Third Senior Brother
"It's my third senior brother."
Qin Wu's deep voice broke the brief silence, carrying an undeniable certainty.
Aside from Bai Ji, no demon in this world would clean up their mess without a reason. Of course, there is also a very slim possibility that someone knew about this and deliberately used the demonic energy to confuse the public in order to achieve some ulterior motive.
But the latter possibility is extremely small.
If it weren't for the dense demonic energy lingering on the wounds as cover, with Tianyan Mountain's methods, a careful examination of the scene wouldn't have been difficult to find clues pointing to Baichuan. And if the demons truly had a prior alliance with Tianyan Mountain, why would they go to the trouble of helping them cover up the truth?
The deliberately left-behind demonic energy was more like a camouflage, intended to divert Tianyan Mountain's attention elsewhere and provide cover for Baichuan, the one who actually made the move.
The demon race has never been a benevolent or charitable group.
“If it is Bai Ji,” Bai Chuan said slowly, “then everything makes sense.”
Yun Qian's lips curled up slightly, forming a smile that was a mixture of relief and helplessness: "It seems that Bai Ji has revealed quite a few clues this time." Her tone carried the knowing intimacy of an older sister towards her younger brother.
Upon hearing this, Qin Wu frowned and looked at her: "Senior Sister, you already noticed?"
Yun Qian did not answer directly. Instead, she turned her gaze to Bai Chuan beside her and asked, "Second Junior Brother, did you also have this guess in mind?"
Bai Chuan nodded slightly, confirming her guess.
Perhaps, from the moment they stepped into Tianyan Mountain, Bai Ji's figure had already been hidden in some unknown corner, silently watching them.
Because all three of them had tacitly suspected it, they were so calm when they heard Yun Weibian confidently pin the blame on the demons, even with a hint of indifference as if they had already expected it.
The person who secretly intervened this time, even fabricating evidence to protect them, could only be their third junior brother, who was hiding somewhere and secretly watching everything they did.
"Third Senior Brother..." Qin Wu repeated the address in a low voice, his usually cold and hard tone revealing a few subtle and complex emotions. "When did he become so composed? Even now, he can still be patient and refuse to show himself to us."
They were able to deduce that it was Bai Ji from the slightest clues, and with Bai Ji's intelligence, it was impossible that he wouldn't have thought of this. He knew they already knew of his existence, yet he still chose to remain hidden.
Qin Wuxing was reserved and spoke briefly, but behind his words "can be patient" was actually the unspoken question: Since you've come and care, why won't you see me?
Back on Mount Cangmin, Bai Ji always teased him and made him angry, but he also took care of him meticulously like an older brother. Qin Wu always remembered that awkward brotherly affection; he missed Bai Ji.
Yun Qian clearly understood the expectation contained in Qin Wuwei's words, but she also understood that in the short term, Bai Ji probably wouldn't, or rather, wouldn't dare to, come to them.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry." Bai Chuan spoke up at the right time, his voice gentle and reassuring. "When the time is right, he will naturally appear."
On this point, he shared Yun Qian's view.
Since the day they descended the mountain, the three of them had longed to reunite with Baiji. However, their desire to see him did not mean that Baiji was ready to meet him.
Or rather, Bai Ji doesn't dare to see them now.
For Bai Ji, the memory of injuring Bai Chuan and causing him to defect from Cangmin Mountain is a deep wound that has yet to heal. The heavy guilt and shame he feels are like an invisible shackle, binding him firmly in the shadows. Only when he truly understands and lets go of his inner turmoil will he perhaps find the courage to stand before them once more.
This process of figuring things out takes time.
Upon hearing this, Qin Wu pursed his thin lips slightly, but ultimately only frowned slightly, suppressing his question and not speaking further.
The news that several elite disciples of Tianyan Mountain had been killed by the demons spread like wildfire among the various sects gathered there, causing much discussion and unrest.
Tianyan Mountain launched a massive, thorough search of all its outposts, making a grand show of force and determined to find the demon spies. However, all talk and no action, and after all that effort, they found nothing.
They certainly gained nothing.
Because the ones who are truly entangled with the demons are themselves.
Meanwhile, the real culprit is safely hidden behind the demon race's excellent smokescreen, observing the situation.
After searching Tianyan Mountain, Yun Qian simply dispelled all the protective formations surrounding the Sifang Courtyard. As the layers of spiritual light dissipated, the courtyard seemed to have been stripped of all its defenses, completely exposed to all eyes.
Now, all they have to do is wait patiently to see who else can't resist making a move.
However, perhaps the fruitless search had a deterrent effect, or perhaps for some other reason, the major sects were unusually united at this moment, remaining inactive, and for a time, the situation fell into an eerie calm.
Several days passed, and the Four Directions Courtyard remained calm and peaceful.
Bright, warm sunlight streamed lazily into the room through the open window, casting dappled shadows on the polished floor. Yun Qian rested her chin on her hand, but her gaze didn't linger on the scenery outside the window; instead, it fell thoughtfully on the wooden table in the center of the room.
There lay there quietly a bundle, entirely black and of unknown material.
Since the protective array was removed, there has been no unusual activity inside or outside the Sifang Courtyard.
However, this morning, when she woke up, this unfamiliar bundle appeared out of thin air, silently on the table.
After embarking on the path of cultivation, cultivators possess energy far exceeding that of ordinary people, and most of them rely on meditation to replace sleep in order to restore their spirit. However, Yun Qian has always maintained the habits she developed during her mortal days, needing to get a full night's sleep every night to feel truly rested.
That's why someone was able to slip this thing into her room unnoticed while she was asleep.
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