My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Crown Prince Speaks of the Demon Sect Sect Hierarch

At Dongluo Pass, beneath the Sealing Demon Well.

Zhao Qingmei sat in the well, looking up.

From the depths of the Sealing Demon Well, she could clearly see the azure sky, with the faint sunlight slanting down, just the sight of which made one feel warm.

That sort of freedom, that breath of fresh air, was something to long for.

Moreover, in that free land, there were even more important people waiting for her.

Before long, a wooden figure fell from above the well, with a food box hanging from it.

Zhao Qingmei picked up the food box, which contained a white note and a bottle of elixirs.

“Red Beauty Drunk, the latest poison Powder concocted by the Poison King, colorless and tasteless, even Grandmasters would struggle to detect it….”

After glancing at the white paper in her hands, Zhao Qingmei silently pondered.

Even with a strange poison like Red Beauty Drunk, one had to be cautious, after all, Nan Weiping might be a master of the Grandmaster Realm. Though she had lost most of her cultivation, who knew whether she would detect the poison powder.

If discovered, all the effort would have been in vain.

With this in mind, Zhao Qingmei took out a tiny amount of Red Beauty Drunk, sprinkling it over the roasted chicken and dishes.

Such a minute dosage, especially since Red Beauty Drunk was inherently colorless and tasteless, greatly reduced the chance of Nan Weiping detecting it.

If one attempt didn’t work, then she would just have to poison her multiple times….

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Qingmei carried the food box into the cave.

“Why have you only come now?”

Nan Weiping’s eyes lit up upon seeing the food box in Zhao Qingmei’s hands.

“Here.”

Zhao Qingmei directly threw the food box she was holding to Nan Weiping.

Nan Weiping caught the food box, and as the chains made a frictional sound, she stared straight at Zhao Qingmei, “Little girl, you didn’t poison this, did you?”

Zhao Qingmei responded indifferently, “No.”

Her tone had not the slightest fluctuation, calm as still water.

“I don’t believe you. Try it yourself first and show me,” demanded Nan Weiping, clearly not trusting Zhao Qingmei and tossing the food box back to her.

Without saying a word, Zhao Qingmei sat down cross-legged and ate a few bites in front of Nan Weiping without hesitation.

“Good.”

Seeing this, Nan Weiping finally felt somewhat reassured and began to eat ravenously.

Such a demeanor made it hard to imagine that this was a master of the Grandmaster Realm.

Zhao Qingmei sat quietly to one side, casually taking out paper and ink.

Her heart was somewhat anxious, unaware if Nan Weiping had noticed the Red Beauty Drunk. After a while, seeing that she had no reaction, Zhao Qingmei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that the minute trace of Red Beauty Drunk she had added was the correct choice.

After Nan Weiping had eaten her fill, she let out a long breath and showed a satisfied expression. She then looked at Zhao Qingmei and asked, “What are you writing?”

“A journal,” replied Zhao Qingmei straightforwardly.

“A journal?” Nan Weiping seemed puzzled and asked, “I do not understand this object of yours, but aren’t you coveting the treasure within this stone cave?”

“Treasure? What treasure?” said Zhao Qingmei, pausing her writing.

All this time, she had been thinking about how to leave the Sealing Demon Well; it had never occurred to her that the well was where the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect secluded himself, and there surely would be some valuable use to it.

Nan Weiping glanced around the walls and said, “You must have acquired the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture from Wu Jiaming’s hands. All over this stone cave are the insights and experiences of the Demon Sect’s predecessors, even the writings left by the Sect’s founding master, which would be immensely beneficial to your cultivation.”

Wu Jiaming was the eighth-generation Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.

Upon hearing Nan Weiping, Zhao Qingmei took up a fire starter and looked towards the walls of the stone cave.

With the faint light from the fire starter, she finally made out the scribbles and etchings on the walls of the cave.

Upon closer inspection, most of them were insights into the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, along with some spontaneous enlightenment.

As she read those words, Zhao Qingmei narrowed her eyes, carefully considering them, and gained a whole new understanding of the content within the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.

It is known that the Sect Hierarchs of the Demon Sect were always exceptionally gifted, each of them having a profound understanding of the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, building upon the experience and research of the previous generations.

“`

Even continuously improved and extrapolated the “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,” it has undergone significant changes compared to the original version.

A glint flashed in the eyes of Nan Weiping, who was standing by.

