Suspicion (Part 2)

Shi Yuzhen’s breakthrough being ambushed was considered one of the most serious incidents in recent years within the Yunmeng Immortal Marsh.

At the time, he was at the most critical moment of his cultivation, on the verge of advancing from the Golden Core Stage to condensing his Nascent Soul. A mysterious figure in black had somehow broken through the many layers of the Yunmeng Immortal Marsh’s defenses and infiltrated the cave where he was cultivating, launching a surprise attack.

As a result, Shi Yuzhen’s newly formed Nascent Soul dissipated, and he himself fell into a prolonged state of demonic corruption.

During his period of mental chaos, he even shattered one of the Marsh’s peak towers. It took the combined efforts of numerous sect Immortal Masters to subdue him and temporarily confine him to Xingyun Peak.

The situation had been incredibly dangerous, leaving everyone on edge. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Otherwise, Shi Yuzhen might have been forced to pay with his own life.

His memory of the attacker from that time was fragmented. During his period of mental confusion, he retained almost no recollection, and the incident, along with his inner demon, had been locked deep within his heart ever since.

But just now, that strange formation had stirred something. His inner demon had begun to strike against its mental restraints, and Shi Yuzhen suddenly recalled much more.

That inexplicable aura—it was strikingly similar to the black-clad figure he had encountered back then!

Cai Wenle noticed the subtle change in Shi Yuzhen’s expression. The talisman just now had nearly cost them all their lives. This was no longer a matter of preserving the Marsh’s reputation. The situation had to be dealt with thoroughly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cai Wenle said, “I’ve seen this talisman before, in an ancient, damaged text in the Marsh’s library… It’s part of a secret technique called Heaven-Seizing Creation. The fragment I saw contained half of a similar rune. It’s a Soul Snatching Talisman—one of the legendary Seven Forbidden Arts.”

Everyone’s expression changed at once.

They had all heard of the Forbidden Arts, at least in passing. Heaven-Seizing Creation was among them, and it was classified as forbidden precisely because of its extreme malevolence. Once completed, the technique could forcibly and irreversibly steal a cultivator’s “fortune”—their body, spiritual roots, aptitude, or even cultivation and destiny.

Everyone had just experienced that terrifying sensation of having their bodies forcibly controlled. The memory still lingered. Whoever had done this was truly vicious. It was clear now that Shi Yuzhen had long been a target, someone this person had been trying to body snatch! And they had been willing to sacrifice everyone else to do it!

Zhan Zhengzhen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and solemnly thanked Xu Ya, “Thank you, Junior Sister, for saving our lives.”

The others followed suit, expressing their gratitude alongside Zhan Zhengzhen.

This was no small matter.

They were all seasoned cultivators, well aware of how hard-earned their cultivation was. That they had fallen into an enemy’s trap this time was a bitter pill to swallow. If not for Xu Ya—this so-called “useless” girl—they might all have perished here.

Shi Yuzhen’s gaze was dark as he sat behind the group, leaning against the largest tree.

Xu Ya’s actions had been strange from the start. Bringing her along this time had been a calculated decision.

She had no spiritual power whatsoever. Everyone knew that Culinary Cultivators needed certain abilities to imbue their food with spiritual energy. The higher their cultivation, the more potent the effects of their dishes.

But Xu Ya? No matter how you looked at her, she was just an ordinary person with no spiritual power. Worse, she had the worst possible aptitude—five spiritual roots. How could someone like her make fried chicken with such powerful effects?

Not to mention, Shi Yuzhen clearly remembered wrapping his fingers around Xu Ya’s slender neck that day.

There was no reason for her to speak on his behalf. No reason to bring him food. She didn’t even seem capable of creating such a miraculous dish.

And yet, she had done it. She had even saved him multiple times.

What was her connection to that black-clad figure? Was she a puppet? A pawn?

Xu Ya remained completely unaware of Shi Yuzhen’s intense gaze.

