Chapter 35 Part 2

Especially that robe—wasn’t it the one he had prepared for Shizun?

Heavens, could this youth be his Jade Pendant Master? Had Shizun successfully remolded his true body?

Shen He was overjoyed and pounced before Xie Linlang like a chick spotting its mother hen.

“Shizun! You’ve recovered?”

Faced with Shen He’s pure concern and delight, Xie Linlang’s mood improved quite a bit.

He nodded. “What’s the deal with this leopard?”

“I was exploring a spatial fissure with Fellow Daoist Zhang and had some gains. When dividing the spoils at the end, Fellow Daoist Zhang gave Little Black to me as his share.”

Shen He quickly explained the Azure Flame Leopard’s origins, then turned to coax the black leopard with its ears flattened back. “Don’t be scared. This is a Senior who has taken good care of me before.”

The black leopard still emitted low growls, extremely vigilant.

Xie Linlang confirmed that control of the leopard was in Shen He’s hands and that it wouldn’t leak their conversation. So he ignored it.

He walked over and sat by the campfire. “Why didn’t you set up a defensive array?”

Shen He lowered his head dejectedly. “Setting up an array would attract investigating cultivators instead. I figured with Little Black on alert…”

Xie Linlang said flatly, “Facts prove this leopard is even more absent-minded than you.”

Shen He subconsciously stroked the seemingly angry black leopard’s head and whispered, “He was given to me by Fellow Daoist Zhang, so he’s a bit unhappy. I can understand…”

Xie Linlang: “That’s an issue between the leopard and its former master. Why should you bear the risk of a potential security breach?”

Shen He could only lower his head and assent, promising to pay more attention to safety in the future.

The Azure Flame Leopard continued growling at Xie Linlang, but its long tail curled around Shen He’s ankle, as if in apology.

Shen He gave the leopard’s head another stroke, soothing it with a pat, then whispered, “Shizun, now that you’ve successfully remolded your true body, what are your plans?”

Xie Linlang: “Le Qingping and I went to a different space. She promised to bring me into Silent Night Palace, so after that, you and I will be fellow disciples.”

Shen He was somewhat surprised. “Really? You’re… you’re joining Silent Night Palace too?”

A doubt stirred in his heart. With the Jade Pendant Master’s—no, now Xie Shizun’s—level after Reincarnation Recultivation, he shouldn’t need another sect’s protection.

Could it be… he was going to Silent Night Palace to guide him?

Shen He felt it unlikely, but what if? The thought left him a bit anxious.

“…I’m going to Silent Night Palace to investigate some matters.”

Xie Linlang didn’t notice Shen He’s expression. Unbeknownst to him, he had taken on the same melancholic look as Shen He and the Azure Flame Leopard from moments ago, staring into the fire as he said softly, “It might be quite dangerous, so we’ll just pretend to be ordinary fellow sect disciples.”

Shen He’s mood dimmed. He forced a smile. “Senior Brother Pang knows about you too, Shizun. What should I…”

Xie Linlang’s tone was indifferent. “Just say I left.”

Shen He fell silent. After a moment, he whispered, “In that case, Shizun, there’s something I want to ask you about.”

Xie Linlang snapped back to attention and rubbed his temple. “Go ahead.”

Xie Linlang assumed Shen He would ask about cultivation tips, but instead, Shen He said, “You mentioned Nine Spirits Sect before, Shizun. While scouting a small space earlier, I entered a meditation chamber belonging to a Nine Spirits Sect cultivator.”

Xie Linlang’s eyes sharpened. He stared fixedly at Shen He and said softly, “And then?”

Shen He recounted his encounter in a low voice.

The moment he mentioned Xu Zhen’s name, Xie Linlang straightened up. An indescribable fury rose from the depths of his heart—like raging flames that burned fiercely and could not be extinguished—gnawing at his insides.

Xu Zhen, that bastard!

To think that scum had dared to deceive him!!

Xie Linlang was utterly furious. After Pei Ji went missing, Xie Linlang had personally gone to Nine Spirits Sect to search for him. Xu Zhen had received him, innocently claiming Pei Ji had already left the sect, even pretending to help search for two days…

Hmm? Wait!!

“You mean the Nine Spirits Totem Secret Art causes backlash on the cultivator, driving them into madness?”

Xie Linlang suddenly realized something off. If Xu Zhen’s condition had spiraled out of control, leading him to ambush Pei Ji, then… how had he maintained that calm spiritual power aura when meeting him?

Unless… that wasn’t Xu Zhen.

Xie Linlang abruptly recalled the discounted medicine bottles marked with his insignia that he and Le Qingping had found earlier in the Nine Spirits Sect Ruins.

Those were special pills he had refined for auction houses, including one called the Zhu Yan Pill.

The Zhu Yan Pill could gradually alter a cultivator’s appearance according to the user’s will.

One pill lasted only a month, but for bandits or those settling personal grudges, it was an essential travel item.

The Zhu Yan Pill had always sold well and was one of Xie Linlang’s sources of income.

When Xie Linlang found the Zhu Yan Pill in the storage house earlier, he hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was just Nine Spirits Sect’s normal sect reserves.

Even Jiuxia Mountain had some refined by him for contingencies.

But now, it all made sense.

Xie Linlang’s eyes slowly widened.

The Xu Zhen back then had been an imposter! Using a pill he himself had refined!

Xie Linlang hadn’t been familiar with Pei Ji’s friends before, so the fake Xu Zhen had only needed to fool him superficially.

The instant he understood everything, Xie Linlang could no longer suppress the rampaging Demonic Qi within him.

First, he had encountered the Nine Spirits Sect Master, whom he thought dead, and learned of Pei Ji’s fate. Then he suffered a curse, forcibly calmed himself, and escaped. Now, he discovered that the very pill he refined had deceived him back then. Xie Linlang’s emotions collapsed like a breached dam.

The world spun, and he slumped to the ground, knowing nothing more.