Anyone from the Demon Sect who practices the “Nine Nether Body Refining Demon Scripture” would naturally be immersed upon seeing its content.

Zhao Qingmei, captivated by the characters on the stone wall, eventually came back to her senses only after reading every word.

“There are more words…”

Just as Zhao Qingmei’s gaze left the wall, she abruptly noticed more characters and murmured, “The demon is in the heart, the Buddha is in the void.”

With profound eyes, Nan Weiping said, “This was left by the ancestral master of the Demon Sect. To reach the highest realm of this ‘Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,’ one must become possessed by a demon.”

Zhao Qingmei frowned, “Becoming possessed by a demon?”

Somehow, upon hearing these words, she felt her blood boiling, as if it were a primal instinct.

Nan Weiping intoned solemnly, “Without becoming possessed by a demon, how can the true self be realized? Only by willingly becoming possessed by a demon, can one truly comprehend oneself.”

“So you mean, the demon is the true self.”

Zhao Qingmei felt she had grasped something, enlightening her, and at the same time, the shackles that plagued her for so long loosened a bit.

Surprised, Nan Weiping glanced at Zhao Qingmei, thinking to herself, “This young girl has truly remarkable insight.”

Just by witnessing the enlightenment in this cave once, she was already able to perceive a bit of its profound mysteries.

The path of the Demon Sect is unorthodox; its cultivation grows extremely quickly, unlike the steady and arduous cultivation of the Mystical Sect or the Buddhist schools, which requires years of hard practice for a moment’s enlightenment.

When practicing the martial arts of the Demon Sect, the higher the cultivation, the more one’s mindset must enter a transcendent state, which the Demon Sect calls becoming possessed by a demon.

Once possessed, the cultivation level reaches an unimaginable realm.

This cave does not only contain the imprints left by the predecessors of the Demon Path, but also the ominous Demonic Qi. Feeling its mysteriousness can assist one in becoming possessed by a demon.

However, since the “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture” was lost, no one from the Demon Sect has reached the true state of being possessed, which is why even after the Mystical Sect split, the Demon Sect has never been able to stand at the pinnacle of Jianghu.

Zhao Qingmei slowly sat down, feeling something unusual in her embrace, and immediately took out the paper doll.

“In this world, men are innately unreliable.”

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Nan Weiping’s mouth upon seeing this.

She often saw Zhao Qingmei fiddling with the paper doll in her hands.

“Maybe for you,”

Zhao Qingmei glanced at the paper doll in front of her, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

Seeing Zhao Qingmei’s smiling face, Nan Weiping couldn’t help thinking: What a beautiful girl, it’s a pity she’s smitten with a man.

“In less than half a year at the Sealing Demon Well, the man had already changed his heart,” Nan Weiping stated.

Zhao Qingmei looked at Nan Weiping, “I won’t worry about things that couldn’t possibly happen.”

Shaking her head with pity, Nan Weiping looked at Zhao Qingmei, “Your disbelief is futile; the human heart is unpredictable, especially concerning affection. Being by his side is world’s different from being away from him.”

“Should that day come when you discover he has changed his heart, what will you do?”

After playing with the paper doll for a while, Zhao Qingmei put it away and her jade-like palm gently rested on the hilt of the Mandarin Duck Blade at her waist, murmuring, “I will show him through actions just how much I love him.”

Nan Weiping was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

Zhao Qingmei ignored Nan Weiping and sat down again, continuing to write in her diary.

…….

Zhao Country, Royal Capital.

High buildings lined the streets, and the splendid architectural clusters were less bustling than those in Yujing City, but they exuded a vibe of solemnity and dignity.

Beside an ancient pavilion that was simple and unadorned, all was silent except for a middle-aged man who was sweeping with a broom.

His movements were neither fast nor slow, methodical, with a look of patience on his face, and a natural grace to his sweeping arms.

Could it be….

As if sensing something, the middle-aged man sweeping immediately contracted his pupils sharply and turned to the pavilion’s door.

“Creak—!”

At that moment, the door of the pavilion slowly swung open.

Motes of dust appeared as if it had been silent for a long time.

An old man in green robes stepped out, squinting at the harsh sunlight above, savoring the warmth after an extended absence.

His steps were faltering, his back hunched, as old as if he could enter the earth at any moment.

“Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye.”

“Jin Lao, you have come out of seclusion?”

“`

The middle-aged man cleaning the courtyard trembled upon seeing the elder.

