Patrons One and Two Meet Halfway, Great Yu's Number One Succubus

Thousand Faces felt as though he had walked right into a trap. Yet a trap seemed impossible. Apart from Lianshan Xin, no one in the world knew he was coming to find Elder Zeng. Even Lianshan Xin could not have been certain of it. Therefore, no one could have set him up. Then what in the world was going on? Why would the dignified Emperor of Great Yu want to meet an elder of the Golden Scale Alliance? Did the two of them share an illicit affair? Moreover, the Second Prince had dispatched two Domain realm experts to escort her. Thousand Faces possessed extraordinary discernment. Almost instantly, he recognized the two men sent by the Second Prince. They were at the pinnacle of the Domain realm, half-step Great Grandmasters who had already made a name for themselves throughout the martial world. Had he been in his prime, these two would not have been worth a second thought. Now, however, he was severely depleted of vitality, making the situation genuinely troublesome. "Elder Zeng, are you simply overjoyed?" Chi Zhongwu, the leader of the Golden Scale Alliance, walked in with a genial smile. "The clouds have parted to reveal the bright moon; you have finally waited until this day." Thousand Faces: "?" What rubbish was this fellow babbling about? While his Myriad Manifestations Classic could indeed allow him to perfectly mimic Elder Zeng's appearance, it could not bestow upon him Elder Zeng's memories. Thousand Faces had already realized that Elder Zeng's identity was far from simple. His hope of using this identity to nurse his injuries in obscurity had thoroughly collapsed. Seeing "Elder Zeng's" conflicted expression and the subtle hesitation in her eyes, Chi Zhongwu—who knew the insider details well—wiped the smile from his face, growing concerned. "Elder Zeng, haven't you been yearning for this day all along? Now that your dream has come true, could you be having second thoughts?" Thousand Faces immediately nodded. "Alliance Leader, my feelings are somewhat complicated at the moment. Could I be given a bit of time to consider?" Before Chi Zhongwu could speak, one of the experts sent by the Second Prince took the lead to chime in: "Elder Zeng must be joking. Would you have His Majesty wait for you?" Thousand Faces: "..." Things were bad. Why did it seem as though the Emperor truly had an ambiguous relationship with Elder Zeng? Chi Zhongwu also persuaded gently, "Elder Zeng, I ought not to offer counsel, as I know nothing of what you endured back then. But throughout your years in the Golden Scale Alliance, you have always kept yourself pure and held everyone at arm's length. I know that in your heart, you must still be longing for... that person. Now that the Second Prince is willing to help, although there are minor deviations from the original plan, with his involvement, Ningbing's death will surely be thoroughly investigated." Thousand Faces' heart grew increasingly bewildered, and increasingly heavy. He had not yet fully grasped what had happened, but he understood that he had stumbled into a colossal mess. "Elder Zeng, you have half a day to prepare. Tomorrow, His Majesty will meet you at an imperial manor outside Shenjing." It was the expert sent by the Second Prince who spoke. "Meeting me at an imperial manor?" Thousand Faces felt a surge of secret joy. An imperial manor was good. If it were inside the imperial palace itself, he would have had to consider fleeing right this moment. Or at least look for a chance to flee along the way. The imperial palace was heavily fortified and teeming with supreme masters. Even if a land immortal ventured inside, they might not emerge unscathed. Although Thousand Faces was confident in his abilities, that depended on the venue. If he were deep inside the imperial palace, he had zero confidence in keeping his true identity concealed. An imperial manor outside Shenjing, however, was a different story. That damned Emperor... blinded by lust, he had actually placed himself in mortal danger. Thousand Faces suddenly felt that perhaps Heaven was granting him an opportunity to etch his name into the annals of history. Misinterpreting his silence as displeasure with meeting at an imperial manor, the expert sent by the Second Prince offered an awkward explanation: "Given your delicate identity, Her Imperial Majesty the Heavenly Empress remains entirely in the dark. Thus, His Majesty wishes to see you first before discussing future arrangements." Hearing this, Thousand Faces was thoroughly certain that Elder Zeng had an affair with that damned Emperor, as well as a daughter named Zeng Ningbing—whom "he had supposedly murdered." This was intelligence he had never possessed before. Inexplicably, he had slaughtered the Emperor's secret paramour. Thousand Faces' current emotions were thoroughly tangled. He felt that his chances of becoming the Celestial Mutation were entirely gone. All of Lianshan Xin's painstaking efforts had been flushed down the drain. *Lianshan Xin, oh Lianshan Xin, no matter how glib your tongue or how cunning your mind, in the end, human calculation cannot match the designs of Heaven. That damned Emperor's lover was killed by the two of us together. Neither of us has any path of retreat left.