Chapter 26 Tearing Off the Mask: Sect Leader: "My God!" Zhou Fu...
Zhou Fuling was the guardian of Zishijian, and she killed Ning Tingyue and Zou Tianmo.
Xu Qingning added two more lines.
[Martial law should be enforced at Tianji Gate.]
However, his identity should not be revealed to outsiders, except to the nine chief officials.
...
A celestial abode, a high pavilion.
Xu Lechuan, the head of the Tianji Sect and Xu Qingning's uncle, was meeting with the elders. Stroking his beard, he said helplessly:
"I heard that regarding this major event, Zou Lanci of Longtan secretly summoned all the Longtan Wild Guards and Captains, and quietly hid in the Dragon Pavilion, but kept it from everyone. It seems like he's planning to make a move against something. This setup... is too strange. And it's happening during the demon transformation."
"Yes, Sect Leader, I wonder what exactly happened..."
Sect Leader Xu shook his head: "I wonder what Qingning found out... Oh, Qingning sent a message."
However, when he opened the jade tablet, his somewhat plump body suddenly froze.
Sect Leader Xu glared at the jade tablet, glaring once, then glaring several times.
"What is this? My God!"
The official was shocked to see that the dignified sect leader and the ruler of a continent was so terrified that his face flew off and his feet slipped.
This composed sect leader, one of the twelve most powerful and influential people in the world, seemed to doubt his own eyesight as he held the jade tablet with trembling hands.
...
Meanwhile, the nine chief officials of the Tianji Sect in the Eastern Continent of the Immortal Realm were discussing the current chaos within the Immortal Sect.
They looked very composed and serious.
They are all officials. Officials and assistant officials are different. Officials are in charge of external affairs in the Immortal Gate, while assistant officials are in charge of internal affairs.
The chief officers, whose positions were similar to elders and deputies, were divided into positions such as captain, field captain, department head, and merit officer. They were the most powerful group of people in the entire Eastern Continent.
"Such a big thing has happened... Yet Immortal Zou Lanci wants to detain Young Master Zou Qin first. The sect leader is extremely troubled by this..."
"We also need to settle Young Master Hua Yuliu. He has been rescued... but his condition is terrible. However, it's fortunate that the Immortal is distracted and has no heart to get angry about this matter..."
"Wait, the young sect leader has sent a message..."
But then a loud, exaggerated crackling sound was heard.
It looked like someone fell down, someone grabbed a table, someone sprayed water, and someone almost collapsed a chair.
Zhou Fuling, today, single-handedly caused a shock to the eyes and minds of the entire core management team of the Eastern Continent, one of the four continents of the Immortal Realm.
After a moment of silence.
"W-w-I must have seen wrong."
Hao Cheng, a third-rank martial arts master, trembled the most, completely disbelieving this absurd news. "This, this, isn't the guardian of the Midnight Ravine the monster who detained the young sect leader in the Heavenly Desolation Ravine for two years a hundred years ago? How, how... is he related to Junior Sister Zhou Fuling?!"
"Yes, isn't Junior Sister Fuling forbidden from cultivating?! Has the Young Sect Leader fallen into demonic possession?"
Another mysterious matter. Chen Yin shook his head. "Yes, the young sect leader cherishes Junior Sister Zhou the most. This is... wait..."
He suddenly shuddered. "This is probably true! The young sect leader is usually very composed. If the evidence wasn't conclusive... why would he send such a message?"
"Ouch—" Hao Cheng completely collapsed in the chair, falling flat on his backside.
"Flower Skill Mastery!"
The crowd helped him up.
Hao Cheng shook his head blankly: "I don't believe it, I don't believe it. Absolutely no one would believe this kind of news."
Everyone: "…………"
Shock, astonishment, or bewilderment as they looked around with their swords drawn – these were the varied reactions of the Tianji Gate officials today.
Until Hao Cheng remembered, "Young Master, I need to go find the Young Master and the Master... and ask them what's going on..."
Hao Cheng left like the wind, and some people followed him.
This is a huge issue.
...enough to affect the entire Tianji Sect and the entire Immortal Realm.
Those remaining in the house, the registrar celestial official, frowned and shook his head:
"Why...why did the young sect leader instruct us not to inform the entire sect? This is..."