For seven years, he had delivered three meals a day; then he would clean the courtyard, waiting every day—and now, he had finally witnessed the elder emerge from seclusion.

Does his emergence indicate that his cultivation has stagnated once again?

“Shenci.”

Master Jin looked at the middle-aged man and asked, “How fares the world these days?”

How fares the world these days?

The middle-aged man fell silent for a long moment before responding, “Master Jin was right all along. The Holy Master of Houjin is ambitious and, now that his power has grown, he has started to reveal his fangs. The envoy from Houjin has already arrived secretly at Cloud Tower and is in talks with the people of Black Ice Platform.”

“Chaos is beginning to arise, and the future situation is yet uncertain.”

Master Jin sighed; he had visited the Holy Master of Houjin in Great Snow Mountain years ago. The man’s ambition was like a hidden tide, deep and unseen, yet a glimpse of it could still be detected.

The longstanding hatred between Yan and Zhao had forged them into mortal enemies, each viewing the other with enmity and engaging in constant conflicts. This undoubtedly created favorable conditions for the Holy Master of Houjin.

As long as he focused on strengthening his forces, the moment Houjin’s military might peaked, they could march south in alliance with Zhao to swallow Great Yan whole, thus securing ancestral fate and making a great achievement.

Currently, everything was going smoothly, as if moving according to the Holy Master of Houjin’s plan.

“What about Zhao and Great Yan?” Master Jin continued to inquire.

Yu Shenci continued, “With Qi Wushuang acting as the Stabilizer, Black Ice Platform is still firmly in control of the situation. Great Yan, however, has faced many changes. The Taiping Human Emperor seems to have failed in breaking through his limits and is now healing. The Buddhist sector has come to Great Yan, and while Zhenyi Sect hasn’t shown much activity, the Demon Sect is definitely stirring…”

Upon hearing this, Master Jin’s voice rose slightly, “The Taiping Human Emperor!?”

Yu Shenci nodded, “It’s uncertain whether the news is true, but right now, the Great Yan court is rife with factional strife. Lv Guoyong feigns illness to avoid court, and the Second Prince and Crown Prince are openly and secretly vying for power. The undercurrent is surging, which doesn’t seem fabricated.”

An image involuntarily appeared in Master Jin’s mind.

The world at peace—how could the world possibly be at peace? Only through unification could there be peace. That young man, who dared concoct a rebellion in his twenties, has now reached his sixties. His cultivation has unwittingly reached the pinnacle of the world, yet he’s failed to break free of his shackles.

Yu Shenci bowed slightly and continued, “Additionally, a few days ago, Xiao Qianqiu, the Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, descended the mountain. According to the intelligence, it seems he was after the Ghost Valley Sect’s mental method, associated with the Daluo Sect. Following that, he dueled with Lou Xiangzhen, the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect, at Abyss Lake. Lou Xiangzhen entered the Sixth Realm, and while Xiao Qianqiu of Zhenyi Sect was wounded by his sword and not killed, the prevailing momentum has been broken…”

Master Jin’s eyes gleamed as he softly said, “Xiao Qianqiu, that young man, holds boundless potential. In him, I can see the spirit of those who painstakingly cultivate the Mystical Sect. A broken momentum is not necessarily a bad thing.”

“This world has indeed become lively.”

Master Jin expressed his sentiment and then, as if recalling something, asked, “And what of Lou Xiangzhen?”

Yu Shenci frowned and said, “After being rescued by the Ghost Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen disappeared without a trace. Now, only the Ghost Swordsman knows of his whereabouts.”

Master Jin queried, “And who is this Ghost Swordsman?”

This name was somewhat unfamiliar to him.

Had a terrifyingly powerful expert appeared in the Jianghu during these seven years?

Yu Shenci explained, “He’s a swordsman who has risen to prominence within the past year, a disciple of Daluo Sect. Not long ago, he killed two immortals and a Peak Master from Zhenyi Sect, and he even defeated the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian. Although he relies on the sharpness of the Evil Suppressing Sword, he is a person…”

“Wait!”

Master Jin suddenly interrupted Yu Shenci, his brow furrowing deeply, “What sword did you say he wields?”

Yu Shenci promptly replied, “The Evil Suppressing Sword.”

Master Jin’s breath hitched, “Is it the Evil Suppressing Sword that guards the Sealing?”

Yu Shenci nodded, “Indeed, they say this Ghost Swordsman took one of the six avatars of the Evil Suppressing Sword from Fa Xi Temple.”

