Chapter 24: Shizun Doesn’t Like Him, Shizun Only…

Wang Jianbai returned to Bai Linghan’s side with a dark expression, the chill in his heart still lingering. Although the others merely saw it as Feng Xixing fighting him out of anger, Wang Jianbai had clearly sensed Feng Xixing’s killing intent.

He even suspected that, if not for the other sect disciples around, Feng Xixing would have cut him down with a single sword strike.

“Senior Brother Wang, are you alright?” Bai Linghan looked at him with concern.

Wang Jianbai came back to his senses, his expression softening as he smiled at Bai Linghan. “I’m fine, Junior Brother Bai, don’t worry.”

With Bai Linghan’s reassurance, Wang Jianbai’s face regained some color. He turned his head and shot a venomous glare at the Spirit Fire Peak disciples who had just been watching the show. Whether they had been truly injured or not, they hadn’t helped him, so he had already marked them down for a grudge.

The Spirit Fire Peak disciples exchanged glances, seemingly adopting an “in for a penny, in for a pound” attitude.

Wang Jianbai had many wounds, causing his face to twitch constantly from pain. Yet none of the injuries were life-threatening, so he couldn’t even accuse Feng Xixing of using excessive force.

The only thing that gave Wang Jianbai some solace was that Bai Linghan hadn’t mocked him for it. Instead, Bai Linghan sincerely believed he had done nothing wrong and that Feng Xixing was the one who’d gone too far.

“No matter what, Senior Brother Wang is still our fellow disciple. How could Senior Brother Feng attack him?” Bai Linghan sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. “If Senior Brother Wang hadn’t stalled the Demon Beast for so long, Senior Brother Feng wouldn’t have defeated it so easily. Yet instead of showing gratitude, Senior Brother Feng actually…”

Bai Linghan trailed off, as if unwilling to continue, and simply sighed again.

After speaking, Bai Linghan went to bandage the other disciples’ wounds, as if his words were just casual remarks. However, his comments took root in Wang Jianbai’s heart.

Wang Jianbai was already unwilling to accept the outcome. He had used up so many artifacts, even the stone slab, yet gained nothing. Feng Xixing had taken all the spoils!

No… he had to make Feng Xixing return everything to him!

Seeing the unwillingness and calculation in Wang Jianbai’s eyes, Bai Linghan smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze. He also quite wanted that Demon Core. In that case, he might as well let Wang Jianbai try again. If he actually got it, great. And if Feng Xixing refused…

Well, he wouldn’t lose anything either.

Bai Linghan mentally reviewed his plan, confirming he hadn’t overlooked anything, then accepted a few disciples’ thanks with a gentle smile. As he stood up, he couldn’t help but glance toward the three figures in the distance.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the figure being protected behind Feng Xixing had a silhouette that felt familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.

…

Lin Chuyun confirmed Feng Xixing was unharmed before he finally felt completely at ease. At that moment, Yan Sha, who had been quietly behind them, suddenly called out in a dazed voice.

“Junior Brother… Feng?”

The two turned around to see Yan Sha wearing a shocked, dazed expression. He looked blankly at Lin Chuyun, then at Feng Xixing, and finally crouched down, clutching his head.

He just shut down like that.

Lin Chuyun was bewildered. He also glanced at Feng Xixing, didn’t notice anything wrong, and asked in confusion, “Senior Brother Yan? What’s wrong?”

He hadn’t expected that hearing his voice would make Yan Sha react so strongly. He not only jumped up and retreated five steps but also stammered again, “D-d-d-don’t call me Senior Brother!”

Lin Chuyun looked at him, baffled. He took a step forward in confusion. “Why—”

“Stop, stop, stop! You—don’t come closer. Let me sort this out…”

Seeing Yan Sha getting more flustered as he approached, Lin Chuyun had to stop. He turned back to look at Feng Xixing with a lost expression—like a kitten bullied by a stranger, pawing at its owner’s pant leg to get him to back him up.

Feng Xixing looked up at Yan Sha, his tone displeased. “What’s going on?”

Yan Sha organized his thoughts, took a deep breath to calm down, then looked at Feng Xixing hesitantly. “Junior Brother Feng, what did you call… Junior Brother Lin—no, no—what did you call him… just now?”

Lin Chuyun froze, then immediately realized his identity had been exposed. He hadn’t expected a cultivator’s hearing to be so sharp. He’d deliberately lowered his voice, and even his little disciple had leaned in close before speaking, but it had still been overheard.

“This…” Lin Chuyun couldn’t help but poke Feng Xixing, signaling for him to say something quickly.

Feng Xixing was extremely calm. Since they’d been found out, he had no intention of hiding it anymore and said directly, “Of course I called him Shizun.”

Yan Sha’s expression went completely blank. He looked at Lin Chuyun with a dazed look and asked in a tiny voice, “Immortal Lord… Lin?”

