Human face, beast heart?

Jian Chou, who had already turned to leave, heard this and simply touched her own face, smiling faintly: “Young Master Ruhua flatters me. The feeling is mutual.”

Mutual?

This was saying he also had a human face and beast heart?

This retort was quite impolite.

Young Master Ruhua used his fan to prop up his chin, watching as Jian Chou began walking forward. He moved his feet and slowly followed, his voice humming: “This young master’s degree of human face and beast heart has been cultivated for many years.”

“…”

Cultivated for many years…

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

Xiao Jin and Zuoliu shivered, Lu Xiangleng looked back at Young Master Ruhua, then lowered her eyes with a smile and walked beside Jian Chou.

Xia Houshe remained silent as always, like a nonexistent person, following at an unhurried pace.

The group of six, missing Xie Buchen, yet no one asked a single question, continuing forward as if nothing had happened.

It seemed that not one person worried about Xie Buchen’s safety, nor cared about his identity as Kunwu’s thirteenth true disciple.

Since the others didn’t mention it, Jian Chou naturally wouldn’t either.

She walked forward, her acute senses heightened to the extreme, observing the situation on this white jade long road.

The white jade road was very wide, but there were no railings on either side.

Walking on the road, with just a slight glance, one could see the ten-thousand-zhang abyss below, bottomless at first sight. Who knew how deep it was beneath the clouds and mist? When wind blew, terrifying wailing sounds seemed to echo from the canyon below.

That was the sound of echoing wind.

Jian Chou knew this, and everyone else knew it too.

But the heart trembling brought by these reverberating sounds could not be concealed no matter what.

Even though everyone was among the top talents in cultivation, they all appeared somewhat cautious when passing through this section.

Especially since they knew others had entered before them. If someone as “purely good” as Jian Chou could think of such “brilliant” ideas as setting up arrays to harm people, how could the others be any different?

They needed to watch out for schemes and traps all along the way, fearing that one careless moment would cost them their lives.

But even after traveling more than halfway, Jian Chou still hadn’t discovered any traces of formations.

Young Master Ruhua suddenly became puzzled: “Since they dared to set up formations at the entrance, how could they show mercy within the Hidden Realm? But we haven’t encountered any more formations. Could it be because they’re very confident in the formations they set up outside the Hidden Realm gate? Sure they could kill us?”

“Not necessarily.”

Jian Chou continued walking forward, saying: “Even if Fellow Daoist Xie is half-dead, he can still fight. A genius who could defeat Zhou Chengjiang just three days after Foundation Establishment couldn’t be that bad even at Golden Core stage. We haven’t seen a single corpse along the way, nor any traces of destroying evidence. Either no one has died yet, or they put the bodies in Qiankun Bags after killing.”

“…”

After Jian Chou spoke these words, Zuoliu suddenly felt his scalp tingling, and Xiao Jin also stared at her foolishly.

Young Master Ruhua couldn’t help but twitch his lips: “You actually have such thoughts in your head—are you even a woman? Could normal people put corpses in Qiankun Bags?!”

“Doesn’t that settle it?”

Jian Chou looked back at him, her eyes full of amusement.

Lu Xiangleng noticed that after Jian Chou began her analysis, she had shifted all her attention away from the ground below, as if she wasn’t worried about any more formations.

After pondering for a moment, she suddenly smiled: “I see. Fellow Daoist Jian Chou means that the two sides who fought on the cloud platform earlier are now in mutual pursuit?”

Worthy of being medicine woman Lu Xiangleng.

Jian Chou nodded: “Fighting means there’s definitely enmity, not to mention one side involves Xie Buchen. If I had an opponent pursuing me relentlessly, biting at my heels, even with malicious intent, I’d have no time to implement it. Moreover, with both sides one ahead and one behind, if the front party left formations to harm people, the rear party would have already broken them when passing through. If the rear party wanted to harm others, they probably wouldn’t have time either. There are many treasures in the Hidden Realm—who knows what the situation would be if someone got there first? So along this road, we can walk with peace of mind.”

“Makes sense…”

Zuoliu thought through everything Jian Chou had said and found it indeed logical. His eyes immediately lit up, and he couldn’t help but clap his hands in admiration.

