"The Heavenly Demon Phoenix, Lin Wuyou…"
Lying sprawled on his bed, Li Xun muttered the two names under his breath. He had no idea how he'd made it back to the National Preceptor's estate; his memory was a blur. All he could vaguely recall was that something he said or did had ticked off that little devil, and she'd driven him back in a fit of exaggerated coquettish anger.
Maybe the whole thing wasn't that unpleasant. In fact, looking back, it was kind of funny. Still, Li Xun had no desire to go through it again.
"How did this happen? Why would she show up here?"
Clutching his head, Li Xun tried to piece together why Lin Wuyou had suddenly appeared in Songjing. But what unsettled him most was that despite her appearing to be an innocent and guileless young girl, every word out of her mouth seemed to carry a hidden meaning. The more he mulled them over, the deeper they seemed.
"This is bad. Real bad."
That realization jolted him upright. He quickly straightened his clothes, ready to head to the palace and report to Yin Wanderer—because the arrival of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix's daughter in Songjing? That was a hundred times more dangerous than dealing with people like He Mulan.
His thoughts were spinning, and his limbs felt clumsy. As he moved, his elbow knocked into the edge of a side table, nearly sending a jade bowl tumbling. He caught it just in time.
But the moment his fingers brushed the cool surface of the bowl, an idea sparked in his mind.
"Right, there's also the Sound-Penetrating Sand! That treasure would be perfect for use on Lin Wuyou. I should ask Yin Wanderer for another one!"
And that reminded him; there was still that one grain stuck to Gu Pin'er's boot… what day was it again?
He did a quick calculation. Day ten. The sand's effect was about to wear off. Even if he got it back, it'd be useless now…
Hold on.
He stared at the jade bowl in his hand, gently running his fingers over its smooth surface. The texture was silky, almost mesmerizing. And in that moment, a bold, wild idea began to take shape in his mind.
That offhand comment from Yin Wanderer suddenly echoed in his head like a ghostly whisper: "If I hadn't been actively on guard, even I wouldn't have noticed a thing…"
"Wouldn't have noticed?"
Li Xun's hand trembled slightly, but quickly steadied.
Muttering an incantation under his breath—clumsily at first, then more fluid with each word—he began forming hand seals and tapped them onto the jade bowl.
A series of dissonant sounds began to drift from the bowl's depths, garbled at first, but gradually filtered into something clearer. In the end, all that remained was a soft, breathy panting.
The moment it started, Li Xun immediately understood what he was listening to. His lips twitched, tension ebbing from his body as he began to distinguish which person each breath belonged to. Probably Yin Wanderer and Gu Pin'er. Both had that slightly sharp tone to their breath, not like Consort Qin's low and melodious purr.
Time ticked by slowly. Yin Wanderer didn't seem to have noticed anything amiss.
Li Xun was no longer nervous. If anything, disappointment crept in. Listening to people fooling around wasn't exactly thrilling. It certainly wasn't worth the risk he was taking. He shook his head, about to dismiss the technique when a low, rich laugh rang out from the other end.
Deep, resonant, almost metallic in its timbre. And the moment it reached his ears, Li Xun's expression changed drastically.
It was Blood Wanderer.
The elusive Blood Wanderer, who hadn't shown up in ages… why was he there now?
Then came the voice: "It's only been a few days, but our Beauty Yin seems quite spirited."
Yin Wanderer's voice came through with a hint of breathlessness. Li Xun could practically picture her in that moment. Still, her words were clear and concise: "Not coming to join?"
Li Xun felt a chill grip his chest.
Blood Wanderer let out a surprised chuckle. "You're saying that to the wrong man. Wei Bufan isn't Gu Zhixuan. No matter how wild I am, I wouldn't dare show off in bed with Beauty Yin."
Yin Wanderer laughed in response, her giggle mingling with soft, alluring moans. This time, Li Xun couldn't even tell whose voice it was.
Right then, another female voice piped up, low and soft: "Elder Uncle Wei, please have some tea."
Li Xun blinked, a bit stunned. That was... a disciple of Yin Wanderer? It seemed like it. And why was that voice... even distorted by interference, sounded strangely familiar.
Blood Wanderer gave a grunt of approval, followed by a chuckle. "Wanru, your cultivation's grown sharper and sharper. Compared to Beauty Yin back then, you're not much worse. Even if I know your origins, at a glance, I still can't tell what's real and what's not."
"Such praise from Elder Uncle Wei. Wanru must feel honored," Wanru answered softly, though there wasn't much joy in her voice; it remained gentle and melodious.
This time, Li Xun heard her clearly. His mouth dropped open, but it felt like something was blocking his throat; he couldn't even manage a breath.
