Ye Changqing looked at True Person Huang Long before him, grinning until his eyes were nearly crescent moons.
Though he was the weakest link in the Chan Sect, he was key to taking its disciples down one by one.
When True Person Huang Long saw Ye Changqing again, his gaze was incredibly complicated. It held surprise, guilt, disappointment, and gratitude.
"Senior Disciple Brother Ye, I'll always remember your kindness!"
"But I still plan to return to Kunlun Mountain..."
He had thought Ye Changqing wanted to recruit him, so he refused outright.
Of course, it wasn't because the Chan Sect had mistreated him a thousand times over while he remained as devoted as ever.
True Person Huang Long might not have been very bright, but he understood what happened to traitors.
Even if he went to serve under the Interception Sect, how could Sect Master Tongtian respect a traitor?
Besides, the Interception Sect had ten thousand immortals. He would be just another face in the crowd.
Venerable Primordial might not have thought much of him, but at least he still had the impressive-sounding title of one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect.
"Heh, everyone has their own aspirations. I understand."
"Junior Brother Zhao, please see Junior Brother Huang Long off for me..."
Ye Changqing instructed Zhao Gongming, who was standing nearby.
With his heart in his throat, True Person Huang Long followed Zhao Gongming out of San Xiao's abode, afraid Ye Changqing might suddenly change his mind.
Only after they had left Three Immortal Island did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, realizing he had judged a gentleman by his own petty standards.
"Fellow Daoist Huang Long, Senior Disciple Brother has something to ask of you."
"The Two Sages of the West asked him to send their regards to Vice Sect Master Randeng, but he's indisposed. Please do it in his stead..."
Zhao Gongming cupped his hands to him, left him with this cryptic message, and returned.
"The Two Sages of the West asked Ye Changqing to send their regards to Randeng?"
True Person Huang Long muttered it to himself again, feeling there was a deeper meaning to those words.
The more he thought it over, the more uneasy he felt. His brow stayed furrowed the entire way back to Kunlun Mountain.
It wasn't until he reached the foot of the mountain that he suddenly realized what the message meant.
So Ye Changqing had been warning him that Daoist Randeng had an unusual connection with those two in the West.
When Ye Changqing had achieved Dao in the chaos, Randeng had attacked him by surprise.
This time, Daoist Randeng had taken the Twelve Golden Immortals to humiliate Ye Changqing without Venerable Primordial's permission.
He had even brought out a Soul Scattering Pill and told Huang Long to make Ye Changqing take it.
This whole string of events didn't seem like a coincidence. Randeng had been trying to silence him!
Ye Changqing must have learned of his connection to the Two Sages of the West...
So he had been made the scapegoat for the traitor in the Chan Sect!
True Person Huang Long suddenly felt as if a light had dawned within him. At last, it all made sense.
No wonder Ye Changqing had let him go time and again. Venerable Primordial wouldn't believe his words, so Ye Changqing had been forced to resort to this.
The more True Person Huang Long thought about it, the angrier he became. He had nearly become someone else's scapegoat.
Daoist Randeng had planned it well. Knowing the Sages looked down on him, he had intended to use Huang Long as a shield when the time came—silencing a witness while escaping blame himself.
You crafty Daoist Randeng!
Standing at the foot of Kunlun Mountain, True Person Huang Long thought it over carefully and decided he had to alert Venerable Primordial first.
Daoist Randeng must have laid a deadly net somewhere up on the mountain, waiting to silence him.
Only if Venerable Primordial intervened could he survive.
"Master, your disciple Huang Long has an urgent matter to discuss!"
True Person Huang Long channeled his magical power, his voice ringing across all of Kunlun Mountain.
It was somewhat impolite, but it was the only safe way.
In the main hall of Jade Void Palace, the Chan Sect's second-generation disciples had gathered.
Even Immortal Weng of the South Pole and Yun Zhongzi, who were usually nowhere to be seen, had shown up. Something momentous must have happened.
