Cleaning up Ning Xiu’s sea of consciousness wasn’t particularly easy. By the time all the useless things were thrown out, night had already fallen.
Ning Xiu’s small spiritual consciousness floated in mid-air, pretending to sigh in relief. It patted its little belly and perched on Ning Buwei’s shoulder.
The little one’s spiritual consciousness was also warm, like a heat-emitting cotton ball. It nuzzled against Ning Buwei’s neck.
Ning Buwei reached out and poked his little face. “In the future, if you dare to stuff things in carelessly, deal with it yourself.”
“Aya~” Ning Xiu grinned, rolled over on his shoulder, and floated in mid-air, pressing his soft little face against Ning Buwei’s. “Ah~”
Father, don’t be angry~
Spiritual consciousness contact felt more ethereal than physical touch, yet more intimate. The little one’s spiritual consciousness even carried a milky scent. His watery eyes stared at his father. Perhaps from spending too much time with the little yellow dog, he curiously poked the tip of his nose against Ning Buwei’s, his eyes widening in surprise.
He seemed to find it incredible.
Ning Buwei chuckled lazily and flicked his son’s little spiritual consciousness, sending it tumbling.
Ning Xiu laughed as he rolled a couple of times, then swam back using all his limbs. He bumped his forehead against Ning Buwei’s nose, only to be flicked far away again, the entire cotton ball plastering itself onto Chu Jun’s back.
Chu Jun had just finished reinforcing the area around his son’s sea of consciousness, marking it with a seal to prevent anyone from wandering in. Suddenly, a milky ball stuck to his back. He reached back and picked up his son.
Ning Xiu curved his eyes and smiled obediently at Bai Bai mother. “Aiya~”
Mother, does it hurt~
Chu Jun looked at Ning Buwei.
Ning Buwei rubbed his nose. Earlier, he had abruptly grabbed Chu Jun’s wrist to ask about the wound. Seeing Chu Jun avoid answering and even retort with a couple of sharp remarks, it had been somewhat sudden.
But he just inexplicably found that wound irritating.
“Come here,” Chu Jun said, his expression unreadable.
Ning Buwei thought to himself, “Am I going to be scolded even for playing with my son?” He sneered inwardly and strode over. “What is it?”
Ridiculous. He, the great demon who could kill thousands without blinking, if Chu Jun dared to scold him now, he wouldn’t be polite—
“Leave a mark,” Chu Jun said as a small array appeared in his palm. “Ning Xiu’s sea of consciousness defense is too weak. I’ve set up a seal. No one but you and I can enter.”
“…Alright.” Ning Buwei left a spiritual imprint on the small array and stared at it for a few moments. “May I add two strokes?”
Chu Jun nodded.
Ning Buwei added a symbol to the small array. Instantly, the array and mark vanished without a trace. Even Chu Jun couldn’t find where it was.
Chu Jun’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Is this the kind of mark you left in my sea of consciousness?”
No wonder he couldn’t find it even after searching his entire sea of consciousness.
Ning Buwei’s hand, which had just finished adding the symbol, froze. He laughed dryly, “It’s a misunderstanding.”
Although he had indeed intended to deal a fatal blow to that “old thing” before, planning to drain its spiritual power and then devour its primordial spirit, later he realized he couldn’t win. He promptly changed his tune and called him “senior” quite smoothly. He seemed to have even patted a blood symbol on the other’s shoulder… Tsk.
Ning Buwei could barely smile anymore.
“Ah~” Ning Xiu tugged at Chu Jun’s collar, patted his own flat little belly, indicating he was hungry.
Mother, porridge~
“We’ll discuss this outside.”
As their spiritual consciousnesses returned to their bodies, outside it had already grown dark.
Ning Xiu opened his eyes and truly felt the hunger. His little face scrunched up like a bun. “Wu!”
Porridge!
Ning Buwei rummaged through the storage ring. “Where’s the rice porridge?”
“Last compartment, third layer,” Chu Jun said, reaching out to take Ning Xiu from his arms.
“I can go in and remove that mark,” Ning Buwei said, taking out the rice porridge. He paused, then added, “If you mind, it can also be done from the outside… though it would be more troublesome.”
“No need, leave it,” Chu Jun said, handing him the bowl.
Ning Buwei took the bowl, glancing at him. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll do something underhanded?”
“What kind of underhanded thing?” Chu Jun asked.
Ning Buwei stared at him for a while, then smirked. “What do you think?”
“Force me to be a cauldron?” Chu Jun replied calmly.
