They passed by the mountain road where they had previously met the girl, Yaya.

When they arrived, Chu Zhaoyang seemed to remember something. He looked around nostalgically, dashing to the stream and stomping through the water, sending droplets flying, but he wasn’t truly happy. Perhaps it was because he didn’t find the person he wanted to meet.

Chu Hanjin didn’t rush him, waiting patiently as Chu Zhaoyang, feeling bored, walked back to shore. Chu Hanjin helped him wring out the water from his clothes, just as a hoarse old voice sounded nearby.

“Oh, it’s you two again?”

Chu Hanjin’s nerves tensed, and he instinctively turned his head. It was the old man they had met before, the one who had been with Yaya. He had a bamboo basket filled with herbs and was holding a hoe in one hand. He smiled warmly at them.

Chu Hanjin wasn’t sure if the old man had seen the notices that the Six Sects had spread everywhere, so his heart hung in the balance as the old man asked, “Why have you come back?”

His tone was very calm.

Yue Lin tugged on Chu Hanjin’s arm.

This was a remote and isolated area, far from any towns, with only a few scattered villages. It had the feeling of a hidden paradise, and the old man probably didn’t know about their so-called “crimes.”

Yue Lin cupped his hands and said, “Yes, we have some matters to attend to, so we’ve been going back and forth during this time.”

“Traveling must be tiring,” the old man said with casual pleasantries. He then put down his basket and gently patted Chu Zhaoyang’s face. “We meet again, little boy. Yaya kept mentioning you after we went home last time. She kept begging me to take her up the mountain to play with you, but we waited for several days and didn’t see you. She was so upset.”

The old man’s words were full of warmth. He looked up at the two of them and said, “It’s hot at noon. Why don’t you come to our village for a rest? Let the two kids meet up.”

“Well…”

Chu Hanjin was eager to continue on his way and was about to refuse, but he swallowed his words. He glanced at Yue Lin, who seemed to have something else in mind, and then nodded. “Then we’ll take you up on your kind offer.”

The herbs in the old man’s basket were just ordinary wild mountain plants, with fresh dirt still clinging to their roots. Yue Lin took the basket from him, while Chu Hanjin sent him a silent message, “Let’s take a look at the old man’s place.”

Yue Lin pondered for a moment and likely understood Chu Hanjin’s intention. He glanced down at the excited Chu Zhaoyang, who was running around.

Chu Zhaoyang was still young. Although he could run fast and jump high, he was still a frail child. Sometimes he would trip over a rock, fall down, and sit on the ground, crying for his father to pick him up.

As they walked through the autumn woods, the trees were heavy with fruit. Yue Lin lifted Chu Zhaoyang onto his shoulders, holding his feet as the boy plucked dried leaves and fruit from the branches. He either stuffed a piece into Yue Lin’s mouth or tucked it into his pocket.

The old man chuckled, “Why are you picking so much, little guy?”

Chu Zhaoyang answered in his childish voice, “For Yaya to eat.”

“Oh, how clever!” The old man laughed heartily.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but smile as well.

In households with children, there was a shared understanding of the joys and challenges of taking care of them. They quickly became quite familiar with one another. After crossing a bridge, they followed the river, which was lined with bamboo groves, walking for quite a while until they reached a garden where the vines on the trellises had withered. This was the old man’s home.

“Please excuse the humble abode of this mountain villager,” the old man said as he put down his basket and drew water from a jar with a bowl.

“You’re too kind, sir.”

Chu Hanjin sat in the courtyard while Chu Zhaoyang looked around anxiously, tugging on the old man’s sleeve. “Where’s Yaya? Where’s Yaya?”

“Oh, she’s probably playing outside. It’s almost lunchtime, so she’ll be back soon.”

An elderly woman, hands rough from years of farm work, stepped out of the thatched cottage. She had a kind expression and, after greeting them, went to entertain Chu Zhaoyang.

The old man smiled warmly. “My son and daughter-in-law passed away from illness many years ago, leaving us with only this little one. She’s our only family now.” He smiled, “My wife and I both love children.”

“It’s good that the child can keep you company.”

The old man stood up, “Yes, well, please make yourselves comfortable. My wife and I will go start the fire and prepare a few simple dishes.”