Xuan Shi Chen Yin said, "This can only be because of the current situation. The two sisters of the Zou family are fighting amongst themselves, and Longtan is making things difficult for Dongzhou, keeping a close eye on Dongzhou with its myriad eyes. The young sect leader is very meticulous and was worried that Longtan would take advantage of this to frame Dongzhou for colluding with the demons."
His gaze was cold. "Back then, the young sect leader was imprisoned in the Cold Prison because..."
The voice faded away.
...
The message was sent from Tianji Gate today.
[First, Zhou Fuling, a disciple of Bingjian Peak, was captured by demons but betrayed Tianji Sect, causing heavy losses to the sect. Zhou Fuling is suspected of being controlled and betraying the sect. All disciples' jade records have severed their connection with Zhou Fuling. Remember, if you see Zhou Fuling, do not trust her, do not speak to her, avoid her and report to your superiors to avoid being harmed by the demons and monsters behind her.]
[Second, all personnel, unless they are on an external mission or in Dragon Pool, should return to their respective Immortal Guardian Realms and await further instructions.]
...
Boom—
Dongzhou. Tianji Gate.
The disciples, who were normally coming and going in an orderly fashion, looked at the vast expanse in the sky and couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.
The great barrier rotated, completely protecting the entire Tianji Gate.
"...Why is the entire sect under martial law because the protective barrier has been activated?"
"Yes, yes, the last time something like this happened... was during the Lungmen Civil War and the Great Demon Transformation, right?"
...
Longtan outskirts.
A cold wind blows, and the wild grass sways.
Zhou Fuling sat on the rock, her face cold and gloomy. She had also noticed—
Xu Qingning decisively severed all ties with the Tianji Sect.
Zhou Fuling felt annoyed and angry.
Just now, while Xu Qingning was unconscious, she had intended to poison him. She stayed by his side, wanting to control him, and also to find out how much he knew.
However, Xu Qingning woke up early, and she had only administered half of the poison. He then used the immortal sect's formation to escape.
Damn it...
He schemed against her again.
Xu Qingning's act of severing the connection further angered her.
She coldly raised her eyes.
A crimson sun rose in the azure sky, illuminating the sky above the Eastern Continent.
The central mountain range is the one where Tianji Gate is located.
Did he think she couldn't do anything to him?
Does Xu Qingning not know how familiar she is with him and Tianji Sect?
...
Dragon Pool, Immortal Gate.
Beneath the corridor, Xu Qingning walked forward with a cold face, his snow-white Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, holding a sword and a talisman.
He was going to see his uncle.
However, Longtan is no match for Tianjimen, and is now heavily guarded with numerous roadblocks. Only Qingning can find his uncle at Wentiantai immediately.
The cold wind is blowing...
He always felt like someone was following him and watching him, and he had to shake them off.
The system notification sound suddenly appeared:
[Villain's favorability -10%]
[Host, the villain's favorability towards you has dropped to -65%...]
[Host, your vital signs are also very abnormal...]
Xu Qingning's face turned deathly pale. He suddenly grabbed the rocks, his body convulsed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
For some reason, Xu Qingning's body was in increasing pain. Under the combined effects of the spinning top poison and the puppet needles, his consciousness felt as if it were crawling on a dense swarm of ants, gnawing and devouring him.
Xu Qingning's eyes reddened, but she suddenly opened them coldly:
You already knew her identity.
【……What? 】
[You are guiding me.] Xu Qingning was not asking a question, but drawing a conclusion.
He lay weakly on the rocks, but his gaze was cold.
The system paused for a moment before replying: "Yes, indeed."
There were indeed clues beforehand that showed it knew all along. And it didn't deliberately hide it.
It's not surprising that Xu Qingning was able to discover it.
"Then why... didn't you just say it directly?" Xu Qingning clutched her chest, panting.
A complex expression appeared on his face. The system struggled to describe it; it couldn't tell if it was anger or sadness, but it was an emotion at its peak, causing his pale face and the corners of his eyes to turn a frightening red.
[To be honest, you wouldn't believe me. Actually, the Heavenly Dao has... has opened several timelines for saving the world, but even if I told you directly, you wouldn't believe me. It would only cause problems.]
Xu Qingning opened her lips as if she wanted to ask something, but she didn't have the strength.
He suddenly laughed, a cold laugh that silenced everyone.
[Host, you should check the data. I've wanted to show it to you for a while... but you... but you've blocked me from seeing it.]
