Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know

Chapter 59 – Side by side

Good thing Wenren È hadn’t used the divine blood to become solid and was lying on the robe with his primordial chaos body, otherwise Yin Hanjiang’s yank would’ve left them both speechless.

In truth, it would’ve been easy to let Yin Hanjiang know he was real. He just had to call over Zhongli Qian, Shu Yanyan, Qiu Congxue, and so on. Anyone could prove his existence, but could he really do that?

Yin Hanjiang was a reserved person, having always hidden his own nature, putting on the mask and cutting loose only when he could no longer bear it. From the revisions of Abusive Romance, he could see that Yin Hanjiang had never let his current state, beset by inner demons, slip before Zhongli Qian or Baili Qingmiao. Aside from trying to kill Baili Qingmiao, he hadn’t revealed anything else.

Even though his thoughts were confused, he still remained unperturbed in front of other people, not showing any weaknesses. If that kind of person had everyone around him telling him, what you’re seeing is not an inner demon, how would he react? Would he gladly accept it, or fall apart completely?

Wenren È wasn’t willing to bet, unable to accept such an outcome.

If when he had first returned to the sect, he had directly entered the Main Hall and announced his return to everyone, so that it was known to all at the same time, Yin Hanjiang probably would’ve accepted it. But if he had done so, then Yin Hanjiang would’ve continued to hide his heart. Inner demons that were affecting his mind so severely wouldn’t just vanish because Wenren È was alive, and someday, suppressing his true nature would destroy Yin Hanjiang.

This way was still good. At least he could secretly observe Yin Hanjiang, and understand his most loyal subordinate, the man he trusted most in the world, so he could slowly resolve his inner demons.

Wenren È was always direct and had crushed all his problems with force in the past, so he had never felt helpless like this before. It felt as though he was using strength enough to lift a mountain, to pick up a needle and embroider a flower.

His forehead was dripping with sweat, his fingers trembling, terrified of damaging that flower covered with thorns.

After Yin Hanjiang got up, he didn’t spare another glance for Wenren È. There were countless Wenren È’s in his sight, all speaking to him, so he habitually ignored them. When he was alone, he would answer whichever one he wanted, but in front of other people, he needed to be the Sect Leader with the power to crush the righteous sects.

Having sobered up, he used a spell to clear the scent of alcohol from his body, and sat businesslike in front of the desk, sending out several message talismans.

The first was to Zhongli Qian: “Altar Master Zhongli, after you fix up Protector Qiu, immediately give me a plan to eliminate the eight righteous experts and Hè Wenzhao. If you don’t have a satisfactory solution before my patience runs out, I’ll act my own way.”

The second was to Shu Yanyan: “Protector Shu, you’ve had contact with Hè Wenzhao. His weakness is women, so hurry up and come up with a way with Baili Qingmiao to lure him out and make him sell out the Blood Demon.”

The third was for Wenren È. Yin Hanjiang only wrote it, without sending it.

It had only one line. “I’ve asked Sir Zhongli to be the Main Hall Master. All is well in Xuanyuan Sect, so the Venerable may meditate in peace.”

After completing it, Yin Hanjiang held it in his hand, but didn’t ignite it. To send a message talisman, one needed to know the location of the recipient, and alert their spiritual consciousness so that they could accept it. There was no way to send this talisman to Wenren È.

“I know,” Wenren È said earnestly, sitting across from Yin Hanjiang. “You’ve done very well.”

Yin Hanjiang paid no heed to this phantasm who wouldn’t even call himself “Venerable”. After he finished everything, he left the room.

After casting an illusion so that no one else could see him, Wenren È followed Yin Hanjiang out. Yin Hanjiang came to the Main Hall and took the register of Message Carriers. It was an organization created by Altar Master Yuan, most of them directly taking orders from him instead of Xuanyuan Sect. There was no way this register was complete either.

Yin Hanjiang took the register and, after messaging Altar Master Miao, flew out of the Main Hall. He was probably going to clean out the ranks.

Wenren È wanted to follow, but he was worried about being detected by others, and also had some preparations of his own to make. For now, they would have to act separately.

He had no doubt Yin Hanjiang would be able to root out the traitors within the Message Carriers and sort out Xuanyuan Sect’s personnel. He couldn’t help but worry, though, for no reason relating to trust, just out of concern. Wenren È let out a sigh. If only he had a book with Yin Hanjiang as the protagonist, so he could keep track of what he was doing.

When Yin Hanjiang left, Wenren È immediately came to the spirit gathering array in the Main Hall. The only person who could help him plan at this time was Zhongli Qian.

Zhongli Qian had just finished healing Qiu Congxue when he received Yin Hanjiang’s message. He quickly picked through the pile of jade slips, selecting the important ones to read. However smart he was, he would need knowledge to act.

The vital question was how he could satisfy Yin Hanjiang while diverting him from his plans to wreck the cultivation world.

While he was studying, Zhongli Qian suddenly felt a gust of wind pass by. After having sealed his sight for thirty years, his spiritual sense had become even sharper.

Putting down his jade slip, he released his spiritual cognition, but didn’t sense anyone. Instead, the spiritual energy in the room seemed to have gotten several times thicker.

No, it wasn’t spiritual energy. It wasn’t even immortal energy—being a Mahayana cultivator, and having spent time with the wandering immortal Qiu Congxue, Zhongli Qian had a good understanding of immortal energy. Yet the presence in the room was something stronger.

“Which honored person is this?” Zhongli Qian asked.

