Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 92: Protection

There was an unexpected sincerity in the original play act between master and disciple, which didn’t seem that distracting. Who would have thought that this place would be as chaotic as a market, yet Yan Zheng could still pick them out at a glance.

On the other hand, compared to the ragged and strange “monkeys” around them, the two of them were a bit eye-catching.

Shi Jingzhi took advantage of his “drunkenness” and shed the sentimental look, reverting back to the appearance of a seasoned old trickster. He took a deep breath and put on a flattering smile, playing his role perfectly. “Patriarch, I am Huo Changying, one of the elders of the Boshui branch. I am fortunate to be summoned by the Patriarch to come and assist with whatever you need, be it strength or just a single gesture.”

After speaking, he even imitated Huo Changying’s mischievous smile perfectly. The awkwardness from before disappeared, and even Yin Ci couldn’t help but admire the performance.

The real Huo Changying’s manner was pretentious, able to deceive others as easily as squeezing pig fat to produce three jin of lard*. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t as skilled in that regard, but he could imitate perfectly without adding much effort, which was enough to impress Yan Zheng.

*Metaphor referring to something done with enough time and effort can yield significant results or benefits, just like the process of simmering pork fat can obtain lard, which takes time but eventually produces a substantial amount of valuable product.

Seeing this reaction, Yan Zheng’s eyelids twitched. He looked at Shi Jingzhi with suspicion, doubting his own judgment. He hesitated for a while, and before he could speak, another person took action–the elder who had been observing Shi Jingzhi before suddenly stood up and flicked his sleeves. A sinister qi swept across the entire hall, causing everyone to become even more silent.

This person was elderly with grizzled hair. One of his eyes was covered with a black patch, and he had a long face that was wrinkled like a pickled radish. When this person released his qi, Yan Zheng instinctively shut his mouth and quietly froze in place.

From the difference in status alone, this person was the Patriarch of the Ling Sect.

Seizing this opportunity, Shi Jingzhi quickly sat back down. He hugged Yin Ci, as if embracing a human-shaped reassurance pill, and relaxed again. Yin Ci quietly assessed the one-eyed old man, who resembled a pickled radish, considering the current situation.

This person’s name was Chai Xin, the previous Patriarch of the Ling Sect. Chai Xin’s appearance was unremarkable, but his martial skills were indeed outstanding, ranking among the top five in the martial world. After Yan Zheng appeared, Chai Xin readily “stepped down” and became an elder.

Chai Xin’s action wasn’t driven by any sense of loyalty or righteousness, as the Ling Sect’s members hardly shared that sentiment.

It was simply because the martial world still existed, and villains were constantly emerging. Yan Zheng could be considered the pinnacle of those villains, and his Ling Sect was more of a symbol of faith than a sect. As long as the Ling Sect remained, the lunatics had a backbone to rally around. Now that the Ling Sect had a new Patriarch with ghost eyes, it solidified the lunatic’s “faith” even further.

Yan Zheng was more like a living summoning banner for evil spirits rather than a living person. The position of the Patriarch attracted constant assassination attempts from righteous sects. Chai Xin tightly controlled Yan Zheng in his hands, and life as an elder was probably more comfortable than when he was the Patriarch.

Just like now, Yan Zheng was put on display as a signboard while Chai Xin spoke first.

Listening to Chai Xin’s tone, one could easily mistake him for the true Patriarch. “This Old One has received news that the fat donkey from the Jianchen Temple has become roasted donkey meat, and the old turtle from the Taiheng Sect has also met his end. Now that the Holy Hierarch’s bloodline has appeared and the Shirou clue is also on Zongwu Mountain, it is a perfect opportunity with favorable timing, geographical advantage, and the unity of the people to restore our Divine Sect to its former glory!”

The people below cheered uproariously, their shouts of “Long live our Divine Sect” ringing in everyone’s ears. Shi Jingzhi also followed with a couple of shouts, looking the part.

