"Cuckoo, cuckoo." The call of a bird gradually brought Gu Xiande back to his senses.
"You may leave. For the next few days, do not go out. Focus on your cultivation." He gave Xiao Pingtian a faint glance.
"Disciple obeys."
After Xiao Pingtian left, Gu Xiande waved his sleeve, and a streak of light flew to a certain location in the Flowing Cloud Sect. A quarter of an hour later, a person appeared in Cloudsoar Pavilion.
"How is the investigation?" The newcomer was precisely Liao Changping.
He replied, "We found Duan Heng's body. The two of them fought for a long time, but Duan Heng was killed by a single blow."
Gu Xiande's face grew even darker. "To kill someone of a higher realm, and to do it so cleanly... If the Ancestor finds out about this, how will Pingtian be able to hold his head up in the sect in the future? The Flowing Cloud Sect cannot have someone so powerful who does not listen to me."
Liao Changping frowned. "This kid... he is quite a genius."
Gu Xiande sighed. "So what if he's a genius? Before he has fully grown, he's no different from trash. This kid is too calculating and is unwilling to be used by me. That person is about to return, and we can't have any problems at this critical juncture. You make the arrangements. Get rid of him as soon as possible."
Liao Changping was stunned for a moment, likely not expecting Gu Xiande to make such a decision. A moment later, he cupped his hands. "Understood."
…
Under the night sky, Lin Yun was cultivating in his bamboo hut when he suddenly felt agitated and uneasy. He pulled up his own panel.
[Name]: Lin Yun [Realm]: Fifth Level of Yuan Sea Realm (Translator's Note: Original text has a typo, reverting to third level. Translating based on established progression.) [Destiny]: Son of Misfortune (Gray) [Fate]: A Life of Futility (White), Fated for Calamity (Black) [Son of Misfortune]: You are often plagued by misfortune and frequently encounter unlucky events. [Fated for Calamity]: A great disaster will befall you in the near future. [Outcome]: You work diligently in the Flowing Cloud Sect and finally start to see some success, but you become a disposable pawn in a conflict between masters. [Recent Turning Point]: In two days, you will accept a sect order to go down the mountain for training.
Something's not right. This is very wrong.
Lin Yun looked at the panel, his thoughts sinking deeper. He was just a gatekeeper. What kind of sect mission would he be sent on? As the saying goes, anything this abnormal must be a trap. This matter was definitely strange.
Lin Yun began to pace back and forth anxiously. Just then, Deng Pengzu arrived on his sword. He immediately went up to him. "Elder Deng, I..." He had wanted to talk about the sect mission, but the words stopped at his lips. How was he supposed to explain this to Deng Pengzu?
Instead, Deng Pengzu patted his shoulder and said, "I have to leave for a period of time."
Lin Yun grew even more nervous. "Leave?"
Deng Pengzu nodded. "Yes. It's a matter entrusted to me by an old friend. I must make the trip."
For Deng Pengzu to be leaving at this critical juncture, how could Lin Yun not connect it to his own situation? There's a bad person in the sect, and they're trying to harm me. And they're not going to spare Deng Pengzu either?
Thinking of this, he immediately pulled up Deng Pengzu's panel.
[Name]: Deng Pengzu
[Realm]: Eighth Level of the Myriad Laws Realm
[Destiny]: Righteous Aura (Purple)
[Fate]: Single Noble (Green), Wine Sword Immortal (Blue), Divine Telekinesis (Purple)
[Outcome]: ...retired to the Flowing Cloud Sect under a new name, living out a carefree life.
[Recent Turning Point]: Travels to the Northern Wasteland. Is attacked by evil cultivators and mistakenly enters a cave. Due to taking the wrong turn at a fork in the road (the right-hand path), he is seriously injured and left on the brink of death.
As I thought, there's a huge problem here.
Lin Yun clenched his fists. He had known Deng Pengzu for some time now. Although they didn't have the title of master and disciple, they had the substance of it. There were few people in the Flowing Cloud Sect that he cared about.
"Elder Deng, you must be careful on this trip." Lin Yun put on a profound look, pretending to have performed a divination. He said pointedly, "I just calculated that no matter what, if you choose the right-hand path, you will surely face a great calamity. You must avoid it."
Deng Pengzu was stunned for a moment, then slapped Lin Yun on the back of the head. "You brat, are you cursing me?"
Lin Yun clutched his head and shrank to the side, smiling. "Just tell me if you'll listen or not. I'm telling you, my ancestors were celestial diviners. This one divination for you is going to shorten my lifespan."
Seeing Lin Yun's aggrieved look, a trace of warmth flashed in Deng Pengzu's eyes. He sneered. "Pah, I don't need you to divine my fate. What can this damn heaven do to me?"
Deng Pengzu still had that "I'm not afraid of anyone" attitude. Afterward, he pulled Lin Yun aside and gave him many instructions. Lin Yun could feel that Deng Pengzu was very worried, but he couldn't say much at this moment. He could only hope that the heavens look after their own and that Deng Pengzu could overcome this crisis.
Early the next morning, Lin Yun went to Qingxia Peak as usual. He had wanted to see Hongxiu, but he only found Shangguan Wan.
"What are you doing here again?" Shangguan Wan's attitude was as cold as ever, enough to make one shiver.
"Ahem, I came to..."
"Little Junior Sister is in seclusion recently. The Ancestor is helping her guard her cultivation. If you want to see her, you'll have to wait a month."
Everything is happening at once? Lin Yun muttered to himself. In a month, he might already be a stiff.
"Then I won't disturb Elder Shangguan." Lin Yun turned and left.
Shangguan Wan watched his retreating back and frowned. "What's going on? Why do I feel... as if something is different?"
After coming down from Qingxia Peak, Lin Yun sat in his bamboo hut, pondering his countermeasures. Gu Xiande and Xiao Pingtian must have discovered something, so they want to kill me? Hongxiu and Qin Xiyan are in seclusion. Deng Pengzu has left the sect. Everyone close to me is tied up with important matters. This is clearly a set-up to kill me.
Lin Yun intensified his cultivation while praying for the Yuan Embryo to be born. This little guy has been freeloading off me for so long. Isn't it about time for some payback?
For the next few days, Lin Yun continued to care for it meticulously. But unfortunately, neither he nor the Yuan Embryo showed any signs of change.
On the morning of the third day, Lin Yun saw a disciple from Cloudsoar Pavilion, who summoned him there.
When Gu Xiande saw Lin Yun, his face was all smiles. "Ah, Lin Yun. Come, sit, sit." He led Lin Yun to a seat and ordered a young attendant to pour tea.
Lin Yun then noticed that besides himself, that Elder Liao Changping was also here.
"Sect Master, I wonder why you have summoned this disciple today? This disciple still has to guard the mountain gate."
Gu Xiande waved his hand. "Lin Yun, are you still blaming me?"
Lin Yun immediately stood up and bowed. "This disciple would not dare."
Gu Xiande's voice softened considerably. "It's fine, it's fine, you don't need to be so nervous. Just think of me as your elder. Arranging for you to be at the mountain gate a few days ago was just to shut the mouths of the gossips in the sect. Otherwise, did you think I could spare you with just a word from Qingxia Peak?"
What a sanctimonious old fox.
Looking at Gu Xiande's kind and benevolent face, Lin Yun sneered inwardly. This only confirmed his thoughts. This sect mission was aimed at him.