Chapter 467: Zhu Yi Returns, Medical Cultivator Bai Ji

There are clear differences between people.

For instance, when facing the Nine-Cloud Superior Sheng Zhaoshui, the City Lord's Mansion guards can be more casual; sometimes they are even called over to drink small cups of wine, chat about everything under the sun, and the atmosphere is relaxed.

But as for this Nine-Cloud Superior on Du En's side...

Could it be that we are being sent into the fire again? The guard's heart felt a fresh wave of bitterness, hoping only that his recent behavior—keeping his tail tucked between his legs, working diligently and conscientiously—would allow this Superior to show a little mercy.

While he was in a state of trepidation, Du En paused slightly and asked, "Where did Zhu Qing go?"

"Eh? Isn't he right there..."

Halfway through his sentence, the guard had already turned his head to look, glancing at the spot not far inside the gate where Zhu Qing had been pacing as usual, but Zhu Qing, who had been there just a moment ago, was now completely nowhere to be seen.

When did he leave? He didn't know.

What exactly was the situation? He wasn't clear.

"It's over!"

The guard felt his vision go black, sensing that a great disaster was imminent, and he stood stunned on the spot.

He had lost a perfectly good person under his watch; no wonder this person had appeared again—this was a rhythm that spelled certain death!

However, Du En did not blame him for this. After all, although Zhu Qing looked ordinary, he had a younger sister who appeared extraordinary; if something truly happened, with the abilities of these guards, it would be impossible for them to react in time.

This was a force majeure.

"So, what do you think?"

At this point, Du En no longer hid it much, asking the Dark God Spirit Mirror that had appeared quietly beside him right in front of the guard.

The Dark God inside was in a rather peculiar state; his true form and avatar seemed to have merged into one, and within the hazy radiance, a dark sun, neither moon nor not-moon, rose and fell.

It was clear that his seclusion had also reached a critical stage and he was making some special preparations, but now he had no choice but to come out and see the situation first.

"Can't tell."

"... It's a bit strange."

Du En nodded as if he felt the same, and then the man and the god turned their heads in tacit understanding, only to see Sheng Zhaoshui running over in a rush, yet his overall demeanor exuded a sense of devil-may-care attitude.

He was actually running?

"You look like you know something."

"How could that be? I'm also completely confused right now!"

"Because you are far too laid-back, as if you knew this scene would happen long ago."

Du En spoke calmly, and the Dark God also chimed in: "Besides, that divine ability of yours is inherently directed toward the principle of two people being separated and not meeting, isn't it?"

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Dark is truly good at making connections. I just saw that you had both already come out and there was nothing urgent, so I came a bit slower and was just being more leisurely."

"Enough, the people have arrived."

Du En interrupted this vapid banter.

The man and the god stopped directly and looked toward the outside of the gate in tacit understanding.

The guard was now covered in cold sweat, completely stupefied and frozen, feeling that he was doomed.

Because Du En's brazen conversation was like a bandit not covering his face during a kidnapping, specifically to kill to silence witnesses! He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his hands and feet were cold, and he... also saw, in his dazed and wandering vision, the people running over from the distance outside the gate.

"Brother, slow down!"

"Haha! I'm just happy! If the Lord sees you have returned, he will be very happy too!"

Zhu Qing ran in front, grinning foolishly and appearing very excited. Behind him, a young and pretty-looking woman followed with lotus steps—it was none other than Zhu Yi! The person who had been abducted and gone missing had actually run back on her own!

This situation was truly very strange; after all, Zhu Yi had been confirmed to possess a special bloodline, which was why she had been specifically abducted. What was even stranger was that now, upon actually seeing her, Du En discovered that she was actually just an ordinary person!

So, was she released because her hidden special bloodline had been extracted, rendering her useless, and used as a smoke screen to disrupt their pace of action? Or was it that she never had anything special about her, and the previous disappearance was really just an ordinary case of getting lost?

Or perhaps, it was...

Thoughts were diverse and difficult to confirm.

Du En did not waste time thinking about it further, but silently waited for the siblings to approach on their own.

At the same time, the guard leader also seemed to realize the situation belatedly, and was leading his subordinates to rush over, their escape lights shining brightly and unceasingly.

The two parties moved at different speeds, one fast and one slow, and in the end, quite miraculously, they arrived at the East Gate at the same time, in front of and behind Du En.

This situation looked like a coincidence, and in reality, it was a coincidence, but placed in the current context, it could not help but make one ponder more.