Young Master Ruhua frowned slightly, pondering for a moment. Just as he was about to say something, his gaze shifted forward and he was stunned again.

At this moment, they had covered two-thirds of the white jade road, and ahead was the steep mountain peak they had seen before.

The massive platform looked as if it had been sliced open by a sword, perfectly smooth.

However, at the end of the white jade road, a large area of bloodstains had appeared, and there was a corpse lying across the path ahead.

At that moment, Young Master Ruhua glanced at Jian Chou and Lu Xiangleng, saying only: “It seems one shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

Jian Chou was noncommittal.

She paid no attention to her footing and suddenly lightened her body, like a crane flying in the clear sky, gliding directly over the white jade road and landing at the road’s end to see what this corpse looked like.

It was a somewhat thin young man in black robes, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist that was half-shattered, the remaining half broken into small pieces scattered around the platform.

This person had died miserably, with several wounds on his brow, chest, and back. Several areas of his clothing were completely soaked with blood. A large pool of blood had flowed from his body, collecting beneath him and slowly dripping over the edge of the white jade road into the ten-thousand-zhang abyss.

“Drip.”

The blood, already showing signs of slight coagulation, dripped one more drop and then hung motionless.

“Whoosh.”

A sound of air being split came from behind.

Without turning around, Jian Chou knew the other five had arrived.

She didn’t look at their expressions, only crouched down and extended her finger to lightly touch the black-robed man’s brow.

A trace of seeping blood.

And a somewhat familiar aura.

Hermit Sword Intent.

“What did Senior Sister Jian Chou discover?”

Seeing a dead body, Zuoliu felt somewhat frightened and silently stepped back, quietly lifting his feet to distance himself from the pool of blood.

After asking this question, he turned to see Xiao Jin standing very close to Jian Chou, not knowing if he was scared silly.

Jian Chou flicked her finger, casting off the bit of blood on her fingertip, clapped her hands, and stood up: “Very fresh, died not long ago, probably around the same time as us. All these wounds on the body are external injuries. The fatal one is this strike to the brow—Xie Buchen’s Hermit Sword Intent. He still has the strength to kill, and it was during pursuit.”

This opponent’s Golden Core had shattered, but traces of cultivation level could still be seen.

Against a Golden Core opponent, while still carrying unhealed injuries, to kill with a single strike…

Most likely a sneak attack.

But even a sneak attack would be quite terrifying.

As the person among them who understood Xie Buchen best, Jian Chou naturally wouldn’t speak without basis.

Moreover, even if Jian Chou didn’t make such deductions, the others would reach the same conclusion.

She paused, her gaze lingering on the corpse’s robes with their somewhat bright decorative patterns, then suddenly turned back to ask: “What region is this clothing style from?”

“Southeast Wilderness.” Young Master Ruhua gave a definite answer immediately. “However, neither the jade pendant on his body nor the embroidered patterns on his clothes have particularly distinctive features. I can only guess he’s from the Southeast Wilderness demonic dao. As for which specific dao…”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Xiao Jin.

Wearing a beast skin vest and tightly hugging the large watermelon in his arms, he was still looking at the corpse lying on the ground.

Xiao Jin’s expression was somewhat strange.

After hearing Young Master Ruhua’s words, he turned around, blinked, took a bite of watermelon to calm his nerves, and asked with some confusion: “Why are you all looking at me?”

If they remembered correctly, Xiao Jin had previously said he was returning to the Southern Domain.

That is, Xiao Jin was from the Southern Domain, and everyone guessed he was from the Southwest aristocratic families’ side. Although the Southeast Wilderness wasn’t in the same area as the Southwest families, since both were Southern Domain, they would understand each other better. Having Xiao Jin identify this would certainly be more reliable.

Jian Chou answered for Young Master Ruhua, pointing at the corpse on the ground: “We wanted to ask Fellow Daoist Xiao Jin to help identify which family from the Southeast Wilderness this is.”

