How did I, a fake bodyguard, become a terrestrial immortal?

After Chen Ping'an uttered the name, the underground stone chamber immediately fell silent.

Lu Yang glanced at Fang Xuan.

"This Lord Shen has been making quite a few appearances lately."

Fang Xuan didn't reply. He squatted down in front of Chen Ping'an, the three silver needles still between his fingers.

"Are you sure it's Shen Guanqi?"

"Sure."

Chen Ping'an's face was pale.

"After that thing took over my body, it often talked to people through a white mask."

"I was sealed inside the mask, so I couldn't hear what the person on the other side was saying, but I could hear its voice."

"It mentions Shen Guanqi more than once."

Fang Xuan pressed further, "What exactly did you say?"

Chen Pingan closed his eyes and tried hard to remember.

After a long while, he slowly spoke.

"Six years ago, when it first came to the ferry crossing, it said..."

"Shen Guanqi has already made his move."

"The Azure Lotus Society will come to Hanlin City, and the Black Tortoise will definitely pass through the Old Ferry."

Bai Yixin held Bai Miyao tightly in his arms.

It is self-evident who Qinglian refers to.

Lu Yang then looked down at himself.

"Is Xuanwu referring to me?"

"Who else could it be but me?" Fang Xuan said calmly.

Lu Yang stroked his chin.

"It could also be a turtle."

Fang Xuan's eye twitched slightly.

As a master of destiny, he had seen people who were not afraid of death.

But this was the first time he had ever seen someone dare to call Xuanwu a bastard in front of its phantom image.

Chen Ping'an didn't understand what the two were saying, and continued to recall: "It also said that the Soul-Swapping Array couldn't trap Xuanwu."

"But whether the formation can trap you or not is not important."

"As long as you come to the ferry pass, as long as you destroy the array plate with the power of Xuanwu, the Star Gate will see your soul."

Lu Yang's relaxed expression faded slightly.

"And then what?"

Chen Pingan shook his head.

"I have no idea."

"It didn't say that."

"But once, it said to the person on the other side of the mask..."

Chen Ping'an's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice became even hoarser.

"The door has been waiting for far too long."

"As long as you remember his scent, no matter where he hides, the door will find him."

Zhao Mingtang immediately went to Lu Yang's side.

"Master, do you feel anything is wrong with your body?"

"have."

"where?"

I'm a little hungry.

Zhao Mingtang glared at him.

"I'm talking to you about something serious!"

"I wasn't joking."

After Lu Yang destroyed the Soul-Swapping Array, he first absorbed the life force of more than 30,000 people, and then allowed the Xuanwu Serpent Head to devour a large amount of starlight.

Even if the body can withstand it, the consumption is still considerable.

Before Zhao Mingtang could say anything more, Fang Xuan raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Summon the phantom of Xuanwu."

Lu Yang's mind raced.

An overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped the stone chamber.

A phantom of Xuanwu appeared behind him, its four legs firmly planted on the ground, and the ancient patterns on its shell were clearly visible.

The snake's head is coiled on the turtle's back, its eyes slightly closed, as if it is resting after having just eaten.

Fang Xuan walked around Lu Yang once.

"Since the Star Gate has seen your soul, it will surely leave a mark."

"I can't find it."

"Take another look at it."

Lu Yang pointed to the snake head on the turtle's back.

The enormous snake head seemed to sense someone watching it and impatiently opened its eyes.

Then he opened his mouth and let out a burp.

A wisp of grayish-white smoke emerged from its mouth.

A faceless human face vaguely appeared in the smoke, but after struggling for a moment, it was completely reduced to ashes.

Everyone fell silent.

Lu Yang looked at Chen Ping'an.

"You just said that the Star Gate will remember my soul?"

Chen Pingan nodded blankly.

"That should be it..."

"Then its memory might not be very good."

Lu Yang patted the tortoise shell of the Xuanwu phantom.

"The marks I left have all been eaten."

Fang Xuan's eyes, however, showed little sign of relief.

"The extraterrestrial evil spirits have been operating at Ferry Pass for six years; they couldn't possibly have left behind just this little bit of starlight."

"They know about the Xuanwu Zhenyue body, and they also know about the Qinglian Dao Seed."

"They even know you come from another world."

"This shows that they know you far better than we think."

