Chapter Eighteen

He Ming pushed Wen Yuan towards the Disciplinary Hall to receive his punishment.

Cen Yan respectfully bowed to Lian Ci and followed He Ming.

The three left the front hall one after another.

-

Disciplinary Hall.

Yan Zhan had received the news and was waiting in the main hall. Seeing He Ming and the other escorting the spy in, he immediately ordered the disciples in the hall to firmly detain Wen Yuan.

He Ming solemnly instructed: "I'll trouble Hall Master Yan to find out this spy's purpose for infiltrating the sect. It would be best to extract everything he knows."

The demons had committed many heinous acts, causing unrest in the cultivation world and suffering in the mortal realm. Anyone who could kill them was justified. This spy had high cultivation and likely held a significant position among the demons. If they could pry out crucial information about the demons from him, it would be a tremendous boon for the various immortal sects in their future efforts to annihilate the demon race.

Everyone present was intelligent. How could they not grasp He Ming's implication?

Wen Yuan grinned, letting out a contemptuous sneer: "You think you're worthy of extracting information from me?"

The cultivation world was a place where the strong preyed on the weak. Cultivation resources were so scarce. If you didn't rely on plunder, what did you rely on? Didn't the various immortal sects also vie with each other? Some of their methods would shame even a demon like him. So why was he the only one being hunted and called a demon?

So-called righteous path, truly hypocritical and disgusting.

He Ming's expression darkened, and he let out a cold snort: "Whether we're worthy or not, we'll find out when you manage to get out of the Disciplinary Hall alive!"

After capturing Wen Yuan, He Ming had sealed his meridians and spiritual energy pathways. Wen Yuan was now just a paper tiger, unable to use spiritual power, though his physique was slightly better than a normal person's.

And Yan Zhan was known throughout the sect for his ruthless methods. Falling into his hands meant losing at least half one's life. He Ming was curious to see if this demon spy's backbone was tougher than his mouth!

"Rest assured." Having spent long years in the Disciplinary Hall, Yan Zhan was surrounded by a thick aura of killing intent. He stared intently at Wen Yuan, his eyes fierce, each word dripping with a palpable scent of blood: "I will make him spit out everything, word for word."

With Yan Zhan's word, He Ming was reassured. He believed Yan Zhan's skills were up to the task.

He Ming stroked his beard and gave a slight nod: "The Sect Leader is still in the front hall waiting for my report on the secret realm matter. I'll leave the interrogation of the spy entirely to you. You have full authority."

If the spy cooperated, they might show mercy and allow him an intact corpse. But if he didn't... they wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless!

Yan Zhan understood He Ming's meaning. He raised his hand to signal the disciples to drag Wen Yuan to the deepest, darkest dungeon, where he would personally conduct the interrogation.

-

Leaving the Disciplinary Hall, He Ming and Cen Yan immediately returned to the front hall. After reporting everything about the secret realm, He Ming inquired about the two severely injured inner sect disciples: "How are their injuries?"

The two disciples' cultivation levels were too low. Having received a full-powered strike from Wen Yuan, all their meridians had shattered. Although Lian Ci had treated them in time and protected their heart meridians, it was ultimately to no avail.

Lian Ci sighed deeply and shook his head repeatedly: "Forget cultivation; in the future, even living like an ordinary person will be a luxury for them."

In other words, the two disciples were utterly ruined.

Qingyang Tianzong didn't have many inner sect disciples to begin with. Losing two at once made matters worse. Among the various immortal sects, few were likely as destitute as them.

When would Qingyang Tianzong be able to secure a place among the immortal sects?

He Ming gritted his teeth, fury blazing in his eyes, wishing he could drag the demon from the Disciplinary Hall and dismember him.

Cen Yan clenched his fists, a look of grief in his eyes.

"Fortunately, the two disciples who participated in the test a few days ago are safe and sound." Thinking of something, Lian Ci paused—due to the demon spy's exposure, the test had been forced to stop, and the final results were still pending.

He Ming shared Lian Ci's thought. Suppressing his anger, he asked: "Sect Leader, should we redo the test?"

Lian Ci looked thoughtful. The two disciples had already passed the first round. Although there had been an incident in the second round, strictly speaking, they had also qualified.

"No need. Accept them into the inner sect directly." Lian Ci looked at Cen Yan, who was standing below him in the hall. "Conduct the master selection ceremony in two days. Discuss the specifics with Ziyang."

Xu Ziyang had been assisting with the sect's internal affairs all these years. He was usually responsible for this kind of task and knew best how to arrange it.

"Yes." Cen Yan accepted the order.

-

Leaving the front hall, Cen Yan headed straight for the Xuanjian Pavilion.

A gilded plaque hung on the tall, imposing gate. Beneath it, a servant bowed his head, carefully sweeping the dust from the ground.

Cen Yan approached the servant and asked, "Is Senior Martial Brother in?"

"Senior Martial Brother Cen?" The servant looked up, recognized the newcomer, and quickly bowed to Cen Yan, replying, "Senior Martial Brother is still meditating in the inner chamber. Please wait a moment while I announce your arrival..."

"Junior Martial Brother Cen." Before the servant finished speaking, a tall, upright figure walked out from the pavilion. The man's refined, handsome face wore a gentle, humble smile. His complexion was no longer as pale as it had been in the secret realm yesterday.

