I have a composite mirror

Chapter 96 Chen Anzhi's Secret

Gu Shenyan's footsteps were very light, and each step was extremely rhythmic, trying not to make a sound.

This was a habit he developed after his trip to the mass grave.

The old locust tree still stands there, like a hunched old man, whispering softly in the wind.

Under the tree, the figure stood with his hands behind his back.

Unlike his usual dejected and lazy demeanor, Chen An stood ramrod straight at this moment.

It was like a sharp blade that had been hidden in its sheath for many years; though it had not yet been drawn, its chilling aura was already emanating from it.

"They're here."

Chen An did not turn around, but his voice clearly reached Gu Shenyan's ears.

It was no longer that hoarse voice with a hint of drunkenness, but the composure of someone who had long held a high position.

"Senior Brother Chen."

Gu Shenyan stopped three zhang away and bowed slightly.

This is a safe distance that allows for both offense and defense.

Chen An slowly turned around.

Under the moonlight, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like two bottomless, icy pools.

Where is there even a trace of turbidity left?

"Isn't that strange?"

Chen An's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

"Why is a good-for-nothing who failed the exam three times in a row still able to stay in this tenement?"

"And why, at this crucial juncture, should I tip you off?"

Gu Shenyan remained silent for a moment.

He looked into Chen An's eyes and slowly uttered four words.

"That's really strange."

"But I suspect that my senior brother isn't really failing the test."

"Oh?"

Chen An raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued.

How do you know?

"That finger pointing at the mass grave, called 'Golden Light Dispelling Evil,' actually employed the technique of 'pointing stars.'"

Gu Shen's tone was calm, yet every word he uttered was profound.

"If one had not been immersed in the Dao of Talismans for more than ten years and had not cultivated a special body-refining method, one would never have been able to do it with such ease."

"A piece of trash like him can't kill a zombie instantly."

"Hahaha!"

Chen An suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter carried a hint of admiration, but more than anything, it was the joy of meeting someone like oneself.

"Good eye."

"As expected of someone who can see through the Kan-Li transformation at a glance."

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Chen An's expression instantly turned grim.

He pulled a black iron token from his pocket and flashed it in front of Gu Shenyan.

The token is engraved with a ferocious Bi Kuang, its eyes bloodshot and lifelike.

Gu Shenyan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Genzhengji?!"

That was the agency of the Great Qian Dynasty that oversaw the entire realm, specifically responsible for handling prohibited matters in the cultivation world.

The weight of his power is so great that even the elders of top-tier sects have to be wary of him.

"Shh," Chen An raised his index finger and put it to his lips in a shushing gesture.

"I am a hidden agent."

"Three years ago, the department received a secret report."

"Among Lu Banxian's disciples, some are secretly selling private talismans," and even engaging in the trade of the forbidden "Life Fire Diagram."

Chen An's voice was very low, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"What's even more critical is that the clues point south."

"Nanyang" (Southeast Asia)

Upon hearing those two words, Gu Shenyan's heart skipped a beat.

Southeast Asian sorcerers are skilled in witchcraft and sorcery, and are fond of casting spells. Their actions are treacherous and insidious, and they have always been despised by the righteous sects of China.

"You mean—someone is colluding with foreign enemies?"

Gu Shenyan's voice also turned somber.

This is no longer a simple internal conflict between sects; it's treason!

"There is no empirical evidence yet."

Chen An put away the token and gazed intently at the distant mountains.

"This courtyard may seem peaceful, but it's actually a melting pot of all sorts of people."

"The reason I lay low for three years, pretending to be crazy, was to lower those people's guard."

"They would only dare to reveal their true colors in front of me if I were a useless person or a blind man."

At this point, Chen An turned his head and looked intently at Gu Shenyan.

"Everything was proceeding as planned."

"Until—you appeared."

Gu Shenyan was slightly taken aback.

"I?"

"good."

Chen An nodded, his eyes becoming somewhat complicated.

"You are too dazzling."