Chai Xin raised his hands to quiet the crowd and then changed the topic. “Even though this Old One cannot let go of the Taiheng matter, relying on the sect’s size and power alone to stir up trouble on Zongwu Mountain is excessive. Some of the reckless small sects have also received the news and are coming to try their luck. You all should go and clean up those ignorant little things, behead a few, and claim your rewards.”

Shi Jingzhi grumbled, “Just to deal with some lackeys, do we really need to call back the elites from all over?”

Yin Ci understood his doubt.

Huo Changying might not count as a serious elite, so it was questionable to mobilize them just to deal with external enemies. The members of the Ling Sect weren’t as obedient as those from other sects. Besides the newly appointed Elder Huo, who was still a greenhorn, the other elders with some personality probably wouldn’t be willing to move if they were merely ordered to do so.

As if he had heard something, Chai Xin continued after a while, “As for the ‘Shirou’, this Old One also investigated it back at Huilian Mountain. Unfortunately, the Sword of Compassion was taken by the sneaky thieves from the Kushan Sect. Luckily, the Holy Hierarch favored us and hid the good stuff in our backyard. Let those fools fight over the map! The Holy Hierarch must have other arrangements—”

The cheers from the crowd below grew even louder, and the table nearby was jolted, nearly spilling drinks on the master and disciple.

Seizing the momentum, Chai Xin pushed the atmosphere in the hall to its peak. “I mentioned it earlier, and I’ll say it again—whoever finds the item left by the Holy Hierarch related to the ‘Shirou’ can take half of it!”

‘Seems like he’s talking about something genuine,’ Yin Ci thought. Even if Elder Chai really managed to encounter the Sword of Compassion, he would probably lose ten years of his life from getting beaten up by the sword on the spot. Yin Ci turned his head and looked at Yan Zheng, who was still expressionless. When he heard the word ‘Shirou’, he didn’t even lift his eyelids.

Interesting. Back when they fought Zheng Fengdao, the man was all about being “interested in the Buddha beads”, and he even got the Corpse Recovery Group, a direct subordinate of the Patriarch. Now it seemed like he’s interested in something entirely different.

Since the ‘Shirou’ was involved, it wasn’t surprising that the elders from all over were willing to rush over. They could earn some credit to stay at the main branch, and they could also try their luck with the legendary elixir of immortality, so why wouldn’t they do it?

A slight movement from Shi Jingzhi interrupted Yin Ci’s thoughts.

He had a joyful expression on his face, but his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Taking advantage of the chaotic atmosphere around them, he pressed his lips against Yin Ci’s cheek and stopped by his ear, whispering, “A’Ci, do you have any plans later? I want to talk to you about something.”

Unsure if it was to get back at him for the earlier teasing, Shi Jingzhi’s breath was warm and gentle. His words brushed against Yin Ci’s ear like heated silk. Yin Ci glanced at the self-taught brat and smiled faintly. “You already have me, there’s no need to be so polite.”

As expected, the aura of Sect Master Shi wavered for a moment.

At this late hour, Elder Chai’s passionate persuasion finally came to an end, and he went to rest. The members of the Ling Sect weren’t in a hurry either; they continued to drink and revel, making the scene unbearable to watch. Shi Jingzhi forced himself to play the role of an experienced disciple for a while, then, using the excuse of “the spring nights are short-lived*”, he dragged Yin Ci out of the hall.

*(春宵苦短) Idiom referring to the fleeting nature of enjoyable or romantic moments. It conveys the idea that pleasant experiences, especially those of love or romance, are often brief and pass by quickly, leaving a sense of bitterness or regret due to their transience.

Although Elder Chai had left, Yan Zheng remained seated in his original spot. Yin Ci was extremely careful not to meet his gaze. Yan Zheng’s eyes seemed to wander, intentionally or unintentionally, and it was unclear what he was planning.

It was only after they left the hall that the feeling of being pricked by thorns disappeared completely.

