Chapter 15: Fight Fire with Fire. If It’s Hopeless, Bury It.

Chapter 15: Fight Fire with Fire. If It's Hopeless, Bury It.

“The fugitive the sect is after should be me.”

The Foxtail Grass Spirit lifted its head, gazing at the sky illuminated by the formation light, pale and ghastly.

Its eyes were vacant, it seemed completely defeated.

It was unclear whether it believed Fu Yu’s words or was simply agonizing over how to cooperate with its master, who seemed to have lost her mind in a delusional episode.

After a long moment, it slowly turned its long face: “Master, so… are we running away now?”

“Heh.” Fu Yu said, “Do I look like someone who needs to run?”

The Foxtail Grass Spirit: “……”

Yeah, yeah, yeah. If the sky falls, your mouth will hold it up.

Fu Yu smiled: “I’m going to join the manhunt team and become its leader.”

The Foxtail Grass Spirit: “……”

It grunted and strained for a long time before finally squeezing out, “Master, you’re a genius!”

Fu Yu glanced at it, clearly dissatisfied.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit had no choice but to scramble for more praise: “This is what they call ‘hiding in plain sight.’ The most dangerous place is the safest. You’ll get firsthand intelligence and control the investigation's progress.”

Fu Yu narrowed her eyes, smiling.

Seeing it truly had nothing left to say, she asked nonchalantly, “Not angry anymore, right?”

The Foxtail Grass Spirit was stunned for a good while: “Huh?”

Now it had completely and utterly forgotten about that infuriating dog, Lu Xingchen.

Lu Xingchen wasn’t concerned about the investigation.

When the Sect Master summoned the disciples, he thought it was a joke.

A conflict at the Patriarch level was like a clash of titans. What could a bunch of Foundation Establishment disciples possibly do? It was all just for show, creating a lively commotion to appear diligent.

Lu Xingchen, proud by nature, had always disdained such superficial formalities.

He followed the crowd to the main hall to look for Fu Yu.

Right now, his mind was filled with her light, airy remark: “I bet Su Jiabao wasn’t there.”

He knew she had misunderstood again.

Yes, Su Jiabao indeed wasn’t there just now, but it wasn't anything like she thought—a man and a woman alone, his cousin using some seductive, underhanded trick to sway him into letting her stay.

‘It’s not like that, Fu Yu, not like that.’

Lu Xingchen’s heart swelled with a hot, conflicted feeling. The depth of his cousin’s feelings and her fierce resolve had shaken him profoundly.

He desperately wanted to grab Xie Fuyu and pour out his heart to her, to make her understand how her prejudice had led her to misjudge a woman of fierce integrity.

But he couldn’t.

His cousin’s affection, he could only bury it deep in his heart forever.

He had already hurt one; he couldn’t hurt another.

‘Fu Yu, the reason I had to forgo her deep, sea-like affection was all for you. From now on… please be a little more tolerant of her!’

He lifted his deep, peach-blossom eyes and found Fu Yu at the very front of the hall.

Lu Xingchen was stunned.

What was she doing at the very front?

At this moment, the Peak Masters and elders of the sect were gathered together. She was standing straight and stiff right under the noses of the seniors.

It seemed he wouldn’t be able to find her before the gathering ended.

Lu Xingchen sighed softly, composed himself, and looked toward the Sect Master speaking from the main seat.

The Sect Master spoke in her usual unhurried tone: “…Those Evil Cultists are truly despicable. The elders and I all feel there might be a traitor within our ranks, colluding from within and without to ambush the Patriarch. We really must be on guard.”

She paused, looking left and right. “Isn’t that right?”

Several Peak Masters and elders, either at the Transcendent realm or the Nascent Soul stage, nodded in unison: “The Sect Master speaks wisely.”

“Effective immediately, the sect is under strict lockdown. No one may enter or leave freely. Once I summon the Retrospective Light to clarify what exactly happened before the Patriarch fell unconscious, we can discuss further…” The Sect Master sighed softly. “I know this arrangement is somewhat unreasonable. Does anyone have any objections?”

Her gaze was gentle as she looked at the crowd, carrying encouragement—it’s okay to say no, it’s fine.

The Peak Masters and elders hastily shook their heads: “This is entirely appropriate.”

The Sect Master sighed with deep emotion: “My virtue is shallow. I truly rely on your support and do not abandon me.”

The crowd hurriedly offered some polite, formal remarks.

Hearing this, Lu Xingchen couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

If he had known the sect would be locked down, he wouldn’t have rushed earlier to bring up the matter of his cousin staying, stirring up trouble for no reason.

“Lu Xingchen.”

Lu Xingchen was startled. He had been frowning inwardly, never expecting the Sect Master to suddenly call his name.

“Your disciple obeys.” He quickly adjusted his expression, lowered his gaze, and cupped his hands in salute.

The Sect Master’s voice was soft and slow, pinning her hopes on him: “You will lead the team, investigating clues within the sect as much as possible. Among the disciples of our generation, the most outstanding is…”

Her words suddenly halted.

At first glance, she was somewhat uncertain, but with the second look, this high-level cultivator could confirm—Lu Xingchen had regressed.

The outstanding dark horse, just a hair’s breadth from forming his Golden Core, had fallen back to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and it looked like he might fall further.

The Sect Master, having weathered great storms, showed no change in expression and finished, “…you.”

Lu Xingchen lowered his gaze, his voice deep: “Your disciple accepts the command.”

Having appointed the general, the Sect Master slowly surveyed the hall, preparing to appoint the soldiers.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw someone raise a hand.

Fu Yu.

Lu Xingchen's heart gave a little leap of joy, and a smile unconsciously spread across his face.

She had always steered clear of sect affairs, so her stepping forward now was naturally for his sake.

