After Xu Lin left, Xi Ranchen did not rush to leave.
She raised a hand and flicked her finger, drawing up the black substance from the blood Yang Yao had just coughed up, casually rubbing and examining it in her palm.
At the same time, she asked Yang Yao about Xu Lin’s background.
She knew Yang Yao—she had definitely known Xu Lin before, and there might even be some grudge between them.
But that kid had saved Yang Yao. Should she call him too upright?
“A disciple of the Vast Dao Sect?”
When she heard that Xu Lin was a disciple of the Vast Dao Sect, Xi Ranchen showed a surprised expression, then quickly composed herself.
The Vast Dao Sect and the Sunset Sect had deep enmity.
“But I don’t know why he said he had no sect or school,” Yang Yao said, puzzled.
“And right now, he seems to have no cultivation base at all.”
That was what confused Yang Yao the most.
In her previous life, Xu Lin had never left the Vast Dao Sect, and his realm at this time was by no means weaker than hers. How was it completely different now?
If she weren’t certain about that face, she would never have thought he was Xu Lin.
Listening to Yang Yao’s detailed account, Xi Ranchen nodded faintly, then let out a cold laugh.
“I’ll look into that kid’s background thoroughly. You don’t need to worry.”
She had crossed hands with that old fogey from the Vast Dao Sect many times; they knew each other well.
Xu Lin’s behavior today struck her as far too suspicious. She didn’t think that old fool wouldn’t notice—or rather, was Xu Lin simply too good at hiding?
Whatever the reason, now that he had fallen into her hands, Xu Lin shouldn’t expect to leave the Sunset Sect easily. Even if he could leave, it would be as a corpse.
“What you should be concerned about is the poison in your body. What exactly is going on?”
Xi Ranchen’s tone turned harsh.
Yang Yao looked confused and shook her head.
“This disciple doesn’t know either.”
Not to mention now, she hadn’t even known in her previous life. She never realized she had been poisoned at this time.
“That kid was right. This poison is no simple matter,” Xi Ranchen continued.
“Those with low cultivation won’t feel any effect at all. Even if it penetrates the meridians and bones, they won’t notice. But once they reach a certain realm, it bursts forth and becomes hard to control.”
Even someone of Xi Ranchen’s cultivation had to admit the danger and viciousness of this poisonous substance.
Who would go to such lengths to target Yang Yao? It didn’t seem like something those fools of the Righteous Path would do.
Beyond the Sunset Sect, the other demon sects were a mixed bag. Who could it be?
There was no point in overthinking. Xi Ranchen wiped away the black blood from her hand.
“Since that kid can remove the poison for you, make use of him for now.”
“But Master, I don’t want to accept that person’s help anymore.”
Thinking of the scene just now, Yang Yao felt humiliated. She didn’t want to go through it again.
Xi Ranchen stood up and said sternly, “Yao’er, as my personal disciple, you should know: use whatever benefits you, and kill what is useless. Since this kid has such value, why be constrained by these emotions?”
The path of cultivation was survival of the fittest, full of deceit and treachery.
Now that Xu Lin was in their hands, Yang Yao was still bothered by these pointless feelings.
“Don’t worry. I never planned to keep that kid around. Now that I know he’s connected to the Vast Dao Sect, once I find out what’s going on with his story, I’ll handle it my own way.”
Faced with Xi Ranchen’s firmness, Yang Yao couldn’t argue and could only agree.
Seeing nothing else to discuss, Xi Ranchen prepared to leave. As she turned, she paused and glanced sharply at Yang Yao.
“And regarding your unauthorized departure this time—since you’re injured, I’ll let it slide for now. But if there’s a next time, I may not bother to collect your corpse.”
With that, Xi Ranchen’s figure vanished from the room.
Yang Yao sighed on the bed.
She didn’t blame her master for being strict. In her previous life, Xi Ranchen had been the same—sharp tongue but a soft heart. Otherwise, why would she have rushed over the moment she sensed Yang Yao was seriously injured?
As for that fortuitous encounter, she had thought she could steal a march with her memory of the previous life, but it had backfired.
On the other side, Xu Lin was led away by two Sunset Sect disciples and set down in a courtyard.
Along the way, they had been quite courteous to him, but he found it strange—why would the Sect Master go to such trouble to bring back someone with no cultivation base?
“Young master, please.”
One of them gestured for Xu Lin to enter the courtyard hut.
“Wait, I…”
Xu Lin tried to say something.
“Young master, don’t make things difficult for us. Otherwise, we’ll have to take you in the same way as before,” the other said sternly.
Both wore cold expressions. If Xu Lin really had no cultivation, they wouldn’t hesitate to use force. If not for Xi Ranchen’s orders, someone like him would normally be taken straight to the Forbidden Prison—nowhere near so comfortable. They were practically treating him like a guest.
Xu Lin twitched the corner of his mouth. With no other option for now, he could only step into the courtyard.
The two followed closely, as if they wouldn’t be satisfied until they saw him go in.
Finally reaching the door, Xu Lin pressed his hand against the wooden door and glanced back at the two men from the corner of his eye.
“You want to come in with me?”
No response. They just stared coldly at Xu Lin.
This irritated Xu Lin. How were the demon sect people even colder than the Vast Dao Sect disciples?
Xu Lin sighed. Now that he was in the demon sect and they wouldn’t let him leave, he had to think of a way out. Staying here didn’t feel right.
He’d figure it out.
He pushed the door open. Before he could see inside, a cold shout rang out. “Who goes there!”
Immediately after, a sword qi shot toward Xu Lin’s face.
Reacting quickly, Xu Lin sidestepped instinctively. The sword qi still grazed past him, cutting off a strand of his hair.
The sword qi didn’t stop; it smashed a decorative stone in the courtyard into pieces, sending dust flying.
The two men behind him rushed forward, drawing their swords as if to protect Xu Lin.
“You’re serious about this?”
If this was really an attempt to kill him, Xu Lin thought Xi Ranchen had gone to too much trouble.
The two men were also confused. This courtyard was usually empty. Why would someone be inside?
From the dim room, a graceful figure stepped out, sword in hand. She first glanced at Xu Lin, a stranger, then saw the two men beside him. Her alert expression immediately turned to surprise.
The two men also recognized her and lowered their swords.
“Junior Sister? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
“I…” Jiang Luo opened her mouth to speak but found it hard to say. A faint blush crept onto her face; her expression was awkward, her breathing unsteady.
“I was cultivating here and lost track of time.”
The two exchanged glances, half-believing.
Cultivating in her own room?
Why come to this secluded place?
Xu Lin, on the other hand, took the opportunity to size up this “Junior Sister.”
A flicker of light shone in his eyes as he unabashedly looked her over from head to toe.