Though she knew little about cultivation, she could understand from the others’ discussion just how terrifying that talisman had been. She broke into a cold sweat on their behalf. She took out all the fried chicken from her pouch and shared it with everyone, hoping it would help them recover and, more importantly, save her from danger.

She had entered this dense forest with them. If everyone died here, how was she supposed to get out? Wouldn’t that mean total annihilation?

She kept pulling ingredients from her pouch and laying them out on the ground, completely forgetting about the injury she had sustained when destroying the talisman. The black mist had burned her.

The wound was a charred gray, the flesh twisted and puckered like a poorly treated burn scar.

Though the situation was no longer urgent, the pain had grown from a dull ache to a sharp, nerve-wracking throb.

Xu Ya said nothing, but in her heart, she was cursing the system nonstop.

She might be left with a scar. She glanced down at the ugly wound on the back of her hand.

Zhan Zhengzhen noticed her subtle movement. He hesitated, glancing at Shi Yuzhen, who was sitting not far away, lost in thought, and said nothing.

When Xu Ya finally couldn’t hold back and let out several pained hisses, Zhan Zhengzhen made up his mind and asked, “Junior Sister, your hand—let me help you treat it.”

As he spoke, he began forming a hand seal, preparing to channel spiritual energy into her.

Xu Ya finally noticed someone was offering help. She lifted her head slightly, eyes already sparkling with anticipation and hope.

Shi Yuzhen hadn’t intended to intervene, but when he saw the way Xu Ya’s bright eyes lit up—not at him, but at someone else—he felt an inexplicable sting.

He moved faster than Zhan Zhengzhen, forming a seal and injecting spiritual energy into Xu Ya’s body, deftly deflecting Zhan Zhengzhen’s attempt.

Zhan Zhengzhen sensed it and fell silent, inwardly breaking into a cold sweat. He muttered to himself, Oh no! I only offered to help because Great Senior Brother hadn’t made a move yet! He’s not going to think I’m trying to steal his girl, is he? Yikes.

Xu Ya remained blissfully unaware of the undercurrents. Her big eyes sparkled as she watched in delight while new flesh rapidly grew over the grotesque wound, leaving behind smooth, flawless skin.

She turned her hand this way and that, thrilled and excited, and beamed at Zhan Zhengzhen. “Thank you, Senior Brother Zhan!”

“…Haha, no need. You’re welcome,” Zhan Zhengzhen replied awkwardly.

Once everyone had finished recovering, they conducted a rough review of the incident.

First, the distress signal might not have come from a Yunmeng Immortal Marsh cultivator in danger. It could have been a trap from the very beginning, designed to lure Great Senior Brother in.

Shi Yuzhen was considered the strongest combatant in the Marsh. He was also known for his kindness and sense of duty. Whenever someone called for help during training, he always answered.

Second, they had to consider the possibility of a traitor within the Marsh. Shi Yuzhen’s first ambush had happened inside the Marsh. Now, this second trap bore the same signature. That was deeply suspicious.

After finishing their analysis, the group decided to focus on locating and breaking the array core first. Once they returned to the Marsh, they would investigate from the shadows, taking care not to alert the enemy.

Xu Ya knelt quietly to the side, listening. She was dying to spoil everything. If Shi Yuzhen was certain both incidents were orchestrated by the same person, then it was probably the work of the main antagonist from the damaged text—Master Xu.

Thinking of Master Xu’s usual demeanor, Xu Ya shivered. Truly, appearances could be deceiving.

Unfortunately, the system forbade her from revealing anything that might disrupt the original plot. She could only swallow her words and listen to their “revenge” plans in silence.

Shi Yuzhen had deliberately discussed these plans in front of Xu Ya.

If she was one of the enemy’s hidden assets, she would surely slip up or adjust her behavior in response.

If she wasn’t, that still didn’t mean she could be fully trusted. This was a good opportunity to observe her motives. The fried chicken Xu Ya had made seemed almost magical. Even cultivators who had long since transcended earthly cravings found their taste buds awakened. It was enough to raise suspicions.

