Chapter 47

Yu Tao was just about to leave the room when her attention was suddenly drawn to the painting on the desk, causing her to stop.

There were several scrolls of paintings spread out on the desk, one of which was partially unrolled. It depicted a woman wearing a stunning red gown, her face partially visible, and her long, dark hair flowing down to her waist.

The artist’s skill was evident, with meticulous details capturing each strand of hair and the delicate edges of her clothes, all portrayed with vivid life and an ethereal elegance.

Yu Tao only glanced at it for a moment before turning her gaze away. She didn’t reach out to unroll the painting further but instead left the room.

Although she was curious as to why there was such a painting in Little Senior Brother’s room, she understood that it was inappropriate to pry into others’ privacy, and she respected that principle.

She searched the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion but didn’t find Yu Li, which meant he must have gone out. Just as she was about to message him using the Liuli Mirror, a message from Hua Lian suddenly appeared.

Hua Lian: 【Junior Sister, come to Jingzhu Peak.】

Hua Lian: 【The demonic cultivator who attacked Junior Sister Zhu at the Void Sword Training Fields a while ago has been captured. You’ve seen him before. Come and help identify him.】

Yu Tao quickly replied and headed to Jingzhu Peak.

When she arrived, Hua Lian led her to the Demon-Prison Tower on the back mountain of Jingzhu Peak, where Shishu Gu Yu was holding a young man, and Zhu Mingyu was standing nearby.

“Shishu has been tracking this kid for nearly two months before finally catching him. We’ve investigated, and the source of his demonic power is the same. However, only you have seen him, so we need you to confirm it once again.”

The demonic youth’s face was bruised and battered, clearly having endured a harsh beating, yet his expression remained defiant. Upon seeing Yu Tao, he sneered and curled his lips.

“Oh, didn’t expect you to survive after entering the Xuanshi Realm.”

“Shut up,” Hua Lian snapped, pressing the boy’s head down and lifting his face. “Junior Sister, what do you think?”

Yu Tao hadn’t seen his face clearly before, so she asked Hua Lian to have him stand up and be compared to Zhu Mingyu. She observed carefully, the youth’s height was similar, and his build also matched.

She relayed this information to the others, and Hua Lian clicked his tongue. “Then it’s definitely him. Junior Sister Zhu, are you sure you don’t know him?”

Zhu Mingyu shook her head. “I don’t know him.”

There were many people in her family who looked down on her, but she had never seen this person before. She had never had any dealings with demonic cultivators.

Zhu Mingyu pondered for a moment. “Maybe he was hired.”

The demonic youth scoffed, “If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it. There’s no need for all these reasons. I just don’t like you.”

Zhu Mingyu remained unbothered, her expression calm. “Is that so? Then why didn’t you make a move on the first day I went to the Void Sword Training Field? Why wait until you have a plan, covering your tracks?”

She suddenly smiled: “It’s not that I look down on you, but with your intelligence, you probably couldn’t come up with such a plan, right?”

Hua Lian and Gu Yu exchanged glances, preparing to take him into a room to interrogate him.

Zhu Mingyu raised a hand to stop them: “I’ll give it a try.”

She squatted down, staring at the demonic youth’s face. “Let me guess who sent you…”

Zhu Mingyu seemed to be thinking, and then casually named someone: “Is it my most despised aunt, Li Qinglian?”

“Or maybe it’s the son of the side branch uncle, Zhu Sheng?”

When she mentioned these two people, the demonic youth’s expression remained indifferent. He didn’t care at all and turned his head away, clearly not wanting to look at her. Zhu Mingyu kept her gaze fixed on his face and continued speaking.

“Or maybe… my dear little sister, Zhu Qianying?”

The demonic youth’s expression remained unchanged. Zhu Mingyu stared at him for a moment but didn’t see any reaction. When she mentioned other names, he still looked impatient, as though he didn’t want to listen to her at all.

Zhu Mingyu stood up. Either this demonic cultivator was exceptionally good at disguising himself, or he really had nothing to do with them.

Yu Tao, who had been listening to the series of names, couldn’t help but be surprised. It turned out that that time in the snowy field, she heard that the number of people who hated her was too many to count—was true.

She couldn’t help but feel a little sad. What was the point of such a family? Despite being related by blood, there was only intrigue and manipulation, with no sincerity between people.

