“But is this really the truth?” The storyteller took a dramatic turn, his gaze sweeping across the audience. “In fact, that great contest was a conspiracy by various immortal sect families to capture Bixie. They used Luo Jingyu as bait to lure Bixie into a trap specifically designed for it. But Luo Jingyu did not die at the hands of Bixie. Hating evil and despising the underhanded methods of the immortal sect families, he used his own power to help Bixie break through the seal, only to be executed on the spot by the heavenly laws!”

As he reached the climax of his story, the storyteller’s voice grew more impassioned, pulling Xie Shuci completely into the narrative.

Just then, someone from the audience threw a bowl of tea onto the stage, cursing loudly:

“How dare you spout such nonsense!”

“How dare you insult my idol!”

“I became a cultivator to be like Luo Jingyu, and you dare say he colluded with Bixie?”

“To hell with you!”

The crowd in the hall, stirred by these words, erupted in anger, hurling whatever they could find onto the stage.

“Shut your mouth!”

“How dare you insult Luo Jingyu?”

“Do you even have a brain?”

In the heat of the moment, someone even snatched the two plates from Xie An’s hands and hurled them onto the stage without a second thought.

“Hey, hey, hey…” The storyteller was caught off guard, exclaiming, “What are you doing?!”

“Get out!”

“Don’t let me see you again, or I’ll beat you every time I do!”

“Ow!” The storyteller clutched his head, wailing as he ran out of the hall.

Xie Shuci, who had been engrossed in the story, was left speechless, “…”

“Such a strong reaction…” he muttered.

Just as he finished speaking, a cultivator who had always shown him great respect glared at him. Xie Shuci shrank back, quickly conceding, “Luo Jingyu is an eternal god!”

The man then nodded in satisfaction.

After the crowd in the hall dispersed, Xie Shuci patted his chest, “That was scary.”

Chu Wenfeng snorted, “Daring to speak ill of Luo Jingyu in front of young cultivators in the cultivation world, he was practically asking for death.”

Seeing Xie Shuci still in shock, Chu Guiyi explained, “Luo Jingyu was an unparalleled cultivator in the cultivation world. Whether in terms of cultivation, temperament, or moral character, he was beyond comparison. For 7,000 years, he has been a revered figure in the cultivation world, with cultivators striving to emulate him.”

“Oh, I see.” Xie Shuci nodded, half-understanding. To the cultivation world, Luo Jingyu might be like one of those timeless historical figures in the modern world.

The storyteller’s claim that Luo Jingyu helped Bixie break the seal and caused the deaths of many cultivators from immortal sect families was akin to accusing a loyal general who died for his country of treason. Naturally, it would provoke everyone’s anger.

Xie Shuci suddenly had a thought, “But what if what he said was true?”

Chu Wenfeng shot him a sharp look, “What did you just say?”

“Okay, okay!” Xie Shuci quickly surrendered, “Got it, he’s your idol too.”

Chu Guiyi remarked, “The events happened seven thousand years ago. The truth is long beyond verification. Moreover, people always choose to believe what they want to believe. The actual truth doesn’t matter anymore.”

Xie Shuci nodded, “Right, whether it’s true or not, I just wanted to hear the story.”

After saying this, Xie Shuci pondered to himself.

Since both the ‘foolish dog’ and He Lianzhu mentioned Bixie before their deaths, its existence must be real. But what was Bixie’s purpose in making deals with them? And why did the ‘foolish dog’ say Bixie could help him?

Xie Shuci didn’t dare to share these thoughts with the other three. Having encountered two “accident-related individuals” in a row, and based on his understanding of the nature of BL novels, it probably wasn’t something good. It was better not to involve unrelated people.

He thought for a moment and then asked curiously, “Who exactly is Bixie? Is he still alive?”

