Zheng Zhuxi? The Zheng Zhuxi of the Xiaoming Sect that Brother Youyang mentioned? Ding Songyan suddenly felt as if he had been searching high and low, only to finally encounter the person he was looking for.
He had long wanted to make direct contact with someone from the Xiaoming Sect, but he had never been able to fulfill that wish, having only exchanged a few words here and there. Looking back now, he suspected his thoughts had been influenced by Yan Changqing’s "old friend," causing him to "spontaneously" find various excuses to procrastinate. Once he was gifted the "seed" by Yan Changqing, he hadn't even bothered to think about it anymore.
After all that circling, he had been approached today by the very person Ren Youyang deemed trustworthy: Zheng Zhuxi.
Observing the young woman’s expression and demeanor, and recalling her tone and choice of words, Ding Songyan made a rough judgment in his heart:
She is a remarkably proud person.
This aligned perfectly with the rumors and descriptions—that her mother was the Sect Master of the Xiaoming Sect, her father was a high-ranking court official, and she herself possessed exceptional talent. As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Ding Songyan bowed to Zheng Zhuxi with a posture of great respect:
"Greetings, Heroine Zheng."
He only hoped that she was as Ren Youyang had described: righteous, eager to help, and most willing to assist those without status or standing.
Zheng Zhuxi nodded slightly and asked with a serious expression:
"I have read your file. Do you truly not remember what treasure you traded with Chen Yuliang?"
Upon hearing this, countless thoughts surged through Ding Songyan’s mind, colliding and sparking one after another.
He seized upon one, put on an expression of distress and fear, and finally spoke with hesitation:
"In the presence of Heroine Zheng, I dare not hide the truth. I had forgotten, but at the time, Wang Yishu mentioned it was the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*."
When dealing with such a proud person, one must let her discover things that others could not handle but she could resolve with ease; one must reveal truths that others could not extract but she could uncover effortlessly. Only then would she form a favorable impression of the person she was questioning.
Furthermore, Ding Songyan was taking a gamble:
The Zhen Mansion was the most likely place to have obtained that *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* following the aftermath of the Chen Yuliang incident!
In this way, the government—represented by the Yi clan—and the Xiaoming Sect would inevitably view the Zhen Mansion as a primary target of interest. With them keeping a close watch, there would be a favorable variable for what might happen tomorrow.
Although this would also cast suspicion upon Ding Songyan himself, compared to other troubles, it was negligible. Of two evils, choose the lesser!
He was currently like someone walking along a mountain ridge with cliffs on both sides; he could no longer afford to worry about such things.
Zheng Zhuxi listened quietly, a smile gradually appearing on her face. Her two shallow dimples could almost rival the bright moon in the sky:
"The *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*, is it... Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"I heard that the major sects do not allow others to privately possess or access the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*, and I was afraid that if I spoke of it, I would be thrown into a dungeon," Ding Songyan replied truthfully. "But Heroine Zheng, your reputation precedes you; you are known for pitying the poor and weak and would never implicate the innocent. I am willing to trust you."
The corners of Zheng Zhuxi’s mouth lifted slightly, and her eyes crinkled with amusement as she nodded:
"The Zhen Mansion likely warned you not to speak of it either. Why are you telling me now?"
"The Zhen Mansion is likely to act against me." After discovering the matters that the Clear Mist "seed" and Yan Changqing’s "old friend" would not restrict, Ding Songyan answered without a stutter. "Brother Youyang informed me that the Zhen Mansion has been sending retainers to tail me."
Zheng Zhuxi gave an "Mm" and glanced at the exquisitely crafted glass palace lantern in her hand:
"Are you well-acquainted with Ren Youyang of the True Spirit Sect?"
"We have some friendship." Ding Songyan did not exaggerate.
Zheng Zhuxi’s brilliant, shimmering eyes flickered:
"Then why have you been going to the Zhen Mansion every day these past few days?"
Ding Songyan tested the waters:
"The Zhen Mansion does not allow me to tell others."
*Huh, I can actually say that!*
On the surface, this sentence seemed fine, but when combined with Ding Songyan’s earlier willingness to tell Zheng Zhuxi about the Zhen Mansion’s involvement with the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*, the contrast created an immediate sense of strangeness, revealing something thought-provoking:
Since both matters involved the Zhen Mansion, why could one be told to others while the other could not? What was the difference? What kind of restriction existed?
The fact that he could say this also verified a feeling Ding Songyan had.
Ever since Zheng Zhuxi appeared with that lantern, its light shining upon his face, he felt the Clear Mist "seed" in his Sea of Consciousness become less active, as if suppressed by a conflicting force. If not for the fact that Zheng Zhuxi’s realm was not high enough and her cultivation was still shallow, he might have been able to temporarily break free from the restrictions of Yan Changqing and his "old friend."
*It really is like this; many peripheral restrictions have loosened... Is this a manifestation of the "Probing the Profound" quality described by the two goddesses, Xiaoming and Candle Dragon?* With this thought, Ding Songyan wished he could immediately visit Zheng Zhuxi’s mother—the Sect Master of the Xiaoming Sect, a top-tier expert in the Dharma Realm—and ask her to illuminate him with her candle-light.
Zheng Zhuxi pursed her lips, clearly having noticed something amiss as well.
She changed her question, looking thoughtful:
"Are you aware that besides the retainers from the Zhen Mansion, there are also people from the Moth God Sect who secretly controlled Chen Yuliang following you?"
"I am aware." Ding Songyan was quite candid.
"Ren Youyang told you?" Zheng Zhuxi was not surprised.
Ding Songyan weighed his words:
"It was indeed Brother Youyang who discovered there was another group of trackers, but it was I who informed him about the Moth God Sect."