“I looked earlier.” Xiao Jin rolled up his sleeves and wiped his chin, which was stained with red watermelon juice. “The Southeast Wilderness currently has three demonic daos: Shanyin Sect, Puppet Sect, and Heroes’ Tomb. The Puppet Sect manipulates mechanical puppets and even dead people. Heroes’ Tomb is mostly women, or those who look…”

At this point, Xiao Jin inexplicably glanced at Young Master Ruhua, then seemed frightened and immediately withdrew his gaze, his voice trembling.

“Anyway, Heroes’ Tomb is a place that judges by appearance. This unlucky fellow probably couldn’t get in. I’ve also seen people from Shanyin Sect wear this style of clothing, so it’s very likely them.”

Shanyin Sect?

Jian Chou and the others silently noted this name.

Because the Southeast Wilderness was separated from the Central Domain by great distance, news rarely traveled between them. Additionally, with demons and monsters rampant there, large-scale conflicts occurred frequently, making the power structure extremely chaotic—different today from tomorrow. Often, after a period of time, the situation would be completely transformed.

Except for the Puppet Sect, which had deeper foundations and was somewhat familiar to Jian Chou, the others like Shanyin Sect and Heroes’ Tomb were completely unheard of, not just by Jian Chou but by everyone else too.

The only thing they could confirm was: Shanyin Sect was one of the three demonic daos of the Southeast Wilderness. They had sent people into Qingfeng Nunnery’s Hidden Realm and were being pursued by Xie Buchen, with at least one person already dead.

“Let’s go.”

Jian Chou’s mind was crystal clear. Knowing the general situation, she didn’t pursue further questions.

How many people Shanyin Sect had sent didn’t matter at all. What mattered was that Xie Buchen was pursuing them.

As for the Hermit Sword Intent directly killing a Golden Core cultivator, Xie Buchen could do it, and so could she.

As long as she caught up with them, what needed to be settled could naturally be settled with ease.

Jian Chou directly stepped over the corpse and walked forward, stepping onto the massive platform.

A mountain plaza, vast and nearly desolate, spread before them. At the plaza’s end stood thousand-blade cliffs, sharp as if cut by knives. Standing on the plaza and looking up, one could see countless terrifying sword marks densely distributed across the cliff face, as if someone had once practiced swordplay using the mountain wall.

At the center of the cliff wall, someone had carved out a huge opening with a sword, like the entrance to a cave suspended in mid-air, pitch black.

Beside the cave entrance, three characters were inscribed in strokes filled with killing intent: “Yi Zhizhu!”

There were no other passages here—cliffs and precipices on all sides, and they had lost track of those Shanyin Sect people…

Unless they had all fallen to their deaths, they must have entered this cave.

Jian Chou walked to the base of the cliff and stopped.

“Wow! Such a high cliff wall!”

Xiao Jin, hugging his watermelon as he approached, looked up with some amazement.

Zuoliu was also full of wonder, but when he stood beside Jian Chou and looked at the cave together, he began to feel uneasy: “But this cave looks so dark… They’re all gone—did they go inside?”

“In the jade slip Junior Sister Xiaowan gave us, she mentioned this cave.” Lu Xiangleng had a good memory and also looked at the cave as she spoke. “This cave is called Yi Zhizhu. Those with unsteady hearts who enter will suffer greatly, but it’s also one of the necessary paths into the Hidden Realm. They must have gone in.”

After speaking, she turned to look at Jian Chou, seemingly wanting to ask whether they should follow or not.

But unexpectedly, when she looked, she found Jian Chou’s gaze fixed on a certain spot on the cliff wall.

Somewhat surprised, Lu Xiangleng followed Jian Chou’s line of sight and was slightly stunned: “What is this?”

On the cliff wall, four or five zhang above the ground, there was actually a pattern of black and white marks.

It was more than ten black and white chess pieces, arranged seemingly without any pattern. The black pieces formed one group, the white pieces another, with very distinct camps. Only one black piece and one white piece were isolated outside these camps, seemingly having nothing to do with this black-and-white opposing formation.

Jian Chou’s gaze fell on this black-and-white chess formation and on those two pieces isolated outside, and for a moment she was in a trance.

Old memories surged toward her uncontrollably.

Under the old tree, beside the chess table.

In the past, that Third Young Master Xie of the Xie Marquis Manor had long, slender fingers that gently picked up a black piece and tapped it on the edge of the chess board, producing a crisp sound.

