After completing the registration at the Qingnang Grass Hut and waiting for a mont, Fang Ji smoothly obtained the pass.
Fang Ji stopped at the fork in the road, recalled the information he had inquired about at the Qingnang Grass Hut, then lightly tapped his left palm with his right fist, nodding thoughtfully.
"'Hua City Si Ye Hui Staff, Lu Yibei, lives in Room 25, Building D of Hongyan Villa...'
After saying this, as if afraid he would forget, he repeated it several tis in his mind. He looked left and right at the roads at the fork leading in different directions, casually chose one, and continued walking forward.
He believed his sense of direction was excellent and that walking this way would definitely lead him to Hongyan Villa.
The proof was that he had traveled all the way from Salt City, a thousand li away, to Shizhou City, getting lost multiple tis along the way, but always relying on his intuition to find the correct direction again.
Three minutes later, Hongyan Villa.
Just as Fang Ji had expected, he walked all the way without the slightest deviation.
Standing before the large gate with a green lacquered goose head knocker, he looked up at the plaque above the gate that read 【Hongyan Villa】, stepped over the threshold, and walked inside.
As soon as he entered, he was greeted by an elegant garden. Amidst the vibrant green bamboo, strange rocks were piled up. In one corner of the garden sat an octagonal pavilion, inscribed with the three large characters 【Welco Pavilion】. Copper bells hung from the eight eaves. As the gentle breeze blew, the sound of the bells was as crisp as spring water.
Fang Ji's gaze lingered on the pavilion for a few seconds before he withdrew it and walked forward along the straight corridor that passed through the garden.
At the end of the long corridor, the path split into four, extending in different directions, with wooden signs labeled "Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding" hanging above. Faintly visible through the green bamboo ahead was a cluster of buildings built against the mountain.
Following the path with the "Ding" shaped wooden sign, it wasn't long before he found the Building D villa located on the southeast side at the foot of the mountain.
The villa, shaped like the character "Hui", had three floors, with about ten rooms on each floor. Fang Ji counted the room numbers as he went, and soon arrived in front of room number twenty-five.
Standing at the door, he pondered for a few seconds, organized his words, took a deep breath, and knocked on the wooden door with anticipation.
"'Dong dong dong---!'"
"'Hello, may I ask if Hua City Si Ye Hui Staff Lu Yibei lives here? I am Fang Ji, Salt City Night Watch Staff. I have sothing I'd like to discuss with you.'"
Inside the room, there was no response.
"'Dong dong dong---!'"
"'Excuse , is Staff Lu in?'"
After knocking again, Fang Ji waited for a mont. Seeing that there was still no response, he turned around and went back to the garden he had just passed through.
He rembered there was a welco pavilion in the garden. When he ca over just now, there were two Da Chunyang Palace disciples in the pavilion playing gas on their phones, with intense ga sound effects constantly coming from them.
They should have been there for quite so ti. Perhaps they knew where Lu Yibei had gone.
I'll go ask them... Fang Ji thought.
----
When Fang Ji arrived in front of the pavilion, both disciples in the pavilion were staring at their phones with tightly furrowed brows. The atmosphere was tense. Even Fang Ji, who didn't understand gas, could vaguely see that they were in a stalemate.
Fang Ji didn't dare to disturb them and could only stand outside the pavilion, waiting quietly.
"'Hurry over, let's team up!'" said the long-faced disciple.
"'Don't rush, let solo kill this guy first!'" said the other slightly plump disciple.
"'What the heck? Didn't you solo kill him? How did you get counter-killed?'"
"'No... I had 90% critical hit chance and auto-attacked him five tis, but didn't get a single critical hit. He had 20% critical hit chance and every hit was a critical. It's ridiculous! This guy must be cheating, right?'" the slightly plump disciple said angrily.
"'Tsk, I told you to co team up. What's the point of saying this now? Let's surrender!'"
