“Han Yuan.”
A familiar voice sounded from behind him. Leng Hanyuan did not turn; he continued staring toward Yilan Peak.
The newcomer seemed unfazed by his indifference. He walked over at an unhurried pace, stopping beside him and following his gaze. “Yilan Peak? You care a great deal about Xiao Lingyu?”
That question finally drew Leng Hanyuan’s attention. He turned to look at the man—his nominal master, Yao Wu, the peak lord of Huawu Peak—and replied coldly, “It’s not that I care about him. I just feel that Xiao Lingyu is… a variable. Ever since he entered the sect, our plans have failed again and again. If you trace it back, he’s somehow connected to all of it.”
Cultivators often possessed a subtle intuition. Yao Wu fixed his gaze on Leng Hanyuan for a long moment, then lowered his head in thought, reviewing everything that had happened since Xiao Lingyu joined the sect.
After a while, his brows knit together.
When had things started slipping out of control?
Ten years ago—when Chu Mingwei escaped what should have been certain death?
Seeing that Yao Wu seemed to have realized something, a flicker of killing intent surfaced around him. Leng Hanyuan snorted coldly. “Don’t even think about another sneak attack. If you hadn’t acted on your own and sent that puppet to attack Xiao Lingyu last time, we wouldn’t have alerted the enemy.”
Yao Wu raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t sending the puppet your idea?”
Leng Hanyuan’s expression turned icy. “What do you mean by that? I told you to send it to monitor him—not to attack.”
Yao Wu remained calm. “I was only watching at first. But Xiao Lingyu sneaked off to the back mountain in the middle of the night. Given the situation, I naturally chose to eliminate a potential threat.”
Leng Hanyuan let out a mocking laugh. “You? Misjudge something?”
Yao Wu returned the look with a faint smile. “Ordinarily, no. But if you hadn’t exposed yourself in the ancient site, I wouldn’t have misread the situation.”
“You—!”
Seeing the anger on Leng Hanyuan’s face, Yao Wu remained as composed as ever. “Don’t worry. Ling Xiaozi hasn’t suspected you. Even Xiao Lingyu’s attack hasn’t been linked to the demon race in his mind. I know Ling Xiaozi well—if he were truly suspicious, he would never make such a public investigation. He would keep it tightly sealed. Matters involving the demon race are too serious for him to let the cultivation world know.”
Leng Hanyuan’s eyes flickered. “So you’re saying Ling Xiaozi really believes this was the work of demonic cultivators?”
Yao Wu nodded, about to respond—when his expression suddenly changed. In an instant, it softened into one of gentle warmth. “Han Yuan, remember this: in cultivation, one must proceed steadily. Never rush for quick results.”
Leng Hanyuan had already switched to a respectful demeanor the moment Yao Wu spoke. “This disciple will remember Master’s teaching.”
As their exchange ended, a figure dressed as an outer disciple appeared not far away. He bowed respectfully to Yao Wu and spoke clearly, “Peak Lord, Senior Brother Wen Shaohua of Qingyun Peak requests an audience with Senior Brother Leng. He is already waiting in Senior Brother Leng’s courtyard.”
Yao Wu looked surprised. “Wen Hua has returned?” Then he smiled at Leng Hanyuan. “Since he has come to see you, you should go. It has been many years since he left the sect with Junior Brother Li. The child from back then must have grown into a fine young man.”
At the mention of “Wen Hua,” Leng Hanyuan recalled the spoiled child from years ago, instinctive distaste rising in his heart. Yet a pleased smile appeared on his face as he bowed respectfully and followed the messenger away.
From afar, his divine sense detected the figure waiting in the courtyard. A trace of disgust flashed across Leng Hanyuan’s face. Taking a deep breath, he strode forward.
By the time he stepped through the gate, all traces of that disgust had vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. “Shaohua!”
“Senior Brother Leng!” The moment Leng Hanyuan appeared, a handsome youth of sixteen or seventeen rushed out to greet him, face full of delight.
Leng Hanyuan smiled as he looked him over. “It’s only been a few years, and you’ve grown into quite the young gentleman. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
The words clearly pleased the boy. He grinned proudly. “Did you miss me all these years, Senior Brother?”
Leng Hanyuan smiled softly. “Of course I did. But did you miss me?”
“Of course!” Wen Shaohua said eagerly, then added in a small voice, “It’s all my master’s fault. Wandering is fine, but he insisted on dragging me and Senior Brother along. Not only did I not get to see you, life outside was exhausting.”
Leng Hanyuan chuckled indulgently, then asked casually, “Junior Brother Zhao came back with you as well?”
Wen Shaohua nodded. “We only returned because of Senior Brother. His cultivation got stuck at the peak of the Void Realm. Master said we needed a stable place for him to break through.”
At the words “peak of the Void Realm,” Leng Hanyuan’s pupils contracted ever so slightly, though his face remained full of delight. “Junior Brother Zhao has advanced so quickly. That’s truly worth celebrating.”
Wen Shaohua waved it off. “He just got lucky—found a small piece of Fire Essence while traveling.”
Leng Hanyuan felt a brief tightening in his chest.
Wen Shaohua looked at him curiously. “Then Senior Brother Leng must have already reached the Core Realm by now, right?”
There was no malice in the question. In Wen Shaohua’s mind, Leng Hanyuan had always been the most formidable person in Yun Tian Sect. Naturally, he assumed such progress.
