Wei Yunqing kept her expression calm as she returned the courtesy, then moved on to the task board. She casually selected one mission before leaving the Inner Sect Task Hall.
"Hehe! So, you have your eye on that boy. Too bad he doesn't think much of you!"
The evil soul sealed in her sea of consciousness, silent for a long while, finally spoke up. Wei Yunqing's heart skipped, but she kept walking steadily toward the sect's outer boundary without giving him a reply.
Seeing she ignored him, the evil soul continued with mocking amusement:
"I must admit, you do have decent taste. That young man is a fine seedling for the sword path, and he bears a pure metal spiritual root. Paired with your dual roots of water and wood, he would be a perfect match. Tell me, don't you want him kneeling at your feet?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Wei Yunqing snapped back in irritation. She immediately added two more layers of seals around the corner of her sea of consciousness where the evil soul was confined, then with a flash of movement left the sect.
But what she did not know was that, not long after she left, another shadowy figure followed her out of Haoran Sect.
Meanwhile, Yun Xi remained unaware that Wei Yunqing had already been possessed by an evil soul. Even in such dire straits, the other woman was still scheming against her. If Yun Xi knew of her intentions, she would surely beg her master to eliminate Wei Yunqing on the spot.
Since regaining consciousness, Yun Xi had taken the high-grade Bone Renewal Pill that her master had found for her. The bones throughout her body had been set and healed, though they remained fragile, making body refinement impossible for now.
She turned instead to circulating her cultivation art, repairing her damaged meridians. Because her dantian had a gaping hole and could no longer store spiritual energy, she had to absorb spirit qi bit by bit, guiding it with her divine sense to mend the meridians before sending the meager remnants into her small Yuányīng.
Her Yuányīng also sensed her hardship. The tiny figure wedged itself against the hole in the dantian, doing its best to keep the little bit of spirit qi from leaking away. It took turns clutching her miniature Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff, Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella, and Mystic Frost Needle to nourish them, pitiful as the effort was.
In this way, half a year passed. One night, while Yun Xi was using the power of moonlight to nourish her meridians, a figure suddenly appeared within her small courtyard.
Yun Xi's eyes flew open. She darted out of her house instantly.
Ever since hearing Hao Yi Zūnzhě's warning, she had remained constantly vigilant, her divine sense never fully withdrawn. The moment the intruder set foot on her grounds, she noticed.
"Senior, to visit so late at night… may I ask what business brings you here?"
Her tone was still polite.
The man stood with his back to the moonlight, his frame clearly that of a cultivator. His voice was cold.
"You are Wei Yunxi?"
"I am."
"Then hand over the antidote for Huayan."
The man was blunt and direct, perhaps because he believed success was certain.
Yunxi immediately realized this must be the suspect Hao Yi Zūnzhě had spoken of. He had come for Huayan.
Keeping her tone even, she answered, "Senior, Huayan is a poison concocted by Yixian Gate. It has no antidote, unless you abandon your current body."
"When Huayan appeared in this world, you hadn't even been born. Do you think I wouldn't know whether an antidote exists?"
Yunxi shrugged helplessly.
"Senior, you said it yourself. Huayan was around before I was born. Though I inherited Yixian Gate's legacy, that doesn't mean I can refine its antidote. I say it has no cure not only because I cannot refine one, but also because the rare spiritual herbs required to do so are extinct in Wei Yu Realm."
"Hmph! Whether or not there's an antidote, a soul search will reveal the truth."
He raised a hand, drawing Yun Xi toward his palm.
Yun Xi felt like a herd of alpacas was stampeding across her mind. She cried out loudly, "Master, save me!"
In the next instant, heavy snow cascaded from the sky, swallowing Yun Xi's figure. A wave of icy chill spread through her courtyard, freezing the intruder's feet to the ground.
Just as Yun Xi rejoiced at her timely rescue, a familiar female voice came from her side:
"I thought you wouldn't ask for help. Who would have guessed your cry for rescue shook all of Lingxue Peak?"
Without even looking, Yunxi knew it was Hao Yi Zūnzhě. She wiped her face quickly and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple greets Hao Yi Zūnzhě."
"No need for formality," Hao Yi waved her hand casually.
Though saved, Yun Xi's head was still full of questions. With danger temporarily passed, she voiced her doubts.
"Zūnzhě, the entire sect knows I inherited Yixian Gate. If he really wanted the antidote, why sneak here in the dead of night instead of asking openly? Isn't he only making himself look suspicious?"
"His sudden appearance was meant to divert your master's attention. His real purpose was to cover for another accomplice. Did you truly think he came for Huayan's antidote?"
"Huh? Another person? If not for Huayan, then what?"
Yun Xi's head swam with confusion.
"He came to soul search you."
"Soul search? But though I inherited Yixian Gate's medical and poison legacies, I haven't studied the antidote for Huayan. Even if he searched my soul, he'd find nothing."
Hao Yi reminded her lightly, "But you do remember another formula."
Yunxi's eyes flashed as she whispered, "The Yinxi Elixir!"
Yet almost at once she frowned again.
"But this is such an obvious trap. Why would he walk into it?"
Hao Yi smiled faintly.
"Because they were certain they could subdue you. And because they didn't know I had come out of seclusion."
Before Yun Xi could make sense of her words, a shadowy figure silently melted into her moonlit silhouette.
Just as she sensed something wrong, her vision blurred, and suddenly she was back inside her house.
Outside, she heard two muffled groans before silence returned. The courtyard was still once more.
Tentatively, Yun Xi called out, "Master? Master, are you there?"
A moment later, Yu Ling's low, steady voice answered, "I am here. You can come out."
Confirming through the protective array that it was indeed her master, Yun Xi stepped outside.
"Master, did you catch them?"
Yu Ling nodded. "Ancestor Hao Yi killed one. The other was gravely injured and taken away."
"Ancestor is mighty!"
Yu Ling sheathed his natal sword back into his dantian and continued, "The two worked together, one in the light and one in the shadows. They didn't just want to soul search you. They meant to abduct you outright."
Yun Xi frowned. "Were they both from Haoran Sect?"
"The one Hao Yi Ancestor killed was a loose cultivator."
Yun Xi sighed helplessly. "Master, it seems your disciple has become quite the prize. Why didn't they make a move back when I was still unconscious?"
Yu Ling explained evenly, "Because I was guarding you at the time. Hao Qing Zūnzhě had also returned. With two Divine Transformation experts at your side, failing to protect you would have been inexcusable. Besides, within the sect, they dared not act rashly."
"So it was Huayan that gave them the excuse. Even if they failed, they could claim the Yixian Gate successor harbored ill intent and was spreading poisons within the sect. They only meant to test the waters."
Yun Xi realized this must have been the story Ancestor Hao Yi had arranged for them.