Bai Chen's voice was warm and clear, like mountain spring water, dripping onto Lin Wan's heart that was almost being burned dry by rage and humiliation.
If this were her past life, hearing such caring concern, she would already have reddened her eyes and poured out all her grievances, believing that in this whole world, only Senior Brother Bai truly treated her well.
But now…
That voice, as it entered her ears, was like a cold venomous snake, slithering up along her spine, making every hair on her body stand on end and her hands and feet turn icy.
She abruptly lowered her head, hiding the hatred and disgust that were almost impossible to suppress in her eyes. Her teeth bit hard into the soft flesh inside her mouth. Only when she tasted a trace of blood did she barely force down the questions and screams that were about to burst out.
Don't panic. Don't reveal anything.
In Bai Chen's eyes right now, she was still that grateful, naïve, easily fooled little menial disciple.
She had to keep acting.
"N-nothing…" Lin Wan's voice was as thin as a mosquito's, carrying deliberately faked sobs and panic. "I just… just heard them talking about Xiao Ji Xianjun, and their words were a bit… a bit disrespectful. I couldn't hold myself back for a moment…"
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became. Her shoulders trembled slightly, looking both aggrieved and frightened.
Bai Chen's gaze lingered on her for a moment. That gaze was still gentle, yet it seemed to carry some invisible penetrating force, making Lin Wan feel like a specimen laid out under sunlight, every tiny reaction nowhere to hide.
He then turned to the outer-sect disciples who had fallen silent in fear. The gentle smile on his face faded a little. His tone was still calm, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
"The sect obituary has already been issued. Martial Uncle Xiao Ji died protecting the sect. His heroic spirit has not yet gone far. How dare you lot make noise and mock him here? Go to the Discipline Hall yourselves and receive ten strokes of the Admonishment Whip, then copy the Qingxin Mantra one hundred times."
Their faces instantly turned deathly pale, yet they dared not object in the slightest. They hurriedly bowed and answered "Yes," then squeezed out of the crowd and ran off in disgrace.
The onlookers around them also scattered at once, not daring to stay any longer. Everyone knew that although Senior Brother Bai looked gentle, he was always strict in enforcing the rules.
After dealing with them, Bai Chen looked back at Lin Wan. His tone returned to its previous warmth, even carrying a hint of indulgent helplessness.
"Junior Sister Lin, you have a kind nature and can't stand to see injustice. That's a good thing. But within the sect, there are many mouths and many tongues. Some things—just let them pass after you hear them. Don't take them too seriously, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
His words sounded like caring advice, every sentence for her own good.
But to Lin Wan's ears, it sounded like a silent warning—telling her to stay in line and not meddle.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Bai. I… I'll remember it." Lin Wan kept her head lowered, her voice timid.
Bai Chen gave a slight nod, seemingly satisfied with her "obedience," and then asked as if casually, "By the way, Junior Sister Lin, how did your trip down the mountain to visit your family go this time? Everything went well? I saw you were quite emotional just now. Did something happen at home? If you need help, feel free to say so."
Here it comes.
He really had started probing her.
In her past life, it was with this kind of gentle, imperceptible concern that he slowly extracted all her information and trust.
Lin Wan's heart jumped up into her throat, her mind spinning rapidly. She could not let him see anything unusual. She had to give a reasonable explanation that could also account for her earlier loss of control.
"Thank you for worrying, Senior Brother. At home… everything is fine." She sniffed, forcing her voice to sound more downcast and aggrieved. "It's just… just that on the way back, I accidentally lost the spirit stones I'd saved up for a long time… I felt bad, and then I heard them speak about Xianjun like that, so I lost my temper for a moment…"
Her words were half true, half false. The spirit stones really were lost (on the carriage), and she really was upset (just not because of the stones).
A menial disciple who was in a low mood because she lost her hard-earned money, and then lost control after hearing disrespectful talk—this image was reasonable enough and wouldn't draw much suspicion.
Sure enough, the faint trace of scrutiny in Bai Chen's eyes faded, replaced by a hint of light contempt and understanding. He said gently, "So that's how it is. A few spirit stones—no need to dwell on them too much. As cultivators, we focus on cultivation of the heart. Gains and losses of external things should be taken lightly."
As he spoke, he took a small embroidered pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Wan. "There are a few mid-grade spirit stones here. Junior Sister, take them to cover your urgent needs. In the future, be more careful when doing errands."
Sunlight fell on the pouch, its silk threads embroidered with delicate cloud patterns. At a glance it was worth a lot. A few mid-grade spirit stones were a huge sum for a menial like her.
In her past life, Lin Wan would have been moved to tears, thinking Senior Brother Bai was the best person under heaven.
