Chapter 177: Mirror in the Lake, Still Waters Unstirred

After hearing his words, Liu Cishi was so furious that he wanted to invoke family law, smashing several bowls and cups; had it not been for Liu Dageer and his second brother holding him back, he likely would have struck Liu Xia.

Lady Liu was even more tearful all day long, lamenting what sin she had committed to give birth to such a nemesis, insisting that he must have been a debt collector from a past life coming to claim his due.

The whole family was currently under a cloud of gloom, and even Long Qi and the others felt it was truly inappropriate to stay any longer.

Yet Liu Xia seemed as stubborn as if he had eaten iron, stubbornly returning to his room to pack his things on his own.

Previously, the reason the two elders of the Liu family agreed to let Liu Xia go to the Yuanqing Sect to cultivate the Dao was only because Chiyanzi had told them at the time that Liu Xia had to go through this experience to live a peaceful life thereafter. But who would have thought that after going through this experience, he would throw himself heart and soul into this matter of cultivating the Dao.

Seeing her parents like this, Liu was also unable to bear it, which was why she came to Liu Xia's room to try and persuade him.

But after all, he was her own younger brother, whom she had watched grow up since childhood; the two had a deep bond, and seeing him like this, she could not bear to say even half a harsh word, only silently packing his luggage for him.

"Does Elder Sister know why I am determined to enter the Daoist Sect?" Liu Xia suddenly asked, looking at Liu.

Liu was startled upon hearing this; was it not because he had heard of her connection with the immortal Chiyanzi that he was so single-mindedly devoted to the Dao?

Seeing the confusion on Liu's face, Liu Xia gave a soft laugh: "Even if Senior Chiyanzi did me a life-saving favor, I didn't remember anything at that time, so how could it be because of him? It was merely an excuse."

This was strange. By rights, even when the sun sets, there should be a process, but now it was as if it had suddenly turned into pitch-black night.

In this situation, Long Qi immediately thought of the Ancient Bamboo Forest; this was exactly the same as the situation when they were in the array of Zhuzhang Laoren.

He immediately became alert and hurriedly called out to warn everyone, but when he turned back, he could only see a expanse of darkness and could not get a response from Xin Yi and the other two.

Looking at it this way, they had truly fallen into a Dharma Array, but what puzzled him was, who would set up a Dharma Array here?

He remembered Lingxiang once saying that most Dharma Arrays are meant to confuse the mind; if one accidentally falls into an array, the first thing to do is to keep one's own heart and never panic, otherwise one will be bewitched by the witchcraft within the array.

Thinking of this, Long Qi hurriedly recited the Heart-Clearing Incantation silently, then formed hand seals to open his Spirit Vision and Spirit Hearing, wanting to probe the surrounding situation, but just as he opened his Spirit Vision and Spirit Hearing, the surroundings suddenly lit up.

The surroundings were no longer a mountain forest, but a residence. This residence was full of ancient charm and looked somewhat familiar, though he could not recall it for a moment.

Seeing this situation, Long Qi was suddenly shocked, secretly thinking it was bad; he had fallen into an illusion within the array.

It seems that witchcraft cannot be used in this array...

"But what if one accidentally falls for the witchcraft in the array? Could it be that one will be trapped to death in the array?" Long Qi asked.

Upon hearing this, Lingxiang thought to herself: Although this Long Qi has some small cleverness, he does not understand heterodox paths; if he really falls into an array one day, if I don't teach him a way to escape, he might really be trapped to death.

Thinking this, she drew a circle on the ground: "Generally speaking, every Dharma Array has an array eye. Even if you fall into an illusion, that array eye still exists. If you can find the array eye in the illusion and destroy it, this Dharma Array will naturally be broken."

"But since it is an illusion, how can one know which one is the array eye?" Rendong, who was on the side, asked immediately upon hearing this.

Lingxiang smiled: "Naturally, it is not easy to know. The reason a Dharma Array is set up is to conceal it in every possible way, but an illusion array is different. If a Dharma Array gives you hallucinations, then the array eye must be the object in front of you. However, the most powerful part of an illusion array is that it often probes the most unsightly side of your heart and uses it to defeat you. At this time, what you need to do is not just as simple as finding the array eye; you must also guard your original heart."

Thinking of what Lingxiang had taught him before, Long Qi immediately calmed his heart. Since he was already deep in the Dharma Array, the only plan now was to find a way out within this illusion.

Thinking this, Long Qi walked along the long corridor, but he walked for a long time without reaching the end, and the steps he had come from could no longer be seen.

Just as he was thinking of climbing over the railing, he heard a voice calling from behind:

"Xiao Qi... Xiao Qi..."

"Why are you in such a dilemma? I am not a bandit from the mountains, doing things that force others. Besides, whether I like it or not is my business. Since I like it, how can there be any reason to let it go?"