The long-faced disciple initiated the surrender, put down his phone, and only then looked up and noticed Fang Ji, who had been waiting outside the pavilion for a while.
He frowned slightly and asked, "'Excuse , who are you?'"
"'Oh, hello...''' Fang Ji replied, stepped forward, and introduced himself. "'My na is Fang Ji, I'm a student here for advanced studies.'"
Hearing this, the long-faced disciple smiled, stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "'A Night Watch Staff? My apologies, I was rude.'"
Night Watch Staff, who constantly work on the front lines combating urban legend and illegal Spiritual Energy organizations, risking their lives, have always been figures worthy of respect in the eyes of Da Chunyang Palace disciples.
Of course, this is under the premise that they don't know that so naless staff mbers slack off, goof around, and are salary thieves all day long.
"'But what are you doing at Hongyan Villa? I rember the advanced studies class has separate dormitories.'"
Fang Ji imitated the long-faced disciple, cupped his hands in return, and replied, "'I'm here to find Staff Lu Yibei, but she's not in her room, so I thought I'd co and ask you.'"
"'Staff Lu Yibei?'" The long-faced disciple thought for a mont, shook his head, and then looked at the slightly plump disciple beside him. "'Do you know her?'"
The slightly plump disciple thought for a mont. "'Is it the young man carrying the tal case?'"
tal case... Fang Ji briefly recalled the scene when he first t Lu Yibei on Xuanwu Slope. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly said, "'Yes, that's her.'"
"'Oh, I know him! I helped him with his registration when he went out. He said he was going to Shizhou City to visit an old friend. He left about ten minutes ago.'" the slightly plump disciple said.
"'Hmm, he probably hasn't crossed the iron cable bridge yet. If you hurry and chase now, you should make it. If not, you can wait at the station at the foot of the mountain. The next bus to Shizhou City is in half an hour.'"
Fang Ji cupped his hands towards the slightly plump disciple. "'Thank you for the information. I won't disturb you two any further.'"
After saying this, he quickly walked towards the outside of Hongyan Villa.
"'Boom---!'"
Fang Ji hadn't walked far when he heard a loud bang from behind. Looking back, he saw the two disciples standing in front of the half-collapsed pavilion, covered in dust and ash, with bewildered expressions.
Then, the two exchanged glances. The long-faced disciple said in a deep voice, "'We found termites last ti, and I told you to clean them up. Did you not do it?'"
The slightly plump disciple scratched the back of his head and said with a red face, "'I forgot.'"
The long-faced disciple, "..."
Fang Ji stared at the two disciples for a few seconds and shook his head.
It was recently the rainy season, the breeding season for termites. It wasn't surprising to him that buildings like those in Hongyan Villa, which were often hundreds of years old, were easily damaged by termites if neglected.
----
Leaving Hongyan Villa, Fang Ji walked briskly guided by his intuition. It was as if he had precise navigation enabled; he didn't take a single wrong turn and quickly caught up to Lu Yibei, who had left before him.
Standing on the mountaintop, across the straight downward mountain path, he saw her from afar. Lu Yibei was hundreds of ters away, walking quickly towards the foot of the mountain.
A glint of excitent flashed in his eyes, and he quickly sped up his pace.
He hadn't walked far when he saw Lu Yibei stop at a turn in the mountain path. She looked left and right, took sothing out of her pocket, and calmly threw it into the bushes beside the path.
What did she throw into the bushes?
Filled with doubt, Fang Ji followed her. He stopped at the sa spot as Lu Yibei, bent down, pushed aside the branches and leaves of the bushes to look, and then saw three pale paper figures, palm-sized, with short, thick limbs, looking endearingly simple.
"'Huh? What is this...''' Fang Ji picked up one of the paper figures and examined it carefully in his hand.
Paper Cicada Immortal, a simple puppet made based on Spells and Alchemy.
