Paying the Price!

"That brat Zhou Fang secretly slipped out of the main altar three days ago and headed south. I sent men to follow him, and they discovered he went to Hundred Flowers Valley!"

Qianji frowned:

"What was he doing in Hundred Flowers Valley? Does Xue Lie know?"

Li Tu scratched his head:

"How would I know? But my people said that when Zhou Fang entered the valley, it was 'Qin Shuang' who personally came out to greet him."

Youyue's expression changed:

"She answered it?"

"Yes. The two exchanged a few words, and then Zhou Fang went inside. She hasn't come out yet."

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

interesting.

Xue Lie's personal disciple went to Hundred Flowers Valley to meet a "defected" disciple who guarded the heart meridian.

Is this because they're afraid others won't know they're colluding?

Qianji pondered for a moment and said:

"Master, Zhou Fang's trip is like putting Xue Lie in a very dangerous position. If he really was colluding with that old monster who possessed his body, he shouldn't be so blatant."

Chu Yuan nodded:

"You mean, Zhou Fang was deliberately sent there?"

"Possibly."

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"Someone wants us to trace the problem back to Xue Lie."

Li Tu's head was spinning:

"Wait a minute, are you saying that Xue Lie might be framed?"

Chu Yuan didn't speak, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

He looked at Qianji:

"What has Xue Lie been up to lately?"

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"Since the incident at the White Bone Palace, he has stayed in his cave and hasn't left. He has declined visits from elders whenever they come to visit."

"Did you push it?"

Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"He's stopped contacting those people?"

That's how it appears on the surface.

Qianji paused:

"But I discovered that there's an additional layer of protection around his cave, preventing divine sense from detecting anything inside. Nobody knows what's going on inside."

Chu Yuan nodded, then looked at Li Tu:

"Keep an eye on Zhou Fang. Report to me immediately when he leaves the valley."

Li Tu accepted the order.

Chu Yuan stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the dark night.

"That 'Qin Shuang'..."

He paused:

"Tell our men not to get too close. Just keep an eye on them from a distance, don't alert them."

Qianji nodded:

"Understood."

Chu Yuan turned around and looked at You Yue:

"How about your end? Have you found anything?"

Youyue shook her head:

"My men checked Qin Shuang's belongings left in the sect, and found nothing unusual. All her usual items were there, except for one thing that was missing."

"What?"

"A jade pendant left to her by her mother."

Youyue said:

"Qin Shuang carried it with her since she was a child, and it never left her side. But that thing is gone."

Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"A jade pendant?"

"Yes. I remember clearly that she would put the jade pendant into her storage ring before each mission, for fear of losing it. But this time, it wasn't in her storage ring after she left."

Qianji's eyes flashed:

"If it really was possessed, where did the jade pendant go?"

Youyue shook her head:

"I don't know. Maybe she carried it with her, or maybe... it was taken away by the person who possessed her."

Chu Yuan was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked:

"Is there anything special about that jade pendant?"

Youyue thought for a moment:

"Qin Shuang said that it was given to her by her mother before she died, saying that it could protect her. I have seen it, and it is just an ordinary piece of green jade with no spiritual energy fluctuations."

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"Maybe it's just a souvenir."

"Maybe."

Chu Yuan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Li Tu suddenly spoke:

"Master, why did that old monster who possessed your body choose Qin Shuang? There are so many disciples guarding your heart meridian, why did he pick her of all?"

Chu Yuan looked at him:

What do you think?

Li Tu scratched his head:

"If I were that old monster, I would definitely pick someone inconspicuous. Qin Shuang is Youyue's direct disciple; she's too conspicuous and easily discovered."

Qianji said calmly:

"It is precisely because they are direct descendants that they are all the more worthy of selection."

Li Tu was taken aback:

Why?

"As a direct disciple, she knows many secrets about guarding the heart meridian. She knows the cultivation techniques, the mental cultivation methods, and even Youyue's weaknesses."

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"If anyone wants to deal with Youyue, the best way is to start with the people around her."

Youyue's face darkened.

Chu Yuan glanced at her:

"Don't overthink it. If Qin Shuang has truly been possessed, everything that person knows now is from three months ago. In these three months, you were by my side and didn't teach her anything."

Youyue breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Tu was even more confused:

"Then why would she rob supplies? She's already possessed; why would she need so little?"

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"What if she didn't kidnap him for her own sake?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who is most anxious after supplies are hijacked?"

Qianji asked in return.

Li Tu thought for a moment:

"Just protect the heart meridian. If the thing is lost, Youyue has to take responsibility."

"That's right. If the heart meridian is disrupted, Youyue will be distracted and won't have the energy to investigate other matters."

The Way of a Thousand Machines:

"And that old monster who possessed the body took this opportunity to establish himself in Hundred Flowers Valley."

Chu Yuan nodded:

"So that batch of supplies should be in Hundred Flowers Valley now."

Qianji was stunned:

"What the cult leader means is..."

"Send someone to Hundred Flowers Valley to investigate."

Chu Yuan said:

"It's not about investigating Qin Shuang, it's about investigating whether they've recently acquired anything they shouldn't be doing."

Qianji's eyes lit up:

"Understood!"

He turned to leave.

"etc."

Chu Yuan called out to him.

A thousand machines turn back.

Chu Yuan thought for a moment and said:

"Be careful when you investigate. Not everyone in Hundred Flowers Valley knows about this. Maybe only a few people are involved."

Qianji nodded:

"Understood."

Youyue suddenly spoke, her voice trembling slightly:

"Master, if it really was possession, then Qin Shuang... is she still alive?"

Chu Yuan looked at her and remained silent for two seconds.

To be honest, when it comes to possession, if the original body is possessed, it's as if the original body is dead.

But he couldn't say it directly.

He stood up and walked to Youyue:

"It's difficult."

Youyue lowered her head, clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh.

Chu Yuan looked at her, then suddenly reached out and patted her on the shoulder.

Youyue froze.

Chu Yuan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority:

"But I can tell you, no matter who that person is, I will make him pay the price."

He turned to look at Qianji:

"Pass down the order to conduct a thorough investigation of all disciples within the sect, especially those who have made unusual breakthroughs in the past three months. Treat them all equally, regardless of their lineage."

Qianji nodded:

"Yes."

Chu Yuan paused, then said:

"That's what's out in the open. Behind the scenes, you personally lead a team to thoroughly investigate and safeguard the heart meridian."

Youyue suddenly looked up.

Chu Yuan glanced at her:

"It's not that I don't believe you. It's just that someone is trying to frame you, and we have to find that person."

Youyue's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded emphatically.

Chu Yuan looked at You Yue and said, word by word:

"No matter who's behind this, I'll find them and show them what happens to anyone who messes with me."

The original owner of this body was a master of guarding the heart and pulse, who ascended to this level!

This conspiracy may not only be aimed at Youyue, but may even be directed at me!

But no matter what, who would dare to touch their own property!

Do you really think the title of Demon Lord is just a piece of paper?

Believe it or not, I will send three Tribulation Transcending experts to take action right now.

As for myself...

Yes, I will never step out of the Xuan Tian Sect before reaching the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm.

Youyue's eyes were completely red. She knelt on one knee and kowtowed heavily.

"Your subordinate thanks you, Master!"