Wang Dong'er: Found Him!

Deep within the Haotian Sect.

The forbidden grounds on the main peak remained shrouded in mist year-round, while the sect's immense pressure seemed to cascade down the mountain walls.

Within the Sect Master Hall at the heart of the forbidden grounds, two flickering candle flames illuminated two figures. The entire hall was steeped in an inescapable melancholy.

Da Ming, in human form and dressed in a green robe, looked calm and composed, but his brows were tightly furrowed. His fingers tapped unconsciously against the sandalwood table before him, producing dull thuds.

Beside him, Er Ming's towering, muscular frame paced back and forth through the hall. His heavy boots struck the bluestone floor, every step carrying suppressed force. The irritation and unease on his face were nearly overflowing.

"So many things have happened one after another. I just can't shake this feeling."

Er Ming finally stopped pacing and lowered his voice. His tone was full of confusion. "Big Brother, do you feel uneasy too? It's something vague, something impossible to explain, but it feels like a thorn lodged in my heart."

Da Ming raised his eyes to look at him and slowly nodded, but said nothing. The gloom in his eyes deepened.

Seeing this, Er Ming could no longer hold back what was in his heart. He leaned closer and lowered his voice further. "Tell me, why exactly did Tang San arrange things this way? That child, Dong'er..."

"Enough."

Da Ming immediately cut him off, shaking his head slightly. There was a trace of barely perceptible exhaustion in his voice. "It's better not to speculate about such matters."

"Speculate?"

Er Ming instantly grew agitated and slammed a fist into the stone pillar beside him.

Even the candle flames swayed from the impact, yet he forcibly swallowed back his roar. "Tang San has changed! He's changed so much that we can barely recognize him anymore! And who knows how Sister Xiao Wu is doing in the God Realm now!"

His chest heaved violently as he spoke, his face full of frustration. "We're not idiots. How could we not tell whether he's changed? If he were really still the Tang San from before, if he were really such a good person, would the two of us be hiding in the Haotian Sect on the Douluo Continent, acting as these damned Sect Masters?"

Da Ming shook his head again. He neither denied nor agreed.

The hall fell into a long silence. Both of them knew perfectly well that there was no point in saying any of this.

Tang San was no longer the youth who had protected Xiao Wu alongside them in the Star Dou Forest. He was now the God King of the God Realm, someone who could crush them with a single thought.

Other than obeying his orders, they had no other choice.

"Oh, right, Big Brother."

Er Ming scratched his head as though he had suddenly recalled something, his brows knotting even tighter. "That child Dong'er went to the Outer City early this morning.

Do you think... her sudden trip outside might have something to do with that beam of light that appeared out of nowhere?"

Da Ming looked toward the mist-shrouded Outer City beyond the hall. After pondering for a long time, he slowly nodded, his voice low. "The timing is too much of a coincidence. It's highly likely."

The moment he finished speaking, a soft knock sounded at the hall doors. A sect disciple's respectful voice came from outside. "Two Sect Masters, there is an urgent matter to report."

"Enter," Da Ming said gravely.

The disciple pushed the door open and bowed, not daring to raise his head. His voice was cautious. "Reporting to the two Sect Masters, the Young Mistress is in the Outer City, investigating every household and checking all stewards with the surname Lin."

This news made both Da Ming and Er Ming freeze for a moment. Obvious surprise appeared on their faces.

The two exchanged glances, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes, but neither made any rash move.

Da Ming waved a hand and instructed calmly, "Understood. Send people to monitor her closely. Do not alert her. Report back immediately if there is any unusual movement."

"Yes."

The disciple accepted the order and withdrew with a bow. The hall doors closed once more, leaving only silence behind, along with the increasingly grave gazes the two men directed toward the Outer City.

The Outer City of the Haotian Sect.

Morning sunlight filtered through the scattered houses and fell across the bluestone roads, carrying the lively warmth of ordinary life.

Wang Dong'er stood outside an unremarkable courtyard. She wore a neat moon-white martial outfit, with her long hair tied high. Her features were handsome and refined, making her look entirely like a young master from a noble family. Only her beautiful peach blossom eyes held exceedingly complicated emotions at this moment.

She had already investigated seventeen households one by one. This was the last household on the list.

Her gaze fell upon the name "Lin Xiao" in the register, and the words clearly marked under family members: "Son: Lin Ye." That familiar name made her heartbeat abruptly skip.

