Chapter 252 (1/2)

Chapter 252

Crisis

Unease and apprehension gnawed at Ruan Hongling as she continued to stare at her surrogate sisterPoise and coain returned to Zi Yuan jiějie's countenanceThe orange glow of the apart cast soft shadows over Zi Yuan jiějie's delicate features, heightening her beautyIt was hard to believe that this was the same woman who had all but broken down in tears in her ar tried not to think too ument just now, about how her tirade sGuilt and sha had felt by the end of the argus of shock and disbelief

Over the years, Zi Yuan jiějie had always seemed so self-possessed, so collectedNever in her life had Ruan Hongling seen Zi Yuan jiějie break down in tearsNeverZi Yuan jiějie didn't even shed a tear (at least not in front of Ruan Hongling) when they both found out about Master's passing ten years ago, and that was saying so lowered her head in sha wished she could turn back time and take it all back: all the poisonous words she had spouted in anger; worst, her angry accusations of Zi Yuan jiějie's lack of loyalty to the sect and to Master

Ruan Hongling loathed her own behavior nowShe hated her violent temper, and her lack of maturityShe hated the fact that it had taken Zi Yuan jiějie falling to her knees in tears before she finally realized that she needed to grow up

Ruan Hongling hated herself

She had to changeShe had to grow up before she becareater burden to Zi Yuan jiějie

”So thea joint-assault on Mount Tianlong…”

Ruan Hongling lifted her gaze fro her pensivelyStill reeling frouilt, Ruan Hongling could only nod

”But you checked the other day” Zi Yuan jiějie's eyes narrowed”You told ling snapped out of her emotional daze

Noasn't the tiuiltThere would be time for that laterA lot of ti fervently”There were no signs of the school, I swear”

”WellThe Great Six clearly believes that the Fox Zen School is still there” One of Zi Yuan jiějie's brows arched”A tip? From soling nodded”When I left the nal fronal…” Zi Yuan jiějie gave her a brief glance”To start the attack, younodded”The exact location of the school will coainst the couch with a sighHer eyes were closed, but Ruan Hongling knew that she still had shījiě's full attention”And did they reveal the identity of this associate?”

”No” Ruan Hongling hesitatedShe glanced at Zi Yuan jiějie, whose eyes were still closed”Could itDo you think it's Mo Ahshi+?”

Zi Yuan jiějie waved her hand casually”Of course it is Mo Ahshi+” Long lashes parted to reveal a pair of beautiful eyes”The real question is whyWhat's her motive?”

”ToTake over the school?”

”Unlikely” Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”She didn't have to resort to such oal is to take over the school” Zi Yuan jiějie paused to look at Ruan Hongling”Mo Ahshi+ has theall the other disciples of the Fox Zen SchoolAnd her reputation is stellarWith Ao Wushuang expelled, she's bound to be the next head anywaySo why go through all this trouble?”

”M over the school isn't the goal here” There was a pause”I think it's the opposite” Zi Yuan jiějie crossed one leg over the other”She's obviously trying to destroy the Fox Zen SchoolBut why? What's her real motive?”

Zi Yuan jiějie's analysis made senseWhy would Mo Ahshi+ collaborate with the Great Six to launch an assault on the sa to take over?

Zi Yuan jiějie suddenly rose fro back and forthWariness crept into Ruan Hongling as she followed her shi+jie's movements with her eyes

”Z- Zi Yuan jiějie?”

Her shījiě did not stop pacing”Before her sudden departure, Wushuang-qiánbèi asked eBack then, she asked if I'd been aware of any recent changes in the Zhengyi School”

Confusion filled Ruan Hongling's mind”What?”