Seeing the admiration in the boy’s eyes, Leng Hanyuan thought of his own fifth level of the Void Realm. Irritation surged within him, but he forced a calm tone. “I’m still far behind Junior Brother Zhao. I’m only at the fifth level of the Void Realm.”
Wen Shaohua blinked, then said lightly, “Even if your cultivation isn’t as high as Senior Brother Zhao’s, you’re still the strongest in my eyes.”
Though he meant it sincerely, the words sounded like mockery to Leng Hanyuan. Watching the boy’s oblivious expression only deepened his irritation.
Unaware of any of this, Wen Shaohua continued chatting excitedly about his travels, even grabbing Leng Hanyuan to demonstrate things. As Leng Hanyuan’s smile grew increasingly forced, a soft voice sounded from outside.
“Senior Brother…”
A faint crease appeared between Leng Hanyuan’s brows, but when he turned, his face was all warmth. “Xuan’er!”
At the sound of that intimate address, Wen Shaohua’s expression immediately sharpened. He eyed the newcomer—a slender, delicate-looking youth in pale blue robes with strikingly beautiful features—and grabbed Leng Hanyuan’s arm. “Senior Brother Leng, who is he?”
The youth hesitated at Wen Shaohua’s possessive tone. A trace of grievance appeared on his face as he lowered his head silently.
Leng Hanyuan gently withdrew his arm and stepped closer to the youth. “Shaohua, this is Xu Xuan, a disciple of Martial Uncle Bai from Zuowang Peak.”
“Martial Uncle Bai?” Wen Shaohua frowned, thinking. After a moment, he sneered. “You’re that registered disciple who entered the sect with Xiao Lingyu ten years ago?”
The disdain in his voice was unmistakable.
Xu Xuan immediately stepped back, face paling, lowering his head in humiliation. “Xu Xuan greets Senior Brother.”
Wen Shaohua scoffed. “What’s with that look? I’m just stating facts. You are a registered disciple, aren’t you? Why act like I’m bullying you?”
Xu Xuan’s face grew even paler.
Leng Hanyuan glanced at him, weighed the situation, and then spoke with displeasure. “Shaohua!”
Wen Shaohua looked at him in surprise, hurt gradually appearing on his face. “You’re scolding me for a registered disciple?”
Suppressing his irritation, Leng Hanyuan adopted a patient tone. “As disciples of Yun Tian Sect, we should treat our fellow disciples with respect. How can you speak to Xuan’er like that?”
Wen Shaohua glared at Xu Xuan. “A registered disciple isn’t worthy of being called my fellow disciple.”
With that, he summoned his artifact and stormed off without another word.
Even someone as composed as Leng Hanyuan nearly lost his temper. Only after forcing it down did he turn to Xu Xuan with a gentle expression. “Don’t mind him. Shaohua is the youngest disciple of Qingyun Peak—he’s been spoiled.”
Xu Xuan looked pitiful. “How would I dare argue with Senior Brother Wen? He’s right—I’m only a registered disciple.”
Leng Hanyuan stepped closer, his tone even softer. “So what if you are? To me, you’re better than anyone else.”
“Really?” Xu Xuan asked, hope and uncertainty mingling in his eyes.
Leng Hanyuan nodded with a smile. Xu Xuan lowered his gaze shyly, and the two lingered in a moment of tender affection.
Meanwhile, Wen Shaohua, having left Huawu Peak, sped back to Qingyun Peak in a fury.
Thinking of Xu Xuan—and how Leng Hanyuan had even raised his voice because of him—his anger only grew.
“A mere registered disciple with mixed spiritual roots, relying on that pitiful face to compete with me for Senior Brother Leng… he deserves to die!”
The thought of Xu Xuan led him to Xiao Lingyu, and his resentment spilled over. Xiao Lingyu was useless—how could he let someone like that get close to Leng Hanyuan? He had worried day and night that Xiao Lingyu would take Leng Hanyuan from him, yet in the end, it was someone else who got there first.
By the time he reached Qingyun Peak, his anger had transformed into determination. Remembering how much his master doted on him, he headed straight for the rear hall—intending to have his master arrange for him and Leng Hanyuan to become Dao companions.
Back on Huawu Peak, Leng Hanyuan had no idea how far Wen Shaohua intended to go. After using an excuse about cultivation arrangements to send Xu Xuan away, he watched as the latter reluctantly left, step by step, until he disappeared from view.
Only then did the smile on Leng Hanyuan’s face vanish completely.
He glanced sideways at Yao Wu, who had appeared soundlessly beside him. His expression turned cold. “You let Xu Xuan in on purpose?”
“I was helping you.”
“Helping me?”
Yao Wu smiled faintly. “You’ve been trying for so long and still haven’t gotten any information about the Nine Yi Cauldron. I thought a little pressure might help. If someone competes for your favor, Xu Xuan might reveal the secret you’ve been seeking.”
“I don’t need your interference.” Leng Hanyuan’s voice turned icy. “I have my own plans for the Nine Yi Cauldron. Don’t forget—the Old Ancestor said that matters within Yun Tian Sect are under my control.”
After a pause, he added meaningfully, “I don’t need a failure telling me what to do.”
Yao Wu’s expression darkened at those words.
Watching Leng Hanyuan walk away, he lowered his head, concealing the hostility in his eyes.