Lu Yang asked, "Aren't you fortune tellers the best at divination?"

"Can you figure out what they're trying to do?"

"The Master of Fate can observe destiny and predict the path of fate, but he cannot know everything out of thin air."

Fang Xuan paused for a moment.

"Besides, I can't see through your fate."

"What about Shen Guanqi?"

Fang Xuan fell silent.

Lu Yang stared at him.

"Chen Ping'an has already made it very clear."

"Shen Guanqi foresaw six years ago that the Azure Lotus Dao Seed would appear in Hanlin City, and also that I would pass through the ferry crossing."

"Do you think someone could predict things six years from now to this extent?"

"cannot."

Fang Xuan answered very decisively.

"Fate is not immutable."

"Even an ordinary person's fate can be altered by a single choice, let alone you and the Azure Lotus Seed, who are not destined for ordinary lives."

"Even if Shen Guanqi has already entered the upper three realms of the Fate Master, it is impossible for him to calculate such a precise result."

Neither of them continued the conversation.

If Shen Guanqi is related to the extraterrestrial evil spirits, then every step they took from Hanlin City onwards was probably part of their plan.

It seemed as if they had been tracking the road all along, but in reality, it was as if someone had paved the way in advance.

Wait for them to walk in on their own.

Lu Yang suddenly thought of something.

"Where's the wooden sign?"

Fang Xuan took out the faceless wooden plaque from his bosom.

After the array plate was destroyed, all the array patterns on the surface of the wooden plaque were extinguished.

The white mask, which had its eyes closed, now opened them.

Both eyes were dark red.

Fang Xuan used a silver needle to pry open the surface of the wooden plaque.

A paper as thin as a cicada's wing fell out from the interlayer.

There were only four small characters written on the piece of paper.

Xuanwu opens the gate.

"It was deliberately left there after all."

Zhao Mingtang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

"That woman with the white mask was trying to lure us to the ferry crossing from the very beginning."

"Don't let me catch this woman."

Lu Yang crumpled the paper into a ball.

"They used a child as a key and me as a laborer to open the door."

"They want two people to do the work for one wage."

Zhao Mingtang was initially a little nervous, but upon hearing this, she almost lost her composure.

"You only care about the wages?"

"certainly."

Lu Yang said matter-of-factly:

"I'm a bodyguard; working for free is a major taboo in this profession."

Bai Miyao peeked her little head out from Bai Yixin's arms.

"Uncle Lu, are we safe now?"

"We're safe for now."

When Lu Yang looked at her, his tone softened.

He raised his right hand.

A Xuanwu seal then condensed within his body.

The black mark was only the size of a copper coin, with a tortoise and snake intertwined, and its surface exuded a heavy Xuanwu aura.

Lu Yang gently touched Bai Miyao's brow.

The Xuanwu Seal flashed and disappeared into her body.

Bai Miyao touched her forehead: "It feels cool."

"Is there a little turtle living in here?"

"almost."

Lu Yang nodded.

"If you encounter danger in the future, it will be the first to take the hit for you."

Bai Miyao blinked.

"Is it the same as Uncle Lu's?"

"How are they the same?"

"They all like getting beaten up."

Lu Yang's expression froze.

The people around couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Bai Yixin gently tapped Bai Miyao's forehead.

"You can't say that about Uncle Lu."

"fine."

Lu Yang then condensed a second Xuanwu Seal and pointed it at Bai Yixin's brow.

Bai Yixin subconsciously took half a step back.

"Me too?"

"You are also my target."

Lu Yang looked at her.

"Don't move."

Bai Yixin pursed her lips, ultimately deciding not to continue dodging.

Fingertips landed on the center of the brow.

The Xuanwu Seal merged into his body.

A warm energy spread along the meridians and finally settled near the heart.

Bai Yixin looked up at Lu Yang.

The two were very close.

"Those who have paid the escort fee, no need to thank me."

Lu Yang withdrew his hand.

Bai Yixin's initial strange feelings vanished almost instantly.

This person really is terrible at speaking.

Lu Yang quickly formed a third Xuanwu Seal in his palm.

Zhao Mingtang stood to the side, his eyes occasionally glancing at the mark.

Lu Yang looked at her.

She immediately looked away.

"I don't need it."