“Thank you for your trouble, sir.”

After the elderly couple had entered the kitchen, Chu Hanjin turned to Yue Lin, “What do you think?”

Yue Lin replied, “This place is remote and deep in the mountains. The trees in the yard have been growing for decades, and they live a simple life of planting and harvesting. They really are just ordinary mountain villagers. The old man has a kind nature. If we were to leave Zhaoyang here temporarily, I’m only worried he’d be reluctant to take on the burden.”

Chu Hanjin said, “I’ll ask him sincerely in a little while.”

The journey they were on was filled with great danger. While both he and Yue Lin were experienced cultivators, capable of enduring hardship, Chu Zhaoyang was just a child. It wouldn’t be safe to drag him along through all the peril.

He had considered this before, but the problem was that he and Yue Lin were constantly on the move, with no stable place to stay. Who could they trust to take care of Zhaoyang?

At that moment, a girl’s figure appeared outside the fence—it was Yaya. When she saw Chu Zhaoyang, her eyes lit up, and she ran toward him. Chu Zhaoyang was ecstatic and ran to hug her, the two of them chattering excitedly.

Watching the two small figures, Chu Hanjin was reminded of his own childhood, when he had been sent away to the Rongku Sect for safety. He turned to Yue Lin and asked, “Is this the right thing to do?”

Back then, his parents had sent him away to protect him.

He had been safe, but he hadn’t been happy. To this day, he still carried that regret.

Yue Lin gently squeezed his hand, “We’ll be back safely soon.”

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes for a moment, the tension in his hands loosening.

Inside the house, the old man brought out a plate of smoked pork and a jar of rice wine. He said, “Esteemed immortals, please come and eat.”

The smoked pork was rich and golden, glistening with oil. The old man was in a cheerful mood. “This is from the pig I raised last year. I killed it, stored the meat in lard, and kept it in the cellar. When we want to eat, we just take some out, melt the fat, and fry it up. It’s very flavorful.”

The old man was incredibly sincere in his hospitality, offering the best he had.

Chu Hanjin held his chopsticks, contemplating when to bring up his request. But before he could speak, the old man asked, “Where are you two immortals from?”

Chu Hanjin answered truthfully, “Jiangnan.”

The old man stroked his beard, hesitating. After a few nudges from his wife, he stammered, “Actually, I have a favor to ask of you two immortals.”

Yue Lin raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I’m going to say it, even if it’s shameless,” the old man looked at the two children playing nearby. “My wife and I are getting old, and we’ve lived in these mountains all our lives. We don’t know how many more years we’ll be able to watch Yaya grow up. When I was younger, I studied a bit and even wanted to cultivate, but I didn’t have the background or the talent… Now I only have my little granddaughter, and I don’t want her to stay in these mountains her whole life. I was hoping you immortals could take her with you, let her see the outside world…”

At this point, Chu Hanjin understood.

The old man looked at him earnestly. “You immortals are elegant and extraordinary, like the bright moon in the sky. You must not be ordinary people. I hope you’ll take Yaya under your wing and teach her some skills. She’ll repay you well in the future!”

Chu Hanjin thought to himself, this isn’t a matter of repayment…

He was currently being hunted by the Six Sects, his reputation in tatters. How could he involve others?

Just as he was about to speak, under the table, Yue Lin lightly nudged his foot.

Yue Lin signaled him not to say anything for now.

The old man, deeply moved, continued, “Honestly, with your esteemed presence, I wouldn’t have dared to ask such a thing. But seeing you have a child with you, I thought… surely you must be compassionate, so I gathered the courage to make this request…”

As he spoke, the old man suddenly tried to kneel before them. Yue Lin quickly pulled out his chair and caught the old man’s wrist, saying, “Sir, please, you’re overwhelming us. Sit down, and we can discuss this matter slowly.”

After helping the old man back into his chair, Yue Lin said, “Indeed, Chu Xianshi is no ordinary person, and his skills are remarkable. We can also see that you and your wife are kind and noble. However…”

“However, what?”

“Chu Xianshi and I are currently entangled in some troublesome matters, which we haven’t yet resolved. To take on a disciple now would be irresponsible to Yaya.”

