thefictionvixens Chapter 846 Old Fourth felt something was strange
Chapter 846 Old Fourth felt something was strange
Elder Qingyi nodded, his slender fingers gently placing the celadon teacup on the table. The bottom of the cup struck the bluestone surface, producing a crisp "ding," like a raindrop falling on a calm lake, its subtle echo lingering in the silent hall. "You're right," he said calmly, with the composure characteristic of an elder. "You should report this matter to the Sect Master later; he's waiting in his study, surely eager for news."
The fourth brother nodded, respectfully replying "Yes," before retreating to sit on a prayer mat in the corner of the side hall. The mat, worn smooth and shiny from years of use, gleamed with a warm glow. He closed his eyes slightly, placed his hands clasped in front of his abdomen, and slowly began circulating the sect's internal energy cultivation technique, the "Heart-Cleansing Mantra." Strands of spiritual energy, like mountain springs, flowed gently through his meridians, washing away the blockages left by yesterday's fierce battle and calming the restlessness from the overnight journey. In just a short while, the somewhat disordered spiritual energy within his body, caused by the intense battle and long journey, had calmed considerably; the suffocating pain in his chest had largely dissipated, and even his breathing had become smoother.
He slowly opened his eyes, the weariness in them fading considerably, revealing a clearer expression. He straightened his slightly wrinkled gray robes—marks left by thorns while traversing the forest last night—and bowed again to Elder Qingyi: "This disciple's spiritual power has stabilized. I will go to the study to report to the sect leader immediately, without daring to delay."
Having said that, he turned and strode away. The sect leader was always meticulous and disliked procrastination, especially since this matter concerned the movements of the demon race and had far-reaching implications. If the opportunity was missed, it could lead to great chaos. The wind in the corridor drifted in through the carved window lattices, carrying the fresh scent of mountain grass and trees, fluttering the hem of his robes. His footsteps echoed "tap, tap" in the silent hall, striking the bluestone slabs as if counting the hours, gradually fading into the distance until they disappeared at the end of the corridor leading to the study, leaving only the copper bells on the window lattices still gently swaying.
On the other side, He Yuzhu was strolling aimlessly along the stone path behind the sect's mountain. Autumn sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground like scattered gold dust. He stood with his hands behind his back, occasionally kicking small pebbles along the path. The pebbles rolled far away, hitting tree trunks and bouncing back. He felt empty inside—since handing over the management of the restaurant down the mountain to the manager and staff, he felt adrift, with nothing to do all day and few people to talk to. Little Li was busy drying herbs at the medicine shed, and Elder Qingyi always maintained his aloofness; life was rather dull.
As they were walking, they saw the fourth brother hurrying towards the sect leader's study, his steps so fast it was like his pants were on fire. He Yuzhu waved and called out, "Fourth brother, what brings you here? Why are you in such a hurry? What happened?"
As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuzhu's eyes suddenly changed—the previous casualness vanished instantly, replaced by a deep sharpness, like a hawk hidden behind clouds suddenly opening its eyes. Long Shishen quietly took over the consciousness of this body, the pressure of the dragon race spreading out like an invisible tide. He nodded slightly to the fourth brother who was approaching quickly, about to ask, "Is there any news from my father, Long Si?" but changed his mind—his identity was still unknown, and it wasn't wise to expose his weaknesses. A meaningful smile appeared on his lips, his tone unreadable: "What a coincidence. Tell me, how's the investigation into the movements of those demons going?"
The fourth disciple paused, instinctively holding his breath—he sensed an inexplicable pressure in the sect leader's tone, like the somber calm before a storm. But he didn't dwell on it, assuming the matter was too urgent, and quickly bowed even lower, replying, "Sect Leader, this disciple was just about to report to you about the demon race..."
Although the fourth brother vaguely sensed something unusual about the sect leader's tone earlier, as if he was hiding something, he rarely speculated about his superiors' intentions and simply assumed it was his own overthinking. He stepped forward, bowed to He Yuzhu (Long Shishen), and reported in a deep voice, "Sect Leader, the movements of the demon race have been investigated. The demon cultivators you are looking for are currently near the spirit-gathering array in Black Wind Valley, and... Little Li's mother is also with them."
Upon hearing this, Long Shishen's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly—he didn't know any of Xiao Li's mothers; the name was completely unfamiliar. But he knew that at this moment, the worst thing he could do was to say too much, lest he reveal even the slightest flaw and invite unnecessary trouble. So, he subtly changed the subject, his tone deliberately cold and hard: "Let's leave that aside for now. What I really want to know is, how is that old man from the Dragon Clan? Is there any news of him?"
The fourth brother found it even stranger. In the past, the sect leader was always very concerned about Xiao Li, constantly inquiring about her mother's well-being whenever she was mentioned. Today, however, he seemed completely unfamiliar with her; this change was highly suspicious. But he was ultimately just a subordinate and dared not pry into matters he shouldn't, so he replied, "There's no definite news from the Dragon Clan yet, but according to our spies from the Demon Clan, they seem to have suffered serious injuries and are currently recuperating in the East Sea Secret Realm. They probably won't be showing themselves for a while. By the way, the Ye family was pursuing us relentlessly, but I lured them to the Demon Clan's territory using fox fur and some noise, so they won't be bothering us for now."
Long Shishen nodded noncommittally and didn't reply, but his fingertips were gently stroking inside his sleeve—as long as his father was safe and sound, nothing else mattered for the time being.
The fourth brother did not step back. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped forward again, his tone somewhat cautious: "Sect Master, there is something else I would like to ask you."
He Yuzhu (Long Shishen) looked up at him, her gaze calm and unwavering, her tone indifferent: "Speak, what is it?"
The fourth brother carefully chose his words before slowly speaking: "Sect Master, have you been cooperating with the demon race recently? After all, just a few days ago you specifically instructed us to keep an eye on the demons, and today you specifically inquired about their whereabouts... I really didn't expect that the Sect Master would actually help the demon race." In his memory, the Sect Master had always maintained a "live and let live" attitude towards the demon race, so this proactive assistance was quite unusual.
Long Shishen's heart tightened slightly, but he maintained his composure and said calmly, "There's nothing to cooperate on. It's just that Xiao Li has been helping out at the medicine hut. Since her mother is a member of the demon race, I'm just looking after her a bit. It's nothing serious." He waved his hand, his tone implying that he was being asked to leave. "Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back now. Keep an eye on the Ye family's movements and report back immediately if anything comes up."