* Had Lianshan Xin not urged him to kill Elder Zeng, he would never have made this trip. At this thought, Thousand Faces felt a twinge of schadenfreude. Though he felt rather unlucky himself, knowing that Lianshan Xin was dragged into the mud with him made Thousand Faces feel significantly better. Moreover, with things turning out this way, he felt he had thoroughly gained leverage over Lianshan Xin. Having killed the Emperor's woman, how could the boy possibly become one of the Nine Heavens? This young man was truly fated to join the Holy Cult. Clearly, cowardice had severely limited Thousand Faces' imagination. "Very well, the imperial manor it is." Plans never kept pace with change. Seeing that Chi Zhongwu was present and that the Second Prince had dispatched two Domain realm experts, Thousand Faces knew that with Elder Zeng's cultivation, there was no refusing them. Nor could he flee. If he fled now, Thousand Faces knew a catastrophic disaster would befall him in an instant. In all the world, only he could disguise himself as Elder Zeng so flawlessly that Chi Zhongwu would detect nothing amiss. Thousand Faces recognized that he had fallen into a dilemma where every choice seemed wrong. His only option was to seek life amidst death and pull off something grand. At the thought, his blood began to boil with long-lost excitement. "Then let me see what that heartless man has turned into over all these years." Hearing "Elder Zeng" speak in such a manner, Chi Zhongwu and the two experts sent by the Second Prince quickly lowered their heads. *** At that moment, Lianshan Xin was also lowering his head. He was examining Du Jiu's condition. Upon opening the door, he had found Du Jiu standing outside like a door guardian. However, Lianshan Xin quickly noticed something was amiss. Although Du Jiu's eyes were open, his pupils had clearly lost their focus. When he called out, Du Jiu gave no response. Evidently, Thousand Faces had struck his acupoints, causing him to lose consciousness. Lianshan Xin carried Du Jiu into the room and attempted to unseal his acupoints, but failed. He even sensed a clash between their respective true qis. *Only Myriad Phenomena true qi can unlock Du Jiu's acupoints,* Lianshan Xin realized. Had he not complied with Thousand Faces and cultivated Myriad Phenomena true qi, Du Jiu would have died. Thousand Faces had set a contingency against him. Naturally, that posed no obstacle to the present Lianshan Xin, who had already undergone Thousand Faces' empowerment initiation. Lianshan Xin did not immediately unseal Du Jiu's acupoints. After verifying that Du Jiu was completely unconscious, Lianshan Xin observed him while mobilizing the Myriad Phenomena True Intent within his body. Roughly five minutes passed. Lianshan Xin stood up, stepped before a bronze mirror, and saw Du Jiu's face reflected upon its surface. A smile immediately crept across his face. *Though it took a bit of time, I succeeded on my first try.* *Even though Thousand Faces lost to me three times, he certainly has real ability. Myriad Phenomena True Intent is genuinely useful.* *Wait, the height is still slightly off.* *The limbs... also have minor discrepancies. I haven't completely shed my own characteristics.* *I still need more practice. According to Thousand Faces' experience, after practicing around a thousand times, one should be able to flawlessly mimic someone an entire realm below oneself within about three minutes.* *To flawlessly disguise oneself as an expert of the same level, one requires at least ten thousand practice sessions.* *As for disguising oneself as someone above one's realm... Thousand Faces had only attempted it once.* Lianshan Xin realized that Thousand Faces' empowerment initiation, after all, was not a cheat system. It could not instantly max out his skill. *The more familiar the person, the easier the disguise. The more unfamiliar, the easier it is to reveal flaws. But if one achieves great mastery in Myriad Phenomena, even in the brief instant of brushing past a stranger, one can flawlessly mimic that passerby. Thousand Faces had already reached such a realm.* No wonder Lianshan Xin had failed to detect anything amiss when Thousand Faces had disguised himself as Du Jiu. Along the path of Myriad Phenomena, Thousand Faces had already reached the pinnacle of perfection. Nothing short of a Heavenly Eye could counter it. *My talent in cultivating Myriad Phenomena True Intent is likely still slightly inferior to Thousand Faces', so I must double my practice.