Chapter 21: Trouble Falls from the Sky. A New Pot in the Afternoon…

Several days passed in a flash.

Xue Lao Er remained nowhere to be seen. Gu Changhuai took a moment to check the Tongtian Instrument.

He heard that the Enforcement Elder had lost track of the demon from the Demon Clan. In a fit of rage, he simply took all his disciples along to the Mortal Realm to exorcise demons and protect the righteous path.

One could only say… as expected of father and son. Pei Tianyi and the Enforcement Elder truly shared the same hot-tempered vein.

This time, the Han Ya that delivered the message did not linger long and returned early.

The Demon Venerable did not mention any blame for the failure at the Stone Long Platform where blood had splashed across the Xinnan Immortal Sect. He only ordered him to continue lurking in the sect and find an opportunity to assassinate Rong Ye.

It seemed he had given up on the idea of killing the Flower Peacock.

However, Gu Changhuai felt a hidden unease in his heart…

The Demon Venerable was not one to let things go so easily.

This unease lingered in his mind.

Harboring these worries, Gu Changhuai opened his door. In an instant, he sensed a trace of unfamiliar aura inside the room. His eyes glanced toward the figure hiding behind the screen—Xue Lao Er.

In that moment.

The unease reached its peak.

“Bang!”

The door slammed shut.

Gu Changhuai furrowed his brows. “Running to Waterside Residence? Do you have a death wish? Rong Ye lives right next door.”

Afraid of being detected, he deliberately lowered his voice.

Xue Lao Er emerged from behind the screen, disheveled and with a gloomy expression. “The most dangerous place is the safest. Xuan Yao isn’t dead yet—I can’t just go back to face the Demon Venerable like this!”

“And!” His gaze sharpened as he swept it toward Gu Changhuai. “We had the same target, but our arrows came from the exact same position. How is that so coincidental that they collided?”

Gu Changhuai let out a cold laugh, casually replying, “We clearly agreed to act on command, but you went ahead early without even informing me.”

He poured himself a cup of tea, his eyelashes drooping low. “If you wanted to take the head and claim credit in front of the Demon Venerable, just say so. Don’t play both sides with me.”

Xue Lao Er sneered. “We’re both assassins forged in the Shadow Clan, Shadow Demons who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.”

As he spoke, he stared at Gu Changhuai, emphasizing each word heavily. “You wouldn’t even have aim that bad, would you, Gu Sanbai?”

His expression was icy as he scrutinized him, his voice laced with warning and doubt.

In comparison, Gu Changhuai’s posture as he sat nearby seemed exceptionally lazy and relaxed.

“You’re right.” Gu Changhuai propped up his chin, feigning innocence. “Don’t you know better than anyone how I got to be number one?”

“…”

Xue Lao Er silently averted his gaze from Gu Changhuai.

Back then, knowing some inside information, the assassination of Qing Lian Immortal Lord was a one-way ticket to death, so naturally…

“We didn’t even fight, and I don’t know who sprained their ankle and deliberately lost.” Gu Changhuai’s finger traced the rim of his teacup, his tone light and airy. “Sigh… I’ve been enduring hardships undercover in the immortal sect, and now I’m being framed by my own kin. I have grievances but nowhere to voice them.”

His brows and eyes drooped low, presenting a perfect picture of dejected sorrow.

“…”

Xue Lao Er’s voice immediately softened. “That’s not what I meant. I just thought it was too coincidental…”

Gu Changhuai said softly, “The Demon Venerable already knows about this.” He paused, then continued, “Han Ya has been by my side the whole time. On the day of the incident, I sent the message back to the Demon Clan. Even upon learning it was your blunder, the Demon Venerable didn’t blame me.”

At these words, Xue Lao Er’s expression changed. He shot to his feet. “…My blunder?! Me?”

Shifting blame required momentum to sound convincing.

Gu Changhuai’s eyes sharpened. He slammed the table hard and berated him. “You have the nerve to question me! I had everything arranged perfectly. If you hadn’t acted on your own, how could it have failed?! If not you, then me? Think about how much I’ve helped you since you came to the Cultivation World!”

His palm went numb.

