After Han Qingwen left the room, Yunxi and Yun Po exchanged a quick look. She placed Li Li on the stone table and let it hop around on its own, its little claws clicking against the surface, while she secretly guarded him. He was using the Ice Soul Frost Cicada inside Zhuge Muyu to monitor every move after he left, his eyes glazed over slightly as he focused on the mental link.
Han Qingwen went straight to see Zhuge Muyu the moment he exited the room, his footsteps echoing in the corridor. When he saw the man waiting anxiously in the dimly lit side chamber, his face twisted into a mask of frustration.
"Muyu, why didn't you act according to plan? Why didn't you plant the evil seed in her body?"
Zhuge Muyu immediately stood up, his posture stiff. "Tower Master, that Xi Yun was far too cautious. I couldn't find a chance to act at all. She even revealed that she is from the hidden Su family and said she would head to the Ancient Battlefield after this breakthrough. Since I couldn't complete the task, I used myself as bait instead. I let her know I carry the Wood Spirit Pearl and have powerful healing abilities, then pushed her to take me away from Dengyun Tower.
If I can infiltrate a hidden family, I will find an opening. As long as she brings me into the Ancient Battlefield, I will definitely pass the information to our companions."
Han Qingwen frowned slightly, his fingers tapping against his sleeve as he weighed the words, but he didn't state his stance right away.
Zhuge Muyu continued, his voice low and urgent, "To earn her trust, I gave up three levels of cultivation. I don't want to give up this chance."
Han Qingwen's expression didn't change as he stepped closer. He raised a hand and sent a strand of cold spiritual energy into Zhuge Muyu's body, probing his meridians. A moment later, his face turned cold, and he pulled his hand back.
"You fool. Your Wood Spirit Pearl was taken by her long ago."
Zhuge Muyu froze for a heartbeat, his breath hitching, then immediately checked inward with his divine sense. Five breaths later, his face went pale, the color draining until his skin looked like parchment. "Tower Master, what should I do now?"
Han Qingwen thought for a long time before speaking, his voice dropping to a chilly whisper. "That Xi Yun is truly calculating. She took your Wood Spirit Pearl, then asked to take you away. She spent a small amount of spirit stones to gain even greater benefits. Greedy indeed. As for what happens after she brings you back to the Su family, whether she silences you or raises you as a furnace, that all depends on a single thought of hers."
Zhuge Muyu clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "So I sacrificed myself for nothing this time?"
Han Qingwen narrowed his eyes, a chill flashing within them like a blade. "Hmph. Dengyun Tower's advantages aren't so easy to take."
Zhuge Muyu rasped, his voice sounding dry and strained, "Tower Master, I will do whatever you say."
"Act like you know nothing. I will let you leave with Xi Yun. After that, it will depend on whether you can coax her into sparing your life and return safely to the Su family's territory.
During this time, don't contact me at all. Treat it as a complete break from Dengyun Tower. Her younger brother came today as well. He seems to have just broken through to the Unity stage and wants someone to help stabilize his cultivation. I will try to send Niao Niao with him and probe their background.
If they truly are disciples of a hidden family out on training, then we must seize this chance and turn them into blades in our hands. As long as even one person from the Su family gets successfully planted with an evil seed, we will be helping Shénzūn. That will make all my years of plotting and the risks I have taken moving through the Spirit Realm worthwhile."
Zhuge Muyu gritted his teeth, his jaw tight. "Tower Master, don't worry. I will make sure she lets me live."
Han Qingwen thought for a moment, then said, "Later, I will tell Xi Yun to let you stay in Dengyun Tower for three days. I will at least help you recover your cultivation to the Divine Transformation stage so you will be more useful. After that, it will depend on your performance."
Zhuge Muyu immediately replied respectfully, bowing his head, "Muyu understands. I will treat it as the Tower Master feeling pity for me and letting me stay to recover. Once my cultivation returns to Divine Transformation, the Tower Master can send me to Xi Yun's side."
"Good. Remember this. As long as she is greedy enough, she won't give up a shortcut like you for rapid cultivation."
"Yes, I will remember."