Inside the Grand Pavilion of the Ling Sect, there were many guest rooms, most of which were occupied haphazardly, and the accumulated dust in the vacant rooms was almost three feet thick. After sending the two servants to meet with Shen Zhu, Shi Jingzhi reluctantly leaned against the wall—it wasn’t that he didn’t want to lie down, but he suspected that the bed used by the Human Shaped Coffin in the Ghost Tomb was cleaner than this place.

Yin Ci, on the other hand, shed that facade of bonelessness. He crossed his arms and looked at Shi Jingzhi, who was deep in thought.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t a timid person. If it were an ordinary discussion, he wouldn’t have sought out a secluded place. The last time he wore such a serious expression was when they discussed the matter of the “Children of Desire”.

Thinking of the matter of the “Children of Desire”, Yin Ci’s heart sank even further.

In the past, the old Yin Ci would have been delighted to encounter a new “pleasure”, not knowing how thrilled he would be. But now, this trouble had to fall on Shi Jingzhi, and Yin Ci couldn’t help but wish that Shi Jingzhi was just a poor fellow with some strange illness, so that no force would be interested in him.

The current problem was clear enough—the “Children of Desire”, destined for a short life due to their excessive desires, was deliberately created as part of the so-called “Hundred-Year Project”. Perhaps every generation of the Imperial Preceptor was aware of it.

However, this puzzle was far too secretive, and even Yin Ci had never come into contact with it. If Shi Jingzhi had dutifully pursued survival, they shouldn’t have touched this layer. The origin of the formation in the blood of the Children of Desire, and for whom the Hundred-Year Project was established, were things that couldn’t be clarified in a short time. Not to mention clues like the flesh idol; Shi Jingzhi himself couldn’t understand his own illness.

The life of Sect Master Shi was hanging by a thread, and he could only investigate while trying to stay alive. He didn’t dare alert the enemy too early. Currently, their main goal was still the Shirou, and they had already reached a consensus on this matter.

Thinking about this, Yin Ci leaned against the door and asked, “What did you want to say just now?”

“Elder Chai’s attitude is too proactive. According to him, he’s very certain that there are clues at Lonshi’s grave—not speculation, but something he has found from another source. It seems that Yan Budu didn’t just hide the clues in Yuanxian Village; there might be hints in other places as well.”

Shi Jingzhi stared at the dimly lit guest room and spoke slowly.

“Yan Budu set up the Shirou not to pass it down properly. Previously, when I thought he created a ‘key’, it was just a prank for the final moment. Even if no one found the key, or even if the Shirou didn’t exist at all, it would still fit his style… But now, looking at his design, it seems like he’s afraid people won’t discover it.”

Yin Ci smoothly continued, “If Yan Budu wanted to play with the martial world, he doesn’t need to complicate things by setting up ‘a competition for the Shirou’ like this.”

Just dealing with the fourteen treasure map Buddha beads was enough trouble, and snatching a specific key was just the same as going around in circles.

Given Yan Budu’s level of madness, there was nothing surprising about whatever he did. But now that they knew about the conspiracy of the Children of Desire, and with Shi Jingzhi bringing it up, Yin Ci also detected a hint of something unnatural.

“Exactly.” Shi Jingzhi nodded, sounding more concerned. “The Queen of Milan even revealed the secret of the ‘Hundred-Year Project’ before she died. Yan Budu had actually interacted with immortals, yet he left behind nothing but a farce and chose to die straightforwardly?”

“Are we really looking for the ‘key’, and not something else? Is the ‘Shirou’ we’re searching for really just an elixir of immortality?”

Hearing this, Yin Ci didn’t know how to respond.

Shi Jingzhi’s life was dwindling day by day. If they traced the clues of the Shirou to the end and discovered something else hidden in this matter, it would be too cruel. Yin Ci had thought about this possibility before and had privately considered other ways to save Shi Jingzhi. However, he had kept silent and never brought up this topic.

Because that was almost the only lifeline left for Shi Jingzhi.

