At the critical moment, Cong Xiu returned from investigating the cherry grove to report.

He told the Taichu Sect Master: “There are indeed traces of three people’s sword techniques in the cherry grove. Judging from the marks, they did spend the night there.”

The Taichu Sect Master frowned, looking extremely troubled.

“Although there’s proof, it’s still difficult to explain how the Spirit-Subduing Jade could have been taken by someone else,” Cong Xiu said with furrowed brows.

Bai Cang said unhurriedly, “Yesterday, everyone saw my junior brother refuse the jade and put it back.”

“Even if, hypothetically, he wanted the Spirit-Subduing Jade again and took it, what of it? According to the rules, the Spirit-Subduing Jade is now rightfully his sword.”

This silenced most people.

Although Bai Cang was smiling, his words were no longer polite.

The Taichu people felt their faces burning upon hearing this.

The Taichu Sect Master said gravely, “With both physical evidence and witnesses, I naturally believe the Sacred Sword Sect. However, this matter is strange—how could the Spirit-Subduing Jade be removed from the Weak Water and taken away…”

Before he could finish, Yue Liangze interrupted: “It doesn’t need to be drawn out to be taken away.”

“What?” The Taichu Sect Master was stunned, raising his eyes to look at Yue Liangze.

“No need to draw the sword?” Hall Master Feng widened his eyes. “How is that possible? It has been here for thousands of years—”

“A formation exchange would work,” Ling Luo said lazily. “The Heavenly Cover Formation for transferring objects could theoretically remove the Spirit-Subduing Jade from here. It just depends on whether anyone could set up such a powerful formation completely.”

She dared to say this because someone truly could do it.

Chu Yi’s eye twitched slightly as he grabbed Ling Luo by the collar and pulled her back, giving her a sidelong glance, silently warning that if she continued to speak out, she might be scolded to death by their master.

Ling Luo let out a light snort and returned the sword to him.

“Theoretically possible? Hmph, ridiculous! Not to mention how difficult this formation is to deploy—those who know it today probably don’t exceed the fingers on one hand. Besides, this is the Spirit-Subduing Jade! To suggest that a formation’s power could overcome the Spirit-Subduing Jade is simply delusional!”

Cui Huowu couldn’t resist arguing again.

Ling Luo smiled with narrowed eyes, but killing intent arose in her heart.

This waste of space thinks highly of himself, demanding attention even when ignored. Is he afraid she might forget the wretched matters from her previous life, so he keeps reminding her?

“Young Master Cui’s statement is incorrect. It’s not a delusion, but rather uncommon knowledge among mediocre people,” Bai Cang said with a smile. “The Death Mist Gate of the Twenty-Six Demons operates on almost the same principle as the Heavenly Cover Formation just mentioned.”

The Taichu Sect Master’s eyelid twitched upon hearing this. “The Death Mist Gate of the Twenty-Six Demons?”

Yue Liangze formed hand seals, his spiritual power covering the Weak Water below. Everyone could see that under the spiritual power’s coverage, the Weak Water rippled and formed different small whirlpools, except for one area that remained perfectly calm.

That was where the Spirit-Subduing Jade had been.

The Weak Water didn’t show any turbulence; instead, under the invasion of spiritual power, it gradually formed a water mirror and then shattered.

“This…” Hall Master Feng exclaimed in shock, “is indeed the Heavenly Cover Formation!”

“Who? Who used the Heavenly Cover Formation to steal the Spirit-Subduing Jade!”

“How many people know the Heavenly Cover Formation nowadays?”

“Is there anyone here who knows it?”

As various groups began discussing in low voices, a strand of black demonic aura emerged from behind the shattered water mirror.

“It’s demonic aura!” Cui Huowu said. “When the Bone Demon suddenly appeared yesterday, it must have been setting up the formation near the Spirit-Subduing Jade, attempting to steal it!”

“That makes sense.”

“This demon is too arrogant! How can we tolerate it!”

“Since this concerns demons, we certainly cannot stand idly by!”

People from other immortal sects began righteously declaring their intention to capture this demon and retrieve the Spirit-Subduing Jade.

Ling Luo rolled her eyes.

A bunch of wastrels coveting the Spirit-Subduing Jade.

“This is completely outrageous!” Hall Master Feng exclaimed. “How dare this demon cause trouble in our Taichu and steal a sword! Unforgivable! Sect Master, please issue orders!”

The Taichu Sect Master, with anger in his eyes, said gravely, “Relay the order: All Taichu disciples in the outside world are to immediately search for information about this Bone Demon, retrieve the Spirit-Subduing Jade, and hand it over to the Sacred Sword Sect!”