* Young Master Xin, possessing a rather modest aptitude for martial arts, remained admirably self-aware. He decided that in the True Intent realm, he would devote more of his time to focusing on Myriad Phenomena True Intent. As for the fictitious Void Penetration True Intent, grinding fame was all it took. Dragon Slaying True Intent was even simpler; that depended on whether Big Bro Number One would continue offering patronage. By comparison, only the cultivation method for Myriad Phenomena True Intent was down-to-earth, allowing Lianshan Xin to experience the sensation of being an ordinary martial artist. After practicing four more times using Du Jiu as a model and noticing his own progress, Lianshan Xin ceased his efforts and utilized Myriad Phenomena true qi to unseal Du Jiu's acupoints. Once his freedom was restored, Du Jiu gave his head a violent shake, his gaze sweeping vigilantly across his surroundings. Only when he saw Lianshan Xin did his expression ease. "Young Master, an evildoer from the Demon Cult ambushed me here at the academy and struck my acupoints." Lianshan Xin nodded impassively. "Did you catch a glimpse of their appearance?" "No," Du Jiu said gravely. "Their strength was far beyond mine." "Naturally. Thousand Faces operated within Bailudong Academy for several decades; it would be strange if he lacked a few trusted confidants." Lianshan Xin asked, "Why would they ambush you without harming you?" Du Jiu fixed his gaze upon Lianshan Xin. "Young Master, this was likely a display of force directed at you, slaughtering the chicken to warn the monkey... Pah! Forgive me, Young Master, I spoke out of turn." It was fine for him to be the chicken, but Young Master Xin could never be the monkey. Lianshan Xin waved his hand casually. "No matter. I suspected as much. Just now, someone disguised as you approached me, but I saw through them on the spot. They didn't bother hiding it either, going so far as to try bribing me into joining the Demon Cult." Lianshan Xin was an honest man; every word he spoke was the absolute truth. Du Jiu laughed upon hearing this. "Are those Demon Cult members fools? Just because they believe in that nonsense of 'Maitreya descends, the Bright King appears in the world,' do they think everyone in the realm believes it too? Young Master, your future in the Nine Heavens is radiant beyond measure; how could you possibly join the Demon Cult?" Lianshan Xin smiled as well. "That was precisely what I told him. He only brought humiliation upon himself. Then again, it's quite common for Demon Cult members to lack brains. Inside the academy, he didn't dare make a reckless move against me and withdrew on his own, merely saying to leave a line of retreat for future meetings, and that if I pressed too hard, they would bring mutual destruction. Brother Jiu, what do you make of this?" Hearing that, Du Jiu's expression turned solemn. "Young Master, I believe the Demon Cult has been frightened by your talent." Lianshan Xin nodded. Thousand Faces had nearly been scared to death by his talent. To that end, the man had willingly offered up his signature ultimate technique with both hands, fearing only that Lianshan Xin would refuse. "Those demon cultists fear that you will ferret them all out and ruin their grand design." At this point, Du Jiu gritted his teeth. "Young Master, behind closed doors, permit me to speak rashly, and pray take it with a grain of salt." "Speak." "We truly must not corner those demon cultists too desperately. The demon cultists must be suppressed, but they cannot be entirely eradicated." Looking at Lianshan Xin, Du Jiu expressed his complete loyalty: "Young Master, as long as Thousand Faces remains on the run, Lord Heavenly Sword can continue staying in Jiangzhou. As long as Demon Cult evildoers lurk within the academy, you can remain here as well. Though you possess extraordinary talent, you are still young, Young Master. For you, biding your time in the academy like a dragon coiled in the deep is far more suitable than heading to Shenjing." Lianshan Xin sensed Du Jiu's loyalty, and a smile broke across his face. "Brother Jiu is considering my interests. How could I fail to appreciate your goodwill?" Du Jiu breathed an internal sigh of relief. He had wagered correctly. He had known all along that the young master was not a rigid, inflexible person. For people of limited martial talent like them, latching onto a sturdy backer within the Nine Heavens was the best path. Yet if the backer they clung to was overly righteous or stubbornly obstinate, life would become exceedingly difficult for their subordinates. Fortunately, Lianshan Xin did not make things difficult for him. "An eighteen-year-old in the True Intent realm might be considered a prominent