The Intricate Scheme and Shizun’s Peculiar Awakening

The very next day, Xia Yi inquired at the Myriad Treasure Pavilion and learned the recruitment schedule for the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

The Azure Feather Immortal Sect would begin accepting new disciples in three months.

This implied that Zhen Aoyu and Bing Yingying were fated to meet within these three months.

Xia Yi’s task, therefore, was to expose Zhen Aoyu’s true colors before that fated encounter.

He had already devised a plan, knowing Zhen Aoyu’s penchant for making his moves during weddings.

Xia Yi intended to turn Zhen Aoyu’s own strategy against him, needing only to convince Bing Yingying’s parents to cooperate in a staged performance.

Once Zhen Aoyu revealed his true intentions, Xia Yi’s objective would be achieved.

Of course, there were still crucial details to consider, such as how to persuade Bing Yingying’s parents to participate in the deception.

Furthermore, he needed to ensure the safety of Bing Yingying and her family.

“So, Yi’er, you intend for Junior Sister and me to cultivate a good relationship with Bing Yingying’s mother?”

“Precisely.”

According to the original novel, Bing Yingying’s mother, Chang Zhenli, adored her daughter.

She was also deeply concerned that Bing Yingying’s excessively cold demeanor might lead to discrimination and ostracism.

Before meeting Zhen Aoyu, Bing Yingying would show a modicum of warmth only towards her father, Bing Xingwen, and her mother, Chang Zhenli.

To everyone else, including her grandparents, she presented an aura of complete indifference and frigidity.

The original text even described a scene where she ‘froze a servant to death’ with her gaze.

It was no wonder Zhen Aoyu spent a full seven years just to earn a fleeting glance from Bing Yingying, eventually being forced to adopt a roundabout approach to win her over.

For this destined heroine truly possessed the power to kill with a mere look!

“No problem, leave it to me.”

Pei Yunxiang agreed after a moment’s slight contemplation.

Yet, as Xia Yi observed her smiling, narrowed eyes, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

“What’s wrong, Yi’er? Is there something on Master’s face?”

“Uh… nothing. Master’s face is quite clean.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll take Junior Sister to inquire about Bing Yingying’s mother. See you tonight.”

Pei Yunxiang acted swiftly, grabbing Fei Miaoyun, who had been clinging to Xia Yi, and briskly led her out of the room.

Before leaving, she even gave Xia Yi a playful wink.

This only intensified Xia Yi’s unsettling premonition.

He found himself wondering if he had made a mistake; surely Pei Yunxiang wouldn’t conspire with Fei Miaoyun to sell him out?

‘Surely not?’

While Pei Yunxiang was dependable in significant matters, ever since the day he confessed his true nature,

Pei Yunxiang seemed to have awakened to something peculiar.

Beyond reveling in watching him and Fei Miaoyun share ‘tietie’ (TL Note: A Chinese internet slang term meaning to be very close, affectionate, or ‘clingy’ in a cute way, often implying physical closeness or showing affection) moments, she also took pleasure in having Fei Miaoyun observe her and him being similarly affectionate.

Moreover, she took great pleasure in dressing him up and encouraging him to flirt with other junior and senior sisters, not even sparing the elders.

Back then, Fei Miaoyun would help him fend them off, but now, Fei Miaoyun seemed to have inexplicably sided with Pei Yunxiang.

Had they still been in the Star-Moon Sect, and Pei Yunxiang still an elder, he wouldn’t dare guarantee what his Master might do.

‘Never mind, it’s better to prepare the necessary items first.’

Shaking his head to dispel these strange thoughts, Xia Yi began to ponder the methods for dealing with Zhen Aoyu.

As previously stated, ensuring the smooth execution of this plan was paramount.

Beyond gaining the favor of Bing Yingying’s parents, he also needed to guarantee that Bing Yingying would not fall prey to Zhen Aoyu’s tricks, becoming mentally ensnared and attacking her own parents.

