Chapter 221: Appearing as Two Different Persons

He seemed to be serious, but in reality, he hadn't detected anything amiss. He merely repeated Shi Chun's words; since Shi Chun had mentioned "Nightingale"'s message seemed off, he echoed that sentiment.

It didn't require much complexity or deep thought; he just needed to chime in. This way, he wouldn't speak carelessly and create unforeseen problems.

He likely just wanted to lend more weight to the situation, seeing the two women were unsettled.

The two women exchanged glances. Both men had sensed something was amiss, yet the women were still trying to understand what was going on, which made them realize their own lack of alertness.

"Miss, perhaps we should temporarily move to a nearby spot and observe?" Feng Chi cautiously asked, no longer wanting to make decisions on behalf of Xiang Lan'er.

Considering it was merely a minor relocation that required little effort, and potentially avert danger, Xiang Lan'er immediately agreed with a nod.

The four quickly pointed out potential spots around them, soon decided on a hiding place, and swiftly moved to conceal themselves. From their new position, they observed the summit of Lone Blade Cliff.

Once the search effort from Mount Wukang commenced, it didn't take long to locate witnesses who pinpointed Xia Fuli's direction. There was more than one witness.

The witnesses, of course, couldn't definitively identify the person as Xia Fuli, but they could confirm that someone had flown away with another person.

This information was immediately relayed to Bian Jixiong.

Upon hearing the news, Bian Jixiong prepared to investigate personally. However, Bian Que, who was nearby, sternly rebuked him, "You are the Sect Master; you must understand your role. Return to the sect and oversee it!"

Bian Jixiong was momentarily speechless, but he complied and returned.

Bian Que, meanwhile, swiftly departed and headed to the location where the clue had been discovered.

Remembering Shi Chun's instructions, Yin Huixin quickly followed. Upon her arrival, she noticed that Bian Que wasn't verifying the clue's authenticity but was instead checking the identities of those who had found it, clearly suspicious of their presence there.

Soon after, the reason for the group's presence was verified: they were all individuals seeking suitable stone materials for the construction of the Xungate.

Only then did Bian Que reconfirm Xia Fuli's direction, fixing his gaze on it.

A brief consideration revealed this wasn't the direction from Mount Wukang's main gate, implying Xia Fuli had changed course mid-journey, which was understandable.

"Has anyone gone in that direction?" Bian Que inquired.

Elder Cui Youfei, who was personally overseeing the search, replied, "Someone has already gone to investigate in that direction."

With a flick of his sleeve, Bian Que also flew off in that direction.

However, while en route, he suddenly landed on a mountaintop. After his gaze swept around thoughtfully for a moment, he pulled out a communication talisman and sent a message detailing his grandson's abduction by Xia Fuli.

The involvement of Xia Fuli, particularly his background, made Bian Que fear the situation was far from simple.

Furthermore, with reports from the mountain confirming the disappearance of Shi Chun and Xiang Lan'er, he became extra cautious and requested assistance from his contact via the communication talisman.

The reply from the other party stated: "Once anything unusual is confirmed, send the precise location. Personnel can arrive at any time."

Upon receiving this clear confirmation, Bian Que's tense expression finally softened. With a sharp glint in his eyes, he scanned the surroundings before once again flying off.

Meanwhile, Yin Huixin, having moved away from others, also pulled out a communication talisman and sent a message: "Clue to Xia Fuli's whereabouts discovered."

Hidden in the forest, Shi Chun, who had already chosen his vantage point, huddled behind Wu Jinliang and pulled out a communication talisman. After reading it, he replied, "Has Bian Que reacted?"

Yin Huixin: "He's already following the clue."

Shi Chun: "Understood."

"That's it?" Yin Huixin looked as if she had more to say but restrained herself, finally flying off in Bian Que's direction.

Shi Chun, still concealed behind Wu Jinliang, pulled out another communication talisman and sent a message: "Please, senior, honor your promise and help me retrieve someone."

Elsewhere, Bian Que, flying through the air, flipped his hand to retrieve a communication talisman. After reading it, his eyes flashed, and he landed on a treetop. He then sent a message: "Time, location, person."

Shi Chun looked up from behind Wu Jinliang, glanced at Lone Blade Cliff in the distance, and replied: "Approximately eight hundred li northwest of Mount Wukang, there's a great rift valley. Four or five li north of the rift valley, in the forest on Lone Blade Cliff. Once you see two individuals, leave the older one alive at the scene. Please bring the younger one to Zhaotian City for me. When we arrive, I will certainly treat you to a good meal and drinks, senior."

Two individuals, one older and one younger – at this point, it was difficult not to make connections. Bian Que's eyes gleamed with a profound look.

He knew the approximate location mentioned in the message. Not only was he familiar with areas eight hundred li northwest of Mount Wukang, but there was also no general environment within a thousand-li radius of the entire mountain that he didn't thoroughly understand.

Should he pursue the already discovered clues regarding Xia Fuli, or head to the location Shi Chun had just sent to confirm? The two directions were completely at odds.

After much deliberation, he maintained his initial suspicion: the fact that Xia Fuli's direction after abducting someone could be discovered was highly questionable. Moreover, Shi Chun had no idea of his true identity; not just Shi Chun, but even the demonic sect wouldn't know that scruffy old man was him.

In fact, no one else in the world knew his identity, not even his son, Bian Jixiong.

From an official standpoint, he should pursue the more suspicious leads regarding Xia Fuli, as this could reveal crucial information, allowing them to leverage the imperial court's power for eradication.

However, his priority at that moment was rescuing his grandson, so he replied: "Understood."

He then swiftly moved, changing his course towards the Great Rift Valley.

