Ding Songyan’s mind raced through a series of thoughts as he carefully weighed his words.
"I do not know, Master."
Before Tao Wenshu could press him further, he took the initiative to explain.
"I was ambushed at a ruined temple outside the city and lost many of my memories. For some time, I believed the demoness Ji Hanyi, who had taken the form of Ding Qingyan, was my younger sister, and I treated her with great care..."
He recounted a few brief anecdotes of their "sibling" life, including the bedtime stories he told her and the silver hairpin he gave her as a keepsake. He focused his account on the three "nightmares" that "Ding Qingyan" had experienced the previous night and the oath he had sworn.
Finally, he provided a concise summary of the conversation between Ji Hanyi and Yan Changqing, as well as the parting words Ji Hanyi had left for him: "I’ve had a lot of fun these past few days; I’ll let you live a little longer." He omitted only the secret of his own resurrection and his unique ability to touch the Netherworld.
"Master, what does it mean to 'sever worldly ties'?" Ding Songyan asked after finishing his account.
Tao Wenshu, wearing her heavy iron crown, replied thoughtfully:
"In the orthodox sects, severing worldly ties means becoming a monastic and withdrawing from the world, no longer concerning oneself with family matters. But in the heterodox paths..."
She paused for a moment before continuing:
"It means leaving you with nothing but yourself, without kin or connections."
*Isn't that just exterminating one's entire family? The demoness's first 'nightmare' seems to hint at that... Yan Changqing also claimed his family was wiped out and that he was the only one lucky enough to escape... Looking at it now, perhaps he wasn't 'lucky' at all; maybe his talent was spotted, and his family was destroyed precisely because of it. He didn't escape; he was taken away by a master from the generation preceding the Absolute Saint Path...* As this thought struck him, Ding Songyan suddenly felt a sense of absurdity:
*Could the demoness have been acting so convincingly that she actually started to see me as her real brother?*
*My predecessor knew part of the truth about the 'Zhen Family' and was surely terrified of everyone, but I know nothing. I pitied her for losing her brother and truly treated her like a sister...*
*However, the demoness is cunning and wise. These things might not have been an act; perhaps she had other motives. For instance, did she glean something from 'The Legend of the White Snake'?*
*It’s impossible that I’m going to end up with a demoness for a sister, right?*
Tao Wenshu looked at Ding Songyan and said gently:
"I understand the gist of it.
"But I must warn you: Ji Hanyi is a heterodox demoness, renowned for her endless schemes. Her words and actions are a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion; you must not trust them entirely. You should know that in the martial arts world, she is nicknamed the 'Nine-Evil Demoness.' That alone tells you what kind of person she is."
"I will keep that in mind, Master." Ding Songyan felt the same way.
Even though the demoness had spared his life, he felt it was better to stay as far away from her as possible. He had even been prepared to risk consuming the Remains of Chaos just to defend himself against her.
Tao Wenshu’s gaze swept over Yan Changqing’s disemboweled corpse. Just as she was about to ask something else, she heard Su Qingli’s urgent voice calling from outside the courtyard:
"Second Young Master Ding! Second Young Master Ding!"
By now, the heavy rain had subsided. Su Qingli ran in, her dark hair damp and her martial attire slightly soaked.
Seeing Ding Songyan standing there safe and sound, her expression relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness you're alright.
"I was looking for you everywhere. I was even wondering if I could use my aunt’s name to get close to Yan Yong and ask him to spare you. Wait, he... he’s dead?"
Feeling the concern and worry of Miss Xiaoqing, a sudden warmth rose in Ding Songyan’s heart.
Although he had only transmigrated about ten days ago, he had already experienced so much—frequent oppression and pervasive darkness. To receive such sincere and pure care and help in the midst of danger left him deeply moved.
"Yes, I killed him." Moved as he was, Ding Songyan did not hide this fact from her.
"You?" Su Qingli’s eyes widened in shock.
At this moment, Tao Wenshu spoke up:
"Miss Su, where is the young hero Ren from the True Spirit Sect?"
Su Qingli seemed to have known Tao Wenshu was here, yet she still felt a bit embarrassed by her earlier display of urgency:
"When Ren Youyang and I reached the vicinity, he suddenly said, 'Sect Master Tao has arrived, so Brother Ding must be safe,' and then he turned to go to the Listening-to-Water Pavilion to assist my second uncle and the Prefect of your Dingjiang Prefecture."