Master Jin stood stunned as if frozen.

The Great Zhou Dragon has emerged, the Great Zhou truly has royal blood capable of being acknowledged by the Evil Suppressing Sword…

Having followed the elder for over forty years, Yu Shenci rarely saw him so out of sorts, and he said nothing more, waiting by the side.

After a while, Master Jin declared, “It is time to go to Great Yan.”

…….

The battle at Abyss Lake was the talk of the Jianghu.

Xiao Qianqiu returned to Zhenyi Mountain to seclude himself and heal his injuries, rumored to have gained some enlightenment. Meanwhile, the newly acclaimed World’s First Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen, had suddenly vanished, as if evaporated from the world.

Some say that as the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect, no member of the sect ever met a good fate, suggesting Lou Xiangzhen had likely perished from consuming his essence. Others speculate that having achieved his desires, he’s now completely withdrawn from public life.

Still, others believe Lou Xiangzhen is truly healing his injuries now.

The people of the world are abuzz with speculation, none able to provide any concrete evidence.

And the only one in the world who knows the specifics of Lou Xiangzhen’s situation is the Ghost Swordsman.

In the Jianghu, the Ghost Swordsman is notoriously enigmatic. Very few in the world have seen his true appearance, let alone know his whereabouts.

Therefore, many theories circulated in the Jianghu.

On the Canglang River of Lingnan Dao.

Clouds drifted lazily, and the sky was a clear blue. The sunlight at this moment was just right, reflecting off the water in shimmering waves.

A giant passenger ship was coming from north to south, with a length of six zhang, divided into two levels; the upper level was for accommodations, specifically for people to stay, while the lower level was for dining and entertainment.

At this time, several people were standing on the lower deck, among them were some merchants, scholars, and various individuals from Jianghu.

Among them, a man and a woman stood out conspicuously. The man resembled a walking mountain of flesh, with his short, thick legs and a round belly that made him look like a waddling duck. His clothes seemed ready to burst at the seams, and his eyes were as small as mung beans.

And the woman by his side was like a water jar, wide at both the top and the bottom.

No matter how one looked at them, they were a perfectly matched pair.

“Young Master Hou and Heroine Fang, you truly are a match made in heaven,”

“One can tell at a glance that Heroine Fang has the appearance of one who brings prosperity to her husband.”

“Young Master Hou is wise and brave, only Heroine Fang is a fitting match for him.”

“Yes, indeed,”

…..

The surrounding crowd was all smiling flatteringly.

These two were none other than Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu.

It was extremely difficult for the two of them to conceal their identities, as they stood out wherever they went.

Fang Jinxiu, hearing the congratulations from the crowd, blushed, clasping Qiu Lun’s arm tightly, seeming somewhat at a loss.

Qiu Lun was also overjoyed, declaring generously, “Today everyone should eat and drink well; since we are fated to be on the same boat, I, Qiu, will cover the expenses on board.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd was even more joyful, knowing that it cost them nothing more than a few flattering words.

At this moment, An Jing stood at a distance on the deck, originally admiring the boundless beautiful scenery on both banks, then turning his attention to the boisterous voices.

When he saw Fang Jinxiu beside Qiu Lun, he was momentarily taken aback.

“Perhaps this is what it means to see beauty in the eyes of a lover,”

An Jing shook his head.

After leaving Northern Wilderness Dao, he headed north, and to reach Bo City, he had to travel by this waterway.

The Black Flood Dragon could fly, but that would deplete the True Qi within its core. After Lou Xiangzhen left, An Jing dared not overly consume the True Qi within the Black Flood Dragon’s body, so after flying for some time, he guided the Black Flood Dragon back into the water and boarded a merchant ship himself.

At this time, Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu walked over side by side, and An Jing turned away to continue gazing at the surging waves.

Fang Jinxiu, with some concern, said, “Qiu Lang, you were too generous just now. There are at least thirty or fifty people on this ship, and the food and drink will cost quite a bit of silver.”

My family’s Sister Fang really is virtuous.

Upon hearing Fang Jinxiu’s words, Qiu Lun immediately laughed, “Sister Fang needn’t worry about these things; we made quite a bit this time at the Abyss Lake opening, a few dozen silvers are nothing to us.”

“Besides, since they give me face, I ought to give them gold.”

Gold…

An Jing, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but cough twice, “cough cough…”

“Who?”

Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu were both startled and only then realized there was another man in a black robe near them.

“It’s nothing, carry on,”

An Jing waved his hand, then started walking away.

