Ji Rong looked at Xie Bai, a flicker of surprise crossing her heart.
She hadn't even noticed his arrival. But given her and Gu Baiyi's cultivation levels, there was no reason they shouldn't have sensed him.
She had no idea how much he had overheard their conversation, but judging by his composed expression, it probably wasn't much. Otherwise, with Xie Bai's naturally gossipy nature, he would have already come over, peppering them with questions.
Seeing Ji Rong's indifferent expression, Xie Bai sighed dramatically. "Just now, on my way here from the Bamboo Grove, I saw Senior Sister Ji drinking with Senior Sister Gu. You both seemed to be having quite the pleasant time. But now that I'm the one extending an invitation, you look so unwilling. My heart truly aches."
Though his words carried sorrow, his smile remained as bright as ever.
Ji Rong scoffed inwardly. Oh, yes, you look absolutely devastated.
She recalled that in the game, Xie Bai wasn't exactly a harmless character. With that thought in mind, she decided to probe him a little. Her voice turned cold as she asked, "Are you following me?"
"Senior Sister, what makes you say that?"
Xie Bai's eyes widened in shock. He shook the wine jar in his hand and lamented, "I merely accepted a sect mission, to brew a jar of Peach Blossom Wine. I spent an entire day picking peach blossoms in the grove, painstakingly fermenting them into a single jar. Just as I was about to submit it to Elder Gong, I happened to run into you here. Overjoyed, I thought of sharing a drink with you. But who would have thought you'd be so suspicious of me? I've been terribly wronged."
Ji Rong glanced at the token hanging from his waist. It was a small, translucent jade plaque, thin and polished a genuine sect-issued token.
She mused that while Xie Bai was indeed a villain, he couldn't possibly be scheming all the time. Even villains needed a break now and then, days where they just went about their usual duties.
That said, she had already had her fill of farewell drinks at the previous table with the protagonist. She had no desire to indulge in more.
Keeping her expression neutral, she said, "I appreciate your kindness, Junior Brother, but you should go find Elder Gong now."
Xie Bai, sensing the perfunctory dismissal, sighed theatrically. "Since Senior Sister says so, I shan't impose. I can only bid you farewell."
Ji Rong remained unmoved, watching him impassively.
Hah. If you had even a sliver of self-awareness, you wouldn't have ended up as public enemy number one.
Without sparing him another glance, she turned and left Yanhui Pavilion.
Xie Bai stood where he was, smiling as he watched her retreating figure fade into the bamboo forest. Only when the last trace of white robes disappeared did he finally lower his expression and open the wine jar in his hands.
The jar was heavy, seemingly filled to the brim. But as soon as he removed the lid, instead of the expected fragrance of peach blossom wine, a thick, cloying scent of blood rushed out.
His expression remained unchanged, as if unsurprised.
Reaching into the jar, he retrieved a round object. With gentle fingers, he smoothed away the tangled hair that clung to it, revealing a face with wide, lifeless eyes.
Even after several days submerged in the wine jar, other than the bloodstains around the severed neck and the deathly pallor of the skin, everything about Xu Shi's head remained eerily intact.
Xie Bai recalled the rumors spreading from the Wei estate and let out a soft chuckle. "A single strike to the throat, quick and clean, no signs of torture… Prince Chu, you do weave a fine tale."
He examined the head carefully, turning it this way and that, before reluctantly placing it back into the jar. Then, crouching down, he began digging into the soil until he had carved out a hole large enough to fit the wine jar.
With a flick of his fingers, he ignited a talisman, casting a fire spell into the jar.
The flames roared to life, thick smoke billowing upwards as burning flesh and singed hair filled the air with a rancid stench.
Xie Bai gazed at the burning head, feeling neither satisfaction nor regret, only a deep sense of calm. Taking out a stack of spirit money from his pouch, he crouched and burned a few sheets in offering to Xu Shi.
Just then, footsteps approached Yanhui Pavilion. A figure in red stepped into view, pausing beside him to look at the flames licking the edges of the jar.
The newcomer, dressed in crimson robes, had a sickly complexion, none other than Gong Yu.
She coughed twice, wrinkling her brows. "What exactly are you burning?"
Xie Bai slipped the last sheet of spirit money into the jar and replied without lifting his head. "Xu Shi's head, along with some paper money."
"You're burning paper money for her?"
Gong Yu's frown deepened. She turned slightly, avoiding the thick smoke. "You hated her so much, why go through the trouble of bringing her back for a cremation? Wouldn't tossing her into a ditch have been easier?"
Xie Bai watched the flames consume the head, then rose to his feet, smiling. "Elder Gong, I'm not giving her a proper burial. I'm simply curious. Xu Shi prided herself on her devotion to Buddhism and her supposed boundless virtue. I just wanted to see if burning her would produce any relics."
"How childish."
Gong Yu's assessment was brief and to the point.
Xie Bai merely shrugged. He reached out, pressed the lid back onto the jar, and buried it in the hole, covering it with soil until it was completely concealed.
Only after he finished did Gong Yu finally turn to him and get to the heart of the matter. "You sent me a message the other day, saying you had made a significant discovery in the Tianshui Secret Realm. Can you finally talk about it now?"
Xie Bai nodded. "As per your instructions, I've been keeping an eye on Gu Baiyi. Initially, I didn't notice anything unusual… until we entered Yunxian Cave…"
"At that time, I saw that Yan Haiyao was still alive, which meant something was amiss. So, I took the Clear Heart Pill you gave me in advance."
"And then?"
