Chu Xinghui traveled for two days straight and finally arrived again near Hanshuize.

The person in charge was still Ning Yuanzheng from last time.

He had arrived earlier than the two and was now extremely busy.

Seeing two familiar faces, Ning Yuanzheng took a moment to greet Chu Xinghui and Ming Xiao: “Junior brothers, we meet again. You came just in time, come over here.”

After greeting, he didn’t waste time chatting and directly pulled the two over to introduce the situation here.

This incident happened suddenly, unlike the first time, there were no previous files to consult, so some new information could only be exchanged on site.

Ning Yuanzheng gave the two pieces of paper.

Chu Xinghui glanced at them, familiar patterns were printed on them.

Both had been present when the two little snakes appeared, Ning Yuanzheng knew they could recognize what it was and briefly explained: “These were traced from the images on the recording stone you have, Junior Brother Chu. The small snakes appearing now in Hanshuize all have this pattern on their bodies.”

He drew a few lines on the two papers, then flipped one over and finally combined the patterns on both sheets.

Looking at it… it seemed to be a broken formation pattern.

Chu Xinghui was not a formation cultivator and couldn’t tell what it was, so he patiently waited for an explanation.

Ming Xiao looked carefully for a while, but his expression gradually became serious.

Ning Yuanzheng put away his pen and looked at Ming Xiao: “This was what Uncle Xue discovered a couple of days ago while repairing the Daoyuan Peak formation. Luckily Junior Brother Ming was here, he should be able to recognize something.”

For the first time, Ming Xiao lost confidence in his formation skills and hesitated to confirm: “Is this… a formation on the outskirts of Daoyuan Peak?”

Daoyuan Peak was known for formations. The masters and disciples there were all a bit eccentric, so all around the peak were strange formations set by formation cultivators. Though disciples from other peaks occasionally passed through without being stopped, if they didn’t carry the sect’s jade token, they could be trapped by those formations for days.

Chu Xinghui frowned and asked: “What is this formation used for?”

Ming Xiao hesitated: “When I joined, my master took me through the formations on Daoyuan Peak. If I’m not mistaken, this formation was a failed work by a predecessor. What the predecessor originally intended is unknown, but in the end, the product had no effect beyond the pattern itself.”

His master had even used this as a negative example during lessons.

Chu Xinghui continued to ask him: “Do you know who this predecessor was?”

Ming Xiao shook his head: “This predecessor was probably just an ordinary disciple of Daoyuan Peak. No name was left behind, and no other works were passed down. I’m afraid even my master doesn’t know who it was.”

Ning Yuanzheng timely said: “Uncle Xue’s explanation is similar to Junior Brother Ming’s. He has already gone to investigate this disciple’s identity.”

He felt a bit troubled and sighed lightly: “Originally, everyone thought these patterns existed naturally on the beasts before the evil spirit formed, so no one paid attention. Only after detailed investigation this time did we find problems.”

He put the papers away and pointed to a pile of boxes nearby: “The situation about these patterns still depends on Uncle Xue’s news. For now, the most important thing is those things.”

Ning Yuanzheng went over, opened a box, and showed them the snakes packed inside: “Junior brothers, come and take a look. It’s a bit different from last time.”

Ming Xiao leaned in to look inside the box: “Apart from more of them, it seems… there isn’t much difference?”

At least, visually, that was the case.

Chu Xinghui glanced at the surrounding air and guessed: “The resentment here is weaker than elsewhere. Do these snakes feed on resentment?”

The recording stone only showed images, such subtle changes could only be sensed on site.

Following Chu Xinghui’s hint, Ming Xiao carefully felt the surroundings and slowly furrowed his brow.

Ning Yuanzheng nodded, confirming Chu Xinghui’s guess: “Exactly.”

A disciple who had gathered to watch scratched his head and said: “Sounds… like a good thing?”

Chu Xinghui held a reserved opinion for now.

Maybe it was good for clearing resentment, but if it were purely good, the sect wouldn’t have sent them to support here.

He extended a finger, sent out a little spiritual power, and tested the snakes in the box.

The snakes immediately acted as if stimulated, scrambling over each other to bite at Chu Xinghui’s finger.

Although these snakes were not very powerful individually, having so many together made the hair on one’s head stand on end. Many disciples around couldn’t help but step back.

Chu Xinghui withdrew his hand and judged: “These snakes have become more aggressive.”

Ning Yuanzheng nodded and closed the box lid again: “Junior Brother Chu is right. That’s why there is a barrier set up on the outskirts of Hanshuize now. One of our most important tasks is to prevent these snakes from spreading out.”

He then handed each of them an empty box and began assigning tasks thoroughly prepared: “These snakes cannot be placed in spirit beast bags and will fall into dormancy in complete darkness. These boxes are specially made, you can put the snakes you catch directly inside.”

He glanced at Ming Xiao considerately: “It’s unsafe for Junior Brother Ming to go alone, so go together with Junior Brother Chu.”