At the same time, the man in green, lying still on the mountaintop, pulled out a communication talisman. It read: "Bian Que is arriving."

This was a reminder for him to prepare for action, to ensure no missteps.

The man in green was somewhat surprised by the message, unsure how his superiors had gained this information.

However, if his superiors said so, it wouldn't be without reason.

This eased his mind somewhat. Initially, when the plan was devised, he had been concerned that leaving clues to lure Bian Que might arouse suspicion, especially since Xia Fuli's demonic identity might already be exposed. However, after his superiors reviewed the plan and assured him it would work to draw Bian Que out, instructing him to proceed, he had no choice but to comply.

Until he received this particular message, he had remained subtly uneasy.

Naturally, he was now fully alert, intently observing the surrounding airspace and any movements. Once the target was spotted, he absolutely could not allow them to leave alive.

"They're here," Feng Chi whispered a warning.

A figure landed in the small grove above Lone Blade Cliff; more accurately, two figures: a masked man in black, accompanied by Bian Weikang.

Although he hadn't been certain of the masked man's identity, upon seeing Bian Weikang, Shi Chun's lips curved into a slight smile. He had a strong suspicion: it seemed his guess was correct; "Nightingale" was indeed Xia Fuli.

It was clear that even if Xia Fuli couldn't return to Mount Wukang, he preferred to keep his identity hidden from them.

Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er also turned to look at the two men behind them, their expressions seeming to ask, "Is everything alright?"

Shi Chun quietly said, "No need to rush; let's wait a little longer."

Wu Jinliang, with a grave expression, stated, "Better safe than sorry. Let's observe a little longer."

Given the two men's achievements at the Sky Rain Meteorite Convention, the women were willing to respect their judgment. Being cautious was always the best approach.

The masked man in black was indeed Xia Fuli. His disguise was specifically because he did not wish to reveal his identity to Shi Chun and the others.

Landing in the forest, he scanned the surroundings but saw no one. He then used his immortal cultivation to effortlessly sweep the small area, confirming no one was present. Feeling puzzled, he pulled out a communication talisman to send a message.

Soon after, Xiang Lan'er also retrieved a communication talisman. After reading its content, she turned her hand to show it to the two men behind her.

The message simply read: "Where are you?"

Shi Chun understood her intent and quietly advised, "Don't reveal our position. Keep him calm, and let's observe a bit longer. Tell him someone just passed by here, so we momentarily hid, but we'll be back soon."

Xiang Lan'er thought for a moment, then replied as he instructed.

It wasn't necessarily that she was strictly obeying him, but rather, as the saying goes, it's always wise to be cautious.

Moreover, since someone clearly sensed something amiss, it would be inexcusable for her not to be careful.

Upon reading the message, Xia Fuli let out a small sigh of relief. He had been concerned there might be an issue, especially since Xiang Lan'er had claimed to have arrived earlier, yet the place was empty. It was hard for him not to worry.

He waited, hidden on a solitary, hair-like outcrop of the cliff.

Shi Chun and the others also waited, concealed within the mountain forest.

For Shi Chun, it was simple: if the scruffy old man arrived first, he would wait; if "Nightingale" arrived first, "Nightingale" would wait.

They didn't wait long. Given Bian Que's cultivation and his familiarity with the terrain, he had headed straight there and arrived swiftly.

A single figure appeared in the air, instantly hovering above Lone Blade Cliff, then slowly descended into the forest below.

He, too, was cautiously observing the area below and around him.

Feng Chi gasped, her eyes wide with horror as she recognized the newcomer, letting out a small gasp: "Bian Que!"

Xiang Lan'er was equally shocked. Since they were targeting Mount Wukang, they had naturally familiarized themselves with the appearances of its important figures, having studied their portraits beforehand.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances. Neither of them had known Bian Que until now.

Shi Chun had a notion in his mind. Last time, in the secret room, Feng Chi had instructed them to prepare for evacuation, stating that their demonic identities had been exposed even before they ascended Mount Wukang, and that the mountain's residents knew of their arrival beforehand. He had specifically asked if this included him, and the answer was affirmative.

This immediately raised his suspicions. Before leaving Zhaotian City, he hadn't even known he was a demon cultivator, so how could he have been exposed?

Feng Chi and the others were unaware, but he knew the truth clearly.

This meant the exposure occurred somewhere between Zhaotian City and Mount Wukang. It was possible someone within the demonic sect had leaked the information.

Did Mount Wukang have an informant within the demonic sect? Or did informants from other layers provide intelligence to Mount Wukang?

He had to consider another possibility: on the journey from Zhaotian City to Mount Wukang, Feng Chi and her companions were indeed exposed once and even injured by that scruffy old man.

This suspicion, coupled with the thought that Bian Weikang might possess Mount Wukang's secret refining techniques, indicating Bian Weikang's importance, led him to immediately realize that the scruffy old man's encounter with them outside Zhaotian City might not have been coincidental. In fact, he wondered if the scruffy old man knew that Bian Weikang possessed the secret refining method for the immobilizing talisman.

This implied that the scruffy old man had very likely been observing Feng Chi's conflict with them all along, as part of a premeditated plan.

He had then begun to suspect that the scruffy old man might be Bian Que, largely because the old man had once boasted that even Bian Que would have to go around him.

What made him hesitant was that the demonic sect couldn't even ascertain the scruffy old man's identity. Surely the demonic sect would recognize Bian Que?

Of course, from the moment he handed the communication talisman to the scruffy old man, whether the old man was Bian Que ceased to matter. All that mattered was that the old man could provide assistance.

Now, hearing Feng Chi utter the name "Bian Que," Shi Chun was 100% certain. Bian Que was indeed that scruffy old man, despite appearing to be two entirely different individuals.