The hum of the teleportation array still vibrated in the air as Yunxi's group arrived in Xiyuan City. They didn't immediately transfer to another teleportation array, despite the supposed urgency of their journey. Instead, they planned to stay for one day and wait for the so-called "clansmen" who were supposedly rushing over to meet them.
Of course, all of this was just a facade to mislead Niao Niao. She was already desperate for a way to delay things anyway, searching for any excuse to stall their progress, so their decision fit her intentions perfectly.
Yunxi adjusted the drape of her sleeves and instructed Zhuge Muyu beside her,
"My clan brother should arrive early tomorrow morning. We will stay for a day at an inn near the teleportation hall to receive him. You go book the rooms first. This Lord and my younger brother still have other matters to handle in the city. You two should stay in the inn and wait for our return."
After saying that, she casually swept a glance at Niao Niao, her gaze brief and cool. Niao Niao lowered her eyes and behaved extremely obediently, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
Zhuge Muyu immediately cupped his fists, bowing his head in respect.
"Zūnshàng, rest assured. Muyu will handle it right away."
After that, he took Niao Niao with him to book the rooms, their figures disappearing into the crowd outside the hall.
Yunxi and Yun Po turned toward the bustling commercial street in Xiyuan City. If they wanted to take down Han Qingwen, they needed to make a lot of preparations beforehand. They had to replenish array disks and array flags, ensuring every tool was of the highest quality. After discussing it, the two of them decided it was best to rely on strategy rather than brute force. If Han Qingwen sensed something was wrong and chose to flee or go down together with them in a desperate struggle, it wouldn't be troublesome.
Their cultivation levels were on par with Han Qingwen's, but the other side was an evil cultivator and definitely had hidden methods tucked away. Rather than confronting him head-on and risking a messy battle, it was better to capture him at the lowest possible cost. That was why they chose to stay in Xiyuan City for the time being.
One shichen (two hours) later, Yunxi and Yun Po returned to the inn in high spirits, their steps light as they navigated the courtyard. This time, they entered two adjacent courtyards, so they wouldn't disturb each other during their rest.
After Yunxi carried Li Li into the courtyard, the white beast settling into her arms, she flicked her sleeve and set down a restriction that shimmered briefly before turning invisible. Zhuge Muyu stood respectfully in front of her and said,
"Zūnshàng, after you left, Niao Niao sent another message. She informed the Tower Master that everything here is going smoothly. I didn't stop her from completing the transmission."
"Mhm. Did Niao Niao say anything else?"
Yunxi asked while rubbing Li Li's soft head.
"She said she will find a way tonight to consummate things with Master and told me to do my best to keep you occupied so you wouldn't interfere."
Yunxi snorted softly when she heard that, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"And how is she planning to do it?"
Zhuge Muyu replied seriously, his expression grave.
"Niao Niao has already lit a special incense in the neighboring courtyard, and she has applied another kind of colorless, odorless powder on her body. Once the two scents mix, even a Mahayana Zhēnzūn won't be able to resist the effects."
Yunxi clicked her tongue in amazement and asked, "Did you tell your master about this incense?"
"Zūnshàng, rest assured. Master knows everything."
"That's good. Don't let us capsize in a gutter after all this planning. Even though Niao Niao won't live past tonight, it's better to keep the commotion small to avoid unwanted attention."
Zhuge Muyu raised his head slightly. "If Master is going to erase Niao Niao, do I need to inform the Tower Master?"
"Of course. Before we take the teleportation array tomorrow, you will use an evil cultivator's secret method to inform the Tower Master. Say that we didn't trust Niao Niao and were worried she would expose the location of the ancient cultivator's cave abode, so we directly erased her. Only the dead won't leak secrets.
Also say you're afraid you will be the next one erased and urge them to act faster and make sure to keep close to you for your own safety."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. Muyu understands."
Zhuge Muyu immediately bowed and accepted the order.
"Alright. Go cultivate and steady your heart. When you see your master tomorrow, he will explain things to you in detail."
Nothing else happened that night as the silence of the inn deepened. The next day, when Yunxi lifted the restriction with a wave of her hand, she saw Yun Po grinning from ear to ear. She raised an eyebrow at her obvious satisfaction.
"Did it work?"