Yaochi’s name was more prestigious than the three great families, but it was likely to be even colder and more heartless than them. What had Yu Tao’s mother experienced that made her leave and never return?

Gu Yu took the demonic youth away for further interrogation. Hua Lian turned to Yu Tao, who was deep in thought, and gently patted her shoulder. “Junior Sister, when Shishu returned, he ran into Su Chengfeng at the sect entrance. Did he come to find you again today?”

Zhu Mingyu paused. It seemed Su Chengfeng was still persistent.

Yu Tao nodded and explained to both of them, “But I’ve already rejected him. He said my mother still has some belongings in Yaochi, and I want to go and check.”

Zhu Mingyu froze. The books hadn’t mentioned Yu Tao’s background, and she had assumed it was just a coincidence that they looked alike. She hadn’t realized there was such a connection.

Seeing Yu Tao’s serious expression, Zhu Mingyu relaxed. At least she had refused him. That kind of place wasn’t somewhere one should go.

Hua Lian, also surprised by the connection, thought for a moment before speaking in a somewhat grim tone. “But it seems that Yaochi hasn’t had a new Guardian Goddess in nearly a thousand years. Once Yaochi finds out, they definitely won’t let you off easily.”

Yu Tao was puzzled. “Does Yaochi have no other candidates?”

Hua Lian patiently explained, “All women in Yaochi, once they come of age, must worship devoutly before the statue of the goddess. Among them, the one chosen by the divine oracle is selected as the Guardian Goddess. The Guardian Goddess has unique abilities and can purify the waters of Yaochi. No one else can purify it.”

“Yaochi waited for a thousand years to find Bai Yinyin, but who knew that before she could take up the position, Bai Yinyin unexpectedly passed away. Her daughter, who was left behind, also died a few years ago.”

“The cultivation world knows that what Yaochi is most anxious about right now is finding a successor as the Goddess. Junior Sister, you’re the daughter of Bai Yinyin’s sister, and now you’re suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Su Chengfeng won’t force you, but Yaochi definitely won’t let this go so easily. After all, you are the most likely person to become the Goddess.”

Hua Lian sighed in relief: “It’s good that you thought of discussing it with Yu Li first, instead of agreeing right away. If you had gone today, you probably wouldn’t have come back anytime soon.”

Yu Tao was also stunned and pursed her lips. “So… does that mean I can’t go?”

“Not exactly. It mainly depends on whether you are the chosen successor.”

Hua Lian thought for a moment: “If you are, Yaochi definitely won’t let you return to Wuchang Sect. You’ll be forced to wait to take up the role of Goddess.”

“But if you’re not, then it’s fine. Yaochi won’t stop you.”

Yu Tao nodded, understanding: “Then I won’t go after all.”

Although she wasn’t sure, if she really was the one chosen, would she be trapped in Yaochi forever?

Hua Lian agreed: “As for your mother’s belongings, you can ask Su Chengfeng to bring them back for you. Don’t worry, no one in Wuchang Sect will be able to take you away.”

Seeing Yu Tao’s troubled expression, Zhu Mingyu couldn’t bear it. After all, that was the place where her mother had lived. She must want to go see it.

“You can wait until Yaochi has a new successor before going. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.” In the books, it was written that not long after the Xuanyue Sea incident, Su Liuli resurrected and became the recognized Guardian Goddess.

Hua Lian raised his eyes: “Junior Sister, are you also working part-time as a fortune teller?”

Zhu Mingyu’s face didn’t change, and her tone was calm: “I heard some inside news from the family, and it seems Yaochi already has a successor for the Goddess.”

Just as they were talking, Gu Yu came out, holding a jade pendant with demonic energy emanating from it.

“He refuses to confess. I was just wondering how a demonic cultivator could sneak into Wuchang Sect with its strict guards, and then I tried to use a blank disciple’s jade pendant to record his demonic energy. Turns out, he’s actually a disciple who joined the sect a few years ago.”

The group examined the jade pendant.

The demonic cultivator was named Wu Tao, and he was indeed a disciple of the sect.

Hua Lian clicked his tongue: “How did he end up falling to demonic cultivation?”

“That’s it for today. I’ll go back and have Gu Feng investigate his background thoroughly. You all should go rest.” Gu Yu put the jade pendant away.

Hua Lian nodded: “Then we’ll head back first. Let’s go, Junior Sister, Junior Sister Zhu.”

