Yun Xiu’s lie was perfectly reasonable and seamless, leaving no flaws for anyone to pick at.
The actual situation was not far off from what she had described. The only difference was that Yun Ling had long since become a puppet under the Heavenly Gu Elder’s control.
But Yun Ling was already dead. The paranoid Yun Ye had been placed under house arrest, while the Third Palace Lord and Fifth Palace Lord had temporarily fallen into a deep slumber to prevent the gu worms in their bodies from causing chaos.
Losing four palace lords at once—along with some disciples, attendants, and elders from Second Peak, Third Peak, and Fifth Peak—was damaging enough. If they were branded as colluders with demons on top of that, Cloud Heaven Palace might never recover.
That was the last thing Yun Xiu wanted to see.
Having been reborn, she was determined to save her sect rather than watch it plunge into the abyss and meet its destruction, just as it had in her previous life.
Elder Bai frowned and asked, “Where is that guide, the hidden agent?”
Yun Xiu replied calmly, “He’s already locked in the prison. I explained the details in my report yesterday. Why does Elder Bai seem completely unaware? Could it be that you didn’t come here because of my report?”
Her words made the three Demon Exterminator Envoys exchange awkward glances.
Yun Xiu immediately understood. “If someone has maliciously reported Cloud Heaven Palace, I ask that Elder Bai investigate the matter clearly.”
” Naturally,” Elder Bai said coldly. “This old man won’t wrong the innocent, nor will he let a single lackey of the Demon Domain escape!”
“Elder Bai is wise.”
“However, this old man must meet with the Eighth Palace Lord. Palace Lord Yun, please lead the way.”
“The Eighth Palace Lord has shut herself away in her cave abode. She refuses to see anyone, so please spare her, Elder Bai.”
“Does she not even listen to the sect master’s words?”
“The Eighth Palace Lord is my senior sister, and Cloud Heaven Palace’s only sixth-tier Pill Refiner. I ask that Elder Bai show mercy and not provoke her.”
A sixth-tier Pill Refiner… The three Demon Exterminator Envoys were somewhat surprised.
Pill Refiners held lofty status at all times, especially those who had surpassed the fifth tier—they were true treasures. Unless absolutely necessary, no one wanted to provoke them. More often, people actively sought to befriend them, knowing they might one day need to beg for their help.
Even as “civil servants” from the holy lands, with their own Pill Refiners at their service, they would not lightly offend other high-rank ones.
Moreover, If the Eighth Palace Lord was truly in a foul mood as Yun Xiu claimed, questioning her would be pointless and might even end in a falling-out due to a Pill Refiner’s infamous temper.
After weighing the options, Elder Bai decided to let it go and head to the Garo Royal Capital instead to ask around.
With such a major incident at Cloud Heaven Palace, the neighboring Garo Kingdom’s ruler could hardly be ignorant of it.
The royal family and the National Protection Sect appeared harmonious on the surface but were actually at odds beneath. Surely, something could be learned from them.
Thus, the three Demon Exterminator Envoys took their leave for the time being, and Yun Xiu and the other high-level members of Cloud Heaven Palace graciously escorted them all the way to the mountain gate.
Watching the trio depart, the Cloud Heaven Palace leaders all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“We’ve managed to fend them off for now, but—” Yun Xiu gazed toward the Garo Royal Capital with worry in her eyes. “In the end, it all depends on whether those so-called ‘allies’ can be relied upon.”
Yet Yun Xiu was destined to be disappointed.
That afternoon, the three Demon Exterminator Envoys returned in a whirlwind, with the Garo Country Lord and others trailing behind them.
Elder Bai stormed in and bellowed the moment he crossed the threshold, “Palace Lord Yun, how dare you deceive this old man? Your Cloud Heaven Palace’s other four palace lords are clearly in league with the Demon Domain’s evil cultivators!”
Yun Xiu sighed inwardly.
Just as expected—the Garo royal family had a mole lurking in Cloud Heaven Palace, feeding information about the palace’s internal affairs to the Demon Exterminator Envoys.
