This day, Jian Chou didn’t speak to Xie Buchen.

After all, it was still daytime with many people around, and they really had nothing to say to each other.

Jian Chou didn’t feel she needed to go ask whether this matter was done by Xie Buchen, because she already had her conclusion in her heart. Xie Buchen also didn’t think there was anything he needed to explain to Jian Chou, because this matter had nothing to do with her.

Ultimately, they only appeared to be traveling together, but were actually unrelated.

As long as what one person did didn’t affect the other, then it had nothing to do with the other person. Just as Jian Chou killed Master Hongren, just as Xie Buchen slaughtered the Snow Region disciples.

She only stared at Xie Buchen for three breaths, then turned her gaze away.

Sangyang, Meido, and the other young girls had never seen such a scene before—dozens of corpses lying on the ground together, all Snow Region monks. How could they bear it?

Just seeing them, they were already frightened out of their wits.

With such a major incident occurring, the several Masters who came to investigate all had grave expressions.

Seeing more and more people gathering to watch, they all turned cold, only ordering everyone to disperse and not to leave their quarters without permission.

Thus, everyone was intimidated by their authority and hurriedly scattered.

But discussion was unavoidable.

On the way back to their residence, one could hear various voices of terror and speculation as they passed by.

“Do you think it could be that legendary one from recently?”

“Which one? You really dare to say!”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

“Not necessarily. What if it’s that female demon from down the mountain these past few days?”

“Female demon?”

“Yes, haven’t you heard? Right near our sacred mountain, they say she’s been appearing for a while now, wearing moon-white robes and very beautiful. But she comes without a trace and leaves without a shadow. No one can see her, and some say those who see her die. Anyway, quite a few people have died down the mountain, including some monks.”

“I heard about this, but it wasn’t so exaggerated.”

“Right, that female demon only killed a few people? This time it’s more than forty people, even Master Hongren couldn’t escape. I don’t think it’s possible.”

“Sigh, it’s really frightening. Who knows when they’ll find any clues.”

…

Jian Chou listened to various reliable and unreliable theories along the way, but felt an indescribable irony in her heart, thinking that Xie Buchen had played this move quite beautifully.

Killing just Master Hongren alone was only one person. Even with the idea of framing that “deity Shaoji,” how much effect could it have?

But killing forty at once had a different effect.

They were all young disciples, extremely numerous, and died in the same manner. No matter what, people would suspect the existence that had given them power.

Thus, suspicion arose.

But even the Snow Region probably didn’t have the strength to battle this deity, let alone at such a time when storm clouds were gathering.

Even if there were real suspicions, they wouldn’t dare voice them, only suppress them forcefully.

This way, a crack quietly appeared in the originally nearly perfect eggshell. No one knew what role this crack would play at some future moment, but Jian Chou believed…

With Xie Buchen’s abilities, this move would certainly be very useful in the future.

After all, he understood human hearts and human nature all too well.

After returning to her residence, Jian Chou went back to her room to meditate quietly.

When evening approached dusk, a monk came to relay a message and brought the special clothing needed for the Noble Consort’s initiation ceremony, asking her to go to Master Hongren tonight.

Almost simultaneously, Dharma King Baojing had also emerged from seclusion, specifically naming Sangyang to come tonight.

That round-faced little girl was originally the most pure-hearted among them all. Hearing that the one performing her initiation was actually Dharma King Baojing, she was so happy her face turned red, drawing many envious looks from others.

Thus, there was much less attention on Jian Chou.

Only Meido, who had spoken a few words with her at the sacred lake that day, stood in the corner looking at her with some confusion.

Throughout the journey here, Jian Chou’s uncooperative attitude had been very obvious.

Moreover, that very handsome Dharma Teacher Huaijie seemed to have feelings for her, caring for her greatly along the way. Now she was about to serve Master Hongren—what must she be feeling?

Meido’s hesitant gaze mixed with confusion was naturally felt by Jian Chou, but she didn’t explain much to the young girl. She only quietly passed her a jade slip while everyone wasn’t paying attention.

“Hide it well and don’t let anyone know.”

The jade slip was warm to the touch. Almost the moment she touched it, the contents written inside surged into her mind.

Meido opened her eyes wide in surprise, as if encountering something incredible, wanting to say something. But Jian Chou only made a shushing gesture to her before returning to her room.

Outside, Meido clutched the jade slip and stood foolishly for a while, until someone called her and she hurriedly ran off.

By now, the sky had completely darkened.

A strip of intoxicating red clouds hung at the edge of the Snow Region sky, but looking from atop the Sacred Temple, the sunset glow was all below the temple. Such supreme height would give anyone a feeling of standing at the absolute peak.

Jian Chou was no exception.

When the time came, she had already put on the clothes needed for tonight outside—thick fabric embroidered with various bright patterns, her fair neck adorned with a string of small agate beads.

Originally, Mojia was responsible for this matter, but he was dead. The one who came to escort her was another young Dharma Teacher she had never seen before.

Under the night sky, they came out from the Noble Consorts’ residence on the west side, passed through the empty, moonlit plaza, went through the Hall of Masters, and arrived at the monastery where the Masters lived behind it.

Master Hongren had broken through to Nascent Soul a hundred years ago and now had mid-Nascent Soul cultivation.

Where he lived was not very far from Master Hongren, the only Master who had an incident last night. When Jian Chou was being led through the monastery, she even passed by the outside of that courtyard.

After walking for less than half a moment, the young Dharma Teacher bowed his head and said: “We’ve arrived. You go in.”

When she killed last night, she had teleported into the room and hadn’t carefully observed what the monastery looked like inside.

Now entering, she took the opportunity to look around. It was clean and tidy, with barely any moss growing in the cracks of the floorboards. Various fierce god-like Buddha statues were painted on the walls, and the ground was carved with various patterns unique to the Tantric tradition. Seven steps led up to the interior of the room.

