He sighed for the nth time

Now that the conversation was finally veered away from him and his supposed lover, Zhang Wang, could finally relax. Sikong Yong's eyes were on Chu Changying now, who was still red-faced over the earlier accusations made toward her. But it seems that the Sect Leader was curious about other happenings as well.

"So tell me, A-Xia, were you not with that dreadful nephew of mine?" He hummed stroking his selves.

"Y-Yes, I was." She flinched, snapping away from glaring holes into the side of Ariunbayar's face.

"And you are no longer with him. Hm. But you journeyed with him to the palace of sins, did you not?"

"That, I did."

Zhang Wang perked up. He too was interested in the going-on happening there after he and Yu Yanlin left. Sikong Ren must not have been far behind him. Zhang Wang quietly wondered if any of the secret work he'd partook in would come to light after his Shidi and his harem razed through with their swords and arrows.

Something told Zhang Wang that it wouldn't. It never really did, and he had grown used to it.

But he wondered who the big boss defeated in those golden halls if Yu Yanlin was not the one present was? Whose head would Sikong Ren ride in on a silver platter?

"So tell me," Sikong Yong hummed as lazily as ever, his eyes seeming to trail over her head instead of directly at her, "is it true that Sikong Ren felled the demon king Yanlin?"

"Yes, that is true," Chu Changying readily answered, "If Honorable Sect Leader is sceptical, then I saw him do it with my own two eyes."

Zhang Wang was casually nodding along until he almost reeled from the spot, and for a second could not hide his dismay.

What? What was she talking about? Yu Yanlin wasn't dead, was standing right there next to him?

Sikong Yong's sharp eyes fell upon him immediately, "What was that? My A-Yun looks surprised. Have you heard differently then?"

Zhang Wang blinked and cursed at himself. What kind of lie was he going to spin this time? He hesitated before saying, "I…was only surprised. I did not know Demon King Yanlin was at the Palace of Sins at that times. I heard some…differing rumors that's all."

"Indeed," Sikong Yong agreed, his eyes narrowed, "I have heard such strange and polarizing things that I can longer piece together the whole truth. A-Xia, tell me more about the Demon King's troops and the forces you met at the Palace of Sins."

"Yes, certainly." Chu Changying devolved into a long monologue; non of with made any sense to Zhang Wang. Was she lying then? But it was strange because it would have to be a lie that Sikong Ren, their Shizun and many others would have to parrot when they as well returned.

He also could not help but be curious what the apparent 'polarizing rumors' that Sikong Yong heard were. No doubt there was already a half-truth that the Sect Leader has set his mind on believing, there was no way he'd take any random rumor in his ear and allow it to influence his opinion.

There was a much-complicated web of plot twists that Zhang Wang felt that he got himself involved with. He held back a sigh and glanced curiously to his side, wondering what the demon king thought about this development.

Yu Yanlin was silent in his vigil; his expression conveniently masked. The blindfold was serving them well, Zhang Wang supposed. But now the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms was wondering if the demon king was, in fact, aware of some of the finer details that spun life to this entire narrative.

A private part of Zhang Wang wondered if the man next to him was Yu Yanlin at all. And perhaps the real demon king was in fact slain by Sikong Ren's hand.

He wanted to smash his head into the wall. Nothing was making sense.

"I see," Sikong hummed at the end of Chu Changying's telling, leaning gently on the one hand. Frustratingly, he did not divulge anything more than that.

Annoyed, Zhang Wang decided to speak up, with a cough, "Honorable Sect Leader," he said sweetly.

Sikong Yong's eyes instantly jolted up with a sparkle, "Yes, my lovely A-Yun? What is it? You may speak."

He bowed, respectable and even a little shy (he was trying his best at winning all the brownie points, okay?). "I can't help but wonder what kind of rumors reached Uncle's ears. I know that Honorable Sect Leader would not accept any old rumor as the truth so I can't help but be curious."

A low chuckle erupted from Sikong Yong's face that sent tiny pricks not his spine. Zhang Wang fought to keep his smile relaxed, "How could I reveal my sources and secrets so readily? A-Yun, my dear child, you know better than to ask so directly. But since you're so cute, I'll give you a little hint. Are you familiar with the Blood Crane?"

"..." Of course, Zhang Wang was familiar with the Blood Crane. He was the Blood Crane. But that wasn't something he could tell anyone in the hall. So he chose his words carefully, and made sure to add an innocent and naive tilt to his voice, "You mean… Yu Xinen's mercenary right…? What about him?"

"Her assassin," Sikong Yong corrected, "Let's just say that I had a bit of a clue that something strange was going on when I was following a trail left by that sweet little bird."

"...Is that so? Sect Leader's words are very mysterious."

"Yes, and they will inspire you to pay more attention to the world around you. That way, my A-Yun will be able to live freely even in a world as cruel and despairing as this one." Sikong Yong's smile was bright. The others in the hall could only be confused at any implications that could possibly have been left behind, but Zhang Wang realized that he had to be extra careful around this weird Sect Leader of his after all.

Wait, this might all be tied to the whole human trafficking thing he accidentally got involved with! Argh, Zhang Wang decided not to think too hard about that, praying that his past mistakes might disappear if he just ignored them.

He inwardly sighed. Sikong Yong wasn't always this strange, secretive and nosy. There was time he was just another uncle as any that left him with doting gifts with each visit.

Things changed a lot after Zhang Wang's parents died. Things changed, even more, when Sikong Yong's son died as well.

When they were finally free from Sikong Yong's audience and allowed to settle down, Zhang Wang finally let out a long sigh. He wished he could turn back time and never bet on that stupid dare with his stupid Shidi.

There was no point in fretting over that now. "C'mon I'll show you where we'll stay," He reached out and took Yu Yanlin by the wrist, who obediently followed without a single word of complaint. But his silence only served to unnerve Zhang Wang further. He filled in the quiet with chatter.

"Sorry if my uncle is a bit weird…he says some interesting things though, even if he's just trying to be that confusing hint-dropping character that isn't doing much to help me at all."

"Hm," Yu Yanlin hummed in response, "I'm not sure what a hint-dropping character is, but I agree that Sect Leader Sikong has left us with many interesting things to ponder."

"Yeah, and I was hoping you could be the one to answer some of my questions since that guy was such a dick about things…" Zhang Wang muttered. Where was his room again? Why did the halls of the Virtuous Phoenix Sect look so strange to him since his return? Was that narrow alley there before? The entire courtyard was changed now…and Zhang Wang was struck with a strange feeling of loss.

"Pardon me? I didn't quite hear you."

"Ah, it's nothing," he sighed for the nth time. "I'll tell you later."