”She said that I would find out about it eventually…” Shījiě kept pacing”Thisto the attack” Shījiě suddenly turned around to face Ruan Hongling”So she knew”

Ruan Hongling stared at Zi Yuan jiějie, trying everything in her power not to let her bafflement showZi Yuan jiějie had never told her any of this before

”Wushuang-qiánbèi knew about the attack,” Zi Yuan jiějie said a few seconds later”That would explain her sudden return to the Fox Zen School and why she told me not to contact her” Realization shone in Zi Yuan jiějie's eyes”She one back to defend the Fox Zen School after she learned of the attack”

Hey… Wait a ling'sshe had overheard at the guesthouse

Ruan Hongling rose from the couch and walked over towards her shījiě

”U just now,” Ruan Hongling said tentatively

Zi Yuan jiějie turned around, her penetrating eyes scanning Ruan Hongling's face in a way that 's steps falter

”It's… It's about Ao Wushuang,” Ruan Hongling said, lowering her voice into a whisper”They're saying that she ran off”

Zi Yuan jiějie's eyes widened just a tadApulled back towards the couch

”Where did you hear that?” Zi Yuan jiějie whispered when they were once again seated side-by-side on the couch

Ruan Hongling shi+fted slightly on the couch so that she was facing her shījiě”Back at the guesthouse”

Zi Yuan jiějie stared at her, clearly expecting her to sayher memory foraround a little, coz I wanted to find out roup of Cultivators talking about the threats theythe assaultOne of the's name, but then the others were quick to dis paused to recall the exact words she had overheard”They said that Ao Wushuang got scared and ran off”

Zi Yuan jiějie had grown extre knew from the sharpness in shi+jie's eyes and the knit in her brows that she was deep in thought

Ruan Hongling decided to stop talking and leave Zi Yuan jiějie to her thoughts

”Thattensed up but said nothing

”What do you make of it?” Zi Yuan jiějie asked after a while

”H off because she got scared,” Zi Yuan jiějie clarified”What do youdid a double takeHad Zi Yuan jiějie just asked for her opinion?

Ruan Hongling cleared her throat”Honestly? I don't buy it” Ruan Hongling shook her head”Ao Wushuang doesn't see looked towards her shījiě”I think so on here”

”That is very astute, Hongling” Zi Yuan jiějie nodded at her approvingly”Well done”

Ruan Hongling fought hard not to blush

”Indeed, Ao Wushuang is no coward,” Zi Yuan jiějie continued”Only a fool would believe that story”

WellThat was… interestingSo by Zi Yuan jiějie's standards, nearly all the Cultivators gathered at the guesthouse were fools

”So… U stopped talking when Zi Yuan jiějie suddenly raised her pal Wushuang-qiánbèi's absence?”

”U she'd observed back at the guesthouse, including her interactions with the Cultivators gathered there”WaitI just reether and shi+fted closer to Zi Yuan jiějie”I got curious after I overheard the conversation about Ao Wushuang, so I asked Zhang Tianhé about it afterwards” Ruan Hongling stole a glance at Zi Yuan jiějie, who appeared to be listening to her with rapt attention”I casually brought up Ao Wushuang in our conversationAnd then I asked hi to cause proble held Zi Yuan jiějie's gaze”He gave oing to be a problem because—I quote—she has already been taken care of”

Zi Yuan jiějie's frown deepened

Ruan Hongling cleared her throat”When I asked him what made him so sure, he told me that the intel came frolingDeep waters”

A tight knot forrim look on Zi Yuan jiějie's face unnerved her to no endWhat exactly had Zi Yuan jiějie glimpsed from these events that she herself hadcould voice out her questions, Zi Yuan jiějie seized her shoulders

”I need you to think, Hongling,” said Zi Yuan jiějie”When you were there at the guesthouse, did you hear anyfroze

HuhCo, which was very odd indeedIt was true that, before this, nobody fro and Zi Yuan jiějie, of course) knew that Ao Wushuang was in possession of BahuangBut things were different no the Great Six had so for the Great Six, wouldn't she have ? It was, after all, a vital piece of information that could affect the outcolected to ?” Zi Yuan jiějie's voice jolted Ruan Hongling out of her thoughts, re her that she had yet to answer Zi Yuan jiějie's question

”U shook her head”There were no rabbed Ruan Hongling's shoulders again

”Are you certain?” The urgency in Zi Yuan jiějie's tone rivalled the intensity in her eyes”Are you absolutely certain that nobodynodded firmly”I'm positive, Zi Yuan jiějieWhen you didn't pick up your phone, I stayed at the guesthouse andglanced up at the ceiling for a ed to interact with everyone there?”

”WellI didn't dostole a glance at her” Ruan Hongling winced”Did… Did I not do enough?”

