546: Chapter 56 Biyao and Youji

After Lu Xueqi and Tian Linger's strategic retreat, Old Nian knew their identities were exposed. Considering the strength of the Righteous Path, he spent some effort finding a more remote and hidden place to stay to avoid attention.

Then, with the idea of acting as he saw fit, he had the others from the Blood Refining Hall stay behind, taking only his confidant, Taoist Wild Dog, to the Jinxiu Workshop.

But what he didn't know was that as soon as they arrived at the entrance of the Jinxiu Workshop, they were noticed by two people in the nearby teahouse.

One of these two was a young girl in green with a round face, almond eyes, flat bangs, and a high ponytail.

The other wore a purple gauze dress, her lower face covered by a veil. Her exposed fox-like eyes held a faint trace of sorrow, appearing like a lady from a secluded courtyard, yet possessing a charm that was both mature and youthful.

Seeing Old Nian's appearance clearly, the girl in green stood up instantly, about to dash over.

The woman in the purple dress was quick to pull her back, asking in a low voice, "Bi Yao, what are you doing?"

Bi Yao's almond eyes flashed with a terrifying, murderous light. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I'm going to kill him and avenge my mother!"

As she spoke, she began to struggle. Finding she couldn't break free, she pleaded, "Auntie You, let go of me."

The woman addressed as "Auntie You" was You Ji, the Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy who had joined the Ghost King Sect. She sighed helplessly, "I know you're eager for revenge, but now is not the right time. This is Yudu City, and various factions are gathered here. If a fight breaks out, it will surely cause trouble."

"If things are ruined because of this, your father will be angry."

"Anyway, Old Nian has been found. You might as well endure a bit longer."

"Once he leaves the city or reaches a suitable place, it won't be too late for you to take your revenge."

Bi Yao's eyes flickered for a moment. Finally, she released her clenched fists and compromised, "Fine, then I'll let him live a little longer."

...

Inside the Jinxiu Workshop.

"Jin Binger, let's go. Let's head to Kong Sang Mountain together to see what's going on." As soon as he met Jin Binger, Old Nian got straight to the point.

Jin Binger said with a smile, "There's no rush for that. Let's go see someone first."

Old Nian frowned. "See who?"

Jin Binger said word by word, "The Ancestral Master of your Blood Refining Hall, the master of the Wanfu Ancient Cave—the Black-Hearted Old Ancestor."

Old Nian and Taoist Wild Dog's brains stalled on the spot.

After several seconds, Old Nian laughed out of sheer anger and said coldly, "Are you joking?"

"The Black-Hearted Old Man died over eight hundred years ago. You want me to go see him?"

As he spoke, something seemed to occur to him, and he warily scanned the surroundings.

Taoist Wild Dog did the same.

Seeing this, a hint of a smile flashed in Jin Binger's eyes, then she said seriously, "Don't look like you're guarding against a thief. There's no ambush here, and I'm not joking. Your Blood Refining Hall's Ancestral Master, the Black-Hearted Old Man, and my Hehuan Sect's Ancestral Master, Lady Jin Ling, are both still alive. I met them not long ago."

Old Nian's eyes widened. "Impossible! The two Ancestral Masters, over eight hundred years ago..."

Before he could finish, Jin Binger interrupted, "Did anyone see their bodies with their own eyes?"

Old Nian's expression stiffened.

Jin Binger continued, "No one saw them. Even the records of our two sects only state that they mysteriously disappeared, not that they died. Since there was no news of them for over eight hundred years, and that exceeds the known limit of a lifespan, we all assumed they had perished."

"But that was just our assumption."

"The truth is they didn't perish; they were just in secluded cultivation and only recently emerged."

Seeing that Jin Binger didn't seem to be lying, Old Nian wavered slightly.

Taoist Wild Dog suddenly said, "Jin Binger, how can you be sure the people you saw were the two Ancestral Masters? What if they're imposters?"

Jin Binger replied, "I've naturally considered that possibility, but it's basically impossible."

Then she began to explain, "First, that lady's appearance is almost identical to the portrait of my Hehuan Sect's Ancestral Master. Portraits of the Ancestral Master aren't something ordinary people can easily see. Even for Disciples of my Hehuan Sect, they usually only see it once when they pay respects upon joining the sect."

"Secondly, that lady has my Hehuan Sect's Sect Head token, the Hehuan Golden Bell."

"You also know the situation regarding the Hehuan Golden Bell."

"It disappeared mysteriously along with Lady Jin Ling over eight hundred years ago. But because it's the Hehuan Sect's Sect Head token and is closely related to some of our sect's secret techniques, it's of great importance, so there are detailed records of it. Recovering it has also been a major task for every generation of Hehuan Sect Leader."

"Therefore, I am very familiar with the hehuan bell and would never mistake it."

"Finally, that lady not only knows high-level Spells of the Hehuan Sect, but she can also use the hehuan bell to perform core secret techniques that only the Sect Head of the Hehuan Sect knows."

"I saw all of this with my own eyes."

"I can be one hundred percent certain that lady is our sect's Ancestral Master, Lady Jin Ling. It's impossible for anyone else to impersonate her."

Seeing Jin Binger speak so confidently, Taoist Wild Dog was momentarily speechless and could only say, "Even if what you say is true, it only proves that your Hehuan Sect's Ancestral Master, Lady Jin Ling, is still alive. The Black-Hearted Old Ancestor is our Blood Refining Hall's Ancestral Master. How can you be sure about him?"

Old Nian remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

Jin Binger smiled and said, "What you say does make some sense."

"I indeed couldn't be certain if that man was the Black-Hearted Old Ancestor; I didn't even see his face clearly. However, Lady Jin Ling was with him, inseparable, and even called him her husband, saying that the Wanfu Ancient Cave was his Dao arena. The man accepted it calmly, and his cultivation gave me a sense of being unfathomable."

"With all these circumstances combined, if you say he's not the Black-Hearted Old Ancestor, then who else could he be?"

Old Nian and Taoist Wild Dog were momentarily speechless.

The love between Lady Jin Ling and the Black-Hearted Old Man was well known to everyone, even held up by many as a divine couple.

If Lady Jin Ling's identity was correct, the identity of the man she called "husband" was self-evident.

Then Jin Binger added, "Although the Hehuan Sect and the Blood Refining Hall are closely related because of the two Ancestral Masters, they don't share the same lineage after all. Therefore, I can't be one hundred percent sure that man is your Blood Refining Hall's Black-Hearted Old Ancestor."

"That's exactly why I want you, Old Nian, to go and see for yourself to confirm it."

"Besides, this was also that Old Ancestor's instruction. He said if you came looking for me again, I should take you to see him."

After saying that, she threw the question to Old Nian, "Hall Master Nian, I've told you everything truthfully. This Black-Hearted Old Ancestor—will you see him or not?"

Old Nian lowered his eyes, his gaze flickering as he quickly weighed the situation in his mind.

A few seconds later, he smiled and said, "Of course I'll see him. Since the Old Ancestor has emerged from seclusion, as a junior, how could I not go and pay my respects now that I know?"

"Sect Leader Jin, please lead the way."

Jin Binger nodded with a smile. "Follow me."

Before long, Jin Binger took A Cheng, and Old Nian took Taoist Wild Dog, and they headed together to the courtyard where Meng Li was staying.

Bi Yao, who was watching in secret, saw this and immediately followed.

You Ji had no choice but to follow along.

...