Jian Dan had originally wanted to hand the hidden line mission to Jian Feng, but the thought of that lurking insect lackey left her fuming. On her way here she'd already killed one Unity cultivator, and she didn't know if someone else would make a move against her on the way back to the sect.
To play it safe, Jian Dan decided to hide her presence and follow along. Once this hidden line mission was done, she'd return to the Heavenly Demon Palace and keep playing the role of Mo Yue.
Having made up her mind, Jian Dan summoned Gong Yi and the four attendants to make arrangements.
"I know you've all been receiving endless visiting posts these past few days. I'm too impatient to deal with that nonsense, and I don't want you to be stuck either. So I'm shutting myself in for a short retreat. At most a month, at least fifteen days. If anyone comes to visit, just say I've had a sudden insight and I'm in closed-door cultivation."
"Yes."
The four attendants bowed in relief.
Gong Yi hesitated, but before he could speak Jian Dan cut in, "I'll inform Chief Mo Zhang myself. You just carry on as usual."
"Yes, understood."
After waving them off, she waited for the beast clan's reply.
Meanwhile, Bai Jue returned to the temporary cave dwelling. He wasn't in a hurry. He sipped spiritual tea, stared at the jade slip in his hand, and waited for Lang Xiao's response.
When Lang Xiao received Bai Jue's white-feather message, a bad feeling rose in his chest. Sure enough, his precious brat had fallen into a deep sleep inside the Heavenly Demon Palace, preparing to break through to Fifth Rank.
The news left Lang Xiao both thrilled and terrified. Thrilled, because Xiao Yue really was a monster of talent, already pushing toward Fifth Rank. Terrified, because how the hell was this little bastard attempting it in such a place?
The burly Lang Xiao clutched the feather and went straight to Nine-Tails.
Nine-Tails rolled her violet eyes after hearing him out and scolded, "What are you panicking for? Isn't Xiao Yue's breakthrough a good thing? You don't even have to spend a single spirit stone, and there's someone to guard him. What's there to worry about?"
Lang Xiao sniffed hard. "Easy for you to say. He's not your kid. Of course you're not worried."
"Tsk, fine. Mo Yue's got some real skill. She can keep your boy safe. If you really can't calm down, go there yourself."
Nine-Tails knew exactly what was in Lang Xiao's head, so she kicked the ball right back to him.
The wolf who'd rushed in frantic finally calmed down. Truth be told, when he first heard Xiao Yue had left, he only acted panicked. He even suggested leaving the wolf clan's territory himself, but the timing wasn't right.
Lately the Moon Wolves had been clashing with the Flame Wolves. He'd been in constant deadlock with the Flame Wolf clan leader. With Xiao Yue gone, his weakness wasn't so exposed, and that gave him fewer concerns.
After weighing it all, Lang Xiao finally sent Bai Jue his answer:
"This concerns my son's advancement. Let him stay by Mo Yue Zūnshàng's side. Please thank Zūnshàng for me. Once Xiao Yue breaks through, I'll personally come fetch him and give thanks face to face."
Bai Jue read it twice, confirmed it really came from Lang Xiao, then headed straight to Moyan Peak.
At Moyan Peak, Bai Jue bowed. "Mo Yue Zūnshàng, I'll have to trouble you. Xiao Yue won't return to the clan this time. After his breakthrough, Clan Leader Lang Xiao will come himself and thank you in person."
Jian Dan raised a brow. "So he's really tossing this burden onto me? Hard to believe a doting father like Lang Xiao would let go."
"I'm guessing Xiao Yue's actually safer here than back in the clan."
"I see. Then you'd better hurry back and remind him."
"I will."
Bai Jue glanced at the four attendants in the distance. Jian Dan noticed and immediately waved her hand, casting a sound barrier.
"Say what you need."
"Yingge and Xiao Yue are very close. Before Yingge could cultivate, Xiao Yue was the only one willing to play with him."
