Clutching the letter in his hand, Qi Yun's brow was tightly furrowed.
On their way to the Wuji Holy Sect, he had chatted a great deal with Wu Tao and learned a bit about his family background.
Wu Tao had been abducted at the age of nine and was practically illiterate. Although he'd learned a little at Ling Family Mountain, he was a crude man. How could he possibly write something so eloquent?
'Besides, even though we came from Ling Family Mountain together, our relationship was casual at best.
'Instead of focusing on his cultivation, he's sending me a letter from another mansion, asking to meet me.'
'Urgent matter to discuss. Meet at the Nine Mansions…' Qi Yun's lips tightened as he read the true purpose of the letter, which was buried under a pile of rambling.
'It's true what they say—there are no secrets that can be kept forever. That business has likely been exposed…'
Tang Shun!
That second-generation disciple who held a great secret and had the backing of elders within the sect.
Although he had been extremely careful when he ambushed and killed him in Anning County, in this vast world of cultivation where people could fly through the heavens, burrow through the earth, and even divine the threads of fate, someone had clearly picked up his trail.
'But if Tang Shun's elders have really traced this to me, why not come to my door and arrest me directly?'
'Why use Wu Tao to lure me out of my Outer Mansion?'
'Is it because the sect rules are so strict that people from the Inner Mansion can't interfere with the Outer Mansions?'
'But then, how do you explain what Wu Tao is doing?'
After a moment of panic, Qi Yun forced himself to calm down.
He slowly exhaled a breath of Muddy Qi, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the letter.
Having dared to kill, he had long been prepared to be found out. He had made his move and would not regret it.
The most important thing now was to get a clear grasp of the situation.
'Unless… this person's influence is limited to the Ninth Outer Mansion, and they can't reach into the Seventh Outer Mansion!'
'That's why they have to use Wu Tao's name to lure me out and deal with me then.' As he calmed down, Qi Yun's line of thinking became clearer, and his agitated heart settled.
'In that case, I'm safe for the time being.'
'But if I don't respond for too long, will that force this person to find another way?'
His eyes narrowed slightly. Qi Yun looked down at the letter in his hand, a scheme already forming in his mind.
He turned, went back inside to fetch a brush and ink, and began to write with swift strokes.
"My dear brother Wu Tao, I was overjoyed to receive your letter…"
'Since I have to respond, I'll just have to stall him.'
In the letter, Qi Yun first expressed his delight at hearing from Wu Tao, his tone so warm it was as if they were long-lost best friends. It was only after a round of pleasantries and small talk that he revealed his true purpose.
"It has been half a year since we parted, and I have thought of you often.
However, I am at a critical juncture in Breaking the Realm from the Qi Refining Second Layer—it is a matter of life and death.
Only by succeeding in one concerted effort may I glimpse the Great Dao.
Therefore, I must decline your generous invitation. It is truly not by choice.
On the day of my success, I shall send an urgent message with the good news.
I humbly ask you to take care and hope for your understanding."
He set down his brush, the ink still wet. Qi Yun carefully reviewed every word and phrase, ensuring it sounded sincere while also subtly conveying his refusal.
After confirming the letter's contents, Qi Yun summoned a Postman from the Infinite Treasure Market who was responsible for delivering letters between mansions.
It was not the same man who had delivered the letter to him.
This time, it was a young woman with a refined face and a faint black marking just visible between her eyebrows.
The only thing the two had in common was the professional, distant look they both wore.
"Ninety-four words. Half a piece of Holy Essence." After taking the envelope, the young woman produced a seal and tapped it lightly on the letter. The word count instantly appeared, and she quickly quoted the price for the inter-mansion delivery.
"Thank you."
Qi Yun took out half a piece of Holy Essence and handed it to the Postman. He hesitated for a moment before asking:
"Excuse me, Senior Sister, when will this letter arrive?"
"Tomorrow," the female Postman said indifferently. "What, are you in a hurry? For an extra piece of Holy Essence, it can arrive this afternoon."
"Oh, no, that won't be necessary. Thank you for your trouble, Senior Sister."
After paying the fee, Qi Yun watched the female Postman's retreating back, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His heart felt heavy.
'I hope this buys me more time.'
Having done all this, Qi Yun turned and went back into his courtyard. The undercurrents were surging, and a crisis was brewing. Though he had an idea for a solution, whether he could successfully carry it out remained to be seen.
For now, all he could do was race against the clock to increase his strength, which would hopefully give him more room to maneuver.
…
The letter crossed a great distance, mansion after mansion, before finally arriving at a courtyard in the Ninth Outer Mansion.
"Who is it?" The courtyard gate opened, and Wu Tao's ruddy, glowing face peeked out.
His aura was potent; he had clearly broken through to the Qi Refining Third Layer.
"Your letter." The female Postman glanced at Wu Tao, her expression indifferent as she handed him the envelope.
"My letter?" Wu Tao took the envelope and glanced at Qi Yun's name on it. A flash of delight crossed his eyes. He hurried back into the main house, bowed low, and respectfully presented the letter to a fair-faced young man with a short beard who was dressed in a black robe.
"Senior Brother Zhou, Qi Yun has replied."
"Oh?"
The fair-faced man slowly opened his eyes, the corners of his lips curling into a smirk. "Very good. Wu Tao, you have done well in reporting this. The Master has already received my message."
"If it is confirmed that Qi Yun is the one who murdered Tang Shun, you will receive the highest credit."
His voice was bewitching. "The Master will make an exception and accept you as his disciple. When that happens… you and I will be fellow disciples."
Hearing the fair-faced man's words, Wu Tao's body trembled with excitement.
Two days prior, this fair-faced man had suddenly appeared, claiming he was investigating the case of a Holy Sect Disciple ambushing and killing a fellow member.
At first, Wu Tao had been terrified, afraid he would be implicated.
But as the fair-faced man slowly laid out the details, Wu Tao suddenly realized that the man's words, to some degree, all pointed toward his companion from Ling Family Mountain—Qi Yun.
Initially, he had wanted to defend Qi Yun. After all, they had come to the Wuji Holy Sect together.
But when he heard about the reward for reporting the culprit, the words of defense on the tip of his tongue twisted into an accusation.
And as it turned out, he had made the right choice.
Simply by going along with the man's words and saying that Qi Yun was indeed suspicious, he had received a Treasure Pill to advance his Cultivation.
It was thanks to this Treasure Pill that he had managed to break through two successive levels in one go, reaching the Qi Refining Third Layer.
From that moment on, he had completely switched sides.
He took the initiative to help the fair-faced man write the letter, intending to lure Qi Yun out of the Seventh Outer Mansion for capture and interrogation.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!" Wu Tao dropped to his knees with a THUD, his forehead pressed to the floor and his voice trembling with excitement. "If I am able to study under the Master, I, Wu Tao, am willing to go through fire and water for you, Senior Brother! I will not hesitate!"
"Heh heh…" Senior Brother Zhou chuckled softly. He made a gesture as if to help him up, but an imperceptible glint of ice flashed in his eyes. "I will remember your loyalty."
His fingertips traced the letter lightly, and he unsealed the envelope with a grace that suggested he was handling a piece of art.
As his eyes scanned the letter's contents, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
'Qi Refining Second Layer?'
'A breakthrough is imminent?'
…