Please Be the Bait
Was it really such a coincidence?
His gaze fell on Qi Yun's letter, earnest and cordial throughout, its words utterly assured. Zhou Hao's brows drew together almost imperceptibly, his knuckles tapping lightly against the back of his chair with dull knocks.
A moment later, he closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and gave a barely audible scoff.
Forget it. Even if something fishy was going on, so what?
How big a wave could a little shrimp at the Qi Refining First Layer possibly stir up?
What did it matter if he gave him some time?
Bang!
The meditation chamber was a complete mess.
The ghastly white skull, like a marionette pulled by invisible strings yet utterly out of control, trailed streaks of black smoke as it hurtled wildly around the cramped space, letting out harsh, strange cackles!
Standing to one side, Qi Yun looked helpless.
As expected of a Law Technique that could only be practiced at the Qi Refining Third Layer, even with a detailed explanation of its essential principles and key points, he had spent over half a month on it and still had not fully grasped this final step of True Qi animation.
After several trials, the skull kept flying wildly around the room as though electrified, simply refusing to obey his commands.
Thud! The skull slammed hard into the wall again with a dull crash, the force making even the wall tremble slightly.
This time, it finally exhausted its last trace of strength and fell crookedly to the floor.
At the same time, however, several ink-black strands as fine as gossamer suddenly shot out of it, lunging at Qi Yun with piercing, hair-raising shrieks.
A backlash of resentment and Sha Qi!
Demonic methods were formidable, harming others to benefit oneself.
Their drawback was that a failed ritual refinement could easily cause a backlash.
Fortunately, after his cultivation over this period, Qi Yun already had preparations and experience.
A talisman blazed with light. Layer upon layer of golden magical light interwove into an upturned "bowl of light," precisely pinning those strands of resentful black Sha Qi a mere three feet from his face.
The black Qi darted back and forth within the barrier, hissing in defiance, but could not advance an inch and was gradually worn away.
Having suppressed the skull's backlash, Qi Yun rubbed his brow and bent to pick it up, intending to refine and animate it again.
Just then, a knock came from outside the courtyard.
Knock, knock, knock-
Hearing it, Qi Yun instinctively frowned. Because of Wu Tao's earlier letter, he was now almost having a stress response to knocking.
Whenever that knocking started, nothing good could follow.
Knock, knock, knock-
Seemingly because Qi Yun had not opened the door for so long, the knocking grew noticeably more urgent and forceful.
Creak-
Qi Yun took a deep breath, stepped out into the courtyard, and slowly pulled open the gate.
Outside stood a young man dressed in a plain, elegant long robe.
He had handsome, refined features and a gentle smile on his lips, looking every bit a scholar.
Seeing Qi Yun open the gate, he immediately cupped his hands, his voice warm and courteous:
"Might you be Junior Brother Qi Yun from Ling Family Mountain?"
The moment he heard "Ling Family Mountain," a vein twitched on Qi Yun's forehead. He nearly formed a Method Formula on instinct to activate the Clear Breeze Technique and flee.
Noticing the change in Qi Yun's eyes, the scholar hurriedly explained:
"Don't be alarmed, Junior Brother. I'm not with the people who came looking for you before."
"You know someone came looking for me before?"
Keenly catching that detail in the scholar's words, Qi Yun raised his brows slightly, temporarily stopping his hands.
"Of course. Otherwise, why would I have come here?" With a faint smile, the young scholar looked at Qi Yun, who still guarded the entrance, and said:
"Junior Brother, won't you invite me in for a seat?"
Qi Yun hesitated slightly. Unable to detect the slightest trace of presence from him, he knew this man's cultivation was likely far above his own, and slowly stepped aside.
"My little courtyard is humble. Please don't mind, Senior Brother."
"Not at all. You're too polite, Junior Brother."
His smile unchanged, Zheng Yi stepped calmly into the little courtyard. His gaze swept seemingly casually over every blade of grass and tree, the stone table and stools, taking in every minute detail with perfect clarity.
"Please sit, Senior Brother." Leading the young scholar into the main room, Qi Yun poured a cup of clear tea and handed it over.
"May I ask your name, Senior Brother?"
"You're too courteous. My surname is Zheng, and my given name is Yi. Just call me Senior Brother Zheng." Zheng Yi accepted the teacup, feeling its warmth against his fingertips, and took a small sip with an unhurried air.
Zheng Yi? Justice?
A demonic sect cultivator with that name? Have you no shame?
Silently snarking to himself, Qi Yun sat opposite Zheng Yi, his expression unchanged:
"May I ask what brings you here this time, Senior Brother?"
"Heh, naturally, I've come to put out the fire singeing your brows, Junior Brother." Seemingly prepared, Zheng Yi spoke without haste.
"My master is the True Person on duty at the inner court's Jiali Hall. Jiali Hall is responsible for collecting the records of the many disciples of the Outer Mansion."
"Not long ago, Song Kun, the Foundation Establishment True Person who serves as master of Flower Moon Hall, personally went to Jiali Hall and forcibly demanded the records of every disciple from Ling Family Mountain.
"And this True Person Song Kun has a blood nephew... who happened to be among this intake of disciples from Ling Family Mountain.
"I believe his name was... Tang Shun!"
At this point, Zheng Yi slowly turned his gaze toward Qi Yun. He had expected this low-level cultivator of the Outer Mansion, who had only just joined the sect, to panic at having his secret exposed.
Yet when he looked, the young cultivator remained utterly composed, without even a ripple in his eyes.
"What admirable composure, Junior Brother."
Unstinting in his praise of Qi Yun, Zheng Yi smiled:
"It seems my master was right to send me to find you."
"Please stop beating around the bush, Senior Brother. Say whatever you have to say." From Zheng Yi's various actions since entering, Qi Yun had vaguely guessed the purpose of this inner court senior brother's sudden visit.
"Good! Straightforward!" Zheng Yi clapped his hands and smiled, no longer beating around the bush. "To be frank, I've come on my master's orders.
"That master of Flower Moon Hall, Song Kun, relies on his profound cultivation and his prowess as a ruthless sword cultivator to ride roughshod over the sect. He's made many enemies!
"Complaints have long filled the sect.
"Unfortunately, all the True Lords are currently tied up with important matters and have no time to attend to these disputes within the sect.
"To punish him, we must obtain ironclad proof that he has overstepped the rules!"
"You mean, Senior Brother..."
"My master would like you to serve as bait and lure the master of Flower Moon Hall into acting. As soon as he makes a move, my master will immediately intervene to stop him.
"Once his offense of violating sect rules and interfering in the Outer Mansion is established, the master of Flower Moon Hall will face at least sixty years of confinement."
"Then you'll be safe as well.
"As payment for your assistance, my master will grant you a fortuitous opportunity and guarantee your entry into the inner court as an inner court cultivator."
After hearing Zheng Yi out, Qi Yun nodded silently. Pretty much what I guessed.
Factional infighting in the inner court.
This Foundation Establishment True Person of Jiali Hall wanted to use him as a pawn to bring down Song Kun of Flower Moon Hall!
"Can your master truly keep me unharmed?" After a moment's silence, Qi Yun looked up at Zheng Yi before him.
"He can. Please trust me." With a sincere smile, Zheng Yi nodded solemnly.
At Zheng Yi's response, the corner of Qi Yun's mouth twitched slightly.
Trust you?
A demonic sect cultivator?