“The deeds of Helian Yong have been reported to the Hundred Sects. An envoy arrived in Luofang City this morning. After ascertaining the facts, it was decided to gather the disciples of the notable immortal sects within the city to discuss how to deal with the Helian family. Now that the Xiaoyao Sect is without a representative, they’ve taken Young Master Xie, who is close to you, to preside over the situation,” explained Chu Guiyi.

Relieved to hear that Xie An was unharmed, Xie Shuci let out a heavy sigh and couldn’t help but wonder, “Took Xie An to be in charge? Aren’t the Xiaoyao Sect still after him? And what about Deng Fengming? What are they having Xie An do?”

At the mention of Deng Fengming, Chu Guiyi’s expression grew somber, and he sighed, “Deng Fengming is dead. Xie An is an inner disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect and has a good relationship with you. Their move is also an attempt to curry favor with you.”

Xie Shuci was taken aback, “Deng Fengming is dead?”

How could that be? According to the original story, Deng Fengming should have been killed by Xiao Xun, but that wasn’t supposed to happen for another half a year. What went wrong?

Chu Guiyi nodded, “According to Elder Ye from the Hehuan Sect, Deng Fengming was unlucky. He was caught in the formation set by Helian Jue before his death. The formation inadvertently activated a weapon in the ground that beheaded him.”

Xie Shuci suddenly remembered the spray of blood he saw on the ground when leaving the Helian residence yesterday. Could that have been Deng Fengming’s blood?

“No,” Xie Shuci couldn’t subconsciously accept that it was that simple, “With so many people around at the time, how could it only affect him?”

Chu Guiyi obviously shared the same doubts but had no evidence.

“But apart from that, no one could have killed Deng Fengming silently at that time,” Chu Guiyi said.

“There is one person,” Xie Shuci said seriously.

“Who?” Chu Guiyi furrowed his brow.

“Xiao Xun.”

But Chu Guiyi shook his head, “It shouldn’t be him.”

Chu Wenfeng walked back in at that moment, “What are you guys talking about?”

They ignored him, and Xie Shuci continued, “Why not him?”

Chu Guiyi explained, “Xiao Xun never cared about his reputation. To avoid trouble, everyone he killed had their golden core cleanly severed with one strike. Deng Fengming was beheaded, which doesn’t fit Xiao Xun’s method. Moreover, those twelve Hehuan Sect female disciples weren’t killed by Xiao Xun either. He’s probably not in Luofang City right now.”

Xie Shuci was left a bit confused, “But weren’t the Hehuan Sect disciples killed after getting their golden core severed?”

Chu Wenfeng interjected, “I don’t understand why you always try to pin everything on Xiao Xun. Even if he practices the path of slaughter, not every death in the world is his doing, right? According to Helian Yong, his men arrived when the Hehuan Sect disciples were still alive. What kind of person is Xiao Xun? Would he leave witnesses if he were to kill?”

Xie Shuci was silent.

That made sense!

Perhaps he was too anxious and forgot this detail. Who was Xiao Xun, after all? A firm believer in the idea that if you don’t remove the root, the grass will grow back once the wind blows. With his personality, if he decided to kill someone, he wouldn’t leave any chance for survival!

Since Xiao Xun wasn’t in the city, Deng Fengming’s death was probably due to the butterfly effect.

With that thought, Xie Shuci immediately relaxed and even merrily thought that maybe Xiao Xun had also died due to the butterfly effect.

The waiter brought up a bowl of boiled noodles, and Xie Shuci had just taken a few bites when he heard the familiar sound of bells from outside. His eyes brightened – Little Blind is back!

The next moment, Xie An walked in slowly from the door.

Not just Xie An, but a tailing disciple dressed in the Xiaoyao Sect’s uniform followed him.

“Senior Brother Xie An, there are only four days left until the opening of the Dragon Tooth Secret Realm. Why don’t you and your friend join us from the Xiaoyao Sect? The realm is full of dangers, and if you’re with us, we can look out for each other.”

The disciple following Xie An looked a bit younger than him but older than Chu Wenfeng a bit.

Xie An, from start to finish, had no expression, didn’t respond, and it wasn’t clear if he even took in the disciple’s words.