figure of the younger generation in Jiangzhou, but in Shenjing, any random nobody could likely press me down. I should at least wait until I break into the top five of the Hidden Dragon Rankings and earn the qualifications to be an honored guest of grand figures before considering heading to the headquarters in Shenjing." "The young master is truly insightful; that is precisely the logic. In truth, one doesn't even need the top five. Merely squeezing into the top ten qualifies one to be an honored guest of various princes and princesses. But beyond the top ten, one truly cannot make the slightest splash in Shenjing." Lianshan Xin nodded silently. "Right, Young Master, Jiang Jingshen is dead." Du Jiu suddenly remembered the matter. "This was likely another warning from the demon cultists to you, Young Master. First Jiang Jingshen's inexplicable death, then the ambush on me—both occurrences were undeniably targeted at you. On the surface, Jiang Jingshen had contact with no one before his death, save for receiving a single palm strike from you. Alliance Leader Jiang of the Golden Scale Alliance will likely pin this debt entirely on your head." "He actually died?" Lianshan Xin raised a slight eyebrow. He had assumed it was merely a fabricated piece of news Thousand Faces used to lure him out. Did the Demon Cult kill so casually? As expected of demonic whelps. As a law-abiding, upstanding citizen, Lianshan Xin found such wanton slaughter of innocents profoundly distasteful. "The Golden Scale Alliance isn't made of fools. They ought to see that I was framed, right?" Lianshan Xin asked. Du Jiu gave a bitter smile. "Rather than seeking vengeance against the Demon Cult, the Golden Scale Alliance would likely prefer pointing their spearhead at you. Furthermore, you had a confrontation with Zeng Ningbing earlier, which gives the Golden Scale Alliance all the more justification to target you." Lianshan Xin grew irritated. "Isn't this just bullying an honest man?" Du Jiu could only maintain his wry smile, not daring to utter a word. *You consider yourself an honest man?* At most, the Golden Scale Alliance was simply picking the softest persimmon to squeeze. Still, Lianshan Xin felt something wasn't quite right. "Never mind the Golden Scale Alliance as a whole. Alliance Leader Jiang lost a son; shouldn't he seek out the true killer for revenge?" "Young Master, on the surface, the killer of Jiang Jingshen is you," Du Jiu reminded him. "There is no evidence proving the Demon Cult killed Jiang Jingshen. Right now, it looks as though you simply used too much force in that single palm strike." Lianshan Xin: "..." Having often framed others, this was his first time being framed like this. "Young Master, would you like to prove your innocence and hunt down the true culprit?" Du Jiu suggested. This was the standard response of any ordinary person. Lianshan Xin had watched hundreds of episodes of *Detective Conan* and several seasons of *Judge Dee* and *Young Justice Bao*. He knew that whenever the protagonist was framed, they would always do just that. Yet he refused. "I am completely innocent. Why should I prove my innocence?" Lianshan Xin could not be bothered to waste his time. Now that he had acquired Myriad Phenomena True Intent, he needed to spend his hours practicing it. A mere son of the Golden Scale Alliance's vice leader held no place in his thoughts. "Whoever asserts must prove. If the Golden Scale Alliance suspects me of murder, let them produce evidence first. If they cannot, our Nine Heavens will teach them the rules," Lianshan Xin sneered, casting the matter straight to the back of his mind. In any case, he had already planned to make a move against the Golden Scale Alliance. Since Zeng Ningbing had been killed by Thousand Faces, using this incident as an excuse was hardly a bad idea. Du Jiu cautioned, "Young Master, Jiang Jingshen is of little account, and Alliance Leader Jiang, as one of the renowned figures beneath the Great Grandmaster level, would certainly not dare bully the young as an elder. However, Jiang Jingshen has an older brother named Jiang Jingbin, known as the 'Gale Sword,' ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. If he comes looking for trouble, it will be awkward for the Nine Heavens to intervene." Zhuo Biyu had mentioned this as well. Naturally, Lianshan Xin had taken it to heart. "Ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings must already be at the Grandmaster level." "Indeed." "No matter. By then, Third Graduate Qi will have emerged from seclusion. Besides, it is not impossible for me to fight a Grandmaster above my realm. Even Thousand Faces was no match for me, let alone a mere 'Gale Sword.'" With Lianshan Xin displaying such unshakeable confidence, Du Jiu—who had never made the Hidden Dragon Rankings nor seen through Thousand Faces—truly had