Guilty Conscience

"Please give your orders, Vice Sect Master. So long as it is within this junior's power, I will never refuse," Chen Fan said solemnly.

"Oh? Is that so? You truly will not refuse?" Liu Wushuang cast Chen Fan a contemptuous glance. "Then give me a bowl of your blood!"

The moment those words fell, thunder exploded in Chen Fan's mind. His whole body began to tremble, and his breathing became utterly chaotic. He could only force himself to remain standing, his mind too panicked to think, his face already looking dreadful. She definitely knew something! What should he do?

"Look at you, trembling like a coward. You said I could give any order I pleased. It is only a bowl of blood—is it really so frightening?" Liu Wushuang mocked.

Could it be... that she had merely said it casually? For an ordinary cultivator, a bowl of blood really was no great matter. His reaction just now had indeed been somewhat excessive.

Chen Fan gave an awkward smile. "Vice Sect Master truly knows how to joke. This junior is not some rare beast or exotic creature—what use would my blood be?"

It had originally been nothing more than a joke from Chen Fan, yet Liu Wushuang's expression turned grave upon hearing it. She stared straight at him, once again looking as though she intended to see through him completely.

Chen Fan's heart suddenly sank. It seemed that the secret he carried might already have been exposed. He very much wanted to ask Liu Wushuang about certain matters, but since she had not made anything explicit, he did not know how to begin.

"Enough. You need not be afraid. I am merely sending you to Black Dragon Pool." As she spoke, Liu Wushuang tossed him a pitch-black object. "While you are at it, bring along all those things you obtained from Hundred Herbs Garden."

Chen Fan caught the object and examined it. It was a black token, smooth as jade from end to end. The instant it entered his hand, he could tell it was no ordinary item. A complex dragon-shaped pattern was engraved upon it. It should have been a token of Black Dragon Pool. But more than half of his herbs had already been used—where could he possibly produce them now?

Seeing his troubled expression again, Liu Wushuang grew impatient. She rose to leave as she said, "I am telling you to go, so go. Is there really anything to fear?"

Chen Fan did not dare disobey. He immediately agreed. Surely Black Dragon Pool would not simply kill him, would it? Compared to his life, nothing else mattered.

After seeing Liu Wushuang off, Chen Fan sat on his bed, his back already soaked through with cold sweat. Serving a ruler was like serving a tiger. He rubbed the black token in his hand and began planning his trip to Black Dragon Pool.

Over the following days, Chen Fan first buried himself in cultivation, consolidating his realm. His body, weakened by blood loss, also fully recovered to its peak condition. To his surprise, after drinking his blood, the two snakes had both experienced a tremendous rise in cultivation. Judging from the power of the venom they released, both had actually reached the peak of the second tier. Chen Fan could not help feeling envious, jealous, and bitter. He was living worse than beasts. Why did that sound so strange? Still, it was a good thing. The two snakes' increased strength would be an enormous aid on this journey.

Afterward, Chen Fan spent several more days turning all the materials in his possession into the various pills, poison pellets, poisonous liquids, and other items mentioned in the Treasure Record. He even made several new varieties, though he had no time to test their effects one by one. Liu Wushuang had told him to hand over the materials, but he had already used more than half of them and could not turn them in. Since he had already started, he might as well go all the way. In any case, she probably could not do much to him, and the materials were gone—what else could he do? This approach was somewhat shameless, but the reasoning was sound. Besides, Chen Fan had one trump card that should ensure he could return safely from this trip.

As for that trump card, what else could it be? A person, of course. But what troubled Chen Fan was how he could find her. There was no helping it. He would probably have to swallow his pride and ask Wan'er to step in.