Xie Shuci watched the disciple fussing around Xie An, trying so hard to please him, and felt an inexplicable annoyance bubble up inside.

Slamming his chopsticks down on the table, the bells at his waist collided against each other, chiming a series of crisp and pleasant sounds.

Xie An paused at the noise and then turned his gaze towards Xie Shuci, his lips barely moving, “Xie Shuci?”

“Xie An, come here,” Xie Shuci called out sternly.

Puzzled, Xie An walked towards him.

The tag-along disciple also looked towards Xie Shuci, squinting as he sized up the trio at the table. Among them, one was an alchemist. Now that Brother Deng was dead, it fell upon him to shoulder the responsibility of the Xiaoyao Sect and win over the alchemist from the Floating Tower Realm.

He prided himself on his discerning gaze, and with a swift glance, he dismissed the visibly irate Xie Shuci. His gaze then drifted to the side, where Chu Wenfeng looked young and unapproachable, and then to Chu Guiyi, who sat with decorum and a gentle, smiling countenance.

There, he thought he had his answer!

This gentleman on the left, with his kindly and generous demeanor, had to be the alchemist.

Ignoring Xie Shuci’s glaring stare, he walked straight to Chu Guiyi and bowed with a hand-clasped greeting, “I, Deng Changqing greet the young master.”

Chu Guiyi raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had no ties with the Xiaoyao Sect, but he could guess that this disciple had mistaken him for Xie Shuci.

Without correcting him, Chu Guiyi inquired, “What brings you here, fellow Daoist?”

Deng Changqing, sensing an easygoing character, put on a chummy smile and said, “Well, you see, Senior Brother Xie An is a disciple of our Xiao Yao Sect. With the secret realm opening soon, why don’t you join us? It’s treacherous within, and together we can watch each other’s backs.”

But truth be told, Deng Changqing didn’t have the faintest idea who Xie An was. Their mission in Luofang City was to uncover the truth behind the Hehuan Sect’s disciples’ deaths, and he was clueless about the rest. The only two who knew the full story, Deng Fengming, and another senior brother, had coincidentally died at the Helian residence.

Now that the truth was out and Xiao Xun’s whereabouts were still uncertain, the Xiaoyao Sect, knowing the full story, decided to stay in Luofang City to enter the Dragon Tooth Secret Realm and tried to win over this mysterious ‘alchemist.’

As for who Xie An was, Deng Changqing didn’t care, as long as he could use him to attract the alchemist.

And while the supposed alchemist hadn’t spoken yet, the ordinary-looking man, who was nothing special from head to toe, spoke up, “Why should we join you? Oh, at first, you were all ready to hunt Xie An down, and now that the truth is out and you find him useful, you want to bring him back to your Xiaoyao Sect? You’ve got some nerve! Pah! Unless he wants to go with you himself, forget it!”

Deng Changqing’s face turned an ashen hue at the rebuke, “When did the affairs of my Xiaoyao Sect become the business of an outsider? He’s our Sect’s disciple, naturally under our jurisdiction.”

“You wish!” Xie Shuci banged on the table indignantly, then turned to Xie An, “You tell me, who do you listen to, them or me?”

Xie An, seemingly enjoying the defense mounted on his behalf, nodded contentedly at Xie Shuci’s words, “I listen to you.”

Seeing this, Xie Shuci gloated, “See that? He says he listens to me. I despise people like you who kick someone aside when they’re not needed and pick them back up when they are. Who do you think you are? Is favor so easily picked up?”

After his tirade, he turned to Xie An, “Xie An, you’re not to have anything to do with the Xiaoyao Sect from now on, got it?”

Xie An held his head high with an expression that firmly asserted his stance.

Deng Changqing didn’t care much; his purpose here was not truly for Xie An. He scoffed, “Senior Brother Xie An truly cannot see, otherwise, why would he forsake his identity as a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect for such a crude man as you?”

“Me? Crude?” Xie Shuci pointed incredulously at himself. “I’m the epitome of refinement, a dude who brings ceremony to a mere meal, and you call me crude?”

Chu Wenfeng looked puzzled, “What’s a ‘Dude’?”

