64: There are many things to be suspicious about.

Inside the Alchemy Department hall, Jiang Donghua paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, occasionally looking up at the entrance with a deep frown.

“Why isn't Master here yet?”

Today, he felt completely uneasy, sensing a pair of cold, sinister eyes watching him from the shadows, yet every time he turned around, he saw nothing.

“This feeling of being watched is seriously annoying!”

Just as he irritably scratched his head, the door to the Alchemy Department was finally pushed open, and a familiar figure strode inside.

Elder Mo Xuan!

Jiang Donghua's eyes lit up, and he immediately went to meet him.

“Master!”

Mo Xuan was originally looking down, deep in thought, but when he heard the voice and looked up, he was stunned.

“Hm? Why is this Stinky Kid here?”

Usually, when Jiang Donghua had nothing to do, he would either hole up in the pill refining room tinkering with medicinal pills or wander off to the Scripture Pavilion to read books; he rarely loitered in the main hall.

“Did the sun rise in the west today?”

Mo Xuan raised an eyebrow and sized up Jiang Donghua, noticing that the young man looked somewhat off—his gaze was shifty, as if he were guarding against something.

“Stinky Kid, what are you loitering around here for?”

Mo Xuan asked with a frown.

Jiang Donghua glanced left and right, then lowered his voice and said.

“Master, let’s go somewhere private to talk.”

Mo Xuan.

“...?”

He looked utterly confused.

But seeing his Disciple's secretive manner, Mo Xuan still shook his head helplessly.

“Fine, who told this old man to spoil you?”

He waved his hand, signaling Jiang Donghua to follow, and then led him straight up to the top floor of the Alchemy Department.

The top floor of the Alchemy Department was the exclusive area for the Elders; ordinary students could not enter it on normal days.

Mo Xuan led Jiang Donghua into a secret chamber and casually set up a soundproofing barrier.

“Speak, what is the matter exactly?”

Mo Xuan stood with his arms crossed, staring at Jiang Donghua.

“Why are you acting so sneaky today, kid?”

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, his expression serious.

“Master, I feel like someone is monitoring me.”

Mo Xuan frowned.

“Monitoring you? Who?”

Jiang Donghua shook his head.

“I don't know, but the feeling is very distinct, like a pair of eyes is constantly fixed on me, yet I can’t find anyone when I look back.”

Mo Xuan was silent for a moment, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Could it be someone from the Law Enforcement Department?

But that doesn’t match up!

Wasn't that already resolved?

He pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice.

“Have you encountered anyone suspicious recently? Or, has anyone deliberately tried to get close to you?”

Jiang Donghua thought about it, then suddenly said.

“That's right! Today, a Senior Brother Lin inexplicably came and asked me about the Hall of Enforcement, even saying something about 'the wind being tight recently'!”

Mo Xuan's gaze turned cold.

“Senior Brother Lin? From the Alchemy Department?”

Jiang Donghua nodded.

“Yes, it’s Lin Yue, the one who doesn't show up much normally.”

Mo Xuan narrowed his eyes, gently tapping the desk with his fingers, seemingly contemplating something.

A moment later, he suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“Interesting. It seems some people can’t sit still anymore.”

Jiang Donghua was taken aback.

“Master, do you know something?”

Mo Xuan did not answer directly, but instead asked him a question.

“Donghua, do you trust your Master?”

Jiang Donghua did not hesitate.

“Of course!”

Mo Xuan nodded and said in a deep voice.

“Then, for what comes next, you will follow my instructions.”

“First, do not act alone recently, especially at night; try to stay either in the Alchemy Department or in my courtyard.”

“Second, if that Lin Yue seeks you out again, do not show any abnormality, but also do not reveal any information.”

“Third...”

Mo Xuan paused, took a jade talisman from his robe, and handed it to Jiang Donghua.

“This is a ‘Hun Yu’; it can withstand one Soul Power attack. Keep it close to you, just in case.”

Jiang Donghua took the jade talisman and felt the powerful Soul Power contained within it, warming his heart.

“Master is truly protecting me like his own son!”

He grinned and deliberately teased.

“Master, with both a soundproofing barrier and a Hun Yu, there isn't really some big trouble brewing, is there?”

Mo Xuan glared at him.

“Stinky Kid, stop running your mouth! This concerns life and death, so take it seriously!”

Jiang Donghua immediately dropped his smile and said earnestly.

“Yes, Master!”

Mo Xuan sighed, his tone softening slightly.

“Donghua, your talent is extremely high, but precisely because of this, you will be targeted by certain people.”

“Remember, until your strength is sufficient, keeping a low profile is the way to survive.”

Jiang Donghua nodded solemnly.

“I understand.”

Meanwhile, in a certain shadow.

The Black Robed Man stood respectfully behind Blood Fiend and whispered.

“My Lord, Jiang Donghua and Mo Xuan just had a long private talk. Your subordinate could not get close and does not know what they discussed.”

Blood Fiend smiled faintly.

“No matter, it was expected.”

He toyed with a wisp of blood-colored Dou Qi between his fingers, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

“That old thing Mo Xuan is certainly protective of his Disciple.”

Lin Yue asked cautiously.

“Then what about our plan?”

Blood Fiend’s gaze was profound.

