The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 45

Fang Zhiluo bent down to pick up the Communication Spirit Jade from the ground and hurried after Yu Hui, who had already left.

Before leaving, she left a message for Yun Xiao.

At the same time, Yun Xiao found Ruan Yurong again. Facing Ruan Yurong’s questioning gaze, she cut straight to the point: “Do you want to find the person who ambushed you?”

Ruan Yurong clenched her fists and nodded vigorously.

Even if Yun Xiao hadn’t asked, she had already planned to track down her attacker.

It didn’t matter if she couldn’t defeat them herself; she could always call for reinforcements.

Yun Xiao had anticipated Ruan Yurong’s response. If she were in Ruan Yurong’s place, she would also want to know who had resorted to such underhanded tactics against her.

She gave Ruan Yurong a look, signaling her to follow.

Remembering something, she asked, “Didn’t you receive a Communication Talisman from the Sect ordering you to return?”

Ruan Yurong nodded slightly as she trailed behind Yun Xiao. “I did. But I had to travel through multiple teleportation arrays to get here. It would be a waste to turn around without exploring a bit.”

Yun Xiao’s lips twitched slightly. Ruan Yurong’s reasoning was surprisingly straightforward.

Since I’ve come all this way, I might as well look around. Otherwise, all those Spirit Stones and wasted time would be for nothing.

Ruan Yurong hurried to Yun Xiao, walking backward as she faced her. “Senior Yun, do you have any leads yet?”

Yun Xiao, wary of letting her subjective impressions mislead Ruan Yurong, shook her head slightly. “Not yet. Try to recall the attacker’s techniques in detail.”

“They were techniques from the Four Great Sects,” Ruan Yurong murmured, deep in thought. “The attacker showed no killing intent toward me; it seemed they were only after my Storage Pouch.”

She scratched her head, puzzled. “Body Integration cultivators from the Four Great Sects are all Sect Elders. Why would they bother with my meager possessions as a mere Divine Transformation cultivator?” She raised her hand, staring at the ring on her finger. “I’ve transferred all my valuables here.”

Yun Xiao’s suspicions deepened. The more she heard, the more unsettling the situation became.

It was as if someone were deliberately framing Yu Hui. Could Yu Hui have been falsely accused?

If that were the case, Yun Xiao would have to apologize in person.

After all, this was no small offense.

“Ah, I remember now!” Ruan Yurong exclaimed eagerly. “The attacker had the scent of pear blossoms.”

Yun Xiao’s peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly. If her memory served her correctly, that was the same fragrance Yu Hui carried.

Determined to uncover the truth as quickly as possible, Yun Xiao took Ruan Yurong with her, following Fang Zhiluo’s scent.

They found Fang Zhiluo standing listlessly beneath a phoenix tree. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and a few drifted down to settle on her hair, making her appear even more forlorn.

Yun Xiao’s heart clenched. She wanted to rush over and pull Fang Zhiluo into her arms.

But a sliver of rationality held her back. A chasm still separated them.

Ruan Yurong glanced at Fang Zhiluo, then turned to Yun Xiao, cautiously suggesting, “Why don’t you two talk first?”

“No need,” Yun Xiao replied, stepping toward Fang Zhiluo. She stopped half a foot away, unsure how to begin.

Fang Zhiluo shot Ruan Yurong a dismissive glance and sneered, “Since you’ve chased me all the way here, I assume you have irrefutable proof that my Master is responsible.”

Yun Xiao frowned slightly. Fang Zhiluo’s tone was off.

Ruan Yurong’s eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to Yun Xiao.

Suppressing her unease, Yun Xiao instructed, “Ruan Yurong, describe the attacker’s features again.”

Though puzzled, Ruan Yurong repeated every detail she could recall.

Anticipating what Fang Zhiluo was about to say, Yun Xiao preemptively declared, “Fang Zhiluo, don’t you find this whole situation far too contrived? First, your master appears a hundred miles from Ruan Yurong, and then Ruan Yurong claims her attacker was from the Four Great Sects, reeking of pear blossom fragrance.”

She stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Fang Zhiluo. “If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already examined your master’s Sea of Consciousness and found no trace of Hong Gu Yun within it.”

Ruan Yurong grew increasingly bewildered. “So who attacked me? And why frame Senior Yu Hui? What’s the motive?”

Yun Xiao also wondered who had gone to such elaborate lengths.

Regaining his composure, Fang Zhiluo nodded. “Hong Gu Yun isn’t with my master.” His lowered lashes concealed the remorse and guilt in his eyes as he said in a muffled voice, “We all misunderstood her.”

Ruan Yurong paced back and forth agitatedly, when a sudden realization struck her. “Could it be one of Senior Yu Hui’s enemies?” she blurted out.

Yun Xiao rolled her eyes, pouring cold water on the theory. “With comparable cultivation levels, even if there were deep-seated grudges, they could simply issue a challenge. There’s no need for such convoluted schemes.”

Ruan Yurong pouted. “Then who do you think did it? And why would Hong Gu Yun go with him?”

A thoughtful glint flickered in Yun Xiao’s peach-blossom eyes. Hong Gu Yun’s sudden abandonment of his carefully chosen target suggested either he had sensed imminent danger or found a better opportunity elsewhere.

She leaned toward the former.

This narrowed the suspects to the Four Great Sects, as only they knew about the Primordial Spirit hiding in the Sea of Consciousness of the Heaven’s Chosen to steal Luck.

Neither the Azure Cloud Sect nor the Kaiyang Sect would fully disclose this matter to their disciples. Meng Jiang and Ruan Yurong were still alive and well. If the disciples learned the truth, what would those whose Luck had been stolen think?

The Heavenly Evolution Sect’s disciples were already restless. Wan Xuan would never shoot himself in the foot.

To avoid causing trouble, the Limitless Sect would also refrain from fully informing its disciples.

This process of elimination further narrowed the suspects to individuals within the Four Great Sects holding positions of authority or responsibility, as well as their families.

Turning to face Ruan Yurong, Yun Xiao asked, “Are you certain the attacker’s cultivation was only at the Body Integration Stage?”

“I think so?” Ruan Yurong replied uncertainly, her gaze shifting guiltily. “They didn’t use their full strength either. How am I supposed to know how deep their cultivation runs?”

Fang Zhiluo, having regained her composure, stepped forward and fixed Yun Xiao with a sharp look. “What do you plan to do next?”

Yun Xiao shrugged, indicating she didn’t know either. Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she couldn’t come up with a good strategy in the moment.

However, since the enemy had gone to such elaborate lengths to orchestrate this scheme, they must have something specific in mind. She simply needed to observe quietly and wait for them to deliberately slip up.

But in the meantime, someone was bound to suffer.

Should I suggest the Limitless Sect do a good deed and publicly share their method for preventing Luck theft?

It wouldn’t be fair to let the Limitless Sect share their knowledge for free. The Three Great Sects would have to offer them some kind of compensation.

Yun Xiao found an open space and informed the Supreme Elders of the Azure Cloud Sect, Kaiyang Sect, and Heavenly Evolution Sect one by one. Finally, she told Zhuo Ying about Hong Gu Yun’s escape and the slander against Yu Hui, before explaining her intentions.

She had done everything she could. Whatever decision they made, she could face it with a clear conscience.

No, I still owe Yu Hui an apology.

With that thought, she put away her Communication Talisman and tilted her head to look at Fang Zhiluo, who was leaning against a phoenix tree. “Where’s your master? I need to apologize to her.”

Fang Zhiluo froze for a moment, then shook her head. “Master doesn’t want to see you.”

The look in her master’s eyes before he left had been chilling, suggesting he had completely lost faith in her. She herself felt too ashamed to face him again.

As a disciple, she shouldn’t have harbored preconceived notions about her master. His utter disappointment in her was justified.