Hiss.

He had overdone it.

His hand hurt.

“…” Upon careful reflection, it did seem that way. Xue Lao Er sat back down, feeling in the wrong. “…So what now? Has the Demon Venerable given any clear instructions?”

Gu Changhuai replied, “Red Feather Manor has added a few deathsworn guards around the young manor lord, and the Xinnan Immortal Sect is on high alert throughout. You’d better not act rashly.”

Xue Lao Er looked at Gu Changhuai sullenly, hesitating several times before finally asking after a long while, “Then what should I do?” He frowned. “Go back to the Demon Realm?”

Gu Changhuai gave him an affirming look.

Though he somewhat wanted him to stay and dig up sweet potatoes, this thing couldn’t be left in the Xinnan Immortal Sect—it might explode someday. Better to send it back to the Demon Realm for safety.

Xue Lao Er fell into contemplation.

As he sat silently, his face looked even more sinister and eerie, making anyone who saw him think he was plotting something unfriendly.

Gu Changhuai tapped his fingers on the table, interrupting his train of thought. “Don’t worry. The Demon Venerable must think you’re more capable, which is why he specially sent you with the Heaven-Breaking Bow to handle this.”

“So this failure won’t be a big deal when you go back. The Demon Venerable won’t hold it against you much.” He spoke earnestly. “After all, you’re the one the Demon Venerable values most, Xue Lao Er! Any future missions will surely go to you! Everything is for the Demon Clan!”

It made perfect sense! Xue Lao Er’s gaze firmed up. “Right!” He nodded vigorously. “Everything is for the Demon Clan!”

Gu Changhuai: “Mm! You’re the pride of our Demon Clan! Safe travels!”

…

With just a few words, he hoodwinked Xue Lao Er into leaving. Gu Changhuai let out a heavy sigh of relief, but then felt a twinge of regret.

In his haste to twist the facts, he had forgotten to ask for the Red Drum that controlled the Demon Gu. But the control method was in the Demon Venerable’s hands anyway—getting one Red Drum would only be treating the symptoms, not the root.

Whatever.

Gu Changhuai shook his head, preparing to go to the lake to fish.

…

He hadn’t gone far.

Passing by the courtyard outside Waterside Residence.

From afar, he saw a sneaky figure crouched at the base of the wall—Hua Mei.

His butt stuck out as he huddled at the wall, shrinking his head. Gu Changhuai narrowed his eyes and sneaked over similarly, lightly patting his shoulder.

Hua Mei jolted in fright and instantly squatted down. Seeing it was Gu Changhuai, his expression relaxed. “It’s you.”

Gu Changhuai raised a brow. “Spying?”

“Can’t hear a thing.” Hua Mei pointed inside, explaining, “Earlier, I saw a handsome old man going up the mountain, so I secretly followed.”

To avoid detection, they conversed via voice transmission.

Hearing this, Gu Changhuai curiously leaned over. The two carefully peeked two pairs of eyes over the wall, using the tree shadows in the courtyard for cover, adjusting their position to hide better.

From here, they could clearly see the courtyard scene while concealing their figures.

With the tree shadows blocking them, he and Hua Mei grew bolder, propping themselves up side by side along the wall.

Sweeping his gaze over, he saw a dashing old man in the courtyard, his hair combed impeccably, smiling as he played chess against Rong Ye. Rong Ye, holding the pieces, had a serene expression, exuding the poise of clear skies after rain.

The two in the courtyard moved their mouths as they spoke, but their voices were completely blocked by the barrier.

So distant?

Gu Changhuai raised a brow, drew a circle, and stealthily extended a thread of divine sense, trying to pry open a gap to eavesdrop.

…

The two playing chess showed no change in expression. The Xin Nan Sect Master chuckled. “Those two on the wall…” He could sense them, so naturally Rong Ye could too.

Not to mention one of them carried Rong Ye’s divine sense.

Rong Ye didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Keeping them for now.”

“Quite the refined hobby.” The Xin Nan Sect Master gave Rong Ye a meaningful look. “You wouldn’t take a disciple back then, but now you’re raising Demon Clan members. Don’t overdo it.”

