Chapter 23: Looks Like Your Family Has an Insider

Pill Peak.

On the way there, they had learned from the Pill Peak Elder that Xuan Yao had fallen unconscious three times recently and had only just awakened after taking medicine.

The young manor lord was extremely weak, his face pale as he leaned against the edge of the couch. Even so, he hadn’t removed the treasure artifact on his body—in fact, the Tail Feather by his temple was still firmly in place.

Gu Changhuai glanced at that Tail Feather and thought to himself, Wouldn’t that poke him uncomfortably while sleeping?

Xuan Yao’s first glance fell on Gu Changhuai, who had arrived with Rong Ye. He was about to speak when his gaze shifted downward to the wrist that Rong Ye was gripping.

His eyes widened, anger instantly surging onto his face. He gnashed his teeth and said, “If the Immortal Venerable is here to visit me, is there really any need to drag along an attendant?”

Gu Changhuai clicked his tongue. “…The young manor lord is awfully nosy.”

Seeing Xuan Yao’s sour expression, the Pill Peak Elder patted his head and sternly warned, “Don’t get worked up.” Then, to Gu Changhuai, the elder added, “Getting agitated can stir up the lingering demonic energy. Don’t provoke him.”

Gu Changhuai shrugged. The healer’s word is law.

However, once they reached Pill Peak, Rong Ye should have let go of his hand—but for some reason, he kept holding on. Had he forgotten? Gu Changhuai lightly tugged his wrist and slipped free.

Rong Ye glanced back at him, said nothing, and withdrew his gaze.

Gu Changhuai felt baffled: …

Now that they had separated, Xuan Yao’s anger eased. He looked at Gu Changhuai, opened his mouth to speak, but a flash of spiritual light passed through his throat, silencing him instantly.

Rong Ye withdrew his hand and said flatly, “Silence.”

The young manor lord had never suffered such treatment. He touched his neck, his face flushing red.

With Rong Ye having spoken, even the Pill Peak Elder couldn’t say more. The elder turned to Xuan Yao earnestly. “It’s all for your own good. Behave yourself, young manor lord. We’re about to start clearing the demonic energy.”

At those words, Xuan Yao deflated and sat back down, resigning himself.

In the few breaths after the elder spoke, Rong Ye flicked his sleeve, and a formation barrier suddenly appeared, completely enclosing Xuan Yao. The Pill Peak Elder snapped their fingers, and spiritual power instantly parted Xuan Yao’s robes.

A long scar abruptly appeared, stretching from the junction of his shoulder and collarbone down to his distinctly contoured abdomen, where a palm-sized half-mark of Red Maple was imprinted—as vivid as if it had been painted stroke by stroke.

The knife scar faded from deep to shallow; it must have been a frontal slash with unrestrained force.

Faint demonic energy emanated from the scar, its aura similar to his own. At first glance, even Gu Changhuai almost believed he had inflicted it.

His eyes darkened.

It was exactly like his style.

What a pity—if it had been him, no matter how many spiritual treasures Xuan Yao had, the moment the blade touched him, he would have been cleaved in two on the spot, with no chance of survival.

This frame-job artist had mediocre skills but was a master at imitation.

Just then, Hua Mei and Jin Shuang hurriedly arrived and stood with Gu Changhuai at a distance, quietly watching the scene.

Seeing the knife scar and Red Maple mark as well, Hua Mei composed himself and exchanged a glance with Gu Changhuai. They could sense the demonic energy didn’t belong to any Demon Clan member they knew.

Strange!

This pot had truly fallen from the sky!

They watched in silence.

With the Xin Nan Sect Master, the Pill Peak Elder, and Rong Ye working together, the process of clearing the demonic energy didn’t take long. After two incense sticks’ time, everyone stopped.

Xuan Yao’s complexion visibly improved, turning ruddy. Once the silencing spell on his throat was lifted, he bowed to Rong Ye and the sect master and elder. “Thank you, Immortal Lords, for your assistance.”

Now that his complexion was better, he had the energy to make trouble again. After thanking them, he turned to the trio of onlookers and whined resentfully at Gu Changhuai. “This young lord has been injured for so many days—how come you didn’t come to see me?”