But now, she only felt that the pouch was scorching hot, as if it contained the fangs of a poisonous snake.
She couldn't take it.
Once she did, it would be like owing him again, like falling back into that invisible web of false affection.
"N-no need! Senior Brother Bai!" Lin Wan took a small step back as if burned, waving her hands repeatedly, her face full of panic. "This is too precious! I can't take it! The spirit stones… I'll save them up myself again! Really!"
Her refusal seemed to catch Bai Chen by surprise. His hand holding out the pouch paused in midair. Looking at Lin Wan's flustered, fearful expression that did not seem fake, his brows lifted almost imperceptibly.
Then he smiled, naturally withdrew his hand, and said in the same gentle tone, "Since Junior Sister insists, then so be it. If you have any difficulties, you may come to me at any time."
His smile was flawless, but Lin Wan sharply caught that fleeting, extremely faint trace of doubt in his eyes.
Her heart skipped.
Did I refuse too decisively? Did I attract his attention?
No—she had to leave now!
"Thank you, Senior Brother Bai! I—I still need to report to the menial supervisor, so I'll take my leave first!" Lin Wan hurriedly gave a bow. Without waiting for Bai Chen to respond, she lowered her head and left at a brisk pace, almost fleeing.
She could feel that warm yet piercing gaze still resting on her back, like thorns against her skin.
Only after turning a corner and completely leaving Bai Chen's line of sight did Lin Wan dare lean against a cold wall and gasp for breath. Her back was already soaked with cold sweat.
Every encounter with Bai Chen was like dancing on a blade's edge, draining her mental strength.
It took her a long while before her heartbeat finally calmed.
She couldn't think about Bai Chen anymore. The most urgent thing was to find clues about Xiao Ji Xianjun's yiguan zhong.
The Spirit Hall was only set up temporarily for mourning. For a cultivator of Xiao Ji's level, even if the body could not be found, the sect would very likely build a yiguan zhong for him, for later generations to pay respects.
But where would that yiguan zhong be built?
Lingjue Peak? That was where Xiao Ji's own cave-abode was, but it was said to be covered in heavy restrictions, impossible for ordinary people to approach.
The sect's cemetery? That was usually where elders and disciples who made great contributions were buried. Xiao Ji's status did fit.
Or… some other special place?
She had no idea at all. At this time in her past life, she had just been an insignificant little menial, busy all day with the spirit herb garden and secretly admiring Bai Chen. Why would she care where a "strange" Xianjun was buried?
She had to ask around.
But who should she ask? If she asked too directly, would it raise suspicion?
Lin Wan wandered aimlessly through the outer-sect area, her brows tightly knit.
Without realizing it, she walked near the outer-sect dining hall. It was noon, and the hall was bustling with noise. Many menials and outer-sect disciples who had finished their morning duties came here to eat.
The rich aroma of food drifted over. Lin Wan's stomach growled traitorously. Since waking up after rebirth, she hadn't eaten or drunk anything, and after all the emotional turmoil and running about, she was already starving.
She touched her storage pouch, which was even emptier than her face, and gave a bitter smile. It seemed she could only go report to the spirit herb garden first and see if she could scrounge something to eat.
Just as she was about to leave, the words of a few old menials squatting by the wall near the dining hall, basking in the sun while eating and chatting, suddenly caught her ear.
An old man missing one front tooth smacked his lips and sighed. "…So they say, what's the use of being so powerful? Look at Lingxi Jianzun. Back in the day he was so glorious, right? And now? Gone just like that. Not even anyone to collect his body. Tragic…"
Another old woman curled her lips. "Exactly! I heard the Elders' Council almost blew up over where to build his yiguan zhong!"
Lin Wan's steps froze in place. Her heart pounded wildly, and her ears pricked up on their own.
"Blow up? What's there to argue about? According to the rules, he should go into the sect cemetery, right?" another voice cut in.
"Into the cemetery?" The toothless old man lowered his voice, acting all mysterious. "I have a distant nephew who serves in the Discipline Hall. He said they're arguing fiercely! Lingjue Peak is definitely out—apparently the restrictions Jianzun-daren left behind can't be broken by anyone, and it's hard even to get close. As for the sect cemetery… some people say Jianzun-daren was solitary by nature and might not like such a lively place…"
"Then what? They can't just bury him anywhere, can they?"
"Heh, I heard…" The toothless old man lowered his voice even more, and the other old menials couldn't help leaning closer. "One elder suggested a place that seems quite suitable, it's just… a bit ominous…"
"What place? Say it, say it!"
"It's… on the edge of the forbidden grounds at the back mountain—the old site of that place abandoned for many years… 'Si Guo Ya'!"