Ning Buwei: “……”
He knew this surnamed Chu, even after five hundred years, was still fair-skinned but dark-hearted!
An incense stick’s time later, Ning Xiu finally ate his porridge. He burped contentedly, looked at his father, then at Bai Bai mother, pondered for a moment, and decided to sleep in Bai Bai mother’s arms.
Mother’s embrace was warm and comfortable, and mother was gentle and quiet. Unlike father, who always tugged his hair or poked his belly just as he was about to fall asleep, and sometimes even pinched his face while he slept, making him drool a lot.
Ning Buwei, seeing his son forget about his father as soon as he had a mother, was quite dissatisfied. He poked his cheek. “You little ingrate.”
“Ya~” Ning Xiu blinked sleepily, burying his little face in Chu Jun’s sleeve, leaving only his bottom facing his father.
——
At the main peak of Wushi Sect.
“Is this true?” Chu Linyuan looked at his eldest disciple, Shen Xi.
“This is indeed what Chu Xin told this disciple,” Shen Xi said, cupping his hands. “However, Junior Brother Chu Xin is still young and was badly frightened. I cannot judge the truth of his words, but if Ning Buwei is really in Wushi Sect, we should prepare early.”
“The true culprit behind the Yuanye Peak incident has not yet been found. With inner disciples slaughtered by their peers, and Elder Chu Wu killed in public, rumors are already spreading in the sect, causing unrest. Even the sect’s grand selection has been affected,” Chu Bai stepped forward and said. “Master, this matter should be resolved as soon as possible.”
Chu Linyuan paced slowly, saying, “Previously, Ning Buwei was only at the peak of Nascent Soul. He fought with Venerable Nanshu and others at Xingluo Cliff and didn’t gain any advantage. He’s likely heavily injured. That green light could escape after fighting with the Venerable, so its cultivation must have reached the Hinayana stage. It’s probably not Ning Buwei…”
“Master’s reasoning is sound,” Shen Xi speculated. “When Elder Chu Wu was killed, including myself, there were three Nascent Soul stage elders and one Fusion stage elder present. Yet none of us had time to react, not even sensing a hint of evil qi. If Ning Buwei’s cultivation had reached such a level, he wouldn’t have only killed Chu Wu.”
“If this green light isn’t Ning Buwei, why would it do this?” Chu Bai asked, puzzled. “Controlling Chu Xin to kill fellow disciples, then killing Chu Wu in public. Could it have a grudge against Yuanye Peak?”
Chu Linyuan shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s to implicate.”
“Implicate?” Chu Bai frowned.
“Years ago, Ning Buwei practiced evil techniques and went berserk, accidentally killing his Ning family brothers,” Shen Xi said gravely. “With Ning Buwei’s arrogant nature, he wouldn’t reveal his own scars. It’s more like someone knows he’s in Wushi Sect and deliberately reenacted the past events through Chu Xin… to provoke him.”
“Correct,” Chu Linyuan’s expression was somewhat grave. “Did that young disciple say where Ning Buwei is hiding?”
Shen Xi hesitated. “He said Ning Buwei is currently at Yijian Peak. The two new menial servants recruited by Venerable Jinghe have acknowledged Ning Buwei as their father.”
Chu Bai immediately understood why Shen Xi had initially said Chu Xin might be talking nonsense due to shock. How could Venerable Jinghe allow a demon to hide right under his nose… Moreover, Ning Buwei was notorious for being cold-blooded and brutal. Acknowledging two menial servants as his children? His brain must have been damaged by the Demon Suppressing Pagoda.
Chu Linyuan obviously also felt this information wasn’t very reliable, but he thought one step further than Chu Bai. If that young disciple was right and Ning Buwei was under Venerable Jinghe, they wouldn’t need to worry at all.
“Shen Xi, the Yuanye Peak matter is now your responsibility. You must investigate the origin of that green light as soon as possible,” Chu Linyuan said.
“Yes, Master,” Shen Xi accepted the order.
“Wanxuan Academy is coming to select disciples. Chu Bai, coordinate with various peaks, valleys, and blessed lands. If you’re short-handed, have Chu Lingyun from Lishang Pavilion help you,” Chu Linyuan looked at Chu Bai. “The sect’s grand selection has just begun. For fairness, this year’s new disciples will not enter Wanxuan Academy.”
Chu Bai and Shen Xi were both stunned for a moment. Chu Bai cupped his hands and said, “Yes, Master.”
“Alright, you may all leave now,” Chu Linyuan waved his hand.
After Shen Xi and Chu Bai left, a virtual image appeared before him.
The image wore monk’s robes, with an expression of compassion between the brows.