Huayue Peak and Yunjing Peak were in different directions. After leaving Jingzhu Peak, the three of them were about to go their separate ways. Zhu Mingyu suddenly said: “Now that the culprit has been caught, I don’t need to stay with Senior Brother Hua Lian anymore, right?”

Hua Lian, still thinking about Yu Tao’s situation, didn’t raise his head and responded: “Mm, Wuchang Sect has strengthened its patrols and security, so there won’t be any more incidents. But wait a couple more days.”

Yu Tao lowered her eyes slightly upon hearing this. So, she wouldn’t have to stay at Senior Brother’s place anymore.

She let out a soft sigh, turned around, and headed back to Yunjing Peak. Hua Lian seemed to remember something and added, “Oh, Junior Sister, when you go back, could you ask Yu Li if he found the things I left him? I’ve messaged him through the Liuli Mirror, but he hasn’t replied. I don’t know what he’s up to.”

Yu Tao was puzzled. “What things?”

Hua Lian smiled lightly. “Oh, nothing much. Just a few paintings. They were with him before.”

In fact, it wasn’t exactly paintings—it was a formation array drawn on the paintings. He intended to set up a protective formation for Zhu Mingyu’s residence before sending her back.

Though, as he said, one always has to be prepared for any eventuality.

Speaking of paintings, Yu Tao immediately thought of the one she had seen earlier in the study. It seemed that the person had been searching through them hastily and hadn’t closed them properly when they had to leave in a hurry. So, it turned out those were Hua Lian’s.

She nodded. “Got it, Second Senior Brother.”

Back at Yunjing Peak, the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion was still dark, and after looking around, she realized Yu Li hadn’t returned yet.

She went back to her room and sent him a message.

【Little Senior Brother, are you coming back tonight?】

She didn’t know what he was doing, but after a long while, he finally replied. By then, Yu Tao had already started dozing off at her desk when she heard the message tone.

【I’m on my way back.】

Yu Tao rubbed her eyes, ready to ask when he would return, but before she could, another message tone went off.

【It’ll still take a while to get back to Wuchang Sect.】

Yu Tao obediently replied with an “okay” and paused for a moment. After some hesitation, she asked: 【Where have you been?】

As soon as she sent the message, she regretted it. Would Senior Brother think she was asking too much?

The reply came after just a couple of seconds.

【Jiuxu.】

【I went to find Jiang Xingjing to handle some matters. I didn’t reply earlier because I ran into some demonic cultivators.】

Yu Tao’s heart tightened. 【Demonic cultivators? Senior Brother, are you okay?】

【Fine.】

Yu Tao felt a little relieved. Of course, Senior Brother was capable.

She held the Liuli Mirror, staring at the few lines of text in the mirror. Suddenly, a strange thought crossed her mind—was Senior Brother trying to explain something to her?

Yu Tao unconsciously curved the corners of her lips, revealing two shallow dimples.

【Why are you still awake so late? Can’t sleep?】

Yu Tao honestly replied: 【I’m waiting for you to come back.】

She still had today’s matters to discuss with him.

On the other end, there was a long silence.

So long that Yu Tao began to worry something had happened again. Just as she was becoming anxious, another message appeared in the Liuli Mirror.

【…I understand.】

Yu Tao was confused. Understand what?

After sending this cryptic message, the young man didn’t reply further. Yu Tao waited and waited, growing more tired, eventually resting her head on the desk and falling asleep, with the Liuli Mirror left on the table.

In her drowsy state, she felt her body lighten, and when she slowly opened her eyes in a daze, she saw the cold, white line of a jaw, her entire body enveloped in a cool and clean aura.

It took her a moment to realize she had been picked up. Slowly, her mind caught up, and she hurriedly wrapped her arms tighter around the young man’s neck, worried she might fall.

Her voice was hoarse and a little nasal as she spoke: “Senior Brother, you’re back.”

“Mm.”

The young man gently placed her on the couch, and she sank into the soft bedding. Yu Tao was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open, rolling deeper into the quilts. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Her voice grew weaker: “Let’s talk tomorrow, goodnight…”

“Yu Tao.”

Yu Tao hummed softly in response: “Mm?”

“You’ve rolled up all the quilts—what am I supposed to sleep with?”

Yu Tao felt his voice was too close, as if he was speaking right beside her ear, his breath making her ears tickle.

She turned her head in a daze and found the pale, cold young man in white lying next to her, his light golden eyes meeting hers.