Shared Traits

"There's no such pill in this world. Even if there were, no one should use it. A pill that transfers someone else's intelligence to yourself—one listen is enough to know it's an evil medicine. Even if it could be refined, who knew how many people would have to be harmed to make it? And who knew what side effects would come after taking it?"

Afraid that Bing Ling might be deceived someday, Shen Ziheng repeatedly warned her, "Bing Ling, you must remember what I said. There cannot possibly be such a medicine in this world. So if anyone ever tells you they can make you smarter, don't believe them. They're all swindlers out to rob you of your wealth and your life."

Bing Ling remembered his words, but she was dissatisfied with his reaction. "I understand. I'm only a little slow; I'm not an idiot who'd help someone count the money after being sold. Though there probably isn't anyone that foolish in this world, right?"

After hearing Bing Ling's words, Feng Wuhen finished his last mouthful of rice. "Who knows? Maybe we'll run into that sort of person someday. But if we do, it's better to stay far away, because people like that can't tell black from white."

Seeing that everyone had finished eating, Hua Yichen rose voluntarily and said, "Let's go to my courtyard together. I'll tell you what I found."

Xia Jingcheng sent communication talismans to the disciples who had come with them, telling them to head to Hua Yichen's courtyard.

By the time Feng Wuhen and the others arrived at Hua Yichen's courtyard, three young people were already standing inside—two men and one woman.

Hearing the movement, the three turned and saluted Hua Yichen and Xia Jingcheng. "Young Sect Master, Eldest Senior Brother."

Hua Yichen told them not to stand on ceremony, then introduced them. "These are disciples of Mount Grand Mystery. Address them as Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. Get acquainted with one another privately; I won't introduce you one by one. Let's discuss this mission first."

Feng Wuhen and the others nodded amicably at the three. The three returned polite nods, then sat on the stone benches and waited for Hua Yichen to speak.

"Recently, I visited the families of those missing children. After visiting more than half of them, I discovered what the missing children had in common.

"Although these children's parents had not formally become cultivators, they all possessed spiritual roots. The more talented ones were cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm.

"In other words, nine times out of ten, these children also possessed spiritual roots. If so many children with spiritual roots had gone missing, then it was most likely the work of the Devil Race."

This information from Hua Yichen was extremely important. Previously, they had assumed the missing children were merely ordinary children. They had never expected that these children might all possess spiritual roots.

Even if those spiritual roots were not particularly good, as long as one had spiritual roots, one could cultivate, and their body could store spiritual energy.

Such children were best suited to serve as materials for the Devil Race's cultivation of evil arts. They did not know exactly which evil art it was, but in any case, it was exceedingly dangerous.

Xia Jingcheng held the Soaring Cloud Sword and looked at Qin Xiaoran. Solemnity filled both their eyes. If things were truly as Hua Yichen had said, then this mission would be very dangerous!

Hua Yichen continued with his findings. "Furthermore, through my visits, I discovered that before those children vanished, they had all come into contact with one another.

"There is a thousand-year-old tree in Radiant Moon City. Children love to play beneath it and climb it.

"Because they often played there, the children knew one another. They were even very good friends.

"I was rather lucky today. When I went to ask around, one mother whose child had also gone missing told me that two days before her child disappeared, she went beneath the ancient tree to call the child home for dinner.

"She heard those children showing off whether their parents had spiritual roots, what kind of spiritual roots they had, and insisting that they must have spiritual roots just like their parents. They were comparing who was more impressive.

"The woman noticed someone nearby staring at the children. At the time, she did not think much of it, assuming it was merely a passerby who found the children's words interesting and had stopped to listen to the gossip.

"Only after her child went missing did she realize it had all been premeditated!

"Right now, aside from this clue, we have no other leads. How about we take the initiative and lure the snake from its hole? We can find someone to act as bait and draw that group out."

Hua Yichen's idea was highly dangerous, but they currently had no other clues. That group acted cleanly and efficiently, sweeping away their tracks so thoroughly that it was not easy to find any trace of them.

After hearing Hua Yichen's plan, Feng Wuhen volunteered. "How about I act as the bait? I'm the youngest among my brother and two Senior Sisters, so I'm perfect for pretending to be a child.

"Besides, my natal spirit artifact can be stored in my dantian, so they won't easily discover it. At least that gives us one safeguard for my safety."

The moment Shen Ziheng heard that he wanted to do something so dangerous, he was the first to object. "No, I don't agree. The Devil Race is ruthless and vicious. What if something happens? What then?"

Qin Xiaoran thought of Feng Wuhen's ability to see the past and future. If Feng Wuhen went, perhaps he might discover something extraordinary.

Moreover, Qin Xiaoran would not let Feng Wuhen go alone. "Using bait to hook them is a good idea, but you can't go alone. I can use Bone Shrinking and add some illusion techniques. They should not be able to see through it. I'll go with you."

Even after hearing that Qin Xiaoran would accompany Feng Wuhen, Shen Ziheng was still worried. "I'm going too!"

Seeing that they were all going, Bing Ling wanted to join in as well. "If all of you are going, then I'm going too. Compared to you, I can become smaller more easily, and I won't leave any flaws for others to spot. How about Junior Brother and I go instead?"

Qin Xiaoran's Bone Shrinking combined with illusion techniques had one major flaw. Even if he could shrink his bones, his bone age remained unchanged. If those people were cautious enough to examine his bones, he would be exposed on the spot.

But if Bing Ling accompanied Feng Wuhen, it would be different. She was a Demon Cultivator, and a Demon Cultivator's bones differed from those of humans.

"Bing Ling has a point. Then you and Junior Brother Feng will go together. As for Junior Brother Shen, you should stay behind. With fewer people, they can move more easily. And if it's only Junior Brother Feng, Bing Ling can protect him well. But if you are added, Bing Ling may not be able to protect both of you."

Bing Ling dearly wanted to say that she was very powerful and could protect all of them, but this was not the time for empty boasts.

"That's right, Old Shen. Though I think I'm pretty amazing and protecting the two of you shouldn't be a problem.

"But who knows who our enemies will be this time? If there's someone whose cultivation is higher than mine, forget protecting the two of you—I might get dragged down myself. So Junior Brother and I should go together!

"If we can't win, I can still take Junior Brother and run!

"I know you're worried that Junior Brother might run into danger, but don't worry. With me there, I absolutely won't let anything happen to him.

"Even if I'm gone, I'll definitely make sure he returns safely."

Bing Ling had already made up her mind. If they had to fight and she could not defeat the enemy, she would return to her true form and carry Feng Wuhen away in her mouth, or hook him with her claws.

Whether she carried him in her mouth or caught him with her claws, she would make certain that Feng Wuhen returned safe and sound.

Watching them all look so tense, Feng Wuhen was instead the calmest of them all. "Don't be so nervous. Maybe things aren't as we imagine. The ones behind this might not even be devil cultivators!

"Devil cultivators may be wicked, but sometimes the human heart is even more wicked than devil cultivators."

Since childhood, Feng Wuhen had seen through many things because of these eyes. He had understood the truth that the human heart was unfathomable long ago.