Zhou Kai’s interest was piqued. He raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

Gao Feiyang fished a packet of unknown powder from his Storage Bag and tossed it into the air.

“Let’s walk and talk.” He clapped his dusty hands and darted off toward the horizon. “This stuff is called ‘Traceless Scent.’ Perfect for disposing of bodies and scrubbing your tracks. A must-have for home and travel! Available at the Three Watches Market, produced by the Half-Step Crazy Pharmacy. Fair prices for all, no scams!”

Zhou Kai and Fish Baibai followed close behind.

Gao Feiyang clicked his tongue twice, shaking his head. “Junior Brother Zhou, our esteemed Sect Master’s original name is Song Buran. He is the biological elder brother of the current Song Family Patriarch, Song Buqi!”

“Song Buran?” Zhou Kai mulled over the name.

Gao Feiyang slapped his thigh, his expression animated. “Back in his youth, our Sect Master was a truly earth-shattering, heaven-startling chaotic demon king!”

He winked, lowering his voice mysteriously.

“Do you know about the ‘Celestial Maiden Spring’ in our sect? The water contains pure Spirit Qi and is perpetually shrouded in immortal mist. It’s the favorite spot for our female disciples. Senior and junior sisters often bathe there together. The scene… tsk tsk… springs of leaking light, sparking endless imagination…”

Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched. This guy’s priorities were certainly consistent.

Gao Feiyang continued, spittle flying as he got into the story.

“Back then, when our Sect Master was still just the Young Master of the Song Family, he gathered a bunch of his ne’er-do-well friends on a dark and windy night. Under the noble pretense of ‘Observing the Heavenly Dao and Comprehending Nature,’ they swarmed toward the Celestial Maiden Spring.”

“His younger brother, Song Buqi—the current Song Family Patriarch—was still a greenhorn back then. Fooled by his brother’s eloquence, he tagged along eagerly.”

“And then?” Fish Baibai pressed, clearly loving the gossip.

“And then?” Gao Feiyang chuckled. “Naturally, they were caught red-handed by the patrolling Elders! Our Sect Master was quick-witted. Seeing the situation go south, he shouted, ‘The Dao lies ahead, I go first!’ and immediately used an escape technique, vanishing without a trace.”

“Poor Song Buqi. He was half a beat too slow and got caught solid. Along with that bunch of fox friends and dog companions, he was strung up by the Enforcement Hall Elders. They whipped him with a nine-section lash soaked in icy pool water until his skin split and flesh tore. He howled like a ghost!”

“It’s said that after Song Buqi was cut down, bruised and swollen, he went to confront his brother. The Sect Master was leisurely sipping spirit tea. After listening to the accusations, he looked utterly innocent and retorted:

‘Otherwise? Do you think watching stars teaches the Dao faster than watching fairies bathe? I was enlightening you, dear brother. Why don’t you understand? Run faster next time!'”

Zhou Kai: “…”

This Sect Master… had some nerve.

“That’s not all!” Gao Feiyang said with great enthusiasm.

“Another time, the Sect Master took Song Buqi to explore a secret realm. They finally found a rare treasure and were about to claim it when another group of cultivators appeared out of nowhere. Words were exchanged, and a fight broke out on the spot.”

“The other side had greater numbers. Seeing he was at a disadvantage, guess what our Sect Master did?”

“What could he do? With his temperament, he probably ran away again?” Zhou Kai guessed.

“Wrong!” Gao Feiyang clapped his hands. “The Sect Master acted decisively. He shoved his own dear brother, Song Buqi, right in front of him as a meat shield, shouting, ‘Hold the line, worthy brother! I’ll go find reinforcements, be right back!’ Then he turned tail and ran!”

“Afterwards, Song Buqi, dragging his heavily injured body, found his brother and demanded to know why he had shown so little brotherly affection. The Sect Master said unhurriedly:

‘Otherwise? Should a refined, handsome gentleman like me get my hands dirty? You, dear brother, are thick-skinned and sturdy, perfect for such scenes of shedding blood. I was creating an opportunity for you to shine!'”

Gao Feiyang spread his hands. “These are all long-circulated legends within the sect. Who knows if they’re true or false, but they’re told with vivid detail.”

“Just based on these two incidents, Junior Brother Zhou, what kind of person do you think our Sect Master is?”

Zhou Kai pondered.

With a personality like that, it didn’t seem impossible that he might play along with demonic sects for the sect’s benefit, even forming a temporary alliance.

“I know one thing that’s true!” Fish Baibai suddenly spoke up, her tone certain.

“Oh?” Both Zhou Kai and Gao Feiyang looked at her.

Fish Baibai cleared her throat, imitating the tone of a storyteller.

“It is said that back in the day, our Sect Master, for some unknown reason, had a minor conflict with our Li Family’s Elder Yunmian.”

“Elder Yunmian?” Zhou Kai’s mind conjured the image of that always sleepy-eyed, lazy, trouble-averse beautiful woman. She was a mid-Golden Core cultivator, and also his nominal master.

“Yes!” Fish Baibai nodded. “The Sect Master was young and impulsive back then. Relying on his exceptional talent in arrays, he secretly set up a Bewildering Entrapment Array and trapped Elder Yunmian inside for a full month!”