“The Crane-Haired Wanderer lives up to his name. This Venerable has hidden himself from even the sharpest sight, yet you found me.” Wenren È revealed himself, allowing Zhongli Qian’s spiritual cognition to instantly pick up on him.

Zhongli Qian let out a long breath, then cupped his hands and said, “Sir Wenren has managed to return from the brink. I’m not certain whether to congratulate you on surviving or rising in power.”

“Have you told Sect Leader Yin of your return?” he continued. “He nearly wrecked the Shangqing Sect for you. He’ll certainly be overjoyed to know you’re safe.”

First he praised Wenren È, then immediately got to roundaboutly telling him, hurry up and go to Yin Hanjiang, in a few days he’ll start slaughtering people.

“I know,” Wenren È said. “This Venerable came here to discuss something with Altar Master Zhongli.”

Hearing Wenren È call him an Altar Master, Zhongli Qian’s expression froze. “I’m really not qualified to be an Altar Master…”

“If Yin Hanjiang says you’re qualified, then you’re qualified,” Wenren È said, interrupting him. “This Venerable also has a task for you, and if you complete it, I can have the tracking curse and heart-linking parasite removed.

Zhongli Qian: …

He had thought that when Wenren È returned, he would take charge of the situation, Yin Hanjiang’s obsession for revenge would subside, and peace would return to the cultivation world. After the Blood Demon was defeated and Baili Qingmiao was freed from her infatuation, Zhongli Qian could travel the world freely, spreading his Dao. But now…

Oh well, most things in life didn’t go the way you want. Cultivation was to open one’s mind. Adjusting his outlook, Zhongli Qian said, as even-tempered as always. “What orders does Sect Master have?”

“Two things. First, gather up all information you can find on inner demons, and find a healer who can treat them. Second, cooperate fully with Yin Hanjiang. Help him keep control of Xuanyuan Sect, and let him do whatever he wishes. Don’t mind this Venerable’s previous plans.”

Wenren È knew that Zhongli Qian wouldn’t have overlooked Yin Hanjiang’s current condition. He might’ve already figured it out, just not told anyone. Instead of trying to deceive Zhongli Qian, it was better to get him on his side. Wenren È could act more easily in the shadows with Zhongli Qian as cover, and slowly help Yin Hanjiang.

“Sect Master, do you know what Sect Leader Yin’s original plan was?” Zhongli Qian asked carefully. “He wanted to use force to unify the cultivation world, killing anyone who defies Xuanyuan Sect and eliminating the sects that participated in the attack on you.”

Wenren È really hadn’t been aware, as the book only said Yin Hanjiang wanted to kill Hè Wenzhao. After some thought, he chuckled. “He does have ambition.”

There was no admonition in his tone, and even a hint of praise.

Zhongli Qian: …

He daringly circled Wenren È with a thread of spiritual cognition, carefully examining his current state, and came upon a guess. “Has Sect Master already been to see Yin Hanjiang? Did… he say something to you?”

Wenren È hesitated a moment. Looking carefully at Zhongli Qian, he saw the certainty on his face, as if he had seen through everything. “You truly are perceptive,” he said. “However, this Venerable hopes you won’t keep guessing. Even if you guess right, there’s no need to say it. This Venerable has a handle on everything. All you need to do is act for me in secret, and not let anyone know I’ve returned.”

“But if Sect Leader Yin is determined to bring suffering to the people, then I must stop him.” Seeing Wenren È had decided to stand with Yin Hanjiang in everything, Zhongli Qian made his own stance clear.

“He won’t,” Wenren È said with certainty. Yin Hanjiang was the child he had raised. Even if he was a bit gloomy and self-loathing, he was a good child.

“What if, though?” Zhongli Qian insisted.

What if? After a moment of thought, Wenren È answered, “Then Altar Master Zhongli may lead the entire cultivation world in alliance against Yin Hanjiang. This Venerable will stand side by side with him.”

This… Zhongli Qian shook his head with a helpless smile. “Baili Qingmiao ought to see for herself how the Sect Master treats Sect Leader Yin.”

“What do you mean?” Wenren È looked at him in confusion.

“Nothing in particular. When the Sect Master wants to know, he’ll understand it.”

How mysterious. It made no sense. Wenren È told Zhongli Qian to work on his tasks, and the Main Hall Master who was already buried to his neck in work had to delegate some responsibilities. He messaged Protector Shu and, pretending that Baili Qingmiao was still seeking death, and saying that he feared inner demons would arise within her, asked Protector Shu to find an expert healer. Then he asked Altar Master Shi, who cultivated the seven sufferings, to find books regarding resentment and desire, and had Altar Master Ruan look for methods to treat inner demons.

At the same time, he continued to quickly memorize the information in the jade slips, so that by the time Yin Hanjiang returned, covered with blood, Zhongli Qian knew Xuanyuan Sect inside and out.

Yin Hanjiang tossed the list of Message Carriers who could still be trusted at Zhongli Qian for him to sort out, then headed for the spiritual spring to wash off the blood.

Wenren È, seeing he had no reservations toward him, entered the spring with him. Sitting at one side, he said. “You’ve brought the Message Carriers under control after only one day. I’m quite impressed.”

Wenren È assumed he would be ignored like before, but Yin Hanjiang suddenly looked at him and ordered coldly, “Come here.”

“Me?” Wenren È wasn’t sure which inner demon Yin Hanjiang was talking to. After all, he couldn’t see what Yin Hanjiang saw.

“Yes, you,” Yin Hanjiang said. “The one least like the Venerable.”