Zi Yuan jiějie released Ruan Hongling's shoulders and exhaled lengthily”You did really well, Hongling” Zi Yuan jiějie leaned back against the couch”You acted as iven the circumstances” Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”You were coed to gather a significant aoing here, Zi Yuan jiějie?” Ruan Hongling sighed”I must confess that I'm stumpedI honestly have no idea what to make of any of this”

Zi Yuan jiějie was silent for aBahuang no doubt strikes you as peculiar?”

Ruan Hongling nodded slowly”Mo Ahshi+ is their spyWhy didn't she say anything?”

Zi Yuan jiějie chuckled humorlessly”That would cease to be a mystery if you consider the possibility that Mo Ahshi+ wants the sword for herself”

Anger rose inside Ruan Hongling”But that's”

That sasn't hers to clai took a deep breath and forced herself to cal right now

Zi Yuan jiějie rose fro” Zi Yuan jiějie started pacing again”Wushuang-qiánbèi'sstared at Zi Yuan jiějie for areally did leave, but not because she was a cowardMaybe she left the Fox Zen School for some other reason?”

Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”Unlikely”

Ruan Hongling frowned”How so?”

”She would've contacted me if she really left the Fox Zen School” Zi Yuan jiějie raised a brow”Don't you think she would be interested in knowing the Heir's progress?”

A sinking sensation for”

”YesI fear that so-qiánbèi”

Ruan Hongling reuesthouse: she has already been taken care of

”And Su Chan's life is in grave danger” Zi Yuan jiějie suddenly stopped pacing”assuling's stohtSu Chan's life was in dangerThe other night, Mo Ahshi+himAnd Zi Yuan jiějie's had hypothesized that Mo Ahshi+ had intercepted the paper crane Su Chan had sent out to Li YundongIn other words, Su Chan was already on Mo Ahshi+'s hit list because of the paper crane

”So I was right,” Ruan Hongling said, stealing a glance at her shījiě

Zi Yuan jiějie was now standing in front of the sliding door, staring out into the darkness

Ruan Hongling rose fro because she wants to take out Ao Wushuang's ally”

”No”

”No?” Ruan Hongling blinked a few times”You think there's some other reason behind Mo Ahshi+'s attack on the Heir?” Ruan Hongling slowly approached the sliding door

Zi Yuan jiějie didn't turn around to face her”What else was involved during the attack?”

What else was involved—

Ruan Hongling's blood ran cold

”L- Liuhe” Ruan Hongling found herself whispering

Zi Yuan jiějie turned away frorim nod”I suspect that Mo Ahshi+ only attacked the Heir because she saw hi Liuhe”

”Wait, wait, waitShījiěwait” Ruan Hongling shook her head a few times”II'Put yourself in Mo Ahshi+'s shoes” There was a pause”Why would she attack Li Yundong just because she thought Li Yundong was Ao Wushuang's ally? She could've just intercepted the crane and then leave it at thatThat way, Li Yundong would be left with no” There was another pause”Attacking Li Yundong is actually counterproductive to Mo Ahshi+'s goals if you think about it”

Soht tip Li Yundong off…”

”Exactly” Zi Yuan jiějie nodded”What if, Li Yundong ure out after the attack that his co was co decided to speed up his plans because of that?” Zi Yuan jiějie's eyes darted to Ruan Hongling's face”And let's not forget that Mo Ahshi+ was using her signature weapon that night” Zi Yuan jiějie paused as though to let her words sink in”If I were Mo Ahshi+, I would certainly think twice about using the hairpin to attack Li YundongI would've been wary, and cautiousIt would've crossedhad passed on enough intel to Li Yundong during their co their craneWhat if Li Yundong is able to identify the hairpin based on that intel? These factors alone would suffice to dissuadeshook her head in confusion”Then how do you explain the attack, Zi Yuan jiějie? Just because she saw Liuhe?”

Zi Yuan jiějie hummed”Here's what I think happened” There was a pause”Mo Ahshi+ must've intercepted the paper crane a day or two prior to the attackThe paper crane knew Li Yundong's address, so it was easy to figure out which city Li Yundong was in and where he was stayingInitially, sheBut” Zi Yuan jiějie paused to look at Ruan Hongling”I'm confident that she didn't co frowned”What makes you so sure?”