Chu Guiyi replied, “Actually, the storyteller wasn’t wrong. Bixie is indeed the embodiment of the evil of heaven and earth. After the grand contest of Luo Jingyu’s incident, 7,000 years ago, Bixie was sporadically sighted a few times. He didn’t cause any major disturbances, and no one knows his whereabouts.”

“Right.” Chu Wenfeng suddenly said, “What did you mean by your question to Helian Zhu yesterday? What deal?”

Xie Shuci shook his head, then asked, “Have you seen the formation from yesterday? What was it for?”

Chu Guiyi answered, “I’ve never seen it before, including the one that appeared under Patriarch Helian’s feet. No one has really seen it. Perhaps it’s some kind of evil practice as well.”

Seeing that the two were ignoring him, Chu Wenfeng’s face fell. He glanced at Xie An, who was also being overlooked by the others, and suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie. So, he got up and sat next to Xie An.

Just as Chu Wenfeng was about to strike up a conversation, Xie Shuci looked over suspiciously and warned, “What are you doing? Don’t think about leading our Xie An astray, I’m warning you!”

Chu Wenfeng, “…”

“I haven’t even said anything yet!”

Xie Shuci waved him away, “Move aside.”

Having spent a lot of time with Xie Shuci, Chu Wenfeng had picked up a few things. He responded by giving Xie Shuci the middle finger and then moved back to his seat.

After concluding the previous topic, Xie Shuci, supporting his chin with his hands declared, “I’ve decided, from now on, I will seriously cultivate.”

Xie Shuci considered himself someone who took the advice seriously. The ‘foolish dog’ had advised him to cultivate diligently and protect his life before dying. Though he didn’t fully understand the reason, the words of a dying dog were like a piece of advice, so there must be a reason behind it.

After saying this, he looked sentimentally at Xie An, “And I will definitely find a way to repair your Golden Core and spiritual veins.”

Currently, Xie An was like a normal person, who would age and eventually pass away. Xie Shuci, at least, could potentially live a few more years, and maybe even a few hundred or thousand years if his cultivation progressed.

By then, Little Blind would have long passed away…

Thinking of this, Xie Shuci suddenly brightened up, “Xie An, even if you die, it’s okay. I’ll just go around looking for your reincarnation. There’s always a way to find you.”

Xie An stiffened for a moment, his expression growing complex, “Even if I die, you would come to find me?”

Xie Shuci nodded as if it was the most natural thing, “Yeah, I’ll be bored anyway. But by then, you might have forgotten me and not want to go with me.”

Xie An’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he shook his head, “As long as you can find me, I will go with you.”

Hearing this, Xie Shuci was overjoyed and nuzzled his head against Xie An’s shoulder, “I knew my Xie An is the best.”

After a pause, Xie An added, “If you die and are able to reincarnate…”

“Bah, Bah Bah! Don’t talk about such unlucky things! I won’t die, none of us will,” Xie Shuci quickly interrupted him.

Xie An, “…”

Xie Shuci, be reasonable, please.

Chu Guiyi and Chu Wenfeng, who had been listening to Xie Shuci’s words, fell into a strange silence.

Even Chu Wenfeng, who usually loved to joke with Xie Shuci, frowned and hesitated, not sure whether to speak up.

Finally, it was Chu Guiyi who broke the silence, “Shuci, did you two come to Luofang City for the Qiankun Mirror?”

Xie Shuci looked puzzled, “What’s the Qiankun Mirror?”

Chu Guiyi explained, “The Dragon Tooth Secret Realm once revealed a magical tool called the Qiankun Mirror, also known as the Yin-Yang Mirror. It can reverse time up to ten years for a single object and up to the duration of half an incense stick for multiple objects.”

Xie Shuci glanced at him, then at Chu Wenfeng, still somewhat confused.

Chu Guiyi sighed lightly, “To be honest, Wenfeng and I came here for the Qiankun Mirror.”

Xie Shuci caught on, asking cautiously, “Can the Qiankun Mirror… help you and Xie An restore your cultivation?”

“Correct.”