The desire of the Children of Desire was boundless. He had gone crazy even when something as simple as a “disciple” went missing, not to mention his own life. Just being cautious about the Shirou consumed a considerable amount of Shi Jingzhi’s courage.

As if sensing Yin Ci’s concerns, Shi Jingzhi smiled and said, “It’s nothing. A’Ci, let’s treat this as a sand table. If one is too focused on a single leaf, they might miss the grandeur of the entire Mount Tai.”

A single leaf could obscure the entire Mount Tai, but that single leaf is your own life.

What desires has this person locked onto? Saying he has no worries or fears, can he truly be without worries or fears?

Yin Ci let out a sigh and changed the topic. “Daydreaming is useless; let’s unlock the spell on the Sword of Compassion as soon as possible and find the ‘key’ first.”

“That’s actually what I wanted to say as my second point. Thanks to Senior Chen’s guidance, I’ve already unlocked it on the way here. Yan Budu focuses solely on martial arts, so his spellcasting skills aren’t that difficult to crack—covering the Sword of Compassion with human blood reveals the newly added inscription.”

“Why are you only saying this now?” Yin Ci’s voice deepened a bit.

Because of his immortal body, Yin Ci wasn’t afraid of the Fog Tomb Formation. As long as he knew the location, he could retrieve the “key” himself. They didn’t need to go through the trouble of pretending to be members of the Ling Sect—he didn’t want the concern that Shi Jingzhi exchanged for his own lifespan, nor did he need it.

“Because it has nothing to do with Venerable Kongshi’s gravesite; it seems to have another purpose. Previously, when we obtained the stone sword, we thought it could help find the location, but that was just an assumption.”

There was more than one clue pointing towards the Jianchen Temple, yet the Sword of Compassion was taken by the Kushan Sect. Now it was a mess; the whole martial world was convinced that there were crucial clues there, and they were all rushing to find the grave of Venerable Kongshi, afraid of others getting there first.

Yan Budu could still play with everyone in the martial world even after being dead for a hundred years, which made Shi Jingzhi sigh.

“Besides the spell carved by Venerable Kongshi, there’s only one newly added inscription on the sword. You’ve seen that inscription before; do you remember the white jade hairpin I snatched and gave to you? …It’s just a simple protection spell, nothing else.”

The author has something to say:

Yan Budu: How could I really play an escape room with everyone? (?

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 91: Yan Zheng

Zongwu Mountain had few sunny days, and it happened to be cloudier with the arrival of spring. Three people stood at the border of Zongwu Mountain, not far from where the mist rose up to the sky, mingling with the overcast clouds. The mist covered the entire mountain range, as if a corner of the sky had collapsed, burying the whole area in a torrent of dark clouds.

With the arrival of spring, there were some green shoots beneath the withered grass. However, the sparse patches of green were enveloped in an eerie aura, appearing feeble and lifeless, devoid of any vitality.

The archer quickly applied pressure to several acupoints, expertly stopping the bleeding. His gaze swept over at Yin Ci, still maintaining a high-and-mighty tone. “How interesting.”

Yin Ci was about to draw his Hanging Shadow Sword, but the archer smiled meaningfully at the two of them. He took a few deep breaths, fixed his longbow on his back, and then started running backward—his actions were odd, and he moved with an air of righteousness, making it hard to tell if he was escaping or preparing to perform some special technique.

The pair of master and disciple from the Kushan Sect waited vigilantly, watching the archer recede into the mist, until he disappeared.

Oh, it turns out he was trying to escape.

The disciples of Taiheng were usually known for their unyielding nature, but this was the first time they had seen someone escape with such an aura of charging forward. Sect Master Shi didn’t have time to grab his flagpole, and his hand remained suspended in the air, his action and expression freezing together. The wound on his head was still throbbing faintly, and Shi Jingzhi suddenly felt he had been wronged by the arrow.

He was met with a harsh response, only to be told to “Scram”, without even a chance to retaliate. Shi Jingzhi pondered for a moment but couldn’t figure out which master from Taiheng could be like this—even if the person was from Taiheng, he would be an outcast, unknown and unremarkable.