Looking at the paper figure, a piece of unfamiliar information flashed through Fang Ji's mind. It seed to appear out of nowhere, yet it also felt like it had always been deep in his mory, just suddenly recalled.
This phenonon was not appearing for the first ti. Ever since coming from Salt City, whenever he occasionally ca into contact with things related to Psychic, urban legend, Spells, and the like, similar situations would always occur.
This feeling, as if gradually recovering lost mories, made him firmly believe that coming to Da Chunyang Palace was the correct choice.
But...
"'Why would Staff Lu Yibei place puppets in the bushes? What does she plan to do with these puppets?'"
Fang Ji muttered to himself, looked up at Lu Yibei in the distance, but found that she had suddenly sped up for so reason. In the brief mont he was startled, her figure disappeared into the passage next to Zhenting Hall.
Seeing this, he didn't have ti to think further. He casually put the Paper Cicada Immortal into his pants pocket and ran to chase after her.
----
Inside the ancestral hall on the back mountain of Da Chunyang Palace.
Surrounded by green plants, an ancestral hall was situated on the edge of a cliff.
Although the ancestral hall was small in area, it exuded a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
This was the only place within Da Chunyang Palace that had not changed in the slightest for hundreds of years.
Although Lu Ming had also proposed the concept of "green worship" at the ti to prevent fires.
But Zhang Huainan felt that putting LED incense and candles in the ancestral hall and looping DJ Taoist scriptures was sowhat like a nightclub, very unreliable, and not very respectful to the ancestors.
So he rejected Lu Ming's proposal and, on behalf of the ancestors, expressed gratitude for his good intentions (physical & magical).
The dense forest around the ancestral hall was quiet, and the crisp chirping of birds could be heard from afar. Through the gaps on either side of the screen wall, the flickering light of the perpetual lamp was faintly visible.
The lamplight illuminated the large offering table and the countless spirit tablets behind it, and also illuminated Zhang Huainan, dressed in a green robe, standing before the offering table.
According to the rules, whether it was the Sect Leader or an Elder, they needed to bathe and burn incense before entering seclusion.
Although as a Calamity-level Psychic, he was well aware that in this world, after death, people would simply vanish unless they turned into urban legend. Da Chunyang Palace disciples also never believed in ghosts or gods.
But for people in Z Country, commorating ancestors was never just about praying for blessings; more often, it was about gratitude and rembrance.
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After offering incense, Zhang Huainan bowed respectfully towards the spirit tablet, then softly called out towards outside the ancestral hall.
"Qingxia Zi, co in!"
Qingxia Zi, who had been waiting outside the ancestral hall for a long ti, quickly walked in, rounded the screen wall, stopped outside the main ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) hall door, first bowed to the spirit tablet inside the ancestral hall, and then bowed slightly to Zhang Huainan.
"Sect Leader, I just heard so things from Xin Yi, and I think it's necessary to tell you."
"Oh? What's wrong with that girl? Tell about it." Zhang Huainan smiled with interest.
"It's like this..."
Taking a few minutes, Qingxia Zi concisely recounted the rumors she had heard today.
After listening, Zhang Huainan shook his head, turned around, looked at the spirit tablets behind him, and said, "That girl must have been deceived. Among these few, who do you think could be resurrected? Next ti she ets that swindler, have her ask him what his Daoist na is, and I guarantee that swindler won't be able to answer!"
Qingxia Zi looked in the direction Zhang Huainan pointed, her gaze falling on the spirit tablets of Zhang Huainan's several senior sisters, and the corner of her mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Also, tell again, who was the other person with Fu Xinyi?"
"His na is Lu Yibei, he is Lu Ming's child, and currently a probationary staff mber of the Hua City Si Ye Hui." Qingxia Zi said firmly.
Zhang Huainan, "..."
I gradually understood everything.
Could the phenonon of yin overpowering yang be caused by that kid impersonating my senior sisters?
Good kid, he's really bold!