Rong Ye’s tone was indifferent. “His nature isn’t bad. No issue.”

The Xin Nan Sect Master huffed a laugh, neither agreeing nor denying.

…

On the wall, Hua Mei urged, “How about it? Can you hear?”

“Don’t rush.” To avoid detection, Gu Changhuai moved slowly. After waiting a moment, he finally pried open a gap and beckoned Hua Mei. “Got it. Come on, come on, see what they’re saying.”

Two pairs of eyes peered intently through the gaps in the tree shadows at the chess players.

The Xin Nan Sect Master said, “In half a month’s time, the Heaven Discussion Assembly will end, and then we’ll prepare for the Sect Grand Competition. Planning to pick a disciple from it this year?”

Taking a disciple?

Gu Changhuai’s heart skipped. His expression grew slightly serious.

Had there been news of the male lead Zhao Qianlin? A few days ago at the Stone Long Platform, he had looked carefully—none matched the male lead’s appearance.

Pei Tianyi blocking Jin Shuang earlier had a bit of the vibe of cannon fodder blocking the male lead. But given the childish level of their scuffle… neither fit.

“No.” Rong Ye’s indifferent voice sounded from the courtyard.

Gu Changhuai felt regret.

Tsk.

The male lead Zhao Qianlin’s whereabouts remained unknown.

The Xin Nan Sect Master shook his head. “Fine if not.”

Afterward, the two continued their game. Time passed, and their conversation drifted idly to topics like movements of other sects and families—nothing substantial.

Gu Changhuai lost interest and turned to ask Hua Mei, “Right, didn’t you go to build rapport? Why’d you come back suddenly?”

“I heard a Demon Clan member infiltrated the Xinnan Immortal Sect. Thought it was you exposed, so I rushed back to see if I could save your sorry hide.” He noticed Hua Mei’s eyes never left the Xin Nan Sect Master as he spoke.

Gu Changhuai said, “Not me, it was Xue Lao Er. The Demon Venerable sent him to kill Xuan Yao. Failed and got blocked.” Following Hua Mei’s gaze, he looked at the Xin Nan Sect Master too.

The handsome old man had black hair streaked with silver. In terms of looks, he was a remarkably elegant elder—must have charmed countless girls in his youth.

But…

“You’re not thinking of building rapport with him, are you?” Gu Changhuai whispered, his tone somewhat incredulous.

At this, Hua Mei shot him a sideways glance. “In your mind, am I that tasteless?” He, young and beautiful as a flower, pairing with an old man? What a thought!

Gu Changhuai looked to the sky. “Hard to say.” But this position… He glanced at Rong Ye’s back, a itch stirring in his heart.

His hands itched. He wanted to make a move.

As he pondered the best way to act, the two chess players shifted the topic to Red Feather Manor.

The Xin Nan Sect Master said, “On the day the young manor lord had his incident, Red Feather Manor sent word, suspecting the troublemaker in the sect was the Yin-Yang Twins from the Demon Realm.”

Rong Ye’s gaze shifted slightly, glancing at the tree shadows before withdrawing it. “What makes you think so?”

The Xin Nan Sect Master sighed. “I heard this young manor lord was assassinated a month before the Heaven Discussion Assembly began. He survived only thanks to the many magical artifacts he carried.”

He continued, “Though the young manor lord wasn’t fatally wounded, he was left with a knife scar on his shoulder tainted with demonic energy. That scar matches one of the Yin-Yang Twins, Yang Shu—the hilt has a blood maple mark.”

The words had barely fallen.

The two on the wall froze simultaneously, exchanging bewildered looks and seeing innocence and confusion in each other’s eyes.

The atmosphere stiffened into silence.

Hua Mei frowned in deep thought. “…?”

Gu Changhuai looked puzzled. “…?”

No way.

When had they ever gone to assassinate Xuan Yao? Didn’t the Cultivation World punish rumors?

Couldn’t just spout nonsense!

Gu Changhuai racked his brains… Who was framing them?

Sitting at home.

And pots fell from the sky.

He had just slung off the old pot that morning.

And put on a new one that afternoon?!