“Wait,”

Qiu Lun stopped An Jing, his mung bean-sized eyes wide open, “Brother, don’t you recognize me? It’s me!”

Others might not recognize the Ghost Swordsman, but Qiu Lun had seen him on several occasions and was extremely familiar with his figure.

An Jing calmly replied, “I am not your brother.”

“Brother, have you forgotten the days of shared hardship at Thunder Pool? How can you be so heartless and ungrateful?”

Upon hearing An Jing’s words, Qiu Lun pretended to wipe away tears.

An Jing’s eyebrows rose slightly, “Aren’t you afraid of Zhenyi Sect looking for trouble with you?”

Now he was nominated by the Zhenyi Sect as a calamity of Jianghu, and those who associated with him in Jianghu were undoubtedly offending Zhenyi Sect.

And Zhenyi Sect was the National Religion, also having considerable prestige in the royal court.

“But you’re my brother!” Qiu Lun’s eyes bulged, he said hastily, “The brotherhood between us is worth a thousand gold.”

This kid is an acting talent; he nearly got me into a mess before, and now he’s sticking to me like a plaster, definitely up to no good.

Watching Qiu Lun’s moved performance, An Jing inwardly sneered, then stretched out his hand, “Brother’s been a bit tight on funds lately.”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun eagerly placed his hand into An Jing’s palm, “Brother, I used to be tight too, but later when I stopped using it, it wasn’t tight anymore…”

As he gestured, his jowly cheeks trembled.

An Jing hurriedly shook off Qiu Lun’s hand, “You really are a little bastard.”

Saying that, he walked towards the second floor cabin.

Qiu Lun watched An Jing’s retreating figure and hurriedly shouted, “Big brother, Jinxiu and I plan to get married in July this year, don’t forget to come, ah, you can’t skip out on the wedding gift.”

An Jing acted as if he hadn’t heard and hastened his steps, directly returning to his room.

Fang Jinxiu was somewhat puzzled and said, “Qiu Lang, is this Ghost Swordsman really…?”

She had never heard Qiu Lun mention that he had such a deep relationship with the Ghost Swordsman.

Taking a deep breath, Qiu Lun said with emotion, “Yes, he’s my big brother, and Lou Xiangzhen is my grandfather. I don’t have many remarkable strengths, but I abide by filial piety and value relationships…”

……

On the river, in the cabin.

An Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, the Evil Suppressing Sword placed before his knees.

In his mind, he kept reliving that day’s great battle, each time gaining different insights, but he knew he was still some distance away from the threshold of the Sixth Realm, not to mention reaching it.

Time passed, and without realizing it, it was already deep into the night.

“The Sixth Realm is truly difficult.”

An Jing took a deep breath and looked at the blood on the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand.

At that moment, the blood on the sword became increasingly active, as if it was about to burst out of the sword.

“This blood is a little strange…”

An Jing stared at the blood, feeling like it had a trace of sentience and was not a dead thing.

He always had the feeling that the blood would suddenly rush out of the sword.

“Hmm!?”

Suddenly, An Jing heard a faint sound by his ear.

Ever since his cultivation had reached the Half-step Master level, his hearing and sensitivity to the Qi mechanism had greatly improved.

“Swoosh, swoosh!”

In the blink of an eye, An Jing’s body disappeared from the cabin and appeared on the deck.

At that moment, the river was quiet and deserted, the only sound being the passenger ship moving forward.

A figure in black appeared on the deck, their movements smooth and graceful, barely making a sound as they lightly stepped on the deck.

Moreover, the figure moved rapidly, like a gust of wind sweeping by.

“What a nice scent. It must be this room,” said the figure, arriving at the door of Fang Jinxiu’s room and then taking a deep breath as if immersed in the scent.

An Jing, hidden from a distance, saw this scene and wondered if this man was Qiu Lun. But that couldn’t be. The figure didn’t look like him, and he wouldn’t need to sneak in like a thief.

As An Jing pondered, the figure had already discreetly entered Fang Jinxiu’s room.

This agile figure and familiar technique…

“Could it be a flower thief?”

An Jing shook his head, “Usually, a flower thief would scout out his target first. Why would he be so reckless?”

Let alone Fang Jinxiu’s appearance, she is a master with considerable cultivation, not just any flower thief’s match.

“A flower thief is here!”

As expected, Fang Jinxiu’s youthful shout rang out.

