The Sect Master Might Be a Little Black-Bellied

Fan Jianqiang felt that the Sect Master was genuinely a good person.

He did not say much, always took Fan Jianqiang's side, and never doubted him. How wonderful!

The Second Elder, on the other hand, would not do. That look in his eyes—he was definitely suspecting me.

Sigh, it's hard being me!

He secretly sighed, but then vaguely sensed that something was off. "If the Sect Master really were this honest, how could he have the Second Elder so thoroughly under his thumb?"

"There must be some hidden truth here!"

"And that thing the Sect Master said earlier..."

Fan Jianqiang suddenly realized.

The Sect Master was an honest man?!

At first glance, he certainly seemed to be. But upon careful analysis, peeling back the layers, there seemed to be quite a few suspicious points.

In other words...

If he was not an honest man, then he was someone whose scheming, depth, and acting skills were all utterly heaven-defying!

"No, I can't treat him as an honest man anymore. Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I have to be more cautious from now on—especially in front of the Sect Master."

"I always feel that he's many times more black-bellied than the seemingly shrewd Second Elder."

They were still fleeing.

Liu Xun continued pursuing them from behind.

He was a Pointing Profound Realm cultivator, and he was alone, so he was naturally faster.

But the earlier wave of formations and wave of talismans had made him wary. Rather than charging recklessly ahead, he carefully investigated everything along the way, which slowed him down.

For the time being, he could not catch up.

Until...

He discovered another area covered in formations.

"Formations again?"

"Judging from the workmanship, they are not much different from those unremarkable formations from before. They should have been laid by the same person. Anyone who can track us to this point would not be stopped by these formations."

"Could there be even more astonishing formations ahead?"

"Using the same old trick?"

He smiled. "Who would be that stupid?"

"Still, it could mislead others."

Liu Xun suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

He guessed there had to be other formations nearby, but it did not matter. He could simply "take a bath" in these unremarkable formations, making them think he had croaked, and then~~~

That was what he would do!

Liu Xun hesitated no longer and immediately stepped inside.

He wore a smile, utterly unconcerned.

These formations could at most deal with slightly stronger Fourth Realm cultivators. Yet he was not weak even within the Fifth Pointing Profound Realm~ What could they possibly do to him?

However, the result far exceeded his expectations.

The instant he stepped into the formation, he felt the sky darken and the earth spin, Stars Shift!

Everything around him changed.

If the previous formations had merely been harmless little mice, then what he faced now was a pack of starving wolves alongside a ferocious tiger—and this tiger had even become a spirit!

"What?!"

"I've been played!"

"This is bad!"

Liu Xun instantly understood that he had been played.

The other side had changed tactics!!!

How the fuck was this formation meant to numb the enemy and make them lower their guard?! It was clearly bait, meant to hook self-righteous fish like him!

So...

I became the idiot I was just mocking?!

Fuck your mother!!!

Liu Xun's thoughts raced like lightning, and in an instant, he thought of many, many things.

Yet it was utterly useless.

Even though he struck at the first possible moment, he was still instantly swallowed and drowned by the terrifying fluctuations of the formation.

"Ah!!!"

The screams carried far, far away.

"Second Elder, your divine might is invincible! Once again, you have intercepted the enemy! This disciple's admiration for you is like the surging Yangtze, flowing on without end—and like the Yellow River in flood, utterly impossible to contain~!"

Without waiting for Wu Xingyun to speak, Fan Jianqiang unleashed a string of spiraling rainbow flattery that left her too stunned to respond.

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.

By this point, how could she not understand that it absolutely could not have been her doing?

Once could be called a coincidence. An accident.

But twice? Three times?

Where in the world were there so many coincidences!

Seeing that she remained silent, Fan Jianqiang was in no hurry.

As long as she didn't suspect him, that was enough~

It was just that~~~

His eyes spun rapidly. "Second Elder, I'm about to burst again. Could I..."

This time, Wu Xingyun did not ask Lin Fan. She simply stopped. "Go."

"Sorry."

Fan Jianqiang once more clutched his backside and vanished into the depths of the forest.

"Sect Master, why aren't you surprised in the slightest?"

Wu Xingyun truly could not hold it in any longer. "Could it be that you know where he came from?"

"I don't."

Lin Fan spread his hands.

He truly was not lying.

Who knew where he came from?

All he knew was that he was Gou Sheng—cough.

Hearing this, Wu Xingyun seemed to want to speak, but stopped herself.

You don't know? You don't know, yet you personally set out and brought me along to find him? You don't know, yet you trust him this much?! As if I'd believe that!

But she ultimately did not say any of it aloud, merely making up her mind in secret...

You won't tell me?

Then I'll observe him myself!

I refuse to believe I can't dig up Fan Jianqiang's true background!

It was not simply for the sake of her curiosity. Rather, she was somewhat worried about Fan Jianqiang's character and motives.

He was different from Xiao Ling'er.

Xiao Ling'er was the sort whose nature could be seen at a glance, with an exceptionally fine temperament.

But this Fan Jianqiang...

He was far too erratic.

And he was such a coward. Put nicely, it was called being cautious; put bluntly, it was greed for life and fear of death.

If they were taking someone like this into the Moon Embracing Sect, they naturally had to observe him carefully!

Liu Xun had been blown senseless.

He lay collapsed on the ground, his life and death unknown, long since unconscious.

A figure appeared sneakily.

After craning his neck out from behind a large tree for a look, he took out two straw men and transformed them into human forms, sending them closer. Only after confirming that the other party had truly fainted and was no longer reacting did he use the straw men to take away his storage pouch, then quietly depart.

As for the two straw men...

He simply burned them with a single fire.

Along the way, the figure let out a strange "Heh heh heh" laugh.

"Fame and profit, both in hand."

"The fame goes to you. The profit goes to me."

"Ho ho ho."

"..."

Before long.

Fan Jianqiang returned, clutching his stomach.

"Sect Master, Second Elder, sorry to keep you waiting. This disciple has completely emptied himself out. Shall we go?"

Lin Fan nodded with a smile.

Wu Xingyun's mouth twitched, but she said nothing. She led the two of them back toward the Moon Embracing Sect.

Meanwhile.

Xiao Ling'er, Duan Qingyao, and the other three elders returned to the mountain gate one after another.

Their journey had been exceptionally peaceful.

Thanks to the secret art that altered their appearances, no one had recognized them. Everyone still believed Xiao Ling'er was hiding somewhere in the city. Those with ulterior motives were either lying in wait outside Hongwu Immortal City or gathering information within it.

They had never imagined that the group had already quietly returned to the Moon Embracing Sect.

But...

Everyone knew that returning to the Moon Embracing Sect did not mean they were safe.

The present calm was merely the stillness before the storm.

Xiao Ling'er's little face was drawn tight.

First Elder Su Xinghai could see that she was worried and smiled. "You claimed the top spot and brought fame to our Moon Embracing Sect throughout the Southwest Region. That is a blessing for our Moon Embracing Sect. What's more, you returned without a scratch. Even if old fellows like us were lying in our coffins, we'd wake up laughing."

"So why worry so much?"