Gu Changhuai brushed it off. “I’m here now, aren’t I?” As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the Red Maple mark on Xuan Yao’s abdomen, trying to find some clues.

In the next instant—

A figure in profound azure blocked his view.

Tch!

Who the hell?

Gu Changhuai looked up irritably, meeting Rong Ye’s back. Rong Ye’s voice was cold as he instructed, “After the demonic energy is removed, you must rest quietly. Avoid strenuous activity, lest you breed a heart demon.”

It seemed like an unintentional block.

Gu Changhuai lost his temper and stepped aside to continue observing Xuan Yao.

But in the pause of conversation, Xuan Yao had already dressed properly again. “I will heed the Immortal Venerable’s teachings.”

“…” Gu Changhuai was utterly disappointed.

With the demonic energy cleared and a few more precautions confirmed, the Pill Peak Elder chatted laughingly with the Xin Nan Sect Master. “Alright, Qing Lian, don’t be too harsh on the youngsters. Let them play.”

Rong Ye nodded.

The group then left the room together.

The moment their figures vanished, Gu Changhuai’s gaze snapped to Xuan Yao. He rolled up his sleeves and shouted, “Hua Mei! Hold him down!”

Hua Mei responded, “Coming!” He sneered, building up momentum as he lunged at Xuan Yao. “Don’t move! Hands up!”

Xuan Yao: “???”

With their perfect coordination, it happened too fast for reaction. Xuan Yao was pinned down on the couch by Hua Mei, hands immobilized. Gu Changhuai went straight for him.

Jin Shuang jumped at the sudden turn of events and hurriedly dodged to the side. “What are you doing? This is the Xinnan Immortal Sect—don’t cause trouble!”

Rip—!

The exquisitely made Protective Treasure Robe, embroidered with gold and silver threads, tore like rags in Gu Changhuai’s hands, instantly exposing half of Xuan Yao’s torso to the air.

“Relax.” Gu Changhuai smiled. “We’re the good guys.”

Jin Shuang: “…”

Look at your actions.

Zero convincing power!

Seeing it was Gu Changhuai tearing his clothes, Xuan Yao stopped struggling. A trace of inexplicable shyness actually appeared on his usually arrogant face.

“You… so eager already…” His voice grew quieter, and he coughed lightly. “And with so many people around… we can wait until after the wedding…”

Gu Changhuai glanced at him suspiciously. “Are you sick?” He turned to Jin Shuang. “Don’t just stand there—gag him.”

Always saying crap no one wants to hear.

Jin Shuang: “…”

No.

He wouldn’t stoop to their level.

He turned his back to the door. “I’ll keep watch for you.”

“Stay still!” Hua Mei scolded the fidgeting Xuan Yao. “Answer a few questions, and we’ll let you go.”

Xuan Yao simply stared at the ceiling. “Fine, fine. Do whatever you want—after all, you’re going to marry into my Red Feather Manor eventually!”

By now, Gu Changhuai’s fingers had touched the Red Maple mark at the end of the knife scar.

The demonic energy had been cleared thoroughly; only a faint residual aura lingered. In a couple of days, once the Red Maple mark faded, even that would dissipate.

After observing it up close for a moment, he frowned.

“Something’s off,” he said.

Hua Mei leaned over for a look and commented, “The knife technique isn’t masterful. A cheap knockoff.”

Hearing this, Xuan Yao looked up curiously. “You’ve seen Yang Shu’s mark before?”

“Kids shouldn’t pry so much.” Gu Changhuai then touched the scar on Xuan Yao’s shoulder, examining it meticulously.

At that touch, Xuan Yao’s body tensed, his gaze fixed intently on Gu Changhuai.

The eyes that usually held a smile were now filled with seriousness—a stark contrast to his usual lazy grin. They gleamed with an aggressively cold intensity.

Feeling the pad of the finger glide over the scar, Xuan Yao’s body trembled slightly beyond his control, his heartbeat accelerating wildly.

Gu Changhuai asked casually, “Do you remember the details of the ambush?”

He waited half a beat, but no response came.

Hm?

Gone mute now?

Gu Changhuai paused and stared at Xuan Yao, noticing he was lost in thought. He suddenly felt an itch in his hand.

