That Old Bastard Dared Come Looking for My Junior Sister?

The Yin Yang Sect was also a demonic sect, and could be considered a rival of the First Saint Sect.

Because of that rivalry, minor clashes often broke out between the disciples of the two sects.

Then there was the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, a sect of the immortal path.

The two sects' territories bordered each other, and immortals and demons could never coexist.

As a result, the hostility and friction between the First Saint Sect and the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion were more severe.

The two sects often came to blows over a chance opportunity or a mineral vein.

Even minor disputes between disciples could escalate into larger conflicts.

As for the specifics, Lin Mo thought the Yin Yang Sect was the more likely culprit.

The reason was simple. The Yin-Yang Evil Demon Art was, after all, an evil cultivation technique, and those immortal sects that proclaimed themselves orthodox and righteous...

No matter how powerful the Yin-Yang Evil Demon Art was, they would turn their noses up at it.

The Yin Yang Sect, on the other hand, was also a demonic sect, making it clearly more likely to covet the Yin-Yang Evil Demon Art.

Of course, this was only Lin Mo's preliminary guess.

Although the Yin Yang Sect was the most likely suspect, that did not necessarily mean Saintess Su Yu had been sent by them.

She could also have come from another demonic sect.

In any case, I can pretty much confirm that the Saintess is a suspected spy. All that's missing now is evidence... Lin Mo murmured inwardly as he leisurely sipped his hot tea.

Obtaining evidence that Saintess Su Yu was a spy would undoubtedly be difficult.

Given Su Yu's position as Saintess, arresting and interrogating her without concrete evidence was out of the question.

Unless she grew too impatient, or blew her own cover like a truck packed with explosives.

Otherwise, Lin Mo could not think of a way to obtain proof that she was a spy.

Not necessarily!

The next instant, a spark of inspiration flashed through Lin Mo's mind.

Hadn't he accidentally caught Su Yu contacting someone outside last time? If he could catch her once more, things would be much easier!

Before that, I still need to keep improving my cultivation. Otherwise, even if I catch her, barring any mishaps, I'll probably be the one suffering a mishap.

And in the meantime, he had to remain on guard against Su Yu to keep her from striking first.

Su Yu already knew that Liu Ziyan was not in the Purple Heaven Palace.

The little wooden hut by the entrance was no longer safe.

So perhaps he ought to move somewhere else temporarily until Liu Ziyan returned.

As for Liu Ziyan's instruction to watch over the Purple Heaven Palace, Lin Mo did not think that would be much of a problem.

When Liu Ziyan had given him that instruction, she had probably intended for him to catch the spy anyway.

Now that the suspected spy had been identified, there was no longer any need to keep watch over the Purple Heaven Palace at all times.

With that thought, Lin Mo stopped dragging his feet.

In just one day, he cleaned the vast Purple Heaven Palace from top to bottom, inside and out.

Afterward.

Lin Mo went out to find Shangguan Wuqing.

Going to Grand Elder Hong Yue was clearly not an option.

If Su Yu learned that he had gone to Grand Elder Hong Yue, he might beat the grass and startle the snake, putting Su Yu on her guard.

So, in the vast First Saint Sect, the only person Lin Mo could place even a little trust in and rely on right now...

Was probably Shangguan Wuqing, with whom he had shared two deep and friendly exchanges.

Enforcement Hall, Vermilion Bird Squad office.

"Junior Sister, I was muddleheaded and impulsive last time. I hope you won't take it to heart."

Inside the reception room.

Zhuiming took a brocade box from his Storage Ring and offered it to Shangguan Wuqing, apologizing sincerely. "This is a scarlet flame flower I picked yesterday, as an apology for losing my temper with you that day. Please accept it, Junior Sister."

"There's no need for an apology gift, Senior Brother."

Across the table, Shangguan Wuqing pushed the brocade box back. "Unless I have no choice, I don't want things to turn ugly either. After all, we're bound to keep running into each other. Take this scarlet flame flower back."

Zhuiming did not take the box back. Instead, he cautiously ventured, "Does that mean you've forgiven me, Junior Sister?"

Shangguan Wuqing gave a noncommittal reply. "Forgiven you? I wouldn't go that far."

"All I can say is that this incident has successfully changed my original impression of you."

Zhuiming sighed. "Junior Sister, you can't write me off entirely over one incident, can you? No one is a saint. Everyone has moments when they're impulsive and irrational."

"We've been fellow disciples for so many years. Don't you know what kind of person I am?"

That was precisely why Shangguan Wuqing had found the other side Zhuiming revealed two days ago so frightening.

But after some thought, she decided not to say that aloud.

From what she knew of her senior brother Zhuiming, he would not give up easily unless she relented today.

After pondering for a moment, Shangguan Wuqing simply humored him. "Fine. But I hope there won't be a next time. Otherwise, we won't even be friends anymore."

"Don't worry, Junior Sister. I stake my character on it-there absolutely won't be a next time!" Hearing Shangguan Wuqing relent, Zhuiming visibly brightened.

He pushed the brocade box containing the scarlet flame flower toward her again. "Junior Sister, please accept this. Just think of it as a small token from me."

"I really don't need it. Please take it back, Senior Brother."

Shangguan Wuqing refused.

Accepting gifts tied your hands, and eating another's food softened your tongue. How could Shangguan Wuqing not understand that principle?

The two went back and forth several more times, until Shangguan Wuqing delivered an ultimatum.

Only then did Zhuiming reluctantly put away the scarlet flame flower.

"Senior Brother, I need to get to work." Once their tug-of-war was over, Shangguan Wuqing promptly asked him to leave.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer, Junior Sister."

Having finally managed to placate Shangguan Wuqing, Zhuiming did not dare take a mile after being given an inch.

"Senior Sister Wuqing, there's a servant outside making a fuss, insisting on seeing you. No matter what I say, he refuses to leave. What should we do?" As soon as they left the reception room, an enforcement disciple from the Vermilion Bird Squad approached to report.

"A servant?"

Shangguan Wuqing's delicate brows rose slightly. Could it be Lin Mo?

Beside her, Zhuiming also frowned. Could it be the servant Shangguan Wuqing had been looking at in the Sect Trading Market two days ago?

"He's just a servant. Why waste so much breath on him? Just drive him away," Zhuiming said at once.

However, the enforcement disciple who had come to report did not dare act rashly yet.

Although Zhuiming was also a squad captain in the Enforcement Hall, the disciple's direct superior was clearly Shangguan Wuqing.

Shangguan Wuqing waved a hand and immediately strode outside.

"Junior Sister!"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhuiming followed close behind, still uneasy.

It was just as Shangguan Wuqing had expected.

An old servant was pacing outside the office entrance.

Who else could it be but Lin Mo?

It really is this old bastard. He actually dared come looking for my junior sister? Zhuiming flared with anger and moved to drive Lin Mo away.

"Senior Brother, he's here to see me. What are you trying to do?"

Zhuiming had barely taken a step when Shangguan Wuqing reached out and stopped him.