Yin Ci was at a loss as well. The archer’s actions were puzzling, and his unconscious reaction was hard to fake. The archer was indeed using Taiheng’s footwork, and his skill level was quite profound. However, the Fog Tomb Formation of Zongwu Mountain was designed to prevent outsiders from entering, especially guarding against righteous sects like Taiheng, yet the archer had brazenly slipped in.

But it was strange.

Yin Ci once attempted the “Fog Tomb Formation”, and its effect was peculiar. When entering the formation, it was like entering a tomb. Living people who entered the formation would have normal heartbeats and breathing and could still eat and drink. However, their flesh would start to rot methodically, much like a freshly deceased corpse. Before long, they would swell and emit a foul stench. If they didn’t leave in time, not to mention preserve their martial arts skills, just the agony of living with decaying flesh would be unbearable.

Unfortunately, Yin Ci was a monster that could revive from even a few remaining scraps. The Fog Tomb Formation rotted his flesh but left his bones intact, turning him into a living skeleton within the formation. His consciousness remained, but he had no choice but to give up on it.

Only the Ling Sect could devise such a sinister formation. The Fog Tomb Formation had countless variations, resembling a venomous concoction. To remain unscathed, one would need to consume a special “antidote” specifically crafted for countering this formation. Strictly speaking, this honor wasn’t bestowed upon ordinary disciples of the Ling Sect.

So what was going on with that archer?

Seemingly attracted by the commotion here, several figures approached not far away. Shi Jingzhi swiftly thawed from his frozen state and pulled Yin Ci. The two of them lightly jumped to the top of a nearby peak, holding their breaths in unison.

The newcomers were not disciples of the Taiheng Sect but rather several from the Ling Sect.

The one leading them wasn’t yet thirty years old and had delicate features, but his face was caked with thick powder, concealing the redness and swelling. His originally attractive features were marred by the red and white powder, making him not only unattractive but also exuding a touch of eerie weirdness.

However, his clothes were exceptionally luxurious and in the style of the Ling sect, indicating he was an elder from the outer branch.

“Strange, a moment ago, there were several figures here,” the man said in a fake, languid tone. As he spoke, he casually flicked his fingers, as if trying to evoke some immortal-like atmosphere. “… Have they escaped? I had wanted to bring a gift for the Patriarch to see, but alas.”

Beside him was a white-clad young man with a numb, emotionless expression. “Elder Huo, this place is dangerous. It’s better to ask the Patriarch for the ‘Fog Evading Pill’.”

The young man’s words were monotonous, as if reciting a book. But Elder Huo’s expression immediately softened, looking pleased. “What Xi’er said is true. It’s cold here. Let’s go… Ah, if it weren’t for the Patriarch’s orders, we could be taking a boat to enjoy the flowers in Boshui.”

“Elder Huo has just been promoted as an elder, and he received a summons from the Patriarch. This is an auspicious sign of being favored,” the white-clad young man continued, flattering him expressionlessly.

Someone from the Boshui branch? Yin Ci raised a brow.

Boshui was located at the southernmost point of Great Yun, a rather insignificant place. Even though they were stronger than the Chigou Sect, they wouldn’t bother assigning someone with little skill to Boshui. Not to mention that the Ling Sect was now in decline and all the formidable masters were at the main branch. This “Elder Huo” might hold the title of an elder in a branch, but his combat strength was inferior to Yan Qing’s.

However, with this level of strength, dealing with ordinary Taiheng disciples would be more than enough.

Yin Ci withdrew his gaze and made a judgment. He realized that it was unnecessary for Taiheng to send top masters to investigate Zongwu Mountain through the mist. Those exceptional individuals of the Ling Sect wouldn’t bother with small fries like them. Instead, they would let these mediocre individuals come and sacrifice themselves, making use of their uselessness. This “Elder Huo” seemed even more pitiful, as he had just taken up the new position and was probably being used as a scapegoat as the newly appointed elder.