In truth, aside from devoting himself wholeheartedly to research these past few days, Chen Fan had gone out once. He first visited an elder of the outer court to ask about the rewards for sect missions. He was told that the Prince of Xiling was indeed no longer disappearing as before, but his current situation was even worse than it had been previously. Apparently, he had been poisoned again, and the King of Xiling had issued a new mission: find someone who could awaken his son. Chen Fan was speechless. Awaken him for what? He was better off lying there. But with Yun Zhongjun, who should have been able to testify for him, now suffering from amnesia, it was difficult to determine whether Chen Fan had completed the mission. Fortunately, he had indeed gone to Chief Steward Chu's place, and Soaring Heavens Palace had also confirmed that he returned with Yun Zhongjun. Thus, it could not be said that Chen Fan had failed to carry out the mission, and the matter was left unresolved.

After that, Chen Fan sought out several senior outer disciples to inquire about news from the inner court, mainly concerning Ye Wan. Before he went down the mountain to carry out his mission, Ye Wan had clearly been allowed greater contact with him because Liu Wushuang had bestowed a sword sheath upon him. Yet in the days since his return to the sect, he had not seen the person he longed for day and night, so he found it rather strange.

Fortunately, the news was not bad: Ye Wan had gone down the mountain again. Chen Fan had initially been somewhat anxious, but once he learned that Ye Wan had probably only returned home, he felt much more at ease. She was likely visiting her younger sister. Speaking of Xiaoyun, he wondered how she was doing now.

There was nothing to be done. Chen Fan could only continue waiting. It would be best if Qin Ziyan appeared on her own, but ever since her grandfather returned, and after the Hundred Herbs Garden incident, Sword-Imperial Pavilion had kept a tight watch over her. It was said that even inner court disciples rarely saw her.

In that case, could he still bring this little demoness along to Black Dragon Pool? Chen Fan decided to wait until Wan'er returned before deciding.

Another day passed. A figure in a long white dress arrived outside Chen Fan's room. Chen Fan had been restless these past few days and had nothing to do, so he spent every day getting some air outside. The moment he saw who had come, he was beside himself with excitement.

"Wan'er! You're finally back."

"What is it? You still know to miss me? You went down the mountain without even telling me." Ye Wan spoke irritably.

"It was not convenient for me to go to the inner court to find you." Chen Fan was helpless as well. Every time, Ye Wan could only come find him, while it was inconvenient for him to enter the inner court. Still, after calculating the time, Chen Fan figured it should soon be time for the inner court selection.

"How are you? I heard that Bai Shuang gave you trouble." After Ye Wan had returned to the sect earlier, she had first gone back to the inner court and learned of the matter, then immediately rushed over.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Chen Fan had seen Ye Wan's hurried expression and thought something else had happened. So she had come because she was worried about him. A wave of smug delight rose in his heart.

"Looks like you gained quite a lot from this trip down the mountain!" Ye Wan sensed that Chen Fan's Internal Qi had improved. At the same time, she was finally completely relieved about the matter of his cultivation having regressed.

"By the way, is Xiaoyun doing well?" Chen Fan did not want to bring up matters from down the mountain just yet, so he changed the subject.

"Mm, she is very well. She has fully recovered, and her Internal Qi has actually reached the peak of the first level." Ye Wan revealed a delighted expression.

It seemed this must have been thanks to his essence blood and cultivation method, Chen Fan thought. But the essence blood he had left in Xiaoyun's body should have long since been refined or dissipated. From then on, her cultivation would be like that of an ordinary person, and she would no longer progress so rapidly.

Chen Fan nodded and finally got to the point. "That is good. Wan'er, now that you are back, I need to trouble you with a favor." Even he looked somewhat embarrassed after saying it.

"What favor? Do we need to be so formal between us?" Ye Wan froze for a moment, then looked a little shy after saying that.

"Heh heh, well... could you help me find Qin Ziyan..." Chen Fan's voice became almost inaudible toward the end. Was this what they called a guilty conscience?

"What?!" Ye Wan's expression made a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. "What are you trying to do?"

Right in front of her, he wanted to find another woman—and he even wanted her to help him find that woman?! Ye Wan's anger flared up at once.

"Don't get agitated. It is not what you think. This is what happened..." Chen Fan told Ye Wan about Liu Wushuang sending him to Black Dragon Pool, though he did not explain the reason in detail.

