To avoid complications, Xie Liufeng didn’t waste time and quickly packed up.

Chu Xinghui trailed closely behind him without saying a word, just silently following.

Xie Liufeng walked out of Qingjing Peak, looked back at the little tail that had followed him all the way to the foot of the mountain, and said goodbye: “I’m going?”

Chu Xinghui nodded.

Fang Yan suddenly sent a message, interrupting with breaking news.

He said to Xie Liufeng: “Teacher, wait, you don’t need to go anymore.”

Xie Liufeng was a bit confused: “Hm?”

Fang Yan explained briefly: “Mu Lingxuan is dead.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Chu Xinghui, listening beside him, suddenly asked: “What about Mu Cheng?”

Fang Yan wasn’t surprised Chu Xinghui was beside Xie Liufeng and continued giving them live updates on the group’s movements: “Mu Chengjin has separated from Xie Huai and Mu Zeqing. Judging by the direction, he seems to be heading back to the sect.”

He was unsure of the next move: “Teacher, should we keep following him?”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment and offered his suggestion: “If that’s the case… how about we capture Mu Chengjin first? And remember, don’t use our sect’s identity.”

Since the current sect leader of Lingxiang Sect was still in closed-door retreat taking care of his seriously ill wife, the one outside must be an imposter. Finding a chance to capture him was perfectly reasonable.

After all, Mu Chengjin had given them the excuse himself.

Since Mu Lingxuan was already dead, Xie Liufeng could only take Chu Xinghui back for now and cooked him a bowl of delicious noodles.

After a rather late dinner, the two began waiting for news.

Chu Xinghui couldn’t see, and wasn’t in the mood to cultivate, so he went to bother Xie Liufeng, who was reading.

Xie Liufeng held him down and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Chu Xinghui said: “A bit bored.”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment, then pulled Chu Xinghui over, grabbed an extremely dull and obscure book that wasn’t very useful, and started reading it page by page to him.

As Chu Xinghui listened, he couldn’t help spacing out and even started feeling sleepy.

He felt even more bored, and for a moment didn’t really want to stay with Xie Liufeng.

He couldn’t help questioning Xie Liufeng’s taste: “Just now… were you really reading this book?”

Xie Liufeng waved the book in front of him and lied with a straight face: “Yeah, see for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He couldn’t see now.

Xie Liufeng teased him enough, and having made even himself a little sleepy from reading, finally set the book down: “Alright, who knows when the next message will come. Even if it does, I’ll handle it. You don’t need to stay up with me. Go sleep for a while.”

Chu Xinghui admitted he had a point: “Then you keep reading.”

Xie Liufeng poked his forehead and couldn’t help laughing: “…Haven’t had enough?”

Even he’d had enough.

He even began to wonder why this book was in his storage pouch in the first place.

Chu Xinghui answered honestly: “This book is good for falling asleep.”

Xie Liufeng could only pick the book back up and continue reading.

Chu Xinghui adjusted into a comfortable position, leaned against Xie Liufeng, and quietly closed his eyes.

Xie Liufeng read a few more pages, then heard even breathing beside his ear.

He turned his head and looked at the person next to him, unable to hold back a smile.

Around midnight, Fang Yan sent another update: “Teacher, Junior Brother Chu, we’ve captured Mu Cheng.”

Hearing the voice, Chu Xinghui immediately woke up and sat up from leaning on Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng listened to Fang Yan’s side while glancing at Chu Xinghui.

Seeing Chu Xinghui subconsciously try to rub his eyes, Xie Liufeng pressed his hand down and held it in his own.

Chu Xinghui didn’t move again, quietly staying by Xie Liufeng’s side to listen.

Xie Liufeng asked Fang Yan: “Where is he being held?”

Fang Yan remembered his instruction and replied: “Not in the sect. We found a nearby place, knocked him out, and locked him up.”

Xie Liufeng asked again: “How’s the situation on Lingxiang Sect’s side?”

Fang Yan continued: “Mu Lingxuan’s body has been discovered, but the Lingxiang Sect people haven’t found anything yet—only an ordinary, unmarked old fan pendant at the scene.”