Bai Jue smiled as he spoke.
Jian Dan waved it off. "That's all? Don't worry. I like that kid's little temper, I'll take care of him. But you've been away from the clan long enough. Go check on Yingge. And what about my Mo Ran and Jade? Shouldn't they be coming out of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall by now?"
"You'll need me back in the clan before I can give a proper answer. But I'm sure Nine-Tails will keep an eye on it."
"Good. I'll be waiting for your news."
Before leaving, Bai Jue handed Jian Dan a white feather for contact.
The next day, when he left, he didn't see Xiao Yue. Cang Yu's eyes flickered and he asked about him. Bai Jue told him Xiao Yue was in Mo Yue Zūnshàng's cave dwelling, undergoing advancement. That was enough, Cang Yu didn't press further.
Instead, he started spinning his own story. In his mind, Xiao Yue was Mo Yue's child, and Lang Xiao, caught in a tragic romance, had no choice but to send his son to her for the breakthrough.
By the time the rumor "Mo Yue Zūnshàng is Xiao Yue's mother" spread across the beast clan, Jian Dan and Lang Xiao were still blissfully unaware.
When Lang Xiao finally found out, he flew into a rage. He yanked out several of Cang Yu's main feathers, and if not for Cang Yu's wings letting him escape, he might not have survived the wolf's claws.
The two ended up brawling and dragging each other before Nine-Tails, who sat back and enjoyed the drama from start to finish. By the time the rumor reached the Heavenly Demon Palace, Jian Dan had already left with Xiao Yue in tow. That's another story.
The Heavenly Sword Sect and the beast clan set off together. Mo Su insisted on seeing them off. After saying farewell to the beast clan at the foot of the mountain, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples packed up and prepared to leave.
"Greetings, Jian Xu Zūnshàng!"
Mo Su wore the palace lord's robes, tall and striking. After saluting, he let his gaze sweep the disciples behind Jian Xu Zūnshàng.
"There's a big auction tomorrow. It'd be a shame if you didn't attend."
"I heard from Jian Feng. But the sect has other missions, so we won't stay."
Jian Xu smiled, eyes curved as always.
Seeing he couldn't persuade them, Mo Su cupped his hands to bid farewell. While the group boarded the flying boat, he slipped a pearl into Jian Feng's hand.
Jian Feng didn't refuse. He accepted it, returned the courtesy, and boarded last. Only after the flying boat vanished into the horizon did Mo Su turn back to Moyan Peak.
Hidden in the clouds, Jian Dan felt her jaw ache. She rubbed her cheek, then ordered Cotton Candy, "Hide well. Follow the Heavenly Sword Sect's flying boat without being noticed. Let's see if we can bait out a big fish."
"Yes, Master!"
Cotton Candy wrapped around her and drifted like an ordinary cloud, trailing the flying boat.
Once they left the Heavenly Demon Palace's territory, Jian Dan grew even more cautious. This time, she swore she'd catch a live one.
But the flying boat made it all the way back to the sect without incident.
She frowned. The journey had gone far too smoothly. It had to be because her last strike had spooked them, or maybe they just didn't have a high-level cultivator to spare for now.
Her guess was dead on. Jian Dan had underestimated her own destruction. The Unity-stage cultivator she'd killed on the road was beyond saving once he returned. That was why the woman in violet had attacked without hesitation.
They knew their target was the Heavenly Sword Sect's flying boat, and losing a Unity mid-stage expert in one move had gutted them. They could only grit their teeth, hold back, and wait like a venomous snake, biding their time.
Jian Dan knew that wasn't good. She hadn't planned to show her face, but she went to the Operations Hall first to cash in the blue mission token, then headed straight for the Law Enforcement Hall.
Inside, Hall Master Jian Li was studying the jade slip Jian Feng had just delivered.
===
Whoa… Chapter 700 already?! (⊙_☉)
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