Chapter 29: Be Wary of Schemers

Fan Jianqiang couldn't help but feel that the Sect Master was truly kind. He didn't say much, always focused on his own tasks, and never doubted him. How wonderful! In contrast, the Second Elder's piercing gaze made him uneasy. She must be suspecting him.

'Sigh, it's so hard to keep up appearances!' he thought. But then, a nagging doubt crept into his mind. 'If the Sect Master is really so straightforward, how does he manage to keep the Second Elder so obedient? There must be something more to him. And what about the things the Sect Master said earlier…'

Fan Jianqiang suddenly realized something. 'Is the Sect Master really as simple as he seems? At first glance, yes. But if you dig deeper, there are layers of complexity beneath the surface.'

In other words, 'If he's not as straightforward as he appears, then he's a master of scheming, manipulation, and acting. A truly terrifying individual.'

"No," Fan Jianqiang thought, "I can't afford to treat him as an honest man anymore. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance that he's hiding his true nature, I need to be more cautious, especially in front of him."

'I have a feeling he's far more cunning than the seemingly shrewd Second Elder.'

…..

They continued their journey, still on the run. Behind them, Liu Xun, a fifth level Mystic Finger Realm cultivator from the Liu family, was in pursuit. As a solo traveler, his speed was naturally faster. However, the earlier waves of formations and talismans had made him wary. He didn't dare to rush forward recklessly and instead carefully scouted the area as he advanced, which slowed him down.

For now, he couldn't catch up.

That is, until… he stumbled upon another area filled with formations.

"Another formation?" Liu Xun muttered. "Judging by the style, it's similar to the mediocre ones before. Probably set up by the same person. If I can track them down, these formations won't be a problem."

"But what if there are more powerful formations ahead? Are they repeating the same trick?" He smirked. "Who would be so foolish? Still, it could mislead others."

An idea struck him. He guessed that there might be more formations nearby, but it didn't matter. He could trigger this mediocre formation, make them think he was dead, and then…

'Let's do it!'

Without hesitation, Liu Xun stepped into the formation, confident and unbothered. These formations were, at best, a threat to fourth realm cultivators. As a fifth realm expert, he had nothing to fear.

But the reality was far beyond his expectations.

The moment he entered the formation, the world around him shifted. The sky darkened, the earth trembled, and the stars seemed to realign. What had seemed like a harmless trap now felt like a pack of ravenous wolves and tigers—no, a tiger that had awakened as a spirit!

"What?! I've been tricked! I'm in trouble!"

Liu Xun instantly realized his mistake. The enemy's strategy had changed! This formation wasn't meant to paralyze the enemy—it was bait to lure in overconfident fools like him.

'So… I've become the idiot I mocked earlier? F*ck!!!'

His thoughts raced, but nothing could save him now. Despite his immediate reaction, he was quickly overwhelmed by the terrifying fluctuations of the formation.

"Ahhhh!!!"

His scream echoed far into the distance.

…..

Meanwhile, Fan Jianqiang was busy showering Wu Xingyun with praise. "Second Elder, your power is unmatched! You've sniped the enemy again! My admiration for you is like an endless river, like the Yellow River flooding uncontrollably~!"

Wu Xingyun's lips twitched, but she remained silent. By now, she understood that these formations couldn't possibly be her own work. One incident could be a coincidence, but two or three? There was no way.

Seeing her silence, Fan Jianqiang wasn't worried. As long as she didn't suspect him, he was fine. His eyes darted around as he said, "Second Elder, I can't hold it in anymore. Can I…?"

This time, Wu Xingyun didn't even consult Lin Fan. She simply stopped and said, "Go."

"Sorry!" Fan Jianqiang clutched his stomach and disappeared into the jungle.

…..

"Sect Master," Wu Xingyun finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer, "Why aren't you surprised at all? Do you know where he came from?"

"I don't," Lin Fan said, spreading his hands. He wasn't lying. He truly didn't know Fan Jianqiang's background. All he knew was that the man was a wandering cultivator.

Wu Xingyun didn't press further, but her skepticism only grew. 'You don't know? Then why did you personally go out to find him? Why do you trust him so much? I don't believe you for a second!'

But she kept these thoughts to herself, silently resolving to observe Fan Jianqiang more closely. She wasn't just curious—she was concerned about his character and motives.

Unlike Xiao Ling'er, whose temperament was straightforward and admirable, Fan Jianqiang was… unusual. His extreme caution bordered on cowardice. At best, it was prudence; at worst, it was a fear of death. Accepting someone like him into the Moon Embracing Sect required careful scrutiny.

…..

Meanwhile, Liu Xun lay unconscious on the ground, battered and broken by the formation's power. A figure emerged quietly from the shadows, peeking out from behind a tree. After confirming that Liu Xun was truly unconscious, the figure summoned two scarecrows, which transformed into humanoid forms. They approached Liu Xun, took his storage bag, and then quietly retreated.

The scarecrows were promptly set on fire.

As the figure disappeared into the forest, a strange laugh echoed. "Fame and fortune… The fame is yours, but the profit is mine. Hoo ho ho."

…..

Not long after, Fan Jianqiang returned, clutching his stomach. "Sect Master, Second Elder, sorry to keep you waiting. I'm all done now. Shall we go?"

Lin Fan smiled and nodded. Wu Xingyun's lips twitched, but she said nothing, leading the group toward the Moon Embracing Sect.

…..

At the same time, Xiao Ling'er, Duan Qingyao, and the other elders had returned to the sect. Their journey had been uneventful, thanks to the disguise technique that had completely altered their appearances. No one had recognized them, and those searching for Xiao Ling'er were still scouring Hongwu Immortal City, unaware that she had already returned to the Moon Embracing Sect.

But everyone knew that returning to the sect didn't guarantee safety. The current peace was merely the calm before the storm.

Xiao Ling'er's expression was tense. Seeing this, Supreme Elder Su Xinghai smiled reassuringly. "You've brought honor to our Moon Embracing Sect by winning the top spot in the alchemy conference. This is our sect's good fortune. What's more, you've returned unharmed. Even if we old folks were lying in our coffins, we'd wake up laughing."

"So why worry so much?"