Naked Sword Art

Chapter 528: Immortal Pagoda

"Who are you?"

...

When Li Lian’s siblings stormed into the infirmary tent, the first thing they saw was Xiao Fang’s back, standing rigid at the center of the room.

"Oh?" one of them scoffed. "Look who finally came out of seclusion."

"It’s about time."

"We’re in this mess because of you, you know."

They continued their mockery, voices dripping with resentment. Xiao Fang didn’t even turn to look at them.

"Hey! We’re talking to y—"

Then they saw it.

Li Lian was suspended in the air, held by the neck in Xiao Fang’s grasp.

Weapons were drawn instantly.

"You dare!"

"Put her down!"

"Who do you think you’re grabbing, blind man?!"

Only Li Huxin remained composed.

"Fang," he said carefully, "explain yourself. What is the meaning of this?"

Xiao Fang didn’t answer immediately. His attention was fixed entirely on Li Lian. One moment, she had been on the brink of defeat against a Heavenly Realm cultivator. The next, she had suppressed him with a technique she had never learned.

And more importantly—

That was not Li Lian’s soul.

"Don’t be deceived," Xiao Fang finally said. "This person isn’t who you think she is."

"An illusion?" someone murmured.

But disbelief spread faster than doubt.

"Fang, you’re mistaken," Li Huxin said firmly. "That girl is my daughter, Li Lian. She hasn’t left my sight."

Li Shan, Li Lian’s eldest brother, stepped forward. "She’s heavily injured. Her Qi is nearly exhausted. Even if she were an imposter, she wouldn’t be able to maintain a disguise in this condition."

The others were less restrained.

"Yeah, and last time we checked, our eyes still work."

"Yours, on the other hand... not so sure."

Li Huxin fell silent, studying Li Lian as Xiao Fang held her aloft. After everything Xiao Fang had done on the battlefield, part of him wanted to trust him. And yet, the girl before him looked exactly like his daughter.

Then he saw it.

A difference so subtle it was almost nothing—but once noticed, it couldn’t be unseen.

His chest tightened.

Doubt took root.

Nearby, Li Lian’s siblings were losing patience, their anger no longer restrained by reason.

"Our little sister faced a beast horde to protect you!"

"And this is how you repay her?"

"We’ll show you what happens when you mess with our family!"

They stepped forward.

Li Huxin raised a hand.

"Stop."

The single word froze the tent.

He exhaled slowly, voice low and certain.

"He’s right," Li Huxin said. "That... is not Lian."

Li Shan frowned. "Father—are you certain? How can you tell?"

Li Huxin’s gaze never left her face. "Her eyes," he said grimly. "Those are not my daughter’s eyes. They’re too calm."

He was right.

They weren’t just calm—they were deep. Ancient. The gaze of someone who had lived far longer than a single lifetime. The presence was refined, composed, nothing like the impulsive, hot-headed girl they all knew.

Even while suspended by the neck, her expression slightly cracked.

Not from fear, but from curiosity.

’This boy isn’t just gripping my throat,’ she thought. ’He’s grasping my soul directly.’

More than that, he had managed to chase down and kill the Heavenly Realm cultivator they were fighting without so much as a speck of dust on his robes.

’Where did this boy come from?’

Realizing the deception was unraveling, she decided there was no point in hiding it any longer.

"Young man," she said calmly, "if you would be so kind as to put me down. This body is rather badly injured. I’ll tell you what you wish to know."

Li Shan’s face paled. "’This body’...?" he repeated.

Li Huxin pointed at her, fury rising. "You—what are you?"

"Wait," one of the siblings muttered. "That’s really not crazy Lian?"

"Speak," Xiao Fang said, easing his grip just enough.

"There’s no need for hostility," she replied calmly. "We have met before—during the Inner Court examination."

Xiao Fang’s mind drifted back to that trial, recalling the mysterious elder he had encountered at its final stage.

Li Xianyu confirmed her identity and explained where Li Lian’s soul was currently residing. The tension in Xiao Fang’s shoulders eased slightly. He understood the Immortal Soul Pagoda’s healing capabilities well. If Li Lian had truly reached the [ 2nd stage of Dragon Perception ], then there was no safer place for her soul to recover than the pagoda—the same way it had healed his own.

"How long until she recovers?" Xiao Fang asked quietly.

"Not long," Li Xianyu replied. "An hour or two at most. But it will take much longer than that for her body to heal."

What she failed to mention was that the reason Li Lian’s body would take much longer to heal wasn’t because of the Dragon Perception power, nor because of the Heavenly realm cultivator, but from her own power.

Her Daoist Conception was not something a mortal body could control. Using it for hardly a second nearly killed her. Luckily, Li Xiangyu was careful to limit its strength. Using it purely as a deterrent against the heavenly realm cultivator, and not actually trying to fight him with it.

Unexpectedly, the next two people to enter the tent were Xiao Hei and Xun Wei.

"See, see, see," Xiao Hei said excitedly. "I told you I could smell him."

"Fang," Xun Wei said as she approached him first. "We found him, and he’s currently on the move."

Xiao Fang gave her a silent nod.

Turning his senses to the sky, he eventually found what he was looking for. A [ Demon Eye ] was still in the sky. Luckily he had returned to the camp under [ Stealth ].

Turning to Li Huxin, Xiao Fang spoke, "Father-in-law, may I speak to you privately."

A hush fell over those nearby as they waited for Li Huxin’s response.

"Follow me," Li Huxin said after a brief pause.

Nearby, Li Xianyu allowed herself a faint smirk.

’Lian,’ she thought, ’it’s a pity you can’t see this. It seems your father is finally taking a liking to him.’