He then asked Xie Liufeng for the next step: “Shishu, how should we handle Mu Cheng?”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment, first confirming the most critical information: “Does he know the news that Mu Lingxuan is already dead?”

Fang Yan replied: “We caught him in time, he hasn’t had the chance to find out yet.”

Xie Liufeng pondered for a while: “Then… it’ll be easier.”

Fang Yan didn’t react immediately: “What?”

Chu Xinghui, beside them, spoke up to remind him: “Senior Brother Sect Leader, Mu Chengjin was originally hiding in Beiyue doing shady things under a false identity. Why would he suddenly want to return to the sect now?”

Mu Lingxuan was most likely already dead, and her death was probably closely related to Mu Cheng. Now that the news of Mu Lingxuan returning to the sect had spread, he wasn’t sure whether she was dead or alive, nor whether she had recognized his identity before her “death.”

What Mu Chengjin feared most now was that a “living” Mu Lingxuan would return to the sect and reveal things she shouldn’t, which would damage his reputation as the sect master and bring him unpredictable trouble. That was likely why he rushed back to the sect to handle his daughter.

With this reminder from Chu Xinghui, Fang Yan immediately understood.

Xie Liufeng considered it and said: “Wake him up. Let him sit there for a while. Don’t let him know Mu Lingxuan is already dead.”

At this point, the longer they delayed, the more Mu Cheng’s psychological defenses would weaken, and the easier it would be to deceive him.

By then, a bit more pressure would likely make him show his true colors.

The communication ended.

Chu Xinghui asked Xie Liufeng: “What about us?”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment and suggested: “Sleep.”

They had both been exhausted lately, so it was a good time to rest while Mu Chengjin was being held.

Chu Xinghui considered it and very naturally tried to sneak into Xie Liufeng’s room.

Xie Liufeng grabbed his belt and reminded him: “…This is my room.”

Chu Xinghui turned around, didn’t say anything, and tugged at his sleeve.

Xie Liufeng: “…”

He sighed and, unsurprisingly softening, opened the door and let Chu Xinghui in.

That night, Chu Xinghui slept with remarkable restraint, only waking Xie Liufeng twice, and even though he slept on the inner side of the bed, he didn’t push Xie Liufeng off.

Although that was partly because Xie Liufeng had hugged him tightly before bed, significantly limiting his movement range.

In any case, the next morning, both of them walked out of Xie Liufeng’s room safe and sound.

Fang Yan sent a message early in the morning with the latest updates.

According to him, once Mu Chengjin was awakened and realized he was no longer free, he had been in a terrible state, shouting all night in captivity, trying to get someone to release him.

Fang Yan couldn’t help but laugh: “I had someone deliberately mention twice that Mu Lingxuan had returned to the sect. He looks… completely panicked now.”

Xie Liufeng listened carefully and said: “The timing is about right. I’ll go take a look.”

Chu Xinghui had been listening the whole time. When the message ended, he waved Xie Liufeng’s hand and asked: “You’re going to deal with Mu Cheng?”

Xie Liufeng hesitated a little and asked Chu Xinghui: “Do you have any thoughts?”

Although he didn’t think Chu Xinghui would feel any mercy, he still asked.

Chu Xinghui thought for a moment and asked: “Can I go with you?”

He added: “I’ll stay by your side the whole time. There won’t be a chance for anyone to target me.”

Xie Liufeng paused: “Why do you want to go?”

Chu Xinghui honestly expressed his simple and direct emotion: “I want to watch.”

Watching Mu Chengjin suffer could be quite entertaining.

Xie Liufeng: “…”

He couldn’t help but smile and rubbed Chu Xinghui’s head: “Then make sure you stick close to me.”

Mu Chengjin was held in an old, secluded house.

The two of them had changed into black robes that concealed their identities completely, wore full-face masks, altered their voices and appearances, and walked into the house.

Before they even saw Mu Cheng, they heard his furious voice: “Who exactly are you people? Why did you bring me here?”