This Maidong is truly strange. The ancients often said, it is better to tear down a temple than to destroy a marriage. Although he and Lingxiang have not yet married, she did indeed accept his jade pendant; no matter how you put it, that can be considered a token of love.

That's right, since she accepted it, it means she must have him in her heart.

Then, was this Clear Wind Emerald Jade Flute given to him or not?

Upon hearing this, Maidong only felt a splitting headache. She was trying to persuade him so earnestly because she did not want to hurt Long Qi's heart, but she did not expect this blockhead to be so infatuated, yet the person she admired was Xin Yi on the side!

Sigh~ for this kind of thing, long-term pain is worse than short-term pain; cutting the Gordian knot is the best way, to avoid resentment later on. If it really reached that point, it would be too late.

Thinking this, Maidong made up her mind: "Sigh, I know that if I tell you this, you will definitely find it hard to accept, but some things must make you give up. Although I am naturally beautiful and have a flower-like appearance, after all, I... I have someone I admire. You should give up this thought early. In the future, who knows, you might meet someone who is more compatible with you, right?"

This...

What kind of nonsense is this? What does it have to do with him that she has someone she admires? This crazy girl chases after Xin Yi all day long; even a fool would know that, but what does that have to do with him liking Lingxiang?

Long Qi was about to speak, but suddenly felt a heat in his chest. He hurriedly reached out to probe, and actually pulled out a Substitute Spirit Talisman.

"It is time to close the net."

Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Xuanhuai looked at the chessboard; the white pieces that were about to be surrounded and killed actually had a new lease on life.

"Hey~" Sect Leader Xuanhuai hurriedly pointed at Lingxiang and said: "A true gentleman does not speak while watching a game of chess. With two more moves, this old man could have won this game, but you had to intervene, leading the white pieces to return from the dead."

Lingxiang smiled and sat on the couch: "I am just telling the two of you a principle. The so-called 'those involved are confused, while bystanders are clear.' Look at my Senior Brother, who is playing chess, deeply trapped in the chess array you set up, only thinking about how to break the array, but never thinking about how to seek a way to survive. That naturally becomes a dead end."

Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Xuanhuai raised his eyebrows: "Listening to what you mean, could it be that I guessed wrong?"

Lingxiang smiled and crossed her legs: "Naturally, it was wrong. The Kunwu Sect has indeed been infiltrated by the Demon Race, but it is not your eldest disciple. And since the disciple of Daoist Xuantan could enter the Mountain Guarding Array of my Yuanqing Sect, he is certainly not of the Demon Race. The real Demon Race person is someone else."

Sect Leader Xuanhuai was startled. Looking at everyone in the mountain gate, only those two juniors had been very abnormal recently. If it wasn't the two of them, who could it be?

Just as he was thinking, he saw Lingxiang sitting in meditation: "Naturally, it is someone else, but I think those two must have also been affected by that Demon Race. Now I can identify one of them. I hope the True Person will not be greedy for the joy of the chessboard and will keep his heart to protect the Dharma for me."

After finishing her words, Lingxiang pinched her hand seals, chanting something in her mouth, and after a moment, she became motionless.

Sect Leader Xuanhuai did not understand the reason and looked at Fuyin Zhenren to ask why, but Fuyin Zhenren also did not know what she was talking about, only shaking his head blankly.

"This Junior Sister of mine is very eccentric. Even if there is something, she won't tell us senior brothers. However, True Person can rest assured; although she looks a bit tricky, she is very reliable."

Although he said so, she was still a child after all. No matter how much she had experienced, how much could she have? How could she be more powerful than those Demon Race members?

Sect Leader Xuanhuai had a look of worry on his face, but if he knew what Lingxiang had encountered since she was a child, he probably wouldn't think so.

Seeing the purple light flash on the Substitute Spirit Talisman in Long Qi's hand, Maidong was suddenly shocked—this Talisman was glowing with purple light, which meant it was a Blood Talisman, and Long Qi naturally would not use talismans. Thus, this spell must have been cast by Lingxiang.

What on earth could be so important that it required a Blood Talisman? And for a mere Substitute Spirit Talisman at that?

Daoist Xuantan? This is strange. Daoist Xuantan is the Managing Elder of the Kunwu Sect; how would he have time to come to Yuanqing in person? Furthermore, for sects to visit each other, the Sect Leader should have come in person. Where did Sect Leader Xuanhuai go?

After talking for a long time, Maidong finally came to her senses, patted her head, and hurriedly got up—she was clearly supposed to catch up with Lingxiang just now. If she let her reach the hall first, there was no guarantee that Uncle Zhaoming wouldn't scold her for not following the rules later!

