Chapter 2
"Awen? Are you feeling unwell?" Xie Yichun noticed that Xie Wen's complexion was off and called her several times before she responded.
Xie Wen took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She cupped her hands around her mouth and coughed twice. "Cough cough, I might have caught a bit of a cold. It's nothing, it's nothing."
As he spoke, Xie Wen's gaze lingered on the truckloads of corpses being transported to Wuding Mountain. It seemed that Wuding Mountain was a place specifically for dumping corpses. Looking at the dark clouds pressing down on Wuding Mountain from afar, it seemed that many people had died in this immortal sect!
A series of bell tolls echoed from the horizon, startling everyone who looked up towards the innermost council hall. Beneath the misty clouds, the ancient bell swayed gently.
Xie Yichun grabbed Xie Wen's hand and said, "The council hall has summoned inner disciples for something. Wen, you should go quickly."
Xie Wen: Does this mean a major meeting is about to be held? Could it be that something big has happened in Xiandu again?
Xie Wen asked Xie Yichun, "Only inner disciples are being summoned? Aren't outer disciples required to go?"
Xie Yichun said, "Outer disciples are not qualified. Moreover, there are so many disciples in the entire sect, almost the size of a city. If they all went, the elders would have to use amplification talismans to speak."
"Oh yeah, isn't this just like the whole nation going to Beijing for a big meeting?" Xie Wen chuckled, not entirely without a hint of sarcasm. "Well then, sister, I'll head over first."
Xie Yichun nodded gently and watched Xie Wen leave with affection.
Xie Wen hasn't fully recovered his memories and doesn't know how to use spiritual energy or spells. This vast sect, with its towering pavilions and mansions stretching as far as the eye can see, is filled with cranes and deer calling in the mountains. It's beautiful, and the place is truly idyllic. However, Xie Wen, lacking magic, can only walk.
When Xie Wen finally arrived at the council hall, he found it already filled with disciples dressed in simple blue and white robes. Each of them carried a sword across their back and stood ramrod straight.
She walked through the middle of the lobby alone, attracting a lot of attention.
Upon seeing Xie Wen, everyone was filled with curiosity. Rumor had it that Senior Sister Xie Wen had been seriously injured three months ago and had been staying in Feiying Pavilion, her fate unknown. Now, without any warning, she was suddenly standing before them, perfectly fine, which naturally stirred up various thoughts among them.
Everyone knows Qingheng Immortal Venerable's status in the sect. He is a peerless genius of the immortal sect and the face of the sect. The name of Qingheng Immortal Venerable is known throughout the surrounding villages and is respected by everyone in the immortal capital and the mortal world.
With great power comes great responsibility. Logically, as a top-level teacher, he should have taken on many disciples to revitalize the sect. However, Chu Xianyue once declared that he would only take on two disciples.
Yun Yan and Xie Wen were both exceptional geniuses, chosen from among millions. Becoming Chu Xianyue's disciple was harder than becoming emperor. Even so, some still harbored the hope of becoming Qingheng Immortal Venerable's apprentice. But that depended on his disciple being promoted. Therefore, it's understandable that some secretly wished Xie Wen were dead.
That way, they would at least have a chance to become disciples of Chu Xianyue. Now that Xie Wen is still alive, that hope is shattered.
In the center of the main hall, Chu Xianyue sat upright, coldly glancing at Xie Wen.
Xie Wen didn't dare to look at him. She walked to Chu Xianyue's side and respectfully greeted him as "Master".
Xie Wen remembered that after the original owner was chosen as a disciple by Chu Xianyue, they hardly interacted except for discussing techniques. Chu Xianyue was harsh and cold towards this disciple. The original owner cultivated diligently every day, but never received a kind word or a smile from him.
Perhaps influenced by the original owner's memories, Xie Wen felt a physiological fear of this master.
Almost all the inner disciples had arrived. Chu Xianyue sat in the main seat, with several elders lined up beside him. The elder closest to Chu Xianyue was called Sikong Ye, also known as Elder Youwei, whose seniority was second only to Chu Xianyue. Standing next to him was a woman with peach-colored eyes and almond-shaped eyes, dressed in a light pink dress, her hair styled in a beautiful bun, with various hair ornaments jingling with each step. Among the disciples carrying swords and dressed in plain robes, she looked like a red bean in white porridge.
Xie Wen suddenly opened his eyes. This red bean was none other than Sikong Mingxue, the female protagonist of the original novel!
A typical naive and innocent female protagonist from an old-fashioned novel.
That's how it is in the original story: a sweet and innocent female lead melts the heart of a cold and aloof master.
