the way."

 

Wen Xuan's brows furrowed: "If you're going to find the things I need, I should go with you guys."

 

"No, no." Jian Yi said hastily: "Shixiong......" For a moment, he was somewhat flustered. However, he very quickly suppressed this panic and did his best to muddle through with reason: "We're going to Cerulean Feathers, so....." In the end, he took a deep breath, then said with a smile that's not quite a smile: "If someone in Cerulean Feathers asked 'so is Cultivator Zhao dead or alive'. Shixiong, what do you plan to answer?"

 

"Of course, I'd......" Wen Xuan started to say, but couldn't help but pause with an unsightly expression.

 

What would he do? Say confidently and with conviction that Zhao Feiyu didn't die at all? But Wen Xuan wasn't the type of person to lie. Putting his internal discomfort aside, he really wasn't confident that he wouldn't be uncovered while forcibly telling this kind of lie.

 

This excuse was actually pretty good. Jian Yi's expression relaxed faintly: "Therefore, just leave this matter to us, Shixiong. Don't you still have to find a spiritual city and see if some items can be purchased? When we finish our individual tasks, we can meet up again. It shouldn't take too long."

 

Wen Xuan was still unwilling, but since everything was all said to this extent, he can only nod his head and agree.

 

In the end, they agreed to meet one month later north of Anfeng City. Then, Jian Yi waved his hands at Wen Xuan and flew off with Zhao Feiyu.

 

Left. Left just like this.

 

Wen Xuan remained where he stood for a while and felt really unhappy inside.

 

The person who wanted to follow him at first was Jian Yi. Now the person who wanted to act separately was also Jian Yi. Although they agreed to meet in one month, the unhappiness inside Wen Xuan's heart was uncontrollable. Not to mention, the reason they had to separate was because Jian Yi was worried that Wen Xuan's behavior would hinder the other two's plans.

 

Moments later, Wen Xuan shook his head.

 

In the end, he wasn't such a petty person. This kind of small mood churned internally for a while, then was very quickly tossed to the back of his head. Jian Yi was already foundation building now anyways. This should be a period where he learned to stand on his own. Wen Xuan didn't need to worry too much.

 

As Wen Xuan comforted himself like this, he continued to follow the originally planned path.

 

Just like what Jian Yi said, right now the thing he needed to do the most was find a spiritual city. Although spiritual cities often sold things that were commonly seen. Occasionally, some rare

 

commodities might pop up. It's especially likely for Wen Xuan to find something he needed in a spiritual city's auction house.

 

Originally, the two people agreed to go together. Now that only he was left, it certainly sped up the process.

 

Meanwhile, as Wen Xuan set out on his journey, Jian Yi and Zhao Feiyu already made quite a distance away.

 

"Can you tell who casted the curse?" Jian Yi said.

 

Zhao Feiyu nodded cautiously: "The curse carries the caster's energy signature. There's only so many demonic cultivators in this area. I've seen pretty much all of them. Even if I can't recall them right now, I'd be able to tell if I see them again."

 

"See them again?"

 

"To be honest, the demonic cultivators in this area are rather weak...... therefore, every once in a while, we'd gather and exchange information."

 

"When's next time?"

 

"As long as someone initiates, anytime is fine."

 

"Then let's do it soon. After we go to Cerulean Feathers, you can invite them to gather." Jian Yi said: "Bring me to see them."

 

"This lowly one underst......what?" Zhao Feiyu abruptly jumped, completely gobsmacked.

 

"Bring me to meet them.” Jian Yi turned his head, looking directly into his eyes, repeating the words one by one.

 

Although frustrated, Zhao Feiyu can only nod his head.

 

"Don't worry too much." Jian Yi said smiling: "When you discovered the curse, didn't you also suspect I was one of you guys? I can tell you, I'm not. But I don't mind you introducing me as a kindred spirit to them. As long as I conceal it well, there won't be any issue."

 

This was really an extremely audacious decision. But the decision of a contract owner to a demonic cultivator was absolute. Zhao Feiyu can only pray that everything will really go off without a hitch when the time comes.

 

At this moment, they were almost at the entrance of the mountain to Cerulean Feathers. Just as Zhao Feiyu was praying, they saw two figures appear before them. One of them was Qin Shiyu who arrived one step ahead. The other was an yuan gathering cultivator from Cerulean Feathers.

 

These two yuan gathering cultivators saw the two foundation building cultivators over there and instantly stopped mid flight.

 

"This......" That yuan gathering cultivator from Cerulean Feathers was flabbergasted. He examined Zhao Feiyu up and down several times, then swung his sleeve, and turned his head to say to Qin Shiyu angrily: "Cultivator Zhao, are you making fun of us Cerulean Feathers? Didn't you say he was murdered? Isn't he currently fine, right in front of us!"

 

Qin Shiyu saw Zhao Feiyu and was clearly also surprised.

 

He quickly turned his gaze and saw Jian Yi who was next to Zhao Feiyu, then put on a smiling face: "To accidentally meet Cultivator Jian here, what a pleasant surprise. To be honest, my Xue shimei just told me now that Cultivator Zhao died in your hands. It scared me to death. That's why I came running swiftly over to Cerulean Feathers to notify them. Yet here you are, returning together with Cultivator Zhao? Did my Xue shimei make a mistake, or......"

 

Jian Yi insincerely replied with a faint smile: "Cultivator Zhao and I really did cross swords before. But you can't make friends without a good fight first after all. After we shook hands and made up, it actually felt like we're long time friends. Therefore Cultivator Zhao invited me to come visit Cerulean Feathers. As for saying Cultivator Zhao died in my hands? How am I supposed to know where this nonsense came from?"

 

Zhao Feiyu also said: "Speaking of that shimei of yours. The reason why I fought with Cultivator Jian this time was all because of her instigation. I came to help her out, yet when she saw I couldn't hold up against Cultivator Jian's offense, she just ran off without caring about what happened to me. At that time, Cultivator Jian just happened to be swinging a sword at my head...... so that's why she assumed I died? But that's only her imagination! Cultivator Jian is kind and benevolent. He definitely wouldn't take someone's life so easily!"

 

Cultivator Jian is kind and benevolent? Qin Shiyu's cheek couldn't help but twitch.

 

He carefully examined the two people in front of him over and over. The two people's explanation wasn't completely flawless,

 

but this Zhao Feiyu was indeed fine and dandy right in front of them. No one can refute this.

 

With Qin Shiyu's current cultivation, he couldn't see through the fact that Zhao Feiyu has been taken over by a demonic cultivator at all.

 

After a long time, Qin Shiyu can only cup his hands: "So it's like this. Looks like my Xue shimei was only speaking fantasies."

 

"That Xue shimei of yours," The yuan gathering cultivator from Cerulean Feathers scoffed on the side: "is lacking in discipline."

 

The relationship that Zhao Feiyu had with others in Cerulean Feather wasn't much. When Qin Shiyu came to inform the sect that he was murdered, there actually weren't many people who stepped forward to get revenge for him. Even the cultivator present currently only came for Sect contribution points. In the end, he ended up coming for nothing, so how could he not gripe?

 

When this person finished speaking, he gave Qin Shiyu another glare and then left with a toss of his sleeve.

 

Qin Shiyu also felt awkward. He quickly said goodbyes to the two people.

 

Seeing how Qin Shiyu ran off crestfallen, Jian Yi actually felt rather pleased.

 

To the side, Zhao Feiyu couldn't help but let out a breath of relief: "Looks like we muddled through this matter. Originally I was worried that they'd head back to the main sect and find a nascent

 

soul cultivator to check my identity. That would be rather troublesome."

 

"Oh?" Jian Yi asked him with a smile: "Cultivators under nascent soul won't be able to tell at all? Looks like your cultivation is pretty high."

 

Zhao Feiyu instantly discovered that he said too much again, sweat inevitably gathering on his forehead. So what if his cultivation was pretty high? Shadow attachment demons, as long as they left their host body and got caught, can only resign to letting others do as they please. In his carelessness, he allowed Jian Yi to cut off half of his host body's head and ended up in this tragic predicament. At the moment, he was already subdued by the death contract. For Jian Yi to find out that his cultivation wasn't low, was even more disadvantageous for him.

 

Good thing Jian Yi didn't ask anymore and only urged Zhao Feiyu to quickly bring him into Cerulean Feathers.

 

He was at least an inner disciple. For Zhao Feiyu to bring an outsider into his abode as a guest for a few days, it was a pretty easy task. Meanwhile, his revival after death, was originally only a one sided statement from Xue BingEr. So it didn't cause any waves within Cerulean Feathers. At most, people talked about it as a joke.

 

At the moment, it was already late. So Jian Yi ended up resting for a night in Zhao Feiyu's place.

 

Early next morning, in a place far away, Wen Xuan opened his eyes in the middle of a cave. He only felt like he didn't sleep very well the entire night, and ached everywhere.

 

He sat up and watched the sun rising outside of the cave, dazing off.

 

Wen Xuan started to reminisce about when Jian Yi was still present. At night, not only did the other help him spread out the blankets, In the morning, he'd also bring over a cup of sweet dew from who knows where he found it. Very considerate, Jian Yi did everything just perfect, not too little, not too much. Just like how when they first met, Jian Yi made that cup of tea for Wen Xuan. He always knew exactly what Wen Xuan liked the most. Who knows where all of this understanding came from.

 

Even though they've known each other for less than half a year, Wen Xuan still couldn't get used to their sudden separation. In the midst of his daze, he unexpectedly felt like he couldn't bear parting.

 

33

Chapter 33

 

After a long time passed, Wen Xuan sighed silently and finally recovered from this indescribable feeling of discomfort.

 

He felt even more deeply, like what Jian Yi said at the beginning, the other knew Wen Xuan like the back of his hand. Yet Wen Xuan really didn't know anything about Jian Yi. Well, maybe it didn't count as completely unknowing? They've known each other for a while now after all. Wen Xuan can easily recall that youth's appearance, his smiling, angry, insolent, bashful, high-spirited, cautious faces. With a mere thought, these images would appear distinctly in his heart. Nevertheless, they were all from after the two people met, so only within the last few months.

 

But what about before they met? How did Jian Yi spend his youth? What has he experienced?

 

An inexplicable thirst surged in Wen Xuan's heart. He wanted to understand that youth's everything and understand him more and more.

 

Right now, the only touch he had on Jian Yi's past was the strange, clean white room that he saw during their connection with the empathy parasite. But this didn't actually increase his understanding of Jian Yi at all, because he really didn't know where he could find such a room at all. This only made the youth even more mysterious.

 

He thought about asking Jian Yi directly before. The cautious opposition that Jian Yi expressed back then made him feel unable to inquire. Even Jian Yi's sudden suggestion to act separately this time, Wen Xuan could keenly feel that it's related to the things that Jian Yi didn't want him to know.

 

After a long time, Wen Xuan shook his head again. He sat up, slightly tidied up the things he was carrying, then walked out of the mountain cave. He temporarily suppressed his desire and began on his journey again, heading off in the direction of Anfeng City.

 

However, in the end, this desire of wanting to understand Jian Yi better still spread its roots and sprouted in Wen XUan's heart.

 

At this moment in time, Jian Yi and Zhao Feiyu also preceded with their plans in Cerulean Feathers.

 

Inside Cerulean Feathers, Zhao Feiyu really didn't attract other people's favor. He didn't have many friends who he could converse with. Naturally, this was deliberate. Afterall, he couldn't expose his true identity. Some interactions outside of the sect were fine. But inside the sect, a low profile was key. The more people who ignored him the safer.

 

Under Jian Yi's urging, he first quietly searched all over his own abode. However, it was all for naught.

 

Logically, the method of using and removing the empathy parasite should be on the same jade slip. Back then, Zhao Feiyu learned the method of use but threw away the method of removal. Now when he needed it again, he couldn't find it no matter what. Clearly, it's because he's been too disorganized all of these years.

 

With any other option, the two people could only come up with other plans. Under this circumstance, Zhao Feiyu's many years of acting deliberately low key was a huge disadvantage. No one was willing to bother with him. Where would he find the help? His shifu died already. There was no one to ask.

 

Good thing, this jade slip was studied amongst the sect. As long as he had enough sect contribution points, he can always trade for another one.

 

However, when Zhao Feiyu checked his sect contribution points, instantly his face turned green. He's been so extravagant all these years, why would there be any sect contribution points left?

 

Taking a deep breath, he turned his head and cautiously examined Jian Yi's complexion. Jian Yi wasn't even looking at him. Instead, he was concentrating on studying the different types of spiritual materials that could be exchanged in Cerulean Feathers.

 

Moments later, Jian Yi withdrew his gaze, expression holding a hint of delight: "So it's here."

 

As expected, he managed to find one of the materials Wen Xuan needed to break through to yuan gathering in Cerulean Feathers. And it was a rather hard to find item-- a matured scarlet beaked crane's tail feather.

 

Scarlet Beaked Crane wasn't a regular celestial crane. The matured ones even have a yuan gathering cultivation. It was extremely rare on this entire continent. Other than being raised in Violet Feathers Sect, it can only be found inside the Nanfeng Domain. The tail feather was also not any normal feather. Instead, it's the centermost feather from the Scarlet Beaked Crane's tail. Every crane only had one that was replaced every ten years. If it landed on the floor, it'd immediately decay, making it hard as hell to collect.

 

This kind of thing was ranked number 3 in difficulty to find in all of the items Wen Xuan required. Jian Yi already calculated that if Cerulean Feathers didn't have it, he could only leave North Ning to find it. Now that Cerulean Feathers actually had it, how could he not be happy?

 

A brief moment of delight later, Jian Yi finally discovered Zhao Feiyu's extremely cautious gaze: "What's the matter?"

 

Zhao Feiyu quickly explained everything and requested ample time: "Isn't it just contribution points? I will do my best to save it up again. It won't be long."

 

Jian Yi was actually extremely agreeable. Immediately, he nodded: "Go ahead then."

 

But Zhao Feiyu didn't have a chance to sigh in relief when Jian Yi continued to say: "Save some more to exchange for a few Red Beaked Crane's tail feathers."

 

Red Beaked Crane's tail feathers? After Jian Yi walked away without a care, Zhao Feiyu quickly examined the spiritual items exchange list. Immediately, he found the item, his originally slightly green face immediately turned so green it could condense into oil.

 

How could he not see it immediately? This list was arranged from most expensive to least. This whatever tail feather actually cost 30 thousand sect contribution points for just one. 30 contribution points! What did Jian Yi say just now? He wanted to exchange for a few? Did he know how much 30 thousand contribution points meant!

 

Giving an example. The Canglan sword that Wen Xuan had at the beginning, which was destroyed by Luo Qingquan, a flying sword that yuan gathering cultivators used, was a total of 30 thousand sect points. Although it was the sect points of the Water Cloud Sect, it wasn't much different in value from the sect points of the Cerulean Feathers Sect. Back then, in order to obtain this Canglan sword, Wen Xuan used a total of two years before he could gather 30 thousand contribution points. After it was broken, he felt unrelenting pain and attempted everything in order to repair it. It's enough to show just how expensive it was.

 

Now, Zhao Feiyu has received an order to obtain something that was similar to exchanging for a yuan gathering sword, and he had to get a few of them. He only felt his vision go black, and almost fainted on the spot. The entirety of empathy parasite manual was

 

only 5 thousand contribution points, which would be considered extremely cheap in comparison.

 

Zhao Feiyu hastily caught up to Jian Yi and tactfully expressed his difficulties.

 

"Too expensive?" Jian Yi used an expression like he was wasting his time to look at Zhao Feiyu: "How can this kind of thing not be expensive? According to what I know, even Cerulean Feathers didn't have any Red Beaked Cranes. They must have requested it from Violet Feathers, right?" Not to mention, plenty of higher level cultivation methods all needed this item. Because the supply didn't meet the demand, naturally it was expensive.