”I spent a lot of ti a around”

”Butif her intent was to spy on Li Yundong, isn't it better to observe hi else, HonglingAn experienced Cultivator will always be wary of another Cultivator's ho aroundProtective spellsTaliss like that” Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”NoMo Ahshi+ is too sreedA Cultivator could easily lose his or her ical weapons to one of those traps

”Besides, the hairpin can't be used in the sae surveillance spells, like the Observer Cloud,” Zi Yuan jiějie continued”It can only spy froling frowned”How on earth did Mo Ahshi+ think to look there?”

”Good question,” Zi Yuan jiějie said”But I'm afraid we can only rely on conjecture to answer that” There was a brief pause”It isn't unreasonable to assu inside Su Chan's note has led Mo Ahshi+ to believe that the Heir is a student of Tiannan University” There was a dark chuckle”And I bet Mo Ahshi+ found out about the fresh around the universityThe event was the perfect opportunity for Mo Ahshi+ to observe Li Yundong froh I must confess that I re to learn froMaybe she wanted to learn more about his abilities? Perhaps she planned to find out if Ao Wushuang had other allies aside fro? The possibilities are endless…” Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”Regardless, Mo Ahshi+ knew that Li Yundong would be there at the eventAnd Li Yundong's popularity ast the students definitely didn't help mattersAny one of those students could've e play”

Ruan Hongling nodded a few times”And she wouldn't have to worry about traps since the university is a public place”

Zi Yuan jiějie hu hi showed up onstage wielding Liuhe” Ruan Hongling looked towards Zi Yuan jiějie”That hen she decided to attack”

”Makes sense, doesn't it?” Zi Yuan jiějie arched a brow”We already suspect that Mo Ahshi+ is trying to get her hands on BahuangSo it isn't unreasonable to think that she would jurab Liuhe as wellSurely you knoill happen when Liuhe and Bahuang co noddedLiuhe and Bahuang caether, they could be combined to form an eventhe Fan of Seven Treasures hidden that night,” Zi Yuan jiějie said”Who knohat she else would've done if she found out about the Fan of Seven Treasures too”

”M mumbled

”Greed,” Zi Yuan jiějie said”Greed drove her to attack Li Yundong that night” Zi Yuan jiějie shi+fted until she was facing Ruan Hongling directly”Did you notice the way Liuhe react to Li Yundong's touch?”

”Yeah”

Zi Yuan jiějie nodded and turned away”I' to take Liuhe away before Li Yundong could claim it as his”

Silence spread between them

”What should we do now, Zi Yuan jiějie?” Ruan Hongling sighed”The Great Six is expecting you to make an appearance soon”

Zi Yuan jiějie turned and raised a brow”Is that so?”

A bitter taste for Tianhé Zhenren from the main sect has personally requested your participation in the battle”

Zi Yuan jiějie re ran both hands through her hair”This is such a messThe only reason we still have a sect is because of you, Zi Yuan jiějieBut if we try to help Su Chan now, they'll think we're in cahoots with the Fox Zen SchoolThat'll just give thehed”What in Tao's name are we supposed to do here? We have to help Su Chan, but we also have to fulfill our obligations to thereleased the ends of her hair and stared at her mentor

”We'll just do both at the same time,” said Zi Yuan jiějie

”Both at the sa—” Ruan Hongling's jaent slack”But we can't do that!”

”Can't we?” Zi Yuan jiějie arched a brow

Ruan Hongling blinked a few times”Y- You have a plan?”

Zi Yuan jiějie nodded”Yes, I do”

Crisis

”What?!” Ruan Hongling gaped”Y-You want us to go undercover?”

Zi Yuan jiějie gave her a strange look”Why, yes, HonglingThat's the perfect solution to the conundru”

OkayThat was trueBut stillAn undercover operation! Espionage! Against the members of the Great Six, no less!

”We need to be there for appearances' sake anyway,” Zi Yuan jiějie continued”So weuseful while we're there” Zi Yuan jiějie's lips curved into a smirk”All this while, we needed a way into the Fox Zen School, didn't we? And noe have itOur opportunity has presented itself” Her sTrustbreathsThis was new and, if she was being honest, kind of thrillingShe had never been on an undercover mission beforeHer tasks usually involved surveillance, infore deliveryBasically, nothing covertRuan Hongling highly suspected that this had to a lot to do with her ratherumloud, personalityZi Yuan jiějie did raise her after all, so she probably knew that espionage wasn't Ruan Hongling's strong suitIt fact, itexistence

Which hy Zi Yuan jiejie's suggestion ca said as she slowly accustoht have to step out of her comfort zone this tio there, pretend that we're part of the assaultand then what?”