The next instant, the figure dashed out from Fang Jinxiu’s room in a hurry, holding a red brassiere in their hand.

“Where do you think you’re going!?”

Hearing Fang Jinxiu’s voice, Qiu Lun, furious, bolted out and threw a punch at the thief.

“Whish, whish!” “Whish, whish!”

The flower thief’s cultivation was not a match for Qiu Lun’s, but their movement technique was excellent, they deftly dodged the punch, and then sprinted away into the distance.

“Stop!”

Seeing this, Qiu Lun’s eyes, red with blood vessels, hurriedly chased after.

It must be said, the flower thief’s speed was astonishing, crossing several yards in the blink of an eye, stepping on the deck ready to escape.

“Big brother, quickly stop him!”

Qiu Lun, realizing he couldn’t catch up, saw An Jing standing to the side.

In the dim light, An Jing also caught sight of the flower thief and furrowed his brow.

This person was astonishingly handsome, his eyes clear as water, his complexion fair, and his long, dense eyelashes slightly curled, shadowing a pair of bright yet profound pupils, his features seemingly even more delicate than a woman’s.

“What a handsome young pretty-face!”

An Jing thought to himself, and then he reached out and grabbed at the person’s collar.

“I want to leave, who can stop me?”

The flower-picking thief shook the bellyband in his hand, ready to jump into the river and flee, when suddenly he felt a tightening behind him, and a palm had already grabbed his collar and lifted him up.

“You!”

The flower-picking thief looked at An Jing behind him with a face full of astonishment.

Fast!

It was simply too fast!

So fast that he hadn’t even reacted before the man in black had caught hold of him.

This person was at least a Half-step Master or a high-level expert of the Master level.

“You’ve got some nerve!”

At this moment, Qiu Lun strode over, grabbed the flower-picking thief, and snatched the bellyband from his hand.

By this time, Fang Jinxiu had also walked over quickly, staring intently at the flower-picking thief, “You actually dared to covet my ‘tofu’!?”

“You….”

When the flower-picking thief saw Fang Jinxiu, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck on a clear day.

He had actually gone into her room to steal a bellyband, no wonder it felt strangely large, almost like a cape….

“Big brother, fortunately, you arrived just in time.”

Qiu Lun expressed his gratitude to An Jing, and then looked at the flower-picking thief, a trace of cold light appearing in his eyes, and he said viciously, “This guy can’t be spared! There can’t be anyone in this world with a whiter face than mine.”

An Jing: “??”

You’re white?

Isn’t that something I should be saying?

“I… I was wrong.”

The flower-picking thief looked like a bereaved son, “Please let me go, sirs. If I had known it would come to this, even if you killed me, I wouldn’t have attempted to steal…..”

As he spoke, he saw the murderous look in Qiu Lun’s narrow eyes, then realized something and quickly shut his mouth.

Qiu Lun drew his long knife and placed it against the flower-picking thief’s neck: “Tell me, how do you want to die?”

The body of the flower-picking thief slumped to the ground as he cried out, “Spare my life, and I will repay you by working like an ox or horse in the future.”

His voice was somewhat shrill and very grating to the ears.

An Jing said indifferently, “Then you should die even more.”

The flower-picking thief was taken aback, his mind blanking. Why should someone willing to work hard deserve to die?

“Eh?”

Qiu Lun suddenly felt something odd and asked with a focused tone, “Your voice sounds strange, boy. Don’t tell me you’re lacking in the ‘bird’ department?”

On hearing this, An Jing frowned and reached out to grab the flower-picking thief’s wrist, finding that the Yang Energy in his body was weak while the Yin Energy was strong.

Clearly a man, yet the Yin Energy in his body was more prevalent than the Yang Energy.

“What’s your name?”

An Jing asked.

The flower-picking thief seemed to realize that An Jing was the most powerful and influential here, and replied honestly, “I…. I am called Zhuo Yuchang.”

On hearing this, Qiu Lun came to a sudden realization: “You’re the infamous Holy Hand Zhuo Yuchang from Jianghu.”

Holy Hand Zhuo Yuchang, a notorious flower-picking thief in Jianghu.

“Indeed, it is I.”

Zhuo Yuchang said with a morose expression.

Qiu Lun sized up the pretty-faced youth before him, “You’re of no ‘bird’ use, yet you still play the role of a flower-picking thief?”

“What’s wrong with being of no ‘bird’ use?”