"Lord, my sister has returned!"

Zhu Qing reported to Du En excitedly, his words still unable to hide his agitation, but upon meeting those familiar, calm eyes, this excitement began to subside.

Zhu Yi secretly sized up Du En. On the way over, her brother would mention the City Lord every few sentences, appearing exceptionally grateful and admiring—a situation that had not existed before.

She also knew that the other party had been very concerned about her disappearance and had provided much care; she was naturally grateful in her heart, but at the same time, she could not help but feel some curiosity and concern.

After all, the reputation and rumors of the Nine-Cloud Superior were indeed not very good, and if one added the people from the City Lord's Mansion, it would be terrible; under normal circumstances, it was absolutely impossible to be that kind-hearted!

So, it was indeed not under normal circumstances...

She could not help but think this, because the gaze was simply different! Zhu Yi had once seen the Nine-Cloud Superior walking outside from afar; although it was a very distant glimpse, the Superior's gaze had left a deep impression on her. He was completely a different person from the current Du En! A dove occupying a magpie's nest... that feeling didn't seem bad?

Zhu Yi's thoughts wandered, and then she heard Du En's voice, as calm as his gaze, neither rotten nor cold: "Although it is a good thing that you siblings have reunited, this matter is somewhat strange. First, Zhu Qing, how did you run out?"

"Ah? Oh, right, how did I leave?"

Zhu Qing regained his composure, and being asked this, he was immediately a bit dazed.

He had clearly been in the City Lord's Mansion just a moment ago, guarding the gate as usual, hoping to hear news of his sister, but not long after, how did he end up in the city and even bring his sister back?

His brows could not help but furrow, his heart tracing back, and soon he relaxed again.

"I remember, it was as if the sky suddenly turned dark, the surroundings seemed to have stagnated, and then a kind of impulse arose, so I ran out without thinking. As I ran, the surroundings suddenly became normal again, and before I had time to ponder, I saw my sister not far away, so I went up to meet her." "I also suddenly saw my brother in the crowd, and I thought he had just wandered there."

Zhu Yi chimed in, and then scanned the area beside Du En with some concern.

She seemed to be able to sense the man and the god standing and floating there quietly.

"What do you think?"

Du En did not hide the existence of the two, and asked directly.

The guard leader was somewhat dumbfounded, as were the guards and Zhu Qing.

You all?

Aren't there only two? Could it be that there are other Venerable Jiuyuns? Then who exactly is the one we meet on ordinary days?!

For a moment, they all couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation, and a feeling of inexplicable awe arose spontaneously.

Sheng Zhaoshui wanted to say something about this, but it was clearly not the appropriate time, so he could only suppress his frivolous impulses and said: "If there is a stagnation and dislocation appearing in time and space, then it looks like it should be the initial signs of the front and back sides beginning to intermingle, and it just so happens that Zhu Qing counts as a point of concern, so it manifested from his side."

"In other words, if it weren't for the timely appearance of this Zhu Yi, do you think he would have run straight into the back side and then been harmed or encountered other things?"

An Shen seemed to still have doubts about this side, deliberately lagging behind to speak, with a tone that was vaguely implying something.

"No, no, I didn't say that; it's all just speculation. After all, if you really look into it, the reasons are actually very diverse. For example, who knows if what he said is a true experience?"

"This is not a topic that can be guessed or spoken about casually. Since you were the first to mention it, it is clear that you are more accepting of such a possibility in your heart; otherwise, there would be no need to speak at all."

An Shen seemed to dislike this kind of circular talk, and his tone remained unkind.

Curling his lips and rubbing his nose, Sheng Zhaoshui immediately stopped speaking.

He felt that this fellow Daoist An Shen had likely been in seclusion halfway through, and his state seemed different, which was why his temper and tone were so sharp and appeared restless.

Continuing to tangle now would only lead to being rebuffed further.

Du En also glanced at An Shen once more, then calmly said: "In short, Zhu Qing's encounter highlights the changes in the current situation, and it is indeed because of this that he reunited with his sister. For now, let's assume everything he said is true... or rather, there is something we don't know about moving inside the City Lord's Mansion, and it just took the opportunity to act, quietly fanning the flames."

When the words reached the halfway point, he suddenly changed to an encrypted voice transmission.

An Shen and Sheng Zhaoshui both had natural expressions, looking as if they had only heard the first half of the words, appearing quite agreeable.