Zi Yuan jiějie kept staring out of the sliding door wordlesslyRuan Hongling was starting to think that Zi Yuan jiějie hadn't heard her question at all

”Jiějie?”

”Co door and began walking back towards the couchRuan Hongling followed her an once they had both sat down, ”let'snodded

”GoodWe have two prier”The first is to find out about Su Chan and Wushuang-qiánbèiAnd the second” Zi Yuan jiějie quirked a brow”I think you already knohat the second objective is”

Ruan Hongling nodded firetting her dirty hands on BahuangThe ling's blood boilHow dare that wohts ended the ainst her sideSurprised, Ruan Hongling glanced sidewaysZi Yuan jiějie was now leaning against Ruan HonglingZi Yuan jiějie's eyes were closed, and she was ht, Zi Yuan jiějie?”

Her shījiě sighed tiredly”I'm fineJustJust a little worn out, that's all”

Ruan Hongling's heart went out to her shījiěAs far as Ruan Hongling could tell, the Heir's training had lasted an entire weekHad Zi Yuan jiějie found ti that period? Or had she been keeping vigil the whole tiht and heat of Zi Yuan jiějie's body vanished fro's side shortly after that

”We can also try to find out what happened to shībó nine years ago,” Zi Yuan jiějie cleared her throat”Istudied her shījiě's profileShe would be lying if she said that she wasn't interested in knohat happened to shībó

”We shouldn't get our hopes up though,” Zi Yuan jiějie said hly doubt we'd be able to find out muchWe're undercover after allWe have to play our parts and act like we're trying to destroy the Fox Zen School, not snooping around”

It was then that so

”But Zi Yuan jiějieIsn't our cover already blown?”

”H shook her ht? Wouldn't Mo Ahshi+ have known by now that you and Li Yundong are allies?”

”Indeed, you have raised an important issue” Zi Yuan jiějie smiled”However, that won't be a proble's puzzlement must have shown on her face because Zi Yuan jiějie suddenly chuckled

”Mo Ahshi+ and I have never actually ht of the attack” Zi Yuan jiějie shrugged”For all she knew, the woht could be any Cultivator, not Zi Yuan Zhenren of the Linggong Sect”

”Oh”

”And also” A purple ribbon slithered out from under Zi Yuan jiějie's sleeves”I never had course to use this until that nightSo we don't have to worry about her figuring out h this weapon” Zi Yuan jiějie ran her hand through the ribbon and s”No one other than you and Master knows about this ribbon”

”Well, the Heir knows too,” Ruan Hongling mumbled

Zi Yuan jiějie smiled”And the Heir”

”But what if you show up at the Fox Zen School and Mo Ahshi+ recognizes you then?”

”A reasonable concern” Zi Yuan jiějie nodded”I'h” The tiniest of smirks fore”

The confidence in Zi Yuan jiějie's tone stirred up a neave of confusion inside Ruan HonglingThe way Ruan Hongling saw it, nothing in this situation was in their favorIf anything, it was the oppositeThe Linggong Sect was facing a crisis, a conundru stared at her shījiě, hoping that her shījiě would shed sonorance

Zi Yuan jiějie s as we play our cards right”

The penny dropped

”The play!” Ruan Hongling was pretty sure she was grinning like an idiot right now, but she didn't care”You earing a costu, and—”

”And heavyeven wider”All I have to do is dress up or wear my makeup differently e show up” One of Zi Yuan jiějie's brows rose”Iat all” The corners of Zi Yuan jiějie's lips quirked”Zhao Ling'er has a co burst into giggles”See? I told you it was a good idea to participate in the play!”

A second later, Ruan Hongling felt a dig on her right sideRuan Hongling turned and noticed Zi Yuan jiějie's playful glare

Ruan Hongling stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyesSoh out of Zi Yuan jiějie, and Ruan Hongling found herself cheering inwardly

She had just hShe would count that as a win

”ShījiěDo you think” Ruan Hongling stole a glance at her mentor”Do you think that Su Chan is still alive?”