Jian Chou had just reached the bottom when she saw Xie Buchen.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a room but more like a smaller great hall.

Two doors opened wide outward, but the middle was separated by yellow opaque curtains, preventing outsiders from seeing inside at a glance.

Xie Buchen wore deep red monk robes and sat cross-legged in front of these yellow curtains.

At this moment, anyone would think he was “Huaijie.”

Legs crossed, his two hands with slender fingers formed lotus mudra seals, lightly resting on his knees.

Perhaps due to this scene and setting, perhaps due to his current seated posture, his originally cold features carried a kind of faint solemnity, giving people the same lofty and detached feeling as this Snow Region Sacred Temple.

His deep eyes were partially hidden by lowered eyelids, unclear to see.

Jian Chou walked step by step from behind him, then passed by his side.

At this moment, his dark eyes, usually still as an ancient well, flashed with slight movement. His gaze lifted slightly, as if wanting to look over.

But when he looked, there was only a piece of bright clothing hem passing by his side.

Thus, this scene strangely overlapped with a scene from years past.

She lay in a pool of blood, reaching her hand toward him, seeming to want to hold him back, also seeming to want to ask something. But in the end, he turned and walked away with his sword.

What he left her was only a piece of unreachable clothing hem.

Jian Chou didn’t deliberately turn back to look at Xie Buchen, since they had already discussed tonight’s plan before. As for how to proceed, there was even less need to worry.

Both their abilities to act according to circumstances were truly first-rate, really requiring no further discussion.

So she didn’t see Xie Buchen’s expression, or perhaps even if she had seen it, she couldn’t have guessed it. She only gazed at those tall yellow curtains, stopping six steps away from them.

“You are Qiaguo Suba?”

Before Jian Chou could speak, a voice had already come from behind the curtains, carrying some age and frivolity. This should be Mojia’s master, Master Hongren.

Jian Chou didn’t show more expression, only calmly responded: “Yes.”

“Today I will preside over the initiation ceremony for Huaijie. I heard you have quite a close relationship with him, so I’m showing special favor by selecting you to be the Noble Consort for this initiation ceremony.”

Hongren didn’t come out, speaking these words with some sarcasm and smugness in his voice.

“The time is almost here. I imagine Huaijie is also eager to begin. Come in.”

“…Yes.”

Jian Chou wasn’t a fool—how could she not hear the implications in Hongren’s words? She only felt this Master Hongren was both stupid and malicious. She paused for a moment before answering and walking inside.

But such a pause, heard by Hongren, seemed completely normal.

On the contrary, if Jian Chou had shown no reaction at all, he would have been suspicious. Now having this reaction showed the person wasn’t particularly stupid, but also didn’t explode, suggesting she understood the situation and would endure.

Thus, his gaze followed the shadow outside the curtains.

After just a few steps, Jian Chou had already gone around the curtains.

The figure that had seemed blurry under the curtains’ concealment immediately became clear.

At this moment, Master Hongren’s eyes almost went straight, and despite being at mid-Nascent Soul stage, his usually steady breathing became somewhat erratic.

The clothing of the Snow Region couldn’t compare to that of the Central Region, but it excelled in brightness.

Yet such deep red brilliant colors couldn’t overshadow the entire bearing of the woman before him. The bright dress only further highlighted her snow-white jade-like face and extremely beautiful features. She seemed gentle yet faintly carried a kind of seductive beauty that bloomed from frost and ice.

Her entire person stepped gracefully forward, as if walking down from celestial terraces and immortal pools!

Qiaguo Suba, snow lotus flower.

She truly lived up to her name…

Master Hongren had imagined this woman must be very beautiful, but had never imagined that this name would be so fitting when placed on this woman.

And this natural constitution…

More than just the word “good” could describe!

Hongren had been cultivating for a very long time and looked somewhat aged, with his two eyebrows pressing down over his eyes, giving people a gloomy feeling.

Since entering mid-Nascent Soul stage, he had hit a bottleneck.

He had neither insights in cultivation nor could find better Buddha Mothers to practice with. This was why he had been so bold as to intercept the Noble Consort intended for Dharma King Baojing!

If he had any worries or doubts before, at the moment of seeing “Qiaguo Suba,” all worries and doubts had been cast aside!

With such a naturally gifted Noble Consort, what bottleneck was there to worry about!

Not to mention that Dharma King Baojing was currently severely injured. As long as he broke through, even if the other wanted to deal with him, it wouldn’t be so easy. If he didn’t know, that would be one thing, but knowing, he could only suffer this loss in silence!

Hongren’s mind was already burning with heat, his eyes showing thick greed. He was so delighted he laughed three times, directly reaching out to grab at Jian Chou!

“Come, let me perform your initiation!”

Initiation?

Jian Chou smiled.

Her steps had already stopped. Seeing the other reaching toward her, she didn’t even dodge once, allowing that somewhat withered palm to fall on her shoulder.

Hongren only felt her smile seemed somewhat strange, but at this moment his hand was already on her shoulder, with such a great opportunity right before him—how could he think of anything else?

He exerted force with his hand, wanting to pull Jian Chou toward himself.

But what suddenly surprised him was that he couldn’t pull her!

Jian Chou stood right in front of him, looking tall and slender, yet like a stone—not moving at all!

He still hadn’t realized what was happening, only suspecting it was his imagination, so he applied force again, gripping Jian Chou’s shoulder to pull her toward himself.

But she still didn’t move even half an inch!

At this instant, Hongren’s previously heated mind finally seemed to have cold water poured over it, chilling him from head to toe!

Jian Chou sighed lightly: “Being this stupid, why continue living?”