123: Chapter 123 An eye for an eye

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's fox-like eyes widened slightly, her slender eyelashes fluttering gently.

She tilted her head, her red lips parting softly:

"Senior Brother, how did you know someone had been in here?"

Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness, yet was tinged with unease.

Lu Bingyun and Ye Xishui simultaneously looked at Chen Zilong, the same question reflected in their beautiful eyes.

Lu Bingyun's slender fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, while Ye Xishui slightly furrowed her delicate brows, her dignified posture appearing especially solemn under the dim candlelight.

Chen Zilong did not answer immediately, merely snapping his fingers lightly.

In that instant, several faint blue runic patterns appeared on the floor of the room. These runes moved across the ground like living things before quietly fading away.

Immediately after, four pairs of pristine white footprints and one pair of pitch-black footprints clearly materialized before everyone's eyes.

"This is a restriction I laid down in advance."

Chen Zilong's voice was low and calm. "Apart from the footprints of the four of us, anyone else's tracks will appear as black."

The three women, as if by prior agreement, leaned down to examine the black footprint closely.

They saw that the footprint was delicate and dainty, clearly that of a woman.

Lu Bingyun unconsciously took half a step back, her tall, slender figure casting a swaying shadow on the wall.

Ye Xishui pursed her lips tightly, her usually somewhat aloof eyes now filled with vigilance.

Chen Zilong slowly followed the trail of the black footprint with his gaze, finally fixing it beneath the bed.

He closed his eyes, sending out his spiritual sense like threads. A moment later, his eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them.

He formed hand seals with both hands, and a purple talisman flew out from under the bed in response, landing lightly in his palm.

"A talisman? Who placed this?"

Ye Xishui's voice held a slight tremble. She elegantly raised a hand to adjust the hair at her temple, but this usually composed gesture now betrayed a hint of fluster.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao and Lu Bingyun looked at each other, both shaking their heads.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao unconsciously touched the shoulder that had been attacked by the monster, the spot seemingly still aching faintly.

Chen Zilong examined the purple talisman carefully, then leaned in to sniff it lightly.

The next moment, his brow furrowed tightly, his voice carrying suppressed anger:

"What a vicious bastard!"

"Junior Brother Chen, what is this about?" Lu Bingyun asked softly.

Her slender figure leaned forward slightly, her lovely face appearing especially pale under the candlelight.

Chen Zilong spread the talisman on his palm and pointed to the strange patterns on it, explaining:

"Look at this cinnabar. It's specially made with locust wood yin incense."

"This substance is most likely to attract evil spirits and malevolent entities! This is meant to use the local demons and monsters to kill us!"

He paused, his voice growing even colder:

"And they used the highest-grade purple talisman of the Daoist tradition. They're truly afraid we won't die!"

Upon hearing this, the three women's expressions changed drastically.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao trembled all over, her always smiling fox-like eyes now brimming with fear.

She unconsciously moved closer to Chen Zilong, her slender fingers tightly clutching his sleeve.

"Who on earth wants to harm us?!" Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's voice was choked with sobs. Recalling the terrifying experience of being chased by that monster last night, her delicate body couldn't help but shiver slightly.

Ye Xishui snorted coldly, a sharp look appearing on her dignified face:

"Who else could it be but that Long Tianjiao?"

She elegantly raised a hand, counting off on her slender fingers, "The footprint is a woman's. Wei Guodong of the Tiansha Sect and Long Xiang of the Qingyun Sect can be ruled out."

"Lin Yue of the Qingyun Sect is already out of her mind; there's no way she could do something like this."

"Jin Mei of the Hehuan Sect is clearly a new disciple who just entered the sect. She lacks both the cunning and the capability for this."

Lu Bingyun looked at Chen Zilong and said softly:

"Junior Brother Chen, how should we respond now?"

As she spoke, her slender neck lifted slightly.

Even in her fear, she still maintained that innate elegance.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Zilong's eyes as he said, word by word:

"If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. If others offend me, I will root them out completely!"

Ye Xishui's beautiful eyes shifted, and she suddenly smiled, though the smile held a touch of chill:

"How about... we repay them in kind?"

As she spoke, her slender waist swayed slightly. This usually alluring movement now carried an aura of danger.

Chen Zilong gave a slight nod, tucked the purple talisman into his sleeve, and walked out of the room alone.

In the corridor, a chilling wind gusted intermittently, causing the candle flames to flicker unsteadily and stretching his shadow long.

He arrived at the door to Long Tianjiao's room on the fifth floor. With a light tap of his fingertip, after a few subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy, the restriction on the door quietly unlocked.

He slipped into the room silently. By the pale moonlight filtering through the window, he could see Long Tianjiao's bed was meticulously made.

Chen Zilong formed hand seals and used the 'Attraction Technique' to precisely stick that purple talisman to the most hidden corner under the bed.

After finishing this, he carefully erased all traces, reinforced the door's restriction, as if no one had ever been there.

When he returned to the sixth-floor room, the three women were still standing where he had left them, waiting.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao immediately rushed up to him, asking in a coquettish voice:

"Senior Brother, did it go smoothly?"

Chen Zilong nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three exquisitely beautiful faces.

Ye Xishui stood dignified by the window, the moonlight outlining her perfect profile.

Lu Bingyun sat quietly by the table, her slender fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao nestled against his side, her enchanting face showing a touch of lingering fear.

"Next, we just need to wait and see how things develop."

Chen Zilong's voice was very soft, yet it made the three women shiver in unison.

Just then, a shrill, blood-curdling scream suddenly came from downstairs.

The sound was especially piercing in the silent night, as if it could tear a person's soul apart.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao was so frightened she burrowed directly into Chen Zilong's arms. Lu Bingyun abruptly stood up. Ye Xishui quickly moved to the door, leaning in to listen.

"It seems... tonight is destined to be anything but peaceful."

Chen Zilong said quietly, yet his gaze remained fixed intently on the direction of the door.

The moonlight outside the window was suddenly obscured by dark clouds, plunging the room into complete darkness.

In the last instant before losing all light, each of them clearly saw the poorly concealed fear on the others' faces.

And at this moment, in Long Tianjiao's room on the fifth floor, that purple talisman was emitting an eerie glow in the darkness, as if something was slowly awakening...