After returning from her meeting with Yun Zhēnzūn, Jian Dan did not know what Yun Zhēnzūn and Yin Zhēnzūn had agreed upon. She went straight back to her temporary cave dwelling, gently set Yue Liang down from her shoulder, stroked her soft fur, and asked in a tender voice:
"Yue Liang, they agreed to remove the evil cultivator's soul. Do you have confidence?"
Yue Liang flicked her tail, nestling in Jian Dan's arms with eyes closed. Only after hearing the question did she open her bright, black eyes. She thought for a moment before replying: "Zūnshàng, when I struck yesterday, I already tried to avoid touching that boy's Primordial Soul. Even so, a third of it was entangled. When I prepared my second strike, I intended to kill him outright."
"I know."
Jian Dan was not surprised. For Yue Liang, destroying a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage was nothing more than a flick of her claws.
Jian Dan recalled carefully. In her past life, there had been no revelation about Hai Yan being such a dangerous evil cultivator. Even if evil cultivators caused trouble, it had always been limited to the cultivation world, never rising to the level of becoming everyone's public enemy. At most, they were treated as isolated incidents.
Analyzing it herself, Jian Dan concluded that in her previous life, Hai Yan had never lost the nourishment of his "blood sac." Although unable to ascend, he could at least endure, at least long enough to fuse souls with Yin Zhengchuan.
But this life had changed. Because of her interference, Hai Yan's "blood sac" was exposed. From the cultivation world to the mortal realm, he had nowhere left to hide. All his preparations were prematurely revealed.
Most likely in that previous lifetime, Hai Yan had eventually replaced Yin Zhengchuan. Otherwise, how could he have advanced from Nascent Soul to Mahayana within less than a thousand years?
As for Du Yanran, she was never one to act without profit. Yin Zhengchuan, being a direct descendant of the Yin family with great talent, protected by both family and sect, and with solid strength himself, was precisely the kind of person Du Yanran liked to associate with.
This life, Yin Zhengchuan posed no threat to Jian Dan. On the contrary, his lifeline was firmly grasped in her hand. Whether he lived or died depended entirely on her will. Yet as she had told Liu Chuan, the cultivation world needed a common enemy.
Whether that enemy could still exist now depended on the will of Cloud Sea Sect and the Yin family.
"Junior Sister, have you already met Yun Yun Zhēnzūn?"
Jian Mao entered Jian Dan's cave dwelling at an unhurried pace, carrying a wine jug in his hand. Jian Dan quickly rose, holding Yue Liang, and welcomed her Senior Brother inside.
"Senior Brother, you are too considerate. I just returned from Yunhai Peak myself."
Once seated, Jian Mao placed the wine jug on the jade table before speaking: "Yesterday I tasted the spirit wine you gave me. Quite fine. Today, I thickened my skin to ask you for another jar. At the same time, I brought you a jug of my favorite 'Cold Spring Brew.' You should try it."
With a smile, he pushed the white jade jug toward her. Jian Dan accepted with amusement, knowing well that asking for wine was only an excuse. The true purpose was to ask about her meeting with Yun Zhēnzūn.
With a flick of her hand, she brought out two icy jade cups and another jar of "Purple Jade Heart-soothing Wine," placing it before him.
"Here, Senior Brother. If you really like it, you may brew it yourself. This is the recipe."
She handed him a jade slip along with the wine.
"Ah, I only came to drink a cup, yet Junior Sister even gave me the recipe. I feel guilty."
Jian Mao chuckled sheepishly.
"Senior Brother, don't be so polite. It isn't a secret recipe. The key is Purple Jade Spirit Rice and a spirit spring. The higher the grade of the spring, the purer the wine and the stronger its spiritual power."
"In that case, I will not be polite."
They poured themselves each a cup of Cold Spring Brew before turning the conversation to Yin Zhengchuan.