Several hall masters and Cong Xiu looked up at him after hearing this.

Cong Xiu clenched his fists; he had always believed that the Spirit-Subduing Jade should remain with Taichu!

People from other immortal sects were all telling the Taichu Sect Master that they would lend a hand and join in punishing the Bone Demon that stole the sword.

Bai Cang turned to look at Yue Liangze and asked in a low voice, “Do you still want this sword?”

Yue Liangze shook his head, “If it’s found, there’s no need to—”

Before he could finish, someone threw a head full of chestnuts at him.

Yue Liangze turned around in confusion to see Ling Luo, who was being dragged away by Chu Yi by her collar, glaring at him with puffed cheeks like an angry cat.

Yue Liangze: “…”

He silently picked up the chestnuts that had fallen into the Weak Water and changed his words: “…Nevertheless, we cannot allow the Spirit-Subduing Jade to be taken by others to harm people.”

Ling Luo was led away from the Golden Luan Pool Banquet Terrace by Chu Yi, along with Yun Shouxi.

Yun Shouxi asked, “Have you received the wanted notice from the Sect Leader?”

Chu Yi replied, “Yes. There are six members of the White Bell Lotus left, one of whom is being protected by Senior Sister Tian Rong as they flee to Pingyao City.”

After a pause, he added, “The wanted notice from the Sect Leader orders to kill on sight and only bring back half of their souls.”

“Go help Yu Xiu after the Hundred Days Banquet,” Yun Shouxi said calmly. “Although the Second Sect Leader didn’t say it explicitly, he doesn’t want his last disciple to go down that path as well.”

“If you encounter Tian Rong, spare her life and bring her back to Tianji.”

Chu Yi nodded.

Ling Luo asked, “Master, aren’t we going to deal with the Bone Demon stealing the Spirit-Subduing Jade?”

Chu Yi thought irritably that she knew how to bring up the wrong topics.

Yun Shouxi let out a light laugh, walking ahead without turning back: “Not for now. Wait for the Sect Leader’s instructions.”

The Hundred Days Banquet would be held in two days. All the immortal sect members who had come to attend the banquet sent messages back to their sects about the Spirit-Subduing Jade incident. Soon, the entire cultivation world knew that the Spirit-Subduing Jade had been stolen by a demon using the Heavenly Cover Formation.

Whether it was the Twelve Great Immortal Sects, other smaller sects, or independent cultivators, everyone began searching for traces of this demon.

The Hundred Days Banquet proceeded as scheduled. The Western Sea Taichu has experienced many incidents recently. After the theft of the Spirit-Subduing Jade, patrols and guards were strengthened, with strict vigilance maintained everywhere.

Several major immortal sects even discussed through the night how the demon had managed to set up the Heavenly Cover Formation in Western Sea Taichu, coming and going freely while evading so many watchful eyes.

At the banquet, there were no participants from the Golden Luan Pool competition, but many friends and relatives of the two families celebrated their union.

Ling Luo sat at the table, watching people come and go, and asked Chu Yi in a low voice, “Senior Brother Zhan Rong doesn’t look well.”

Chu Yi replied, “If all these things happened at Tianji, would you look well?”

Ling Luo sat up straight: “I would.”

After all, all those future acts of betrayal against Tianji would be done by me.

Chu Yi gave her a warning look: “Don’t get involved with the Sacred Sword Sect’s affairs again. Haven’t you noticed that Master has barely spoken to you these past two days?”

That’s exactly what I want, Senior Brother.

Ling Luo raised her cup to her lips, concealing her slightly curved mouth.

“The first person to rebuke Young Master Cui was you, Senior Brother. What does that have to do with me?”

Chu Yi: “You just have to talk, don’t you?”

Ling Luo retorted righteously, “What’s wrong with speaking more if I’m good at it?”

Chu Yi: “…”

Ling Luo spotted Cui Huowu drinking and making merry with his cronies, their eyes fixed on the female guests passing by as they whispered obscene comments.

She narrowed her eyes as she watched for a while, inevitably recalling the battle at Qishan in her previous life.

After she arrived, she never let Cui Huowu touch a single finger of Chu Yi’s, but thinking about the wounds on Chu Yi’s body, she knew what he had endured.

At that time, she had felt that since her senior brother had no regrets, she had no objections either.

After all, she had killed the Lord of Qishan that night, and she was the only person in the world who knew what Chu Yi had suffered.

But now, looking at Cui Huowu again, she felt both angry and regretful.