"So, how was your time with my good-for-nothing disciple? Any impressions?" Blood Wanderer asked.
Wanru didn't answer right away. But Li Xun? His mind went blank. He could only cling to one stunned thought:
How could it be her?
A few meaningless sounds escaped Li Xun's throat. His mind had gone completely blank. Frozen. Unable to think. All he could do was let that voice echo clearly in his ears… and etch itself deep into his heart.
"Li Xun, hmm…" Wanru's voice was thoughtful, then she continued, "The most striking thing about him is that he knows himself very well."
"Oh?" Blood Wanderer clearly hadn't expected that answer. He froze for a moment, then asked with growing interest, "What makes you say that?"
"Many people can judge others, but few truly understand themselves. Li Xun is one of the rare few who knows his own limits, and doesn't overstep." Wanru's tone remained gentle and pleasant, with no obvious change.
"Wanru believe," she continued, "with the abilities of both Master and Elder Uncle, it'd be easy to keep him under control. But then again, authority with little kindness rarely earns loyalty, it's only natural he might have stray thoughts. The rare part is, he keeps those thoughts buried, and still serves the two of you with dedication. Knowing when to advance or retreat; that's wisdom.
"Second, despite receiving powerful cultivation techniques from Master and Elder Uncle, he sticks to cultivating properly. He doesn't abuse the qi absorption arts (dual cultivation), nor does he become erratic due to the incomplete Blood God Child. He stays grounded. His approach to cultivation is steady and solid. That too is wisdom.
"And third, when it comes to women, yes, he was a little addicted after his first taste of intimacy. But within just a few days, he showed remarkable self-discipline..."
At this point, Blood Wanderer burst out laughing. "Oh, I might've believed the first two, but that last one? Not buying it! The past few nights, the four of you sharing one bed; hell, even a man made of steel would have melted down by now! Self-discipline, my ass!"
He was being incredibly blunt, but Wanru didn't seem the least bit fazed. "Elder Uncle," she replied calmly, "you probably aren't aware. He's indeed been rather wild these past few days, but from start to finish, his essence gate remained steady, and there is no looseness causing damage to his body.
"It's true my master didn't want to bully a junior, and I had to keep my identity hidden, so I couldn't use forceful methods. But even in that situation, through all of it, he managed to preserve his essence without loss. In all these years, Wanru have only seen one man do that, and it's him."
Blood Wanderer stopped laughing immediately.
"We used power," Wanru continued, "promises of gain, even beauty…we threw everything at him. And still, he moved cautiously, step by step, never letting his guard down. That shows he has his own mind and won't be swayed by superficial things. Saying he has self-awareness? That's not even praise, that's just the truth."
Blood Wanderer fell silent. The room was filled only with the increasingly urgent moans and gasping breaths…. until finally, there was a long, drawn-out cry. Gu Piner's panting carried the sound of utter exhaustion, and then slowly faded. Clearly, she had fallen asleep from sheer fatigue.
As the soft but continuous rustling of clothing could be heard, Yin Wanderer finally spoke. Maybe it was the afterglow of her satisfaction, but her voice carried an uncharacteristic hint of lazy sensuality.
"Wei Bufan, you've got yourself quite the disciple. Cunning, determined, the whole package. Give the Blood Demon lineage another hundred years, and it's bound to shine. By then, the two of us pitiful master and disciple might just have to live under your roof!"
Blood Wanderer snorted coldly. "Wei Bufan's always been a lone wolf. He doesn't need a disciple to prop up his reputation. But you, Beauty Yin, you're acting strange today. Why are you taking such an interest in a little brat? That's not like you."
"Because he's worth the attention." Yin Wanderer chuckled softly. "In less than a month, he's already reached the realm of 'Unmoved by Demonic Thoughts.' Sure, part of it is because he has a solid foundation and the right temperament. But haven't you considered other possibilities?"
"Other possibilities?" Blood Wanderer frowned, deep in thought.
But Yin Wanderer didn't wait for him to figure it out. "Wanru was right, but let me add something. His willpower is certainly part of the reason he kept his essence sealed. But more than that; it's his body."
"His body?" Blood Wanderer sounded skeptical. "What's so special about it?"
Yin Wanderer slowly uttered a few words: "Born of Solitary Calamity. Soul and body as one."
Over ten miles away, Li Xun suddenly shivered violently. And at that very moment, Blood Wanderer also drew in a sharp breath. "Primordial Embryo Dao Body!"
But he quickly shook his head. "No way. That's impossible. Before the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations, how many cultivators in the entire world have reached the True One level? You can count them on one hand. Gu Yin, the Seven Demons, and a few of those old bastards hiding in the sects.
