The surroundings were deathly quiet. Jian Dan strode up beside Zi Qing Zhēnzūn, clasped her hands in salute, and said,
"Zhēnzūn, forgive me for acting without permission and disturbing the cultivators of your sect."
Zi Qing Zhēnzūn shook her head. "Not at all. We should thank Mo Yue Daoyou for stepping in, otherwise my sect's disciples would've been in danger."
"The enemy used a substitute puppet and escaped. Forgive my uselessness, I couldn't leave anything behind." Jian Dan's tone was calm.
"It doesn't matter. The rest of them won't get away."
A glint of hostility flashed through Zi Qing's eyes. This was an obvious trap, a slap to the face.
If the Heavenly Demon Palace's group ran into trouble while on Purple Sky Sect's territory, how was she supposed to explain it to the Heavenly Demon Palace? Bi Shu's uniqueness was one of a kind. The Heavenly Demon Palace had sent her here out of obligation, but if something happened to her under their watch, what would the great Daoist sects who relied on her rare ability to track blood insects think?
She'd only wanted to root out the hidden traitors within her sect, but she hadn't intended for Bi Shu to be harmed. Even so, her calculations had gone astray, dragging innocents into danger. She could shoulder that karma herself, but letting her sect fall out with the Heavenly Demon Palace was something she couldn't accept. Junior Brother Zi Huan had already warned her not to act rashly, but she'd been too impatient.
"Zhēnzūn, this scheme targeted both Purple Sky Sect and the Heavenly Demon Palace. If Bi Shu's group had suffered, my palace would definitely demand answers. Even if it's not enough to start an outright conflict, a rift would've been left behind.
And the other Daoist sects still haven't cleared their territories. That means Purple Sky Sect is being shoved into an unjust position. Add to that the matter of the spatial rift you mentioned—other sects still have high-level cultivators unaccounted for. Even if they know there's a reason, when these issues pile up, they'll still vent their anger on your sect."
Zi Qing Zhēnzūn understood. Mo Yue's gaze was sharp, cutting right to the heart of the matter with every word. She couldn't refute it.
"Zhēnzūn, the affairs of your sect aren't something my Heavenly Demon Palace should meddle in. I only acted just now to protect the innocent. From here on, Bi Shu's presence will go underground. Outwardly, my palace will announce she was gravely injured and died. Once you've stabilized your sect's situation, send word, and we'll begin a joint sweep of your territories."
Those words were passed directly into Zi Qing Zhēnzūn's mind.
Her expression softened. Mo Yue had given both face and substance. What remained was a matter for Purple Sky Sect alone.
"Good. I'll have Xuanyuan arrange quarters for you. Take some time to recover."
Zi Qing Zhēnzūn turned toward the sullen-faced Lu Xuanyuan, waved him over, and instructed him to escort the Heavenly Demon Palace's group.
Lu Xuanyuan forced his expression to relax, bowed, and gestured politely for them to follow. Leading the ten cultivators, he took them toward a subsidiary peak of the Zixiao Hall.
The Tian Squad's nine members had already recovered sixty percent of their injuries, while the three heavily wounded had managed forty percent. They did their best not to hold the team back. Faces solemn, they followed Jian Dan out of the ruined rear mountain. The Guest Hall had been destroyed beyond repair and wasn't safe to return to.
Once the Heavenly Demon Palace's group disappeared from sight, Zi Huan's figure quietly appeared beside Zi Qing. He twirled a forty-centimeter purple-black ruler in his hand, his demeanor refined and elegant. Though he exuded no hostility, his aura wasn't weaker than hers.
"Senior Sister, this Mo Yue is sharp. With just one encounter, she saw our situation clearly. And she acted decisively. Every disciple she escorted out of the rear mountain today owes her their life."
"I was too hasty. I should've listened to you and taken things slowly. In the end, Mo Yue used this to turn Bi Shu's position from open to hidden, protecting their disciples."
"Indeed. She struck at exactly the right time. If it were me, I'd have done the same."
Zi Huan smiled gently and continued, "Xiao Zi has already led people to surround the Wang family. Let's see if they can dig up anything."
"Did Zixing Pavilion learn anything from the captured cultivators?"
That was what Zi Qing cared about. At least then they'd have a trail to follow.
"Their seas of consciousness were sealed. Realizing they couldn't escape, they self-destructed."
"Then we'll start with the Wang family."
Their figures faded back into the shadows.
Meanwhile, after settling the Heavenly Demon Palace's cultivators, Lu Xuanyuan hurried to find Sect Master Xiao Zi. He wanted to see just what scheme the Wang family was hiding.
The new palace was even more spacious than the Guest Hall. Intricately carved beams and pillars of pure amethyst glittered with soft light, the draping pearl curtains lending a gentler atmosphere.
"Zūnshàng, forgive me. I was struck by a Mahayana-stage attack talisman and could barely withstand it. Bi Shu vanished right under my nose."
Once the restrictions were down, Tian Yi finally reported with a grim face. With Purple Sky Sect's people present earlier, he hadn't dared speak.
Jian Dan only smiled, waved her sleeve, and a white ball rolled out. Xiao Yue bounded upright, sniffed the air, and immediately caught the scent of blood on the Tian Squad. After confirming Jian Dan wasn't hurt, the little beast leapt into her lap.
Jian Dan stroked Xiao Yue's head, then asked gently, "The item I told you to keep, where is it?"
Xiao Yue opened its mouth. A green willow leaf floated out and hung in the air. Slowly, Bi Shu's form materialized, her face pale but otherwise unharmed.
"Many thanks for your protection, Zūnshàng!"
Bi Shu bowed deeply. Without the willow leaf Zūnshàng had given her, she'd have died when the talisman struck. At the crucial moment, the leaf had transported her to the rear mountain by the magnolia sea, where she'd reunited with her.
Seeing Bi Shu safe, the Tian Squad finally relaxed.
When the talisman struck, the willow leaf on Bi Shu's hand had heated up, carrying her straight to Liu Chuan, the willow's true body. The timing had been perfect. At that moment, Wang Ping attacked Jian Dan, who relocated all the cultivators from the rear mountain, concealing the teleportation's fluctuations.
Carried by the willow leaf, Bi Shu had arrived safely. Xiao Yue had dutifully kept the leaf in its mouth until Jian Dan took her back into her sleeve, hiding her presence. Meanwhile, Liu Chuan returned to her wrist after shattering the substitute puppet. So when Lu Xuanyuan inspected the willow tree the next day, he found nothing, as if what he'd seen before had been a dream.
"The rest of this is Purple Sky Sect's concern. You don't need to worry. Focus on healing and restore your strength. We still have missions ahead." Jian Dan instructed the Tian Squad, then turned to Bi Shu.
"From now on, you're officially dead. Your movements will be hidden. Change your face. Once Purple Sky Sect frees up people, you'll continue your mission."
Bi Shu let out a quiet sigh of relief. This was far better than standing in the open as a target.
"Yes, I understand."
"Even if you uncover more blood insects later, people may suspect you're still alive. But as long as you never show yourself, suspicion is all they'll ever have. Got it?"
"Yes. Thank you for protecting me, Zūnshàng. I'll be cautious."