"No, no, today I am meeting people from an outside sect. Master has repeatedly urged me to follow the rules. Now I have only been talking to you all and forgot about Lingxiang. If she arrives at the hall and I am nowhere to be seen, I will definitely be scolded when I go back!" Saying this, she hurriedly chased out of the Xianyun Abode.

Long Qi and Xin Yi exchanged a glance; he saw something unusual in Xin Yi's eyes, so the two nodded to each other and chased out together.

Meanwhile, Rendong, who had been hiding in the kitchen, came out; he had naturally heard everything they said just now, but with matters on his mind, he truly did not wish to think about it further.

Rendong pondered before the door for a moment and finally decided to return to his own room—thinking that there was no need to cook this meal, he might as well go back and tidy up.

Long Qi and Xin Yi were fast, and in no time at all, they caught up to Maidong. They had intended to ask her more questions, but Maidong suddenly stopped in her tracks. The two were filled with confusion, and looking up, they saw Lingxiang sitting all by herself halfway up the mountain, not knowing what she was thinking about.

Seeing this, Maidong gathered her Qi, leaped up, and with a turn of her body, landed before Lingxiang.

"Consider yourself to have a conscience, caring for our sisterly bond, knowing that if you arrived and I didn't, I would surely be punished."

But Lingxiang did not respond to this remark, instead looking up and saying to Maidong:

"Maidong, I need your help with something. This matter concerns human lives, you absolutely cannot refuse!"

"When you came just now, did you reach the presence of Daoist Xuantan?"

Maidong knew the gravity of the situation and the usual crazed look was entirely gone: "I did see him from afar, but at that time, I received the message, and Master sent me over to find you, so I suppose I didn't actually meet him. Besides..."

"Besides what?" Lingxiang asked, puzzled.

"Besides, that female disciple behind him—I always feel there is something strange about her, yet I cannot say what is strange." As Maidong spoke, she pinched her chin, struggling to recall, "She looks delicate and pretty, but that gaze, even from far away, gives one a feeling of a chill running through the whole body, as if one were looking at some Demon Beast."

A chill through the whole body? Could it be?

Lingxiang glanced at Xin Yi; Xin Yi frowned in deep thought for a moment, then nodded toward Lingxiang.

Long Qi saw this and was very confused: "What have you two understood? Why not say it so I can hear?"

Xin Yi crossed his arms and said in a low voice: "If one can see murderous intent in the eyes, it should involve the Demon Race. Could it be that this woman is a transformation of the Demon Race?"

Lingxiang shook her head upon hearing this: "I think that is likely impossible. My senior brothers are no pushovers; if she were truly of the Demon Race, it wouldn't be our turn to speculate, they would have already dealt with her. Moreover, if she were of the Demon Race, she absolutely could not enter Zhaoming's Mountain Guarding Array, let alone be seen outside the Deliberation Hall."

This was somewhat strange then; could it be that this woman was born with a murderous appearance?

At this moment, Maidong spoke up: "Observing that woman's features, she does not look like a person of murderous appearance, yet her eyes reveal a murderous glint; it is truly quite suspicious."

Since she is not a person of murderous appearance, yet her eyes reveal a murderous glint, could it be...

"Since that is the case," Lingxiang said, looking at Maidong, "Maidong, you shall swap identities with me and go to the hall in my name. At that time, I will use a method to send your master away, and afterward, I will go with him to the Kunwu Sect to save the people."

Maidong was startled upon hearing this: "You want me to impersonate you? With all the martial uncles present in the hall, how am I to impersonate you?"

Lingxiang frowned and said: "My senior brothers are no pushovers; they will certainly be able to see the strangeness in it, but they will be hindered by the face of both sects and find it inconvenient to speak. When I go to save the people with your master, you just hold off the people from the Kunwu Sect, and afterward, explain the reason to my senior brothers. I imagine they will be able to arrange the subsequent matters."

"Besides, you are the only one who can impersonate me now. Could it be that you want Long Qi and Xin Yi to impersonate me?" Lingxiang said with a strange smile. For some reason, she suddenly imagined Long Qi and Xin Yi dressed as women, especially Xin Yi—with his cold-faced killer appearance, yet wearing women's clothing; just thinking about it made her feel it was quite amusing.

Seeing Lingxiang laughing like that, for some reason, Xin Yi suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Based on his understanding of Lingxiang, if she was laughing like this, she was definitely plotting something again.

Xin Yi remained calm, but moved two steps toward Long Qi without leaving a trace.

Maidong was still hesitating; she truly felt this method was somewhat unfeasible: "But..."

Before she could finish, Lingxiang hurriedly stood up and grabbed her: "Enough with the 'buts'. Not to mention that you are the only one who can swap identities with me right now, even if there were others, it certainly wouldn't be appropriate. You and I have grown up together since we were small; you know everything about me, and our temperaments are the same."