Facing Du Nan Jingang, Xu Qi An felt both tense vigilance, his spine instinctively stiffening, and simultaneous relief as his suspended anxiety partially subsided.

These complex emotions arose because Du Nan Jingang, as a warrior monk, was as unrefined as any martial artist. This meant Xu Qi An didn’t need to worry too much about being discovered by this Jingang.

However, precisely because his opponent was a warrior, possessing the terrifying martial intuition characteristic of such fighters, even a lingering glance in the crowd or the slightest hint of hostility might be enough for him to sense something amiss.

In such a case, even the Heaven Insect’s “Star-Shifting” ability might not be enough to conceal him.

It was truly a double-edged situation.

Li Ling Su clearly understood this principle as well. He adjusted the light gauze hanging from his veiled hat, slightly lowered his head, and continued walking forward with an unchanged expression.

As they passed each other…

Exhale… The Holy Son let out a breath. Once the other’s figure was out of sight, he said with lingering fear, “The pressure from a third-rank Jingang is truly frightening.”

What pressure? It’s just your psychological burden! Xu Qi An nodded once and said, “Contact me immediately if there’s anything urgent.”

He planned to return to the Qing Xing Garden.

Originally, he had intended to continue searching for the Dragon Qi host, but after encountering Du Nan Jingang, he felt it would be wiser to play it safe, especially since the other party was active in this area.

Additionally, he still hadn’t located where the Buddhist monks were staying or uncovered their recent schemes, which left Xu Qi An feeling uneasy.

He had developed a strong PTSD regarding crafty individuals, habitually choosing to lay low when dealing with anything outside his control, even if it meant missing opportunities.

“Understood.”

Li Ling Su nodded, then heard Xu Qian ask, “Do you have any love interests in Yong Zhou City?”

“No.”

Li Ling Su shook his head, “Though I find Miss Gong Sun Xiu quite appealing, I haven’t had time to develop things further with her. I can sense she’s quite curious about me too. And curiosity is often the beginning of affection.”

As he spoke, behind his veil, he lifted his chin slightly.

“Yes, Miss Gong Sun is indeed a fine lady,” Xu Qi An nodded, agreeing with his assessment.

A smile began to spread across Li Ling Su’s lips, and he was about to make a modest response when Xu Qian continued:

“I need to head back now. Luo Yu Heng and Mu Nan Zhi are both at Qing Xing Garden, and I’m worried they might start fighting.”

…Li Ling Su’s smile instantly froze!

Bastard, are you showing off to me?!

“Safe travels, Senior,” he forced a smile and said.

After bidding farewell to Xu Qian, Li Ling Su walked toward the inn, mulling over what he had said, muttering to himself:

“Why would Senior Ice Yi and Master want to capture me and Li Miao Zhen? We’ve been cultivating properly, adhering to the Celestial Sect’s teachings. Could it be that the Celestial Lord discovered my dalliance with Senior Spirit Yu?”

“No, given the Celestial Lord’s temperament, he wouldn’t care about such matters. And what nonsense about Master wanting to capture me? I’m the child he raised – he treats me like his own son.”

“That old codger Xu Qian just loves to exaggerate.”

As he walked lost in thought, he soon returned to the inn. Just as he stepped into the main hall, Li Ling Su suddenly froze, retreating to the entrance and glancing to his left.

On the left wall of the inn, someone had drawn a nine-petaled lotus pattern in white lime.

This was the Celestial Sect’s secret communication signal.

*No way…* Li Ling Su’s expression grew complex.

After a brief hesitation, he retrieved the veiled hat he had just stored in his pouch and put it back on.

The pouch contained only this single veiled hat, otherwise empty.

After concealing his handsome face, Li Ling Su crossed the inn’s threshold. He deliberately suppressed his qi and spiritual fluctuations, making himself appear like an ordinary person.

He was still under Xu Qian’s “Star-Shifting” technique – as long as he kept his face hidden and didn’t actively reveal any Celestial Sect techniques, he wouldn’t be recognized even if he brushed past his master.

“Guest, are you staying the night or just stopping for a meal?”

The attendant didn’t recognize him and eagerly came forward.

Li Ling Su pulled out his room key as an indication. The attendant, realizing this was an existing guest, gave him a curious look before quietly withdrawing.

The Holy Son scanned the hall but saw no sign of his sect elders.

Passing through the hall, he climbed the stairs to the second floor, slowly walking along the lengthy corridor.

This inn was of medium grade, with guest rooms on the second and third floors, accessed by external corridors.

As he walked along the corridor, Li Ling Su heightened his hearing to its limit, monitoring the sounds from the rooms he passed.

Filtering out the background noise, meaningless conversations, and intimate sounds, just as he was reaching the corridor’s end, Li Ling Su finally heard a familiar voice.