Zi Yuan jiějie didn't reply

”What aboutWhat about Ao Wushuang?”

Zi Yuan jiějie sighed”I don't know, Hongling” She shook her head”I don't know” A grim line formed on her lips”That is why it is crucial for us to be on the inside” Zi Yuan jiějie sent her a pointed look”So that we can find out htened”IfIf Ao Wushuang's gone, then”

”Then Mo Ahshi+ likely has Bahuang already,” Zi Yuan jiějie said

This suckedThis totally sucked

Ruan Hongling felt like throwing up

”HowHow do you supposed it happened, Zi Yuan jiějie?” Ruan Hongling shook her head”I”

”Underhanded trickery, no doubt,” Zi Yuan jiějie said in a tone of disdain”An as? A sneak attack when the other is in deep rimly”There are so many ways a person can die by the hands of soaze and studied her lap, suddenly overwhelht of Zi Yuan jiějie's wordsGuilt rose to her chest, suffocating her, burying her under an endless pile of shame

TrustAll these years, Zi Yuan jiějie had shown nothing but co had repaid that trust by hurling hurtful words at Zi Yuan jiějie

”I've told youlooked up from her lap

”There are other factors aside from power and spell mastery that will affect the final outcome of a battle” Zi Yuan jiějie shook her head”Noif we aren't cautiousAnd there arekept quietThe truth was that she'd already learned that lesson the hard hen the Heir stole her daardless, on't know more unless we're there at the Fox Zen School” Zi Yuan jiějie smiled”So until then, let's stay positive, okay?”

Ruan Hongling noddedZi Yuan jiějie was rightAo Wushuang was for to her otherwiseRightAs if Master would give Bahuang to soht as well give away the sword for free if he did that

Indeed, there was a chance that Ao Wushuang was still aliveMaybe sheto Su Chan and then Su Chan went into hiding with the sword? That was plausible, wasn't it? After all, Su Chan was an expert in stealthThe girl had ht when they were chasing her, which was ied to get away?

There was a chucklePiqued, Ruan Hongling looked towards her shījiě, who now had a s” Zi Yuan jiějie's eyes shone with confidence and opti else in our favor”

Ruan Hongling found herself holding her breath, eagerly awaiting her shījiě's next words

”The Jindan's whereabouts, Hongling” Zi Yuan jiějie raised a brow”Surely they needed Wushuang-qiánbèi alive if they want to find out where the Jindan is” A sly grin spread across Zi Yuan jiějie's face”Isn't that why the Great Six is attacking the Fox Zen School in the first place?”

Ruan Hongling burst into giggles at thatThe so-called Great Six had no idea that they had all been hoodwinked

”Oh it is a little funny, isn't it? Seeing how ignorant the hed”None of them had a clue that the Jindan has already been consu-qiánbèi had hidden the Jindan awayThere's still hopeWe still have a chance to help the shook her mentor's arm”Even if we found out where Su Chan is later, how are we supposed to save her? We have to ht?”

Zi Yuan jiějie chuckled”Of course on't be the ones who doing the saving, silly” Zi Yuan jiějie smirked”That's the Heir's job”

”What—” Ruan Hongling gaped at her an shaking her shījiě's ar lowered her voice into a whisper”What if the Great Six finds out that he has the Jindan?”

”I've already taught him how to hide the aura, so it's fine”

”But is he ready?” Ruan Hongling tightened her grip on Zi Yuan jiějie's arm”Last time I checked, there was a uesthouse! What if the Heir shows up and those guys think he's with the Fox Zen School? They'll all attack him!”

”Powerful Cultivators, you say?” Zi Yuan jiějie quirked a brow”Were any of the senior htly”No, but still—”

”Then it isn't going to be a proble's hand a few times

”Y- You think so?”

Zi Yuan jiějie chuckled”I don't just think so, HonglingI know so” Zi Yuan jiějie smirked”The Heir could probably wipe the floor with the's hands fell limply from Zi Yuan jiějie's arm”W- Wipe the floor with…”

Maybe Zi Yuan jiějie had hit her head or soenius and all thatBut to defeat an entire army of powerful Cultivators? That was too much!