Chapter 277 Undercurrents
Shen Qingwu stood alone before the window of the outer sect disciples' residence, unconsciously rubbing the cover of the "Mysterious Book of Heaven's Omens," his brow furrowed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ever since the news of Xiao Yun's punishment arrived, he had felt that events were deviating from his expectations. Logically, a "undergarment thief" caught red-handed should have been expelled from the sect. Yet that iron-faced Elder Li had only sentenced Xiao Yun to a year of confinement?
"This is clearly telling everyone that he believes Xiao Yun was wronged..."
Shen Qingwu's gaze was gloomy, his knuckles turning white. What made him even more uneasy was that no matter where he went these past few days, it felt as if a faint, intermittent gaze was spying on him from the shadows. Yet every time he turned back alertly, he could only see the outer sect disciples busy with their own tasks.
Even Yu Wanru, who was usually exceptionally caring toward him, had been mysteriously absent these past few days.
"Was I too conspicuous on the stage?"
Shen Qingwu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He understood that this operation was indeed risky, but the opportunity was fleeting—who knew when a core figure like Chen Xingcai would appear in the outer sect again.
"At least... she should remember me now."
A cold smile curled his lips.
No matter what disturbances stirred in the shadows, as long as he could achieve his ultimate goal, these risks were worth taking.
...
Then, his fingertips trembled slightly. After repeatedly confirming no one was around, he finally couldn't resist and opened the "Mysterious Book of Heaven's Omens."
He really couldn't wait until nightfall; the current atmosphere made him feel something was amiss.
The book pages turned without wind, and dense silver characters swam like living creatures. He fought back the palpitations, quickly filtering out information irrelevant to him.
Soon, he smoothly found something useful.
But after just one glance, he broke into a cold sweat.
He saw a few lines of small text appear before his eyes—
[The outer sect disciples enter the forest as a group to train their body techniques.]
[Shen Qingwu, having not yet recovered from the injuries sustained on the fighting platform two days prior, falls behind in the forest.]
[He coincidentally encounters Li Hanzhou, the Great Elder of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land's outer sect.]
The next second, his pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back—
[Seeing no one around, Li Hanzhou cannot resist. Taking advantage of Shen Qingwu's unpreparedness, he strikes his celestial spirit with a palm.]
[Shen Qingwu bleeds from all seven orifices, his eyes bulging, and red and white brain matter gushes from the depression in his skull. His limbs twist and go limp like a broken ragdoll...]
"Snap!"
Shen Qingwu slammed the "Mysterious Book of Heaven's Omens" shut, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force. He stared fixedly at the twisted patterns on the book's cover, fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"What on earth is going on?!" he roared through gritted teeth, "When did I ever offend that malevolent star?"
Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory flashed through his mind—he had once heard someone mention that Xiao Yun seemed to have a blood relationship with Xiao Chen, the Sect Master of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land.
Although Xiao Yun himself had denied this rumor afterward, but...
"So that's how it is!" Shen Qingwu slammed his hand on the table and shot up, then quickly lowered his voice. "No wonder a mere Outer Sect disciple who committed such an offense was only confined for one year!"
He frustratingly hit his temple.
Clearly, when he first met Xiao Yun, he was coming from the Xiao family and heading to the Immortal Spirit Holy Land.
He should have realized this connection long ago!
Now it was a mess. Li Hanzhou had obviously believed Xiao Yun's defense, putting him in danger instead.
"But..." Shen Qingwu's sinister gaze fell upon the Profound Book of Mysteries, and he suddenly sneered. "Fortunately, I have this treasure in hand. No matter what, Li Hanzhou is still the Great Elder of the Outer Sect of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land; no matter how biased he is, he wouldn't dare to act openly."
He caressed the pages, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. "Tomorrow, even if I have to risk my life, I absolutely cannot be alone!"
Thinking of the tragic scene prophesied in the book, Shen Qingwu felt another chill down his spine.
But soon, his expression became ferocious again.
"Once I get Chen Xingcai in my hands..." he licked his dry lips. "A mere Outer Sect Elder—won't he be at my mercy?"
From outside the window came the sound of chaotic footsteps and the laughter of young men. Shen Qingwu quickly hid the Profound Book of Mysteries in a secret compartment of his bed. He took a deep breath, and a gentle, jade-like smile instantly appeared on his face, as if the ferocious person from moments ago had never existed.
"Junior Brother Shen, what are you doing cooped up in your room? Come out quick!" someone shouted from outside.
"Coming, coming!" Shen Qingwu pushed the door open, a perfectly timed shy smile on his face.
Ever since his disastrous defeat on the fighting platform, his fellow disciples' attitude toward him had grown much colder. What infuriated him even more was that after the news of Xiao Yun's confinement spread, Guo Fugui, who had been isolated, was now accepted again, with some even actively approaching him.
"A bunch of fence-sitters..." Shen Qingwu sneered inwardly, though his face betrayed nothing. Instead, he proactively stepped forward. "What are the senior brothers talking about that's so enjoyable?"
"We're talking about cultivation in the back mountain," a round-faced youth answered casually, his tone lukewarm.
Shen Qingwu's smile did not change as his gaze swept over the crowd. He noticed Guo Fugui was surrounded in the middle, with several disciples patting his shoulder and chatting. A flash of sinister light passed through his eyes, but he quickly put on a gentle expression and interjected, following the topic: "I heard this cultivation session will have Inner Sect senior brothers as instructors?"
"Yes!" At the mention of the Inner Sect, the youths immediately grew excited, chattering all at once.
Shen Qingwu skillfully integrated into the conversation, occasionally offering well-timed compliments that drew continuous laughter from the group. In just a short while, these simple-minded youths forgot their previous rifts, as if all unpleasantness had never happened.
"Junior Brother Shen really knows a lot!" someone praised sincerely.
"Not at all, not at all. I just heard it from the senior brothers," Shen Qingwu replied with a modest smile, though his eyes were ice-cold.
(When I become the Holy Son one day...) he looked at these unsuspecting fellow disciples, thinking viciously in his heart, (I'll kick all you opportunists out of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land first!)
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