Xie Wen glanced at Sikong Mingxue several times. He had to admit, the female lead was truly beautiful. She possessed beauty, cultivation, and intelligence. Her father doted on her, her sect disciples doted on her, her husband Chu Xianyue doted on her—the whole world doted on her. She was definitely on the path of being the most pampered member of the family! Her life was smooth sailing, with no worries about food or clothing. Xie Wen simply couldn't understand how she ended up being killed by Chu Xianyue to prove his Dao!
In his mind, lovers, friends, and disciples are not as important as the "Tao" in his heart, are they?
Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, a splash of blood splattered onto Xie Wen's face; it was still hot.
Xie Wen stared in horror, his heart pounding. In the main hall, Chu Xianyue's black sword flew out and instantly slit an elder's neck. A few seconds later, the elder's head lay on the ground, eyes still open, blood gushing from his neck.
His disciples swarmed around him, weeping and wailing, causing an uproar in the hall. However, within seconds, the corpse began to decompose at a visible rate, an abnormal process, as if it had been dissolved in sulfuric acid. The skeleton turned black, and the flesh fused into a dark, greasy mass, a horrible sight.
Compared to the shock just now, the atmosphere in the main hall was now one of terror.
"This is... a possession technique. How could even an elder be possessed!"
“Anything is possible if one’s Dao heart is unstable. The Immortal Capital has also been quite unsettled recently. As everyone saw three months ago, a number of evil creatures poured out of the Netherworld. The demons took advantage of this opportunity to become even more rampant.” Chu Xianyue’s voice was exceptionally calm and composed, possessing a power to reassure people.
Some people just have this innate intimidating power. When he spoke, the hall seemed to fall silent.
Chu Xianyue continued, "Therefore, this time we have summoned all inner disciples to go through the purification pool."
The first hurdle for cultivators to overcome in order to enter the Heavenly Evolution Sword Pavilion is passing through the Pure Water Pool. Only those who are righteous can pass. Only those who are evil, heretical, or have impure thoughts will be dissolved by the pool's water, suffering inhuman pain and never being able to be reborn.
Xie Wen felt a chill run down his spine, and his bones began to ache.
The disciples wailed in despair, and were subsequently led to the purification pool by the organization.
Xie Wen followed the crowd out of the council hall. She noticed that a small clearing naturally appeared where she had walked, as if a transparent barrier separated her from everyone else.
Xie Wen was puzzled. She hadn't seen the disciples avoid her like this when she was in the outer sect.
"Oh, Senior Sister Xie Wen, still alive? Are you going to the Pure Water Pool this time too? Aren't you afraid?" The newcomer was a woman with phoenix eyes and upturned eyebrows, accompanied by several followers. The other disciples were already used to her unprovoked provocations. Clearly, this wasn't the first time she had caused trouble for Xie Wen.
"Who are you, girl?" Xie Wen couldn't recall this person for the time being, nor did he know what connection this person had with the original owner of this body, nor did he want to know. "Ah, yes, yes, you're right."
Then he bypassed Chi Yufei. Chi Yufei, however, took Xie Wen's show of weakness as a provocation, becoming even more enraged. She stepped forward and blocked Xie Wen's path, "What, did I hit the nail on the head? Afraid to go? Or are you afraid your master will find out about that matter?"
Xie Wen became interested. That matter?
What is it? What is it that you need to keep from Chu Xianyue?
Even Xie Wen herself didn't know what she was up to, fearing Chu Xianyue would find out. Murder? Arson? Or something else?
That's interesting.
Chi Yufei crossed her arms and snorted coldly. Noticing Xie Wen's unusual behavior today, she said, "Oh ho, what's wrong with Senior Sister today? Could it be that she's been possessed too?"
Xie Wen felt a chill run down his spine; he was genuinely terrified. Had he been exposed so easily?
At this moment, a voice came from behind, which made Xie Wen tremble all over and his body stiffen.
"Xie Wen, come here."
As soon as Chu Xianyue came out, the other disciples, as if they had seen something, hurriedly scurried out like ducks. Chi Yufei, also quick to notice, temporarily stepped back.
Xie Wen braced himself and went over, "Master."
Chu Xianyue, dressed in a blue robe, paused slightly. "Xie Wen, you don't need to go to the Pure Water Pool. The personal disciples will be personally selected by their respective masters." As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes, the corners of his long, narrow eyes curving upwards slightly, making Xie Wen feel uneasy, as if he had been electrocuted.
"When did you wake up?" Chu Xianyue asked.
It was about her falling into a coma.