“You went to the Floating Void Realm?” Chu Linyuan frowned as he calculated with his fingers.
“My disciple Baiyu died suspiciously,” Zen Master Mingsang closed his eyes slightly.
“Did you find anything?” Chu Linyuan asked.
Mingsang shook his head, “Why did you seek this poor monk?”
“There’s still no news about the stolen Linglong Bone, and some in the Chongzheng Alliance are getting restless,” Chu Linyuan said. “The Rejuvenation Array reappeared in Linjiang City, and Ning Buwei showed up in both Linjiang City and Wushi Sect. I’m afraid the second round of killings will begin soon.”
“It’s beyond doubt that the Linglong Bone is in Ning Buwei’s hands,” Chu Linyuan said. “He just appeared in Wushi Sect and was immediately targeted. Someone made an example of him, and not only that, that person even escaped from under Venerable Jinghe’s nose.”
“Currently, there are no more than five Hinayana realm experts: Venerable Jinghe of Wushi Sect, Academy Head Hao Zheng of Wanxuan Academy, Wang Family’s Ancestor Wang Bin, Sang Xuanqing of Canghai Tower, and one who hasn’t appeared for five hundred years,” Chu Linyuan said. “Even with eighteen Grand Elders’ combined divination, they couldn’t figure out who this person is. Could it really be—”
“Five hundred years ago, Xingyuan wasn’t even two hundred years old and had already reached the Hinayana realm,” Mingsang looked at him dispassionately. “If he’s still alive, five hundred years would be enough for him to ascend twice.”
Chu Linyuan was suddenly choked by his friend’s words. He frowned and said, “What if he deliberately suppressed his cultivation?”
Mingsang fell silent for a while before saying, “Then he’s truly a scoundrel.”
Outside the main peak’s treasure hall.
“I heard Junior Brother Shen Ze died tragically at the Shangong Department. Please accept my condolences, Senior Sister,” Chu Bai cupped his hands towards Shen Xi, smiling slightly.
Shen Xi coldly glanced at him, “No need for your concern, Junior Brother.”
Chu Bai smiled, “Now that Yuanye Peak’s talents have withered, at least Senior Sister won’t have to worry about them as an Elder of the main peak anymore.”
Shen Xi snorted coldly, “I heard your close friend Wen Heshen from Yunzhong Sect made a grave mistake and was expelled with his core destroyed. You, as a member of Wushi Sect, no longer need to be so ambiguously close with Yunzhong Sect.”
Chu Bai’s eyes darkened slightly, but he smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I only hope you can find Elder Chu Wu’s killer soon, to gain another merit in front of the Sect Leader. Perhaps the position of Sect Leader will be yours in the future.”
“Don’t worry, Junior Brother. Even if it’s not me, it won’t fall to you,” Shen Xi sneered and left with a flick of her sleeve.
The smile faded from Chu Bai’s face. After Shen Xi’s figure disappeared, he flew on his sword towards Ruogu Peak.
At the waterfall on Ruogu Peak, someone was already waiting.
“You’re late by an incense stick’s time,” the person slowly turned around, smiling slightly.
“The Sect Leader had some last-minute instructions,” Chu Bai apologized, cupping his hands. “Please forgive me, Fellow cultivator Xie.”
Xie Jiu, with his hands in his sleeves, praised, “This Ruogu Peak’s waterfall and flying flowers are a beautiful sight. It’s no problem to wait a bit longer.”
Chu Bai smiled sheepishly.
“Shen Xi’s brother’s death was Ning Buwei’s doing. You can leak this information to her, leading her to investigate,” Xie Jiu said unhurriedly.
“Alright,” Chu Bai agreed, then probed, “Is that green light the Venerable himself?” (TL: referring to Xie Jiu, not Chu Jun)
Xie Jiu glanced at him lightly.
Chu Bai said, “I’m not speaking out of turn, but the Sect Leader has assigned Shen Xi to investigate the green light’s identity. Should I provide some cover?”
“No need,” Xie Jiu glanced at him lightly. “You just need to do what you should. Soon, the position of Wushi Sect Leader will be yours, understand?”
Chu Bai smiled, “Of course.”
“Wen Heshen is incompetent and only causes trouble. Don’t follow in his footsteps,” Xie Jiu warned. “Whatever method you use, keep Chu Jun in check. Don’t let him leave Wushi Sect for even half a step.”
Chu Bai smiled bitterly, “The Venerable’s cultivation is profound. If he wants to leave, even the Sect Leader couldn’t stop him. I’m just an elder—”