"After that, Yan Haiyao succumbed to demonic influence and cast a Nightmare Art. I suspect it was the forbidden technique of Huanhua Palace—'Phantom Flowers, Hidden Moon.' Aside from Ji Rong and Gu Baiyi, everyone was bewitched by him."
Gong Yu nodded slightly and said indifferently, "Ji Rong was wearing the bracelet I gave her. That bracelet is an ancient divine artifact, 'Blood-Soaked,' capable of storing items and protecting the soul. Naturally, she would not be affected by the Nightmare Art."
Xie Bai narrowed his eyes and continued, "Gu Baiyi may not have had a divine artifact to protect her, but when I reached higher ground, she was willing to face off against Yan Haiyao just to save Qiu Sushuang. Ji Rong followed closely behind her."
Gong Yu frowned. She had not expected Gu Baiyi to risk herself for a disciple she barely knew.
"I saw it clearly," Xie Bai said. "Demonic energy surged around Gu Baiyi when she struck at Yan Haiyao. At that moment, a red lotus mark appeared on her neck."
Gong Yu was startled. A suspicion arose in her heart. "What kind of mark?" she asked.
Xie Bai thought for a moment before lifting his sword and sketching a rough outline on the ground.
Gong Yu stared at the lotus drawn on the ground, as if seeing the blood-red lotus that once spread across Chu Changli's face when she cultivated 'Soaring Flight' in the past.
She furrowed her brows, recalling an old memory.
A few years ago, Mei He had planned to travel to Jiangnan. But after discovering a letter in her room, she abruptly changed her plans and went to Yue City instead.
When Mei He returned, a girl accompanied her. The child had clear eyes and an attractive appearance. Yet, when Gong Yu met her gaze, an inexplicable unease settled within her.
Mei He always acted with purpose. But on that day, she gave no explanation, as if everything had simply fallen into place.
Gong Yu had asked her about it later: "Senior Sister Mei, why did you take Gu Baiyi in?"
Mei He merely smiled and said, "It's fate, nothing more."
Now, Gong Yu snapped back to the present, her expression turning cold. Fate? It was all a lie.
Xie Bai noticed her detached expression and couldn't help but ask, "Elder, what does that mark signify?"
"It signifies misfortune." She reached out and erased the lotus on the ground with a spell. "That mark only appears on the most inauspicious of beings."
Xie Bai chuckled in amusement. "Misfortune? Don't tell me Gu Baiyi is some fearsome demonic cultivator?"
"She is not a demonic cultivator."
"If not, then why does she have demonic energy?"
Gong Yu looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Because she is the monster foretold by the High Priest of the Divine Sect, the Heaven Demon Seed, destined to be eradicated by all."
Xie Bai was momentarily stunned, the smile fading from his face.
After all, the term 'Heaven Demon Seed' had once been used a century ago to describe the Demon Lord, Chu Changli.
Back then, the demonic path ran rampant. The Demonic Sect committed countless atrocities, yet no one dared challenge Chu Changli due to her overwhelming power.
It was only when the High Priest of the Divine Sect issued the Heaven's Mandate that declared Chu Changli to be the Heaven Demon Seed, an existence rejected by the heavens, that all sects united to exterminate her.
At the time, the righteous factions were divided, each minding their own affairs. But upon hearing the Heaven's Mandate, the four great sects led the charge, rallying cultivators for the cause.
Denouncing evil was seen as the righteous path. When they emerged victorious, the sects proudly claimed glory for themselves. Over time, the terms 'Heaven's Mandate' and 'Heaven Demon Seed' became little more than legend.
Some elders even rewrote history, changing their motivations from "defending the Dao" to "protecting their own sects' legacy."
A hundred years later, on her deathbed, the High Priest made another prophecy: The Heaven Demon Seed would return to the world.
Only then did people realize that perhaps the Heaven Demon Seed was not just a convenient excuse to unify the sects. Perhaps Heaven itself truly gazed upon them from beyond the veil.
Recalling all of this, Xie Bai asked, "Elder Gong, how can you be so certain Gu Baiyi is the Heaven Demon Seed? Couldn't she just be an ordinary demonic cultivator who happened to learn some forbidden arts?"
"And what do you think she has been practicing?"
Gong Yu's voice turned sharp. "She is cultivating Chu Changli's technique, 'Fenchuan.' Any ordinary demonic cultivator attempting the second level would be consumed and die, yet she has reached the seventh. If this is not demonic, then what is?"
"Moreover, if she wasn't the Heaven Demon Seed, why would Mei He take her in?"
Xie Bai gazed at Gong Yu's pale face, sensing deep mockery in her eyes.
Gong Yu spoke coldly. "Don't think of Mei He as some benevolent saint. Our master trusted her completely and taught her everything. But when our master jumped into that abyss, let alone following her to the end, Mei He didn't even blink."
"Mei He has always been ruthless in pursuing her goals, never acting without reason. And it's laughable, the world praises the Sect Master of Wanjian Sect as compassionate and just, yet Mei He has only ever cared about herself. The ideals of righteousness were never in her heart."
Xie Bai remained silent for a long time. He did not know Mei He well enough to speak.
Of course, Gong Yu did not expect him to understand. After a moment, she regained her usual composure, as if the sharp words earlier had never left her lips.
After a pause, Xie Bai sighed and asked, "Elder Gong, now that you know Gu Baiyi's identity, what do you plan to do?"
"What do I plan to do?"
Gong Yu coughed twice, then smiled. "I won't let Mei He get her way."
"And, of course, I need you to do something for me. Once it's done, I will kill Wei Zhiyuan for you."