You Knew?

"Squeak—!"

The door opened. The young man stepped aside, and the girl peered left and right along the gallery before stepping inside and taking the initiative to pull the wooden door shut.

She was acting so stealthily that she looked like a thief coming for a secret tryst.

The young man's brow furrowed.

Chi Ji tilted her chin up slightly and lowered her voice. "Is it safe to talk here?"

Xu Xian’s frown deepened. His divine sense expanded, finding everything as it had been.

The eyes in the dark were still there, but no new ones had appeared. "Did you get the items?" he asked.

The girl, clad in her night-traveler's attire, gave a silent nod.

Understanding her meaning, Xu Xian silently chanted a spell.

A heaven-sealing trapping formation formed invisibly. The room seemed transparent to the outside, but it was now isolated.

At the same time, several figures in the darkness revealed expressions of utter helplessness. Someone murmured, "Again..."

They had been ordered to keep watch for several days, and nothing unusual had happened. However, that room would occasionally be shielded by something. Even when they pushed their divine sense to the limit, they couldn't peer inside.

Was it a formation? Or a legal treasure? They had no way of knowing.

Inside the formation, Xu Xian paced back to the table and sat down. "Alright, it's safe now," he said calmly.

Only then did Chi Ji remove her veiled hat and sit across from the youth. Her expression remained solemn; her alertness had not yet fully receded.

Xu Xian poured a cup of tea, the water splashing softly. He glanced up and asked casually, "What, were you discovered?"

Chi Ji took the hot tea, rubbing her palms against the cup. "Maybe," she said vaguely.

"Hmm?"

"Possibly," Chi Ji added after taking a small sip. "Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I don't know."

She felt that it was better if Bai Mang didn't know certain things, much like High Priest Jin Qing.

Xu Xian grew thoughtful and poured himself a cup, taking a small sip. He didn't press her. After a day and night of surveillance and testing, he already had a good idea of the situation.

At least two groups were watching him from the shadows.

Furthermore, both were led by 7th-rank lesser demon king stage experts. During that time, several greater demon king stage experts had also come by, though they hadn't stayed long—likely to give orders or collect intelligence.

Ghost only knew.

In any case, Xu Xian knew he was being targeted. One of the forces most likely came from the Crimson Demon Palace. As for the other, Xu Xian wasn't sure. Perhaps it was the Nether Hall Chi Ji had mentioned? Sent by the High or Small Priests?

Initially, it might have been a coincidence, but now that even this silly girl had noticed, the matter was almost certainly as he suspected.

"Where's the item?" Xu Xian asked.

Chi Ji took another small sip of tea and set the cup down. A faint light flickered from her storage ring, and then a red book appeared prominently on the table.

"Here it is."

Xu Xian pursed his lips and smiled. "Reliable!" he praised. In less than a day, the item had been delivered to his table. Her efficiency was undeniable.

Xu Xian reached out to take it.

Chi Ji's jade-like palm pressed down on it.

Xu Xian looked at her.

Chi Ji met his gaze, warning him very seriously, "Remember, you must never, ever let anyone see this."

Xu Xian squinted and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't involve you."

Chi Ji looked a bit displeased. Her palm pressed harder against the book as she looked at him resentfully. "It's not about involving me; it's about your life."

Xu Xian took a deep breath, putting on an extremely serious expression. "I understand," he said solemnly. "This matter stays between heaven, earth, you, and me."

Chi Ji, still half-doubting, released her hand.

Xu Xian couldn't wait and flipped the book open.

It was another new type of script. Xu Xian recognized it, but the transcription looked a bit awkward. It was like a primary school student's handwriting—the words were correct, but the appearance was strange.

Fortunately, he could understand it. He had to admit that this method was truly profound. Interesting!

Seeing the youth flip through the book—frowning one moment, scowling the next, then looking joyful or contemplative—Chi Ji felt a bit dazed. The person before her gave her an illusion as if he could actually read it.

"Can you understand it?"

Xu Xian glanced up, closed the book, and tucked it away. Instead of answering, he asked, "What do you think?"

Chi Ji pursed her lips, thinking to herself, 'I knew it.' Just playing mysteries.

"This is written in the demon script of the ancestral demons. Even the most learned historians in the Demon Abyss can't understand it. If you can read it, then I've truly seen a ghost."

The youth raised an eyebrow, too lazy to argue. Let her think he couldn't read it; as long as he had the item, it didn't matter.

Changing from his previous indifference, he took the initiative to pour her more tea. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Chi Ji felt a small swell of joy but didn't forget to remind him, "You really have to leave. This city isn't safe."

Xu Xian asked back habitually, "Is it safe outside the city?"

Chi Ji emphasized her words. "I'm not joking with you. You might already be under surveillance."

Xu Xian remained nonchalant. "Be bolder. Remove the 'might'."

Chi Ji was startled. "You knew?"

Xu Xian clicked his tongue. "Do I look stupid?"

"Then why don't you run?"

"Where would I run to?"

Chi Ji fell silent, her thoughts becoming even more chaotic. Recalling the High Priest's words now, everything became clear. The High Priest had been hinting at her all along. But why hadn't she stopped her? Why pretend not to know?

Her mind was a mess. There was confusion, worry, and a growing sense of guilt. Because she had sought him out, he had been discovered.

Xu Xian caught the girl's uneasy expression and comforted her casually. "Don't think too much. They were here before you arrived."

"You knew that too?" Chi Ji asked.

Xu Xian shrugged. "Mm-hmm."

Chi Ji whispered, "How could they have known?"

Xu Xian said lazily, "What's so strange about it? If even someone as dim-witted as you could find me, why couldn't they?"

Chi Ji froze for a moment before reacting with annoyance. "You're the stupid one!"

Xu Xian didn't argue. His mother had told him never to argue with fools.

Chi Ji put aside her small emotions. "I'm sorry!"

Xu Xian felt it was out of nowhere. "Didn't I say I don't blame you?"

Chi Ji said self-reproachfully, "Only I knew your name. I was the one who pulled strings to have the city defense keep an eye out for you. The news must have leaked from there. If I hadn't looked for you, they definitely wouldn't have known."

Xu Xian nodded in agreement and added a compliment, "Well, that's the truth. It seems you're not completely hopeless after all."

Chi Ji was about to get angry again.

Xu Xian quickly interrupted, "But I don't resent you. Didn't you transcribe the Nether Fire Secret Art for me? That was a huge help. We'll call it even."

Seeing Xu Xian's nonchalant attitude, Chi Ji's anger flared again. She snapped, "What time do you think it is? How can you still be in the mood to joke?"

"That's a bit harsh. You can't expect me to cry, can you?"

"I can't win an argument with you. What do you actually plan to do?"

Xu Xian replied instantly, "What else? Find a chance to slip away."

"Can I help?"

"You? You should just look out for yourself. When I'm gone, you'd better think of a good story to tell."

Chi Ji fell silent. She wondered if her father could help. Was there any way to resolve this?

She searched her mind but found nothing.

Xu Xian filled her cup with tea and smiled as he signaled for her to leave. "Drink this cup of tea, and then go. Don't come back again."