“Proceed according to the original plan.”

“Since Jiang Donghua was 'cleared of suspicion' by the Hall of Enforcement, he can serve perfectly as our 'smokescreen'.”

“As for Mo Xuan...”

He gave a cold laugh.

“If he dares to interfere, then we shall eliminate him along with the rest!”

“A useless Dou King who only knows how to refine pills—killing him won't even take ten moves.”

Lin Yue trembled all over and quickly bowed his head.

“Yes!”

After hearing what his Disciple said about the feeling he had last night.

A sharp glint flashed in Mo Xuan’s eyes, and the corner of his mouth slightly curved upward.

“So that’s it. No wonder those old fogeys in the Hall of Enforcement were targeting Donghua.”

“Someone is deliberately trying to frame him, intending to use my Disciple as a scapegoat!”

He snorted coldly, gently tapping the desk with his finger, his thoughts racing.

“Who exactly is that fellow hiding in the dark?”

“Lin Yue, this kid suddenly showing up is indeed suspicious.”

Thinking this, Mo Xuan stood up, flicked his sleeve, and strode towards the door.

“I need to go find that old hag Ice Red!”

Although the two usually clashed the moment they met, when it came to investigating moles and catching traitors, no one in the entire Jia Nan Academy was better than Ice Red.

“Bang!”

Mo Xuan kicked open the door of the Ice Crystal Pavilion, causing several Hall of Enforcement Disciples who were organizing files to shiver.

“Ice Red! Come out!”

The cold air inside the pavilion suddenly intensified, and an icy voice came from the depths.

“Mo Xuan, are you looking to die?”

Ice Red's figure slowly emerged, her silver hair like frost, her gaze like a knife, and a sharp ice crystal had already condensed on her fingertip, ready to pierce Mo Xuan’s forehead at any moment.

Mo Xuan’s expression remained unchanged, and he went straight to the point.

“Old hag, it's inconvenient to talk here.”

Ice Red frowned.

“What?”

“You follow me!”

“I hope something normal can come out of your mouth.”

Walking further inside, the two of them waved their hands, and a soundproofing barrier appeared.

Mo Xuan sneered.

“Someone wants to use my Disciple as a scapegoat to divert the attention of the Hall of Enforcement.”

A cold light flashed in Ice Red’s eyes.

“Evidence?”

Mo Xuan.

“Lin Yue from the Alchemy Department has been frequently contacting Donghua recently and trying to probe about the Hall of Enforcement's affairs.”

Ice Red was silent for a moment, then suddenly narrowed her eyes, her tone dangerous.

“Mo Xuan, you wouldn't be trying to take revenge on me, would you?”

Mo Xuan was stunned.

“What?”

The ice crystal on Ice Red’s fingertip slowly rotated, her voice bone-chillingly cold.

“I investigated your Disciple, and now you suspect my Disciple?”

“What exactly do you mean?!”

Only then did Mo Xuan realize.

Lin Yue was Ice Red’s registered Disciple!

“Wait!”

Mo Xuan quickly raised his hand.

“I forgot Lin Yue was your person!”

Ice Red didn't listen at all, and the ice crystal shot toward Mo Xuan’s face with a "swoosh"!

“Clang!”

A wisp of azure flame shot out from Mo Xuan's sleeve, instantly vaporizing the ice crystal, making his beard bristle with anger.

“Crazy woman! Can you just let me finish talking?!”

Ice Red sneered.

“Fine, speak.”

Mo Xuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger.

“Lin Yue’s behavior has been abnormal recently, and the timing of Donghua being targeted is too coincidental.”

“I don't care whose Disciple he is; if there's a problem, he must be investigated!”

Ice Red stared at Mo Xuan for a few seconds, then suddenly turned and walked toward the inner room, leaving a single sentence.

“Follow me.”

Ice Red took out a file from a hidden compartment and tossed it onto the table.

“See for yourself.”

Mo Xuan opened the file, his pupils suddenly contracting.

[Lin Yue, disappeared for three days half a year ago while performing an Outer Academy mission. Upon his return, his cultivation abruptly increased, and his personality slightly changed.]

[Investigation revealed abnormalities in his soul fluctuations, suspected to be interference from external forces...]

Mo Xuan suddenly looked up.

“You suspected him long ago?”

Ice Red said coldly.

“Not just him.”

She lightly tapped her finger, and the file automatically flipped to reveal another list.

[List of Disciples with Recent Abnormal Behavior]

Lin Yue (Alchemy Department)

Zhao Han (Hall of Enforcement)

Zhou Yan (Dou Technique Pavilion)

... Mo Xuan drew a sharp breath.

“So many people?!”

Ice Red was expressionless.

“The infiltration by the Blood Demon Sect is far more serious than we imagined.”

She looked at Mo Xuan, her tone unusually solemn.

“Your Disciple is likely just a pawn for them to divert attention.”

Mo Xuan’s fist clenched, making cracking sounds.

“These scoundrels!”

Ice Red suddenly added.

“However, Lin Yue may not be the mastermind.”

Mo Xuan frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Ice Red gathered cold energy on her fingertip, sketching a blurry figure in a blood-red robe in the air.

“I suspect that the real ‘Blood Fiend’ has already infiltrated the Academy’s high ranks.”