After hearing Jian Dan's account, Jian Mao dismissed it lightly. "The outcome depends only on Cloud Sea Sect's stance. But if they try to make you the scapegoat, that will not be allowed."
"My thoughts are the same as Senior Brother's. For now, we simply wait for their answer."
"Junior Sister's spirit beast is unusual. When the time comes, she will need to act."
Jian Dan smiled, rubbing Yue Liang's head. "Her name is Yue Liang. She is the spirit beast of our Heavenly Sword Sect's Medicine Peak. I bonded with her when I entered the Law Enforcement Hall selection. If they agree, this time Yue Liang will act. This is her innate gift."
"Haha, once they learn it was your spirit beast who struck, after forcing you to stay, I wonder what expressions they will wear."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, while Yue Liang proudly flicked her tail.
Before leaving Jian Dan's cave dwelling, Jian Mao said: "Zhēnzūn only gave you three days. If we receive no reply within three days, we will depart as planned."
"Yes, Jian Lu understands."
…
From the moment he regained consciousness, Yin Zhengchuan had felt as though he were standing on the edge of a cliff. Everyone's gaze at him carried a trace of strangeness, as if he were already an evil cultivator. Yet neither his Ancestor Yin Zhēnzūn nor Yun Zhēnzūn had found anything amiss when probing him.
He sensed that the Heavenly Sword Sect's Jian Lu Zūnshàng held some hostility toward him. Yet he was certain this was their first meeting, and he had never offended anyone from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
As a descendant of several generations of cultivators, he too had his pride. If his existence were to bring shame upon his family and sect, he would not allow it.
"Chuan'er."
The voice of Yin Zhēnzūn pulled him from his daze. He quickly rose and saluted the Ancestor.
"Sit. I want to hear your opinion. This matter concerns your very life."
Yin Zhēnzūn's tone was heavy. Just now, he and Yun Zhēnzūn had failed to reach agreement.
What Jian Lu had said was all reasonable. Though there was no conclusive evidence, any discerning eye could see all signs pointed toward Yin Zhengchuan. His demand for proof in the great hall earlier had indeed been weak.
"Ancestor, I was missing for a hundred years. In that time, I do not know what I experienced. Though you and Yun Zhēnzūn found nothing in me, I myself feel something is wrong."
Hearing this, Yin Zhēnzūn's heart sank. It seemed to be the worst-case outcome.
"Since Jian Lu Zūnshàng says the evil soul can be removed, I am willing to try."
"Have you truly thought it through?"
"Yes. I can already foresee the ending. Why not fight for a chance? If the evil soul can be removed, I may live. If I become a mortal, I can at least pass on the family line. If I die, Ancestor, you may send me into reincarnation. That way, the sect and family will not be shamed."
"Good. As expected of my Yin family's descendant. Tomorrow I will notify Jian Lu."
Yin Zhēnzūn soon conveyed the decision to Yun Zhēnzūn. She nodded in acknowledgment and said no more.
After the messenger left, she ordered Han Pengfei to visit Jian Dan and deliver a message.
Han Pengfei was still unsettled when he arrived at Yunyin Peak. He could not understand why his usually gentle grandaunt had asked him to say such words. Even when facing Jian Dan, he hesitated, unable to speak.
"Sit."
After seating him, Jian Dan asked directly: "Has a final decision been made?"
"Yes. Yin Zhēnjūn and Yin Zhengchuan are willing to try. They ask Zūnshàng to act."
Jian Dan was unsurprised, only nodding slightly.
But Han Pengfei did not leave. He fidgeted, as though unsure how to say the rest.
Noticing his hesitation, Jian Dan's eyes flashed. She asked outright: "Did Yun Zhēnzūn have something else to say?"
Only then did Han Pengfei realize he had been standing for some time. He finally whispered: "Yun Zhēnzūn asked me to deliver this message to you…"
"Is it that Yin Zhengchuan must die during the removal of the evil soul?"