Quietly, they had already heightened their vigilance.

And for now, the focus remained on the Zhu siblings.

Others actually did not hear the conversation here because Du En only set up an opening and would only release some irrelevant words, choosing to continue covering up the key parts. So in their eyes, he just paused slightly and then looked at Zhu Yi again.

So, what exactly did they just say? The woman couldn't help but feel curious. Facing Du En's direct gaze, she didn't feel it was rude, even though his eyes looked a bit too deep and sharp, as if they could directly dissect flesh and blood to see her true self.

Or rather, was it because he looked too deeply that she didn't mind at all?

She couldn't help but think this way again.

A person who is very lively in temperament and retains a girlish mindset...

Du En secretly evaluated her this way while withdrawing his gaze.

"As expected, I still didn't see any peculiarities."

He said this to the other two, and then asked Zhu Yi: "The doubts regarding your brother can be set aside for now. Then, how much of your own experience as a younger sister do you remember?"

As soon as these words fell, the others, who had long been made anxious, concerned, and uneasy by the mystery and feigned profundity here—feeling as if ants were crawling in their hearts—immediately cast their gazes and attention over.

In the past, there would certainly have been guards showing malice, vying to perform, and even cruel interrogation or soul-searching methods would have been stated bluntly.

But now, of course, they dared not overstep, and each appeared honest and submissive.

Zhu Yi had clearly organized her words and was just waiting for Du En to ask.

"To be honest, this little woman is also confused and doesn't know what happened. Roughly speaking, it was a month ago. When I woke up, I was already in a place far away from Jiuyun City, in the mundane realm, and then I was picked up by a kind senior, which is how I was able to return successfully."

"Oh? A kind senior? Is it him?"

Du En said, raising his hand to grab, and a person was snatched over from the other side. Although he landed steadily, he couldn't help but sway, his face turning pale, clearly not expecting to be suddenly snatched over.

However, it seemed he was not completely unprepared, so he quickly stabilized himself and introduced himself to Du En: "I am Bai Ji, greetings to the City Lord and all the lords."

He looked like a young man of about thirty, appearing quite thin and weak, dressed in simple clothing, and his whole body exuded a faint medicinal scent. It was clear that he had been dealing with various medicinal herbs for years, which was why it had seeped into his flesh, resulting in the current situation.

His cultivation level was actually not high, appearing to be at the late Foundation Establishment stage. At this moment, facing the scrutiny of a group of high-level cultivators, especially the Nascent Soul stage guards led by the guard leader, and under the pressure exerted by Du En's gesture, he was already covered in fine sweat.

"My Lord, if possible, could you please not make things too difficult for Senior Bai? It is because of his help that I was able to return safely."

Zhu Yi spoke cautiously, her tone becoming reserved, as if she had just remembered that everyone in front of her could dominate her life because of the presence of the Nascent Soul pressure.

"Hmm."

Du En nodded slightly and glanced at the guard leader, "Judging by his appearance, he should be a local of this city."

"Subordinate obeys!"

There was no need for more words; the guard leader already understood the meaning and immediately led his team out in a file to verify Bai Ji's situation.

Du En gave a look to Sheng Zhaoshui, making his mouth twitch. Muttering "yes, yes, yes, I'll go, I'll go" and other nonsense, he stepped away and disappeared, secretly following the guards' footsteps to ensure their verification would not be full of loopholes.

After doing all this, he looked back at Bai Ji, who had let out a long sigh of relief.

"City Lord, you are really..."

"Enough nonsense, you first supplement the experience of her disappearance."

"Yes, I am a medical cultivator. I was originally treating illnesses and cultivating in the mundane world as usual. One night a month ago, I suddenly saw a red star streaking across the sky, which seemed like an ominous sign, so I hurried over to take a look, and then I discovered Miss Zhu Yi. She was lying on the path where the red star streaked, as if she had been dropped down.

I suppose I am bold due to my skills; seeing that her cultivation was not yet at the Foundation Establishment stage, I chose to wake her up. The result was that she didn't know what happened either, so we traveled together for a while. This time, when I returned to the city to purchase medicinal herbs, I just happened to bring her along..."

Bai Ji's words were methodical. Even though he knew Zhu Yi was trouble, he did not choose to abandon her, nor did he commit any evil from the start. The whole thing exuded a feeling that was out of tune with the overall atmosphere of the Qingxuan Star Realm.

(End of this chapter)