Zhuo Yuchang, on hearing this, glared and retorted, “Even if I’m of no ‘bird’ use, what’s wrong with yearning for a world full of flowers?”

Perhaps due to some emotional fluctuations, Zhuo Yuchang’s voice again became a bit uncontrollable, breaking into a higher pitch.

Qiu Lun scratched the back of his head, “But without that ‘bird’ use, how do you go about picking flowers?”

Zhuo Yuchang was displeased with Qiu Lun’s remarks and responded, “Stop repeating that I’m of no ‘bird’ use. There are people with birds that are useless, aren’t they just the same?”

Although he was inept, he still yearned greatly.

An Jing faintly smiled, “The so-called ‘Flower-Picking Master’ doesn’t need to use a bird.”

“Big Brother, I understand now.”

Qiu Lun looked like he had just had a revelation and then admired An Jing, “If it weren’t for Big Brother’s reminder, how could a fool like me understand such profound meaning?”

An Jing looked at Qiu Lun and secretly sneered, thinking that this fat man probably knew very well what he was doing but still pretended to be innocent and curious.

Thereupon, An Jing patted Qiu Lun’s shoulder and said seriously, “If you’re too fat, it can shrink the Yang energy and turn it into a little bird.”

Qiu Lun shivered and then forced a laugh twice, but deep down he weakly cried out: My bird is big….

An Jing looked toward Zhuo Yuchang lying on the ground and said indifferently, “Who castrated you? What exactly is your identity?”

“I…..”

Zhuo Yuchang’s face was uncertain, fearing that being captured alive today might be the end for him.

Qiu Lun glared at Zhuo Yuchang and said, “If you dare to lie to my Big Brother, I’ll kill you right now.”

An Jing patted Qiu Lun’s shoulder, “Little bird, don’t scare him.”

Qiu Lun: “…..”

With a sigh, Zhuo Yuchang said, “When I was eight, my foster grandfather castrated me.”

Qiu Lun suddenly understood, “So you’re a eunuch!”

“I left the Imperial Palace, and now I am no longer one,” Zhuo Yuchang jumped anxiously, “I am a man without a bird, I am not a eunuch.”

“So did you escape from the Imperial Palace on your own?” An Jing asked again.

“Of course not,” Zhuo Yuchang shook his head, “The Great Yan Palace is strictly managed, what kind of little eunuch can escape from the Imperial Palace?”

An Jing nodded; the Imperial Palace was not like Yu State City, where anyone could come and go as they pleased.

“Little bird, I’ll leave him to you, I’m going to rest,” said An Jing.

After finishing, An Jing turned and walked into his room.

Qiu Lun, watching An Jing’s back, couldn’t help but shout, “Big Brother, can you not call me ‘little bird’? It doesn’t sound nice.”

“I got it, little bird.”

An Jing waved his hand and then stepped up to his room on the second floor.

Qiu Lun’s face darkened as he looked at Zhuo Yuchang, his anger flaring, “You useless thing, even daring to steal my sister Jin Xiu’s dudou?”

“Had I known this would happen, I would regret my actions.”

Zhuo Yuchang looked at Fang Jinxiu beside him, nearly shedding tears.

Qiu Lun sneered coldly, “You just resign yourself to being delivered to the Heavenly Prison by me and enjoy prison food.”

…..

The next day, the sky was clear and bright.

Lingnan Dao, Bo City.

The largest city in Lingnan Dao was Bo City, with thriving trade and a dense population. The streets were bustling with people coming and going, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

One of the Great Yan’s seven major sects, the Four Symbols Sect, was built next to Bo City, hence Bo City also held an extraordinary status in Jianghu.

Last night, once the True Qi in the Black Flood Dragon Core had recovered, An Jing quietly left the passenger ship—anyway, that Qiu little bird was going to foot all the bills.

The Black Flood Dragon traveled through air with incredible speed and after seven to eight hours, it reached Bo City.

At the moment, the Black Flood Dragon lay quietly in a pond in the mountains, while An Jing walked alone into the city of Bo City.

“Excuse me, old sir, do you know the way to Liao family’s residence?”

An Jing stood in the marketplace, smiling as he stopped an old man carrying a burden.

“Liao family?”

The old man gave An Jing a glance and pointed ahead, saying, “Cross the street ahead, turn left into Yu Lin Street, and you will see a large, imposing house. That’s the Liao family residence.”

“Thank you very much,” replied An Jing with a smile, nodding his head.

Following the old man’s direction, soon he came to a mansion.