"That intuition for talismans, that talent for rewriting formations, is like a pebble thrown into this stagnant pool."

"You stirred up the undercurrents and startled the big fish at the bottom of the water."

Gu Shenyan gave a wry smile.

He wanted to develop his skills discreetly, but his abilities wouldn't allow it.

"Is Song Qingyuan targeting me not just out of jealousy?"

Gu Shenyan astutely grasped the key point.

"envy?"

Chen An sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"Song Qingyuan is nothing but a spoiled fool, at best a pawn used as a tool."

"His father, 'Song Yibi,' is the one who's really interesting."

"I found out that some people from Song Yibi's old network of connections have been acting suspiciously lately."

"They frequently visited the black market to buy special materials with a fishy or foul odor."

"Those materials are used to refine 'corpse oil talismans'."

Gu Shenyan felt a chill run down his spine.

Corpse oil talismans are evil objects used by sorcerers in Southeast Asia to control people's minds.

"So, you've come to warn me?"

Gu Shenyan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"It's not just a warning, it's also cooperation."

Chen An took a step forward, his aura subtly pressing down on them.

"The first thing."

"From today onward, do not touch any ancient books or fragments acquired 'accidentally,' no matter how tempting they may seem."

"Especially those with a slightly sweet and cloying aroma."

"That's the prelude to the 'bewitching spell'."

Gu Shenyan nodded solemnly.

"The second thing."

Chen An's voice became even more stern.

"Be careful with the spiritual sand that is distributed each month."

"I recently discovered that a batch of spirit sand exhibits a subtle, almost imperceptible, stagnant aura in its spiritual energy fluctuations."

"If you use that thing for a long time, it will be like a slow poison, gradually eroding your consciousness."

"It makes people dull and numb, eventually turning them into walking corpses who only know how to draw talismans."

"This could be some kind of screening, or it could be some kind of control measure."

A storm raged in Gu Shenyan's heart.

Poisoning the supplies in the tenement?

This move, this audacity, is utterly outrageous!

"Why are you telling me all this?"

Gu Shenyan looked at Chen An and asked the most crucial question.

"Because I need you."

Chen An answered very decisively.

"My identity is special, there are some places I can't go to, and some things I can't investigate."

"And you, are a newcomer, a genius, the center of attention."

"You are in the light, I am in the dark."

"You can use your intuition" to access the core technologies and identify problematic materials.

"In exchange."

Chen paused for a moment, then softened his tone slightly.

"In this large courtyard, as long as it doesn't involve the level of a true elder, I guarantee you won't die."

"Furthermore, I can share some intelligence with you so you can avoid those sure-fire traps."

This is a deal.

It was also a calculated move that they had no choice but to accept.

Gu Shenyan knew very well.

He's already involved.

Song Qingyuan's downfall was just the beginning; the "mysterious buyer" was still lurking in the shadows.

If he doesn't find a powerful backer or an ally, he might really be devoured, leaving not even bones behind.

He pondered for a long time.

Gu Shenyan raised his head, his gaze resolute.

"I have three conditions."

Chen An smiled, as if he had expected this.

"explain."

"First, do not go against your conscience, and do not kill innocent people indiscriminately."

"allow."

"Secondly, they won't let me directly fight those old monsters to the death."

"allow."

"Third, intelligence must be shared in both directions; you can't use me as bait."

Chen An looked at Gu Shenyan's slightly immature yet exceptionally resolute face.

"Good lad, you're cautious enough."

I promise you.

The two looked at each other and simultaneously extended their palms.

"Snapped!"

They made a pact with a high five.

A crisp sound rang out in the quiet night.

"Since we're allies now, I'll give you a little something to say goodbye."

Chen An withdrew his hand, and his figure began to slowly retreat, gradually merging into the darkness.

"Be careful of that Steward Wang who's in charge of supplies."

"He recently lost a lot of money, but suddenly he has plenty of cash on hand."

"besides----"

Don't trust anyone too much.

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