Finally, Ning Yuanzheng gave them a map: “You two are responsible for this area. It would be best if you can find their nest.”

As a wise senior brother who knew his juniors’ abilities, he deliberately gave them the largest and most difficult area.

After the instructions, Ning Yuanzheng quickly went to distribute boxes to other new arrivals.

Ming Xiao looked at Chu Xinghui.

Chu Xinghui opened the map, glanced at it, and picked up the box: “Let’s go.”

Anyway, they had come here to support, it made no difference what they did.

 

*

 

In the evening, far away at the sect, Xie Liufeng stared at the communication talisman absentmindedly.

He hadn’t properly spoken to Chu Xinghui for several days.

But Chu Xinghui should have arrived at Hanshuize today.

He felt a little worried.

After hesitating for a long time, Xie Liufeng’s worry won out, and he sent Chu Xinghui a message.

Chu Xinghui had spent the whole day with Ming Xiao catching snakes all over the mountain and was finally able to rest a few hours in the tent, not very willing to move.

But seeing Xie Liufeng’s message, he immediately replied.

Xie Liufeng hesitated about what to say to start the conversation.

Before he could speak, Chu Xinghui took the initiative to ask: “Are you finally going to pay attention to me today?”

Xie Liufeng felt very wronged and immediately clarified: “I didn’t ignore you.”

How could he dare ignore this little ancestor?

Chu Xinghui thought for a moment and guessed: “Then every time I message you these two days, and you run off after a few words… Is it because I kissed you before I left, and you got shy?”

Mentioning this, Xie Liufeng’s mind became a little chaotic again. He tried to control himself and felt he should clarify: “Not shy, just didn’t react in time…”

Although he had lived a long time, he had never been kissed. It was normal not to react immediately to something unfamiliar.

To make Chu Xinghui forget about this, Xie Liufeng changed the subject and counterattacked: “I haven’t asked you where you learned this from.”

“It’s from a book,” Chu Xinghui explained: “It said kissing can soothe a partner and promote feelings between partners.” After thinking about his own experience, he added: “But it seems you weren’t soothed.”

Objectively speaking, after the kiss… he suddenly became very silly.

Although Chu Xinghui felt he was soothed.

He really liked this intimate contact.

Maybe next time he could try kissing another place.

Xie Liufeng asked: “Where’s the book?”

Chu Xinghui answered: “In the cabinet in my room. You know which one.”

Xie Liufeng seemed to have reached his room’s door and sought permission: “Can I come into your room?”

Chu Xinghui had no objection: “Okay.”

Xie Liufeng entered his room and found the culprit book and several similar ones from the cabinet: “I confiscated them.”

Chu Xinghui still didn’t oppose: “Alright, but I already finished reading them. If you don’t have related experience, you can also take a look. Although much of the content is useless, after you finish reading, next time I kiss you, you won’t be caught off guard.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Still wanted a next time.

He forced himself to maintain the dignity of an elder and deliberately brushed this topic aside.

Afterwards, the two finally could share their recent lives with each other like usual.

Chu Xinghui recounted what he did that day, then emphasized how especially hard he had worked today.

After he finished, he hinted: “I’m done.”

Xie Liufeng pretended not to understand his hint: “Mm, I finished listening.”

Chu Xinghui explicitly said: “You should praise me.”

Xie Liufeng chuckled and asked him: “How should I praise you?”

Chu Xinghui thought for a moment and gave an example: “Like, I’m especially capable, especially competent.”

Xie Liufeng cooperated fully, smiling and repeated: “Yes, my Xingxing is especially capable, especially competent.”

Chu Xinghui was not very satisfied with such an unoriginal approach, but since Xie Liufeng already praised him, he decided to reluctantly accept it and humbly said: “Actually, it’s not that great, it’s all because you taught me well.”

Xie Liufeng couldn’t help laughing and suggested: “You’d better play less with that kid Xue Heng.”

What kind of nonsense have you learned.

Chu Xinghui corrected seriously: “The nature between the two of us is still different.”

Ming Xiao liked to hear everyone say all kinds of good words equally, but he only liked to hear praise from Xie Liufeng.

The two chatted casually for a while, then Chu Xinghui suddenly sensed something and stopped speaking.

Through the communication talisman, Xie Liufeng asked quietly: “Is something wrong?”

Chu Xinghui responded: “Mm.”

Xie Liufeng didn’t waste time and only said two words: “Be careful.”

Chu Xinghui ended the communication and looked toward outside the tent.

Outside, someone should be on night watch duty.

The tent’s location was very close to a night watch post, earlier when he talked with Xie Liufeng, he could faintly hear two night watch cultivators quietly chatting outside, and occasionally sounds of a fire burning and something roasting.

But now, it was extremely quiet outside.

Chu Xinghui summoned his spirit sword, sent his divine sense outward to explore, the slightly loose aura from before disappeared, and his surrounding breath gradually became fierce.

 

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