 

"Of course, of course, of course. This lowly one understands the price of these things very well." Zhao Feiyu's forehead was full of sweat again: "but but but, this price......"

 

"How long do you need?" Jian Yi went straight to the point.

 

"At least ten years!" Zhao Feiyu answered resolutely.

 

Jian Yi froze.

 

"For one." Zhao Feiyu added.

 

Jian Yi's mouth moved slightly, the word 'useless' was right on the tip of his tongue, almost about to leave his mouth and spit all over Zhao Feiyu's face.

 

Zhao Feiyu saw Jian Yi's terrible expression, and had a premonition that a storm was imminent. Immediately he gathered the courage to explain a whole bunch again. The reason

 

why he said he'd be able to exchange for the empathy parasite jade slip again was because he planned to sacrifice everything he had. If he had to, he was going to even sell his abode. Calculating like that, gathering those five thousand contribution points would only take a few months. But if he needed to save for other items, he'd have to start from nothing. No matter how quick he wanted to be, it'd be impossible.

 

Jian Yi thought his explanation was really very pitiful so restrained his desire to curse Zhao Feiyu out.

 

But he really never imagined Zhao Feiyu would be so slow at gathering contribution points. Back then, when Wen Xuan ran around everyday for his sect, often casting his own interest to the back of his mind, it still only took him two years to...... oh, back then, When Xuan was a yuan gathering cultivator. Alright, let's not bring this up at this moment.

 

Even speaking of foundation building, when Jian Yi read the original novel, he learned this. Back then when Qin Shiyu was only in foundation building, he focused on gathering sect contribution points. In one year, he managed to save a total of 60-70 thousand points. Although Qin Shiyu was the protagonist, this Zhao Feiyu was still a high level demonic cultivator. How could the difference be this huge?

 

So how exactly did Qin Shiyu gather all of those contribution points back then? Jian Yi fell silent and pondered.

 

After a long time, Jian Yi said to Zhao Feiyu with a smile that's not quite a smile: "You can only save 3 thousand a year. Is it because you never accept hard missions?"

 

That's right. Jian Yi easily recalled. Back then, Qin Shiyu managed to save 60-70 thousand a year, it was because he fought for it with his life, all day and night, under wind and rain. They say high risk equaled high reward. If you want to exchange for things you need quickly, a sure and steady path was definitely no good.

 

"But......" Zhao Feiyu flinched: "This lowly one doesn't have the strength......"

 

Jian Yi waved his hand, not bothering to hear his nonsense. He already knew-- by seeing how Zhao Feiyu followed Xue Bing Er and the others in ambush, but in the end, only hid in the back and set up traps-- that this was actually a timid person who only valued his life.

 

"How about this." In the end, Jian Yi ordered him indisputably: "In the future, you keep an eye on the mission counter over here. If you discover any missions with high rewards, report it to the two of us. If we want you to accept it, then you better hurry up and accept it. Worse comes to worse, we can go do it together with you. I'm bound by duty. I believe shixiong also won't decline."

 

No longer required to struggle desperately on his own, Zhao Feiyu let out a breath of relief. He had a bit of understanding in Wen Xuan and Jian Yi's skills. Immediately, the huge stone in his heart landed. He hastily nodded his head.

 

Therefore, everything that could be arranged within Cerulean Feathers has pretty much been arranged. Jian Yi took out a message talisman and told Wen Xuan about the whereabouts of that Tail Feather. This allowed Wen Xuan to focus on searching for

 

other yuan gathering items. What's left was Zhao Feiyu's busy work.

 

Right now there were still 20 days left until the arranged meeting time with Wen Xuan. Jian Yi's expression turned serious as he said: "You can find a place and invite all of those demonic cultivators over now."

 

Zhao Feiyu heard these words and also had a solemn appearance. Looking like he was encountering his greatest foe, he nodded his head.

 

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Wen Xuan already reached Anfeng City. He just arrived when he received Jian Yi's message.

 

According to their arrangement, he should stay here for the rest of the 20 days, until Jian Yi finished his business and found his way over. The reason why they made this arrangement was because in 10 days, there will be an auction event here just in time for Wen Xuan to attend.

 

In Jian Yi's plans, Wen Xuan definitely should have been hindered by this auction event.

 

But in reality, Wen Xuan unexpectedly met an old acquaintance inside Anfeng City. Through this old acquaintance, he successfully found out about the items within this auction event. Knowing ahead of time that it didn't have anything he needed, Wen Xuan looked around the market and bought some rather common spiritual items that the Water Cloud Sect just happened to be missing in stock. Then, he planned to use the rest of the 20 days to travel to another place and take a look.

 

This was another spiritual city, east of the Water Cloud Sect. It wasn't close to Anfeng city, but 20 days was enough for a round trip.

 

Jiufeng City, the place where Jian Yi was born.

 

Back in the Sect, Wen Xuan once saw where Jian Yi came from and learned that before Jian Yi joined the Water Cloud Sect, he lived over a dozen of years in Jiufeng City. Now Wen Xuan wanted to know even more.

 

Yet at this moment and time, neither of the two could have imagine, the next time they met each other, would be outside of the arranged time, in a place that wasn't agreed upon, and under such unexpected circumstances.

 

34

Chapter 34

 

Jiufeng City wasn't very far from the Water Cloud Sect, however, Wen Xuan rarely stopped here in the past. Now that he had arrived with investigative intentions, this was the first time he looked so carefully at the city's scenery and state.

 

In comparison to the Anfeng City that he just left, Jiufeng city was slightly smaller. The amount of people didn't decrease though. The streets were similarly bustling with noise and excitement. There were street vendors every two steps, with shopkeepers loudly promoting their wares. There was a sense of liveliness and activity all over. Even at the inn that Wen Xuan passed, there was a waiter grabbing customers at the door and saying: "This cultivator sir, you look like you're new. Do you need a place to stay for the night? Our Large Gathering Inn has the best suites in the city!"

 

Wen Xuan felt his interest pique and asked the waiter with a smile: "How do you know I'm new? Are you saying you recognize all of the faces in Jiufeng City?"

 

"No way, no way. There's so many people in this city.” The waiter hastily explained: "But for people with such extraordinary presence like you, cultivator sir, I definitely wouldn't forget."

 

Extraordinary presence? Clearly the only difference was perhaps a higher cultivation level, right?

 

Although Jiufeng City was a spiritual city, the mortals took up most of the population. The number of cultivators entering the city was probably only 30% of the count. In this 30% of cultivators, about 90% were still qi refining. As for foundation building, Wen Xuan only saw a few on his way here. He could count the number with one hand.

 

At this moment, Wen Xuan was not wearing the disciple uniform of a mystical sword sect. Also he was only foundation building. The waiter most likely thought he was a traveling lone cultivator, no wonder the man was in such a rush to make money.

 

However, at least this person seemed to have good eyesight. Wen Xuan thought briefly as he took out a few spiritual stones and placed it in the waiter's hand. After the other happily accepted it, Wen Xuan didn't mention anything about lodging, instead, he only asked: "Do you know of any family named Jian that lived in this city before?"

 

"Jian?" The waiter weighed the spiritual stones in his hand: "To be quite honest, the number of people with Jian as a surname, even if there aren't 100, there's at least 50."

 

Wen Xuan thought for a moment: "They sold spiritual medicine as a business for many generations."

 

Holding the spiritual stones without moving, the waiter revealed a thinking expression. A moment later, his expression changed subtly, as if he recalled something. Then his expression turned unsightly.

 

"They should have had a shop open last year. I think it's called.. Yunling Shop." Wen Xuan continued to say.

 

The waiter instantly looked like he was stung by an insect, and abruptly jumped: "Yunling shop?"

 

Immediately, he dumped all of the spiritual stones back into Wen Xuan's hand. After that, he felt rather pained, and snatched the spiritual stones back again, then said with a face full of unease: "Cultivator sir, you you you......why are you looking for this family?"

 

Wen Xuan saw his strange reaction and felt bewildered: "Because Jian Yi from this family is my good friend so I suddenly feel like coming to visit. Is there something wrong?"

 

Jian Yi? The waiter instantly jumped again: "That idiot who's the star of calamity is your good friend?"

 

These words were rather unpleasant. Wen Xuan furrowed his brows in discontent.

 

Wen Xuan didn't have a chance to say anything else when that waiter dumped all of those spiritual stones back into Wen Xuan's

 

hands again. This time, he was resolute, without any second thoughts or take backs, and completely without the hesitation he had just now: "I don't know any Yunling shop. I don't know anyone named Jian Yi. Cultivator sir, please find some other place!"

 

Saying these, the waiter even backed up two steps, looking like he was afraid he couldn't get out of the way fast enough. He even stopped trying to pull Wen Xuan in as a customer. If he wasn't so afraid of Wen Xuan's foundation building cultivation, he would have directly ushered the other away.

 

Wen Xuan felt utterly confused by this occurrence, the suspicion in his heart crashing like waves. Nevertheless, since the other didn't welcome him, he didn't plan to insist. Jiufeng City was huge anyways. It's not like he couldn't ask elsewhere.

 

Therefore, Wen Xuan continued walking down the streets and alleys. Whenever he found the chance, he'd ask someone by the roadside. However, in the end, after asking around in almost a big circle, there really was no one who was willing to tell him the information he needed. No matter who he asked, the others would either shake their heads and say they didn't know, or act just like the waiter, and avoid Wen Xuan like the plague, terrified they'd have even the slightest contact.

 

At first Wen Xuan just thought there were plenty of unusual aspects regarding Jian shidi. If he really had such a special background, it's not strange for the people in Jiufeng city to be so secretive about the Jian family. Perhaps this was related to that mysterious ability to read the Will of the Heavens. However, after asking many people, he discovered that this belief didn't really make sense. Because many people not only avoided talking about

 

the Jian family like it was a taboo, they also held a secret loathing.

 

Just what was going on? Under this rising bewilderment, Wen Xuan had no choice but to abandon honestly admitting that he was acquainted with Jian Yi. Instead, when others asked him why he was searching for the Jian family, he replied rather shamefully: "Two years ago, I ordered some spiritual medicine from Yunling shop. I have some issues with it so I came to take a look."

 

After explaining with this pretext, the people he asked finally didn't run away. Instead, they gave a long sigh: "Problems with your spiritual medicine? If I were you, I'd just order another batch and forget it. It's better than dealing with that family's calamity star again."

 

"Calamity star?" Wen Xuan's expression changed: "What do you mean?"

 

That person first looked around at the surroundings once, like trying to check if anyone was listening to him. Then, he raised a hand and pointed upwards, expressing rather seriously: "That family... offended the Will of the Heaven."

 

Wen Xuan's expression instantly changed subtly. For cultivators to defy the natural order of things was a rather common thing. For example, Jian Yi reading the Will of the Heaven was something that offended the Will of the Heaven. But the Will of the Heaven was formless and intangible, mysterious and unexplainable, not something normal people can fathom. Yet the attitudes these Jiufeng city residents had towards the Jian family was blamed on the Will of the Heaven. This seemed rather very unreasonable.

 

"Don't be in disbelief." That person saw Wen Xuan's expression and said hastily: "I'm warning you out of the goodness of my heart. Anyone and anything related to that family all ends in disaster!"

 

That was even more unreasonable. He's never heard of the Will of the Heaven judging by association as well. Wen Xuan asked with a conflicted expression: "How did they offend the Will of the Heaven?"

 

"Who knows." The other replied without hesitation.

 

Wen Xuan's cheek twitched.

 

This person didn't plan to say anymore. Shaking his head and then leaving a few more words of persuasion, he walked away in a hurry.

 

Standing where he was, Wen Xuan gave a silent sigh. Originally he thought Jian Yi's family background would be as clean and simple as it looked on paper, but who would have thought as soon as he started investigating, it'd be this kind of strange situation. At this moment, he still felt like his head was covered by mountain fog. He can only continue asking other people.

 

However, asking back and forth, everyone else's statements were pretty much the same. It was really hard to find anything else.

 

After wasting an entire hour, he finally heard something new from a peddler on the side of the road: "Oh that family. Only Qin niangzi is fine. Everyone else was unlucky. It's not enough they experienced the wrath of heaven themselves, they even caused trouble for everyone related to them."

 

Qin niangzi?

 

Wen Xuan asked in detail and finally found out that this so-called Qin niangzi was Jian Yi's father's eldest sister, Jian Yi's aunt. But everything else was a mystery, the peddler was unwilling to say anymore.

 

Then where else could he go to ask? Just as he pondered, Wen Xuan suddenly heard a ruckus not far away.

 

Lifting his eyes, he saw outside the entrance of an inn, several people were shoving a dirty old man outward: "Get lost, you old beggar! Don't stay here shamelessly. There's nothing for you to eat here!"

 

Cursing fervently, one of the people even raised his foot and kicked the old man viciously on the butt. The old man instantly staggered forward. Two white clean mantou fell out of his arms.

 

"Oh wow!" Those people instantly blew up: "Here we were wondering what you were hanging around inside for. So you were stealing!"

 

Cursing, these people completely lost all sense of courtesy and started to punch and kick the old man all over. The old man could only protect the two mantou in his arms, trembling all over while mumbling: "I was hungry...... I was just hungry......

 

There were plenty of observers all over, but they only stood around pointing and whispering: "Look. It's that old lazybum again."

 

Occasionally there'd be someone who couldn't bear watching and wanted to step forward, but they were all blocked by the other observers: "Don't pity this guy. If you help him once, he'll hang onto you for years."

 

These words barely completed when the speaker saw a white sleeve breeze past before his eyes. Someone marched past his side and directly stopped those people from hitting and kicking: "This person is an elderly, can't you show leniency?"

 

Was there really someone dumb enough to get involved in other people's business? The crowd instantly turned sympathetic gazes towards that white clothed young man-- of course this was our Wen shixiong.

 

The people from the inn examined Wen Xuan briefly and said with furrowed brows: "What do you know? This is a thief!"

 

Wen Xuan looked down, and looked at the two white mantou shielded in the old man's arms: "Did he steal anything else?"

 

The people from the inn were stunned by this question. After a while, someone finally answered: "That's because right now he's been beaten scared! Before, whenever people even walk past him, he'd steal their moneybags!"

 

Many of the viewers in the crowd all nodded their heads. Clearly these words weren't on empty bases.

 

Wen Xuan furrowed his brows, and felt rather helpless inside.

 

"Understand now?" The inner person yelled: "If you understand then get out of the way. Mind your own business!"

 

However, not only did Wen Xuan not walk away, he even took out a spiritual stone: "No matter what he's done in the past, since he only stole these at the moment, I will pay for him. Can you let him go this once?"

 

The crowd was in uproar as the people heard these words. Most were exclaiming how can such a proper looking foundation building cultivator be so stupid.

 

The inn people were also stunned. Then a person accepted the spiritual stone, tested its genuineness, then said with a sneer: "Since someone is willing to squander this money, then naturally we won't bother with him" Then this person waved at the others, turned and started returning to the inn.

 

At this time, Wen Xuan stopped these people, and handed them some more spiritual stones: "I'd like a table of good food."

 

The audience viewing the scene all revealed strange looks.

 

Then they saw Wen Xuan give the messy old man who was still hugging the floor a friendly smile: "Aren't you hungry? I'll invite you to a meal."

 

The people from the inn felt their cheeks twitch. However, since the business walked in, they won't go as far as to reject it. They only specifically chose a table at the most remote corner, away from anything else. Not long afterwards, the food was placed on the table, nothing more, nothing less, scrumptious and tasty.

