Yun Ya's cultivation had been restored a few days prior, yet he observed that even the youngest maiden in the courtyard possessed the strength to contend with him. Yun Yi, having suffered a significant loss, underwent a drastic change in temperament. He now followed his senior brother silently, his sole desire being to find and exact revenge on the person who had abandoned him in the snow, with no interest in making friends.
At this moment, Tian Ji Zi received a secret message from Zhao Yang Zi, learning that these two had once attempted to assassinate the Divine Venerable. After being captured, they were cast into the wilderness and buried in snow. However, the Divine Venerable had not killed them, wishing to avoid trouble, but these two were not afraid of it. The primary concern now was to ascertain the reason behind their assassination attempt on the Divine Venerable.
Tian Ji knew they hailed from another continent. What possible reason could compel them to travel thousands of miles to assassinate someone?
Steward Zhu invited them to sit and partake in tea. Little Wang You went to prepare it, using ordinary mountain spring water for brewing. The elder with double pupils, who had remained silent throughout, simply reclined in a leisurely rocking chair with his eyes closed. Indeed, he had seen Ye Ju's chair and felt envious, knowing his young disciple had personally crafted it, and insisted on having a similar one.
As soon as Yun Ya sat down, he became very curious about the elder with double pupils, as he could not discern the cultivation levels of either this elder or the female immortal. He recalled that with his and Yun Yi's Nascent Soul cultivation, they could already be considered peerless on Tian Xing Continent. He never imagined that upon arriving here, he would almost perish in their very first encounter. It was just as his master had said: the ancient sects of Tian Chen Continent were not to be underestimated. Tian Xing Continent was known as a land of exile, and one could imagine why they were the ones exiled—the weak were suppressed, and the strong reigned supreme! Their ancestor's greatest desire was to return to the ancient lands, and they had placed immense hope in them.
"May I ask who this senior is?" Yun Ya finally voiced his question.
The elder with double pupils responded indifferently. Steward Zhu smoothed things over, stating directly that this was an elder of their household who preferred not to speak.
Yun Ya raised his teacup and smiled, moving past the topic.
"Listening to Daoist Yun Ya's accent, you are not from our Tian Chen Continent. From whence do you hail?" Steward Zhu asked, his eyes smiling as if casually bringing up the topic.
"This, I know, they are from Tian Xing Continent," Tian Ji said casually, turning his teacup.
Yun Ya was about to transmit a message to Tian Ji when he was revealed by Tian Ji. He owed Tian Ji a life-saving debt, and thus had confided in him, feeling no need for caution. However, when facing the people in this small courtyard, he felt a strange sense of caution. But having just arrived on Tian Chen Continent, he did not wish to create enmity, unless... they recognized him. The thought of him and Yun Yi being dumped into the icy snow, only to wake up with no memories, crossed his mind. If that were the case, his chances today would be dire.
"Oh, Tian Xing Continent? Then are you from the Imperial Beast Sect? The barrier had a fissure, and people from the Imperial Beast Sect secretly came over, committing arson, murder, and plunder against the people of Tian Chen Continent, committing every evil imaginable." Steward Zhu spoke with righteous indignation, as if he would draw his sword if Yun Ya nodded in agreement.
Yun Ya and Yun Yi breathed a sigh of relief, realizing they had been mistaken for members of the Imperial Beast Sect.
"No, Daoist, you are mistaken. The Imperial Beast Sect on Tian Xing Continent is considered a demonic sect that everyone despises. That sect is rumored to be trying to revive an ancient fierce beast, so they capture spirit beasts everywhere and use extremely cruel methods to kill them for their blood."
Yun Ya explained. He hadn't expected the barrier to develop a crack. No wonder the Imperial Beast Sect had been relatively quiet during that period; they were likely coming to Tian Chen Continent to commit atrocities. The news of the Nine-tailed Fox Divine Beast's appearance was spread by them, which explained their excellent intelligence. Upon hearing the news, the ancestor entered the forbidden area, and after emerging, dispatched the three of them to capture the Nine-tailed Fox alive and kill its master.