"Senior Martial Brother." Cen Yan quickly approached, his clear, cold voice unable to hide the concern in his tone: "Are your injuries feeling better?"

"Much better. Junior Martial Brother Cen, don't worry." Xu Ziyang smiled gently, each word like a spring breeze. The spirit pill Cen Yan had given him was very effective. After meditating for a few hours, his injuries were already fifty to sixty percent healed.

But Wen Yuan's two strikes had been too heavy. The remaining forty to fifty percent would require slow recuperation. In the short term, he couldn't use too much spiritual power at once. Other than that, he didn't have major issues.

Xu Ziyang raised his hand, making an inviting gesture: "Junior Martial Brother Cen, come in."

This wasn't Cen Yan's first time at the Xuanjian Pavilion. He easily entered the inner hall and sat down at the tea table.

Xu Ziyang sat across from him. His large, well-defined hand picked up the purple clay teapot on the table and poured a cup of warm tea for Cen Yan. His smile didn't waver: "You usually don't come looking for me without a reason. Is there something you need?"

"I can't hide it from Senior Brother." Cen Yan didn't beat around the bush and directly conveyed Lian Ci's words to Xu Ziyang.

"No problem." This was a minor matter for Xu Ziyang. He patiently and meticulously explained to Cen Yan how to proceed, covering every detail.

Cen Yan took careful note.

After discussing the official matters, the sky outside was turning towards dusk.

Xu Ziyang's smile faded slightly. He picked up his teacup, looked up at Cen Yan, and asked casually, "Junior Martial Brother, when you came out of the secret realm, had you already caught the spy?"

"Yes." Cen Yan didn't hide it. It would be all over the sect within a day, anyway. Even if he didn't say it, Xu Ziyang would find out.

Xu Ziyang lowered his eyelids slightly, his dark pupils like ink that wouldn't dissolve: "Did the spy say anything?"

"The spy was very arrogant. Even though Master had sealed his cultivation, he was restless the whole way." Cen Yan's long brows furrowed tightly, as if remembering something unpleasant. "But Master has already sent him to the Disciplinary Hall. I imagine he'll confess everything in a few days."

Xu Ziyang took a light sip of his warm tea, saying nothing.

After a moment, he looked up outside, put down his teacup, and a warm smile curved his lips. His voice was low and gentle as he spoke: "It's getting late. Let me walk you back to Wusong Residence."

Xu Ziyang used to often walk him back. Cen Yan didn't think much of it and stood up to leave.

Xu Ziyang rose to follow, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Cen Yan.

Soon, they arrived outside Wusong Residence.

Wusong Residence was quiet and serene. Among the large estate, only one room had its candles lit.

Xu Ziyang gazed at that point of light. His eyes darkened for a moment, then returned to normal. His voice was calm, without a trace of inflection: "Junior Martial Brother, won't you invite Senior Brother in for a seat?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Cen Yan's face. He had thought Xu Ziyang would leave him at the gate like last time. However, Xu Ziyang had always been good to him, and Cen Yan rarely refused his requests.

The two entered the residence one after another.

During Cen Yan's absence, Yun Zhi had come to clean daily. The room was neat and tidy, spotless, exactly as it was before he left—spacious yet somewhat empty.

Xu Ziyang looked around, raising an eyebrow slightly. A faint laugh escaped his lips: "Junior Martial Brother Cen's room is as simple and unadorned as ever."

So simple and unadorned that it didn't resemble the dwelling of a disciple the sect valued so highly, but rather the quarters of an outer sect disciple.

This wasn't Xu Ziyang's first time at Wusong Residence. Was this the first time he realized Cen Yan's room was so bare? Cen Yan's expression didn't change. He said flatly, "All the rooms in Wusong Residence are like this."

All?

Xu Ziyang lifted his eyelids and glanced subtly towards the adjacent room. His dark eyes were unfathomably deep.

Whenever he had visited Cen Yan in the past, he'd only stayed for a short while. He wasn't aware that all the rooms in Wusong Residence had a similar layout.

Cen Yan had never been one to care about material things. He didn't dwell on the layout of Wusong Residence: "Senior Brother, what do you think the demon's goal is?"

He asked the question but received no response for a long time.

Cen Yan looked up, puzzled. He saw Xu Ziyang tilting his head slightly towards the wall, his gaze wandering, as if somewhat distracted.

"Senior Brother?" Cen Yan raised his voice. "Senior Martial Brother!"

Xu Ziyang seemed to wake from a dream. He turned his head back, coughed lightly with a hand against his lips. Just as he was about to say something, the sound of a door opening with a creak came from outside.

There were only two people in Wusong Residence. Who was opening the door went without saying.

Xu Ziyang immediately stopped speaking.

Cen Yan stood up and took a few steps outside. He saw a man in a blue-green gauze robe standing under the corridor. He was tall and slender, his black hair thick as ink, loose around him.

A section of his jade-white wrist was exposed, his ten fingers long and slender, his knuckles distinct.

Aware of his gaze, the man's peach blossom eyes lifted slightly. The corner of his eye, tinged with red, swept languidly over, stirring the soul.

Cen Yan was momentarily stunned, completely unaware that a tall, upright figure had silently moved behind him, stepping past him to fix his gaze on the man's fingertips ahead. His gaze was deep like a cold pool.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the wait~