Ling Luo took a sip of wine and said to Chu Yi in a lowered voice, “Senior Brother, would you like me to kill the Qishan young master for you right now?”

Chu Yi’s temple throbbed violently as he turned to glare at her with a dark face.

What do you mean “for you”?

And kill the Qishan young master?

You’re trying to make me take the blame again!

Chu Yi said coldly, “Drink less. Don’t get drunk and act crazy.”

Ling Luo then looked toward the North Palace Moon Court’s direction.

Mu Xujing still stood by Jiang Miao’s side, seemingly both protecting and monitoring her.

Jiang Miao wore her veil, her eyes falling on the food plates on the table. With curiosity in her eyes, she tried to sneak some food when the maid beside her wasn’t looking, but was stopped by Mu Xujing.

She looked at Mu Xujing, but he didn’t look back at her.

After several attempts, Jiang Miao made a hand sign to Mu Xujing.

Mu Xujing still said, “I don’t understand.”

Jiang Miao repeated it, her eyes curved slightly, actually smiling.

Only then did Mu Xujing look at her.

He asked, “What does that mean?”

Jiang Miao didn’t answer, sitting obediently.

Ling Luo thought to herself that Jiang Miao was simply taking advantage of his inability to understand hand signs to fearlessly curse him twice to his face, telling him to get lost.

During the Hundred Days Banquet, she made a decision.

Ling Luo said to Chu Yi, “Senior Brother.”

Chu Yi, who was clearing the food plates, didn’t look up and said, “What now? Kill whoever you want, but don’t expect me to take the blame.”

Ling Luo said, “After the Hundred Days Banquet, don’t return to Tianji. Come with me to Pingyao City to help Second Senior Brother.”

“No,” Chu Yi refused without a second thought.

This time when he returned to Tianji, he would meet Jiang Miao, who was visiting Tianji, and their bond would deepen.

Ling Luo thought, stop teaching; I’ll help you teach her.

So she said, “Why not? Don’t you dislike returning to the sect?”

Chu Yi replied, “Between returning to the sect and staying with you, I think the former is better.”

Taking care of junior brothers and sisters is too exhausting.

Ling Luo: “…”

“You’re the senior brother!” she said. “The eldest senior brother!”

Chu Yi said with an unchanged expression, “The eldest senior brother has been out for so long taking care of you during the Golden Luan Pool Banquet competition and is tired. My cultivation has also reached a bottleneck, and I should return to the sect for seclusion.”

“You’d be better off coming to Pingyao City with me to catch people than going into seclusion. In cultivation, especially sword cultivation, self-realization doesn’t compare to the progress gained through actual combat,” Ling Luo rambled. “Don’t go back to Tianji. Come to Pingyao City with me.”

Chu Yi: “No.”

“Come on.”

“No.”

“Are you coming or not!”

“No.”

Ling Luo gritted her teeth in frustration, “What would it take for you to come?”

Chu Yi remained unmoved: “Nothing will make me go.”

This is infuriating!

Ling Luo stormed off, her sleeves fluttering.

She returned to her courtyard first. When she had an idea, she acted immediately, closing the door and beginning to craft a spirit bird, inscribing some incantations into its body.

Midway through, Yun Shouxi’s voice came from outside the door, calling her: “Ling Luo.”

Ling Luo opened the door and came out: “Master?”

Yun Shouxi stood in the courtyard, his posture upright, his face bearing a gentle smile.

“There’s unusual activity at Tianji. I need to return tomorrow,” Yun Shouxi said, extending his hand to her as she walked over. “Xiao Yi was worried and asked me to bring you Changxiu, but I trust you, so I didn’t give it to you during the Golden Luan Pool Banquet competition.”

“Thank you, Master,” Ling Luo reached out to accept Changxiu.

Yun Shouxi smiled and said, “You’ve been suppressing your life-and-death boundary without breaking through. It hasn’t been easy.”

Ling Luo’s eyelid jumped upon hearing this. He had seen through her.

“Be extra careful when traveling outside,” Yun Shouxi reached out, gently arranging her hair at her temples. His words were light, “After capturing Tian Rong, come back. With all three of my disciples in the world, leaving your master alone in Qingshi Square can be a bit lonely.”

Ling Luo nodded, “Alright. Once the White Bell Lotus matter is resolved, I’ll return immediately to keep Master company.”

The smile in Yun Shouxi’s eyes deepened as he lightly traced her cheek with his finger: “And don’t get too close to the Sacred Sword Sect along the way. That’s not a good thing.”