Xu Qingning raised her eyes, her gaze slightly shifting, as if acquiescing to the system displaying the data.
system:
[Villains: None, Zhou Fuling.]
Xu Qingning's knuckles turned white.
[Host affinity: -65% (Distrust, Hatred)]
[Goodwill Value: None.]
[Note that the target's favorability towards the host was originally 10%, which can be understood as the villain considering the host as half an ally. But... in just half a day, it has dropped too much, a full 75%!]
[Host, do you know? This is serious. I wanted to warn you not to provoke her again, but you kept blocking me and ignoring me.] The system sounded a little aggrieved.
Xu Qingning's gaze, however, focused on the original 10%. He seemed to think of something, and his eyes trembled slightly. He remained silent, then gave a self-deprecating sneer.
[Also... the villain hasn't yet developed the concept of "goodwill value." She has little goodwill. Therefore, the system's current goal is for you to first make her feel loved, teach her to love, and then use that to influence her to do good.]
No kindness...
If someone had previously said that Zhou Fuling had no good intentions, Xu Qingning would have been the first to object and would have used means to make the other party retract their slander.
But now...
The shadowy figure from the bottom of the Heavenly Abyss reappeared before my eyes...
Xu Qingning knew clearly that what the system said was true.
After a long silence, Xu Qingning let out another cold laugh.
Can I make her feel loved?
The laughter sent chills down even through the system.
But Xu Qingning stared at the blank Good Deeds value, her lips tightly pressed together, lost in thought, her face pale.
【Host……】
"Why did she approach me?" Xu Qingning suddenly asked softly. "For the past ten years, why has she stayed obediently by my side? What is her purpose?"
System hesitates:
[Host...do you really want to hear this?]
“…” Xu Qingning silently raised her eyes.
Even Heaven doesn't know the whole story... but what is certain is that your immortal bones are beneficial to her cultivation, and your immortal sect is helpful for her to gather information and remain infiltrated. As for what kind of information, we need to explore...
[Furthermore, you should know that she practices killing her own family. You lived with her a hundred years ago...]
Xu Qingning's figure froze.
A look of bewilderment and helplessness suddenly appeared in his eyes, as if he were gradually figuring something out, and the last bit of color disappeared from his lips.
So, you can probably guess why she wants to find you a partner, right?
Silence, and this silence lasted for a long time.
Xu Qingning listened, slowly closed her eyes for a long time, and then said: 【Very good. So that's how it is.】
[Host, you should try to unlock the main storyline. We still need to do some quests...]
However, before the system could finish speaking, it suddenly saw Xu Qingning lower his eyes and start coughing again, the cough becoming more and more violent.
He coughed up blood as if he were about to suffocate.
"Qingning, Qingning, how could you do this?!" Sect Leader Xu's shocked and heartbroken voice rang out. "Quick, someone come quick! Help the young sect leader into the manor!"
...
The candlelight was warm, illuminating the edges of the white jade bed.
Sect Leader Xu sighed deeply. It was because when Xu Qingning was helped into the Immortal Abode, his meridians were reversed, as chaotic as if they were knotted, and his mind was in turmoil.
The sect leader must personally use his internal energy to heal the injury.
As Xu Qingning awoke, she faintly heard voices of discussion coming from outside:
"Damn it, Qin'er was held captive by Zou Lanci and suddenly disappeared..."
"How could this be? Didn't the sect leader send someone to follow them?"
"The sect leader has already sent people to follow..."
Xu Qingning suddenly looked up.
Zou Qin was Xu Qingning's cousin. He was the son of Zou Lancheng, the wife of Xu Qingning's uncle.
Ten years ago, Xu Lechuan was rescued by Zou Lancheng and they secretly married. Zou Lancheng had been married before and had a son, whom Xu Lechuan treated as his own; the son was only twenty-five years old. Zou Qin was well-behaved, cheerful, and adorable, and the Xu family all liked her very much.
...Zou Qin was taken hostage by Zou Lanci and then disappeared?
Xu Qingning frowned upon hearing the news.
"Qingning, you're awake?!" Xu Lechuan came over and, seeing that Xu Qingning was awake, took his hand.
Both of them fell silent and were shocked by Zhou Fuling's identity.
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Author's note: I've commissioned several covers for this book!
Do you think the version with characters (like the young girl in blue from before) looks better, or the version without characters?
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