Dare to Cancel the Engagement? I Will Marry Your Ancestor! - Chapter 18

Afternoon at Tianyun Sect, Jiyun Peak:

Hu Xin secretly gathered his followers here to discuss strategies.

“Don’t you think the Sect Leader has changed?”

The question came from the tenth elder of Tianyun Sect, who was often called Elder Shi. Despite sharing the same surname with others, he was unmistakable in his inquiries.

Elder Shi asked with a clear conscience but received an eye-roll from Hu Xin.

“Of course! The previous Sect leader was easy to control, but the current one is quite determined!”

Elder Shi hesitantly asked, “Could the Sect Leader have been replaced?”

Hu Xin snorted. He had already formed an alliance with the Long family to deal with Mo Ling, and Long Xuan, the third elder of the Long family, had hinted at something to him.

“Possession!”

The five elders following Hu Xin trembled and then nodded silently.

“This might not be a bad thing. Our disciples are now respected when they go out!”

Elder Shi smiled, forgetting the purpose of their gathering.

Hu Xin, infuriated, shouted, “Fools! We’re not aligned with the Sect Leader. Now that they’re doing well, we’re being marginalized. If we want to stay in Tianyun Sect, we must follow my lead!”

Elder Shi quickly agreed, “Yes, we will follow Elder Hu. But what should we do?”

Hu Xin took out a jade bottle. “This is from Long Xuan, containing spirit-devouring insects.”

“If the Sect Leader has been possessed, these insects can devour the intruder’s spirit and bring our Sect Leader back!”

The five elders gulped, staring at the jade bottle, hoping the task wouldn’t fall on them.

Hu Xin’s gaze fell on Elder Shi. “You won’t be suspected. You handle it.”

Elder Shi, trembling, took the bottle. “I-I can’t—”

After much scolding and persuasion from the others, Elder Shi reluctantly took the bottle and descended the mountain.

“Today, we’ll each find an excuse to leave the sect. Don’t stay inside, to avoid suspicion.”

“Remember, the excuses should be reasonable, and don’t gather together.”

Hu Xin, having made arrangements, found an excuse to leave first.

Gu Kewai, watching them leave one by one, immediately reported to Mo Ling.

“They’ve all left?”

“Not entirely; there’s still—”

Before he finished speaking, Mo Ling saw a figure sneaking behind a tree.

“Shh.”

Mo Ling and Gu Kewai went out the back door, climbed to the roof, and lifted a tile to watch.

Elder Shi, hesitating for a long time, finally moved to the window. Sensing no one inside, he jumped in.

Mo Ling followed him, lifting the tiles over the bedroom, and saw Elder Shi bowing to the bed. “Sect Leader Mo, I’m doing this to save you. Please don’t blame me!”

He opened the jade bottle and poured its contents under Mo Ling’s pillow, then fled in panic.

Gu Kewai was about to chase him but was stopped by Mo Ling.

“It’s fine. If this gets out, it will harm Tianyun Sect’s reputation. Let’s go see what it is.”

Following Mo Ling, Gu Kewai flipped down and entered the house through the back door.

Gu Kewai lifted the pillow and was shocked. “Outrageous!”

Mo Ling looked at the short, plump gray insect curled into a ball under the pillow. It didn’t seem particularly frightening, just a bit disgusting.

“Get rid of it.”

Gu Kewai stared at Mo Ling. “Sect Leader, this is a spirit-devouring insect!”

Mo Ling blinked, not understanding, but pretended to be profound. “So what?”

Gu Kewai explained in surprise, “If we hadn’t discovered it, this insect would crawl into your ear while you sleep and devour your spirit, turning you into a living corpse!”

That was indeed quite sinister!

Mo Ling pondered for a moment. “Put it away quietly. Let’s use this to our advantage.”

Gu Kewai followed the instructions, placing the insect back in the jade bottle. After double-checking, Mo Ling decided not to leave the room.

The next day, they didn’t open the door or let any maids in.

Hu Xin and his followers, thinking their plan had succeeded, gathered outside and called, “Sect Leader, we have urgent matters to discuss. Please come out and preside over the affairs!”

When there was no response, Hu Xin shouted, “Something must be wrong! The Sect Leader might be in danger!”

With that, he kicked the door open, and the five men rushed in.

They found Mo Ling lying alone on the bed, snoring loudly; the room was filled with the smell of alcohol, with overturned wine jars nearby.

Long Qianqian calmly entered the room, her cold face showing no hint of a smile.

“Elders, why have you barged into the room?”

Hu Xin, seeing Mo Ling’s flushed face, was uncertain. “We’ve been calling for a while, but the Sect Leader didn’t wake up. We thought he might be in danger and entered. Please forgive us.”

Long Qianqian walked to the bed, gently lifted Mo Ling’s cheek, and lightly patted it. “Sect Leader, it’s already late!”

Mo Ling turned over, stretched lazily, and got out of bed, smiling at the elders. “When did you become so diligent?”

Hu Xin, unsure if this Mo Ling was different, cautiously asked, “We’ve been calling for so long. Are you feeling unwell, Sect Leader?”

Mo Ling chuckled coldly. “I’m quite well. Disappointed?”

Hu Xin’s face darkened, realizing their plan had failed, and they all looked at Elder Shi.

Elder Shi trembled and carefully asked, “Sect Leader, are you sure you feel fine?”

Long Qianqian coldly replied, “If the Sect Leader were unwell, I would know. Please wait in the discussion hall; the Sect Leader will be there shortly.”

Humiliated, Hu Xin and the others left the room and pulled Elder Shi aside to question him.

“I really put it under the pillow, I swear!”

Hu Xin pushed Elder Shi away and shouted, “Go to the discussion hall. I’ll find Long Xuan. He must have given us fake goods!”

Gu Kewai, seeing Hu Xin leave the compound, immediately reported to Mo Ling.

Mo Ling, now dressed, said, “Let’s follow and see.”

Long Xuan, after ensuring no one was around, met Hu Xin in a hidden spot outside the courtyard.

“How dare you give me fake goods!”

Long Xuan, expecting good news, was surprised by Hu Xin’s reaction. “It didn’t work? Impossible! That was a spirit-devouring insect. Even the strongest cultivators can’t withstand it!”

“Then why is Mo Ling fine?”

Annoyed, Long Xuan replied, “You’re asking me? Isn’t that ridiculous, Elder Hu?”

Mo Ling gracefully descended from a tree, smiling. “Long Xuan, disappointed?”

Long Qianqian, following Gu Kewai, angrily confronted Long Xuan. “Did you do this?”

As Long Xuan tried to defend himself, Hu Xin quickly shifted the blame. “Sect Leader, it was all his idea. I thought it was to save you. Please forgive me!”

Long Qianqian, not wanting Long Xuan dead, turned to Mo Ling. “Let me handle this, alright?”