CH 33

After saying these words, Xue Wei turned around and ran off, the speed of his escape even faster than when Pei QianYue summoned him to the city gates.

Feng Ci fell silent for a moment and turned to ask Pei QianYue: “Does he think I’m stupid?” 

This Xue Estate was sectioned into three large courtyards in the front and a flower garden with rockery and water pavilions in the back. Before arriving at the courtyard that Xue Wei led them to, they had walked past 7-8 courtyards of various sizes.

Were those only for decoration?

“Was there?” Pei QianYue indulgently feigned contemplation for a second and said seriously: “I can’t see.”

Feng Ci: “……” 

Oh yes, of course you can’t ‘see’.

Feng Ci grinded his teeth softly.

As if completely unaware of Feng Ci’s response, Pei QianYue turned and walked inside of the house, steady as Mt. Tai. Unfortunately when he turned, he couldn’t conceal the slight upturn of his lips and revealed his little intentions.

If he weren’t in human form right now, his snake tail would probably be perked upwards, pointing to the sky.

Standing in the yard, Feng Ci watched as Pei QianYue entered the house. Unable to hold back, he laughed in exasperation.

How come he never noticed that the grand and majestic LangFeng City Master was such a childish person before.

Just how old was this guy exactly?

Nevertheless, speaking of which, Pei QianYue had been cultivating in LingWu Mountain the previous 2000 some years and only left the mountain in the last 300 years. Calculating it like this, he really hasn’t learned how to behave like a human for very long. 

That little fox demon(妖) in Hanshan Temple was only 300-400 years old. Judging in demon(妖) terms, he was only a kid.

Feng Ci convinced himself. With the thought that he couldn’t lower himself to the same level as his family’s hatching, he followed the other into the house.

The Xue Estate was truly worthy of being known as the local wealthy. Even the guest residence was decorated very luxuriously and exquisitely. It was also cleaned very well. According to Xue Wei’s instructions, a fragrant incense was lit inside the house. Tea was also placed on the table. Everything was very well prepared.

The only imperfection, which could be seen very clearly, was the fact that there was only one bed. 

Feng Ci pretended to not notice this and asked: “Just how did you meet this Xue Wei. He doesn’t seem like a LangFeng City disciple?”

LangFeng City wouldn’t accept a disciple with such a terrible innate constitution.

Pei QianYue already sat down by the table and explained: “Three years ago, the only son of the Xue family had incidentally fallen into the water. When he woke up, his personality changed greatly. Whenever he encountered people, he’d say that he’s not called Xue Wei, that he didn’t belong in this world, and that he should have already been dead. The master of the Xue family thought he was cursed and searched everywhere for a way to cure him.

Feng Ci: “……” 

He actually didn’t feel too surprised at this.

Be it Xue Wei’s origins or his response.

Pei QianYue continued to say: “In his youth, Xue Wei was sent by his father to study in a cultivation sect for a while. They were acquaintances with some cultivators. However, the Xue family sought many cultivators but none could figure out the problem. In the end, they found their way to LangFeng City.”

Feng Ci asked: “You checked him out?” 

“It was Xiao Que.”

Feng Ci: “Figured out the issue?”

“No.” Pei QianYue said: “His body was completely fine. He wasn’t cursed or possessed.”

Feng Ci understood very clearly. 

Xue Wei most likely was a spirit from the Sumeru worlds. In his own world, his physical body had died. When his spirit left the world, some kind of accident occurred, which randomly dropped him here.

Coincidentally, there’s a Xue Wei in this world who died at the same time; the body was exceptionally compatible with his spirit.

Which resulted in this reawakening in another person’s body.

This kind of thing didn’t happen often, however, it wasn’t strange that the cultivator world couldn’t sense anything wrong with Xue Wei’s spirit and soul. 

The existence of the Sumeru worlds was the biggest secret of this world. To protect this secret, the Heavenly Principle has imposed a rule in every little world— Spirits from other worlds cannot be detected.

This was also why Feng Ci had traveled through different worlds for so many years, but was never discovered.

Feng Ci asked: “You believed in his words?”

“Both Xue Wei’s body and mind were fine. He also had no reason to lie.” Pei QianYue said: “Besides this, there was no other possibility.” 

