owlsbooks Chapter 119 is like playing a game of Werewolf.
Chapter 119 is like playing a game of Werewolf.
Chapter 119 is like playing a game of Werewolf.
"Is there an old man inside Xi Yue's ring?!"
Li Qingyi couldn't help but mutter a complaint under her breath, rubbing her temples: "What Qi Refining stage cultivator without a powerful background could know so many strange and unusual array techniques? Some of them are even capable of fooling Purple Mansion cultivators."
The more Li Qingyi thought about it, the more she felt that Qin Xiyue really had the air of an old man.
"Should I ask Xi Yue for a copy of the Burning Technique?"
Shaking his head to shake off these far-fetched associations, he refocused his attention on the simulator's options.
"Choose one," Li Qingyi decided.
"The core purpose of this simulation is to use Ling'er's identity to infiltrate the Zhao family and see for ourselves the truth hidden in the shadows. Xi Yue's secret technique is currently the key to breaking the deadlock."
"I choose one."
After much hesitation, you revealed the truth to Qin Xiyue. She disapproved of your actions and believed that Lingji's life was not worth risking.
You didn't give a long explanation, you just said you wanted to do it this way. She couldn't do anything about it and ultimately had to agree. The two of you returned to Xuan Ce City together.
Two days later, you and Qin Xiyue returned to Xuan Ce City and told Ling'er about your plan. She thought it was too risky and disagreed.
After your patient persuasion, she finally agreed to return to the Zhengyang Immortal Sect to seek help, and you went to the Zhao family in her place.
Before leaving, Qin Xiyue cast a concealment spell on Ling'er and changed her appearance, just in case.
You, on the other hand, transformed into Ling'er's appearance through a fake human skin and began to play the role of Ling'er through the true teachings of the Dao.
Qin Xiyue looked at you with a strange gaze, seeing how perfectly you portrayed Ling'er. As Ling'er, you could naturally read her eyes; there was a hint of jealousy within them.
Three days later, Zhao Mengxi came to see you. You could sense that her attitude towards you was completely different from the previous days. She asked if you wanted to return to the Zhao family to acknowledge your ancestors, and you immediately agreed.
On the way to the Zhao family, Qin Xiyue accompanied them as a disciple of the Qingchi Immortal Sect.
She was particularly interested in your performance, her gaze frequently falling on you as she observed how you handled Zhao Mengxi's casual conversation and how you maintained Ling'er's persona in the details.
[Upon successfully entering the Zhao family, Qin Xiyue, being a disciple of the Qingchi Immortal Sect, received considerable courtesy and was accommodated in a superior room in the guest courtyard. Ling'er, as a returning direct descendant, was directly led to the core area of the Zhao family and quickly received an audience with the patriarch, Zhao Wuyi.]
Upon seeing you, Zhao Wuyi was overjoyed. He began questioning you about your experiences over the past ten years, and you answered questions about events from your childhood that you had previously discussed with Ling Ji, providing detailed and accurate accounts.
After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Wuyi asked you where Master Minghao was, and you brushed it off by saying that your master was in seclusion.
Clearly, Zhao Wuyi was not satisfied with this answer; he seemed to really hope that True Person Minghao would come to the Zhao family.
You brought up your background and asked if your parents were still alive. Zhao Wuyi told you that your parents had passed away long ago.
You continued to ask for your parents' names, but Zhao Wuyi unexpectedly fell silent, and you sensed something was wrong.
The other party simply waved you away, offering no further explanation. You returned to your residence. Unlike the previous simulation, this time the Zhao family did not restrict your movements. A chill ran down your spine; you realized this plan had indeed worked.
Unlike Ling'er during the last simulation, you weren't imprisoned by the Zhao family. Instead, you received treatment befitting a legitimate daughter. Qin Xiyue also lives with you, making it convenient for her to replenish your secret techniques at any time.
To avoid losing yourself, you constantly remind yourself that you are Li Qingyi, not Ling'er. A few days later, Zhao Wuyi's birthday celebration proceeded as planned.
[Everything went as you predicted. The Zhao family announced their marriage alliance with the royal family, and the birthday banquet proceeded as planned. You could clearly sense that Zhao Mengxi seemed to dislike Li Xuance.]