“Master, just kill me, I don’t want to live anymore…”

It was the voice of a young woman, filled with shame and despair.

Li Miao Zhen!

That cold-hearted snake of a girl who had remained unmoved by her senior brother’s tragic fate!

Li Ling Su slowed his pace, taking a deep breath to steady his suddenly racing heart.

Xu Qian hadn’t lied – the sect elders had come to Yong Zhou City.

At this moment, Li Ling Su heard Ice Yi Yuan Jun speak coldly: “Perhaps I should strip you naked and throw you into the street. Then you might understand the meaning of Supreme Emotional Detachment.”

*Ice Yi Senior is still fond of saying terrifying things in that cold tone…* Li Ling Su thought to himself.

He leaned against the railing, pretending to watch the diners below while straining his ears to eavesdrop.

As the Holy Son, he knew very well his sect’s ways – they wouldn’t care if anyone overheard their conversation.

“If you want to strip me, go ahead, but first remove these Spirit-Binding Ropes. I’ve been tied up for ten days now. You even have to lead me like a dog when I need to use the privy,” Li Miao Zhen said loudly.

*Pfft!* Li Miao Zhen, oh Li Miao Zhen, how the mighty have fallen… Li Ling Su almost laughed out loud.

“If I didn’t keep you bound, you’d meddle in affairs that don’t concern you and cause trouble. We don’t have time to deal with such nonsense,” Ice Yi Yuan Jun said flatly.

*That’s right, that dead girl Li Miao Zhen just loves to meddle in others’ business.*

The Holy Son had long felt that Sister Li Miao Zhen had taken the wrong path. Supreme Emotional Detachment meant rising above emotions, and becoming rational – that was its true meaning.

Look at what Li Miao Zhen had been doing – were those the actions of a Celestial Sect disciple?

No wonder Senior Ice Yi needed to discipline her.

“Our primary task now is to find Li Ling Su and bring him back to the Celestial Sect,” Ice Yi Yuan Jun added.

*Find me?* Li Ling Su’s heart tightened, the mocking smile gradually fading from his lips.

Li Miao Zhen snorted, “That fellow is probably somewhere enjoying himself with some woman.”

*You’re slandering me!*

Li Ling Su’s heart surged with anger. Then, he heard his own master, Xuan Cheng Dao Zhang, speak calmly:

“Once we find Li Ling Su, I will imprison him under the mountain for three years. Until he understands Supreme Emotional Detachment.”

*So they did come to capture me and Li Miao Zhen…*

Li Miao Zhen argued: “What if he doesn’t change his nature?”

Xuan Cheng Dao Zhang fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: “Castration won’t affect his cultivation.”

“…” Li Ling Su withdrew his hands from the railing, silently turned to descend the stairs, silently left the inn, and silently walked along the street.

He walked faster and faster, suddenly breaking into a run, his figure fleeing in panic as if terrifying beasts were pursuing him.

*Senior Xu, save me!!!*

…

At the Gong Sun Manor.

At the foot of the mountain, the sparrow perched on the huge memorial arch had given up its surveillance after failing to spot its target.

It spread its wings and flew into the manor.

At this time, Gong Sun Xiang Yang was enjoying dinner and wine with several beautiful serving girls.

As the family head, he didn’t frequently appear at the martial arts tournament. Dragon Fort disciples and Gong Sun family members were responsible for maintaining order and serving as judges.

The preliminary selection stage hadn’t ended yet, and the level of fighters in the arena was relatively low.

Perhaps only when it came to the competition for the top hundred rankings would the Dragon Fort Master or Gong Sun Xiang Yang need to personally serve as judges.

The serving girls were dressed simply in Dudou and underpants, covered by light gauze. In the spring-like warmth of the room, they passed wine cups back and forth, their laughter never ceasing.

As they frolicked and played, their heaving bosoms were quite alluring.

Gong Sun Xiang Yang had always been an old rake who loved wine and women.

“Tap tap!”

A faint sound came from the window.

The serving girls hadn’t noticed at all. Gong Sun Xiang Yang, slightly tipsy, pressed his hand down to signal the girls to be quiet. He first glanced at the window, then said calmly:

“All of you, leave.”

The serving girls exchanged glances, silently rose, gave a curtsey, and then grabbed their clothes without daring to put them on, quickly departing.

After they had gone far enough, Gong Sun Xiang Yang opened the window to welcome the sparrow inside.

The tiny sparrow flew into the room, heading straight for the table to peck at rice and pastries.

*It’s too damn cold, even sparrows known for their cold resistance can’t handle this weather…* Xu Qi An sympathized while complaining, enjoying the warmth of the charcoal fire while eating, quickly filling his stomach.

“Did you find the person I asked you to look for?”

Xu Qi An asked.

Gong Sun Xiang Yang shook his head: “Since that kid appeared at the dice gambling house, he hasn’t shown up again. My people are still searching.”