Feng Ci still didn’t understand: “But why did you keep him by your side?”

That guy not only had an average innate constitution, he also didn’t look very reliable. Other than having a special origin, he really couldn’t be counted as any kind of talent.

With Pei QianYue’s personality, after discovering such a person with unknown origins, it’s already considered courteous that he didn’t kill Xue Wei immediately. Why would he keep him as well?

Ufl HljcTef rjlv: “Dfmjerf sbe kfca atfgf.” 

Mfcu Jl yilcxfv.

Lf revvfcis gfwfwyfgfv atja Ufl HljcTef tjv bcmf jrxfv tlw lo tf mjwf ogbw atlr kbgiv.

Ca atja alwf, tf kjr fnfc meglber tbk Ufl HljcTef obecv bea jybea atlr.

Vb…… kjr tf jmaejiis atf bcf ktb ajixfv jybea la yfobgf? 

Pei QianYue asked: “You don’t remember?”

Feng Ci looked away guiltily.

This really couldn’t be blamed on him. It’s already something that happened 3000 years ago. How could he remember every single thing?

Pei QianYue said in a low voice: “But I remember every single word you said to me.” 

Feng Ci: “……”

Was this person deliberately jabbing him in the heart today?

“I……” Feng Ci pressed his lips together, voice unconsciously softening: “What did I tell you back then?”

Pei QianYue said: “You said you were going to a very far place that transcended this world’s existence; that I was only an ordinary little snake, so I couldn’t follow you.” 

Feng Ci realized something: “Don’t tell me, you started cultivating because of what I said?”

Back then, after bringing the little black snake back, Feng Ci had inspected its innate constitution and talent.

Pei QianYue’s innate constitution and talent actually wasn’t very good. If Feng Ci hadn’t fed him that drop of blood and by freak accident, given him intelligence, he would have remained an ordinary snake for the rest of his life.

Feng Ci had attempted to help him transform back then, but failed every time. 

For creatures to cultivate into Yao(妖), it was by nature harder in comparison to ordinary human cultivation. Thus Feng Ci didn’t force it.

That’s why when he returned later and discovered that the little black snake back then had actually cultivated into human form, and possessed such a high cultivation level and status in this world, Feng Ci felt very astonished.

Pei QianYue said: “I wanted to find you.”

He thought he didn’t have enough cultivation, that’s why he was abandoned. Therefore, during the years he was left behind, he cultivated and studied endlessly, learning and mastering all of the manuals that Feng Ci left behind. 

He thought he could go find him this way.

Throat suddenly feeling a bit parched and heavy, Feng Ci shifted his gaze: “Not only a lunatic, but also an idiot.”

Pei QianYue only smiled and continued to say: “Later on I discovered that it’s not easy for normal people to transcend the Natural Order. Therefore, upon meeting Xue Wei, I made him stay. I wanted to see if I could find some method from him, or perhaps learn things about that world.”

This actually really wasn’t very easy. 

There are millions of Sumeru Worlds. Xue Wei had only come from one of the small worlds. He wouldn’t know too much.

But even if it was only a glimmer of hope, Pei QianYue still wanted to try.

Feng Ci asked: “So last time when you used this to test me, was it because you wanted to know if I were someone like Xue Wei?”

“Not exactly.” Pei QianYue said: “At that time, I was already pretty certain of your identity. That test was only because I wanted to know if you’d continue to lie.” 

Feng Ci: “……”

“The result was, sure enough, you lied.” Pei QianYue said coolly: “Liar.”

Feng Ci: “…………”

How on earth was this person successfully making Feng Ci feel extreme heartache one moment, and then wanting to brutally beat him up the next?! 

Feng Ci took a deep breath and decided to quit bothering with it.

They had messed around Hanshan Temple for an entire night without sleeping. Now that they’ve arrived at the Xue estate, and after breathing in the soothing aroma of the incense, Feng Ci finally felt a bit drowsy.

Not even going to sleep on the bed, he plopped onto a little couch in the other room.

The Xue Estate was truly worthy of being a rich merchant’s home. Even this small couch was more comfortable than LangFeng City’s bed. 

Feng Ci laid on the couch bonelessly and forced his eyelids open to look at Pei QianYue.

