The maids glanced over. “These people are fine. Tomorrow, the Little Young Master will draw in baleful qi to become a demon. Hurry and gather all the baleful qi from your cave abode and bring it. Madam will need it tomorrow.”
Shi Ying opened his mouth, but his expression changed drastically. “Oh no!” He spun and dashed out furiously. “Someone’s broken into my cave!”
At that, the two maids’ expressions flickered with shock. Ignoring the pair on the ground, they followed Shi Ying without a word.
A dungeon was a prison itself, countless thorns their shackles. The maids were confident the cultivators couldn’t escape even unattended.
…
Once their auras fully vanished into the dungeon, Gu Changhuai appeared, strolling to stand between the two “dead pigs” on the ground.
He looked left.
Looked right.
One was Jin Shuang.
The other, Kong Huai.
Then up.
A dozen Enforcement Hall special thorny sleeping bags on the wall.
Gu Changhuai: “…”
Perfect.
What a rousing, thorough rescue operation.
Rescuers and rescued joyfully reunited, heroes gathered!
…
A long silence.
After waiting a moment.
Gu Changhuai impatiently kicked Jin Shuang. “Get up. They’re gone. Stop pretending.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Jin Shuang cracked his eyes open a slit, meeting the ferocious mask on Gu Changhuai’s face. “…”
After a stunned pause, he asked, “…And you are now?”
Gu Changhuai adjusted the ring-pommel saber at his waist. “I’m the Shadow Head of the Demon Clan now. You can call me—” He said solemnly, “Double agent.”
Jin Shuang: “…”
Jin Shuang struggled to sit up, curious. “How did you know I was faking?”
“…” Gu Changhuai pointed to Kong Huai, sprawled beside him. “Look at him.”
Jin Shuang: “?”
Gu Changhuai sighed earnestly. “Look—his head’s all bruised. No one getting tossed protects their head first.”
Some arrived dragged along, clothes torn, head bashed with lumps. Others were just dirty, faces pristine.
Jin Shuang, whose face was spotless: “…”
No rebuttal. Speechless.
The truly unconscious Kong Huai: “…”
Thanks for speaking up for me.
“Weren’t you scouting in town? How’d you get caught?” Gu Changhuai asked.
At that, Jin Shuang grew serious. “Right after entering the city, I sensed demon clan auras. Soon, I noticed tails on me. They must be behind the Enforcement Elder’s disappearance.”
He looked up, expression complicated as he eyed the dozen hanging on the wall, tone subtle. “Since I couldn’t find the targets myself, I played along—pretended to lose and got brought here…”
He had found the Enforcement Hall disciples, though he hadn’t expected them hung like this. He pointed specifically at the flowers blooming over each head. “What are those?”
“Those are Dream-Making Flowers. Lady Mengying excels at crafting dreams, entering them, killing within.” Han Ya suddenly spoke, its scarlet eyes gleaming eerily in the dungeon, voice raspy. “She’s not here but needs these Enforcement Hall people docile, so she used this method.”
Jin Shuang glanced astonished at Han Ya. “This ugly crow talks?”
“Hey hey.” Gu Changhuai covered Han Ya’s ears warningly. “The kid’s too young for that. Take it back.”
Jin Shuang: “…Sorry, I lost my composure.”
After a pause.
Gu Changhuai looked down at Kong Huai on the ground. “What about him? Wasn’t he with Rong Ye? How’d he get caught?”
“I don’t know.” Jin Shuang shook his head. “When I was captured, he was already unconscious.”
That was strange. Gu Changhuai pondered. From Shi Ying’s reaction earlier, he could tell that someone was currently wrecking Shi Ying’s cave abode—likely Hua Mei deliberately leading the way, with Rong Ye doing the destruction.
So how had Kong Huai, who should have been traveling with Rong Ye, been separately caught by Shi Ying? Had they split up again?
Soon, Gu Changhuai made his decision. “We stay put for now. Lady Mengying will come over tomorrow morning, and we’ll play it by ear then.”
“No, the Enforcement Elder isn’t here.” At that moment, Jin Shuang finished counting the people on the wall and frowned. “These are all disciples from the Enforcement Hall.”
Gu Changhuai mulled it over. “Since Lady Mengying has no intention of killing them, the Elder should be fine too. Keep an eye on them for now, and we’ll wait for news tomorrow.”
With that, he tossed a token to Jin Shuang. “Use this to contact me. Tongtian Instruments don’t work inside Zhuangzi Manor—the barrier’s array core hasn’t been found yet, so we can’t send messages to the outside.”
Jin Shuang nodded, his expression grave. “Be careful with everything.”