Deng Changqing curled his lip disdainfully, “I have nothing to say to someone like you…”

He was cut off mid-sentence as Chu Guiyi, with an obvious smile playing on his lips, pushed a cup of tea towards Xie Shuci, “Shuci, no rush, have some tea.”

Deng Changqing’s voice faded as his face gradually stiffened.

Shuci? What the hell?

The one called Xie Shuci, isn’t that the alchemist?

Wait, no, that’s not right…

Deng Changqing felt his tongue grow numb and his mind a little muddled.

He watched as the ordinary-looking man gulped down the tea and then thanked the gentleman in front of him, “Thanks, Guiyi.”

Guiyi…

Chu Guiyi?

The eldest disciple of the Chu family from Yingzhou?

Ah…

Deng Changqing’s face relaxed with realization. He had made a mistake.

So this plain and ‘crude’ man was actually Xie Shuci.

“Oh, look at my eyesight!”

Xie Shuci was sipping his tea comfortably when suddenly the man across from him slapped his thigh so loudly that Xie Shuci jumped.

Before he could react, Deng Changqing grabbed the teapot from the table, skirted around Chu Wenfeng, and stepped up beside Xie Shuci.

“I must have been blind, how could I call you crude? Just look at you, with your exceptionally handsome face, even these simple clothes… ah no, I mean, such ordinary fabric becomes noble as if edged with gold on you, everything looks good on you…”

“Stop, stop… don’t come any closer, I’m telling you!”

Xie Shuci, sensing Deng Changqing’s overwhelming approach, leaned back against Xie An, who, as usual, didn’t change his expression and extended a long arm to encircle Xie Shuci’s waist, offering him a more comfortable support.

“Look at you, I was just joking earlier, would I really not be aware that Senior Brother Xie An only listens to you?” Deng Changqing’s smile was so bright that his eyes nearly disappeared, and he insisted on pouring Xie Shuci another cup of tea.

Chu Wenfeng couldn’t contain his laughter at the scene, while Deng Changqing, shameless as ever, eagerly edged closer to Xie Shuci, unabashed by his eagerness.

“I don’t want any, put it down!”

“But Master Xie, why treat me as an outsider? If you consider Senior Brother Xie An a friend, and he is a disciple of our Xiaoyao Sect, then aren’t we all one and the same? A cultivator as refined, outstanding, and excellent as you is always held in the highest regard by our sect!”

His barrage of flattery left Xie Shuci bewildered.

Gradually, Xie Shuci came to his senses, seeing Chu Wenfeng red-faced with laughter and Chu Guiyi’s smile that he couldn’t quite hide. He finally got it.

This little brat from the Xiaoyao Sect was trying to butter him up?

“Cough…” Xie Shuci cleared his throat, “I, a man of such crudeness…”

“Who?!” Deng Changqing’s face stiffened, “Who dares to call you crude? In my opinion, someone like you, living like a wanderer, is the one truly deserving of respect.”

Xie Shuci wouldn’t miss an opportunity handed to him on a silver platter, so he sighed, “You’re right. It’s only because Xie An is blind that he would give up his identity as a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect for me…”

“Hey!” Deng Changqing hurriedly interjected, “You can’t say that. People have their own ambitions. I was just worried that Senior Brother Xie Ab was being deceived, but if it’s you, I have nothing to worry about.”

Xie Shuci frowned in mock distress, “Why do you keep talking to me? You said yourself I’m too crude to speak with.”

Chu Wenfeng couldn’t hold back any longer, “Xie Shuci, I’m impressed, truly impressed!”

The smile on Deng Changqing’s face was faltering now, “Master Xie, wasn’t I just blind to your greatness? Can we call it even with an apology?”

Xie Shuci found Deng Changqing’s ability to adapt quite similar to his own and decided to tease him. Sitting up from Xie An’s embrace, he squinted and looked Deng Changqing up and down, “An apology? Without showing some sincerity?”

Deng Changqing gritted his teeth, “Then you tell me, what must I do to show my sincerity?”

Xie Shuci was waiting for just this question. He rested his cheek on his hand, his gaze suggestively roaming over Deng Changqing’s chest, his voice dropping to a husky whisper,

“Well, you do look quite pleasing to the eye, how about…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the expressions of everyone present shifted dramatically.