13: Leng Qingshuang's scheme, the strange poison recurring?

Inside Tingtao Pavilion, the night pearls emitted a soft, cold light.

Leng Qingshuang was not sitting on the jade couch; instead, she stood before the massive window overlooking the sea of clouds, her back turned to the hurried arrivals, Lu Yu and Luo Qingxue.

Her moon-white palace attire accentuated her aloof and cold silhouette, yet her straight back seemed slightly more tense than usual, in a way that was hard to detect.

Luo Qingxue was burning with anxiety. Disregarding etiquette, she poured out all the news Lu Yu had shared and her own concerns.

Her voice echoed in the empty, silent pavilion, carrying an irrepressible urgency.

“Revered Master! Tang Wu is colluding with external demons, plotting for the profound yin true water, and even intends to harm you. There may be Sleeper Agents lurking within the Sect. Such a threat must be eliminated immediately!”

Lu Yu stood slightly behind, silently observing Leng Qingshuang's reaction.

Leng Qingshuang remained with her back to them, saying nothing. Only the sound of the surging clouds outside the window was clearly audible. Her enchanting, mature silhouette stirred a sense of romantic allure in one's heart.

Lu Yu unconsciously recalled the previous scene of their Yin and Yang reversal. He silently turned his head, no longer looking at that graceful figure that inspired such flights of fancy.

After Luo Qingxue finished speaking, the pavilion fell into a suffocating silence. Just as Luo Qingxue was about to speak again, Leng Qingshuang finally turned around slowly.

Moonlight and pearl-light intertwined on her face. On that stunningly beautiful yet pale countenance, there was no expected shock or rage, only a bottomless calm, even carrying a hint of knowing realization.

“This Seat is aware.”

She spoke with a cold voice, devoid of much emotion.

“Revered Master?!”

Luo Qingxue looked up in astonishment.

Lu Yu's eyes flickered, and he understood instantly.

Of course. He had still underestimated this Holy Revered Master. To be able to lead a major power like the Canglan Sacred Sect and reach the Mahayana Stage, how could she be a mediocre person who was deaf and blind, allowing others to deceive her?

She could sit firmly in the position of Holy Revered Master and contend with the Grand Elder's faction, whose influence was deeply entrenched, until now. How could she have noticed nothing?

Leng Qingshuang's gaze swept across Luo Qingxue's anxious face and finally landed on Lu Yu. An indescribable complexity flickered deep in her eyes.

This boy was quite bold and sharp-minded. Everything that happened tonight between him and Luo Qingxue had been under her observation. Naturally, she had also seen the scene where Lu Yu lured away the person from the Demonic Path alone.

“This Seat has known about Tang Wu's dealings with the Demon Realm for three years.”

She dropped a bombshell in a flat tone.

“The one behind him is from the Demon Realm's Heavenly Nether Hall. They have been secretly searching for and stealing the extreme yin Origins of various regions, intending to resurrect their so-called Demon Lord.”

Luo Qingxue gasped. Three years?

Revered Master had actually endured this for three years?

“As for the so-called Sleeper Agents.”

Leng Qingshuang paused, her lips curling into a faint, icy arc.

“This Seat is aware of them. They are merely a few bedbugs hiding in the gutter, thinking they've succeeded. Keeping them until now is only to follow the vine to the melon and uproot the forces of Heavenly Nether Hall hidden within the Sacred Sect!”

Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness and an aura of slaughter.

At this moment, she was no longer the fragile, out-of-control woman from before Lu Yu, nor was she the elder with complex emotions towards him. She was the true ruler of a region, the Canglan Holy Master who calculated every move!

Lu Yu felt a chill in his heart.

Indeed, no one who can stand in this position is simple.

His discovery probably only confirmed the clues she already held. It was even possible that his actions tonight hadn't completely escaped her perception.

“Then... Revered Master, your injury...”

Luo Qingxue was more concerned about this. Since the enemy was plotting for her Revered Master's profound yin cold jade origin, her Revered Master's injury was likely a part of their scheme.

Leng Qingshuang's eyes dimmed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

“It is just an old ailment. This Seat knows what to do.”

She was clearly unwilling to discuss this further and turned her gaze to Lu Yu.

“Your actions tonight, though reckless, happened to hit the mark and confirmed some of my suspicions. However...”

Her tone turned cold.

“Let this be the last time. This Seat has her own deployments for Sect matters. You and Qingxue must not act on your own, and certainly do not alert the enemy. I will have people watch Tang Wu's side. You two only need to act as usual and not let him see any flaws.”

This was a clear warning and a drawing of boundaries.

In the secret war within the Sect, she was the chess player. Lu Yu and Luo Qingxue were currently not qualified to sit at the table. At most, they could only be pawns on the board to draw fire, or variables that had accidentally intruded.

Lu Yu understood and knew this was the safest approach for now.

He cupped his hands and replied, “This Junior understands and will follow the Holy Revered Master's instructions.”

Although Luo Qingxue was still worried, seeing her Revered Master so confident, she had to suppress her anxiety and whispered, “Your Disciple obeys.”

“Go now.”

Leng Qingshuang waved her hand, appearing somewhat weary. She turned back around, looking out at the endless night and the sea of clouds.

Lu Yu and Luo Qingxue silently exited Tingtao Pavilion.

On the way back, both were somewhat silent. The night wind was very cold, blowing away some of the restlessness in their hearts but bringing a deeper gravity.

After escorting Luo Qingxue to the vicinity of her residence, Lu Yu returned to the guest courtyard alone.

Halfway there, his steps suddenly paused, and his brow furrowed.

Something was wrong.

When Leng Qingshuang turned around earlier, her face seemed even paler than usual, despite how well she hid it.

Also, while her breath was steady when she spoke, there was a very slight disturbance at one moment. Had he not been exceptionally sensitive to the aura of that ice-fire strange poison within her, it would have been almost impossible to detect.

After all, he had 'experienced' it personally.

The poison in her body... was likely not as simple as 'just an old ailment'.

Heavenly Nether Hall coveted her profound yin cold jade origin. Her injury was very likely related to this, perhaps even a secret move by the enemy!

Could it be that the poison showed signs of recurring today?

Hesitation lasted only an instant. Lu Yu changed direction and once again crept toward Tingtao Pavilion.

This time, he was even more careful, restraining his aura to the limit, as if merging into the night.

Tingtao Pavilion was still silent. The guarding Disciples had long been dismissed by Leng Qingshuang.

Lu Yu quietly arrived under the window on the side of the pavilion. He could faintly hear heavily suppressed, short gasps from inside, as well as the slight sound of something being bumped.

He no longer hesitated and gently tapped on the window frame.

The sounds inside stopped abruptly. After a moment, Leng Qingshuang's voice, icy and tinged with a hint of anger, came out.

“Who is it?”

She clearly hadn't expected someone to return, much less be bold enough to find her directly here.

“Holy Revered Master, it is Junior Lu Yu.”

Lu Yu lowered his voice.

“Junior sensed your aura was unusual and feared an old injury had flared up. I have come to... take a look.”

The pavilion was silent for a few breaths before the window silently opened a crack.