Suddenly, Yin Ci had an idea that wasn’t quite ethical. He turned his head slowly and looked at Shi Jingzhi beside him, detecting a similar aura of mischief from him.

“A’Ci, how about we…”

“Not a bad idea.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Shi Jingzhi flicked a few pebbles. Elder Huo’s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground. The rest of the Ling Sect disciples also collapsed in various positions, except for the white-clad young man who was still standing. He didn’t possess any martial skills and displayed no coquettish behavior. He seemed like either a recently initiated male companion or a commoner abducted for some purpose.

The young man looked at the elder Huo with rolled-back eyes, but instead of fear, he showed relief. After hesitating for a while, he nervously kicked Elder Huo and then bowed haphazardly to those around him, saying, “Are you heroes from Taiheng?”

Shi Jingzhi appeared, clearing his throat and speaking with a righteous tone. “Indeed, we are.”

The young man kneeled down on one knee, knocking his head loudly on the ground. The white clothes on his body instantly became dirtied with mud. “I was just an ordinary scholar in Boshui. I don’t know how I offended this scoundrel. He harassed men and women in Boshui, acting arrogantly. My older sister was killed by this beast, and my younger siblings are still young. Pressured by the tyranny of the demonic sect, I…”

“Enough, it’s okay,” Shi Jingzhi waved his hand, rudely interrupting the man’s lament. “When you came here, did you see any other Ling Sect members?”

“No, we just arrived at the border of Zongwu Mountain, and we hadn’t had a chance to climb up. That scoundrel said he felt battle intent and wanted to capture two Taiheng disciples to gain some reputation.”

Shi Jingzhi: “……” Elder Huo’s face was so shiny that he could be used for palace lighting.

He pretended to sigh. “The demonic sect is too tyrannical! The situation here is chaotic, and your all-white attire is too conspicuous. I fear you might get involved in conflicts. I have some silver, so Young Master* should change into coarse old clothes and leave as soon as possible.”

*[Gong zi] (公子) Term addressed to a young master of a high official.

The young man believed him without suspicion. He hurriedly changed into shabby clothes and took the half-string of coins, expressing his thousand thanks before departing. Shi Jingzhi was satisfied and picked up the white clothes, proceeding to deal with Elder Huo’s poorly worn robe.

The demonic sect disapproved of interpersonal relationships, so Elder Huo didn’t bring much luggage. Besides a yin wooden plaque with his name and proof of his elder status and a longsword tied with a bright red ribbon, he only carried a small amount of silver.

This couldn’t be more perfect.

After all, the Kushan Sect wasn’t considered a righteous sect. Right after the young man left, Sect Master Shi immediately skipped the step of exorcizing the evil spirits—the two simply killed Elder Huo and his confidantes, then burned their bodies to ashes with yang fire…

That night, “Huo Changying” of the Boshui branch continued to embrace the white-clad young man, accompanied by a few attendants, cheerfully entered the Ling Sect’s gate.

Shi Jingzhi smiled on the surface, but his heart was bitter.

Sect Master Shi was quite confident in his plan. After all, his high-level disciple had once been the Patriarch of the Chigou Sect and had more experience dealing with members of the demonic sect. As for himself, he hadn’t had much contact with the secular world, so he didn’t have much confidence in acting well, but pretending to be an innocent scholar wasn’t a problem.

The Ling Sect had many masters, and disguising themselves came with risks. Fortunately, Huo Changying was still young and came with a male companion, so their appearances could barely be justified.

Unexpectedly, the opinions of the Kushan Sect members were somewhat unanimous—the eldest disciple looked as clear as a flying immortal, while the sect leader, in terms of temperament and appearance, was clearly more like a “demon”. If they distributed the roles like this, it might arouse suspicion. For some reason, even Yin Ci didn’t stand by his side and remained suspiciously silent.

Sect Master Shi struggled for a while, but he had no choice but to wear Elder Huo’s clothes, put his arm around Yin Ci’s shoulder, and try to play the role of a registered disciple. Shen Zhu applied some light makeup on them, making their appearances look more ordinary and less eye-catching.