Lin Chuyun rubbed the tip of his nose and nodded silently, acknowledging it.

Yan Sha froze in place, as still as a statue.

Seeing that the poor man had been practically frightened out of his wits, Lin Chuyun had to take the initiative to explain, “This Lord was simply worried about Xixing, so I came in to take a look. This matter is not convenient for others to know, so just act as if you don’t know.”

How could he possibly act as if he didn’t know?! Yan Sha didn’t even know what to do with his hands now and wished he could get as far away from Lin Chuyun as possible.

And it wasn’t just the shock of Lin Chuyun’s identity. He also recalled that he had called Lin Chuyun a bastard right to his face. Immortal Lord Lin was notoriously vindictive in the sect. Now that he had insulted him, would he wake up one morning to find himself thrown into a Spider Nest?

The more Yan Sha thought about it, the more afraid he became. He instinctively shifted his feet, wanting to distance himself from Lin Chuyun.

“If,” Lin Chuyun added, as if remembering something, smiling as he threatened, “anyone else finds out about this Lord’s identity because of you, this Lord will go tell Zhu Yan about how you took advantage of me.”

Yan Sha instantly stopped in his tracks and silently shuffled back.

Although Yan Sha tried his best to disguise his feelings, when Bai Linghan walked over, he still clearly sensed the strange atmosphere among the three. His gaze swept over them quickly. Yan Sha was standing noticeably further from the other two. Feng Xixing wore his usual icy expression. And the disciple he didn’t recognize had a helpless look on his face.

Did something just happen…?

Squinting slightly, Bai Linghan quickly made a decision. His brows furrowed, and his tone carried a hint of difficulty and ingratiation. “Senior Brother Yan… Senior Brother Wang’s injuries haven’t healed. Linghan is worried we might encounter danger in the desert. Could… could Senior Brother Yan perhaps travel with us for now?”

He completely omitted mentioning Feng Xixing and Lin Chuyun.

Yan Sha’s first reaction was to look at Lin Chuyun. However, Lin Chuyun had already ducked behind Feng Xixing when Bai Linghan arrived and was now completely out of sight. He had no choice but to steel himself and reply, “Then just wait. Wait until Wang Jianbai’s injuries heal before leaving.”

“This…” Bai Linghan hadn’t expected that response and was momentarily stunned.

Yan Sha wasn’t finished yet. “And, Junior Brother Bai, since you call me Senior Brother, I’ll give you a piece of advice. Don’t say such stupid things in the future. If you meet someone with a bad temper, they’ll just outright beat you up.”

His tone was completely earnest.

Bai Linghan’s expression twisted for an instant. No one had ever called him stupid since he was a child! This Yan Sha was simply… simply… Bai Linghan gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger, struggling to maintain an innocent tone. “Yes… Senior Brother’s lesson is correct. Linghan understands.”

Seeing this, Yan Sha scratched the back of his head in confusion. Had he said something wrong?

Although Bai Linghan didn’t get permission from Yan Sha, when the three entered the desert, they still found themselves with two tagalongs.

However, aside from Bai Linghan and Wang Jianbai, the remaining disciples hadn’t followed them. They had chosen a different direction for their trial. Wang Jianbai hadn’t wanted to bring so many burdens along anyway, so he was quite satisfied to see them be sensible.

Being followed was always irritating, but Lin Chuyun couldn’t say much about it. He just couldn’t stop glancing back, always suspecting Bai Linghan of scheming behind his back.

The thirty-ninth time Feng Xixing saw Lin Chuyun look back, his expression finally turned cold. He deliberately slowed two steps until he was walking behind Lin Chuyun.

The fortieth time Lin Chuyun turned back, he saw his little disciple scowling at him, his gaze holding a hint of grievance and displeasure, looking exactly like Lin Chuyun was a faithless lover who had deceived his feelings.

Lin Chuyun: “???”

What was going on?

Under Lin Chuyun’s puzzled gaze, Feng Xixing’s body stiffened considerably. He didn’t even know why he’d made such a childish gesture. It was as if he’d lived those centuries in his past life for nothing.

“Didn’t Shizun say he no longer liked Bai Linghan?” Feng Xixing spoke in a low voice. “Then why do you keep staring at him?”

Lin Chuyun understood now. His little disciple thought he was about to be abandoned again and was throwing a tantrum.

He smiled helplessly, reached out to ruffle Feng Xixing’s hair, and soothed, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. Shizun doesn’t like him. Shizun only cares about you.”

After all, he only had this one disciple.

Feng Xixing froze. Something seemed to flash through his heart, but before he could dwell on it, a sudden change occurred around them.

The desert beneath their feet suddenly began to undulate. Within moments, everyone was already sunk up to their waists in quicksand. And within the sand, something was crawling rapidly.