*Ah, Brother Youyang was also rushing to find me, trying to save me?* Ding Songyan was moved once again.
*He truly lives up to the spirit of the ancient chivalrous heroes!*
As his thoughts wandered, he inexplicably mused:
*Brother Youyang has dog ears, and Miss Xiaoqing, regardless of whether she is a demon or not, will inevitably develop nine-tailed fox traits once she reaches the middle or late stages of cultivating the 'Great Method of Thousand Changes and Myriad Transformations to Charm the World.' Does this mean I’ve acquired some 'fox and dog friends'?*
*In this life, having this pair of 'fox and dog friends' is enough!*
Forcing his thoughts back to the present, Ding Songyan realized something from Miss Xiaoqing’s words:
*Brother Youyang has developed a bit of 'foresight'?*
*Is this the formidable power of 'becoming a god after death'?*
*The 'Useless Divine Skill' is truly defying the heavens...*
Hearing Su Qingli’s answer, Tao Wenshu nodded slightly:
"Then I don't need to rush to the Listening-to-Water Pavilion."
She turned her gaze back to Yan Changqing’s corpse and said to Ding Songyan with a touch of regret:
"It is a pity that you must have had to give your all, leaving Yan Yong no chance to breathe, otherwise we might have been able to ask him about the location of Kunlun."
"The location of Kunlun?" Su Qingli was stunned, blinking her eyes.
Tao Wenshu glanced at Ding Songyan, also looking a bit surprised.
She had assumed that her newly accepted disciple, having been desperate to find a way to call for help, would have mentioned the mystery of the complete "Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas" to Su Qingli, who was close to him. That was why she had spoken so openly about the mystery of Kunlun's location. Who would have thought that wasn't the case?
*She isn't going to kill Miss Xiaoqing to silence her, is she?* Ding Songyan’s first reaction was to quietly reach for the Remains of Chaos, ready to force an increase in his own strength and, even at the cost of turning against the Xiaoming Sect, protect Miss Xiaoqing until she could reunite with her second uncle and leave Dingjiang Prefecture.
He treated others as they treated him, especially while he was still in this state of being moved.
But thinking of Zheng Zhuxi’s upright nature and the unique characteristics of the Xiaoming Sect’s techniques, he felt his master wouldn't go that far.
Tao Wenshu thought for a moment and said:
"Yan Yong once found the lost Kunlun and entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace."
Su Qingli was also sharp-witted. She let out an "Oh!" and looked at Ding Songyan:
"Is that why you asked earlier where one could find a complete 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas' in the world today?"
"Yes." Seeing that his newly accepted master had no murderous intent, Ding Songyan relaxed slightly.
Su Qingli’s brows unfurled. She glanced at Yan Changqing’s corpse—half-afraid and half-curious—before quickly averting her gaze and saying:
"What a pity, that was the lost Kunlun..."
She didn't seem very interested in the Heavenly Emperor’s palace, but she was deeply intrigued by the discovery of such a mysterious, lost place.
*Still a child at heart, as expected...* Ding Songyan evaluated with an amused thought.
Su Qingli’s eyes flickered as she muttered to herself:
"Actually, if someone here could communicate with the Netherworld, we could ask Yan Yong’s lingering soul..."
Suddenly, the young girl looked at Ding Songyan and said with a look of regret:
"If only your Yin Eye could be activated right now..."
*Yin Eye?* Tao Wenshu looked at Ding Songyan.
Ding Songyan felt a sense of helplessness. *Miss Xiaoqing, you are still the same as ever, not a single bit changed.*
He used this as a reminder that he could indeed converse with Yan Changqing’s lingering soul.
His mind had been so occupied with finding a chance to consume the Remains of Chaos that he hadn't even considered this possibility.
After a moment of deliberation, Ding Songyan said to Tao Wenshu:
"Master, after I survived the ambush that day and forgot most things, I inexplicably gained the ability of the Yin Eye, but I am not certain when it can be activated and when it cannot."
As he spoke, various thoughts collided in his mind, debating whether he should communicate with Yan Changqing’s lingering soul in front of Tao Wenshu and perform the act of traversing the Netherworld.
Although he also wanted to find Kunlun and enter the Heavenly Emperor’s palace, Yan Yong’s reaction before his death suggested that there were hidden, immense dangers involved. Since that was the case, it would be better to openly question Yan Yong’s lingering soul under the witness of the Xiaoming Sect. "Sharing the joy is better than enjoying it alone"—let more knowledgeable people solve the crisis beneath the surface, and he would be content with just a share of the spoils. One shouldn't be too greedy.