The mist on Zongwu Mountain never dispersed throughout the year. Even without the Fog Tomb Formation, the milky white mist would still flow everywhere. The main altar of the Ling Sect wasn’t difficult to find, standing ominously in a valley of Zongwu Mountain. At the entrance of the valley hung two dark red lanterns, as if afraid that others might not notice them.

Shi Jingzhi’s face forced a smile, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious. Huo Changying’s abilities were really not that impressive, and even if Taiheng wouldn’t stoop to killing or pretending to be someone else, the Chigou Sect would be capable of such things. He couldn’t believe that the Ling Sect didn’t have any defenses. It wasn’t like he hadn’t speculated, but taking shortcuts was tempting. At this point, they could only counter whatever came their way and see how far they could go.

The decline of the Ling Sect could be seen from its appearance alone. Two red lanterns swayed, adorned with numerous desolate tears. The stone steps of the valley were also filthy, as if they hadn’t been cleaned for many years. The main branch of the Ling Sect was originally a majestic vermilion wooden tower, exuding a grand aura. But now, the vermilion paint was mottled and dark, spiderwebs drifted about, giving off a creepy atmosphere.

Along the way, the group didn’t encounter a single fellow traveler. If it weren’t for the lights in the building and the shadows moving inside, Shi Jingzhi would almost think they had fallen for an empty city trick.

At the entrance of the main hall, there sat a lifeless old slave. As the group approached, he turned his lifeless eyes and sang in a singsong manner, “Welcome, welcome…”

Even the entrance of a Ghost Tomb in the mortal realm was livelier than this place, causing Sect Master Shi to shudder involuntarily. Yin Ci, on the other hand, kept his head down, frowning in silence.

Something was definitely amiss with the Ling Sect.

When Yan Budu was still alive, there were even more lunatics in the Ling Sect. However, Yan Budu was skilled, and he had tamed those weird individuals. The vermilion tower of Ling Sect used to be imposing, and the stone steps were polished to a shine by the constant flow of people. There was always a hint of a faint bloody smell in the air. Even the most arrogant ruffians had to lower their heads in front of the two red lanterns and climb the steps politely, offering their respects.

Otherwise, within five steps, they would see their own blood splattered on the spot.

Even if the Ling Sect was declining, if the inherent arrogance remained, it wouldn’t have become so casual. The current Ling Sect was more like some third-rate bandit stronghold than the past demonic sect. Although this comparison seemed strange, the thought flashed through Yin Ci’s mind for an instant.

The Ling Sect had lost its divine presence.

It didn’t disintegrate due to self-destruction or inaction leading to decay. Yan Budu had only been dead for about a hundred years, and a dead camel was still bigger than a horse. Destroying a sect’s soul wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a moment—it must have been intentionally done by someone.

Not to mention verifying their identities, the old slave guided them in without even glancing at their identity tokens. He just took a look at Shi Jingzhi’s “doesn’t look like a good person” face, snorted, and let them in.

The first few floors in front of the vermilion tower were in a mess, with some food and wine already spoiled. Corpse fragments were mixed with gold and silver, jade stones stuck in white bones, and pearl strings soaked in corpse water. Corpse insects crawled everywhere, and flying insects buzzed around. When they reached the top of the vermilion tower, the scene became even more absurd—valuable tables and chairs were overturned, and wine and water were splashed everywhere. A group of weird people dressed in flashy attire, pretending to wear the Ling Sect’s robes, were making a commotion like a bunch of monkeys. Several elders sat in the main seats, drinking and having fun, ignoring the mess in front of them.

Compared to them, Shi Jingzhi and his pretend disciple looked normal and harmless. No one paid them any attention or questioned them. Instead of venting their hatred that couldn’t be fulfilled, Yin Ci felt that these people in front of him were more like revelers during chaos.