Although Chang Zhenli and Bing Xingwen were both cultivators at the Core Formation realm, and Bing Yingying, being only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, couldn’t kill them,

Zhen Aoyu, however, was skilled in both formations and poisons.

Therefore, antidote pills were essential, and he needed to prepare several of them.

As for the bewitching effects of the Absolute Resentment Heavenly Art, his innate purification ability could easily resolve that, posing no significant challenge.

Formations, however, presented a bit of a problem.

In the original novel, Zhen Aoyu was a prodigy in formations, capable of rapidly deploying multiple layers of arrays simultaneously.

Simple illusion arrays and maze formations were manageable; his Extreme Yang True Flame combined with purification energy could easily break them.

Killing arrays, on the other hand, were troublesome.

The strength of a killing array depended on the power of its caster and the quality of its core.

Xia Yi feared that by the time he encountered Zhen Aoyu again, his strength might have grown beyond Xia Yi’s control.

After all, Zhen Aoyu was a protagonist, possessing not only the heaven-defying Absolute Resentment Heavenly Art,

but also first-rate luck. Aren’t protagonists those miraculous beings who are practically unkillable, and when pushed to the brink, can even conjure up new skills?

‘I wonder when Master’s promised immortal destiny will arrive. If I could break through Foundation Establishment, I wouldn’t have to worry so much about Zhen Aoyu…’

He sighed helplessly; destiny was simply too mystical.

Even though it would eventually be his, the waiting process was quite trying.

‘Never mind, I should prepare whatever I can first.’

Dismissing thoughts of immortal destiny (TL Note: “Xian Yuan” refers to a fated encounter or destiny with immortality/cultivation opportunities), Xia Yi prioritized refining a sufficient quantity of antidote pills.

Having made up his mind, Xia Yi left for the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, intending to use his status as a first-class guest elder to sell some pills and purchase the spirit herbs needed to refine the antidotes.

****

While Xia Yi was procuring spirit herbs, Pei Yunxiang and Fei Miaoyun successfully ascertained the frequent haunts of Bing Yingying’s mother, Chang Zhenli.

As one of Hanhai City’s three great families, it was not difficult to inquire about the usual whereabouts of such a prominent figure.

“Senior Sister, are we truly going to do this?”

“Do you have a better method, Junior Sister?”

“But, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for us to play matchmaker for Yi’er without his permission? He might get angry.”

“Don’t worry, Yi’er will be too delighted to be angry. Besides, isn’t he here precisely for Bing Yingying? We’re merely expediting the process for him.

And it will also allow us to verify the results of your physique. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“But…”

“There are no ‘buts,’ Junior Sister. Yi’er and I have spent a long time together. Although he hasn’t told us why he came to save a woman he’s never even met,

I know he must have an unavoidable reason for doing so. He’s always like this, shouldering everything himself, unwilling to involve us.

Sometimes, I even feel as if he’s from a different world than us. There’s this inexplicable sense of distance…”

Hearing this, Fei Miaoyun nodded in profound agreement; having shared intimate moments with Xia Yi on numerous occasions, she understood this feeling even more deeply.

She felt that Xia Yi cherished them too much, to the extent that even if they merely stepped out, he would repeatedly confirm whether they had brought all the items he had given them.

It was as if they might die or disappear at any moment.

“Though I don’t know what Yi’er has experienced or what he knows, it’s not important. We only need to do our best to help him, to let him know that we will always be by his side.”

Pei Yunxiang’s words profoundly touched Fei Miaoyun’s heart.

Indeed, no matter what, Xia Yi remained the man she loved.

At this moment, providing him with support, help, understanding, and comfort was enough. When he was ready to speak, they would face it and share the burden together.

“Alright! This time, I’ll listen to you, Senior Sister.”

“That’s the spirit. Now, we need to carefully plan how to approach our future mother-in-law…”