Moreover, most importantly, this way, the valuable items he "obtained" would have Tao Wenshu as an on-site witness, which would save him from much interrogation and scrutiny later. It was equivalent to making his gains legitimate.
"Master?" Su Qingli caught the key point, looking quite astonished.
Ding Songyan explained:
"Sect Master Tao just helped me remove the Heavenly Heart Mark and, out of pity for my plight, was willing to accept me as her disciple. I still have lingering fears about the Heavenly Heart Mark and am afraid of encountering it again, so I hope to cultivate the 'Scripture of Illuminating the Long Night' to suppress it. I have already formally become Sect Master Tao’s disciple."
"Heavenly Heart Mark... Oh, right, the Heavenly Heart Mark." Su Qingli smiled with relief. "If you can join the Xiaoming Sect, that is excellent. When you finish your apprenticeship and I have also achieved success in my cultivation, we shall meet again in the martial arts world and uphold justice together."
Ding Songyan smiled and agreed, then turned to Tao Wenshu:
"Master, Miss Xiaoqing, actually, relying on the Heavenly Heart Mark, I have already found a way to activate the Yin Eye normally, and I can even converse with ghosts."
He omitted the part about the stimulation of the "seed" of Clear Mist.
Tao Wenshu rarely showed a hint of surprise, and joy spread across Su Qingli’s face.
She urged Ding Songyan:
"Then hurry, before Yan Yong’s lingering soul is dragged into the Netherworld and wanders into the depths! Otherwise, we’ll have to wait seven days!"
Ding Songyan looked at his master, signaling his question:
*Should I let Miss Xiaoqing listen in?*
It wasn't that Ding Songyan didn't want Miss Xiaoqing to know the secret of Kunlun’s disappearance, but he feared bringing a fatal disaster upon her. After all, she was in a foreign land, and even if her family background was strong, it might not always be of use.
Tao Wenshu looked at Su Qingli and thought for a moment before saying:
"Miss Su, if you wish to listen, you must agree to two conditions."
Su Qingli realized the gravity of the matter and quickly said:
"Please speak, Sect Master Tao."
"First, what you hear must only be circulated within your Su family; you must not even inform others from the Heavenly Maiden Sect," Tao Wenshu said in a measured tone. "Second, if you gain anything regarding Kunlun in the future, I hope you will share it with us."
Su Qingli didn't answer immediately; she thought seriously before saying:
"I can agree to that. The first condition is certainly no problem; our Su family doesn't want more people to know either. As for the second, if others refuse to share, I will secretly inform you!"
Tao Wenshu, with an expression like one looking at a junior, turned to Ding Songyan and said:
"Miss Su already knows that this matter involves Kunlun, and I am unwilling to kill her for it, so I have no choice but to let the Su family be drawn in.
"If we can truly find out the location of Kunlun, this matter will be beyond the capacity of a small sect like the Xiaoming Sect. I will immediately report it to the Yan Capital, seeking only to get a share of the spoils or exchange it directly for benefits. You will certainly have a portion of that. In this way, whether the Su family knows or not is no longer important, and we can even sell them a favor. Hmm, in the conflict between the two nations, the Heavenly Maiden Sect has always been relatively neutral.
"And if what we ask only yields a few clues, and the situation leaks out, having another credible party as a witness will prevent the Xiaoming Sect from facing daily trouble. Even if we reveal everything, no one will believe us."
The Sect Master of the Xiaoming Sect stated her considerations openly in front of Su Qingli, while also intending to instruct her disciple.
*That’s right. The matter of Kunlun is already known to many; it’s hard to keep it completely secret. If Miss Xiaoqing, the Su family, and the Xiaoming Sect weren't here today, and I were the only one here, it would be fine if I truly found out the location of Kunlun—I could just say it. But if I didn't, I would inevitably be suspected in the future. And once suspected, there would be no shortage of scheming experts using every means to probe me. Before I grow strong enough, this is extremely dangerous... A secret that can no longer be kept or that I lack the ability to keep will only bring disaster if I try to hold onto it by force...* Ding Songyan bowed to thank his master for her guidance.
Under Su Qingli’s expectant gaze, he transferred the "seed" of Clear Mist to the center of his brow.
Once again, he saw the confused and wandering soul of Yan Changqing.
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