“Lone Star of Malevolence!”
Just four simple words.
Yet Yi Xuan’s fist tightened involuntarily.
No matter how refined her temperament, she couldn’t maintain her composure when someone insulted her so directly.
The Old Capital had fallen, and nearly everyone from Yun Kui Mountain had been lost in the collapse.
This was a well-known fact, but it struck her where it hurt most.
At that time, she had been powerless to do anything.
“Everyone knows of those events; there is no need to dwell on them.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
If not, Yi Xuan was prepared to take action.
Jiang Suan admired the beauty’s anger.
With her phoenix-like brows arched in fury, she was an exquisite sight—far more stunning than she had ever appeared in the game.
But this was the prelude to a beating.
There was no point in complaining about the system’s “hell-mode” requirements now; he had to find a way to talk his way out of this.
“Oh?
Then, Yi Xuan…”
“The BBQ pork buns your sister, Yi Jiang, stole and fought for just to give to you—do you still enjoy them?
The vegetable broth and rice porridge of Yun Kui Mountain—do you still remember them?”
Jiang Suan approached Yi Xuan, closing the distance until he was only half a meter away.
He stopped and continued his interrogation.
“And the way your master looked after losing all five senses.”
“The way your sister held the Qingming Sword, slaying evil only to fall before your very eyes…
do you still remember?”
“Yun Kui Mountain, the Qingming Sword…”
“To save the world.”
“But you know the price behind that power better than anyone, don’t you?
So, what about the sword master of this generation?”
“The Path of Bai Ze is not a solitary one.”
“One thought leads to heaven, another to the abyss.”
This was an ancient prophecy within Yun Kui Mountain regarding the Qingming Sword, specifically hinting at the fate of the current sword master, Ye Shunguanguan.
Jiang Suan’s gaze fell meaningfully on the Eldest Disciple, Ye Shiyuan.
*I’m talking to you, give me a reaction.*
“Don’t you even care about your beloved younger sister anymore?”
Upon hearing this, a flash of murderous intent appeared in the man’s dark eyes.
He seemed ready to press for answers but ultimately did not overstep his master.
Jiang Suan let out a mocking chuckle.
“Heh…”
“I wonder how that girl is doing, living deep in the mountains.
Is she being watched by her fellow disciples?
Is she being used as a tool by the elders?”
“As her brother and her master, you should look in on her more often!
Don’t wait until the day comes when the white-haired must bury the black-haired~”
Though Jiang Suan had a poisonous tongue, he had some conscience left.
Since he had transmigrated, he might as well save them from some regrets.
Even though he was currently a useless mystic who had to rip open their old wounds, he could at least warn them that their favorite junior sister, Shunguanguan, was suffering.
The poor kid!
Before transmigrating, he hadn’t understood it…
How could a group of direct disciples and a sect leader let Ye Shunguanguan be mistreated?
Just because that Elder Lu Hengzhou had seniority?
Sure enough, as his words fell, Ye Shiyuan clenched his fists until his veins bulged.
He stood frozen, looking as if he were on the verge of a mental collapse.
The current sword master was his sister!
How could the Qingming Sword, which devoured senses and souls, have chosen his sister, Ye Shunguanguan?
He knew that the hypocritical Yun Kui Mountain was merely using them as weapons…
Could it be that this man had a way to break the deadlock?
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent again.
Every word Jiang Suan spoke pierced their hearts.
Especially the past events—how the two sisters were “tricked” into going to Yun Kui Mountain to eat vegetable scraps when they were just little girls.
Unless he had seen it with his own eyes…
or was someone closest to Yun Kui Mountain, how could this man know?
Yi Xuan’s heart trembled.
She pushed away the man who had leaned in too close and looked toward her disciple.
But the gloom in Ye Shiyuan’s eyes had already dissipated; he was smiling obediently at his master.
The calmer he appeared, the more worrying it was.
How could Shiyuan be calm?
Just as she once worried for her sister, Yi Jiang, who held the Qingming Sword, the bonds of blood were not so easily dismissed.
“…”
However, since this man was still present, it was not the time for private talk.