The old man looked puzzled. Then, as Yue Lin explained their recent experiences, he grew increasingly indignant, though Yue Lin omitted the names of the Demon Clan and the Six Sects. By the time Yue Lin finished, the old man was brimming with righteous anger.

“Immortals, don’t worry about these things. A child isn’t suited for such hardships. To tell you the truth, I’ve grown very fond of Zhaoyang. Leave him with me, and I’ll treat him like my own grandson.”

Chu Hanjin was deeply grateful. He handed over all the money he had, saying, “Thank you, sir.”

As the old man tried to refuse, Yue Lin insisted, “Don’t worry. When we return, we’ll take Yaya back with us to the sect and find her a responsible master.”

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, the two children were crouched on the ground, picking small flowers, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

The old man said, “After the meal, I’ll have Yaya take Zhaoyang for a nap. You two can leave while they’re asleep. Otherwise, the children might feel sad if they see you leave.”

Chu Hanjin thought for a moment and said, “He’ll be sad when he wakes up too. I’ll explain things to him properly.”

“You’re right. Zhaoyang is an understanding child.”

When Chu Hanjin approached from behind, Zhaoyang was tossing pebbles into the water. Hearing the footsteps, he turned around and smiled.

Chu Hanjin smiled back. “Having fun?”

Zhaoyang nodded, “Yes, it’s fun.”

“Would you like to stay here with Yaya for a few days?”

Zhaoyang answered without hesitation, “Yes!”

But just after saying it, he thought for a moment with his round, childlike eyes and asked, “What about Father?”

“I’m not staying—” Before Chu Hanjin could finish, Zhaoyang interrupted with his childish voice, “Then I won’t stay either.”

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but smile again.

“Father and Daddy have important things to do. You’re just a little kid, and it’s dangerous where we’re going. Stay here and play with Yaya. We’ll come back to get you, alright?” Chu Hanjin spoke patiently.

But Chu Zhaoyang looked up at him, confused, for a long while.

“But Father was hurt a few days ago too, even though it was dangerous.”

His expression was full of grievance.

Chu Hanjin was momentarily at a loss for words, but Yue Lin sat down next to them, pulling Zhaoyang onto his lap. With a serious expression, he said, “Your father was hurt, but he’ll recover quickly. If you get hurt, a single sword strike could cut you in half, and you’ll never be able to be put back together again. If you don’t listen and something happens to you, you’ll never see Daddy or Father again.”

Zhaoyang furrowed his brows deeply.

It was clear that he had been frightened by this statement.

After thinking for a long time, he finally said, “Then I want to take a master too, and learn magic…”

Yue Lin chuckled softly, patting his head. “Alright, you’ll learn magic with Yaya when the time comes.”

Zhaoyang realized he didn’t have much say in the matter. He gloomily buried his head in Chu Hanjin’s neck and muttered, “Okay…”

Chu Hanjin stroked his head. “Good boy.”

Zhaoyang nodded vigorously. “Mm!”

Yue Lin cast several protection spells around the child, ensuring his safety. Then both he and Chu Hanjin stood up.

“Now we can leave with peace of mind.”

They said their goodbyes to the old couple and then set off once more. As they left the courtyard, Chu Hanjin glanced back, uneasy. He saw the bamboo groves and the flowing stream, with Zhaoyang and Yaya, one tall and one short, standing in the distance, watching them.

Chu Hanjin turned away, closing his eyes as he told himself, “No more looking back.”

He felt his hand being gently held, tightly. “No more looking back.”

They couldn’t use their flying swords because it would disturb the spiritual energy and immediately alert the guarding cultivators to their presence, so they chose to move swiftly on foot, hoping to make it before sunset.

In the distance, they could see the city walls of Yushui City rising and falling. However, outside the city, groups of refugees were setting up tents and cooking, complaining bitterly.

Yue Lin stopped one of them and asked, “What’s going on?”

“What else? The cultivators inside the city are fighting. Someone said they’d kill all the city’s inhabitants within three days, so we all fled out here.”

“Who dares make such a claim?”

“No one knows. Some say it’s the guarding cultivators, others say it’s rogue cultivators. We common folk don’t know anything. But luckily, the Six Great Sects are here now, investigating the matter. Hopefully, they’ll catch the culprit soon, and we can go home.”