Xie Liufeng pushed open the door and sat down in front of him, replying leisurely: “Sect Master, no need to be anxious. Think carefully. Do you really not know whose people we are?”

Chu Xinghui quietly stood behind Xie Liufeng, ready to listen in on the fun.

Upon hearing how Xie Liufeng addressed him, Mu Chengjin seemed to realize something and narrowed his eyes: “You’re from Lingxiang Sect?”

Xie Liufeng deliberately made it ambiguous and immediately passed the blame: “Sect Master, you’d better stay clear-headed. Now that you’re in our hands, does it really matter whether we’re from Lingxiang Sect or not?”

After all, Lingxiang Sect had many factions. There were plenty who wanted to take him down from his position. With a little guidance, Mu Chengjin would naturally suspect internal sect infighting.

Mu Chengjin tentatively guessed: “Your master is Songfeng or Zhuyun?”

These two were prominent elders in Lingxiang Sect who frequently opposed him.

“I told you, that’s not important.” Xie Liufeng didn’t even know these two people, but calmly tossed the question back: “We’ve already held you here for a whole night. Sect Master, why don’t you guess why I chose this moment to meet you?”

Mu Cheng’s face darkened, and he remained silent.

The setup was nearly done. Xie Liufeng went straight for the bait: “Just half an hour ago, your daughter told us what you did.”

Mu Cheng’s expression changed slightly.

He quickly regained his composure and sneered: “You think I’ll believe such an unfounded claim? I, Mu, have always lived with a clear conscience. What could I possibly be afraid of? Besides, I haven’t seen Lingxuan at all recently.”

Xie Liufeng wasn’t surprised by his denial and nodded: “Right, unfounded. Then, Sect Master, why don’t you guess again—since you were supposed to be in the sect caring for your seriously ill wife, how did we find you in Beiyue and bring you here?”

He explained slowly, word by word: “Because your daughter feared you would silence her, she came to us immediately upon returning to the sect and first revealed your whereabouts.”

Mu Cheng’s heart sank, and he lowered his eyes, rolling his eyeballs a few times.

Lingxuan… did she really recognize him before?

He had already started to believe Xie Liufeng’s words.

Xie Liufeng observed his expression and lightly tapped the table with his fingers.

Mu Chengjin suddenly raised his eyes.

Xie Liufeng smiled and added another weighty point: “The proud sect leader of Lingxiang Sect colluding with evil cultivators… sacrificing his own biological children, I imagine many people would be interested in this matter, right?”

He thought for a moment and then added: “The sect leader doesn’t need to say we have no proof… after all, your daughter is still alive and staying inside the sect. She can tell us these things, and naturally, she can tell others as well. But for now, sect leader, you need not worry. Your daughter, like you, is currently in our hands. If the sect leader is willing to cooperate, whether your daughter will reveal these matters is under your control.”

Mu Cheng’s face turned unpleasant.

He had completely confirmed that the person opposite really knew something.

But fortunately… the other side seemed here to negotiate.

Where there is a need for profit, there can be a trade.

Through Xie Liufeng’s ambiguous words, Mu Chengjin quickly imagined everything and finally regained his composure on his face: “What do you want? The position of sect leader?”

Xie Liufeng laughed: “Such an external thing is better left for each to earn by their own skill later. Now that the sect leader has such a big leverage in our hands, naturally we cannot use it so easily.”

He casually said: “How about this, sect leader shows us what you got from the trade?”

Mu Cheng’s gaze slightly stiffened.

He said: “It is a pill, I have already used it.”

Xie Liufeng did not believe him: “Sect leader, think again?”

Mu Cheng’s tone turned harsh: “Do you think I’m lying to you?”

Xie Liufeng continued to provoke him: “If the sect leader can’t remember, I’ll just have to ask Cultivator Xie and Cultivator Qin.”

Mu Chengjin then truly broke out in a cold sweat and immediately stood up: “You—”

Xie Huai and Qin Suyun… especially Qin Suyun, Mu Lingxuan didn’t know her, the only time they met, she hadn’t even seen her face. If they didn’t really know some inside information, no one would associate these two people who had nothing to do with each other.

