Xie Zhaolin frowned. It was already late at night, and she'd told Mo Yan beforehand not to disturb her cultivation unless it was urgent.
Out of instinct, she extended her Primordial Soul sense, only to find that the one standing outside wasn't Mo Yan but a disciple from the sect master's peak. The boy wore the peak's signature azure robe, his cultivation only at the mid Qi Refining stage, no threat to her at all.
Mo Yan clearly sensed the presence too. He slipped silently to her side, then hid in the shadows. Only after he concealed himself did she open the door.
The young disciple bowed with a respectful smile. "Senior Sister Xie, the Sect Master requests your presence."
He even pulled out the sect master peak's disciple token, as if afraid she wouldn't believe him. "This is my identity token. Senior Sister, please take a look."
Xie Zhaolin didn't agree right away. She asked cautiously, "It's already so late. What does the Sect Master want with me?"
The boy kept smiling. "You'll know once you get there. Sect Master only said it's something important. As for the details, I don't know."
His tone was polite but left no room for refusal. He'd clearly come prepared.
Xie Zhaolin's thoughts raced. The sect master summoning her at this hour… it couldn't be for something ordinary. Could Elder Wei have had some kind of accident? Or was it… had some of her moves already stirred the sect master's suspicion?
Her face stayed calm as she gave a small nod. "Since that's the case, Junior Brother, please lead the way."
The disciple bowed again. "Senior Sister, please follow me."
She walked behind him, secretly transmitting to Mo Yan, "Follow us in the dark, act when necessary."
"Understood," Mo Yan's voice echoed in her mind.
The sect grounds were eerily quiet under the night sky, broken only by the chirping of insects and the occasional rush of wind. The boy's steps were light and quick as he led the way. Xie Zhaolin trailed behind at a steady pace, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
It didn't take long for her to notice something off. This wasn't the road to the sect master's peak at all. He was leading her toward a secluded path at the back mountain. Her vigilance spiked instantly. She stopped in her tracks and said coldly, "This doesn't look like the way to the sect master's peak."
The boy turned around with that same smile. "Senior Sister doesn't know, but Sect Master isn't at the peak right now."
Her eyes sharpened. In a flash, her hand shot out like lightning, gripping his throat. "Speak! Who sent you?"
The disciple's face turned pale as she tightened her grip, but he still struggled out, "Senior Sister… I…"
Xie Zhaolin didn't waste more time. She forced her Primordial Soul sense into his sea of consciousness to dig out the truth.
The moment her sense entered, her pupils shrank. Inside his sea of consciousness was already a slave contract!
She pulled her sense back immediately, her heart pounding. A sect master peak disciple bound by a slave contract? Impossible…
Just then, a faint laugh drifted from the darkness. She turned her head and saw the Formation Peak Lord step out slowly from the shadows, her smile carrying a strange meaning.
Xie Zhaolin's heart jumped. She'd considered countless possibilities just now, but she hadn't expected the one to appear would be her.
Formation Peak and Artifact Peak had always been close. For the Formation Peak Lord to show up here personally… could it be she was acting on Elder Lian's orders?
Her mind spun through several scenarios, but she didn't panic. If this woman wanted to attack, why wait until now?
But the Formation Peak Lord barely looked at her. Instead, her gaze slid past her, settling on the empty space behind.
"Elder Mo, won't you come out?"
The air rippled faintly. Mo Yan revealed himself, still in his black robe, face hidden in the shadows, his voice low and cold. "Elder Chou has sharp eyes."
Elder Chou only chuckled softly. The boy scrambled to hide behind her, trembling all over.
Xie Zhaolin quickly moved to Mo Yan's side, her guard still up. Relief trickled through her chest as she realized Elder Chou thought the earlier soul probe came from Mo Yan, not her.
"Elder Mo's strength truly is unfathomable," Elder Chou said smoothly. "Even I couldn't sense you right away."
Mo Yan replied calmly, "You flatter me. But tell me, Elder Chou, why would you place a slave contract on a disciple of the sect master's peak?"
The words were polite, but the air was tense. Xie Zhaolin stayed alert, her mind working rapidly.
Elder Choudidn't answer. She simply shifted the topic.
"Just as I thought. Elder Mo really does care about Martial Nephew Xie."
Both of them stiffened at once.
The trap was obvious. Elder Chou's whole plan was to use Xie Zhaolin to lure Mo Yan out. But since her true intentions weren't clear yet, Mo Yan stayed silent, black robe stirring without wind as a faint pressure spread from his body.
She wasn't bothered by his silence. Instead, she laughed lightly. "Elder Mo, there's no need to be so wary. I didn't call you two here tonight to make enemies."
Her eyes lingered on Xie Zhaolin, carrying a deeper meaning. "I simply have something to discuss."
Mo Yan finally asked, voice steady, "What is it?"
"Those rumors about Alchemy Peak," Elder Chousaid, her tone casual, but her gaze sharp. "They're tied to Martial Nephew Xie, aren't they?"
Mo Yan stood silent, unmoving. He knew perfectly well. Judging from her tone, she needed something from them. That meant they couldn't afford to speak first. She'd be forced to show her hand.
Sure enough, frustration flickered in her eyes.
Mo Yan rarely appeared in public. She had no reason to visit him, nor a way to contact him. So this roundabout method had been her only option. She didn't bother wasting more words. "I can help you deal with Alchemy Peak."
Mo Yan said coolly, "Why should we want to deal with Alchemy Peak?"
Her eyes turned cold. "Because Elder Wei's losing his mind. Before he dies, he might drag you down with him."
Before he dies?
Xie Zhaolin's heart clenched.
Before Mo Yan could question further, Elder Chouwent on, "Thanks to your little rumors, Elder Qiu really did make a move against Elder Wei this time."
Her voice dripped with mockery. "Right now, Elder Wei's mental state is a mess. Elder Qiu has practically half-imprisoned him in Alchemy Peak."
Through the contract, Xie Zhaolin asked quickly, "Did you know about this?"
Mo Yan's reply sounded in her mind. "No. I've heard nothing."
Her fingers curled slightly as her eyes narrowed.
Interesting. How had she never noticed before that this seemingly mild Formation Peak Lord was hiding such depths?