Qingya Zither House.
Zhang Wanmeng sat with her eyes closed, her fingers gently plucking the zither strings as the sorrow in her heart gathered. Her master’s condition was worsening. Although Jiang Zhiyi’s Life Extension Pill had stabilized her soul, it seemed she would not last more than three months.
Other factions within the Heavenly Dao Sect were watching the Zither Faction like wolves eyeing meat. If her master could not hold on, the Zither Faction would inevitably become a vassal to another faction.
“No, I must secure Jiang Lin and obtain the Nirvana Pill!”
Thinking of Jiang Lin filled Zhang Wanmeng with a deep sense of helplessness. The man she once looked down upon now seemed unfathomable. The Zither Faction’s intelligence network was among the finest in all of Kyushu, yet it had not uncovered a single flaw in Jiang Lin.
In truth, because he had clung to her side shamelessly for years, few had seriously investigated him, and those who did had barely tried.
“I really underestimated him.”
Thinking of the system’s trial filled her with unease. The person he cared about most, the thing he loved most, his dream… she had no answers to any of these. Jiang Lin was far too good at hiding himself.
She recalled the heart voice she had once overheard—cold and ruthless, his goals crystal clear, and his will nearly monstrous. Completing her conquest mission would be extremely difficult.
Where was the breakthrough point?
“Miss, inside information from Kyoto—S-rank target Jiang Lin!”
A young maid in green, Xiaoyun, rushed in to report.
“What is it?” Zhang Wanmeng asked.
“At the Wanhua Pavilion, Jiang Lin displayed the peak technique of the Taiwei Poison Scripture, bringing the dead back to life and reversing the life and death of a hundred flowers!”
“What!?” Zhang Wanmeng shot to her feet, disbelief written on her face.
“He’s dropped the disguise? He’s revealing himself?”
Xiaoyun froze in surprise. “Miss, you knew Jiang Lin had this ability? He’s been pretending all along?”
Ignoring her, Zhang Wanmeng’s mind spun rapidly.
“So that’s it. No wonder he never bothers to be polite to me. He’s about to step into the world. He intends to use the Dao Heir position to enter the great game of Kyushu? And what an entrance!
“Only twenty, a peerless genius, perfected immortal techniques, reversing life and death…”
“By tomorrow—no, right this moment—many intelligence agencies will be frantically investigating that notorious young master!”
Xiaoyun was stunned. “That Jiang Lin… is really that terrifying? We’ve all been fooled by him?”
“Repeat the entire process for me—every detail!” Zhang Wanmeng ordered.
Xiaoyun recounted the Wanhua Pavilion events word-for-word. Zhang Wanmeng’s expression shifted rapidly.
As she thought—he had no intention of hiding anymore. His talent, comprehension, and artistry had reached their peak. But why was he still only at the Nascent Soul Realm? Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Right—the Defiled Blood Gu!
Everything made sense. For years, he had been fighting the Defiled Blood Gu. And no one had noticed—not even the bloodthirsty agony of the Gu, nor the soul-wrenching pain of immersing himself in poison pits to study ancient toxic arts.
Terrifying. Truly terrifying.
Now that the Gu was gone, there was no reason for him to hide. And her own usefulness was gone.
“Xiaoyun, we’re going to find Jiang Lin!”
“Alright, I’ll… wait, what? Why?”
“I promised the Azure Plume Pill Immortal to accept her younger brother, didn’t I?”
“Miss, you really plan to… with that lecher?”
“Do you think the Zither Faction still has the power to negotiate with the Pill Immortal?”
Xiaoyun fell silent.
Two years ago, an unknown force had attacked the Zither Faction, killing three of its patriarchs at once. In desperation, the sect master attempted to break through, failed, and suffered soul damage—now on the verge of death.
Once Master Mieqing passed, the faction would become prey for the rest of Kyushu.
“By rights, Miss, since the engagement was broken, he should be pestering you even more. But he didn’t come yesterday, and today at the Flower Festival either… Maybe he’s lost interest? Then you won’t have to…”
At that, Zhang Wanmeng felt an odd pang of loss.
