Chapter 12: Junior Brother, Where Are You Going?

The sky had grown later, and at the entrance to the side hall, Zhang Fei Xuan led Song Yin inside, pointing to the interior and saying, "Big Senior Brother, this is it..."

After Song Yin agreed to take in a total of fifteen mortals, he personally settled them in a certain side hall, and then he went to look for his own living quarters.

This side hall was located to the left of the main hall, close to the cliff, apart from one main room, it also had a backyard. The doors were wide open, and traces of human habitation could be seen in the backyard, where those mortals previously resided.

The already dilapidated doors had several more sword marks on them, likely made by the enchantress breaking out from within.

"This used to be the residence of the big senior brother. Since his death, it has been vacant, and no one dares to approach it on regular days. I didn't expect it to be used as a dwelling by those from the Demonic Path..." As Zhang Fei Xuan spoke, a note of regret could be heard in his voice.

He wasn't wrong, this had been Zhao Yuanhua's residence, and he had always lorded over everyone as the big senior brother and a practitioner of the Human Elixir Technique, never putting others in his eyes, which made them dare not come near this place.

"Hmm..."

Song Yin glanced around the interior of the hall. The side hall was not small; the first thing that met his eyes was the main hall where an incense table was placed with an offering set atop it—a spherical green object that was inexplicably there.

In the center stood a small Pill Furnace about half a person tall; the smell of medicine dregs still lingered. Closer inspection showed that the dregs had turned black, and it was uncertain what things were inside.

To one side stood a screen, and behind the screen was a room door, but the whole place was in a sorry state, especially the screen, which even had dried-up deep black marks resembling dried blood.

The other pieces of furniture each had their own unique features, not seeming to be made of the same wood, and they didn't match the size and specifications of this side hall, either.

It would be more fitting to say that they were plundered from somewhere rather than made...

Song Yin's gaze rested on the spherical green object on the incense table, his brow furrowed slightly. That object alone was the cleanest, resembling a gemstone...

"That's Hunyuan Tianzun of the Four Heavenly Venerates. We believe in this one, so we put a token on the table for daily offerings. Actually, even without it, it's fine. Hunyuan Tianzun doesn't care for this. The previous big senior brother liked to make offerings..." Zhang Fei Xuan said with a smile.

"Four Heavenly Venerates?"

"Yes, we cultivators basically believe in the Four Heavenly Venerates. Those who are combative and brave, full of blood and valor, believe in Wu Liang Heavenly Venerate."

"Those who love spells and strive for change, believe in Qing Bao Heavenly Venerable."

"Those who receive offerings and are carefree, believe in Free Self Heavenly Venerate."

"We are the Alchemical Faction that values the idea that all things can be refined, and all is one, so we believe in Hunyuan Heavenly Venerable," said Zhang Fei Xuan, explaining each in turn.

Song Yin nodded. "Little brother, you know more than I do."

Zhang Fei Xuan smiled awkwardly, "Not at all, I've just been wandering the world for some years. There are too many law cultivations in this world. Believing in the Four Heavenly Venerates isn't exactly like that, it's just the view of one faction, just one faction's view..."

Song Yin said with a smile, "No need to be modest. I don't understand these things, but you do. So in this respect, you know more than I do. I believe that cultivation is also about cultivating the heart, and we should acknowledge what we should acknowledge, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Then he looked around the side hall, "This place also needs to be cleaned and repaired, but the sky is too late today. We'll start tomorrow. By the way, have the meals for those mortals been arranged?"

"Ah... I'm going to take care of that." Zhang Fei Xuan was taken aback, and then responded immediately.

"Then you go on ahead, I will follow shortly," Song Yin said.

"Yes, big senior brother. I shall take my leave," Zhang Fei Xuan replied, bowing with cupped hands before retreating.

After stepping out of the side hall, Zhang Fei Xuan subconsciously wiped the sweat from his face and took a long, deep breath.

After looking around once more, Song Yin's gaze still settled on that spherical green gemstone. Walking over, he reached out to touch the gem-like object, feeling its icy coolness. It didn't feel like a stone, but rather like some kind of flesh...

Yet upon closer examination, it felt somewhat like stone.

Very strange...

Song Yin narrowed his eyes, a flash of white light passing quickly through them as he stared at this so-called Hunyuan Heavenly Venerate.

Faintly, he could sense a kind of benevolent intention from it.

"Strange thing."

Song Yin withdrew his hand, not detecting any evil intent from the object, and decided not to pay it any more attention. Shaking his head, he too left the hall.

