Chapter 19

For three consecutive days, the Boyeng Sect was calm and peaceful. The thrilling incident in Yunni Town was like a stone thrown into a deep pool. After creating a few ripples, it sank completely to the bottom of the water without a sound.

Lin Yibai stayed in the bedroom. Except for occasionally dealing with Su Hong who had just come out of retreat, she spent most of her time concentrating on trying to communicate with the silent "Rootless" and try to wake it up.

Of course, it never worked.

The rest of the time, she just sat there, her thoughts colliding repeatedly in the dead end of the future, trying to pry open a glimmer of light.

However, this brief peace was suddenly broken on the fourth day.

The young master of Kuizhou Wangjiang Tower came to visit.

When the news arrived, Lin Yibai was staring blankly at the drifting clouds outside the window. The words "Wangjiang Tower" struck his mind like a bolt of lightning, and relevant information from the original novels instantly flooded back—this Kuizhou giant, once a rival to "Wanghai Tower," had, after the death of its former leader, who had a history with Lin Wuya, swiftly annexed the other. Now, it was unrivaled, the most powerful demon sect in Kuizhou and even the surrounding continents. In comparison, the Bodeng Sect, trapped in the northwest of Yunzhou and restricted by divine wrath, seemed so weak.

The reason for coming here was nominally to watch the upcoming opening of the Yunshan Secret Realm, but in reality, his wolfish ambitions were obvious - he just wanted to use force to tear a piece of fat meat from the mouth of the Boyeng Sect.

The young master sent here is named "Li Jue". Although he is still young, he has already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage. He is just stuck at the restricted threshold of the Yunshan Secret Realm, which states that "only those below the Nascent Soul stage can enter". His ambition is obvious.

The situation is stronger than the person. Even though Lin Wuya was extremely unwilling, he could only suppress all his emotions, open the sect, set up a banquet, and welcome him in person.

That night, in the main hall of the Glazed Tower.

The hall was no longer as dark and mysterious as before, but was now brightly lit, a rare sight.

Countless glazed lanterns inlaid with luminous pearls and mermaid candles lined the sides of the banquet hall. Their soft yet brilliant light dispelled the perennial gloom, illuminating every corner of the vast hall as bright as day. The black jade floor, gleaming with a mirror, reflected the dazzling lights above.

The air no longer had the dull smell of the past, but was replaced by an extremely luxurious fragrance - it was the "Ambergris" tribute from the Western Regions. It was said that an inch of the fragrant wood was priceless. The purple fragrant mist it emitted could not only calm the mind, but also help activate the evil spirit in the body of the demon cultivator, which was quite beneficial to his practice.

The sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras weren't the usual elegant and graceful music of the immortal sects, but rather carried a strange, alluring rhythm. The musicians, clad in dark feathered robes, plucked the strings with their fingertips, producing a melancholy, deep, and sometimes wailing like the wailing of a resentful ghost, sometimes like the snarling grin of a demon, stirring the desires dormant in the hearts of those who followed them.

The graceful maids of the Demon Sect, clad in light gauze, moved like butterflies, carrying a stream of delicacies. The jade platters contained rare treasures that ordinary cultivators would rarely encounter in their lifetimes, yet now they were piled on the table like ordinary dishes.

——In holding this banquet, Lin Wuya really gave Wangjiang Tower enough face.

Lin Yibai, dressed in an elaborate and ornate gown, sat below Lin Wuya, almost lost in the sheer opulence and bustle. Her gaze dropped, gazing at the blood-red, rich, and aura-infused wine in the jade cup before her. Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the cool wall, still lost in thought.

In sharp contrast to her "quietness" was the protagonist of this banquet - Li Jue, the young master of Kuizhou Wangjiang Tower.

Li Jue, dressed in a dark purple robe embroidered with gold demonic patterns, lazily reclined at the head of the guest table. His face was feminine and handsome, his complexion pale from long absence of sunlight. His slightly upturned phoenix eyes held an eerie, flowing molten gold hue. He looked at people with a mixture of scrutiny and arrogance.

He did not move his chopsticks, but just casually played with a black jade wine cup, allowing the beautiful demon maid standing behind him to feed the picked spiritual fruit flesh into his mouth.

Facing Lin Wuya, the leader of a sect, he did not show much respect in his words. Instead, he often chuckled with ambiguous meanings. Occasionally, when he commented on dishes or music and dance, his tone was condescending and casual, as if he was the master of this place.

"Compared to my Kuizhou, Sect Master Lin's Boyeng Sect has a unique charm." Li Jue took a sip of wine, his golden eyes scanning the furnishings in the hall, finally landing on Lin Wuya's face. A smile curled the corners of his lips, "Compared to the water pavilions of my Wangjiang Tower, it seems more... simple and robust."

This statement seems to be a compliment, but in fact it contains sarcasm, implying that Bo Dengzong is not as luxurious and elegant as Wangjiang Tower.

Lin Wuya sat upright on a black jade throne, his dark-patterned robe shimmering faintly under the light. His face was covered with an impeccably gentle smile, as if he hadn't heard the sting in the other person's words.

