The Bait and the Master’s Secret

As night fell, a swaying carriage entered the city of Yuelong County. However, the streets were sparse with people and desolate, presenting a scene of utter ruin awaiting revival. No one paid any heed to the procession entering the city, save for Zhuang Xun and his two companions, who stood atop a dilapidated high-rise building. They were the only ones who noticed the new arrivals.

“Liang Xiu…”

‘Isn’t that just a cannon fodder young master?’ Zhuang Xun mused, his divine sense sweeping over the carriage.

“Fellow Daoist… do you know those two in the carriage?” Shangwu asked, hearing Zhuang Xun’s murmur, his curiosity piqued.

“That man is a notorious scion in the imperial capital, Yanjing,” Zhuang Xun replied. “I’ve only heard rumors, and merely chanced upon him once during my travels.”

“No wonder…” Shangwu trailed off. “By the way, shouldn’t those four demonic cultivators be eliminated directly?”

Zhuang Xun shook his head. “They’re bait, meant for fishing.”

“Bait?” Shangwen seemed to grasp the implication. “Are they cannon fodder, used to draw us out?”

“Precisely. Four newly ascended Golden Core puppets, each inscribed with soul-detonation runes…” Zhuang Xun explained. “By all appearances, they are clearly meant for fishing.”

‘A classic bait-and-switch operation,’ Zhuang Xun thought. He was intimately familiar with such underhanded tactics.

He had employed them countless times in various cultivation world secret realms, having ensnared an untold number of naive newcomers who couldn’t discern such simple probing techniques.

Suddenly, four miniature golden swords materialized in Zhuang Xun’s hand. His gaze sharpened, poised to unleash them.

Rumble!

Crack!

The night sky, where faint starlight had once glimmered, was now engulfed by a thick, violent shroud of black clouds. Several azure lightning bolts flashed across the gloom, stirring up gusts of hurricane-force winds. It was as if some extraordinary treasure had descended upon the world.

“…”

“Run!”

Zhuang Xun, possessing a spiritual sense far beyond that of ordinary cultivators, detected an abnormally potent aura. He immediately pulled out a Teleportation Talisman, preparing for a swift escape.

To his dismay, his two companions remained utterly unresponsive. Even the surrounding environment seemed to have frozen in place.

“Sky-Lock, Earth-Bind, Spatial Imprisonment…” Zhuang Xun murmured. “It seems the newcomer is at least a Void Refinement stage cultivator…”

He gazed at the Spatial Teleportation Talisman in his hand, letting out a deep sigh.

“Alas…”

Void Refinement cultivators, capable of comprehending the Dao of Space, could traverse vast distances in an instant by merging with the void. To then employ a spatial imprisonment technique upon arrival made escape impossible. He no longer had the chance to even activate his talisman and flee.

However…

The fact that the opponent hadn’t immediately struck to kill suggested that the newcomer might not necessarily be an enemy.

“Since Senior has already graced us with their presence, why continue to hide and toy with this junior?”

Zhuang Xun knew well that he could not afford to lose face now. He absolutely could not appear timid, lest he become a laughingstock.

“Hehe…” An ethereal voice, like a phantom orchid echoing from a deep valley, emanated from the surrounding void. “Though your cultivation is a little low, you certainly have some backbone~”

However, a flash of sword light immediately streaked past Zhuang Xun’s eyes, shattering the talisman in his hand.

‘…’ ‘Why bother…’ Zhuang Xun thought.

In his current state, if he were to break through the Void Refinement stage restrictions, he would suffer for two or three months. Moreover, he hadn’t even intended to run.

Buzz!

The sword light dissipated, revealing two exquisite figures emerging from the void at the horizon. One was as cold and aloof as ice, while the other was as lively and nimble as a rabbit.

“Luoshui, can I play with this little Foundation Establishment cultivator first, please?” Ziyin tugged at Xuanyuan Luoshui’s ethereal robes, ceaselessly pestering her, causing the latter a headache.

Yet, if Ziyin were to truly fight seriously, Xuanyuan Luoshui wasn’t certain she could win.