“Disciple will remember,” Ling Luo said with a serious face.

From beginning to end, she had only master-disciple feelings for Yun Shouxi.

The next day, Yun Shouxi left Western Sea Taichu. Chu Yi and Ling Luo saw him off at the mountain gate, where many who were leaving happened to meet.

Chu Yi said, “I’ll return with Master first.”

Yun Shouxi was about to nod in agreement when Ling Luo said, “No! No way!”

“Senior Brother, come with me to Pingyao City,” Ling Luo said again. “To help Second Senior Brother.”

Chu Yi was puzzled: “Yu Xiu can handle it.”

Ling Luo: “Six members of the White Bell Lotus against one. Add Senior Sister Tian Rong, and it’s seven against one!”

Chu Yi said, “Not all the White Bell Lotus members are in Pingyao City.”

Ling Luo spoke as if it were truly the case: “Senior Brother, have you forgotten that Senior Sister Tian Rong is also involved with demons? Add the demons, and it’s eight against one! Senior Brother, surely the bond of our sect won’t let you stand by and watch Second Senior Brother being bullied eight to one without helping!”

Chu Yi frowned at her words and counted how many people there were, but finally decided it was complete nonsense. He waved his hand and said, “Not going.”

He turned to leave with Yun Shouxi, but Ling Luo grabbed the hem of his clothes: “Senior Brother!”

As other sect members looked over with amusement, Yun Shouxi lightly flicked his sleeves and left: “You two decide.”

He left.

He couldn’t lose face like this.

Chu Yi, unable to leave with Ling Luo holding him back, took a deep breath and turned to look at her: “I just want to go back and rest for a while. Having to take care of you these days, I’ve been on edge every day, afraid you might lose control of your sword and cut someone down, forcing me to clean up the mess!”

Ling Luo looked at him pleadingly, pretending to be on the verge of tears after being scolded: “Second Senior Brother is always so good to us, rarely leaving the sect. If something happens to him on this trip, could you bear it, Eldest Senior Brother?”

Chu Yi, having seen her use this trick to confuse their master and junior brother and then shift the blame to him, said expressionlessly, “Enough acting, or I’ll get angry.”

“Eldest Senior Brother, are you going to disregard our years of sect brotherhood?” Ling Luo sniffled, noticing Zi Xiu nearby, and said pitifully, “Senior Brother Zi Xiu!”

Zi Xiu was telling Bai Cang and Yue Liangze: “Hey, don’t mind those two. I’ve seen this act so many times over the years that I’m tired of it. He wouldn’t dare make Ling Luo cry; it’s all an act. Let these brother and sister play by themselves.”

But the next second, hearing the pitiful “Senior Brother Zi Xiu,” he immediately ran over to Chu Yi, indignantly saying, “What kind of senior brother are you to scold our little junior sister to tears in front of so many people! No matter what she says, I command you to agree right now!”

Chu Yi: “?”

Bai Cang, with his arm around Yue Liangze’s shoulder, was laughing so hard he could barely stand straight.

Yue Liangze lightly touched his nose, thinking she had cried.

One Ling Luo was bearable, but adding Zi Xiu made it unbearable for Chu Yi. Other sect members who were also leaving Taichu kept looking over. Finally, Chu Yi could stand it no longer and grabbed Ling Luo by the collar, saying, “Fine, shut up. If you want to go to Pingyao City, let’s go quickly!”

Ling Luo pointed down the mountain, immediately resuming her arrogant and overbearing demeanor: “Let’s go! Second Senior Brother, I’m bringing Eldest Senior Brother to rescue you!”

Chu Yi was torn between laughter and exasperation as he threw her aside disdainfully, then went down the mountain with Zi Xiu to buy things in Western Sea City.

Ling Luo fell behind and said to Yue Liangze, who was walking down: “Are you an idiot?”

Yue Liangze blinked at her. After scolding Chu Yi, is it my turn now?

Ling Luo looked at him with frustration: “I told you before, if you don’t want the Spirit-Subduing Jade, you could take it somewhere else instead of leaving it at Taichu. See? Now the sword is gone! If you didn’t want it, you could have just moved it elsewhere. It’s not that difficult… Why are you looking at me like that? I don’t want the Spirit-Subduing Jade; I’m helping Song Yuanyuan remind her foolish little father to protect his family heirloom!”

Yue Liangze stopped, and Ling Luo also stopped to look at him.

“If it’s lost, then it’s lost,” Yue Liangze said, reaching out to wipe away the tear hanging on her eyelash. “I’ll find it again.”