Xie Shuci smacked his lips thoughtfully, finding himself in a dilemma, “But the Qiankun Mirror… it can’t restore both of you, can it? Only one person’s cultivation?”

Chu Guiyi looked at Xie Shuci and nodded.

Xie Shuci’s eyes shifted between the two, and then he scooted closer to Xie An, swallowing nervously. Glancing at the whip hanging from Chu Wenfeng’s waist, he seemed to already feel its sting on his skin.

He timidly asked, “You guys… you aren’t planning to become enemies with us over this, are you?”

Hearing this, Chu Guiyi couldn’t help but laugh softly, while Chu Wenfeng rolled his eyes at Xie Shuci.

“Idiot,” Chu Wenfeng scolded.

Xie Shuci glared and kicked him under the table, muttering, “Then what do we do?”

Chu Wenfeng said, “Are you dumb? Every sect in the city wants to please you right now. Just take Xie An and collaborate with them. Offer them some elixirs, and they’ll help you get the Qiankun Mirror. They’d probably give it to you for free if you asked.”

Xie Shuci raised an eyebrow and proposed to the two, “How about we make a deal? Let’s not let outsiders benefit. I’ll give you elixirs, and you help us get the Qiankun Mirror. How about that?”

Chu Wenfeng frowned, seeming like he wanted to say something, but then held back.

Seeing his silence, Xie Shuci turned his gaze to Chu Guiyi.

Chu Guiyi’s smile was somewhat bitter as he shook his head, “Shuci, I’m sorry, but the Qiankun Mirror is extremely important to me.”

Chu Wenfeng glanced at him and then lowered his head in silence.

“Well, then let’s each rely on our own abilities. But let’s agree, no underhanded tricks!” Xie Shuci said firmly.

Hearing this, Chu Wenfeng snorted, “Rely on our own abilities? If I wanted to take it, could you stop me? Do I need to use any tricks against you?”

Chu Guiyi then bowed solemnly to Xie Shuci, “Shuci, rest assured, if you get the Qiankun Mirror before us, Wenfeng and I will not compete with you for it.”

Chu Guiyi, being a gentleman, probably wouldn’t resort to underhanded methods.

Xie Shuci waved his hand dismissively, “Alright, with the four of us, all old, weak, or sick, someone else will probably beat us to it anyway.”

Chu Wenfeng glared at him, “Are you saying you’re old, or that I’m weak?”

“Alright, alright, you’re not weak, I’m old! Happy now?”

“Let’s drop it,” Xie Shuci flopped down on the table, exasperated. “It’s so annoying. Now, every time we step out, we’re followed by a crowd, and we can’t even have fun properly. I was finally enjoying a storytelling session, hoping for some touching love story, and then the storyteller gets chased off the stage.”

“A love story? What’s so interesting about that? I’d rather hear about a young hero saving the cultivation world…”

Before he could finish, Xie Shuci burst into laughter, “Kid, that’s a bit of a dangerous thought.”

It reminded him of his own naive fantasies during his adolescent years.

Chu Wenfeng shot him a glance.

“Young and unaware of the beauty of youth… I just hope to experience a great romance in my lifetime, preferably with a gentle and virtuous woman… No, a strong-willed one would be fine too…”

Now realizing he hadn’t strayed from his straight orientation, Xie Shuci thought it might be safer to experience the troubles of love sooner rather than later.

Xie An listened quietly to their conversation, and at this point, he lightly tapped Xie Shuci.

Xie Shuci looked at him curiously.

Xie An’s lips parted slightly, and he silently asked, “Can’t it be a man?”

“Of course not, if someone like Deng Changqing hovered around me every day, sooner or later I’d become crazy.”

Xie An’s lips curved into an almost-smile, but he said no more.

At that moment, a spirit butterfly quietly flew onto Xie An’s sleeve.

“Is he the third sacrifice?”

Xie An’s eyes darkened. He gently flicked his sleeve, scattering the spirit butterfly into the air.