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墨書 Inktalez
Qi Xiao even suspected that the booming business of renting disciple jade tokens at Baiyun Palace might be orchestrated by the palace itself. As for those disciples who went out to conduct the jade token rental business, they were merely pawns put forth by Baiyun Palace. If Baiyun Palace had indeed eliminated a large number of disciples, they would certainly need a sufficiently safe and secretive slaughterhouse.
According to the information provided by Qiao Yu, there was an ancestral peak in Baiyun Palace called Tianque Peak, where the remains of past palace masters, elders, and even some outstanding disciples were buried. Over the years, the graves had accumulated to cover the entire mountain.
Baiyun Palace had issued an order designating it as a forbidden area, prohibiting unauthorized entry. Ordinary disciples of Baiyun Palace also found the place desolate and ominous, unwilling to venture there. Tianyang Peak was the closest peak to Tianque Peak.
Before coming here, Qi Xiao had discussed with Ji Linglong that they must visit Tianque Peak on this trip. Upon reaching this remote peak, they found that weeds and ancient trees grew wildly, and various flowers and plants gathered together, creating a miasma of toxic mist.
Ji Linglong waved her hand in front of her nose, unable to suppress her frown. What kind of ancestral peak was this? Did they not choose a better spot for their ancestors' burial? With such conditions, weren’t they afraid their ancestors would rise from their coffins to deal with these ungrateful descendants?
It seemed there were indeed some issues; treating it as an ancestral peak while neglecting its upkeep and allowing miasma to thrive made it look like they didn’t want other disciples to come here at all.
Qi Xiao pushed aside a cluster of weeds and soon spotted a broken tombstone. He stepped forward quickly and found another tombstone nearby. As they reached the center of the peak, they suddenly heard some noises coming from behind a three-person-high stone tablet at the center.
They exchanged glances, both sensing a hint of caution in each other's eyes. Someone was here!
They quietly approached and saw a girl in red wielding a shovel, striking the stone slab on the ground. She hit at a crack but found no response; gritting her teeth, she tried to pry it open with the edge of her shovel. However, her strength was insufficient, and she stumbled back two steps when she lost grip of the iron shovel.
Before she could regain her balance, she felt a sharp pain in her leg as someone grabbed her from behind and pressed her against the stone tablet. Startled, she broke into a cold sweat and dared not breathe.
Ji Linglong turned her face towards her with mild surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Qi Xiao squinted slightly. "Do you know her? Is she also your mother?"
At that moment, Su Yinyin had already removed the cumbersome outer robes and crown, wearing only a simple red inner garment paired with a long skirt, looking like an ordinary girl who simply loved red.
Ji Linglong nodded and explained a few things. Just as she was about to press further, she saw Su Yinyin with her eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What are you crying for? We haven't hurt you. And why are you here?"
Su Yinyin gritted her teeth and shot Qi Xiao a defiant glare.
"Why are you asking me? What are you all doing here?"
Ji Linglong twisted her arm, causing her to break into a cold sweat, unable to speak.
"Speak! If you keep being evasive, you can forget about this arm."
Su Yinyin nodded pitifully, her eyes reddening.
She knew this woman was not the real Jiang Xinlian.
Qi Xiao stood before her, coldly observing. "Now I will ask, and you will answer."
He pulled out a dagger and pressed it against the girl's neck, his tone icy.
"If you dare lie, you know what will happen to you, right?"
As if they could tell when she was lying.
But feeling the chill at her neck, Su Yinyin swallowed her words and quietly replied with a soft "mm."
"Why are you here?"
"I'm looking for my brother."
"Brother? You're here to find him? How do you know your brother is here?"
After Su Yinyin's explanation, Qi Xiao finally understood the general situation.
It turned out that Su Yinyin's brother was also a cultivator. They were twins, connected in heart and mind, often able to sense each other's thoughts and feelings. When her brother heard that Baiyun Palace was recruiting disciples, he eagerly went to join.
Su Yinyin had no such ambitions; she just wanted to be an ordinary person, have her own courtyard, run an inn, and live a simple life.
When her brother returned from the White Cloud Palace, they could share a drink of the osmanthus wine she had brewed herself. Everything was going smoothly.
Her brother, Su Yuan, had a remarkable talent for alchemy. Not only had he entered the White Cloud Palace, but he had also gained the favor of the elder in charge of the Apothecary Hall, who often provided him with private guidance. With the elder's special attention, Su Yuan made rapid progress.
After he descended the mountain, he told his sister, Su Yinyin, that he might soon be accepted as a disciple by the elder. However, for someone like him, transitioning from an outer disciple to an inner disciple meant being watched by many eyes. To maintain appearances and to bring honor to the elder, Su Yuan often secluded himself for long periods.
About a year and a half ago, Su Yuan informed her that he would be entering an extended period of seclusion. He asked Su Yinyin to take care of herself in his absence. Su Yinyin obediently complied and patiently waited.
However, a year ago, when her brother was supposed to emerge from seclusion, he did not appear for a long time. During this time, she began to have frequent nightmares in which she saw her brother lying in a pool of water, pale and covered in blood, calling out for help.
These nightmares tormented Su Yinyin day and night until she could no longer bear it. She decided to visit the White Cloud Palace and managed to enter after offering many spirit stones for a disciple's token. But the steward at Tianyang Peak told her that her brother had emerged from seclusion six months prior and had already gone out to experience the world.
Su Yinyin's eyes turned bloodshot. "Impossible! My brother would never leave without even saying goodbye!" She insisted on receiving an explanation and demanded a recording stone from the steward, who was overwhelmed by her insistence.
Taking out a recording stone from her pocket, she activated it. A boy who resembled Su Yinyin appeared on the screen with an indifferent expression as he spoke a few brief words. The essence of his message was that during his seclusion, he had gained insights and felt that practical experience would greatly enhance his abilities. He left in haste without time for farewells and specifically recorded this message so that his loved ones would not worry.
Filled with resentment, Su Yinyin coldly remarked, "This person is not my brother at all! We have relied on each other since childhood, yet he didn’t even mention me in this recording."
"I don't understand your ways as cultivators," she continued. "So I inquired around and learned that there exists a type of disguise pill among you cultivators that can change one’s appearance to resemble another."
As long as one person takes the Disguise Pill and records the video with the Shadow Stone, it is entirely possible to create such a footage.
Qi Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly. "So you think the mastermind is Baiyun Palace?"
"Exactly!"
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