Chapter 67: The Murky Situation

Hmph!

At that moment, a cold sneer suddenly echoed from the sky, and the void rippled as Gao Xuan stepped slowly out from the opposite space, hands behind his back.

He regarded the crimson iron chains with a calm gaze, then slowly raised his hand; two dazzling golden hands, like blazing suns, instantly materialized from the void, engulfing the sky before slamming down.

Golden light blazed brilliantly, illuminating the entire horizon like the hand of heaven.

The iron chains shattered into fragments the instant they touched the golden hands.

“Did I allow you to escape?” Gao Xuan spoke, his voice resonating like a great bell through heaven and earth, brimming with authority and might.

With a light clench of his fist, the golden hand instantly sealed the entire void, then forcibly dragged out a black-robed figure writhing in struggle.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu stared in utter shock at the scene before them.

What the hell is going on?

It wasn’t Gao Xuan who tried to kill them—it was him who saved them.

Shhh! At that moment, Sect Master Cao Zhengyang and Mo Xingjian rushed in at high speed.

“Are you alright?” Mo Xingjian asked them immediately.

They shook their heads, then turned their gaze to Gao Xuan in the sky.

“Brother, you handle the interrogation,” Gao Xuan said, holding the black-robed man, then smiling at Cao Zhengyang.

Cao Zhengyang looked at Gao Xuan, then nodded slightly, flicked his finger, and the black-robed man’s mask immediately fell away.

Upon seeing his true face, Cao Zhengyang’s face flushed with fury.

“Deputy Director Cao Wei of the Spirit Field Office—I never expected it to be you. You’ve truly left me deeply disappointed!” Cao Zhengyang roared in rage.

At that moment, Mo Xingjian quickly signaled Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu with his eyes.

The two immediately stepped forward and bowed to Gao Xuan.

“Thank you, Elder Brother, for saving our lives!”

Gao Xuan looked at them and smiled faintly: “No need to thank me. I noticed you two were being watched back at the Exchange Hall, but the man was too cautious—even I couldn’t lock onto him right away.”

“So I led you around, timing it to the afternoon, when people are most relaxed, to give him the chance to strike. I didn’t expect him to actually take it.”

Mo Xingjian looked deeply grateful: “Thank you so much, Elder Brother Gao.”

“No need for formalities between brothers—I just happened to be there. Well, since the matter’s settled, I’ll be off. The rest is up to you.”

After bowing to them, Gao Xuan stepped into the air and departed.

“Master, this—”

Zhou Qing was about to speak, but Mo Xingjian instantly raised a finger to his lips, then turned his gaze to Cao Zhengyang.

Cao Zhengyang, gripping the attacker, now stared intently at the direction Gao Xuan had vanished, his brow furrowed.

“Did I guess wrong?”

…………

That same afternoon, someone arrived at Little Spirit Peak carrying a Core Disciple token.

“Elder Brother Zhou, Sister Lu heard you were attacked and was deeply worried. She wanted to come see you immediately, but Sect Master forbade her from leaving, so he sent me with this token—she hopes to add you as a friend and chat.”

Zhou Qing shook his head vigorously as he looked at the token being offered.

That girl is now the pet of several senior brothers on Divine Peak Mountain, especially since her Foundation Establishment—Sect Master seems to care for her deeply.

Even for something as minor as entering the Heavenly Grotto, when Elder Mu Mu was present, she still wasn’t trusted—she came herself to watch over her.

Now I’m a clay Buddha crossing a river—unable to save myself, watched from all sides, openly and secretly.

Zhou Qing could almost picture the scene.

Inside the room, Lu Yaoyao held the token, her slender fingers dancing swiftly across it, sending him messages, lively and full of anticipation.

If you reply, behind her window stand five muscular senior brothers, fists clenched with jealousy.

If you don’t reply, she’ll look utterly dejected, shed a couple of tears—and those five muscular brothers will terrify you.

What’s this? You look down on our little sister?

She asks: Are you there? Have you eaten? Have you slept? What are you doing?

Why don’t you reply?

Don’t you know how heartbroken my little sister is?

Remember—even when eating or sleeping, if she sends a message, you reply instantly.

What? You actually started chatting with the little sister?

Go look in the mirror—do you, a peeping tom, even deserve it?

Zhou Qing shuddered at the thought.

Though they’d shared life-and-death moments, better to avoid it—no need to invite trouble.

“Tell Sister Lu I’m socially anxious, thin-skinned, and don’t like adding friends. Also, I’m fine—tell her not to worry… Third Brother, there’s a toilet over there—can you stop peeing under my tree?”

Zhou Qing shouted anxiously at Yan Xiao Hu.

Yan Xiao Hu shivered, then walked over sheepishly.

“I just wanted to check if you were okay—you really won’t add her?” Yan Xiao Hu asked, watching the Divine Peak disciple leave.

Zhou Qing shook his head.

Yan Xiao Hu said nothing more, but his eyes lit up as he stared at the old hen pecking at stones.

“This old hen’s been well-fed—her feathers gleam like oil. Why keep her? Just roast her—add ginger, fennel, and plenty of cumin, get it into your stomach fast—let’s calm our nerves!”

Yan Xiao Hu licked his lips as he stared at the old hen.

Zhou Qing shoved him out.

“I warn you—don’t even think about it. Go home now, it’s getting dark—I don’t keep guests here!” Zhou Qing said.

Yan Xiao Hu snorted: “You’re so stingy—it’s just an old hen! Fine, you owe me ten meals at Jade Kitchen.”

“When did I owe you?”

“You saved so much money this time—shouldn’t you treat me? The Lightning-Calling Talisman was my idea, and you kicked me right on the thigh—now it’s black and purple. Don’t believe me? I’ll pull down my pants to show you.”

“Get lost!”

……

After seeing Yan Xiao Hu off, Zhou Qing immediately activated the barrier.

He fed the old hen some powdered spirit stones, then recalled the afternoon’s events—still shaken.

“The attacker wasn’t Elder Brother Gao Xuan—it was a Deputy Director of the Spirit Field Office. His cultivation must be at least Nascent Soul. But why did he come to save me?”

Zhou Qing was certain that if he’d waited a moment longer—or if Gao Xuan had used his full ability—he could have silently sealed the area and watched them be killed by the spy.

Then, when Sect Master and Master arrived, they could have caught the man red-handed.

At that point, Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu would be dead—and the spy would remain hidden.

A perfect two birds, one stone.

Yet he appeared just in time and saved them.

Why?

His note on me still says [Sacrificial Lamb].

Zhou Qing’s head throbbed. He pulled out the box and stared at the ten Lightning-Calling Talismans inside, lost in thought.

His talent skill [One Charm Per Day] hadn’t been used yet—he’d planned to examine the broken sword he’d brought from the Heavenly Grotto’s stone mill, but this matters more now.

Zhou Qing immediately activated the appraisal.

【High-Quality Lightning-Calling Talisman: Ten talismans of exceptional quality. When infused with spiritual power, they attract heavenly lightning to converge, unleashing devastating lightning energy capable of inflicting massive damage—effective against both single targets and groups.】

Looking at the appraisal result, Zhou Qing’s confusion deepened.

These talismans hadn’t been tampered with by Elder Brother Gao Xuan—and their quality was excellent.

“I just don’t get it—I really don’t get it!” Zhou Qing scratched his head, utterly baffled.

(End of Chapter)