Yun Xiao rubbed her nose guiltily. “Then I’ll apologize later.”

Ruan Yurong interjected, “Senior Yun, are we still going after the person who ambushed me?”

Yun Xiao spread her hands. “You heard it yourself—the lead you provided has gone cold.”

Ruan Yurong lowered her head and muttered, “I asked Hong Gu Yun earlier. He said he had a secret technique to evade Divine Sense detection, but it only lasts for a few breaths.”

Fang Zhiluo’s gaze turned frosty as she demanded, “What are you implying?”

Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Ruan Yurong stammered, “I-I wasn’t suggesting Senior Yu Hui is suspicious. I just meant Hong Gu Yun is cunning, and we’ll need to be clever to catch him.”

She quickly made her excuses. “Seniors, I’ll return to the Sect now. If you have any questions, you can contact me through the Communication Spirit Jade.”

Afraid Fang Zhiluo might confront her, she tore off several Swift Travel Talismans and fled.

I should have kept my mouth shut.

Noticing Yun Xiao deep in thought, Fang Zhiluo tightened her grip on her hand. “Do you still suspect my master?”

Yun Xiao nodded, then shook her head, explaining, “I’m just wondering if there’s a way to draw out Hong Gu Yun.”

She hadn’t known before, but now that she understood Hong Gu Yun could briefly evade Divine Sense detection, she had to re-evaluate Yu Hui’s appearance near Ruan Yurong.

It couldn’t be ruled out that Yu Hui had orchestrated the entire scenario to sow discord between her and Fang Zhiluo.

Just as now, Fang Zhiluo’s gaze held suspicion.

Fang Zhiluo didn’t trust her.

Yun Xiao turned away, feigning nonchalance, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. Fang Zhiluo was right to be wary; Yu Hui had raised and mentored her.

Moreover, Yun Xiao herself had indeed grown suspicious of Yu Hui again.

Fang Zhiluo withdrew her gaze, pondered for a moment, then suggested, “Perhaps we can draw inspiration from Jin Yuanzi and Old Qiu.”

Yun Xiao’s eyes lit up. It was a promising approach.

Before proceeding, she needed to separate Jin Yuanzi from Old Qiu. This would prevent Jin Yuanzi from succumbing to Old Qiu’s oppressive influence and make it easier for her to discern the truth.

Teleporting to the nearby Myriad Treasures Pavilion, Yun Xiao identified herself. Within moments, a manager arrived to greet her.

After explaining her purpose, the manager, following the instructions of the pavilion’s owner, told her to return in ten days to retrieve her item.

Leaving the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, she turned to Fang Zhiluo beside her and asked, “I’m going to the Demon Clan. Are you coming?”

“What business do you have with the Demon Clan?”

“I’m going because I want to. Why does there always have to be a reason?” Before he could finish speaking, Yun Xiao had already teleported away.

She disliked Fang Zhiluo’s tone and had no intention of sharing her plans with him in detail.

Sensing Yun Xiao’s displeasure, Fang Zhiluo hesitated for a moment before following her.

Given the current tense relations between humans and demons, Yun Xiao really shouldn’t be going to the Demon Clan. If the Four Great Sects found out, they would inevitably grow suspicious of her.

Yun Xiao, with her intelligence, couldn’t possibly be unaware of these risks. Yet she still chose to go, making it hard not to wonder about her motives.

She was here as a guest, not to fight.

Yun Xiao stopped at the border between human and demon territory, maintaining a measured distance. “Tell your Clan Leader Yun Xiao has arrived,” she said casually.

The Bear Demon, intimidated by Yun Xiao’s unconsciously radiating aura, immediately relayed the message to his clan.

Fifteen minutes later, the Bear Demon glanced at Fang Zhiluo, his face troubled. “The Clan Leader says he won’t receive humans.”

This meant she was to enter alone.

Yun Xiao observed Fang Zhiluo with a leisurely gaze, curious about her intentions.