The latter was still sitting upright in front of the table, shoulders and back ramrod straight. That handsome face was smooth and composed, emitting a frigidly cold kind of arrogance from head and toe. However, Feng Ci already knew now. This person was actually both childish and petty, completely unlike how he looked on the outside.

Yet truthfully…… he was still pretty adorable.

In this world, Feng Ci was probably the only person who would relate the word ‘adorable’ to Pei QianYue. 

As Feng Ci thought this, a slight smile appeared in his eyes again.

“Master is looking at me?”

As if feeling Feng Ci’s gaze, Pei QianYue suddenly turned his head over.

Feng Ci put away the smile on his face and shifted his eyes away nonchalantly: “Nope.” 

Pei QianYue got up and walked over, sitting down on the side of the couch: “No?”

“No.” Feng Ci said sternly: “I was thinking about serious business. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Pei QianYue gave an ‘oh’ and asked: “What serious business?”

Without needing to make things up, Feng Ci blurted out immediately: “Of course I was considering what we are going to do next.” 

They had run over here to Gusu to idle away and avoid the troubles of the external world, however, that murderer continued to run around free and unfettered. Countless cultivation sects still faced impending danger.

Hanshan Temple was only one of the many cultivation sects that’s been victims in the past few months. Within this period of time, how many cultivation sects have been exterminated and how many people have lost their loved ones like the little fox?

Thinking about this, Feng Ci’s expression turned a bit more serious: “Can’t allow that murderer to continue like this.”

“En.” Pei QianYue acknowledged softly and asked: “Master, do you have any plans?” 

Feng Ci frowned: “Why are you asking me? Shouldn’t this be something you, the Leader of the Immortal Alliance, are considering?”

Pei QianYue tilted sideways slightly, the silky long hair behind him pooling onto the sofa: “But Master, you just said you were considering serious business.”

Feng Ci: “……”

That seems to be true. 

Feng Ci cleared his throat and stopped joking with him.

Of course, he wasn’t completely without any ideas.

This trip to Hanshan Temple has been very rewarding to them……or at least to Feng Ci.

A lot of questions that were eluding him for a long time have actually been answered now. As for those that remain, he had ways to find out if he wanted to know. 

However, at this point, investigating identity of the real murderer, was no longer that important.

The most important thing was… what was the other planning to do and how to stop them.

Feng Ci asked: “In that list of cultivation names, the sects placed in front of Hanshan Temple… not one of them were harmed right?”

Pei QianYue: “Yes.” 

“See, the murderer has already told us how to avoid death.” Feng Ci shrugged.

Before visiting Hanshan Temple, Feng Ci already had somewhat of an idea.

The extermination of Hanshan Temple only confirmed this deduction.

At the very beginning, after learning that the mysterious murderer had given the Immortal Alliance a list and then started to exterminate cultivation sects in sequence according to that list, Feng Ci thought the murderer was just taunting the Immortal Alliance. 

However, after experiencing the Hanshan Temple incident, Feng Ci discovered that he was wrong.

That wasn’t a taunt. It was only a cold and heartless, high and mighty forewarning notice.

The murderer was informing all of the cultivation sects on the list: Either disperse, or join the Immortal Alliance, or wait for death.

Feng Ci suddenly remembered one thing: “If I remember correctly, your Immortal Alliance only accepts new members every five years. For the joining sects, there was a rigorous evaluation process, which had extremely high requirements?” 

“Yes.” Pei QianYue said: “That’s why only two to three sects join the Immortal Alliance successfully each time.”

Feng Ci: “Is the next evaluation soon?”

“There’s still half a year before the official evaluation.” Pei QianYue paused and asked him: “Master, what are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking, why does joining the Immortal Alliance allow them to escape this calamity.” 

The Immortal Alliance’s evaluation this year hasn’t even started. Those Sects had stated they’d join, but in actuality, they’ve only submitted an application to join the Immortal Alliance’s evaluation. Yet despite this, the murderer still didn’t harm them.

“There’s still half a year.” Feng Ci said quietly: “If I remember correctly, when the first cultivation sect fell, it was also half a year from now.”

Adding together, it was exactly one year.

And one year, coincidentally, was the allotted time the Immortal Alliance gave to other sects to submit an evaluation application. 