"Of course. That evil cultivator wanted to cling to this Lord and dual cultivate so she could plant the evil seed in my core. This Lord couldn't exactly reject her kindness, so I went along with it and drained her cultivation completely until nothing remained."
"Did you deal with the evil soul?"
"Don't worry. I crushed her Yuányīng directly. She didn't get any chance to escape or reincarnate."
Yunxi smiled. "Good. I will call Muyu over. It's time to send a message to Tower Master Han."
Yun Po nodded, her eyes bright. "Alright. Xia Yiwan already set off on the road back to Yixian Gate yesterday, ahead of us. She should arrive before we do."
"What is her task?"
"To create chaos inside Yixian Gate so they won't have the manpower to intervene in our matters. That will give Han Qingwen enough time to take the two of us down without interference."
After saying that, Yun Po touched the small jade bottle hanging at her waist. A trace of killing intent flashed in her eyes. "Worthy of being a Tower Master. Being able to hide for so long without exposure really does take skill. How are you planning to have Xia Yiwan do it?"
"Turn their scheme against them, of course. Xia Yiwan is a direct disciple of Yixian Gate, but if she wants to create enough trouble to tie down the sect's big shots, she can't do it alone. The evil cultivators lying low inside Yixian Gate will definitely step in to help her. That way, we can flush out all the traitors at once. Why not?"
Yun Po felt this was the most effortless approach. Xia Yiwan's consciousness was clear now anyway, free from the previous fog. Whoever the evil cultivators used her body to meet, she would definitely know and remember.
"Alright. Then when we leave Xiyuan City later, have Muyu send the message."
Just then, Zhuge Muyu walked over to the courtyard. After his master nodded, he immediately sent the message out using the hidden jade slip. After that, the three of them checked out of the inn and entered the teleportation hall once more.
Back in Songran City, Han Qingwen had already learned of Niao Niao's death. Her soul lamp had gone out, after all, flickering into darkness. He was both shocked and uncertain, unsure where things had gone wrong in his calculations. Just as he was hesitating over whether to continue with the pursuit, Zhuge Muyu's message arrived.
Han Qingwen learned that because the Su family was worried Niao Niao's presence would expose the location of the ancient cave abode, Yun Po had drained her cultivation dry. Niao Niao hadn't even had time to say anything before she fell to the ground.
A vicious glint flashed through Han Qingwen's eyes. He hadn't expected the two of them to be so ruthless beneath their calm, refined exteriors. No wonder they had managed to cultivate to the Unity stage.
Han Qingwen felt his earlier caution had been completely justified. Not acting in Songran City had been the right choice for his survival. If those two sensed even the slightest hint of something wrong, he would definitely fall into trouble.
He could see that Zhuge Muyu was very worried about becoming the next target to be erased, which was why he was urging him to act quickly. If Zhuge Muyu were silenced too, their entire plan would collapse into nothing.
Han Qingwen knew, however, that Zhuge Muyu wouldn't live long enough to reach the rendezvous point with the Su family. After thinking it over, he summoned the tall, thin man and Jin Xiu and instructed them,
"Inform everyone in the tower. Aside from those temporarily entertaining guests, all other disciples are to pack up and prepare to leave Songran City immediately. I have received an invitation to go to Xiao Long City."
"Yes, Tower Master."
One ke (fifteen minutes) later, all the disciples in Dengyun Tower sprang into action, moving swiftly through the corridors.
After transferring through three more teleportation arrays with Zhuge Muyu, Yunxi and Yun Po finally arrived in Xiao Long City. As they stepped out of the teleportation hall, an icy blue light flashed through Yun Po's eyes. She immediately transmitted her voice to Yunxi,
"Xia Yiwan has already returned to Yixian Gate. No one has gone after her yet."
"Let's go. We need to move faster too, or we won't have time to set up the trap properly."
"Alright. We will follow the plan and head to the Wolong Mountain Range we picked earlier."
"Move out."
The three of them didn't linger in Xiao Long City at all. They openly left the city gates and headed straight for the Wolong Mountain Range, a thousand li away.
Their movements were completely observed by the evil cultivator who stayed behind in Xiao Long City, his eyes following them from the shadows. He quickly sent the news out and silently followed after the three of them.