 

The old man didn't hold back and stuffed himself vigorously. As his mouth was stuffed with food, he mumbled indistinctly: "Benefactor, you're really a life saver!"

 

With a smile, Wen Xuan watched him eat, occasionally reminding him to not choke. After a while, the old man finally felt like he could eat no longer. The speed at which he shoved food into his mouth slowed. Wen Xuan finally expressed: "If you really consider me your benefactor, then I have a few questions. Can you help answer them?"

 

That's right. Wen Xuan's decision to help this person wasn't completely for free. For a person to gain such infamy, it indicated he stayed in this place for quite some time and had caused trouble to a large area in the surrounding. Although he was unwelcomed, the person that Wen Xuan needed right now, was just this kind of person.

 

"Benefactor, ask away!" The old man patted his chest and guaranteed his usefulness.

 

Once again, Wen Xuan brought up the Jian family that opened the Yunling shop.

 

The old man's expression changed, clearly also aware of the Jian family's matters. However, he didn't immediately answer but looked rather hesitant.

 

"What is it?" Wen Xuan felt like he didn't know if he should laugh or cry: "Don't tell me, you're also afraid of receiving the wrath of Heaven?"

 

The old man shook his head: "Since you know about the wrath of Heaven, then why are you still......"

 

He didn't finish speaking when Wen Xuan abruptly threw down a spiritual stone in front of him. The old man's eyes widened and focused with great difficulty. Then with another sound, Wen Xuan threw down another spiritual stone in front of him.

 

Wen Xuan placed these stones in front of him one by one, a total of 20-30 stones. The old man's gaze was fixed, not turning at all. But still, he still didn't answer.

 

Then, Wen Xuan swept these spiritual stones into his arms: "If you're not willing to say it, then forget it."

 

"Ai!" The old man hastily said: "Benefactor, wait, wait! Since the benefactor asked, how can I not answer. I was only thinking just now! Just thinking!"

 

Wen Xuan shook his head, amused: "Then are you done thinking?"

 

The old man nodded his head like he was pounding garlic and quickly said everything he knew like pouring out beans.

 

"A difficult birth?" Wen Xuan's brows furrowed.

 

The old man started speaking from when Jian Yi was born. Apparently, many years ago, on the night that Jian Yi was born, the inside of Jiufeng City was suddenly covered densely by dark clouds, wind and rain were both present. A tree on the roadside was even stuck down by lightning. Under this kind of situation,

 

Jian Yi's mother gave birth to this son, but she herself closed her eyes forever.

 

"At that time, a rumor started saying this child was a calamity star that descended from the heavens." The old man said: "But not many people believed this back then. Until this child slowly grew up and actually turned out to be a dimwit at birth."

 

"A dimwit at birth?" Wen Xuan was stunned again.

 

He immediately recalled when the two of them faced off against Qin Shiyu in the ancient mausoleum. At that time, Qin Shiyu said these words before. Back then, Wen Xuan only thought that it was purely to sow discord and didn't take it to heart. But now it looked like Jian Yi was really a dimwit at birth? Then the intelligence that he showed currently, was it really because his father found someone to treat him?

 

"But even if he was dimwitted," Wen Xuan asked: "What does that have anything to do with a calamity star?"

 

"I'm not finished yet." The old man blew his beard: "This calamity star caused his mother's death as soon as he was born. Later, when he was two years old, he also caused his grandmother's death."

 

This so-called 'caused his grandmother's death' in detail was just a story about how Jian Yi inexplicably fell into the water that year. His grandmother jumped in to save him, but ended up drowning herself.

 

If someone wanted to resent Jian Yi for this and blamed him for this, it's not hard to understand. However, for an entire city to

 

believe Jian Yi was a calamity star because of this, it's rather outrageous. Wen Xuan couldn't help but frown deeper.

 

"Benefactor, don't fret." The old man said unhurriedly: "These little things didn't really prove anything. There's still much more to follow. Let me tell them to you slowly."

 

35

Chapter 35

 

Therefore, the old man continued to slowly recount further, one by one.

 

When Jian Yi was three, he suddenly disappeared from the house. The entire family divided and searched for half of the night and finally found him in the middle of a forest outside of the city. Because of this, his grandfather was stabbed in the stomach by a wild beast outside.

 

Also when Jian Yi was five, he was playing with fire in the house, set it on fire, and burned his other grandfather to death.

 

Then when Jian Yi was seven......

 

As such, by the time Jian Yi was ten, the originally numerous Jian family only had this father and son pair remaining, relying on each other for survival, not counting the aunt that was married into another family way earlier, Qin niangzi.

 

When Wen Xuan heard this, he already felt rather incredulous and couldn't help but ask: "What's up with this Qin niangzi anyways?"

 

"Qin niangzi... she's the only smart person in that entire Jian family." The old man huffed coldly: "Everyone could see that the idiot was a calamity, but the entire Jian family refused to believe it. Only Qin niangzi understood and knew that the calamity can't stay. She almost had the chance to choke the kid to death...... If she wasn't stopped at the last minute, how could the Jian family fall to such a place now!"

 

"What?" Wen Xuan turned pale in shock, almost knocking over the dishes next to his hand.

 

Although he was only hearing a narration, when he thought about how once, Jian Yi was almost choked to death by his own aunt, Wen Xuan still felt his heart tremble with fear and fill with an inexplicable rage: "Ridiculous, ridiculous. To try to kill such a young child just because of a baseless rumor about a 'calamity star, you call this a smart person? And all these people actually think she's right?"

 

"Benefactor, you don't understand. If the problem only remained in the Jian family, no matter how bad it was, it wouldn't make all these people feel unfortunate that Qin niangzi failed all those years ago." The old man said: "But around the time when the Jian family pretty much all died, the calamity star then started causing harm to other people!"

 

Wen Xuan took in a breath and calmed himself somewhat: "What do you mean?"

 

"First it's the neighbors they were friendly with. They all started to get infected with a strange illness. Later on, even people who went to buy spiritual medicine from Yunling Shop started contracting the same illness. They suffered day and night, but it was untreatable no matter how many doctors they saw!"

 

Another outlandish event, Wen Xuan's expression turned heavier: "What kind of strange illness?"

 

The Water Cloud Sect once sent people to buy medicine from Jiufeng City before. They didn't avoid Yunling Shop or anything, so how come they've never heard of anyone getting any strange illness?

 

"No one can say clearly." The old man shook his head: "First, they had blisters all over their body. Then the blisters festered and drained, filling the air with an overwhelming stench. It was not only painful but also itchy. None of the different experts that were called on knew what's going on."

 

"Did you guys invite anyone from the big cultivation sects?" Wen Xuan couldn't help but ask.

 

"Benefactor, are you asking about that Water Cloud Sect?" The old man shook his head and shrugged: "Why would those big lords of Water Cloud Sect care about this little issue in Jiufeng City? The only thing they cared about was their own disciples and those people in the city that had the potential to become future disciples. The people infected by this strange illness were all the most regular of mortals. They won't even spare these people a glance."

 

Wen Xuan turned pale upon hearing these words, but he couldn't refute it. This also explained why no one from the Water Cloud Sect was affected by this strange illness-- what kind of illness actually knew to bully the weak and avoid the strong?

 

But Wen Xuan was somewhat different from other disciples. He promptly began inquiring where those people who were infected lived, wanting to take a look personally.

 

However, the old man said instead: "Benefactor, if you go now, you probably won't see anything. Ever since the Jian family all died, everyone recovered."

 

"......all died?"

 

"That's right. Speaking of which, the head of that Jian family was the first one to catch that strange illness. He was sicker than everyone else. After dragging on for several months, he finally stopped breathing one night." The old man said carefully: "With his death, many people in the city panicked and thought they were next. It wasn't until a few days later when the illness in the other people's bodies started getting better, that they learned perhaps the gods let them off."

 

Hearing this person evaluate the death of Jian Yi's father, Wen Xuan felt displeased inside, as well as a bit pained.

 

"However, back to the main point. The crux of this matter wasn't related to the head of the Jian family, but to that calamity star." The old man continued to say: "It was actually all thanks to Qin niangzi. After the head of the Jian family died, she took over and chased that calamity star outside of the city. Then some hunters who went out and saw that calamity star dead in the forest

 

outside the city. That's when the situation within this city started getting better."

 

Hearing this person return back to Jian Yi again, Wen Xuan felt a profound grief in his heart. At the same time, there's also an even deeper sense of incredulousness: "Dead outside of the city?"

 

"That's right."

 

"Did they make a mistake?"

 

"How can that be?" The old man puffed his beard: "It's not like only one person saw it. Not to mention, after he died, everyone else started to get better. There's no doubt here."

 

Wen Xuan fell silent. After a long time, he asked: "Before he was chased out of Jiufeng City, did his father already find someone to cure his dimwittedness?"

 

The old man scoffed: "He wanted to." In other words, he didn't.

 

Now this was just strange. No matter what, these words didn't match up with what Wen Xuan knew. The Jian shidi that Wen Xuan knew has been fine and dandy, lively and hopping about all over. His intelligence and wit were something normal people couldn't compare with. Even if he was once dimwitted, it should have been cured a long time ago. In brief, he seemed like a completely different person from the calamity star that the old man was talking about.

 

Wen Xuan couldn't help but describe Jian Yi's outer appearance in detail, wondering if perhaps he was looking for the wrong person.

 

However, the old man's eyes opened wider and wider. In the end, he didn't even wait for Wen Xuan to finish talking completely to yell in panic: "Yes, that's the calamity star, no doubt about it! Benefactor, how did you know?"

 

So he wasn't looking for the wrong person? Wen Xuan couldn't help but shake his head. Evidently, the old man was no longer any help in unraveling the strangeness of this situation.

 

Wen Xuan asked again about the residences of those people who were infected: "Although they're better now, I still want to go take a look. Oh right, and that Yunling Shop. Can you point it out to me?"

 

Remembering all of these locations, Wen Xuan got ready to leave.

 

However before this, there was another person he needed to ask clearly about: "Where does that Qin niangzi live now?"

 

"Right next to Yunling shop. Ever since the calamity star and his father died, she said the Yunling shop was the family business so moved into it."

 

Family business? But wasn't the Yunling Shop something that Jian Yi's father opened? The suspicion in Wen Xuan's heart increased by another degree. But at the moment, it can only be placed next to all of his other suspicions as he slowly explored the answer to this secret.

 

Just as Wen Xuan got up to leave, that old man's eyeballs spun. He immediately got up and shamelessly followed Wen Xuan: "Benefactor, since you helped me, why don't you help me to the end. I, old Qian, am all by my lonesome, without any family at

 

home. As long as I can stay by your side, I'll definitely follow your every beck and call without any hesitation......"

 

So this old man really planned to rely on him like a deadbeat? Wen Xuan looked at this person, not knowing if he should laugh and cry.

 

This person didn't feel ashamed at all and smiled brazenly. He was just ready to say something when he felt a gust of wind blow by, making him blink uncontrollably. When he opened his eyes again, the only things left in front of his view were the rest of the food and those 20-30 spiritual stones. Wen Xuan's figure couldn't be found at all.

 

After Wen Xuan escaped, he flew past two streets before slowing down.

 

Following the roads, he found a family that had someone who contracted that strange illness before and knocked on their door. When that person opened the door, Wen Xuan...... very guiltily pretended to be a traveler asking for direction. As he asked, he carefully examined the little area behind the door.

 

Looking in like this, this family looked extremely normal. Inside the house, there was a big wooden sculpture placed on the table facing the entrance, looking like the deities that mortals liked to pray to. Wen Xuan couldn't recognize which deity it was. And plus, under this kind of circumstance, it was really hard to make out anything else.

 

Because Wen Xuan dallied too long in his direction asking, the person who opened the door became suspicious and asked him

 

with furrowed brows: "Cultivator sir, what exactly are you looking

 

for?"

 

Without any better option, Wen Xuan could only explain honestly what he came for: "I heard someone in this house once had a strange illness......"

 

"Pa!" He didn't even finish his words when the person who opened the door abruptly turned pale with fright, back away hastily, and closed the door in Wen Xuan's face. A panicky voice traveled over from the other side of the tightly closed door: "I don't know any strange illness!"

 

Wen Xuan gloomily touched his nose and could only search elsewhere.

 

After that, he found 4-5 more families but received exactly the same treatment. What was notable was that many of these families had that wooden sculpture in their houses as well. As for the rest, either he didn't manage to see them or he wasn't even able to enter the gate.

 

He needed to come up with a plan to enter...... but it was pretty hard to think up of one. This was really not an area of Wen Xuan's specialty

 

Wen Xuan liked straightforward and honorable methods of doing things the most. But at a time like this, it really wasn't feasible. No, wait. Saying it this way, there were a few families that might be worth trying. Thoughts churning, Wen Xuan turned, changed his target of investigation, and headed to an address.

 

The families that he visited before were all too unrelated to the Jian family. They only bought spiritual medications a few times and ended up causing trouble for themselves. Naturally, this kind of reaction was unavoidable. The family that Wen Xuan planned to visit this time, the male head of the household was once Jian Yi's father's close friend.

 

After he became infected with the illness, he was forced by his wife to break contact with Jian Yi's father. Wen Xuan felt like this person was worth a visit.

 

When he stopped in front of this family's door and knocked, he saw the person who opened the door and instantly let out a breath of relief. This person was wearing a yellow colored, coarse looking, cotton clothes. His figure looked frail, thin, and weak. There were short stubbles around his lips. This was the male head of the household, no doubt.

 

Wen Xuan cupped his hands in greeting and didn't conceal anything. He directly explained his reason for visiting. Of course, in order to prevent other people in the household from hearing, he spoke extremely carefully, even his tone was suppressed extremely quietly.

 

After this person finished listening, as expected, his expression changed. Then he carefully allowed Wen Xuan into the house and carefully expressed: "Cultivator sir, you came just in time. My wife just happened to be out."

 

Hearing this, Wen Xuan let out a huge breath of relief.

 

Finally, he was able to enter one of the family's houses. He felt like a huge stone in his heart landed. Looking around

 

unconsciously, he immediately saw a wooden sculpture at the corner of the living room. It was the exact same one as what he saw previously in the other family's houses.

 

"Cultivator sir." That head of the household (Surname Zhou) asked hesitantly: "You...you said Jian Yi, that kid...is still alive? Really?"

 

Wen Xuan shook his head: "I do know a Jian Yi, but now that I've asked around Jiufeng City, I can no longer be certain."

 

Zhou ---- gave a long sigh: "What happened to the Jian family was really extremely strange and unexplainable."

 

This person became friends with Jian Yi's father many years ago, a little after Jian Yi was born. At that time, he was bitten by a poisonous snake in the mountains and just happened to meet Jian Yi's father who was out picking medicinal herbs. The other man saved his life: "I feel ashamed even talking about it. I still haven't been able to return his kindness."

 

Then he narrated everything he knew, but it wasn't too different from what the old beggar said before.

 

As Wen Xuan listened, he walked around examining the room. When he got close to the wooden sculpture, he couldn't help but stop. When he was further away, he didn't feel anything. But now that he was close, he felt this sculpture emitting a strange aura in waves.

 

This aura was hard to describe. Sometimes when objects are worshiped often, they eventually gain a hint of divinity. As time passed, this kind of divinity can develop a spiritual sentience and

 

respond to the prayer of mortals. Many of the so-called deities in the mortal realm were born like this. With an increase in worship, their divinities also strengthened. This was how these kinds of deities increased their cultivation, until one day, they experience heavenly tribulations like any other cultivators and ascend, becoming true immortals.

 

The wooden sculpture before his eyes had a slight hint of this kind of divinity. But the strange thing was that beneath this layer of divinity, Wen Xuan can feel it mixed with wisps of darkness.

