The Blood Son's Plan

Gradually, the man lay prone over his legs, motionless.

Why did he stop...? Just as Zhuang Xun was about to throw another chair leg to watch again, the man suddenly stood up. Zhuang Xun immediately crouched back behind the wall, leaving only a pair of eyes to peek over.

The man first scanned his surroundings in confusion. Looking at the complete mess around him, he patted his head and smiled bitterly:

“Sigh, I thought I'd be able to control myself this time. Making such a huge scene again, my reputation must be completely ruined.

“I also need to think about how to explain this to the Law Enforcement Hall. Last time I said I lost control of my emotions. If I use the same excuse again, they probably won't believe me.

“I have to use that thing less in the future. At least, I should tie myself up when using it.”

Muttering to himself, he picked up a broom leaning against the wall and began to sweep up the messy courtyard.

Brother, stop talking to yourself in the future. I've overheard all your secrets...

Zhuang Xun didn't really suspect that the man was saying this on purpose for him to hear. From his observations over the past few days, the man simply had a habit of talking to himself.

That thing?

Did it have something to do with the Blood Son's plan?

Judging by the man's behavior, he didn't seem averse to that thing, and even had thoughts of using it again.

Could it raise one's cultivation realm? Zhuang Xun used his Spiritual Sight to see that the man was at the Seventh Rank.

He then controlled Yi Wangyou to slip into Yi Xiaoxiang's study and found Hu He's registry—the man's name.

It recorded that Hu He's martial arts was at the Eighth Rank, taking four years of cultivation.

Yet only a year had passed, and Hu He's martial arts had already reached the Seventh Rank. The effect of that thing was indeed to raise one's martial arts realm.

Where do you get that thing? I want one too. Do you get it from the Shengxue Cult? By the way, why did the Shengxue Cult give this to Hu He? The Blood Son's plan... Zhuang Xun quietly left Hu He's small courtyard, not returning to Yan Pingsheng's courtyard.

He went to a secluded corner of a forest garden. After confirming no one was around, he dissolved the clone and converted it back into points.

...

Meanwhile, outside the gates of the Wanxing Martial Academy, a travel-worn wanderer of the martial world arrived.

The wanderer took off his bamboo hat and tossed his high ponytail, revealing a young face with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a complexion as fair as fine jade. Although he wore a coarse brown cloth cloak, it could not hide the noble aura he exuded.

“Hmph, I haven't been back for a year, yet everything is still the same. Not a single change.

“After this year of training, my martial arts has reached the peak of Fifth Rank. Yang Ling is no longer my match. Let's see how the Principal can refuse to take me as his disciple now.

“Wanxing Martial Academy, prepare to welcome your Chief Disciple!” The corner of his mouth curled as he strode inside.

Before long, many disciples in the academy learned of the return of Xu Jianxing, the former top disciple of the Formless Courtyard.

A short, youthful disciple came to Xu Jianxing's courtyard and shouted excitedly, “Senior Brother Xu, you're back!”

“Yo, Xiao Liu. Long time no see.”

Leaning against the door, Xu Jianxing, who wore his Formless Courtyard disciple robes loosely, gave a casual smile and asked, “Has anything happened in the academy during the year I was away?”

“Yes!” Xiao Liu said excitedly. “A Chief Disciple has appeared in our academy. Senior Brother Xu, you are now the second-ranked disciple of the Formless Courtyard!”

“Huh?!”

...

At night, calculating the gap in the disciple patrols, Zhuang Xun used Bai Yujing to create the Debt-Lending Bladesman. He leapt down from the side cliff and bounded toward the direction of the Shengxue Cult's sentry post.

Soon, he arrived on the roof of a tavern, lying flat to quietly eavesdrop.

“Any news?”

“None, Emissary. Not a single bit of news. He has remained on his side cliff and never come out.”

“Sigh, that Bai Yujing is indeed an extraordinary fellow. He stays indoors and literally outlasted the Left Protector whom the Blood Son sent to capture him.”

Zhuang Xun: ?

He was stunned for a few breaths before it finally clicked. So the so-called “Blood Son's plan” was to capture him.

Then what was the deal with Hu He?

No, that wasn't the focus right now.

He had observed for over ten days, guessed for over ten days, and analyzed for over ten days, only to find out that the opponent's target was actually him. How was this any different from watching a video only to find out that the main actor was himself?

Fine, fine, fine. You have angered a male lion!

Zhuang Xun fully activated his Spiritual Sight to scan the interior of the tavern.

Although his vision could not see through walls, his hearing and smell could.

Under the coordination of his mind, the gathered information was directly organized into a picture in his brain.

In the picture, the positions of everyone in the tavern were clear. Their bodies were transparent, allowing him to see their fiery red, beating hearts and the blood qi circulating everywhere.

One Sixth Rank, five Seventh Rank, five Eighth Rank...

Zhuang Xun counted repeatedly several times, and even released a trace of aura that only those above Sixth Rank could perceive to fish for a reaction.

After confirming that the strength of the Shengxue Cult members in the tavern was indeed only this much, he suddenly felt like laughing.

Seriously, what are they smoking? A single Sixth Rank and a few Seven and Eighth Rank actually planned to capture me, a Fifth Rank...

God... Descend! (Battle Face)