“The Six Great Sects?” Chu Hanjin asked.

“Yes,” the person said, holding a pot of water, chatting idly. “They said two dangerous criminals arrived in Yushui City a few days ago, and they’re trying to track them down. But hey—”

The person’s gaze swept over Yue Lin and Chu Hanjin’s faces, examining them carefully. “There are posters all over the city with drawings of two young cultivators, good-looking ones, traveling with a child. You two wouldn’t happen to be—”

As he spoke, his hand started to tremble.

“You wouldn’t be those two, would you?”

Yue Lin, unfazed, smiled and said, “Do we have a child with us?”

“Oh, right, of course,” the person suddenly realized. “You two don’t have a child with you!”

Chu Hanjin: “…”

Yue Lin thanked him and turned to Chu Hanjin, whispering as they moved toward a quieter area. “Just because he didn’t recognize us doesn’t mean others won’t. Let’s be careful as we sneak into the city.”

By now, it was dusk, and the sky had darkened considerably. Soon, it would be too dark to see faces clearly. Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin easily entered the city and, after disguising themselves, headed to the residence of Lord Lu.

They arrived at the door and knocked, asking, “Is Lord Lu at home?”

To their surprise, a voice filled with resentment came from inside, “I’ve already told you, my husband isn’t here! Wasn’t he taken to the Dao Court by you? Why do you keep coming back?”

Keep coming back?

Taken to the Dao Court?

Had many people already come looking for Lord Lu?

Chu Hanjin thought for a moment and said, “Our whereabouts have been exposed in Yushui City, and we rented a courtyard from Lord Lu’s family. It seems that the Six Sects may have taken him for questioning about us. If that’s the case, let’s head to the Dao Court first.”

Yue Lin agreed, and the two of them left quietly.

•

In the hall of the Dao Court, the heads of the Six Sects sat in rows, each with a bowl of tea before them.

Sitting in the center was Lu Zhi, the bereaved son of the late Lord Lu.

Fu Yin Jun set down his tea cup and raised the question again, “Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin stayed in your courtyard for nearly half a month. Are you telling us you know nothing about their whereabouts?”

“I know nothing,” Lu Zhi replied resolutely. “I thought you came to Yushui City to investigate the deaths of my father and the innocent townspeople, but all you’ve done is ask about them. I don’t know what wrongs they’ve done, but I do know that after my father died, it was Chu Hanjin who recited the rebirth mantra for him, and he’s the one who saved my life.”

Fu Yin Jun remained silent, glancing at the others seated in the hall.

Since leaving the Misty Ridge, they hadn’t been able to track Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin. It was thanks to a tip from the Demon Lord Bai Gu that they had learned Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin had used puppets to wreak havoc and burn down the Demon Capital, angering the Demon Lord and leading them to Yushui City.

Xing Jiangxin snorted coldly. “So, you’re saying you have a good impression of Chu Hanjin?”

“Of course! Should I have a good impression of the executioners from your Rongku Sect instead?” Lu Zhi spat angrily. “So-called righteous cultivators, nothing but murderers!”

There was no need to explain further. He already knew it was the guarding cultivator from Rongku Sect who had killed his father and the townspeople, and he was furious.

“You!” Xing Jiangxin slammed the tea cup down. “What evidence do you have that it was the cultivator Shen Ji who killed them?”

“I saw it with my own eyes!”

“Nonsense.” Xing Jiangxin shook his head.

The Six Sects fell into a heavy silence.

Even though they all knew it was Shen Ji who had killed them, Xing Jiangxin would never admit it. He was the most senior and proud of them all. Admitting it would be a public humiliation.

So the Six Sects had come here, not to address the internal conflicts in Yushui City, but to focus on finding Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin.

Fu Yin Jun cleared his throat. “It’s said that Yue Lin also left a child in your care for a few days. If they didn’t trust you, why would they do that? You’ve been withholding information about their whereabouts. Could it be that you’re in league with them?”

Lu Zhi’s face turned pale, and he bit his lip until it bled. “Heaven and earth bear witness! What dealings could I have with them? You’ve already driven my father to his death, do you want to kill me too?”

Xing Jiangxin roared, “How dare you!!!”

His shout immediately heightened the tension in the hall, and the others quickly intervened to calm him down.