Now that Xu Ya had shared her food with everyone, and they all reacted the same way, they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

Shi Yuzhen beckoned to Xu Ya, and Xu Ya immediately understood she was being called to help him up. Resigned, she climbed to her feet. The others, seeing this, kept their eyes lowered and mouths shut, silently accepting the rumors about Shi Yuzhen and Xu Ya as truth.

After all, the Great Senior Brother had the strongest spiritual power, and this time, he had suffered the worst backlash from the array. He truly needed support. But instead of calling for one of the male cultivators, he had summoned that little good-for-nothing. Wasn’t that enough to prove their relationship was anything but ordinary?

Respect and blessings.

Shi Yuzhen leaned on the young girl as he stood, his elbow naturally resting on her shoulder. Then he gave the group an order. “Let’s go. Find the true array core.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

The path ahead was unusually smooth. After advancing just a few dozen more meters, they reached the true array core that Zhan Zhengzhen had identified.

Thanks to Xu Ya’s fried chicken, and a few moments of focused breathing, everyone had recovered seventy to eighty percent of their strength.

Because of this, the image of that so-called little good-for-nothing had quietly shifted in everyone’s hearts—though Xu Ya herself remained unaware.

Next, they split up to investigate the surrounding area, checking carefully for any hidden talismans or symbols. After two thorough rounds of searching, they found nothing. Finally assured, the group began channeling spiritual energy into the array core.

In an instant, the array was broken.

The forest, once shrouded in a dark, net-like haze, returned to its natural state.

Shi Yuzhen stared intently toward the horizon. The distress signal representing the Yunmeng Immortal Marsh had already faded, confirming the matter was resolved.

Cai Wenle nodded knowingly. “In less than a moment, the trapped cultivators should be able to free themselves. Let’s head back.”

Yunmeng Immortal Marsh, at the Meeting Immortals Platform.

The masters paced back and forth, unable to calm their nerves.

In the past, with Shi Yuzhen on any rescue mission, things always went twice as smoothly. They could usually return in no time. But now, a full day and night had passed with no word, and the dark green distress signal still lingered in the sky.

They began to question whether they should send reinforcements.

But Shi Yuzhen was said to be the strongest combatant in the entire Yunmeng Immortal Marsh. If even he was trapped, what could anyone else possibly do?

And so, the masters wore expressions of deep worry, unable to relax.

Only Master Xu, hidden from the others’ view, curled his lips into a faint smile that vanished in an instant. Then he adopted the same worried expression as the rest.

While the others fretted over the elite disciples they had sent out, Master Xu was worried that Xu Ya hadn’t caused enough chaos.

Don’t let him down, Xiao Ya.

Before long, several cultivators who had gone out as reinforcements began returning one after another. Cultivators, unlike mortals, moved far faster.

Master Xu’s eyes flicked up at the sudden arrivals. He carefully counted each one.

No, Xu Ya wasn’t among them. Nor was Shi Yuzhen.

Could it be… they had succeeded?

Master Xu’s heart pounded like a drum. He didn’t dare believe it. Again and again, he questioned the returning cultivators about the rescue process, his tone seemingly concerned, but in truth probing for details.

Eighteen had gone out. Twelve had returned. That meant Shi Yuzhen, Xu Ya, and their group of six…

Had they all perished?

Had he succeeded?

— Translator’s Notes —

– Golden Core Stage: A core stage in Chinese cultivation where a cultivator forms a golden core of spiritual energy within their body, representing a significant advancement in power.

– Nascent Soul: A higher stage of cultivation where the cultivator’s spiritual essence forms an independent soul entity, granting greater power and longevity.

– demonic corruption: A dangerous state in cultivation where a practitioner’s mind becomes influenced by inner demons or external evil forces, potentially leading to loss of control and destructive behavior.

– five spiritual roots: In cultivation systems, having multiple spiritual roots is often considered a disadvantage as it makes progress slower and more difficult compared to those with fewer, purer roots.