Could it be that now he was locked here… and these two also contributed?

He was always used to suspecting collaborators with the worst intentions.

If these two betrayed him, then the things he obtained…

Xie Liufeng hinted: “Don’t panic, sect leader. Such transactions naturally can be made with you or with me.”

Mu Chengjin silently looked at him, his lips trembling, but said nothing.

The stimulation today was about enough, Xie Liufeng stood up: “Think it over slowly, don’t rush. When I come again tomorrow, I hope the sect leader will have remembered.”

After speaking, he took Chu Xinghui and left the room.

…

The two went outside and removed their disguises.

Chu Xinghui called out Xie Liufeng’s name: “Xie Liufeng.”

Xie Liufeng hurriedly pulled off the black robe from Chu Xinghui’s body and raised his eyelids upon hearing the voice: “What’s up?”

“You just now sounded like…” Chu Xinghui thought for a moment and finally found a fitting word: “you sounded like a villain.”

Xie Liufeng was a bit unwilling and, while untying the mask’s strings, pinched his exposed ear: “Is there such a good-looking villain like me?”

Chu Xinghui honestly replied: “I can’t see.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

He put away the mask and held Chu Xinghui’s hand: “Let’s go.”

The two had just walked a short distance when Fang Yan hurried over from nearby: “Teacher, Junior Brother Chu, are you done with your matters here?”

Xie Liufeng nodded and, seeing his strange expression, proactively asked: “Is something wrong?”

Fang Yan rubbed his head in headache: “Do you remember I said before that people from Lingxiang Sect found something at Mu Lingxuan’s death scene?”

Chu Xinghui recalled: “That old fan pendant?”

Fang Yan said “Mm” with an increasingly odd expression: “That old fan pendant… was the old possession of Immortal Biyun.”

Previously, Xie Liufeng and Xue Heng had guessed the black-robed man might be connected to Immortal Biyun.

But the black-robed man always stayed hidden in the shadows, his movements mysterious… no one expected this name to appear so soon.

Xie Liufeng frowned: “I thought it was said the features were unidentifiable? How did they find out?”

Fang Yan explained: “There are elders in Lingxiang Sect who saw Immortal Biyun back then. After seeing the fan pendant, they thought it looked somewhat similar to the one Immortal Biyun often carried but didn’t dare to confirm.”

Then, unsurprisingly, he mentioned a very active name related to Cultivator Biyun: “Yue Yao happened to find traces of her master in Shuixun CIty, was investigating nearby, and was immediately invited by Lingxiang Sect.”

“Yue Yao identified the fan pendant as Cultivator Biyun’s. Coupled with her reason for being in Shuixun CIty — discovering Immortal Biyun’s whereabouts — the two facts combined, Immortal Biyun couldn’t be separated from Mu Lingxuan’s death.”

Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but ask: “Did no one suspect Yue Yao?”

Her appearance in Shuixun CIty was too coincidental.

Fang Yan vividly described the scene: “Although Bihai Taohua Island rarely communicated with outsiders, many knew Yue Yao was Immortal Biyun’s foster daughter, and they had a very close relationship. After Yue Yao identified the fan pendant, she was told it was found at Mu Lingxuan’s death scene. She was both incredulous and heartbroken, nearly fainting from crying, and insisted the Lingxiang Sect help find her master quickly and clear her master’s name. Moreover, she actively requested to stay and help until the truth was found or her master was located… It really didn’t look like an act.”

Finally, Fang Yan couldn’t help but sigh: “Immortal Biyun has been wandering outside for over a hundred years. Yue Yao has been holding up Bihai Taohua Island alone all these years, which is not easy. Everyone really can’t bring themselves to harshly criticize this young mistress. Not only did no one suspect her, many people were actually comforting her.”

To be honest, if he hadn’t known more of the inside story and had dealt with Yue Yao before, he might now also think Yue Yao was a righteous and innocent poor girl.

Chu Xinghui: “…”

 

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