no ground to question him, and so chose to believe. "If the young master is confident, then all is well. You are cultivating immortality, while the 'Gale Sword' merely practices martial arts. Should he truly cross paths with you, he might not gain any advantage." "Brother Jiu, keep an eye on the aftermath of Jiang Jingshen's death," Lianshan Xin said, delegating the matter to Du Jiu. "I have personal business and must head home first." Remembering that Qi Wenbin had visited the academy to say that Lianshan Jingcheng wanted Lianshan Xin home, Du Jiu understood. It seemed that in Young Master Xin's heart, the death of a Golden Scale Alliance vice leader's son was far less important than having a meal with his parents. "This subordinate obeys. Should anything urgent arise, I shall send someone to inform you, Young Master." "Good." "Young Master, aren't you going to finish your martial arts class and head home after school?" Du Jiu could not resist reminding him. After all, Lianshan Xin possessed another identity—a student of Bailudong Academy. Lianshan Xin pondered for a moment. He already knew how to cultivate Dragon Slaying True Intent and Void Penetration True Intent, and Myriad Phenomena True Intent had been initiated by Thousand Faces' empowerment, requiring only repeated practice hereafter. Those instructors at Bailudong Academy truly had nothing to teach him in martial arts; at most, they could lecture him on the texts of sages. Texts of sages... Lianshan Xin believed those instructors understood them far less than he did, let alone applied them to practical use. Thus, Lianshan Xin decisively resolved to skip class. "Request a leave of absence on my behalf. Say that I am investigating the Kong family under orders from Lord Heavenly Sword." Before the words had completely faded, Lianshan Xin had already vanished from the room. Moments later, "Kong Ningyuan" took flight through the air, heading straight for Huichun Hall. Ordinary martial artists could only sustain airborne flight for extended periods upon reaching the fifth realm of martial arts, the Astral Transformation realm. However, Lianshan Xin was cultivating immortality. In the True Intent realm, the Dragon Subduing lineage could already wield a portion of the Astral Transformation realm's capabilities. It was not without reason that worldly mortals yearned so deeply for cultivating immortality. As Lianshan Xin practiced his aerial flight technique, he simultaneously trained in Myriad Phenomena True Intent. His flight speed fell far short of Qi Shiyun's, and coupled with the distraction of practicing Myriad Phenomena True Intent, half an hour had elapsed by the time he arrived home. "Father, I'm back." Upon landing, Lianshan Xin had already reverted to his true appearance. Lianshan Jingcheng was sorting medicinal herbs. At the sight of Lianshan Xin, his eyes lit up, and he stepped over immediately. "Come quickly and let me feel your pulse." "I'm truly fine. When have I ever lied to you?" Lianshan Xin held out his hand candidly. Only after completing the pulse diagnosis did Lianshan Jingcheng breathe a sigh of relief. "You are indeed fine." "Truly? You two aren't colluding to deceive me and put my mind at ease, are you?" He Miaojun lifted the curtain from behind and stepped out, displaying open skepticism toward both father and son. This left both Lianshan Xin and Lianshan Jingcheng slightly indignant. Lianshan Jingcheng said, "Madam, it's one thing not to believe Little Xin. After all, he has rarely spoken a true word since childhood. But when have I ever deceived you?" Lianshan Xin dismantled his father's defense instantly: "In July of last year, you cured two young ladies of their chronic ailments, enabling them to conceive children a month later. Yet you lied to Mother, claiming you took no female patients that day." Lianshan Jingcheng's fist hardened. Must a man always have descendants? He Miaojun turned to Lianshan Jingcheng. "Husband, am I truly so unreasonable in your eyes? We have been husband and wife for many years; had you told me the truth, I wouldn't have thought twice. Why did you insist on hiding it from me?" Lianshan Jingcheng opened his mouth, but hesitated. Lianshan Xin explained, "Mother, Father isn't entirely to blame for this. Those two young ladies came from impoverished backgrounds, and having failed to bear sons, they were ostracized by their in-laws and led miserable lives with hardly any money to their names. Father was kindhearted and treated them practically free of charge. He wasn't afraid you would misunderstand; he was afraid you would scold him for disregarding the rules of practice. After all, our family wasn't well-off either. My martial arts training and your medication cost considerable silver; there was little room for spontaneous charity." "Husband, is that so?" Lianshan Jingcheng