“Half an hour.” Xuanyuan Luoshui conceded.

She had explicitly come to retrieve her suspected Master and bring them back to the immortal abode. Why, then, had she encountered the Dao Palace Master at their most playful moment? She could only compromise for now. Besides, it was a good opportunity to test them.

“Yay~” Ziyin cheered joyfully. “I knew our Sister Luoshui was the best~”

She then took a single step and appeared before Zhuang Xun.

“…”

“Senior.” Zhuang Xun cupped his hands in a respectful salute, though inwardly, he was grumbling.

‘What the hell…’ he thought. ‘How did she arrive so quickly? And she even brought along a woman who seemed overly clever… and whose cultivation wasn’t low.’

“Junior, come spar with me~” Ziyin said.

“Senior, please don’t tease this junior. I am merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator; how could I possibly contend with your might?” Zhuang Xun pleaded.

“I don’t care! You must spar with me in swordsmanship today!” Ziyin declared.

Listening to her somewhat childish tone, Zhuang Xun truly felt as though he were dealing with a mischievous child.

Buzz~

At that moment, Xuanyuan Luoshui’s fingertip subtly moved. A spirit spear materialized from the void beside Zhuang Xun.

“Use the spear. Finish this quickly,” Xuanyuan Luoshui instructed.

‘…’ ‘If Zhuang Xun’s cultivation hadn’t been sealed, making him no match for these two, he would have wanted to bash their heads in with the tip of that spirit spear.’

“This junior’s cultivation is meager; I fear I cannot respond to your challenge,” Zhuang Xun said.

“It’s fine! I’ll suppress my cultivation. You can use any technique you wish,” Ziyin insisted.

“…”

“Alright.” Zhuang Xun reached out with one hand, placing the spirit spear beside him, his expression one of resignation. “Then this junior… shall offend you.”

His favored weapons could not be revealed here, as they would invite great calamity upon this realm. So, he would make do. For him, at this moment, a spirit spear formed from spiritual energy was more than sufficient.

“Hehe… then come on,” Ziyin said.

Her figure descended to the ground, instantly retreating several hundred meters, as a pure white spirit sword materialized in her hand.

Zhuang Xun said nothing, leaping from the high-rise and lightly touching down on the ground with his toes.

“Finally, someone willing to fight me!”

Whoosh!

Ziyin’s expression was exhilarated, her robes fluttering without a breeze, and in an instant, only an afterimage remained!

Facing her fierce, lethal strike, Zhuang Xun’s expression remained calm. He clearly saw her movements, and with a single hand, he held the spirit spear horizontally to block.

Clang!

A flash of light appeared almost instantaneously, striking his spear shaft and sparking tiny embers.

“Quite a quick reaction, aren’t you~” Ziyin playfully remarked.

A tremendous force, seemingly incongruous with her feminine physique, emanated from the sword’s blade, making Zhuang Xun slightly strain.

“Haha… Senior flatters this junior,” Zhuang Xun replied.

His other hand clenched into a fist, and crimson spiritual energy erupted the moment he swung it out…

Sizzle…

Seeing this, Ziyin spun in mid-air, unleashing a whip-kick enveloped in purple lightning, sweeping towards him with the force of a thunderbolt.

Boom!

Two immense spiritual energies, one purple and one red, collided, instantly creating shockwaves that spread for dozens of miles within the otherwise static space. Immediately after, they transformed into two streaking afterimages, ceaselessly clashing.

The spiritual pressure unleashed by their battle was enough to instantly annihilate any Golden Core cultivator.

“…”

Xuanyuan Luoshui watched the back-and-forth sparring between the two from the sky. She casually crossed her legs, sitting gracefully in the void.

“If this were outside, I fear this city and its surroundings would be reduced to desolate ruins…” she mused.

“The battle between a prodigy and a genius is truly grand,” she commented. “However, Master still loves to hold back seventy percent of their true power. They never use their full strength when sparring…”

As one who cultivated the Asura Dao, specializing in combat, she knew from the very beginning that the outcome of this match was already decided.