Only four people from the Kushan Sect came up—Shen Zhu was good at investigations but not very skilled in martial arts, so she stayed outside to provide support. Yan Qing and Su Si had indeed come, with Su Si still retaining some of the instincts from the Chigou Sect, immediately clutching his butcher knife warily. Yan Qing slightly opened his eyes, looking at the dilapidated place left by his old ancestor, unable to conceal his disgust.

The master and disciple found an empty seat and sat down casually. The gaze of those around them occasionally swept over them. Shi Jingzhi sat up straight, as if his claws were sewn into Yin Ci’s shoulder, and he didn’t dare to move.

If it were anyone else, Shi Jingzhi would have just played along. Even if he wasn’t proficient, with his abilities, he could deceive these wicked individuals. But he was completely helpless with Yin Ci—he had just gotten used to being intimate verbally, and he couldn’t do anything intimate in front of so many people. Not to mention flirting, Shi Jingzhi’s hand had only tried to slide down a little, and his neck had already turned red.

Yin Ci could only helplessly lean towards Shi Jingzhi from time to time, so that the two of them wouldn’t end up sitting there like two monks meditating.

Demonic Lord Yin sighed inwardly. If he had known that this person’s face was so thin, he might have chosen another role for him, which might not have attracted so much attention. Shi Jingzhi sat with great dignity, looking just like a secular disciple from the Jianchen Temple. One of the elders had already looked at them with suspicion.

Where were the physical cravings? Where was the abyss of desire?

Shi Jingzhi also realized that this approach could be detrimental. He took a deep breath, mustered up the courage, and wrapped his arm around Yin Ci’s waist. He grabbed a cup of wine, his expression contorted looking somewhat sinister, and said, “Here, let’s have a d-drink…”

But midway through his sentence, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but start scrutinizing Yin Ci, and in the process, he choked on his own saliva, nearly coughing aloud.

If it weren’t for the crowd around them, Yin Ci would have almost let out a laugh. He put one hand on Shi Jingzhi’s face and teased, “Little Mute, going mute again?”

This hit a nerve with Shi Jingzhi. He gulped down the cup of wine and grumbled, “Just a momentary lapse.”

Yin Ci couldn’t help but tease him softly. “It’s my oversight. I should have known earlier and told you how adorable you are when you kiss the corner of my mouth.”

Then he leaned closer to Shi Jingzhi’s ear and blew softly. “Nevermind, kids will be kids. This time, I’ll teach you a lesson that’s not like…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his waist was suddenly held tightly. A pair of lips carrying the scent of wine pressed against his, stopping the rest of Yin Ci’s words. Shi Jingzhi kissed him decisively and firmly, though it was a brief and affectionate kiss.

“Not a ‘kid’.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice sounded surprisingly calm. “This place is full of lunatics and alcohol stench. It’s not where you should be. What’s wrong with me valuing you and not wanting you around such frivolous people?”

This sincere confession caught Yin Ci off guard, and the playful words he was about to utter got stuck in his throat, leaving him choked instead.

Fortunately, at this moment, the chaotic hall suddenly fell silent.

The members of the Ling Sect turned their gaze to the empty main seat—a young man walked out from the inner chamber, adjusted his sleeves, and sat down at the table. He was quite handsome, bearing a slight resemblance to Yan Qing. His crimson eyes swept across the messy hall with no visible emotions.

Yan Qing, standing behind the master and disciple, straightened his back and tightened his lips.

That was the Ling Sect’s current Patriarch, Yan Zheng.

This man wasn’t particularly famous and rarely appeared in the martial world. Yin Ci had thought of him as a puppet manipulated by the Ling Sect’s elders, but now that he saw him, this puppet had commendable strength and no sign of weakness in his demeanor.

However, his eyes were unfathomably dark, devoid of any vitality, and seemed somewhat familiar.

Yan Zheng scanned everyone with his eyes, and his gaze stopped on Shi Jingzhi, who was wearing elder robes. After scrutinizing him for a while, Yan Zheng straightforwardly asked—

“Who are you?”

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