Faster than his hand was Hua Mei, who had no patience for the young lord. He slapped Xuan Yao awake and barked, “Hey! We’re asking you! Answer honestly!”

Xuan Yao snapped back, turning his head away unnaturally. In a low voice, he said, “Two and a half months ago, the manor received orders. Learning that the Two Instruments Pavilion’s new Saintess had ascended, Father specially sent me to deliver congratulatory gifts.”

His expression grew serious as he recounted, “But that night on the road, two people ambushed us. They killed all my guards cleanly, then came for me. They seemed to know the weaknesses of the spiritual treasures I carried—each strike deadly, shattering treasures everywhere.”

There was still some lingering fear in his tone. “Fortunately, before I left, the ancestor had infused a strand of divine sense into my Protective Feather, which saved my life.”

As he finished, the Tail Feather by Xuan Yao’s temple swayed.

“Did you get a clear look at their faces?” Gu Changhuai asked.

Xuan Yao shook his head. “They wore masks—couldn’t see clearly. Only their figures showed one male, one female.” He said with disgust, “Ruthless methods, scars left at the blade’s tail—it has to be the Yin-Yang Twins! For them to act so brazenly, they’ll be caught and executed sooner or later!”

Taking the blame and getting cursed to boot—Gu Changhuai smiled faintly. “You’re so sure it’s the Yin-Yang Twins? Knowing your family’s spiritual treasures’ flaws inside out doesn’t mean it was them.” His lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Xuan Yao blinked. “…What do you mean?”

Just then, Jin Shuang coughed twice, kindly reminding them. “The Twins have a terrible reputation, but if they really meant to kill, they’d finish the job. Otherwise, they just prank without half-killing.”

Xuan Yao frowned. “Wasn’t it because I had the ancestor’s divine sense protecting me that I survived?”

“You still don’t get it.” Jin Shuang sighed and explained patiently. “Five years ago, the Twins massacred a city, stewed the city lord into snake soup, and distributed it at the gates—did you ever see a single survivor? Divine sense can block one strike, but there are two of them. The Demon Realm’s Snake City Lord had far higher cultivation than you and had dominated for years with infamous defenses—think he’d have fewer protective items than you?”

“It was only after the massacre that people heard the Twins speak, spreading the rumor they were one male, one female.”

He paused, then added, “As for stripping cultivators naked and hanging them at their sect gates—impolite, sure, but which of those cultivators was harmed even a little?”

Hua Mei was stunned by Jin Shuang’s logical breakdown, then quietly sent a voice transmission to Gu Changhuai. “If I had the money, I’d tip Wuding Pavilion three hundred spirit stones.”

Jin Shuang’s words plunged Xuan Yao into thought. “Then who wanted me dead?”

“Wait.” Gu Changhuai interrupted, his gaze fixed on the top of the scar, where something seemed to be pushing through the skin beneath.

After a silent moment, he suddenly drew a dagger. “Bear with it.”

The blade tip approached—before Xuan Yao could react, a faint pain stung his shoulder, quickly intensifying as if his spiritual meridians ached. His face paled, and he tried to struggle.

“Hold him!” Gu Changhuai snapped sharply.

Seeing the glow beneath the incised skin, Jin Shuang’s expression tightened. He rushed forward to help secure Xuan Yao’s writhing body.

In the next instant, a transparent thread nearly as long as the scar was yanked out. Gu Changhuai quickly sprinkled spiritual medicine on the wound.

Under the medicine’s effect, the small incision healed at a visible speed. Xuan Yao was drenched in sweat, gasping heavily.

The young manor lord had never endured such rough treatment—even during the demonic energy cleansing, the elders had been polite. He opened his mouth to curse, but his gaze fell on the thread coiled around Gu Changhuai’s dagger, and his expression changed drastically.

The curses stuck in his throat; he stared blankly, speechless for a long moment.

Gu Changhuai twirled the dagger, eyeing the transparent thread—which, once removed, writhed slowly on the blade like a snake.

It was alive.

He arched a brow leisurely, his tone eerie. “Looks like your family has an insider.” He turned to Xuan Yao with a smile. “Young manor lord.”

The calm, gentle voice carried an indescribable sarcasm.