Ye Wan found it unbelievable after hearing him out. But then she recalled her little boyfriend's talent for stirring up trouble, as well as the time she had seen Chen Fan use Black Dragon Pool's concealed weapons. There had to be something suspicious behind this. Yet given Ye Wan's personality, if Chen Fan did not say it, she would not ask.

However, Ye Wan was curious about only one thing. "What does this have to do with finding her?"

Chen Fan gave an embarrassed laugh and confessed that Qin Ziyan had previously seen him use Venomheart Darts and threatened him into taking her to Black Dragon Pool. He then analyzed the benefits of bringing Qin Ziyan along.

"That is indeed a good idea." After hearing him out, Ye Wan did not blame Chen Fan. Instead, she fell into thoughtful contemplation.

That girl's reputation did not extend only through their sect. Who among the four great sects did not know that Qin Jian, known as the Sword Fanatic, had a treasured granddaughter? She was Qin Jian's reverse scale. Anyone who dared act recklessly had to first weigh the consequences of provoking the Sword Fanatic's wrath.

"Fine, leave this matter to me. Also, aside from Qin Ziyan, we need to make some other preparations." Ye Wan did not waste any time. After tossing out those words, she vanished at once.

Chen Fan blankly watched the direction in which Ye Wan had departed, thinking that his woman was truly extraordinary. She was adorable and aloof at once, with strength and wisdom existing side by side. With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for? But he had not truly married Ye Wan yet. At most, they were still in the passionate stage of their relationship. Perhaps with Ye Wan's future cultivation, she would not even think highly of him. Chen Fan could not help feeling somewhat dejected again.

Meanwhile, Ye Wan had no time to think about any of that. After returning to the inner court, she went directly to Sword-Imperial Pavilion. Although disciples of the three palaces lived in the same area, crucial locations were still divided, such as training rooms and council halls. Generally speaking, disciples of the three palaces did not casually visit one another, since each palace had secrets of its own.

When the surrounding Sword-Imperial Pavilion disciples saw Ye Wan arrive directly, they were all greatly startled. One must not forget that Ye Wan had become famous in the inner court even earlier than Qin Ziyan, and she had earned it entirely through genuine strength. Coupled with her personality, she was also unquestionably someone no one dared provoke.

"Qin Ziyan, come out!" Though this shout was not especially loud, its penetrating force was immense. It echoed throughout Sword-Imperial Pavilion, clearly bolstered by profound Internal Qi.

The surrounding disciples did not dare make a sound after hearing it. Well, damn. It seems the little demoness has offended Fairy Ye. Some disciples had already begun retreating from the area. If these two started fighting, it would be terrible to suffer disaster as fish in a pond. Yet others merely moved a little farther away and stopped to watch, clearly eager to enjoy the spectacle.

Ye Wan paid no attention to the people around her. She merely stood quietly where she was, coldly beautiful and proud, graceful as a startled swan. Quite a few male disciples were utterly captivated.

Not long afterward, someone shot out at high speed from within Sword-Imperial Pavilion. She wore a short red dress, with two long braids hanging to her waist. Her delicate features were sweet and glamorous, her demeanor and bearing completely opposite to Ye Wan's, as if she possessed an innate warmth and friendliness. Yet those who knew her true nature understood the consequences of being fooled by that appearance.

The newcomer was Qin Ziyan. She had been practicing swordsmanship somewhere earlier. Since her grandfather and several elders had confined her during this period, she had been feeling utterly stifled. Just now, she had heard someone calling for her, and it had sounded rather aggressive. She had been worrying over where to vent the anger filling her stomach, and now someone had come charging straight into the muzzle of her gun.

Yet when she saw Ye Wan standing there, the fury that had been ready to erupt was forcibly suppressed. Qin Ziyan might be overbearing, but she was not foolish. Fight Ye Wan? What a joke. Leaving aside the fact that she was completely no match for Ye Wan, even if she lost, her grandfather might not necessarily stand up for her. After all, in name, Ye Wan was also the personal disciple of Swordheart Hall's Hall Master.