Yi Xuan was puzzled.
Other things could be gathered through rumors, but why mention her disciple, Shunguanguan?
She lived on the mountain year-round; the outside world should have no way of knowing…
Unless his divination skills were truly peerless.
And what did he mean by Shunguanguan being monitored and used as a tool?
“You know about Shunguanguan’s situation?”
“Is Sect Leader Yi Xuan actually starting to believe a ‘mystic’ like me?”
Yi Xuan did not deny it.
This man knew too much.
If he were an enemy, there would be no need to confront her directly; he could have easily provoked her disciples in private.
“Sir, speak.
What did you mean by those words, and what is your true purpose here?”
[Daily Quest Completed.]
[Rewards Issued.]
The system’s voice arrived right on time.
Jiang Suan breathed a secret sigh of relief.
The sensation of needles against his back finally vanished, and his shirt was soaked with sweat.
He had gone through all this trouble just to be believed.
He didn’t have any bad intentions; he just wanted to finish his quest, make an impression, and remind them that their Shunguanguan was being bullied.
The result?
The little tiger wanted to bite him, Ling-mei was ready to punch him, and Master Yi Xuan was about to summon lightning.
A bit too intense.
“I told you, I just came to set up a stall and tell fortunes.
I wasn’t targeting anyone here.”
“As for Ye Shunguanguan…”
Jiang Suan shook his tattered banner, which read ‘One Divination Per Day’.
One meant one.
If he finished today’s business, how would he trick them tomorrow?
He only knew so much; he had to follow a sustainable divination path.
He was closing shop for the day.
“!!?”
“Wait, don’t stop halfway!
Do I have another Senior Sister?
Is she suffering?”
Ling’s clever eyes darted around.
She lunged forward and grabbed the man who was making a move to leave.
Since he wasn’t an enemy, a non-combatant like her didn’t need to hide in the back.
What was there to be afraid of?
Besides, her master and seniors were acting strange.
How could they let him leave after such a cliffhanger?
“There’s no need for hunger marketing, name your price.”
“One divination per day.
I only read for those who are destined~”
“Am I not destined?
Ten thousand!”
The cute Ling-mei began to act spoiled, shaking his tattered spatial bag.
This trick never failed with the others…
Unfortunately, Jiang Suan didn’t buy it.
“Today’s reading is done.
As for destiny, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
Be good and let go!”
“I won’t…”
Ling held on tight, her face full of curiosity.
Since she was a child, no one had ever resisted her “spoiled” attacks.
Sometimes she even wondered if she was the protagonist—a living, breathing succubus.
But today, it failed.
Was she not a beautiful girl?
Why did this man’s eyes look so empty?
Jiang Suan’s lip twitched.
To him, beauties were just skeletons.
Besides, “little sister” types weren’t his thing.
He turned his gaze toward Yi Xuan.
Was this how Yun Kui Mountain taught their disciples?
Forcing a sale if he wouldn’t sell?
Are they bandits!
“It seems my destiny with Yun Kui Mountain ends here.
Sect Leader Yi Xuan, your sect’s kidnapping skills haven’t changed in all these years.”
“Ahem…
Ling, let go.”
“You indeed have another Senior Sister…
but she is special.
She cultivates on the mountain year-round.
If you have free time, you can go back and visit her.”
Yi Xuan’s face flushed slightly as she cleared her throat awkwardly.
She had indeed intended to let Ling cause a bit of trouble to stall him, but her intention was seen through.
The man sounded like he knew Yun Kui Mountain too well—she and her sister had indeed been “kidnapped” onto the mountain back then.
Their master had promised they could eat their fill, and thus they were lured away.
Could he really be a senior?
He had specifically mentioned Shunguanguan.
She wanted to return to the mountain immediately to see if someone actually dared to bully her disciple.
“I have yet to ask for your name.”
“Jiang Suan.”
“Calculating all under heaven, tied by a single thread of fate.
Consider today just a greeting to this Sui-Bian Temple.
See you tomorrow.”
Jiang Suan waved his hand and walked out the door with a loud laugh.
The stage was set.
Work was done!