 

"Cultivator sir," Zhou ---- discovered that Wen Xuan's expression was odd: "Is there something wrong with this Deity of Fortune?"

 

"Deity of Fortune?" Wen Xuan asked in surprise.

 

Zhou ---- nodded, explaining that this was the deity in charge of people's fortunes. It can change misfortune into fortune. Many people in Jiufeng city were believers. Even that strange illness that started in the Jian family was contained because of this Deity of Fortune.

 

Wen Xuan's expression couldn't help but turn odder: "But the reason why your illnesses got better, wasn't it because......" Wen Xuan really couldn't bear saying the rest of the words out loud.

 

However, Zhou ---- knew what he wanted to say and sighed: "That's only one reason. Actually, people started believing in this Deity of Fortune around the same time this strange illness started spreading in this city. Back then, if someone who was ill accepted this Deity of Fortune into their house, their symptoms would be lighter than those people who didn't accept. Soon after, more and

 

more people accepted this Deity of Fortune, so even people who contracted the illness lessened."

 

"Something like that really happened?"

 

"That's right...... and to be honest....." Zhou ---- continued to say: "After the news of Jian Yi dying outside spread and everyone's illness started recovering, I...... and some other families who didn't believe in this Deity of Fortune still didn't get better. After my wife berated me severely and also accepted this Deity into our household, only then did my illness improve."

 

Finished listening to this recount, Wen Xuan couldn't help but examine that wooden sculpture one more time: "This Deity of Fortune, where did you guys get it from?"

 

"From Qin niangzi." Zhou ---- answered with a smile.

 

Qin niangzi? This woman again?

 

36

Chapter 36

 

"Speaking of this Qin niangzi, she was the first believer of the Deity of Fortune in Jiufeng city." Zhou ---- continued to say: "When she married into landlord Li's family 20 years ago, she was unable to give birth to any children, until about two years ago, she consolidated a belief for the Deity of Fortune. Then her stomach finally had activity."

 

In other words, after this, Qin niangzi started to become the Deity of Fortune's most devoted believer and began preaching all over Jiufeng City.

 

"Even big brother Jian, who had plenty of disagreements with her before, asked her for a sculpture of the Deity of Fortune to place in the middle of Yunling Shop. Unfortunately, it didn't help him escape death...... The other people all say it's because the calamity aura from Jian Yi's body was too much, even the Deity of Fortune couldn't control it."

 

Zhou ---- gave a long sigh.

 

Wen Xuan fell silent as he pondered. Even if Qin niangzi preached fervently, it would still be practically impossible to gather the belief of all of these people in merely two years. The reason this Deity of Fortune was able to expand so extensively in Jiufeng City was more so because it coincided with the strange illness.

 

Then Wen Xuan asked: "Was the Deity of Fortune placed in Yunling Shop before the strange illness spread across the city or after?"

 

This question was a bit hard to answer. Zhou ---- was stunned for quite awhile.

 

After a long time, this person furrowed his brows and said with an extremely uncertain tone: "I think it was....... after? No, not right......"

 

"It was before, before the appearance of the strange illness!" He suddenly recalled something and changed his uncertainty just now, saying with resolution: "When I visited Yunling Shop during that time, I occasionally would see a piece of cloth covering there, revealing the hand of a wooden sculpture. When I asked, big brother Jian told me, Qin niangzi bothered him nonstop so he had no choice but to bring that wooden sculpture inside. Now that I think about it, that must be the Deity of Fortune. However, at that time, big brother Jian wasn't a believer so he covered it with a piece of cloth. Ai, perhaps the Deity of Fortune didn't protect him because of this bit of disrespect...... When he was finally willing to show the Deity of Fortune out in the open, the strange illness already ran rampant amongst Jiufeng City for quite a while. Old habits die hard."

 

"In other words, he first placed the Deity of Fortune into Yunling Shop, then contracted the strange illness. Afterwards, the illness spread to everyone who came in contact with him?" With a heavy face, Wen Xuan continued to ask: "Those people who contracted the illness, did they often visit Yunling Shop prior?"

 

Zhou ---- heard his words, and couldn't help but become somewhat dumbfounded.

 

Saying those words before, he felt like he was wasting time. But now that they were reiterated by Wen Xuan like this...... why did everything sound so off?

 

Wen Xuan took in a deep breath: "If your big brother Jian didn't cover up that wooden sculpture at first and made everyone aware of this sequence of events, perhaps other people would have noticed this earlier."

 

"Cult...cultivator sir....." Zhou ---- already shifted his gaze on to the wooden sculpture of his Deity of Fortune. He couldn't resist swallowing heavily: "What you mean is...... this Deity of Fortune..... this Deity of Fortune was the cause of everything......"

 

Wen Xuan shook his head: "There's no concrete evidence yet."

 

Zhou ---- remained dumbfounded for a moment, then finally regained his focus. Clenching his teeth tightly, he said with a zealous tone: "No, cultivator sir, I believe you! I said it before, big brother Jian was a good person. Jian Yi was also a pitiful child. How could he be a calamity star? But no one believed me! Later, more and more things kept happening so even I started to suspect...... Stupid. I'm really stupid. Why didn't I think of it

 

earlier, that everything was actually caused by this Deity of Fortune! And here everyone thinks it's a good thing!"

 

Stirred emotionally, he rushed at the wooden sculpture. Raising it with both hands, he was just about to smash it into pieces.

 

However, Wen Xuan reached out a hand and stopped him: "Calm down for a moment first. I still have to investigate many more things to learn just what happened. If it really is this thing's fault in the end, you have time to smash it later."

 

Stopped half way, Zhou ----'s fury instantly deflated. He held the sculpture, not knowing if he should really smash it or not.

 

"If there's really something wrong with this sculpture and you smashed it now, you might inadvertently alert the enemy." Seeing this person still hesitating, Wen Xuan shook his head with a smile: "And plus, if you smashed it right now and your wife comes back, wouldn't she come after you?"

 

Zhou ---- instantly trembled and put the sculpture in his hands back into its original position, safe and sound: "Cultivator sir, you're right, you're right."

 

Wen Xuan couldn't help but smile again.

 

"Cultivator sir, you must investigate to the bottom of this!" In the end, this Zhou ---- pleaded earnestly: "I know big brother Jian was innocent. You can't let him carry this infamy even after death."

 

Wen Xuan nodded his head: "It's my duty.”

 

Like this, all of the information that could be gathered here was completed. Wen Xuan said his goodbyes to this Zhou ----

 

Walking down this road, he headed closer and closer to the truth. Finally, he walked to the source of everything, Yunling Shop. At this time, Yunling Shop was completely transferred over to the new owner, Qin niangzi. Perhaps because of this location and the events that happened, the atmosphere here was very ominous. After changing owners, Yunling Shop still hasn't re-opened. The inscribed name board at the entrance already accumulated a layer of dust. The heavy front door was also closed tightly, not a person inside.

 

Since there was no one inside, Wen Xuan didn't feel the need to be courteous. He promptly casted a small spell and entered by going through the walls.

 

As soon as he stepped into Yunling Shop, a moldy smell greeted him immediately. Clearly, it's been quite a while since anyone else entered. He waved his sleeves. The dust that filled the air practically blinded him. He took a few steps in this dust. Finally, the corner of his eyes lit up when he saw the wooden sculpture that was respectfully placed on the center of the countertop. Sure enough, it was the exact same looking Deity of Fortune, which also emitted a strange aura.

 

But in comparison to the one in Zhou ----'s house, the dark aura on this sculpture was even thicker. Just standing close, Wen Xuan could feel goosebumps rising uncontrollably.

 

If it was before, Wen Xuan might not have been able to figure out what this dark aura was. But after meeting Zhao Feiyu and making a death contract with him, Wen Xuan naturally knew--

 

this was demonic energy. This wooden sculpture was emitting a light aura of demonic energy.

 

It was really hard to believe that this so-called Deity of Fortune was demonic in nature.

 

Wen Xuan took a deep breath. Of course he wanted to eliminate demons and eradicate evil, but this demonic thing actually learned to cultivate via the method of deities. The wooden sculpture was only a medium to collect mortal prayers. Even if Wen Xuan destroyed it, he wouldn't be able to hurt the real body.

 

With any other choice, Wen Xuan can only turn and continue walking around inside Yunling Shop. The medicinal herbs inside Yunling Shop were already removed by someone. The chairs and table were still set up in their original position. Who knew if Qin niangzi planned to leave the place like this or was waiting for things to calm down to tidy it up.

 

There was pretty much nothing else to investigate in this Yunling shop.

 

Just as Wen Xuan thought this, he walked to the backyard. His both eyes instantly constricted. Under an old locust tree, there was hole. Wen Xuan crouched down, picked up a bit of the dirt around the edges, and squeezed it between his fingers. This hole was dug a while ago, several months at least, but not more than a year. Carefully calculating, this should have happened after Jian Yi's father died of illness, and Jian Yi was chased out.

 

After Qin niangzi became the owner of Yunling Shop, did she dig something out of here?

 

As Wen Xuan pondered this, he continued to search in other areas of the backyard. Just as he almost reached the boundary of the backyard, he suddenly heard the sound of laughter. Next door, someone was strumming the strings and playing a beautiful song.

 

Right now, Qin niangzi was living next to Yunling Shop and she was an expert at playing the zither since she was young. Back then, her reputation spread all across Jiufeng city because of her skills with the zither. It even attracted that landlord Li to spend a huge amount of money to marry her. Therefore, the person who was playing the zither right now, it should be Qin niangzi?

 

Wen Xuan concealed himself, jumped on a tree, and sneakily looked over the walls.

 

For a moment, he thought he guessed wrong. Because the person playing the zither looked like a young girl in her prime. She was currently playing the zither inside the house and singing quietly, a very beautiful image. But on closer examination, he discovered that this actually wasn't a young girl because the corners of her eyes had thin wrinkles.

 

Next to her was a cradle. Inside, there was a small baby who was currently waving both hands, giggling to the music.

 

This should be the child that Qin niangzi finally had through praying to the Deity of Fortune. Adding these clues together, the woman playing the zither should be Qin niangzi, without a doubt. Really hard to imagine, Qin niangzi should be around 40 years old right now, yet she still maintained her outer appearance this well. It was apparent just how beautiful and enchanting she must have been when younger.

 

After the song was over, the baby in the cradle quietly entered dreamland. Qin niangzi stopped. A light clapping sounded behind her. Qin niangzi turned her head to look. A man with white hair walked in from the outside.

 

"Husband." Qin niangzi got up to greet him.

 

The middle aged man pulled her into his arms smiling. What an affectionate pair of husband and wife. Then, the two people spoke quietly for a while. Wen Xuan was far away so he couldn't hear very clearly.

 

He also didn't plan to eavesdrop. Instead, he quietly jumped off the tree, then used another spell, and secretly went through the walls again. He attempted to investigate this place where Qin niangzi lived. However, he didn't even start when words reached his ears.

 

"I just returned from outside. People say that a cultivator was making inquiries all over about the Jian family." The person saying this was that white haired middle aged man. Wen Xuan's footsteps froze. In the end, he couldn't help but listen closely.

 

"A cultivator?" Qin niangzi's tone was filled with surprise: "Why would a cultivator investigate them?"

 

"Who knows?" Landlord Li said: "That cultivator even went to many of the families that contracted the illness."

 

"Is it to investigate that strange illness?" Qin niangzi slightly calmed down and hypothesized: "Perhaps someone related to that cultivator got involved in this?"

 

"That's what I'm asking you." Landlord Li expressed: "Didn't you promise back then that everyone you found were all people without backgrounds, that it definitely won't cause a big scene?"

 

The information in these words was really a lot. In his surprise, Wen Xuan moved slightly.

 

"I......" Qin niangzi opened her mouth and was just about to say something when her expression suddenly changed. She abruptly turned around and yelled loudly: "Who's there?"

 

This woman was this sensitive? Wen Xuan hastily took a step back and hid himself into the shadow.

 

However, Qin niangzi didn't relax. Instead, she walked forward step by step and carefully looked at every corner of the house. Seeing her head closer and closer, Wen Xuan had no other choice but to continue backing up, going through the wall and completely exiting this house.

 

Although he only heard half of the conversation, through this half of the conversation, Wen Xuan knew that the strange illness definitely had an inseparable relationship with Qin niangzi. In addition, her husband, landlord Li was also a participant. However, Wen Xuan still felt this wasn't enough. He still wanted to gain control over even more evidence.

 

Since such a sensitive person was present here, if he wanted to investigate anything in broad daylight, it'd probably be hard.

 

Wen Xuan shook his head and could only retreat momentarily, planning to come back later in the night.

 

After he completely left that place, Wen Xuan felt extremely unsettled with an unspeakable discomfort and pain. This discomfort and pain naturally wasn't for himself, but for Jian Yi.

 

Although he was still unwilling to make the final conclusion, with the evidence he had currently, Wen Xuan already had a very clear grasp of the truth.

 

Qin niangzi, Jian Yi's blood related aunt, caused the death of Jian Yi's father. Then through a meticulously set up scheme, she made the two of them become the calamity star in the eyes of all of the residents in Jiufeng city, to be cursed and disdained even after death.

 

After first, Wen Xuan wished he guessed wrong. Afterall, the thing that did everything should be that demonic Deity of Fortune; Qin niangzi was only a believer of this demonic object. She very likely could have been misled and didn't know anything at all. However, through the conversation he heard from the husband and wife just now, Wen Xuan found it hard to convince himself otherwise.

 

The purpose of this journey of his at the moment was to learn about Jian Yi's past. Who would have thought, after really learning about it, he'd feel such pain.

 

Even if Qin niangzi wasn't the culprit, everything that youth experienced all of these years living in Jiufeng city was enough to make Wen Xuan feel terrible. Losing his mother right after birth, then losing his family one by one while growing up, and even being blamed as the cause of those deaths, to almost being choked to death by his own aunt who was praised as a hero by everyone.

 

Heart ache ah, his heart really ached.

 

Wen Xuan inevitably stopped walking. Taking a deep breath, it took him a strenuous effort to suppress the pain in his heart.

 

He didn't go investigate anything else. Although there were still plenty of things he didn't know, for example, how did the Jian Yi, who everyone claimed to be dimwitted and already dead, suddenly become his lively, intelligent and witty Jian shidi. At this moment, he only wanted to wait for the sun to set. He no longer wanted to rush about and hear more stories that made him distressed. Meanwhile, before the sunset, he left Jiufeng City and went to a grave outside of the city.

 

Although Jian Yi's father was cursed and spat on even after death, in the end, he wasn't the calamity star himself. Therefore, at least his body was cleaned up and buried properly here. Wen Xuan searched his way over, wanting to offer his prayers there.

 

However, when he finally managed to find its location, he was stunned.

 

The grave of Jian Yi's was already cleaned up by someone first. The weeds in the surrounding area were all pulled out cleanly. There was no dust at all on the gravestone because it was carefully wiped down. There were even a bundle of wild daisies placed in front of the tombstone. White and yellow mixed together, the flowers were soft and cute, like they were meticulously selected.

 

Did someone arrive here first? That Zhou guy? From the dewdrops on the daisies, the person who came to sweep up

 

clearly left not very long ago. Unfortunately, Wen Xuan just happened to miss them.

 

However, since they meticulously cleaned up, why didn't they light red incense or burn money? Why was there only this bundle of wild daisies?

 

For a moment, Wen Xuan was somewhat bewildered. But in the end, these were only minor details. He didn't puzzle over it for too long. Following his original plan, he also held a memorial service here.

 

When Wen Xuan came, the sun was already headed west. When he finished this service, the sun had set completely as night enveloped Jiufeng City.

