Unsurprisingly, after revealing his identity, the flood dragon calling herself Qing He before him quieted down considerably, no longer asking whether he was here to poach someone in person.
Bai Xuan Ling's fearsome reputation was well known, but that didn't mean everyone was afraid.
At least the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect wasn't. After all, truth be told, the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect of old had been far more ruthless than Bai Xuan Ling.
With Qing He now quiet, Xu Jin's gaze drifted to take in the sect's surroundings.
The two of them—one person, one flood dragon—walked for a while before Qing He suddenly stopped and pointed toward the main hall ahead, speaking up:
"The black-hearted brat is in the main hall up ahead. You can go yourself."
"Thanks for the trouble."
Xu Jin clasped his hands slightly, saying nothing more as he strode toward the main hall.
Before he could even step inside, Chu Xingchen's voice drifted out:
"Long time no see, Brother Xu."
Xu Jin looked over and saw Chu Xingchen with slightly furrowed brows, his gaze on the documents on the desk, while a white-robed woman sat with an elegant demeanor, holding a book.
Xu Jin actually recognized this woman—Bai Xuan Ling's sole disciple, Xie Lingyu.
"Long time no see. Though it seems I've come at a bad time." Xu Jin clasped his hands, while also looking toward Xie Lingyu:
"Fellow Daoist Xie, it's been a long time."
Xie Lingyu set down her book and raised a hand in return greeting: "It's been a long time."
Though he found it a bit strange that Xie Lingyu was currently staying here, Xu Jin had no intention of prying into their relationship.
Even if the two had become dao companions, that had nothing to do with Xu Jin—same fruit, whether he bit or not. He generally didn't bite.
"We're old acquaintances, so skip the formalities." Chu Xingchen looked up, his tone somewhat casual: "Anywhere but my lap—sit wherever you want."
Xu Jin nodded in understanding and without ceremony found a spot and sat down.
Regardless of anything else, they had weathered the same storm together.
And Chu Xingchen never sold people out at crucial moments—he was always willing to take the rear guard duty.
People of genuine character naturally don't fuss over formalities.
After all, back at the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect, Chu Xingchen had even told Yan Yun and Daoist Jade Yang that they should scrap all those tedious and useless rules.
Xu Jin had listened with quite some enthusiasm at the time.
This kind of personality made friendship feel free and easy. Getting bogged down in propriety was something for scholars.
Chu Xingchen looked at Xu Jin with curious eyes:
"Did you find something in the Western Ox Continent and come to notify me? I thought you were just being polite at the time."
Xu Jin shook his head with a slight sigh: "...Not that."
"Ever since you left, the Buddhist Sect in the Western Ox Continent has gone on full alert."
"They've been acting much more cautiously, and basically haven't revealed any useful clues since."
"Now's not a good time—I plan to go back when things calm down a bit."
He looked at Chu Xingchen, expecting to see at least some hint of regret on his face.
But... Chu Xingchen looked completely unbothered, as if he had known this outcome all along.
Xu Jin caught on: "Could it be that Brother Chu already knew all this? Is that why you abandoned the investigation halfway through?"
"I didn't, don't make things up." Chu Xingchen said with a straight face.
"We're buddies, how can you use your petty heart to measure my noble one?"
Xu Jin looked at Chu Xingchen's expression of righteous indignation, thought for a moment, then clasped his hands:
"I misjudged you, Brother Chu. I apologize."
"Really can't do anything with you, sigh." Chu Xingchen sighed softly again.
"We're buddies, what else can I do? I'll forgive your little schemes this time."
Xie Lingyu's gaze swept over—can you speak normally? Why are you talking in that tone?
Chu Xingchen's expression turned slightly innocent—Xu Jin responds to this approach.
Having spent more time at the Ten Thousand Flower Ridge, Xie Lingyu had also mastered the secret art of communicating through glances.
Most of the time, she could read the meaning in their eyes.
After all, the playful banter among this master-disciple group was sometimes conveyed entirely through glances.
At first she was a bit confused, but once she learned it, Xie Lingyu actually found it quite interesting.
It wasn't blind guessing—it was the ability of people who knew each other intimately to read each other's thoughts through the subtlest changes in their eyes.
Only through understanding could one truly read another.
And the words spoken through the eyes were always the most genuine.
So at this moment, facing Chu Xingchen's answer, Xie Lingyu's gaze turned suspicious—are you pulling one over on me?
Chu Xingchen didn't answer that question, because Xu Jin would answer it for him.
"My apologies." Xu Jin's expression showed a trace of guilt, then he got straight to the point: "Actually, the reason I've come to visit is to fulfill a promise."
This time it was Chu Xingchen's turn to be puzzled. He thought for a moment but genuinely couldn't recall any agreement between himself and Xu Jin.
Xu Jin didn't keep him in suspense, answering directly:
"Last time on the road, I invited Brother Chu to visit the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect."
Chu Xingchen quickly recalled, then his face showed understanding—so the one who doesn't know how to be polite is this guy.
When Xu Jin had said that before, Chu Xingchen had assumed he was just being courteous.
After all, it wasn't like he hadn't been to the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect before—what was fun about going there for no reason?
And now this guy was actually using his own polite remark as grounds to come collect on a promise?
Chu Xingchen chuckled and nodded: "When I have time, I'll definitely make a trip to the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect."
"Is Brother Chu busy with something right now?"
"Does house-sitting count?"
Xu Jin's expression turned slightly serious: "There are some things at the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect that Brother Chu would be better off seeing sooner. If you have time, the earlier the better."
Chu Xingchen looked at Xu Jin with suspicious eyes, then tentatively asked:
"Is it related to what we were investigating?"
Xu Jin nodded solemnly: "Indeed, and I believe it will be useful to Brother Chu."
Chu Xingchen's gaze shifted to Xie Lingyu, only to see her give a slight nod along with those calm eyes—go if you must, the sect has me.
He could go... but naturally he couldn't go alone.
——————
Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect, Main Sect Hall.
Li Mo Ze sat with his eyes closed, an unfathomably profound aura rising around him, with streaks of white light carrying ultimate rhythm flashing past from time to time, like shooting stars.
Suddenly, the still-eyed Li Mo Ze spoke:
"It's been a long time, Nephew Chu."
But before Chu Xingchen could respond, a familiar yet somewhat irritating cold female voice rang out.
"If your cultivation isn't high enough, don't try to show off by talking with your eyes closed."
Li Mo Ze opened his eyes and saw that besides Chu Xingchen, Bai Xuan Ling was also standing below with a visibly impatient expression.
On the other side stood Xu Jin, looking somewhat helpless.
He had to admit, the Heavenly Derivation Sect's concealment arts were truly exceptional.
Even with his cultivation suppressing them and his divine sense just occupied elsewhere, the fact that they could stand there without him detecting them was already incredibly impressive.
Chu Xingchen clasped his hands slightly: "It's been a long time, Sect Master Li."
Though Bai Xuan Ling's expression was extremely impatient, her mind was perfectly calm.
Sometimes, expressions could convey attitude, but they could also hide guilt.
Chu Xingchen might seem a bit cautious at times, but his caution was always perfectly measured.
Coming to the Xuan Qing Heavenly Sect alone was naturally not a wise choice.
Rather than gambling on the other side's goodwill, it was better to personally escort the kid here.
After all, no matter how ruthless [Demon] might be, that was in the future. This kid was the present—nothing could go wrong with him.
The information needed to be heard, and Bai Xuan Ling naturally had to guarantee his safety.
Maintaining suspicion toward everyone was the only way to live long.
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