"So that's how it is!" Steward Zhu appeared relieved. His face then broke into a smile again, and he enthusiastically called A You to prepare some snacks.
Yun Ya and Yun Yi also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of relief. If a fight had broken out, the people here could likely have easily subdued them both. Seeing Steward Zhu's smile become more sincere, they felt that they were likely not connected to the people who had abandoned them in the snow.
"Then, for what reason have you traveled thousands of miles to be here?" Tian Ji asked, feigning curiosity.
Yun Ya hesitated. He did not wish to keep his benefactor in the dark. He had no choice but to say, "I do not wish to hide anything from everyone. The sect dispatched us to investigate the matter of the Nine-tailed Fox."
Xiao Bai, who had been leaning beside Ye Ju, heard himself mentioned and started to get up, but Ye Ju pressed him back down.
"Nine-tailed Fox? What business is it of yours? It appeared in Pearl City before, but there's been no news since," Steward Zhu said, drinking his tea with a calm expression.
"It's that the sect's ancestor wishes to bring the Nine-tailed Fox back; it is related to the sect's forbidden area. If you have any news, you may inform us," Yun Ya stated candidly.
"Hmph, you still say you're not in league with the Imperial Beast Sect. You should know that the Nine-tailed Fox has a master. Are you bringing it back? Trying to snatch it? What audacious nerve!" The elder with double pupils, who had remained silent, could no longer restrain himself upon hearing this.
"No, Senior, it's a misunderstanding..." Yun Ya tried to explain for a long time, his face flushing. When he recovered his cultivation, he remembered the sect mission. To be honest, he found this mission somewhat questionable: bring back the Nine-tailed Fox and kill its master. He now strongly suspected that the reason they were dumped into the ice and snow was orchestrated by the master of the Nine-tailed Fox Divine Beast.
Tian Ji's lips twitched. Seeing Yun Ya's relatively upright nature, he concluded that he was not a villain. He hadn't saved the wrong person!
"Then did your sect not mention what would happen to the Nine-tailed Fox's master after it was taken? You must know that divine beasts recognize a master, and if the master dies, the Nine-tailed Fox Divine Beast might not survive. Perhaps it would die in loyalty." Tian Ji added another blow.
Indeed, Yun Ya and Yun Yi were instantly enlightened. How could such a mission be completed? Did the ancestor mean that they were not to bring back the Nine-tailed Fox at all, but rather to kill it?
Tian Ji watched Yun Ya's thoughtful expression and his lips twitched. A thorn had been planted in his heart, and now it remained to be seen if that thorn could fester into a boil.
Steward Zhu and Ye Ju exchanged glances. It seemed these two were also unaware of why their sect wanted Xiao Bai, or perhaps the person who escaped was the key?
"The Nine-tailed Fox Divine Beast appeared on our Tian Chen Continent; it is a divine beast belonging to our continent, not something you from Tian Xing Continent can take away. You two had best abandon any thoughts of it. Furthermore, you have crossed the boundaries and acted presumptuously. Do not blame us for ganging up on you! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
The elder with double pupils suddenly opened his eyes and warned Yun Ya. His master, in his dreams, had instructed him to look after the master of the Nine-tailed Fox if they met. Although he didn't understand the meaning, since his ascended master had communicated this in a dream, he would certainly obey his master's command.
Ye Ju and Xiao Bai were quite surprised that this senior, whom they had just met, was suddenly offering them protection. A warmth surged within them, a touch of emotion. Xiao Bai thought to himself that next time, he wouldn't fight with him over vegetables. He would yield more to the elder!
"Add me to that as well. If your sect makes another move against the Nine-tailed Fox Divine Beast and its master, it will be declaring war on our sect," Zhao Yang Zi declared loudly, emerging from the study.
Yun Ya... Yun Yi...
If they refused, would they even be able to walk out of this courtyard gate?
"May I ask Daoist your honorable name?" Yun Ya asked, looking at the graceful, distinguished young man in green emerging from the house.