Xie Wen replied truthfully, "This morning."
How are you feeling?
Xie Wen thought to herself: Not so good! But she still weakly said, "It's alright." She tried her best to use the meager memories in her mind to imitate the original owner's every move. "My disciple's injuries are too severe, and my memories are somewhat disordered. I haven't recovered yet."
"Memory distortion?" Chu Xianyue paused deliberately on those four words. "Do you still remember who I am?"
Xie Wen was somewhat puzzled by this "great demon," and she said, "Master."
Chu Xianyue said, "Perhaps the serious injury has confused his mind. It's alright, I have plenty of ways to help my disciple regain his memory."
Xie Wen had a bad feeling. He spoke such normal words, yet they chilled Xie Wen to the bone. What method? Were they going to lock her in a dark room and torture her? Or, like that elder earlier, slit her throat with a sword?
*
Xie Wen returned to her lodgings. It was a dilapidated thatched hut nestled at the foot of Feiying Pavilion Mountain, bare of anything but bare, with several large holes in the roof. Compared to Chu Xianyue's dwelling, she was practically being abused!
Sigh, Xie Wen thought on the bright side; living in a remote place had its advantages. At least here, she was simply herself, Xie Wen. She didn't have to live in constant fear of being exposed as a transmigrator.
Lying on the straw mat, Xie Wen pondered. Chu Xianyue had asked her to go to Feiying Pavilion the next day, without specifying what it was about. But she knew without a doubt that it was exactly what Xie Wen had in mind.
Xie Wen counted on her fingers how many hours she had left to live. Should she not still be here? She should have run away a long time ago! Xie Wen suddenly stood up, her vision went black, and her head spun.
With a thud, she landed back on the straw mat, nearly injuring herself by bumping into the hard surface.
Forget it, what's done is done. She'd seen how powerful that demon Chu Xianyue was; he'd killed her with his eyes closed using that black sword. Even if she ran, she couldn't get far. If Chu Xianyue didn't let her go, Xie Wen would be caught no matter where she ran.
Xie Wen wanted to give up. She didn't want to be in this body! But then she thought of her older sister, who was still alive and well in this world! Xie Wen felt a pang of longing.
But there was nothing she could do, she sighed.
Today, Chu Xianyue immediately noticed Xie Wen's abnormality. How could you not be suspicious if someone you've known for years, someone who's been by your side every day, seemed like a completely different person after experiencing a near-death experience? Chu Xianyue was undoubtedly intimately familiar with the original owner's every move, even his every breath.
Facing Xie Wen, this imposter, a big shot like Chu Xianyue could see right through her at a glance. Just look at the way he looked at her today—what kind of look was that? It was the look of someone wanting to kill her.
However, Xie Wen didn't know why Chu Xianyue was still keeping her around.
Xie Wen sat up abruptly. Perhaps there was still a chance? At least she might still have something worth keeping by Chu Xianyue.
What could it be? No, Xie Wen must find this out as soon as possible; it's her lifeline!
"You blockhead, think it through! What else are you hiding from me?!" Xie Wen.
Xie Wen discovered the blind spot and began searching for relevant clues everywhere. He turned the entire thatched hut and even the courtyard upside down, but he couldn't find anything strange.
Could it be that she was wrong, that Xie Wen had no value to Chu Xianyue, and that Chu Xianyue was simply tired today and would kill her tomorrow? Or was he just playing around with her for fun?
Anyway, Xie Wen was exhausted and collapsed on the straw.
The next second, she sprang up and crawled under the bed.
The area under the bed hasn't been searched yet. Isn't this the kind of place where things are usually hidden in TV dramas? Xie Wen has hope again.
Sure enough, she pulled a wooden box from a pile of straw under the bed.
It looks like an ordinary wooden box, but after being under the bed for so long, it's spotless and looks brand new. This can only mean that the original owner took it out to treasure it from time to time.
Excited hands, trembling heart. Xie Wen wanted to see what this treasure was. Was it leverage over Chu Xianyue? Or a secret of the immortal sect? Or some peerless magic weapon?
The next moment, Xie Wen's expression changed. She grabbed a corner of the garment inside the wooden box and pulled out the fabric that was of unknown origin.
What is this thin, white fabric? It looks a lot like men's underwear.
Xie Wen looked like he'd just eaten shit.
Then, looking into the corner of the wooden box, lay a small cloud-shaped ornament. Wasn't this Chu Xianyue's?
so?
Xie Wen: ?!
Does a seemingly reserved but actually reserved person like a seemingly reserved but actually reserved person?
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