The Sect Master also smiled, turning to those beside her and saying, "Look, as soon as I pick that one, this one volunteers herself."

Fu Yu declared with righteous conviction, "I'm more outstanding than him."

The Sect Master: "...Ahem."

Fu Yu said earnestly, "Let me lead the team."

The Sect Master sighed softly, "These youngsters, butting heads and competing with each other, can't help but remind me of the old days. Elder Muyun, do you remember how we used to vie for first place? Looking back now, it was all fleeting clouds."

Elder Muyun stood up, "The Sect Master is right."

The Sect Master's gaze grew nostalgic, lost in thought for a moment before she said gently, "Lu Xingchen will lead the team. Xie Fuyu, Xiao Chusheng, Hua Lang..."

She called out several names in succession.

"You are all to cooperate fully with Lu Xingchen."

The named disciples stepped forward one by one, "Yes, Sect Master."

As for the so-called Evil Cultists mentioned by the Sect Master...

Fu Yu didn't even need to think hard to guess.

Jun Bu Du, herself, and their respective disciples and followers.

She truly couldn't understand it.

Jun Bu Du's Daoist Sect—the most orthodox of the orthodox, the very lineage of the Dao.

How, in just a few thousand years, had it fallen to such a state?

Leaving the solemn and majestic carved-beam hall, the Foxtail Grass Spirit scurried after Fu Yu, bending over and stealing glances at her expression.

"Master, master, you're not angry, are you?"

"Angry about what?" Fu Yu sneered, "Is this even worth getting angry over? That guy surnamed Lu leading the team is just letting him have a nominal advantage, a superficial edge over me. Would I be angry? What do I have to be angry about? I'm not angry. I'm merely stating a fact—is he even qualified to tell me what to do?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit: "..."

*And she says she's not angry?*

"Master," it said, "Let me tell you something, and you definitely won't be angry anymore."

Fu Yu looked suspicious.

This scene felt somewhat familiar.

"Hmm?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit leaned in, whispering mysteriously, "The Sect Master has gone to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to borrow the immortal artifact Retrospective Light. With it, we can reconstruct the scene of what happened when the Patriarch was injured. Then we'll know exactly how the Patriarch got hurt!"

Fu Yu slowly blinked.

After a long moment, she asked, "Do you think Li Xueke has a common, forgettable face?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit shook its head vigorously.

Fu Yu nodded, "Right, I don't think so either."

That guy was handsome, with clear brows, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth. Most importantly, he was the wealthy and influential master of the Treasure Pavilion.

The reclusive Patriarch might not recognize the master of the Treasure Pavilion, but among so many people in the sect, someone was bound to know him.

Once the scenes from the dream were exposed, Li Xueke would be finished.

And if Li Xueke was finished...

*Hiss.*

Fu Yu rarely encountered such a headache-inducing situation, "Do you think there's any way to stop this?"

Seeing that she was indeed no longer angry, the Foxtail Grass Spirit secretly gave itself a thumbs-up.

It nodded, "There's a way!"

Fu Yu raised an eyebrow, "Speak."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit spoke nonsense with a serious face, "Wait for the Sect Master to return, then snatch Retrospective Light from her hands!"

Fu Yu fell silent for a moment, "Me? Snatch it?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit pointed at its own nose, "Otherwise... me?"

Fu Yu said expressionlessly, "Is there any other way?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit puffed out its chest, "Yes! Before the Sect Master uses Retrospective Light on the Patriarch, sneak into the forbidden grounds and finish off the Patriarch!"

Fu Yu: "..."

She looked up at the sky and exhaled.

She murmured gloomily, "I should have just run away earlier."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit covered its mouth, snickering, "It's fine, Master. Even though the sect is under lockdown and you can't escape, you've successfully joined the investigation team!"

Fu Yu: "...Meeting you is truly my blessing."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit beamed, "Right? Right?"

After walking a few steps, Fu Yu turned her head, "The Sect Master didn't elaborate on that immortal artifact Retrospective Light. How do you know about it so clearly?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit slowly hung its head, and after a while, it spoke dejectedly, "After Grandpa got hurt, Master, you spent a lot of effort investigating. You found out that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has an immortal artifact. With it, we could learn what exactly happened to Grandpa before he fell unconscious."

Fu Yu nodded, "I see."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit smiled bitterly, "Master tried many avenues, spent countless wasted resources, but couldn't even get a word in with the gatekeeper boy of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. People like us, how could we possibly borrow such a treasure?"

Fu Yu nodded.

Elder Xie was merely a Nascent Soul Cultivator, common as dirt in the sect.

The sect wouldn't even spend a fortune to prolong his life, let alone borrow an immortal artifact from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for him.

They walked on in silence.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit suddenly blurted out, "Master, you're not still mad, are you?"

Fu Yu: "..."

With one foot in the grave, how could she still remember an insignificant speck like Lu Xingchen?

The thought had just crossed her mind.

The voice of that trivial speck came from afar: "Xie Fuyu!"

Fu Yu turned back with a scowl.

She saw Lu Xingchen approaching with several members of the Manhunt Team. He looked down at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth: "Let's go. We have work to do."

Fu Yu: "Just you? Even if the real culprit stood right in front of you, you wouldn't recognize them."

Lu Xingchen smiled bitterly: "Can you?"

Fu Yu: "Of course I can."

Suddenly, someone nearby chimed in snidely: "If you ask me, that Wu He is mighty suspicious! We should start investigating him right away—chances are we'll find something!"

Fu Yu: "..."

She shot a glance at him without any killing intent.

It was Xiao Chusheng, the one who had tricked Wu He into alchemy.

His guess was spot-on—he had already earned himself a death sentence.