Not until after Song Yin had left did the green spherical gemstone suddenly burst forth with a puff of cyan energy that quickly turned dark green. The aura spread to the medicine dregs inside the Pill Furnace.

"Hee hee..."

From inside the Pill Furnace came a playful laugh like that of a child...

The sun had set, and the sky darkened into night, enveloping everything like dense water.

On Mount Pingding, the night sky revealed an abundance of stars, and two moons, one large and one small, one silver and one green, hung in the sky, casting a pale greenish-white glow that illuminated the central plaza and surrounding buildings.

The Jinxian Sect had one main hall and five side halls, currently housing eighteen disciples.

At this time, inside one of the side halls, a person sneakily emerged.

With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, he was quite handsome, wearing a jeweled crown, brocaded robes, and a folding fan hung at his waist.

If it wasn't Zhang Fei Xuan then who could it be?

He looked around, and after making sure there was no one nearby, he let out a long sigh, adjusted the small knapsack on his back, and headed towards the gate of the mountain.

"Second Senior Brother…"

He had only made it halfway when a voice came from his surroundings.

Zhang Fei Xuan's brows shot up, and a blood light appeared in his hand as he sharply turned to look in the direction of the sound.

There, five people appeared, fellow disciples from the Jinxian Sect, including the tall, sturdy disciple who had previously been swept over by the Great Path Aura of Song Yin.

"Why are you here!" Zhang Fei Xuan hissed.

"Thinking of running away..."

The tall, burly disciple's face was still filled with fear, "I don't want to stay here anymore, nor do I wish to pursue cultivation. I don't even want the Human Elixir Technique."

"Shh! Keep your voice down. If Song Yin hears us, we're doomed!"

Zhang Fei Xuan quickly held up a finger to his lips, gesturing for them to be quiet, then looked around before letting out a sigh of relief, "So you guys want to run away too?"

"I can't take it anymore. The pain from Big Senior Brother's Great Path Aura was too much. I thought I was going to die today. My body and soul felt like they were being burned by fire. If it had been any slower, I think I would have dissolved. I don't want to endure it a second time..." The tall, sturdy man shuddered even more at the thought.

Zhang Fei Xuan glanced at him and sighed, "That Song Yin is too ruthless. He blew away the people from the Green Lotus Sect as if they were an Enchantress. The rest of us... Forget it, we'll escape together. I'll take you out of the Xumi Vein to find a mountain top where we can live freely. That way, at least our fellowship as Senior and Junior Brothers won't be in vain."

Zhang Fei Xuan, too, wanted to escape.

Originally, he had planned to trick the "Great Golden Immortal Elixir Decree" from Song Yin, or at the very least, secure the Human Elixir Technique, but after much deliberation, he decided it was wiser to run first.

Life was precious.

Song Yin's demeanor had changed multiple times throughout the day, at times appearing innocently harmless like a fool, but when he became fierce, he was like a malevolent spirit, even more ferocious than the Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, chilling to the bone.

In the outside world, the Green Lotus Sect was a notable Orthodox Sect, specifically targeting those from the Demonic Path, and yet they were mistaken for followers of the Demonic Path. In his eyes, it seemed that practically all cultivators in the world were adherents of the Demonic Path.

If one day he felt something was off, a simple gesture could be the end of oneself.

This was a risk Zhang Fei Xuan dared not take.

Initially, he had planned on running alone, but now that there were a few more... that was also acceptable. Although these disciples were not as true to the teachings as they were, they still knew some basic spells and could be useful when utilized.

"Follow me."

Zhang Fei Xuan led the others, sneaking to the gate of the mountain. Upon reaching the gate, all was silent around them, making him relax somewhat.

Once out of the gate, the sky was the limit...

"Junior Brother..."

"Hmm? You should call me Senior Brother. How dare you call me Junior Brother?" Zhang Fei Xuan looked askance at the person beside him.

But soon, he realized something was wrong.

Because at that moment, the faces of those five people turned deathly pale and rigid, standing as if they had been hit by the Binding Technique of their master...

Gulp!

Zhang Fei Xuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and his head stiffly and slowly turned to look ahead.

Outside the mountain gate, just through the door, a figure flashed into view, standing in the center of the gate.

The moonlight fell upon him, revealing the fierce figure of Song Yin and that grin baring his teeth.

"Junior Brother, where do you think you're going?"

In the moonlight... the teeth looked horrifyingly white.