Once, she’d hated Jiang Lin and wished him gone from her sight. Now that he was gone, her heart felt empty, as if something precious had been taken away.
“Zhang Wanmeng, you’re ridiculous. When someone chases you, you loathe it. When they leave, you run to them yourself, afraid they’ll think you’re worthless. Laughable.”
Shaking off her self-mockery, she hardened her resolve. She needed ten thousand favorability within three months. Without seeking him out, there would be no chance.
…
Drunken Immortality Pavilion, largest private room.
“Hey Liu, don’t annoy me. Your second brother nearly pissed me off today. I just want to eat in peace,” Jiang Lin said.
“Come on, Lin-ge, am I like those idiots? We’ve known each other nineteen years—don’t you know me?”
Liu Ziyuan squeezed closer, grinning. The Liu family’s fourth young master and a direct descendant, he was Jiang Lin’s closest friend—a fat man to the bone. The two were known as the Twin Tyrants of Kyoto, infamous for their mischief and bullying.
Heaven itself was blind—Jiang Lin had an Emperor-grade bloodline, Liu Ziyuan a top high-grade spirit beast bloodline of the Devourer, with a trace of Taotie. His standing was far above Liu Ziyang from the Wanhua Pavilion. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
His mother was the Emperor’s own sister, Princess Liyang—making him part of the Long royal bloodline.
Given his bloodline and status, Liu Ziyuan was naturally arrogant. The only person he admired was Jiang Lin, whose bloodline and rank surpassed his own. They had been inseparable since childhood.
So when he heard Jiang Lin had booked the largest room here, he barged in without hesitation.
“Lin-ge, why’s your face so pale? Which beauty drained you? That pure and cute maid beside you?”
Shangguan Yaoyao sat there dazed, looking every bit the part of a real maid, ignoring the world entirely.
“Get lost. Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood?” Jiang Lin snapped.
Thinking of how part of his trump card had been exposed and how he’d had to clean up Xiao Dong’s mess irritated him further. Other than the system rewards, he had gained nothing.
Liu Ziyuan slapped the table. “Where’s the boss? Dead? Where are the beauties? Bring them up—can’t you see my brother’s upset?”
“Young Master Jiang just said he only wanted to eat, nothing else,” the boss stammered from the doorway.
“Eat my ass! He’s not here for vegetarian fare. Bring the most enchanting show you have. Didn’t you just get a batch of exotic races?”
“Alright, alright…” The boss rushed off.
Jiang Lin was full of question marks. He really had come here just to eat. After yesterday’s all-day-and-night battle with the fox woman beside him, and today’s failed attempt to take out Xiao Dong, he was exhausted. Without his Instant Comprehension talent, which had brought the Ancient Poison Scripture to supreme mastery, he might still be kneeling before the Emperor begging for mercy.
He only wanted to replenish his strength. And this place was close by—he was starving. But with his shameless friend here, refusing him was hard. He supposed he could humor him and see this “show.”
…
In the next room, Long Xiyue slammed the table in anger. “Liu Ziyuan, you bastard, always leading people astray!”
She had followed Jiang Lin here, wanting to see who he was meeting—and to investigate what kind of man he really was.
When she realized he had only come to eat, she felt an odd surge of happiness. Jiang Lin was now her Fated Dao Companion—he was hers. But Liu Ziyuan’s arrival infuriated her.
What kind of influence was this? Wouldn’t it make her Jiang Lin lose control?
“Truth is, I also want to see what these exotic shows are like. I’ve never watched one—are they really as ‘bone-melting’ as they say?”
Her eyes sparkled. She rang the bell. “Bring your boss here, right now!”
“Our boss is with important guests—”
Before the server could finish, she placed her royal waist token in front of him.
Ten seconds later, the boss appeared. “Princess Xiyue! I didn’t recognize—”
“Shh. Send the show from next door to my room, and give them some sad zither music instead.”