Feng Ci said: “He’s waiting.”

Those cultivation sects haven’t actually escaped calamity. They were only given a temporary break. Because the murderer was waiting, waiting for the end of the Immortal Alliance’s evaluation, waiting to see which sects will be rejected.

What was he planning to do? Clean up all the weak, inferior sects of the cultivation world?

Feng Ci closed his eyes and did not continue to speak. 

These were only his guesses for now. Things haven’t occurred yet. Guessing too much was meaningless.

The ends of Pei QianYue’s long hair hung right next to Feng Ci’s hands. He played with it unconsciously and said coolly: “It’s time to announce the news of Hanshan Temple’s destruction and that list to the public. There’s no longer any need to conceal that information anymore.”

Pei QianYue looked a bit hesitant, but he still nodded: “Okay.”

Feng Ci recognized his hesitation and smiled: “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Thinking about playing a game of ‘luring the snake out of its cave’ again?” 

The murderer had used Hanshan Temple to reveal the method to avoid death, but at the same time, he revealed the next target of his operation.

Right now, they only needed to investigate which sects inside that list of names did not plan to join the Immortal Alliance or have not dismissed their disciples, then head over in advance to wait in ambush. The murderer would be delivering themselves right to their door.

But once that list of names is made public, the originally ignorant cultivation sects would only need to investigate slightly to reach Feng Ci and Pei QianYue’s current conclusion. To seek self-preservation, they would have no choice but to make a choice.

If this happens, the murderer would lose his target and at the same time, they’d lose their bait. 

Feng Ci grabbed Pei QianYue’s long hair and scolded: “How are you the Leader of the Immortal Alliance? Who uses living people as bait?”

Tugged on by Feng Ci, Pei QianYue lowered his head pliantly. One hand propped up next to Feng Ci’s side, he said: “En. Thank you for your lesson, Master.”

Leaning in like this, the distance between the two people closed up instantly. Feng Ci didn’t evade either and just watched him with a smile.

Neither of them moved. A light incense fragrance permeated the air, making the atmosphere seem somewhat heavy and languid. 

Pei QianYue slowly raised his hand. The center of his palm gently glided over Feng Ci’s arm and shoulder, felt its way up his face little by little, and touched Feng Ci’s eyes.

His ice-cold fingertips swept over Feng Ci’s eyelashes, making Feng Ci feel a bit ticklish.

“Master is indeed looking at me.” Pei QianYue said.

Feng Ci answered confidently and with conviction: “You’re the snake that I raised. Am I not allowed to look?” 

Not only was he going to look, he was going to look carefully and meticulously.

Feng Ci’s gaze moved upwards inch by inch, from the other’s complicated garments, to his slender, fair-white neck, to his sharply shaped lips, to finally…… land on the black silk covering his eyes.

Eyes darkening slightly, Feng Ci asked quietly: “Your eyes…… how did they get injured?”

Pei QianYue’s movements stiffened slightly. His expression became somewhat unnatural, but he recovered very quickly and asked: “If I tell you, will you get revenge for me, Master?” 

Feng Ci: “I will grind his bones into dust.”

Pei QianYue started laughing quietly.

Feng Ci frowned: “I’m serious.”

“En, I know.” Pei QianYue: “Master’s words are enough.” 

Feng Ci: “You—”

“It’s all in the past.” Pei QianYue gently caressed Feng Ci’s cheek: “If this is the price for reuniting with you, I feel like it’s worth it.”

Price?

Feng Ci vaguely understood something from his words. Expression falling, he grabbed Pei QianYue’s hand: “What do you mean by these words? Just what exactly happened to your ey……” 

Before he finished speaking, there was the sudden sound of footsteps outside in the yard, as if someone was running over in a hurry.

“City Master, my dad has returned to the estate. Hearing that you’ve come to visit, he insisted on coming over to see you. Do you think it’s convenie—”

When Feng Ci entered just now, he didn’t close the door. As Xue Wei spoke, he arrived at the entrance and then froze.

Face instantly flushing bright red, he forcibly turned his head: “O…Okay, I understand! I’m going right now to tell him to, to, to wait outside—” 

Feng Ci: “……”

Pei QianYue: “……”