nodded. He Miaojun stepped closer to Lianshan Jingcheng, smoothed his collar, and said softly, "Husband, you are the head of this household, and Huichun Hall was built through your own medical skill. You naturally have the authority to decide such matters without worrying that I might overthink it. You are kindhearted, and I admire you for it; how could I be angry?" Lianshan Jingcheng shook his head. "It isn't quite like that. The books say that in poverty, one attends to one's own virtue; in prosperity, one aids the whole world. Little Xin is right. Last year our family was not wealthy. Your health could have deteriorated at any moment, and Little Xin's martial arts training required funds. Offering free consultations at such a time was right for a physician, but wrong for a husband and a father. Madam, outside, I did nothing wrong, but facing you, my heart felt guilty." "All right, all right. Little Xin has joined the Nine Heavens now, and he even secured Chairman Qu's medicinal herb business for us. Our family will have money from now on," He Miaojun comforted him. "I have always known my husband's kind heart. In the future, we can perform more good deeds and accumulate virtue, which can also count toward repaying Little Xin's debts." Lianshan Jingcheng agreed wholeheartedly. "What my wife says is true. That is precisely my intention." Lianshan Xin felt something sounded odd. "Mother, what do you mean by repaying my debts?" He Miaojun glanced at Lianshan Xin, speaking as if it were obvious: "You came out of my belly; do I not know you? Your father possesses superb medical skill, yet you only learned how to doctor people to death and destroy all traces of evidence. From childhood, we taught you gentleness, goodness, courtesy, and restraint, urging you to study the books of sages, yet all you learned was how to pursue fame, status, and worldly riches. Not to mention, you even joined the Nine Heavens to become a hawk of the imperial court. Son, if you turn out to be a good official, your mother would sooner believe your father is a demonic arch-villain." Lianshan Xin: "..." He felt that his mother harbored a profound misunderstanding about him. Perhaps this was what they called a generation gap. "Mother, I think the possibility of Father being a demonic arch-villain is actually higher. Who knows, Father might just be the Demon Cult Leader himself. Word in the martial world has it that the Demon Cult Leader requires a thousand-year snow lotus to nurse his injuries, and coincidentally, you also need a thousand-year snow lotus to nourish your body. Wouldn't you call that a coincidence? I suspect Father deliberately spread those rumors just to save you." Lianshan Xin argued his case earnestly, almost convincing himself: "The Demon Cult Leader is a man, and Father is also a man. Mother, don't you think that's even more of a coincidence?" He Miaojun burst into laughter. "You're a man too. Are you the Demon Cult Leader?" "I certainly am not. I was born from you and raised beneath your very eyes, but Father was not raised beneath your eyes." Having said this, Lianshan Xin snapped his gaze toward Lianshan Jingcheng: "Father, look into my eyes. I possess a Heavenly Eye; even Thousand Faces, the master of disguise, was unmasked by me." Lianshan Jingcheng gazed quietly at Lianshan Xin, his tone carrying three parts helplessness and seven parts teasing: "Little Xin, what exactly are you hoping for?" One second. Three seconds. Ten seconds. Lianshan Xin stared until his eyes grew tired, seeing nothing at all. His Heavenly Eye Search had been consumed earlier during his confrontation with Thousand Faces. His passive ability gave no response either. Thus, Lianshan Xin could only sigh toward the heavens: "Mother, Father has hidden himself too deeply." He Miaojun was thoroughly amused again. "Son, you truly know how to cheer your mother up. Give it up. You're just an ordinary child, and ours is an ordinary family. Don't expect your father and me to provide you with any grand backing. Now that what's done is done, the two of us will simply try our best not to become a burden to you, doing good deeds and accumulating blessings on your behalf." Lianshan Xin looked at He Miaojun, then at Lianshan Jingcheng, letting out another long sigh as he experienced a rare moment of self-doubt. "Could it be that joining the Nine Heavens has subtly warped my perception?" "What else?" Lianshan Jingcheng rolled his eyes, a rare gesture for him. "For the past eighteen years before joining the Nine Heavens, I never saw you acting so paranoid. Now you suspect either your mother is the Demon Cult Leader or I am. With an enterprise as vast as the Demon Cult, would their leader spend his days holed up in a medical clinic treating patients and raising a child? Does the Demon Cult not have a life to live? Have they given up on