[That night, another member of the Zhao family's Purple Mansion, Zhao Jingci, unexpectedly came to see you. You and Qin Xiyue were wary. Zhao Jingci immediately began talking to you for a long time, first mentioning your background, then discussing your parents, his attitude quite different from Zhao Wuyi's.]
[You've learned that Ling'er's father was named Zhao Linyun, and her mother was named Luo Yanran. In the year Ling'er was born, they left their clan, were assassinated, and died tragically.]
[And you are told that Ling'er is a descendant of Zhao Jingci. You feign sadness to send Zhao Jingci away, while you are filled with confusion.]
The deaths of Ling'er's parents weren't complicated, so why was Zhao Wuyi being so hesitant? Something was definitely amiss, so you decided—
First, take the initiative to find Zhao Wuyi and find out his true attitude and intentions.
Second, remain inactive, continue to observe, and gather more information.
Li Qingyi looked at the options and tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
"Zhao Wuyi's reaction—is indeed too abnormal." He muttered to himself, "His excitement and choking at the first meeting may have been a genuine expression of emotion, or it may have been some kind of performance. But his hesitation and avoidance regarding Ling'er's parents' names is an obvious flaw."
A being who has lived for hundreds of years would have mastered the art of emotional control and would never lose their composure like this.
"Is he perhaps not guarding against Ling'er, but against someone else? Or is he using this unnatural avoidance to subtly convey some kind of message to Ling'er?"
Following this line of thought, Li Qingyi suggested, "For example, could I remind Ling'er to be careful of Zhao Jingci's remarks today?"
"But then another problem arises," he frowned even more deeply, "If he really wanted to remind people, there are many ways to do it. Why choose this inefficient and easily misunderstood method?"
Unless his situation is truly dire, to the point where even private communications could be monitored or countered? And even within the Zhao family, is he not entirely in control of the situation?
Once one question comes to mind, a series of questions follow.
This guess sent a chill down Li Qingyi's spine.
If even Zhao Wuyi, the Purple Mansion Ancestor, felt constrained or even in danger, then how intense was the internal struggle within the Zhao family?
No wonder he was so eager for Ling'er to invite Master Minghao to the Zhao family.
We need to find Zhao Wuyi to test the waters.
"I choose one."
After discussing things with Qin Xiyue, you headed towards Zhao Wuyi's ancestral land. He was delighted to see you, and you immediately inquired about what you had learned.
[Who knew that Zhao Wuyi would tell you another version: when Ling'er was born, a golden phoenix appeared in the sky, indicating that she had ancient bloodline, which attracted the attention of the other two Purple Mansion Immortal Clan members in Xuan Kingdom.]
They plotted to suffocate Ling'er in her swaddling clothes, but she was fortunate enough to escape with the help of the royal family. Ling'er's parents also died in the chaos.
After listening to their story, you feel like you're playing a game of Werewolf, where you can't trust anyone.
But you still showed a look of sudden realization and gratitude on your face. Zhao Wuyi took out a black and white talisman and handed it to you, telling you that it was the Yin-Yang Reversal Talisman.
[Zhao Wuyi tells you that Zhao Jingci intends to strip you of your ancient bloodline and transfer it to Crown Prince Li Xuance. This Yin-Yang Reversal Talisman, if you keep it on your person, will allow you to escape this calamity.]
[You didn't think much of it, but outwardly you thanked me with utmost sincerity and trepidation. You left the ancestral land, returned to your room, and stared at the Yin-Yang Reversal Talisman, lost in thought.]
[You could clearly sense that Zhao Wuyi was lying. If he intended to help Ling'er, why did he imprison her during the last simulation? Unable to understand this, you immediately asked Qin Xiyue for her opinion.]
[She has set up an array in the room to disrupt the Purple Mansion's ability to spy, allowing the two of you to communicate without restraint. She also senses something amiss and has given you a suggestion: that you give the Yin-Yang Reversal Talisman to Zhao Jingci.]
[You said this matter was too dangerous, and a slight mistake could lead to death. She told you that even now, Ling'er is still of great use to them, and she absolutely cannot die.]
[Only then did you realize that those involved are often blinded by their own perspective, and you immediately set off to find Zhao Jingci.]