Entrusted by Someone

"If life were always as it first appeared, why would the autumn wind grieve for the painted fan..."

The young man sighed with emotion, tucked the letter into his storage bag, and smiled.

"I accept the demon immortal's request. As long as I can see my master, I will definitely deliver it to him."

Tu Sisi gave a soft "Mm" in response.

Xu Xian looked at Tu Sisi and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Tu Sisi blinked. "Hmm?"

Xu Xian narrowed his eyes. "If there is nothing else, Senior should depart. The journey back to the North Sea is long and arduous; you may return at your leisure."

She had driven away Lin Fengmian.

Now, Xu Xian was driving her away.

It could be considered avenging his senior brother.

However, the matter was settled and the order to leave had been given; there was indeed no reason for her to stay any longer.

"Fine!"

Tu Sisi stood up to leave. After a few steps, she paused and looked back, a realization dawning on her. "You do not need me to escort you back to the sect?"

"No need."

"Are you sure?" Tu Sisi confirmed once more, not forgetting to remind him, "You have offended quite a few people now..."

Xu Xian spoke with a smile, "Did you not say it yourself? I came for the catastrophe. The living beings of Fanzhou cannot kill me."

Tu Sisi said nothing more.

If Xu Xian could detect her presence, he could naturally detect the presence of others.

If he did not fear her, why would he fear anyone else?

South of the North Sea, there were not many who could defeat her.

As for the North Sea, they were like her—they could not cross over.

Xu Xian truly had the strength to dominate.

A new sword immortal was standing at the peak of the high mountains and clouds.

She turned around and said indifferently, "I am leaving."

Then she stepped into the air, riding the wind. In the blink of an eye, her figure disappeared among the blue sky and white clouds.

She was gone.

She left just like that.

On the Cloud Boat, Xu Xian sat leaning against the edge of the table, reflecting on the story Tu Sisi had just told. He felt deeply moved. Could it be that everything in this world truly revolved around the word 'emotion'?

Love, friendship, family...

"I wonder what is written inside? Is it the bitterness of longing, or some faint resentment? I am actually quite curious."

Xu Xian muttered to himself.

The little book spirit floated before his eyes and egged him on, "Want to know? I can show you. The Pupil of Insight can ignore a demon immortal's restriction..."

Xu Xian glanced at the little book spirit. To be honest, he had considered it, but his reason triumphed over his curiosity as he refused.

"It is improper."

"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. How is it improper?"

Xu Xian said lazily, "Entrusted by someone, fulfilling the task."

The little book spirit chuckled. "Oho, Master, you have finally done something decent. That is rare."

Xu Xian rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond.

Not long after Tu Sisi left and the Cloud Boat had traveled some distance, Ninth Senior Brother Lin Fengmian returned to the vessel.

He asked nothing and said nothing, sitting down directly as if he had returned to his own home.

Xu Xian asked, "Ninth Senior Brother, why did you stay behind?"

Lin Fengmian teased, "You have caused such a big mess; someone has to stay to clean up after you."

Xu Xian felt a bit embarrassed. "Uh... it was not that bad, right?"

Lin Fengmian looked at Xu Xian without speaking, his meaning self-evident.

Xu Xian rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I think my plan was quite perfect. I do not think many people saw through it..."

His voice lacked conviction and confidence.

The High Priest saw through it, and Tu Sisi guessed it. As for the others, it was hard to say, but since they had very little contact, it should not have been that easy to guess.

Lin Fengmian stroked his long beard and spoke slowly, "Indeed, not many. Hmm... just the Ancestors of the Three Sects, a few demon immortals, the old ghosts of the Six Schools... and that Bai Ze of the East Desolation..."

Lin Fengmian listed many names in one breath.

Xu Xian was stunned and said in disbelief, "Was my scheme that poor?"

Even if it was not a masterpiece of subtle clues laid far in advance, he had prepared beforehand and been very cautious...

Lin Fengmian said frankly, "I cannot say it was poor, only that it was full of holes."

Xu Xian felt depressed.

Lin Fengmian comforted him, "But it is fine. Even if they know, it is useless. They will not spread the word..."

Xu Xian felt relieved. "True..."

Telling the world that Xu Xian was Bai Mang would be no different from announcing that the Wendao Sword Sect and the Demon Abyss had joined forces, or were even as close as one family.

For the Wendao Sword Sect, it would be like a tiger with wings.

The East Desolation had declined.

The Demon Abyss had submitted.

The demon immortals of the North Sea could not cross over.

The Three Sects of the Central Plains could not compete.

Would that not let the entire world know that the Wendao Sword Sect was already the hegemon of Fanzhou?

Then in the future, how would they maintain their own positions?

Reputation was one thing, but the distribution of resources was another.

Being well aware while keeping things unspoken was the norm among the major powers of Fanzhou.

Every time a facade was torn down or cards were shown openly, a chaotic era of conflict would inevitably erupt.

The events of the East Desolation were still fresh in memory.

The confrontation at the Demon Abyss was still right before their eyes.

These were all bloody examples...

It was just like his master, Li Taibai, being right beneath the Wendao Sword Sect. Quite a few people in this world knew about it; every one of those old monsters was well aware.

Yet they still tacitly accepted the Wendao Sword Sect's version of the story.

The Sword Ancestor had traveled far and had not returned for ten thousand years.

That was all...

At the mention of the Ancestors of the Three Sects, the old ghosts of the Six Schools, and the demon immortals of the North Sea, Xu Xian also grew interested.

He had heard of the Ancestors of the Three Sects long ago, and their names were famous throughout the world.

The Old Gentleman of the Haoran Academy.

The Old Taoist of the Daoist Court.

The Old Monk of the Emptiness Sect.

They were known as the three strongest humans, the ones who had lived the longest and hidden the deepest. They had not appeared for many years, just like his own master.

They hid in places where no one went, as elusive as dragons.

As for the old ancestors of the Six Schools, they were all saints, but their strength was average and far inferior to the Wendao Sword Sect.

Regarding the experts in the hidden grotto-heavens and blessed lands, Xu Xian had seen some during this confrontation at the Demon Abyss, but most of them had not come in person.

The same was true for the demon immortals of the North Sea.

Now that he had broken through to the eighth stage, ordinary ninth stage cultivators could no longer threaten him.

Those who could pose a threat to him were none other than the people just mentioned.

Plus Bai Ze, though Bai Ze was heavily injured and was currently not a concern. During the confrontation at the Demon Abyss, Xu Xian could sense that he had come but never showed his face.

He likely stayed hidden because his strength had plummeted and he was afraid of being killed.

The only place he did not know much about was the North Sea.

In the intelligence of the Central Plains, information about the North Sea was always ambiguous, with many different versions.

But as for what kind of place the North Sea actually was, there were very few clear accounts.

No one could say for sure how many demon immortals were in the North Sea.

All they knew was that there had been a line in the North Sea since ancient times. Because of that line's existence, the demon immortals did not dare to cross over.

What was that line?

Who had placed it there?

No one knew.

Feeling bored, Xu Xian followed Lin Fengmian's words and asked further.

"By the way, Senior Brother, I have always been curious. What kind of place is the North Sea exactly? How many demon immortals are really there?"

Lin Fengmian gave Xu Xian a deep look and asked suspiciously, "Why ask this all of a sudden?"

Xu Xian said vaguely, "Just curious."

Lin Fengmian's gaze turned profound.

Xu Xian pressed, "Do you not know either?"

Lin Fengmian's white brows furrowed slightly. "As for how many demon immortals there are, I really do not know. After all, the North Sea is too vast. Aside from Master, no one has been there, so naturally, I cannot say for sure..."