 

Wen Xuan tidied up his clothes, then planned to return to investigate Qin niangzi again.

 

At this moment, Wen Xuan suddenly sensed something.

 

Before he hastily retreated from Qin niangzi's residence, he left a ball of his spiritual energy there. That ball of spiritual energy didn't affect mortals at all, and it didn't have any other use. However, whenever people or things with cultivation got near it, the ball of spiritual energy would react and dissipate into the air to escape being discovered by others.

 

The reason Wen Xuan left this spiritual energy was to guard against the appearance of that demonic presence.

 

Now that spiritual energy dissipated, clearly someone or something entered Qin niangzi's house. Wen Xuan quickened his pace and rushed towards that unknown arrival.

 

But in reality, that wasn't some demonic presence. But rather, it was a foundation building cultivator. One that Wen Xuan was familiar with, a person who was ready to get his vengeance.

 

Before Wen Xuan arrived, Qin niangzi had a feeling in the night. Waking up from her sleep, she opened her eyes and immediately saw the figure staring at her unblinkingly at her bedside.

 

There was a sudden gust of wind outside the window. The sound of thunder rumbled in the sky and a flash of lightning lit up that person's face.

 

For Qin niangzi, this was a face that she could only see in her nightmares.

 

"Ah! Ah------!" She has never felt so terrified and out of her mind. She let out a screech that could pierce people's eardrums: "Ghost! A ghost ah--!"

 

The person saw her alarmed and panicking state, the corner of his mouth twisted into a faint smile.

 

37

Chapter 37

 

This person who was standing at Qin niangzi's bedside in the middle of the night naturally could only be Jian Yi.

 

For Jian Yi to find his way here and point the spearhead of his attack on Qin niangzi, it was much easier than Wen Xuan's painstaking investigation everywhere while running into roadblocks all over the place. This story started right after he finished debriefing Zhao Feiyu over the matters at Cerulean Feathers.

 

At that time, he had Zhao Feiyu invite those demons to gather in a mountain west of Cerulean Feathers. Then, he also made Zhao Feiyu conceal him with demonic energy so he could successfully assimilate into those demons with the identity of a new comrade.

 

Of course, he couldn't promise that none of the demons felt suspicion towards his identity, but this really didn't matter anyways. Demons were often selfish. As long as they could

 

protect their own hide, they didn't bother meddling in other people's business. Meanwhile, as soon as the two people encountered those demons, Zhao Feiyu managed to figure out the demon who once placed a curse on Jian Yi's body.

 

That demon was also rather hilarious. Clearly, it casted a curse on Jian Yi before, yet when it met Jian Yi in person, it didn't recognize him at all. It wasn't until later after Jian Yi deliberately tricked the demon to spill practically everything until there was nothing else to expose, that he found out this demon actually utilized the same cultivation method as deities. It increased its cultivation and released the curse completely through that wooden sculpture. As for who the curse killed, it didn't even meet them at all so how could it recognize said person?

 

This demon used a rather flaunting tone to describe how it collaborated up with Qin niangzi.

 

"Why team up with a mortal?" Jian Yi naturally asked this question.

 

"Although little niangzi is only a mortal, but her head's not bad. The schemes she came up with were very useful,” Saying this, the demon also licked its lips and continued with a laugh: "Not to mention, her taste really wasn't bad."

 

This collaboration specifically involved Qin niangzi helping the demon evangelize and think of plans to convert more people into believers in order to increase its cultivation. In exchange, it helped Qin niangzi get rid of people irksome to her eyes. It'd cast a curse on whoever Qin niangzi wanted to kill. If she said it was enough, then it'd recall the curse. As long as there's that wooden

 

sculpture next to the target, it can cast and withdraw its curse freely, without an issue.

 

Learning this was enough. To Jian yi, making a move on this demon was a bit troublesome at this time. In the end, this demon was only a knife. That so-called aunt was the person using the knife. Therefore, after the group of demons dispersed, Jian Yi made a beeline for Jiufeng city in order to get his revenge.

 

However, before he went to cause trouble for Qin niangzi, he went to the grave outside of the city first. He found the tombstone of the original's father and sincerely offered his prayers.

 

This was something he was duty bound. However, he was completely unaware of the person he nearly crossed paths with.

 

What followed after that was Jian Yi standing here, smiling as he watched Qin niangzi panic in fear.

 

"Long time no see, aunty.”

 

Qin niangzi screamed uncontrollably, backing up unceasingly, finally waking up her husband who was sleeping in the same bed with her.

 

"What's with all the ruckus?" Landlord Li grumbled and opened his eyes in annoyance. Unexpectedly, he saw Jian Yi standing at the bedside and instantly also turned white as paper.

 

At this time, with a loud sound, another lightning landed, making the smile on Jian Yi's face look even more horrifying.

 

"Gho...ghost..." Landlord Li seemed even more distressed than Qin niangzi. He was so terrified that he pressed his back flat against the wall, retreating until there was no way to retreat further. Then, he actually abruptly jumped up and made one last effort, trying to climb out the window.

 

Yet he didn't even have time to stick his head outside when suddenly, he felt his right ankle tighten, like it was snatched by something. Then, something pulled him hard from behind and he was tugged directly off the windowsill, off the bed, and dragged backwards across the floor. He looked behind himself in terror and saw Jian Yi holding a rope with a smile on his face, pulling Landlord Li all the way next to his foot. This person struggled relentlessly in fear. Yet no matter what, he couldn't get free.

 

The rope was only a regular piece of rope. Jian Yi only used spiritual energy to reinforce it.

 

When Landlord Li was pulled to the side of Jian Yi's foot, this person already lost half of his soul in fear. What's left was also on the verge of collapse. He practically looked like he was about to faint. However, Jian Yi didn't even give him the chance to faint.

 

A flying sword spun over and, softly and efficiently, cut off a piece of meat off of Landlord Li's shoulder. The intense pain made Landlord Li suddenly sober up. He cried and yelled nonstop, as if he was going to scream himself hoarse.

 

With a deathly pale face, Qin niangzi saw this scene, not even daring to escape.

 

However, Qin niangzi was Qin niangzi in the end. In this kind of situation, she actually calmed down slightly. The corner of her

 

mouth pulled into a slight smile: "Xiao Yi, did you come to see your aunty?"

 

This woman originally had a pretty face. At this moment, however, when she smiled, it was even more unsightly than crying.

 

"Aunty," Jian Yi said smiling: "Did you call me Xiao Yi like this before as well?"

 

Qin niangzi was rendered speechless by this question, not knowing what the other meant by this.

 

"What an affectionate nickname." Jian Yi continued to say: "Who would have thought, you can say these words so affectionately while hatching such evil schemes. And who would have thought, a beautiful woman like yourself could have such a venomous snake's heart."

 

Qin niangzi's face paled: "I don't know what you're saying."

 

"Is that right?" Jian Yi asked back with a smile.

 

The flying sword spun around again and cut off another piece of meat next to Landlord Li's injury.

 

"How about now?" Jian Yi asked as he looked at Qin niangzi: "Do you know what I'm saying now?"

 

Listening to her husband's wretched screams, Qin niangz felt sweat dripping off her forehead. She finally discovered that something wasn't right. She should have discovered that something wasn't right a while ago. This scene felt wrong all over.

 

Actually, she never called Jian Yi so affectionately like that before. Afterall, after her failed attempt to choke Jian Yi to death, she and the Jian family pretty much split apart. She didn't have any need to pretend she liked this nephew of hers. But what did this mean? That everything happening before her eyes was wrong.

 

"You...you......" Qin niangzi couldn't help but take deep breaths, chest rising as she spoke: "Although you were an idiot before... you were a kindhearted child..."

 

"Is that right?" Jian Yi returned with a question again with the same smile: "So I was a kindhearted child before? So you actually knew I was kind."

 

As he said this, the flying sword cut off a third piece of flesh at Landlord Li's injury. Meanwhile, landlord Li's screams already reached a climax, it couldn't sound anymore miserable.

 

Maybe he wanted to cut Landlord Li to death piece by piece in front of Qin niangzi's eyes. This thought made the husband and wife pair incomparably horrified, feeling chills coming in waves.

 

"Aunty, so?" Jian Yi asked: "Do you know what I meant just

 

now?"

 

Sweat poured off of Qin niangzi's forehead: "Yes...... I know..... you, you let him go. I'm begging you to let him go......"

 

The response she received, however, was the flying sword moving again. As Landlord Li screamed uncontrollably, Jian Yi said: "Aunty, do you think you can actually request anything from me right now?"

 

Qin niangzi didn't dare to speak. She can only feel the sweat drip unceasingly off her forehead.

 

There was another lightning outside the window. Then, it actually started pouring rain.

 

Jian Yi finally threw away the rope in his hand and allowed Landlord Li, who was in such pain he couldn't stand upright, to roll around nonstop on the floor.

 

"Now I have a question," Then he said: "Which of you can answer me. My father...... was murdered by whom?"

 

Qin niangzi opened her mouth. Lips trembling, she didn't make a sound for a while. However, in this moment, Landlord Li recovered his strength. Grabbing his bloodsoaked arm, he answered while shaking uncontrollably: "It was...... it was me....."

 

Jian Yi gave him an unexpected look.

 

"It was me...... I caused your father's death......" Landlord Li continued to say: "I coveted your family's Yunling Shop. That's why I killed him. Niangzi, my niangzi didn't know anything. She's innocent. Don't touch her......"

 

Jian Yi had a strange expression as he withdrew his gaze and turned it on to Qin niangzi: "Aunty, what do you say?"

 

Qin niangzi closed her eyes, shoulders trembling unceasingly.

 

Actually when she first married this Landlord Li, she was unwilling. Because at that time, she was still young and beautiful while Landlord Li was older than her by one generation. However,

 

the family required her to get married, required her to marry this Landlord Li so that they could use the betrothal gift for her younger brother to find a wife. That was when she started to hate, no, maybe even before that she already started to hate her little brother intensely.

 

But ever since she married over, Landlord Li really treated her very well, listening and obeying her every word, not allowing her to receive any grievances. If this wasn't the case, she wouldn't have wanted to give her husband a child so badly.

 

However, at the moment, under Jian Yi's questioning, she said instead: "That's right. I...... I only knew today......"

 

She didn't finish speaking when the flying sword in Jian Yi's hand made a big arc. Landlord Li's scream stopped as it began. His head decapitated, flew up with the light of the sword and fell directly onto the bed, rolling next to Qin niangzi's feet.

 

Qin niangzi touched this head with a hand and let out a surprised shout. In a flash, tears gushed out of her eyes.

 

"Your husband died." Jian Yi pointed the tip of his word at that headless body: "Because he didn't tell the truth."

 

Qin niangzi's crying abruptly stopped as she lifted her head to look at him incredulously

 

"Did you really think I killed him because I believed him?" Jian Yi laughed mockingly at her: "I only wanted to let you also experience the taste of your most important person die before your eyes."

 

Qin niangzi's face was already bloodless, now it actually paled even more.

 

"But his death wasn't unjustified." Jian Yi continued to say: "After all, his lies were half truth. My father was killed by the two of you together. The two of you. None of you will escape."

 

Qin niangzi's teeth clattered: "You know......"

 

"Of course I know." Jian Yi looked at her: "Now let me ask you, Who-- killed me?"

 

"You, you......" Qin niangzi suddenly screamed, like a lunatic. She pointed at him with her finger: "You're not Jian Yi! Surely, you're not Jian Yi! You definitely can't be Jian Yi! You... Just who are you!"

 

"Of course I'm not Jian Yi." Jian Yi smiled carelessly: "I'm the vengeful ghost he summoned from hell, here to get his revenge."

 

He just finished speaking when his sword flashed again. The finger that Qin niangzi was using to point at him was instantly sliced in half.

 

Qin niangzi let out a miserable shriek as she covered her broken finger, tears falling down her face.

 

Cry. This woman caused the death of so many people and still had the nerve to cry.

 

"I can very easily kill you." Jian Yi walked closer two steps, bent down and said, looking at her in the eyes: "But I don't want it to be that easy. I want to torture you a bit more. I want to hear

 

from your own mouth...... just what you were thinking, when you killed your own little brother. When you killed a 'kindhearted child.' Just what were you thinking? Just what were you feeling? Why did you do it?"

 

Qin niangzi only knew to cry. Her mental state was on the verge of collapse. She looked as if she already couldn't speak at all.

 

But no matter. Jian Yi has plans to let her open her mouth.

 

Jian Yi flicked his finger. A spiritual energy that originally enveloped a certain corner of the house instantly dissipated. That was a very small soundproof spell. As soon as it disappeared, a voice resonated in the entire room. That was a voice that Qin niangzi should have heard a while ago, but because of her extreme terror, she failed to recognize its absence until hearing it in this instance. Abruptly, she recognized this sound.

 

The crying sound of a baby.

 

Jian Yi used a levitation spell and raised the baby little by little into the air. As the baby wailed loudly, it flailed its arms and legs, struggling helplessly. Right below the baby, was Landlord Li's headless body, still gushing out a pool of blood.

 

"No!" Qin niangzi finally broke down: "Let him go! I'll talk. I'll tell you everything. I'm begging you, please let him go!"

 

"Speak then." Jian Yi said coldly.

 

"Because I hated him. Because I really hated him very much!" Qin niangzi said crying: "Why, why is it that we're both our parents' children, but mom and dad must leave everything to my

 

little brother! Why do I have to yield to him always just because I'm a woman. Even me marrying someone was just so he could get a wife! I really hated him!" At the end, she cried so hard she almost choked and had to catch her breath as she continued to speak: "Even that Yunling Shop. Ha ha. That Yunling Shop. If it weren't for the accumulated assets passed down through generations, how could he have opened it with his skills? But dad just had to pass all of the family property into his hands. Even after he had a retarded son, dad said that Yunling Shop was to be transferred to that retard! He said one day, the kid will be cured. Ha ha. What if he couldn't be cured? Doesn't matter. It'll still be passed down to that retard!"

 

Crying, she curled up: "Why, why. I always strived so hard when I was younger, just so mom and dad can take a second glance at me. Everyone in the city all liked me but mom and dad's eyes only had my younger brother...... just because I'm a woman. I can't even compare to a retard......"

 

Hearing her say this, Jian Yi couldn't help but press his mouth into a line and fall silent.

 

He could understand her hate. Of course, he understood it very well. But he still didn't forget what he came for tonight. He also can't forget how much blood was on this woman's hands or how many malicious acts she's performed.

 

"After you did all of these things..." Jian Yi couldn't help but ask: "Did your parents... see you?"

 

Qin niangzi abruptly lifted her head, a lost look in her eyes. Then she laughed, a completely hysterical wild laugh: "See me? How can they? They were already dead, all because of that retard......"

 

Then she began to narrate about how she once stole Jian Yi and how she secretly tricked Jian Yi into the forest. At that time, she only wanted to kill Jian Yi. Yet in the end, Jian Yi lived, but her father died in order to save him. From then on, she completely became twisted and started deliberately killing other people, just to push the blame onto Jian Yi. Until later, she encountered the Deity of Fortune, set up that scheme, and finally fulfilled her wish and killed off Jian Yi and his father.

 

Jian Yi inevitably scoffed: "What a woman, so unworthy of sympathy."

 

All of this narration made him recall his dislike towards this woman. The understanding he felt before retreated like the tide. Right now, he only wanted to give this woman the most painful torture.

 

"Since everything is clear now, let's just do what I said originally." Jian Yi said. He raised his palm. To the side, that baby also tugged upwards in the air. Just as he was about to throw the infant to the floor, Jian Yi said with a smile: "Time to let you experience the taste of your most important person dying before your eyes."