"Even if you add the low-profile ones, you're still looking at maybe twenty total. And in the past hundred years, have you heard of even one dying to a Heavenly Tribulation?"
Yin Wanderer said nothing.
"I know the kid has the mark of Solitary Calamity, but calling him 'soul and body as one'? Judging by his cultivation speed and his… bed skills, he doesn't quite measure up!"
"Don't you think he reminds you of someone?" Yin Wanderer said coldly.
"You mean… Gu Zhixuan?" Blood Wanderer's tone turned dismissive. "I noticed the resemblance ten years ago, but lately the kid's growing less and less like him. And more importantly, I saw Gu Zhixuan with my own eyes seventy years ago. With his skills, unless it was the Heavenly Tribulation or Zhong Yin himself, who could've laid a finger on him?"
Yin Wanderer didn't answer right away. She fell into deep silence.
Li Xun finally remembered to exhale the breath he'd been holding in his chest—but right after that, a wave of weakness washed over him.
Soul and body as one… Primordial Embryo Dao Body? Jade Wanderer?
These names, some familiar, some foreign, swirled around him like thick fog, impossible to make sense of. But one thing had become crystal clear through sheer instinct: he was in danger.
Yin Wanderer finally broke the silence. "I still stand by my judgment. Li Xun is a Primordial Embryo Dao Body, there is no doubt in my mind. And even if he's not Gu Zhixuan reincarnated, if you go far enough back in time… it's still possible. After all, the Grand Reincarnation Cycle can theoretically last five thousand years."
Blood Wanderer, seeing how firm she was, didn't argue further. Yin Wanderer was one of the most learned cultivators alive; few could match her in scholarship. In some cases, her conclusions were as good as truth.
"If he is the Primordial Embryo Dao Body…" Footsteps echoed from the other side, betraying Blood Wanderer's growing frustration. "If that's the case, then fuck, Beauty Yin, what are you really planning?"
"What are you implying?" Yin Wanderer replied coolly.
"Don't play dumb! You know exactly what I mean!" he cursed. "If he's the real deal, what can we do? There's only one of him; we can't split him in half to share! So come on, give me a plan!"
"Don't play dumb with me! You know exactly what I mean!"he cursed. "Since he's a Primordial Dao Body, what choice do we have? The problem is, this kind of treasure only comes in one piece. We can't exactly split him in half, can we? You come up with something!"
Yin Wanderer laughed. "Weren't you going to use him as bait? You know how highly the Mingxin Sword Sect values him. Are you really willing to throw away decades of careful planning?"
"Better to seek within than without. Relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself. Everyone knows that much!" Blood Scattered Man said gruffly. But from the tone of his voice, it was clear—he still felt the sting of the loss.
Li Xun's heart thudded. Bait?
Damn it. Blood Wanderer's interest in the Lingxi Art; there really was something off about it!
Now, he was almost certain that Blood Wanderer definitely had ulterior motives. In fact, from the very start, he'd treated Li Xun like a disposable pawn.
Though he'd cursed Blood Wanderer a thousand times over in his heart, Li Xun didn't dare miss a single.
Just then, he heard Yin Wanderer say, "That's settled then. As for my intentions... you should understand. If I really meant to take it all for myself, I wouldn't be telling you anything. All I'm asking for is a little trust between us."
Blood Wanderer gave a low snort, the meaning behind it unclear.
But right from this moment, the once crystal-clear sound from Li Xun suddenly got drowned out by a flood of static. And just as quickly, everything went dead silent. Li Xun jumped up sharply, throwing out a dozen or so hand-sails in rapid succession, but not a single one had any effect.
He swore viciously, calculating the time. Right on time. Exactly ten days had passed.
"I'm fucking sick of this!" Li Xun shouted, lashing out with a kick that sent the table flying.
What followed was like a storm tearing through the room. Every piece of furniture was smashed in a blind fury. He didn't stop until the entire place was reduced to splinters and shattered remains. Only then did he stagger toward the door, but he stumbled on the threshold and nearly fell. Clutching the doorframe for support, his mind finally began to clear.
I can't do anything now. But if that day ever comes… if it ever comes…
His lips were pressed tight, and under his grip, the wooden frame cracked and crumbled into fragments.
"Someone come!" he called out suddenly. The frightened servants and handmaids, who had been cowering nearby, rushed over in a panic and dropped to their knees.
But to their surprise, Li Xun's voice was unexpectedly calm. "Clean up in there. Oh…. and bring me that little bowl from the table."
A quick-witted servant scrambled into the room and came back out with the bowl. Li Xun took it from him and even said, "Thanks."
The poor man was so terrified he collapsed on the spot, too shocked to react. Li Xun didn't spare him another glance. Without a word, he walked out the door.