rebellion?" Lianshan Xin felt rather ashamed. That made sense. For the past eighteen years, he had seen He Miaojun practically every single day. Lianshan Jingcheng occasionally went out for home visits or to procure medicinal herbs, yet they still saw each other over three hundred days a year. It was, by all accounts, the most ordinary of families. Why did he constantly feel that something was off? Lianshan Xin reviewed the situation and pinpointed the root of the problem: "It wasn't caused by joining the Nine Heavens. Rather, after joining the Nine Heavens, I discovered far too many Demon Cult evildoers around me. Far too many are lurking within Jiangzhou, far exceeding anything I imagined. This isn't my problem, nor is it yours; it's Jiangzhou's problem..." Lianshan Xin snapped his head around, looking toward the Prefectural Estate. Then he walked out of Huichun Hall, gazing in the direction of Mount Kuang. His mind recalled the fact that Thousand Faces had remained hidden within Bailudong Academy for decades. "Jiangzhou has a massive problem!" Lianshan Xin's expression turned abruptly grave, an intense sense of crisis surging within him. "Little Xin, are you all right?" Lianshan Xin returned to Huichun Hall, choosing not to conceal his suspicions from his parents: "Father, Mother, I am essentially certain that Prefect Jiang has colluded with the Demon Cult. Bailudong Academy and the Six Sects of Mount Kuang might also have been infiltrated. Jiangzhou is likely to undergo a massive upheaval in the coming days. You two should stay inside Huichun Hall as much as possible and minimize going out—ideally, do not go out at all. If there is anything you need purchased, I will arrange for brothers from the Nine Heavens to handle it. With me in the Nine Heavens, your safety is guaranteed." The moment Lianshan Xin said this, both He Miaojun's and Lianshan Jingcheng's expressions shifted, immediate worry for his safety surfacing on their faces. "Little Xin, you..." He Miaojun paused midway, sighing softly. "Never mind. I know your heart is set on striving for fortune and glory. There's no point in me stopping you. Little Xin, your mother has only one thing to say: only by staying alive is there hope." "Mother, I know. Rest assured, I will definitely let you hold your grandsons and granddaughters." Knowing what his parents loved hearing most, Lianshan Xin began painting rosy promises. "Today, I'd like to eat Poyang tri-color fish." "I already guessed as much. I also prepared clay jar soup and stir-fried cured pork with mugwort." Lianshan Xin uttered a soft sound of surprise. "Why is the spread so lavish today?" He Miaojun spoke candidly: "Thanks to your great fortune, our family truly has money now. If we have money, we spend it. I'm no miser; I won't deliberately mistreat myself." "Mother, you truly are better suited than Father to hold the financial reins. I've decided: in the future, you'll still manage our family's money." He Miaojun chuckled. "As if it required your decision. It was mine to manage all along." Lianshan Xin thought nothing of it. "I'll go back to my room to cultivate for a while. Call me when dinner is ready." "Go on." Having confirmed that Lianshan Xin was physically fine, He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng set their minds at ease and went about their business. Returning to his room, Lianshan Xin did not immediately begin meditating. Instead, he retrieved a yellowed booklet from beneath his pillow. This was the book he had scavenged earlier from Dai Yueying's room. To be precise, it was the charm manual she practiced—the *Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon*. Lianshan Xin had not reported the deaths of Dai Yueying and Master Dai to the Nine Heavens. Consequently, all of the Dai household's possessions had been kept by Lianshan Xin—he hadn't even shared the money with Du Jiu or Qi Wenbin. It wasn't that Lianshan Xin was unwilling; rather, Master Dai had been owed back wages by the Demon Cult. The valuable items Lianshan Xin had gathered amounted to just a portrait of Blood Guanyin and the charm manual Dai Yueying practiced, the *Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon*. The portrait of Blood Guanyin had already been burned by Lianshan Xin. However, he had kept the *Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon*. Originally, he had not intended to cultivate it himself. After all, it was a martial arts manual, and his plan had been to gift it to a female friend should the opportunity arise. Charm arts were wonderful; charm arts ought to be learned. One Dai Yueying had died, so he would strive to fill that vacancy. Yet after mastering Myriad Phenomena True Intent, Lianshan Xin began having other ideas. Myriad Phenomena True Intent was not limited merely to disguising oneself as others; its even more miraculous function