Xu Qi An suggested: “Try the inns, ask the attendants.”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang nodded, then said: “Though the Buddhist monks showed some movement today.”

*That I know…* Sparrow An remained silent, waiting for Gong Sun Xiang Yang to continue.

“Just before dinner, reports came in that monks have been spotted throughout the city. They’re searching, searching for you…”

“For me?” The sparrow’s head turned, its black button-like eyes staring at Gong Sun Xiang Yang.

“The monks are carrying your portrait, looking specifically for you,” Gong Sun Xiang Yang confirmed.

*Instead of setting up an ambush in secret, they’re openly searching for me?*

*Even monk-style fighting doesn’t follow proper methods anymore?*

Xu Qi An frowned as he listened.

Logically, quietly lurking and waiting for an opportunity was what a proper hunter should do.

*Aren’t they afraid of alerting their prey… No, perhaps this is exactly what they want…* Xu Qi An’s mind stirred as he considered a possibility.

The Buddhist sect wanted to use this method to drive him away, hindering his progress in finding the Dragon Qi host so they could get there first. Then, they could use the Dragon Qi host as bait to lure him in.

This wasn’t groundless speculation, but a reasonable deduction based on Du Nan Jingang’s previous fishing tactics.

“To bait me, they need sufficient enticement. An ordinary Dragon Qi host wouldn’t be enough to draw me out, but if it’s one of the Nine Dragon Qi, that would be tempting enough for me.”

“Even if I lay low and don’t take the bait, they lose nothing – they’ll just take the Dragon Qi host anyway, achieving their goal all the same.”

Xu Qi An wasn’t worried. He had originally planned to hunt the Arhats, so if the Buddhist sect found the Dragon Qi host first to lure him out, he would just turn their strategy against them.

“I still need to search for the Dragon Qi host – getting it first would be best. If the Buddhist sect does get there first, then I’ll initiate the second phase of my counter-hunting plan.”

After giving a few instructions, Xu Qi An spread his wings and left the bedroom, continuing his surveillance mission.

He had to guard against Ji Xuan and others finding him.

…

At Qing Xing Garden.

Night had fallen, and Luo Yu Heng stood by the window, facing the biting cold wind.

The wind lifted her temple hair and made her robes flutter backward. Combined with her incomparable beauty, she had somewhat of an ethereal immortal’s charm.

However, the faint worry between this ripe woman’s State Master’s brows disrupted her usual immortal aura. Yet this also gave her a touch of humanity, making people realize she was just a mortal woman.

What mortal women experienced, she too had to experience.

“Why hasn’t he returned yet.”

“Is he not coming back…”

“Did he flee in fear because of my insatiable demands yesterday…”

Luo Yu Heng was deeply worried.

If he didn’t return, how would she endure the coming burning of karmic fire?

Deep fear consumed her.

As the night deepened, her fear and worry grew stronger. She didn’t even want to eat dinner, though at her level of cultivation, she no longer needed to eat.

“Sigh~~”

The State Master let out a soft sigh, opened the door, and gracefully walked toward the hot spring deep in the garden.

When her mind was unsettled, she liked to either meditate in the pool in the depths of Ling Bao Temple or take a bath.

This habit had persisted for many years.

Along the way, the maids and servants of Qing Xing Garden gazed at this country-toppling beauty with amazed looks.

The maids felt ashamed of their inadequacy, while the male servants grew parched, their eyes burning with heat.

Her figure was tall and graceful. Though wearing rather loose Daoist robes, her proportions were excellent, with long legs and a sash accentuating her slender waist.

Though this woman dressed as a Daoist priest, everyone in Qing Xing Garden knew she had a man.

Moreover, she spent all day intimately entwined with that man in her room – these matters had long been revealed by the two maids who served the master bedroom.

Luo Yu Heng walked to the pool’s edge, flicking out several talismans with her hand to isolate the hot spring from the outside world.

Then, her delicate white feet struggled free from their cloud-patterned shoes, bare as snow, stepping onto the stones by the pool.

Her jade-like fingers pinched her sash, gently pulling it. As the sash fell away, her collar slid open to reveal a tender green dudou within, her bosom straining against it…

The Daoist robe slipped down her round, fragrant shoulders, her skin as white and smooth as congealed cream, seemingly frictionless.

Luo Yu Heng put up her beautiful hair, wearing white silk pants and tender green dudou as she stepped into the hot spring.

Amid the rising steam, she tilted back her beautifully contoured face slightly, closing her eyes, long lashes lowering as she enjoyed the hot spring.

After an unknown time passed, Luo Yu Heng opened her beautiful eyes to look toward the shore.

There stood an additional figure, currently removing his robes while muttering: “State Master, you’re too much. You know I’m exhausted, yet you still try to seduce me.”