Seeing that Zhang Huainan hadn't spoken for a long ti, Qingxia Zi tentatively asked, "Martial Uncle, is there sothing wrong with that kid? Could he be connected to that group of people?"
"He won't... lead my precious disciple astray, right?"
As far as Qingxia Zi knew, ever since the Da Chunyang Palace completed its renovation, an unknown force had infiltrated the sect, taking advantage of the increasingly open atmosphere of the Da Chunyang Palace.
But that force was hidden extrely deep, and every ti they tried to clear it out, they only caught so disciples influenced by that force, and were always unable to root it out completely.
Even the Sect Leader couldn't fully pinpoint the mastermind behind it.
So Elders had also tried to have their disciples infiltrate that force, but the result was that the disciples were subverted.
Although that force had not yet truly done anything harmful to the Da Chunyang Palace so far, it was subtly causing so disciples to gradually rely on various new technologies and Spiritual Energy items.
However, neglecting the importance of improving their own strength was like building a tower on sand, which would collapse in an instant. Sooner or later, big problems would arise.
That unknown force was like a patch of eczema whose location on the body was unknown. It couldn't be seen, scratched, or cured, yet it just stayed there, unbearably itchy.
It was precisely because of the existence of that unknown force that she felt Lu Yibei was problematic.
After all, the reform of the Da Chunyang Palace was proposed by Lu Ming, that unknown force also infiltrated the Da Chunyang Palace after the reform, and Lu Yibei was Lu Ming's only child.
"..."
Zhang Huainan pondered for a mont, turned back again, looked at Qingji's spirit tablet behind the offering table, and smiled wryly, "He does have so issues, but they are unrelated to that group of people, and he won't lead Fu Xinyi astray."
Ruining her is possible though.
Qingxia Zi nodded, "Then should we temporarily not let Xin Yi practice according to the standards of an A-level Spirit Ability User? I'm worried she might..."
Halfway through her sentence, Zhang Huainan waved his hand and interrupted, "That's not necessary. You've already promised that girl, and besides, I think her potential is completely sufficient to handle it."
Although Zhang Huainan was well aware of Hua Sang's little trick of pushing everything she did onto Fu Xinyi, he also saw that Fu Xinyi was indeed a promising talent.
Who among ordinary people could maintain self-discipline under high pressure, day after day, for more than a decade, like Fu Xinyi?
The ability to persevere and work hard is a rare talent in itself!
Zhang Huainan felt that this point was quite similar to when he was young.
Back then, when Qingji was giving him special training, at his worst, he slept less than two days a month.
Where is Fu Xinyi at this point? She'll be fine once she gets through it!
My disciple indeed has the potential of a Calamity! Qingxia Zi nodded and cast an inquiring look at Zhang Huainan, "Then what about that kid Lu Yibei..."
"Just send a disciple to keep a slight eye on her." Zhang Huainan said calmly.
"In Martial Uncle's opinion, who would be better to keep an eye on her?" Qingxia Zi frowned.
Just as her voice fell, a light call ca from outside the door.
"Old man! Your roasted turtle is here!"
Hearing the shout, Zhang Huainan stood with his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "Look, the best candidate, hasn't she arrived?"
The best candidate is Hua Sang? Qingxia Zi was stunned.
While she was stunned, Hua Sang walked in holding 1.5 fragrant roasted turtles.
Seeing this, Qingxia Zi's face turned pale.
"Old man, it was too fragrant while roasting, so I ate half first. You don't mind, do you?"
After speaking, she noticed Qingxia Zi's presence, her body stiffened, the corner of her mouth twitched, and she chuckled awkwardly, "Mas- Master, why are you here too? You, please let explain... Ow!"
Before Hua Sang could finish speaking, Qingxia Zi's palm landed on her perky buttocks, "Wicked disciple! You've only been peaceful for a few days since you went out, and you're starting to run wild as soon as you're back, aren't you?"