Standing beside him, Mu Lianchun slowly stood up. “Everyone, I have a theory.”

His hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes were tired, as if the misdeeds of Chu Hanjin had weighed heavily on his conscience. After a brief pause, he said, “Originally, Chu Hanjin was my junior disciple. It’s not easy for me to suspect him like this, but if I continue to cover for him, I fear you’ll all laugh at me for being unclear and tarnishing the reputation of the entire Yuanshan Sect. Since some of you are reluctant to speak, allow me to say it.”

He looked around the hall and continued, “The murders in Yushui City all happened after my junior disciple arrived. Could it be that he committed these killings under the influence of the Demon Lord Yue Lin?”

“This…”

“Could it…”

“Is that possible?”

Everyone in the hall was shocked by his words.

Mu Lianchun had always been the most protective of Chu Hanjin, and yet here he was, suggesting that Chu Hanjin might be the culprit. Many in the room, though aware of Yushui City’s internal strife, were beginning to waver…

Thinking carefully, the timing did seem to match.

The first person killed was Lord Lu, his neighbor.

“Could it really have been Chu Hanjin?” Liu Ming said, furious.

The more they thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense.

He had killed so many already, what was one more?

Not long ago, Lord Yue Zhao had been upright, dignified, and above reproach. Now, his reputation had collapsed so thoroughly that they were eager to blame him for everything.

Mu Lianchun finished speaking, then closed his eyes, tears welling up at the corners. “I ask that you all help cleanse the Yuanshan Sect of this disgrace. If he causes any more trouble, the Yuanshan Sect cannot be held responsible. I ask that you not blame us.”

His words effectively shielded the Yuanshan Sect from further scrutiny. If they were to push further now, Mu Lianchun had already disowned Chu Hanjin. There would be no point in pursuing it further, lest they be seen as being overly harsh.

Fu Yin Jun comforted him, “Chu Hanjin has fallen to demonic ways. As his senior brother, you must be the most heartbroken. How could we blame you?”

Xing Jiangxin’s expression softened significantly. “It’s a good thing you’re willing to identify your junior disciple and not cover for him. Don’t feel too guilty.”

How could Xing Jiangxin not be pleased?

Mu Lianchun’s words had effectively lifted the burden of Yushui City’s troubles off his shoulders!

As long as they pinned everything on Chu Hanjin, the crimes of the Rongku Sect’s guarding cultivators would be buried. How could he not feel grateful toward Mu Lianchun?

By now, Chu Hanjin’s reputation was beyond saving, and the Yuanshan Sect had to sever ties with him to maintain their own integrity. The best way to sever those ties was to betray him and frame him.

“…Hmph.”

Mu Lianchun lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curling slightly. But to the others, it seemed as if he were simply exhausted and filled with sorrow as he sat back down.

This scene was witnessed in full by Chu Hanjin, who was hiding on the roof, suppressing his breath.

He had changed into black robes, pressed against the cold tiles, making not a sound as the hall was filled with powerful cultivators. When he heard Mu Lianchun’s words, his fingers tightened slightly, though his face remained expressionless.

The meeting in the hall was drawing to a close.

As everyone was about to stand, a spy rushed in from outside and reported, “Sect leaders, heads of houses, and lords, some villagers a few miles outside the city recognized the portraits. They said they saw two cultivators with a child by a stream a few days ago. One of them seemed to be seriously injured, moving with difficulty, in the mountains southeast of here.”

Xing Jiangxin immediately perked up, “Is the information reliable?”

Mu Lianchun clapped his hands. “Demon Lord Bai Gu said Chu Hanjin was wounded. If there’s still a child, it must be them.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Hanjin glanced at Yue Lin.

This wasn’t right.

They hadn’t come from the southeast.

And they didn’t have Zhaoyang with them.

Why was Mu Lianchun so certain about a false lead?

Chu Hanjin pressed himself closer to the wall, listening as Xing Jiangxin, invigorated, exclaimed, “In that case, we’ll head southeast immediately. The Six Sects working together—we’ll surely capture these two demonic cultivators!”

Mu Lianchun nodded gravely. “I won’t hold back.”

“…”

Why was Mu Lianchun deliberately leading the Six Sects to a false trail?