They had been discussing how to deal with the traitor Huang Long when they suddenly heard his voice.
"That traitor dares to come back?"
Guang Chengzi was furious and immediately started down the mountain to kill True Person Huang Long.
Venerable Primordial frowned and stopped him.
True Person Huang Long had, after all, been personally accepted as his disciple. He also reflected on Venerable Primordial's reputation.
If Huang Long really was a traitor, Venerable Primordial's reputation would be ruined.
Even if Huang Long had to be dealt with, he would have to die without anyone knowing.
Venerable Primordial waved his hand, and a streak of golden light shot out of the hall, all the way to the foot of the mountain.
Without hesitation, True Person Huang Long stepped onto the golden path. Nothing was safer than a Sage's protection.
The next moment, he appeared in the main hall of Jade Void Palace.
"Huang Long, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Before Venerable Primordial could speak, Daoist Randeng was the first to accuse him.
True Person Huang Long laughed. Just as he'd thought—it was him!
"Master, please see the truth! The traitor in the Chan Sect is someone else!"
True Person Huang Long bowed to the ground and reported to Venerable Primordial.
The hall erupted in an uproar. The Chan Sect disciples began whispering among themselves, and even Guang Chengzi looked completely dumbfounded.
Had the man lost his mind?
All the evidence pointed to Huang Long himself, and he still dared to turn around and accuse someone else.
Venerable Primordial was growing irritated. One traitor was already enough trouble. Why had another appeared?
"Huang Long, do not speak nonsense. Do you have proof?"
True Person Huang Long stood up at once and swore he would confront the traitor face-to-face.
Seeing how certain he seemed, Venerable Primordial grew even more suspicious.
His gaze swept over the Chan Sect disciples below. Every one of them had passed his tests.
Was Huang Long suggesting that Venerable Primordial had judged someone wrongly?
Venerable Primordial was already displeased. He ordered True Person Huang Long to identify the traitor he was talking about.
To everyone's surprise, True Person Huang Long walked straight toward Daoist Randeng and stopped in front of him.
Daoist Randeng's expression darkened. He burst out in anger, "Huang Long, don't you dare make false accusations!"
The Chan Sect's second-generation disciples exchanged glances, their faces full of disbelief.
Daoist Randeng usually taught and guided them on behalf of their master, answering their questions about cultivation.
How could he be a traitor?
But then they thought it over. Everyone in the hall, including True Person Huang Long, had passed Venerable Primordial's many tests before joining the Chan Sect.
Daoist Randeng alone had arrived out of nowhere, relying on his seniority to claim the position of vice sect master.
Perhaps Huang Long's words weren't entirely unworthy of belief.
The entire hall fell deathly silent, so tense that one could hear a pin drop.
"I'll kill you!"
Daoist Randeng finally lost his temper and tried to kill True Person Huang Long.
Venerable Primordial said nothing, but Immortal Weng of the South Pole and Yun Zhongzi stepped in to protect Huang Long.
"Teacher, please don't be angry. Let him finish speaking."
Immortal Weng of the South Pole looked at Daoist Randeng with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Randeng, those two in the West asked me to send you their regards!"
True Person Huang Long stared straight at Daoist Randeng as he spoke.
Just as expected, Randeng's expression changed when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure.
Yet everyone present had keen eyes, and they immediately began to suspect something.
Perhaps Huang Long was right. There really was a spy in the Chan Sect.
They exchanged glances, then stepped forward and surrounded Daoist Randeng and True Person Huang Long.
Only after a long while did Venerable Primordial suddenly speak. "Enough. I have reached my conclusion. The rest of you, leave for now."
True Person Huang Long wanted to say more, but Venerable Primordial's look silenced him.
He suddenly had another bold suspicion.
Could it be that Venerable Primordial had known all along that Daoist Randeng was a spy for the Western Sect?
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