"One day you're going to make so angry I'll die, and then you'll be happy! Can't you learn from your junior sister? If you're going to be like this, I'd rather you stay down the mountain your whole life, being listless all day!"
"Also, were those golden turtles in the Cold Pool for you to eat? I..."
Zhang Huainan watched Qingxia Zi's soft palms rise and fall, and Hua Sang also cooperated with her Master, performing vigorously and screaming non-stop. Finally, he couldn't help but interrupt, "Alright, alright, you two stop acting, it's too fake!"
Don't I know her?
Let alone hitting her with your palm, even if you were to hack her with a sword, or go up to the Zixiao Platform and call down lightning to strike her, she wouldn't feel a thing.
"Martial Uncle's lesson is right..." Qingxia Zi turned around and bowed respectfully to Zhang Huainan.
Zhang Huainan glanced at Qingxia Zi, waved his hand, and then looked at the intact roasted turtle in Hua Sang's hand.
"Don't you still have one? Why only give half?"
Hua Sang hid the roasted turtle behind her back, pouted, and said, "Dream on, this isn't for you, this is for the big shots!"
As she spoke, she cautiously guarded against Zhang Huainan trying to snatch it, sidestepped around behind him, took a few steps forward, placed the roasted turtle on the offering table, and then turned around to hand the half-eaten roasted turtle to Zhang Huainan.
Zhang Huainan, "..."
If your Grandmaster really knew you roasted and ate the descendants of his pet, he'd be doing well not to beat you!
Forget it, just give it to !
After you leave, won't I eat it anyway?
Thinking this, Zhang Huainan took the roasted turtle handed to him by Hua Sang, smiled, and said, "Not bad, roasted quite well! However..."
Halfway through, his face suddenly darkened, his slightly narrowed eyes snapped open, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his pupils, and he said in a deep voice, "However, secretly eating the golden turtles in the Cold Pool violates the sect rules. Do you know your mistake?"
His expression was as if he were truly angry.
Hua Sang, "???"
When did this sect rule co out? Have you eaten less these past few years? What kind of mischief is the Old man up to now?
Seeing this, Qingxia Zi's heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward, cupped her fists, and said, "Martial Uncle, it is my fault for not teaching her well. If you want to punish soone, punish !"
As if he hadn't heard Qingxia Zi's words, Zhang Huainan took two steps forward and continued speaking to Hua Sang, "Your punishnt is to go keep an eye on Lu Yibei."
"That's it? No problem!" Hua Sang said nonchalantly.
"She has gone down the mountain, to Shizhou City." Zhang Huainan added.
"Let think about it..." Hua Sang changed her tune.
Keeping an eye on her around Zhenwu Mountain is fine, but leaving this area requires consideration.
"No need to consider, no need to consider!" Qingxia Zi said repeatedly, pulling Hua Sang towards the outside as she spoke, lecturing her in a low voice as they walked, "Martial Uncle has already shown rcy, what are you still considering? Keeping an eye on that kid won't cost you a piece of flesh!"
"But Master, you know how I feel when I go down the mountain, like my body is hollowed out, I'm too lazy to move!" Hua Sang grumbled.
"Bear with it!" Qingxia Zi glared at Hua Sang, then took out a handkerchief from her bosom, helped her wipe her greasy little mouth, and said softly, "Look at you, a girl, eating with oil all over your face, what does that look like? Next ti you finish eating, rember to wash up."
"Also, before you go down the mountain later, co to my place first. I'll give you a good bath and a change of clean clothes."
"Understood, Master."
Watching Qingxia Zi and Hua Sang walk away, Zhang Huainan hesitated, then shook his head, grabbed the roasted turtle on the offering table with his backhand, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Just then, a spirit tablet fell to the ground with a "clang".
Zhang Huainan bent down to pick up the spirit tablet, glanced at it, and imdiately put the roasted turtle back on the offering table.
That spirit tablet was undoubtedly the Grandmaster's spirit tablet...
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