was to perfectly simulate another person's aura, and even the martial intent of their techniques. Using Myriad Phenomena True Intent as a foundation, one could grasp ninety-eight percent of the martial intents under heaven, learning them with effortless ease. This had been the bedrock of Thousand Faces' dominance across the world, as well as the source of his confidence in claiming to be the foremost figure of the True Intent realm. Now that Lianshan Xin had embarked upon this path, he naturally had to maximize the power of Myriad Phenomena True Intent. Although his own martial aptitude was modest, with the boost from Myriad Phenomena True Intent, cultivating other martial arts was tantamount to standing on the shoulders of a giant. *The Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon acts directly on the target's three ethereal souls and seven corporeal spirits, performing precise guidance and control. Dai Yueying was still too weak; though born with an internal charm physique, she had never truly condensed a Beguilement True Intent, which was why she could not easily sway me.* *Had Dai Yueying entered the True Intent realm as well, I might not have slain the princess so decisively that day. In the end, she simply didn't work hard enough at her cultivation.* Having perused the *Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon*, Lianshan Xin possessed a basic understanding of this charm art's potency. It was neither a peerless charm art nor the pinnacle technique of the Demon Cult, so its objective value was not exceptionally high. But for Dai Yueying, who had been born with a charm physique, it had been sufficient. For Lianshan Xin, it was sufficient as well. Though his martial aptitude was subpar, his Myriad Phenomena True Intent was extraordinarily capable. With the boost from Myriad Phenomena True Intent, Lianshan Xin attained initial mastery in less than half an hour, a speed that was night and day compared to his earlier cultivation of the *Falling Wild Geese Sword*. Yet Lianshan Xin still felt it was too slow. *According to Thousand Faces' heritage, when he used Myriad Phenomena True Intent as a foundation to comprehend other arts by analogy, his speed was far faster than mine.* *Could it merely be the gap in martial talent between us?* *Wait, I understand now.* *A thousand faces, a myriad phenomena; one face, one intent. Transforming into Dai Yueying first before practicing the Soul-Snatching Spirit-Hooking Canon will be the fastest method. Dai Yueying's strength was far inferior to mine, so Myriad Phenomena True Intent can simulate her flawlessly.* *Wait... can Myriad Phenomena True Intent flawlessly simulate Dai Yueying's innate charm bones?* A stroke of inspiration suddenly struck Lianshan Xin. He had an audacious idea! Roughly two hours later. *Knock, knock, knock.* A rapping sounded upon the door. "Enter." Lianshan Xin's tone unconsciously carried three parts of a soul-snatching, spirit-hooking allure. Lianshan Jingcheng pushed the door open and stepped inside. Upon seeing Lianshan Xin, his pupils widened violently. He squeezed his eyes shut, then looked at Lianshan Xin again. Then he closed his eyes once more, shook his head vigorously, and reopened them to stare at Lianshan Xin. Finally, he blurted out in utter astonishment: "Who are you? Where has my son gone?" Lianshan Xin broke into a helpless chuckle. "Father, it's Little Xin." "You look like Little Xin to my eyes, but what on earth is going on with your inner aura?" Lianshan Jingcheng was thoroughly baffled. "Why do you seem to me... somewhat like that Dai Yueying from before?" Lianshan Xin asked, "Father, is it possible for a man to be born with an innate charm physique?" Lianshan Jingcheng placed his right hand behind his head, at a complete loss for an answer. He had never encountered this question in all his years. Lianshan Xin mused silently: *Lord Heavenly Divination deduced that the imperial dragon seed possesses an innate charm physique. Who said an innate charm physique can only belong to a woman? Times have changed; men and women are the same now.* Lianshan Xin looked toward Lianshan Jingcheng. "Father, was I truly born of you and Mother?" "Nonsense, of course you were." "In fact, I don't have to be," Lianshan Xin reminded him. "I could have been adopted." Lianshan Jingcheng: "?" *The Myriad Manifestations Classic is truly a marvelous technique!* Lianshan Xin suddenly began to laugh. He felt that Big Bro Number Two was putting in continuous effort, his contributions already rivaling those of Big Bro Number One. At this moment, Lianshan Xin had no idea that Big Bro Number Two, armed with the *Myriad Manifestations Classic*, was already taking a step ahead of him to rush toward Big Bro Number One in a mutual embrace. When making one's way in the world, one's identity was whatever you made it!