 

"No!" Qin niangzi rushed over like a lunatic. However, she was knocked over half way by spiritual energy and fell miserably, unable to catch the baby at all.

 

In the end though, that baby still didn't land on the ground.

 

A spiritual energy appeared out of nowhere and caught the infant. Then, a person walked out from behind the shadows of the door.

 

"Jian shidi." Wen Xuan pressed his mouth together tightly, his expression grave: "That's enough."

 

Jian Yi looked in shock at Wen Xuan who suddenly appeared, his complexion turning paler and paler.

 

Why? Why would Wen Xuan be here? This wasn't right, something wasn't right here, just what happened?

 

But what really made Jian Yi despair was the fact that Wen Xuan wasn't wet from the rain at all. This indicated that since it started raining outside, he's been here. Perhaps even before Jian Yi killed that Landlord Li.

 

Wen Xuan was hidden here this entire time, clearly observing Jian Yi's every move.

 

38

Chapter 38

 

Wen Xuan quietly walked from the door into the room. With a wave of his hand, he floated that infant into his arms.

 

"Shixiong....." Jian Yi wanted to open his mouth and explain something, but he felt like his head was completely blank.

 

In front of Wen Xuan, what revenge, what hatred, what Qin niangzi. Everything was thrown to the back of his mind. Afterall, those animosity and vengeance all belonged to the original. The only thing that was his was his dedication to Wen Xuan.

 

He wanted to put this all behind him, but Qin niangzi wouldn't remain quiet.

 

As soon as Qin niangzi saw Wen Xuan appear and observed his actions, as well as Jian Yi's response, she believed there was a chance to turn things around. Instantly viewing Wen Xuan as her savior, she threw herself on the floor and crawled her way to Wen

 

Xuan's foot, crying pitifully: "Cultivator sir, cultivator sir, please save me! Please save me and my son!"

 

Seeing this scene, Jian Yi felt as disgusted as if he ate a fly.

 

Qin niangzi reached out a hand and wanted to touch the infant in Wen Xuan's arms. At the same time, her other hand practically went to hug Wen Xuan's feet. Combined with that pretty appearance and faceful of tears, she looked quite pitiful.

 

"Shixiong!” Jian Yi couldn't hold back from warning: "This woman......"

 

He didn't finish speaking when Wen Xuan already took a step back. Qin niangzi didn't even touch the hem of his robes. Instantly she froze.

 

"I know." Wen Xuan said coolly as he spared Jian Yi a sideways glance: "If I didn't know, do you think I would have waited until now to step forward?"

 

It was because he knew the cause and effect that he was able to just watch everything that had happened, until this point.

 

Jian Yi recalled those expressions he made just now. His complexion inevitably became even more unsightly.

 

"No matter what, the child is innocent." Wen Xuan stated this in a quiet voice, then turned his gaze towards Qin niangzi: "And the reason why I stepped forth was to ask about this matter more clearly."

 

Qin niangzi finally discovered that Wen Xuan wasn't here to save her as she originally thought. Her tears froze on her face.

 

"The Deity of Fortune is a demon." Wen Xuan asked her: "Did you know that?"

 

Qin niangzi's face color instantly returned to the pale white it was before. She looked at the baby in Wen Xuan's arms, then looked at the unfriendly looking Jian Yi to the side. Letting out a wretched laugh, it didn't take her long to answer honestly: "I did... I knew it."

 

Wen Xuan's brows furrowed.

 

"So what if it's a demon?" Qin niangzi explained: "Cultivator sir, you should understand. As long as we can obtain what we wanted, what's the difference between gods and demons?"

 

"But you collaborated with that demon and let a strange illness run rampant throughout Jiufeng City: "Finishing these words, Wen Xuan pressed his lips together: "You brought disaster to everyone in the city."

 

In the end, Qin niangzi couldn't even argue, and only prostrated on the floor weeping.

 

"One more thing, I found the remnants of an area that was dug out in the backyard of Yunling Shop." Wen Xuan continued to say: "After you took over ownership of Yunling Shop, did you dig something up from there?"

 

This was the first time Jian Yi heard of this matter. His face froze as his expression couldn't help but dim more.

 

When Qin niangzi heard these words, her expression became somewhat odd. The corner of her mouth twisted as she gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. With a hint of anguish, she said: "What do you think it was, cultivator sir?"

 

Wen Xuan couldn't figure it out, but assumed it was something belonging to Jian Yi's family.

 

Qin Niangzi, however, suddenly laughed loudly: "That was a heirloom my grandmother left me. A green jade pendant for me to pass down to my future daughter! That was originally my possession! I buried it there myself!"

 

Wen Xuan and Jian Yi were both stunned. Clearly neither of them thought this would be the answer.

 

"However, when I was about to be married and wanted to dig this pendant back out, mom and dad stopped me relentlessly! Even after I got married and came back to visit, they were unwilling to give the pendant to me. They even said that didn't belong to me at all! After that, Yunling Shop was built over this place so it completely became my little brother's possession! I couldn't even go near it!"

 

Everytime Qin niangzi mentioned this topic, she became somewhat psychotic: "I could only wait until I completely obtained Yunling Shop to dig open that place..."

 

After digging it open, what exactly did she find? Wen Xuan had a faint premonition in his heart, and it was rather heavy.

 

"Yet it wasn't there. Nothing was there......" Qin niangzi said with a wretched smile: "Even that pendant became one of the assets used to open this Yunling Shop. All given to my little brother......"

 

This wasn't a hard to predict answer.

 

The reason why this woman did all of those malicious things was actually completely unrelated to power or fortune. It all originated from her internal conflict with her parents over those many years.

 

Wen Xuan fell silent for a moment and couldn't help but sigh: "So it's like that...... you're also a rather pitiful person."

 

Qin niangzi trembled all over, almost believing once again that she'd be saved.

 

"Shixiong!" Jian Yi said even more anxiously.

 

However, Wen Xuan only shook his head and calmly stated to Qin niangzi: "A life for a life. You should end it yourself."

 

Wen Xuan was a benevolent person, no doubt. But for people like Qin niangzi, this was the limit to his kindness.

 

After that, Wen Xuan carried the infant in his arms and walked outside, step by step.

 

Qin niangzi looked stunned at his back view, finally feeling complete despair. This kind of despair was the same as when she faced Jian Yi before. It also made her feel suffocated. Wen Xuan's appearance once gave her a slight hope, but considering what kind of things she'd done before, in the end, this hope didn't belong to her.

 

Seeing Wen Xuan about to turn at the door and disappear out of sight, Qin niangzi cried out in the end: "Cultivator sir! Please pity my child! All of the wrongs were my doing, it has nothing to do with him! Please let him grow up safely!"

 

Saying these words, she struggled no more. Abruptly getting up, she slammed herself violently into the corner of a table.

 

Although the corner of the table was made of wood, it was sturdy and sharp. When Qin niangzi slammed into it, a bloody hole instantly appeared on the side of her head. In a flash, blood spurted all over. Jian Yi stepped back to avoid the blood splatters as he watched with a cold eye. Qin niangzi fell over to the floor, the fresh blood pouring out nonstop from her injury, mixing together with the blood from Landlord Li that was spilled on the floor from before.

 

As she laid dying, the light from her eyes faded as she let out odd noises from her throat.

 

It was unclear if she had regretted it in the end, or if she felt guilty towards those people who died in her hands. But in the end, one part of her heart was at peace because at the very least, her child managed to live......

 

"Oh right." Just at this time, Jian Yi suddenly smiled maliciously: "Are you still thinking that this child was born from you and your husband?"

 

Clearly she only had a few breaths left, but when Qin niangzi heard these words, her original faded pupils suddenly constricted.

 

"You and your husband haven't had a child after all these years, yet as soon as you got mixed in with a demon, you suddenly got pregnant. Did you never think about why?" Jian Yi said: "Did you believe that demon was a child blessing Guanyin? Ha ha. Clearly, it was your husband who didn't have the ability. Even if the real child blessing Guanyin came, what would be the point?"

 

Qin niangzi heard the meaning within these words. Her already dying body actually started to struggle and tremble faintly.

 

"You probably don't even remember how this child came to be, right? That demon said it himself, your taste wasn't bad." Jian Yi smiled: "That's how it made you have the child-- that halfbreed."

 

A child that was half demon, half human.

 

These words were like a hammer to Qin niangzi's heart. In an instant, even her strength to struggle faintly was gone.

 

In the end, she wasn't able to carry on the bloodline for her husband at all. What made her feel even colder was that, a halfbreed. How could a child like this survive?

 

Qin niangzi finally drew her last breath in the midst of her deepest anguish.

 

At the very end, Jian Yi destroyed the last hope in Qin niangzi's heart and completed his revenge.

 

Taking a deep breath, he squeezed his fists.

 

When Jian Yi walked out of the room, he saw Wen Xuan standing there in the hallway. He wasn't far from the door so everything Jian Yi said just now, he naturally heard.

 

"So this is actually a halfbreed?" Wen Xuan looked at the infant in his arms, mumbling to himself.

 

At this time, the infant already got tired from crying and quieted down. He only restlessly tossed and turned in Wen Xuan's arms, exposing his white chubby arms, like a tender piece of lotus root.

 

How similar to a regular human infant. However, when Wen Xuan deliberately probed, he was really able to sense a hint of demonic energy. Although this aura was very light, even lighter than the energy on the wooden sculptures of the Deity of Fortune, and practically unnoticeable without careful examination, it was unmistakingly demonic energy.

 

Jian Yi walked step by step to Wen Xuan's side. Head lowered, he waited for Wen Xuan's interrogation.

 

"Jian shidi," However, the first thing Wen Xuan said was: "Should I have not saved this child?"

 

Jian Yi was stunned.

 

"Originally I planned to find a childless mortal family, hide the truth about this child's origins, and let them adopt him." Wen Xuan sighed slowly and said: "But since he's a halfbreed, this plan no longer works. Maybe I should give him directly to the Sect."

 

"Give him to the sect?" Jian Yi said in opposition: "Are you trying to kill him?"

 

"Didn't you want to kill him first?" Wen Xuan gave Jian Yi a sideways glance.

 

Jian Yi choked. After a long while, he finally replied awkwardly: "That was then, this is now......"

 

He wanted to kill this child before because he wanted Qin niangzi to suffer. Now that Qin niangzi died, naturally he lost all interest in killing this child.

 

On the contrary, since Wen Xuan now knew that this child was a halfbreed, Jian Yi felt he couldn't just let the child die like this. At the very least, not for the sake of fulfilling a cultivation sect's righteous mission to kill demons and eradicate evil.

 

"A halfbreed is still a person." Jian Yi expressed seriously and earnestly: "He still has the rights to exist like everyone else.

 

"Is that right?" Wen Xuan looked at him puzzled, clearly not understanding why Jian yi was suddenly expressing himself so diligently.

 

"In any case, we can't give him to the sect!" Under Wen Xuan's gaze, Jian Yi actually felt somewhat embarrassed: "If worst comes to worst, we can throw him to Cerulean Feathers and have that Zhao guy raise him!"

 

"That's a pretty good idea.” Wen Xuan couldn't help but smile.

 

As they conversed, Wen Xuan walked around in the living room and stopped in front of a table. This was Qin niangzi's house.

 

Naturally, it wouldn't lack that item-- the wooden sculpture of the Deity of Fortune. It was currently placed on this table top.

 

In comparison to the other sculptures seen elsewhere, the demonic energy revolving around this wooden sculpture was extremely thick. It seemed like this was the center source.

 

"Hearing what you said just now, you sound like you've seen that demon." Wen Xuan said.

 

Jian Yi didn't dare to conceal anything at this time and honestly narrated how he snuck into the demonic gathering with the help of Zhao Feiyu, not fabricating even a single word.

 

Wen Xuan finished listening, he fell silent for quite a while. Then he pressed his lips together: "So you purposely sent me away......"

 

Jian Yi didn't refute at all. He only lowered his head like a child that did something wrong.

 

Wen Xuan couldn't bear seeing him like this the most. Instantly, he opened his mouth to say something. Yet in the end, he closed his mouth again.

 

Bracing himself, Jian Yi waited. He knew Wen Xuan would definitely ask some things. Wen Xuan found out many things today, he couldn't possibly not ask anything.

 

However, Wen Xuan looked at him for a long time before sighing and withdrawing his gaze again. Then Wen Xuan asked: "How strong was that demon, were you able to tell?"

 

Only this? Jian Yi didn't know if he should be surprised or happy.

 

"Around foundation building strength." Then Jian Yi answered in detail: "A little weaker than you were before. But to deal with him, we're not strong enough right now."

 

"Really?" Wen Xuan declined to comment, then asked: "How about through this wooden sculpture, how much of his strength can he use through it?"

 

Jian Yi was just about to answer when his expression suddenly changed. This question that Wen Xuan asked made him feel a sudden unease.

 

Wen Xuan didn't wait for his answer. He just stood there.

 

As he stood there, his cultivation gradually rose little by little. Although it was rising very slowly, it was definitely rising no doubt.

 

"Shixiong! What are you trying to do?" Jian Yi said quickly: "Through this wooden sculpture, he can transport his real body over! Even if he loses strength during the trip, he'll still have 70% left and that's not something we can deal with!"

 

"Don't you know?" Wen Xuan expressed with a smile: "Since you know my things so clearly, you should know."

 

When he first broke through to foundation building, he once obtained three mystical abilities. One of the skills was that offensive Ice Blade skill. One of the two skills that were left can ignite his potential and forcibly increase his strength.

 

The extent of this increase all depended on his current strength. Back then when he was in foundation building, he was able to increase his strength by 30% at most. After he became yuan gathering, because his cultivation method was too terrible, this skill pretty much lost its effect. But now that he's fallen down from yuan gathering and received a new cultivation method, his mentality and energy was in peak condition. Using this skill again, his power naturally increased even higher than before.

 

This increase was also one of the weaknesses of this skill. The larger the increase in power, the longer it took to prepare. It can only be used in a well planned battle. That's why he couldn't use it when they were ambushed previously. However, in face of their current situation. This was extremely suitable.

 

A few moments later, Wen Xuan's strength actually faintly reached yuan gathering level.

 

"Shixiong!" Jian Yi was even more anxious: "Why the rush!"

 

There's no way a skill like this didn't have a price. The better the effectiveness, the higher the price. Jian Yi wanted to stop him desperately, but was helpless.

 

"Why the rush?" Wen Xuan asked back, as if he was telling a joke.

 

Although his expression looked calm, and since he appeared, he's been looking this unperturbed, but internally, he's been suppressing an overflowing fury all this time.

 

For the dimwitted child who was viewed as a calamity star by everyone in the city. For the youth that he lamented sincerely for up until now.

 

Why the rush? That's right. This person beside him can detach himself clearly and adhere to a revenge plan. He even knew who can be dealt with immediately and who can wait. In the end, this person beside him right now wasn't that dimwitted child. In the end, he wasn't the person that Wen Xuan felt lament for just now.

 

What's humorous, on the contrary, was that Wen Xuan couldn't hate with that same kind of calmness.

 

His cultivation finally rose to its peak, hanging around the boundaries of yuan gathering. Wen Xuan handed the baby in his arms into Jian Yi's hands and gathered his spiritual energy layer by layer. Then, waving with force, he abruptly swung at that wooden sculpture.

 

His sword hit the wood and made a sound like gold and jade colliding.

 

The wooden sculpture endured for a second, then ended up splitting cleanly in half and falling on to the floor.

 

A strand of black smoke instantly emerged out of the cracks of the wooden sculpture, condensing into a large demonic shape. With a deep resounding voice, it yelled: "Who-- is so audacious---!"

 

Wen Xuan laughed coldly. Without a word, he swung his sword again.

