Chapter 332: A Carnivore’s Rage

Xuan Luofei was filled with deep regret, but her voice was only sad, not accusatory. Ye Wenxin finally let out a breath, yet she still gathered her courage to ask, “Senior Sister, why are you suddenly telling me all this? Even if it’s to tell me to cherish the people around me, this is an entirely negative example.”

Ye Wenxin was somewhat puzzled by Xuan Luofei’s intent. Xuan Luofei shook her head. “That’s not the case. It’s just that, now that I think about it, the feeling these Yin Fetuses give me is very similar to what I saw back then. I think there might be some connection.”

Ye Wenxin was startled, and quickly used her divine sense to ensure there was no sign of Liu Churan nearby. After a thorough search with no results, she remained tense and cautious.

“I thought that since you know about Yin Fetuses and have eaten Zhu-zhu, you might know something about these matters.” Xuan Luofei continued to voice out her thoughts. They were sitting on a small path, steering clear of Long Qing’er and the others, who were having a meeting in the distance.

Xuan Luofei had to stay outside the villa, since she couldn’t move as freely as other cultivators. As for Ye Wenxin, in other people’s eyes, she was merely one of the weak and ill, and thus did not attract much attention.

Ye Wenxin tried hard to recall those days, when Liu Churan’s presence around her seemed to gradually decrease. However, every time Liu Churan returned, she brought various remedies, all aimed at curing Ye Wenxin’s Qi Deviation.

Thinking about it now, it seemed likely that these Yin Fetuses were experimental creations from that time. Yet, whether the Yin Fetuses in this secret realm had any connection to Liu Churan was another matter entirely.

The more Ye Wenxin thought about it, the more she realized how little time she had actually spent with Liu Churan. Every day, she was immersed in her own cultivation, while Liu Churan was constantly busy—growing up, becoming stronger. By the time Ye Wenxin realized she could leave, Liu Churan had grown astray.

Recalling the terror brought by the Immortal Sealing Ring, Ye Wenxin felt a chill and goosebumps rising on her skin. She responded, “Nothing particularly special.”

Xuan Luofei pressed on, “Is it really nothing, or is it something you can’t talk about?”

Ye Wenxin fell silent, but perhaps her silence was an answer in itself.

“Forget it. Everyone has their troubles and secrets, just like how I used the Demon Lord to cover up my own shame, but everyone believed me.”

Ye Wenxin felt this was the biggest blame ever placed on her. However, if Liu Churan was truly behind these incidents, then the Demon Lord was indeed connected. She listened quietly as Xuan Luofei began to recount more anecdotes about her and Zhu-zhu.

“Senior Sister Xuan, can I be honest with you? And please don’t get angry.”

“Hmm?”

“Actually, you cared more about Zhu-zhu than you did about your Dao companion, didn’t you?”

Xuan Luofei smiled. “Does it matter? Anyway, my Zhu-zhu is here now.” She grasped at the air, and Ye Wenxin, feeling helpless, took Xuan Luofei’s hand and guided it towards herself.

Xuan Luofei leaned into Ye Wenxin’s embrace, murmuring, “If I were Elder Jin, I also wouldn’t want you to take risks. But that’s life; there is no completely safe place. Since you want to, then go.”

Ye Wenxin became quiet. She had thought that, after all the stories, Xuan Luofei intended to lecture her. Yet, in the end, she still chose to support her. She had assumed Xuan Luofei was naive, but it turned out she was just overly kind, almost to the point of being a saint.

“Don’t worry, I will take care of Elder Jin for you,” Xuan Luofei reassured. She slowly extricated herself from Ye Wenxin’s arms and began feeling around for her guqin. Ye Wenxin carefully lifted the instrument, and Xuan Luofei hugged it to herself, before letting Ye Wenxin guide her towards Long Qing’er.

“Let Wenxin go with you,” Xuan Luomei asserted, her voice carrying weight. This declaration caused quite a stir, but compared to Jin Xiaoqin, who vehemently opposed the idea, everyone else didn’t react as strongly.

Long Qing’er had been indecisive about Ye Wenxin’s participation, so Xuan Luofei’s active insistence was quite unexpected. Despite Jin Xiaoqin’s fervent objections and her reluctance to let Ye Wenxin take the risk, she found herself outmatched by the combined persuasion of Long Qing’er and Xuan Luofei. Defeated, she retreated to sulk by herself.

“Please take care of Elder Jin while we’re gone, Senior Brother Hei.” Ye Wenxin made a request to Hei Haowen. Although she felt conflicted, she couldn’t split herself in two—one part to go on the adventure and the other to ensure Jin Xiaoqin’s safety.

Faced with the choice between endless danger and the current comfort, Ye Wenxin chose the path of danger.

Hei Haowen nodded, and Ye Wenxin proceeded to give him some basic instructions. The villa was vast, and it might take ten days or more to explore the place thoroughly. Ye Wenxin left him some medicinal herbs and pills, as well as a few of her favorite chicken legs.

Hei Haowen listened earnestly, the small blade of grass on his head amusingly swaying with his movements. His gentle nature complemented Jin Xiaoqin’s temperament, making them a good match.

Ye Wenxin believed that within a few days, they would get along very well. Whether there would be any further developments was not her concern.

The plan was finalized, and Ye Wenxin ended up assigned to the villa exploration team.

Among the members, Long Qing’er was the only one she was somewhat familiar with. Fairy Fengya, Xuan Luofei, Xi Mengxuan, and Jin Xiaoqin stayed behind.

In the team, all the members were at Golden Core stage except for Ye Wenxin. They consisted of five people—two women and three men—indicating the high difficulty of the mission ahead.

Originally, Fairy Fengya wanted to join the team, while Long Qing’er was to stay behind. However, to avoid leaving Fairy Fengya with Ye Wenxin, Long Qing’er decided to volunteer herself.

At first light tomorrow, the team would enter the villa.

“If we don’t return in ten days, stay where you are and wait until the secret realm reopens. After you get out, deliver our wills to our families,” Long Qing’er said solemnly. The other chosen members also wore serious expressions, fully aware of the arduous task ahead.

After saying this, Long Qing’er looked at Ye Wenxin. “Wenxin, where’s your will?” The other four had written theirs, but Ye Wenxin hadn’t made any move to do so.

“I didn’t write one.” Ye Wenxin rubbed her nose awkwardly. She understood it was a common practice, but she wasn’t the sentimental type. If she died, that was that; there was no need for posthumous tears.

“Why didn’t you?” asked Long Qing’er, puzzled. She handed her parchment and brush, indicating that she should use them.

“I don’t have anyone I want to write to,” Ye Wenxin replied. Even if she did, she wouldn’t dare to write to them.