Although Palace Master Ziyin was enjoying the fight, it was clear that every one of her moves was being guided by Zhuang Xun. That was how he could so effortlessly handle her torrential, fierce attacks.

As for why he didn’t end the battle with a single move… it was likely so the match would end in a draw.

After all, the opponent’s true cultivation far surpassed his. He needed to let her enjoy herself while simultaneously preventing her from discovering his hidden true strength. This was his desired outcome. A childish temperament always required a bit of coaxing.

However…

“You want to hide your strength? Then I specifically won’t let you.”

Xuanyuan Luoshui transmitted a divine message, causing Ziyin, who was continuously swinging her sword, to gradually slow down. Finally, she stood still and questioned, “Are you going easy on me?!”

‘Huh? He’d been discovered.’

“How could that be? Senior’s moves are like bone-chilling rain; the slightest mistake would mean death,” Zhuang Xun quickly replied. “This junior can only defend and evade.”

Buzz~

At this moment, the spirit spear in Zhuang Xun’s hand dissipated. A cold voice, as if from the Ninth Heaven, descended.

“There’s no need to pretend anymore. Luoshui has long known that you are most adept at concealing your edge,” the voice stated. “Especially during sparring, you always like to hold back seventy percent of your power.”

“…”

Xuanyuan Luoshui gracefully took a few steps, slowly descending to the ground. Then, with a gentle flick of her finger, Zhuang Xun flew uncontrollably towards her, his collar neatly caught in her grasp.

Her smile blossomed like an ice lotus on an immortal mountain. “Am I right, Master?”

“Master…” Zhuang Xun stammered.

“What? Master?!” Ziyin looked at Zhuang Xun in astonishment. “Is it really that dramatic?”

‘…’ Zhuang Xun somewhat dared not meet her crimson, blood-red eyes, his gaze darting away. “Senior, what do you mean? This junior doesn’t understand…”

“A person’s appearance and demeanor might deceive, but their soul will not,” Xuanyuan Luoshui explained. “The Heavenly Dao restriction on your soul is likely for your protection, isn’t it? Conversely, as long as I don’t invade with even a trace of malice, and don’t employ any secret arts that would harm your soul, I can see your memories.”

“…” Zhuang Xun felt he could still struggle a bit. “Didn’t Senior already see them last time?”

“This time, I want to see a specific memory that I desire.”

As her words fell, Xuanyuan Luoshui’s delicate, rosy lips forcefully and dominantly pressed against Zhuang Xun’s, leaving not the slightest gap between them.

‘Mph…’ Zhuang Xun froze completely, unable to move, bound by a powerful spiritual energy. Listening to her divine sense transmission in his mind, his eyes suddenly widened.

[Master~ At this point, do you still need to hide your true intentions?]

[I’ve seen through it all. Your thoughts behind every move are exactly the same as when you sparred with me before… You’re always guiding the flow of battle, leading it to the outcome you desire.]

[And given that I understand her true strength so well, for you to reach this point… it already reveals some things. So, please don’t keep hiding from Luoshui anymore, okay?]

[Luoshui truly misses you… thinking of you constantly…]

‘Mph…’ Struggle and hesitation flickered in Zhuang Xun’s eyes, his resistance gradually weakening. Yet, in her own eyes, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of cunning appeared. She thought: ‘It seems Master still has a soft spot for me after all… Now comes the art of deception…’

[If you insist on continuing this, then don’t blame Luoshui for doing something extreme… For instance… Even at the risk of being obliterated by the Heavenly Dao restriction’s backlash, I will seek out the answer as to why you made that decision back then.]

[And right before I’m erased, I’ll drag Master along with me too~]

[After all… I deeply adore Master, and I’ve wanted to be a rebellious disciple for a long time…]

‘Mph!’ Zhuang Xun’s eyes widened once more, sensing her divine consciousness probing ever closer to the Heavenly Dao restriction on his soul. The next instant, her mind continuously trembled, her soul quivering, causing him to distinctly taste the faint trace of blood entering her mouth from his own.

‘Foolish girl…’ he thought. ‘Why must you be so stubborn and extreme!’

“…”

****