 

39

Chapter 39

 

That demon was a ferocious looking thing. Encircled by black smoke, it had a pair of black wings growing out of its back. A large figure, the sharp horn at the top of its head almost broke through the ceiling.

 

But its body didn't even form completely yet, Wen Xuan's sword was already slicing across it.

 

Feeling the pain, the demon roared nonstop. It extended its huge palm to smack at Wen Xuan.

 

Wen Xuan didn't dodge or move out of the way. Using offense as defense, the flying sword danced into a whirlwind and dispersed that huge palm, making the demon emit waves of demonic smoke.

 

"Who--" The demon was extremely surprised and reflexively took a step back while inquiring.

 

Before when Wen Xuan destroyed the wooden sculpture, it clearly felt this cultivator's strength was still pretty far from yuan gathering. That's why it transported through. Yet Wen Xuan sent two more attacks over, the cultivation level of each of these moves was even higher than before.

 

Wen Xuan heard its inquiry and only replied with a cold laugh, not bothering to spare words. The sword in his hands maintained its offense, not giving any time for respite.

 

Because of this unexpected twist, the demon's strength abruptly decreased to 70% and in a flash, it felt somewhat unable to fight back.

 

"Which sect--" It can only evade in panic while making conjectures to itself. Halfway, it suddenly saw Jian Yi standing behind Wen Xuan's back and instantly recognized him. It felt another astonishing shock internally.

 

The demonic energy that Zhao Feiyu placed on Jian Yi before for concealment dissipated cleanly for a long time already. Evidently, this was a righteous cultivator from some mystical sect. While the demon was startled by this fact, Wen Xuan swung his sword over again, already utilizing the full force of a yuan gathering state. He easily destroyed half of the black wings behind the demon's back.

 

In this kind of situation, the demon instantly thought he fell for some trap. It lost its will to fight back and used the remaining wing to wrap itself up tightly, planning to make a break for the door and escape.

 

The wooden sculpture in this room was already destroyed and the demonic energy within already dissipated. However, there were plenty of these similar sculptures in Jiufeng city. As long as it can find one, it can easily escape and survive. As for the injustice it experienced here, it can always repay the favor after it recovered its strength.

 

Jian Yi figured out its plans. How could he let it prevail?

 

Just as the demon was about to charge out of the door, Jian Yi put the infant in his arms down on the floor, jumped on his flying sword and firmly blocked the exit.

 

The demon slammed right into Jian Yi's flying sword, its figure halted.

 

Attacked by this yuan gathering strength, Jian Yi's eyes spun like he was seeing stars as his spiritual energy fluctuated sporadically. Tasting metal in his throat, Jian Yi instantly spat out a mouthful of blood.

 

By this time, Wen Xuan's sword caught up. The divine sword precursor carried all of the forcibly peaked spiritual energy from Wen Xuan's body, and ruthlessly landed on the demon's body, striking like thunder and lightning.

 

The demon let out one last shout, extremely dreadful, so loud that it shook people's ears numb.

 

"Was it successful?" With fresh blood in his mouth, Jian Yi asked anxiously.

 

As soon as he finished saying this, the demon shattered layer by layer, from head to toe. The broken pieces transformed into black colored demonic smoke one by one and then dissipated into the air.

 

The wooden sculpture that was cut in half a while ago also made a sound at the same time, turning into dust.

 

Similar to the wooden sculpture in this room, the other sculptures in houses of the families of Jiufeng city all suddenly made a huge sound. Many people were startled awake from their dreams. When they opened their eyes, they saw the wooden sculpture of the Deity of Fortune in their houses already in pieces. Instantly, they felt panic-stricken.

 

"Success." Jian Yi let out a breath of relief and wiped away the sweat on his forehead. This was really the first time he saw Wen Xuan acting so recklessly. He practically lost half of his life in fear.

 

Good thing it was successful in the end. Success was good.

 

Jian Yi stabilized the chaotic spiritual energy in his body and recovered slightly from his injury.

 

"Shixiong! How could you be so......" Then he turned his head and started to complain. The view before his eyes almost scared him to death.

 

Wen Xuan lost his strength to stand already and was leaning completely against the wall. His entire body looked bloodless and pale. Only the corner of his mouth had blood seeping unceasingly, painting his lips vibrantly crimson. With a ghastly white face, he was an extremely shocking sight.

 

What was even more terrifying was his spiritual energy. It dropped from that forcibly increased state downward, little by little, even going below his original strength. It was already wavering on the edge of foundation building, and if careless, it might even fall back into qi refining.

 

"Shixiong!” Jian Yi hastily rushed to Wen Xuan's side.

 

Wen Xuan looked at him, opened his mouth, like he wanted to say something. But as soon as those lips opened, the blood poured from his throat like an open faucet, flowing outward.

 

Jian Yi quickly grabbed Wen Xuan's wrist and probed him with his own spiritual energy, smoothing out the rebellious spiritual energy inside Wen Xuan's body. Slowly, Jian Yi's forehead and nose were covered in sweat, all over his face.

 

Wen Xuan's gaze rested on his face. He didn't say anything, only looked at him quietly like this.

 

After a long time, the chaotic spiritual energy in Wen Xuan's body calmed down slightly. Jian Yi didn't know how much help he provided. After all, the negative effects of that skill normally would have recovered with the passage of time anyways.

 

In anycase, seeing Wen Xuan get better, Jian Yi felt much more relieved inside, as if a huge stone landed.

 

When he let go of Wen Xuan's wrist, he finally discovered that his own hands were both trembling.

 

"Shixiong!" He started complaining once again: "How can you be this reckless!"

 

Wen Xuan couldn't help but smile: "So you'd also complain about other people being reckless."

 

Jian Yi was instantly rendered speechless. That's right. The number of times he was reckless before was really too numerous to count. Now he was finally experiencing what Wen Xuan felt before.

 

Yet Wen Xuan only smiled for a short time. That smile soon dissipated. He pressed his lips together and withdrew his gaze from Jian Yi's face, saying coolly: "Jian shidi, if you weren't here today, that demon would have probably escaped. Many thanks."

 

This thanks was spoken rather strangely. After all, the person that had animosity with that demon was Jian Yi. Wen Xuan was reckless today, but ultimately, he was helping Jian Yi get his revenge. There was no reason for him to be the one to thank Jian

 

Yi.

 

Unless, in Wen Xuan's heart, the reason he exterminated that demon for the sake of the original, and it had nothing to do with the Jian Yi before him.

 

Jian Yi became aware of this point. His complexion instantly became unsightly. He wanted to explain something, but didn't know how to explain it at all.

 

Wen Xuan wiped away the bloodstain from his mouth, and forced himself to stand up. His body just left the wall when he abruptly staggered forward, clearly unable to stand upright.

 

Jian Yi quickly went to support Wen Xuan's shoulders.

 

However, Wen Xuan pushed him aside.

 

Jian Yi took a step back to steady himself. Looking at his empty hands, he didn't know what to do.

 

"Jian shidi." Wen Xuan propped himself up with his sword: "Jian shidi...... can you tell me honestly, should I still call you Jian shidi?"

 

Jian Yi lifted his head and met Wen Xuan's gaze, faceful of panic: "Shixiong, what do you mean?"

 

"That's what I should ask you." Wen Xuan forced himself to take a step forward, standing in front of Jian Yi: "Who exactly are you? Why are you......"

 

His question didn't finish completely when the wailing of an infant interrupted him.

 

That child that was placed on the floor by Jian Yi before, perhaps felt the floor was too cold, and started to make a fuzz.

 

Wen Xuan turned, wanting to walk over.

 

However, Jian Yi rushed over before him and picked up the child from the ground, holding him in his arms again.

 

But...... when Wen Xuan gave him the child before, he just randomly stuffed him at Jian Yi. This time, he finally saw Jian Yi's child holding technique clearly felt it was truly an appalling sight.

 

The child was completely tilted in Jian Yi's arms. His head was even facing down as he's practically sliding out of the swaddling clothes. Naturally, he cried and screamed even more. Jian Yi was still a face full of bewilderment, not knowing how to soothe this little ancestor.

 

"You......" Wen Xuan couldn't resist saying: "shouldn't hold him like that."

 

Jian Yi finally realized and became flustered, flipping the child back and forth in all sorts of positions. In the end, the child only wailed louder

 

Wen Xuan shifted his gaze, unable to watch any longer.

 

Attempting until his arms started aching, Jian Yi was pretty much panicking internally. He wanted to bounce the child like he saw once before in his life, but accidentally used too much strength. Instantly the child fell out of his hands and was about to drop to the floor.

 

Wen Xuan was about to send spiritual energy to catch, but Jian Yi managed to do the same thing first.

 

Then Jian Yi probably felt spiritual energy was easier to use than hands, so he just left the child resting in the spiritual energy. He even controlled the spiritual energy to lightly rock back and forth, like a cradle, doing his best to coax the child to sleep.

 

While doing this series of things, Jian Yi bit his lips tightly.

 

As the child continued to cry nonstop, his own eyes gradually turned red. Of course, his cheeks flushed red as well, as if he was experiencing some outrageous injustice. After a while, the spiritual cradle was actually effective. The child's crying lessened. The redness in Jian Yi's cheeks retreated. Only the corner of his eyes still carried a hint of redness.

 

Oh. He was still feeling wronged.

 

This grievance was one part due to frustration over being unable to complete this little task, but even more so because of Wen Xuan's rejection and inquiry from before. Wen Xuan could tell. Of course he could tell. After all, they've known each other and spent days and nights together for quite some time. Wen Xuan knew exactly what each of Jian Yi's expressions meant.

 

Wen Xuan silently walked to Jian Yi's side. Extending a hand, he let it linger above Jian Yi's shoulder momentarily. Yet in the end, he hesitantly squeezed it into a fist again and lowered it back down to his side.

 

The heavy rain continued to pour outside, occasionally carrying the sound of thunder.

 

That child finally fell asleep. Jian Yi wiped away the sweat off his forehead. He found a soft cushion and was just about to place the child onto it, when he suddenly perked up his ears. He discovered plenty of people appearing nearby.

 

It was those citizens of Jiufeng City who discovered the broken remains of their Deity of Fortune. In their panic, they gathered and decided to come over to ask Qin niangzi.

 

"Shixiong." Jian Yi said swiftly: "Let's leave quickly."

 

"Why do we have to go?" Wen Xuan questioned in return.

 

Jian Yi froze.

 

"Some truths should be exposed. Some people shouldn't have to carry infamy that doesn't belong to them." Wen Xuan finished speaking, held his sword, and walked to the entrance, waiting for the approaching crowd.

 

Jian Yi couldn't do anything so only picked up that child again and followed behind Wen Xuan.

 

This carry took several attempts again before he managed to hold the child properly. By the time Jian Yi went out, the people from Jiufeng City already gathered and encircled Wen Xuan from all directions, each and everyone of them looking bewildered.

 

"Cultivator sir?" "Why is this cultivator here?" "Where's Qin niangzi?" "Wait, do you guys smell blood?"

 

Wen Xuan calmly swept his gaze across everyone's faces: "Qin niangzi and her husband allied with a demonic cultivator, murdered her own younger brother's entire family, and spread a strange illness throughout Jiufeng city. Before you guys came these two people were already executed."

 

"What?"

 

This truth was really too shocking. The crowd was completely stunned. Before they were able to respond, Jian Yi came out of the house and stood behind Wen Xuan.

 

As soon as Jian Yi appeared, many people recognized him. Instantly the crowd jolted.

 

After all, the concept of Jian Yi being a calamity was already imprinted deeply into these people's minds. With only Wen Xuan's words, it was not enough to make them really believe everything was Qin niangzi's fault.

 

Wen Xuan didn't waste his breath with them. He directly took out a voice recording talisman. This voice recording talisman was similar to the image recording talisman, but it couldn't capture images, only voices.

 

Inside the recording was Qin niangzi admitting to the crimes herself. All of this transmitted into the ears of all of these people clearly.

 

When Wen Xuan was hidden behind the door before, he recorded the conversation in the room. Starting from when Qin niangzi explained why she had murdered her own brother to what she did to her nephew Jian Yi, what kind of scheme she concocted, all the way to when Wen Xuan appeared and the answers she gave to his questions. Everything was clear and distinct, definite and without doubt.

 

"The Deity of Fortune is a demon, did you know that?"

 

"I did...... I knew it."

 

After these two sentences, the voice recording talisman's magic was used up and it disappeared.

 

Although the crowd heard everything clearly, they didn't give any response for quite a while, obviously having trouble digesting.

 

A moment later, some people finally responded and started whispering noisily.

 

"Is this true? So it was all Qin niangzi......"

 

"I was just saying! All that talk about a calamity star sounded like complete nonsense. Yet there were a bunch of people who believed it. How extremely ridiculous!"

 

"No, this definitely can't be true. Qin niangzi was such a good person, how could she do such a thing?"

 

"That's right. It's just some voices. Who can prove it's not fake? Even if it's real, maybe Qin niangzi was forced to say it!"

 

"Give it up. That woman clearly wasn't a good person. Hilarious you guys believed her for this long and are still coming up with all of these pompous reasons. And it's only because you guys think that woman's pretty, that's all."

 

"Then what's going on with that calamity star? Didn't he die?"

 

Wen Xuan heard this quiet discussion, but completely ignored it and headed out with Jian Yi. These two were foundation building cultivators after all. No matter what the crowd thought, no one dared to stop them.

 

The heavy rain continued to fall. Jian Yi used magic to protect the infant in his arms as he followed closely behind.

 

Wen Xuan, however, didn't bother with the rain and let himself be drenched, looking like he was just taking a casual stroll. Walking far away and leaving behind the figures of the crowd, he entered an inn, paid with spiritual stones, and asked for two rooms.

 

Pushing open one of the rooms, he walked in and said at the same time: "Just put the child in here."

 

Jian Yi nodded and followed him in. Pulling out a soft cushion, he placed it on the table and put the child on it.

 

Done with this task, he lifted his head and gave Wen Xuan an extremely pitiful look. But Wen Xuan's expression was very composed. Without a word, Wen Xuan met that gaze straight on. Jian Yi couldn't help but look away again. Helplessly pushing open the door, he planned to head to the room next door.

 

However, at this time, Wen Xuan abruptly grabbed his wrist.

 

Jian Yi jumped internally. Turning his head back, he met Wen Xuan's eyes. His heart began to jump even more ferociously, not knowing if it's nerves or anticipation.

 

In comparison, Wen Xuan's mood was extremely well hidden, not easily discernible. But the strength that he was using to hold Jian Yi's wrist was very heavy.

 

Rainwater rolled down his wet clothes and hair, dripping onto the floor.

 

"Jian shidi," Wen Xuan said: "When do you plan to answer my question?"

 

"Do I have to answer it?" Jian Yi took in a deep breath: "No matter who I am, the person you became familiar with, hasn't it been me all along?"

 

"That's right." Wen Xuan nodded: "I also had this thought just now."

 

"Then just......"

 

"But," Wen Xuan said: "I still don't know who you are."

 

"Why do you have to know? Is this question very important?:" Jian Yi's face color was pale. His teeth clattered: "Shixiong, no matter who I am, I will still stand by your side. I will still help you, help you always. That's right. No matter what, our relationship wouldn't change. Shixiong, I to you......

 

Jian Yi was practically about to confess, but right at this moment, Wen Xuan let go of his hand.

 

The unspoken words were cut off just like this, stuck in Jian Yi's throat, bringing him anxiety.

 

"What rights do you have?" Wen Xuan said: "You aren't even willing to tell me who you are. Why should I believe your words?"

 

"Shixiong," Jian Yi's heart turned cold: "Are you doubting me again?"