"Young Master Li, you are too kind. Kuizhou is a land of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and Wangjiang Tower is a prominent place with a profound heritage. My Boyeng Sect is located in a remote corner of the northwest, and we are just conservative. How dare we compare ourselves with your sect?" He said in a steady voice, raising his glass to gesture, "Young Master, you have come a long way and have worked hard on your journey. Please drink this cup to the full."

He responded appropriately and spoke modestly, but Lin Yibai, sitting below, could keenly detect it—the moment he raised his glass, his wide sleeves concealed his other hand, resting on the armrest, with its knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white. And the dark red in the depths of his eyes, amidst the lingering purple mist, seemed to flow even faster than usual, like surging lava beneath a frozen volcano, poised to erupt at any moment.

The banquet unfolded in this seemingly lively, yet in reality, strange atmosphere of undercurrents and mutual testing. After three rounds of drinks, Li Jue finally lost his patience and gently placed the black jade wine glass he had been toying with on the table, making a crisp "ding" sound.

The music in the hall seemed to become quieter for a moment.

He glanced at Lin Wuya, his molten golden pupils gleaming with undisguised greed. "The feast, the delicious food, the beautiful women singing and dancing, are truly delightful. However, this young master has come here not only to observe the ceremony at Yunshan, but also to do me a favor. I would like to ask Sect Master Lin for a favor."

Lin Wuya paused, then said slowly, "Oh? I wonder what Young Master Li wants?"

Li Jue paused after hearing this, his voice drawn out, a playful tone like a cat and mouse. "I've heard that your sect's alchemy skills are unrivaled throughout the world, and that your pharmacists are particularly skilled in the art of cultivating the finest test drug 'seedlings'... Before leaving, my father specifically instructed that this young master must observe carefully and broaden his horizons. I wonder if Sect Master Lin would be willing to grant this favor?"

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to suddenly freeze for a moment.

The string in Lin Yibai's heart suddenly tightened, and he thought to himself, "Here it comes!"

The secret of the Medicine Man is the very foundation of the Bodeng Sect, coveted by countless demonic sects and another reason for Wangjianglou's visit. Any other demonic sect would have been expelled by Lin Wuya had they made such a request. However, now is different. Wangjianglou, now at the height of its power after annexing Wanghailou, is simply not something the Bodeng Sect can afford to offend.

Looking at Li Jue's confident look, it was clear that Lin Wuya would not dare to refuse.

But he didn't know that this seemingly ordinary "observation" was the beginning of his journey to the underworld in the future!

——Just because he offended Yan Bujian during his visit!

She subconsciously looked at Lin Wuya.

The smile on Lin Wuya's face seemed to freeze for a ten-thousandth of a second, and then melted away. However, the smile did not reach his eyes, but instead made the air around him a little colder.

He was silent for a moment, and finally, he spoke slowly, his voice a little deeper than before, with a kind of forcibly suppressed stiffness: "It is an honor for our sect that Young Master Li is interested in our humble skills."

His gaze suddenly turned, like a cold probe, accurately fixed on Lin Yibai, who was watching the show leisurely on the side.

"Yibai." His voice left no room for doubt. "On your father's behalf, take Young Master Li to visit the dungeon."

"... Make sure the young master has a great time."

He spoke the last few words slowly and clearly, and each word was like an ice bead hitting Lin Yibai's heart.

The expression on Lin Yibai's face froze instantly, his fingertips trembled violently, and he almost knocked over the jade cup in front of him.

—What? Let her go?!

In the original novel, it was clearly an ordinary elder disciple who led the plague god to the dungeon. Why did she have to go specifically this time?

This unexpected task was not only difficult, but also likely to lead to complications, and she wouldn't even have time to hide!

However, in the deepest part of her heart, what was more turbulent and sharper than the "trouble" she felt was a resistance that was almost panic.

——She must not go to the dungeon!

Especially... I can't go to the place where Yan Bujian is imprisoned in this "tour" attitude of a superior.

Thinking of this, the last time the two of them met each other emerged uncontrollably in her mind.

The system forced her to completely crush the faint trust that had just been established on the brink of life and death, and even pushed him into a deeper abyss.

How could she face him?

Did she have to lead this arrogant young master of Wangjiang Tower to his cage like watching a caged animal, and let Li Jue look at him with contempt, judge him, and insult him?

This was even more tormenting to her than the system's punishment.

She almost subconsciously opened her mouth to refuse, her lips slightly opened, and the word "no" almost rushed out, but when her eyes met Lin Wuya's eyes that seemed calm but actually contained endless oppression, all the words were stuck in her throat.

She came to her senses instantly - Lin Wuya at this moment was definitely not someone who could be disobeyed.

Now she couldn't figure it out. Since the mission had not failed, how could the system "follow the original work" and make Lin Wuya send her into the Demon Mountain? Would it be possible that now that the plot had collapsed, she could choose not to enter the Demon Mountain, and the established trajectory of death could be rewritten?

At this time, foreign enemies are watching covetously, and any resistance may become an excuse for Lin Wuya to attack in the future.

She had to eliminate this possibility.

"...Yes, father." She lowered her eyelashes and responded in a low voice.