She took a deep breath and clenched the register in her hand. Now that she was truly standing outside this courtyard gate, she suddenly had no idea how to face the people inside.

She lowered her head and glanced at her male attire. The contents of Lin Ye's diary, which refreshed from time to time, uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

Those complaints about her dressing as a man, those descriptions of her future... Her ears heated slightly, and an indescribable awkwardness rose within her.

She could even clearly remember Lin Ye writing in his diary that although her male clothing made her look dashing, it was actually full of tells that revealed she was a girl. Only that blockhead Huo Yuhao could fail to notice them.

At that thought, she bit her lower lip. She felt both embarrassed and annoyed, along with a curiosity she had not even realized she was struggling to suppress.

Steadying herself, she stored the register in her Soul Guidance Device and gently knocked on the courtyard gate.

Moments later, the gate was pulled open.

The man who opened it was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man dressed in a steward's uniform. He wore a friendly smile. He was Lin Ye's father, Lin Xiao.

When Lin Xiao saw the young man outside, he was initially startled. Then his gaze swept over the fine fabric of the other party's clothes and the token hanging at his waist, which represented permission to enter the inner sect.

Lin Xiao immediately put on a respectful expression and hurriedly bowed in greeting. "My lord, may I ask what brings you here? What are your instructions?"

Wang Dong'er wore an appropriately distant yet polite expression. She nodded slightly, and her deliberately lowered voice was clear and youthful, without the slightest trace of femininity. "I am an inspector dispatched by the sect. I have come to the Outer City today to verify certain matters. It is merely routine business."

This identity was enough to make her visit seem perfectly natural. As the Young Mistress of the Haotian Sect, arranging an identity for herself was simply too easy.

Sure enough, as soon as Lin Xiao heard that she was an inspector sent by the Elders' Council, the respect on his face deepened.

He quickly stepped aside to clear the path and enthusiastically led her inside. "So it is Inspector, my apologies for the discourtesy! Please come in, my lord. Please, come in!"

Beyond the small front courtyard was the main reception hall.

It was morning, and Lin Ye was sitting at the dining table, leisurely eating breakfast.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and happened to see his father leading an excessively handsome young man inside.

Lin Ye's chopsticks froze in midair, and a storm of shock instantly rose in his heart.

Good heavens! I've been in the Haotian Sect's Outer City for so long, yet this is the first time I've seen someone this good-looking!

Those brows, that nose, that elegant and upright bearing... Even such simple martial attire couldn't conceal that noble air. He even... looked just a tiny bit more handsome than me!

Lin Ye slowly rose from his chair and looked at his father.

Lin Xiao hurriedly introduced him with a smile. "Ye'er, come greet Inspector. This is an official sent by the sect to investigate something here."

Hearing this, Lin Ye immediately put on the appearance of a well-behaved and sensible youth. He respectfully bowed to Wang Dong'er, his tone so proper that no fault could be found. "Greetings, Inspector."

After bowing, he did not linger. He nodded slightly to his father and Wang Dong'er, speaking with proper courtesy. "Father, Inspector, please continue your conversation. I'll return to my room first."

From the moment she had entered, Wang Dong'er's gaze had barely left Lin Ye.

Now, looking at the refined and upright youth before her and hearing his polite response, all sorts of emotions flashed through her heart—complication, surprise, reflection, and more.

She had originally thought that someone capable of writing all that shameless flirtatious nonsense in his diary, someone whose every other sentence was filled with dirty thoughts, would be some bloated, lecherous fellow.

She had never expected him to be such a handsome, impressive young man with exceptional bearing. His looks were even more striking than those of many favored geniuses.

She even found herself unable to stop comparing him to Huo Yuhao from the diary. Lin Ye's appearance was the type that would truly make her heart flutter.

The instant that thought surfaced, Wang Dong'er's cheeks turned completely red.

She frantically cut off the thought in her mind and secretly spat at herself several times. Pah, pah, pah! Wang Dong'er, what nonsense are you thinking about? The most important thing right now is improving your strength. Don't even think about anything else!

She steadied herself and forcibly suppressed the surging emotions in her heart. She politely nodded back at Lin Ye, but her gaze unconsciously followed his retreating figure until he entered a room in the Inner Court and completely vanished from sight. Only then did she withdraw her eyes.