Chapter 213: Never Having Made a Move

Meanwhile, in a dim secret chamber, Ma Xianhong was tied to a chair. His clothes were somewhat disheveled, but his expression remained stubborn. The door to the secret chamber slowly opened, and a slender figure walked in.

"Sister..." Ma Xianhong said, calling out softly once he saw who it was.

Qu Tong stood before Ma Xianhong, a complex look in her eyes: "How did you end up like this?" Her voice held not only reproach but also heartache.

"I was not wrong!" Ma Xianhong suddenly became agitated, "I only did it so more people could gain power! What is wrong with that?"

Qu Tong shook her head: "You are too presumptuous. The order of this world is not something you alone can change." She paused, "Tell me, why did True Person Lin Xuan appear in Biyou Village?"

Hearing this name, Ma Xianhong was also taken aback: "How did you know..."

"So it is true." Qu Tong's gaze became even more solemn, "What exactly did he want to do by appearing there?"

Ma Xianhong shook his head and said: "I don't know either. He never made a move from beginning to end, as if he were... observing something."

Hearing this description, alarm bells rang in Qu Tong's mind. Based on her understanding of him, since he chose to show himself, there must be a profound reason. Thinking of this, she immediately made a decision: "Notify Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley immediately and have them prepare."

"Sister, do you know something?" Ma Xianhong sensed Qu Tong's abnormality.

Qu Tong did not answer; she stood before Ma Xianhong, the Qi in her hands flickering in and out of existence. Under the dim light, her expression was grave.

"Don't move," Qu Tong said softly, brushing lightly over Ma Xianhong's face. The power of the Double Perfection Hand began to take effect, and the light of strange stars shrouded Ma Xianhong's face.

Ma Xianhong felt a tingling sensation deep within and couldn't help but ask: "Sister, is this really useful?"

"The Double Perfection Hand can not only change one's appearance but also ignore the surrounding environment," Qu Tong said, focusing on controlling the flow of Qi, "Even those familiar with you will not be able to recognize you."

Following Qu Tong's movements, Ma Xianhong's face began to undergo significant changes. His brow bone became deeper, the curve of his nose bridge changed accordingly, and even his skin tone became slightly darker. These subtle changes were enough to cause a world-shaking transformation in a person's image.

"Done." Qu Tong withdrew her hand and handed Ma Xianhong a mirror.

Ma Xianhong looked at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes: "Sister, I have actually been thinking, if at the beginning..."

"It is meaningless to talk about that now," Qu Tong interrupted him, "You must remember, the current world is very dangerous. It is not just the Company looking for you; I fear other forces are also eyeing you."

Ma Xianhong raised his head, his gaze firm: "I must go find them. Those who follow me are still waiting for me."

"No!" Qu Tong said urgently, "There are eyes everywhere outside right now. Do you think everything will be fine just because you changed your face? Don't forget that True Person Lin Xuan is still observing from the shadows."

Mentioning this name, Ma Xianhong was visibly stunned. He recalled the feeling of being watched while at Biyou Village; it was a presence that made one's heart tremble with fear. Even recalling it now made him shudder.

"I know you are concerned about those followers," Qu Tong's tone softened, "but the most important thing now is to preserve yourself. Once the heat dies down, I will naturally arrange a new place for you."

Ma Xianhong was silent for a long time before finally nodding: "I will listen to Sister."

Qu Tong looked at his reaction with satisfaction: "Stay here properly and do not act rashly. I have already arranged reliable people to ensure your safety."

Just then, a light sound of footsteps came from outside the door. Qu Tong immediately became alert, but soon relaxed—it was her confidant.

A respectful voice came from outside the door: "The message has been received at Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, and they say they will take strict precautions."

"Understood," Qu Tong replied, then turned to Ma Xianhong: "You rest first; I have some matters to attend to."

Watching Qu Tong's departing back, Ma Xianhong fell into deep thought. He did not know why his sister was at Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, but he vaguely felt that a greater storm was brewing.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the city, neon lights flickered on the crowded streets. Lin Xuan sat alone in a corner of a coffee shop, the coffee in front of him long since gone cold. Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing were accompanying Lin Xuan by his side.

Lin Xuan took out his phone and opened the chat box with Er Zhuang. As a special existence, although Er Zhuang had no physical body, her abilities in the digital world were astonishing.

"There is something I need your help with recently," Lin Xuan typed on his phone, "Keep an eye out for any appearance of the little devils in the Northeast region. If you discover any abnormal situation, notify me immediately."

Almost the instant the message was sent, Er Zhuang replied: "That's simple! I happen to be expanding my surveillance network recently; I will definitely keep a close watch for you."

"Happy to cooperate," Lin Xuan continued typing, "Once the matter is done, I can help you restore your physical body."

The message box suddenly went quiet for a few seconds, then began to jump wildly:

"Really?! Are you keeping your word, True Person?!" "My god! Is this for real?!" "I will definitely give it my all!"

Watching Er Zhuang's excited reply, a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Lin Xuan's mouth. Just then, Er Zhuang suddenly sent a new message:

"By the way, True Person, there is something I must tell you. It is about Biyou Village."

Lin Xuan's gaze became focused.

"It's about that incident where Qiu Rang captured Jinfeng Popo," Er Zhuang continued sending messages, "I discovered some suspicious points..."

Lin Xuan carefully finished reading the information Er Zhuang sent, a flash of deep meaning in his eyes. He did not reply immediately, but instead put his phone away.

Gazing at the bustling crowd outside the window, a touch of contemplation appeared in Lin Xuan's eyes.

Inside the high-end coffee shop, soft jazz music flowed through the air.

Lin Xuan looked through the floor-to-ceiling window at the heavy traffic outside, lost in thought. He could feel that the entire Outsider world was undergoing a silent transformation, and the Core that maintained this transformation might just be on that mysterious land in the Northeast.

"This taste is truly too strange," Xiao Qing frowned, trying to taste the coffee in front of her again, "Bitter and astringent, and it even carries a burnt smell. Benefactor, have the taste buds of modern people gone bad?" Her tone was filled with innocent confusion.

Xiao Bai elegantly set down her porcelain cup, a faint, graceful smile hanging on her lips: "Every era has its own unique taste. Just as people in the past did not understand why one would drink tea. Moreover..." Her gaze swept over the hurried pedestrians outside, "This bitter taste perhaps fits the rhythm of this era."

Lin Xuan watched the interaction between the two, a trace of warmth welling up in his heart.