"I didn't tell you."

Zhao Mingtang suddenly turned his head.

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"See if you need it."

"..."

Zhao Mingtang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

If she weren't outmatched, she would be tempted to betray her master and ancestors.

Lu Yang walked up to her and flicked his finger.

The Xuanwu Seal landed directly on her brow.

The trace of Xuanwu power within Zhao Mingtang's body immediately sensed it and merged with the Xuanwu Seal.

Her face flushed slightly for some reason.

I said I don't need it.

"It's shameful for a disciple to die before his master."

Lu Yang clapped his hands.

Three is just right.

Qingluo stood to the side, glanced at Bai Yixin, and then at her own princess.

Finally, he sighed silently.

She was increasingly confused about whether her princess had truly become her master or something else.

Fang Xuan helped Chen Ping'an up.

"His soul was sealed for six years and cannot be restored in a short time."

"Take him away from here first."

The group returned to the ground via the stone steps.

The people in the city have gradually woken up.

A large crowd had gathered outside the noodle shop.

Several officers from the Zhenwu Division stood up, leaning against the wall, their eyes still filled with confusion.

Upon seeing Chen Ping'an in the ruins, the leader immediately drew his sword.

"Yan Wuxiang!"

"Don't rush."

Fang Xuan stood in front of him.

"Yan Wuxiang is dead."

"The owner of this body is Chen Ping'an, a commoner whose body was taken away by him six years ago."

The constable didn't react for a moment.

"You're saying he's not Yan Wuxiang?"

"This matter is complicated to explain."

Lu Yang walked past.

"Simply put, the house remains the same, but the tenant has changed back."

The constables were even more bewildered.

Fang Xuan pressed his temples.

"Take him back to the Zhenwu Division and find someone skilled in the art of spirit souls to take care of him."

"Furthermore, immediately seal off Wumianfang."

"Nothing underground is to be moved."

"Yes."

Although the constables had not yet fully understood what had happened, they dared not delay.

Just then, a copper coin flew from the end of the street.

The copper coin passed through the crowd and landed precisely in Fang Xuan's hand.

Fang Xuan's expression changed slightly when he saw the life pattern on the copper coin.

Everyone turned their heads at the same time.

A small horse slowly walked into the street corner.

The gray-robed man on horseback had a wooden hairpin in his hair and carried a wine gourd in his hand, looking travel-worn.

Shen Guanqi.

Lu Yang narrowed his eyes.

"Say whoever you want, and they'll come."

Zhao Mingtang gripped the hilt of the sword.

Two guards from the Prince An's residence also blocked her way at the same time.

Shen Guanqi, however, seemed oblivious to everyone's wariness.

He flipped off the ponies and landed, first glancing at the collapsed noodle shop, then at the Xuanwu phantom behind Lu Yang.

"The Realm of Mount Fuyue".

Shen Guanqi nodded slightly.

"Looks like it's not too late."

Lu Yang took a step forward.

"You even predicted that I would break through?"

Shen Guanqi put away the wine gourd and his gaze fell on Chen Ping'an.

"He should also tell you that I knew you would be crossing the border six years ago."

"good."

Lu Yang slowly tightened his grip.

Shen Guanqi did not offer an explanation.

He walked past the crowd to the broken array plate and used his foot to pry open a few pieces of rubble.

Below, a stone slab of a significantly darker color is visible.

"Smash it."

Lu Yang did not move.

"What's below?"

"Something I'm leaving for you."

"Who left it?"

Shen Guanqi looked up at him.

"Your father."

Lu Yang's expression changed slightly.

A moment later, he walked to the stone slab and stepped on it.

The stone slab split in the middle.

There was no secret passage below, only a black iron box about the size of a palm.

The surface of the iron box is engraved with a Xuanwu pattern, and there is not a trace of rust in the gaps.

Lu Yang picked up the iron box.

As soon as the Xuanwu's Qi and blood were injected, the lid of the box popped open on its own.

Inside was a well-preserved letter.

There were only four words on the envelope.

Lu Yang opened the envelope himself.

Once the paper was unfolded, a line of handwriting that was both familiar and unfamiliar came into view.

It consists of only two short sentences.

"Yang'er, when you see this letter, you should have already remembered another world."

"Don't be afraid, your arrival here was never an accident."