"Who are you?!" Qin Jiaxian demanded.
Atop Cloud Crossing Mountain, Qin Jiaxian stared at the unfamiliar figure before him, yet the voice carried a hauntingly familiar tone. Confusion flickered across his face.
With a casual wave of his hand, Yin Shiren summoned three golden characters—crafted from pure Buddhist energy—into the air before the trio.
"Yin Shiren!?" all three exclaimed in unison.
Qin Jiaxian, Ye Tuling, and Qu Shitu read the floating characters aloud, their voices overlapping.
"What connection do you have with my departed sworn brother?" Qin Jiaxian questioned.
The moment the words left Qin Jiaxian's lips, his eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening his tone.
"Me?…" Yin Shiren mused.
Yin Shiren repeated the same excuse he had given Su Huanzhen and the Nine Realms' Buddhist Emperor. Now that they knew the truth, there was no reason to keep hiding it from Qin Jiaxian and the others.
To further prove his claim, five spectral figures materialized behind Yin Shiren—Yinshi Ren, Di Peng, two extinct-realm spirits, and Yin Shiren himself.
"Whoa! Boss, it's Second Bro! And Di Peng!" Ye Tuling gasped.
Ye Tuling gaped at the apparitions, his voice trembling with excitement as he nudged Qin Jiaxian.
"You… really are my brother?" Qin Jiaxian murmured.
Though Qin Jiaxian saw the same vision, doubt still lingered in his voice.
To erase any remaining skepticism, Yin Shiren performed something even more shocking.
He raised both hands to the sides of his head—then, with a sharp tug—
Pop.
A soft sound echoed as Yin Shiren's head detached from his body.
He had just plucked his own skull clean off.
Holding his severed head in front of his chest, his eyes blinked at the three men before him.
"Well? Convinced now?" Yin Shiren asked.
Rather than horror, Qin Jiaxian, Ye Tuling, and Qu Shitu's faces lit up with joy.
"That's Second Bro's 'Corpse Preservation Art'! It's really him!" Ye Tuling cheered.
Ye Tuling nearly jumped in excitement.
"It really is my brother." Qin Jiaxian admitted.
Qin Jiaxian's voice softened with relief.
Decades of camaraderie bound them—Yinshi Ren had always been unreliable, even betraying him at times, yet their bond ran deep. His death had left Qin Jiaxian grief-stricken.
Now, seeing him alive—albeit in a different form—Qin Jiaxian couldn't help but feel genuine happiness.
"Second Bro!!" Ye Tuling cried.
Before Yin Shiren could react, Ye Tuling barreled into him, burying his face into his shoulder, his body trembling with emotion. Tears streamed down from behind his sunglasses.
Had Ye Tuling's hands not been perpetually bound, Yin Shiren was certain he'd have been crushed in a bear hug.
"I'm back. But you're still Third Bro—no promotion for you." Yin Shiren teased.
"Third Bro is fine!" Ye Tuling declared.
Ye Tuling didn't care—he'd held the title for years.
"You're really… still my brother?" Qin Jiaxian pressed.
Qin Jiaxian eyed the unfamiliar face warily, needing one last confirmation.
"No. This time—I'm taking over as Boss." Yin Shiren retorted.
The words slipped out before Yin Shiren could stop them.
It was pure instinct—proof of how deeply Yinshi Ren had always wanted to usurp Qin Jiaxian's position.
Qin Jiaxian's face cycled through shades of white, red, black, and yellow—like a living palette of emotions.
The thought of someone stealing his leadership rank infuriated him.
Yet, he held back.
Because he had no idea what Yin Shiren was now capable of.
The earlier display of power was proof enough.
Not to mention—the darkness that had enshrouded Cloud Crossing Mountain, reminiscent of the Grand Academician's descent upon Glazed Immortal Realm.
And the lingering Buddhist radiance atop the mountain…
All of it pointed to Yin Shiren—or at least, his involvement.
So Qin Jiaxian swallowed his pride.
"Hah! Just kidding." Yin Shiren laughed.
Yin Shiren's sudden laugh dissolved the tension.
Qin Jiaxian exhaled silently.
He wasn't ready to give up his title—not without a fight.
"But, Boss…" Yin Shiren began.
Yin Shiren's tone shifted, and Qin Jiaxian's gut tightened again.
"I'm broke. Surely you wouldn't mind sparing a few thousand taels for me?" Yin Shiren asked.
The question was casual, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
"A few thousand?!" Qin Jiaxian sputtered.
Qin Jiaxian's heart ached.
He knew refusal wasn't an option.
"…Fine. Take it." Qin Jiaxian relented.
Grudgingly, he pulled out a thick stack of silver notes and handed them over.
Thanks to Yinshi Ren's memories, Yin Shiren recognized the pained expression—and the vengeful thoughts brewing behind it.
But as he pocketed the money, he simply smirked.
Let him stew. The cash was worth it.
"Alright, I'm off. See you around." Yin Shiren announced.
With a wave, Yin Shiren vanished—sinking into the earth before anyone could protest.
"Second Bro's Earth Escape Technique!" Ye Tuling marveled.
Ye Tuling clapped in delight.
Qin Jiaxian and Qu Shitu stood in silence, watching the spot where he'd disappeared.
"…Qin Jiaxian. Ye Tuling. Do you truly believe him?" Qu Shitu questioned.
"Of course it's him!" Ye Tuling insisted.
Ye Tuling's faith was absolute—the Buddhist energy radiating from Yin Shiren felt too familiar to deny.
Qu Shitu ignored him, waiting for Qin Jiaxian's answer.
"It's real." Qin Jiaxian confirmed.
Qin Jiaxian's voice was low.
Because this meant Yinshi Ren was truly gone—only Yin Shiren remained.
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