“A month?!” Gao Feiyang exclaimed.

Fish Baibai continued. “After Elder Yunmian got out, she didn’t get angry. She just stretched lazily, yawned, and said listlessly: ‘Not bad, this formation. Quite peaceful. Make more formations like this in the future. Saves me the trouble of cultivating. Hassle-free.'”

“It infuriated the Sect Master. He probably never expected Elder Yunmian to react like that.”

Zhou Kai couldn’t help but laugh. That sounded exactly like something his nominal master would say.

“But,” Fish Baibai’s tone shifted, “our Li Family Patriarch, Elder Yunmian’s older brother, Li Juefeng, heard his sister had been toyed with. He flew into a rage on the spot and went straight to confront the Sect Master, demanding justice!”

“And then? Did they fight?” Zhou Kai pressed.

Fish Baibai snorted. “And then? The Sect Master was prepared. Why would he engage our Patriarch in a one-on-one duel? He had over a hundred trusted subordinates lying in ambush. They all rushed in, surrounding our Patriarch. Over a hundred men gang-beating one!”

“Our Patriarch was so enraged that he demanded a Life-or-Death Duel with the Sect Master. But in the end, the Elders intervened. After all, both were pillars of the sect. So, the duel became a friendly sparring match.”

“Who won?” Zhou Kai asked.

“Hmph!” Fish Baibai stomped her foot. “Although the judging Elder declared our Patriarch the winner, the Sect Master was too shameless!”

“Oh? How so?”

“As soon as the duel started, the Sect Master released over a hundred bizarre beasts—some flying, some running, some swimming—and sent them all charging at our Patriarch! Then, he himself sat in a Grand Master’s Chair, floating in mid-air, munching on sunflower seeds and sipping wine while watching the show!”

Fish Baibai huffed. “Even the judging Elder couldn’t stand it. With a black face, he declared the Sect Master the loser on the spot!”

Zhou Kai and Gao Feiyang exchanged glances, both feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation.

This Song Buran… no, Jie Sanxing… was truly slippery.

Gao Feiyang stroked his chin, adding, “By the way, do you know the Three Watches Market? The most popular shop there, the Decent Pavilion, is said to have been opened by the Sect Master in his youth, just for fun…”

Zhou Kai listened, slightly stunned. He thought to himself that he really hadn’t explored the sect enough; he was missing out.

He asked, “Before the expedition, the Sect Master said in front of everyone that he would personally take action. That… should be true, right?”

Fish Baibai and Gao Feiyang exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads.

“Well… I’ve never heard of the Sect Master actually fighting anyone properly,” Gao Feiyang scratched his head.

Fish Baibai added, “Yeah, the Sect Master is always elusive. Even when he does show up, he talks more than he acts. But, he is the Sect Master. In front of so many people, he wouldn’t break his word… right?”

Their tones were incredibly uncertain.

Zhou Kai, after hearing this, had a new and very deep understanding of Jie Sanxing.

This was definitely a shameless Old Fox. A real “Dog.”

Meanwhile, in a secluded valley outside Gazing River City.

Several demon cultivators lay dead, their bodies scattered and mangled in grotesque shapes.

Shen Hanyi stood amidst the carnage, sword in hand.

Not far away, Li Youci—currently disguised as Xia Min—fixed her gaze on Shen Hanyi.

“Your sect was destroyed, your mountain gate slaughtered. Have you ever thought about how to avenge this blood feud?” she asked calmly.

Shen Hanyi gazed into the distance, her voice flat. “This vengeance, I cannot achieve.”

Li Youci’s eyes flickered.

She knew what Shen Hanyi meant. The Five Great Demon Sects were deeply rooted monsters. Even if the orthodox sects of the Eastern Domain combined their efforts, eradicating them would take countless years and a tremendous cost.

Personal strength was insignificant before such colossi.

Yet, she hadn’t expected Shen Hanyi to be so direct. So honest.

“Such thoughts… won’t they affect your Sword Heart?” Li Youci asked.

The heart of a sword cultivator must be resolute; fear or hesitation could shatter their path.

Shen Hanyi shook her head. “Because I know I cannot achieve it.”

She turned her gaze to Li Youci, her clear eyes devoid of impurities. “To act recklessly is no different from courting death. Besides… I promised him I wouldn’t die easily.”

Him?

Li Youci’s heart stirred. Other than Zhou Kai, who else could it be?

Shen Hanyi’s voice hardened with resolve. “But my Master’s death must be avenged.”

Li Youci arched an eyebrow. “Oh? Do you know who did it?”

“I don’t,” Shen Hanyi admitted. “But I will ask Miss Li for her assistance.”

Li Youci kept her expression impassive. “Hm?”

Shen Hanyi looked at her earnestly. “I will ask her to use the Soul Searching technique to uncover the specific murderer of my Master.”

A flicker of hidden amusement danced in Li Youci’s eyes.

“The Grand Miss is exceptionally talented, immensely powerful, peerless in Mana, deeply connected, beautiful, kind-hearted, and she loathes evil. I imagine she wouldn’t refuse such a small request.”

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the sword cultivator.

“However… what did you mean earlier when you said, ‘I promised him I wouldn’t die’?”