Chen Heng's brow rose slightly.
Unlike Yuan Xing, with his splendid robes and fine crown.
Chen Ying dressed plainly, wearing an almost excessively simple white cloth robe, his hair secured with a green hairpin. Whether his left cheek was injured or there was some other reason, a black jade mask covered most of it, leaving only his eye exposed.
My predecessor had no brothers by blood. Could he be a member of the Chen clan? No, even someone from the Chen clan could never stir my blood like this. Just who is Chen Ying?
"Young master, please."
Chen Ying stepped aside and gestured.
The half of his face visible beyond the black jade mask was handsome, too, but to insist that its contours bore any resemblance to Chen Heng's would have been nonsense.
"It seems I have no choice but to comply."
Seeing that there was truly no way to refuse, Chen Heng simply stopped arguing. Chen Ying gave an apologetic smile, wrapped Chen Heng in his true qi, and flew straight into the sky.
"In such a hurry! Off to curry favor with our mistress again? Shameless slut!"
Yuan Xing snorted coldly and hastily rode a cloud after them.
When the Jade-Green Heavenly Palace appeared among the clouds, their streak of true-qi light slowly descended into one of its halls.
The hosts and guests had already taken their respective seats in the great hall. At Chen Heng's entrance, each wore a different expression.
On his black-crane jade dais, Ai Jian looked aloof and unconcerned, though the fingers that occasionally clenched beneath his sleeve betrayed a lack of the calm his face displayed.
The sect master, Yan Feichen, Gu Jun, Senior Adept Yuanji, and this woman... All the Mysterious Truth Sect's accomplished cultivators are here. What are they discussing with her?
Chen Heng discreetly surveyed his surroundings and greeted them in turn.
Yan Feichen still wore that same vicious, disgusted expression, not bothering to conceal it even here.
Gu Jun, however, nodded slightly.
As for High Person Yuanji, who knew what madness had possessed him? Not only did he greet Chen Heng warmly, he even hurried eagerly to his side, then bowed to the beautiful woman with an ingratiating smile.
"Refinement Master, what do you think? Does this disciple of our sect possess the destiny of the Yin Celestial?"
Pearls hung from her jeweled ornaments, and fragrance drifted from her colorful sleeves.
A delicate scent like orchids and musk seemed to emanate from the beautiful woman. With both elbows on the jade table, she cradled her lovely face in her hands. She ignored High Person Yuanji and simply gazed entranced at Chen Heng, spring tides of desire surging in her eyes.
"..."
After forcing himself to bow to her, Chen Heng's heart sank sharply.
He knew that gaze all too well.
When Yan Zhen had still been alive, that was how she had looked at his predecessor, almost obsessed.
This woman's gaze was even more feverish and covetous, as though he were a delectable dish she longed to swallow whole, devouring every last morsel before savoring the lingering taste.
I finally managed to live another life, only to suffer my predecessor's fate all over again?
Chen Heng silently clenched his hands:
I risked my life to finally attain Embryonic Breathing, yet before a great cultivator, I'm still nothing more than a plaything, like pearls or jade, to be fondled and appraised at will...
If this face does nothing to aid my cultivation and only brings more trials, I would be better off destroying it outright!
Meanwhile.
Yuan Xing and Chen Ying had already quietly withdrawn behind the beautiful woman.
As though sensing Chen Heng's resolve to smash the cauldrons and sink the boats, Chen Ying raised his head with interest, a flicker passing through his eyes.
How interesting. Chen Heng, is it? No wonder, no wonder my blood stirred just now.
Beneath his black jade mask, the exposed half of his face slowly formed a wicked smile utterly unlike his earlier demeanor:
Such a ruthless, uncompromising nature. If you're Jade Pivot's son too, then everything makes sense. After all, our family is famous throughout the Nine Provinces and Four Seas for coming from the very same mold...
In the great hall, where there seemed to be no sound apart from High Person Yuanji's chatter.
Chen Heng's face was grave, his expression stiff and cold.
Only after a long while did the beautiful woman reluctantly rein in the infatuation in her eyes.
