Lin Xian stood up, took a few steps back, and gently closed the door.
The soft click made Xiao Wu flinch. She nearly lost her balance where she sat.
A faint red glow flickered in her eyes—her spirit power was on the verge of erupting.
Lin Xian, however, remained completely at ease.
He returned to his seat, poured himself a cup of tea, and moved with unhurried calm.
"Scared?" he asked lightly.
Xiao Wu said nothing, but her gaze shifted uneasily.
Her left hand subconsciously clutched her right wrist, as if hiding something.
Her thoughts were in chaos.
Kill him… to silence him?
Or go find Tang San—who had always promised to protect her?
But if she did that… wouldn't that expose everything?
Watching her hesitation, Lin Xian chuckled.
"You're not thinking of running to Tang San, are you?"
Xiao Wu froze.
How did he know?
Lin Xian leaned back slightly, his voice calm but sharp.
"Have you ever wondered… why, out of everyone, Tang San chose you?"
"Why he knows so many strange cultivation techniques?"
"Why he can create so many bizarre hidden weapons?"
Each question struck like a hammer.
Xiao Wu's mind reeled.
She had noticed those things before.
But every time she asked, Tang San would brush it off.
Over time… she stopped questioning it.
Like living in a fish market—eventually, you stop noticing the smell.
But now…
Now that everything was laid out like this…
It felt terrifying.
"Maybe… maybe he's just a genius…" Xiao Wu murmured weakly.
Lin Xian cut her off immediately.
"Do you even believe that yourself?"
Silence.
"Then do you know his background?" Lin Xian continued. "The force behind him?"
"He's just a blacksmith's son!" Xiao Wu insisted. "I've been to his home—it was poor, run-down. There's no way he has any powerful backing!"
She had seen it with her own eyes.
She had even helped clean the place.
She couldn't be wrong.
Lin Xian burst into laughter.
"A blacksmith's son?" he said mockingly. "Do you even know what hammer he uses?"
"It's just a forging hammer!"
"Or… what if it's the strongest Tool Spirit in existence—the Clear Sky Hammer?"
Like thunder in a silent sky.
Before Xiao Wu could react, Lin Xian pressed on.
"Blue Silver Grass… yet innate full spirit power."
"Yu Xiaogang takes him in immediately, claiming he'll prove his theories."
"Do you really think that power comes from Blue Silver Grass?"
"It comes from his second Spirit."
"The inheritance of the direct line of the Clear Sky Sect—the Clear Sky Hammer."
Lin Xian paused, watching her expression crumble.
"So," he said softly, "do you still think he's just some poor nobody?"
Xiao Wu shot to her feet, her face pale.
"These are just guesses! You have no proof!"
Even though doubt had already taken root, she refused to accept it.
"Very well," Lin Xian said calmly. "Then let me show you something."
He waved his hand.
A screen appeared in the air—clear, vivid, almost unreal.
The recording began to play.
Zhao Wuji.
Then—
The black-robed figure.
Nine spirit rings.
A Titled Douluo.
The scene unfolded in full clarity.
Tang Hao.
Tang San's father.
Xiao Wu's breath caught.
So… he had been there all along.
Watching.
Protecting.
Which meant—
When she first met Tang San…
She had already been seen through.
A 100,000-year spirit ring.
A spirit bone.
Temptations no one could resist.
Had she been… kept alive on purpose?
Waiting for the right moment?
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed to the floor.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Lin Xian watched quietly.
"Well?" he said. "Still think it's fake?"
Xiao Wu didn't answer.
The pressure from that scene… it felt too real.
And Zhao Wuji's absence afterward only confirmed it.
Still…
She needed to verify it herself.
She couldn't believe that Tang San—after all these years—had been lying to her.
As if reading her thoughts, Lin Xian spoke again.
"Go ahead. Verify it."
"When you're done… come back to me."
"I might be able to help you."
He paused, then added:
"Actually… take one more thing."
He pulled out five slender needles and placed them in front of her.
"These are called Star Needles."
"Almost no one on this continent can recognize them."
"Take them to Tang San."
"You'll get your answer."
Xiao Wu's eyes flickered.
If Tang San recognized them…
Then what did that mean?
Her expression darkened further.
Lin Xian stepped forward and casually collected a glowing purple card floating nearby.
"Alright," he said. "You can go."
Xiao Wu suddenly looked up at him.
"Why are you helping me?"
Lin Xian leaned closer.
Their distance shrank instantly.
She could feel his presence—calm, oppressive, deliberate.
"Why?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Because…"
"I covet your body."
(Author's Note)
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