Afterward, Gu Changhuai shifted his gaze to Kong Huai nearby. He leisurely rolled up his sleeves and raised his palm without changing his expression.
He prepared for a second round.
“Wait! What are you doing?” Jin Shuang quickly blocked Gu Changhuai, his eyes full of reproach that screamed, He’s so innocent—why hit him again?
Gu Changhuai: “…Last time he was caught by the spider, this was how I woke him up. Otherwise, you’d be exhausted carrying a dozen people by yourself.”
Hearing it was just to wake him, Jin Shuang relaxed. “I’ll do it.”
When dealing with fellow sect members, gentler methods were better.
Gu Changhuai regretfully lowered his hand and sighed wistfully, “With your Wuding Pavilion’s style, I end up looking like a heartless member of the Demon Clan.”
Jin Shuang: “…”
“How could that be?” Jin Shuang tried to keep his tone even. “Look at you, doing double-agent work. Clearly, you’re an upright, conscientious demon.”
Conscience.
Gu Changhuai touched his chest.
His emotions remained calm, even with a lazy smile on his lips as he replied meaningfully, “That remains to be seen.” Conscience was a matter of mood, after all.
The next day.
Early in the morning, Gu Changhuai was summoned by Xue Lao Er and followed the maids to another location together.
The two maids maintained their poised demeanor from yesterday, smiling elegantly with graceful movements, showing no sign of the fight from last night.
Gu Changhuai lowered his gaze to conceal his emotions.
They soon arrived at an exquisitely decorated elegant chamber. Unlike other places, there was no floral scent here—not even the rose thorns continued climbing toward this room, leaving it free of any prickles.
His eyes swept over the courtyard outside the chamber. In the southeast corner lay a killing array poised to strike; in the northwest, a protective barrier to ward off external attacks. Even the small ornament hanging under the eaves was immensely valuable.
It was as if this lady wanted to give her Little Young Master all the beauty in the world and protect him airtight.
The elegant chamber was unusually quiet.
The maid stopped at the door and called softly, “Madam, I’ve brought them.”
A mature, gentle female voice came from inside, soft and melancholic. “Come in.”
The door opened.
Faint wisps of agarwood incense wafted out. Green smoke rose languidly from the censer, and behind the screen, a silhouette leaned against something solid—a square, blocky shadow.
Gu Changhuai’s brows furrowed slightly beneath his mask.
…Leaning on a table?
…Or a stool?
Xue Lao Er spoke first. “Madam, shall we start unsealing him now?”
“No rush.” Lady Mengying’s tone carried a hint of grievance. “My son and I have been apart for so many years—we haven’t spent enough time together yet. If I unseal him now, what if he resents me?”
She sighed. “Mother has planned for you all these years, my son. Surely you’ll understand my hardships… right?” It seemed like she was talking to herself, yet also to someone else. “What’s so good about being a sword cultivator? With your excellent aptitude, you should be a towering demon who stands tall between heaven and earth.”
Gu Changhuai: “…” He glanced sideways at Xue Lao Er, who seemed to roll his eyes dramatically. What’s your deal, kid!
Meanwhile, Lady Mengying continued her tearful lament. “My son has suffered so much these years—his hands are covered in calluses from sword practice, and there are whip scars on his body. That damn Cultivation World—why do they love tormenting good kids to death!”
He and Xue Lao Er just stood there, silently listening to Lady Mengying sob for quite a while.
Gu Changhuai looked at Xue Lao Er again.
…Such heartfelt words—why are you still rolling your eyes?
Xue Lao Er shot him a look that said, Figure it out yourself.
Finally.
Once Lady Mengying had calmed her emotions, she magnanimously said, “Alright, come over and see how to break the seal first.”
Xue Lao Er wasn’t the patient type to begin with. Hearing this was like receiving a decree—he feared she might change her mind and immediately replied, “Yes, Madam.”
Seeing his relieved expression, Gu Changhuai chuckled unkindly—but soon, he couldn’t laugh anymore.
Rounding the screen, they saw a crystal coffin nurturing a body. Beside it leaned a stunningly beautiful woman in red, adorned with one red and one white rose in her hair. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed heartbrokenly at the youth lying in the crystal coffin.
And the one lying inside…
Gu Changhuai knew him all too well.
The spirited young man now lay in deep slumber. His Xinnan Immortal Sect robes had been stripped off and replaced with luxurious cloak embroidered in gold and silver threads.
Gu Changhuai fell silent: “…”
…Pei Tianyi.
You again.
Weren’t you off looking for the Nourishing Sha Array sites?!
Seeing him, Gu Changhuai suddenly recalled that pile of “heroes” in the dungeon.
Whoa!*
What a carrot convention!
![Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tr.jpg?resize=151,215 "Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]")