"What a pity. Though this young gentleman shines as brightly as the sun and moon, his destiny is not that of the Yin Celestial..."
The beautiful woman shook her head.
She seemed both pleased and regretful, though her pleasure ultimately outweighed her regret by far.
"What?!"
The first to question her was not High Person Yuanji, but Ai Jian, who had maintained a facade of indifference throughout.
"What kind of joke is this? Didn't you say it yourself? The Yin Celestial must possess exceptional beauty and bearing! Someone in whom the world's spiritual splendor gathers!"
Losing his composure, Ai Jian rose from the black-crane jade dais and violently knocked over a maid's silver tray, scattering wine and spiritual food across the floor:
"If someone like him, who appears in the Southern Territory only once in five hundred years, isn't the Yin Celestial, then who is? Jun Yao? Jade Pivot True Lord?! Could either of them surpass this boy? Absurd! Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!"
"Little Jian, calm yourself first."
The beautiful woman took out a cone-shaped magical implement and sighed:
"This was entrusted to me before I came to the Southern Territory. If the Yin Celestial comes within half a li of it, this jade cone will naturally glow. But now..."
Ai Jian coldly swept his gaze over the utterly unresponsive jade cone.
Then he abruptly flicked his sleeve, closed his eyes, and sat down expressionlessly.
"This... this..."
High Person Yuanji was at a loss, sweat pouring down like rain. "Refining Master, could there be a mistake? Test him again? Try another test?"
"Ah, young gentleman, though you've missed an immense opportunity, that may not be such a bad thing. My niece has cultivated since childhood and knows nothing of human pleasures. How could she compare to me, who knows just how to care for you?"
The beautiful woman still paid him no heed, gazing tenderly at Chen Heng with a hundred beguiling charms:
"Would you like to become my intimate companion, like these older brothers of yours? Don't worry. Once you put on this Virtue and Prosperity Ring, your big sister will cherish you properly. Whatever you want, I can find it for you."
She produced a small bracelet and dangled it, her voice cloyingly sweet:
"You enjoy cultivation? Do you want to cultivate with the Shangyu Ai, or enter the Huzhao Sect? Just agree, and whether it's a superior Qi Cultivation Method or a fundamental Dao scripture pointing directly to Primordial Spirit Return to Void, all of it will be yours."
Before Chen Heng could speak.
A voice suddenly sounded within his mind.
"Don't agree. Once you put on the Virtue and Prosperity Ring, your life and death will no longer be yours to command, and you'll have no secrets from her!
"Now, don't let anything unusual show in your eyes. Repeat after me. I'll teach you how to refuse without angering her..."
The voice in his mind belonged to Chen Ying.
Chen Heng dared not hesitate. With no time to wonder how Chen Ying could transmit his voice freely before a gathering of Cavern Mystery Refiners, he hurriedly repeated the words Chen Ying taught him, one by one.
After finishing, he followed Chen Ying's instructions and prostrated himself, feigning terror. Though the beautiful woman looked somewhat displeased, she inexplicably said nothing more.
Her attitude was so strange that even Ai Jian could not help casting her a sidelong glance.
Thank heavens. Thank heavens.
Chen Heng breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Yan Feichen beside him looking as though a great weight had been lifted, he shifted his gaze, and an idea suddenly arose in his mind.
"Sect master, this disciple has a request!"
Ai Jian looked at him impatiently and was about to send him away, only to notice that although Chen Heng was bowing to him, his gaze was directed toward Yan Feichen.
After a moment's thought, he guessed what Chen Heng intended to ask.
"Speak."
Ai Jian suddenly grew interested. "What is your request?"
"Since coming to the mountain, this disciple has devoted himself to seeking the Dao and has not returned home for three years. Recently, my elder clan brother was brutally murdered in a sudden attack by Rogue Person Xu Sai. I have wept day and night, my heart filled with unease, feeling that I cannot answer to his parents. Thus, I wish to ask the sect master's gracious permission..."
Chen Heng lowered his head:
"I beg the sect master to permit me to descend the mountain, so I may bury my elder clan brother's remains in our family tomb."
Before you continue