A flicker of icy blue flashed through Zhuge Muyu's lowered eyes before fading back to their normal black, a sign of the puppet master's influence. Han Qingwen waved his hand and dismissed him, then hurried out of the secret chamber himself, his robes swishing against the floor.
On the other side, Yun Po relayed the entire conversation to Yunxi through their mental connection. After listening, she caught a new term, "evil seed." Just hearing the name made it clear it was nothing good. She sent a voice transmission, her thoughts focused and sharp.
"Yun Po, once you bring that Niao Niao back later, find a way to trace the origin of this evil seed. This definitely isn't the first time they have done something like this. Who knows how many cultivators entering Dengyun Tower have already fallen for it. We need to be careful."
Yun Po nodded slightly, though she didn't move from her seat. "Understood. I already sensed something off about Dengyun Tower before, but they never stay in one city for long, so it wasn't easy to tail them.
The Tower Master is extremely meticulous. I finally managed to latch onto Young Master Jin Xiu, only to have him deliberately avoid me. I was already prepared to act like a lovesick fool and follow Dengyun Tower around, but I didn't expect you to tear open a gap by accident. Otherwise, my reputation as an all-knowing informant would have gathered dust."
After hearing that, Yunxi understood that cultivators in the Spirit Realm had already noticed Dengyun Tower's abnormalities. They just lacked evidence, which was why they entrusted Yun Po to investigate in detail. Her earlier move of opening a shop in Songran City was likely part of the plan as well, meant to dispel Han Qingwen's suspicions.
"Even without me, you would still succeed. It would just take more effort and the risks would be higher. Now that we're working together, we will definitely crush Dengyun Tower's plan."
Yunxi sent with a smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling. Yun Po laughed openly after hearing that. The dimples at the corners of his lips looked exactly like hers.
Not long after they finished exchanging words, Han Qingwen appeared again, his expression once more composed. He first addressed Yunxi.
"Xi Yun Daoyou, Muyu has told me his decision. He admires you deeply and is willing to follow you away. I won't stop him. However, his foundation really was damaged this time. Could you allow him to stay in Dengyun Tower for three days? I will use a secret method to mend his foundation a bit and let him bid farewell to the disciples here. After three days, I will personally send him back to your side."
Yunxi's eyes filled with satisfaction as she replied generously, "Of course. When this Lord sent him back, I also intended for him to say goodbye to his companions. If the Tower Master can help repair his foundation, that would be even better. Tower Master, how many spirit stones are still needed to exchange for Muyu's freedom?"
Han Qingwen waved his hand, dismissing the concern. "The spirit stones you paid earlier are already enough. Over the years, Muyu has helped me a great deal. I don't want him to leave Dengyun Tower in such a way. Treat it as him finding a new patron and let him leave cleanly."
Those words were beautifully said and even saved Yunxi a sum of spirit stones. She was naturally even more pleased, the light in her eyes turning more genuine. "No wonder Muyu holds the Tower Master in such high regard. Then this Lord will gladly take advantage of this kindness. If Dengyun Tower ever encounters trouble and needs help in the future, you can send this Lord a message."
With that, she tossed a transmission jade talisman to Han Qingwen. He caught it with a practiced motion and immediately recognized it as a single-use transmission talisman meant for a specific recipient, useless after one use. Clearly, Xi Yun intended to compensate Dengyun Tower's loss with a favor. He was more than willing to accept such a trade. After putting it away, he said, "Many thanks for Xi Yun Daoyou's consideration."
He then clapped his hands sharply, and a tall, thin man led a group of female cultivators into the room, their silk robes rustling. "These are the disciples whose cultivation matches your younger brother's. Which one catches his eye?"
===
Okay, so we have new title here, Shénzūn (神尊).
As you may already know, 神 means god or divine. While 尊 is an honorific meaning venerable, exalted, or supreme.
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Also the Bing Li/ Yun Po pronouns will be feminine one in most of cases, or in general narration. Because the first time 'Bing Li' introduced as 'she', I decide to keep that. Of course characters beside Yunxi still address her with 'he'.
If you confused why Bing Li/ Yun Po pronouns will be "messy" that's the reason why.