I courted death and then tried to escape, so the whole sect wants to get rid of me.

It is said that the most important qualities for talisman cultivators are divine sense and spiritual power.

According to the elders in the hall, Xie Zhou learned to draw talismans in just three days after arriving at the Nine Saints Hall, and created his own talismans in ten days, making him a genius among geniuses.

Before his death, his strength had already reached a terrifying level, not to mention now.

Without even thinking, he must have seen everything that happened in the next room, number three.

Since her rebirth, she has deliberately avoided some of the sword techniques she created in her previous life, and the sword techniques she uses are mostly chaotic and disorderly, just so that no one can see through her.

Fourth junior brother... should not be able to recognize her.

After all, there are many similar people in the world; who would have thought that there could be such a thing as soul swapping and rebirth?

Thinking this, she turned around and sat down frankly, her eyes level with his: "It was the elder who said he wanted to inquire about Fifth Senior Sister's whereabouts, so I followed Ye Chang'an here."

Xie Zhou understood: "I see, I thought..."

Song Yao: "What did you think?"

Xie Zhou chuckled lightly: "I thought you were just here to have fun again."

Song Yao: "..."

again.

What do you mean by "again"?!

She had a feeling that she had shot herself in the foot, but she didn't want to argue with him.

In the flickering, dim candlelight, Xie Zhou lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the little girl's tightly pursed lips and her cheeks, slightly flushed from drinking.

He stopped arguing with her, got up, walked to the other side of the tea table, and poured himself a cup of tea.

The tea was cooled down, then warmed up again in his palm before being placed in front of Song Yao.

He casually changed the subject: "What did you find out?"

He should have heard everything already, so there's nothing to hide.

Song Yao spoke the truth: "The Wen family must have joined forces with Taiqing Pavilion. Fifth Senior Sister didn't listen to them and was sent away by the people from Yong'an Tower..."

She paused, then added, "But I can't completely believe what Ye Chang'an said. Fourth Senior Brother, do you think he might be lying?"

Xie Zhou looked up and saw right through her thoughts.

They didn't hold back at all when using his divine sense to verify the authenticity.

He said calmly, "If you threaten him like that, he won't dare to lie."

Song Yao: "Then it's true."

She scrambled to her feet and solemnly bowed to Xie Zhou, saying, "In that case, I'll trouble Fourth Senior Brother to deliver the message to Third Elder."

Xie Zhou paused: "Why don't you just say it yourself?"

Song Yao replied matter-of-factly, "I don't have the money to buy a sound transmission talisman."

Xie Zhou: "..."

Suddenly remembering something, Song Yao's aura rose eight degrees: "By the way, Fourth Senior Brother, last time you were injured, you used a whole jar of my Qingling Ointment, and you still owe me 150,000."

She knelt back down on the cushion, leaned closer to him, and blinked her eyes, full of interrogation: "You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Xie Zhou: "..."

She has always lacked a sense of boundaries, like a spirit who has just taken human form and is ignorant of human relationships.

That was true then, and it is true now.

Standing so close, he could see the barely noticeable red mole at the corner of her eye.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was calm and indifferent: "Of course I haven't forgotten, but there is something I'm curious about."

Song Yao: "What is it?"

His gaze held a penetrating insight into human nature as he looked back into her eyes: "Seventh Junior Sister, you've never properly studied, so how did you manage to defeat the Young Master of Taiqing Pavilion so utterly powerless?"

"..."

Song Yao was suddenly caught off guard.

She's been getting along so well with everyone at the Nine Saints Hall these days that she often forgets to keep her distance.

She stood up and retreated, avoiding eye contact, feeling a little guilty. "How would I know why he's so weak? Maybe the Taiqing Pavilion only teaches fancy but ineffective moves..."

What a showy but ineffective display of skill.

The people of Taiqing Pavilion would probably vomit blood if they heard that.

Xie Zhou didn't expose her, and continued, "He's the young master of Taiqing Pavilion. Aren't you afraid he'll tell the Wen siblings and seek revenge on you for treating him like this?"

Song Yao wrinkled her nose: "It's certain that he'll seek revenge on me, but given his personality, he probably won't tell the Wen siblings so quickly. Otherwise, he won't be able to hold his head up in front of them in the future. At most, he'll just hire a few assassins."

Xie Zhou paused, then said casually, "This should be your first time meeting Young Master Ye, yet you seem to know him quite well."

"...I've heard about Young Master Ye's style of doing things, so I'm just guessing."

Not wanting to get entangled with him any longer, she quickly added, "Let's talk about the spirit stones another time. It's getting late, I have to go back now, otherwise the others will worry."

He turned around as if to flee in panic.

Xie Zhou's brows relaxed slightly, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curve up a little, before he quickly suppressed it.

He raised his sleeve, and two talismans blocked the door: "Come and drink this hangover tea. The people from Yong'an Tower haven't gone far. The road isn't safe. I'll take you home after you finish drinking."

Song Yao pulled her leg back after taking a step forward.

Returning to the table, he downed the warm tea in one gulp, then couldn't help but ask, "So why did Fourth Senior Brother kill the people from Yong'an Tower?"

Xie Zhou paused, lowered his eyes slightly, and gently rubbed his fingertips.

I didn't originally intend for her to see me do it.

Now that things have come to this, he said succinctly, "A few months ago, someone attacked Master. The investigation traced back to Shan Hai, but they couldn't get any information out of him. They accidentally killed him; it wasn't intentional."

Song Yao: "..."

This is really a bit of a problem.

I thought these things were just conflicts between the three major sects, but how come Yong'an Tower has also gotten involved?

Was the attack on Master by Yong'an Tower commissioned by Taiqing Pavilion, or did Yong'an Tower itself...?

Fifth Senior Sister was also taken away by Yong'an Tower. Was it a coincidence?

Xie Zhou removed the talisman from the door, interrupting her reverie: "Let's go."

Hearing the commotion in the corridor, Song Yao stopped him and said politely, "There's no need to trouble Fourth Senior Brother to escort me. I have someone to go back with me."

As she spoke, she pushed open the door.

At the end of the long corridor outside the door, Ye Chang'an was walking at the front with a limp, followed by the bewildered Wen Wushuang and Wen Wumian, as well as Jiang Jin.

"With so many people and Ye Chang'an around, Yong'an Tower shouldn't make a move. It would be more conspicuous for Fourth Senior Brother to follow me."

She cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, and before turning to leave, added, "Next time we meet, Fourth Senior Brother, remember to return the money to me."

She left like a gust of wind, without a trace of regret.

Xie Zhou stood still.

Two dark figures silently climbed in through the back window, their dark robes almost blending into the night.

The two men bowed respectfully, their voices extremely low: "Master, all the people from Yong'an Tower have left. They seem guilty and dare not pursue the matter of Shan Hai's death. Should we continue the investigation?"

Xie Zhou remained standing in the same spot, without answering, only his fingertips unconsciously curling slightly.

One of them sensed something was wrong and called out softly, "Master?"

Xie Zhou seemed to have just come to his senses, his eyelashes drooping, his voice slightly hoarse: "Investigate according to the original plan. Also, I need to know Wen Tang's whereabouts. Tell me immediately if you have any news."

"Yes."

"Also, tell the manager of Wanchunlou that nothing that happened in the Tianzi room tonight must be revealed."

"Yes."