Inner Demons

Chapter 68: Treasure Blossom Assembly

"Exactly," Yin Pingzhi said with a smile. "Master Pei Juezi learned that Weicheng also has five Intent Realm Artificers, so he decided to stay for a few days. He invited fellow practitioners to jointly admire the 'Painting of the Old Fisherman Angling.' This gathering is named 'Treasure Blossom Assembly'—taking the meaning of the essence of things and heavenly treasures."

Head Constable Yin's few sentences were eloquent and proper, he didn't know who taught him, or if he figured it out himself.

However, Old Daoist Liu was extremely pleased. He claimed to be one of Weicheng's five great Intent Realm Artificers, but in reality, no one paid him any mind. He had barely touched the edge of the Intent Realm, while the other four were long-established and immensely wealthy. Now that Yin Pingzhi had brought him up and even suggested he might have a part in the gathering, Old Daoist Liu's heart leaped—he desperately wanted to go, but was also very afraid that Brother Xin would lose face and refuse.

But this worry quickly vanished. Li Yunxin smiled: "Can I go?"

Head Constable Yin frowned, "What are you saying! I came here today precisely to deliver invitations to both of you."

"Your methods are brilliant. Last night, I thought about it, and it's always better to have more friends than more enemies. Looking at Young Master Li's demeanor, he must come from a prestigious noble family. I have offended you greatly before, and I am looking for an excuse to apologize to you."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, and utterly sincere.

Li Yunxin tilted his head to look at him, then turned his gaze to think for a moment, and smiled: "Good. I'll go. When?"

Yin Pingzhi quickly took out two large red invitations with gilded lettering from his bosom and placed them on the stone table: "Actually, it's tomorrow. It was decided long ago."

Li Yunxin knew what he meant, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your trouble. Mr. Yin has a lot of influence."Yin Pingzhi didn't quite understand what he meant by the second sentence, but he knew it was a compliment. However, after these few interactions, he had gradually adapted to this person's habits—liking to say strange things that people couldn't understand. This truly seemed like the demeanor of a nobleman's son—as long as he was happy, he didn't care what others thought.

He also smiled and politely said, "Not at all, not at all."

Then, with a wry smile, "Now I have to deal with... the matters left behind by that Ying Jueran. I must take my leave."

"Farewell."

Old Daoist Liu saw Head Constable Yin out the door and soon returned, looking at Li Yunxin without speaking.

Li Yunxin raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"

"Brother Xin, if you... um..." Old Daoist Liu stammered, finding it difficult to articulate.

Li Yunxin was a sharp person; how could he not know what he meant? He waved his hand: "I wanted to go myself. Do you think that Yin Pingzhi really wants to curry favor with me?"

"That guy also wants to investigate me. But he'll definitely find nothing, so he feels uneasy. How could an old fox like him, simply shaken by my awe-inspiring presence, immediately bow down? Right now, he's outwardly yielding while trying to learn more about me."

"For example, which family I belong to. If my background is truly extraordinary, he'd be happy to grovel. As for this matter, it's just about whether I dare to go or not—it's not necessarily a trap set specifically for me, but you are an Artificer, and I am close to you, so going to that Treasure Blossom Assembly will certainly involve some affairs and connections."

"Once something happens, he can seize the opportunity to see me reveal more information. That's his intention. This is called an open conspiracy."

Old Daoist Liu listened to Li Yunxin, standing there in sudden realization, exclaiming "Oh my" several times: "So there was such a reason behind it! Oh my... Brother Xin, how can you see things so clearly... Then, what if you had refused just now?"

"Then he would feel that my previous strong attitude wasn't so impenetrable, would he? And then he would try to find more of my weaknesses." Li Yunxin smiled faintly. "Yin Pingzhi is also a schemer, but unfortunately, he met me."

Old Daoist Liu let out another "Oh" and blinked: "But, Brother Xin, I've always had a question..."

"Speak."

"What exactly is your... origin?" The old Daoist explained again, "At first, I thought you were a skilled Artificer. You must have come from a prestigious family to travel. But then you taught me cultivation methods... I couldn't figure it out. You're different from those people in the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect and Lingxu Sword Sect in the city... those cultivators, they don't seem to have much humanity..."

Li Yunxin suddenly burst out laughing.

He slapped the table, pointed at Old Daoist Liu: "Old Liu, you say I'm more humane than them?"

Old Daoist Liu opened his mouth, confused: "Ah..."

"Alright. Let's not talk about this. Let's go out for a meal. Then I'll think about how to play with people."

...

...

The sun gradually set in the west. The shadows of the trees in the courtyard lengthened, but the day's heat had not yet receded.

Cong Yunzi from the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect and Pu Nanzi from the Lingxu Sword Sect were sitting in the courtyard at this time. If Old Daoist Liu saw them now, he certainly wouldn't think they "lacked humanity."

Because the two of them, in this rather exquisite detached courtyard, had abandoned their usual aloofness and were whispering like ordinary people.

Pu Nanzi whispered, "You are also from Daoist Orthodoxy, do you truly have no news at all?"

Cong Yunzi shook his head: "Speaking of Daoist Orthodoxy, what is her status! You and I call ourselves cultivators, but in her eyes, we might not even count as cultivators. Langya Grotto-Heaven's Head Disciple of the Sect Master... that's a status that allows one to face the Emperor. How would I know anything about such a person?"

After thinking for a moment, he frowned slightly: "Actually... I'm wondering if she came here because of your affairs."

"...What affairs of ours?" Pu Nanzi imperceptibly tilted his head back slightly. If Li Yunxin had seen it, he would have known this indicated a rise in caution.

"Do you really think I only want to enjoy life in the secular world?" Cong Yunzi smiled faintly. "Your Lingxu Sword Sect has lost three people, and now you are probably the Sect Master's Head Disciple, aren't you?"

Pu Nanzi didn't speak, just stared at Cong Yunzi.

"Why look at me like that." Cong Yunzi stroked his beard and smiled. "I am, after all, a few years older than you and have been operating in Weicheng for longer. Although I no longer want to concern myself with cultivation matters and only wish to be a wealthy old man, the movements of your Lingxu Sword Sect in Weicheng cannot escape my eyes."

"I know bits and pieces of clues, and you are also investigating. As fellow cultivators, if one's lips are gone, one's teeth will be cold... If someone truly dared to kill three of your people, how do you know they won't come for me one day?" Cong Yunzi lowered his voice, leaning slightly closer to Pu Nanzi. "What exactly is going on?"

Pu Nanzi still said nothing.

"I know your worries. But... at this critical juncture. If you don't speak now, and the one in the room rests well and comes out, and happens to bring up this matter... my old brother here won't be able to help."

Pu Nanzi gritted his teeth: "You tell me what you know first."

"The four of you came down from the mountain this time to overcome a tribulation of killing," Cong Yunzi whispered.

Pu Nanzi remained expressionless.

"Your killing tribulation was overcome, and your senior brother Huainanzi also overcame his. Alas for Kangcangzi and Chisongzi, they did not."

"If I were to guess how you intended to Transcending Tribulation... I'm afraid you weren't taking the righteous path, were you?"

Pu Nanzi stared at him for a moment, then said coldly, "Many people Transcending Tribulation like that. If it doesn't involve other families, who cares about the lives of these mortals?"

Cong Yunzi chuckled: "Then, how did they die?"