 

Hearing these words, Wen Xuan's expression changed subtly, carrying a slight mocking smile: "What do you think?"

 

Jian Yi took a step back, his face grey in defeat.

 

He squeezed his trembling fists tightly: "Shixiong, don't be like this. I'll talk, I'll say everything. Actually I.....

 

"Even if you are willing to say your identity right now," Wen Xuan interrupted him: "You've already lied to me for so long. And you seem so reluctant and hesitant. How do I know, if what you're saying right now is actually true?"

 

Jian Yi lifted his head in shock, meeting Wen Xuan's eyes. At this moment, Jian Yi's heart completely turned cold. He finally realized what it felt like to 'fall into a bucket of ice.'

 

The lightning started again outside the window. It's flash reflected Wen Xuan's silhouette onto Jian Yi. Then, Wen Xuan asked those four words again: "What do you think?"

 

Jian Yi couldn't answer.

 

However, Wen Xuan didn't wait for his answer either.

 

With the sound of thunder, Wen Xuan reached out and grabbed Jian Yi's shoulders. Out of the blue, he pulled Jian Yi into his embrace extremely forcefully.

 

"Jian shidi, tell me. Please tell me." He seemed like he was asking Jian Yi, but also sounded like he was talking to himself: "Should I still trust you?"

 

Suddenly feeling wet clothes pressed against him, Jian Yi shivered from the cold. However, this coldness quickly receded as Wen Xuan's body temperature seeped through the wet clothes, warm

 

and comfortable. What also came through was the slight trembling of Wen Xuan's body.

 

Wen Xuan was a very suspicious person, always has been.

 

However, at the same time, Wen Xuan was a person who trusted his gut instinct, no matter how suspicious someone was. At least, that's how he was prior--- prior to being betrayed by the person he trusted for the first time.

 

Therefore, should he continue to believe? Even if he might be hurt one more time, should he stubbornly trust in what he wanted to believe in?

 

40

Chapter 40

 

Tonight Wen Xuan's mood was too complicated. It's not just Jian Yi who couldn't read it properly, Wen Xuan couldn't even figure it out himself clearly.

 

He knew he was angry and indignant. Over the things he heard and saw tonight, and even more so, over being deceived by Jian Yi all this time. He also knew he was sad and hurt. Because he originally wanted to use this chance to increase the relationship between him and this youth, but ended up widening the distance between them even more.

 

He even felt a slight relief. Because his heart once ached for the dimwitted Jian Yi who went through such experiences. Yet now he knew that those tragedies didn't actually belong to his Jian shidi.

 

But it wasn't until now that he discovered he was also scared.

 

Meanwhile, Jian Yi, who was suddenly hugged in Wen Xuan's embrace, became completely dumbfounded. It took a while before he finally realized what happened. In a flash, both of his cheeks burned as he felt an inexplicable panic and surprise. However, the slightly trembling felt from Wen Xuan's body very quickly calmed him down again.

 

He understood Wen Xuan's fears and knew Wen Xuan needed his answer. Therefore, he reached out both hands and heavily pressed them against Wen Xuan's back: "Shixiong, of course you should trust me. If there's someone who was most deserving of your trust in this world, it'd be me."

 

Wen Xuan slightly loosened both arms, took a step back and looked at him.

 

Jian Yi lost the pitiful look he had before, suddenly gaining a whole bunch of confidence out of nowhere: "Don't you agree, shixiong?"

 

The source of this confidence was actually rather simple. Before Jian Yi didn't know what kind of change there'd be to Wen Xuan's attitude towards him, so he felt extremely anxious. Now that Wen Xuan actually asked him 'should I still trust you'-- it wasn't out of sarcasm and ridicule, but rather a serious and earnest question-- the answer of this question naturally required full confidence.

 

"I'm only worried you'd be unwilling to believe me." Jian Yi said.

 

"So what if I'm willing?" Wen Xuan gave a bitter laugh: "There's plenty of people I'm willing to believe...... yet as the matter stands currently, I don't dare to trust in my judgment anymore."

 

"Then you should just trust me." Jian Yi pointed at his own heart with his left hand: "My judgment is much more trustworthy than yours."

 

For him to say these kinds of words, he was really being so outrageous it was hard to describe. Yet while saying these outrageous words, Jian Yi's expression was extraordinarily serious. Like he was making an oath with his life on the line.

 

Wen Xuan quietly looked at him for a long time: "What should I believe?"

 

Jian Yi pressed his lips together.

 

"Surely not this?" Wen Xuan looked away and smiled faintly: "That you're a vengeful ghost summoned from hell by 'Jian Yi'?"

 

This was the setting that Jian Yi gave for himself when he was conversing with Qin niangzi before. Placed in the current circumstance, these words strangely corresponded to reality rather well.

 

"Shixiong...." Jian Yi knew the moment of truth had arrived. His gaze dissociated briefly then immediately focused on Wen Xuan's face again: "Shixiong, our relationship won't become any worse than what it is right now, right?"

 

When saying these words, he placed his left hand on his right wrist, fidgeting with the bracelet there restlessly.

 

Wen Xuan could tell his conflict and hesitation and patiently waited.

 

Moments later, Jian Yi took a deep breath and abruptly took off that bracelet, placing it in Wen Xuan's hand: "Shixiong, all of my belongings are in there. You hold onto it and consider it my guarantee to you. If you still can't trust me, then I can make a vow. If I let you down one day, I will resign to eternal damnation, without any hope for redemption."

 

This was the answer he dallied ages for? Wen Xuan lowered his gaze: "You don't need to be like this."

 

"You and I are still connected by the empathy parasite." Jian Yi continued incessantly: "If one day I let you down, you'll definitely be able to figure out a way to deal with me. I won't be able to escape."

 

"You don't need to be like this." Hearing him placing himself in such a position, Wen Xuan felt somewhat distressed: "What I need is not your vows or guarantees."

 

"But these should make it easier for you to trust me right? And believe in the words I'm about to say--- I... actually I--- " Jian Yi somewhat bashfully pressed his mouth together, extremely nervous: "came over from another world."

 

Wen Xuan was immediately stunned and looked at him completely at a loss.

 

After a while, he finally responded and opened his mouth slowly, mumbling: "Another world?"

 

Just what I expected. Jian Yi repeated to himself internally. He just knew. That it'd be like this. Biting his lips, he blabbered onward in quick-fire succession: "See, told you this was hard to

 

believe. But this is the truth. I came from a completely different world. As soon as I opened my eyes, I was in this body. Told you it was very hard to believe, right......"

 

Actually cultivators naturally knew of something called Three Thousand Worlds. But knowing was one thing. This was the first time Wen Xuan met someone from another world. Not to mention this person was so closed to him. Feeling pretty bewildered was unavoidable.

 

"So you've been reluctant and unwilling to tell me all this time, because you felt, I wouldn't believe you?" Wen Xuan asked.

 

Jian Yi stopped his ongoing explanation and lowered his head. His expression looked more and more hard pressed as the time passed, like some small animal that regularly lived in a dark, shadowy corner and was suddenly thrown out to be exposed in the sunlight, full of discomfort. After a while, Jian Yi nodded his head with cheeks reddened again.

 

"You......" Wen Xuan didn't even know how to reprimand him: "You......"

 

While Jian Yi waited anxiously, Wen Xuan suddenly smacked the table in laughter: "You actually...... ai, you, oh you!"

 

Jian Yi was inexplicably shocked: "Shixiong, what's so funny?"

 

That's right. What's so funny? To be honest, there really wasn't anything that was funny. But with the various emotions pressing down on Wen Xuan's heart, it felt excessively heavy. Now that he finally learned the reason for Jian Yi's deceit, Wen Xuan felt like a

 

huge mountain was lifted off his chest, making him laugh out loud.

 

"I'm laughing at you making problems for yourself." Wen Xuan rebuked: "Deceiving me for this long just because you were afraid I wouldn't believe you, until you had to be forced to this degree to come clean? Can you guess, how much excess doubt I had towards you because of this cover up?"

 

Jian Yi's face immediately turned pale, full of guilt. Then he abruptly realized, thoughts jumping like they were attached to a spring. It's unknown if he looked at Wen Xuan with shock or glee: "Shixiong, you, you, so you're saying, you believe me?"

 

"Why wouldn't I believe you?" Wen Xuan asked back with a smile.

 

Although there were still many doubtful aspects, the person before him was his Jian shidi in the end. As long as he knew the reason for the deceit, there was nothing he was afraid to believe.

 

That's right. Wen Xuan was just this kind of person.

 

Even if he wrongfully believed in other people before, it has nothing to do with Jian Yi. Why should he lose his belief in Jian Yi because of other insignificant characters?

 

There was still only one thing he couldn't figure out: "Didn't you say you read my story growing up? How could you in another world......"

 

"It's true. I read it in my original world!" After receiving Wen Xuan's trust, Jian Yi felt like the sky cleared above his head. He explained excitedly: "Your story was written into a book and

 

circulated in my world. I read it while growing up and liked it a lot!"

 

These words weren't complete. It didn't make it clear that the story wasn't written as a biography of Wen Xuan.

 

But Wen Xuan naturally believed he was the story's main character and couldn't help but feel humbled from such treatment.

 

"When you first appeared, my gaze never moved away!" Jian Yi continued to say these confession-like words, sentence by sentence, completely unable to stop; "Do you remember that Qin Shiyu? Back then he just reached foundation building. Thinking he had plenty of strength, he provoked a demonic beast and almost died to that beast. At that time, you coincidentally passed by and saved him with one move! I was practically stunned by your brilliance!"

 

This was indeed the first meeting between Wen Xuan and Qin Shiyu. But this encounter was written from Qin Shiyu's perspective...... At that time, after Wen Xuan rescued him, Wen Xuan immediately scolded him terribly, saying if he didn't have enough strength, then don't go searching for death, and such related words. Then Wen Xuan rejected his invitation to form a party...... Not only did they not become friends, they actually formed a slight animosity. Later Qin Shiyu's strength increased exponentially while Wen Xuan's strength remained the same without improvements. This first encounter became even more awkward for the two people.

 

However, Jian Yi didn't care about all of that. He only knew to describe how much he admired Wen Xuan all of those years, making Wen Xuan feel waves of shock as he listened.

 

However, the number of times Wen Xuan appeared in the novel was really quite limited. Jian Yi recounted them one by one, but still didn't feel it was enough. He was just about to start talking about things that haven't happened yet when his nonstop confession suddenly stopped spontaneously, as if a formless hand grasped him by the throat.

 

Wen Xuan thought he was finally done, and practically let out a breath of relief.

 

Then Wen Xuan looked at the bracelet in his hand and decided to return it to Jian Yi: "Since this matter is already cleared up, this bracelet......"

 

Jian Yi hastily shook his head: "Shixiong, you should keep it. Actually I wanted to do this a long time ago. I told you, my stuff is your stuff. I don't want to keep this storage bracelet separate from you."

 

Laughing, Wen Xuan immediately took off the storage pouch on his wrist and tossed it to Jian Yi.

 

Jian Yi caught this storage pouch. The moment he held it in his hand, he suddenly grasped Wen Xuan's meaning. Immediately, his face flushed red in excitement. He even specifically found a nice corner before carefully opening the storage pouch to take a look. What's inside was a pile of miscellaneous stuff. Yet the more he looked, inexplicably, the redder his face became.

 

Because of the empathy parasite, be it the storage pouch or the storage bracelet, neither had any response to their different spiritual energies, as if they recognized both people as their owners.

 

Meanwhile, inside the storage bracelet was all of Jian Yi's belongings...... that round jade magic tool, the spiritual stones he received from Jizi Ang, some jade slips that had cultivation methods on them, the Spirit Exchanging Sieve that Qi Jibai gave him, in addition to the things that Wen Xuan gave him. Wen Xuan has seen pretty much everything so they were familiar to him. However, after looking through these familiar objects, Wen Xuan unexpectedly discovered something else.

 

Black gold cores, a total of 12 of them. Wen Xuan took these black gold cores out of the bracelet and placed them neatly on the table.

 

"I didn't have a chance to deal with them." Jian Yi noticed Wen Xuan's movement and hastily explained in embarrassment.

 

Wen Xuan smiled. He recalled when he first met Jian Yi. At that time, in order to get close to Wen Xuan, Jian Yi obtained all of the thirteen black gold ores present in the Water Cloud Sect and forced Wen Xuan to have no choice but to accept his request to journey together to the ancient mausoleum. Later he gave Wen Xuan a piece of the black gold ore. Weren't the remaining twelve before his eyes now?

 

Back then, Wen Xuan even exclaimed, the person who was able to exchange 13 black gold ores all at once must be a pretty wealthy guy. Now look, what wealthy guy? Other than the things

 

that other people gave him recently and that round jade magic tool, Jian Yi didn't really have that much of anything at all.

 

"These." Wen Xuan pointed at those black gold ores, "Don't tell me they cost everything you had back then?"

 

"How could that be!" Jian Yi denied resolutely.

 

But from the embarrassed expression on his face, this clearly was only an obstinate duck with a stubborn mouth: "At most, half......"

 

Alright. Half. Wen Xuan put those black gold ores back into the jade bracelet with a laugh: "In order to get close to me, you sold off half of your belongings?"

 

"So what?" Jian Yi lifted his head, narrowing his eyes and asking extraordinarily seriously: "Shixiong, why do you think I came to this world?"

 

Hearing this question, Wen Xuan's heart abruptly trembled.

 

Yet just as Jian Yi took in a deep breath and was about to say the answer...... the infant that was placed on the table suddenly started crying again.

 

Jian Yi cursed internally and ran over quickly. Opening the swaddling clothes for a look, instantly his face turned green.

 

This stupid brat actually peed.

 

"Shixiong......" Jian Yi shot over a plea for help.

 

"What?" Jian Yi asked with a smile: "Do you think I've handled this kind of thing before?"

 

Jian Yi can only lower his head again. Alright. Wasn't it just a piece of diaper? Although he never changed one, at least he watched his mom change his little brother's diapers before. An unresigned feeling started burning in Jian Yi's chest. He immediately pushed forth with his own effort, recalled the process in his memories, and started getting busy.

 

He actually looked rather...... reliable.

 

Sitting at the bedside, Wen Xuan watched Jian Yi bustling about. Strangely, an area in his heart felt more at peace.

 

"Jian shidi," He suddenly asked: "Your past...... should be different from that dimwitted child. You've never experienced such tragedies, right?"

 

Jian Yi's busy hands abruptly froze. Then he said with a smile: "Of course, I was pretty happy and blessed before."

 

That area in Wen Xuan's heart calmed down completely.

 

When Jian Yi finally finished his hard task and coaxed the infant back to sleep, he first went to wash his hands clean. By the time he came back and took a look, he saw Wen Xuan lying crooked against the head of the bed, already fallen into a deep sleep......in his completely rain-soaked clothes.

 

The corner of Jian Yi's mouth twitched. Instantly he felt a headache and hastily came up with a plan to dry Wen Xuan's

 

clothes with spiritual energy. Good thing he was foundation building now. This task didn't pose a problem for him.

 

Then Jian Yi stuffed Wen Xuan into the blankets.

 

Wen Xuan was slightly startled awake. His eyelashes moved briefly. However, since he knew the person beside him was Jian Yi, he was so at ease he didn't even bother opening his eyes.

 

Jian Yi's presence remained for a long time without leaving.

 

Some more time passed, this presence moved a bit closer, almost sticking to Wen Xuan's face.

 

Jian Yi thought Wen Xuan was still in a deep sleep. So he leaned down, opened his mouth and secretly tasted Wen Xuan's lips.

 

Inside the blankets, Wen Xuan abruptly seized and grabbed the bed sheet with his right hand. Then, he slowly let go, like he didn't notice anything.