The grand vermillion gate and the imposing structure with flying eaves and high walls exuded an aura of solemn dignity.

This mansion was quite large and imposing.

It must be the Liao family’s residence.

An Jing stepped forward to knock on the door.

“Thump, thump!” “Thump, thump!”

Shortly, the gate opened, and the gatekeeper’s head peeked out, asking An Jing, “Whom are you looking for? Do you have a visiting card?”

“Here is my card.”

An Jing produced a card from his bosom, given to him by Zhao Chongyin.

Upon seeing the ‘Zhao’ character on the card, the Liao Family gatekeeper’s body trembled, “Please wait a moment, sir. I will inform them immediately.”

An Jing nodded, saying nothing.

Soon, the middle-aged woman who had presented An Jing with the invitation the other day appeared.

“Please come inside,” said Aunt Bai with a smile, gesturing with her hand in a welcoming manner.

“All right.”

An Jing nodded and then strode toward the Liao Family estate.

“Our master said you would surely keep the appointment, and it seems he was right,” Aunt Bai said, chuckling.

“Is that so?”

An Jing was noncommittal and did not say much.

Aunt Bai fell silent, then continued walking ahead, following a cobblestone path that weaved through the flowers and willows, leading to a scene of pavilions and towers surrounding a lake of clear, shimmering water, where swans gracefully took flight, and willow branches swayed gently on the banks, their reflections vivid in the crystal waters.

A cool pavilion stood erect in the lake, with green tiles and soaring eaves. Nearby, a rockery rose ruggedly, a corridor laid with blooming flowers stretched like a red carpet through the entire complex, and almost every building featured intricately carved latticed windows, brimming with elegance and delicacy.

Currently in that pavilion, a man in his thirties was sitting upright, with a board of interlaced black and white chess pieces before him, reminiscent of a landscape painting.

The man’s features could not be described as handsome, merely graceful. His gestures exuded a scholarly air, but upon closer inspection, one felt an imposing weight, as heavy as a mountain.

“Young master, the guest has arrived,” said Aunt Bai to the man.

This person was none other than the current Crown Prince, Zhao Chongyin.

Zhao Chongyin quickly rose to his feet, beaming, “Your renowned name resonates like thunder, but today is the first official meeting, which is indeed my great honor.”

His demeanor was like a refreshing spring breeze, courteous and refined.

This was the first impression the Crown Prince made on An Jing.

An Jing smiled and saluted, “This humble one pays his respects to the Crown Prince. It is my honor to be granted an audience with Your Highness.”

“No need for such formality,” said Zhao Chongyin, pointing to the seat across from him. “Have a seat.”

An Jing nodded, then took his seat across from him.

Zhao Chongyin, with a cheerful smile, said, “You are also a pupil of the Mystical Sect, so you must have a good understanding of this game of chess. I’ve been looking for a worthy opponent. How about you join me for a game?”

Looking at the scattered chess pieces before him, An Jing shook his head, “Then I’m afraid the Crown Prince will be disappointed, for I am a terrible player and have never won against my wife.”

Back at Jishi Hall, he had almost never won against Zhao Qingmei.

Hearing this, Zhao Chongyin laughed, “Though I have studied with masters since childhood, learning for over thirty years, I have never delved deeply into it. It is but a hobby.”

“Clack!”

As he spoke, Zhao Chongyin placed a white piece on the board.

Hearing this, An Jing picked up a black piece and said indifferently, “Since Your Highness wishes to play, it would be my pleasure to accompany you.”

The two began their game, with pieces falling into place swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, dozens of moves were made.

At that moment, Zhao Chongyin looked at the board and said, “I suspect you are here today primarily for the ‘Daluo Heart Method’ fragment mentioned in the invitation.”

An Jing placed a black piece down and said, “Yes.”

If not for the ‘Daluo Heart Method’, he might not have come to meet the current Crown Prince. After all, finding his wife was the most pressing matter. Today’s visit was more of a detour.

Zhao Chongyin shook his head, “Actually, I don’t have the ‘Daluo Heart Method’ fragment.”

An Jing set down another piece, remained silent, as if he was wholly absorbed in the game, yet also seemingly waiting for Zhao Chongyin to continue.

Zhao Chongyin went on, “However, I do know where the ‘Daluo Heart Method’ fragment is.”

“Where?”

An Jing glanced at Zhao Chongyin.

“In the hands of the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.”

Zhao Chongyin smiled and looked up at An Jing.