novelraw Chapter 368: Evil Persists for Ages
Chapter 368: Evil Persists for Ages
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
Wu Shao Zhen’s family was tragically killed when he was very young. Left to fend for himself in the Cultivation World, he learned to navigate its dangers with cunning. Without such vigilance, he would have been devoured without a trace.
Perhaps due to his past amnesia, Bai Qing Qing often treated him as though he were a confused fool. Her careless handling of many matters often revealed inconsistencies, which Wu Shao Zhen initially chose to overlook, enchanted by the warmth she projected.
Now, with his clarity restored, Bai Qing Qing’s oddities could no longer escape his notice.
The first red flag was her identity. She claimed to be an orphan, wandering aimlessly, but the spirit stones and magical artifacts she carried were far beyond what an average cultivator could afford. Her attire and mannerisms were clearly the result of strict training, rivaling the elegance of noble family daughters or sect disciples.
Second was her excessive closeness and flattery toward him. Wu Shao Zhen couldn’t fathom what she sought from him that warranted such effort.
Finally, her extraordinary perceptiveness was deeply troubling. Bai Qing Qing always managed to probe him at his emotional peaks, subtly or overtly, and only ceased once he had regained composure. Sometimes, Wu Shao Zhen even suspected she could read his mind. How else could she so precisely gauge his moods?
He assumed uncovering her true intentions would take time, but progress came faster than expected. Perhaps shaken by a previous brush with death, Bai Qing Qing had grown bold, frequently leaving his side and acting secretively. Though tempted to follow her, Wu Shao Zhen knew their disparity in strength made it futile. Instead, he meticulously recorded every change in her behavior while feigning ignorance.
Finally, his observations led to a startling conclusion: Bai Qing Qing, like him, seemed capable of absorbing spiritual energy from others to nourish herself. After every outing, her cultivation improved, her physical state enhanced, and even her complexion glowed more vibrantly. Just yesterday, she had advanced from the early Golden Core stage to the mid Golden Core stage, her progress nothing short of astonishing.
A cold smile tugged at Wu Shao Zhen’s lips. How had he ever mistaken her for a gentle and kind woman? She was no different from him—cold-blooded, selfish, and ruthless. They were both monsters devoid of emotion.There was an old saying: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. While Bai Qing Qing freely drained others’ spiritual energy, she seemed oblivious that she, too, was viewed as prime prey by others. It would come down to who proved superior between them.
Perhaps because his thoughts were preoccupied with Bai Qing Qing, Wu Shao Zhen dreamed of her that night.
In the dream, she appeared no different from reality—fragile, with a practiced air of innocence. Wu Shao Zhen stifled his disdain, playing along with her charade. When she coyly asked for the pastries on the table, he picked up a piece and brought it to her lips. Smiling sweetly, she leaned in to take a bite when a voice suddenly called out behind them.
“Brother Shao Zhen!”
Startled, Wu Shao Zhen turned and nearly crushed the pastry in his hand. It was her—the woman who had haunted his thoughts and dreams! Her starlit eyes glistened with unshed tears, her lips curving into a strained smile that couldn’t mask the sorrow in her heart. The sight stirred a fierce urge in him to wipe away her tears and rekindle the light in her gaze.
Setting the pastry down, he stood and moved toward her, only for Bai Qing Qing to clasp his arm. Her delicate voice rang in his ears. “Senior Sister, I didn’t know this pastry was for Brother Shao Zhen. You’re not angry he’s feeding it to me, are you?”
Wu Shao Zhen’s pupils contracted as he stared at the exquisite pastries. He hadn’t known she had made them! By the time he looked up again, all he could see was the heartbroken silhouette of the woman as she turned away.
“Brother Shao Zhen, do you think she’s truly upset? I didn’t mean to anger her. If I had known…” Bai Qing Qing’s coquettish regret was too much.
Unable to suppress his fury, Wu Shao Zhen’s hand shot out, gripping her throat tightly. “You deserve to die! You deserve to die!”
Bai Qing Qing flailed like a fish out of water, her eyes bulging as her breaths grew faint. Just as her struggles ceased, the dream shattered into countless fragments.
Wu Shao Zhen jolted awake, his chest heaving. It was only a dream. Glancing around the familiar room, he sighed in relief. Yet the dream served as a warning—if he continued entangling himself with Bai Qing Qing, he might miss his true destined partner. His plans needed revising.
Meanwhile, Sect Master Ji Yuan, upon receiving a jade slip, burst into hearty laughter. “Good! Good! Good!” he exclaimed thrice with joy.
Zhou Jin Yue, entering the main hall, smiled. “Master, what’s the good news?”
“Qing Yan has finally done something worthwhile after all these years of madness!” Sect Master Ji Yuan waved Zhou Jin Yue closer, eagerly handing him the jade slip.
Upon reading its contents, Zhou Jin Yue couldn’t help but smile. The slip was from Master Qing Yan, reporting that he had eradicated the sect’s designated evil organizations, capturing their leaders, and was en route back with them. His arrival was imminent.
“This is truly wonderful news,” Sect Master Ji Yuan remarked with satisfaction. “When Qing Yan joined the sect, your Grandmaster predicted his immense talent would make him a legend in the Cultivation World, and it seems he was right. Alas, he didn’t foresee how Qing Yan’s cultivation would drive him to extremes, leaving him muddled for so long. Thankfully, his clarity now proves my efforts weren’t in vain.”
Zhou Jin Yue, observing her master’s delight, refrained from revealing that Qing Yan’s recent clarity owed nothing to Sect Master Ji Yuan’s efforts.
“Did you come to report something?” Sect Master Ji Yuan eventually asked, his excitement waning.
Zhou Jin Yue’s smile faded as she solemnly presented another jade slip. Upon reading it, Sect Master Ji Yuan’s face darkened with rage.
“As expected! That wretched woman escaped and dares to stir trouble in the Cultivation World again. Does she think we’re blind?”
“So far, 48 people who’ve interacted with her have died under suspicious circumstances, with others unaccounted for. The missing numbers are still unconfirmed.”
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