"You? No wonder he suddenly went to the Magistrate's Office to demand information regarding the Moth God Sect." Zheng Zhuxi looked at Ding Songyan with suspicion. "How did you find out?"
Ding Songyan closed his mouth, smiling without a word.
He had forgotten what he was supposed to say again.
Core matters like this were still restricted.
Zheng Zhuxi raised an eyebrow, connecting the contradictions in his previous words, and lowered her eyelids, lost in thought.
After only a few breaths, she revealed a smile again, her dimples reappearing.
In that moment, Ding Songyan felt as if he were seeing the rising morning sun radiating its own light.
"Do you trust me?" Zheng Zhuxi asked with a smile.
"I am willing to trust Heroine Zheng." Ding Songyan did not hesitate.
He was currently at a point where he would beg even a stray dog on the road, or grasp at a straw floating on the river, let alone her.
Zheng Zhuxi nodded in satisfaction, handed the glass palace lantern to a fellow sect member, and then drew her sword from its gold-red scabbard with a *swish*.
The blade was like a pool of autumn water, quickly染 (dyed) with a dim, candle-like hue.
Zheng Zhuxi said with a faint smile:
"If you trust me, then open your heart and mind; I will lend you a strand of sword intent.
"This sword intent will linger in your Shanzhong acupoint—the Central Dantian, the Crimson Palace—and can be maintained for three days.
"During these three days, if anyone uses a 'Moth Seed,' witchcraft, or any other method to force you to do something against your will, you can use this sword intent to peer into your marrow and block it once."
When she mentioned "any other method," the smile in Zheng Zhuxi’s eyes deepened.
"Heroine Zheng, I am deeply grateful!" Ding Songyan could not have asked for more.
This was exactly what he wanted.
His only worry was whether Zheng Zhuxi’s sword intent could truly block a forced guidance from Yan Changqing or his "old friend."
One had to know, according to the martial arts rumors Ding Songyan had heard over the past few days, this Heroine Zheng was only twenty years old and had only been "Aperture Refining" for half a year. On the "Register of Worldly Orchids," she was ranked as an "Extraordinary Being," which was only the sixth rank—not even as good as Chen Yuliang.
If it had been her mother, Tao Wenshu, a first-rank grandmaster, Ding Songyan would certainly have been very confident.
Now, Ding Songyan could only pray that the Xiaoming Sect’s techniques were a counter to the divine art used by Yan Changqing and his "old friend," and that they would have a miraculous effect in this regard.
He did not ask for the sword intent to completely block a forced guidance; if it could simply allow him to wake up in time and struggle internally, that would be enough.
"Protecting the realm and its people is the duty of the Xiaoming Sect." Zheng Zhuxi thrust her sword, now reflecting the dim candlelight, toward Ding Songyan’s chest.
Ding Songyan did not dodge or resist; following Zheng Zhuxi’s instructions, he completely opened his heart and mind.
The long sword pierced his clothing and touched his skin.
The warm, yellowish light on the blade flashed and vanished, sinking into Ding Songyan’s chest and drilling into his Shanzhong acupoint.
It quickly transformed into a candle shaped like a short sword, flickering with a dim flame. It barely illuminated the Crimson Palace—which represented the intent of the heart-fire and where various energies converged—causing the deep, dark gloom to recede toward the outer layers.
With a *ding*, Zheng Zhuxi sheathed her sword and nodded slightly at Ding Songyan:
"You truly possess no martial arts.
"I have asked what I needed to ask. Is there anything else you wish to say?"
Ding Songyan pondered what he could and could not say, and among those he could say, which would reveal the most to ensure the Xiaoming Sect took the matter seriously.
Soon, he chose to bear the risk and asked with clear curiosity:
"Heroine Zheng, where do you think a nearly complete *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* might come from?"
*Huh, I can ask this question too... Is it that Zheng Zhuxi’s technique has weakened the restrictions to this extent, or did one of the two people influencing my thoughts actually want this information leaked?* Ding Songyan was puzzled at first, but then he had an answer:
*Right, it was Wang Yishu and Chen Yuliang who "told" me that the Secret Classic was real and complete! And they were both controlled by "Moth Father" Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing’s "old friend." If they didn't want me to have the chance to ask this question later, they wouldn't have mentioned it at all!*
"Nearly complete?" Zheng Zhuxi’s expression shifted slightly.
Then, she mused:
"Either there is a powerful organization hidden in the shadows, with high-ranking moles in every major sect, who have repeatedly compared and pieced together the various versions of the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* to finally create such a copy;
"Or someone has found the long-lost Kunlun Mountain and entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace."
*Found the long-lost Kunlun Mountain and entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace...* Ding Songyan’s gaze froze, and it felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind.
He still remembered Yan Changqing saying that he had betrayed his sect to seize a treasure, suffered heavy injuries, and ended up in his current state.
Didn't this match up perfectly?
A treasure that could make Zhen Qianfan greedy enough to betray his greatest backing was certainly no simple object;
A treasure that could make someone like Yan Changqing—at least a Grandmaster—betray his sect was even rarer.
The lost Kunlun Mountain and the Heavenly Emperor’s abandoned palace were enough to explain it all!
*That copy of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas was likely transcribed by Yan Changqing himself while looking at the Imperial Annotated Classic of Mountains and Seas. No wonder he could calculate it...*
*Was that copy of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas placed in the treasure vault in advance for someone to dig up, or did it flow out from the Zhen Mansion? If the latter, why would the Zhen Mansion let it flow out?*
As Ding Songyan’s thoughts raced, Zheng Zhuxi also fell silent, her expression clearly fluctuating.
PS: Happy Dragon Boat Festival, everyone~
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