“Those who plan deeply and far, like this precious chess game. Look, this white piece placed at the beginning, isolated and helpless among the black pieces, is like a small boat floating on the vast ocean. But…”

“Snap.”

He placed the black piece in his hand onto the board, then played several more moves, and the situation on the board suddenly changed.

Black and white pieces immediately became like fire and water.

And that white piece that initially seemed useless, even a losing move, now connected with the attacking white dragon, becoming a blade piercing into the heart of the black camp!

Those hands seemed to have the power to control heaven and earth, and with a flip of the hand, the entire game’s victory and defeat had been reversed.

Looking at her sitting beside the chess table with a confused expression, that person shook his head, picked up the tea prepared at the table, unhurriedly took a small sip, and smiled: “Actually, there isn’t that much profound reasoning. This white piece seems harmless but is like an inside agent, lurking in the enemy camp. Until the critical moment, no one can discover its use…”

The voice grew distant.

The black-and-white chess game of the past suddenly overlapped with the black-and-white chess pieces embedded in the cliff wall before her.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, Senior Sister Jian Chou?”

Zuoliu had already called twice, but seeing Jian Chou still only looking at the cliff wall, seemingly lost in thought, he finally steeled himself and called twice more.

Only then did Jian Chou finally come back to herself and turn to look at everyone.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, are you alright?”

They thought the black-and-white chess board was strange and had captured Jian Chou’s soul.

Unexpectedly, she suddenly turned around, startling everyone.

Jian Chou shook her head: “Nothing, just understood the meaning left by this black-and-white chess board.”

“Left meaning?”

This was strange to say, and everyone was puzzled. Young Master Ruhua asked directly: “These black and white chess pieces were pressed into the cliff wall by someone’s palm, and the traces look quite fresh. Could it be left by that fellow daoist from Kunwu?”

“Exactly.”

Jian Chou’s smile deepened, and she didn’t keep them in suspense.

“He left the chess game to tell us that he has now disguised himself as someone from Shanyin Sect and is traveling with them.”

“What?”

Xiao Jin, Zuoliu, and even Young Master Ruhua never expected Jian Chou to say such a thing…

Or rather, they never expected Xie Buchen to do such a thing.

Disguised as someone from Shanyin Sect?

Traveling with them?

The Shanyin Sect group wasn’t made of pushovers, and in such a tense situation having just fought, how could he possibly deceive others?

Moreover…

Setting aside how Jian Chou knew the message contained in this black-and-white chess board, why would Xie Buchen, who clearly had old grievances with Jian Chou, leave this information here?

Had he encountered some difficulty? Or did he want to find a suitable opportunity to join forces when they met?

No one could see through it.

Lu Xiangleng showed surprise.

Xia Houshe also frowned tightly, staring at the chess board as if trying to see something else.

Jian Chou’s gaze calmly and carefully swept across the faces of her five companions.

All five appeared normal, without any abnormalities.

She lowered her eyelids, restraining her gaze, and looked up at the cave called “Yi Zhizhu,” her heart clouded with shadow—

She hadn’t told them everything.

On the black-and-white chess game Xie Buchen left, there were two pieces isolated outside. If the white piece represented “insider” Xie Buchen who had entered among the Shanyin Sect people, then what did the black piece represent?

A slight gleam flickered in her eyes as countless complex threads tangled in Jian Chou’s mind, but her expression remained calm, showing no abnormality.

Flying up, she rose gracefully, riding on clouds, and in two breaths reached the cave entrance suspended in mid-air.

The cave was completely dark inside, and the exact situation couldn’t be seen clearly.

Jian Chou looked inside, the corner of her mouth curving: “Now that Fellow Daoist Xie from Kunwu has taken the risk of infiltrating that group from Shanyin Sect, he must face countless difficulties. It’s time for us to ‘rescue’ him from fire and water.”

Well, if during the “rescue” she accidentally killed two evil demons by mistake, and only discovered afterward that one was actually the thirteenth true disciple under Kunwu’s True Person Hengxu…

That couldn’t be blamed on her, right?

So, it was time to demonstrate the deep friendship between Yashan and Kunwu.