…
In the Fire Refining Starry Sky, atop the altar, Yan Zhen lay sprawled on a fragrant bed, his head pillowed in the crook of his beautiful master’s arm. His entire body had gone soft and lazy like a contented slug. He reluctantly spat out the pit of a tender cherry fruit and let out a tiny burp. A rich, sweet aroma instantly filled the air.
Chen Xi’s face was flushed crimson. She withdrew her hand from behind her disciple’s head, letting it fall back onto her lap. With her freed hand, she gently covered his eyes. Then, extending her pink tongue, she meticulously licked her other hand clean, erasing every trace of the mottled stains in moments.
“Master~”
“Hm?”
“I like Master the most.”
“Hehe, you’re not mad at your master anymore?”
“I-I wasn’t mad at all.”
“Good, as long as you’re not angry.” Chen Xi withdrew her hand and began straightening her clothes, tucking away those proud, saintly peaks beneath her collar. “As long as you’re happy, Zhen’er, your master is willing to do anything for you. But I am still your master, after all—I can’t just spoil you endlessly. I have to guide you and plan for your future. Do you understand, Zhen’er?”
Yan Zhen hummed in agreement and nuzzled his face against his beautiful master’s belly like an adorable pet.
Chen Xi’s heart melted. Unable to resist, she leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Alright, Zhen’er. Since you’ve recovered, stop clinging to your master and get up.”
Yan Zhen rolled over, turning his back to his beautiful master so his other cheek faced up. “One more kiss.”
Chen Xi sighed helplessly and leaned down again, brushing her soft, plump lips lightly against his cheek before pulling away.
Yan Zhen flipped onto his back, facing upward. “Another one.”
He even pursed his lips invitingly.
Chen Xi held back this time and didn’t indulge him. She merely kissed his forehead casually and pinched his cute little nose with her jade hand. “Up you get.”
Yan Zhen sat up straight and stretched his arms in a big lazy yawn, feeling power surging through every inch of his body.
Fresh-squeezed really did pack a stronger punch!
Yan Zhen patted his cheeks, then suddenly scooped his beautiful master into a hug. Before she could react, he stole a quick kiss on her little mouth.
Mwah~!
Chen Xi, caught off guard by the sneak attack, blushed furiously and stared at her bold disciple in astonishment.
Yan Zhen grinned. “Now I’m satisfied. See you later, Master.”
With that, he scampered off like he was fleeing.
It took Chen Xi a long moment to recover. She touched her lips, a doting smile curving her mouth.
“This child… Always knows how to win a girl’s heart. No wonder She Ji, Zi Ji, and the others are all head over heels for him.”
Even she, his master, had inevitably fallen into this forbidden web of emotions. What a vexing boy.
Exiting the Fire Refining Starry Sky, Yan Zhen found himself in the front hall—and not standing, but sitting. Beneath him was no chair, but rather Cai Lian Wife herself, seated in one.
The moment Yan Zhen emerged from the Fire Refining Starry Sky, an aged voice rang out: “Palace Lord Yun, what do you have to say for all of this—you and your Cloud Heaven Palace?”
Yan Zhen blinked and realized he was in the front hall, sitting right on Cai Lian Wife’s lap.
Usually, it was Snake Snake Wife sitting on his lap and wiggling around. This reversal was a novel experience. They’d done something similar back in the City of Water, so Yan Zhen guessed that Wife Lady must have borrowed his crystal pendant.
The sudden spatial ripples and Yan Zhen’s abrupt appearance halted the conversation in the hall. All eyes turned to the mysterious woman in her colorful skirt and veil.
The three Demon Exterminator Envoys were especially baffled, staring at the unfamiliar youth perched on her lap and wondering what kind of development this was.
“Palace Lord Yun, who is this boy? What’s the intent behind deliberately interrupting our discussion? Do you think you can fool us like this?”
Fresh off ambushing his beautiful master, Yan Zhen felt utterly fearless. He wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest and greeted them openly:
“Hello, esteemed Demon Exterminator Envoys. I’m Yan Zhen, an academy-style cultivator with just two and a half years of practice. I love playing with fire, refining pills, and catching traitors in the Demon Domain—no more thief crying ‘thief’ here. One of you three is a gu insect puppet under the Heavenly Gu Elder. Guess which one?”
